Daniel Mescher

Four albums in, the members of Arcade Fire have found themselves in a position reserved only for the vastly marketable, intriguingly mysterious, and conspicuously controversial of the music industry in that we cannot help but watch their every move.

To look back on our two years on the air, we’ve collected this list of the Top 134 (get it?) OpenAir Albums.

In a word, Valerie June’s voice permeates. It’s quite a task to divert your attention to anything else when it invades and envelops your eardrums. On this latest album, she remains utterly compelling while trying her hand, or rather voice, at country, folk, blues, and rock.

By now, anyone who attended the Lumineers’ Sunday night show at Red Rocks can surmise the reason behind this rehearsal: the Colorado Symphony joined the commercially and critically successful Denver-based […]

For all intents and purposes, An Object is truly that: a tangible, stable artifact of a musical pairing that throughout its lifespan has thrived on tempered unruliness.

It can’t be easy to be universally deemed the frontrunner of a genre. Georgia native Ernest Greene, who records and performs as Washed Out, now nearly four years and one album removed from his breakthrough EP, has found himself at a crossroads of sorts.

August brings new music from the Australian rock outfit Jagwar Ma, and American rock n’ roll bands J.Roddy Walston & the Business, and the Moondoggies.

On Thursday night’s sold out Bluebird Theater show, Vile performed mostly material from his new album “Wakin On A Pretty Daze” with help from his backing band the Violators. Despite a few early sound issues, the quartet found a strong rhythm, albeit looser than their recorded incarnations.

If the brief, rapid-fire songs on Don Cavalli’s sophomore solo release Temperamental gives the impression that the singer has one foot out the door, that’s because it’s probably true.

A Color Map of the Sun is the fourth album Pretty Lights album of a discography that blends together nearly seamlessly. It is the sound of an established voice in electronica completely taking over the reins on a grandiose effort with manifest success.

Alela Diane’s latest album, About Farewell, is about, you guessed it, saying goodbye. The Portland-based folk songstress’ full-length comes in the wake of her divorce from guitarist Tom Bevitori, who had played on and co-wrote Diane’s last album, 2011’s Alela Diane & Wild Divine.

Eight years removed from Mazarin’s breakup, Stoltzfus has bided his time since his last creative output, and as a result Light Heat is an intensely contemplative, focused, and highly enjoyable effort.

Colfax Speed Queen’s Satisfaction Intended gives the impression that the four-piece has had its share of after-hours festivity and debauchery along their namesake avenue. Here the band has penned eleven charmingly boisterous odes to rock and roll, and homemade amphetamines…

One needn’t look farther than the title of Montreal four-piece Hooded Fang’s third full-length release to know it’s their darkest yet. Gravez, the follow-up to the Polaris Prize-nominated (and aptly titled) Album.

Tuesday night’s show at the Boulder Theater began with a meditative acoustic set, then after a short break they played a more spontaneous electric set, both highlighting tracks from their newest album Fade.

Unafraid to mix pop sensibilities with unique and charming experimental rock delivery, Maps & Atlases stopped by the Larimer Lounge for one of their final tour stops.