Friday Five: Special Coachella Edition

As much as I know you all love the friday five, I've got something about 3 and a half times cooler this week. A live stream of Coachella (that massively sweet music festival going on this weekend in California). Tune in throughout the weekend to catch sets from Of Montreal, Sonic Youth, Bjork, and a whole lot more.

Live Stream: Coachella Live

News: New Interpol Album Details

Details are pretty sparse right now - don't worry kids, I'm sure it'll leak any minute now...

So far all we have is a track list and LP title.

Our Love to Admire:

01 Pioneer to the Falls
02 No I in Threesome
03 The Scale
04 The Heinrich Maneuver
05 Mammoth
06 Pace Is the Trick
07 All Fired Up
08 Rest My Chemistry
09 Who Do You Think
10 Wrecking Ball
11 The Lighthouse

Oh, the release date is out too - July 10, 2007.

For now just keep rewatching this:

New Music: The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Hey, remember the other day when I said that "Icky Thump" was being being released June 11? Good news, now you don't have to wait.

MP3: The White Stripes - Icky Thump

On first listen, it sounds like Jack and Meg are returning to their pre-Get Behind Me Satan. I'm also really digging the distorted casio/guitar combo.

Enjoy!

You can thank me later.


Icky Thump will be out June 18.

Under Review: Elliott Smith - New Moon

Oh god! The dead have risen and are releasing records!

Too soon?

Oh well, I said it and I'm not taking it back.

This is Elliott's second posthumous release, and sad as it is too say, this guy's unreleased material is better then a lot of what still-alive artists are putting out. No wonder since New Moon is made up of material that Smith recorded at his high point in the mid to late 90's. I don't know if LP really compares to his proper releases like From A Basement... or Either/Or, but it's pretty consistently great throughout.

More importantly, New Moon does what a good posthumous is supposed to...make you reexamine the artist's catalog and wow you all over again.




New Moon is out May 8, 2007.

News: New White Stripes Single

If you're on the internets you know that The White Stripes have a new LP comming out this June called Icky Thump (I know, I didn't think it could get worse then Get Behind Me Satan either).

But because Jack and Meg are such lovely people, they've decided to ease the wait with 2 pre-release singles - both on coloured vinyl, of course. "Rag and Bone" will be released on red vinyl with copies of the June 6 edition of NME. Wow, finally a reason to buy a copy of NME! "Icky Thump" (the single) will be released on white vinyl and without magazine on June 11.

You can start holding your breath again...


Icky Thump will be out June 18.

Friday Five: April 20 '07

Handsome Furs - Plague Park

Yeah, yeah, you all know the buzz around this LP. To summarize: it's Dan Boeckner's new side project, it's just him and his girlfriend, it's really, really good. What I love about this album is that it's actually more of a Wolf Parade follow up (when are we ever gunna get one of those?). So basically, if you guys are jonesing for a follow up to Apologies, then check this out.





The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns Fifteen Winters

Following up their well received EP, The Twilight Sad will soon be releasing their first full length. Sounding more like a toned down Scottish Arcade Fire then Arab Strap, the last thing they are is contrived. Instead of conforming to the typical chamber pop sound like so many other bands (*cough*Ohbijou et als. *cough*) The Twilight Sad come off as diffrent by mixing brooding vocals with some pretty impressive, sweeping instrumentation. It's too bad that it's summer, this would be the perfect fall record.


Electrelane - No Shouts, No Calls

Don't you wish bands would stop drawing on the same musical influences? Yes, we know, Velvet Underground, Arcade Fire, and Sonic Youth have all had a huge effect on more then just a few bands...Ok well good news, even with that amazingly generic list Electrelane sound fresh on No Shouts, No Calls. Somehow they copy+paste all their influences into an album that doesn't sound like something you've heard before.



Bill Callahan - Woke on a Whaleheart

Oh my! This album really caught my attention right from the first listen. No, not because of the cover art...(I know, it's pretty wacky!) Rather because on his newest solo release he manages to rock out on with piano, cello, and yes even a violin or two. Don't go callin' him Sufjan though, Woke on a Whaleheart is a lot less grandiose, but still manages to reach Morrisey levels of "wow" while staying pretty low key the whole time.


Small Leaks Sink Ships - Until The World Is Happy

These guys are being criminally underexposed. Maybe it's my love of early Built to Spill, but something about Small Leaks Sink Ships debut EP really stands out. Even though it's only 10 tracks long, Until The World is Happy keeps the intensity on high the whole time. Raw, angular guitar drives this album and makes it a great summer album.

Yep, no joke for this one, oh well.

New Music: LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum (live)

Super sorry about the lack of regular posts and such.
What's that? You forgive me? Awwww, you're so sweet imaginary reader! I'll make it up to you with an amazingly great friday five this week!
Hurrays all around!

For now though, enjoy James Murphy doing up "North American Scum" all live and such:

Rant: If Quinton Is A DJ, Grindhouse Is A Dance Floor

After my extended vacation I finally managed to squeeze in some time to go see Grindhouse - the new Tarantino/Rodriguez double feature. First off, let me say wow! It's a fantastic movie...go see it right now...twice!

But what I found really amazing was the music in Death Proof (Tarantino's half of the movie). I know, you're thinking "big whoop, Pulp Fiction had good music too."

Well voice in my head, you're half right.

Pulp Fiction did have a great soundtrack, but in Death Proof Tarantino's inner music nerd really comes out. Not only are the song selections amazing but a huge part of the dialog and story really focuses on the music in the film. Don't worry, it's not forced. One of the main characters is a DJ - the cool kind, not the retarded morning ones.

I don't want to ruin anything, but let's just say that Tarantino comes very close to rivaling the "Stuck in the Middle with You" scene from Reservoir Dogs.

Ok, thats enough critical fellating for one night.

Listen: Smith - Baby It's You (MP3)
Listen: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - Hold Tight (MP3)

Grindhouse is in theaters now, Death Proof's soundtrack is now available too.

Site News: We're Back!

I hope everyone had a lovely passover/zombie-jesus week.
That said....we're back!

New Music: Tokyo Police Club - Cheer It On (video)

Check out the new video.
Sorry about the short post, more news tomorrow.

Rant: Walk All Over Ian Curtis, Why Don't You?

You read this blog, so I'll assume you like Joy Division.
Do you also like shoes?

If so, then I've got big news for you!

That beacon of indie culture in the shoe world, New Balance (yes, I'm as confused as you are) have reasoned that you'd like to celebrate your love of the seminal British band with...custom trainers!

Wait...what?No release date has been set as of yet...but one can only guess that Urban Outfitters will pick these up.

Under Review: Bright Eyes - Cassadaga

If I'm asked to name one song to characterize Bright Eyes, I'll pretty much invariably think of "Lover I Don't Have To Love" off 2002's Lifted or the Story Is In the Soil, Keep Your Ear To the Ground. Not that it's his best song - but more because it's angst and sense of urgency pretty much epitomize Conner Oberst's work.

Well, prepare to be stunned. On Cassadaga Oberst does a 180 and sounds more like some sort of Ryan Adams/Bruce Springsteen love child. Of course, you're asking yourself "alright, but is that a good thing?"

The answer is "sort of".

I think that it may partially have to do with Oberst choosing to explore new territory that he's not 100% comfortable with. But in after a few listens Cassadaga really seems like a mixed bag. Not to say it's all bad "Hot Knives" "Four Winds" and "I Must Belong Somewhere" are all great tracks - but this album seems more like one that you'd listen to driving down the highway then one you'd listen to over and over.

I think that people's opinion of this album will vary quite a bit - chances are after reading this you already will have a feeling if you'll dig it or not.

Listen: Bright Eyes - Four Winds (MP3)


Cassadaga is out is out 4/10 on Saddle Creek

New Music: Hot Chip ''My Piano''

Hurray!

Yep, Hot Chip is back with a new single from their upcoming release DJ-Kicks. Nothing really new here, if you liked The Warning or Coming On Strong, then you'll probably find a lot to like on "My Piano". On the same note, if they haven't won you over with their past two efforts you likely won't be converted on the strength of this.

Don't expect a full album though, for anyone not familiar with the DJ-Kicks series, it's basically a mix cd put together by the band. Don't fret, I'm sure it'll be three kinds of fun.

Enjoy!

Listen: Hot Chip - My Piano (MP3 Link)



DJ-Kicks is out 05/24/07 on !k7