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
Wake Island, ‘Use It As a Weapon’ – Free MP3 Download
Truly an international crew, Montreal foursome Wake Island features musicians from Lebanon, Canada and the United States. It's a brainy band -- one of 'em is studying cell biology -- and that really came through on their 2009 debut, 'Fairytales From the Island,' an attempt to, in their words, "reach a common center" through elaborate, orchestral rock.
Chainwave, ‘Wrap Me Up’ – Free MP3 Download
Having played together in previous bands, singer-guitarist Ian Jacobs and drummer Michelle Feliciano came to Chainwave with a solid musical understanding. The Brooklyn band has only been around since the fall of 2012, but already, it's got a clear-cut sound -- one that's recognizable, sure, but potent all the same.
Mark Rose, ‘Georgiana’ – Free MP3 Download
Following the 2007 breakup of Spitalfield, the popular emo outfit he piloted for nearly a decade, Mark Rose did what many a suddenly-freed-up rocker has done before him: He went solo -- and took a quieter tact.
In 2011, the Chicago singer-songwriter dropped his solo debut, and earlier this year, he self-released the EP 'The Sound of a Turnaround...
Sugar Glyder, ‘Campfire’ – Free MP3 Download
A self-made 2011 EP and successful SXSW outing landed Sugar Glyder a deal with ORG Music, and now, the North Carolina foursome are hitting the road in support of their full-length debut, 'The Eyes: They See.'
Restorations, ‘Civil Inattention’ – Free MP3 Download
This ain't the first ride on the merry-go-round for the members of Restorations. Having previously played together in the band Jena Berlin, these genre-pushing Philly punks know all about cramming into vans and sleeping on floors, and while they had no intention of throwing themselves back into that lifestyle, here they are, signed to a well-known label (SideOneDummy) and prepping the release of t
The Teen Age, ‘Second Youth’ – Free MP3 Download
While not the first band to romanticize those momentous years between middle school and college, the Teen Age gaze backwards on their own terms. On 'Second Youth,' these Brooklyn dudes sound positively spooked, delivering sweet, noisy guitar-pop with an unshakable air of dread. If you're turned on by the idea of Joy Division cutting the Foo Fighters' 'Everlong' for Slumberland Records, this one's
Mad Season’s Barrett Martin Remembers Layne Staley [Exclusive Video]
Some bands are stable, built to last, destined for long and fruitful careers. Mad Season weren't one of 'em. The alt-rock (or grunge, if you wanna start some arguments) supergroup formed in 1994, when Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready met bassist John Baker Saunders at a Minneapolis rehab facility. The two became friends, and after moving back to Seattle, McCready tapped Alice in Chains frontman L
2013 Grammy Nominations
The nominations have been announced for the 2013 Grammy Awards, and fun., Florence and the Machine, the Black Keys, Jack White, Mumford and Sons and Frank Ocean -- a nominee in six categories -- are among the Diffuser-friendly artists who will compete for gramophone statuettes at the 55th annual ceremony.
The New Enemy, ‘Equifux’ – Free MP3 Download
The holiday season is upon us, and that means one thing. No, not peace on Earth and goodwill toward men -- we're talking about rampant consumerism, the type that Toronto hardcore dudes the New Enemy rail against on 'Equifux,' today's rage-inducing free MP3 download...
Funniest Guitar Faces
The guitar face -- the look axemen get when they're too caught up in the majesty of shredding to worry about how ridiculous they look -- is typically associated with metal and classic rock. Fans of these genres have long embraced guitar solos, which tend to produce the funniest guitar faces, but even in alt-rock and indie, where musicianship is less of a factor, and power chords sometimes take the
Black Keys Drummer Patrick Carney Marries Emily Ward
Congratulations are in order for Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, who married Emily Ward on Saturday at their home in Nashville, the Associated Press reports.
John Murry, ‘The Ballad of the Pajama Kid’ – Free MP3 Download
Most vagabond-troubadour alt-country types would kill for a backstory like John Murry's. Born in Tupelo, Miss., just like Elvis, he's a distant relative -- second-cousin, according to most accounts -- of literary hero William Faulkner. What's more, he's traveled the world, and amid stints in Oakland, San Francisco (where he overdosed) and England, he's amassed an enviable catalog of crazy-yet-true