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[Hello, hello ... Anybody out there on a Monday holiday? No? Yes?] Add the Young Veins to the latest batch of groups diving into the Swell Sounds of the Sixties. Or Something Similar. The L.A.-based quintet, spearheaded by ex-Panic at the Disco dudes Ryan Ross and Jon Walker, conjoin a little British Invasion with a little West Coast sunshine for a sound that's the perfect fashion accessory for summer. (And, yes, their debut album "Take a Vacation!," out June 8, might last as long as that $8 pair [...]

Guillemots frontman Fyfe Dangerfield's solo album "Fly Yellow Moon" wavers between the romantic musings of a guy who's rethinking his place in universe and the slightly unhinged psych-pop of a writer who can't wait to get to the next hook. Good stuff, so good that you arch your eyebrows at the press release saying it was tossed together in five days (with Bernard Butler adding some touches later). The Londoner is promising more avant-pop from Guillemots soon, but for now "Fly Yellow Moon," which was picked up by Downtown Music and will be released this week, merits some [...]

[Cheers to Josh Homme on his 37th birthday — maybe his QOTSA bandmate Troy Van Leeuwen will raise a glass to him at Spaceland tonight ...] Van Leeuwen's quartet Sweethead continues its residency at Spaceland, and also on that side of town it's the second week of the Like's stint at the Echo ( Jail Weddings and Starf*cker support), and Week 3 of War Tapes [pictured] at the Silverlake Lounge, with Hexham Heads and Repeater . ... Ohio [...]

[The party was apparently this past weekend in NYC — lost my invitation — but today is officially Bono's birthday. And his 50th, at that. Those AARP discounts really help, pal. ... Meanwhile, in L.A. tonight:] Pop-rock collagists Fang Island [pictured], who've been touring with L.A.'s Red Sparowes, check in for a 6 p.m. in-store at Amoeba. ... The Like kicks off a four-week stand at the Echo — the quartet's new album "Release Me" comes out in June. [...]

[It's the first week of a new month, and so many good shows ahead. Happy birthday today to Interpol's Paul Banks, and here's what up on this busy Monday:] Broken Social Scene [pictured] hits town behind its new album "Forgiveness Rock Record" and plays a sold-out show at the Fonda Theatre. ... Lupe Fiasco continues his tour with up-and-comers B.o.B. at the House of Blues. ... The Hold Steady chat about their new album "Heaven Is Whenever" and do an acoustic [...]

New Tales To Tell, A Tribute To Love And Rockets was just named "Editor's Pick" at Amazon.com for the month of April. This means if you have yet to pick up the quintessential tribute to the band, you can download it digitally for the low price of $5. This compilation was lovingly produced by SiriusXM Radio DJ, Christopher The Minister , a longtime fan and former A&R rep for the band. Christopher gathered fellow fans of the band that ranged from Tool / Pucifer's Maynard James Keenan , [...]

A bumper crop of inbox fodder for you this week. My pick: 'Sailor' by The Gertrudes & PS I Love You. I can't get enough of this song today. It's all yearning vocals and building rhythms, the horn section partway through is magnificent and the end crescendo is wonderful. I just love it. Say a prayer for the lovers lost at sea, sailing to her shore... Sailor - The Gertrudes & PS I Love You (Canada) | The Gertrudes myspace | PS I Love [...]
"Well, it's Friday - the last day of our Sarathan Records spotlight. This week, each band shared an exclusive song, selected just for The Vinyl District in celebration of the upcoming Record Store Day (April 17th). Don't fret that our week is over - we have more music to share! Two more songs from Thunder Buffalo, Two Loons for Tea, Feral Children, Peter Bradley Adams and War Tapes. [...]
I used to intern for a record label when I lived in Washington, DC. One of my responsibilities was visiting the many record stores in and around the DC area and hang up posters for the different bands I was helping to promote. One of the band's posters that I hung up was a two sided poster, one of the sides was a full band shot and the other was an album cover shot. Whenever I hung up the album cover side of the poster I would tear off the white bar that [...]

Ska legends The Specials have been announced as the headliners of the Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig 2010 as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts, so I figured that a cover of Gangster wouldn't hurt. Although ska isn't my cup of tea, I must admit that Archive did a great job with this one... As for the rest, Apoptygma Berzerk deliver an upbeat version of Kim Wilde 's Cambodia , War Tapes cover Love And Rockets (remember them?) and Nick Cave [...]

Guitarist Adam Ross has paid his dues. Now the singer-songwriter, who spent much of the last two years playing in Rihanna's touring band, is paying attention to his own muse. Fronting the trio Yours Til Death , Ross this week releases his debut EP, "Delivered," a five-song batch of earnest rock full of prodding guitars that suggest the ’90s and catchy choruses that attest to the songwriter's ear for pop. The Ohio-bred, Berklee-schooled guitarist recorded the EP at his home studio in Silver Lake, with War Tapes' William Mohler and the Crash Kings' Tony Beliveau among the [...]
50. The Sweet Serenades - "On My Way"There is something vaguely aerobic about The Sweet Serenades' "On My Way." It pounds out of the gate and the back-beat panting manages to hold out just long enough to tumble into a quivering, crystalline chorus. It is fragile, shabby, and entirely propulsive. Turn yourself, and this, up.49. War Tapes - "Dreaming of You"An American Editors mixed with a Cure

FUTURE SOUNDS RECORDS teamed up with ORIGAMI VINYL to release the " Runaway" 7" vinyl by the San Francisco act, LILOFEE , and have come together for a record release party at The Echo tonight. There will be hand-numbered, limited-edition vinyl 7" for sale at the party, it's already sold out in San Francisco. Joining Lilofee will be WAR TAPES , TWILIGHT SLEEP and ACID GIRLS [...]

Interesting night ahead at the Vanguard, where the Red Bull Sound Clash pits Kid Sister against Moving Units , with the bands squaring off against each other from stages at opposite ends of the venue. The hip-hop vs. rock showdown will feature four rounds of "competition" in which the acts will show their stuff, with some material planned, some improvised. Hmm. ... Saint Motel , the quartet the turned their September residency into a theatrical mini-extravaganza, return to Spaceland for one more night of high jinks — tonight's show includes a photo booth and [...]
Review: 2.0 stars (out of 5) Summary: Their composition shows promise, but bad sound engineering and bad lyrics ruin the album. Sounds like: The Killers, Interpol, The Tea Party There are, essentially, three things that make a song work: the music, the vocals, and the lyrics. The three have to be good, and more than just being good, [...]
Craving some "doom pop" as of late? Why dont you sink your teeth in to Sarathan Records ' band War Tapes. In the Spring of 2009, the band released thier debut LP titled The Continental Divide . via War Tapes: "Written in a bleak rehearsal space overlooking the downtown-LA skyline, The Continental Divide distills the simultaneous gloom and beauty of midnight skyscrapers, crumbling train yards, abandoned warehouses, and feral animals. Guitars stab, assault and shimmer; industrial effects and ambience co-mingle like lost strangers; unexpected [...]

I`m generally guilty of skipping through the expansive rise of aggregated dance remixes circulating the Internet. You could compare it to a devil on the shoulder situation, the evil side of my conscious mind demands I listen intently while giving the less forgiving side of my personality little time to place it`s fingers in my ears. Originality has been restored. Successfully avoiding the many Kings Of Leon and Yeah Yeah Yeahs remixes in the BPM minefields has given us the courage to post some more appealing, upfront and danceable tunes. [...]
"Being multi-instrumentalists and pop enthusiasts Lee and Willbee decided to hide away with their instruments and record songs that had thematic and melodic integrity but sounded sweet like candy. A tonic for troubled souls who are not afraid of a catchy melody". Absorbing vocals, sometimes effortless, give this digital release a reassuring shoulder. Progressive storytelling splashed with cool ambient sound-bites, Lee and Willbee are hosts of hushed indie and worthy sentiments. Indeed, love is worth it. North Carolina will command positive interest across the huge worldwide network of music [...]

I missed War Tapes when their debut album first hit, but I'm making up for lost time by slotting "The Night Unfolds" into heavy iPod rotation. This is like putting on your best James Bond panache, your favorite snowboard, and staying one step ahead of a massive avalanche. Seriously - this song sounds like it's going to swallow me alive. MP3: War Tapes - The Night Unfolds The Night Unfolds is off The Continental Divide , released May 26th. Buy it here [...]