- ezpeza in New Single: Patrick Wolf’s “Accident and Emergency” blond gets fucked
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- teecomb in Pitchfork Leaks Some of the 2008 Lineup Animal Collective rocks so hard. It’s has great melodies and most people who hate on it have only heard one era of them that didn’t...
Indie-pop darlings Rogue Wave have the release of their third album, Asleep at Heaven’s Gate, set for September 18th. This track, “Lake Michigan,” arrives in advance of it; have a listen, and consider it something of a teaser.
It took me a few plays to get into it. The song kind of reminds me of some of the more recent Snow Patrol stuff, or even of Keane — it’s got that kind of dreamy, crystalline sound to it. After three or four listens, I decided that I like it, but I’m curious to see if the new record has a few more uptempo tunes mixed in, the way their last two did. One track is nice, but it might be asking a lot of me to stay awake for a whole album of it.
“Lake Michigan” — Rogue Wave
the best band in the world have not only gotten back together, they have also released a shiny new single in the uk. the tune is called “who are you?” and it gives me hope that james may in fact release a whole new album and even do a real tour sometime later in the year. be still my heart.
to really understand how happy this makes me, you would have to listen to 15 years worth of stories relating to my intense obsession with the band james and i am not going to make you sit through that (at this time). but since i am a kickass person and since “who are you?” is not available yet in the usa, i have uploaded it below for your listening pleasure. i think it’s pretty damn good, tyler thinks it sounds like something off millionaires, which he didn’t care for. what do YOU think?
james - who are you?:
So the almighty fantabulous and super-underrated Poster Children of Champaign, IL are finally putting out new music! And the best part? It’s FREE!!!
They’ve begun a semi-regular series of downloadable singles, “Singles of the Moment.” The first one is available now, “Machines (Take Good Care of the).” It’s available here.
You don’t have to sign up for anything, you don’t have to give your credit card number–all they ask is for an entirely voluntary donation. Passing the internet hat, if you will.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists’ new album comes out on March 20th. Called Living with the Living, it is their first lp on Touch & Go Records. The only possible thing that could console me for not having heard it yet is the fact that they recently announced tour dates. These guys put on the greatest show ever and I will totally be jumping around as close to the stage as possible.
Check out the first single “The Sons of Cain” here. You’re welcome.
03-02 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall (Noise Pop)
03-28 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
03-29 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
03-30 Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
03-31 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
04-01 Orlando, FL - Social
04-02 Miami, FL - Studio A
04-04 Baton Rouge, LA - Chelsea’s Cafe
04-05 Houston, TX - Numbers
04-06 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Ballroom
04-07 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
04-09 Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse
04-10 San Diego, CA - Epicentre
04-13 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
04-16 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
04-17 Seattle, WA - Showbox Showroom
04-18 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard’s on Richards
04-20 Boise, ID - Venue
04-21 Salt Lake City, UT - Club Sound at In the Venue
04-22 Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre
04-23 Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck
04-25 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
04-26 Madison, WI - Club 770
04-27 Iowa City, IA - Picador
04-28 Chicago, IL - Metro
04-30 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
05-02 Toronto, Ontario - Mod Club
05-03 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
05-04 Boston, MA - Avalon
05-05 New York, NY - Webster Hall
perhaps because of the international attention given to their brilliant 2006 record and the glass-handed kites (superstarcastic review of it here), danish quartet mew has re-released their 2003 album frengers. previously available in the usa only as an import, frengers is a powerful slab of rock’n'roll and is more single-friendly than last year’s conceptual offering.
mew’s sound on frengers is, as always, hard to define (alterna-psych-prog-rock-pop?) but the soaring vocal choruses, guitar riffs, rippling bass and pumped-up percussion combine to create a dazzling sonic atmosphere evocative of northern wastelands. singer jonas bjerre has one of those voices that will either annoy the crap out of you or will give you the good kind of chicken skin. it’s high and sharp and sometimes he reaches notes that men shouldn’t be able to reach without being kicked you-know-where. it contrasts oddly with the immense orchestra-rock sound and fiery instrumentation but the resulting effect has a weird energy that works.
the song structures on frengers (a compound of “friends” and “strangers”) are strange, multi-textured and anything but predictable, odd aural experiments that manage to remain lush and melodic. the sound kinda reminds me of early mercury rev and frankly renders it nearly impossible to remain sedately seated when such moving things are happening in your ears.
Frengers opens with the shimmering riffs and kinetic basslines of “Am I Wry? No,” a hard-edged song faintly reminiscent of my bloody valentine, only with choirlike vocals and frantic, choppy drumming. mew’s promotional representatives were kind enough to provide us with a copy of this song so you could hear it for yourselves before rushing out to get your paws on this reissue. please download and enjoy.
Denton-conceived band El Gato is really special. We don’t mean that in the “short yellow bus” sense of the word, we mean that in the “creation of extraordinary sonics” sense of the word.  They are local legends in Texas for their Flaming Lips/Secret Machines-esque sound and their energetic live performances.  They somehow manage to do the near impossible - please both fellow musicians and rabid fans alike with their innovative melodies, intense percussion builds and slyly poetic lyrics.
Their 2002 full-length release, We’re Birds, blew a lot of people’s minds in the best way possible. And a new record is due out anytime - it is currently being mixed by Stuart Sikes (Modest Mouse, The Walkmen) and promises to be as headphone-friendly and full of sonic goodness as their prior releases.
Not only did El Gato lead singer John Vineyard answer our 5 Questions, he also gave us 2 new tracks from the upcoming album for your downloading pleasure…“Bangin On Doors” and “The Frustrated Cowboy.” And also an old favorite by request, entitled “Christmas in My City,” a lovely song which just happens to be one of Joie’s favorite original holiday tunes. We highly recommend downloading all three and adding this band to your list of necessary aural treats.
1. When historians listen to your most recent CD 1000 years from now, what will they say?
Well in 1000 years, all humans will communicate telepathically, so they won’t “say” anything out loud. Also, they will not be able to comprehend human emotions as we know them today because anti-depressants and mood control pills will have been perfected, and there won’t be any real suffering (except by people who can’t afford to be properly medicated).
Mystery and spirituality will no longer exist, and any dark humor that makes us smile today will not be funny to the humans of 3006 A.D. (Especially historians for chrissakes!). Also, everyone will have robotic arms. So, I don’t think our album will make much sense to them, but if they do have an opinion, my guess is they would say, “I like their old stuff better.”
2. If you could have any band/musician living or dead open for you, who would you pick?
I think I’d have to pick someone that would be completely out of place in a rock club. I think I’d like the awkward tension of seeing either Celine Dion or Ludwig Van Beethoven warm up the stage for EL GATO. Ludwig Van would be up there saying, “Can I get a little more piano in the drum monitor?” or something like that.
3. What is the strangest band-related dream (one of) you have had?
Kevin had a dream that we were playing on a deserted island, and naked ladies were throwing pickles at us. (?????)
4. What do your fans look like?
Our fans come in all shapes and sizes. A lot of them tend to wear tight white jeans. Most of the girls wear faux mink coats, and the guys usually don’t wear shirts at all. There is something extremely high-fashion, and at the same time very primitive about this look.
5. What bullshit do you run into at most every show that makes you think “man, this bullshit again?”
Hmmm… Well nothing comes to mind that happens at EVERY show. There are certain sound guys that make me want to punch myself in the “toilet-area”. I have panic attack issues, and my amp is real heavy. One time I got kicked out of Fitzgerald’s in Houston when we played for a full house and they tried to pay us $8 at the end of the night. I was a little irritated. Most of the time I try not to let things at the club get to me.
Bonus question: why won’t you forget to tip your bartender?
I used to date a bartender, and I know it’s a lot of work… They have to put up with a lot of drunk idiots. They have to clean up vomit sometimes. They have to reason with people that can’t be reasoned with… That’s why they deserve tips. Oh yeah, and I also know at least one bartender that carries a gun.
