Dirty Projectors Projecting New Album

[MP3]

"Knotty Pine"

These Brooklyn folk are taking a break from pranking the joke-of-a Real World crew, and are now set to release their fifth full-length record, Bitte Orca (weird name, I know, but you'll get used to it.) The album is set to drop June 9 on Domino Records. We're not ready to think about June yet, but for the Projectors, anything. Recently featured on the for-charity release, Dark Was the Night, with David Byrne (mp3 above,) the Projectors dip into the poppier side of their musical repertoire. If "Knotty Pine" is any indication of where Orca may be heading, expect the most accessible and fan-friendly release to-date. Continue on for the tracklist and UK tour dates. Happy Friday all.
Myspace.


Bitte Orca
1. Cannibal Resource
2. Temecula Sunrise
3. The Bride
4. Stillness Is The Move
5. Two Doves
6. Useful Chamber
7. No Intention
8. Remade Horizon
9. Fluorescent Half Dome

Tour Dates:
3/6 - Walker Arts Center - Minneapolis, MN
3/19 - SXSW - NPR Party @ The Parish
3/19 - SXSW - Windish Agency Showcase @ Emos Annex
3/20 - SXSW - TBA
3/21 - SXSW - TBA
3/24 - Rescue Rooms - Nottingham, UK
3/25 - Clwb Ifor Bach - Cardiff, UK
3/27 - Black Box - Belfast, Northern Ireland
3/38 - Crawdaddy - Dublin, Ireland
3/29 - ABC2 - Glasgow, Scotland
3/31 - Komedia - Brighton, UK
4/1 - Mint Lounge - Manchester, UK
4/2 - Scala - London, UK
4/3 - Arnolfini - Bristol, UK
4/4 - Taylor Johns House - Coventry, UK

Saying Goodbye to the Hold Steady

The Hold Steady during happier, cooler times

People don't use the term "selling out" much anymore. In this recession era economy, the music- powers-that-be often turn a blind eye to the Bud Light commercials, Grey's Anatomy placements, and J.C. Penny campaigns that only a few years ago would've resulted in critical ruin for musicians who held creditability among the rock elite. Now, whenever there is an opportunity to make some money, the industry encourages bands to take it, in hopes that the new money will allow them to make maybe one more record. "Take what you can, when you can, while you can. And you gotta take it now." Jimmy Fallon said that.

Yet, the Hold Steady have "taken it" one too many times for me this year. They're supporting the Counting Crows and Dave Matthews Band on their upcoming tour, as well as gracing Rachel Ray's stage at this year's SXSW. Say what you want about money or fan bases. I'm taking this moment to say goodbye to the Hold Steady. Their last show found me in the midst of way too many, well, DMB fans. Call me elitist, but that matters. Something was lost that night. I saw them no longer as that hard working band, out to do good. They became contrived, cliched rock stars dialing it in, putting on the show everyone expected them to put on. Maybe they were always that way. Maybe not. I'll always love their previous records, but I can't really see myself buying any more, or going to any more shows. It's sad really, because I honestly did love them for a time. They've chosen a different path, and that's ok I guess. Sometimes you just gotta go with whoever is gonna pay you the highest.

Gold Soundz: Spacemen 3

Contributor Mike Bailey enjoys talking about records from yesteryear -- the 70's, 80's and 90's -- that influenced what's happening today. Thus, Gold Soundz was born. (Props to Pavement for the perfect name.) In this piece, Bailey takes a different seminal indie record every week and examines its significance and impact on the present.

Spacemen 3: Recurring
(Fire/BMG 1991)

"Taking drugs to make music to take drugs to..."

Two lads from Rugby, England, Jason Pierce and Peter Kember (aka Sonic Boom) found common ground in two things; hallucinogenic drugs and the Velvet Underground. What resulted from that connection was Spacemen 3. The duo used a minimalist ethic and built songs around Pierce's droned guitar sounds and Sonic Boom's electronic experimentations. They were students of any music that stretched boundaries, influenced by not only the Velvets, but also the MC5, the Silver Apples, Neu!, the Beach Boys, and Muddy Waters.

Spacemen 3 pulled very few punches. Many of their albums, like 1987's The Perfect Prescription, can be diagnosed by simply glancing at its track listing; "Take Me to the Other Side", "Ecstasy Symphony/Transparent Radiation (Flashback)", "Come Down Easy". The music is meant as an aural acid trip - floating through lows, pounding through highs.

"For all the fucked up children in this world, we give you Spacemen 3..."

For the rest of Mike Bailey's take on Recurring and the video for "Big City," continue reading.

Recurring is the bands fourth and final album. Many would not pick it as a classic, but not only is it a fine album; it’s a chance to see a band imploding. Tensions were so high that the tracks written by Sonic Boom were estranged from the Pierce-penned tunes. Five songs each separated by a fantastic cover of Mudhoney's "When Tomorrow Hits" (Mudhoney would in turn cover Spacemen's "Revolution").

What I find enjoyable about this record are the disparate elements that started to creep in and influence their minimalist approach. Both members contribute strong material. Sonic Boom's "Big City" is one of the album highlights, as are the sparser "Why Couldn't I See" and "Just to See You Smile". Pierce countered with the standout "Hypnotized" (one of my all time favorite Spacemen 3 tracks) and a few other gems. Overall, Pierce’s half of the record is more consistent, but my favorite moment is still the albums divider, the Mudhoney cover. "When Tomorrow Hits" is the best Spacemen 3 song not written by Spacemen 3.

Jason Pierce carried on the mind-altering, wall-of-sound tradition with Spiritualized while Sonic Boom took a much more experimental, low-key route with his Experimental Audio Research. But all of Spacemen 3's records would be a major influence on both the shoegazers and the post-rock movement. You can draw a direct line from Spacemen 3 to My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, and Brightblack Morning Light. And I think the guys in Deerhunter might just have some Spacemen 3 in their record collections...

New Pree: "In The Parlor" mp3

[mp3]

Pree: "In The Parlor" 

While you're busy waiting for the next Modest Mouse and Regina Spektor albums to drop, you should probably check out DC's Pree. (What an adorable name, too. Awww, look at that little Pree!) Led by the talented and beautiful May Tabol (Le Loup), Pree is gearing up for the release of their debut EP, A Chopping Block, on March 24th via The Kora. We're offering the disc's first single "In The Parlor" above. Tabol's got a quirky voice akin to Spektor and even a little bit of Joanna Newsom, while the band around her gallups along in herky-jerky rhythms, adequately complementing each word. There's a whole lot to like about Pree. Plus, friend of the blog and Best Of 2008 contributor Tom Hnatow of These United States played on the album. That sounds like reason enough to pay attention. Dig this video:

AON Sessions: Pree, "In the Parlor" from All Our Noise on Vimeo.

Ezra Furman Harpoons Daytrotter (again)

"Take Off Your Sunglasses" (via Daytrotter session #1)

Ezra Fruman's songs are made for Daytrotter sessions. Quick, frantic, and often feeling dashed-off, Furman's tunes pack a mighty lyrical punch in compact accessible nuggets of melody. Put Furman anywhere with a guitar and he can produce or re-produce songs on the spot. So goes the story with his (arguably best) song "Take Off Your Sunglasses." According to our interview, he penned that song on demand for a young lass in a college dorm. So Ezra, one of the most exciting new musician out of Chicago, and maybe the US, returns to Daytrotter for his second session. Backed by his trustworthy (if not the most amazing) Harpoons, Ezra offers up three unreleased tunes and one from his excellent sophomore record Inside the Human Body. While his debut Banging Down the Doors still contains his best material, the relentless Furman is a songwriter who can't slow down his creativity, nor should he. These are always the artists to watch as they continue to develop and push their personal and artistic boundaries.

On The Blog Reel: Wednesday's Slew Of Videos

Featured:

THE AVETT BROTHERS "Glory Days"

OBI BEST "Green and White Stripes"

PRINCETON "The Waves"

ROMAN CANDLE "Lake Fever Sessions"

Bruce Springsteen is having a hell of a year so far, crotch slides and all, and it's only getting better. The Boss's official site has enlisted a heap of indie artists to contribute to "Hanging Out On E. Street," a series of video interviews and performances dedicated to Springsteen's songs. Our favorite so far is The Avett Brothers' stripped-down but jubilant take on "Glory Days." The Brothers took a break from recording their Columbia debut with Rick Rubin to participate in the project, which also features bands like The Gaslight Anthem, Teagan and Sara, Ted Leo and Valencia. Check out the performance after the jump.

Meanwhile, there are other great things going on in cyberspace this morning. Obi Best, who is fronted by Alex Lilly (backups on The Bird And The Bee's latest) brings us the dreamy video for "Green and White Stripes." It's directed by Max Goldblatt, who also did MGMT's "Boogie Down" clip. We've also got a showcase from Princeton, who first came on our radar last year. They shot a low-budget video on Super-8 film over the course of a winter weekend in LA for "The Waves," which has serious replay value. Lastly, check out some footage of North Carolina's Roman Candle performing new sessions at the Lake Fever Sessions, complete with a cute little kid talking about boogers in the beginning of the clip. We are so there.

All videos after the jump.

Obi Best "Green and White Stripes" Video from Social Science Recordings on Vimeo.


Roman Candle "Why Modern Radio Is A-OK" from Lake Fever Sessions on Vimeo.

The Veils -- Sun Gangs

Photo credit: Nicole Kai Kobilansky and Ritchie Harvey

When: April 7, 2009
Label: Rough Trade
MP3: "Killed By The Boom"
Myspace
_________
The Veils have been on our radar since their underappreciated release of Nux Vomica in 2006. Three years later, highly charismatic frontman Finn Andrews and crew are set to release their third record, Sun Gangs. While tunes fron Nux such as "Calliope," "Not Yet" and "Pan" show a knack for devastatingly powerful rock-pop recordings (play "Killed By The Boom" now) this band thrives live. We caught The Veils at the Mercury Lounge in NY weeks after Nux's release and simply put, we were not drunk enough. Andrews' on-stage gyrations (see him laying prone on-stage straddling the microphone stand while extinguishing vocal chords) were intoxicating and not at all forced. We left sufficiently tight. There are high hopes from the Stark camp concerning Sun Gangs; we are currently spinning the record and hope to have a review up in due time. Until then, enjoy the MP3 above.

The Jonas Brothers Are In Tinted Windows Too

Or at least that's the vibe we get from the already-legendary supergroup's not-very-long-awaited first track. We blew our load over the news of Tinted Windows last week and were anxiously awaiting any sort of indication as to what the band could possibly sound like, and how such zenith forces could possibly gel together. Thanks to Austin Scaggs and the Smoking Section via Rolling Stone, we're hungry no more. 

Taylor, Adam, James and Bun E. bring you "Kind of a Girl," a power-pop jam that's super heavy on the saccharine. This thing has got Radio Disney all over it, but that's okay because sometimes Radio Disney fucking rules. We're kidding, kind of. Either way, this song isn't all bad, but would probably sound a lot better if Schlesinger sang lead. We're still stoked on the group's debut, which drops April 21 and is unquestionably the front-runner for album of the year, so everyone else quit now.

Check out "Kind of a Girl" here, and bask in the awkwardness of the video above. 

Tuesday's Recommended Releases

After a fairly stacked release week last week, today's releases are thinner in quantity, but there are a few gems mixed in. Not noted below, but certainly worth getting, War Child Presents Heroes featuring Beck, TVOTR and all of your current favorites --all proceeds go to charity.

Here We Go Magic:
Album: S/T
Label: Western Vinyl
MP3: Tunnelvision (Via Fader)

Songwriter Luke Temple branches out into the more eclectic and electronic for his first release under the Here We Go Magic moniker. Filled with well-crafted melodies and hidden hooks, Temple has created a lush soundscape for his songs, recalling what Paul Simon might have sounded like had he grown up listening to indie electronica. Highly recommended.

Black Lips
Album: 200 Million Thousand
Label: Vince
MP3: "Short Fuse"

I haven't been able to spin this full record yet, but from what I've heard, I've been fairly underwhelmed. There has been a lot of pre-release buzz for this, but here we are at release day, and that buzz seems to have faded a bit. I'm willing to give the lips the benefit of the doubt though. I feel they earned it. Here's to hoping the record is better than what I've heard to date.

Laura Gibson
Album: Beasts of Seasons
Label: Hush Records
MP3: Spirited

As we wrote last week, we feel that this could be Laura Gibson's break-out album. Backed by a stellar band and producer Tucker Martine, Laura Gibson transcends her more traditional AAA approach for an updated and more sophisticated sound. Definitely pick this one up.


Laura Barrett:
Album: Victory Garden
Label: Paper Bag Records
MP3: "Bluebird"

Also included with Laura Gibson last week was Laura Barrett. Barrett brings to bear unique orchestral arrangements to her intimate songwriting. There is a softness to this music yet, the layered vocals and kalimba provide a unique and mysterious quality to the record making it stand out from the usual crop of indie singer-songwriters.

Caroline Weeks -- Songs for Edna

Where: The UK

When: April 7, 2009

Label: Manimal Vinyl

MP3: "Elegy"

_______
Former Bat For Lashes member, Caroline Weeks, is ready to impart her eerie acoustic-folk onto those willing to receive. The album is an adaptation of the early bohemian poet, Edna St. Vincent-Millay's lyrical works. Working mainly out of Greenwich Village in New York during the 1920s-40s, Millay's poetry is ripe with topical, politically-charged imagery. While "Elegy" above does not reflect this period of her work, it does however, evoke thoughts and chilling feelings true to its title. Weeks sounds like she is singing and fingerpicking in a cardboard box, which provides a raw and ominous aspect to an already saddening lyrical composition. Weeks sings, "In the blue and bitter fall,/Shall content my musing mind/For the beauty of that sound/That in no new way at all/Ever will be heard again."

UK tour dates and track list after the jump.

Tour Dates:
Mar 07 London Word Festival, London
Mar 26 The Luminaire, London
Apr 11 The Westhill Hall, Brighton
Apr 12 Birmingham Town Hall , Birmingham
Apr 13 Cambridge Junction , Oxford
Apr 15 Anson Rooms, Bristol
Apr 16 Brighton Corn Exchange, Brighton
Apr 18 Cafe Oto, London

Track List:
1. See Where Capella with her golden kids
2. What lips my lips have kissed
3. Wild Swans
4. Renascence
5. Oh, sleep forever in the Latmian cave
6. The return
7. Pity me not
8. I shall go back
9. Elegy

Swan Lake has a Blog and New Music

"Spanish Gold 2044"
"Spider"
"A Hand at Dusk"

After all the exclusives have been given out, we, the common blogs, are here to bring you three excellent new tracks from Swan Lake. Swan Lake is the super-group (sans Hanson member) featuring, man-of-many-bands Dan Bejar (Destroyer and New Pronos,) Carey Mercer, and Spencer Krug. Even in the midst of our 3:00 p.m. blood-sugar low, it's hard for these songs not to provide a pick me up. These three Canadian writers remain fiercely creative, crafting intricate songs wrapped around subtle melodies and entwined with jagged drums and dark, brooding guitars. Swan Lake release Enemy Mine March 24 via Jagjaguwar. If you pre-order the record here (starting tomorrow), you will receive immediate gratification in the form of a free album download. Pretty excellent deal we think.

Just as exciting (maybe) is another blog for all of our google readers --that of Carey Mercer. Clouds of Evil is long, wordy, and at times, quite awesome. We give you an excerpt. Just think about it.

"It's one of those holes: as soon as you step into it, you never get out. It sucks, but once mired in the muck, one cannot seem to break clean. I've been thinking about it all day--I woke up with a fever about it last night.

Why didn't the eagles just fly Frodo into Mordor?... It just seems easier to me than all that climbing and soot and orc-breath."

Re-Release From Sub Pop's Red Red Meat

Who: Red Red Meat
Album: Bunny Gets Paid
Label: Sub Pop
MP3: "Gauze"
________
I find it a little odd that Sub Pop is giving Bunny Gets Paid the deluxe reissue treatment. Red Red Meat were a great band, but this album is hardly a starting point. I would recommend both its predecessors: 1994's Jimmywine Majestic and 1997's There's a Star Above the Manger Tonight. You need these before being steered toward Bunny Gets Paid.

This is still a good excuse to hype the band, who are a relatively unknown jewel in the Sub Pop catalog. Jimmywine Majestic is a lost classic of wonderful, Stones-influenced, ragged rock 'n' roll. Meanwhile, There's a Star Above the Manger Tonight, is wholly satisfying for it's experimentation and risk taking, offering a glimpse of what was to come when band members went on to form Califone.

Check out this mp3 above and then search out one of the aforementioned records. Sub Pop still gets the money no matter which of these records you buy... Make the right choice.
~Mike Bailey - Stark Contributing Writer

Balmorhea: New Release + SXSW

[mp3]

Balmorhea - "Harm & Boon"

Austin, TX natives Balmorhea (pronounced bal-mor-ay) offer up their newest release, All is Wild, All is Silent, March 10 via Western Vinyl. These ethereal-space jammers create long, instrumental experimentations, such as the eight minute, "Harm & Boom" above. Look for them at the Western Vinyl showcase at SXSW playing alongside labelmates Here We Go Magic, J. Tillman, Callers, and Sleep Whale formally (Mom).

Touch and Go Records / The Jesus Lizard

This week venerable Chicago indie Touch and Go Records announced they will cease to release new music. This sucks... I grew up on T&G - they held an ethic that was second to none. No contracts with bands, just handshake, 50/50 deals. They released amazing records by Big Black, The Butthole Surfers, Girls Against Boys, Slint, The Jesus Lizard and countless others.

Please check out Pitchfork this week as they are offering a full concert video of The Jesus Lizard live from 1994. I had the privilege of seeing the band live many times (AMAZING) and even appeared as an extra in one of their music videos. Viva David Yow! Check it out HERE

Stark Contributing Writer Mike Bailey

Stark Contributor Interviews Pains of Being Pure at Heart for Free Williamsburg

Stark contributing writer and blogger, Lauren Mooney, recently interviewed up-and-coming, fuzzed-out rockers, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Starkny recommended) for Free Williamsburg. Here Mooney asks vox and keys player Peggy Wang about their recent successes:

"So first of all congrats on all your recent successes -- especially your Pitchfork review. How does all this buzz feel?

It's awesome! It is kind of crazy that one simple thing can open so many doors. No one had ever heard of us before the review, and now I have old high school and college friends contacting me and saying stuff like "Congrats!" and "I'm so proud of you!" It's funny because I don't think anyone has said "Congratulations" to me since the time I won the regional spelling bee in 5th grade. We self-released an EP and it was never reviewed on Pitchfork, and I think when we recorded the album, it didn't even occur to us that it would even get reviewed. So yeah, it really surpassed any kind of expectations."

Check out the rest of the interview here.

...For the Whole World to See

Death "Keep on Knocking" mp3

To begin, I must state that I am no expert on the chronology of punk music. Outside of the heavy hitters (The Jam, Clash, Stooges etc...), I can't really say I listen to all that much early punk rock. Yet, this reissue of Death's lost 1973 record ...For the Whole World to See is blowing my fucking mind. I'm sure someone out there can recite to me a litany of bands that Death either drew from or influenced, but I feel no compulsion to do that here. There are, of course, elements of punk fundamentals on this album: speed, punchy bass and simple chord structures; but there is something so transcendental about this record that it ceases to be of a certain era or a certain genre. The songs are visceral and moving, and the lyrical content is poignant and meaningful. There is even a freaking drum solo on the track "Let the World Turn." These three brothers from Detroit (Dannis, Bobby and David Hackney) somehow nailed it, and we thank Drag City for getting this back out there. Our new friend from Other Music, Mikey (I think that's his name) has even been so inspired as to start a facebook page for the record. Join up, and buy the record - I'm talking like, within the next hour.

Women to Watch - 2009

Photo Credit: Annabel Mehran

We've been thinking about this post for a few weeks, and it seems that every day there is a new record released from another amazing female artist. So, before this list becomes unmanageably long, we're posting it this afternoon. Below you'll find some of the women that are making it happen in the first half of '09 -- a few are making their debuts, while others have been around for an amazing record or two. Noticeably absent from our list will be Neko Case, Nite Jewel, Lissy Trullie and Fever Ray but only because everyone knows about the new Neko already, and we've been giving mad love to Nite Jewel, Lissy, and Fever Ray over the past few weeks. That is, until the web sheriff pimp smacked us the other day (re-posting Fever Ray soon). See after the jump for Stark's list of women to watch in the first half of 2009.


St. Vincent:
Album: Actor (4AD)
Release Date: May 5th

To use a typical writing cliche -- St. Vincent exploded onto the scene in 2007 with her debut Marry Me. She became the indie darling the world was looking for; physically striking and capable of delivering charming yet, forward-looking- orchestral-indie-rock and roll. Marry Me had the heights and pitfalls of a typical debut. Forgettable tracks clouded sections of the record, yet the highs were unbelievably high, showing the promise of a rising star. St. Vincent (Annie Clark) will debut songs from Actor at this year's SXSW festival. Clark has invested in the help of co-producer John Congleton (Modest Mouse, Smog, Polyphonic Spree, etc) as well as a french horn, violin, sarongi, bass, and percussion. Here's hoping these 11 new songs will reflect the grandeur and potential of Marry Me.


Laura Barrett:
Album: Victory Garden (Paper Bag Records)
Release Date: February 24th
MP3: "Bluebird"

What's initially arresting about Laura Barrett's great new record is the effortless mix of layered orchestration and inspired folk-pop songwriting. It's a record symbolized by Barrett's signature instrument, the Kalimba. Tight and percussive, yet delicate and quite lovely, Victory Garden has the potential to pass a listener by on the first few listens; yet, with devoted ears, it's ultimately a very rewarding experience.

Polly Scattergood:
Album: Polly Scattergood (Mute)
Release Date: May 19
MP3: "Nitrogen Pink"

Mute is one of those labels where you make sure to open their emails. We had never heard of Polly Scattergood before, but one listen to "Nitrogen Pink" was enough to realize that there was yet another stellar (and badass) female artist breaking onto the '09 scene. A self-described "songwriter who sings," Scattergood's sometimes girlish vocals are buried beneath layers of guitars and electronics. Her delivery and strong melodic sense are such that they drive songs and make them, frankly, catchy as hell. Already hailed as a smash in the UK, Scattergood releases her single "I Hate the Way" and B-side "Poem Song" next week.

Laura Gibson:
Album: Beasts of Seasons (Hush Records)
Release: February 24th
MP3: "Spirited"
Stream the full record at NPR
Laura Gibson is not necessarily an '09 new-comer. She released her lovely, If You Come to Greet Me in 2006 and Six White Horses EP in 2008. Beasts of Seasons finds Gibson coming into her own. On the back of stellar production from the amazing Tucker Martine, Gibson has gathered an array of stellar musicians from the M. Ward, Bright Eyes and Menomena camps. Also featuring Laura Veirs, the record has potential to weigh in more on the AAA side of the game, but does well to keep the arrangements more edgy and atmospheric than your usual middle-of-the-road, folk singer-songwriter record. Definitely another fantastic record from a talented songwriter.

Amadou & Mariam Announce NA Tour Dates

Amadou & Mariam "Sabali" Stream

The iPod shuffle is the great equalizer. Tracks and albums come and go on our new release playlist faster than... well, fast ok? The albums that endure (see: Animal Collective, Aela Diane, Lissy Trullie, Harlem) are usually what turn out to be some of the best albums of the year. Since receiving the new Amadou & Mariam several weeks ago - it has reigned supreme on our playlist, hardly ever receiving the death knell of the dreaded skip button. Welcome to Mali, has seemingly been around forever - but it is finally seeing the light of day in the US on March 24th via Nonesuch. Today, Pitchfork announced A&M's full run of North American tour dates, including dates with Coldplay. Awesome for expanding the fan base, but really? Weird. ANYWAY. Click after the jump for the dates, and we have a stream of the fantastic track "Sabali" above.



02-18 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
02-19 Berlin, Germany - Kesselhaus
02-20 Munich, Germany - Muffathalle
02-21 Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks
02-24 Brighton, England - Concorde 2
02-25 London, England - Pure Groove (free in-store)
02-25 London, England - KOKO
02-26 Bristol, England - Bristol Academy
02-28 Edinburgh, Scotland - Picturehouse
03-01 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street
03-19 Montpellier, France - Rockstore
03-20 Toulouse, France - Bikini
03-21 Lyon, France - Transbordeur
03-24 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
03-25 Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Den Atelier
03-26 Lille, France - Aeronef
03-28 Amiens, France - Jazz a Amiens
06-02 Chicago, IL - Park West
06-04 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre
06-05 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
06-06 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
06-08 New York, NY - Webster Hall
06-10 Alexandria, VA - Birchmere
07-10 Ridgefield, WA - The Amphitheater at Clark County *
07-11 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre *
07-13 Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphiteatre *
07-16 Chula Vista, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre *
07-18 Carson, CA - Home Depot Center *
07-21 Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center *
07-22 The Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *
07-24 Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater *

* with Coldplay

Stream Black Lips -- 200 Million Thousand

Oh boy, the Black Lips are set to release their newest, most hyped album to date, 200 Million Thousand next Tuesday, Feb. 24 via Vice. After the India debacle (remember?) these guys better just get this freakin' album out already. We are getting tired of all these antics. Well now you can preview what you may buy next week via Last.fm.

Continue after the jump for the stream link.

Go here to stream.

Short Takes: The Whip, Jar-e and Samantha Crain

The Whip - X Marks Destination
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Label: Razor & Tie
MP3: "Trash"
Rating: 82
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Manchester's Bruce Carter and Danny Seville combine synth-led back beats and tantalizingly-punchy lyrics to create modern electro-rock with a bite. In their newest release, X Marks Destination, the two (with help from Fiona Daniel: drums and Nathan Sudders: bass) are making the music they know how to make. Citing influences such as Fleetwood Mac's Rumors, Seville and Carter shake speakers while inducing head-bobbing undulations (dancing?) Tracks such as album single, "Trash," as well as "Blackout" and "Divebomb," establish an electro-dance dominance that goes unattested. Get up for this one. Play it loud.

Jar-e-Chicas Malas
Release Date: Feb. 24, 2009
Label: Exotic Recordings
MP3: "An Idea", "Casa Believe"
Rating: 76
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Jon Reid is Jar-e, but you would never guess he was a North Carolina native. Chicas Malas, translating to "bad girls," is rich with Mexican, Cuban and Latin influence --it is no wonder that Reid conceived of the album while traveling through these parts. The album is dominated heavily by the vocals of Reid and the ever-present rhythmic horn-section . There is no denying however, that the record is front-loaded as tunes toward the latter half begin to wane in off-pace balladry. Highlights include the intoxicatingly repeatable " 3 Leaf," album single "Casa Believe," and "An Idea." These tunes are saturated with Motown and Pop influences that make you want to sing in the shower --the rest of the album, maybe a nap?

Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers - Songs in the Night
Release Date: April 28, 2009
Label: Ramseur Records
MP3: "Songs in the Night"
Rating: 86
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Album opener "Rising Sun," equipped with dark overtones and pseudo-band-backed-balladry, introduces you to Crain's tipsy lyrical style. Yet, the title track that precedes it, jaunts along in a Rhett Miller sort of way; the chorus will permeate your ears and burry itself in your head. The rest of the album is like a country road: bumping along unpredictably, but never lacking in beauty. Crain lets her voice tell the tales and the band drive the car. Songs in the Night is a rustic gem that listens like it was unearthed somewhere near its creation, deep in the western landscape.

Because This Is The Supergroup We Were All Clamoring For

We're regrettably one day late on the utterly perplexing, but undeniably FANTASTIC news of a union so perfect only God himself could've orchestrated it. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Tinted Windows, now certifiably the most bizarre supergroup in rock and roll history, narrowly edging Oysterhead for the honor. The lineup, in progressive order of WTF-ness: James Iha, former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist, Adam Schlesinger, chief songwriter of Fountains Of Wayne, Bun E. Carlos, drummer of Cheap Trick, and Taylor Hanson of Hanson. According to Billboard, the foursome have a debut LP in the can and will make their live debut at the magazine's SXSW showcase in March. I will make the trip to Austin just for this.

The article didn't give mention as to why the group decided to hook up, but who cares? I almost feel like an explanation isn't neccessary, because we just need to accept this band as THE GREATEST COLLECTION OF POP ROCK C-LIST FORCES OF ALL TIME, no story-of-origin needed. I'm perfectly content with hypothesizing that one day Iha was bored, decided to summon his Rolodex and stick his fingers on three random entries, like kids do when deciding who to prank phone call. Naturally all the guys gave their thumbs up, and we're blessed today with Tinted Windows, a name that obviously lends itself so well to supergroupdom. One pressing question: what was Andrew Ridgely doing that was more important than joining? 

Grammy Sales Bump

Michael Buckner/Getty Images for AMA

Taylor Swift reigned supreme on the charts this week after a nice little bump from her Grammy performance with that lovable Miley Cyrus. On the back of their Album of the Year Grammy, Robert Plant and Allison Krauss shot up the charts to #2 from #69, selling 77,000 copies of their Rounder record Raising Sand. Plant & Krauss, along with producer T Bone Burnett ,recently spent several weeks in Nashville recording their follow-up. No release date set for that. Other big winners this week were Adele, who sold 57,000 copies of her debut and Coldplay (lame clothes and all...you know McCartney was pissed) sold 62,000 copies of Viva la Vida moving them up the charts from #31 to #8.

Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You, sold 70,000 in its debut week, and also saw a healthy jump in the sales of her debut, Alright Still, which sold 6,025 copies, a +327% increase from last week. How can you not root for Lily? Her new record is filled with pop amazingness and is produced by knob twiddler to the stars, Greg Kurstin of bird and the bee fame.

Did we really just post about Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, AND Taylor Swift? Yeah, I think we did. Gross.

N.A.S.A Pitchfork Review

It's not a monkey pissing in his own mouth, but OUCH.

Tuesday's Recommended Releases with MP3s

David Byrne, Dirty Projectors "Knotty Pine" mp3

This week the stores (digital and physical) are jammed with quality releases. The indie-rock explosion that is the Dark Was the Night charity record is definitely up there for us this week. While it is at times uneven, there are definitely more than a few gems in here; not to mention the album is for charity so you can certainly shell out a few of your precious dollars for this. Alela Diane's record that we've been running our mouths about is out physically today, as well as Benjy Ferree's (anyone on shrooms? Bennnnjyy!) latest which is excellent. Click HERE for mp3s from both records. For all of our other recommendations and mp3s click after the jump...




We're pretty neutral on the M.Ward - it's ok, but his time in the sun may be over (for me at least). She and Him may have been that fateful jump over the shark.
M.Ward "Never Had No One Like You" mp3

While we haven't heard the N.A.S.A. record yet, I'm certainly intrigued by its massive list of contributors including: Tom Waits, David Byrne, M.I.A, Santi and pretty much everyone else in the world. NASA - "Spacious Thoughts (feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith)" mp3

Also of stellar caliber this week is the new Vetiver - which Vince raved about earlier.
Vetiver "Everyday" mp3

We hate to do the general list - but there is only so much time in the day and so much music - sooooo we ALSO recommend: The amazing debut from Emmy the Great (digi only), William Eliot Whitmore's latest, the new Robyn Hitchcock, Faunts, Fol Chen, and DEFINITELY Iran. Thanks to Largehearted Boy you can try everything before you buy.

And my personal blast from the past recommendation for the week is, well, fuck it: Linda Ronstadt's Heart Like a Wheel. With the Eagles as her backing band, this record is a gem of early 70s country rock. Thanks Caitlin, sorry Dad.

KHAN!!!

King Khan and the Shrines, in conjunction with Vice Records, will release What Is?!, for the first time domestically on April 21. For those who have little Khan experience, the man is different: Nudity, full-vocal depletion and money burning are among his live accolades. Just ask Bradford Cox who received a head full* of Khan at the last Mercury Lounge (Aug. 02, 2008) show we attended. Or maybe you caught his antics at McCarren Pool (tear.) We digress. The Orchard had this to say about Khan and What Is?!:

"...What Is?! shows The Shrines at their best. Their unique Sun Ra cum Stooges take on psychedelic big band soul is full on here, a literal aural middle finger to the calculated garage rock taking over the malls of America. Time to re-do those best of lists from a few years ago."

Track listing and tour dates after the jump.
*Khan thrust Cox's head into his spandex tight ass and crotch...wow that sounds horribly dirty. Well, it kind of was.

TRACK LISTING FOR WHAT IS?

01 (How Can I Keep You) Outta Harms Way
02 I Wanna Be A Girl
03 Welfare Bread
04 Land of the Freak
05 I See Lights
06 69 Faces of Love
07 No Regrets
08 Cosmic Serenade
09 Le Fils Du Jaques Dutronc
10 Let Me Holler
11 In Your Grave
12 Take A Little Bit
13 Fear & Love
14 The Ballad Of Lady Godiva

KING KHAN TOUR DATES

03-06 Elkton, FL @ Harvest of Hope
03-07 Miami, FL @ The Vagabond
03-10 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
03-12 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
03-13 Nashville, TN @ Exit In
03-14 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Café
03-15 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
03-16 Dallas, TX @ Palladium Loft
03-17 San Antonio, TX @ The Warhol
03-20 Austin, TX @ Emo's Vice Records SXSW Showcase to Shame all Other Showcases

Tour Alert: Plants and Animals + Video + MP3

[mp3]

Plants and Animals - "Bye Bye Bye"

2008's release, Parc Avenue, found Canada's Plants and Animals adrift in quality accolades. Among those most notable, an 8.0 from the coveted Pitchfork camp. In the realm of experimental rock (see: "Mercy,") Parc Avenue at times, also teeters on the edge of folk-rock-pop (see: "Bye Bye Bye," "New Kind of Love," and "Sea Shanty.") As 2009 begins to pick up speed, Plants and Animals are booked on a solid set of North American tour dates, hoping to parley the successes of their 2008 release into even more choice press. Good luck. Tour dates, including some w/ Blitzen Trapper (we'll be at the NY shows,) after the jump.


TOUR DATES
FRI February 27 - NEW YORK, NY - Bowery Ballroom (w/ Blitzen Trapper)
SAT February 28 - BROOKLYN, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg (w/ Blitzen Trapper)
SUN March 1 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DC9
MON March 2 - PHILADELHIA, PA - Johnny Brenda’s
TUE March 3 - CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Is Venue
WED March 4 - ATLANTA, GA - The Earl
FRI March 6 - AUSTIN, TX - The Mohawk
SAT March 7 - DENTON, TX - Hailey's
MON March 9 - PHOENIX, AZ - Modified
TUE March 10 - SAN DIEGO, CA – Casbah
WED March 11 – POMONA, CA – The Glass House
THUR March 12 - LOS ANGELES - The Echo
SAT March 14 - SAN FRANSISCO, CA - Bottom of the Hill
MON March 16 - PORTLAND, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
TUE March 17 - SEATTLE, WA - Nectar
WED March 18 - VANCOUVER, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
THUR March 19 - KELOWNA, BC - Habitat
FRI March 20 - EDMONTON, AB - Starlite Room
SAT March 21 - CALGARY, AB - Marquee Room
MON March 23 - SASKATOON, SK - Louis
TUE March 24 - WINNIPEG, MB - Park Theatre
THUR March 26 - MADISON, WI - High Noon Salon (w/ Clemsnide)
FRI March 27 - CHICAGO, IL - Schubas
SAT March 28 - PONTIAC, MI - Pike Room at the Crofoot

Paper Make US Debut - Offer MP3

[mp3]
Paper - "Out of It Into It"

It seems like there's something new from over there every day. With their Tallest Men and Fever Rays, Sweden just keeps on turning out new projects. The funny thing is, they are (almost) all good. So, next up is Paper. Hailed as the missing step between Joy Division and New Order and counted as one of Peter Bjorn and John's favorite bands, people have started to take notice. Their sound can be described as post-punk, but really it's full force, loud-as-hell, rock and roll that channels all of the great rock influences from the aforementioned Joy Division to Wire to The Clash. Paper will be playing their first US shows at Cake Shop in NY on March 4-6 behind their new record An Object released through Swedish label, Novoton. Definitely worth checking out.

Don Dree Don Day Don Don

Brazilian artist Marcio Local makes party music. It's impossible not to have a good time at one of his shows, or listening to his new record Don Dree Don Day Don Don: Adventures in Samba Soul. Marcio cultivates the most feel-good aspects of samba and soul music and mixes them with African inspired funk and rock. What results is an international hodgepodge filled with blaring horns and percussion, all swirling around Marcio's driving baritone vocals. David Byrne's amazing Luaka Bop label signed Local after hearing his music through Mario Caldato, who produced Local's record, but has also worked with the Beastie Boys. Don Dree Don Day Don Don: Adventures in Samba Soul comes out May 12th.

Click after the jump for more from Marcio Local including a live session at the tripwire...




Stark had the fantastic opportunity to attend Marcio's first NY show at Zebulon in Brooklyn, which also happened to be his second show in the US ever. Coming on somewhere around midnight, Marcio and his band turned Zebulon into an (unexpected) dance party. As frequent concert go-ers, we were incredulous as to how the Brooklyn crowd would react to his music. In a conversation earlier, Marcio commented through his fantastic translator Jessica, about his perception of American crowds. "The fans in Brazil are used to this style of music, this is normal for Brazilians. I feel the Americans will be more surprised by the music we make. Because they are not used to the music [I think] they will be more uptight. People here pay more attention."

Yet, luckily for everyone, the Zebulon crowd did well for themselves and embraced the energy and joy that Marcio and his band put into every song. While the record focuses more on traditional song structures, Local's live show operates more loosely, jamming when necessary and extending various solo sections. This succeeded in giving Zebulon more a party atmosphere, rather than a typical stand around, shut-up and listen type of show. It was perfect. Local brought full doses of happiness and raw passion - two attributes found rarely in live music around Brooklyn these days. The show and interview were truly refreshing and a genuine pleasure.

When asked about the common threads or themes that hold his music together, Marcio Local summed it up simply and perfectly: "Music is what I live and feel - that is what ties my music together. I take pleasure in living things and sharing them with others. [My music] is very simple and true and that's what makes all the difference."

New Fever Ray Video

We'll have some nice stuff up for you today, including an interview with Brazilian musician Marcio Local. While you're waiting, here's the newest video from Fever Ray (via Stereogum). We've already gone on about her in our post last week - so for now, just sit back and enjoy.


When I Grow Up from Fever Ray on Vimeo.

Valentimes Day.

It's not that we dislike Valentines Day, it's more that we just don't care. Save for Andrew, we're all pretty much footloose and fancy free, so look for us at your local watering holes tonight where we will be meeting our usual weekend hook up, beer. But we write today, not out of bitterness, or alcohol problems, but to share with you Stereogum's Anti-Valentine's Day mix. It features some great new singles from upcoming or recently released '09 musicians like Neko Case, Florence and the Machine, and Lissy Trullie. Go HERE to check it out, and remember, tonight, don't be bitter or jaded - we still love you, kind of.

Dan Auerbach: Tour Dates and Conan

Stream: "My Last Mistake"

We recently reviewed Auerbach's newest release, Keep It Hid, and we are still enjoying its deliciousness. In the standard record pushing ways, Auerbach is set to play Conan this evening... 12:35 p.m. EST/11:35 CST. Stream "My Last Mistake" above and continue after the jump for tour dates. Have a great day folks.


DAN AUERBACH ON TOUR
Feb 28 - 9:30 Club - Washington DC, Washington DC
Mar 1 - Paradise Club - Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 2 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, New York
Mar 3 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, New York
Mar 5 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 6 - Metro - Chicago, Illinois
Mar 7 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 10 - The Showbox - Seattle, Washington
Mar 11 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, Oregon
Mar 13 - Bimbo’s - San Francisco, California
Mar 14 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, California

New Amazing Baby: "Bayonets" mp3

[mp3]
Amazing Baby: "Bayonets"

Brooklyn's Amazing Baby are almost done recording their debut album, but they just couldn't wait to let the world hear what they've been working on. We've got an exclusive mp3 of "Bayonets," a titanic, gleaming rocker from the forthcoming LP, which at the moment is nameless and surely anticipated by someone (but definitely not Matt.) The debut comes on the heels of last year's Infinite Fucking Cross E.P., which hit at the same time their buddies in MGMT started blowing up. The foursome is currently making believers out of Europeans this month, but will be back stateside in the spring to support Cold War Kids, including a Terminal 5 date on April 3. Hopefully they'll have dialed down all the cliches by then.

On The Blog Reel: Dent May, Jeremy Jay, Marissa Nadler

Featured:

DENT MAY "Meet Me In The Garden"

JEREMY JAY "Lite Beam"

MARISSA NADLER "River Of Dirt"

We're pretty much a sucker for anything Dent May does, so it's no surprise that the Mississippi trailer park troubadour's newest video for "Meet Me In The Garden" has us floored. The Jon Leone-helmed video for the Good Feeling... standout, which premieres today via Pitchfork TV, is a trip. In it, May parades around in vintage Elton glasses, kicks back with a bottle of bubbly and devilishly croons in a bathtub. Mysterious, low-budget and just a little flamboyant, this should definitely earn our Artist To Watch a few more fans in '09.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Jay and the gang are also using P4K to unveil the subtle video for "Lite Beam," from the Love Everlasting EP. If you fancy performance videos with uncomfortably close shots of mascaraed men, this one should be right up your alley. Marissa Nadler's "River of Dirt" video is much more pleasing: The clip, elegantly shot by director Joana Linda, captures the singer and friends on a journey through the Midwest by foot and by train. The track is from the forthcoming Little Hells, out March 3 via Kemado. All three videos are after the jump.

Marissa Nadler - River of Dirt - Directed by Joana Linda from Kemado Records on Vimeo

Audrye Sessions Debut Album Giveaway

Audrye Sessions "New Year's Day" - mp3

Next Tuesday, Feb. 17, Oakland quartet, Audrye Sessions will release their self-titled debut record via RCA Imprint Black Seal Records. Audrye Sessions are driven by carefully crafted, power-pop hooks, sweeping verses and lead singer, Ryan Karazija's masterful-vocal performances. At their core, the songs on the record are intimate enough for acoustic performances, but with a full backing band they are big enough to fill spaces as large as the Bowery Ballroom, if not larger. In the time of super lo-fi recordings (we still love you Times New Viking), it's nice to hear a record with solid, clean production. Recorded by Andrew Scheps (U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash) and Matt Radosevich (The Hives, Taking Back Sunday) the album highlights its best asset, Karazija's voice, to the fullest and most powerful extent.

Thanks to Black Seal we have a copy of the record to give away to the 5th person to email me at Starkny@gmail.com - U.S. only please.

Lissy Trullie - EP Release @ Mercury Lounge

Photo Credit: Faith-Ann Young

Lissy Trullie "Self Taught Learner" - mp3

Tonight at the Mercury Lounge, NY'er Lissy Trullie celebrates the release of her new EP Self- Taught Learner which comes out February 17th via Brooklyn's American Myth Recordings. We caught her earlier at Santos, and she lived up to the hype that has been bubbling up since the early fall. Her songs have translated remarkably well to record; they are catchy, yet subdued in that classically-cool New York underground-rock style. (Too many adjectives? I didn't think so, clearly.) The show is sold out, but make sure to get the EP next week and keep your eye on her for more NY dates. Also playing Mercury in the early slot tonight are Paul and the Patients - we don't know much about them, but judging from tracks on their myspace they are worth getting there early to check out.