Ratatat is at it again with this amazing video for their latest single off of LP3, due out July 8th on XL Recordings
The video is superb, superb I say. It just makes me want to watch Predator even more than my sub conscience already wanted to in the first place.
Ratatat - Mirando
Friday, May 23, 2008
The New Year...New Album
Anywhere USA band The New Year are set to released their 3rd, Self-titled, album on September 9, 2008 on Touch and Go.
The New Year will be touring the US and Europe as a full band this fall, and in the meantime the Kadane Brothers will be on tour this summer with Bottomless Pit.
The New Year album teaser (not much here though).
But check out the video for "The End's Not Near". Its one of my favorite songs by the band and a beautifully shot video.
| Emo’s - The Kadane Brothers | Austin, Texas | ||
| Lola’s - The Kadane Brothers w/Shearwater | Fort Worth, Texas | ||
| Granada Theater - The Kadane Brothers w/Centromatic | Dallas, Texas | ||
| Knitting Factory - The Kadane Brothers w/Bottomless Pit | New York, New York | ||
| Middle East - The Kadane Brothers w/Bottomless Pit | Cambridge, Massachusetts | ||
| Divan Orange - The Kadane Brothers w/Bottomless Pit | Montreal, Quebec | ||
| Sneaky Dee’s - The Kadane Brothers w/Bottomless Pit | Toronto, Ontario | ||
| Schuba’s - The Kadane Brothers w/Bottomless Pit | Chicago, Illinois | ||
| High Noon Saloon - The Kadane Brothers w/Bottomless Pit | Madison, Wisconsin | ||
| 7th Street Entry - The Kadane Brothers w/Bottomless Pit | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Weezer singles, Single, SINGLES
Our favorite post-adolescent guitar gods, Weezer are back with a third single for their upcoming (Red) Album. The first one we heard was the nostalgic Pork and Beans (see the new video below). Followed by the hodge podge collective of what could have been 8 songs, The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (listen here). And now they've released Troublemaker. If I had to rate this song with the other 2, I'd probably put it in the middle. The Greatest Man is to much to take in for it to make any sense with only a chorus to give the song some cohesiveness. And Pork and Beans, being my favorite so far...does a great job making me miss the Weezer from my middle school days. Trouble Maker however is short and sweet. Not much to think about on this one. Its good, not what I would call Pinkerton good but definitely Green-era good (if not better). I don't know what the album itself will sound like (out June 24th) its definitely doesn't sound like the follow up to 2005 Make Believe. Apparently 80% of the album has already leaked, but I never trust pre-release leaked albums...there's always the off chance that you're not getting the finished songs etc. I'm at the same moment excited and petrified about the album. I can't take much more heartbreak this year. An above average Weezer album could make or break me.
Download Troublemaker on iTunes
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Swimming by French Kicks
Swimming the newest release from New York mainstay act French Kicks is their second release for California's Vagrant Records. Unlike previous albums, Swimming is a much more down tempo album. Moving away from the upbeat catch stuff that made their live shows and records such a hit with independent music supporters. When I first listened to Swimming I have to admit that I was severely disappointed. As with many records where bands make obvious leaps across genre gaps and songwriting chasms. I figured I must have missed something, just one song, a bridge or some chordprogression that showed some semblance of my old beloved French Kicks. Sadly I can't say I've founded yet...
While the songs do "sound" like the French Kicks the production is much cleaner than any of their older stuff. This is not to say that the album isn't good. Sure some of the die hard fans will probably disown them, but for rainy day fans like myself and the new crop of fans that are sure to pick up this record just because...Swimming has its points. Actually every track is good. Singularly and as a whole. No seriously, after the initial shock...the album is completely solid. Yes you can argue that this album sound nothing like their last album, but then the band state that Swimming is the sound they've been trying to achieve for so long. And with singles like "Abandon" leading off the record...its a good sound to want to be achieving. I still think that their live shows will have the energy that made them a house hold name, but it will be interesting to see how the seemingly softer songs of Swimming will translate. You'll be able to find out yourself as the French Kicks, are out on tour now supporting the release. (Dates available on their Myspace.)
French Kicks - Abandon (MP3)
Catching Up
Lots of stuff has been happening, but I've been on the busy road that is the search for stable employment. And as my quest continues I may not be here all the time but it doesn't mean that I don't love you anymore. I just need some me time...Sean + Job = Money = Less Stress = More Posts. See we all want this in the end. So I'll give you a big lump o' everything that sparkled my interest in the past week.
Radio. Dept
One of my fav Swedish acts have a new single floating about the internet. It is everything I feel in love with the band for in one 3 minute song. Spacey electronic vocal, synth drum beats, political lyrics, poppy guitar melodies. Check out Freddie and the Trojan Horse below.
Radio Dept. - Freddie and the Trojan Horse
Missin Of Burma
I just watched Not A Photograph last week...*edit*Now You Can Too!** The Boston quartet have just added a July 19th show at Detroit’s Bohemian National Home. Where they will supposedly perform ‘Signals, Calls & Marches’ from start to finish. Other US dates below.
Tickets are available here.
The Futureheads
Post-punkers the Futureheads have announced more detailes on their upcoming releases. According to Pitchfork the US release date of This Is Not The World has been pushed back from May 27th to June 3rd. The band will play a number of festivals in Europe this summer.
The Vaselines
Scottish indie rock act the Vaselines has reunited for Sub Pop Records' 20th anniversary festival in July. The band is currently lining up additional dates, including shows at Maxwells on July 9th and Southpaw on July 10th.
Tickets go on sale today.
and finally!!!!!!!
Ra RA Riot
Barsuk has just signed Syracuse, NY based quintet Ra Ra Riot. The group's debut full length, the rhumb line, will be released in North America on August 19th, 2008, and in Europe (on V2) later this fall. Check the band's Barsuk page for tour dates + more
Radio. Dept
One of my fav Swedish acts have a new single floating about the internet. It is everything I feel in love with the band for in one 3 minute song. Spacey electronic vocal, synth drum beats, political lyrics, poppy guitar melodies. Check out Freddie and the Trojan Horse below.
Radio Dept. - Freddie and the Trojan Horse
Missin Of Burma
I just watched Not A Photograph last week...*edit*Now You Can Too!** The Boston quartet have just added a July 19th show at Detroit’s Bohemian National Home. Where they will supposedly perform ‘Signals, Calls & Marches’ from start to finish. Other US dates below.
| Paradise | Boston, Massachusetts | ||
| Paradise | Boston, Massachusetts | ||
| Bowery Ballroom | New York, New York | ||
| Bowery Ballroom | New York, New York | ||
| First Unitarian Church | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ||
| Black Cat | DC, Washington DC | ||
| Pitchfork Music Festival | Chicago, Illinois | ||
| Bohemian National Home | Detroit, Michigan |
Tickets are available here.
The Futureheads
Post-punkers the Futureheads have announced more detailes on their upcoming releases. According to Pitchfork the US release date of This Is Not The World has been pushed back from May 27th to June 3rd. The band will play a number of festivals in Europe this summer.
The Vaselines
Scottish indie rock act the Vaselines has reunited for Sub Pop Records' 20th anniversary festival in July. The band is currently lining up additional dates, including shows at Maxwells on July 9th and Southpaw on July 10th.
Tickets go on sale today.
and finally!!!!!!!
Ra RA Riot
Barsuk has just signed Syracuse, NY based quintet Ra Ra Riot. The group's debut full length, the rhumb line, will be released in North America on August 19th, 2008, and in Europe (on V2) later this fall. Check the band's Barsuk page for tour dates + more
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A Mad & Faithful Telling by DevotchKa
DevotchKa, a four piece Gypsy-rock band from Denver, Colorado comes back from after the critical success of 2006 Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack and EP Curse You Little Heart, with this years' full-length follow up, A Mad & Faithful Telling, on Anti records. Devotchka has always been known for their unique selection of instrumentation and song style, once again show of their talents.
On a whole the album plays like a child's bedtime story. Slight changes in chords and instruments signify the turning of a page or the start of a new chapter.
On the opening track "Basso Profoundo" traditional rock and roll is tossed out the window for the less conventional sounds of the gypsy. Using shakers and other miscellaneous percussion instead of your standard drum kit. And along with an upbeat accordion, fiddle, and a ghostly vocal chorus, the tempo of the album seems to be set...until 3:03 when the song essentially drops to a singular vocal/fiddle line back into full swing without even losing the listener or souring the mood. The 3rd track "The Clockwise Witness", another gem amongst gems on the album has a dainty music box intro with some staccato verses and a moving orchestral chorus while the lyrics harbor on a lover catching his/her significant other cheating and the conundrum/regret of forgiving them. The final track I'm going to mention in this long over due review is "Transliterator". Another track I find myself going back to over and over again. Its the most obvious presentation of a straight forward rock song, complete with distorted guitars and barely decipherable indie rock vocals.
I'm still on the fence as to whether or not "A Mad & Faithful Telling" is a furthering of DeVotchka's musical prows or if they're happy doing what they've been doing...creating a unique blend of genres from across the globe and bringing it to our ears.
Check in with one of my favorite places to buy music (insound.com) and order A Mad & Faithful Telling today. And while you're at it see them live at a town near you.
| 9:30 Club | Washington DC, Washington DC | ||
| The Fillmore/TLA | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ||
| Paradise | Boston, Massachusetts | ||
| Late Night with Conan O’Brien | New York, New York | ||
| Terminal 5 | New York, New York | ||
| Diesel Club Lounge | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | ||
| Southgate House | Newport, Kentucky | ||
| The Pageant | St. Louis, Missouri | ||
| Slowdown | Omaha, Nebraska | ||
| Alagarve Festival | Faro | ||
| Debaser Slussen | Stockholm | ||
| Peace and Love Festival | Borlange | ||
| John Dee | Oslo | ||
| Knaack Club | Berlin | ||
| Heineken Opener Festival | Gdynia | ||
| Solidays Festival | Paris | ||
| Werchter Festival | Werchter | ||
| Metropolis Festival | Rotterdam | ||
| Abart Music Club | Zurich | ||
| Les Ardentes | Liege | ||
| Cactus Festival | Brugge | ||
| Valkhof Affaire Festival | Nijmegen, Holland | ||
| Tivoli | Utrecht, Holland | ||
| Afisha Picnic | Moscow | ||
| Lollapalooza | Chicago, Illinois | ||
| Red Rocks Amphitheater | Morrison, Colorado |
The Faint Summer tour ticket presale.
Omaha's The Faint have just announced that their summer tour has gone on sale. Its a solid one month tour beginning in late July and working across the country well in to August. Grab them tickets now while they're still available.
Once again The Faint tickets are available HERE
| People’s Court | Des Moines, Iowa | ||
| Ramkota Annex | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | ||
| Ogden Theatre | Denver, Colorado | ||
| In The Venue | Salt Lake City, Utah | ||
| Knitting Factory Concert House | Boise, Idaho | ||
| Commodore Ballroom | Vancouver, British Columbia | ||
| The Showbox | Seattle, Washington | ||
| Crystal Ballroom | Portland, Oregon | ||
| The Fillmore | San Francisco, California | ||
| The Grand Ballroom | San Francisco, California | ||
| Henry Fonda Theatre | Los Angeles, California | ||
| Henry Fonda Theatre | Los Angeles, California | ||
| SOMA | San Diego, California | ||
| La Zona Rosa | Austin, Texas | ||
| Palladium Ballroom | Dallas, Texas | ||
| Variety Playhouse | Atlanta, Georgia | ||
| Cat’s Cradle | Carrboro, North Carolina | ||
| 9:30 Club | Washington DC, Washington DC | ||
| Trocadero | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ||
| Terminal 5 | New York City, New York | ||
| The Palladium | Worcester, Massachusetts | ||
| Opera House | Toronto, Ontario | ||
| Vic Theatre | Chicago, Illinois | ||
| Sokol Auditorium | Omaha, Nebraska |
Once again The Faint tickets are available HERE
Man Man - "Mister Jung Stuffed"
Pitchfork in conjunction with Myspace and the reverse vampires has the new video "Mr. Jung Stuffed" from Philadelphia's own Man Man.
The animated video is as creative as any I've seen this year. My favorite character is the Philip Seymour Hoffman look-a-like bartender in the beginning.
Man Man's new album Rabbit Habits is available now, and the kids are touring across the slums of Europe right now in support of it. But don't worry they'll be back in time to play Austin City Limits Festival in September.
The animated video is as creative as any I've seen this year. My favorite character is the Philip Seymour Hoffman look-a-like bartender in the beginning.
Man Man's new album Rabbit Habits is available now, and the kids are touring across the slums of Europe right now in support of it. But don't worry they'll be back in time to play Austin City Limits Festival in September.
| La Nuit De Botanique Festival | Brussels | ||
| Voxhall | Aarhus | ||
| Loppen | Copenhagen | ||
| Henriksberg | Goteborg | ||
| Garage | Oslo | ||
| Debaser | Stockholm | ||
| KB | Malmo | ||
| Knaack | Berlin | ||
| FZW | Dortmund | ||
| La Casa 139 | Milano | ||
| Primavera Festival | Barcelona | ||
| Le Ciel | Grenoble | ||
| La Cave A Musique | Macon | ||
| Nouveau Casino | Paris | ||
| Paradiso | Amsterdam | ||
| Doornroosje | Nijmegen | ||
| Vera | Groningen | ||
| La Terra Trema Festival | Cherbourg |
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