Michael Jackson Dead at 50

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, died this afternoon after reportedly suffering cardiac arrest. I am shocked and saddened.

Mute Math to Add Record to Repertoire

Mute Math's new album, Armistice, will drop on Aug. 18. I was doubly excited to learn that MM will play Nashville on Nov. 8 -- a must-see!

In the Oven

While a student at Hope College, I enjoyed feasting on the music that my fellow undergrads were cooking up in their dormitory laboratories. I remember seeing Sufjan Stevens' folk band Marzuki in concert a number of times. I still own both of their indie releases. After the group disbanded, I continued to keep tabs on Stevens, as well as the band's vocalist, Shannon Stephens. I've picked up all the records that each have since put out, including Ms. Stephens' EP and full-length CD. So, I was excited to recently learn that -- after taking time off to become a wife and a mother -- she has a brand new album coming out on Stevens' label, Asthmatic Kitty Records. The Breadwinner will drop on Sept. 8.

My Two Cents: Mat Kearney - City of Black & White

I was worried it would come to this. Mat Kearney has left his hip-hop hat at home -- at least for his second major release, City of Black & White (his third on Inpop Records). When I first heard Kearney, he was rhyming over acoustic guitar licks (and sometimes as a guest rapper during our church choir's offertory specials). Now no longer a hip-hop head, the songster seems to be a full-blown popster. While there's nothing wrong with writing snappy tunes, I miss the spoken word element Kearney successfully weaved into his repertoire on past records. I also had high hopes when I first saw the title of the disc -- hoping that the album would in some way attempt to examine the pitfalls of cities like Nashville (and others in the Bible Belt). But, alas, Kearney seems to stick to typical airplay fare. I will say this: CoB&W is good driving music. And the album artwork is in the running for best design of the year.