The Pineapple Thief Announce New Album / Release Date

The Pineapple Thief return on April 26th with their new album which is titled Someone Here Is Missing. The nine tracks mark another step forward in the band’s progression, as Bruce Soord’s songwriting continues to evolve and the band grow ever tighter.

The album will feature artwork currently being created by the legendary designer Storm Thorgerson, who is famous for creating some of the most recognizable artwork of the last 30 years including albums by Pink Floyd (Dark Side Of The Moon, Division Bell, Pulse), Muse, Led Zeppelin, Biffy Clyro and many more.

Check out this month's issue of Classic Rock presents Prog for a double page interview with Bruce Soord.

North Atlantic Oscillation Ready "Grappling Hooks"

After a busy and exciting 2009, releasing their debut EP and playing shows with the likes of Porcupine Tree, Explosions in the Sky and Cymbals Eat Guitars, North Atlantic Oscillation’s debut album, Grappling Hooks, is released on March 22nd on Kscope and is now available to pre-order from the Kscope store. All orders placed through the store will come with a bonus disc featuring guest re-mixes of tracks from the album. Order your copy HERE.

The band have been described as prog-pop and electro-rock, but really they just make music. The music has soaring harmonies and loud guitars and dreamy synths and heavy drums and strange effects and unexpected changes-of-mind.

NAO are the Scottish based trio of Sam Healy (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, synths, sax, percussion), Ben Martin (drums, percussion, programming) and Bill Walsh (bass, synth bass, vocals). They describe themselves as playing their instruments within a computerized wall of sound.

Grappling Hooks is a subtle yet powerful kaleidoscope of purring electronics, atmospheric layers and hook-laden melodies. Preceded by single "Drawing Maps from Memory," out on March 8th, the album proves that the praise that was heaped upon Callsigns EP was entirely justified.

The Grappling Hooks mini-site is now online which features more info on the album, audio previews, videos, downloads plus a free mp3 download of "Cell Count" taken from their EP release last year. Check it out HERE.

North Atlantic Oscillation's Grappling Hooks album trailer from Kscope on Vimeo.

"Super exciting new Rock n Roll for a new decade" - Zane Lowe, BBC Radio One

"They really are quite alarmingly good" - Drowned in Sound Single of the Week

“NAO may well be your favourite new band” - Artrocker

Playing live at the following dates:

Fri 29th January EDINBURGH, Voodoo Rooms 'Limbo'
Sat 13th February LONDON, Carnivalle ‘Smutty Pop’
Sun 21st February GLASGOW, Nice n Sleazys
Wed 3rd March LONDON, The Barfly 'The Fly Magazine Presents…'
Mon 22nd March LONDON, The Lexington 'Sonic Cathedral' Album Launch
Tue 23rd March BRISTOL, Louisiana
Wed 24th March MANCHESTER, The Ruby Lounge
Thu 25th March LEEDS, Cockpit
Fri 26th March EDINBURGH, Sneaky Pete's
Sat 27th March GLASGOW, Captains Rest

Exeter Update From the Road

Engineer Records has posted a post-tour update following Exeter's recent Midwest trek...

"Exeter finished up their eight-date Midwest tour last week. Starting in Houston, Texas and heading as far north as Manhattan, Kansas. This is the first real tour for the four-piece band from Austin, Texas, which released its first full-length album, Grey Noise, White Lies, in August 2009 (Engineer/Pop Up Records). Some stops in the tour included Rudyard’s in Houston, Texas, Murphy’s in Memphis, Tennessee, the Riot Room in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Prophet Bar in Dallas, Texas. Exeter shared the stage with some talented bands including A Revolution of Kings, Shots Fired, Audiovox, Latin, Twin Pilot and the Rainy Saturdays. Exeter made a lot of new friends on the tour, and created some strong contacts for future tours in the area. All the venues asked for the band to come back and play a show. Brad Chancellor of Orion and Audiovox fame opened his house in Lawrence, Kan., to the band for a place to sleep and recuperate after several days of driving and sleeping in interesting places. Outside of Brad, fans of the band in nearly every city offered a place to stay for free.

Exeter is now setting sights on playing local shows and hitting other Texas cities throughout the winter and spring. The setlist for most shows should include new material written in the past few months, and there are more to come.

Monotonix Frontman Breaks Leg in Concert

[pitchfork.com] Israeli garage rockers Monotonix are known for their live insanity-- they hang from ceilings, jump of off each other, and sometimes play drums on top of their audience. (Check Flickr for plenty of visual evidence.) Somehow, the band has never suffered a serious injury during a show-- until now.

"We never stopped a show in 700 shows, but yesterday it seemed like we should," wrote the band in a MySpace post, referring to their January 27 gig at West Palm Beach, Florida's Respectable Street Cafe, during which singer Ami Shalev broke his leg.

Originally chronicled in the Broward-Palm Beach New Times, the injury and its aftermath sounds nothing but surreal. As shown in a YouTube video (embedded below), after realizing he couldn't go on with the show, Shalev asked the crowd if there was a "doctor or paramedic" in the house, to which one particularly brazen patron responded, "Fuck you, pussy!" Eventually, a wrestling coach stepped in to help out.

But the weirdest part of the story occurred when Shalev got to JFK Memorial Hospital. "The doctor showed up asking for autographs," the band writes on MySpace, and "nurses kept coming in and out of the room with monotonix show videos playing on their ipods."

According to the MySpace message, "the highlight of the evening was the doctor showing us youtubes of his 12 year old son playing drums while Ami is getting pain killer shots to his butt from the nurse. there was a commercial TV in the hospital room and the bill was tremendous." But who needs health care reform, right?

Monotonix canceled a Georgia gig last night but are tentatively planning to play shows in Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina today and tomorrow.

Post-break YouTube video (via Broward-Palm Beach New Times):

Big Business "The Drift" Video

[theprp.com] Big Business have debuted their video for their track “The Drift” online via Stereogum, you can watch it below:

Jesse Leach (Seemless) Working on Solo Album

[theprp.com] Jesse Leach (The Empire Shall Fall, Ex-Seemless/Killswitch Engage) has begun work on a solo project under the moniker of AliKeN. Some demo tracks from the project have been posted online HERE, while a full-length release is expected through Angle Side Side in late 2010/early 2011.

Retribution Gospel Choir Review on Pitchfork

Pitchfork have reviewed our current album of the week, Retribution Gospel Choir's sophomore release 2, giving the album a score of 7.3 out of 10...

[pitchfork.com] Retribution Gospel Choir, the more rocking part-time gig of Low frontman Alan Sparhawk, have a harder hill to climb on their sophomore record. For one, their 2008 LP reprised some songs that, though first played live by RGC, debuted on record on Low's 2007 LP, Drums and Guns. The differences between the versions was fascinating, as was hearing RGC release all the tension that Low so carefully maintain. It made sense to finally document a project that had been running for a few years. And there was the added novelty of hearing Alan Sparhawk singing and playing guitar in an honest-to-god rock'n'roll band-- and the surprise of hearing him pull it off. But the novelty is not an issue on 2. RGC now have to justify themselves as a stand-alone act-- and fortunately, they acquit themselves just as ably as they did on their debut.

It's a record of sharp hooks and slick production, with several anthemic and instantly memorable choruses, all evident from the very first track. "Hide It Away" blends chest-beating harmonies and moments of quieter guitar jangle with the band's familiar surging 4/4 rock. It's as sweetly melodic as anything Sparhawk has written, but with unfettered, audacious confidence and a guitar solo gliding on heavy reverb-- more stumping on their campaign to become a current-day Crazy Horse. "Your Bird" follows up on the teeth-gritting bile of their debut with some added catchiness. And "Working Hard" toys with rock convention without inhabiting it completely, toning down the verses to a quieter shuffle and adding slyly nihilistic lyrics while still milking the handclaps and blue-collar guitar chug of the chorus for all they're worth.

While 2 may not be as consistent in mood and tone as the debut, it diversifies the band's otherwise guitar-dominated sound in the album's second half. The strum of a banjo adds texture to the distorted chords of "White Wolf". Cello is used on two songs, the epic eight-minute reach-for-the-cheap-seats of "Electric Guitar" and the following comedown of the Low-like closing track "Bless Us All". a song marked by acoustic plucking, choral harmonies. "Something's Going to Break" goes all the way into using studio as instrument, sounding both muffled and feral in its first two minutes before abruptly shifting into the heaviest head-down riff of the record. The resulting explosions are still the band's raison d'être.

But if 2 is slightly more dynamic, it isn't a dramatic departure from the debut, which the band nods to in its bone-simple title (another tweak on rock convention) and in the similarity between the album covers. What you see is what you get here, and while this record is as hard and heavy-- sometimes more so-- 2 bears all the slow, subtle refinement of Sparhawk's better-known projects. Slowly getting better at what you do isn't the most exciting story ever told, but it's one that has yet to get old.

— Jason Crock, January 28, 2010

Imaad Wasif LA Residency

For anyone living in the LA area, be sure to check out a most interesting residency from Imaad Wasif, featuring various themes each week...

Feb 4, 2010 - An Evening of Bad Vibes
The Dead Wasif
Mockingbirds (members of Red Sparowes)
Jason Simon (of Dead Meadow)

The Dead Wasif was a name given to Imaad Wasif by Jack White while touring with the Dead Weather and Dead Meadow. A whole lotta death. This is an electric group featuring (Imaad Wasif (vox/guitar), Greg Burns (from Red Sparowes, bass) and Adam Garcia (drums). Mockingbirds we hear is a secret name for the Red Sparowes! Jason Simon from Dead Meadow will be unfolding the night with his wicked acoustic psych. Come early!

Feb 11, 2010 - An Evening of Faith Folk
Imaad Wasif Acoustic
Becky Stark
Voice on Tape

Imaad Wasif will be playing a mostly acoustic set drawing from songs on all three of his records. Greg Burns from Red Sparowes will also be sitting in with him on pedal steel. Rumor has it that Imaad Wasif may sing the 30 minute unedited version of “The Hand of the Imposter (Is the Promise of my Own)” with all 666 verses. The otherworldly Becky Stark from Lavender Diamond is also playing and as mystery suggests could be doing some songs with her living sisters harmony trio featuring eleni mandell and inara george! Voice On Tape writes some of the most beautiful and tragic songs in the world and will be cutting open the night. Come early!

Feb 18, 2010 - An Evening of Cock Rock
Imaad Wasif with Two Part Beast
Lou Barlow & The Missing Men
Avi Buffalo

The final night for the residency… this will be electric mayhem! Witness the weirdness that is [Imaad Wasif] with Two Part Beast, playing songs from the Voidist & Strange Hexes. Imaad Wasif’s great friend and collaborator, Lou Barlow will be playing with Missing Men (the band that also plays with Mike Watt). The future sounds of Avi Buffalo will be kicking off the night… if you haven’t heard them yet, they are truly a phenomena. Come early!

After completing his gigs at Spaceland, Wasif will also make an appearance at Noise Pop and will head out on tour with Dead Meadow. Wasif’s tour dates are below:

2/27 – San Francisco, CA – Noise Pop
3/26 – Brookdale, CA – Historic Brookdale Lodge
3/27 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
3/31 – Eugene, OR – Wow Hall
4/1 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
4/2 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
4/3 – Seattle, WA – Studio Seven

Sleeper Agent Post New Track "Be My Monster"

Sleeper Agent have posted a brand new song "Be My Monster" with their brand new sound and line-up, here's what the band had to say...

"Be My Monster" --- A taste of the SLEEPER AGENT to come. Prior to recording, we demoed all the songs off the upcoming EP. I figured I'd go ahead and post one of em. "Be My Monster" is a bare bones demo (obviously), but I think there's quite a bit of charm to it. We might include all the demo versions of the songs with the EP for funzies (more bang for your buck).

EP Tracklisting:

1.Hind Legs
2.Force a Smile
3.Whispering Eye
4.Be My Monster
5.Getcha' Issue

COME SEE THE ALL NEW LINE-UP featuring Zach Lindsey (MONA/THE SECRET) and Alex Kandel this SATURDAY @ MERCY LOUNGE. Stay tuned"

Daughters Self Titled Album Info.

[theprp.com] Daughters have revealed the track listing to their upcoming new self-titled album which will land in stores on March 09th through Hydra Head. Here’s how it shapes up:

01 – “The Virgin”
02 – “The First Supper”
03 – “The Hit”
04 – “The Theatre Goer”
05 – “Our Queens (One Is Many, Many Are One)”
06 – “The Dead Singer”
07 – “Sweet Georgia Brom”
08 – “The Unattractive, Portable Head“

Daughters are planning to release a digital single for a track from their upcoming new self-titled album through Hydra Head on February 09th

Jimi Hendrix Vault Unveils Unreleased Gems; Stream Now!

[spinner.com] Though there have been many posthumous releases from Jimi Hendrix's archives since his tragic death, the recently-announced 'Valleys of Neptune' isn't meant to be a "lost" album. Rather, it's a look at the creative period in Hendrix's life between the 1968 release of 'Electric Ladyland' and his legendary appearance at Woodstock the following summer.

"In the aftermath of 'Electric Ladyland,' he made a series of recordings with the original Experience," co-producer, author and Experience Hendrix catalog director John McDermott tells Spinner. "When they effectively stopped working as a three-man recording unit, he brought in [bassist] Billy Cox -- this album captures that transition. We don't want to over-dramatize it. This is that missing period of time."

The dozen tracks on 'Valleys of Neptune' reflect a time where Hendrix, finding his way with a new band while fighting contractual problems, was blossoming creatively. Featuring reworked hits like 'Fire' and 'Red House' as well as fully-realized songs that have never officially been released, the album shows that Hendrix was embarking in a new direction, one that would later be heard on 'Band of Gypsys.' While the album is due out on March 9, check out Spinner's exclusive premiere of the title track below to hear what McDermott refers to as a "snapshot" into a part of Jimi's life that's rarely been heard.

LISTEN HERE!!

Cymbals Eat Guitars Headline Tour

Cymbals Eat Guitars are getting ready for their Europe tour which starts on February 9th. Expect a couple of new songs.

If you're in the U.S. or Canada they'll be visiting your city on their first headline tour. The band will be supported by Bear In Heaven & Freelance Whales. Check below for all of the dates.

Europe

Feb 9, 2010 - Paris, IDF (FR) @ Scopitone Club - Scopitone Club
Feb 11, 2010 - Lausanne, VD (CH) @ Le Romandie - Le Romandie
Feb 12, 2010 - Varese, VA (IT) @ Twiggy - Twiggy
Feb 13, 2010 - Ravenna, RA (IT) @ Bronson - Bronson
Feb 15, 2010 - Vienna, WIE (AT) @ Chelsea Club - Chelsea Club
Feb 18, 2010 - Bristol, SW (UK) @ Start The Bus - Start The Bus
Feb 19, 2010 - Liverpool, NW (UK) @ Korova - Korova
Feb 21, 2010 - Glasgow, SL (UK) @ Captain's Rest - Captain's Rest
Feb 22, 2010 - Leeds, NW (UK) @ Cockpit - Cockpit
Feb 24, 2010 - London, LO (UK) @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen - Hoxton Bar & Kitchen

North America

Mar 5, 2010 - Philadelphia, PA (US) @ Johnny Brenda's - Johnny Brenda's
Mar 6, 2010 - Washington, DC (US) @ Rock And Roll Hotel - Rock and Roll Hotel
Mar 7, 2010 - Chapel Hill, NC (US) @ Local 506 - Local 506
Mar 9, 2010 - Nashville, TN (US) @ The End - The End
Mar 10, 2010 - Knoxville, TN (US) @ Pilot Light - Pilot Light
Mar 11, 2010 - East Atlanta, GA (US) @ Earl - The Earl
Mar 12, 2010 - Elkton, FL (US) @ St. John's Fairgrounds - Harvest of Hope Festival
Mar 13, 2010 - Orlando, FL (US) @ Will's Pub - Will's Pub
Mar 14, 2010 - Tallahassee, FL (US) @ The Engine Room - The Engine Room
Mar 16, 2010 - Houston, TX (US) @ Mango's - Mango's
Mar 17, 2010 - Denton, TX (US) @ Hailey's
Mar 22, 2010 - Phoenix, AZ (US) @ The Rhythm Room - Rhythm Room
Mar 23, 2010 - San Diego, CA (US) @ Casbah San Diego - Casbah
Mar 24, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA (US) @ Echo - The Echo
Mar 25, 2010 - San Francisco, CA (US) @ Bottom Of The Hill - Bottom of The Hill
Mar 27, 2010 - Portland, OR (US) @ Berbati's Pan - Berbati's Pan
Mar 29, 2010 - Vancouver, BC (CA) @ The Biltmore Cabaret - The Biltmore Cabaret
Mar 31, 2010 - Salt Lake City, UT (US) @ Kilby Court - Kilby Court
Apr 1, 2010 - Denver, CO (US) @ Hi Dive - Hi Dive
Apr 2, 2010 - Lawrence, KS (US) @ Replay Lounge - Replay Lounge
Apr 3, 2010 - Saint Paul, MN (US) @ Turf Club - Turf Club
Apr 4, 2010 - Chicago, IL (US) @ Schubas Tavern - Schubes
Apr 6, 2010 - Toronto, ON (CA) @ El Mocambo - El Mocambo
Apr 7, 2010 - Montreal, QC (CA) @ Il Motore - Il Motore
Apr 8, 2010 - Cambridge, MA (US) @ Middle East Downstairs - Middle East Downstairs
Apr 9, 2010 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg - Music Hall of Williamsburg

Woolgather Need Your Support

Check out a message from Woolgather for your chance to help the band out...

"Hey everyone, Woolgather has entered the Austin Chronicle SOUND WARS Competition, and we need YOUR votes to win! You can vote online ONCE a day starting TODAY (Jan. 28th) at NOON Central Time. But, you've got to register HERE and persuade your friends and family to as well! We'll be reminding you daily, and your participation is our only chance!

If we win, we will get a variety of press releases, promotion, and a little money to help us get the new album printed and in your hands. Your cooperation and support is the only possibility here.. so here is the jig:

"SOUND WARS is a song competition between local Austin bands competing for notoriety, exposure and for a chance to win cash and prizes…and bragging rights of course!

The competition begins on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at noon.
Voting will end on Monday, February 15, 2010 at noon.

RULES – GENERAL PUBLIC:
Voters MUST be registered in order to vote in the SOUND WARS competition.
Voters will only be allowed to vote once per day for a band.
Voters will be allowed to vote for multiple bands, but ONLY once per day."

We absolutely appreciate everyone's participation and will send emails, bulletins, and blogs to promote every fan's assistance.

Happy voting, we love you all! And REMEMBER, you can vote EVERY DAY between January 28th and February 15th for Woolgather. Encourage your friends to vote as well, but you've gotta register. Cheers!"

*On a side note: Obsolete Machines are another great band you can vote for as well. For those who aren't familiar with the band, you can check them out HERE!!

RX Bandits "Hope is a Butterfly" Video

RX Bandits have posted the video for their track "Hope is a Butterfly," off of last year's Mandala...

Cave In Reviewed at Decoy

Jake Oliver at DecoyMusic.com has reviewed the new Cave In EP Planets of Old, giving it a score of 4.5 stars out of 5. The previously only digital/vinyl EP was released on CD yesterday with a bonus DVD featuring the band's reunion performance from last summer...

[decoymusic.com] What a long, strange journey it has been. After several line-up changes, more sonic schizophrenia than any band since The Beatles , and a nearly three-year absence, the pride of Methuen, Massachusetts, Cave In, returns with the near-perfect Planets of Old EP, a crowning achievement that touches all of the bases of the band’s variegated career without sounding cluttered or forced. In fact, this may be the best work of the group’s immensely influential career. Cave In has synthesized all of the different aspects of their oeuvre into one fourteen-minute masterpiece. It is an excellent and diverse listen that is equal parts accessible and challenging. The band has obviously learned more than a few tricks in their long existence, and they employ them all to great effect on Planets of Old. In fact, the only thing holding this album back from a five-star rating is its relative paucity of material.

The first track, “Cayman Tongue,” sets the tone for the rest of the EP, serving as a microcosm of the contents found within. It slowly builds in ferocity, from ambient noise, to a thick, sludgy rock groove, to monstrous metalcore before dissolving into a harsh wall of noise, only to come roaring back to life in the last minute of the track with unbridled intensity that rivals anything from Beyond Hypothermia. Second track “Retina Sees Rewind” is an incredible song that has a “Big Riff,” of Jupiter fame, vibe to it. “The Red Trail” is a jarring, mathy number that delights in its jangling discordance; it is a veritable roaring furnace of chaos and aggression. The EP closes with “Air Escapes,” a brilliant song that recalls the best moments of Perfect Pitch Black.

Cave In continues to improve with age. They have never sounded better, and it seems as if their lengthy hiatus re-invigorated the group. They have borrowed elements from throughout their lengthy back-catalog and combined them to create something new and powerful, rather than tired and rehashed. Thought to be on life support, Cave In have returned with a triumphant tour de force that points to even more incredible things in the band’s future. Never ones to shy away from ambitious releases, the band have aimed higher than ever with immense returns. If this EP is not in your collection, go out and get it immediately by any means necessary.

Birds of Tokyo "Broken Strings" Video Preview #2

Here is an­oth­er sneak peak at the Birds of Tokyo's 'Bro­ken Strings' DVD that is due for re­lease on Feb 5th, 2010...


Birds of Tokyo : Broken Strings

BIRDS OF TOKYO | MySpace Music Videos

Silversun Pickups on Jimmy Kimmel (Video)

Silversun Pickups performed their previous single "Panic Switch" last night of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Not quite sure why they didn't perform their current single, but perhaps it's that fancy little Grammy Award they've been nominated for. In case you missed it...

Austin Psych Fest 2 DVD Now Available

Austin Psych Fest 2 DVD now available!! Click HERE to purchase the DVD. For more info visit austinpsychfest.com

The Austin Psych Fest 2 DVD documents the 3 day fest with performances by A Place to Bury Strangers, Dead Meadow, Sky Sunlight Saxon, The Wooden Shjips, The Black Angels, among other bands from around the US. $15 plus shipping. Click above to purchase.

Check out the trailer here:

Austin Psych Fest 2 Trailer from oswald james on Vimeo.

Jacob Turnbloom (ex-First Wave Hello) "Your Soul Can Be Sold"

Jacob Turnbloom (First Wave Hello) has posted a video for a new song, "Your Soul Can Be Sold," off the new album he is recording right now. Will be done very soon and available on vinyl only...

Anakin (Ex-ORION) Are Back in Business

A very exciting message from Anakin (featuring Brad Chancellor of ORION/Audiovox)...

"Well this project has been idle long enough. We're currently gearing up to head into the studio and finally record the EP we intended on releasing over a year ago. An official line-up [featuring ex-members of Audiovox, Orion, the Escape, and Counterfit] will be announced in the very near future so stay tuned."

The band have posted 6 demos from their upcoming debut EP Abort. Retry. Fail. on their Myspace page (linked above).

As Tall As Lions Firm Up Tour Plans

The touring continues for As Tall As Lions, as if they'd ever stop! Here are their upcoming support dates with Cage the Elephant. And yes, a headlining tour will soon follow. Finally

PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK DOOR TIMES WITH VENUE.

Jan 29 2010 8:00P Jillians of Albany - FREE SHOW (21+) Albany, New York *no CTE
Feb 15 2010 8:00P Sky City Augusta, Georgia
Feb 16 2010 8:00P 40 Watt Club Athens, Georgia
Feb 18 2010 8:00P The Valarium Knoxville, Tennessee
Feb 19 2010 8:00P The Orange Peel Asheville, North Carolina
Feb 22 2010 8:00P The Music Farm Charleston, South Carolina
Feb 23 2010 8:00P Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina
Feb 25 2010 8:00P 9:30 Club WASHINGTON, Washington DC
Feb 26 2010 8:00P The Recher Theatre Towson, Maryland
Feb 27 2010 8:00P Theatre Of The Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mar 5 2010 8:00P Paradise Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 6 2010 8:00P Port City Music Hall Portland, Maine
Mar 8 2010 8:00P Higher Ground / Showcase Lounge South Burlington, Virginia
Mar 10 2010 8:00P Phoenix Concert Theatre Toronto, Ontario
Mar 12 2010 8:00P Town Ballroom Buffalo, New York
Mar 13 2010 8:00P House of Blues, Cleveland , OH (Cage the Elephant only)
Mar 14 2010 8:00P Newport Music Hall, Columbus , OH (Cage the Elephant only)

The Builders and The Butchers Release Live Album

Today The Builders and The Butchers are releasing a live album called Where The Roots All Grow recorded in Portland at Mississippi Studios. It includes a free video download of all the songs. Check it out and ORDER HERE! Here is some info:

Sleepy Sun Spring Tour Dates

Sleepy Sun have announced tour dates for the spring, including a stop at this year's SXSW...

Feb 7 2010 East End Portland, Oregon
Feb 8 2010 Neumo’s w/ MUDHONEY. Free show, 21+ Seattle, Washington
Feb 26 2010 The New Parish Oakland, California
Mar 9 2010 The Catalyst Atrium Santa Cruz, California
Mar 12 2010 The Echo Los Angeles, California
Mar 13 2010 Bar Pink San Diego, California
Mar 14 2010 JDee’s Landing Palm Springs, California
Mar 17 2010 Emo’s Annex - IODA SXSW Day Party Austin, Texas
Mar 18 2010 Beauty Bar - Bay Bridged SXSW Day Party Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2010 TBA Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2010 Peckerheads - RollingStone.com/Rhapsody SXSW Day Party Austin, Texas
Mar 21 2010 Bro Fest at Double Wide Dallas, Texas
Mar 22 2010 Hi Dive Club Denver, Colorado
Mar 25 2010 Mia’s Lounge Flagstaff, Arizona
Mar 26 2010 Bunkhouse Saloon Las Vegas, Nevada

Oh Captain, My Captain Streaming New EP

Oh Captain, My Captain have posted their entire new EP for streaming on their Myspace page. The untitled EP has no details at this point, but you can check out all six songs on the band's page.

Shrinebuilder Announce New Dates

SHRINEBUILDER have announced two new live dates to their upcoming roster. The band have been confirmed for their second NYC show, taking place at the E+L Auditorium of Manhattan's New York University this March 11th, just two days before their appearance at the Scion Rock Fest in Columbus, Ohio.

These two newly announced SHRINEBUILDER dates fall directly after the previously announced West Coast US Neurot Recordings tour, also featuring labelmates A STORM OF LIGHT and with special appearances from HARVESTMAN at three Bay Area shows. SHRINEBUILDER will also perform at this year's Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland (http://www.roadburn.com/).

Confirmed SHRINEBUILDER Live Appearances:
3/02/2010 The Casbah - San Diego, CA
3/03/2010 Echo - Los Angeles, CA
3/04/2010 Echo - Los Angeles, CA
3/05/2010 The Voodoo Lounge - San Jose, CA w/ Harvestman, Brain Oil
3/06/2010 Oakland Metro - Oakland, CA w/ Harvestman, Laudanum
3/07/2010 The Independent - San Francisco, CA w/ Harvestman
3/09/2010 Neumo's - Seattle, WA
3/11/2010 E+L Auditorium @ New York University - New York, NY
3/13/2010 Scion Rock Fest - Columbus, OH
4/17/2010 Roadburn Festival - Tilburg, Holland

More news will be announced shortly.

Stellarium's Debut Album Now Available

Unexplainable Recordings is proud to announce the release of Stellarium's S/T Debut Album. Hailing from Singapore Stellarium offer up sonic blasts of shoegaze/noise-pop bliss that echos Jesus And Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Ride and Swervedriver. This album will be released as a limited edition CDR. There are 150 copies available now and you can order one by sending $6 USD via paypal for US orders and $10 USD via paypal for orders any place else in the world. Go to www.custommademusicva.com to order.

Here's a recent article about the band from Junk Magazine.

Depending on which band member you talk to, the name “Stellarium” that belongs to this Singapore shoegaze outfit was either delivered by some celestial being right out of the cosmos or birthed from the deepest nooks of the human heart. “We gaze at the night sky, stars, like fishes in the giant celestial aquarium,” says Mohammed Bachtiar aka Bach, the band’s 30-year-old drummer. “Forming black air castles, floating and disappearing like cigarette smoke. Restless nights tinged with white noise.” Riiiiight. Contrast that with the decidedly more earthy version courtesy of 30-year-old frontman and guitarist Muhammad Azman (Az) and his girlfriend, bassist Marina Abu Hassan (Mar): “I had awesome times spent with Az watching the stars, and those moments were something I wanted to remember,” says Mar. Adds Az, “Yes, I particularly enjoyed Orion’s belt during those times. It remains as [the single] most significant point of my life, romantically and musically.”

Ahhh, of course. Whether you’re the gawky romantic or the art house elitist that swears by Franz Kafka and Jean-Luc Godard, Stellarium (completed by guitarist Firdaus) have a goal of grabbing your eardrums, doing some hefty reshaping and couriering them back to you in 467 pieces, properly busted. The four-piece act are built out of members hailing from four separate Singaporean bands that play a variety of genres, and in the last one year since they settled on their current lineup, they have raised their country’s shoegaze scene to a level where…well, to a level where there actually is a scene.

There is a definite reason behind Stellarium’s rollicking rhyme, and it’s a somewhat noble one. “We formed the band as a result of the urge to educate people about good music and to not accept what's been stuffed up their hungry faces by MTV, the radio and especially the trends,” says Mar. It’s a bold ambition accentuated by bolder strokes of self-belief, but Stellarium’s ability to froth and feedback with the best of ‘em has set some firm foundations in place for future generations of noiseniks.

“I was personally quite sick of the rubbish all around,” says Az, who also dabbles in solo work as Disco Ditto. “[So] we decided to gang up for a single purpose: to bust your eardrums.”

That, they’re certainly armed for. With Az handling the initial songwriting and the band lending their arrangement ideas, the resulting Stellarium tunes are well-described by Bach as “a single melody with individual inputs, like mother earth and its funny creatures”. Those “funny creatures” come dolled up in psychedelic guitar churns, best recognised by their scientific name Jesus and Maryius Chainus with a little My Bloodyius Valentineus crossbred for melodic effect. Yet Az prefers to look even further back in the evolution of music. “We’re more accurately attuned to the 60s sounds of The Ronettes and the wall of sound concept of Phil Spector, to name a few,” he insists.

Whatever the era, Stellarium’s sound is all too appropriate for this current one, where global gloom and economic doom seem to be the dominant vibes of today. With Az’s dense vocal drones running point, the band translates a disdain for silence, and utter love for blowing amps, into a swirling mash of musical mush. It’s not your standard three-minute radio fare–‘Vertigo’ and its quivering delays might give all those Top 40 DJs the weepies–but that’s just the way the band likes it. “Hell, it’s just rock ‘n’ roll,” says Az. “Nothing more, nothing less. There is nothing new to this formula, conceptually. Everything has been done before, whether you like it or not. Being 100% avant-garde and ‘original’ is cliché and farfetched.”

Already, the band has played at venues like The Esplanade and Substation. Beyond gigging, they have also worked hard to promote their genre of choice. Last December, Az co-organised an all-shoegaze festival in Indonesia called Supersonic Sound Fest, which saw Stellarium travel with four other Indonesian acts through six cities, where they hooked up with several other local bands for entire evenings lovingly dedicated to shoegaze. “It started off as a DIY tour that has the three bands, but grew to include more bands and spanned more cities,” says Az, who hopes to make it an annual and regional event eventually. “Soon enough, shoegaze music from Asian countries will unite and [we will] build ourselves a scene that will be celebrated and hold its own, regardless of Western music movements.”

Truly, in the midst of all the impending success lies a sense that Stellarium are bound by an unofficial duty to spread the gospel of good music to their fellow islanders. “I feel that many listeners are not able to discover on their own the kinds of stuff they would appreciate,” says Mar. “Most are spoon-fed and stuffed with the commercial sh*tloads by other people and mediums. Reaching new frontiers is both for us and for the listeners. It's for us to spread what we love and for them to appreciate it.”

The band’s debut is set to be released later this year in the United States under indie shoegaze label Unexplainable Recordings. A full-scale Indonesian tour is also in the works, with dreams of an American trip next year not too far behind. “[But] no SXSW for us, thank you,” says Az about the famed weeklong American music event South By Southwest, perhaps alluding to other Singaporean acts whom in recent years have had to raise huge sums of money for a brief appearance in some cruddy Texan clubs alongside thousands of other indie hopefuls. Rather, the band are hoping to make it cross-Pacific on their own terms. “Three weeks of the East Coast. No joke,” outlines Az. “We plan to hold a Tupperware party to raise funds for our tour. BYOTupperware, okay?”

Sure thing. That, and maybe some earplugs.

Totimoshi Streaming "The Line"

The last Totimoshi song of the three on their new EP is now up for your listening pleasure, titled "The Line". All three songs are produced by Page Hamilton (Helmet) and Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Tool, Foo Fighers). The band are excited to hit Europe again, and can't wait to see the UK for the first time.

Puscifer's "Major Douche" Returns For Spring Tour (Video)

[theprp.com] Tool/Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan has once again adopted his “Major Douche” persona for a new video to promote Puscifer’s upcoming spring touring plans. The clip can be seen below:

Fu Manchu European/UK Tour

[theprp.com] Fu Manchu will be heading to Europe and the UK shortly for the following run of shows:

January 28th London, UK – Islington Academy
January 29th Paris, FRA – Trabendo
January 30th Deventer, NET – Burgerweeshuis
January 31st Karlsruhe, GER – Substage
February 01st Dudingen, GER – Bad Bonn
February 03rd Barcelona, SPA – LA2
February 04th Madrid, SPA – Dick
February 05th Lisbon, POR – Santiago Alquimista
February 07th Toulouse, FRA – Café Rex
February 08th Lausanne, SWI – Les docks
February 09th Zurich, SWI – Mascotte
February 10th Brescia, ITA – Latte
February 12th Ravena, ITA – Bronson
February 13th Conegliano, ITA – Zion
February 16th Berlin, GER – Columbiaclub
February 17th Osnabruck, GER – Kleine Freiheit
February 18th Bosch, NET – W2 Den
February 19th Haarlem, NET – Patronaat
February 21st Malmo, SWE – KB
February 22nd Stockholm, SWE – Debaser
February 23rd Oslo, NOR – Rockfeller
February 24th Copenhagen, DEN – Vega

Stone Temple Pilots, Them Crooked Vultures, Deftones for Download Fest

[theprp.com] Initial bands have been announced for this years edition of the annual “Download Festival” which will take place at Donington Park in the UK from June 11th through to June 13th. Groups tapped to play so far include

AC/DC
Megadeth
Deftones
Motorhead
Stone Temple Pilots
Wolfmother
Them Crooked Vultures
Bullet For My Valentine
Volbeat

More details on the festival can be found at www.downloadfestival.co.uk.

Mastodon "Remission" Vinyl Edition

[theprp.com] Relapse Records are preparing new 12″ vinyl editions of both Mastodon’s “Remission” and Baroness‘ “Red Album” for a February 16th release date. “Remission” will be made available in limited quantity pressings of gold, purple and black. While the “Red Album” will be pressed in limited pressings of black, red/white with splatter, red with black haze and red.

Karnivool Interviewed by Guitar Edge

[guitaredge.com] Tired of flipping on the radio and getting the same ol’ song and dance? Are you looking for something fresh to sink your teeth into? For the first time in America we give you the new kings of progressive rock, Karnivool.
Karnivool’s musicianship is jaw-dropping. Listeners will find themselves kicking back and enjoying every sonic second of every track. With a clear focus on dynamics-driven power, the band’s approach to guitar tone is masterful, gradually building and teasing your eardrums with atmospheres and textures before unleashing their monstrous guitar wall on your senses. The furious fretting of lead guitarist Andrew Goddard and rhythm guitarist Mark Hosking is an art form of its own. The duo feed off of each other’s playing, surgically striking back and forth, not in battle but in complete musical harmony. Whether they’re creating ambient textures or burning their fretboards with insane licks, the fusion of emotion and technical precision on the newest record is an accomplishment of guitar mastery. Simply put, with this new album Karnivool is showing the world, and now even the US, that they are truly cutting edge.

GE: Tell me about the new record, Sound Awake.

Hosking: We are very proud of this album. Sound Awake is what we really wanted Themata to be, a record we released over four years ago. It’s so much more of a group oriented record. We had been writing the record for 3-1/2 years, so it feels right to us and it’s a big steppingstone for what we will create in the future. It’s always interesting getting five guys together and trying to create something out of nothing. This is all exciting because the people that are hearing it are getting it and enjoying it. It’s inspiring when people understand what we are doing as artists.

Goddard: This thing is four years in the making, so we are very proud of it. We released this record in Australia in April of 2009, the UK in September and now in 2010 it’s in the States! This is also the first record that we will be touring the US for. We will be out with the band Fair to Midland for a nationwide tour through the spring. We are really excited to see how people will react to the record there as well as see people out at the shows.

GE: The song “Set Fire to the Hive” includes insane swells, crazy riffs and enough effects to drive players crazy trying to figure it all out. Tell me about that beast.

Hosking: “Set Fire to the Hive” was one that was very complicated. [Laughs] We spent a lot of time trying out different effects. One thing the band really grasps is the theory of beautiful accidents. It starts off as a jam or whatever and turns into something truly beautiful. That song actually stems from a jam we had with a little MIDI keyboard with ridiculous sounds on it, and our bass player playing this funky groove. It turned from this crazy jam that just captured an essence into this meticulous, fast-moving, angry song. The way we write is that we put it together then add all of the layers afterwards. In each layer comes a certain type of sound that comes basically out of nowhere. [Laughs] A lot of the tones that were used in that song came from a pedal called a Z.Vex Fuzz Factory. It’s a grungy, little confined-bandwidth pedal that takes the entire fat guitar tone and pushes it through a tiny hole. There was actually another pedal we play around with a lot live during that song a TC Electronic Analog Delay. We find ourselves making these crazy noises through it and messing with people. That’s where half of that song comes from, but it all comes back to beautiful accidents. You have to find these beautiful accidents, whether it’s a random pedal or a random unit to plug into that can make an interesting sound to play with.

Goddard: This song is probably the heaviest and angriest little number on the record, and was great for us to channel our various frustrations into. But it was also meant to have a playful tongue-in-cheek element to it as well. It’s such a fun one to play live! Especially the “bee” riff.

GE: That “bee” riff is really cool. How do you do it?

Hosking: [Laughs] Yeah! We do that by basically both of us — one on the left, one on the right — playing tap-ons a semitone apart during the trilling “bee” riff of the song. Those riffs bounce off each other in a dirty and bee-sounding way. It makes this vibrational, angry part that bites. You can really feel the insect-like tension as it builds, and it’s a lot of fun to play.

Goddard: It’s a riff played up high on the neck on the fifth and sixth strings using some quick hammer-ons and pulls offs as it creeps up and down the frets. The 2nd guitar plays a semitone out with the main riff to give that droning effect while one is played through the Zvex Fuzz Factory with the compressor and gate settings ramped right up so it gives it a really nasal, narrow insect-like tone. Voila, you have the flight of the pissed-off, anarchic ex- worker bees.

READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW HERE.

Alberta Cross Tour Video

Alberta Cross have posted a video from the road, as they continue their first US headlining tour...


From the Road

Alberta Cross | MySpace Music Videos

Solar Powered Sun Destroyer Pre-Production Video

Solar Powered Sun Destroyer have posted a video of the band's pre-production work on their upcoming debut full length...


Pre-Production Update 1

Solar Powered Sun Destroyer | MySpace Music Videos

Alice In Chains "Your Decision" Behind The Scenes Video

[theprp.com] Behind the scenes footage from the making of Alice In Chains‘ latest video for their track “Your Decision” has been made available via Noisecreep and can be seen below:

Karnivool Confirm US Tour / Venues

Australia’s KARNIVOOL embarked on the magnanimous tour of their homeland last week as they began the already SOLD OUT BIG DAY OUT music festival along with sonic powerhouses Muse, The Mars Volta, The Horrors & Mastodon. This is the VOOL’s latest tour outing counting down to the U.S. release of their internationally lauded full-length Sound Awake on February 16, 2010 via SIN/SonyMusic Independent Network.

Produced by Forrester Savell (The Butterfly Effect, Mammal, Dead Letter Circus), Sound Awake is kaleidoscopic, engaging & multi-dimensional. It delivers the band’s trademark sound while taking the listener to new heights as it ventures into innovative exploratory territory.

Early March will see the quintet tour Europe before heading to SXSW in Austin, where they will begin their first U.S. tour in three years with the Serjical Strike label’s Fair To Midland. Venues have finally been confirmed and the full itinerary can be found below.

KARNIVOOL U.S. TOUR:

March 17 Austin, TX SXSW
March 18 Austin, TX SXSW
March 19 Austin, TX SXSW
March 20 Austin, TX SXSW
March 23 San Antonio, TX - Scout Bar
March 24 Houston, TX - Scout Bar
March 26 Jacksonville, NC - Hooligan's
March 27 Augusta, GA - Sky City
March 28 Charleston, SC - The Oasis
March 30 Baltimore, MD - The Quarter
March 31 New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
April 1 Philadelphia, PA - The Note
April 2 Hartford, CT - Webster Underground
April 3 Providence, RI - Club Hell
April 5 Toronto, ONT - Wreck Room
April 7 Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
April 8 Louisville, KY - Phoenix Hill Tavern
April 9 Chicago, IL - Penny Road
April 10 Flint, MI - Machine Shop
April 11 Madison, WI - The Annex
April 12 Minneapolis, MN - The Rock
April 14 Denver, CO - Marquee

Radiohead Perform For Haiti Benefit (Video) / Record Peter Gabriel Cover

[pitchfork.com] Last night, Radiohead played a benefit for Haiti at the Music Box at the Fonda in Los Angeles. They played 24 songs, according to a set list at At Ease, and Thom Yorke did a solo take on new song "Lotus Flower", which the singer debuted at his non-Radiohead L.A. gigs back in October.

According to our photographer Sung Kim, the show raised $572,754 for Oxfam, with tickets auctioned off to the highest bidder. The highest ticket price was $2,000, and the minimum winning bid was $475.00.

Watch a YouTube of "Lotus Flower", along with the set list:


Set list (Via At Ease):

01 Faust Arp
02 Fake Plastic Trees
03 Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
04 The National Anthem
05 Nude
06 Karma Police
07 Kid A
08 Morning Bell
09 How to Disappear Completely
10 A Wolf at the Door
11 The Bends
12 Reckoner
13 Lucky
14 Bodysnatchers
15 Dollars & Cents
16 Airbag
17 Exit Music

Encore #1

18 Everything in Its Right Place (Thom)
19 You and Whose Army?
20 Pyramid Song
21 All I Need

Encore #2:

22 Lotus Flower
23 Paranoid Android
24 Street Spirit (fade out)

in other news... [NME.com] Radiohead are set to cover Peter Gabriel's 1982 song 'Wallflower'.

Part of Gabriel's 'song swap' project, the songwriter recently covered Radiohead's 'Street Spirit (Fade Out)' on his new album 'Scratch My Back', with Thom Yorke and co now set to return the favour, reports AtEaseWeb.com.

"Thom wanted to do a version of 'Wallflower' which I'm very curious to hear," Gabriel said in a podcast on his website PeterGabriel.com. "I think that was an important track for him when he was 14."

Pavement "Best Of" Tracklisting Revealed

[MatadorRecords.com] So we got more than 1200 entries to the Pavement "Guess The Track Listing" contest for the Quarantine The Past best-of collection. As you may recall, first prize was for the track listing closest to the actual track listing. The actual track listing is:

1. Gold Soundz (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
2. Frontwards (WATERY, DOMESTIC EP)
3. Mellow Jazz Docent (PERFECT SOUND FOREVER EP)
4. Stereo (BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS)
5. In The Mouth A Desert (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
6. Two States (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
7. Cut Your Hair (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
8. Shady Lane / J Vs. S (BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS)
9. Here (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
10. Unfair (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
11. Grounded (WOWEE ZOWEE)
12. Summer Babe (Winter Version) (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
13. Range Life (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
14. Date w/ IKEA (BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS)
15. Debris Slide (PERFECT SOUND FOREVER EP)
16. Shoot The Singer (1 Sick Verse) (WATERY, DOMESTIC EP)
17. Spit On A Stranger (TERROR TWILIGHT)
18. Heaven Is a Truck (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
19. Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17 (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
20. Embassy Row (BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS)
21. Box Elder (SLAY TRACKS 1933-1969 EP)
22. Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence (NO ALTERNATIVE COMP)
23. Fight This Generation (WOWEE ZOWEE)

And So I Watch You From Afar Pre-Order!!

And So I Watch You From Afar's 'The Letters EP'... The Wait Is Over... The Time Has Come... Get It Or Its Gone... It's Now Or Never...

Well... not quite however there are strictly only *200* available on this limited pre-sale and once they are gone they are gone! A Smalltown America Store exclusive available on Monday 25th January at 9am (UK Time)!

And So I Watch You From Afar are primed & ready to release 'The Letters EP' - a 16 minute/ 4 track serving of the melodramatic, anthemic instrumental goodness you come to expect from our very own instrupunk quartet

Tracklist:
1. S Is For Salamander
2. D Is For Django The Bastard
3. B Is For B-Side
4. K Is For Killing Spree (Ode To)

"Edgy, staccato, and exploring a little subtlety and a lot of thunderous noise, The Letters EP carries on where ASIWYFA’s quite brilliant debut left off..." - state.ie

Tickets are onsale now for their April Headline UK tour

01-04-2010 | Liverpool, The Masque
02-04-2010 | York, Fibbers
03-04-2010 | Glasgow, Stereo
04-04-2010 | Edinburgh, Bannermans
05-04-2010 | Newcastle, O2 Academy 2
06-04-2010 | Ruby Lounge, Manchester
07-04-2010 | Birmingham, Hare and Hounds
08-04-2010 | London, Borderline
09-04-2010 | Bristol, The Cooler
10-04-2010 | Exeter, Cavern
11-04-2010 | Cardiff, Barfly

The Letters EP is available on general sale in all good record stores & online from the STA store on Monday 08th February 2010 if you miss out this time around... Good luck!

Check out And So I Watch You From Afar performing "S is For Salamander" live on RTE1 TV below. Don't forget the band will be playing on American soil during this year's SXSW!

The Brothers Movement Ready New Single

Dublin, Ireland's The Brothers Movement release their new single, 'BLIND / SISTER', in the UK on 15th March. This double A-side single is a follow up to the band’s debut single ’Standing Still’. All three tracks appear on the band's self titled debut album.

The single will be available on CD & as a digital download.

Postdata, Beautiful Postdata...

Postdata are the new stripped down side project from Wintersleep frontman Paul Muphy and his brother Mike Murphy. Since the beginning of Wintersleep’s career, Paul has made a name for himself as an exceptional singer, guitarist, and most of all… songwriter. Postdata’s lo-fi atmosphere showcases his songwriting in the most primal form witnessed yet. Originally recorded as a present for their mother whom was going through a tough year, the Murphy brothers realized they had something special, and knew the album must be shared with the masses. The music is incredibly personal, with a reoccurring focus on family and haunted dreams. Recorded on a laptop with some simple microphones, Postdata is the raw product of the unapologetically honest words of Paul Murphy. Don’t let the band name fool you; Postdata are not your typical electronic loving affair, but rather an acoustic heavy offering with the barest of human emotion fueling Murphy’s memorable vocal melodies and lyrics. Their debut self-titled album will be self released by the band, and will coincide with their debut performances supporting David Bazan (Pedro The Lion) in Europe and the UK.


Haunting whirs move behind gentle acoustic guitar on the opener “Lazarus,” setting the tone for the record to gradually unfold. The ethereal nature of the music and wide gapping spaces lend graciously to Murphy’s beautiful vocals as he sings lines such as, “and my grandpa said don’t trust those eyes you can’t cry in, and my grandma said don’t trust a thing your grandpa says”. The structuring is simple, yet crushingly gorgeous with textures so calming it’s hard to believe in aggression. Bright vocal segments dip and fade throughout, providing variation in the sonic landscape. “In Chemicals” is just about as stripped as can be, beginning with nothing more than a faint acoustic strum and heart wrenching vocals. Murphy wails with stunning beauty as an ever growing buzz warms the mix, slowly building upon the verses into the passionate chorus. “Tracers” makes a point to highlight the acoustic string noise, compliments of the sliding from Murphy’s fingers over the frets, as the jangly chords glide up and down the guitar’s neck. The somber tone has an undeniable feeling of hopefulness and optimism. Murphy proves that pop music can be invigorating, experimental, and all the while retain an honest sense of deep emotion.

“Paranoid Clusters” begins with the evocative, “beneath the paranoid cluster of fallen stars, in the big black belly of the universe,” gliding over the finger picked acoustic melodies. Mike’s bold piano crashes add intensity to the flourishing song, climbing towards a choir of orchestrated splendor. “Eclipse” takes the record to its far most minimal, as Murphy sings, “are you in outer space? That’s what the doctor says”. The degree of personal lament and grief felt in his lyrics is so emotionally heavy it’s nearly exhausting, but as a seasoned songwriter, Murphy is wise enough to keep the songs fairly short in length, and the lyrics moderately obscure. The beauty of each track is more than enough to keep things interesting, and Murphy’s vocals are dazzling from start to finish. “Tobias Gray,” is the albums darkest offering, thanks in part to Mike’s ominous bass drone persistent throughout the track. The dry crisp tone of Paul’s voice leads over the rampant acoustic plucking into a heavenly vocal melody, leading into the lyric “at a very young age the paramedics took her away,” as the song comes to an abrupt end.


“Warning” is a gorgeous ode to the death of their grandparents, as Murphy sings, “you died without warning, that September morning, I spoke to you aloud for the last time”. The melody twinkles in a dream induced state, as Murphy’s vocals intensify without losing their soothing nature. There is very little that Paul Murphy can’t do as a songwriter, and this album and the overall emotion proves that with unashamed confidence. “Drift” is full of layered texture with acoustic guitars sharing the ambient space with simplistic banjo sounding accompaniment. Paul sings, “You’re my lover, my very best friend. I want to hold you forever, I want to hold you again,” with sincere compassion and striking tone from his voice. His vocal strength leads the album’s closer, “The Coroner,” into optimistic territory as he croons, “lie down with me, honestly I’d give my hands, my hair, my skin, the lining in my stomach” as the record fades to a close.

With a complete run time of twenty seven minutes, the record ends leaving you desiring more, and for a solo project of the utmost lo-fidelity, that’s a great accomplishment. Many of the tracks sound as though they could be the skeleton or framework of forthcoming Wintersleep songs, but their overall craft and exceptionally well thought songwriting allows them to stand firmly and triumphantly on their own. Paul Murphy has delivered a record filled with honest talent, with a pure and raw glimpse of his musical abilities and understanding. You can download both “Tobias Gray” and “In Chemicals” for free from their site www.postdatamusic.com. Wintersleep will be returning with their fourth record this spring/summer, but for now 2010 belongs to Postdata, an album that will have you returning for many repeat listens. Immediately entertaining and ultimately satisfying and enjoyable, Postdata have created a record as simple as it is memorable.

Radiohead's Ed O'Brien Speaks Piracy

[NME.com] Radiohead's Ed O'Brien has hit out at claims that piracy is killing the music industry.

Expressing his thoughts on the situation, the guitarist explained that whilst pirates might not purchase music, they are still putting money into the industry.

"I have a problem when people in the industry say 'it's killing the industry, it's the thing that's ripping us apart'," O'Brien said in an interview on Midem. "I don't actually believe it is... [Pirates] might not buy an album, but they're spending their money buying concert tickets, a t-shirt, whatever."

In the interview, O'Brien also added what solutions the industry could be making to remedy the problem.

"It's an analogue business model in a digital era," he explained. "The business model has to change. You've got to license out more music - have more Spotifys, more websites selling more music. You've got to make it slightly cheaper to get music in order to compete with the peer-to-peers."

He added: "I find it staggering that the industry seems to be really dragging its heels on this - this is stuff that you could do in one week. Move quicker!"

Meanwhile, Radiohead have announced that they will play a one-off gig for Oxfam's Haiti earthquake emergency response appeal this weekend (January 24).

Masters of Reality "Always" Video

Masters of Reality have posted a video for their track "Always". The song comes from the band's most recent effort, Pine/Cross Dover...

Local Natives "Wide Eyes" Acoustic Video

Local Natives perform "Wide Eyes" Acoustic from an art gallery in Paris...

HibOO d'Live : Local Natives "Wide eyes" from Le-HibOO.com on Vimeo.

Alberta Cross Take Portland - Concert Review

[oreganmusicnews.com] It’s not often that you see a crowd so large and dedicated on the Monday night of a holiday weekend but Alberta Cross seems to inspire a rare level of commitment. Fresh off the release of their debut LP Broken Side of Time, Alberta Cross’ tour brought them to Mississippi Studios for their first time through Portland.

Frontman Petter Ericson Stakee, looking like Tom Petty with straight blonde hair and black hat, joked about the neighborhood saying, “I’ve been walking around this street all day, it’s a nice little street.”

Alberta Cross’ mix of 70’s blues-influenced rock and pop sensibility isn’t earth shattering or boundary breaking. But the band makes exceptionally well-executed rock music in an era when so many others rely on internet buzz and auto-tune instead of the ability to actually perform.

Broken Side of Time is truly a record, a document of how a particular band sounds at a particular point in their career. Stakee’s live performance matches his vocal acrobatics on the album, and the entire band was just as hard hitting on closer “ATX” as they are on the record. It shows professionalism and guts to play this tight.

It’s obvious that people are beginning to take notice.

For a band that’s never visited Portland, Alberta Cross received a surprisingly enthusiastic welcome. Most of the audience sang along and swayed through the set, particularly on crowd pleaser “Old Man Chicago.” They encored with title track “Broken Side of Time,” a favorite that was pulled of perfectly.

Alberta Cross was joined by the fantastic Hacienda. Hacienda played dirty, catchy blues that captured the sound of The Kinks, The White Stripes, and Let It Be-era Beatles. The set was playful and energetic, with the four piece splitting vocal duties. The band is from South Texas, “home of the best Mexican food you can get,” and guitarist Dante Schwebel joked about drinking tequila and missing mama’s cooking on the road.

They were an excellent, lighter-hearted counterpart to the dark rock of Alberta Cross. Between the two, it was a night of rock ‘n roll at its classic best.

Puscifer Spring Dates Update

Puscifer have just added another date to their spring tour in Stamford, CT. The remaining dates, and on sale times are...

Mar 2nd, 3rd Atlanta, GA CW Center Stage On sale NOW
Mar 5th, 6th Washington DC, Lincoln Theater On Sale NOW
Mar 8th, 9th Philadelphia, PA Theater of the Living Arts On Sale NOW
Mar 11th New York, NY Grand Ballroom On Sale NOW
Mar 12th Stamford, CT Palace Theater On Sale TBA
Mar 13th New York, NY Apollo Theater On Sale NOW
Mar 15th, 16th Boston, MA Berklee Academy of Music On sale NOW
Mar 19th, 20th Toronto, ON Queen Elizabeth Theater On Sale NOW
Mar 21st Lorain, OH (Cleveland) Lorain Theater On Sale NOW
Mar 23rd, 24th Detroit, MI Royal Oak Theater On Sale NOW
Mar 26th, 27th Chicago, IL Vic Theater On Sale NOW
Mar 28th Columbus, OH LC Indoor Pavillion On Sale Jan 30th
Mar 30th Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater On Sale Jan 29th
Mar 31st Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater On sale NOW
Apr 2nd, 3rd Minneapolis, MN Pantages Theater On Sale NOW

Keep your eyes peeled to www.puscifer.com for the VIP Packages Coming Soon.

Ozzy Readies Untitled New Disc for July

[rollingstone.com] Ozzy Osbourne may not be planning a Black Sabbath reunion, but he is in the final stages of recording his next solo album. The disc was originally titled Soul Sucka, but Ozzy recently changed his mind about that. “When we put that on the Internet none of my fan base liked the title,” says Osbourne. “They were like, ‘I can’t imagine me walking around the fucking house with the words ‘Soul Sucka’ on my T-shirt.’ So I was like, ‘Fuck it. I’ve got to come up with something else!’ ” The now untitled set is due out in July, the same month Osbourne says that Ozzfest will return after a one-year break. “After Ozzfest I’m doing the most extensive tour of my life,” he says. “It’ll be something like, 3,025 dates.”

The new album will be Osbourne’s first without Zakk Wylde since the guitarist joined the band in 1988. Taking his place is Greek guitarist Gus G. “People are going to say, ‘Oh, you’re falling out with Zakk,’ ” says Ozzy. “No, I haven’t fallen out with Zakk. I mean, he does need me anymore, Zakk. He actually has his own fucking thing, you know. I knew I had to get another guitar player for a while. I just kept putting it off and putting it off.”

Even though he recently turned 61, Ozzy says he has no plans to retire. “I’m sure at some time I’ll be face down in a box with a pine door closing over me,” he says. “In the meantime, this is what I do. Sometimes I’m OK, sometimes I have a good time, and sometimes my voice blows out, but I still have fun. It’s not like a fucking job. I mean, I’m talking to you from Hawaii right now!”

Dios Offer "1st Quarter Single 2010" FREE Download

[buddyhead.com] Buddyhead & Dios have banded together to bring you two free experiences for you cuz we're fookin' mad fer it!

First off we'd like to give you this "1st Quarter Single 2010″, which is the second in a series of FREE download-able singles from L.A.'s Dios. This time you get Ed's head on the cover instead of Pat's, make sure to collect em all! Here's the drill: download this two song single, burn it to an old fashion compact disc, print out the artwork that Joel drew, fold it properly and slide that puppy in your fresh home-made jewel case. BOOM! An official release from Team Buddyhead/Dios and you didn't spend a dime!

Secondly, we're throwing a FREE SHOW on Tuesday February 16th, 2010 at the world famous Troubadour in West Hollywood in celebration of the release of Dios' third full length record (and first on Buddyhead), "We Are Dios" (which you can pre-order from Amazon). Not only is it the first free show ever at The Troubadour but alongside Dios bringing the rock will be fellow Laker fans (and ex Mae Shi members) Signals and a group of local rowdys who go by The Henry Clay People. And our buddy Jimi Hey (Beachwood Sparks/All Night Radio) will be DJing killer tunes throughout the night to keep the party alive! It's gonna be a good night and we hope to see you there because this is our way of saying thank you for caring about our rock n' roll!

Dios "1st Quarter Single 2010″
1) "See How They Run"
2) "Feather In Yr Cap"

DOWNLOAD HERE!