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Scene

Scene’s Best Albums of 2020

Claire Rafford, Mariah Rush, Jake Winningham, Dessi Gomez, Ryan Israel, Aidan O'Malley, Colleen Fischer, Matthew Kellenberg, Maeve Filbin and Charlie Kenney | Monday, December 14, 2020

Scene writers made their lists; they checked them twice. The albums from January were reexamined; the soundtrack to the summer was played in December. Everyone’s votes were tallied and the final ticket of 20 records — those which we most cherished, fell deepest into and held closest to our hearts and ears in 2020 —

Scene

‘Honey I Sure Miss You’ pays tribute to Daniel Johnston

Colleen Fischer | Friday, September 18, 2020

Nirvana’s appearance at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards was iconic for many reasons — Krist Novoselic tossing his bass on his face, Dave Grohl taunting Axl Rose and Kurt Cobain wearing a “Hi, how are you?” shirt. That last part may seem less important or relevant, but it gave Daniel Johnston the exposure he

Scene

Phoebe Bridgers does not care if you like ‘Punisher’

Charlie Kenney | Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Sprawled on white towel against rough California fescue grass, naked except for a pair of frilled underwear with the red-orange logo of 7-Eleven in its center. Smiling through squinted eyes and blocking the sun’s glare with an upraised hand, Phoebe Bridgers stares back at the camera completely, voluntarily, exposed. The photoshoot and adjoining interview, which

Scene

‘Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was’ review

Charlie Kenney | Friday, August 28, 2020

I first really heard Bright Eyes in 2012, my freshman year of high school at Connor Oberst’s alma mater. I had recently begun driving my brother’s 1997 navy blue Honda CRV, and a thin slot for compact discs offered itself as my only alternative to muffled classic rock on the radio. A friend, aware of

Scene

Scene’s Selections: New Singles

Charlie Kenney, Willoughby Thom, Mike Donovan and Ryan Israel | Monday, September 16, 2019

A few artists released new singles. Scene listened. Run it back. “Moment” — Pinegrove By Mike Donovan, Scene Editor Momentary pleasures — the type initiated, felt and lost at a pinprick on the timeline — feed on the luxury of not knowing. Neither future nor past have any bearing on the instantaneous. What’s now is

Scene

Bridgers, Oberst gel on ‘Better Oblivion Community Center’

Matthew Kellenberg | Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Things are looking up for Phoebe Bridgers. In 2017, she released her debut album, “Strangers in the Alps,” to critical acclaim. A year later, her collaboration with Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus, “boygenius,” received album-of-the-year buzz. Also in this time, Bridgers joined indie darling and former Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst on his “Salutations” European

Scene

Scene Selections: New Singles

Ryan Israel, Margaret McGreevy, Martin Kennedy and Nora McGreevy | Thursday, November 1, 2018

Every once in a while it’s a good idea to ditch the algorithm-driven coldness of Spotify’s “New Releases” tab or Apple Music’s “New Music” section. Instead, turn to humanity and rely on your favorite Scene writers to recommend what might be your new favorite song. “Alien” — Beach House By Ryan Israel, Scene Writer Beach

Scene

Phoebe Bridgers abides in “Stranger in the Alps”

Daniel O'Boyle | Friday, September 29, 2017

“The Big Lebowski” uses the “F-word” a total of 260 times. How is this relevant to an excellent indie-folk debut album from an up-and-coming singer-songwriter? Well, in one iconic scene, John Goodman’s character Walter Sobchak smashes what he believes to be the car of a high-schooler who stole money from “The Dude” (Jeff Bridges). While destroying the

Scene

Scene’s Selections

Nora McGreevy, Bobby Wozniak, Erin McAuliffe, Adam Ramos and Kelly McGarry | Monday, February 6, 2017

Father John Misty — “Pure Comedy” By Kelly McGarry Father John Misty continues a tradition of suspiciously comforting cynicism, and the current political climate may provide the most appropriate audience his career has seen yet. A hesitant piano melody ushers in his typical oddly specific lyrics of obscure relevance, “Say that half of us are