Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The Libertines played a show tonight

It was announced earlier this week that The Libertines are reuniting to play Reading and Leeds. They scheduled a press conference tonight at London's The Boogaloo to talk about the reformation, but after a brief chat they grabbed their instruments and played an 8 song set.

NME has more details here.

Reports that drugs fell out of Pete Doherty's coat pocket whilst he was tuning could not be confirmed at press time.

Welcome back lads. Good to have ya.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Record Store Day 2010: The Soft Pack 7" box set

The main Record Store Day website doesn't have this listed yet but according to a Facebook photo they uploaded today, The Soft Pack will be releasing their eponymous Kemado debut as a 7" box set on April 17th.

Limited to 1,500 pieces and promised not to be repressed, each 7" will have its own unique sleeve with collage art put together by singer / guitarist / rad dude Matt Lamkin. Also included- "previously unreleased on-vinyl bonus tracks!" Not sure which songs they mean exactly but it sounds mysterious.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Scuba, Triangulation

Scuba seems to slowly be finding his way across the Atlantic here to the States with his latest album Triangulation. A Google search yields a variety of genre titles. Dubstep. Techno. Electronic. Minimal. Dark House.

Whatever you decide to call it what really draws the listener in is the percussives, at times pretty metallic sounding. Take the below track as an example. After the ease of the intro, the beat kicks in and sounds a lot like a couple of workers rhythmically banging around with metal contraptions in their shop.

Scuba - 'Before':



If you are in L.A. this weekend you know how absolutely beautiful the weather is here right now. Scuba is a nice companion piece to the crisp spring breeze.



More Scuba info here.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Pulp, Auto Festival 2002

This recording is the last show Pulp played before going on a hiatus they have yet to emerge from. Sorry the tracklisting seems to be out of order, but the sound quality is pretty great as far as boots go.

Interlude 1
Lipgloss
Something Changed
Sorted for E's and Wizz
Razzmatazz
This Is Hardcore
I Love Life
Sunrise
Interlude 2
Happy Endings
Babies
Common People

Download

Forgot how I originally acquired this but a big thanks to whomever it was.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Roky Erickson, True Love Cast Out All Evil


Anti- sure does know how to make a longtime musician feel relevant again. Not to imply that Roky Erickson has been irrelevant for a single day in his long and fascinating career, but the label could just have easily released another Roky Erickson album and it would have been great. Instead they paired him with the blog worthy Okkervil River and had Will Sheff from the band produce the record. What a genius way to introduce Roky and his music to a whole new audience that may never have heard him otherwise.

There is a lot of popular music out there that is written in the third person, if it's actually written by the person performing it at all. It doesn't mean these are bad songs necessarily but it does mean that it's missing that first person emotion. In the below track, Roky keeps repeating the title. 'Goodbye Sweet Dreams'. When it hits the high mark towards the end and he starts singing in a more frantic tone, you experience that first hand emotion that seems such a rarity. Roky has lived a lot of life. And you believe every word he sings here.

Roky Erickson - 'Goodbye Sweet Dreams'

True Love Cast Out All Evil is released April 20th.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A Place To Bury Strangers, Ego Death EP

NME ran a story yesterday announcing that A Place To Bury Strangers have a new EP coming up called Ego Death and it "...is the follow-up to 2009's Exploding Head and was recorded in Brooklyn."

As exciting as that sounds, it's a bit misleading. 'Ego Death' is track 6 on Exploding Head as well as the new single. Factual error aside, the Ego Death EP does exist. It's available digitally right now here in the States on iTunes and there is a 12" on the way. Or at least I hope it's on the way. I caught them in L.A. with The Big Pink a couple weeks back and my eagle eye didn't spot this at the merch table.

Either way the tracklist is:

1. Ego Death (Radio Edit)
2. It's a Fast Driving Raveup With a Place to Bury Strangers
3. Ego Death (Figo Remix)
4. Exploding Head (RX Dub Remix)
5. Ego Death (Allen Blickle of Baroness Remix)

A Place to Bury Strangers - 'Ego Death':



Exploding Head was one of the better records released last year that probably slipped right by you. Highly recommended live band as well.

Check upcoming tour dates here.

Of course we can all hope that the NME is correct and there is an EP of all new material on its way.

P.S. Video has been released (via The Scenester):

New Teenage Fanclub Album Announced


I feel like I read Alan McGee quoted somewhere once where he said something to the effect that Scotland's Teenage Fanclub are his favorite band that he signed to Creation Records. Now hopefully I'm not putting words in the poor chaps mouth but if that holds true that's a pretty epic statement considering the bands that were on that label.

Teenage Fanclub are re-emerging after five years to release their new album Shadows June 8th on Merge.

Here's a new song to listen to:

Teenage Fanclub - 'Baby Lee'

Tracklist:

1. Sometimes I Don’t Need To Believe In Anything
2. Baby Lee
3. The Fall
4. Into The City
5. Dark Clouds
6. The Past
7. Shock And Awe
8. When I Still Have Thee
9. Live With The Seasons
10. Sweet Days Waiting
11. The Back Of My Mind
12. Today Never Ends

Monday, March 22, 2010

Black Tambourine, Black Tambourine LP


Seems like lots of people are either rediscovering Black Tambourine or discovering them for the first time. Feels like the right timing. Slumberland Records celebrated 20 years last year and is continuing the party next week with two West Coast shows. Also it's nearly impossible to hear a Black Tambourine track (keep in mind most of these were recorded between 1989 - 1991) and not hear some solid similarities to the current crop of buzz bands that have been all over your favorite blog in the last year and a half. These guys were truly ahead of their time.

On March 30th Slumberland is releasing a 12" simply titled Black Tambourine. Compiling the handful of tracks the band released in their brief existence, the comp also includes unreleased songs including four brand new ones that the band recently reunited to record.

Black Tambourine - 'For Ex-Lovers Only'

At $10 this is a steal. Pre-order here.

Record Store Day 2010: Sonic Youth, Confusion Is Sex and EVOL reissues


For 2009's Record Store Day, Sonic Youth released two solid 7" splits with Beck and Jay Reatard respectively. They return once again to help celebrate the annual holiday, only this year you can snag reissues of two of their earliest albums which have been out of print for some time. Confusion Is Sex (the bands debut, originally released in 1983 on SST) and EVOL (third album released in 1986, some might say their first classic full length).





Both albums are being put together by Original Recordings Group, are being pressed at RTI and will be 180 gram. Confusion Is Sex will be pressed on white vinyl and EVOL will be pink. Each will be limited to 1,500 pieces worldwide.




April 17th is the day you want to wake up early.

Sonic Youth, 'Shadow of A Doubt' from EVOL:

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Carl Barat finishes solo album

(photo credit: Paul O'Neil)

Carl Barat (Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things) has confirmed with the BBC that his solo album is now finished, saying it's '...definitely different from The Libertines. It's different from anything I've done before. It's more me." No other details, such as album name / release date, were offered up.

Barat also touched on those ever rampant Libertines reunion rumors, saying that he sees the other members of the band often. Read the full article here.

NME recently talked with Carl about the upcoming album and you can watch that video here.

Looking forward to this one quite a bit.

Carl Barat - 'Can't Stand Me Now (acoustic)':

Video: Serena-Maneesh, 'I Just Want To See Your Face'


Surfing on Steam sends the tip that Serena-Maneesh have a new clip for 'I Just Want To See Your Face'. Personally speaking, this band is one of the more fascinating groups out there right now and hopefully the new album, SM-2: Ayisha Abyss in B Minor, gets the due attention with whomever is making your music listening decisions for you these days.



Their latest album releases this Tuesday from 4AD.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Arctic Monkeys, 'My Propeller'


Humbug opener 'My Propeller' is getting the proper single treatment on April 13th. It will be available in both 7" and 10" formats.

7":

1. 'My Propeller'
2. 'Joining The Dots'

10":

1. 'My Propeller'
2. 'Joining The Dots'
3. 'The Afternoon's Hat'
4. 'Don't Forget Who's Legs You're On'

Pre-order here.

The song also now has a video and the lads have finally made one that captures the dark hazy psych-like feel that is prevalent throughout most of the latest album.



Arctic Monkeys will also be playing an outside desert show in Pioneertown, CA at Pappy & Harriet's Palace on April 18th. Can't imagine a better setting to hear them play their latest songs.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

J. Spaceman, Alan Vega remix Fuck Buttons

('How's abouts a high 5 for us being rad-tastic, eh mate?')

Here's some excellent news. Fuck Buttons will be releasing a 12" single for 'Olympians'. I can give or take singles most of the time. It usually has to have something really intriguing for me to want to pick one up if I already have the album that it was born on.

This one does. It has two exclusive songs. One is a remix of 'Olympians' done by J. Spaceman (!) while Alan Vega (!) takes on 'Rough Steez'. Seems like these guys have fans in high places and now we all can benefit from that.

It will also be pressed on five different colors (!!!!!).

You can bet your sweet bippy I'll be picking this one up.

A1 Olympians
B1 Olympians (Spaceman vs. the Olympians Remix)
B2 Rough Steez (White Hot Heat Remix)

Available on April 12th through ATP. Pre-order!

P.S. Listen to the J. Spaceman remix over at P4K.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The National - Is this the High Violet cover?


Could be. It's been added to www.highviolet.com along with a couple of snapshots of a white board with song titles (presumably). There's also some video clips from the studio.

The National are on Fallon tonight. DVR is set.

Nite.

P.S. The video is already up on the Fallon website. Watch it and then hit the hay. Song is called 'Terrible Love'. Look for the mp3 of the album version on all high trafficked, relevant indie blogs tomorrow.

4AD Releases Limited 12" EP for Record Store Day


Many people get excited about April for Coachella. I get excited about April for a different reason: Record Store Day.

There have already been some nice announcements about what is going to be available this time around. Yesterday 4AD announced a limited 12" EP that sounds pretty neat. Consisting of 5 tracks from the likes of Blonde Redhead, Gang Gang Dance, The Big Pink, Tune-Yards and Ariel Pink, Fragments From Work In Progress offers early demos and unreleased songs while they are still in the stage of being worked out creatively. The label has made it clear that this will not be available digitally or otherwise.

These types of releases on RSD are what interest me most. Things that aren't just a repackaging of what a band has released before (although those can be nice sometimes too), but more of a special unique release that you can only get through an independent record shop on April 17th. Looking forward to picking this up amongst a hefty list of other things.

Also- how great is that cover art?

Tracklisting:

A1: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti 'Menopause Man'
A2: Tune-Yards 'You Yes You'
B1: Blonde Redhead 'Not Getting There'
B2: Gang Gang Dance 'Slime City (Heaven)'
B3: The Big Pink 'With You'

Monday, March 8, 2010

Singles Club: Blur, 'Beetlebum'


'Beetlebum' has been sticking with me for the better part of two weeks now. In my head, on my YouTubes, through the computer speakers. I'm not quite sure exactly what it is but there are a few healthy candidates. It could be because I recently rewatched Live Forever. Maybe it's because I have been reading bit of a blur by Alex James on and off the past half month. But it's probably as simple a fact as it's a brilliant song.

'Beetlebum' is the lead track, first single off of 1997's Blur. It was their second number 1 in the U.K ('Country House' being the first). There was heavy speculation for years that the song was about drug use, specifically heroin. According to Wikipedia, where I get all my facts, Damon Albarn admitted as much in the recent documentary No Distance Left To Run. Further speculation persists that it's about Justine Frischmann from Elastica, who dated Albarn in the 90's, and who has been public about her battles with substance abuse.




The timing checks out. Justine places her junkie years from 1996 to 1998. 1998 was the year her and Albarn split. 'Beetlebum' was recorded in 1996 and released in 1997. Whether Albarn was writing the song from a different perspective is still uncertain, but the lyrics appear to be from someone who had experienced heroin first hand.

The video for 'Beetlebum' is just as great as the song itself. The opening notes on record sound real bouncy and the video accomodates for this as it shakes up and down with Graham Coxon's guitar. Other things I like: the still frames of the band as the song builds into the chorus. The relaxed nature of Alex James as he sits and confidently lays down the rythym. Albarn rolling around on the floor right before singing the closing lines 'He's on, He's on, He's on it'. And then the final tracked shot that pulls away from the building the band is playing in and turns and floats above Camden. A beautiful scene that is so simple, but always strikes me as having had to be hard work to film.



Blur is probably remembered by the uninitiated here in the States as the start and end of the bands catalouge and not for 'Beetlebum' but for 'Song 2'. And of course Damon has found much greater success here with his Gorillaz project than he ever could have dreamed of with Blur. It's unfortunate that Blur didn't catch on more in America like Oasis, but they did leave quite the Britpop time capsule for future generations to discover. 'Beetlebum' is only scratching the surface.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Dead Meadow set to play Hollywood Forever Cemetary


Los Angeles psych trio Dead Meadow have a feature length concert film they are releasing on March 23rd. Three Kings was shot on their final hometown stop of the Old Growth tour and will be accompanied by a double LP that consists of the live show as well as five new studio songs. Scattered amongst the live performance there will be cryptic footage of the band representing the three kings whom, quoting their website, 'are the silent watchers of their world'. Here's to hoping this rivals the Robert Plant fantasy scene in The Song Remains The Same.

Here's a video from one of the new songs, 'That Old Temple':



The band will be launching a tour to support the Three Kings release and it will begin with a free screening / performance at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Hard to think of a more perfect place to see a concert film like this.

Check dates here.

Pre-order here.

Friday, March 5, 2010

The National, High Violet / Black Sessions #230


Surfing on Steam and I were chatting yesterday about these High Violet teaser ads and wondering who they were for. The National was one of the bands mentioned as a guess. And now it has been revealed that High Violet is the name of their new album to be released by 4AD on May 11th.

Not that I care so much about album names but I particularly like the name of this one. Supposedly its going to be 'angry'. Maybe it's an album's worth of material written right after Matt Berninger gave up smoking. While I love all The National albums, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers is my favorite. I feel like that had a bit of anger in parts. Since Matt sings in a low steady tone most of the time it's a nice contrast when the screaming starts. Hope the new album has bits of that here and there.

Here's this if you don't already have it. It's the Black Session they did sometime around the release of Alligator:

The National - Black Session #230, 04.29.05

1. All The Wine
2. Secret Meeting
3. Driver Surprise Me
4. Lit Up
5. Cherry Tree
6. Baby, We'll Be Fine
7. Geese
8. City Middle
9. Looking For Astronauts
10. Mr. November
11. Daughters of the Soho Riots
12. Abel
13. Wasp Nest

Download

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Darker My Love / Audacity, 'Under The Covers Vol. 1' Split 7"

Finally picked up my copy of IHRNR005 at their headquarters a couple of weeks back. This release is the first volume in their 'Under The Covers' series and features Darker My Love and Audacity covering each others songs ('Mr. Alvarez' and 'Summer Is Here' respectively). While you will have to buy this (or trick Matzah when he is drunk) to hear what this sounds like, take a listen to the originals and try to imagine.

Darker My Love - 'Summer Is Here':



Audacity - 'Mr. Alvarez':

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Jason Lytle, 'Wonder Why In LA'


I don't make top ten end of the year lists because very few people care what I think. However, there does exist an alternate reality where everyone hangs on my every word. In that alternate existence I do make top ten lists and Yours Truly, The Commuter would have been somewhere in the mix in the year 2009. I might use the term 'criminally underappreciated' to describe it except for the simple fact that I don't read that many blogs, so maybe I'm wrong.

Thankfully for people who appreciate great music, Jason Lytle is hard at work making sure more of it exists in this world. Not sure if this song will be included in the next grouping of songs we get from him, but the wonderful Anti- blog posted it tonight and you should take a moment and have a sincere listen:



Thanks Jason! Hopefully someday soon people won't feel the need to preface your name with 'ex-former band you were in' when they write about you.

Nite blog!