Free Ep

No secret that I love the French. Thanks in large part to a friend, I'd put the Prototypes album in last year's top 5 albums by new artists. Described as

"joyful and hybrid music, sexily sung in French, mixing altogether the many influences of the band : from electro-pop, 60s rythms, folky guitars and sometimes a punk crunch to add to the equation!"

They're similar to CSS because you may not know what they're saying, but your feet know their meaning. Not all of the songs are in french, so don't be put off. Give them a good 3 or 4 go rounds. Looks like they'll be touring the states in March. maybe sxsw?

Minty Fresh's killer offerings of free mp3s include a Prototypes ep, with 4 of the 5 tracks previously unavailble in the States. This is only for a limited time, so get it here asap.

After you look at their really nice site, that's mostly in french, be their friend and hear some more on myspace.

This Week in New Music

You, too, are wondering what to spend your hard earned cash on (instead of rent) this week. Here are some ideas:

Lily Allen- Alright, Still
(finally released domestically)
Beirut-Lon Gisland
Busdriver-Roadkill/Overcoat
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds-Abbatoir Blues Tour
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-Some Loud Thunder
Hella-There's No 666 in Outer Space
Norah Jones-Not Too Late
(I swear someone said this was "rock-y", not so)
Love of Diagrams-Love of Diagrams Ep
Madonna-Confessions Tour (DVD/CD)
Mercury Rev-Back To Mine
One For the Team-Good Boys Don't Make Noise
The Plagiarists-Veto!
RZA-Afro Samurai
Sean Na-Na-Mondays in Spaceland v.2
Jill Scott-Collaborations
Various-Fall Out Boy Piano Tribute
(how do things like this get made?)
Young Love-Too Young To Fight It
Frank Zappa-Imaginary Diseases

Tender Blow Out

Okay, so I'm sorry that i don't really have many specifics, but Electrelane are going out on tour this spring and taking Tender Forever with them. I'm just so excited that I had to tell someone. They have at least two dates confirmed:

May 15 Irving Plaza NYC
May 16 Paradise Theatre Boston


Just when you thought it couldn't get any better along comes The Blow to open! These shows are definitely worth flying out for, so I hope I can round up the money. Of course, it would be awesome if The Blow goes along for the whole ride too.

Tender Forever has mentioned some likely cities they might hit like the obvious suspects NYC, Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, and Washington DC.

She also threw out the possiblitly of stops in Cleveland, Minneapolis, San Diego CA, Tucson AZ, Denver CO, Kansas City MO, St Louis MO, Pittsburgh PA. I'm hoping for a Texas date or 2!

So, if anyone has any pull, please whisper Texas in their ear.

Electrelane-One,Two, Three, Lots

Tender Forever-Take It Off

The Blow-Hock It (YACHT remix)

Solo Tigre

If you're in the NYC tonight, check out Le Tigre's Johanna Fateman spinning @ the Hiro Ballroom. There might even be some other famous riot grrls hanging out. If anyone does go, can you ask (and report back) as to what the status of the band is? Don't want to stick 'em in a box, but I'd love to look forward to something new, even other projects..

Back in 2005, Le Tigre hosted an all-night video party on the Australian show Rage. Here's a link to the video playlist they chose.

Le Tigre-Deceptacon (DFA remix)

Gossip-Standing in the Way of Control (Le Tigre Mix) sample of goodness you're in for

Also here's a super creative mashup, Jem does Le Tigre's Deceptacon.

French Arcade

So, you too wanted to be at the Arcade Fire "secret" show in Montreal. Well, not all of us were lucky enough to be born Canadian, so someone took pity on us and recorded it. There's a zip file of the whole show at Instrumental Analysis, as well as credit where credit is due.

Sov Angel Lady Baby Tour

Dreams do come true. Gwen Stefani has asked along the S-O-V to come along on tour with her. Excited 'bout the show, but I'm sure the tix will be outrageously priced.

April 27 Gibson Amphitheatre Los Angeles
April 28 Cricket Pavilion Phoenix
April 30 The E Center Salt Lake City
MAy 2 Pepsi Center Denver, Co
May 3 Journal Pavilion Albuquerque
May 5 Smirnoff Music Center Dallas
May 6 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Woodlands, Texas
May 8 Ford Amphitheatre Tampa, Florida
May 12 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC
May 14 Alltell Pavilion Raleigh, North Carolina
May 15 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Virginia Beach,Va
May 17 Nissan Pavilion Bristow, Virginia
May 18 PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, New Jersey
May 20 Jones Beach Theatre New York
May 21 Mohegan Sun Area Uncasville, Connecticut
May 23 Tweeter Center Mansfield, Massachusetts
May 24 Tweeter Center Waterfront Camden, New Jersey
May 27 The Borgata Hotel Hotel Atlantic City, New Jersey
May 29 Bell Centre Montreal
May 30 Air Canada Centre Toronto
June 1 Palace of Auburn Hills Michigan
June 2 Verizon Wireless Music Center Noblesville, Indiana
June 4 Qwest Center Omaha, Nebraska
June 5 Xcel Energy Center Saint Paul, Minnesota
June 7 Bradley Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin
June 8 First Midwest Bank Tinley Park, Illinois
June 10 MTS Centre Winnipeg
June 12 Rexall Place Edmonton
June 13 Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary
June 15 General Motors Place Vancouver
June 16 White River Amphitheatre Auburn, Washington
June 18 Sleep Train Amphitheatre Marysville, California
June 19 Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, California
June 22 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Irvine, California

Lady Sov-Hoodie (Spank Rock remix)

Gwen Stefani-What Are You Waiting For? (elevator mix)

New Releases 23 Jan

As long as you're out picking up a few of the new releases this week, check out the new Nurse & Soldier album Marginalia from Jagjaguwar. Nurse & Soldier are Bobby Matador (of Oneida) and Erica Fletcher. Included in the fun on this album are Kid Millions (also of Oneida) and Jake Bailey.

"Far more vulnerable and raw than Oneida, Nurse & Soldier sing about longing, betrayal and reconciliation; the sound of Marginalia is a confused murmur, as opposed to Oneida's punishing roar."

Green Tea

Find another mp3 on Stereogum.

New releases for the week
Animal Collective-People Ep
Arbouretum-Rites of Uncovering
Ateleia Formal Sleep-Table of the Elements
Berg Sans Nipple-Along the Quai
Bird and the Bee-The Bird and the Bee
Boredoms-Super Roots Volumes 1,3,&5 (reissues)
Broken West-I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
Rhys Chatham-A Crimson Grail
Clinic-Visitations
Rob Crow-Living Well
Deerhoof-Friend Opportunity
Julie Doiron-Woke Myself Up previous post
Dredd Foole-Daze on the Mounts
Chris Garneau-Music For Tourists
Dustin Kensrue-Please Come Home
The Earlies-The Enemy Chorus
Exploding Star Orchestra-We Are All From Somewhere Else
Field Music-Tones of Town
Fujiya & Miyagi-Transparent Things
The Good,The Bad & The Queen-The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Herbert-100 lbs (Reissue)
Kristin Hersh-Learn To Sing Like A Star previous post
Damien Jurado-Gathered in Song
David Kilgour-Far Now
Lovers-Sleep With Heat
Maher Shalal Hash Baz-L'Autre Cap
Menomena-Friend and Foe
Mew-Frengers (reissue)
Miss Kitten-Bugged Out Mix
Mum-The Peel Session
New Young Pony Club-New Young Pony Club Ep
Nurse and Soldier-Marginalia
Of Montreal-Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer
Rafter-Music For Total Chickens
The Shins-Wincing The Night Away
The Six Parts Seven-Casually Smashed To Pieces
Snowglobe-Me and You
David Vendervelde-Moonstation House Band
VietNam-VietNam

Parisienne Keren Ann has finished her 5th solo album Keren Ann. It hits European shelves on April 23rd and American shelves on May 8th.

This record is the follow-up to her critically acclamaimed 2004 release Nolita, which New York magazine described as "more than simply a feast for the ears on repeated listens, it starts to feel like something that's always been embedded within yourThe genetic code"

Lay Your Head Down

It Ain't No Crime

songs removed at request of EMI

Maria Taylor is set to release her new album Lynn Teeter Flower on March 6th thru Saddle Creek. You may better know her as half of Azure Ray.

"With Lynn Teeter Flower, she takes her songcraft one step further, mixing together soaring guitars, bubbly electronics, feathery farfisa organs and sugary layers of vocals into the sweetest confection of an album you’ll hear all year. "

Her music is quiet, and last time I saw her she yelled at the people talking at the bar. So, please try to give her your undivided attention.

A Good Start

Replay

Okay, I'm the first to admit that I know very little about the noise or drone movement but Boris peeked my curiosity with their Pink album on Southern Lord. It was the album cover. Anyone who's worked in music or shopped it for years can tell a lot about an album cover. They've done albums with SunnO))) and Merzbow (a new piece on Troubleman soon). Well, Boris' new album Rainbow is a collaboration with Michio Kurihara of Ghost. From what I've heard, Michio's guitar work is awesome to see live. The album should be out sometime this year.

Rainbow from Rainbow

My Rain from Rainbow

Just Abandoned My-Self from Pink

Farewell from Pink

Etna w/Sunn O))) from Altar

Canadian Julie Doiron's new album Woke Myself Up streets on January 23 thru Jagjaguwar. Her friend and former bandmate in Eric's Trip, Rick White, produced and played a few instruments on this album. She released one album singing in French, Desormais, and in 2003, she put out a split with Okkervil River. I've loved her since her first solo album, and on the song "untitled", I think she sounds a bit like Cat Power.

untitled from Woke Myself Up

I Left Town from Woke Myself Up

Ce Charmant Coeur from Desormais

Explain from Loneliest in the Morning

The Austinist has compiled a huge list of possibilities for SXSW this year. Last year SXSW announced over 100 bands in December. But they're holding out, hoping to avoid day-party poaching. Heaven forbid a band gets too exposed. Keep in mind none of these are a lock, but more than likely, many of these band will be there.

AM
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Airbourne
Amy Millan
Andrew Winton
Apollo Sunshine
Aqueduct
Architecture In Helsinki
As Tall As Lions
Badly Drawn Boy
Beasts Of Bourbon
Bic Runga
Black Helicopter
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Black Rose Band
Blindspott
Bloc Party
Brave Radar
Call Me Lightning
Carly Binding
Castanets
Charalambides
Children Collide
Chris Mills
Chris Smither
Circa Survive
Cold War Kids
Crooked Still
Cute Is What We Aim For
Danny Saul
Devin The Dude
Die! Die! Die
Dimmer
Dirty Fuzz
Eilen Jewell
Elemeno P
Emmylou Harris
Errors
Evermore
Every Move a Picture
Fatal Flying Guilloteens
Field Guides
Foals
Gasoline Cowboy
George Byrne
Ghostland Observatory
Girl Talk
Go! Go! 7188
Great Lakes Myth Society
HY
Haunt (Matt Hebert)
Hazey Janes
Hedrons
High Dials
Hoodoo Gurus
I Heart Hiroshima
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Interpol
Jeffrey Foucault
Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter
Jessie Deluxe
Josh Pyke
Kill Surf City
Kiosk
Kris Delmhorst
Kristoffer Ragnstam
LZ Love
Les Savy Fav
Lily Allen
Little Birdy
MV+EE
Macromantics
Magik Markers
Malajube
Margot and the Nuclear So And Sos
Mates Of State
Matt & Kim
Menomena
Mint Chicks
Money Waters
Monotract
Morrissey
My Latest Novel
New Buffalo
New Violators
OWKMJ (Ore Wa Konna Mon Janai)
Octopus Project
Okkervil River
Oreska Band
Ozomatli
Pagoda
Paul Kelly
Pete Townshend
Peter & the Wolf
Pig Out
Pistol Valve
Popup
RJD2
Rachel Fuller
Rahim
Rocky Votolato
Sarah Blasko
Sasquatch
Say Hi To Your Mom
Scissor Sisters
Scout's Honor
Secretary Bird
Shaky Hands
Snowden
So So Modern
Sonic Flyer
Spod
Starky
Stax 50th Anniversary Soul Review
Sunwrae
Tall Firs
Tally Hall
Temposhark
The 50 Kaitens
The Amity Front
The Big Sleep
The Black Hollies
The Caribbean
The Creteens
The Emeralds
The Frames
The Fratellis
The Gear
The Have
The Needles
The Panda Band
The Rise
The Shivers
The Soft Hands
The Stooges
The Theater Fire
The Walkmen
The Weird Weeds
The Wild Eyes
The Young Knives
The Zebras
Thinking Aloud
Thunderbirds Are Now!
Thurston Moore
Turbonegro
Under Byen
Union Of Knives
Via Tania
Viva Voce
Voxtrot
W-S Burn
Watson Twins
Wild Eyes
Winterkids
Winterpills
Wooden Wand
X-Wife
Yip-Yip
Youth Group
Zach Galifianakis

The Noisettes new album What's the Time Mr Wolf will be out domestically February 6th. When we caught these guys at SXSW, they were super energetic. Shingai was thrashing her guitar and dancing all over the stage. Their new single Don't Give Up is coming out soon, and there's even a limited edition 7" that is really kissed by Shingai. Get more details here.

I'd put up some mp3s, but a lot of the album is already floating around out there. So you can stream three songs or watch 3 videos here on their website. Or, the last 5 posts on the hype machine are all songs from the new album.

With her seventh solo album Learn to Sing Like a Star, Kristin Hersh continues writing strong heartbreaking songs. Several of them deal with Katrina and New Orleans, where Hersh once called home. She played most all of the intruments on the album. Here's to hoping she tours.

Nerve Endings

Ice

Patrick Wolf is having a contest. Whoever can best spread the word about his forthcoming album The Magic Position, wins an autographed sampler. He's got videos for you to slam your friends with, so get to it. More info at his site.

Accident & Emergency

The Magic Position

Magpie (duet w/Marianne Faithfull)