• Home
• Music
• Entertainment
• Design
• Books
• Technology
• Help/Environment
• Wellness
• Life Banter

Interested in something new from Arcade Fire?

Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler was relieved to hear the band wasn't nominated for a Grammy Award this year after having had a really bad time the last two years he attended, when he was forced to eat $70 hot dogs.

Holy mackenzie! $70 hot dogs!

Barack Obama staffers were rewarded for all their hard campaign work with a special concert courtesy of Jay-Z and the Arcade Fire.



"Donnie Darko" and "Southland Tales" writer/director Richard Kelly, recruited the Arcade Fire to record 80 minutes of original music for his upcoming feature, "The Box," staring Cameron Diaz and Frank Langella.

"I'm really excited for people to hear what they've come up with," said Kelly of the Arcade Fire soundtrack. The same is undoubtedly true for his latest film, which hits theaters late in 2009.

And if you'd like to listen to a B-side track from Arcade Fire, you're in luck. We've got one below.

Listen:
Arcade Fire - "Lenin" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Labels: arcade fire

Boston singer-songwriter Sarah Borges and her band the Broken Singles, have a new record coming out on March 24, 2009. This will be her third studio album and it will be called The Stars Are Out.

She has a style reminiscent of Neko Case, Kathleen Edwards and Sheryl Crow, among others. In December, she was named "Local Female Vocalist of the Year" at the 2008 Boston Music Awards, the second time she's won this award.

The first single off the new album is called "Do It For Free." This is what Borges has to say about the track: "It was written fast at home and fleshed out in sound checks and friends' basements during our last tours of 2008. The song is in homage to the men I meet at our shows, most of who are nice, but some of whom are very creepy."

A release from Sugar Hill Records says, "The ten selections of The Stars Are Out-five new originals, and five covers-were winnowed down from a list of dozens of candidates. Possible songs were put forth not only by Borges, but also her band mates-guitarist Lyle Brewer, bassist Binky, and drummer Rob Dulaney-and producers Paul Q Kolderie (the Pixies, Lemonheads, Radiohead) and Adam Taylor. "Every day, we'd sit down at the table, drink coffee and listen to records," she explains. "In the end, we had way too many songs, and had to pick the best of the best. We held ourselves up to high standards, so I think we got the cream of the crop."

What you'll be hearing when you put the new album in your stereo...?

A voice that is unrivaled and collaborating musicians who are all incredibly talented and whether they chime in on vocals or provide the sensational instrumentation (nothing self-serving) they help set the overall rootsy mood. While I do say rootsy it's also evident that Borges and the band pull from many genres to bring together a cohesively spectacular sound.

Listen:
Sarah Borges - "Better at the End of the Day" (mp3)

Stream four more of the tracks at Sugar Hill Records >>

Labels: sarah borges

M83 and the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform a co-headlining concert that pairs the orchestra and M83's chief star-gazer Anthony Gonzalez in a program that features individual performances, as well as M83's debut performance with an orchestra. This one-night-only concert, held on Saturday, March 7, at 9 p.m., also marks M83's debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Julian Kuerti, Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducts.

I wrote up a complete article at PoshMama on the latest from M83.

*~*~*

Ben Kweller is proud to announce the premiere of his new music video for "Fight" on MySpace Music today, Thursday, January 29. As one of the highlight tracks from his soon-to-be released ATO Records album "Changing Horses," "Fight" is an upbeat representation of the album's musical craftsmanship, a body of work saturated in Country music influences and the kind of poignant songwriting one is to expect from the seasoned musician. The music video for "Fight" is a good-natured clip that illustrates exactly the lengths one will go for their buddies in a pinch. Check out the video below.



*~*~*


Ray LaMontagne announced his first North American tour dates of 2009 today starting April 2 at the Wellmont in Montclair, NJ and ending April 30 in Miami at the Fillmore @ Jackie Gleason. The tour is LaMontagne's second in support of his latest album Gossip In The Grain which achieved the Maine singer-songwriter's highest chart number debuting at #3 on Billboard Charts its week of release. The album was a huge digital sensation being the top selling album on iTunes that first week.

For Ray LaMontagne tickets benefiting The National Children's Cancer Society, please visit www.Tickets-for-Charity.com or call 1-866-567-4576.

Labels: ben kweller, m83, music news, Ray LaMontagne

Smashing Pumpkins scored a new track titled "FOL," to serve as the soundtrack for its version of "The Epic Lap." Yo-Yo Ma's version will feature a beautiful solo of "Gigue" from Bach's Suite No. 3 in C Major.

"The combination of Hyundai's exciting new Genesis Coupe matched with music performed by Smashing Pumpkins offers the perfect 'kick-off' to Super Bowl advertising," said Joel Ewanick, vice president, Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. "From rock to classical, our Genesis Coupe ads demonstrate the two personalities of the car, which was designed for all types of driving enthusiasts."

Other publicity launched yesterday for Lonely Dear. Venus Zine ran a great article on Loney Dear that touches on front man Emil Svanängen's views on various subjects such as religion, love, and music. Click here to read the full article.

In other music news, Grammy-nominated producer Jon Brion has worked with artists like Spoon, Elliot Smith, Kanye West, Fiona Apple, among others and is considered by many to be one of the most forward thinking producers in the world today. For his latest offering, Brion takes two tracks from of Montreal's latest release, Skeletal Lamping, and completely reworks them. These songs stand apart from your average remixes, with Brion adding various instrumentation and backing vocals to reinterpret the original songs. Other musicians on the album include Nickel Creek vocalist and mandolin player Chris Thile.

Listen:
Of Montreal - "Just Recently Lost Something of Importance" (mp3)

Youth Group is set to release The Night Is Ours on April 7, 2009. They decided against traditional studio procedures and turned the vacated building into a studio, bringing in all of their own gear to create an inimitable recording environment which allowed them to work at their own pace.

Listen:
Youth Group - "All This Will Pass" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Labels: lonely dear, of Montreal, smashing pumpkins, youth group

"The Bird And The Bee" release their sophomore effort Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future today on Blue Note Records. Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future is definitely new sonic terrain for the Los Angeles-based duo.

Inara George and Greg Kurstin are amazing together. With Inara's captivating vocals and Greg's...well, everything else instrumentation, the music is untouchable. Each track is infused and laden with such textured brilliance; I love it!

There's no perfect way to describe these guys; their unique style is best understood by listening to their music on your own.

Listen:
The Bird and the Bee - "Ray Gun" (mp3)

TOUR:
Feb 05: San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Feb 06: Los Angeles, CA @ Natural History Museum
Feb 07: Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho
Feb 09: San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Feb 11: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
Feb 12: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Mar 03: Fairfield, CT @ Stage One
Mar 04: Vienna, VA @ Barnes at Wolf Trap
Mar 05: Philadelphia, PA @ Tin Angel
Mar 06: Brooklyn, NY @ Bell House
Mar 07: New York, NY @ Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall

Labels: blue note records, the bird and the bee

Jack's Mannequin are set to make their UK debut this March with a string of UK dates.

Two shows have been confirmed already but no statement has been made whether more dates will be announced.

The shows confirmed are:

10th March - London Kings College
11th March - Manchester Academy 3

*~*~*

Quitzow and Setting Sun return triumphant from their European tour just in time to hook you up with new MP3s (including a kick-ass cover of Tom Petty's "You Got Lucky" by Setting Sun).

Setting Sun's cover of Tom Petty's "You Got Lucky" was recently released as part of Buffet Libre DJ's compilation CD Rewind 2. Gary Levitt of Setting Sun explains, "I'm so proud that I recorded, mixed, mastered and sent the track off to the Buffet Libre DJ's in Spain the very next day. We just got back from our European tour on Christmas Eve with a December 27th deadline looming. It was started on Dec 26th and then sent off completed Dec 27th! That's old school style. That's how records used to be made.

Listen:
Setting Sun - "You Got Lucky" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Labels: Jacks Mannequin, Quitzow, setting sun

The first single from Rascal Flatts' upcoming album Unstoppable is available for you to hear! Check out newrfcd.com to hear "Here Comes Goodbye," and while you're there, pick up your own Unstoppable countdown widget.

I listened to the single and love it! Whether you are a fan or not it's definitely worth the time to listen and who knows maybe you'll love it, too.

Today is also the last day for you to enter the contest to design Unstoppable's album cover.

Labels: rascal flatts

The Brilliant Mistakes are a New York City-based band who specialize in melodic roots rock brimming with smart songcraft, vintage pop sounds and lush harmonies. Fronted by two songwriters, Alan Walker and Erik Philbrook, they draw you in with infectious melodies and seductive rock flourishes, then beguile with unexpected sonic twists, insightful lyrics and provocative themes, best exemplified by such envelope-pushing kindred spirits as Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Spoon.

Distant Drumming is the result of a year spent in a basement studio in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx, a heavily Irish enclave thick with redheads and soda bread, pubs and ample parking. Lincoln Schleifer, a fiftysomething unrepentant Jewish hippie who has made his own career as a great bassist working with such icons as Levon Helm, Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, Solomon Burke, Warren Haynes and many others,
produced.

The title for Distant Drumming is taken from the chorus of perhaps the album's most provocative and innovative track, "Becoming." It's about listening to and following the music that's inside you.

It is something The Brilliant Mistakes have always done as a group. We don't know where it is leading us. But we're enjoying the journey.

Listen:
The Brilliant Mistakes - "Good Year for a Change" (mp3)

Labels: the brilliant mistakes

Parasol welcomes Chicago folk-rock act Cameron McGill & What Army. Their new album, Warm Songs for Cold Shoulders, is set for an early April release on Parasol Records. Lots of touring in support.

Veteran Seattle psych-pop band The Green Pajamas' gorgeous new album, Poison In the Russian Room, is set for an early April launch. This is their 7th release for Hidden Agenda Records.

Hometown heroes New Ruins' second album, We Make Our Own Bad Luck, will be released by Hidden Agenda this Spring. Rootsy folk-rock haunted by rural spectres. LP in March, CD in April.

The new album from former Television (and current Matthew Sweet and Rocket from the Tombs) guitarist Richard Lloyd will be released in April, hopefully. Entitled The Jamie Neverts Story it's an album of Hendrix covers with a rock-n-roll backstory that is pure Richard Lloyd.

Hidden Agenda Records will release the debut album from Chicago slowburn-folk troupe The Horse's Ha, led by Janet Bean (Eleventh Dream Day, Freakwater) backed by stalwart Chicago indie-rock vets. Think Fairport Convention, Pentangle and a little Astral Weeks, if you catch their drift. LP in May, CD in June.

In May, our Hidden Agenda imprint welcomes veteran New Zealand guitar-pop band The Bats to the roster, and hope you are as breathless at the notion of a new album as we are. The Guilty Office is The Bats 8th album and it lush and melancholy.

June will see the release of a new album from California trio The Orange Peels, led by esteemed songsmith Allen Clapp.

Medium High, the 28-minute mini-album from Chicago psych-pop troupe The 1900s releases on January 20, 2009.

Listen:
The 1900s - "Age of Metals" (mp3)

Labels: Cameron McGill, parasol, The 1900s, the green pajamas, the orange peels

Only hours after announcing that he plans to break up the Cardinals and step away from the music world entirely, Ryan Adams has retracted his latest statements. "Of course everything I said got taken out of context, as always," Adams wrote on his blog this evening. "I did not say I was quitting. I said was taking a step back. So thanks...thanks again."

"I feel like I am entitled to my feelings and that I certainly do not deserve to be further ridiculed for my deteriorating inner ear issues [from Ménière's disease] and the physical pain that goes along with that."

My guess is that Ryan Adams will remain involved in music until the day he dies. He may not always be with The Cardinals but that shouldn't surprise any of his fans. We all know his tendency to be melodramatic, so the idea he wrote a post about quitting music and then quickly retracted it is also not surprising.

Everyone relax, give the man a break, let him heal his wounds and come back to us later.

Listen:
Ryan Adams - "Cry On Demand" (mp3)

Labels: Ryan Adams

"No more a rake and no more a bachelor."

The Decemberists have a new record coming out in March (that and February look to be pretty busy months, huh?) entitled The Hazards Of Love. They've released the first single titled "The Rake Song," which you can hear for yourself below.

The Hazards Of Love, set to be released on March 24.

Listen:
The Decemberists - "The Rake's Song" (mp3)


The tracklisting is:

'Prelude'
'The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)'
'A Bower Scene'
'Won't Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)'
'The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)'
'The Queen's Approach
'Isn't it a Lovely Night?'
'The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid'
'An Interlude'
'The Rake's Song'
'The Abduction of Margaret'
'The Queen's Rebuke / The Crossing'
'Annan Water'
'Margaret in Captivity'
'The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)'
'The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)'
'The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)'

Labels: the decemberists

Other Lives' self-titled, full-length debut will be released on April 7th by tbd records, the ATO Records imprint that launched a year ago with the physical release of Radiohead's In Rainbows. It will be available at digital retailers beginning March 17th and lead single "Black Tables" goes to radio this month. The album (and the EP that preceded it) was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Joey Waronker (the Eels, Lisa Germano) and engineer Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Outkast, Beck). Released in October 2008, the EP - also self-titled - was featured for three consecutive weeks on iTunes' "Rising Stars of Indie Rock."

Based in the college town of Stillwater, Oklahoma, the band - Jesse Tabish (lead vocals, piano, guitar, harmonium, organ, vibes, electric harpsichord), Josh Onstott (bass, melotron, backing vocals), Jonathon Mooney (piano, violin, organ, vibes, electric harpsichord), Jenny Hsu (cello, backing vocals) and Colby Owens (drums, lap steel) - has been playing music together for the past five years in various incarnations. They began as an avant-garde instrumental group, then added vocals and eventually evolved into Other Lives.

Praised by LiveDaily for its "captivating, cinematic sounds," Other Lives was one of the noteworthy new acts performing at last fall's CMJ Music Marathon. Upcoming tour plans include a series of dates with Delta Spirit (see below for itinerary) and a stop at SXSW.

The track listing for Other Lives is as follows:

1. Speed Tape
2. Don't Let Them
3. Black Tables
4. "End Of The Year" (mp3)
5. E Minor
6. Paper Cities
7. Matador
8. It Was The Night
9. How Could This Be?
10. AM Theme
11. Epic

Labels: other lives, press release

With a haunting sound and ominously reverb drenched melodies, Lower Heaven live up to their name which they've taken from an Echo and the Bunnymen lyric. Absorbing and reinterpreting influences like My Bloody Valentine, Hawkwind, and the Jesus and Mary Chain, the band has been able to defy constraints of genre classification by keeping the song writing, arrangement, instrumentation, and production of their work unconventional and innovative. Having finely tuned a sound that is very much their own, Lower Heaven have been turning the heads of their local peers, building a strong fan base, and creating a word of mouth buzz in Los Angeles for the past year.

The sound is terrific. The songs are well written.

Listen:
Lower Heaven - "Lose It All At Once"

Labels: lower heaven

Francois Virot is a rare bird, who belongs to that endangered kind of musicians that are so devoted to their art that they never care to spend some time at home.

So you can tell, Yes Or No may be his first official album alright, that kid is no newcomer. In a nutshell, then: it's the record of a sage, recorded by a kid. Achieved with no superfluous addition of anything: one guitar, sometimes two, one voice, sometimes two, or three, plus an acoustic rain of hands on wood, bits and pieces of percussions. Or else, a beautiful suppressed anger against whatever, overflowing with generosity, acoustic guitar strings assaulted with no second thought whatsoever, escalating songs, funk to the core, rageously melodic, that never fears total exposure, be in it full sun or a car's headlights in your eyes, yet without ever overplaying the feelings.

Listen:
Francois Virot - "Cascade Kisses" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Labels: Francois Virot, press release

computerclub sounds like they just time warped here from the 80s. They have what I would call an indie electronic quality which has great rhythm and somehow not a noticeable formula. But I don't just want to compare, because computer club does have a voice of their own.

The diverse songs are a nice combination of upbeat, surreal, dark/macabre, and enlightening. The songwriting is strong and there is new found exciting energy.

Their debut album, Before The Walls Came Down, released on November 3, 2008.

Listen:
computerclub - "This Is On Fire" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Labels: computerclub

Not really much of a write up for you today, but I do have some songs to share. And news on some of the entertainment in store for President Obama's Inauguration. Sources told the Post's Lena Sun that Bruce Springsteen will perform at Barack Obama's inauguration week welcome event January 18, 2008 on the National Mall. The event will be on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and open to the public for free. The Boss has been a bigtime Obama backer and they campaigned together in Cleveland during the general election.

Now for some tunes:
Au Revoir Simone - "Here Is The News" (mp3)
Here We Go Magic - "Tunnelvision" (mp3)
The Online Romance - "Ladybug, Don't Smile" (mp3)
Squares On Both Sides - "Goodbye To The Trees" (mp3)
Bosque Brown - "Went Walking" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Labels: Au Revoir Simone, bosque brown, bruce springsteen, grab bag, here we go magic, mix, squares on both sides, the online romance

It’s been seven years since Portal leapt onto the local music scene by winning the final instalment of Kokanee’s Adopt-A-Band Challenge at Urban Lounge. Urban Lounge has collapsed and moved, the other bands from the competition have folded, and even most of the sponsors from the event have all but disappeared. Portal, on the other hand, have just released their fourth anthology, and if early reviews are any indication, Portal seem poised to take their greatest leap to date - onto the world stage. Blood Red Tape is already drawing Portal comparisons to contemporary progressive rock greats such as Tool, Porcupine Tree, and Dream Theater, but the album might be just what the band needs to finally elevate itself above the need for comparison and stand on their own two feet.

Portal emerged from a three-year hibernation at the end of August, wielding a seventy minute collection of songs that even long-time fans and supporters have described as “unexpectedly evolved”. While not a concept album in the strictest sense, Blood Red Tape contains some very focused themes, and its production, packaging, and branding all serve to support its message, one of social awareness and responsibility. The album contains the same complex rhythms and progressions that Portal has become known for, but with a production quality and attention to detail far exceeding that of its predecessors. From the groove-laden first single, Back in the Day, a future-set nostalgia for a present-day crumbling empire, to ten minute epic Your Kettle, a cinematic journey which was just licensed for inclusion on an upcoming Wii release, Blood Red Tape is brimming with layer after layer of seamless meter changes, soaring melodies, and instrumental twists and turns.

Listen:
Portal - "Back in the Day" (mp3)



Enjoy!

Labels: portal, press release

We are excited to announce that on Tuesday, March 3rd, Brooklyn-based band The Antlers will self-release their new full-length, Hospice, through limited edition CD and online download.

Hospice chronicles The Antlers' evolution from detailed dream pop to densely layered shoegaze, from solo effort to band. Beginning as Peter Silberman's solo bedroom arrangements and recordings, this upcoming release marks the first time Silberman assembled a group of friends to contribute: Darby Cicci (trumpet, bowed banjo), Justin Stivers (bass), Michael Lerner (drums), and Sharon Van Etten (guest vocals). Cicci and Lerner remain as core members of the live band.

Hospice is the follow-up to 2007's nuanced, upbeat In the Attic of the Universe, which became The Antlers' unexpected under-the-radar breakthrough thanks to blog word-of-mouth. Along with several other EPs, a successful CMJ and SXSW '08, and this past fall's midwest and east coast tour, Hospice is evidence of The Antlers'-and Silberman's--maturation.

Listen:
The Antlers - "Bear" (mp3)
The Antlers - "Two" (mp3)

Photo By Bryan Bruchman

Labels: press release, the antlers

The Break Mission is a Brooklyn trio showcasing a unique talent for impassioned storytelling and lilting dynamics. Critics and fans alike have described the band as sublime, anthemic and refreshing. Their newest release, The Prospect EP builds on the momentum of 2007's, As Much Light As It Will Take, and introduces a beautiful complexity to their endearingly fresh sound.

Drummer Matt Hershey and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Jeff Knowlton, recently welcomed Ben Lindell to the group, solidifying the new lineup as bassist and engineer. The Prospect EP comes on the heels of a considerable change in the group's history. Having just left NYC label RoHo Records, who put out the band's last two albums, Jeff and Matt also said goodbye to founding members Dave Murray and Richey Tally, as well as Bill Wathen who joined in 2007. The new chemistry has proven to be instant and undeniable, and this four-track release proves they are comfortable where they are, but poised for much more.

Having performed with the likes of Kristin Hersh, Matisyahu, Squeeze and Apollo Sunshine, The Break Mission is eager to take their new material on the road. Stay tuned for live dates which will be announced shortly.

Their most assured release to date; The Prospect EP will be released via iTunes in February and features the following tracks:

1. The Prospect (mp3)
2. You're So Happy Now
3. Come By
4. The French Defense

Labels: press release, the break mission

With enough inventive sounds to keep any music geek sufficiently puzzled, enough melody to break your heart, and enough guts to keep a dancefloor sweaty, Twilight Sleep's diverse sound is both delicate and dirty.

Shining creativity and musical genius. As cliche as this is about to sound, once you embrace this music you'll find yourself addicted. It's fresh, it's eclectic, it's affecting...the music is layered and the vocals are haunting.

Listen:
Twilight Sleep - "Don't Fire Your Guns" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Labels: twilight sleep

Peachcake haven't been in the business long enough for their obligatory episode of VH1 Behind The Music, but the Arizona-based duo have already lived through more than the meanest episodes could ever throw at 'em. After releasing an EP on Jimmy Eat World bandleader Jim Adkins' label Western Tread, after being invited to play Burning Man, after netting praise from the likes of URB Magazine, Billboard and beyond, a string of unfortunate events almost derailed the band shared by Stefan Pruett and John O'Keefe, including the shocking death of Stefan's little brother Alex, who was slated to tour with the band playing keyboards. But rather than pack it in, the band emerged invigorated and have been creating a multitude of uplifting, positively charged projects, such as the "Free Art" social experiment, "Paint for Peace" community event, the Positivity Network, and much more.

In an innovative twist, the band also partnered with LA-based production company Subtractive, Inc. to form The Planet Awesome Collective and Subtractive Records. Together, they bought Peachcake out of an indie label contract they were signed to, wrote and recorded a new record, then self-released the glorious beacon of hope and positivity called What Year Will You Have the World?

Prepare your feet for some perky jumping. And I recommend drinking something bubbly, perhaps make sure you have different color Christmas lights lit or a strobe light if you have one in your house. And according to Braeden (my five-year-old) Peachcake gets a thumbs up.

Listen:
Peachcake - "Welcome to the Party to Save the World" (mp3)

Labels: peachcake