
Post-punk trailblazers Wire are return with a new album on February 7th. The record, The Black Sessions- Paris 10 May, 2011 was recorded live, not surprisingly in Paris last year. The album was previously available as a tour-only release when the band was out supporting their last (disappointing) record Red Bark Tree . Grab the track "Drill" over at SPIN .
Originally found on Lush 's third EP, Sweetness and Light , is the soft drive of "Breeze", a track that reminds me a lot of what's abundant on the forthcoming Frankie Rose album. Lush revealed a dueling persona that incorporated their love for both Wire and Cocteau Twins. Before they drifted off into full-on shoegaze territory they sounded a bit more Pop, more like a band still in discovery mode. This is perhaps my favorite period of their existence. Don't get me wrong, I love all of their releases and full-lengths, but as they [...]

I waited till 2011 to finalize my albums list - all my lists - partially due to laziness, being busy, the holidays... but mainly because I'm not sure what the hurry is. I don't do this for the web traffic (clearly), so I gave myself a little more time to decide than usual. (And as long as this goes up before the Village Voice' s Pazz n' Jop, I don't feel delinquent.) So here's my list, the top five or so have been a lock for almost half a year, but the rest were in flux right till I [...]
Those who hit the Empty Bottle on Saturday night to celebrate New Years Eve with Disappears witnessed a very fun cover set. The Chicago garage-psychers performed a number of selections from bands that no doubt influenced their sound like Joy Division, New Order, David Bowie, Suicide and The Stooges. In fact, they even took on two songs from British punk legends Wire , and thanks to youtuber seijinlee , here's a fine looking video of Disappears performing Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba." Of course, for their encore, the band performed some [...]

So, as the New Year approaches, here are our favourite albums of 2011 for your consideration. Feel free to dispute, argue, or otherwise put us right because, if nothing else, music is as about as subjective topic as it is possible to get. Some of these may not be the "best" albums of the year as far as the critics are concerned, but that matters not, as they were the ones we enjoyed listening to most - give them a try, you might feel the same. 50 Jessica Lea Mayfield [...]

The most wonderful time of the year, right guys? 'Twas the end of December, and all through the blogosphere, not a creature was stirring, except for the sounds of music writers springin' chub, strokin' egos, and Bon Iverin' via the storied tradition of the "best of" list. Well, The Decibel Tolls participates in that jive as well, save for the latter. Be it as it may. So yeah, man... 2011... shit. 2011 was a turbulent and gnarly year, and as such, we've been treated to some truly stellar music. Funny how that works - civic and economic tension [...]

WIRE magazine have unleashed their end of year 2011 REWIND issue. am yet to collect me copy to see who scores the RECORD OF THE YEAR. insert suspense is killing me hashtag. wotyougot

5 Songs is a weekly series where we point out the strange, the grand, and the unique connections between our favorite songs. Let's get weird. Words by Chris A great cover in my opinion is one that alters the meaning of the song via the covering-band's performance. A really great cover is one that takes the place of the original in your mind. There are more than 5 examples of this for sure. Below [...]

In early 2011, English post-punk legends Wire released their 12th album, Red Barked Tree , which they supported with one of the most massive touring schedules in their 35-year history . During their four-continent-spanning trip, the band visited Radio France's Paris studios in May 2011, where they recorded a live LP entitled The Black Session – Paris 10 May 2011 . While the effort was made available as an exclusive tour item during their fall UK dates, the record will hit stores everywhere on February 7th, 2012 via Pink Flag. [...]

The Black Session – Paris 10 May 2011 will see daylight on 2/7. It features: 1. Adapt 2. Comet 3. Smash 4. Please Take 5. Kidney Bingos 6. Clay 7. Map Ref 41°N 93°W 8. Moreover 9. Two People In A Room 10. Down To This 11. Drill 12. Red Barked Trees 13. Pink Flag Wire recently dropped by KEXP. Purchase Wire items via Insound. MP3: [...]

Ah Black Friday... the day when the 1% tells the 99% to go save the economy. But if you're not in the mood to stab a bitch for a flatscreen today, why not browse around ViolentSuccess to see what sort of music is new and awesome lately... A.A. Bondy: Believers - Although I'm not familiar with his earlier work, hearing an album like this certainly warrants a closer examination. After being the frontman for Verbena [...]

Una settimana fa avevo sbrodolato tantissimo parlando di Homeland (ancora non lo vedete? davvero?) parlandone come della serie dell'anno. Conoscendomi (io e le persone che mi conoscono) sanno che sono una persona di facilissimi entusiasmi (che poi mantengo ma insomma parto da ODDDIO HO VISTO LA MADONNA e arrivo a sì caruccio) quindi non smonterò per nulla Homeland (che rimane serie dell'anno fino a prova contraria), ma rilancio su me stesso. E rilancio con Boss. Parliamo di un serial prettamente politico, la sinossi brevissima è la diagnosi al sindaco di Chicago (Tom Kane) di una malattia rara simile [...]

The Black Lips regresan con un nuevo video en el que hacen alusión a la reciente ocupación en Wall Street pero... sin querer. El video en cuestión retrata algo similar al desalojo por parte de la NYPD (Policía de NY) que ocurrió hace muy poco en la ocupación de los "indignados", pero en estilo retro y con los integrantes de la banda vestidos como agentes de la década de los 70s. El clip incluye cameos de la modelo Janell Shirtcliff y el actor Leo Fitzpatrick, famoso por su trabajo en la serie policiaca The Wire. El video pertenece a [...]
Michael Garrick, jazz pianist and composer, has died . Garrick was mostly self-taught - he'd been drummed out of music classes for throwing a snatch of Glen Miller into a classical class recital - and formed his own quartet while still an English Literature student at UCL. Across a long career, Garrick worked with a number of names, expected and surprising, from Anita Wardell to Spike Milligan. He was heavily involved in jazz education, alongside his composing, playing, and running his own jazz label. He was made a CBE in the birthday honours last year. [...]

German producer the MANUEL GOTTSCHING reveals to THE WIRE magazine how he made electronic masterpiece E2–E4 and am thinking it's time to watch the latest HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA episode. wotyougot