haim – Spinning Platters

Spinning Platters’ Top 20 Albums of 2020

By The Spinning Platters Editorial Staff

What a shit year, am I right? I guess that’s the consensus all around. It was also a weird year for music… The first half of the year had a bunch of great records that were released with touring in mind, full of epic live songs that are meant to be heard in a crowd and that simply didn’t happen. The second half was full of intense projects made while in seclusion. Projects where the recording is really the only means of connecting. This was a great year for the art of the album, despite it being a terrible year for musicians to make a living. Which is why we are giving you a top 20 this year! A lot of independent artists mixed in with the big ones, so please buy a record or two, or some merch to help keep them alive and able to hit the road when it’s safe.

A quick note: We begin this process in October, so our years is 11/1-11/1. So, yes, you will see at least one late 2019 album on this list. Continue reading “Spinning Platters’ Top 20 Albums of 2020”

BREAKING: The Line-Up for Inside Lands 2020 Has Been Announced

We all spent that last two weeks looking at our Facebook memories of photos from 12 years of Outside Lands, noticing how perfect the weather was two weekends ago, and being sad, and then angry, and then sad again that we weren’t going to get to commune together in Golden Gate Park for music, comedy, food, and community this year. (Especially since Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is also off the table)

I know it’s not the same, but August 28th – 29th, starting at 4pm each day, twitch.tv is broadcasting a whole new special event called “Inside Lands.” We are getting archival performances, and although we don’t know exactly what we are going to see, but I hope to got we get to relive the portion of Gorillaz EPIC 2017 set with that bone chilling, inhuman scream that Maseo belted out at the beginning of “Feel Good Inc.” We will also be getting new, exclusive performances, including sets from Outside Lands 2021 acts Sharon Van Etten, Hinds, Brittany Howard, Beach House and more. It’s not the same as being in the park, but I hope this gets you close. May I recommend having some delicious take out from a local restaurant on hand, and maybe even see if your favorite local bar is doing craft cocktails to go so the experience is complete? If you want, you can even have your roommate spill beer on your blanket to make it feel right. (Kidding)

The event is hosted by Lyrics Born, and can be streamed here at twitch.tv/outsidelands. While you are there, be sure to pick up tickets for Outside Lands 2021 with Lizzo, Tame Impala, The Strokes, Tyler, The Creator, Kehlani and more! And, of course, keep practicing social distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands, and let’s crush this disease to make sure we can party next year.

To quote Lyrics Born: “Don’t worry about the president. He can’t stop the show.” Here’s the line-up: Continue reading “BREAKING: The Line-Up for Inside Lands 2020 Has Been Announced”

Single Of The Week: The Steps by Haim

Haim’s swift rise to fame was partnered with an even swifter decline in critical favorability. Their second record, Something To Tell You, had the band playing bigger venues than ever, but it wasn’t a far enough progression for the band to keep them as a the critical darlings they deserve to be. I was even ready to shrug them off… Then, I heard “The Steps.” This song is kind of a monster… There is still that signature classic rock riffage, but the song is just plain “bigger” than anything we’ve ever heard from them. This is an anthem for the ages, and may very well be the thing we needed from Haim.

Expectations are firmly set for their third record, Women in Music, Vol III, in stores & streaming April 24th. You can preorder double red vinyl from this link!

Outside Lands Journal: Day 2, 8/9/14

Macklemore-RyanLewis-EmilyAnderson-3738 — Photo by Emily Anderson

Today was the cold day. Which was fine, because there were more than enough excuses to dance! Special thanks to Carl Pocket, Emily Anderson, and Paige Parsons for additional pics!

Continue reading “Outside Lands Journal: Day 2, 8/9/14”

Show Review: Haim, Shy Girls at The Fillmore, 4/9/14

At this time last year, I had no idea who Haim were. They barely a blip on my radar, as they were simply an LA band, and there are dozens of those. It wasn’t until Summer when I finally “Falling,” and was blown away. And, like the rest of the world, when I heard Days Are Gone for the first time, I thought to myself, “Wow. This is amazing!” I never thought a record of soft rock could be so impressive. Of course, they weren’t going to be kept secret. They managed to sell out two nights at The Fillmore in less time than it took me to learn the proper pronunciation of their name. (Rhymes with time)

Continue reading “Show Review: Haim, Shy Girls at The Fillmore, 4/9/14”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 4/3/14-4/9/14

Being performed in it's entirety this Saturday Night at The Warfield — Being performed in it’s entirety this Saturday Night at The Warfield

The week is the first official week of Fauxchella. There is plenty to look forward to, including a healthy dose of Coachella bands that you can see without the threat of sunburn, and only limited threat of somebody on Ecstasy deciding that you have the prettiest hair in the world and they need to pet it for 45 minutes while you watch The Cult.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 4/3/14-4/9/14”

Spinning Platters Presents The Official List of the Top 10 Albums of 2013

Though this album is great (and my favorite of the year), it just wasn't good enough for this list. It came in at unlucky number 11. — Though this album is great (and my favorite of the year), it just wasn’t good enough for this list. It came in at unlucky number 11.

If there’s one thing Spinning Platters does differently, and especially nerd-ish, it is our Album of the Year list. All the contributors get to nominate their favorite albums of the year (there were 53 nominees this year) then a grueling listening/voting process starts until we have it narrowed down to the top ten. While not everyone may agree with the final list, it is democratic and popular opinion that must rule. So without further ado, here is our top ten!

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Presents The Official List of the Top 10 Albums of 2013”

Treasure Island Festival 2013, Day 2

10417758806_88658441b2 — Most Photos by Kara Murphy

I learned from my mistake of yesterday and left my downtown Oakland apartment at 10:30 am. Instead of making my way to the shuttles at The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, I took the transbay bus and transferred to the 108 Muni line at the Transbay Terminal and used that to get to the island. It took my exactly one hour from leaving my place to my arrival to the Bridge stage. Which also meant that I got there early enough to walk right up to the barrier, and I got to enjoy some time with the group of hardcore Animal Collective fans that were determined to stay put all day. And a trio of hard core Deep Sea Diver fans.

Continue reading “Treasure Island Festival 2013, Day 2”