Mr Supercomputer

You'll see this around a lot today, but I just wanted to post something before I head out of here. Have to say goodbye to some peeps, clean up the room a bit (much) and yeah. Then I'm off, maybe around noonish?

Anyway this is a new Sufjan Stevens song that Pitchfork posted today. It's the song I was most anxious to hear when Sufjan talked about cuts from the album. It's weird timing and the instruments are all meant to sound electronic. Really strange yet cool.

Sufjan Stevens-Dear Mr Supercomputer

Might be back to blogging Sundaaay. See you then!

Penetrate the Celestial Sphere

You've undoubtedly heard about Think About Life by now, as they've been talked about on numerous blogs (opened for Wolf Parade...etc etc). Just wanted to throw my two cents in about the group. From their press release:

Think About Life's self-titled debut is 34 minutes of high-energy disco house thrash punk positivity and indie DIY arty party action. Leading the next generation of chaotically catchy noise-pop from a modern mecca for independent culture, these are anthems for yet another jilted generation; prayers passionate and powerful enough to actually penetrate the celestial sphere. In their words…

Uhh yeah that sounds pretty good to me. How about you? You need evidence? Yeah uhh okay here it is.

Think About Life-Paul Cries
Their self-titled album comes out May 2 on Alien8 Records.

Be their friend, hear more songs.

Are You the One?

I haven't heard the rest of the album Beams by the Presets, but this track is pretty hot. The Australian duo's debut album has been making a buzz, and hopefully they'll make some sort of dent in the electro dance scene.
From their bio:
"If you could imagine a yearbook for 2005’s School of Rock, The Presets would stand out like a jet black ink blot on the page: defying categorization in their recorded work, exceeding expectations above and beyond in sweat-drenched live shows that leave the competition for dead, releasing videos and artwork as beautiful as they are twisted. They would be crowned the official class odd bods. And they like it that way."

The Presets-Are You the One?

Is That They Die

I didn't even knooow Canadian upstarts/cuties Pony Up! had an album coming out. Surprise! They do. It's called Make Love to the Judges With Your Eyes that's coming out on Dim Mak May 9th. You may have fallen for the Montreal serial cutesters' debut self-titled EP with quirky love songs like the fan-obsessed "Matthew Modine" or the forceful "Shut Up and Kiss Me." Live they're full of funny jokes, so make sure you see them. Oh and pop hooks and handmad glitter t-shirts.

Pony Up!-The Truth About Cats and Dogs (Is That They Die)
A sad title, and not a very upbeat song. I hope this isn't a new change for the album, or I'll miss the sugary sweetness I've come to love from PU! We shall see.

Also! Good news from Dim Mak's site, DOH favorites The Rakes are planning on a full US tour in July! If they don't hit Texas, there will be blood and maybe crying.

Boy Soprano

Okay so you've probably heard this new Xiu Xiu song if you're a diehard fan or even just a casual listen. Well this recording of this new song off the new record The Air Force blows every other recording out of the water.
The song, "Boy Soprano," has already become a live favorite, mostly for the fact that it's Caralee McElroy's Xiu Xiu song where she's the singer and Jamie doesn't help. Instead he's jamming on their bell set. When they performed it at SXSW, I could hear about 7 people whistling or humming it after it was done. Catchy? Yes.

Xiu Xiu-Boy Soprano (Live at the Troubadour, Brisbane - 4/18/06)

Oh and here's your first look at the cover art for the new album, The Air Force. Ummm...yeah.

Whaaaaa

So I'm going to have to rename this blog Boy With Six Wisdom Teeth. Because I do/did. Uggggh probably most miserable experience of my short life so far.

Anyway I'm gonna be watching about 3,000 episodes of Strangers With Candy today/tonight sooo have fun with this track you heard three times last year.

Toothfairy-Kicked Outta the Band

Country Gothic

It's pretty easy to write-off Murder By Death as some country-alternative band or, wait, is it? No there's something more here. The morbid overtones from the name alone should let you know this is either some screamo band you're going to ignore or something else.

Bloomington, Indiana's Murder By Death uses their dark moniker to make country gothic at its best. Way more country than Okkervil River, and darker too. "Impossible to categorize, Murder By Death's haunting mix of gritty rock-n-roll, broodingly narrative lyrics, and dark, enchanting piano and cello has inspired a cult following." Their new album, In Bocca al Lupo expands on the album's predecessor, Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?.

In Bocca al Lupo songs include "a tango, a seafarer's chant,waltzes, gritty rock, an upright bass, a horn section, and a gospel choir, all encased in this really gorgeous narrative."
This is the first song off the album, which caught my ear with the lyrics "Some men like women and some men like (there's a pause) gold." Also, be sure to check out the first single from the album, "Brother." Stream it here. (m3u)

Boy Decide
In Bocca la Lupo comes out May 23rd on their own label, Tent Show Records.

New Dallas Stuff

Hey,
Thought I'd tell ya 'bout a couple of Dallas bands that have new CD's coming out today.
Let's go with who you may already know. the Secret Machines have a new album titled Ten Silver Drops that hits shelves tomorrow. That's right, they started in Dallas, but NYC called, and now look at 'em. I saw them open for Interpol on the last tour, and they put on a pretty good show. Too bad it took them getting outta here to get big. Let's hope this album has as many great songs and as fluid a motion as the last.
Here's the video for their first single from the album, "Lightning Blue Eyes."
Quicktime Hi | Quicktime Lo
Next we've got Black Tie Dynasty's latest called Movements. They're a 4 piece that has strong influences from the good, dark stuff from the 80's & 90's. You know like The Cure, The Smiths, and Jesus and Mary Chain. If you're not sure if you wanna buy it, and you're in the Dallas area, go see them play for free at Tower Records with other Dallas fav [DARYL] this Thursday at 7pm.
Black Tie Dynasty-Die

Oh and while you're out picking up these 2 CDs and the #1 must-have for the day (maybe the month, yeah I said it) The Rakes, also get your vinyl copy of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Show Your Bones.

Almost Done

Today I took three finals, two of them pretty grueling. Only one left tomorrow morning! And then more sadness! I am probably getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow afternoon soo that'll put me out all afternoon/night/Wednesday. I don't know. I'm a wimp when it comes to pain but maybe I can wince out a couple posts. Also, my sister's going to start helping with some of the load around here.

Anyway it's beautiful outside and all I want to do is sit out there and foolishly hope Texas will be this nice and balmy.

Belle & Sebastian-Another Sunny Day

Work, Work, Work

My favorite band of SXSW 2006, The Rakes, are finally getting their debut album Capture/Release released tomorrow in the U.S. And all my blogging will be futile if at least one of you doesn't go buy it, download it, whatever.
The album is pure Britrockpopdance from start to finish. A couple slower songs like "Binary Love" are beautiful when you didn't think the band was possible of such things. And then herky jerky "Retreat" and "Terror!" have you wondering where your head went.
Please please pleeaase pay attention to the band, they need your help to crawl under the Bloc Franz rock they're being crushed under by most critics. Hopefully they'll tour the U.S. properly so you can really have a chance to see what they're all about, it'll make all the difference.

Retreat
We Are All Animals
Work, Work Work (Pub, Club, Sleep)
Those last two are brought to you by Music Glob.

More Yeah

Okay so I'm still on a bit of a YYYs high today so here's some stuff the members' side projects/other stuff going on.

Drummer Brian Chase is in another three-piece band called The Seconds, who just put out a record called Kratitude on 5RC, Kill Rock Stars weird kid sister.
The Seconds-Sister8myson

Guitarist Nick Zinner released a book of photography called Are You All Happy Now, composed mostly of shots of audiences while on tour with the YYYs. He and some people from Blood Brother and The Locust started a new band called Head Wound City. They have a self-titled EP out on CD and 10" (I got the 10" last night at the show). It's really noisy and probably not for everyone but if you love Nick maybe you should give it a try.
Head Wound City-Prick Class

Karen O is supposedly working on a solo album, probably to be released in 2007.

YEAH

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Blood on the Wall at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. I was thinking it was going to be in their student union ballroom, but it ended up being outside on a stage where Yellowcard played the night before. Pretty nuts. Last time I saw the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Oklahoma City it was at the Diamond Ballroom. Guess they just have a thing about ballrooms maybe?
Anyway it was a strange crowd, because U of U students got in free, so a lot of people were there for lack of anything else to do (c'mon guys! Stellastarr* and Editors were playing in SLC. Did anyone go? I really wish I could've hit both but I was exhausted). Blood on the Wall was pretty good, a brother and sister with their friend. Not extraordinary music, but the guy's voice reminds me of the Two Gallants guy's voice.
Karen O is still as exuberant as ever. That's the thing I love the most about her, she just looooves being on stage and you can totally tell. So you're having an awesome time knowing she's having an awesome time. They played pretty much all of Show Your Bones which makes sense of course. I was thinking Imaad Wasif was going to be opening but sadly he didn't! He did rock the acoustic guitar and keyboards though for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The encore was probably the best, satiating the MTV crowd with "Maps" and treating old/die-hard fans with "Art Star." Best song of the night. Oh well maybe besides "Turn Into" which has fast concretely become my favorite song off the new record.
Here's the rest of their tourdates, be sure to catch them if you can:
04/25 Paramount Theater, Seattle
04/26 Roseland Theatre, Portland
04/28 Warfield Theatre, San Francisco
04/29 Warfield Theatre, San Francisco
04/30 Coachella Festival, Indio
05/02 Roseland Ballroom, New York
05/03 Roseland Ballroom, New York
Sorry my pics kinda suck but the crowd was pretty pushy/I'm a sucky photographer/my camera was $150. More pics of Karen O standing around (I could never catch her in action)

Tout Doucement

Luckily for all Feistites, Feistians, Feisties, whatever, you're in luck. Hotty McHot-Hot Leslie Feist is putting out a new album full of remixes (so hot right now), collaborations, a track off the French version of Let It Die and, gasp! A Peaches cover! (for those who don't know, the two used to be roommates long ago).
So here's the "track off the French version of Let It Die I mentioned in that last blurb. This is in honor of my French and Italian Cinema class which was laid to rest by my final. Adieu.

Feist-Tout Doucement

Oh and if anyone has a lot of soundtracks or something, if you have the "When Your Heart Goes Boom" song off of the Belgian movie Toto le heros I would love it.

$3 Friday

For those of you around Dallas you're lucky enough to have the chance to see four great bands for $3!!! Why? Well, Voxtrot has been trying to play in the area but seem to always have something happen keeping them from the fun. Fate almost had it happening again when their van broke down in Lawrence, Kansas, but they're back on the road and will be hitting Hailey's in Denton tonight for $3! Why do I keep saying that? Because it's amazing, that's why. Tagging along for the show are tourmates Irving, fellow Austinians Tacks, the Boy Disaster (ex-Midlake, apparently), and Bosque Brown. Wow! I am really jealous of you all.

Bosque Brown-You Said
Tacks, The Boy Disaster-Matilda
Irving-The Curious Thing About Leather
Voxtrot-Soft and Warm (Live on KEXP)

Also if you're in Dallas reading this RIGHT NOW head to Good Records at their new location on Greenville and see Irving do an instore.

FINALLY if you're in NYC, you can look forward to seeing Voxtrot for FREE (better than $3?) with TV on the Radio at Prospect Park (yep, definitely better than $3) June 30th!!

Like A Beating Heart

Matt just posted on The Kingdom the other day, but I just got the new incestuous Portland compilation It's Importland To Me To Be One Step Further Than One Step Beyond: Holocene Music Remix Compilation Volume 1 and it has a great remixed track by the band. It also helps that it's by my favorite digital glitch DJ/artist Marius Libman, or Copy.
I haven't heard the original version of the song, "Love is My Nation," so I can't really say much about it, except Copy provides the beats and the singer (don't know his name) sounds like somebody but I can't put my finger on it right now.

The Kingdom-Love is My Nation (Copy Remix)
See Copy remixing the track live at the compilation's release party (MPG)

Lyndee Antilley Benefit Concert

So those of you around Austin need to head to this benefit concert for a girl named Lyndee Antilley who is battling cancer. There's gonna be a silent auction (Austin City Limits Festival tickets included!), food and beer, and, oh yeah! A few awesome bands. You've most likely heard of Sound Team yeah? Their new album Movie Monster is frikken amazing and is being released by Capitol Records this year. Also, Austin 60's girl group in the 00's The Carrots will also be playing! Other bands include Whitman and Gracie & the Grackles. Also, the Texas Rollergirls are going to be making an appearance. 18+. What are you waiting for? Get down there! It starts at 7 PM and goes till 11 PM.
SOUND Team-Your Eyes Are Liars

Louisiana

The new Walkmen CD, A Hundred Miles Off comes out May 23. Here's your chance to hear a song from the album. They're playing Coachella next weekend with 8 billion other amazing peeps.

"Louisiana" audio streams
WM Hi
WM Lo
QT Hi
QT Lo

Faint Humms

I may not have done so hot in my math class last semester but it was easy enough to come up with this equation:

Cat Power+Laura Veirs+Sufjan's Guitar/Banjo=Peggy Honeywell.

Very easy arithmetic to describe the beautiufl stylings of one Peggy Honeywell, real name Clare Rojas. I got her 2005 album Faint Humms yesterday from my sister and can't stop listening.
It's perfect lazy day music, when the sun is shining and you ought to be studying for sure to be ulcer-inducing finals. I choose Peggy. Her soft, seductive voice can coax me away from studying any day.
It's tough finding out anything about Rojas. I know she's also an artist who lives in the Philly area, and she had another CD called Honey For Dinner. Her label is Galaxia Records and you can buy Faint Humms here.

Kitty Paws from Faint Humms
Darlin' Man from Honey For Dinner

Fiery Rhapsody

I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda mad at the Fiery Furnaces right now. I mean, no Texas dates on your upcoming country jaunt, but hitting Salt Lake in June when I won't be here? Ouch guys, this hurts.
But I'm really not that mad because 1) I saw them twice at SXSW which makes about the 9th time and 2) they gave me an awesome album yesterday that has some fantastic songs on it, many of them with backwards singing.
I don't know what that's all about but I'm gonna go ahead and say that I love this album pretty much for one reason. Matthew sings a lot more on this album. Some of my most favorite Furnaces songs have Matt on vox, making me anxious for his two solo albums. It's like EP's quirky older sibling who can write his name in Greek with his right hand and his name backwards in Turkish with his left hand. And he shows it off a lot while playing keyboards with his feet. Okay worst analyzation ever but I'm sticking by it.

Waiting to Know You
Nevers
Benton Harbor Blues
Whistle Rhapsody (totally old-schooled it with a Yousendit there because EZ Archive hates the fact I just woke up)

Bitter Tea, the new album, is out on the charming Fat Possum who claim if you don't like their records return them for a full refund. Is that true? Anyone tried returning their Black Keys Rubber Factory CD? Oh wait why would anyone do that. In case you're lazy, here's their tourdates if you're lucky maybe they'll bring a keyboard.

04-19 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
05-04 Manchester, England - Night & Day
05-05 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC 2
05-06 Dublin, Ireland - Whelan's
05-08 Leeds, England - The Cockpit
05-09 London, England - King's College
05-10 Brighton, England - Concorde 2
05-11 Brussels, Belgium - AB Club
05-13 Cologne, Germany - Gebaude 9
05-14 Hamburg, Germany - Molotov
05-15 Berlin, Germany - Magnet
05-17 Amsterdam, Holland - Paradiso Upstairs
05-19 Paris, France - Nouveau Casino
05-20 Camber Sands, England - Camber Sands Holiday Centre (All Tomorrow's Parties) #
06-08 Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall
06-09 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
06-12 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
06-13 Seattle, WA - Neumos
06-15 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
06-16 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
06-17 San Diego, CA - Epicentre
06-19 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue
06-20 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
06-22 Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
06-23 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
06-24 Chicago, IL - Metro
06-25 Cincinnati, OH - Desdemona Festival $
06-27 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
06-29 New York, NY - Webster Hall
06-30 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

* with Vietnam
# with Sleater-Kinney, David Cross, the Gossip, Spoon, Lightning Bolt, Joanna Newsom, Boredoms, Dungen, Radar Bros, 1990's, Edith Frost, Black Heart Procession
$ with the Walkmen, Richard Swift, more

Jack White: Sold Out

Everyone made a hubbub about Jack White signing up to make a commercial for Coca-Cola. The commercials' finally out, and it's really not so amazing I think. Check it:

Free At Last

Today's my last day of classes, so in celebration of Freedom, Treedom Toast, Freedom Fries, and Freedom Bread, these are songs about Freedom (this post has nothing to do with the overuse of the word freedom). I have exams starting on Friday so you can send me cookies and warm wishes if you want. Then next Tuesday I get my wisdom teeth out and then next Friday I'm headed to Texas. Busy busy busy.
I would give you more but EZ Archive is being stupid for me. Check back later.

Antony and the Johnsons-Free At Last
The Best Friends Group-The Free Man
The Black Keys-Set You Free
Cat Power-Free (Diplo Edit)

Boys of Melody

Uhh everyone has probably already heard the last CD by the Hidden Cameras,Missasauga Goddam, and if you haven't, take note now. They're pure pop fun via, you guessed it, Canada! Saw them at SXSW and wished I'd been able to see more of them but things never work out that way. Ever.
They release a new EP tomorrow, The Arms of His Ill on CD and 10". I don't have any tracks from it sooo here's these ones from past releases.

Boys of Melody
Builds the Bone

Weekend Without Making Out

It's been awhile since I posted on one of my favorite bands, The Long Blondes. When we last left our stylish heroes, they'd released a new single, "Separated By Motorways" and there was no word as to where their fate would lie. Well I have heard/seen rumblings that soon they will be announcing some "big news" that probably means they've been signed to a label! I bet it's a good one too. Let's just hope that means album!!
To tide you over till the big news hits, here's a song ripped from their MySpace, a lament about not making out over a whole weekend. Ghastly! It's really short, less than a minute and a half. Not sure if it's the whole thing or not.

Weekend Without Making Out
Be their friend.

They're on NME's New Music tour with ¡Forward, Russia! so you might want to catch them if you're in the UK. They're hitting a few festivals first and...Mexico City??

15/04 Bud rising festival @ Crawdaddy's, Dublin (tickets available one the door, doors At 12.20am onstage 1.30am)
28/04 Glasgow Mono gig @ have share of Triptych festival (with the 1990's and The Rebel)
29/04 Edinburgh @ Voltaire Cabaret, have share of Triptych festival (with the 1990's and The Rebel)
30/04 Aberdeen @ The Tunnels, have share of Triptych festival (with the 1990's and The Rebel)
06/05 Mow Palapa, Guadalajara, Mexico City
10/05 NME New Music turn @ Glasgow QMU
11/05NME New Music turn @ Middlesborough Worsens
12/05 NME New Music turn @ Manchester University
14/05 NME New Music turn @ Portsmouth Pyramid
15/05 NME New Music turn @ Leicester University
16/05 NME New Music turn @ Cambridge Junction
18/05 NME New Music turn @ Norwich UEA
19/05 NME New Music turn @ Sheffield Leadmill
20/05 NME New Music turn @ Liverpool Carling Academy
23/05 NME New Music turn @ Oxford Brooks plain
24/05 NME New Music turn @ London Electric

All NME dates with Boy Kill Boy, The Automatic, ¡Forward, Russia!

The Sweet Sensation

People are assuredly anticipating Sonic Youth's new album due out in June, Rather Ripped. The album sees the band continuing on much in the way they have for over a decade, and I'm just fine with that. They do what they do very well, and I'll keep listening if they'll keep making it. Some of the tracks sort of sound the same which is kind of a bummer, but not enough to make it terrible.
This track, "Do You Believe in Rapture?" was rumored to be the album's title for awhile. It's a slower SY song, with Thurston on mic duty. It's contemplative and never really breaks free into a rollicking jam like many of their other songs. The tune is kept on a short leash, but it's wonderful all the same.

Do You Believe in Rapture?
Obscure Sound has the first two tracks from the album, including the rocking "Incinerate."

Salt lake City Isn't Much of a Battleground

There are Two shows I'm contemplating on seeing tonight in SLC, yet to have decided. The contestants are Norfolk and Western vs. Thanksgiving. N+W boasts my fave ex-Decemberists drummer Rachel Blumberg and is on Hush Records. Thanksgiving is Adrian Orange and is on Marriage Records. Tough one. But I have an easy solution, as I probably won't go to either for lack of transportation (ohhh out-of-state college woes amount). BUT if for some reason you're in SLC, pick one of these shows to go to and enjoy it for me.
Thanksgiving-Dead Deer & Other Animals
Norfolk and Western-Impossible

Mmm Spring

Spring has finally hit Utah and it's pretty gorgeous. Lacking the Texas humidity which is really nice, but all the sun. The flowers on the trees kind of smell gross but it can't damper spirits around here.

Acid House Kings-7 Days
Sound Team-Your Eyes Are Liars
Denison Whitmer-Little Flowers
The Stills-In the Beginning
The Sounds-Song With a Mission
Tilly and the Wall-Bad Education
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins-You Are What You Love
The Changes-Her, You and I
Voxtrot-Soft and Warm (Live on KEXP)

EDIT: THE SECOND BAND-WILD IS THE WIND SPRINGTIME JAM 06!!!!!

Free Franz Show in NYC

If you weren't able to get into the Franz Ferdinand shows in New York, you still have a chance at seeing them! I guess MySpace is doing secret shows now? It's a dumb way to promote their little profile, but anyway here are the details of how to get into this FREE Franz show at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

Friday, April 14, 2006
The Hammerstein Ballroom
311 W 34th St
New York, NY 10001
Doors @ 3 pm (it's a matinee show)
No line ups before 2 pm

FREE AND ALL AGES!!!!

FOR THIS EVENT YOU MUST PICK UP A WRISTBAND!! (instructions below)

Wristbands will be made available at the Tower Records in the East Village

Tower Records
692 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
(212) 505-1500

IMPORTANT: IN ORDER TO GET A WRISTBAND YOU MUST:
Bring in a print out of your MySpace profile with Secret Shows in the top 8,
so we know you are truly a friend.
Wristbands are limited so get there early to ensure success!

So yeah, there's your chance! The Secret Shows profile might be doing this same sort of thing for Cat Power, The Streets, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Hard-Fi, and Nine Black Alps, so maybe you should friend them just in case.

Ohhh Man

Sorry I've been post-sucking lately, but I'm going to have to pull the End-of-the-Year Student Card on this one. I only have two more weeks of classes so I have to be getting ready for finals and junk, plus condensing all my crap to take home to Texas. I'll be driving back (well, riding with someone) like the 29th or something so if anyone has any good road songs that'd be good. A twenty + hour drive can be grueling I know.

Anyway the most exciting thing to happen to me was seeing my name in the CD booklet of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' new CD Show Your Bones. The album's been blogged to death but hey. So when they were making the artwork they asked people to send in "flags" and I kinda did mine last minute and just drew it. So you can barely see it in there but hey, I know it's there. And muh name too. Super cool. Check the scan if you care.

PS do you like Swedes? Yes? Me too! Check out this band from Linköping, Sweden called Marching Band. Their music is pretty jangly guitar pop that you like to hear on spring days such as these. A little bio:

Marching Band (formerly known as Second Language) is Erik Sunbring and Jacob Lind. We live together and make life hard for our other flatmates by creating music at inappropriate hours. Two bikes, one laptop, three microphones and a shameless use of other peoples instruments is the recipe for a Marching Band recording.

They have beautiful photos of themselves too! Soooo spring! I love it. Trees around here are starting to bloom and the snow's gone and hopefully won't come back, so I am loving Marching Band right about now. They have two self-titled EPs that you can order by e-mailing the band, so get on it!!
Letters
Home Alone VI

Three Bands You Might Need to Get Close With

Surely you've heard of The Streets now, once a joke to many Americans, slowly becoming an readily liked rapper even if just for the accent for many. Thankfully Mike Skinner has gone on to prove that he's more than a joke and is serious about what he does. His songs are mostly tongue-in-cheek, and that's what I like most about him. His new album The Hardest Way To Make an Easy Living

The first single from the album:
When You Wasn't Famous
The album hits U.S. shores April 25.
Another band you may have heard of is the Swedish/French band Envelopes. I tried seeing them at SXSW opening for Art Brut but for some reason The Parish was 21+? I didn't know what that was about but it sucked having to miss them. I'd heard some stuff from their album Demon (Swedish for "Demos" I think) and like it a lot. especially this song:
Sister in Love
You like that? Well you might like this even more. Head on over to Musicisnotdead to pick up the frikken rad Clor remix of "Sister in Love."
Buy Demon from Insound.Oh! And talking about Clor, they've put a couple remixes of their own songs up on their website. They're steadily working on their follow-up album to their debut, which was excellent and poppy and all if you haven't heard it, due out sometime this summer/fall.
Terrifying Wolf Attack (Infants Remix)
Goodbye (Morgan Quaintance Remix)

Shake It

So we all know the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album Show Your Bones is out, and a lot of people seem conflicted about it. Not the follow-up many were hoping it would be, some say it's boring, lacks the sex of Fever To Tell, and lots of other stuff. I'm still warming up to the idea of a little calmer YYYs. I think the live show would still be a hot and bothered affair, so I'm hoping I get to catch the band when they hit Salt Lake City with Blood on the Wall in tow.
Here's a song that the band had been playing live inbetween albums and many were hoping would make onto the new album. Fans even created their own collection of live songs to make a sort of live album called Cheated Hearts and put it online. Songs include "Boogers," "Kiss Kiss," "Sealings," "10X10," and "Down Boy," with a few that actually did make the album, like "Cheated Hearts" and "Honeybear."
"Shake It"s stacatto guitars and mellow feel could have fit well on Show Your Bones, and Karen O takes a little longer than usual to get her voice worked up into a frenzy. Tantalizing.

Shake It

Enemy

Pretty crazy/amazing to see that it's happened, but check out this scan of Voxtrot being featured in NME! Freakin' crazy if you ask me! Really happy for the band, can't imagine how much attention this might get them.
Those kids are going to consume America with their pop songs once more this spring. Check their website for tourdates. Alas! They added another SLC date and I'll be back in TX. Oh well.
Also at their website you can buy their new EP!

Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives

Nine Twelve Thirteen?

I got the new ¡Forward, Russia! CD Give Me a Wall that's going to be released in May I think. Anyway I'd only heard a few of their numbered tracks and liked what I heard, but never caught them at SXSW. A shame I think, because they're probably pretty energetic live. Probably. Anyway here are a couple tracks to pique your interest in the band if you haven't heard them, and the album if you're waiting. Maybe for fans of louder bands on the indie spectrum.

Nine
Twelve
Thirteen

Tigercity

Got an e-mail regarding Northampton MA via Brooklyn band Tigercity, and love what I've heard. The energetic, bass-driven four-piece only has an EP to their name but they're working on a full-length now. They've been compared to the likes of the Talking Heads and New Order, with an upbeat danceable sound that will easily get them notice among fellow Brooklynites.

Are You Sensation
Timecard

Buy their self-titled EP
Be their friend, here the whole EP.

Monster Mash

Austin band Single Frame recently (last year) asked some people to remix some of there songs and they got a few people to do it. Most notably, Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs chose to remix their song "People Are Germs" to much success. Recently, Super!Alright! Media made a video for the remix track, and it even features a small cameo by Zinner!

Watch the video here. (Quicktime)

Single Frame-Comm. Jet (Creepykid Remix)

Be their friend/hear more tunes (including the Zinner Remix)

All Wrong

I know what you want! And I got it!! New Final Fantasy! I love it. I think He Poos Clouds's (the new album) is gonna be greater than that first one. So out the door.

Final Fantasy-Arctic Circle

I Can't Believe You

I have to admit, I'm pretty frikken sick of Utah weather. First we are teased with 72 degree weather on Tuesday and then it rains all day yesterday, which is very springish I guess so that's okay. But today is just ridiculous. I get out of work this morning and it's SNOWING. I cannot believe this. April 6th and it's snowing. Ohhh my gosh. I can't stand it. This makes going to class the last thing I want to do.
Let's just say I can't wait to get back to 100% humidity and 100 degree Texas weather at the end of the month.

Oh! So the winner of yesterday's contest was Jeff K who said Sunset Rubdown's new album is his favorite rainy day weather. Maybe I'm commiserating because he said it was snowing yesterday in New York, but that's what happens when I'm miserable with snow flurries. In case you were wondering, my favorite rainy day album is Cat Power's Moon Pix. Maybe it's the thunderclaps in "Say" that have me always thinking it's raining and that Chan Marshall is just what I need. One of my favorite snow records is Joanna Newsom's Milk-Eyed Mender. Just watching the snow fall and the harp and everything is just perfect.
This Cat Power track isn't off Moon Pix, it's actually a track that was cut off You Are Free.

Cat Power-Leopard and the Lamb
Joanna Newsom-Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie

I'm Not in Love With the Modern World

Quickly, I don't know if you've seen this or not but it's Wolf Parade's video for "Modern World." A lot better than the four-headed "Shine a Light" video.

Ummm check it out here. (via this extensive WP fansite)

It's kind've haunting, about a society where machines replace bands to create music. Weird, because you always hear people talking about how machines will take over our jobs, but I've never really thought about them taking over music. Interesting and a bit frightening. Imagine cheering for a few pieces of metal who won't hear you.

Raining

Okay it's raining kinda hard here and I don't want to go to class. But I must. But before I go, I want to do a little contest. The winner will receive a hand-made mix by me. What a prize eh? I'll try and not fill it with stuff I found on blogs. Haha.

Anyway what you have to do to win is tell me your favorite rainy day record and why. I pick the winner. This is gonna be a quick contest, so you have until tonight at midnight to submit your answers in the comments. Please leave your e-mail with your answer.

From Italy, With Love

I sure don't know a whole lot about Beirut except that this song makes me think he loves listening to Neutral Milk Hotel and the Magnetic Fields going down the highway with his windows down, singing along. And then he goes home and emulates them in the best way possible.

Beirut-Postcards From Italy
Be Beirut's friend.

Also, speaking of Italy, we watched the oddest Italian movie yesterday, Ladri di saponette, or The Icicle Thief. Yeah it sort've makes fun of the Italian classic The Bicycle Thief but is really about consumerism and how it interferes with art, in this case how showing a movie on TV is ruined by commercials in the worst way possible. Check it out if you have the time and will. It's weird.

Not Coming Down

Might be last on the bandwagon but at least I made it! I got the Lovely Feathers' CD Hind Hind Legs and can't get enough of it. I'd been told to see them at SXSW but never had the chance to, and am regretting it awfully. The frenetic Canadian band has drawn comparisons to fellow Montrealers Wolf Parade and Arcade Fire, and I can see bits of both. More on the Wolf Parade though. Amazing stuff, I'm sure you can find other great songs on The Hype Machine.

Frantic

The Mtn

You know what you really want to hear? The new Stills record. Well here's a little taster, and it's amazing. Forget everything you heard about the "Still in Love" band and get set to fall in love with this one, "The Mountain" band. The piano-tinkling-teasing, drum-rollicking, organ-spitting, trumpet-blaring hand-clapping Stills are here. Good lord. Be sure to check out the glorious "It Takes Time" Stills also. They are good and amazing, not life-altering, but definitely worthy of listening to over and over, preferably outside. Right now.

The Mountain
It Takes Time

Without Feathers hits May 9th.

Blanket Music

Hush Records' Chad Crouch's band Blanket Music's new album The Love is sure to be another great addition to the band's jazzy downbeat albums like Nice and Move, and hopefully expanding on their last record Cultural Norms. One of the greatest things about The Love is the companion CD that comes with each copy. Love Translation sees Blanket Music covering mostly bands on Hush's roster, past and present. Here's a sneak peek off of that album.

Red Right Ankle (Decemberists cover)
Impossible (Norfolk and Western cover)

J. Tillman, Damien Jurado, Rocky Votolato in Provo

Last night we got to the venue where Damien Jurado and Rocky Votolato were playing, Velour, and they said it was sold out. We stuck it out though, knowing full-well we'd get in. Sure enough we did after ten minutes or so. There was some local guy playing an acoustic set who was okay but nothing noteworthy.

I didn't know that singer-songwriter J. Tillman was going to be playing at the show. I'd seen his name around on many blogs and heard a song but didn't really know what to expect. We were kind've expecting stoner/surfer-rock but he proved us wrong. Tillman has this wonderful voice that reminds me of a better Damien Rice or a less Southern Sam Beam.

Damien Jurado played his set, with many of the same songs as when I saw him with Low. Man that guy has some pipes! His voice gets really worked up on a few songs and it really startles you because of his quietness on everything else. Really awesome, would see again and again. The cellist, Jenna, is really cute too.

Rocky Votolato didn't really do much for me. I don't know his back work, but I don't think I'd like it too much. Just reminded me of a more readily-liked Dashboard Confessional or a lesser Ted Leo. He was a nice guy but his set kinda dragged on.

Might have some pictures later...

J. Tillman-Seven States Across
J. Tillman-Cecile, My Love