Kenneth Partridge's work has appeared in such publications as USA Today, the Village Voice and the Hartford Courant, as well as online at MTV Hive and HowAboutWe, among other sites. He's helped to edit two encyclopedias -- one on Latin music, the other on reggae -- and penned biographies about Louis Armstrong and the opera singer Marian Anderson. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his beloved wife and slightly less beloved record collection.
Kenneth Partridge
Boy + Kite, ‘Fall’ – Free MP3 Download
Next week, Boy + Kite make like every other rock band on the planet and play SXSW. Fortunately, the foursome hails from Austin, so while they'll watch their hometown become temporarily overrun with hipsters and industry types, they won't have to deal with airport security beforehand.
Beard, ‘Riot’ – Free MP3 Download
Modesty is for wussies. Beard are the self-proclaimed "heaviest and greatest rock band to ever emerge from New Mexico," and in the grand tradition of groups using imagined sexual liaisons between superstars to describe their music, this Albuquerque foursome fancies itself a "three-way love child" spawned by Queens of the Stone Age, the Foo Fighters and Pink Floyd.
Cathy, ‘We Don’t Wanna Be’ – Free MP3 Download
Like erotica for rock geeks, Cathy's official bio name-checks the likes of Guided by Voices, Nick Lowe, Jonathan Richman and the Wipers. Now, when it comes to describing their own music, bands tend to embellish, but this New York City foursome tells it like it is. On 'We Don't Wanna Be,' today's free MP3, classic punk, '90s indie rock and power-pop congeal into 2:25 of choice listening.
Falling Still, ‘Thin Lizzy’ – Free MP3 Download
Like countless rockers before them, the three members of Falling Still made a pilgrimage from the Midwest -- Akron, Ohio, to be precise -- to that great showbiz Oz, Los Angeles.
Unlike most, they quickly justified the move and began gigging around town, and by 2009, they'd hooked up with producer Michael Parnin (Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Rage Against The Machine) for the first in a series
2013 Grammys: Black Keys’ ‘Lonely Boy’ Wins Best Rock Song
The Black Keys' 'Lonely Boy' has won Best Rock Song at the 2013 Grammys. The tune kicks off the Ohio garage-rock duo's seventh full-length, 'El Camino,' which also came up big at tonight's ceremony, earning Best Rock Album honors.
2013 Grammys: Trent Reznor’s ‘Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ Wins Best Score
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have won the 2013 Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for their work on 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,' director David Fincher's 2012 film adaptation of the popular novel of the same name. In winning the prize, the Nine Inch Nails mastermind and his frequent collaborator beat out such Hollywood heavies as John Williams.
2013 Grammys: Skrillex and Nero Win Best Remixed Recording
Skrillex and Nero's remix of 'Promises,' from the latter's 2011 debut album, 'Welcome Reality,' has won the 2013 Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. The digitally doctored tune beat out remixed versions of songs by M83, Deadmau5 and Moby to win the prize -- the first of the evening for a Diffuser.fm-relevant artist.
Coachella 2013 Lineup Announced: Stone Roses, Blur, Phoenix, Red Hot Chili Peppers to Headline
The lineup for Coachella 2013 has finally been announced, and after months of restless speculation, fans can breathe easy: This year's festival is stacked with killer acts, including the Stone Roses, Blur, Phoenix, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Postal Service, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the xx, NIck Cave and the Bad Seeds, Modest Mouse, New Order, Vampire Weekend and Sigur Ros.
Tom Morello Joining Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band for Australian Tour
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are about to put a little more rage in their sound. Come March, when the group tours Australia, ex-Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello will fill in for longtime member Steven Van Zandt, who's busy shooting the TV series 'Lilyhammer.'
Myopic, ‘Jura’ – Free MP3 Download
Long drawn to the mix of organic and electronic sounds -- a hallmark of acts ranging from Kraftwerk to Tortoise -- Jeff Ryan makes lush, sweeping, emotionally resonant music under the name myopic. On 'Jura,' today's free MP3, the Dallas-based musician offers a stirring preview of his new album 'we were here,' due out Feb. 26.
Exclusive: Eddie Vedder Discusses ‘West of Memphis’ Soundtrack Contribution
Among the many musicians who fought on behalf of the West Memphis Three -- a trio of Arkansas men convicted as teenagers in 1993 for a series of child murders they did not commit -- was Eddie Vedder. The Pearl Jam frontman was instrumental in raising money and awareness, and thanks in part to his efforts, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin were freed in August 2011 after spendi
Bear Ceuse, ‘Dixie Brothers’ – Free MP3 Download
His may be a familiar story -- Midwestern songwriter follows indie rock muse to New York City -- but Cameron Matthews is far from typical. With the help of his Bear Ceuse bandmates, the St. Louis native makes big, brisk, vaguely twangy rock 'n' roll songs like 'Dixie Brothers,' a standout track from the foursome's forthcoming debut album, 'Don Domestique.'