New Weakerthans Song!

I'm kind of surprised to see this band getting some music blog love. I've appreciated The Weakerthans since high school but their brand of poppy alt. country rock can teeter into whiny territory and thus attract the haters. This song, "Night Windows" is the first leak from their upcoming release Reunion Tour on Epitaph Records. It sounds like the good ol' Weakerthan sound and I'm glad for it. Pretty slow and shiny, the band waits until the end of the song to release the hook and the title lyric. Definitely worth a listen (or two.) Reunion Tour due out 9/25.

New Vanderslice Song, Album Drops Tomorrow

With John Vanderslice's new album Emerald City hitting stores tomorrow there's been a lot of buzz today. I found this new song called "Tablespoon of Codeine" that is being tagged as the "centerpiece" of the album. Featuring an ethereal soundscape and some nuanced drum loops this song is laden with interesting instrumentals. The song starts innocent enough but slowly becomes more urgent and dissonant before dying out to the lone piano and drum loop. Pretty cool effort from JV, but I'll be more excited to hear it in context with the rest of the record. Check it out for yourself:

The Good Life Divulge New LP Info

I've been waiting to hear this news ever since the day I bought The Good Life's last release, Album of the Year. I've always been a Cursive supporter, but over the last couple years I have become more of a Good Life fan and have yet had the chance to see them live. I'm excited to hear that they plan on releasing an EP (Heartbroke) before the LP (Help Wanted Nights) in true Saddle Creek fashion. The last EP precursor to Album of the Year has my favorite song of theirs on it so the new 7'' has a lot to live up to. Pitchfork released the tracklisting for both releases today:

Help Wanted Nights:

01 On the Picket Fence
02 A Little Bit More
03 Heartbroke
04 You Share of Men
05 You Don't Feel Like Home to Me
06 Keely Aimee
07 Playing Dumb
08 Some Tragedy
09 So Let Go
10 Rest Your Head

Heartbroke:

01 Heartbroke
02 Thirty-Year Evaluation

No song has been posted as of yet, but in the meantime check out my aforementioned fav off of the Lovers Need Lawyers EP called "Always a Bridesmaid"

Stars Release New Album 4 Days Upon Completion

In another example of how Indies are much better at evolving than the Majors, Art & Crafts announced today that they are releasing the new Stars' album In Our Bedroom After the War today for legal downloading - only four days after wrapping!. From a Blogpost on Stars' MySpace:

We believe that the line between the media and the public is now completely grey. What is the difference between a writer for a big glossy music magazine and a student writing about their favourite bands on their blog? What differentiates a commercial radio station from someone adding a song to their lastfm channel? or their myspace page?

As such, we are making the new Stars album available for legal download today, four days after it's completion. The CD and double vinyl versions of the album will still be released on our official release date, September 25th. We hope you will continue to support music retailers should a physical album in all it's packaged glory be your choice of format.

You can buy the new album by clicking here.

Another New Pornos Track - Myriad Harbor

The New Pornographers have released another song from their upcoming release Challengers. The song is called "Myriad Harbor" and is written by the other songwriter in the band, Dan Bejar. It's unlike anything else I've heard from the band and I really like it. Three part vocals, subtle string arrangements, and retro jangly guitar tones make for a sweet mix - plus a woodblock(?) The record comes out August 21st.

Good Stuff: The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbor

New Margot Material Surfaces

Indiana's Margot and the Nuclear So and So's have been keeping themselves busy with a new album despite splitting from their record label. Even though they're running out of money, the band is trying to forge ahead by playing shows and hopefully finishing the new record to shop around. They've said that they were getting offers at SXSW from labels but wanted to wait to finish the album. They have a gig booked in August opening for The Fray so hopefully they'll be getting some cash out of that. My Old Kentucky Blog just posted some live studio cuts of their new material and it's different from I've heard out of them before. They are stripped down, slow, and contain mostly sad lyrical content - but I have a feeling the songs will be more flushed out with the rest of the band on the actual record. Take a listen:
1. Children's Crusade On Acid
2. Untitled
3. The Ocean

Stars - "The Night Starts Here"

Arts & Crafts are at it again with another Stars release. The new album is called In Our Bedroom After the War and is set for a September 25th release. A new song from the album was posted today called "The Night Starts Here." From what I can hear in this song, the band isn't straying too far from their sound on the last record Set Yourself on Fire - and I like it. I feel that they do the vocal-trading airy synth thing better than anyone else and I'm glad they're sticking to what they do best. Although it may tread the line of being a tad repetitive, I think it shows promise for what the rest of the record may hold. Check it out for yourself:

John Vanderslice - White Dove

John Vanderslice's new record, Emerald City is due out July 24th on Barsuk Records. Upon my first listen to the song "White Dove" I've become pretty excited for this release. I've lost track of Vanderslice over the years but his 2001 release Time Travel is Lonely is one of my all time favorites. This song sounds a little more straight laced and poppier than anything off of that, but I like it. It definitely makes me want to go out and buy all the stuff in between. Click Here if you want to be notified of when you can preorder and whatnot. Check it!:

Sort-of-New Radiohead Material

This is old news by now, but I'm still really excited about it so I figured I'd post it anyways. Nigel Godich posted this on Radiohead's deadairspace blog a couple weekends ago. It's material from the mixes of their upcoming new album that aren't going to make the final cut. They are parts of songs that got chopped out of the edit during mixdown and spliced together for your listening pleasure. Here's the version displaying possible song titles, but there is the original version floating around that just has a camera fixed on the reel-to-reel spinning. I cannot wait for this record to be released.

The Cure Announces North American Tour

The Cure have added the North American jaunt to this year's summer/fall world tour - and it includes a stop to the Hollywood Bowl in mid-October. The dates were just announced this morning and the news also included word about a follow-up to 2004's S/T record. The new studio release will be released on Suretone/Geffen Records and should be expected around the same time as their L.A. stop. 65 Days of Static will be the opener for all of the North American dates. Click here to check out all the tour dates.

New Broken Social Scene Offering: Kevin Drew

Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene is joining the ranks of BSS members going solo. His full length titled Spirit If... is due out on September 18th on Arts & Crafts Records. While I wasn't extremely impressed with the Apostle of Hustle record, I have really liked the new Feist one, and Emily Haines' Knives was probably my favorite record from last year. So Kevin has sort of a tough act to follow from his BSS family. The new song that just hit this morning is called "Tbtf" and it supposedly isn't meant to be pronounced - but said as an acronym. I'm not going to spoil the lyrical content because it's funnier to just listen to it not expecting the chorus. This song sounds more like the classic Broken Social Scene sound than any of the other solo efforts and makes me that much more excited for this release. Enjoy:

Sufjan's Next State: Oregon??

Via Gorillavsbear: Sufjan Stevens may have announced his plans for the next state in his collection: Oregon. But the folk singer's purevolume page doesn't have everyone convinced that it's the truth. If you can remember back to last year, this wouldn't be the first time Sufjan has been the subject of an internet hoodwinking. Pitchfork had preemptively posted an article about Sufjan and singer/songwriter Rosie Thomas having a baby and it turned out to be a hoax. So this time around, people aren't taking this purevolume "announcement" as 100% fact; but it's still a little intriguing. I've been eagerly waiting to hear what state it's gonna be ever since I fell in love with Illinois over two summers ago. I remember Oregon has been tossed around before in this same rumor mill sometime last year. You can check the page yourself here and stream the exclusive track "Portland, or Whistling Underwater." It sounds in the same vein as the garage rock song he released to mixed reviews last month. As of right now, there is no record of this release on the Asthmatic Kitty website. UPDATE: It's a hoax. Check out the pitchfork article here.

White Stripes Icky Thump Their Way to Los Angeles

On June 20th, the White Stripes will bring their hoopla whirlwind to Los Angeles for a special, West Hollywood show. An 'Icky Thump Records' store will be constructed for the show in the spot where old Tower Records used to exist on the Sunset Strip. Tickets are only going out to the first 200 fans that purchase the new record at this store, which opens at midnight this coming Monday night. KROQ is also giving out a handful of tickets through the weekend. Better get in line now. You can stream the entire album legally here at MTV. You wouldn't want Jack to call you up and make you cry. Here's a live vid of the title track:

Coming Attractions: Scissors For Lefty

San Francisco band Scissors For Lefty just released their new record, Underhanded Romance on Eenie Meenie Records, and to celebrate are stopping in town tonight to play the Knitting Factory. They bring their choppy, quick-tempo'd, indie pop along with them. For 20 bucks you can get yourself a copy of the new release as well as a ticket to get in the door tonight. Not too shabby since the tickets cost almost $15. Have a listen as to what these guys are all about. This song is off the new record and is called "Lay Down Your Weapons."

Blowin' Up: No Age

Every once in a while a band will come around that embodies the exact sound that you've been looking for at the exact time you're looking for it. Over the past month, this has come by way of L.A.'s very own No Age. Their low-fi DIY style of noise punk mixed with the artful soundscaping meet at a perfect blend. For the band, this is a time where everything seems to be going right. They've received a lot of press lately, most notably Stereogum's Band To Watch as well as an 8.0 from Pitchfork Media (and a "Recommended Listen" title to boot.) If you read the linked articles above, you'll get the full background - but to sum up the feel-good story - 'two guys from marginally successful noiserock act Wives form new band and new record label to help put out their own and their friends' records. They volunteer and help run the local arthouse/music venue The Smell. They own in concert- go see them. The End.' Their new full length record "Weirdo Rippers" was just released in Europe to rave reviews, (due out later this summer in the U.S.) and they're on the cusp of a European tour with longtime friends Mika Miko. They have one last L.A. date tomorrow at Pehrspace (does anyone want to go with me?) before crossing the pond later next week. Here's my personal favorite off of the new record called "Everybody's Down." You can stream it here or at their MySpace. Everytime I hear this song it blows my mind - listen until the drums kick in towards the end.

"Everybody's Down" off Fat Cat Records' Weirdo Rippers:

Editors' New Release - An End Has a Start

After buying into the hype last year about Editors' first release, The Back Room, I ended up being pretty entertained. I had been getting kind of sick of the Interpol impersonations with every other new band coming out trying to mimic Paul Banks' deadpan delivery and my first impression was that Editors fell right into this. After a couple more spins though, I realized they had more to offer in their songwriting than a She Wants Revenge type band. I like that they play a lot with verse/chorus dynamics and usually pay off a good breakdown/build up. For their sophomore record, An End Has a Start, I have high expectations that they will be able to continue the tight rope act of channeling their influences into a fresh sound instead of falling into the trap of too well tread territory. The first single, titled "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" has been out for about a month now. From what I can hear in this song and what I've read, An End Has a Start should be an engaging and interesting release. Check it out for yourself:
Stream: Editors - Smoking Outside the Hospital Doors (MP3)

New Promo For New Pornos

In yet another example of how indie record labels (either out of necessity or just plain intelligence) are adapting to the trends of today's music industry - Matador records has unleashed their Buy Early Get Now promotional campaign. For the fourth record in the series, they're releasing The New Pornographers' Challengers. The album isn't due out until August 21st, but in order to cut down on loss of sales due to leaky P2Pers, Matador has initiated this nifty way of getting the music early and giving a reason to actually - you know, pay for it. Click the link here to see what the deal is. For now, you can stream the first single of the record, "Your Rights Versus Mine."

New Music: Spoon - The Underdog

While this song has been floating around the internet for a week or so now, I wasn't sure what to make of it. I'm definitely not a Spoon-crazed maniac like it seems everyone else is, but I would consider myself a fan. This song took me by surprise a little (before I even heard it, I knew it would be a different Spoon having read that Jon Brion produces on this track.) After about five listens the track is really starting to grow on me. While always being known for their interesting instrumentation and arrangements, they've taken a different approach to crafting this song - horns, hand claps, and sleighbells round out the rather straightforward approach to jangly retro pop-rock. And I think they pull it off. I'm getting really excited to hear the rest of the new record - titled Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and slated for a July 10th release on Merge. Here's a glimpse at the new artwork and for your listening pleasure - the new single, The Underdog.

The Black Keys Release Free EP

Hometown heroes, The Black Keys just recently released a live EP, creatively named The Live EP for free on their MySpace site. The 4 song digital release features the songs "No Trust," "Girl Is On My Mind," "10 AM Automatic," and "Elevator." The first two were recorded here in Los Angeles at the Troub and the last two were recorded in Nashville. I just finished listening to it, and it's definitely worth the time to head over to MySpace and download it.

Band You Need to Know: The Teeth

So, (to borrow a D. Deacon phrase) I really shit the bed in the New Releases department this week. But as far as I'm concerned the only release this week that matters is You're My Lover Now by The Teeth (sorry to all of you R. Kelly fans.) The Teeth, who are a Park the Van Records staple make music that is fun, gritty, and their own unique throwback style. Over the past year or so, I've fallen in love with the Park the Van aesthetic with bands like The Teeth, Dr. Dog, and The National Eye. All of these bands have their own one-of-a-kind sound to them. For the past few months, their MySpace has been streaming a couple of the new tracks, and I have been impressed. Check out this standout track called "Ball of the Dead Rat." They are slated to play the Echo with Dr. Dog(!) on July 12th.