We've talked about the raw energy Steel Train drive their live shows with, and we've also touched on the band's bombastic, larger-than-life tunes, and now lead singer and songwriter Jack Antonoff has talked about it, and how all that energy shaped Steel Train's forthcoming June release: "this new album is a return to where we come from. We grew up playing legion halls and firehouses and the sound systems were always so bad we had to go ape shit to put on a real show, and somehow that inspired the music and lyrics to [...]
A reader sent in this recording of Thom Yorke's concert in Cambridge, where he played a whole bunch of new tunes . I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that they are new Radiohead songs, but everyone-else's fingers are pointing to Thom Yorke's silly new side-project (they're all silly for the most part, aren't they?), Atoms For Peace . Download the mp3s of Thom performing the three new tracks, "The Daily Mail", "Give Up The Ghost" and "Mouse Dog Bird": You can download the recording of the 19-track set below: [...]
As I've sad before, Freelance Whales' stunning debut album , Weathervanes is finally getting a proper release through Frenchkiss Records - who released great works by The Antlers and Passion Pit last year - on March 16th. The New york quartet is now giving away their debut single, "Generator 2nd Floor", just one of Weathervanes ' highlights. Freelance Whales will also be playing at this year's Sasquatch Festival and touring with Cymbals Eat Guitars and Bear In Heaven. Download "Generator 2nd Floor" for free below, and check out their tour dates after the [...]
Last week, She & Him stopped by the BBC and performed a life set that included this gorgeous little number. After gushing over the live version of "Thieves", my good friends at Pop Librarian and Tsururadio pointed me to the wonderful studio recording. It isn't known if this recording of "Thieves" is the final version that we will be listening to on Volume Two , but it's wholly satisfying nonetheless. Thanks to the newly revamped Stereogum , we now have the final MP3 version of [...]
"Odessa," the first single from Caribou's upcoming LP Swim , is sexy. "Elctropop" and "disco" are often used in the description of the song, and, indeed, "Odessa" is more reminiscent of bands like Hot Chip or Hercules and Love Affair than Caribou's previous material. A prominent bassline, a little house vibe that would make the good people of Jersey Shore proud, tender vocals, production tricks – all wrapped up into one synthy, eighties-y package. "Odessa" sounds like it is emerging from a dark place, coming to smoke a cigarette out on the street in [...]
"My Baby Left Me" is the debut single from the UK's latest soul-pop sensation, Rox . The rising chanteuse graced BBC's Sound of 2010 longlist. While "My Baby Left Me" is getting its proper release on Rough Trade later next month, a demo version of the track has been circulating the interwebs since 2008. Both versions were produced by Al Shux, the man behind Jay-Z and Alicia Keys ' massive hit "Empire State of Mind", or basically the man I'd want to produce my introductory single. You can listen to the new, [...]
When Vampire Weekend write ballads they follow them up with barreling, kinetic punk jams. When Vampire Weekend close an album they close a fucking album and they close it with strings and looping keyboard and piano and Dave Longstreth-style guitar and falsetto Hegelian mediations on the dialectic. "Never choose between two." The very nature of this band's existence is choosing between two – yes and no, love and hate, brilliant pop music and overrated shit. Hegel would say that the synthesis of two choices serves to enhance a kind of collective knowledge. But what does that [...]
Click here to view the embedded video. The Morning Benders are giving away "Excuses," the first track off their new album, Big Echo (which was co-produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear), for free on their website. Before you download this wonderful mp3-freebie, I suggest you watch The Morning Benders' exquisite live rendition of "Excuses", featuring what they call the "Big Echo Orchestra", which includes other SF bigwigs like Christopher Owens of Girls, among others. This clip was gorgeously shot by the folks at Yours Truly . [...]
Last week, She & Him stopped by the BBC and performed a life set that included this gorgeous little number. After gushing over the live version of "Thieves", my good friends at Pop Librarian and Tsururadio pointed me to the wonderful studio recording. It isn't known if this recording of "Thieves" is the final version that we will be listening to on Volume Two , but it's wholly satisfying nonetheless. If you're interested, you can still download Vol. Two first single "In The Sun" for free , and [...]
Mark my words: Pittsburgh's 1,2,3 are going places. Big, important and awesome places, even. I've only listened to three tracks from these fellers, but I'm already getting that sick feeling in my stomach that I got when I first heard Free Energy, Chiddy Bang and Freelance Whales. 1,2,3 released their stellar debut 73 single earlier this month on Ohh La La Records, which featured the sugary and infectious A-Side "Confetti" and the gritty, dirty, raw and (far) superior B-Side "Can't Bride God". With borrowed nostalgia and authenticity abound, a trend growing rampant in this climate, 1,2,3 sound [...]
New York's Cymbals Eat Guitars will be releasing their new single, "Wind Phoenix" from their more than competent debut album, Why There Are Mountains ( listen on Lala ), on March 1st. The single will be backed with this expectation-crushing cover of Elliot Smith's classic "Ballad of Big Nothing". You can listen to and download the cover below, as well as check out the -side "Wind Phoenix". Tags: Cymbals Eat Guitars , Elliot Smith [...]
Zooey Deschanel (She) and M. Ward (Him) stopped by BBC and played a lovely live session, which included "Thieves" - a brand new track that will appear on She & Him's forthcoming Volume Two . Zooey's hearty and almost choked up vocals sound absolutely wonderful on this live rendition of will most definitely be a standout on their second record. You can stream She & Him performing "Thieves" below, and remember, you can still download "In The Sun" , the first single from Vol. 2 for free. [...]
The Very Best turned "Ambling Alp" on its head, like they did to other contemporary classics like M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" and "Boyz", and also Vampire Weekend's "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" on their critically acclaimed introductory mixtape. I still don't know what Esau Mwamwaya is saying, but it sounds joyous and vibrant like most of the Very Best's music. Interesting thought: after The Very Best overdubbed M.I.A. and Vampire Weekend on their mixtape, they both appeared on The Very Best's album. Could this mean we will be listen to a proper Yeasayer-The Very Best collaboration soon? I sure hope [...]
Following up on last year's irresistibly charming " All Yr Songs ", Toronto's Diamond Rings offers up "Wait & See". Instantly you will notice that the fluffy cheese that was so warmly welcomed with its predecessor is pretty much gone. It's grounded, more serious, yet you can't help but feel it's still filled-up-to- here with charm, fully equipped with the ironic cheapo drum machine that had initially pulled us into "All Yr Songs". John O'Regan, the man behind the drum machine, will be releasing "Wait & See" on a 73 single, backed with "On Fire" via [...]
Joanna Newsom's record label, Drag City, is streaming yet another track from Newsom's forthcoming album, Have One On Me . I was impressed with the first track unveiled from Have One On Me ("813), but "Good Intentions" takes it to another level. The vocal acrobatics Joanna Newsom puts on display here is invigorating! A must listen for a lowly Winter day like today. Oh, and if you're feeling dirty, you can even download the MP3 at We Listen For You . Whoops. Stream: Joanna [...]
There's something... something to be said about the sense of recognition and knowing you sometimes experience when listening to a song for the first time. While rock critics and music bloggers laud and yearn for the unknown, the innovative and cutting edge, the sense of instant relate-ability and reliability is often taken for granted, or worse yet, mistaken for convention and derivation. Just wanted to plant that little seed in your brain before introducing you to this sweet, sweet winter gem. With bass lines reminiscent of those reinforcing tracks sung by a Knowles sister and a voice delicate enough to [...]
Lemonade's self-titled 2008 debut went unnoticed by many, including myself. Hailing from San Francisco & Brooklyn, Lemonade are preparing their next release on True Panther. This time an EP titled Pure Moods . "Lifted" is the first taste of what Lemonade have in store for us. "Lifted" accurately and effectively shows us exactly what Lemonade are all about. They influences they cite on their myspace page are present and actively engaged on the track, molding and meshing in a way that sounds exciting and original. Lemonade's Pure Sounds EP is [...]
I have listened to jj's beautiful sophomore effort, jj nº 3 a few times through now. It's short 27 minutes and light as air tunes easily make it 2010's most replay-able album yet, maybe after Beach House's Teen Dream . With each consecutive loop, the massive quality of the album's opener, "My Life" is not lost on me. True to form, jj give another nod to the great hip hop songs that came before them, this time paying homage Lil Wayne's classic and unforgettable verse on a Game track of the same name , [...]
Click here to view the embedded video. New music video and single from Los Angeles' fantastic Local Natives. Their whirlwind of an album, Gorilla Manor is out Stateside on February 16th, courtesy of Frenchkiss Records. It's already out in the UK. I'm favorite-ing this one now. Tags: Local Natives PMACAST No.026 (20) Local Natives - Sun Hands [...]
Album cover for Odd Blood Yeasayer are preparing to release their sophomore long player, Odd Blood on February 8 through Secret Canadian . You can see the trippy artwork for Odd Blood above. The album cover's trippy make up is reminiscent of the music video for the fantastic "Ambling Alp", and is a motif that runs through the core of Odd Blood . "O.N.E." is Odd Blood 's midpoint, succeeding four mind-bending opening tracks, and it acts as [...]
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