Critical Picks: Coachella
By Stewart MasonAre you going to Coachella this weekend or next? Or are you trying to decide which Coachella sets you want to catch while they're streaming live on YouTube? Here's what we thought of 31 different acts playing at the festival this year. Choose for yourself.
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 Arabia MountainThe Black LipsMark Ronson heads to the Dirty South. >> |
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 Bon IverBon IverOne-time woodland minstrel conquers the world. >> |
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 Break It YourselfAndrew BirdViolin-infused folk strives for abject beauty. >> |
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 BrothersThe Black KeysAkron duo show us what they learned on vacation. >> |
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 A Creature I Don't KnowLaura MarlingA gifted singer-songwriter comes into her own. >> |
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 DaysReal EstateJangly, rainy-day pop music of the highest order. >> |
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 Era ExtrañaNeon IndianTexas chillwaver solidifies his pop roots. >> |
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 Father, Son, Holy GhostGirlsTalented youngsters ascend from the minors. >> |
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 Future ThisThe Big PinkBrit rockers reach for the brass ring. >> |
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 Noel Gallagher's High Flying BirdsNoel GallagherNothing supersonic about Noel's solo debut. >> |
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 The Golden Age of ApocalypseThundercatLate night indie electronica. >> |
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 Happy to YouPristine pop with a dash of weirdness. >> |
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 House of BalloonsThe WeekndA skillfully experimental underground debut. >> |
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 Hurry Up, We're DreamingM83Anthony Gonzalez makes his grand statement. >> |
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 In The Grace Of Your LoveThe RaptureDo you still want to party like it’s 2003? >> |
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 In The Pit of the StomachWe Were Promised JetpacksGlorious noise meets pop-song smarts. >> |
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 KaputtDestroyerDan Bejar's most restrained and lovely work. >> |
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 The King of LimbsRadioheadNot bad, but... >> |
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 LungsFlorence and the MachineCool, quirky indie pop that draws inspiration from the seamier side of life. >> |
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 MetalsFeistFrustratingly aimless follow-up to her unexpected hit. >> |
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 Port of MorrowThe ShinsNew-look Shins make triumphant return. >> |
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 The Rip TideBeirutOne-time wunderkind finds his own sound. >> |
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 SkyingThe HorrorsThe Horrors, minus all that horror. >> |
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 SmotherWild BeastsJust as beastly, but much less wild. >> |
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 Strange MercySt. VincentSinger-guitarist continues to stretch her wings. >> |
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 Suck It and SeeArctic MonkeysGoing bananas for classic rawk. >> |
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 A Wasteland CompanionM. WardSinger-songwriter returns to solo work. >> |
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 What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?The VaccinesDigging up the bones of Strummer and Jones. >> |
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 WhokillTune-YardsA singular talent takes a big leap forward. >> |
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 Wild FlagWild Flag'90s indie supergroup, surprisingly, does not suck. >> |
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 YuckYuckSet the wayback machine to 1991 and enjoy. >> |
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