Flight of the Conchords announce massive U.S. tour

I don't need to tell you how funny these guys are, and I bet their live show is awesome. Flight of the Conchords are returning to Los Angeles -- and just about every other place -- in support of the duo's self-titled full-length. The opening acts are ridiculous too. This is going to sell out fast (via Donewaiting).

Schedule:

4/6/09 Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center* Tampa, FL
4/7/09 University of Miami Bank United Center* Coral Gables, FL
4/8/09 UCF Arena* Orlando, FL
4/10/09 Ryman Auditorium* Nashville, TN
4/11/09 Fox Theatre* Atlanta, GA
4/13/09 Constitution Hall* Washington, D.C.
4/14/09 Radio City Music Hall* New York, NY
4/17/09 Agganis Arena* Boston, MA
4/18/09 Tower Theatre (2 shows)* Philadelphia, PA
4/19/09 Kent State University* Kent, OH
4/21/09 Massey Hall** Toronto, ON
4/22/09 Massey Hall** Toronto, ON
4/24/09 Fox Theatre** Detroit, MI
4/25/09 IU Auditorium** Bloomington, IN
4/26/09 Overture Center for the Arts** Madison, WI
4/28/09 Aerie Crown** Chicago, IL
4/30/09 Fox Theatre** St. Louis, MO
5/2/09 Riverside Theatre (2 shows)** Milwaukee, WI
5/3/09 Northrop Auditorium** Minneapolis, MN
5/5/09 Nokia Theatre** Dallas, TX
5/6/09 Jones Hall** Houston, TX
5/7/09 Bass Concert Hall** Austin, TX
5/10/09 Center in Vancouver for the Performing Arts*** Vancouver, BC
5/11/09 Paramount Theatre*** Seattle, WA
5/12/09 Paramount Theatre*** Seattle, WA
5/14/09 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall*** Portland, OR
5/16/09 Red Rocks Amphitheatre**** Denver, CO
5/17/09 Abravanel Hall*** Salt Lake City, UT
5/19/09 Dodge Theatre*** Phoenix, AZ
5/20/09 RIMAC Arena*** San Diego, CA
5/22/09 County Bowl*** Santa Barbara, CA
5/23/09 The Joint*** Las Vegas, NV
5/24/09 Greek Theatre*** Los Angeles, CA
5/25/09 Berkeley Community Theatre (2 shows)*** Berkeley, CA

Support:

* Kristen Schaal
** Eugene Mirman
*** Arj Barker
**** 1st Support: Iron & Wine, 2nd Support: Arj Barker

Air: 'La Femme D'Argent' Video

I found this incredible video over at Videos.Antville. "La Femme D'Argent" is the opener from Air's classic album Moon Safari, and this clip was created ten years after the release -- sometime in 2008. As the video rolls along text appears on a computer screen displaying factoids about every track from the 1998 release. Other shots showing the duo playing each instrument look clean and simple, and how about that bass solo at the 3-minute mark!

Maybe it's because this is an instrumental, but for some reason "La Femme D'Argent" looks smarter than just about any video made these days. Well, except for this one. I'm going to listen to Moon Safari all weekend.

"La Femme D'Argent" - Directed by Guillaume Delaperriere:

SOSMIX - 3

- Photo by Timothy Norris

This week's mix features a handful of Coachella artists, new and old, that I'm looking forward to seeing. I know people get pissy about Coachella being too hot (duh), the lineups being lame, it's an "exhausting experience", and that it's not worth the money...guess what guys? Maybe you're to old for music.

|||Download: "SOSMIX - 3" ZIP|||

1. A Place to Bury Strangers: "To Fix the Gash in Your Head"
2. Friendly Fires: "Paris"
3. Liars: "Freak Out"
4. No Age: "Teen Creeps"
5. Peter, Bjorn & John: "Let's Call it Off"
6. Silversun Pickups: "Comeback Kid"
7. Superchunk: "Precision Auto"
8. The Kills: "Tape Song"
9. TV on the Radio: "I Was a Lover"
10. Vivian Girls: "Where Do You Run To?"


Disclaimer: All MP3s are intended for sampling purposes only. Please visit the band's site/record label and buy their music.

Say hello to the 2009 Coachella Llineup

Finally, and it's not that bad. Get tickets for the Coachella festival, happening April 17-19, at their official website. I'm sure they're going to add a few more heavy weights to the bill, and by that I mean Blur... pretty please?

I don't know about you but I'm dying to see Amy Winehouse perform a rendition of "Slack Motherfucker" or "Trash Heap" with Superchunk. Make it happen guys.

Friday, April 17:

A Place To Bury Strangers
Alberta Cross
Bajofondo
Beirut
Buraka Som Sistema
Cage the Elephant
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Craze and Klever
Crystal Castles
Dear and the Headlights
Felix da Housecat
Franz Ferdinand
Genghis Tron
Ghostland Observatory
Girl Talk
Gui Boratto
Leonard Cohen
Los Campesinos
M. Ward
Molotov
Morrissey
N.A.S.A.
Noah and the Whale
Patton & Rahzel
Paul McCartney
Peanut Butter Wolf
People Under the Stairs
Ryan Bingham
Silversun Pickups
Steve Aoki
Switch
The Aggrolites
The Airborne Toxic Event
The Black Keys
The Bug
The Courteeners
The Hold Steady
The Knux
The Presets
The Ting Tings
We Are Scientists
White Lies

Saturday, April 18:

Amanda Palmer
Amy Winehouse
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
Atmosphere
Band of Horses
Billy Talent
Blitzen Trapper
Bob Mould Band
Booker T
Calexico
Cloud Cult
Crookers
Dr. Dog
Drive By Truckers
Drop The Lime
Electric Touch
Fleet Foxes
Gang Gang Dance
Glass Candy
Glasvegas
Henry Rollins
Hercules and Love Affair
Ida Maria
James Morrison
Liars
Mastodon
Michael Franti & Spearhead
MSTRKRFT
Surkin, Para One (Live)
Superchunk
The Bloody Beetroots
The Crystal Method
The Killers
Thenewno2
Thievery Corporation
Tinariwen
TRAV$DJ-AM
Turbonegro
TV On The Radio
Zane Lowe
Zizek

Sunday, April 19:

Antony and the Johnsons
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Christopher Lawrence
Clipse
Friendly Fires
Fucked Up
Gaslight Anthem
Groove Armada
Jenny Lewis
Junior Boys
K’naan
Late of the Pier
Lupe Fiasco
Lykke Li
M.A.N.D.Y.
Marshall Barnes
Mexican Institute of Sound
My Bloody Valentine
No Age
Okkervil River
Paolo Nutini
Paul Weller
Perry Farrell
Peter Bjorn and John
Public Enemy
Roni Size
Sebastien Tellier
Shepard Fairey
Supermayer
The Cure
The Horrors
The Kills
The Night Marchers
Themselves
Throbbing Gristle
Vivian Girls
X
Yeah Yeah Yeah’s


- 'bold' denotes bands I'd definitely check out.

2009 Coachella lineup announcement tomorrow morning

It's been twittered, twattered, and twatted via KROQ. Expect the 2009 Coachella festival lineup tomorrow morning during the 'Kevin and Bean show'. More news HERE.

Quick thoughts on the My Bloody Valentine Remasters: 'Isn't Anything' and 'Loveless''

I just spent the last few days listening to the remastered versions of My Bloody Valentine's Isn't Anything and Loveless. I know that most people are anticipating Isn't Anything's boosted clarity, improved low-end and overall volume, and the good news is that there's definitely a noticeable difference without sacrificing the warm, hazy feel of the guitar and bass. Both album versions are digital, though Loveless includes an analog disc. If I could get new vinyl copies on 180 gram and compare them to my original wax copies then I'd be really stoked.



The Loveless remasters are radical, there's two discs (analog and digital), that feature improved clarity in the rhythm guitars, drums and vocals. My biggest problem with most, maybe all, Creation Records releases is that Alan Moulder mixed and produced just about anything during that period. He's a big fan of mid-range, over-driven preamps -- especially with guitars -- so there's little to no low-end on albums like Ride's Nowhere, Swervedriver's Raise and Mezcal Head, and MBV's Loveless. Thankfully, Kevin Shields fixed some of these issues on the digital version. So disc one jumps out of the speakers more and sounds amazing with headphones on.

MBV fans are going love these discs no matter what. It provides yet another opportunity to geek out and discuss the most groundbreaking pop records to date...or just another excuse for people to get really, really high. For obvious reasons I cannot provide streams, but HMV is posting a pre-order date of March 3 -- it's coming sooner than you think.

Great Northern add dates, 'Remind Me Where the Light Is'

This isn't breaking news, but Great Northern's sophomore record is done. It's called Remind Me Where the Light Is -- covering topics of interest such as 'light', the importance of 'reminders' and the ever growing need to be reminded about 'light'.

Actually I have no idea what the album is about. But I do know that Buzzbands has the goods on their first single "Houses"
and the album drops April 28 via Eenie Meenie. "Houses" rocks harder than I expected it to, and that's the way I like it.

The group will head Northwest for a mini-tour in March, which leads to some eventual SXSW dates that may or may not exist...kind of like Coachella's 2009 lineup. Check out the dates below and ask yourself when was the last time you saw Great Northern at the Silverlake Lounge?

Schedule:

3/11: Sunset Tavern - Seattle, WA
3/12: Holoscene - Portland, OR
3/14: Hotel Utah Saloon - San Francisco, CA
3/16: Silverlake Lounge - Los Angeles, CA

- all shows with O + S

I'm totally over Blogspot

So, for the second time in a month I've had two blog posts taken down and deleted -- courtesy of Blogspot. There was a Blur post regarding their reunion tour -- that no longer exists -- and yesterday's Doves post was just erased from my inner-nets. Fucking retarded.

If anyone knows of a cheap, or free, way for me to get on Word Press with some hosting for MP3s I'd love to hear from you. It's something that's been recommended to me already from fellow bloggers, I've just been too busy to get it rolling.

Update: I did a Doves re-post here, minus the download feature.

National Skyline: 'Bloom' Stream

A couple of more National Skyline tracks have been thrown up on the group's MySpace page. "Bloom" is a saturated guitar frenzy that's supported by chunks of feedback. At about the 1:30 mark the song launches into orbit, never looking back. It's just another reminder of how great this new record's going to be.

There's also more news about the upcoming release, but as long as Jeff Garber keeps releasing these bangers I can wait for months. Bliss & Death drops February 17 via the Adventure Broadcasting imprint.

Listen to the album samples over at Amazon.

|||National Skyline: "Bloom" Stream|||

Relay become 'Arc in Round', continue to impress

A few years back I became infatuated with Relay's Still Point on Turning. It's a record that draws comparisons to The Sea & Cake and avant-gazers the Swirlies. Not many bands have attempted, or even come close, to building an album around sharp, careening chord structures and rhythms while allowing synths and jangly guitars to glide on their own, but this record passes with flying colors. The record is breezy, atmospheric, and bouncy all at once. It tickles my brain.

Recently, the band has been working on its follow-up album and decided it was time to change their name -- because there's just way too many 'Relays' out there. So they went with Arc in Round...and I kinda dig it. Stream a new Arc in Round track below, as well as the soaring "Safe", taken from the group's Type/Void EP.

|||Relay: "Safe" MP3|||
|||Arc in Round: "II" Stream|||

Other inner-nets

- Photo of Snowden by David Stuart

Tired of all the fake Coachella festival lineups? Check out Dukechella.

Thank god the guys from Low Flying Owls came to their senses. Glad to have them back (Buzzbands).

Two dudes made a sweet video for Snowden's "Counterfeit Rules" using 9,500 photos. From the band's MySpace: "Two brothers took a road trip from Chicago to Orlando and made a time lapse video out of over 9,500 pictures and set it to our song 'Counterfeit Rules'. This is probably cooler than any video we could have come up with on our own for this song. It's an awesome concept and the song complements it really well."

Listen to Grizzly Bear & Feist on "Dark Was the Night" (Blank Slate).

Jim Fairchild (All Smiles) will fill in on guitar with Modest Mouse during their U.S. tour next month. Go get 'em tiger! And don't forget about Bat For Lashes.

Doves are back with new album 'Kingdom of Rust', and 'Jetstream' MP3!

This is the second version of a post that was taken down from a web sheriff (Blogspot):

Best news I've heard all year. Doves return on April 7 ( Astralwerks ) with Kingdom of Rust , the follow-up to 2005's amazing Some Cities. If you're in the UK you can pick up the album a day earlier through Heavenly, and get yourself some tickets to their upcoming tour -- which you can check out below.

Even better? There's a free download of the trio's first single, "Jetstream", over at their website (via Blank Slate).




1. Jetstream
2. Kingdom of Rust
3. The Outsiders
4. Winter Hill
5. 10.03
6. The Greatest Denier
7. Birds Flew Backwards
8. Spellbound
9. Compulsion
10. House of Mirrors
11. Lifelines

UK Schedule:

3/12: Parr Hall - Warrington
3/13: Empire - Middlesbrough
3/15: ABC - Glasgow
3/17: Kasbah - Coventry
3/18: Pyramid - Portsmouth
3/19: Forum - London

M83 to perform with L.A. Philharmonic in March!

This should satisfy your Coachella lineup blues for at least two weeks. French Shoegazers M83 will be accompanied by the L.A. Philharmonic on March 7 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, tickets go on sale this Friday, January 30 at 10 AM. If you've ever seen M83 live you know how orchestral and amazing their live sound already is. Adding the L.A. philharmonic might just be too much to handle. Fuck it, this is going to be sooo good.

Metric dropping 'Fantasies' all over this bitch in April

According to Billboard.com, Canadian electronic-pop quartet Metric will self-release their new album, Fantasies, in the U.S. on April 14 -- Last Gang will handle the release in their native country. You can pre-order Fantasies via ilovemetric.com on March 2. Doing so will result in a super-duper bonus MP3 of the band's first single "Help I'm Alive", which is actually available on iTunes right now.

|||Metric: "Help I'm Alive" Stream|||

New Adam Franklin: 'Champs' Stream

From Adam Franklin's forthcoming solo album, Spent Bullets, comes this flamenco guitar meets ground-swelling feedback number titled "Champs". While I wouldn't call most of Franklin's material a departure from Swervedriver, the essence of his songwriting always takes me back to Raise, this track is dark and very different.

Franklin's vocals sit off in a hazy corner as a bossa nova pattern and flamenco guitar intertwine. It reminds me of Echo & the Bunnymen minus the dreary attitude. Great stuff.

|||Adam Franklin: "Champs" Stream|||


Spent Bullets drops March 31 on Hi-Speed Soul. You can also pick up newly remastered copies of Swervedriver's classic albums Raise and Mezcal Head now at that website.

Monome: The future of music?

I've seen Daedelus using a Monome for a couple of years now, and this device seems to work magically for him. The real question is, especially if you're a gear-head like me, how can I incorporate this using brainwaves to trigger samples, guitar effects, loops, and cut between reverb-heavy patches with extreme amounts of decay? If you can solve that problem then you'll fix this nation's economy and change the future of music -- I guarantee it.

I Was a King: 'Norman Bleik' MP3

Remember Bettie Serveert, BMX Bandits...No? Then go download this track and dig up anything by those artists. But before you do that check out just about anything by Norwegians I Was a King. Their debut self-titled album features the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Serena Maneesh, Danielson, and Ladybug Transistor, not too shabby right? It's catchy, a little garage-y, and breaches the power-pop ceiling with hooks and cool guitar melodies.

|||I Was a King: "Norman Bleik" MP3|||

I Was a King drops April 7 via The Control Group.

Asobi Seksu: 'Me & Mary' Video

Everything about Asobi Seksu's new material from the highly anticipated Hush reveals a more upfront and direct approach, even on this video for "Me & Mary". The vocals are easier to absorb along with James Hannah's roaring guitar coming through at just the right moments. Here, the duo sway back and forth amidst some cool animated doodling.

The clip matches the dreaminess of the song, but only when those feathers slowly cover the scene. This is almost a Gap X-mas advertisement for black and white V-neck sweaters -- only the music is better.

Did we mention these kids are going on tour?


"Me & Mary" - Directed by Dan-ah Kim:

The return of MUXTAPE? Sort of.

Muxtape is/was great. It allows bloggers, fans, and artists to promote music in a fancy little mix called...Ba Da Bing! MUXTAPE.

At the site you'll see a bunch of pretty colors followed by some streams from twelve artists (Francis and the Light, Of Montreal, Amanda Palmer, etc.). Not much to get excited about yet, but I'm happy to see this application making a return.

Coachella lineup announcement today?

Leave it to the douchebags over at L.A.'s worst radio station to tease their listeners about the highly anticipated Coachella lineup. I read over at LAist and Idolator that, basically, it's not happening today as promised. Fortunately, I haven't actually tuned into to KROQ since I was, oh, 14 (thanks to Robbie Ford for introducing me to KXLU and KCRW back then).

If you're a regular listener of that station please let me know if The Kinks, Blur, Macca and MBV are playing. Wait a sec, if you listen to KROQ on a regular basis then I'm dying to know why you're reading this blog and what artists brought you to this site.

Update from LAist:

'The world thought Coachella promoter Goldenvoice was going to release the long-awaited lineup for this year's Coachella festival. In fact, it seems that was the plan, but come this morning, there no line up, no buzz--just disappointment. Idolator got to the bottom of it and e-mailed Kevin and Bean at KROQ while they were on air. Surprisingly, Bean responded:

you know it has nothing - not one thing - to do with us. coachella called us yesterday to say their announcement wasn’t going to be ready for this morning. we wish it were. i promise we will announce it as soon as we get it.

bean

On air just past 8 a.m., KROQ said "[Coachella hasn't] finalized the lineup to give it to us. It's very likely to be today, it could be tomorrow." Supposedly, a few big acts are still being confirmed.'

Hey Bean, why announce, on-air, that the Coachella lineup is going to be revealed when you don't have the goods in the first place? I know it's Goldenvoice's fault, but seriously dude...

Oasis: 'I'm Outta Time' Video

This is basically Oasis doing its best impression of the Verve, or Richard Ashcroft for that matter, but it's better than anything you could pull from the disappointing Forth. This probably goes without saying, but the Beatles influence still bleeds through just about everything they do. "I'm Outta Time" isn't bad, just a little sad. Instead of pondering whom the lyrics are directed to I can't help but think of this band in their prime, and how much better their records should be. I just wish they had more stormers on Dig Out Your Soul like "Live Forever" and "(What's the Story) Morning Glory" -- doesn't everbody?

The video ain't bad either. There's a melancholy feel, gentle black and white surroundings, and it fits the mood of the song just right.




In other news, Oasis will offer its new single "Falling Down" on March 9. The video will precede the release on February 3.

The Helio Sequence embarking on Northwest tour, more dates tba

Last year's Keep Your Eyes Ahead was a SOS favorite, and the band's most focused release to date. We'll be able to catch the duo on tour this year as The Helio Sequence has announced a short tour of the Pacific Northwest, followed by news of more dates throughout 2009:

"It’s been a while since we’ve been out on the road... but 2009 is already looking busy! I’ll have some exciting news about international festival dates and a full US tour to share soon, but for now we have a few shows close to home that are coming up. We’re warming up our tour schedule this year with a very special “All Northwest” round of shows, playing a bunch of cities we’ve never been through and coming back to some we’ve been meaning to play again for a while (Hello, Bellingham!)"

How's about a "Hello Los Angeles!" guys? I'm joking. Seriously, these guys come through L.A. every year right?

Schedule:

2/12: Eugene, OR- W.O.W Hall (All Ages)
2/19: Vancouver BC- Biltmore (19+)
2/20: Bellingham, WA-Viking Union Room (All Ages)
2/21: Salem, OR-Ike Box (All Ages)
2/26: Kennewick, WA- Red Room (All Ages)
2/27: Spokane, WA- The BLVD (21+)
2/28: Moscow, ID- The Nuart Theater (All Ages)


"Keep Your Eyes Ahead" - Directed by Whitey McConnaughy:

Blue Jungle: 'Here We Go Again' MP3

If there's one trend that continues to rear it's reverberated head its these young female-fronted groups paying homage to JAMC's Psychocandy. L.A.'s Blue Jungle will remind you of the much hyped about Vivian Girls, only better.

There are hints of Sleater-Kinney and late-70's Siouxsie & the Banshes on "Here We Go Again". If for some reason these kids are too young to know who either of those bands are then please don't tell them, they're on to something here.

I don't know much more about this L.A. band, other than I've probably crossed paths with them at some point, but I really need to check them out. And I have a feeling from their MySpace photos that they crank out a pretty sexed-up live performance, and that ain't bad.

|||Blue Jungle: "Here We Go Again" MP3|||


Get the group's limited edition debut album Baby Don't Cry HERE.

Other inner-nets

Radiohead is playing the Grammy Awards Ceremony on February 8, no joke.

PrefixMag has some killer live photos of M83 at NYC's Irving Plaza.

Don't worry Faces fans, the band is not playing on the same stage with Flea (via Billboard).

Amateur Chemist took some nice pics of Beach House and the Walkmen for Stereogum. I think they're ready for a second date.

Someone recorded Autolux's performance from last week -- the sound quality is actually good.

Jealous Girlfriend, Holly Miranda, to release solo album

While her band mates take a break from touring in support of their self-titled debut, the quartet's singer/guitarist Holly Miranda is working on a solo album.

According to Chromewaves, the record will be manned by TVOTR's Dave Sitek with guest appearances from the likes of Celebration's Katrina Ford. Sounds promising.

Stream Miranda's atmospheric pop tunes HERE.

Here's the latest video from The Jealous Girlfriends, "Organs on the Kitchen Floor" - Directed by Geoffray Barbier:

SOSMIX - 2

Can we talk? How long do you think this Animal Collective buzz going to last? I give it two more months. And while it's a super-good record with many websites and blogs toting it as "groundbreaking" and/or "the album of 2009", I honestly have to disagree with both statements. There's just too much great music coming out this year that I anticipate will be both more groundbreaking and a stronger candidate for album of the year. Still, it's a kick-ass record.

Not to many great singles or downloads appeared in the last few days so I threw in some hard to find goodies in this week's SOSMIX. Get a load of the Coachwhips (pictured above) and Henry's Dress classics.

|||Download: "SOSMIX - 2" ZIP|||

1. Chromatics: "Hands in the Dark"
2. Coachwhips: "I Made a Bomb"
3. Crystal Stilts: "Prismatic Room"
4. Cut Copy: "So Haunted"
5. Empire of the Sun: "We Are the People"
6. Fleet Foxes: "Blue Ridge Mountains"
7. Henry's Dress: Hey Alison"
8. Here We Go Magic: "Ahab"
9. M83: "We Own Sky"
10. Torche: "Sandstorm"


Disclaimer: All MP3s are intended for sampling purposes only. Please visit the band's site/record label and buy their music.

The Little Ones: Vinyl & T-Shirt Giveaway!

Update: Contest Closed!

As you can see we like doing contests, but this one's going to take a bit of research on your part. To win a signed copy of The Little Ones' debut album Morning Tide and a T-shirt you've got to answer these two questions:

1. What was the name of the band before they became 'The Little Ones'?

2. What band did both Ed and Ian play in before this group?

Email me the correct answers at "attackdecay@gmail.com" to win.

"Ordinary Song" - Directed by Terri Timely:

Paul McCartney at Coachella?

Yup, well at least that's what Consequence of Sound is saying. Along with a list of 'confirmed' acts and rumored artists, Macca is playing Coachella. This is all according to an "independent confirmation", isn't that how the Iraqi invasion got started?

Asobi Seksu schedule massive tour

Brooklyn dream-pop all-stars Asobi Seksu just announced their Spring tour in support of the forthcoming Hush. The jaunt gets rocking in Europe, taps a keg in Austin during SXSW, and ends in their home town of Brooklyn, NY. I have a funny feeling they'll be playing Coachella, but let's wait on that.

We still have some time to kill until the February 17 release of Hush. So go download "Familar Light" and imagine yourself swooning at the Troubadour with an overpriced beer.

Schedule:

2/8: The Talking Heads Southampton, UK
2/9: Islington Academy (NME Awards w/Howling Bells) London, UK
2/10: Roadhouse Manchester, UK
2/11: Crawdaddy Dublin, IE
2/13: Speakeasy Belfast, UK
2/14: ABC2 Glasgow, UK
2/15: The Cluny Newcastle, UK
2/16: Faversham Leeds, UK
2/18: Barfly (Dragon) Birmingham, UK
2/19: ICA London, UK
2/20: Paradiso Amsterdam, NL
2/21: Fleche d’Or Paris, FR
2/22: Rotonde Brussels, BE
2/24: Gleiss 22 Muenster, DE
2/25: Magnet Berlin, DE
3/2: Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
3/3: Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo
3/4: Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom
3/5: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
3/6: Bloomington, IL @ Illinois Wesleyan U.-Young
3/7: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry 3/10: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
3/11: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
3/13: San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
3/14: Los Angeles, CA @ Troubador
3/15: San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
3/19: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/20: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/21: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/22: Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
3/23: Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
3/24: Memphis, TN @ Young Avenue Deli
3/25: Atlanta, GA @ Eyedrum
3/26: Chapel HIll, NC @ Local 506
3/28: Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
3/29: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
4/2: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

Roger O'Donnell: '(Theme to) Stereogum' MP3

Dude? I didn't know this 2006 Stereogum theme song even existed until yesterday, but now I'm glad I do. I really wish I had a 'Surfing on Steam' theme song (wink, wink!). Something harsh, beautiful, and painful all wrapped up into a 2-minute pop song. Something that incorporates the title of my blog in lyrics -- buried in distortion of course. And finally, something that includes a video with hot indie babes doing everyday stuff (laundry, running errands, reading a book, etc.).

Roger O'Donnell (ex-The Cure) wrote this nifty little electronic jingle for the boys over at Stereogum, you know, the site that Buzznet bought for like 5 million Sacagaweas? Check it out:

|||Roger O'Donnell: "(Theme to) Stereogum" MP3|||


I should probably mention that O'Donnell has a new album out this week, Songs From the Silver Box, out now via World's Fair. The new single "Tiny Pieces of You" has a video:

New Animal Collective: 'My Girls' Video, Other inner-nets

No, that's not the Blue Man Group. It's Animal Collective swaying and grooving in a weird germ-like plasma for their much talked about single "My Girls", heard of it yet?

"My Girls" - Animated by Jon Vermilyea:


Other inner-nets:

According to Billboard.com, L.A. freshies-from-San Diego, The Soft Pack, have signed to one of my favorite boutique labels Kemado Records.

Lloyd, I'm ready for a new label. Camera Obscura sign to 4AD, via P4K.

Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney) has a great piece dedicated to Dubya over at Monitor Mix.

Earfarm lists 'Ten Brooklyn Bands You Should Hear Right Now'. I need a break from that city, and I don't even live there.

The Yellow Stereo has loads of MP3s from new releases you may or may not care about.

Sundance: 'Spectacle' Prize Pack Giveaway!

Update: Contest is closed!

Elvis Costello is the main man behind Spectacle, a video-interview series on the Sundance Channel. We're giving away one prize pack which includes:

1 Keen/Sundance Bag
1 Pair of Speakers
1 T-Shirt
1 Notebook
1 Sigg/Sundance Thermos

*Be the first person to email me your favorite Elvis Costello song to attackdecay@gmail.com and you win!

Tonight's episode features Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Norah Jones, and John Mellancamp.

From the website:

"...Everything from intimate one-on-one conversations with legendary performers and notable newcomers to thematic panel discussions. Guest artists not only talk but perform — demonstrating the development and creation of their music and playing new, stripped-down or solo versions of some of their best and most loved songs. Costello also performs, starting each episode with an original, never before seen (or heard) interpretation of a song by the featured guest, or a song connected to them. And on top of all that are extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations and pairings."

Autolux: Live at the Henry Fonda Thetare, 1/17/09

- Photos by Andrew Youseff


Tonight's show was all about the new tunes, and, as you can see in the photo below, there were plenty of them. "Supertoys", "Headless Sky", "Finder's Fee", and "Reappearing" are technically 'old' for followers of the trio, but "In the Way" and the Sonic Youth-inspired "SYRH", which Eugene announced as "The first song off of our new album", were dynamic, noisy, and engulfing. They instilled a renewed sense of excitement for the new album.

For a group that's been absent on the live circuit for some time Autolux were extremely tight and well-rehearsed. Future Perfect cuts "Sub Zero Fun", "Angry Candy", and "Plantlife" were amazing. "Turnstile Blues", which features on of the best drum beats I've ever heard, is still the ultimate crowd-pleaser -- I can't believe no one has sampled that yet. And to top it off, the band performed a cover of the Velvet Underground's "After Hours", which featured Carla Azar singing over Greg's gentle guitar melody. Bittersweet.

- More photos at Amateur Chemist and Web in Front.

Le Switch ready new EP, residency, tour dates...

The name of the game is The Devil Needs a Cough Drop, Le Switch's forthcoming 3-song EP dropping February 23 via Aquarium Drunkard's own Autumn Tone Records. The L.A. quintet will support its release with a well-deserved Spaceland residency next month preceded by a quick jaunt up the west coast (Hello Merced!).

Details: The Devil Needs a Cough Drop:

1. I'm Not On
2. You and I
3. Sunday Morning

Schedule:

1/21: LMU - Los Angeles, CA
1/22: Hotel Utah - San Francisco, CA
1/24: The Partisan - Merced, CA
1/26: The Doug Fir - Portland, OR
1/27: High Dive - Seattle, WA
2/2: Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA
2/9: Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA
2/16: Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA
2/23: Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA
3/19: SXSW - Austin, TX
3/20: SXSW - Austin, TX
3/21: SXSW - Austin, TX

Here We Go Magic: 'Ahab' MP3

After we posted Here We Go Magic's standout track "Tunnelvision" in a mix last week I wondered if many of the tunes from the Brooklyn's debut would hold up in comparison. It's not uncommon these days to catch a band from NYC integrating folk and psychedelia into their bag of tricks, and it's been a reliable way to get your name out there. But the lads in Here We Go Magic understand that natural ability and songwriting comes first.

"Ahab" is a bit 'left field' compared to the more acoustic driven numbers on HWGM's debut. It has a weird Peter Gabriel meets Grizzly Bear feel. The guitar hook sounds predictable at first, very bluesy, but once the drums and prog-keys kick in the song transforms itself into something completely different.

|||Here We Go Magic: "Ahab" MP3|||


Get the infectious "Tunnelvision" HERE. Pre-order the band's debut album from Western Vinyl.

Torche: "Sandstorm" MP3

Put Tweak Bird's "Whorses" on 78 rpm, mix in a little of Helmet's classic album Meantime and you've got this amazingly heavy-brutal-melodic metal track from Torche's 2008 banger Meanderthal. "Sandstorm" is a drop in the bucket compared to what other gems can be found throughout the album. The guitars are dense and rubbery with start-stop bridges and carefully spaced-apart vocals. Meanderthal will consistently pummel you, and I love that, but the record is easy to get into because of its focus on melody. After catching them open for Boris last year I picked up the record -- it delivered well beyond my expectations.

|||Torche: "Sandstorm" MP3|||


Think you've got cool vinyl? Check out these options:

Animal Collective add European, U.S. tour dates

The much talked about Merriweather Post Pavillion is catapulting these guys to another level. After two sold out shows in Los Angeles, and just about everywhere else, Animal Collective have announced even more tour dates in Europe and the U.S. that run until early summer.

The group will play the Wiltern Theater here in Los Angeles on May 29. There's a hole in the schedule during the month of April (Coachella?), but they just played the festival last year, and they rarely do repeats...who knows?

Pitchfork has an interview with the band today.

Aquarium Drunkard reviews Merriweather Post Pavillion.

Schedule:

1-20: New York, NY - Grand Ballroom
1-21: New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
1-22: Chicago, IL - Metro
1-23: Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
1-24: Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
3-4: Oslo, Norway - Rockerfeller
3-5: Lund, Sweden - Mejeriet
3-6: Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
3-8: Cologne, Germany - Gloria
3-9: Heidelberg, Germany - Karistorbahnof
3-10: Fribourg, Switzerland - Fri-Son
3-11: Luzern, Switzerland - Konzerthaus Schurr
3-12: Florence, Italy - Viper Room
3-13: Rome, Italy - Teatro Studio 3-14 Milan, Italy - Rolling Stone
3-16: Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie
3-17: Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
3-18: Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
3-19: Lille, France - Aeronef
3-20: Nantes, France - L'Olympic
3-22: Bristol, England - Trinity Centre
3-23: Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms
3-24: London, England - The Forum
3-25: Leeds, England - TJ’s Woodhouse Club
3-26: Liverpool, England - Static Gallery
3-27: Dublin, Ireland - Tripod
3-28: Belfast, Ireland - Stiff Kitten
5-11: Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
5-12: Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
5-13: New York, NY - Terminal 5
5-14: Boston, MA - House of Blues
5-15: Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
5-16: Toronto, Ontario - Sound Academy
5-18: Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Hall
5-19: Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom
5-20: Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
5-24: Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
5-25: Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
5-26: Oakland, CA - Fox Theatre
5-27: Big Sur, CA - Henry Miller Memorial Library
5-29: Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern
5-30: Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
5-31: Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater
6-1: Albuquerque, MN - Sunshine Theater
6-2: Boulder, CO - Boulder Theatre
6-4: Dallas, TX - House of Blues
6-5: Austin, TX - Stubbs
6-6: Oxford, MS - The Library
6-8: St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
6-9: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
6-10: Orlando, FL - Club Firestone
9-12: Monticello, NY - All Tomorrow's Parties

Deerhunter: 'White Ink' Video

Taken from Deerhunter's excellent album Cryptograms, "White Ink" was typically a track I'd skip over to get to the more straightforward noise-poppers. I know it looks pretty simple, but this video is mesmerizing. And for some reason I find it easier to pick out Bradford's vocal loops.

"White Ink" -- Directed by Justin Gaar:

Other inner-nets

Aquarium Drunkard has a post, plus MP3s, of the ultra-talented Imaad Wasif w/Two Part Beast and his latest album Strange Hexes. I love this record.

Watch Vivian Girls and their critically acclaimed noise-twee over at Laundromatinee.

Stream Peter Bjorn and John's "Lay it Down", remixed by The Golden Filter, over at Pitchfork. No commas for these guys.

Gorilla vs. Bear has new Grizzly Bear!

Brooklyn Vegan probably has the most diverse assortment of live School of Seven Bells live pics.

The inevitable 'bring back Indie 103.1' petition is available HERE.

Wondering what Silversun Pickups have been up to?

M83: 'We Own the Sky' Video

See those hipsters in the screen grab above, they're the stars of this fan made clip for "We Own the Sky" -- courtesy of Matei-Alexandru Mocanu. Of course M83 don't actually own the sky, but their track record of stunning releases ensures that they'll probably get first dibs in the V.I.P. section.

"We Own the Sky" immediately jumps out with M83's signature synths. The young men perform kick-flips while cute indie-rocker babes dance and gaze at the camera. During the finale our troupe wallows in a projection of beams and graphs.

M83 are running a video contest for this Saturdays=Youth number. Here's some info from the director:

"It's film - 35 mm kodak. no TK or DI, this is without color-correction, the way we intended it to look (film stock was expired, btw). Sound - DAT, but I have to ask the sound designer for details."

Fleet Foxes: 'Blue Ridge Mountains (live on SNL)' Video

In general, I don't have the patience for Saturday Night Live. Now that Amy Poehler is gone there's no actor, or character for that matter, that I look forward to. A colleague of mine recently told me that SNL acquired a new talent buyer for the program. So when Fleet Foxes were tapped to play I was thinking that I may need to start setting my Tivo again.

SNL has had several great indie acts in recent years (Spoon, The Shins, Feist), but there's something special about picking a Sub Pop artist like Fleet Foxes. They look like a bunch of guys who just stumbled out of The Red Lion, or the North Face, and they don't write traditional pop/rock.

Who can we expect to see in the coming year? Bon Iver? M83? Animal Collective? Check out the clip for "Blue Ridge Mountains" below -- such a great song.

Autolux: Tonight at the Henry Fonda Theatre

Hi. Go to Autolux tonight. You know it's going to be good, and you'll probably hear a bunch of new tunes. Doors at 8 pm.

Get Tickets

"Plantlife" - Performed on the Jimmy Kimmel Show:



Update - Autolux set list:

1. Intro
2. New song
3. Audience No. 2
4. Supertoys
5. Capital Kind Of Strain
6. Here Comes Everybody
7. Headless
8. Turnstile Blues
9. Science of Imaginary Solutions
10. Blanket
11. Subzero Fun
12. Finder's Fee
13. New Song: Anyone get the name of this? Eugene announced it as "The first song off of our new album"
14. After Hours (VU cover, Carla sings)
15. Plantlife
16. Reappearing

Indie 103 can exist, here's how

I'm sure this has been brought up already at several discussions amongst music buffs, ex-Indie 103 employees, and the slew of interviews that are taking place as I write this. Or maybe it hasn't -- I just like to give people the benefit of the doubt. But If Indie 103 returns they should definitely take a cue from KCRW in the form of subscription drives. This has worked in favor of KCRW for years, and I'm not just talking about the people who go there for NPR.

Imagine getting thousands of kids, college grads, professionals, industry peeps, and musicians to subscribe even a mere $10 a year? Most people would give even more. This takes care of salaries and loads of other costs. Keep the online station, the awesome local sponsored events, take it to CMJ, SXSW, build your own festival, and eventually, a serious recognizable brand. Become what the major labels and music industry has failed at, which simply is, a brand with taste. All of this can be done without damaging any of the integrity of Indie 103's great DJ programming -- KCRW has done this effectively for years.

Let the subscribers gain access to indie-sponsored shows for free, or create something where people feel like they're getting more than just radio out of it. Once again, see KCRW. Realistically, most people who subscribe to KCRW never even use the fringe benefits card (guilty). It's the idea that you can use it whenever you want and that you're a part of something meaningful. Political advisers use this same strategy all the time, see Barrack Obama's decisive win.

No matter how up and down KCRW has been over the years, they still manage to pull in millions of dollars and play loads of great music that we all love and will pay money to see. Forget that 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' had become an adult contemporary showcase for a decade, it's the niche shows that have remained the most important draw overall -- which is what Indie 103 had nailed down. And now that Jason Bentley is driving the train just sit back watch that station become even better. Why because the guy with really good musical taste is running the main event.

Indie 103 also had the lockdown on local, emerging artists. No matter how mediocre, generic, or amazing some of them were, they filled the void that KCRW, and even KXLU, could not fill. Not because KXLU isn't essential to this city, they simply don't have the reach or dollars to compete with a station like Indie 103.

I think Indie 103 will return in some form, clearly the public are demanding it. I could also love to discuss in detail how blog satellite radio programs that include the most influential taste makers in the country (Gorilla vs. Bear, Aquarium Drunkard, My Old Kentucky Blog, You Ain't No Picasso, and Chromewaves) have become the go-to guys for major label A&R and indie PR, which could also be tied-in to this solution. For now, let's focus on bringing back a great radio station.

Call me.

-S

SOSMIX - 1

- Photo of ZAZA courtesy of the band

One of things I promised myself to do more of with this blog is to have a consistent weekly feature. So this week will kick off the SOSMIX, a mix containing my favorite 10 tracks of the moment. Some of these are brand new, picked up from another blog, or feature new bands that I think are destined to do great things. Download the Zip-File below:

|||Download: "SOSMIX - 1" ZIP|||

Ingredients:
1. Animal Collective: "My Girls"
2. Asobi Seksu: "Familiar Light"
3. Bon Iver: "Blood Bank"
4. Experimental Aircraft: "Upper East Side"
5. Here We Go Magic: "Tunnelvision"
6. Mt. Saint Helens Vietnam Band: "Anchors Dropped"
7. Tame Impala: "Half Full Glass of Wine"
8. The Sundelles: "Dead Youth"
9. VOICEsVOICEs: "Tape Noon"
10. ZAZA: "Arm's Length"


Disclaimer: All MP3s are intended for sampling purposes only. Please visit the band's site/record label and buy their music.

Telekinesis: 'All of a Sudden' MP3

These Seattle, WA. power-pop kids, lead by master craftsman Michael Lerner, were born for the radio. Telekinesis is the sound of a house party, summer nights with kegs and hot babes, or blasting it on your car's stereo while heading to Las Vegas. It's not groundbreaking by any means, just solid catchy pop that should be mandatory for your next mix-tape -- think The Apples in Stereo without the whiny vocals. Chalk-up another score for Merge Records.

According to a recent press release, "Telekinesis! was recorded at Two Sticks Audio in Seattle with producer Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie). Michael wrote and sang all of the songs and played nearly all of the instruments on the album, but tours with a full band that includes David Broecker (guitar), Jonie Broecker (bass, keyboards), and Chris Staples (guitar)."

|||Telekinesis: "All of a Sudden" MP3|||

Get another banger, "Coast of Carolina", over at You Set the Scene.

Empire of the Sun: 'We Are the People' Video

Luke Steele's last Sleepy Jackson album was a hazy soft-rock homage to George Harrison and Leo Sayer, at least that's what I thought. So when I first heard Empire of the Sun, his disco-pop project with Pnau's Nick Littlemore, it made total sense. This extension into late-70's disco actually suits Steele's voice while Littlemore lends his knack for dance-floor rhythms and structure. To be honest, "We Are the People" may have the best chorus (chord progression) I've heard in a long time.

This video was filmed in the towns of Garcia, Xilitla, and the Icamole Desert in Mexico. I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that drugs may have been involved in this shoot. But I gotta tell ya, that rain forest sequence looks too amazing not to indulge.

"We Are the People" - Directed by Josh Logue:

Other inner-nets

- Photo by Joe Yarmush

Canadian dream-pop outfit Young Galaxy has announced that album #2 is in the can. This comes from the band's new blog, 'Peripheral Visionaries', which I think may have some sort of tie-in to the album's title.

Lush frontwoman Miki Berenyi delivers vocals on two tracks for the forthcoming Seinking Ships album, due next month. Stream "Digging Your Own Hole" at the group's MySpace page.

Indie 103.1's unfortunate fate is no secret. Get more in-depth info about the transition at Buzzbands.

The Pity Party's Heisenflei will be filling in on drums for the amazing Raveonettes during their U.S. Jaunt, which begins tonight in Boston and ends next Saturday at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.

This is one of the best videos I've seen all week:

New Friendly Fires Video: 'Skeleton Boy'

Another great single from UK-based Friendly Fires, whose last video we have right HERE. "Skeleton Boy" is a polished jam reminiscent to most of the great dance-pop of !!! (Chk Chk Chk). I hate to use the word 'slick' to describe something I actually like, but this song is just that, and it doesn't bother me whatsoever.

(via Spinner)

Indie 103.1 is now an internet-only radio station

It's been real guys, but they're not gone for good. Indie 103.1 is switching to internet radio.

I slowly warmed-up to Indie 103.1in the past couple of years. Most of this was due to their niche programming (Mark Sovel's excellent taste in music, local and international, and the sorely missed 'Big Sonic Heaven'). From a recent press release:

"Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option -- to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great. Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative -- simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world."

ZAZA: 'Repetition' MP3

- Photo by Beatrice De Gea

Another outstanding new band from Brooklyn, NY. ZAZA are a haunting duo that spin dark webs of atmospheric pop. Imagine if Grizzly Bear recorded an album using Talk Talk's Laughing Stalk and Mercury Rev's Deserter's Songs as their only points of reference. "Repetition" will remind you of many more great bands, but this well-crafted gem stands on its own -- revealing beautiful piano chords and shimmering guitars.

L.A. residents can catch ZAZA at the Echoplex on January 27 or the Viper Room two days later. I can't wait to see these guys.

|||ZAZA: "Repetition" MP3|||

If you like the song you just heard then I urge you to download the group's Cameo EP for free at their website.

p.s. ZAZA features Ex-Warlock Jenny Fraser, quite an upgrade.

Other inner-nets

Broadcast have come out of hibernation. Now, about that new album...

RCRD LBL has brand new downloads from The Morning After Girls -- hope you like Chapterhouse.

Guys, it's official. People love Ida Maria and the new Neko Case.

Chromewaves has loads of Flight of the Conchords MP3s. Don't forget to set your Tivos before you go out on Sunday night.

Stereogum has this year's class of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. Um, has anyone ever heard of a band called Rush?

SXSW looks more appetizing

Lots of great L.A. bands join an even greater extended list of artists in this updated SXSW list. Here are some bands I'm definitely looking forward to:

The Raveonettes, The Vaselines, Young Galaxy, Grizzly Bear, Malajube, Viva Voce, Here We Go Magic, +/- {Plus/Minus}, Belong, Gang Gang Dance, Pocahaunted, Beach House, David Vandervelde, The Bronx, HEALTH, The Mae-Shi, Handsome Furs, Fight Bite, Miracle Fortress, The Asteroid #4, Margaret Cho, Crystal Antlers, The Drones, Foreign Born, Grand Archives, Great Northern, Hopewell, Vetiver, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, Light FM, The Juan Maclean, The Little Ones, Longwave, Magic Lantern, Peter, Bjorn & John, Pink Mountaintops, Port O'Brien...

Asobi Seksu: 'Familiar Light' MP3

The first thing you'll notice about this brand new Asobi Seksu track is the confidence level in Yuki Chikudate's vocals. Her range and control is so much better and lends itself to becoming the focal point of this song. The duo have clocked many hours building melodies around James Hanna's walls of guitars, but I'm beginning to think "Familiar Light", with it's poppier feel, suits them better.

Asobi Seksu's forthcoming album, Hush, drops February 17 via Polyvinyl.

|||Asobi Seksu: "Familiar Light" MP3|||

Blank Blue: 'In the Swim' MP3

Reminiscent of Goldfrapp's sultry delivery and School of Seven Bells' blissful pop is Long Beach's Blank Blue. The duo of DJ Nobody and Nikki Randa create free-floating jams where dub meets 60's psychedelia on a deep sea diving expedition. "In the Swim", taken from Western Water Music Vol. II (Ubiquity), is full of drenched beats and a variety of samples that highlight Randa's incredible voice.

Blank Blue have enlisted a few friends to help punctuate their live sound in the last year, and will do so again tomorrow evening at the Prospector.

|||Blank Blue: "In the Swim" MP3|||

National Skyline: 'Revenge' Video

Hot on the heels of National Skyline's brand new single "Revenge" is this TAPRprojects - directed clip. This track sounds better and better with repeated listens, and now we have a visual component. As previously reported, Bliss & Death comes out next month.

VOICEsVOICEs play last minute show at the Prospector tonight!

Convenient and essential -- for those of you living in Long Beach. VOICEsVOICEs, who we've yapped about here, are playing a last minute show at the Prospector along with Wildest Dreams Come True, Deer-Unit, and You Know, Apparitions of the Past. It's gonna be a late one guys, but thankfully VV play at 10:00 pm. Get some.

New TV on the Radio Video: 'Stork & Owl' - Part 1

This cool stop motion clip for TV on the Radio's "Stork & Owl" comes courtesy of Petro. I wasn't a big fan of Dear Science, but this song is nice.

I don't have any further info yet on when part 2 will arrive. Check back for updates and enjoy this video:

|||TV on the Radio: "Stork & Owl" Video|||

Aushua nab Detroit Bar residency

The last time we talked about Orange's Aushua vocalist/guitarist Nate Gammill suffered major head trauma after being jumped by two thugs. According to the band's MySpace page, Nate has been steadily recovering, and the band is back on track with a residency and working on new songs.

You can catch the quartet every Monday in March at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa. It's one of those venues that actually looks and feels nice, with great sound too.

|||Aushua: "Sister Saves" MP3|||

Schedule:

1/13: The Detroit Bar 21 -Costa Mesa, California

2/2: The Silver Lake Lounge -Silver Lake, California

3/9: The Detroit Bar 21 - Costa Mesa, California

3/16: The Detroit Bar 21 - Costa Mesa, California

3/23: The Detroit Bar 21 - Costa Mesa, California

3/30: The Detroit Bar 21 - Costa Mesa, California

Other inner-nets

The first new Royksopp single in four years, "Happy Up Here", appears over at Stereogum. It's really good.

Buzzbands has a strong piece on local bands that you shouldn't miss in 2009, and how 2008's crew are doing. It's nice to see Long Beach showing more strength each year.

People are gaga over Norwegian princess Ida Maria. She's playing on Rocco Deluca's residency tonight at Spaceland. I may have to check her out.

Pitchfork has an interview with Kranky Records. That label was basically the post/space/rock go-to imprint for years. Unfortunately, there is no discussion about Bowery Electric or Jessamine. That's like interviewing Alan McGee and not bringing up Ride or Slowdive.

Black Mountain add more tour dates, play the Zoo

Canadian psych-rock masters Black Mountain announced their Australian tour a while ago, but know we've got a handful of U.S. dates added to the jaunt. They're actually not playing 'the Zoo', though I can totally see them surrounded by reptiles and endangered species while tearing "Stormy High" a new one, so I'm sorry if you were planing a field trip.

In the future, the quintet will play the Echoplex -- March 21 to be exact. I wouldn't be surprised if that gig sold out.

Schedule:

1/12: Casbah w/ The Sadies - San Diego, California

2/27: The Corner - Melbourne, Australia

2/28: The Corner - Melbourne, Australia

3/1: Beck’s Int’l Music Box - Perth Festival - Perth, Australia

3/3: The Zoo - Brisbane, Australia

3/4: The Annandale - Sydney, Australia

3/5: The Annandale - Sydney, Australia

3/7: Golden Plains Festival - Victoria, Australia

3/20: Rickshaw Shop - San Francisco, California

3/21: The Echoplex w/ The Sadies - Los Angeles, California

3/23: The Crepe Place w/ The Sadies - Santa Cruz, California

3/25: Hawthorne Theatre w/ The Sadies - Portland, Oregon

3/26: The Wild Buffalo w/ The Sadies - Bellingham, Washington

3/27: Neumos w/ The Sadies - Seattle, Washington

4/24: Capital Music Hall w/ TBA - Ottowa, Ontario

Check out this great fan-made video for "Angels":

Burn to Shine #5 - Seattle, WA

One of the coolest and most original music DVD series is Trixie's Burn To Shine. Now in its 5th installment, the series handpicks a number of bands to play a live session in a house that is destined for destruction. The event is caught on film as artists set up and play a live version of one song -- absolutely no overdubs. Once the crew is finished they film the house being demolished by a wrecking crew, or burned down via the city's Fire Department...it all depends upon the location.

On BTS #5 the Trixie DVD crew headed up to Seattle, WA. -- a city ripe with musical talent. Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard curated and brought quite an eclectic group of musicians:

Minus the Bear, The Long Winters, Benjamin Gibbard, Tiny Vipers, Eddie Vedder, Spook the Horse, Blue Scholars, Harvey Danger, The Can't See, David Bazan, Kinski, Jeese Sykes, Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death, and The Cave Singers

In the works is Burn to Shine 6 - Atlanta, GA. News on the lineup and release date soon.

Here's a clip of Minus the Bear performing "Arctic Knights" from BTS #5:

Frightened Rabbit: 'I Feel Better' Video

Frightened Rabbit wail away on their latest video for "I Feel Better", taken from the excellent release The Midnight Organ Fight. As the song chugs along our main character chooses his own adventure, so to speak, and ends up following a path that allows him to examine his past/future actions. After building some sort of low-budget time portal device he watches these decisions pass by, and seems relatively unaffected by the opportunity to control his fate. I like that this video isn't a literal take on the lyrics or song title -- just a simple message urging listeners to focus on what they can control, reality.

"I Feel Better" - Directed by Sam Molleur:

Fleet Foxes, The Hold Steady, No Age and more confirmed for Coachella Festival

Personally, I love the rumor mills that precede Coachella confirmations and its subsequent all-star lineup. They're hilarious and fun talking points between friends. One place that's ripe with hype and fan gripe is the Coachella website forum, which, according to LAist, has revealed several confirmations.

Most of these bands listed below are not surprising, but what caught my eye is the inclusion of three local acts whose music, in some fashion, really made an impression (Flying Lotus, No Age, and the Airborne Toxic Event).

From LAist:

Confirmed Artists: the Airborne Toxic Event, the Bug, Buraka Som Sistema, Crystal Castles, Drop The Lime, Fleet Foxes, Flying Lotus, Girl Talk, the Hold Steady, the Killers, No Age, Noah and the Whale, Late of the Pier, Los Campesinos!, Peanut Butter Wolf, the Presets, Sébastien Tellier, Themselves, and Tinariwen

Confirmed DJs: DJ Gina Turner, DJ Hipnotic Starr, DJ Luis Segura, DJmorales, and DJ Zegon

Rumored Artists: Animal Collective, Basement Jaxx, the Black Keys, Black Lips, Blur, Britney Spears, the Comedians of Comedy, Four Tet, the Gaslight Anthem, Glasvegas, Gui Boratto, Gus Black, Heartless Bastards, Hot Little Pony, José González, Keane, KONGCRETE, Mexican Institute of Sound, Monotonix, Morrissey, Mr. Lif, N.A.S.A., Neil Young, OutKast, Plump DJs, the Pretenders, the Prodigy, the Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Roni Size Reprazent, the Smiths, the Thermals, Turbonegro, We Are Scientists, White Lies, and the White Stripes

I think we can safely say that The Smiths are never playing Coachella, or any other event for that matter. If you're even slightly familiar with the lawsuit that was filed against Johnny Marr and Morrissey by Smiths drummer Mike Joyce several years ago you know how deep Mozzer's hatred runs.

Paul Mawhinney: 'The World's Largest Record Collection' Video

"Paul Mawhinney was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the years he has amassed what has become the world's largest record collection. Due to health issues and a struggling record industry Paul is being forced to sell his collection."

Last year's news story about Paul Mawhinney's record collection, and his efforts to sell it to "the right person" on eBay for 3 million, fell off my radar. But earlier this week I was sent a link to this video from a friend. It reveals what a deep connection Mawhinney has to his collection and the lost art of vinyl pressings.

It's amazing to watch this video considering the massive responsibility that comes with owning a collection like this, which is partly why it hasn't sold yet. I mean you don't just entrust this collection to some average 'Joe six-pack' right? And can you imagine the stress and daily psychological battle Mawhinney must go through? He's basically selling his life for three million dollars. Knowing that you own priceless works of art that can never be valued the way typical musical formats and releases are now is not something that's easy to digest.

Watch The Archive - Directed by Sean Dunne:

AUTOLUX ticket giveaway is over

Updated:

Thanks for writing in. The Autolux ticket giveaway is now closed. See ya there!


This one's easy kids. If you'd like to see Autolux for FREE next week then email me (attackdecay@gmail.com) the name of one band/project that Carla, Greg or Eugene have previously played in.

Autolux are joined by San Francisco psych-rockers Wooden Shjips next Saturday, January 17 at the Henry Fonda Theatre. This is going to be great show.

Watch "Turnstile Blues":

Mogi Grumbles: 'Supreme' MP3

Call it indie dance, space disco, indie disco, space-house-indie-disco...whatever. This new Mogi Grumbles track is freshity fresh-fresh. The melodies scream Daft Punk at first, but there's more in common here with fellow Moodgagdget artist Mux Mool and France's Jackson and his Computer Band.

"Supreme" is taken from Mogi's forthcoming EP Revolutions Per Minute, coming February 3, and it's solid from start to finish. Get the MP3 and EP details below:

|||Mogi Grumbles: "Supreme" MP3|||



1. Supreme
2. Dude's Nite Out
3. Revolutions Per Minute
4. Dude's Nite Out ( Mux Mool's Black Prism Remix)
5. Mux Mool - Death 9000 (Mogi's Whitelabel Deathscotheque Mix)

Other inner-nets

Xu Xu Fang play tonight at Spaceland. Joining them are Afternoons (basically an improved version of Irving sans Alex Church) and Eagle & Talon. If you're feeling a little more 'pop' in your step then check out the amazing Little Ones with Plants and Animals over at the Museum of Natural History.

Bat for Lashes have enlisted Scott Walker on its forthcoming album (via P4K).

SXSW unveiled its initial list of performers, another 800 or so are on the way. So far it's uninspiring...nothing a six-pack of Lone Star won't cure.

Trail of Dead have additional tour dates over at Brooklyn Vegan, including a stop at the Echoplex on March 17th.

I spend way too much time over at NotCot. Check out this amazing book of geometric patterns and fonts.

Updated:

Aushua has the March-Monday night residency slot at the classy Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa. This is a great venue worth making the trek to, but it would make more sense if they moved it to Long Beach.

Recently married Aaron Espinoza and his band of musical pirates (Earlimart) are touring Japan in February.

Brand new National Skyline single: 'Revenge'

National Skyline's Jeff Garber has been promising fans a new album for a while, but now it's actually happening. The good news comes from NS's MySpace page announcing a digital release of "Revenge", the first single from the group's forthcoming album Bliss and Death.

"Revenge" reminds me of both Radiohead and Morning Jacket, only with more reverb. It's dark, moody, spacious, and sounds like nothing else out there. Can't wait for this record.

||National Skyline: "Revenge" Stream|||


Get more National Skyline over at Amazon.

The Sight Below: 'Dour' MP3

It's a shame that The Sight Below's Glider came out so late in 2008, or possibly overshadowed by label mates School of Seven Bells (guilty as charged). The reclusive Seattle-based artist creates atmospheric colors that will entice any fan of Fennesz and Brian Eno's ambient works.

"Dour" is as good as it gets when you're processing layers upon layers of reverberated guitar. It reminds me of Slowdive's brief venture into beat-heavy ambience on the 5 EP, that release sure pissed off a lot of their fans, only this is light years ahead. If you listen carefully more layers emerge around the pulsating rhythm -- slowly taking over your headphones, and forcing you to pay attention.

|||The Sight Below: "Dour" MP3|||

San Francisco's Girls get closer to album release

Girls, who we've drooled over before, were all the rage last year with songs like "Lust for Life" and the thundering "Morning Light". The blog love is sure to pick up again this year as the band just dropped off some good news regarding the recording of their debut album on MySpace:

"The album is oh so close guys and girls. The wonderful press we have received as well as kudos from fans has been amazing. Lack of planning and time to spend on the completion of the "album" has made it a long process. We just got back to San Francisco from our own studio in my parents house in Santa Cruz. We did some work polishing as well as laid some amazing drum tracks with our new drummer Garett Godard. Just two -three mics on the drums in a lovely ill-angled wood floored room made for some great albini-esque results. The future is very exciting this album is a great album its honest, loose, ethereal, obnoxious and perfect. We cant wait for you to hear it."

The song you're about to download below is one of my favorite tracks from 2008. It's a short blast of noise-pop that makes me want to pogo and/or break stuff.

|||Girls: "Morning Light" MP3|||

Nosaj Thing remixes Flying Lotus' 'Camel'

- Photo by Julia Tsao


Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. L.A.'s Nosaj Thing remixes fellow electronic wizard/angeleno Flying Lotus on a recently released remix collection titled L.A. EP 2x3. Grab the track from NT's blog below, turn that shit to 11, then pick up the limited edition release over at Warpmart.

|||Flying Lotus: 'Camel (Nosaj Thing remix)' MP3|||

In other news, NT is nearly finished with his full-length -- coming soon via Alpha Pup.

Tame Impala: 'Remember Me (Blueboy cover)' MP3

Aussie psych-rockers Tame Impala continue to impress the hell out of me with this cover of the dance classic "Remember Me". The original club jam was penned by Blueboy, but the trio take the 'thump' and wrap it with acid-coated guitar licks. The shuffling drums and bass line drive this song as the original does, but there's something about this soaring rendition that feels authentic and fresh.

|||Tame Impala: "Remember Me (Blueboy cover)" MP3|||

Related post:
Watch the video for "Half Glass Full of Wine"

Dead Man's Bones: 'In the Room Where You Sleep' Video

Ask any lady, married or single, why the entire female population on Earth loves Ryan Gosling and you're sure to get an answer that rhymes 'votelook'. Me? I've always been a Half-Nelson kind of guy. Here's yet another reason to make the ladies swoon, Ryan Gosling's music project Dead Man's Bones.

This musical outing has been in the works for a while now, but we found a live clip with Gosling and the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music Children's Choir performing "In the Room Where You Sleep". There's a link to download of the studio version HERE.

"In the Room Where You Sleep" - Directed by Nabil Elderkin:

Animal Collective: 'My Girls' Stream

Here's the deal. If you like "My Girls" then you're guaranteed to dig Merriweather Post Pavillion. It's very similar to Panda Bear with its psychedelic, Beach Boys-influenced melodies. However, this record takes it a few steps further and is constructed with extra care.

The CD doesn't drop until January 20 (Domino), but if you go out and purchase the vinyl you'll get a code to download the album. How perfect is that?

|||Animal Collective: "My Girls" Stream|||

Other inner-nets

I just noticed that musician/graphic artist Scott Hansen (Tycho/ISO 50) has a music blog. He's got great taste and offers lots of streams.

Hipster Runoff continues to be the funniest, and sometimes accurate, music blog I've ever come across. Case in point:

"Hercules and Love Affair - sometimes when a band is 'too highly regarded', I just kinda wait for 5 years to listen to the when no1 else does."

Brooklyn Vegan has Lindstrom tour dates. No L.A. date? WTF.

I've been a big fan of BRMC for years, but this Ian Cohen review is pretty funny.

LA Record has photos of Spaceland's New Year's Eve bash with The Henry Clay People, The Pity Party and Happy Hollows. Don't forget to head down to Cha Cha Lounge on Monday, January 12 for their Issue #11 launch party.

"The Daydream" is probably my favorite Tycho track yet, and I urge you to check out Hansen's previous releases. Fans of Boards of Canada, Seefeel and Ulrich Schnauss will love this:

|||Tycho: "The Daydream" MP3|||

Lower Heaven: 'Lose it All at Once' MP3

The strongest element separating Lower Heaven's dreamy psych-pop and the leagues of L.A. drone-rock acts is clarity. It's ok to sound coherent and vibrant without clobbering listeners over the head with the idea that your band is only interested in creating music that attempts to recreate an altered state. Thankfully, this quartet does avoids those pitfalls by focusing on melody, dynamics, and plenty of lush reverb to coat the senses.

Some of you will recognize that half of the quartet are ex-members of the sorely missed Languis, who were making a steady run at becoming one of L.A.'s best bands a couple of years ago. "Lose it All at Once" is reminiscent of the poppier elements of that band while adding a spacious quality that groups like The Black Angels have captured so well.

Be sure to stream other gems at the band's MySpace page -- like the House of Love-inspired "A Frame in Time". Lower Heaven's debut album Ashes is out now.

|||Lower Heaven: "Lose it All at Once" MP3|||

Other inner-nets

If you haven't had a chance to check out Les Blanks yet then tomorrow night's gig at the Echo is the perfect opportunity...it's free!

MFR reveals its top 10 albums of 2008 -- Frightened Rabbit continue to receive well deserved critical praise.

This shouldn't come as much of a shock but Animal Collective's new album Merriweather Post Pavillion earned a 9.6 on Pitchfork today and has been hyped with glowing reviews just about everywhere. BTW, the Friendly Fires full-length is solid too.

There's a massive list of bands -- confirmed and not confirmed -- for SXSW over at Donewaiting.com.

Amy Millan (Broken Social Scene/Stars), who is criminally overlooked when compared to her band mates, has begun work on her sophomore solo disc. "We are all really excited to make this new record and have it out to you in 2009." - MySpace
Pick up her stunning debut HERE.

+/- {Plus/Minus}: 'Unsung' Video

+/- {Plus/Minus} didn't make any waves with last year's X's on Your Eyes, but this video is impossible to pull away from. Brandon Stereogum described the clip perfectly: "Alice In Wonderland with a pierced nose and forlorn look along with her inexpressive White Rabbit and a helpful Jiminy Cricket that lead her to a surprise..."

The group are touring Europe this month and will undoubtedly return for a full swing of U.S. dates this spring. Cross your fingers in hopes that drummer Chris Deaner isn't pulling double duty as Kelly Clarkson's go-to guy, he's really that good of a musican.

"Unsung" - Directed by David Lobser:

Experimental Aircraft: 'Upper East Side' MP3

It took six years for Austin's Experimental Aircraft to finalize its third full-length, Third Transmission (Graveface Records). The disc actually came out in February and I'm just now getting around to it. I should be ashamed of myself.

Third Transmission finds the quartet stepping away from their reliance on guitar wash and distortion, but they never completely abandon it. Put in place are smarter vocal dynamics between T.J. O'Leary and Rachel Staggs and a greater emphasis on precise rhythms. Everything about this track sounds loose and inviting compared to previous efforts.

On "Upper East Side" you'll hear repetitive guitar daggers and notes following each other for six minutes while synths jump in and out over Jason Ferguson's propelling drums and Mark Smith's solid bass line. The song slowly reveals itself with a killer guitar melody that should make pedal geeks re-think their rigs.

|||Experimental Aircraft: "Upper East Side" MP3|||

The Sky Drops offer 'Clouds of People' EP for free

Wilmington, Delaware noise-pop duo The Sky Drops are offering their debut EP, Clouds of People, for free. I believe this generosity comes from the anticipation of their debut album, Bourgeois Beat. While that disc doesn't have a confirmed release date just yet the free tunes are a great blend of hazy indie rock that is more lyrical than any American noise-pop band out there, and that's rare.

|||Download: Clouds of People EP|||


Check out the video for "Hang On" - Directed by Imelda Garces:

Noise Pop Festival announces initial lineup

One again, the beautiful city of San Francisco will kick off this year's festival circuit with Noise Pop, February 24 - March 1. Already slated to play:

Antony and the Johnsons
Stephen Malkmus
St. Vincent
AC Newman
No Age
Martha Wainwright
French Kicks
Josh Ritter
Ra Ra Riot
The Morning Benders
The Submarines
Goblin Cock
Dear and the Headlights

More artists and schedules will be posted as we get them.

Other inner-nets

- Photo by Angela Maria Ortiz


If you haven't seen them yet, it seems like they play just about every week, check out The Monolators at American Legion Hall in Highland Park for only $3.

Are Blur confirmed for Coachella? The Mirror says they're "in talks" to play the summer festival.

Aquarium Drunkard has the goods on Bon Iver's forthcoming Blood Bank EP, which is sure to sell like crazy on January 20.

Skatterbrain is offering an insanely good 2008 mix for free.

Amateur Chemist has not one, but two live reviews of Hum's new year's eve reunion shows.

I had no idea that Safari Sam's (blog update?) still existed, but according to their website Imaad Wasif & Two Part Beast are playing tonight. That band is amazing.

Update: According to their website, Safari Sam's is now located at The Regent: 448 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA. 90013

Dan Friel: 'Ghost Town (Pt.1)' MP3

- Photo by Ethan Tufts


Dan Friel traditionally co-fronts Jagjaguwar noise-pop enthusiasts Parts & Labor, whom I've always felt were hit-and-miss when it comes to their records, or my mood. Friel's debut album touched down this summer and it sounds like a whole new world. Ghost Town is certainly experimental, and that's just scratching the surface. Frequencies and bubbles of noise come forth like lasers from the dentist's chair, or an Atari video game set being set on fire. A bass line jumps in and takes the song from 8-bit territory into a druggier, hypnotic state. "Ghost Town (Pt. 1)" appeals to me in the same way Fuck Buttons does; beauty in chaos.

|||Dan Friel: "Ghost Town (Pt. 1)" MP3|||

The Radio Dept.: 'Pulling our Weight' MP3

Back to work on another gloomy, yet slightly optimistic, day -- it is 2009 after all. The Radio Dept. are the Swedish band you never hear about. They have countless singles, compilation appearances, and a hefty catalog of beautiful dream-pop, emphasis on the 'pop'. "Pulling our Weight" is their business card, and easily one of their best songs. I hear a lot of Smiths, House of Love and basically the entire Sarah Records catalog in this pop jam.

A new Radio Dept. full-length is due this year -- sooner than later -- and will most likely be released through Labrador.

|||The Radio Dept.: "Pulling Our Weight" MP3|||