Why did I ask everyone back for one more week of posts? Why didn’t I just stop when I decided it was time to be done with it? Frankly, I didn’t want Radio Exile to vanish from the world like so many other sites have in the past. I didn’t want people waiting for another update, confused why I hadn’t updated in a week. Or a month. Or a year. Over the last month, I realized I was ready to move on, but damn it, I tried to make a run at it one last time. I really did.

Radio Exile, as I have jokingly stated for the better part of these past five years, is my fickle mistress. At least, she was until today. She stole time from my job, time from my friends and time from my wife. She kept me up nights, had me doting on her (usually with emails and communications) and spending so much time on her that she never paid me back for. As of today, Radio Exile is done and dead and buried. It’s a sad day for me and for all the people that have been writing in over the past few days, but it’s the right decision.

Read my final thoughts on the last day here at Radio Exile “after the jump” …read full article…

The following is a piece from the man who hired me at Inside Pulse Music, Matthew Michaels

“You know what 411 needs, Widro? A music site.”

This may or may not have been what I sent via IM to our fearless BOSS on a fateful night in the summer of 2002, but let the record show that there was SOME sort of conversation, and 411 WAS expanding beyond it’s original subject matter, and I DID eventually join the staff to write about music. It began with a recap of the 2002 VMAs that I stumbled through (I refuse to provide a link for fear of Bill Simmons gimmick infringement accusations)… and 3220 days later, I couldn’t be prouder when thinking about how it all ended up.

From 411 to the launch of Inside Pulse Music a couple of years later, to the spinoff of indie-focused Broken Dial, which is a far superior name for what we today know fondly as Radio Exile…it has all led to what’s been a bittersweet week on these pages. Sad to see it closing up shop, but admittedly enjoying the nostalgia – especially the triumphant return of Greg!

Read more from Matt “after the jump” …read full article…

I haven’t written anything on Radio Exile (or Broken Dial, as it was known then) since 2007. I realized that when Shawn informed me that the site would be closing down. People don’t think about websites dying. We think these things will be staffed forever by fervent volunteers, never wavered by the realities of time and life and changing priorities. From what I understand, Radio Exile is going away not because of frustration or anger, but because the writers of the site wish to move onto other priorities. Their lives have changed. If you’ve paid attention to the site over the last five years, you’ll see how people grow. You’ll see tastes change. You’ll see priorities shift. These are all good things. Harping on the same ideal over and over again eventually leads to just punching at a wall. That wasn’t the case at Radio Exile. It was always moving, always focusing on new, interesting things. And I’m glad to see everyone still moving, still focusing on new, interesting things.

Read KSP’s final thoughts on Broken Dial and Radio Exile “after the jump” …read full article…

How do you write a eulogy to an inanimate, intangible stored batch of 1’s and 0’s that was the only fair-weather friend that never complained and didn’t make me feel guilty? Radio Exile (and the precursory rendition Broken Dial) gave me an opportunity to have my somewhat off-kilter opinions displayed for the world. How many people get to do that? I do want to offer a post-mortem apology to my old buddy Nobby for not staying as committed as I promised I would. If I had only had the time…

Read more from Salty “after the jump” …read full article…

After much deliberation over the past two months (and weeks of back-and-forth decision making), I have decided to shutter the doors on Radio Exile effective this Friday, June 24th.

For almost seven years, I have been gifted with the privilege of working with some of the most spectacular writers and human beings, first at Inside Pulse Music, before I was given my own “indie” site in 2006 – Broken Dial which was later renamed Radio Exile. We’ve fought some really hard battles against jerk managers and publicists while remain staunch in our belief that what we say or do on the web has as much weight as in the real world.

I never wanted to be bigger than Pitchfork or Stereogum, I just wanted our voices and opinions to be heard and appreciated. We were fans first. We covered what we wanted to. We turned down things we didn’t truly believe in.

With all this being said, our former writers, who have brought so much life and vitality to the site, will be coming back to say goodbye one last time, delivering eulogies of sorts. Truthfully, they’re the ones that made this site worth updating and keeping and generally made it worth every second I could spare.

Again, thank you all for helping me realize a dream. One of you put it best in 2007 (and you know who):

“If you wait until you have the time or can afford to do the stuff that matters most, you’ll never get around to doing anything”.

This has been the most incredible ride. Thank you for sharing it with me and with us all. (I feel like Doctor Who about to regenerate).

<3 SMS

On August 2nd, Collections of Colonies of Bees will release GIVING via Hometapes. The release is the first we’re hearing from the band since the Milwaukee six-piece worked with on Volcano Choir with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. …read full article…

This week on Dirty Laundry, Malia sits down with Nashville’s favorite band of brothers Jeff The Brotherhood before their set at the Echo in LA. (Note: Malia is still SUPER effing hot.)

Check it out “after the jump” …read full article…

Well, Apple isn’t always perfect, it seems. News from the web indicates that iTunes is the source of an unintentional leak of Bon Iver’s self-titled new album a full month before the official release date.

Evidently a handful of incredibly savvy iTunes customers were clickety-clicking around the service and noticed that the album was available there. They quickly grabbed the record before it was pulled down and it’s now all over the web. Rumors abound, but it appears that the service was preparing to offer the first single, “Calgary,” on the site and in the “Botch of the Year,” threw the entire album up instead.

Prevailing logic dictates that they should just release the album and garner any sales that they can today. The longer a record is held off, the less it will earn due to piracy and lack of interest so Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar family, if you’re reading this: GET THE ALBUM OUT NOW SO PEOPLE WILL BUY IT AND YOU WON’T LOSE A SHIT TON OF MONEY.

<3 SMS

Vancouver-based indie-rockers The Ruffled Feathers have me in a tizzy with their latest video. The band set about writing, directing and filming a cinematic musical with next to no money and have now present for the world this amazing clip, “Blueprints For Our Failed Revolution.” I say, bravo. Seriously. Everyone needs to save their money and “buck up” and get it done themselves these days. The single here is from their upcoming full-length album and the band are giving away a free single on their Bandcamp page.

So what are you waiting for? Check out the track “after the jump” …read full article…

Check out a fine tune and video for So Cal’s indietronic brother duo White Apple Tree. “Circles” is the first single from their upcoming full length album Smooth Jaws (37 Records).

Check out the video “after the jump” …read full article…

In two weeks time, one of the greatest artists of the 20th century will celebrate a major milestone. On his 70th birthday, Bob Dylan will have already outlived many of his contemporaries (Jerry Garcia, George Harrison), but the man continues to produce amazing work that truly illustrates his influence on generations. The father of modern rock, pop and folk will soon step into his 7th decade of life on May 24th, and what better way to honor him than to share our favorite Dylan records. These are the ones that if you don’t own, you should. Is there really any better way than to celebrate? Sure, we could get bombed. This was just more fun. …read full article…

Yeah, I am a few days behind the curve, but this song is effing brilliant and anytime someone writes a chorus about the “jester of Tortuga,” I am down.

Video is alive “after the jump” …read full article…

One of RE’s fave NYC acts, Savoir Adore, have announced some upcoming NYC shows to coincide with summer…which is awesome. The band has four gigs coming up in May and June and we will obviously be sure to go to at LEAST one because, well, we are obsessed with them.

May 13 – Audiophile @ the Brooklyn Museum w/ MEN (Brooklyn, NY)
May 26 – French Horn Rebellion album release party @ Glasslands (Brooklyn, NY)
June 21 – City Harvest’s Summer in the City @ Metropolitan Pavilion (New York, NY)
June 26 – Vivo in Vino (New York, NY) **sold out!**

[mp3] Savoir Adore – “Sparrow”

What’s that sound? Oh yeah. It’s The Cave Singers new video for “Black Leaf” and it’s awesome. Fresh from their new album No Witch, this clip follows tres lil’ hombres as their trek through their town. They find a monster and, yes, even a dead owl.

Yuck.

Check out the video and some tour dates, etc. “after the jump” …read full article…

After a long, terrible Winter in NYC, I can’t help but think about the West Coast. San Diego’s The Donkeys drop their latest single for “Don’t Know Who We Are” from their new album Born With Stripes. Not many bands can say that they’ve been recreated in piñata form.

So, if you’re looking for something rad to check out, the video, tunes and tourdates “after the jump” …read full article…

On June 6th, Athens, GA artists Madeline will release her album, Black Velvet, on This Will Be Our Summer. We’ve heard a teaser here at RE HQ and it will be highly anticipated here. With a background that ties a lifetime of working together with acts such as Japanther and the Athens-based Elephant 6 Collective, Madeline Adams lays down Karen Carpenter-esque vocals across the jangle of southern rock and indie pop to create a distinct sound that I effing love. (She’s also super cute!)

Check out the track and some tour dates “after the jump” …read full article…

After a great weekend spent with the extended family (full of rad Easter Bunny action), it’s nice to be back and working on the site this week. Truth: most of this stuff was found around the web or in my inbox and I really dug them. Totally awesome tracks, so feel free to grab them and share with friends.

In this week’s mixtape: Here We Go Magic, Love Boat, Grass Widow, Mimicry, Dolphins and more! …read full article…

The Antlers’ debut album, 2009′s Hospice, is among the most played albums in my iTunes for good reason: it freakin’ rocks. We’ve covered the band a lot, including most, if not all, of their past video releases.

Now, the band prepare to launch Burst Apart on May 10th via Frenchkiss Records and we’re quite excited. We gave everyone a sample of the new material in this past week’s “While I Eat My Toast,” so head there and check it out.

Otherwise, go check out the album here: First Listen: The Antlers, “Burst Apart”

Yay, more mixtapes, eh? So, “While I Eat My Toast” is back and kicking arse. Haha. These latest tracks have been floating through my head and in play here at Radio Exile//Inside Fights HQ over the last few days. Maybe we can keep this up as a weekly thing again!

Go me!

In this week’s mixtape: My Morning Jacket, The National, The Antlers and more! …read full article…