Autolux - 'Fat Kid'

Autolux have officially released "Fat Kid," an instrumental track that's been floating around the internet. You can sample "Fat Kid" over at SoTB. According to the band's website you'll be able to purchase the frantic drum-n-bass jam on iTunes this week.

In other news, the forthcoming, and long overdue, Autolux album is coming out early next year. A recent post states that the trio is "dealing with getting the music business end of the deal squared away."

No confirmed news on a title, track listing, or cover art yet, but stay tuned to this blog for updated info. We'll also as be hosting an Autolux contest/ticket giveaway for their January 17 performance at the Henry Fonda Theatre.

p.s. Can anyone find a decent video of their 'From the Basement' series with Nigel Godrich?

"Plantlife" clip - 'From the Basement':



UPDATE: According to their MySpace page, Autolux have been added to the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Monticello, New YorK (September 11-13, 2009). Notice that the curator is "to be confirmed", or as I like to call it, Pavement.

Friendly Fires: 'Paris' Video

I kind of lied about the whole not blogging on Thanksgiving -- that's called a 'whoopsies'.

I ran into Friendly Fires at a club NME performance a few months ago and was seriously impressed by how polished and precise their set was. The songs, especially this one, touch upon a lot of genres (Brit-pop, American indie-pop, and even techno) and is a welcoming dose of dance-pop that gets under your skin. "Paris" has a killer chorus, a sweet cowbell overdub and a floaty atmospheric melody that for some reason reminds me of Underworld's "Jumbo". And there is absolutely no reason why these gentlemen can't reach the heights of bands like The Killers and MGMT.

"Paris":

Guess who's not blogging for the next few days? This guy.

However, there are some really good shows coming up in the next week:

Saturday - M83/School of Seven Bells @ the Henry Fonda Theatre - UPDATED: AS OF THIS MORNING IT'S NOT SOLD OUT.

M83 play with a full band and sound great live. School of Seven Bells put out one of my favorite CDs of the year. Unfortunately they play without a live drummer, but fuck it.

Monday - The Movies @ Spaceland...for free. Need I say more?

Tuesday - No Age/Titus Andronicus @ The Troubadour - This is a Shockhound.com sponsored
event. I love the No Age record, but I'm hoping their live set has improved. What I've heard from Titus is pretty overrated, maybe they kill it on stage?

Wednesday - Useless Keys and Afternoons @ Spaceland (Club NME) - I'm more interested in Useless Keys. It's the newish band featuring ex-members of The Front, Green & Yellow TV and The Molecules.

Wednesday and Thursday - The Sea & Cake/Field Music @ The Troubadour - I love the new Sea & Cake record, and their back catalog features a few albums everyone should own (Nassau, The Fawn).

New Tame Impala video: 'Half Full Glass of Wine', and other inner-nets

One of my favorite new bands of 2008, which we previously talked about here, is Australia's Tame Impala. It definitely nods to British Invasion-era rock while utilizing structures a la Black Sabbath and Sun Dial. This new video, directed by Special Problems, is for the outstanding track "Half Full Glass of Wine." Check out other songs on their MySpace page and pick up the trio's debut EP via Modular.




Other inner-nets...

Idolator reports that Uncut loved Third enough to give it their top slot for best album of 2008, and I couldn't agree more.

Brooklyn Vegan reports that The Jesus Lizard are back. But it's nothing compares to this possible reunion.

All Tomorrow's Parties - New York has announced some talent, finally. Funnyman David Cross curates Friday's comedy stage while Suicide, Dirty Three, Atlas Sound, Animal Collective, Panda Bear and Anti-Pop Consortium have all confirmed to play the Monticello, NY festival. Can't wait for that. Also, the dates have been changed from Labor Day weekend to the following weekend, September 11-13.

Passion of the Weiss offers some great advice for fledgling, and veteran, bands. Kids, take special note of numbers 3, 5 and 9!

The Twilight Sad cover Joy Division's "Twenty-Four Hours"

I don't know about you but I instantly reach for a pillow when the talk of Joy Division comes into any conversation. Not that I don't like the group's work, or the recent re-evaluation of their legacy, but their music belongs in the vaults until some youngster, niece or nephew is at the right age so I can corrupt them.

This version of "Twenty-Four Hours" from Scottish space-rockers The Twilight Sad is probably the best cover of Joy Division you will ever hear. The sound is immensely bigger and noisier while vocalist James Graham remains unexpectedly tame. The band has always had a knack for creating tense shivering walls of sound, and they translate Joy Division's calmer moments with ease, only louder.

You can find this song and much more on The Twilight Sad Killed My Parents and Hit the Road. It's a limited-edition collection of covers, live tracks, and instrumentals. Get the MP3 from Stereogum via the link below.

|||The Twilight Sad: "24 Hours" MP3|||


- photo by Neale Smith

Blur reforming and rehearsing, for real

Say it ain't so NME. I'm not into the speculation anymore, I just want the biscuits! But it's official, says NME:

"Damon Albarn has confirmed that Blur will be reuniting next year. The singer revealed his old band, including guitarist Graham Coxon, will be working together just before a special one-off performance of his opera 'Monkey: Journey To The West' at the BBC Radio Theatre in London this afternoon (November 25)."

The article goes on to reveal Damon Albarn's conversation with Janice Long about Blur's future:

"Blur will be playing next year."

And there you have it.

Film School on LaundroMatinee.com

LaundroMatinee.com is the new-ish sister site to My Old Kentucky Blog. It's similar to what Daytrotter does only they capture the band on video as well. This episode features Film School tearing through "Compare", "What I Meant to Say" and "11:11".

Watch "What I Meant to Say", taken from Hideout, below:

SXSW 2009 unveils its first batch of bands

SXSW let the cat out of the bag with this confirmation of acts. The music marathon happens March 18-22 in Austin, TX. From Donewaiting.com:

Dent May & His Magnificent
Ukulele
St. Vincent
Beach House
Anni Rossi
Future of the Left
White Lies
Passion Pit
B.o.B
Sage Francis

Someone at Paste Magazine lost a bet

In an effort to increase magazine sales Paste Magazine has unveiled its top 50 albums of 2008, and it ain't pretty. I usually like to see lists from critics and bloggers, regardless of whether the publication dwells in the mainstream or comes from a blog that can't even register an Alexa rating, but this is embarrassing...wait, actually this is worse.

Look, I know Zoey D. is super attractive and adorable, but that album is not a 'best of' anything...unless we're talking about hot indie babes. And, um, maybe I'm just a sucker for dark, icy, progressive trip-hop, but where the fuck is Portishead?

50. TV On The Radio - Dear Science (Interscope)
49. Sandra McCracken - Red Balloon (Towhee)
48. REM - Accelerate (Warner Bros.)
47. Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim (Astralwerks)
46. Lykke Li - Youth Novels (LL)
45. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (Mute)
44. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers (Zoë)
43. Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer (Roadrunner)
42. Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings & All (KRS)
41. The Tallest Man On Earth - Shallow Grave (Gravitation)
40. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords (Sub Pop)
39. The Dodos - Visiter (Frenchkiss)
38. Jamie Lidell - Jim (Warp)
37. Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit - A Larum (Lost Highway)
36. The Bridges - Limits of the Sky (Verve)
35. Colour Revolt - Plunder, Beg and Curse (Fat Possum)
34. Torche - Meanderthal (Hydra Head)
33. Santogold - Santogold (Downtown)
32. Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Drag City)
31. The Walkmen - You & Me (Gigantic)
30. I'm From Barcelona - Who Killed Harry Houdini? (Mute)
29. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III (Cash Money/Universal)
28. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (Columbia)
27. Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning (Yep Roc)
26. Lee Ann Womack - Call Me Crazy (MCA Nashville)
25. Mugison - Mugiboogie (Ipecac)
24. Santogold & Diplo - Top Ranking
 (Mad Decent)
23. Mates of State - Re-Arrange Us (Barsuk)
22. No Age - Nouns (Sub Pop)
21. The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust (Vice)
20. Hot Chip - Made In The Dark (Astralwerks)
19. Gentleman Jesse and His Men - Introducing Gentleman Jesse and His Men (Douchemaster)
18. Death Cab
 for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
 (Atlantic)
17. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Lie Down In The Light (Drag City)
16. My Morning Jacket
 - Evil Urges (ATO)
15. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! (Mute)
14. Langhorne Slim - Langhorne Slim (Kemado)
13. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart (Waterfall/RCA)
12. of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping (Polyvinyl)
11. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive (Vagrant)
10. Deerhunter - Microcastle (Kranky)
9. Lucinda Williams - Little Honey (Lost Highway)
8. Sun Kil Moon - April (Caldo Verde)
7. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals (Illegal Art)
6. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)
5. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar)
4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)
3. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (XL)
2. Sigur Rós - Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust (XL)
1. She & Him - Volume One (Merge)

Ever been to Long Beach?

Now is a good time.

The Henry Clay People

Paperplanes

The Meeting Places

Fight Bite: "Swissex Lover" MP3

Texas-based Fight Bite unravel in slow-motion on this 4AD inspired track. I like its dark, ghostly and ethereal tone. You can hear Beach House, Galaxie 500 and even (gulp) Enya floating around in this mix. Did I just type 'Enya'? Shit.

The duo's debut album Emerald Eyes can be purchased just about anywhere. This record would sound great on vinyl. Enya? Probably not.

One more thing. Stereogum's got the video HERE.

|||Fight Bite: "Swissex Lover" MP3|||

School of Seven Bells Contest! - "My Cabal (Robin Guthrie Remix) MP3"

It's fitting that Robin Guthrie remixed "My Cabal" for New York dream-poppers School of Seven Bells -- the album shares similar qualities to Cocteau Twins' Heaven or Las Vegas. And I'd bet that any guy who's ever attended college in his life has dated a girl who owns at least one Cocteau Twins album right? The MP3 below is typical Guthrie fare: keys and vocals doused in chorus effects and delay, that's Guthrie's sound alright, saturating everything in sight. Get it:

|||School of Seven Bells: "My Cabal (Robin Guthrie Remix)" MP3|||

Tickets for their show supporting M83 can be bought here. And Brooklyn Vegan's got some recent live pics.

CONTEST:
Haven't heard their debut album Alpinisms yet? Well you should. If you'd like to win a copy of that CD and a 7" single of "Half-Asleep" then email me the answer to the question below at attackdecay@gmail.com.

Which popular Capitol Records band did the Deheza sisters and Ben Curtis both tour alongside while in separate bands? CONTEST CLOSED!


Remaining dates:

Nov 18 - Middle East Downstairs - Boston, MA
Nov 19 - Studio Juste Pour Rire - Montreal, QUE
Nov 20 - Opera House - Toronto, ONT
Nov 21 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
Nov 22 - Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
Nov 25 - Neumos - Seattle, WA
Nov 26 - Richard's on Richards - Vancouver, BC
Nov 27 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
Nov 28 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
Nov 29 - Henry Fonda Theater - Los Angeles, CA

Love is All, KCRW, other inner-nets

Some good news this morning. The Part Time Punks festival was definitely worth the trek and Jason Bentley has been named the new music director over at KCRW (via YSTS). Gary Calamar would have been an excellent choice because he's basically a walking encyclopedia of rock, but Bentley's also a solid tastemaker.

The Little Ones were pretty much flawless on Friday night, what a great show. They also had free cotton candy, tacos, and a balloon artist who shapes colored rubber tubes into anything you want. A great night of pop.

Love is All, who I completely fell in love last night after avoiding them for the past three years, will play The Smell tomorrow with Vivian Girls. Check out a live review featuring these two bands at Buzz Bands.

The Muslims were also really good. Not sure how to describe them, they aren't the most original sounding act but they do it so well. I guess I can just see their music progressing into something bigger, more melodic -- just a hunch I suppose. I hear they are changing their name to 'Slims,' which in my opinion is a huge mistake. Who is managing these dudes?

If you can't be bothered with the line that's probably already forming around the block at The Smell for Love is All/Vivian Girls then check out Everest and The Henry Clay People tomorrow at the Echoplex. They're playing as part of Indie 103.1's 'Check One Twosday'. This show is free, unless you're under the age of 18.

This will put a smile on your face

Tired of the same old band look? Me too! There's just so many options and styles to choose from. Do I go with a beard and bell bottoms? Should chest hair peek out? How do I get the stunning effect of both Abba and Stryper? You just hit the jackpot my friends.

The Little Ones...Anglos

I miss the Little Ones. It's been well over a year since I've seen them play. After some harsh realities with Astralwerks, two years of touring their asses off and a small lineup change the quintet have parked it over at Chop Shop for their debut album, Morning Tide. Tonight is gonna be fun.

Joining the group are What Made Milwaukee Famous, who are definitely worth checking out.

Other-nets:

That new-ish kid over at Aquarium Drunkard loves the shoegaze. Check out an awesome MP3 of Catherine Wheel's classic single "Black Metallic."

Pitchfork has some nice live photos of M83 & School of Seven Bells.

This is a couple of weeks old, but The Pains of Being Pure at Heart get more blog love from a bunch of girls who love right angles.


An old band mate of mine (the guy in the photo with the most hair) has been performing drum duties with Spectrum for the past few months, but has also surfaced with a new local outfit called Anglos. Head over to Tangier next Sunday, November 23 as Roger Brogan and the boys open for Charlie Wadhams. Check out a track from their forthcoming single below.

|||Anglos: "Cleopatra" Stream|||

Marnie Stern makeout party!

Marnie Stern brings her sweet licks to the El Rey tomorrow, and if you've got some extra cash you can even get to first base. The shred-tastic Stern will headline her very own kissing booth. Here's the lowdown:

- $3 for a peck on the cheek
- $10 for some lip
- $100 for some tongue (that's called a "french kiss" kids).

Before you get all hot and bothered please read this disclaimer: "Marnie reserves the right to refuse anyone a kiss subject to poor physical and mental hygiene, general dementia, and overall grossness."

No Age & Titus Andronicus do ShockHound gig... for free!

Hot Topic's recently launched music site ShockHound has unveiled some special gigs featuring bands you've probably heard about on a gazillion blogs -- but possibly have yet to see. Next month the website will offer a free show to L.A. residents featuring No Age and Titus Andronicus at the Troubadour. Tickets are free, but you must go HERE to reserve a space on the guest list. According to the peeps at ShockHound they're going fast.

Check out the video for No Age's "Eraser":

Slayer: 'Seasons in the Abyss' Video

A lot of critics and die-hard fans will argue that Reign in Blood is Slayer's masterpiece. Seasons in the Abyss is always my go-to album, and the title track (nearly twenty years old!) still sounds absolutely perfect. The song has a dark intro that feels light and airy until about the 1:45 mark when the engines start warming up. From that point on the guitars launch into a heavy assault while displaying the quartet's amazing technical ability and insane double-bass drumming. Someone needs to cover this song.

What's funny is that "Seasons in the Abyss" is purely a psychedelic thrash-metal song at its core, "close your eyes look deep in your soul, step outside yourself and let your mind go." You could throw the entire lyric sheet onto a Dead Meadow or Black Angels track and you wouldn't know the difference. And finally, what band looks more bad-ass than these four? Seriously, compare Slayer's pic to other standouts of early thrash (Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth...), these dudes look like they've actually lived through some horrible shit.

For some odd reason Slayer does not allow embedding of videos, and I sure as hell ain't startin' any trouble. Check out the video HERE!

Elsewhere on the Inner-nets...

Pitchfork wrote a nice review of the new School of Seven Bells album. I would've added a few tenths to the score.

Chromewaves is offering a download of The Postmarks covering Ride's "OX4," taken from their classic album Going Blank Again.

You Set The Scene is giving away tickets to see Torche. I luckily managed to see them as openers for Boris earlier this year. Their material sounds great, heavy and very melodic in a live setting. Some of it reminded me of Helmet.

Dungen + Women @ The Echo, The Depreciation Guild @ Silverlake Lounge

Dungen return to Los Angeles in support of their latest album 4, which is one of my faves of the year. The album is less epic in terms of guitar wizardry and immediacy, but the feel is almost smoother than previous efforts -- kind of like a jazz record. You could play in the background at a house party or crank up while sitting in traffic.

Joining the Swedes are Alberta, Canada's Women. The quartet is probably one of the most hyped/blogged about acts on the internet, but they actually deserve it. Their self-titled debut is out now via Jagjaguwar, also highly recommended. More about them here.


Thankfully you can catch Brooklyn's The Depreciation Guild after they were added to a bill at the Silverlake Lounge. The duo just got done playing CMJ and touring Mexico. Their Nintendo 8-bit beats meets Slowdive's wall of sound is right up my alley. Download their latest album for free. Joining them are Asthmatic Kitty artists Ivy Walls.

18th Dye touring the U.S., new album!!!

Underrated German/Danish indie-rockers 18th Dye will return to the U.S. this month to support their new album Amorine Queen, the trio's follow-up (yikes!) to 1995's Tribute to a Bus. You could say it's been a long time between records. Get the original post here.

You can purchase Amorine Queen as of today via Crunchy Frog.

Schedule:

11-13 Aarhus, Denmark - Musikcaféen
11-14 Randers, Denmark - Hatten
11-15 Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen
11-25 Baltimore, MD - Talking Head *
11-26 Philadelphia, PA - M Room *
11-28 New Haven, CT - TBA 11-29 New York, NY - Santos Party House #
11-30 Cambridge, MA - T.T. the Bear's Place *
12-01 Montreal, Quebec - Club Lambi *
12-02 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern *
12-03 Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room *
12-04 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop *
12-05 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle *
12-06 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry *
12-09 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey *
12-10 Portland, OR - Holocene *
12-12 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
12-13 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland *

* with Devon Williams
# with Gang Gang Dance, Marnie Stern

Jubilee: 'Fuzz Are Down' MP3

I'm feeling a hefty mix of bands like Failure and Jane's Addiction on this melodic rock jam called "Fuzz Are Down," taken from L.A.'s own Jubilee. It's a very 90's sounding track, but it still packs a heavy delivery/attack and is very refreshing amidst the scattered, sloppy pop-punk that's been grabbing so many blog headlines these days. I can see a band like this getting traction on the east and west sides -- and possibly mainstream radio.

Jubilee features four guys from some pretty well known bands: Queens of the Stone Age, Wires on Fire, The Icarus Line and Nine Inch Nails. Apparently they've only played one show in Los Angeles...they should play more.


|||Jubilee: "Fuzz Are Down" MP3|||


Get the quartet's Rebel Hiss EP, a UK import only CD, right here.

1. Rebel Hiss
2. Fuzz Are Down
3. The Fool On The Pill
4. L.A.

New Marnie Stern Video: 'Ruler'

Isn't Marnie Stern just adorable? I wish I could hang out with her for a day. Maybe help run some errands, fold laundry, go on a power walk and then finish the day off with a little jam session.

Anyhoo, this new clip for '"Ruler" is pretty funny. And guess what? Marnie Stern likes dogs and Rocky montages.



Thanks Pitchfork.

Cut Copy unveil another U.S. tour

Cut Copy have been working their asses off for the infectious In Ghost Colours. So to keep life consistent the Aussie trio will return once again in March for a North American tour, including two stops at the Henry Fonda Theatre. According to a recent press release these shows will go on sale this week. Wouldn't be surprised if they sold-out both nights.

Schedule:

3/6 AUSTIN, TX @ Stubb's BBQ

3/7 DALLAS, TX @ Granada Theater

3/9 POMONA, CA @ The Glass House

3/10 LOS ANGELES, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater

3/11 LOS ANGELES, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater

3/12 SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ The Fillmore

3/13 LAS VEGAS, NV @ House of Blues

3/15 DENVER, CO @ Bluebird Theater

3/17 ST. LOUIS, MO @ The Gargoyle

3/18 CHICAGO, IL @ Vic Theater

3/20 TORONTO, ON @ Circa

3/21 NEW YORK, NY @ Terminal 5

3/22 BOSTON, MA @ House Of Blues

3/23 WASHINGTON, DC @ The 9:30 club

3/24 CARBORRO, NC @ Cat's Cradle

3/26 ATLANTA, GA @ Masquerade

3/27 ORLANDO, FL @ Club Firestone

Check out a live clip of Cut Copy performing "Out There On The Ice"

Nic Harcourt says goodbye to KCRW

I know people love this guy but I couldn't be more optimistic about Nic Harcourt leaving KCRW. Harcourt is a great DJ, but he also represents the period where KCRW withdrew from its cutting edge music playlists (see Chris Douridas, Tricia Halloran and Gary Calamar) and focused more on becoming an adult contemporary playground and A&R feast for bands who frequent the Hotel Cafe. Good luck to Harcourt, and a big welcome to whoever (can we get a woman this time?) takes over.

More about this here.

Long Beach Rules.

Better than Fingerprints, The Prospector and Alex's combined (kidding). Seriously though, this amazing show of solidarity and protest is happening right outside my apartment: http://laist.com/2008/11/07/prop_8_protest_in_long_beach.php

The Sight Below: 'Life's Fading Fast' MP3, School of Seven Bells rehearsal trailer

Another knockout, and dreamy, album from Ghostly Intl. (home to NVSO, Tycho, School of Seven Bells, etc.) comes in the form of Portland-based The Sight Below, who I blogged about a while back. "Life's Fading Fast" is taken from Glider, which drops November 11, and begins as a comforting sheet of guitars looping into the darkness. The song eventually rises with a minimal techno beat that allows the listener to kick back and trip-out or simply pop some pills and let the chemicals interact with what you're hearing. I know that ambient music is generally "heady," "chill" or designed for background purposes, but this brand of sound is for taking drugs and deconstructing your personality.

There's no name or mention anywhere on the internet about who this guy/girl really is, maybe the music can help each individual to draw their own conclusion? Regardless, I seriously want to party with them.

|||The Sight Below: "Life's Fading Fast" MP3|||


In other Ghostly news, here's a short clip of School of Seven Bells rehearsing in Pontiac, Michigan. The last 30 seconds of drums and guitar is enough to get me siked for their upcoming gig with M83:





Elsewhere:

Smashing Pumpkins/Lassie Foundation guitarist Jeff Schroeder begins his tour diary for Buzz Bands. That dude can write.

My old Buzznet comrade Mark Oshiro got arrested covering, and protesting, at a 'No on Prop 8' rally yesterday. WTF LAPD?

Stereogum has the goods on a new Postmarks video/cover of Blondie's "11:59."

The Broken West play Spaceland tonight, Daedelus plays 'Brainfeeder' at the Echoplex.

Magnetic Morning: 11/3/08 @ The Roxy

So...there were lots of options this evening all over the city (Frightened Rabbit, Last Shadow Puppets, Parts and Labor), and as expected, the Roxy is pretty empty. Most of the crowd are local Swervedriver fans, members from local bands who will always be in awe of his tone and style, and random people who may or may not be Interpol groupies. The lack of fans is not surprising seeing as no one knows who Magnetic Morning is, but they should. I mean why would anyone in their right mind drive out to The Roxy on a Monday to see a band they didn't even know about?

For those who are unaware, Magnetic Morning is Adam Franklin and Sam Fogarino. It's their deal, their songs, and their sound which pulled people ten feet from the infamous Rainbow Bar. The tracks from the duo's debut album A.M. were akin to Swervedriver's excellent Ejector Seat Reservation; breezy, melodic, and carefree, with the exception of a few blistering numbers that saw Franklin and Fogarino completely go off into uncharted territory. And to be honest, this is why I came.

Sam Fogarino is a machine behind the kit. His rhythms are intricate without losing any of his signature attack and consistent pounding. And Franklin? I could talk for hours about his guitar tone, effortless playing and soloing, but you know the drill. Is it just me or was there one song in particular that began with the opening riff to Ejector Seat's "Birds" while easily transitioning into something else completely? Whatever. It was pretty fucking rad.

As the set went on I absorbed the new material, and I don't even own a copy of the full-length yet -- just a few MP3s that the blogosphere provided. No Swervedriver classics in the set, but it kinda would've been tacky after the last run of reunion dates. And whatever Franklin decides to do it will always have that scent of "Rave Down" or "Never Lose That Feeling" in it -- that's just who he is. Even if he decided to write an album of polka ballads with Zac Efron I could embrace it, buy tons of merchandise and start blogging about the follow-up.



- photo courtesy of Amateur Chemist

We've all been there, or will be very soon

L.A. music industry champ Angela Poe needs you. Actually, you need her.

R.Kelly gives great 'Real Talk'

Is you tweakin'?

Guitar: 'Sunkissed' MP3

Yep, it's an instrument. But German-based Guitar is also the duo of Michael Lueckner and Ayako Akashiba. Together they create euphoric trips that border on trip-hop while unveiling layers of sampled guitars. Everything sounds computerized, programmed and robotic, but there's a hint of innocence in the vocals. Akashiba's command of the English language is barely recognizable, yet it works within this context. Her phrasing sounds warped -- almost on purpose -- adding to the My Bloody Valentine/Bowery Electric-inspired drift.

"Sunkissed" is taken from their awesome debut, Sunkissed (Morr Music, 2002), but the band has four more albums under their belt. If you're interested then check out Clairecords. The label has recently reissued the hard-to-find Honeysky (2004) and Salty Kisses (2005) this month.

A new full-length, Come Summer Come Blues hits your wallet in early 2009.

|||Guitar: "Sunkissed" MP3|||

Fuck Yeah.

Averkiou: 'South Wall' MP3

Averkiou's (pronounced av-er-kyoo) Throwing Sparks is almost there. In terms of sound and melody its nice, but as a whole the recording process sounds like it's missing something...kind of muddy and flat where the guitars should really take off.

Within this 25-minute disc lies a scorcher titled "South Wall," the band's finest moment. It's got an immediacy to it that sounds grown-up, powerful and features a great chord progression. Think of a sonic milkshake featuring Teenage Fanclub, Ride and Guided by Voices.

The Gainesville, Florida quintet just released its debut album on Tonevendor, which in the past has offered great music from Paik, The Brother Kite, Astrobrite and much more. Buy it here, and sample "South Wall" below.

|||Averkiou: "South Wall" MP3|||

New cover art for Morrissey's 'Years of Refusal'?

Honestly, this is an awesome cover, if it is indeed the artwork for Morrissey's forthcoming album Years of Refusal. It basically looks like a super-hip Dad in a Fred Perry shirt holding his kid (who looks pretty stoked). The position in which he's holding the little tot is awkward, but hey...that's our Moz!

Read here for more.