Beach House: 'Play the Game (Queen cover)' Stream

Beach House's cover of Queen's "Play the Game" is streaming over at the duo's MySpace page. Victoria LeGrand sounds stylistically different, more like a pop singer swimming in a tub of reverb, and musically it's as chill and cavernous as you'd expect.

You can get this great cover by purchasing the digital version of Dark Was the Night, the charity compilation curated by The National's Aaron & Bryce Dessner. And if you haven't already, pick up a copy of Beach House's Devotion.

|||Beach House: "Play the Game" Stream|||

Last minute show: Paperplanes at The Prospector

Take a look at this sweet flyer and tell me which one of these headlines fits best:

1. Breakin' 3: A Navel Idea.
2. Miss Gardena 1987. Send us your portfolio!
3. Wanna become a cheerleader for the L.A. Express?

It's really just an amazing promo job courtesy of the Paperplanes. They'll be rocking The Prospector tonight with Pop Noir and Manhattan Murder Mystery. It's kind of last minute, but the guys at L.A. Record (Chris Ziegler and Charlie Rose) will be DJing too. As usual, the cover is only $5.

Telefon Tel Aviv: 'Immolate Yourself' Video

Telefon Tel Aviv's Charles Cooper was found dead in his apartment the same week as the release of the duo's fourth album Immolate Yourself. No matter how inventive and visually stunning this clip is you can't stop yourself from thinking about Cooper's death. This video for the title track is dark, bloody and graphic, but not in a typical "in your face" kind of way. It depicts the main character attempting to navigate in a video game-like scenario, only the environment is somewhat unpredictable and extremely dangerous.

Telefon Tel Aviv: "Immolate Yourself" - Directed by BIF:

Adam Franklin: 'Spent Bullets' details

A while ago we posted the stream for Adam Franklin's "Champs", a dreamy, mid-tempo number anchored by a flamenco guitar melody. The track can be found on Franklin's forthcoming album Spent Bullets, which now has cover art and a track listing. Check it out below.

The release date is the same, March 31, and you can also preorder the CD and vinyl.

Track listing:

1. Surge
2. Teardrops Keep Fallin' Out My Head
3. Bolts Of Melody
4. Autumn Leaf
5. Winter Girls
6. Hurts To See You Go
7. Big Sur
8. Champs
9. End Credits
10. Two Dollar Dress
11. Memory Laughter

Other inner-nets

Eskimohunter's Jason 71 is playing in Ryan Gosling's Dead Man's Bones and Square on Square, the new project from Evan Slamka (Marjorie Faire).

NPR rounds up their best albums of 2009 with "2009 Already Better Than 2008". I just checked my calendar and I'm seeing Feb. 27, 2009.

Pitchfork Festival is ON. They also have Blur news regarding more reunion shows.

Kanye West needs to start over, or do something that makes him seem less like a total douche.

Hipster Runoff decides which MP3s are the most blog-worthy.

Young Widows: 'Old Skin' MP3 & Video

Short, muscular and to the point. The Kentucky-based Young Widows drop heavily distorted riffs over driving drums and gigantic bass lines. Stereogum got the exclusive on this clip, but it's too good not to re-post. The download is also available below.

The trio's sophomore album, Old Wounds, is out now. Finally, a Temporary Residence band that actually sings (kidding).

|||Young Widows: "Old Skin" MP3"|||



Young Widows: "Old Skin" - Directed by J.J. Johnstone:

L.A. artists tackle Paul McCartney's 'RAM' for a good cause

Influential L.A. blogger Justin Gage (Aquarium Drunkard) will release a digital helping of L.A. artists interpreting Paul McCartney's RAM (1971) via Autumn Tone on Monday, March 2. Proceeds from album donations will benefit No More Landmines and features covers from L.A. rockers The Broken West, Earlimart, Radar Bros. and many more.

Download the Radar Bros. contribution below.

|||Radar Bros. "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" MP3|||

SOSMIX - 7

I almost forgot to check out the new Bell track "Magic Tape" in my inbox this week. I don't remember her material being so progressive, and I really like how she layers her voice on this new single. Check it out in this week's SOSMIX.

Olga Bell will tour with Asobi Seksu this Spring. Check her out at The Troubadour on March 14th, and pick up her new single on March 24th.

|||Download: "SOSMIX - 7" ZIP|||

1. All the Saints: "Fire on Corridor X"
2. Amusement Parks on Fire: "A Star is Born"
3. Bell: "Magic Tape"
4. Charles Trees: "It's The..."
5. Empire of the Sun: "Romance to Me"
6. RAC: "Fairtilizer - Remix EP"
7. Faunts: "It Hurts Me All the Time"
8. Great Northern: "Houses"
9. Meho Plaza: "We'll Drink the Blood (Nopse remix)"
10. The Brother Kite: "Half Century"

Sounds like Autolux made another album

Kind of vague, but this is the most accurate news I've heard from the Autolux camp about their sophomore album in the last couple of years. By the way, tickets are now on sale for their Glass House (Pomona) and Detroit Bar (Costa Mesa) shows.

Meho Plaza: 'Remix' EP

Meho Plaza are one of the few local experimental bands that actually experiment. So on this new "Remix" EP they've enlisted the French electro team NOPSE, which results in some twisted, warped versions of songs from their debut album plus one brand new tune called "Moose", and these two groups turn out to be a perfect match.

This free download of "We'll Drink the Blood" sounds harmless at the beginning. Then the rhythm picks up over a melted synth. It's very MBV-meets-Devo without the saturated guitars. Hell, even the Animal Collective dudes would be jealous of this.

|||Meho Plaza: "We'll Drink the Blood (NOPSE remix)" MP3|||



Remix EP:

1. "We'll Drink The Blood (NOPSE Remix)"
2. "Your Future Looks Bright (NOPSE Remix)"
3. "I Sold My Organs (NOPSE Remix)"
4. "Say Go Now (NOPSE Remix)"
5. "Moose"

|||Stream the entire EP|||

RAC: 'Fairtilizer' Remix EP

What natural odor comes to mind when you think of this new remix EP titled "Fairtilizer"? Don't answer that. RAC put together a 15-minute mix that includes reshaped tracks from M83, Daft Punk, Cut Copy, Empire of the Sun and...Vangelis (?). That should be enough for you to click on the download below.

|||RAC: "Fairtilizer EP" MP3|||

Animal Collective announce even more U.S. tour dates

I know many of you were bummed about not securing tickets to see Animal Collective in a relatively venue this time around, and those days might be over for good, but AC will return to Los Angeles and just about every major market for their summer tour. Joining the band is the lovely Grouper and rockers Black Dice.

Schedule:

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: House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV %
5/31: Rialto Theater - Tucson, AZ %
6/01: Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, MN %
6/02: Boulder Theatre - Boulder, CO %
6/04: House of Blues - Dallas, TX %
6/05: Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater - Austin,TX %
6/06: The Library - Oxford, MS %
6/08: State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL %
6/09: Culture Room - Fort Lauderdale, FL %
6/10: Club Firestone - Orlando, FL
6/12: Bonnaroo Music Festival – Manchester, TN %
9/12: Kutshers Country Resort - Monticello, NY %

# = w/ Grouper
% = w/ Black Dice

Animal Collective: "My Girls" - Animated by Jon Vermilyea:

All the Saints: 'Fire on Corridor X' MP3

All the Saints' latest album Fire on Corridor X is a hefty blend of classic rock riffage and expansive psychedelia. This download is the title track from their Touch & Go/Quarterstick release. The album is inconsistent at times, but on tracks like this they knock it out of the park.

|||All the Saints: "Fire on Corridor X" MP3|||

Catch the trio on tour this Spring throughout the Eastern U.S., here's the schedule:

2/26/09 - Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN
2/27/09 - Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI
2/28/09 - Reckless Records, Chicago, IL
2/28/09 - Subterranean, Chicago, IL
3/01/09 - House Cafe, Dekalb, IL
3/02/09 - Magic Stick, Detroit, MI
3/03/09 - Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH
3/04/09 - Soundlab, Buffalo, NY
3/05/09 - Middle East, Cambridge, MA
3/06/09 - The Polish Club, Poughkeepsie, NY
3/07/09 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
3/09/09 - Cafe Metropolis, Wilkes Barre, PA
3/10/09 - The Barbary Coast, Philadelphia, PA
3/11/09 - Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
3/12/09 - Milestone, Charlotte, NC
3/13/09 - The 529, Atlanta, GA
3/20/09 - Flamingo Cantina, Austin, TX

Other inner-nets

My boy Kirby layed down some sweet guitar with Modest Mouse last night (via Stereogum).

This is probably one of the best compilations these ears have heard in years. I'm glad it received a 'Best New Music' nod.

The Daily Swarm interviews Bob Mould.

MFR has a brand new Yeah Yeah Yeahs song for download, "Hysteric".

You Ain't No Picasso offers a "Reason to Quit (Willie Nelson)" from Phosphoresecent.

PrefixMag posted a video interview of Blur (Albarn & Coxon) at the 2009 NME Awards.

Arc in Round: 'One-Sided' Stream

Since Philly's Arc in Round adopted their new name we've been treated to "II", a peppy blast of fuzzed-out pop with quick, shuffling drums. As the quartet ready their new album they've decided to post a new song titled "One-Sided". On this track keyboardist/vocalist Mikele Edwards takes the lead. Her delivery is lighter and more playful than band mate Jeff Ziegler, who is the primary singer on their earlier Relay material. The structure is also different; focusing on layers of keyboard melodies instead of washy guitars. Check it out:

|||Arc in Round: "One-Sided" Stream|||

If you live in Philadelphia then you're in luck. The band will join one of my favorite indie/noise-pop of all time, the Swirlies. According to A.I.C., it's the first Swirlies gig in 5 years.

|||Swirlies: "Sounds of Sebring" Stream|||

Worn Free T-shirt giveaway!

Worn Free T-shirts take designs that rock stars like Janis Joplin, John Lennon and Frank Zappa wore back in the 60s, 70s and 80s and resurrect them. Some of these classic designs were created by Beatles artist Alan Aldridge and underground cartoonist R. Crumb, and others look like shirts they stole from their kids' summer camp -- I'm looking at you Zappa.

Update: The giveaway is now closed.

We're giving away two T-shirts for free! Just email me at the contact info located at the bottom right column and tell me the name of your favorite local band. Once you've been contacted go to the shop and pick out your favorite design and size.

I just got mine in the mail yesterday, that's the one below. It's from a shirt Jim Fitzpatrick designed for Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott. You know that iconic image of Che Guevara you've seen plastered up in college dorm rooms across the country? Jim did that too.

What can I say? I'm into dragons.

Amusement Parks on Fire: 'A Star is Born' Video

Where has this band been all my life? Better yet, what have I been doing that has caused me to overlook them? I'll admit I've heard the name around the inner-nets and a few conversations that involve groups like Mew and Swervedriver, and after listening to "A Star is Born" that makes total sense, but I never bothered to check out Nottingham shoegaze-rockers Amusement Parks on Fire. They're like the perfect gateway band for Emo kids who need to desperately move on to a world of better-sounding and more "heady" music.

According to the band's MySpace page, they'll be releasing a brand new EP in April and have already scheduled an extensive tour of the UK.

Amusement Parks on Fire: "A Star is Born":

Dum Dum Girls: 'Brite Futures' Stream

Dum Dum Girls continue to accelerate my heartbeat with this darker-toned noise-pop gem "Brite Futures", taken from the 4-way split 7" coming soon via Art Fag Recordings. The fuzzy guitars and simple drums are choice, but it's Dee Dee's voice that seems almost too good for such a basic arrangement, and that's what makes it special.

Listen at Gvs.B

Other inner-nets

Buzz Bands has the skinny on 'Scott Walker: 30th Century Man'.

The Cure's Robert Smith makes a good point about placing a value on music in his interview with Music Radar, but his view is essentially outdated.

Gorilla vs. Bear features the solid L.A. roster of bands covering Paul McCartney's RAM, courtesy of Aquarium Drunkard's Autumn Tone Records.

Ice Cream Man has great live pics of Long Beach's finest pop band, Blank Blue, playing the L.A. Record X-mas party.

Hey guitar pedal geeks! I'm not sure what the hell this does exactly, but I'm pretty confident it will make you sound better...or like Moby.

Tweak Bird: 'The Bones' live in Las Vegas. This is how it's done kids.

- Photo by Gary Copeland

First, go back multiple times and replay the fucking amazing build-up that leads into "The Bones". Next, watch Tweak Bird continue to destroy the Volcom shop in Las Vegas as people get mesmerized -- the crowd chimes in with lyrics at about the 2-minute mark. If you're in an L.A. band and not sure whether your crew should be playing live yet then please use this clip as a ruler.

Tweak Bird: "The Bones" live at Volcom (Las Vegas):

Viva Voce announce 'Rose City' details, U.S. tour dates

Portland rockers Viva Voce were stunning on their last album Get Yr Blood Sucked Out. So the anticipation is high for Rose City, which is scheduled for release on May 26 via Barsuk.

According to the band's MySpace page, Rose City was written and recorded in one month! Here's a quote from the group:
"...Choosing not to deliberate over every little thing but living purely in the moment musically and lyrically. Immersing themselves in sonic experimentation, it was truly spontaneous and cathartic. The result is an angular, immediate record that pulses with the palpable urgency of a band yearning for a return to the vagabond life of the working, touring musician - a mode in which Viva Voce feels truly at home."

The husband and wife duo will drop into SXSW in a few weeks and rock the West Coast through mid-April. Details:




Rose City:

1. Devotion
2. Die A Little
3. Octavio
4. Midnight Sun
5. Red Letter Day
6. Good As Gold
7. Rose City
8. Tornado Alley
9. Flora
10. The Slow Fade

Schedule:

March:
12 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop
13 Visalia , CA Cellar Door
15 Tucson, AZ Plush
16 Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room
18 Austin, TX SXSW
19 Austin, TX SXSW
20 Austin, TX SXSW
22 Denver, CO Hi-Dive
24 Boise, ID Neurolux
28 Portland, OR Aladdin Theatre

April:
10 Seattle, WA Chop Suey
11 Salem, OR Elsinore Theatre

Depeche Mode: 'Wrong' Video

Holy crap is this new Depeche Mode song good. I'm not sure what their diet consists of, but it's like the trio experienced a relapse of what made Violator so strong. "Wrong" is lyrically blunt and awkward at first, but after Dave Gahan and the synthesizers get going then everything falls into place. Classic DM coming at you.

Sounds of the Universe, the band's 12th studio album, drops April 20. The band also just announced a massive tour of North America.

Depeche Mode: "Wrong" - Directed by Patrick Daughters:

Faunts: 'Feel.Love.Thinking.Of.' MP3

Yet another outstanding Canadian act flying so close to the our radar. Faunts are an interesting hybrid of styles; using repetition and mechanical rhythms as its spine with a hint of shoegaze guitar. The layering and fuzz is barely there, but just the right amount in the right places. Musically "Feel.Love.Thinking.Of." manages to sustain an original electronic-pop feel because the vocals are more melodic than your typical electro act. Imagine if Junior Boys spent more time listening to Maps. Let's hope these guys decide to tour the U.S.

|||Faunts: "Feel.Love.Thinking.Of." MP3|||

Other inner-nets

Everyone and their Mom is stoked on the new Phoenix single, "1901".

Beat Crave has the new Black Lips video for "Short Fuse".

Web in Front has the new artwork for Silversun Pickups' Swoon.

If you're in the O.C. tonight then do yourself a favor by heading to Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa for the Free Moral Agents residency, featuring one of my favorite Long Beach acts Blank Blue.

I've never understood the appeal of Liz Phair, but I still love Banana Republic.

Stereogum has a stream of "The Big Sleep" by Bat For Lashes (featuring Scott Walker).

Röyksopp: 'Happy Up Here' Video

- Photo by Stian Andersen

This video for Röyksopp's latest single "Happy Up Here" is not the latest Esurance promo clip. It's simply one gigantic carousel of joy soaring over rainbows with Starburst candies falling from the sky, not really, but that's what it feels like.

I didn't expect the Norwegian duo to release an album this year, but I'll admit I'm actually looking forward to this. Junior drops everywhere on March 24 via Astralwerks.

Röyksopp: "Happy Up Here"



Update: Here's another version, apparently this is the official video.

Le Switch Spaceland residency finale tonight

There's no place I'd rather be than Spaceland tonight. Le Switch has grown into one of this city's most well respected and blistering live acts, playing as if every show is their last. The quintet will finish off their month-long residency at Spaceland tonight with Radar Bros., Andy Clockwise and The Faraway Places.

Le Switch: "Talking to You" - From Live Daily sessions:

Charles Trees: "It's The..." MP3

The new EP from Ann Arbor, Michigan's Charles Trees, Accepted Truth, mixes sampled vocals and scratchy hip-hop beats into a soulful glide. Imagine if Jackson and his Computer Band was mixing LTJ Bukem and you've got a pretty good idea of how smooth and well edited this music is. If I could go back in time and pick a DJ for my post-reception wedding music I'd hire this guy and let him go to town.

|||Charles Trees: "It's The..." MP3|||

The Twilight Sad: 'And She Would Darken the Memory' Video

It's been nearly two years since the release of Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters, without a doubt one of 2007's strongest albums, but I'll take a belated Twilight Sad video any time they're ready. The clip for "And She Would Darken the Memory" looks like a digital Rorschach inkblot test spinning out of control -- reacting independently to the intense layers of guitar and James Graham's wailing delivery. This kind of animation doesn't work well for most music, yet it looks a pretty accurate representation fof this Scottish quartet's massive space-rock.

The Twilight Sad: "And She Would Darken the Memory" - Created by Mark Charlton (Bluestar Animation):



Citizen Dick recently interviewed the band about their new record. The Twilght Sad will support Mogwai on their upcoming U.S. tour in April. Stay tuned for an L.A. date.

L.A. music blog rankings

Out of the hundreds of music blogs based in Los Angeles I was curious to see which sites stacked up in comparison to the more established sites. I defined a music blog/website as having 75% or more of its posts containing music, not merely a section within a corporate publication or print.

It's very clear that posting daily and consistently has a direct correlation with higher page views, but not all heavily visited music blogs necessarily post more than one or two updates during the day. They're consistent from day-to-day and have a dedicated, and sometimes niche, audience.

Here are the top ten most visited L.A. music sites by page views, unique visitors, and Alexa ranking:

1. Aquarium Drunkard
2. Beat Crave
3. Oh My Rockness!
4. Passion of the Weiss
5. IHeartComix
6. Buzz Bands
7. Rawkblog
8. Surfing on Steam
9. Rock Insider
10. L.A. Record

- 1 and 2 are extremely close in viewership while sites 6 through 8 have experienced the highest increase in traffic over the past six months.

- Other sites that rank extremely close to the list: You Set the Scene and Music Zeitgeist.

- Fastest growing L.A. blog/website: Buzz Bands

Yeah Yeah Yeahs debut "Heads Will Roll" on Kanye West's blog

This brand new clip, the second track from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs forthcoming It's Blitz (April 14 via Interscope), comes from Kanye's West blog. At this point I'd like to announce that this is probably the first and last time you'll see this guy's name in print at Surfing on Steam, unless he continues to get exclusive premieres and MP3s.

I'm more of a "Maps" guy, but if you crave the recent popularity in disco/synth-pop you'll really like this jam.

|||Yeah Yeah Yeahs: "Heads Will Roll" MP3|||

New Bat For Lashes: 'Joshua & The Bat' Video

Bat for Lashes take a road trip through Joshua Tree, CA. in this promotional video for Two Suns, coming April 6 on Parlophone. I've never actually been to the historic desert locale, but I've heard nothing but praise for its vast beauty and bright, starry nights. The video includes snippets of new tracks from Two Suns and various shots of Natasha Khan looking happy and relaxed in the desert. My first impression of the album is that it definitely sounds folky and atmospheric while keeping the focus on Khan's expansive vocals.

BFL has already announced its UK and European tour schedule for Spring, but the band just released dates for the Western U.S. in June:

6/10: The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
6/11: Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
6/13: Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
6/16: El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

Other inner-nets

The Village Voice argues "The Six Great Records that Likely Put Touch & Go out of Business", not likely.

Dinosaur Jr. signed to Jagjaguwar (P4K).

Loads of good shows coming up this Spring including Bat For Lashes, Iron & Wine, and The Henry Clay People's April-Spaceland residency (via YSTS).

Coachella Festival message board lifers are pissed off about Saturday's headliner, the Killers (PrefixMag). I thought people loved this band?

School of Seven Bells are co-headlining a tour across the U.S. this Summer with Black Moth Super Rainbow.

There's a new Black Lips video for "Short Fuse" over at Rolling Stone.

SOSMIX - 6

Some oldies and newbies, but all are goodies. If you can listen to the entire Astrobrite track from start to finish then you and I have a lot in common. Yesterday I had originally posted that the Vivian Girls track "Lake House" was a cover, it's not.

|||Download: "SOSMIX - 6" ZIP|||

1. Astrobrite: "Orange Creamsickle"
2. Dntel: "Loneliness is Having No One to Miss"
3. Dum Dum Girls: "Jail La La"
4. Ester Drang: "How Good is Good Enough?"
5. Feist & Ben Gibbard: "Train Song"
6. Fite Bite: "Swissex Lover"
7. Friendly Fires: "Skeleton Boy (Air France remix)"
8. Ladytron: "Tomorrow (Great Northern remix)"
9. Sholi: "Tourniquet"
10. Vivian Girls: "Lake House"

Mogwai returning to the U.S.

Mogwai return to the U.S. on April 20 to demonstrate once again that earplugs are for pussies (kidding). Seriously though, the Scottish quintet are an incredible live band whom everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. The Los Angeles date happens May 16 at the beloved Orpheum Theatre, and also marks the tour's finale.

Schedule:
2/21: Thessaloniki, Greece - Mylos
3/3: Brisbane, Australia - The Tivoli
3/4: Sydney, Australia - Enmore Theatre
3/5: Melbourne, Australia - The Forum
Theatre
3/7: Meredith, Australia - Golden Plains Festival
3/8: Perth, Australia - Beck's Music Box
3/20: Dublin, Ireland - Dublin Academy
3/21: Dublin, Ireland - Dublin Academy
3/22: Dublin, Ireland - Dublin Academy
4/20: Houston, TX - Numbers
4/21: New Orleans, LA - Republic
4/22: Birmingham, AL - Workplay Theatre
4/23: Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
4/24: Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle
4/25: Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
4/27: Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
4/28: Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
4/29: Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
5/1: Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre
5/2: Northampton, MA - Pearl Street
5/3: Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
5/4: Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix
5/5: Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall
5/6: Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom
5/8: Chicago, IL - Congress Theatre
5/9: Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
5/10: Minneapolis, MN- First Avenue
5/11: Omaha, NE - The Slowdown
5/12: Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
5/13: Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
5/15: San Diego, CA - Belly Up Tavern
5/16: Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre

Other inner-nets

This new Vivian Girls track sounds really tight, catchy, like the trio have seriously improved their songcraft. Wait a sec...it's a cover. I give up.

Finally heard an entire Lykke Li song late last night while watching her perform "Little Bit" on Carson Daly. What? You don't watch Carson? I still don't get the fascination people have with this gal.

I was under the impression that Explosions in the Sky were on a "hiatus". Thankfully they're not. Check their MySpace page for more shows.

The A.V. Club got me all excited with this review of the new Trail of Dead album.

St. Vincent (Annie Clark) readies Actor for May 4 with her first single, "Actor Out of Work", dropping on 4/20.

Ester Drang: 'How Good is Good Enough?' MP3

I've been waiting for some news on Ester Drang's follow-up to the superb Rocinate for some time now, and I can't get a word from anyone. That record falls somewhere between Midlake's graceful melodic dynamics and Spiritualized's syrupy swells of fuzz. Epic, yet subdued.

I didn't discover Ester Drang until a friend turned me onto 2003's Infinite Keys, and I didn't even give the debut Goldenwest a spin until after I got tired of listening to Rocinate a few years ago. "How Good is Good Enough" is pretty amazing, almost timeless. These Oklahoma natives deserve way more attention and online press than most of the low-fi, faux-hawk shit that will be headlining your impossible-to-get-into SXSW day party event next month. Ester Drang is easily one of the best American space-rock acts of the last decade, and this track is just a minor example.

|||Ester Drang: "How Good is Good Enough?" MP3|||

Ladytron: 'Tomorrow (Great Northern remix)' MP3

If there 's one that specific element missing from Ladytron's Velocifero it's the engulfing guitars that made Witching Hour a more dynamic and loose record. Great Northern add the much needed guitar attack that "Tomorrow" doesn't deliver on it's own. Solon and Rachel's backing vocals are also noticeable, as well as a piano melody towards the end. The result is a more straightforward and bare-boned version of Ladytron's electronic pop, stripping away the haze and allowing the song to breathe. They could take a few notes from Great Northern's cleaner and more up front rock sensibility.

|||Ladytron: "Tomorrow (Great Northern remix)" MP3|||

Cut Copy Contest!

Aussie electro-pop trio Cut Copy are well loved, oiled and massaged over here at SOS. So we're giving away 2 posters with added value buttons and stickers. If you'd like to nab yourself a Cut Copy prize pack then just email me at the contact info on the bottom right column telling me your favorite track from their awesome disc In Ghost Colours.

Cut Copy play the Henry Fonda Theatre on March 10, their last L.A. date supporting In Ghost Colours. The band will be heading back into the studio this year.

Update: Contest closed -- congrats to Robert and Emily!

- Photo by Emilie Elizabeth

Nosaj Thing live dates

First off I need to mention that Nosaj Thing is wrapping up his debut album. Here are some pics of him with Daddy Kev in the mastering process. I also urge you to check out the rest of his blog when you're done. Lots of cool photos, links, and media to browse through.

Now...the live dates. Nosaj Thing has a ton of performances coming up, which includes a solid billing with Daedelus next Wednesday at the Airliner (Low End Theory) for us locals and a tour of Asia in the works for this summer.

Schedule:

2/20: Element Lounge - Las Vegas, NV
2/21: BeBar - Washington D.C.
2/25: The Airliner (Low End Theory) - Los Angeles, CA
2/26: Holoscene - Portland, OR
2/27: STS9 (after party) - San Francisco, CA
3/5: Princeton/Terrace F Club - Princeton, NJ
3/6: Zot Bar - Philadelphia, PA
3/7: Tribeca - TBA, Virginia
3/13: 11 Minna Gallery - San Francisco, CA
3/14: TBA - St. Louis, MO
4/2: The Pour House - Charleston, SC

Other inner-nets

I don't know about you but I'm pretty amped to see Low Flying Owls tonight at Spaceland, it's been a long time boys. More on their reformation HERE.

AudioRealism is developing Roland 303, 909 and 808 model iPhone Applications. Radical.

Aphex Twin, Sonic Youth, Jarvis Cocker and many more have been added to the already stellar Primavera Sound Festival -- taking place in Barcelona, Spain (P4K).

Culture Bully got a very nice new site re-design and is featuring the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs single "Zero".

Even more West Coast tour dates for the mighty M83 (Filter).

The Broken West have a new video for "Perfect Games" (Stereogum). If you pay close enough attention you just might spot a few local music bloggers.

Electro-Harmonix had a vacuum tube scare, and I was scared. All is good now. Speaking of good, get yourself one of these bad boys.

Sara Lov & Zac Rae: 'Kissing Families (feat. Brian Aubert)' Video

I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm very particular about posting L.A.-based bands on this blog these days. Silversun Pickups I won't hesitate with, because they're so dreamy. This here video of Sara Lov performing the popular rock anthem "Kissing Families" features sidekick Zac Rae and SSPU main man Brian Aubert. It kind of defeats the purpose of a cover to have Aubert there, but I still dig it. According to the press release, Lov's forthcoming album Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming drops March 17 on Nettwerk.

Sara Lov & Zac Rae - "Kissing Families":

Autolux add West Coast tour dates

Album #2 is still a complete mystery. But for those of you who have completely given up on ever hearing that sophomore disc you can relish in the fact that Autolux are still making good in the department of live gigs. The trio will venture out to such attractive California destinations like San Francisco, San Diego, Pomona, then eventually, hit the East Coast as part of the Flaming Lips-curated ATP festival in Monticello, NY. If you can remember back to last Fall the group regretfully canceled their 2008 MBV-curated appearance because guitarist/vocalist Greg Edwards became a Dad, and parenting is kind of a big deal.

Local parents who still want to get lost in experimental rock epics should remember to call their trusty babysitter for the April 5th show at Pomona's Glass House. I really do like that venue.

Schedule:

4/2: Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar (Thanks Reid!)
4/4: San Diego, CA - The Casbah
4/5: Pomona, CA - Glass House
4/25: San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
9/12: All Tomorrow's Parties - Monticello, NY (w/The Flaming Lips, Suicide, Dirty Three, David Cross, Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, Panda Bear, Black Dice, Antipop Consortium and more tba!)

Touch & Go going out of business?

It's looking like that's the case for longtime indie institution Touch and Go. The influential stable was home to artists like Shellac, The Jesus Lizard, Slint, Blonde Redhead, TV on the Radio, and more recently, Long Beach's own Crystal Antlers. Brent DiCrescenzo over at Time Out - Chicago has the details. I'm gonna miss them.

Update: An official statement will be released later today.

From Pitchfork:

"Touch & Go Records, has announced that they will no longer release new music. They have also shuttered their distribution arm, which manufactured and brought to market releases for labels like Merge, Kill Rock Stars, Drag City, Suicide Squeeze, Flameshovel, Jade Tree, and Post Present Medium."

Releases from Crystal Antlers (April 7) and Jesus Lizard (Fall reissues) are still scheduled for this year.

Doves announce UK tour

Doves unleash their first batch of tour dates in like three years, but only in the UK. For those of you on the Sasquatch Festival tip you can catch the band in the Pacific Northwest along with Jane's Addiction, NIN, Fleet Foxes, TVOTR, and many more solid acts from May 23-25. U.S. dates are coming soon.

Schedule:

4/15: Cambridge - Corn Exchange
4/16: Brighton - Dome
4/17: Birmingham - O2 Academy
4/19: Belfast - Ulster Hall
4/20: Dublin - Olympia
4/22: Glasgow - Barrowland
4/23: Edinburgh - Picture House
4/24: Leeds - O2 Academy
4/26: Manchester - O2 Academy
4/27: Newcastle - Academy
4/28: Sheffield - Academy
4/30: Reading - Hexagon
5/1: London - Brixton Academy
5/4: Southampton - Guildhall
5/5: Nottingham - Rock City
5/6: Norwich UEA
5/7: Bristol - O2 Academy

Doves: "Kingdom of Rust" - Directed by China Moo Young:

The Black Angels: 'Doves' Video

This Flatback Film-created clip was originally created as the official video for The Black Angels' "Doves", taken from their solid album Directions to See a Ghost. Not sure why the band ended up rejecting it. It's visually psychedelic, insanely colorful, and the imagery works great with the song's feel.

The Black Angels: "Doves" - Directed by Flatback Films:

National Skyline: 'Glimmer' Stream

I can't remember the last time I posted three tracks from one band in such a short period of time. National Skyline's new album is too good not to talk about, and now it's become available just about everywhere. Here's some updated news regarding the recently released Bliss & Death:

"As of today there are no plans for a CD version of Bliss & Death. So get it digitally via: iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, Amie St, and Emusic"

That's about it. Luckily, there's a couple of more album tracks that have appeared for your listening pleasure. The moody and gliding "Glimmer" is my favorite of the two -- stream it below:

|||National Skyline: "Glimmer" Stream|||

Portishead are Label-less, ask fans for advice

Portishead are looking for a new way to release their music, which can only mean they're considering another album! From the group's MySpace page:

"so then we spent the day discussing the future of the P as we are free...
well free of a deal and free of commitment... for now! with the world being the way it is there are lots of options open......but if you lot have any bright ideas of how we should sell our music in the future lets us know , why not! i don't think that were into giving out music away for free to be honest...it fuckin' takes ages to write and we have to heat our swimming pools.....!!! anyways that's it for now. also, our friends crippled black phoenix are coming to the states for the first time , if you get the chance to see them.... do!!! check out the track "sharks and storms" its fucking heavy...take care for now"


Dear Portishead,

You guys are awesome. You make amazing records. Because of Third I haven't been this excited about the future of music in quite some time. My advice is to stay away from any label and simply release it yourself. Many bands that have a smaller fanbase than you have done it successfully, and I'll bet Portishead would have no problem. Here's my advice:

- Leak no more than two tracks.
- Create a digital and vinyl version complete with beautiful gatefold artwork on colored wax.
- The vinyl should also be 180 gram and include the digital code to get the MP3 versions.
- Don't get the fans too involved. I know that sounds lame but we need more distance from our heroes in this wacky age of the internet. I don't want to know exactly who is making what and with what equipment. Too much information and connection with the fans takes away from the mystery of it all.
- Last, everything you've created to this point is golden, so don't ruin it by letting film students make 'official videos' or allowing fans to make weak experimental remixes. Enlist the artists that turn you on -- it makes more sense. Basically, I want you guys to be responsible for everything.

Hugs,
Scott

Dum Dum Girls: 'Jail La La' Stream

There's not much info listed about this L.A. candy-pop outfit Dum Dum Girls. Further investigation leads me to Skatterbrain and some data concerning one special lady named Dee Dee. Musically the songs shimmer with perfect all-girl harmonies and jangly, fuzzy guitars, which is right up my alley. The obvious comparison is Brooklynites Vivian Girls, only this "librarian from L.A." puts that trio to bed -- her vocals sound effortless. No live info other than a gig on May 28 at the Smell.

|||Dum Dum Girls: "Jail La La" Stream|||

Other inner-nets

The Rawking Refuses to Stop has leaked Elliott Smith rarities taken from his From a Basement on the Hill sessions.

This will go down as the worst SNL music performance in history.

Daytrotter welcomed The Boxing Lesson -- a band I've been warming up to.

X is touring this Spring (Brooklyn Vegan). I've never seen them.

I don't have any solid opinion on Galaxie 500, but this is pretty cool (DiS).

With massive losses in profit, major labels are slowly dieing off. Will they make it to 2011? Regardless, we can expect to see a lot more of this.

Empire of the Sun gets U.S. release

It's about time. The duo of Luke Steele (The Sleepy Jackson) and Nick Littlemore (Pnau) will see their Empire of the Sun debut released on April 21 through Capitol Records. The album already boasts two fantastic singles, "Walking on a Dream" and the euphoric "We Are the People", maybe we'll get to see a stateside tour this summer?

|||Empire of the Sun: "We Are the People" Video|||

M.I.A. delivers a boy!

Congrats to M.I.A. (Maya Arulpragasam) and fiancee Benjamin Bronfman who are now the proud parents of a baby boy. The little poop machine became an Earthling on Wednesday, February 11, 2009. Check out the super-duper post on M.I.A.'s MySpace page. According to the blog, she started experiencing labor pains hours after her Grammy performance.

Of course Maya couldn't have done it without the help of this instructional video:

Dntel to release 3-disc set of remastered and unreleased material

The last time we heard from Jimmy Tamborello's Dntel he released the not so lucky Dumb Luck back in 2007. But there's some recent news regarding his early IDM-influenced work. Early Works For Me If It Works For You II is the name of his forthcoming 3-disc set coming April 14 on Phthalo Records, and it's pretty darn good.

The album cover, and gatefold packaging, is beautifully designed and will feature the first two Dntel releases remastered and a 3rd disc of unreleased material. Get a whiff of the set below:

|||Dntel: "Loneliness is Having No One to Miss" MP3|||




CD1: SOMETHING ALWAYS GOES WRONG

1. In Which Our Hero Begins His Long And
Arduous Quest
2. In Which Our Hero Finds A Faithful Sidekick
3. In Which Our Hero Is Put Under A Spell
4. In Which Our Hero Dodges Bullets And Swords
5. In Which Our Hero Frees The Damsel In Distress
6. In Which Our Hero Is Decapitated By The Evil
King
7. In Which Our Hero Begins His Long And
Arduous Quest (Seq Remix)
8. In Which Our Hero Was Taken By Surprise
(Languis Remix)
9. The S.O.S.
10. A Machine And A Memory Keep You Alive

CD2: EARLY WORKS FOR ME IF IT WORKS
FOR YOU

1. Loneliness Is Having No One To Miss
2. High Horses Theme
3. Pliesex Sielking
4. Termites In The Bathtub
5. Fort Instructions
6. Curtains
7. Tybalt 60
8. Danny Loves Experimental Electronics
9. Sky Pointing
10. Casuals
11. Winds Let Me Down Again
12. Jewel States, ?The Door Borders?


CD3: EARLY WORKS FOR ME IF IT WORKS
FOR YOU II

1. New Name
2. Incomplete 1
3. Paul Guitar
4. Don?t Try
5. Serious
6. Darker Earlier
7. Smile Break
8. Incomplete 4
9. Moody
10. Slowdance
11. Fancy Ian
12. Jittery
13. Incomplete 2
14. Bluegrass (Short)
15. Mini
16. Laughs
17. The First Day After The Worst
18. Ender

Grizzly Bear artwork and tracklist for 'Veckatimest'

The note on Grizzly Bear's Myspace page says, "It's time for a new album", and it is. Our 2006 album of the year heroes will release Veckatimest on May 26 through the uncompromising Warp Records. According to P4K, composer Nico Muhly and Beach House's Victoria Legrand both contributed.

The quartet are scheduled to play SXSW and Bonaroo -- you can also expect a massive tour this summer. Check out the tracklist below which includes their previously heard-around-the-inner-nets "Two Weeks", "Cheerleader", and "While You Wait for the Others".

Veckatimest:

1. Southern Point
2. Two Weeks
3. All We Ask
4. Fine for Now
5. Cheerleader
6. Dory
7. Ready, Able
8. About Face
9. Hold Still
10. While You Wait for the Others
11. I Live With You
12. Foreground

Digitech 'Hardwire' series: Tube Overdrive (CM-2)

I know I promised some gear reviews so here's one I've been meaning to get to:

I've never been a multiple pedal effects user, and by that I mean nothing more than a few distortions or overdrives in the chain (does a tuner really count?). I created my rig set-up based around a guy who I used to play in a band with right out of high school -- rack mount effects wizard. He was a pro at dialing in sound a la Pink Floyd-Slowdive-Cocteau Twins...you name it, he could create it. I also haven't bought a new/used guitar pedal in almost four years, but I've been looking for something that would bring a warm, almost natural-sounding tube overdrive that wouldn't muddle-up the reverb or overly distort everything.

On a whim, I traveled to my local Guitar Center -- locally means I need to drive south from the L.B.C. to Fountain Valley or East into Cerritos. I waited for about ten minutes while this kid was cycling through all of the new Digitech 'Hardwire' series pedals, which look durable and, as it turns out, sound pretty f****** awesome. I've had a few of their other models in the past, but they were always lacking something crucial.

Like many of you I have no patience for that store, its employees, or the music they proudly wear on their sleeves. However, I know I can walk in there and find exactly what I'm looking for. So I just bought it -- no testing, tweaking, and without even hearing it. Pretty reckless right? So it turns out that the Digitech 'Tube Overdrive' is super sweet, clean, heavy and even comes with extra velcro and a knob cover so your tunings don't get shuffled around. Best of all, there's even a glow in the dark self-adhesive film that you can place around the rubber foot switch. Brilliant sound, functionality, and superb tone.

Now I just want to go buy all of them -- assuming the stereo reverb, metal distortion and delay/loop models are all just as effective and react as well as the CM-2 does.

p.s. Most of these pedals are only $99.00, and not one is over $150.00!

Other inner-nets

Check out Here We Go Magic's new video for "Tunnelvision" at P4K.

You can start charting your week at SXSW. The official lineup with set times is HERE.

Speaking of SXSW, if you're over there you must see Belong. They're playing a few dates.

Tonight's your last chance for a while to catch The Soft Pack over at The Echo. They're heading over to the UK for a brief tour.

The National have announced U.S. tour dates. Please play a Coachella warm-up gig!

SOSMIX - 5

A pretty mellow week for releases. The highlight for me has to be news of another Mux Mool disc, and the sweet artwork that accompanies it. That guy knows how spin a melody around any rhythm. if you're a fan of Adult Swim's programming you've probably heard his music during a commercial break, or on this amazing Ghostly Intl. compilation Ghostly Swim. Stay dry Cali.

|||Download: "SOSMIX - 5" ZIP|||

1. Camera Obscura: "My Maudlin Career"
2. Cymbals Eat Guitars: "Wind Phoenix"
3. Grizzly Bear: "Cheerleader (Live)"
4. Gui Boratto: "Take My Breath Away"
5. I Was a King: "It's All You (feat. Sufjan Stevens on piano)"
6. Love is All: "Wishing Well"
7. Mux Mool: "End Guy (radio edit)"
8. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: "A Teenager in Love"
9. The Thermals: "Now We Can See"
10. Zaza: "Always On"

Would you pay double to see one Animal Collective performace at the Troubadour?

Absolutely not. According to Animal Collective's MySpace page you'll need to re-purchase your tickets to see the band on February 27 at the Troubadour, and I know many of you out there will.

"Hello, those who purchased tickets to the January Troubadour show, You need to contact the Troubadour to repurchase your tickets for the Feb Make up show. (tickets from the January show will not be honored and need to be repurchased). Please reach out to angele@troubadour.com for any and all questions regarding this post. be well!

"Be well"?

On a positive note, if you have a ticket to the Henry Fonda show, which takes place a day earlier, your older tickets will be honored.

Other inner-nets

April is shaping up to be a big release month. Tack on another anticipated disc with news and artwork from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs forthcoming record.

New Doves video for "Kingdom of Rust" at Stereogum.

Web in Front has a live video of "Seven Days Now" from Xu Xu Fang.

How many of you out there knew that Metro Station's drummer is local musician/ex-Polus/ex-On the Speakers' Anthony Improgo? At least he's getting paid.

It's always a good idea to hit up The Yellow Stereo's 'Daily Graboid'.

Who the f*** is this guy? Better than the original? Nah.

Sonic Youth reveal 'The Eternal', I reveal excitement

Sonic Youth return with The Eternal, their first post-major label album coming soon on Matador, and, believe it or not, this is the group's 16th full-length! The disc will be released on double vinyl, CD, and digital album on June 9. It was produced by John Agnello and the band.

Other than admiring Sonic Youth for their amazing body of work and influence on abstract guitar noise, I think it's pretty awesome that this is one of the few bands that didn't call it quits when the music industry decided not to care about them. It's not that I don't love the recent onslaught of reunion tours, I just think it speaks volumes about Sonic Youth's inner driver and relentless pursuit of the next sound...like they'll never be happy not playing.


The Eternal:

1. Sacred Trickster

2. Anti-Orgasm

3. Leaky Lifeboat(for Gregory Corso)

4. Antenna

5. What We Know

6. Calming The Snake

7. Poison Arrow

8. Malibu Gas Station

9. Thunderclap For Bobby Pyn

10. No Way

11. Walkin Blue

12. Massage The History

Mux Mool: 'End Guy (radio edit)' MP3

Mux Mool creates plenty of diversions on his new EP, Just Sayin is All. There's the ever popular trend of fusing 1980's synth montages (see CFCF) with the space disco on "End Guy", the dreamy trip-hop fantasy on "Teal Trim", and the near perfect Earth, Wind & Fire glaze that coats "B'genius". I've already got a feeling that track's not gonna leave my 'Hot Jams' playlist for months.

UPDATE: Changed the download to a different EP track, it's called "End Guy".

I highly recommend immersing yourself in this entire release on March 17 (Moodgadget) -- details below. By the way, the EP artwork in no way represents the music, just the humor of the artist. But I'll admit I do like the whole 'Chola trapped on a spaceship' theme.

|||Mux Mool: "End Guy (radio edit)" MP3||| (via XLR8R)




Just Sayin is All:

1. End Guy
2. MERLINFIST!
3. Eagle Fantasies
4. B'genius
5. 2muxLUV
6. Teal Trim
7. Lost & Found (Eliot Lipp Remix)

VOICEsVOICEs tour the West, benefit gig at The Smell

VOICEsVOICEs need some bread to help fund their upcoming tour. And since I'm pretty much gaga over their self-titled EP and live sets I'm gonna help these gals out. On Feb 22 the duo will perform at The Smell, they're calling it the 'Help VOICEsVOICEs go on Tour' benefit show.

Details:

"Three bands play full sets (EXITMUSIC, Black Hole Oscillators, BlackBlack), then we're ending the night with an improv collab set featuring, VOICEsVOICEs, Bobb Bruno, Kate Hall (of Mika Miko), Voice On Tape, Halloween Swim Team, 60-Watt Kid, Luis and Matt (of Hello Astronaut, Goodbye Television), Max (of Black Hole Oscillators)... and I think there's probably a couple more that I'm not remembering at the moment. The show will be sponsored by Filter and presented by KXLU, featuring photos and a photo booth by Photos Operandi, DJ Matt Strasser of KXLU, Free Redbull, and a vegan bake sale by Devon and Aleksa of EXITMUSIC."

Sounds fun. And someone should really record/videotape the collaborative space/noise jam.

Here are the official tour details for VOICEsVOICEs:

More bands confirmed for SXSW

Hundreds of bands have been added to the already enormous list scheduled to perform at SXSW next month. Some of the highlights are Ulrich Schnauss, Crystal Stilts, School of Seven Bells, Chikita Violenta, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart,18th Dye, Earlimart, Echo & The Bunnymen, King Khan & the Shrines, Asobi Seksu and loads more. Check out the rest of the list over at Donewaiting.

My Bloody Valentine: Bilinda Butcher interview

Not my interview, but somehow this was overlooked during the MBV reunion hoopla. It's easily one of the strongest and most absorbing interviews I've read in quite some time -- I'm biased of course. So little is known about the band from the mid-1990s until about a year ago. And all that fans typically hear is Kevin's perspective.

Bilinda's story is so detailed. In this piece via Totally Dublin she discusses just about everything; how she joined the band, had a child pre-MBV, the music and everything in between.

|||Read the interview|||

- Photo by Caroline

Stats are cool

When I started this blog we had a pathetic Alexa rating of 1,510,637...yikes. We've been dropping steadily about 70,000 points per month since last summer and are now just below the 450,000 mark. That may not be amazing to some people, but it's encouraging to know that people actually read this on a daily basis. Will you continue to rock my world?

p.s. I'll be moving this shizzy over to Word Press in the next couple of months so Blogger doesn't jack any more of my posts.

p.s.s. That is not me in the photo above. I'm way over my frosted highlights phase and I only wear Le Tigre.

Other inner-nets

Pitchfork has the premiere of the new School of Seven Bells video for "Half Asleep".

More Camera Obscura news at Filter -- regarding the band's forthcoming album My Maudlin Career.

Guys, don't hit your ladies.

L.A. Record has great photos of Brian Wilson at his recent Wiltern Theater performance.

This is Why You're Fat.

A Frightened Rabbit video that I somehow missed over at So Much Silence.

Ladytron: 'Tomorrow" Video

Ladytron's new video for the straightforward "Tomorrow" lies somewhere between The Neverending Story and a real estate booklet for Laurel Canyon. While there's no shot of Falkor anywhere in the video, the clip is very beautiful and intoxicating, adding to the serenity and soft focus of the camera. Like I've said in earlier posts, there needs to be more shots of Mira Arroyo.

As previously reported, the quartet are returning to the U.S. very soon.

Ladytron: "Tomorrow" - Directed by Neil Krug:

The Little Ones do Daytrotter, tour the Midwest

The Little Ones kick off their Midwest tour next week with singer/songwriter Brett Dennen. The quintet also dropped some quiet bombs over at Daytrotter and played 4 songs; "Gregory's Chant", "Ordinary Song", "Tangerine Visions" and "Morning Tide". Hit the link below to check out these stripped-down versions.

|||The Little Ones: 'Daytrotter' session|||

Schedule:

2/13: Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
2/16: Lincoln, NE - Box Awesome
2/17: Davenport, IA - The Redstone Room
2/18: Ann Arbor, MI - Bling Pig
2/19: Traverse City, MI - City Opera House
2/20: Columbus, OH - The Basement
2/21: Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
2/23: Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theatre
2/24: Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom
2/26: Chicago, IL - Park West
2/27: Indianapolis, IN - Music Mill
2/28: Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
3/2: Louisville, KY - Headliners
3/3: St. Louis, MO - Duck Room
3/4: Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck
3/5: Des Moines, IA - People's Court

Self-Promotion

Other inner-nets

Camera Obscura are giving away a free download of "My Maudlin Career" at its official website. Their new album drops on April 21 in the U.S. through 4AD.

Grizzly Bear has a title and track list for its forthcoming album (via Stereogum).

The L.A. Times reports that Chris Brown allegedly assaulted a young woman who is widely speculated as being his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.

More SXSW day party info at Donewaiting. Is it just me or is there an extreme lack of excitement and booking surrounding the day/party events at SXSW this year? Are people just saving their dollars and passing on this year's event?

Chromewaves has a piece on The Submarines. Coincidentally, I met a young woman at a party this weekend who works at Gen-Art and claims that she "discovered" the Submarines. I bought her a drink and gently patted her on the back. She didn't stay long.

School of Seven Bells to drop "Iamundernodisguise" single, tour dates with Fujiya & Miyagi

School of Seven Bells will continue to blanket audiences with their infectious brand of synth-heavy dream-pop next month. But first, the trio will release a single featuring the Alpinisms lead-off track "Iamundernodisguise" backed with B-side "Trance Figure (Nobody remix)" via Ghostly on February 17, and a day earlier on Full Time Hobby in the UK. Check out the artwork below:

Next, the band hops on the tour train through parts of the U.S. and Europe with blipity-blip, kraut-pop group Fujiya & Miyagi. They're a pretty decent live act.

|||Stream Alpinisms at Ghostly|||






Schedule:

2.06.2009 - Wellesley, MA - Wellesley College
2.07.2009 - Princeton, NJ - Terrace F. Club
2.11.2009 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry w/ Fujiya & Miyagi
2.12.2009 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge w/Fujiya & Miyagi
2.13.2009 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick w/Fujiya & Miyagi
2.14.2009 - Alfred, NY - Alfred U. Knight Club w/Fujiya & Miyagi
2.15.2009 - Boston, MA - Paradise w/Fujiya & Miyagi
2.17.2009 - New York City, NY - Le Poisson Rouge w/Fujiya & Miyagi
2.18.2009 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero w/Fujiya & Miyagi
2.19.2009 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club w/Fujiya & Miyagi
2.23.2009 - Dublin, IE - Whelans
2.24.2009 - Glasgow, UK - Captain's Rest
2.25.2009 - Leeds, UK - Cockpit
2.26.2009 - London, UK - Cargo
2.27.2009 - Manchester, UK - Night & Day
2.28.2009 - Bristol, UK - Start The Bus
3.01.2009 – Brighton, UK - Audio
3.04.2009 - Brussels, BE - AB Club
3.05.2009 - Paris, FR - Le Point Ephemere
3.07.2009 - Munster, DE - Gleis 22
3.08.2009 - Berlin, DE - Bang Bang Club
3.09.2009 - Hamburg, DE – Molotow
3.10.2009 - Cologne, DE - Studio 672
3.12.2009 - Vienna, AT – Flex
3.13.2009- Munich, DE - Atomic Café
3.14.2009 - Milan, IT - La Casa

SOSMIX - 4

It's nice to see a good band get the rating it deserves. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, a Brooklyn quartet who should remind you of Ecstasy and Wine-era MBV, Velocity Girl, and a host of other late-eighties indie bands, just released their debut album on the little label that could -- Slumberland Records. It follows the consistent jangly pop patterns of the band's previous singles and debut EP, only the songs are better, more flushed out, and extra sugary.

Back in 2007 when I was working at Little Radio we posted a download of "This Love is Fucking Right" from their self-titled EP. I'm offering that song here again, along with a bunch of other bands that you'll be thinking of when you listen to their dynamite full-length. It's pogo time.

|||Download: "SOSMIX - 4" ZIP|||

1. Black Tambourine: "Black Car"
2. Henry's Dress: "(You're My) Radio One"
3. RIDE: "Like a Daydream"
4. Rocketship: "Your New Boyfriend"
5. Secret Shine: "Suck Me Down"
6. Swirlies: "Didn't Understand"
7. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: "This Love is Fucking Right"
8. The Ropers: "Revolver"
9. Velocity Girl: "Forgotten Favorite"
10. Whorl: "Maybe it's Better"

Ladytron announce U.S. tour dates

Ladytron will support The Faint on their upcoming U.S. trek. Although I was kind of disappointed by Velocifero's safe rundown of Kraftwwerk-inspired pop, especially when you compare it to the fiery, loose, shoegaze-electro stomper Witching Hour, the quartet put on a visually stunning show.

The tour kicks off on April Fool's Day in Milwaukee and runs out of steam in Denver. I know many of you'll agree that "Ghosts" is probably one of the best tracks from their last album so I've posted it below. That Mira Arroyo gal is such a babe.

Schedule:

Wed, Apr 1 - Milwaukee, WI @ Tuner
Thur, Apr 2 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Fri, Apr 3 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
Sat, Apr 4 - Chicago, IL @ Metrto
Mon, Apr 6 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix
Tue, Apr 7 - Montreal, QB @ Theatre Telus
Wed, Apr 8 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues
Fri, Apr 10 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Sat, Apr 11 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Mon, Apr 13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Tue, Apr 14 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Wed, Apr 15 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
Fri, Apr 17 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
Sat, Apr 18 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
Mon, Apr 20 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Tue, Apr 21 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's
Wed, Apr 22 - Dallas, TX @ Granada
Fri, Apr 24 - Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
Sat, Apr 25 - Anaheim, CA @ The Grove
Sun, Apr 26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda
Wed, Apr 29 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
Thus, Apr 30 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
Fri, May 1 - Portland, OR @ Roseland
Sat,May 2 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO
Sun, May 3 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore
Tue, May 5 - Denver, CO @ Ogden

Ladytron: "Ghosts" - Directed by Jospeh Khan:

The American Analog Set are playing SXSW

I don't understand why this isn't a bigger deal on the inner-nets. According to Donewaiting, Austin natives the American Analog Set will play The Golden Band in its entirety during the Insound birthday party at SXSW, although I have no idea why they aren't playing Know by Heart instead. Also on the bill are heavyweight rockers The Hold Steady, The Thermals and a couple of other acts that I just don't care for.

Analog went on a "hiatus" back in 2005, but never officially broke up. Sometimes people just need to get away from each other. There's no official news about a tour or follow-up to 2005's Set Free (Arts & Crafts)... yet. Check out the lineup below:

"Insound’s SXSW Birthday Party @ Club deVille (presented with Saucony): Featuring performances from Obits, Handsome Furs, The Thermals, American Analog Set (performing “The Golden Band” in its entirety) and The Hold Steady."

|||American Analog Set: "Million Young" MP3|||

Grizzly Bear: 'Cheerleader (live)' MP3

Grizzly Bear has slowly treated fans to new songs via TV (remember "Two Weeks" on Letterman last year?) and at their latest live gigs (this here beauty they're calling "Cheerleader").

"Cheerleader" is, like most Grizzly Bear tracks, grounded, dynamic and atmospheric in its cleanest form. Not many bands can combine harmonic elements so gently and equally endearing as these lads do, and it's become the quartet's signature mark. I've always felt that the group's tendency to explode into dramatic swells of guitar and propelling drums is when they're at their strongest, but listening to Ed Droste's vocal control on this song has got me thinking otherwise.

If you want the download you'll have to go to GvsB for this one.

Other inner-nets

P4K has the official Fleet Foxes video for "Mykonos" and a stream of the new Bat For Lashes track titled "Glass".

Brandon Sterogum has a nice piece on Ticketmaster's merger plans and the effects of its dealings with scalper sites. We've all experienced this at some point and have been screwed in the process.

Skatterbrain just released their very own CD compilation featuring14 twee/pop acts, including TPOBPAH.

The Little Ones are gearing up for the road again, this time with Brett Dennen (via Filter)

Crystal Stilts unleashed a massive list of tour dates, unfortunately they won't return to L.A. until late Spring/early Summer.

Passion of the Weiss has the new official video from The Kills' "Black Balloon".

Amateur Chemist has great pics of Darker My Love/Talia Rose at The Prospector. God knows it's nearly impossible to get decent photos in that place.

Belong: 'Remove the Inside' Stream

This Belong track, taken from the duo's deep sea diving experience known as October Language, feels perfect for this pre-rain bender we're about to experience here in Los Angeles. Like most of Belong's music, it's dark and saturated with treated guitars/samples, but there's also a hint of euphoria in there. You know an album has staying power when it functions as a micro-soundtrack for climate.

|||Belong: "Remove the Inside" Stream|||

Lux Interior (1946-2009)

Sad news today. The Daily Swarm is reporting (via IMDB) that Lux Interior, born Erick Lee Purkhiser, has passed away. The iconic front man for the legendary punk/rockabilly group The Cramps died last weekend. The impact he and his band mates made on alternative rock and indie music is immeasurable. This feels a little unreal right now.

From The Daily Swarm:

"Just got word that The Cramps’ founder and singer Lux Interior passed away last weekend.

More details soon. A statement from The Cramps is coming this afternoon."

Update:

"Lux Interior, lead singer of The Cramps, passed away this morning due to an existing heart condition at Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California at 4:30 AM PST today. Lux has been an inspiration and influence to millions of artists and fans around the world. He and wife Poison Ivy’s contributions with The Cramps have had an immeasurable impact on modern music"

The report from TDS says he passed last weekend. This official statement states he died early this morning.

A Place to Bury Strangers: 'My Weakness' Video

The third video from A Place to Bury Strangers' self-titled debut. "My Weakness" features shots of the band playing live with warm tones of the California desert splicing in between. The video looks like it was pulled straight out of the 1990s alternative rock vault. But then again, this trio wears its influences on their sleeves, pants and shoes.

Think the desert is going to be hot in Indio this April? A Place To Bury Strangers are going to melt the dirt and reduce your beer cup to toxic gas when they blast off at Coachella -- they play Friday, April 17.

"My Weakness" - Directed by Dylan Mulick:

A Sunny Day in Glasgow: 'A Ghost in the Graveyard (Ulrich Schnauss remix)' MP3

I never get tired about posting A Sunny Day in Glasgow news. As previously reported, the band recently had their debut album Scribble Mural Comic Journal reissued on vinyl, and that release featured two bonus remixes. Asobi Seksu tackled "Summerlong Silences", but it's the Ulrich Schnauss re-working of "A Ghost in the Graveyard" that really works.

Ulrich's treated synths drench the song with layered dreaminess, but the rhythm and vocal melodies stay intact. It's kind of like adding a turbo-boost to a song that already hovers above the road.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow are still working on their sophomore effort -- due this Spring/Summer. Ulrich Schnauss is doing the same. From his Myspace page: "Most of the material for the next record is written, been working on sounds throughout the last months - arranging and recording now..."

|||A Sunny Day in Glasgow: "A Ghost in the Graveyard (Ulrich Schnauss remix)" MP3|||

Silversun Pickups return with 'Swoon'

According to an article at Billboard, L.A. dream-rockers Silversun Pickups will release its sophomore effort, Swoon, in late Spring. Song titles "The Royal We," "Panic Switch," "Broken Bottles," "Growing Old Is Getting Old" and "There's No Secrets This Year" are confirmed, and we'll probably hear a few of those when the band rock Coachella in mid-April. Swoon also features a 16-piece string section with members from local pros The Section Quartet. For more details go to Billboard for the article.

In case you didn't know, I sure didn't, SSPU's "Lazy Eye" has sold nearly 400,000 downloads. Holy shit.

The 2009 Bonaroo lineup is pretty awesome

Let's face it. Coachella organizers never come through the way Bonaroo does. This year they nabbed Bruce Springsteen, Beastie Boys, Snoop, David Byrne, Wilco, NIN, TVOTR, YYYs, and Erykah Badu -- I hear she's amazing to watch. The festival takes place June 11-14 in Manchester, Tennessee. Check out the list below and try not to get jealous. They'll be adding even more names soon.

Artists:

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Phish (two shows)
Beastie Boys
Nine Inch Nails
David Byrne
Wilco
Al Green
Snoop Dogg
Elvis Costello Solo
Erykah Badu
Paul Oakenfold
Ben Harper and Relentless7
The Mars Volta
TV on the Radio
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Gov’t Mule
Andrew Bird
Merle Haggard
MGMT
moe.
The Decemberists
Girl Talk
Bon Iver
Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabate
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Galactic
The Del McCoury Band
Of Montreal
Allen Toussaint
Coheed and Cambria
Booker T & the DBTs
David Grisman Quintet
Lucinda Williams
Animal Collective
Gomez
Neko Case
Down
Jenny Lewis
Santogold
Band of Horses
Robert Earl Keen
Citizen Cope
Femi Kuti and the Positive Force
The Ting Tings
Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Kaki King
Grizzly Bear
King Sunny Adé
Okkervil River
St. Vincent
Zac Brown Band
Raphael Saadiq
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Crystal Castles
Tift Merritt
Brett Dennen
Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Revue
Toubab Krewe
People Under the Stairs
Alejandro Escovedo
Vieux Farka Touré
Elvis Perkins In Dearland
Cherryholmes
Yeasayer
Todd Snider
Chairlift
Portugal. The Man.
The SteelDrivers
Midnite
The Knux
The Low Anthem
Delta Spirit
A.A. Bondy
The Lovell Sisters
Alberta Cross

Mew: 'Am I Wry? No' Video

One of my favorite tracks from Mew's Frengers is "Am I Wry? No", a pretty emo-esque statement if I may say so. But these guys are romantics bent on creating dream-pop/prog ballads for the awkward gals who eventually become super-hot babes at your high school reunion. Am I right? Yes.

Anyhoo, I try and catch up on Mew's tour video clips and studio updates every month or so, but have never delved into their video vault.

According to the band's MySpace they're in the mixing phase with the follow-up to 2005's excellent and the Glass Handed Kites.

Video credit: unknown:

Other inner-nets

The Depreciation Guild get some love over at Chromewaves.

Too bad Record Store Day is the same weekend as Coachella. Matador has some goodies in store for you.

Buzzbands has a nice piece on The Morning After Girls.

'Flower Power' is over guys. We know this because Devendra Banhart shaved his beard, I kinda miss it. Listen to a new track HERE.

Hacky Sack stocks just went through the roof. The Bonaroo 2009 festival lineup announcement is tomorrow.

Support KCRW, Femi Kuti remix stream

We all know what it's like to lose a valued radio station. That's why I've decided to get more involved with the current KCRW winter pledge drive.

The influential radio station has put together a remix EP with the help Femi Kuti and Mercer Street Records. Its a 5-song EP with remixes of tracks from Femi Kuti’s latest album Day by Day, featuring remixes by KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley and hosts Garth Trinidad, Raul Campos, Liza Richardson, and Jeremy Sole. Subscribe to the station and stream "Tell Me" below.

|||Subscribe to KCRW|||


Femi Kuti vs. KCRW Soundclash Remix Project:

1. "One Two (Garth Trinidad's Fiyah Dubb)"
2. |||STREAM: "Tell Me (Jeremy Sole's Musaics remix feat. Ticklah)"|||
3. "Eh Oh (remixed by Liza Richardson & Jake Davies)"
4. "Do You Know (Raul Campos rmx)"
5. "You Better Ask Yourself (remix by Jason Bentley feat Static Revenger)"

Darker My Love + Talia Rose @ The Prospector tonight

Everyone, please keep this in mind before you decide to drive out from Los Angeles or leave your cosy pad in Long Beach tonight. The Prospector's capacity is -- supposedly -- 55 people. Any time there's a strong bill that can draw at least 300+ people at this adorable venue I highly recommend getting there early and eating one of their specials, typically a steak/lobster/potatoes affair. You'll also get a booth inside and avoid the crazy line that will ensue around 9:45.

The payoff for being crammed at this venue is that it always sounds good, you'll never pay more than $5, and drinks are strong-cheap-served with a smile.

Darker My Love
Talia Rose



Almost forgot. There are two great residencies kicking off this week with Le Switch at Spaceland and Local Natives at Silverlake Lounge. As expected, residencies are free every Monday.