Tagged: newslinks

The Softies' Rose Melberg at a solo show / photo by David Greenwald If you're not familiar with One Week One Band , founded by my friend Hendrik Jasnoch, it's grown from a concept - that old music is worth talking about in the flood of Relevant New MP3s - into a sort of weekly blog version of the 33 1/3 books. I'm proud to be writing about the Softies, my favorite band, for the site all week. Here's what's up so far: * The band's other projects and pre-Softies work [...]

LA Font, one of L.A.'s best rock bands - and, obvious full disclosure, friends of Rawkblog - are raising funds via Kickstarter to make their sophomore album. This is the new reality: if you're not on Pitchfork or NPR, no label is going to give your band money to make a record. Surely "Lipsmack" alone has given you more than a few bucks' worth of enjoyment? Watch the band's plea to Rawkblog readers above and give them a hand on Kickstarter . LA Font - "Lipsmack": mp3

Organized handily by year with very useful descriptions at World of Bowie . Find more live/bootleg collections right here or over on our blogroll .

DRA played three tracks, including a cover of Ratt's "Round and Round" that's on some Cormac McCarthy shit. Stream and download 'em on NPR . 2012!

Photo by David Greenwald Two years ago, one of my more trusted publicists sent over a track from a brand-new band. They were called Pepper Rabbit. "Wanted to get you the scoop," he wrote. I skimmed their EPs. "Red Wine," with its piano chords landing like brontosaurus feet, stood out immediately. Rawkblog premiered the track. In the months to come, I saw a half-dozen Pepper Rabbit shows, spun their two albums, watched them go from unknown L.A. act to openers for ascendent buzz bands and Urban Outfitters playlist darlings, [...]

James Ferraro / photo by David Greenwald Here's everything I posted on Rawkblog last month. Enjoy. * Why You Should Sign Up For My Digital Record Club * #SciFiHoldSteady Lyrics New Music : * Premiere: The Explorers Club - "Sweet Delights" * Premiere: Dylan Gilbert - "I Was Young" * Projectionists - "I Never Wanted Anything" * A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveASAP Mixtape [...]

Obviously this is really damn important if I logged in after nearly four months to mention it. My favorite Pittsburgh punks (best riffs, best lyrics, best energy at a show) just put this out: Copsucker LP on Bandcamp The new recording of "Prostitute" sounds much more formidable (it's the only song other than "Black Triangle" and "Wormwood Star" that I'd heard before). Get down with these jams.

Here's a worthy Kickstarter project: Heaven Adores You , a love letter to Elliott Smith and his lingering influence in Portland, his home for many years and the city that birthed his unparalleled early records. Kick in some funds on Kickstarter , where you'll find a nice trailer for the film. Nothing new to report on Searching for Elliott Smith , the other recent doc - hopefully it gets a home video/VOD release sooner.

Kisses / photo by David Greenwald Lambchop will follow up 2008 classic OH (Ohio) with Mr. M , due Feb. 21 on Merge. Has it really been four years? Whatever the age, the band is the rare one that keeps getting better. Lambchop - If Not I'll Just Die by MergeRecords Our friend Aquarium Drunkard is making some thorough Spotify playlists for Rhino Records. Find his thoughts on the Grateful [...]

Thanks for everything.

Photo by David Greenwald While Fool's Gold's Lewis Pesacov did a fine job on Best Coast's Crazy For You , I can't complain at his replacement: Rawkblog hero Jon Brion will team up with Bethany and Snacks for LP2, a move that shouldn't be surprising considering the band's recent infatuation with Largo. Per Best Coast's Facebook , recording starts in L.A. "in a few weeks." Brion recently scored Miranda July's The Future and is currently at work on 2012 release ParaNorman .

It's a sad day for folk as we bid goodbye to Bert Jansch , whose work with Pentangle and complex guitar style ushered in a new generation of U.K. folk. Of late, the musician was touring with Neil Young and still producing new material; you can find his last album, The Black Swan , and three classic reissues via Drag City . Above, here's the first song from his self-titled debut, a record that's style was a precursor to Nick Drake's better-known Pink Moon and an impressive piece of work in its own right.

Ryan Adams' long-awaited latest is streaming on NPR . It's excellent and dad-friendly.

Olivia Tremor Control/photo by David Greenwald Download an Olivia Tremor Control bootleg: NPR recorded the reunited psych-pop heroes at New York club Le Poisson Rogue this week. The mix is messy and the band's not getting any younger, but it sounds better than their FYF set . [ NPR ] Wilco played a one-hour set for Letterman : You can watch it online. I also interviewed the band for Drowned in Sound . [ NY Magazine ] Guided by Voices recording reunion album: [...]

• Ravens & Chimes - Ocean Rain (Echo and the Bunnymen cover)

That's all the news! Looking forward to getting shut out of the Ticketmaster presale already. Glad an Atoms for Peace album is finally coming - I'm surprised it wasn't done months ago after Thom's extensive time in L.A. [ Green Plastic ] Related : The King of Limbs is still pretty great.

Via Twitter , from the U.K. twee act: "Back at work after another great weekend of recording. We have finally broken the back of this record!" After promising live takes on "Europe" and "Neil Armstrong" and this year's "Darren" single, it should be another winner - and hopefully in time for Chanukah. Darren by Allo Darlin'

Jens Lekman Here's a round-up of August's new songs, reviews, shows and beyond. New Music : * The National - "Think You Can Wait," "Exile Vilify" * Loney, Dear - My Heart * Jens Lekman - "An Argument With Myself" * D/Wolves - "Tell Me Why" * Bad Sports - "Teenage Girls" * Beirut - "East Harlem" Washed Out - "Eyes Be [...]

Here's the man himself on the new album, via Facebook : New album is called "Ashes & Fire". It was produced by Glyn Johns ( rocknroll wizard & true gentleman). It has 11 songs on it. I played acoustic on all of them and sang and played live to tape. We recorded the album ALL 100 percent ANALOG ( 23 tape mixed to 1/43 ). A computer didn't touch this album. It has very few overdubs. I gave these songs the most consideration I have ever given and it is certainly the longest amount [...]

The London riots of the last week claimed at least one serious casualty: the PIAS warehouse that housed thousands of dollars' worth of independent label merchandise. Some of the labels included, per A2IM: 4AD, Beggars Group, Dead Oceans, Def Jux, Domino, Jagjaguwar, Matador, Ninja Tune, Polyvinyl, Rough Trade, Secretly Canadian, Side One Dummy, Silva Screen, Sub Pop, Too Pure, True Panther, Vagrant, Warp and XL. These are labels we know and love; the best way to help is to buy a download or five, giving them time and funds to replace the lost physical products. Here's a handful of [...]

With his Vampire Weekend covering days behind him (?), Ryan Adams' next record will be the Glyn Johns-produced Ashes and Fire, per a new Q Magazine interview , on his own Pax-Am label. Judging by the intimate performances of his recent solo tour, Stephen King's going to love it. No release date yet, but I'll obviously keep you posted - DRA's playing a Seattle show in October, which hopefully means more fall/winter dates, too. Unfortunately he says he's "decided not to share" any additional output for the moment, which means we should keep crossing our fingers for an [...]