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MUSIC
HUFFINGTON
03.09.14
Dog Ears
In which we spotlight music from a diversity of genres and
decades, lending an insider’s ear to what deserves to be heard.
BY THE EVERLASTING PHIL RAMONE AND DANIELLE EVIN
LORD HURON
KURT VILE
IAN HUNTER
L.A.-based alt-pop quintet Lord
Huron is the wistful brainchild of
Michigan-born multi-instrumentalist/visual artist and frontman Ben
Schneider. Founded in the Obama
era, the current ensemble comprises
a few fellow Michiganders — drummer Mark Berry, guitarist Tom Renaud, and bassist Miguel Briseño
— and Californian guitarist Karl
Kerfoot. Lord Huron has released a
handful of projects, including tracks
for films Carrie and Endless Love.
Dive into Lord Huron’s “The Stranger,” from the 2010 Mighty–EP.
Philly-based singer/songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist Kurt
Vile (former lead guitarist for The
War On Drugs, with singer/guitarist Adam Granduciel) glides with
poetic brushes that earn your attention. Backed by The Violaters (Jesse
Trbovich, Rob Laakso and Kyle
Spence), Vile has issued a series of
solo albums and collective releases
to date. Collaborations/shared stages include Sore Eros, Steve Gunn,
The Black Heart Procession, Tom
Sharpling and Ty Segall. Get started
with “Freeway,” from Kurt Vile’s
2008 solo debut Constant Hitmaker.
Rock legend Ian Hunter was born
on England’s border with Wales, at
the precipice of WWII. A youthful
love of Sir Norman Wisdom, Hank
Marvin, Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry
Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and champagne set Hunter’s trajectory into
rock royalty. The legend held court in
rock band Mott The Hoople, and has
released dozens of albums during
his decades-long career. Collaborations include David Bowie, Billy Fury,
Mick Ronson and Mick Jones (The
Clash). Shared stages include Roger
Daltrey, Meat Loaf and Bryan Adams.
Discover Hunter’s treasure “Words
(Big Mouth),” from his 2007 release
Shrunken Heads, with soaring guitarage by Mark Bosch.
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Alt Pop
ARTIST: Lord Huron
SONG: The Stranger
ALBUM: Mighty—EP
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Rock
ARTIST: Kurt Vile
SONG: Freeway
ALBUM: Constant Hitmaker
BUY: iTunes
GENRE: Rock
ARTIST: Ian Hunter
SONG: Words (Big Mouth)
ALBUM: Shrunken Heads