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FaviconRÖYKSOPP ANNOUNCE GLOBAL ALBUM STREAMING EXCLUSIVE WITH HYPE MACHINE & SOUNDCLOUD 3 Sep 2010, 6:08 pm

To mark the release of Röyksopp's new instrumental album Senior, the Norwegian electronica pioneers have joined forces with leading Mp3 blog aggregator Hype Machine and online audio distribution platform SoundCloud to become the first artist to run a pre-release stream of their album exclusively through Hype Machine.

On Monday, 6th September a SoundCloud player will be added to Hype Machine giving fans who search out Röyksopp the opportunity to stream Senior in it's entirety one week ahead of the street date. As part of this SoundCloud player, fans will also be given the functionality to share details of this global exclusive to their friends via Twitter and Facebook.

Hype Machine's network of trusted international bloggers will also be actively encouraged to embed the SoundCloud player into their personal blogs to ensure their readerships also have access to the full album stream.

Speaking of the partnership with Röyksopp and Hype Machine, SoundCloud's Dave Haynes said, "The Hype Machine has fast become one of the best places to discover new music. We're really thrilled to be a part of this by allowing artists like Röyksopp to make their music available to bloggers and The Hype Machine itself via SoundCloud."

Hype Machine's founder Anthony Volodkin said, "Working with SoundCloud and Röyksopp on this has been very seamless, SoundCloud allows teams to collaborate at the speed of the web.” Röyksopp release Senior - the counterpart to last year's critically acclaimed album Junior - on the 13th September in Europe. More introspective and freeform than its poppier partner and fully instrumental, the Nordic electronic pioneers Svein Berge and Torbjorn Brundtland recorded Senior at the same time as Junior and it finds Röyksopp in fine form.



Röyksopp explain: "The two albums (Junior and Senior) have a kinship, in that they represent Röyksopp's two very different artistic expressions. Junior - with emphasis on vocals, accessible melodies and harmonies - has the energy, the inquisitive temper, and confidence with the "hey-ho, let's go!" attitude of youth.

Whereas Senior is the introverted, dwelling and sometimes graceful counterpart – full to the brim with dark secrets and distorted memories, insisting, "I'm old, I've got experience”. Senior is furthermore an album about age, horses and being subdued with devils breathing down your neck."

Röyksopp - Senior track listing:
1. … And The Forest Began To Sing
2. Tricky Two
3. The Alcoholic
4. Senior Living
5. The Drug
6. Forsaken Cowboy
7. The Fear
8. Coming Home
9. A Long, Long Way

Röyksopp are Norwegian electronic music duo Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland. Formed in 1998 the band have been nominated for one Grammy Award, seven Spellemannprisen awards, performed worldwide tours, and produced albums topping the charts in several countries. Senior is their fourth album following Melody AM (2001), The Understanding (2005) and Junior (2009). http://royksopp.com

SoundCloud is an online audio platform that allows musicians and labels to collaborate, promote and distribute their music. SoundCloud allows music makers to upload large audio files, embed them on websites and blogs, and share them publicly or only to specify contacts, and provides users with detailed stats on where their music is being listened. More info at: http://www.soundcloud.com

Hype Machine keeps track of emerging music on the web by monitoring the best music blogs from all over the world. More info at: http://hypem.com

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FaviconAeroplane Announce New Single 'Superstar" with Chromeo + The Krays Remixes 3 Sep 2010, 5:48 pm

Aeroplane’s eagerly anticipated debut album, We Can’t Fly, set for release 27th September on Wall of Sound in the UK, arrives with sky-high hopes. Aeroplane established themselves as party-starting DJs, remixers du jour - with spacious,cosmic-disco re-rubs of Grace Jones (William’s Blood), Friendly Fires (Paris), Sebastien Tellier (Kilometer) and as leaders of the nu-disco and Balearica scene.

Following on from first single - We Can’t Fly, which was immediately playlisted at Radio 1, Aeroplane releases the second single from the album - Superstar on September 13th 2010.

A huge inspiration for Aeroplane has been synthesizer pioneer, Giorgio Moroder whose gleaming electronic scores for Scarface and Midnight Express have fed into this propulsive, piano-led track, which Vito describes as “Moroder meets Canned Heat”. Superstar features vocoder vocals from Vito himself, but Moroder was so impressed that he laid down vocals for an alternative version which will be released later this year.

The single package includes stunning remixes from The Krays (Yuksek & Brodinski) and Chromeo, who offer their Midas touch on an already ‘hot as hell’ record.

Along with numerous festival appearances this summer, including a much coveted headline DJ set at Bestival, Aeroplane prepare for the first ever live tour.

www.myspace.com/aeroplanemusiclove

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FaviconBlack Mountain / The Black Angels: MP3 to advance ticket buyers 3 Sep 2010, 5:42 pm

To celebrate their co-headline gig at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on Oct 7th Black Mountain and The Black Angels are giving away a special MP3 to all Advance tickets buyers.

From Tuesday 30 August all ticket purchasers for the gig will be sent a unique URL that leads to a free download of The Black Angels covering Black Mountain's debut album track 'No Satisfaction'.

This will be the first of many gigs together, as both bands continue to tour the USA together later in the month under the banner "The Dropout Boogie Tour".

Tickets for the Shepherd's Bush Empire gig are available from:

Black Mountain's new album 'Wilderness Heart', already receiving great reviews, is released through Jagjaguwar on September 14th.

The Black Angels' new album 'Phospherene Dream' is released on Blue Horizon Records also on the 14th September.

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/blackmountainhttp://www.myspace.com/theblackangels

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FaviconEVILE WORKING ON NEW STUDIO ALBUM 3 Sep 2010, 5:39 pm

British thrashers EVILE have revealed that they are currently hard at work writing for a brand new studio album.

EVILE, who recently won a coveted Metal Hammer Golden Gods award, are writing the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2009 album, INFECTED NATIONS. The band announce that they will once again be working with producer RUSS RUSSELL.

EVILE lead guitarist OL DRAKE comments:

"We're well on our way into writing the material for Evile's third album now. We've been playing around with the odd part and riffs since 'Infected Nations' came out in 2009. I have about ten song ideas which are being built on daily, but not going to stop there. We're not going to limit ourselves this time to a certain number of songs. We're just going to write until it's time to give up and go into pre-production. We've been sending tracks/recordings/ideas back and forth between ourselves, Russ Russell and our management (Wiseblood) and there's an excellent vibe going.

"I don't want this to be a typical 'new album' update using the same descriptions and words most bands use to big up an album, so I'll just say the new stuff is really getting my blood boiling and my heart racing. We've been through a lot over the past year, and it's being naturally reflected in the music which is coming out. I've never been as passionate as I am now about writing the best material we can. With Joel in the mix, and him being a die-hard thrash fan since the '80s, I'm looking forward to see how this will turn out. Keep an eye on our website for more details, and come catch us on one of the 77 shows in September-December in North America! (If you don't see me I'll be busy riffing for the benefit of your ears.)"

Catch EVILE live on tour at the following shows:

EVILE w/ BONDED BY BLOOD, EARLY MAN
28.09.10 Tuscon, AZ - The Rock
30.09.10 Tulsa, OK - Marquee
01.10.10 Houston, TX - Walter's
02.10.10 San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
03.10.10 Austin, TX - Emo's
04.10.10 Fort Worth, TX - Ridglea Theater
05.10.10 Nashville, TN - The Muse
06.10.10 Newport News, VA - Budda's Place
07.10.10 Baltimore, MD - Sonar
08.10.10 Trenton, NJ - Championship Bar and Grill
09.10.10 Manchester, NH - Rocko's Rock Club
10.10.10 Brooklyn, NY - Europa
12.10.10 Toronto, ON - Sneaky Dee's
13.10.10 Buffalo, NY - Broadway Joe's
14.10.10 Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
15.10.10 Detroit, MI - Blondies
16.10.10 Milwaukee, WI - Mad Planet
17.10.10 Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club
18.10.10 Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room
19.10.10 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
20.10.10 Salt Lake City, UT - Club Vegas
22.10.10 Portland, OR - Dante's
23.10.10 Seattle, WA - El Corazon

EVILE w/ BONDED BY BLOOD, GAMA BOMB
24.10.10 Vancouver, BC - Red Room
25.10.10 Prince George, BC - Third
26.10.10 Edmonton, AL - The Mead Hall
27.10.10 Regina, SK - Exchange
28.10.10 Winnipeg, MB - Royal Albert Arms
29.10.10 Thunder Bay, ON - Crocks
30.10.10 St. Cloud, MN - The Rox Tavern
31.10.10 Indianapolis, IN - The Dojo
01.11.10 London, ON - Music Hall
02.11.10 Buffalo, NY - Broadway Joe's
03.11.10 Trenton, NJ - Championship Bar and Grill
21.11.10 Ottawa, ON - Mavericks
25.11.10 Nashville, TN - The Muse
05.12.10 Amarillo, TX - The War Legion Underground
12.12.10 Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction
13.12.10 Las Vegas, NV - Cheyenne Saloon

EVILE w/ FORBIDDEN, BONDED BY BLOOD, GAMA BOMB
04.11.10 West Springfield, VA - Jaxx

EVILE w/ OVERKILL, FORBIDDEN, BONDED BY BLOOD, GAMA BOMB
05.11.10 Rochester, NY - Montage Music Hall
06.11.10 Farmingdale, NY - Crazy Donkey
07.11.10 Providence, RI - Club Hell
08.11.10 Baltimore, MD - Sonar
09.11.10 Richmond, VA - Canal Club
10.11.10 Charlotte, NC - Amos
11.11.10 Raleigh, NC - Volume 11
12.11.10 Jacksonville, NC - Hooligan
13.11.10 Orlando, FL - Club Firestone
14.11.10 Fort Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
15.11.10 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
16.11.10 Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
17.11.10 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
18.11.10 Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel Nightclub
19.11.10 Manchester, NH - Rocko's Rock Club
20.11.10 Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom

EVILE w/ FORBIDDEN, BONDED BY BLOOD, GAMA BOMB
22.11.10 Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques
23.11.10 Toronto, ON - MOD Club
24.11.10 Detroit, MI - Blondies
26.11.10 Louisville, KY - Phoenix Hill Tavern
27.11.10 Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club
28.11.10 Milwaukee, WI - Rave
29.11.10 St. Paul, MN - Station 4
01.12.10 San Antonio, TX - Scout Bar
02.12.10 Austin, TX - Emo's
03.12.10 Houston, TX - Scout Bar
04.12.10 Fort Worth, TX - Trees
06.12.10 Tucson, AZ - The Rock
07.12.10 Mesa, AZ - UB's
08.12.10 West Hollyood, CA - Whisky A Go Go
09.12.10 Ramona, CA - Ramona Mainstage
10.12.10 Sparks, NV - New Oasis
11.12.10 San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge

EVILE w/ DRI, GAMA BOMB
15.12.10 Farmington, NM - Gator's
16.12.10 Pueblo, CO - Club 21
17.12.10 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
18.12.10 Salt Lake City, UT - Club Vegas

EVILE's OL DRAKE will be bungee jumping in aid of the British Lung Foundation on September 19th, in memory of late EVILE bassist MIKE ALEXANDER. Joining him will be Metal Hammer editor ALEXANDER MILAS, who will be jumping in aid of the Ronnie James Dio 'Stand Up and Shout' cancer fund. For more information and how to sponsor OL or ALEXANDER, head to http://www.earache.com/jump4metal

EVILE's 2009 album, INFECTED NATIONS, is due to be re-released on October 11th as a limited edition redux edition. This special version of the album includes a bonus disc with 15 extra tracks, including the band's cover of PANTERA's "Cemetery Gates", 8 songs recorded live in the studio with new bassist JOEL GRAHAM, and 6 songs recorded live at Hammerfest in 2009. Also included are a free INFECTED NATIONS album cover woven patch and a sticker sheet.

Pre-order the INFECTED NATIONS limited edition redux version, and get the band's 2007 debut album, ENTER THE GRAVE, in Europe at http://earache.com/webstore/index.php/cPath/667_669_41 or in North America at http://earache.com/uswebstore/index.php/cPath/667_669_41

For more EVILE news and info, head to Evile - "Infected Nations" OUT NOW! on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

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FaviconTHE MOONDOGGIES - download the first single from "Tidelands" (Hardly Art) today 3 Sep 2010, 3:29 pm

If you woke up today thinking “I wish someone would send me some new Moondoggies music” you are in luck. The lead-off track from the forthcoming (and long overdue, some would say) new Moondoggies album, Tidelands, is available for download today through the band’s label, Hardly Art, as well as the Moondoggies’ official site, Myspace and Facebook pages.

Download “It’s a Shame, “It’s a Pity” here:
“It’s a Shame, It’s a Pity” serves as a perfect introduction to Tidelands, the new Moondoggies album coming out October 12 on Hardly Art. Embracing more deliberate songwriting and band dynamics, “It’s a Shame, It’s a Pity” is a stomping but solemn ode, marked by the somber and pensive tones found throughout Tidelands. While the band’s 2008 debut, Don’t Be A Stranger, won the band fans for its easygoing mood, Tidelandscatches the Moondoggies at a more contemplative and mature moment. Carried over from the first record, however, are the harmonies, catchy hooks, and stellar musicianship that fans have come to expect.

You can also view a behind-the-scenes documentary filmed in the band’s Seattle stomping grounds which premiered on AOL Spinner. The video was shot on location in Seattle, including frontman Kevin Murphy’s “speakeasy,” where the specialty is moonshine and lemonade. Directed by John Jeffcoat, the footage wasfilmed for $5 Cover, http://fivedollarcoverblog.mtv.com,a 12-part MTV series based on the Seattle music scene. You can view the “Amplified” documentary here:


Tidelands is now available for pre-order at the Hardly Art website, http://www.hardlyart.com/shop/moondoggies.html; there’s also a bonus Moondoggies cassette that will be sent out with preorders while supplies last. The limited edition tape features their 2009 Record Store Day EP on one side and their 2010 Tour EP on the other, and includes a free download of both releases.

Catch the Moondoggies on tour with Dawes in November. The band is adding additional October tour dates, including a New York show on Wednesday, October 27 at the Mercury Lounge.

Call for more information or to be serviced with this amazing album!

Links:

The Moondoggies / Tidelands
October 12th, 2010 – LP / CD / digital
1. It’s a Shame, It’s a Pity
2. Tidelands
3. What Took So Long
4. Uncertain
5. Empress of the North
6. Lead Me On
7. Down the Well
8. Can’t be in the Middle
9. We Can’t all be Blessed
10. A Lot of People on my Mind

Moondoggies, fall 2010 tour dates
9.06.10 – Seattle WA at Bumbershoot
10.27.10 – New York, NY at Mercury Lounge
11.10. 10 – Chicago, IL at Schuba’s
11.11.10 – Minneapolis MN at First Ave*
11.12.10 – Madison WI at Majestic Theater*
11.13.10 – Milwaukee WI at Turner Hall*
11.14.10 – Ames IA at the Maintenance Shop*
11.15.10 – Denver CO at Hi Dive*
11.16.10 – Salt Lake City at the State Room*
11.20.10 – San Francisco CA at the Independent*
11.21.10 – Santa Barbara CA at Soho*
11.26.10 – Los Angeles CA at El Rey Theatre*
11.27.10 – San Diego CA at the Casbah*
*w/ Dawes

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FaviconDeerhunter debut 'Helicopter' video; announce UK tour 3 Sep 2010, 3:23 pm

Announced exclusively on Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest today, Deerhunter have revealed the official video for 'Helicopter'. The band's first ever foray into the audio-visual world, 'Helicopter' was conceived and created by frontman Bradford Cox.

Watch the video for 'Helicopter' by clicking this link: The Atlanta-based quartet will also play six UK and Irish shows in March 2011 culminating at London's Shepherds Bush Empire on March 31st, their biggest British headline show to date.

DEERHUNTER TOUR DATES:
March 2011
25th - The Button Factory, Dublin
26th - The Stiff Kitten, Belfast
28th - Oran Mor, Glasgow
29th - The Irish Centre, Leeds
30th - Sound Control, Manchester
31st - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Halcyon Digest will be released on September 27th. Download 'Revival' from Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (bottom of the page)

Links:

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FaviconThe Dirty Heads Featured In Tap Tap Revenge 3 Sep 2010, 3:16 pm

The Dirty Heads in a video game!?! This week Tap Tap Revenge, the #1 most-downloaded music game for the iPhone/iPod Touch, is featuring a playable version of "Lay Me Down (feat. Rome of Sublime with Rome)" as a FREE download.

Tap the targets on your touchscreen, score points, and check out the fresh theme and graphics inspired by the Heads themselves. The Tap Tap Revenge app is 100% free in the iTunes Store, and is nearly as addictive as the song. Tap it on the run! http://bit.ly/9TgQOQ

For more information visit www.DirtyHeads.com!

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FaviconWhite Sunday - Nothing Without the Music - Debut Single Out 27th September on Eden Mu 3 Sep 2010, 3:15 pm

UK rock band White Sunday release their debut single on Eden Music on 27th September. It's been a busy year for the band, they have a new line-up and have been working on their debut album which is due for release in late 2010. White Sunday have been on two successful UK tours to date

Nothing Without the Music is full of self-belief and creative enthusiasm. Musically impressive, Nothing Without the Music has echoes of everyone from Weller to Mott The Hoople and Oasis in it's loose-limbed grooves, not to mention epic riffs and vocals to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

White Sunday are a perfect example of the Mod aesthetic of self-improvement and their confident, cocksure belief in themselves remains as strong today as it did the day they formed the band.

Hear an exclusive clip of Nothing Without the Music here:

White Sunday will be embarking on a mini-tour to promote Nothing Without the Music later this month.

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FaviconThe Method Release Whip Around 3 Sep 2010, 3:11 pm

Mariacha horns, Middle Earth Club’s avant lysergic delirium, the three-button suited, angry cool of The Specials, wahed guitars and synth bubbles lifted from ’70s Blaxploitation plus drum beats fit for the dancefloor… ladies and gentlemen may I introduce you to The Method.

Vocalist Richie Hayes sings it like he means it, equal parts soul man, Northwest garage band shouter and cocky indie star. All who have seen them play live swear by ’em. For those who haven’t been lucky enough to feel their disease See Monkey Do Monkey release a double-headed primer for the band’s forthcoming debut long player.

‘Whip Around’ conjures up the post-punk genre defying spirit of the early ’80s when everyone from Dexy’s, Pigbag, the 2-Tone label and The Saints mixed horn laden ’60s black music with the vicious energy of punk. ‘Consider This Your Warning’ could just about pass for a riled young Tom Waits fighting with The Monkees. An odd description perhaps, but The Method do genuinely play outside the boundaries. If Kasabian ditched the stadium rock pretensions and used their imagination this is how they could sound.

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FaviconBANE Post New Track Online, Announce European Tour 3 Sep 2010, 3:04 pm

Serbian Black/Death metal hoard, BANE has posted "The True Insomnia," from their forthcoming full-length debut Chaos, Darkness, Emptiness. Recorded Hellsound Studio in The Czech Republic, Chaos, Darkness, Emptiness was produced, mixed and mastered by Honza Kapak (Judas Iscariot, Krieg, Nargaroth, et al).

Visit www.myspace.com/baneband to hear the new track.

The album, which boasts guest appearances from Jb of Svart Crown, Deimoz of The Revenge Project and Nocturnal of Shadowdream, will be released later this year on Digi-CD, CD and MC format via Abyss Records and features cover artwork by Marcelo Vasco (Belphegor, Obituary, Vader, Borknagar, Gorgoroth, Satyricon).

Chaos, Darkness, Emptiness shall contain nine track and will be divided equally into three chapters.

Chapter I - Chaos
Chapter II - Darkness
Chapter III - Emptiness

This October, BANE will set out on a European tour in support of Chaos, Darkness, Emptiness. The tour dates are as follows:

October 7th @ Le Select - Lille, France
October 8th @ Blue Devil's Bar - Arras, France
October 9th @ Shaka Laka - Hazebrouck, France
October 10th @ TBA - Germany
October 11th @ Wagon Club - Wroclaw, Poland
October 12tth @ Korba Pub - Katowice, Poland
October 13th @ Kawiarnia Naukova - Krakow, Poland
October 14th @ Music Bar Kremelka - Strakonice, Czech Republic

BIOGRAPHY:
BANE is a Black/Death Metal band from Serbia, who is mainly under the influence of Old School Swedish Styled Black/Death Metal from the mid 90`s. Their music can be easily compared to the early Dissection and Dark Funeral.

Formed in Novi Sad, Serbia in 2006, the band had constant technical and line-up problems, resulting to a 2-year long break after the first recorded Demo in 2007.

Finally, in late 2009, after several line-up changes once again, the band recorded their first EP called Misanthropia and released it on early 2010 on Dutch Label Victory By Fire Records, and shortly after re-released it on Set Productions (Egypt).

Since then the band is very active live in the European Underground scene, so far having shared stages with many international acts such as: Root (CZ), Depresy (SK), Enthrallment (BUL), James Rivera (USA), Septic Scum (SLO), Infest (SER), and many more...

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FaviconRESTLESS PEOPLE RELEASE DEBUT LP ON IAMSOUND THIS AUTUMN 3 Sep 2010, 3:00 pm

Restless People is a new project from Michael Bell-Smith, Jesse Cohen, Eric Emm and Tony Blankets. Friends and collaborators for years, all four first came together in 2006 when Eric began working with Professor Murder (an earlier project featuring Mike, Tony and Jesse), co-producing their acclaimed Professor Murder Rides the Subway EP. Since then they have worked in different permutations on various projects, most prominently Eric and Jesse’s experimental pop duo Tanlines.

Alternately a band and a production team, the four make music together the best way they know how in 2010. Live, Mike sings, Jesse plays synthesizers, computer and percussion, Eric plays guitar and sampler and Tony plays bass. Mostly though, they spend their time together in the studio, four producers and songwriters, taking turns with instruments and computers.

When they get together they talk a lot - about the internet, jeans, shoes, car repair, jobs, barber shops, positivity, sports, seltzer, appropriation, beer, relationships, style, pretzels and reality. They talk about music using adjectives like punk, pop, adult contemporary, global, dance and emotional. They argue with each other and tell lots of jokes.

This September, Restless People will release their debut album Restless People on Iamsound Records. A taut 8 songs in 28 minutes, Restless People connects the dots between disparate strains of pop music from the 80’s through the 00’s. Unabashedly filtering it all through their contemporary sensibility, the band constructs an alternate (very, very) near future of pop.

For fans of: General Public, DJ Cleo, The Belle Stars, Phil Collins, Maximum Joy, Gorilla Biscuits, Operation Ivy, and Nelly Furtado.

TRACKLISTING
  1. Days of Our Lives
  2. Constant Panic
  3. Don't Back Down
  4. Little Sky
  5. Basic Needs
  6. Practical Magic
  7. Practical Magic II
  8. Vicitimless Crime

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FaviconVillagers Take Over UK In New Video + BBC Radio 1 3 Sep 2010, 2:57 pm

Villagers have released the new music video for "That Day," a new single from the Mercury Prize-nominated debut 'Becoming a Jackal' (Domino Records). The vibrant video, directed by Marco Sandeman, was shot in a day throughout various locations in London.

Watch it here:

"That Day" was also recently added to the prestigious BBC Radio 1 "In Music We Trust" Playlist. Check out the playlist here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist/

Later this month, Villagers will kick off their first full band North American tour. In addition to several headlining dates, the group has confirmed supporting dates with Ra Ra Riot and Givers (see below).

VILLAGERS US TOUR DATES:
9/22 - Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar &
9/24 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern &
9/27 - Toronto, ON @ Drake Underground &
9/28 - Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks &
9/29 - Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo &
10/19 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop $
10/20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Music Box At The Henry Fonda *
10/21 - Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern *
10/22 - Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse *
10/24 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit *
10/26 - Austin, TX @ Emos *
10/27 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Ballroom *
10/28 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater *
10/29 - Little Rock, AR @ Revolution Music Room *
10/30 - Nashville, TN @ Exit In *
11/1 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie $
11/2 - Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory $
11/3 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge $
11/4 - Boston, MA @ Great Scott $

& = solo
* = Full band w/ Givers, Ra Ra Riot
$ = Full band headline

"Becoming A Jackal" MP3:

"Becoming A Jackal" music video:
"Ship of Promises" music video:
Villagers On The Web:

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FaviconDiamond Rings Announces Tunnelvision Documentary 3 Sep 2010, 2:54 pm

Secret City Records, in conjunction with Pitchfork.TV, is elated to announce Ray Concepcion's Tunnelvision documentary with fashionista John O of Diamond Rings. The 10-minute piece features an exclusive interview with John as we'll as some live clips from his performance at Brooklyn's Monster Island previously this year. Check it out here and get a preview of tracks such as "You & Me", "Something Else" and "All Yr Songs" that will appear on his debut full-length Special Affections dropping on October 26th.

First conceived in the summer of 2009 by Toronto-based multiplatform artist John O, Diamond Rings burst onto the scene with a series of singles and videos featuring green screen camera trickery, over the top choreography, and daring androgynous outfits and makeup. The videos received international praise from both the online media and fans alike. The singles, pressed to limited edition vinyl, sold out in a matter of weeks and received critical praise including "Best New Music" honors from Pitchfork.

Although initially pegged in some corners as a novelty act, audiences soon began to identify with Diamond Rings' uniquely lyrical brand of pop songwriting and his overtly glamorous live sets. Showcasing real human emotion and honest vulnerability is rare enough for a 24-year-old let alone one who matches his eye shadow with his Air Force Ones while dancing about onstage with the reckless abandon of a teenager in the bathroom mirror. But there's something surprisingly mature shimmering beneath the glamour, hidden in John O's immediately iconic voice, and whip-smart lyrics.

Now Diamond Rings is finally settling down long enough to deliver a fully realized album, the much anticipated "Special Affections". In keeping with his predilection for confounding public expectation the album dabbles in a wide range of styles and soundscapes. Spacey slow jams give way to aggressive guitar rock that leads seamlessly into shuddering club beats and soaring synth lines. Tying everything together are the heartfelt lyrical sentiments of a young artist interested in far more than getting his audience to "just dance."

Previously released videos can be seen here...
* Track appears on Special Affections

Links:

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FaviconFEEDER ANNOUNCE FACEBOOK FAN COMPETITION 3 Sep 2010, 2:51 pm

FEEDER have announced details of a competition on their Facebook Page. Fans are being given the chance to win a signed acoustic guitar, and the balaclava from the 'Renegades' video.

To be in with a chance of winning, fans are asked to upload a picture of themselves wearing a balaclava, tag it and post it on Feeder's profile. The winner will be picked by the band on October 1st.

Feeder's single ' Renegades' is out this week.

The band tour the UK in October:
21 October LEEDS, Metropolitan University
22 October GLASGOW, ABC
24 October MANCHESTER, Academy 2
25 October WOLVERHAMPTON, Wulfrun Hall
27 October BRISTOL, Academy
28 October LONDON, Shepherds Bush Empire
30 October OXFORD, Academy
31 October SOUTHAMPTON, University

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FaviconGrab RAC's New Holy Ghost! Remix at RCRD LBL 3 Sep 2010, 2:45 pm

Snag the Free RAC Remix of “Static on the Wire” over at RCRD LBL HERE!

Fresh off the heels of their North American tour with Chromeo, DFA’s critically acclaimed duo Holy Ghost! isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. They’re heading down to Australia later this month, but beforehand, we wanted to unveil the irresistible, dance-floor ready remix of “Static on the Wire” by RAC!

RCRD LBL premiered the remix earlier today, so be sure to head over there and grab the track- you won’t be disappointed! RAC, aka Andre Allen Anjos, is the founder and coordinator of Remix Artist Collective, known worldwide for their funk-heavy remixes of artists such as Phoenix, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kings of Leon, The Shins, and many more.

Holy Ghost! has had quite the year. The duo dropped their debut EP on May 18th via DFA Records, then took their live show out on the road with LCD Soundsystem, before heading overseas to hit the European festival circuit and then back home, zig-zagging across North America on tour with Chromeo.

Expect their debut full-length album in early 2011!

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FaviconCEREMONY SET TO PLAY F*CK YEAH FEST IN LOS ANGELES THIS WEEKEND 3 Sep 2010, 2:28 pm

Bay Area, CA's Ceremony just wrapped their US headlining tour a couple of weeks ago and are scheduled to make one more North American appearance before their upcoming European tour alongside Sabertooth Zombie in October. On Saturday, September 4th, Ceremony will share the stage with bands like The Rapture, Sleep, Unbroken and 7Seconds at Los Angeles's Fuck Yeah Fest. The festival will take place at Los Angeles State Historic Park and starts at 12:00pm EST. More information can be found at www.fyffest.com.

Ceremony's latest album, Rohnert Park, was released in June of 2010 to immense critical acclaim. SLUG called it "a powerful and amazing album", Lambgoat.com called it "one of 2010's more intriguing records" and Redefine coined it a "smarter album with a harder bite." Wherever you are across the globe, be sure to catch one of Ceremony's upcoming shows to see a performance from a band that has "...yet to be rivaled by any punk band in recent years" (Big Cheese).

CEREMONY - ON TOUR
Sep 04Ceremony Los Angeles, CA @ LA State Historic Park - FUCK YEAH FEST
Oct 01Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Berlin, Germany @ Cassiopeia
Oct 02Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Rosswein, Germany @ Juha
Oct 03Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Warsaw, Poland @ Radio Luxembourg
Oct 04Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Prague, Czech Republic @ .007
Oct 05Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Wien, Austria @ Shelter
Oct 06Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Wangen, Germany @ Tonne
Oct 07Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Parma, Italy @ Onirica
Oct 08Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Karlsruhe, Germany @ Die Stadtmitte
Oct 09Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Antwerpen, Belgium @ JH Kavka
Oct 10Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Mulheim, Germany @ AZ
Oct 11Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Gothenburg, Sweden @ Info Kommer Snart
Oct 12Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang
Oct 13Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Dynamo
Oct 14Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Leeds, United Kingdom @ The Well
Oct 15Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) London, United Kingdom @ Purple Turtle
Oct 16Ceremony London, United Kingdom @ University of London Student's Union
Oct 17Ceremony (w/ Sabertooth Zombie) Munster, Germany @ Stadtteilhaus Lorenz-Sud

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FaviconMackintosh Braun to Release "Where We Are" September 21 on Chop Shop Records 3 Sep 2010, 2:24 pm

Electronic-duo, Mackintosh Braun, will release their Chop Shop Records debut, Where We Are,on September 21. The Oregon-based group consisting of Ian Mackintosh and Ben Braun, conjure a cool intimacy which immediately sets them apart from their peers. The duo have created the kind of music one can break a sweat to on the dance floor with a new crush then play the next day to console yourself if they don’t call. Setting their sites on creating something exciting and innovating while still keeping it familiar for listeners, Mackintosh Braun have hit the nail on the head with Where We Are which gives the listener something to hold on to... giving them hope.

Grab their latest single, Could it Be, from Where We Are HERE.

Artist: Mackintosh Braun
Album: Where We Are
Label: Chop Shop Records
Release Date: September 21

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FaviconLA Times Praise Portico Quartet's new LP 'Isla' 3 Sep 2010, 2:21 pm

Portico Quartet's 'Isla' is out this week on Real World Records and earned a rave in the LA Times: Album review: Portico Quartet's 'Isla' | Pop & Hiss | Los Angeles Times

Giving the album 3/4 stars, critic Chris Barton writes that the Mercury Prize-nominated band is "blending an almost futuristically elegant sense of atmosphere with flashes of raw, flesh-and-blood expression.

Barton also praises Portico Quartet's use of the rare Hang drum, saying their "bewitching mix can sound like a noirish jungle cruise scored by Wayne Shorter and Steve Reich." For a taste, check out this video of the band performing "Line" at Abbey Road's legendary Studio Two, where they recorded 'Isla' with famed producer John Leckie (Radiohead, Stone Roses): YouTube - Portico Quartet Line

Don't forget the band is making their North American debut on tour this September and will be in NYC Sept. 28 and 29. See below for full dates.

PORTICO QUARTET US TOUR DATES
Sept 22 - Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
Sept 24 - Cedar Rapids, IA @ CSPS
Sept 25 - Chicago, IL @ World Music Festival
Sept 27 - Kent, OH @ Kent Stage
Sept 28 - New York, NY @ Joe's Pub
Sept 29 - Brooklyn, NY @ Coco 66
Sept 30 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
Oct 1 - Cambridge, MA - Lily Pad
Oct 2 - Montreal, QC - L'Astral

Portico Quartet on the Web:

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FaviconINTERCEPT Prepares September 14th Release For Their New Full-Length Album 3 Sep 2010, 2:19 pm

INTERCEPT is not just a fitting moniker for the Los Angeles outfit whose sonic landscape meets in the middle of rock and folk-tinged indie-pop. It’s also descriptive of a band in the right place at the right time, anticipating the September 14 release of their third full-length album SYMPHONY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

At a time when artists are enjoying unprecedented access to fans—but having trouble finding a way to turn it into gas money—Intercept is carefully navigating the new market.

"The industry hasn't changed as much as people think," notes frontman Christian Knudsen. "Songs are still the focus. You have to work to develop great material. But you must also match that with finding incredible people to work with and treat them professionally."

With this philosophy, Intercept has cultivated opportunities for themselves with pure hard work and tenacity. Enlisting the likes of producer Erik Ron (Panic At The Disco, VersaEmerge, Foxy Shazam), Capitol Mastering, and the digital distribution arm of Universal, the band has Symphony For Somebody Else as the record of their lives. Drawing from a range of stylistic inspiration, the album’s 10 tracks span brooding modern rock and folk-tinged indie-pop, shaped by diverse musical elements.

"It's easier to get heard today," adds lead guitarist Jeff Knudsen, "but that means you have to do more legwork, pounding the pavement. Finding people who believe in your music, following through on every little opportunity, and investing your life in the band – these are the critical things that must be taken seriously."

For Intercept, that approach is working. The band’s previous releases (2005’s Yellow Dog and 2009’s Magnolia Road) have delivered chart-topping singles at college radio, placements in television and live dates throughout the US, building the band a consistently growing fan following.

The September 14 release of Symphony For Somebody Else will return INTERCEPT to the surface with their most dynamic material to date, ready to take aim at the world.

Symphony For Somebody Else will be available at digital retailers everywhere.

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FaviconIPSISSIMUS signs worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records 3 Sep 2010, 2:16 pm

Metal Blade Records is pleased to announce the signing of New Haven, CT black metal band IPSISSIMUS. The band inked a worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records and will be entering Sonic Environments studio in Bloomfield, CT to record their first full-length album and Metal Blade debut. Longtime friend of His Emissary, Jeff Weed, is not only the owner of Sonic Environments studio but has also stepped in as the band's "sonic alchemist" (aka engineer/producer). IPSISSIMUS began recording in June 2010 and are taking a short break before returning to Sonic Environments studio in early September to finish the record. Their feature full-length will include the band's EP Three Secrets of Fatima along with three new songs.

IPSISSIMUS drummer Haimatokharmes comments; "Metal Blade is a label that has been home to artists brutal, technical, filthy, blasting, wildly successful, and, most importantly, unique. Ipsissimus is very proud to join this family, and looks forward to adoring the Goat with them by producing ritual black metal that is truly ipsissima!"

"A 3 piece black metal symphony that is at the forefront of the American Black Metal movement… IPSISSIMUS is technical yet punishing, perfect for Metal Blade Records and fans of our brand of metal," adds Michael Faley, President of Metal Blade Records.

IPSISSIMUS has a handful of upcoming one-off shows that sees the band sharing the stage with the likes of The Absence, Skeletonwitch, Withered, Landmine Marathon, Unearthly Trance, Black Pyramid, Suma, and more. See dates below.



  • Sept 28th is the Black Anvil CD release at the Studio @ Webster Hall in NYC with The Absence
  • Sept 30th is "Metal Thursday CV" @ Ralph's Chadwick Square Rock Diner in Worcester with Unearthly Trance, Suma (from Sweden) and Black Pyramid
  • Oct 21st, "Born of Fire" presents Ipsissimus and Nachzehrer along with a screening of the cult classic "Alucarda" @ O'Brien's in Allston, MA
  • October 30th @ Club Oasis in Worcester with Scaphism, Despoilment, Wreckoning, Sarcomancy and Deconformity
  • November 28th @ Lilly's Pad (Toad's Place upstairs) in New Haven with Skeletonwitch, Withered and Landmine Marathon

IPSISSIMUS is:
Tichondrius: Bass / Vocals
Haimatokharmes: Drums
His Emissary: Guitar

About the band:
IPSISSIMUS was founded when His Emissary (guitars) and Haimatokharmes (drums) met by providence on 6/6/06 in New Haven, CT, and found in one another worthy vessels of channeling the occult philosophies into ritual Black Metal. In November of that year, Tichondrius (bass/vocals) completed the trinity. Within a month they were playing concerts and released the demo Trampling the Host, a potent exercise in raw, blasting Black Metal. Over the following years, they established a reputation across New England for technical yet raw live performances, sharing the stage with both local and established Black Metal groups, such as Nachtmystium, Enslaved, Dark Funeral, Krallice, and Watain. In February 2008, IPSISSIMUS independently released the Three Secrets of Fatima EP, a complex and melodic triptych that thrust them to the forefront of the burgeoning American Black Metal scene. In June, IPSISSIMUS played the Three Secrets of Fatima EP start to finish to a very enthusiastic crowd when the band opened up for legendary EYEHATEGOD and Nachtmystium. Matching their music to orations of black piety that draw from esoteric traditions antique and modern, often composed in the dead tongues of the ancients themselves, IPSISSIMUS initiates the listener to a Left-Hand Gnosis with a unique and irrefutable statement of American Black Metal.

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FaviconDEFEATER BEGINS RECORDING THEIR SECOND FULL-LENGTH ALBUM 3 Sep 2010, 2:14 pm

Massachusetts-based Defeater has been making waves in the heavy music scene since their inception in 2007. The band, known for their narrative writing style and avant-garde take on hardcore, began the recording process last week for their second full-length album. This new album (title TBA) will follow the same conceptual format as their prior releases, 2008’s Travels and 2009’s Lost Ground EP, and will be another musically precise album that will redefine the term “forward-thinking music”. Vocalist Derek Archambault said, “While I can’t give up all of the details on the storyline quite yet, let’s just say that this new album will incorporate themes and characters that the listener has been introduced to already, in addition to bringing some new stuff into the mix. The writing process thus far has been very personally gratifying and I can’t wait to have another chapter of Defeater’s story out for the world to hear.”

The band will spend the next month holed up at Getaway Recording Studio in Wakefield, MA, interestingly enough with their guitarist, Jay Maas, at the helm recording/producing. Maas owns and operates that studio, and has recorded bands like Bane, Cruel Hand, Soul Control and many others there. Maas commented, “The scope of this record is likely the biggest undertaking I’ve done for any band I’ve engineered. The combination of being in Defeater and recording Defeater is great – I feel like my talents as an engineer have developed to a very professional place, as have my skills as a songwriter.” Musically, Defeater’s new material will “…sound like Defeater. Like Lost Ground, we don’t want to be afraid of trying something new and writing something that ‘doesn’t sound like us’”, said Maas. Archaumbault continued, “Having Jay on board working on the record in addition to being in the band is great and gives us creative control over all facets of the record from start to finish. I’m already really happy with where we are at thus far in the writing and recording process and I can’t wait to announce the surprises we have in store for this album.”

With two releases already under their belt and tours across the globe with bands like Polar Bear Club, Comeback Kid and Make Do and Mend, 2011 is sure to be the biggest and best year in Defeater’s career thus far. And while something called "a new artistic peak for hardcore” (Punknews.org) and “the perfect definition of modern hardcore” (Lambgoat.com) will be hard to top, this second full-length effort is sure to do it. Look for this yet-to-be-titled album to hit shelves in early 2011 and stay tuned for upcoming tour announcements for Defeater in North America and abroad.

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FaviconRun Away With Runner Runner 3 Sep 2010, 2:07 pm

Runner Runner is on the run this fall with a packed schedule of star-studded events. Hoping to share in some of the fun, the band has decided to give one lucky fan the chance to “Run Away” for a day to New York City to watch the band perform their single "So Obvious" live on The Late Show with David Letterman on September 29th. The winning fan will also be treated to an intimate dinner with the band! Enter now for a chance to win!

Runner Runner has also just announced they will be performing live in-front of nearly 70,000 people as they rock the half time show at the New England Patriots season opener at Gillette Stadium on September 12th.

Keep up with Runner Runner on their Facebook page and check the latest news and tourdates on www.runnerrunnermusic.com. Runner Runner’s debut album hits stores this fall and features the single, "So Obvious" which is available now on iTunes!

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FaviconDr Martens 50th - The Ravonettes Cover The Stone Roses' 'I Wanna Be Adored' 3 Sep 2010, 2:02 pm

Dr Martens 50th Anniversary is now on release 8 of 10 contemporary re-workings of cult classics. This month The Ravonettes re-work The Stone Roses’ ‘I Wanna Be Adored’, joining a calogue that includes remixes by Dam Funk, Buraka Som Sistema, The Duke Spirit and Cinematic Orchestra amongst others.

At the Dr Martens 50th Anniversary Site you can find a video of the specially created video – directed by Cass Bird & Molly Schiot, and a link to download the track. Please feel free to embed the youtube and link to the track to download, pointing people in the direction of the Dr Martens 50 website.



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FaviconDRAGONFORCE: LIVE VERSION OF ‘STRIKE OF THE NINJA’ CONFIRMED FOR SINGLE RELEASE 3 Sep 2010, 1:21 pm

DRAGONFORCE, the stellar musicians whose latest ‘Ultra Beatdown’ release charted strongly all over the world, will release a new digital single – a live version of ‘Strike of the Ninja’ – on September 13th via Spinefarm Records UK.

Taken from the double live album ‘Twilight Dementia’, also scheduled for release on September 13th, also on the Spinefarm UK label, this adrenalized version of the song was recorded on the band’s last run of UK dates, with regular producer Karl Groom overseeing the recording & mixing along with DRAGONFORCE guitarists Herman Li & Sam Totman.

One of 13 tracks set to feature on the album, ‘Strike of the Ninja’ showcases the musicians at their shredding, pounding, pumped-up best, all soaring vocals & advanced guitar pyrotechnics.

Says Herman Li:

Quote:

“These recordings really capture the raw sonic energy of a Dragonforce show in fine detail. It is so real that you can hear the noise of the crowd and experience the show as it was that night – you can even hear the guitar pedals being stepped on!”
The original studio version of ‘Strike of the Ninja’ (the shortest song recorded by the band!) first appeared as a bonus track on the Special Edition of the aforementioned ‘Ultra Beatdown’.

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FaviconNEVER SHOUT NEVER TO PERFORM ON NBC’S LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON TONIGHT 3 Sep 2010, 1:13 pm

WHEN: September 3, 2010
TIME: 12:35am
WHERE: on NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon tonight.
WHAT: Fronted by 19-year-old singer-songwriter and guitarist Christofer Drew, Never Shout Never released its new album Harmony last week and earned its highest chart positions yet with a No. 4 debut on the Digital Albums chart and a No. 14 bow on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.

The band will hit the road for a fall headlining tour with The Maine beginning October 19th in Seattle and criss-crossing the U.S. before winding up on November 27th in Chicago.

Photo Credit: Nick Spanos

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FaviconKitsunetsuki single out on monday 6th September 3 Sep 2010, 1:05 pm

Kitsunetsuki’s debut single Doll to Doll is due to hit us with a dark and brooding bang on the 6th of September. Released digitally on UK label EightK72, Doll to Doll is one of those tracks that smacks you between the eyes with bizarre noises, urgent, dissonant guitars, driving drum rolls and vocals that are sultry yet ferocious at the same time.

The band formed with the name Kitsune a few years ago in Treviso, North East Italy by Silvia Marton (voice), Marco Fontolan (guitar) and Riccardo Gargano (drums). After a run of gigs, demos and tweeks to the line up, the band found their musical direction in a mixture of post punk, pop and Shoegaze. These three musicians formed the core of the band with a mutual appreciation of legendary bands such as The Cure, Sonic Youth, Cocteau Twins, Jesus and The Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. Next came Lorenzo Monni (guitar) and Alessandro Pereni (bass) and the line up as we now know it was complete.

They managed to attract the attention of radio stations across Europe, The USA and Australia and gained support slots with established acts such as Ladytron and Cranes. Add signing to UK record label EightK72 and a slight name change to Kitsunetsuki (Japanese for ‘the state of being possessed by a fox) and we are pretty much up to date.

The future certainly looks bright with UK shows to be announced and the release of their debut album, Kitsunetsuki is definitely a name to remember.

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FaviconThe Lowdown: Ten Kens 3 Sep 2010, 12:58 pm

Who are Ten Kens I hear you ask? Well, let me take the greatest pleasure and tell you. The Canadian foursome consists of Dan Workman, Brett Paulin, Sully Sullivan, Ryan Roantree, working together in harmony, creating some immense tunes in the concrete jungle of Toronto. With their second album out now on FatCat records, and touring hard around the many beautiful cities of Canada, Ten Kens are working extremely hard, and playing even harder whilst doing what they love best. Their attitude and sense of humour is captivating to say the least, proving that they have the best outlook and approach towards the music industry. Although disappointingly none of the lads are called Ken, they make up for it with their musical talent, creativity and fantastic wit. Well, don’t take my word for it, read on for yourselves and learn about the coolest thing to come out of Canada since maple syrup.


AltSounds: Where did the name Ten Kens come from?
Dan: Normally I'd brush aside this question and keep the mystery alive...but I'm in a unusual mood today and feel like offering a loose and ever-so-cryptic explanation. The name is a tongue-in-cheek anti-image statement of sorts. We are neither trendy nor cool, post or prog, in or out...if you can spare us the labels, we'll spare you the disappointment. We choose to be defined solely by the music we make...anything else is just perception and projection, and that's entirely on you. We knew what we didn't want to be, before we knew what we wanted to be. We're sitting at the back of the class, but we've chosen to be there. Either that, or we just thought it sounded kinda cool.

AltSounds: Are any of you called Ken?
Dan: Sadly no. That would be a tad too literal...and Ten Dans just sounded stupid.

AltSounds: Your debut album is set to be released on September 6th, what can fans expect to hear from it?
Dan: To quote an early review of the record, "This second album from the Toronto four piece is a bizarre mix of psychedelia, hardcore punk, lo-fi goth and drone. Think Fugazi meets The Horrors to cover bits of The Beatles White Album." I think that about covers it. We wanted to create a well crafted, mature bit of 90's experimental alt-rock, throw it in a blender, and add a dash of psychedelia to smooth it all out. I think we came pretty damn close.

AltSounds: You’ve taken your time to record the new album, why did you guys decide to take such a long break to concentrate on the new record?
Dan: Several reasons. Some band members left and some new ones came on board...that transition always takes time. We also acquired a new N.American label (Last Gang Records) in addition to Fat Cat, so we had to get everyone up-to-speed and make sure things were co-ordinated. But mostly, we just took our time crafting the new songs. We had a distinct vision for this record and needed a healthy amount of studio time to see that vision through. Before we knew it, two years had gone by. It was a necessary break, but too long, we don't plan on taking that much time off again.

AltSounds: What was your favourite recording snack?
Dan: Stella Artois and Jameson.



AltSounds: What’s the best thing about Ten Kens?
Dan: Our drive and shared affinity for music. It keeps us alive, it keeps us close, and it keeps us creative.

AltSounds: So you guys are from Toronto, does it wind you up when people mistake you for Americans?
Dan: Not at all. We never forget where we come from.

AltSounds: You have a US and European tour coming up, when can your UK fans expect to see you on their soil?
Dan: We're working on it....soon, very soon.

AltSounds: What bands are you obsessed with at the moment?
Dan: Totally obsessed with Tobacco's Maniac Meat, the Black Moth Super Rainbow alternate project. It's one of my favorite records of 2010, thus far. It's as cool as it is weird, they've crafted such a distinct sound all their own. I keep it on constant repeat. Also giving the Liars Sisterworld a very unhealthy amount of listens...my affection for that band runs deep.



AltSounds: Who’s roaming around the charts that you absolutely can’t stand?
Dan: Ha. I hate to speak out against any artist...after all, who am I to question anyone's artistic vision. However, I feel pretty safe in saying that the world just might be a better place if Justin Bieber took a little break...forever.

AltSounds: Have you been to many festivals over the summer?
Dan: Not one...the festival circuit in Canada isn't like it is in the UK, which isn't to say we don't have a few choice events to chose from. However, we've got three great festivals still to come, one in Montreal, one in Toronto, and one in Halifax...and we'll be playing all of them.

AltSounds: What did you spend your summer doing?
Dan: Writing new material, prepping for our release, and playing a plethora of live shows.

AltSounds: Other than being Ten Kens, what do you guys get up to?
Dan: Ten Kens all day, every day.

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FaviconDarwin Deez | Announces re-release of 'Constellations' on October 18th 3 Sep 2010, 12:58 pm

When “Constellations” was given a limited, UK only release, in December of last year, Darwin Deez was just starting to make a name for himself as a purveyor of sweetly cracked, heartfelt, perfect pop songs. His performances at New York’s CMJ Festival had created a buzz, he was hotly tipped by the NME, and there were promising signs that here was a truly unique artist in the making.

Fast forward just 9 months and he is not only fulfilling his early supporter’s expectations, he is far exceeding them. From packing out each and every venue he has played across the country with his refreshingly unique live show; to becoming a must-see highlight of nearly all of this year’s summer festivals; to the singles “Radar Detector” and “Up in the Clouds” achieving playlist additions on Radio One, 6Music and XFM; to the ardent and continued press support from the NME, it is now clear that Darwin Deez is becoming that rare thing in this day and age – a bona fide, larger than life pop star.

“Constellations” is a nigh-on untouchable mini-pop classic that cribs the opening lines from “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and comes equipped with handclaps and effortlessly infectious melodies that belie a darker, more poignant undertow, as epitomised when Deez wonders “if freckles don’t mean anything, does anything mean anything?” Consider it part of the power of Darwin Deez – just as he reels you in with his offbeat insouciance and killer tunes, he also delivers an affecting, emotional blow.

TRACKLISTING
  1. Constellations
  2. The Coma Song
OCTOBER UK TOUR
Oct 12: Academy 3, Manchester (Age 14+)
Oct 13: Other Rooms, Newcastle (Age 16+)
Oct 14: King Tut’s, Glasgow (Age 14+)
Oct 15: Cockpit, Leeds (14+)
Oct 16: Bodega, Nottingham (Age 14+)
Oct 19: Thekla, Bristol (Age 14+)
Oct 20: Cavern, Exeter (Age 16+)
Oct 21: Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth (Age 14+)
Oct 22: Digital, Brighton (Age 16+)
Oct 23: Jericho, Oxford (Age 18+)
Oct 24: Arts Centre, Norwich (Age 14+)
Oct 26: Scala, London (Age 16+)
Oct 27: Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
Oct 28: Kasbah, Coventry (Age 14+)
Oct 30: Plug, Sheffield (Age 14+)

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FaviconBlink 182, Leeds Festival [Live] 3 Sep 2010, 11:09 am

After 4 years, Blink 182 finally returned to the stage in 2009, much to the joy of millions of fans worldwide, me being one of them. Growing up I listened to Blink 182 a lot, I regard ‘All The Small Things’ as a song of my childhood, my first band even covered it... Badly. So when Blink 182 finally came over to the UK for the Leeds Festival I made sure I had a ticket to see a band which I thought I would never get to see play live.

As Paramore left the stage at Leeds I found myself trapped in a vortex of 13-15 year old kids still screaming “WOAH,” which was all too annoying to say the least. I fought my way back to get a better view of the stage, which took all my power to overcome the army of scousers that surrounded the entire festival. Then the lights went down, the opening riff to ‘Dumpweed’ rang throughout the Festival and the crowd erupted into a mad frenzy as Mark, Tom and Travis appeared on the two giant screens either side of the stage. But as I feared, Tom DeLonge sang with his ‘Angels & Airwaves’ voice, which I’m guessing disappointed a few fans, as it did me. But what Tom lacked in the vocal department he made up for in the jokes department. He was the same old Tom inside, telling jokes about his dad, his penis, Marks’ penis... penis’ in general really. Tom was also “fucking up” on guitar quite a lot too, which would annoy most people, but I think the only person it annoyed was Tom himself, as he shouted “Shit I fucked up again, what the fuck is wrong with me?” When Blink 182 kicked into the infamous ‘All The Small Things’ the thousands of voices singing in unison must have been heard all across Leeds. “We’d like to thank that band Jedward for letting us cover their song tonight” Mark said at the end of the song, which were following by a shit load of boo’s, much to my amusement.



Blink 182 played all their classic tracks like ‘What’s My Age Again?,’ ‘The Rock Show,’ Man Overboard’ and ‘Stay Together For The Kids.’ The one song I noticed they left out was ‘Adams Song,’ I believe the reason they did so was because it was the anniversary of DJ AM’s death. Travis wore an ‘RIP DJ AM’ shirt onstage to pay tribute.

After playing ‘Anthem Part Two’ Mark told the crowd he’ll “See them in a couple of minutes,” for the inevitable encore. For what I expected them to come out with for the encore, 'Dammit,' I was surprised as my ears were greeted with a DJ Remix and Travis Barker playing drums aloft a moving platform! He’d go back and forth, then he’d lean forward slightly, then the music kicked in and he was playing as the platform was doing 360 turns! As I look round the crowd loads of people are mesmerised by this show of both talent and bravery. As his drumkit returns to the ground we see Mark and Tom once again and Mark kicks into ‘Carousel’. For such an old Blink 182 song it holds so much power over the fans. “I guess it’s just another night alone” the last words of ‘Carousel’ ring out and Tom kicks into ‘Dammit.’ The crowd were sent into yet another mad frenzy as the Blink 182 classic was echoing throughout the crowd. Once ‘Dammit’ finished and Blink 182 were saying their goodbyes, Tom started singing, “shit piss fuck cunt cocksucker motherfucker tits fart turd and twat”. I never thought I would hear ‘Family Reunion’ live ever in my lifetime. Such a crude song, but it’s done so well when a band like Blink 182 writes it. And with that Blink 182 left the stage.



For me seeing Blink 182 live was an unforgettable experience, growing up listening to bands and then seeing them break up is always disappointing. You think you’ll never see them live in your lifetime, so the day that they reform you feel like you can now die happy. That’s exactly how I feel right now!

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Faviconfun. - All the Pretty Girls [Single] 2 Sep 2010, 8:47 pm

fun., and their infuriating full-stop, are a collaborative ‘super-group’ (and I use that term very loosely, because this certainly isn’t Cream 2.0) made up of ex-Anathallo multi-instrumentalist genius Andrew Dost, guitarist Jack Antonoff (ex-Steel Train), and lead singer Nate Ruess from the little indie band that could, The Format. After The Format broke up, Ruess upped sticks from his hometown of Arizona to move to the big apple with this new musical concoction, and “All the Pretty Girls” is the second single from their hotly anticipated new début album Aim and Ignite.


The track glows with the obvious cheery discovery of new found life in a bustling, exciting city, with all three musicians providing equally focused and complex momentum. It has a limber, jubilant manner that’s as sickly as drinking melted butter from a cocktail glass. I mean that in the nicest possible way of course; it’s an un-traversable observation and not a criticism. Starting with the Beach Boys-style “Fun, Fun, Fun” close-knit harmonies, and a sweeping string arrangement that hits the jangly, enthusiastic part of the brain with fearless and calculated aplomb, it leaves no room for indifferent doubt. Only in hindsight, after the track’s rich swathes have washed over you, does the listener ask “doesn’t this sound a bit like The Hoosiers? Or, even worse, TV on the Radio?! Curses!”, and then feel a little embarrassed by being swept up by its slightly overstated kitsch-en sink production.

After all, it’s nothing new or original, but its tonally quaint mannerisms are all part of its charm: it’s not as vapid as those aforementioned shitehawk bands, and it certainly has an affecting jubilation that could be lovingly spoon-fed to a depressed loved one. Ruess is a fine singer, and the consummate musicianship that backs him is unerringly solid, with his athletic voice cartwheeling lyrics such as ‘And then this one doesn’t want to admit she’s fallen in love / Oh c’mon, oh c’mon, what’s a boy to do / When all the pretty girls can’t measure to you?’ with a harmless, avuncular wit. Imagine it being played loudly by a group of girls driving a bright pink Mini down Rodeo Drive, while singing it in all their harpy glory and you’ll understand what I mean. It has a purely pop patter to it, which I would view with disdain if it wasn’t so annoyingly catchy. Curses again!


The vocal harmonies have a bewitchingly opulent Hall and Oates feel to them and, curiously enough, also echo the multi-tracked, layered production on Def Leppard’s classic 1987 “Hysteria” album (in particular, “Love Bites” and “Gods of War”). What comes next is the real kicker: a guitar solo scandalously copied and pasted from Brian May’s own right hand. Its sheer cheek makes it all the more hilarious, and I’m loathed to admit that I’m left a little bedazzled, having been top-trumped by its feel-good cheese. It’s throwaway in a non-offensive way, and kinda fun too. Who woulda thunked it, eh?


Links:

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FaviconHeavy Hawaii Announce 12" Vinyl Record; Drop Single For Free Online 2 Sep 2010, 7:20 pm

Art Fag Recordings presents the latest release from San Diego's beach-pop outfit Heavy Hawaii. Limited to 500 12" colored vinyl records, HH will beavailable on September 28th. To inaugurate the release, Heavy Hawaii are making the first single "Teen Angel" available for free online. Check it here.

The vinyl version of the record features the six original songs while the digital version features the tracks as well as the early demo versions.

It's safe to say that ever since 1968, when Dennis Wilson invited Charles Manson in as an extended houseguest, it's been common knowledge that summery, shimmery surf-pop is firmly in possession of a dark side. It should therefore come as no surprise that Heavy Hawaii, a San Diego based band currently surfing the sonic wave, are still exploring the murky, slightly sinister side of the genre. The band brings their signature lazy hazy day on the sidewalk next to the beach sound to their upcoming 12" release on Art Fag Recordings, presenting eleven tracks swirling with atmosphere and featuring harmonies that would make Gidget swoon and then promptly spike the lemonade.

The records first single, "Teen Angel," is a haunting, organ driven track that sounds like clapping along to a teenage tragedy, letterman jackets ripped and lying at the side of the road. The melodies are woozy and the vocals just a little far away, with harmonies like dream sequence fuzz around the edges. It's a song that would be right at home on the soundtrack to Grease, if Sandy and Danny were zombies with a mild dependence on prescription narcotics. The rest of the record's tracks follow in this vein-slightly sedated, sepia-toned flights through the June gloom. Glittering like heat off the parking lot in July, tracks like "Better" and "Sleeping Bag" shimmy and sway in the nether regions between innocent love songs and lethargic odes to teenage ennui, Heavy Hawaii's perfect limbo.

The foursome, led by the aptly named Matt Bahamas (guitar, keyboards and lead vocals), and rounded out by the also aptly named Jojo Keylargo (guitar, keyboards and backup vocals), Mikey Peterson (keyboards, drums), and Derek Butler (bass, backup vocals), formed in 2009 and have since played with the likes of Abe Vigoda and The Strange Boys, in addition to recording tracks which will soon find homes on such labels as Vivian Girls' Wild World and Bathetic Records.
With a modern sensibility colored in the shadowy, muddy waters of grungy garage pop, and a reverence for the simple, nearly naïve brightness of the golden age of surf songs and beach bunnies, Heavy Hawaii make nuanced, multi-faceted music for people prone to looking at the sun until they have to rub the spots from their eyes, and then returning to look even longer.

Tracklisting:
01. Sleeping Bag
02. Better
03. Beacons
04. Suicide Summer
05. Philly Games
06. Teen Angel
07. Better Early Version*
08. Beacons Early Version*
09. Suicide Summer Early Version*
10. Philly Games Early Version*
11. Teen Angel Early Version*
*Digital version only

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FaviconFrench Horn Rebellion remix OMD 2 Sep 2010, 7:14 pm

French Horn Rebellion have remixed them electronic legends OMD. It's quite spesh and can be checked out below. You can also get a special edit of 'Brasilia Girl' from their forthcoming album (The Infinite Music of French Horn Rebellion) by clicking the link below.

You can catch FHR playing a special warm up show at CAMP in East London on Thursday 9th September before they bring their madness to the Rock n Roll stage at 6.45pm Bestival on Saturday 11th September. Dates outside of London will be on their Myspace.

Links:

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FaviconKASSIDY ANNOUNCE HEADLINE UK TOUR THIS OCTOBER 2 Sep 2010, 7:08 pm

Kassidy will embark on their debut headline UK tour this October taking in venues from Stornoway to London.

The Glaswegian bands’ unique sound is created with just four acoustic guitars and has led to packed festival appearances and critical acclaim from the press. This summer has seen the four piece play several festivals including Latitude, a storming T In The Park set and they still have Reading / Leeds and Bestival to come.

Their EP, “The Rubbergum EP Volume 2” is out now and includes the haunting lead track, “Take Another Ride.”

Full tour dates are:
05/10/10 – Doghouse, Dundee
06/10/10 – Café Drummond, Aberdeen
07/10/10 – Twa Tams, Perth
08/10/10 – Roadhouse, Manchester
10/10/10 – Cockpit, Leeds
11/10/10 – Cooler, Bristol
13/10/10 – Borderline, London
14/10/10 – QMU, Glasgow
16/10/10 – Woodlands, Stornaway
17/10/10 – Bogbain Farm, Inverness

Links:

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FaviconThe return of Ruby Coast 2 Sep 2010, 7:03 pm

The last time the world heard from Aurora ON's Ruby Coast, it was amidst a whirlwind of commotion caused by their 2008 self-released EP Projectable Collections. What followed the release for the then-teenagers was a landmark 2009: an Eastern Canada jaunt supporting Passion Pit, a 30-date US tour with Tokyo Police Club and Ra Ra Riot, dates at SXSW, NXNE and Halifax Pop Explosion. Naturally, a whole truckload of buzz and interest from major North American indie labels followed. Rather than marrying any of the first few suitors through the door, Ruby Coast exercised patience and strategy wise beyond their years, opting instead to get hard at work writing and preparing their first full-length - a gem to pry open any label door. In spring 2010, Ruby Coast entered Montreal's famed Hotel2Tango studio and, under the guidance of producer super-duo Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, Basia Bulat) and Brian Paulson (Wilco, Dinosaur Jr, Beck), Ruby Coast laid down a record that promises to be worth the wait to 2011.

Ruby Coast re-enter the frame with unbridled enthusiasm in the form of two brand new songs from the upcoming album, two new videos, and a whack load of North American tour dates - over a full year since their last tour. The tour runs the gamut across eastern Canada and the States, hitting frosh week shows, Pop Montreal, and Northern US dates, before wrapping up at CMJ in New York City.

The bulk of the band’s US dates are in support of D.C./Philadelphia buzz band Jukebox the Ghost’s album release tour. Jukebox the Ghost invited Ruby Coast to join the dates, including their hometown Release Party on October 16, as fans of the band’s 2008 EP.

Two new songs from the forthcoming album, “Whatever This Is” and “Creep Me Out”, are available for free download across the web and both tracks give a direct insight into the band's direction and commitment to a well-crafted pop song.

While the latter is a barely-two-minute-banger with a relentless upbeat rhythm and enough hand-claps to get you on your dancing feet, its 'Whatever This Is” that offers true insight into the band's new material – expressive lyrics and casual melody over top of a growing swirl of minimal-turned-manic guitars, horns, keys, bass and drums.

Consider this a sneak peak at what's to come - a mere appetizer to a 5-course meal, due out in 2011.

RUBY COAST FALL TOUR 2010
Sept. 09: North Bay, ON @ Nipissing University
Sept. 11: Thunder Bay, ON @ Lakehead U
Sept. 18: Newmarket, ON @ Studio Five Salon (free)
Sept. 24: Toronto, ON @ Unit C
Oct. 01: Ottawa, ON @ Cafe Nostalgica (free)
Oct. 02: Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus (Pop MTL)
Oct. 08: London, ON @ Alex P Keaton
Oct. 09: Sarnia, ON @ Trinity Lounge
Oct. 11: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
Oct. 12: Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club *
Oct. 13: Chicago, IL @ Schuba's *
Oct. 14: Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio *
Oct. 15: Pittsburgh, PA@ The Brillobox *
Oct. 16: Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
Oct. 17: New York City, NY @ Piano's
Oct. 20-23: New York City, NY - CMJ
* = with Jukebox the Ghost

More dates still to be added! make sure you Ruby Coast myspace for updates!

Ruby Coast:Videos:
Whatever This Is
Creep Me Out

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FaviconOholics: Psyched-Out Swedes Soar On Graceful LP Disgraceland 2 Sep 2010, 6:55 pm

Despite the title, Swedish Soundtrack Of Our Lives disciples Oholics exhibit plenty of grace on the soaring, psych-twinged Disgraceland,which saw its US release on August 24th. Fusing the rawboned intensity of early Stones with a grab bag of Barrett-era Floyd theatrics, the Gothenburg six-piece create lush and experimental pop across eleven gorgeous tracks on their self-released debut. Produced by Soundtrack braintrust Ebbot Lundberg, the album also calls to mind contemporaries like the debonair downtowners The Strokes and the reinvigorated Scots of Primal Scream.

With a dizzying array of instrumentation that includes everything from a space box and sitar to trusty keys and six-strings, Oholics impress on tracks like the woozy, laser light show of "Lose It," available for download below. And with slack-jawed raves already pouring in about their recent NXNE stint, these guys are exactly one world tour away from what the Metro in Sweden already predicts: "world domination."

MP3: LOSE IT

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FaviconIN THE WOODS 2010 - it actually exists ........ 2 Sep 2010, 6:52 pm

......... you may have heard rumors of a secret DIY festival set in a forest called - In the Woods. Well, it actually exists......

This year Laurel Collective, the band responsible for putting it together, have decided to announce the date and line-up to the public just days before the event. (Until now this has purely been a word of mouth thing. It still very much is!)

The address however will remain secret for those who purchase a ticket for reasons they will explain in thier blog. They have been shut down by the police in the past but it's all 100% legal (this is not an illegal rave!) It's just not nice when you've spent so much work (months) of preparations to set it up only for it all to fall to pieces. The Laurel Collective - do it all by themselves with help from friends - in charge of bringing lots of interesting art and installations to the site.

Last year, bands like the Invisible (mercury prize nominees) and Micachu said it was the best festival in the UK - with nothing but good music and a magical atmosphere. This year Late of the Pier will be headlining with a DJ set and bands such as critically acclaimed Erol Alkan signing Connan Mockasin, Anna Calvi recent signing to Domino who has just announced a tour with Grinderman and Lulu and the lampshades will be amongst the line-up of new up and coming artists.

There's no big, horrible O2 or Carling sponsors all over the place - or nasty food stalls ripping you off - its just a bunch of very talented bands and festival goers in the middle of some very beautiful woods. Read on to find out when, the full line-up and how to get involved - and catch some documentary footage from last years festivities.

ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO KNOW IS RIGHT HERE IN THIS BLOG:

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FaviconHurts - Wonderful Life [Single] 2 Sep 2010, 6:31 pm

Bloody hell this 80's revival is going further and deeper than we had all initially anticipated it would. Not only is the fashion becoming more deeply rooted in the 80's so are the bands and the songs being released (although the ones with short attention spans have already moved on to the 90s!) It was weird for me then, when I came across Hurts which both from an imagery and melodic perspective are reminiscent and potentially trying to take off where Bros left off, albeit with a few additional synths thrown in for good measure.

Now this is where I wreck my reputation and admit to liking Bros when I was 8. I also really wanted a quiff like they did and some union jack boxer shorts! As such, I was already open to the sound of Hurts a little bit more than others might be. Either way you can't really fault this song. It isn't ground-breaking by any means but it is a good example of pop music done well. Sure the lyrics aren't the greatest and are slightly over optimistic (although I have a feeling they are meant ironically), but the chorus is good and will rattle around in your brain for quite a few hours after you have finished listening to it.



'Wonderful Life' has done enough to make me want to hear more from Hurts however, like the decade that these guys so wish they were from I have a feeling that Hurts might just be another one hit wonder. If I cross paths with the album I will give it a spin but I won't be saving my pocket money and going to buy this next month after I have managed to save up enough pounds. Oh wait, I'm not 8 and this isn't the 80s.

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FaviconSoundgarden - Black Rain [Single] 2 Sep 2010, 6:09 pm

After pretty much wrecking his career by selling his soul and doing an album with Timbaland, Chris Cornell has A LOT of fans to answer to. How did someone that was one of the kings of the 90s grunge movement believe that he could hire Timbaland and become the next Justin Timberlake? I mean, when I heard about Scream I was hoping that both Cornell and Timbaland would surprise me and outdo themselves with something truly revolutionary but they didn't and that sack of shit of an album (Scream) can remain in the bargain basement bucket of second hand record stores as far as I am concerned.

It was with great fear then when I heard that Soundgarden were releasing a brand new single after many years apart. Could Cornell forget about his popstar failure, retire his Audioslave mindset and re-gain his grunge crown? Or was this also going to flop wildly? Then, after a little research I realized that 'Black Rain' was, in fact, not a new song at all, just previously un-released and is an upcoming single that will accompany their greatest hits album release Telephantasm – A Retrospective on September 28th.



Cornell's vocal chords appear to be on top form and the song itself is pretty good although it doesn't really feel like a single; I mean if it was previously unreleased, what makes it good enough to be a single all of a sudden? 'Black Rain' revolves around a monotonous riff which after a while kind of outstays it's welcome and weirdly sounds very reminiscent of Audioslave in its riff rock elements although Audioslave were still ten years away from being born when this was recorded. 'Black Rain' is nothing revolutionary but does get you in the mood for the upcoming greatest hits album. 'Black Rain' even has a reprise section reminiscent of 'Helter Skelter' by The Beatles except nowhere near as cool or as needed, in fact in this case it seems a bit pointless.

Overall 'Black Rain' has gone some way to repairing the damage Cornell did to his musical career but it is far from revolutionary and far from Soundgarden's greatest moment. For fans of Soundgarden you will feel good to hear some previously unreleased rarities by one of your favourite bands, for everyone else this is just a cash cow and an attempt by their record label to maximize on their repertoire. I wonder what odds the bookies would give me for a Soundgarden reunion tour?

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Favicon10 Years Takes You Behind The Scenes From The Carnival Of Madness Tour 2 Sep 2010, 5:23 pm

10 Years continues to give fans a behind the scenes look from their recent Carnival of Madness Tour. Tag along with guitarist Brian Vodinh as he shows you the groups pre-show routine and gives you an exclusive look at what goes on backstage. Check out the video on YouTube!

The band's newly released album, Feeding the Wolves, featuring the rocking new single "Shoot It Out" is now available on iTunes and in all retail outlets. Fans can also pick up 10 Years latest music video for "Shoot It Out" on iTunes.

10 Years will continue to tour through November as they join Sevendust on the HardDrive Live XL Tour. A complete list of upcoming tour dates can be found at www.10YearsMusic.com!


"Shoot It Out" Buy Link: Feeding the Wolves Buy Link:

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FaviconThe Big Pink Gets Dark & Personal On Their Tapes Mix For !K7 2 Sep 2010, 5:15 pm

It seems like fate that Milo Cordell has mixed the latest installment of !K7’s Tapes series. The Big Pink production mastermind has been making compilations ever since he was a kid. “Doing this mix was a complete pleasure because I grew up recording mixes for myself and friends,” says Cordell. And, in some ways, not much has changed. Then, as now, the idea was to conjure up a mood. “My goal has always been the same,” he explains. “To make something that transports you somewhere completely different.

Cordell’s Tapes set certainly does that. The Big Pink are known for strident electro rock that sits alongside bands such as Klaxons and Crystal Castles. Their 2009 debut album, A Brief History Of Love, sold 50,000 copies in the UK (and 100,000 worldwide). It featured "Dominos," an anthemic fusion of widescreen guitar riffs and electronic atmospheres. It was one of the defining songs of last year.

However, Cordell explores completely different territory here. The dominant theme is the new generation of American musicians making spooked, spectral electronica that has been variously named "drag music," "witch house" or "haunted house." It’s night-time music, heavy with soporific sonics and dream-like ambience. Opening track "Slowdancing" by GR†LLGR†LL is an eerie wash of disembodied, digitised vocals and dark synth chords, while "Dirt" by Salem, drag music’s defining act, takes a hip-hop beat and smears guitar fuzz and sinister sounds effects over the top. It’s like being trapped between sleep and waking, a hypnagogic state. “Yeah, there’s definitely that dreamy quality, like 4AD dream pop,” says Cordell. “I guess because it’s made in people’s bedrooms, maybe people’s computers are acting as some kind of dream catcher.” A nightmare perhaps. "Someone asked me to describe what Salem sounded like and I said, 'It's the sound of America slowly dying,'" continues Cordell. "I think that goes for most of the drag sound. You can hear old rusty Model T Fords, The Depression, the eradication of the American Indian, Columbine, teen suicide, Supersize Me, oil spills and date rape all rolled into one sound."

There are other flavours, too. "Snake Eater" by UK dubstep producer Joker pitches chopped up female vocal samples against some creeping bass. Then there’s "Fantasy" by The xx, a pulse of bass and ringing guitars that sounds like it was recorded in a huge underground cave. And last but not least, The Big Pink’s own "Velvet," remixed by Gang Gang Dance into a stripped down bittersweet mood piece.

Cordell’s favourite track is "Mumbai" by oOoOo. “I think it sums up the whole mix really well. It’s beautifully eerie. It’s that thing where music takes you somewhere else. This track does that instantly. Straight away you’re in another world. I make music myself and I just love the way these bedroom producers have come up with these sounds. He really has created his own sound and vibe.”


There’s a DIY aspect to most of the 16 tracks. Many are nothing more complicated than a person tinkering on a laptop. That’s important to Cordell. “In the ‘70s, punk had a DIY ethos, but you still had to have a band, you had to go to rehearsal rooms and practice. Now people are making music six feet from their beds. That’s going to have a certain honesty. It’s almost easier than DIY. I imagine 90% of music on the compilation was made in someone’s bedroom. That’s always appealed to me and my label, Merok. We’ve always championed this generation of musicians that make music in their bedrooms. It’s where people feel most at home.”

It follows that the majority of his Tapes mix doesn’t exist in a physical format anywhere else. “That’s right,” he says. “A lot of has never been released on a CD, it’s just out there on the internet. Most of it is self-released, people make it then put it up on the internet. Most if it I heard for the first time on Myspace.” He goes off on a tangent, “It’s like graffiti. The general public see graffiti as vandalism, but people do it for other people that do graffiti. It’s not for 99.9% of people, it’s for other people that see the magic. I think a lot of this stuff is put on the internet with a similar kind of mindset. ”

More than anything, Cordell wants to spread the word about new music he loves. “I think the songs are as good as anything out there. There are pop music melodies within that minimal production. And the best pop music for me has always been the stuff that the artist does on their own terms. Everything on the mix sounds like that. I think these guys are doing it for themselves and if people discover it then great.”

There’s no arguing with that.


Tracklist

1. GR†LLGR†LL - Slow Dancing
2. Love Distance - Move On The Rain
3. Gang Gang Dance - Ego War
4. Joker - Snake Eater
5. Active Child - Body Heat (So Far Away)
6. Henny Moan - Vreg Dreams (Little Slow Mix)
7. Sewn Leather - Smoke Ov The Pvnk
8. Balam Acab - See Birds
9. yusuf b - kiss the nite
10. ZVA - Nothing
11. No Bra - Minger (These New Puritans Remix)
12. jj - Let Go
13. Salem - Dirt
14. Light Asylum - Shallow Tears
15. The Big Pink - Velvet (BDG Remix By Gang Gang Dance)
16. Actress - Hubble
17. oOoOO - Mumbai
18. The xx - Fantasy
19. Horse Macgyver - Tetanus Wine


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FaviconKings of Leon "Radioactive" single and pre-order news 2 Sep 2010, 4:06 pm

RCA Records is excited to announce that "Radioactive" will be the first single from Kings of Leon's new album, Come Around Sundown. It is set to impact radio on September 13th, with the video premiering on KINGS_OF_LEON and Vevo the week before (September 8th).

Come Around Sundown will be released on October 19th, but available for pre-order via iTunes starting September 14th. Fans who pre-order the record will receive "Radioactive" immediately as a free download. The album will be available in two configurations - standard as well as a deluxe version that will include bonus tracks.

The tracklisting for Come Around Sundown is:
  1. The End
  2. Radioactive
  3. Pyro
  4. Mary
  5. The Face
  6. The Immortals
  7. Back Down South
  8. Beach Side
  9. No Money
  10. Pony Up
  11. Birthday
  12. Mi Amigo
  13. Pickup Truck
Come Around Sundown was recorded in New York at Avatar Studios and produced by Angelo Petraglia and Jacquire King. Kings of Leon have just begun the second leg of their 26-date North American tour that began July 9th in San Diego, CA. It will end in St. Louis on September 25th.

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FaviconThe Clean Added To Scion Garge Fest 2010 2 Sep 2010, 4:01 pm

Scion A/V is pleased to announce The Clean have been added to Scion Garage Fest 2010.

The free festival will be taking place on October 2nd at a variety of venues in downtown Lawrence, KS. The line up features performances by Best Coast, Thee Oh Sees, The Ponys, Times New Viking, Digital Leather, The Raveonettes, King Khan & The Shrines, The Gories, and a very rare appearance by The Oblivians, among many, many others (full lineup on the flier below).

TO SEE VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH ROKY ERICKSON AT THE SCION GARAGE FEST 2009 CLICK HERE:
http://vimeo.com/13561363

TO SEE OTHER VIDEOS FROM SCION GARAGE FEST 2009 CLICK HERE:
http://vimeo.com/album/162806

About Scion:

Scion, from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., was developed with a new generation of youthful buyers in mind. Scion's mission is to provide distinctive products, the opportunity to personalize, and an innovative, consumer-driven process at the retail level. The brand features three ground-breaking models with a wide array of standard features: the xD urban subcompact five-door, the iconic xB urban utility vehicle and the tC sports coupe. Scion launches the all-new, premium micro-subcompact iQ in early 2011. The Scion brand often applies new practices in all aspects of its business and pushes the creativity envelope with non-traditional advertising and marketing to engage young consumers. Scion also supports originality through its programs in the artistic community. For more information, visit Scion.

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FaviconSnow Patrol's Gary Lightbody Spearheads New Band Tired Pony 2 Sep 2010, 3:53 pm

Tired Pony began as a sketch in Gary Lightbody’s imagination. During the idle moments on Snow Patrol’s year-long tour for their acclaimed albumA Hundred Million Suns, Gary began writing songs for an imaginary band. The more songs that accumulated, the stronger he felt about making this band-in-his-dreams a reality. Upon the tour’s completion, he decamped to Portland, Oregon’s Type Foundry studio, inviting along Troy Stewart, a regular touring member of Snow Patrol; Iain Archer, a longtime Snow Patrol collaborator; Richard Colburn, Belle & Sebastian’s drummer and former collaborator with Lightbody in Reindeer Section; and producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee(U2, Bloc Party), who helped to recruit Tired Pony’s final two members: Peter Buck from R.E.M. and Scott McCaughey, R.E.M.’s full-time auxiliary member since 1994.

Inspired by his love of Wilco, Calexico, Lambchop, Palace, Smog and more, Gary set out to make what could be called an American gothic album, a country-tinged gem that looked at the darkness of America. The resulting collection of songs is heartbreakingly beautiful, a true sum of tremendous parts culminating in something stormy and dense, with flickers of darkness shimmering through each song’s melodies. Instituting a “no more than two takes” rule, and bringing in She & Him’s Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward and The Editors’ Tom Smith for guest turns, the album was made quickly, with the entire recording session lasting only a week. At the end of it all, the players felt so close and so connected, they decided to take Tired Pony out of the studio and into the world.

With that being said, Tired Pony will be playing only two live shows in the U.S.. Dates can be found below. The Place We Ran From releases September 28th via Mom + Pop Records.

October 1 - NYC’s Irving Plaza - New York, NY
October 4 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

View a special performance of "Dead American Writers

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FaviconEl-P & Travis Millard Discuss The Amazing Artwork 2 Sep 2010, 3:48 pm

Artist Travis Millard of Fudge Factory Comics designed the incredible artwork for El-P's Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegam ixxx3 album. El had a chance to chop it up with Travis when he was in LA for Low End Theory, and we were lucky enough to be there to record the conversation. Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegam ixxx3 is available now on CD, LP and Digital Download.

Buy links:

Also worth noting, El-P has also orchestrated the posthumous release of his friend Camu Tao's King of Hearts album, which is out today on Fat Possum. Info here.

Also, don't miss:
Time Won't Tell Video:
YouTube

Album Preview Trailer
:
YouTube

EL-P Live In Philadelphia
:
YouTube




Few artists can combine uncomfortable with catchy; paranoiac with head-nodding; morbid with springy. It's hard to scare the sh!t out of you while simultaneously keeping your foot moving. Rapper, producer and Def Jux founder El-P knows how to get to parts of the brain others can't. As a solo artist and frontman for seminal hip-hop group Company Flow or producer of Cannibal Ox, Cage, Mr. Lif, Aesop Rock, NIN, Beck, The Mars Volta (and many, many more), an El-P production can drive you to hide underneath the bed, punch a wall and nod your head all at the same time. Which brings us to Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegam ixxx3 (August 3rd, Gold Dust), the sort of, kind of but not really follow-up to his past two mixes of the same name previously released at live shows.

It's another unique release in the artist's catalog. In the tradition of Company Flow's Little Johnny From The Hospitul (1998), El's own Collecting The Kid (2005), and more recently Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegga mixxx2 (2007), Hell3 is a fully realized suite of instrumentals that continues to exemplify the producer's versatile, otherworldly, futuristic and wholly original sonic worldview.

"I wanted to do little mini-movements that had a real beginning, middle and end and then moved on," says El-P. "The challenge for me was taking all these seemingly unrelated little pieces of music I had laying around and fitting them together as a cohesive piece. I wanted to craft a record that had an arc."

Given this format, Hell3 both sounds similar to and nothing like anything you've heard before. "Drunk With a Loaded Pistol" starts off woozy and deranged before evolving into a warning alarm/drum attack. "Time Won't Tell" opens as a soundtrack for the apocalypse followed by the layering of guitar-driven pop over boom-bap drums. As the album title implies, El-P creates a dark, dystopian sonic universe filled with ominous basslines and thumping, punishing drums.

Comprised of original instrumentals as well as remix instrumentals to Kidz in the Hall's "Driving Down the Block" and Young Jeezy's "I Got This," Hell3 represents songs that were meticulously crafted yet never found a home on a proper release. While sonically different from J Dilla's instrumental masterpiece Donuts, that album would prove inspirational to El-P. "Like Donuts, I wanted to keep things short and to the point. I think that's an aspect of instrumental music that so many more people can relate to. I didn't want anyone to listen to this record and at any point get bored."

While the producer is currently working on the follow-up to 2007's I'll Sleep When You're Dead, Hell3 functions as both a stopgap and standalone album. "This was a chance for me to give something to my fans as a reward for their patience as I worked on my new record. With the past Megamixxes, I never sat down and really tried to make a record. It was more like, 'Here's a bunch of cool stuff you haven't heard.' I look at this new one as a proper album. Me calling it a Megamixxx is just an excuse to get to Volume Three of anything."

Tracklist:
01. Take You Out At The Ball Game
02. Whores:The Movie
03. Meanstreak (In 3 Parts)
04. DMSC
05. Drunk With A Loaded Pistol
06. Time Won't Tell
07. Secret Police Man's Ball
08. I Got This (El-P Remix) Redux
09. Jump Fence, Run, Live
10. He Hit Her So She Left
11. Driving Down The Block (El-P Remix) Redux
12. Honda Redux
13. How To Serve Man (Stripped)
14. Contagious Snippet (Wilder Zoby Feat. El-P)
15. Eat My Garbage 2


For More Information, Check Out:

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FaviconSergio Leone-Inspired, Whiskey-Bent Brent Amaker & the Rodeo Premiere New Track 2 Sep 2010, 9:03 am

Seattle's Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, who recently announced the impending release of their new full length 'Please Stand By' via Seattle's Spark & Shine Records on October 19th, 2010. But fear not. Those who can't wait until Halloween season can enjoy a some sweet freebies to better acquaint themselves with the Rodeo before then. PopMatters premiered the new barn-burner "Saddle Up" from the forthcoming full length, and Brent Amaker and the Rodeo themselves are also offering up the aptly titled 'Pink' EP as a free download. The 'Pink' EP collects the new tracks recently unveiled from the forthcoming LP, in addition to couple oldies-but-goodies-- the vintage 4-track classic "Sissy New Age Cowboy" from their S/T debut, as well as "I'm the Man Who Writes the Country Hits," taken from their 2nd album 'Howdy Do!,' which makes clear that Brent Amaker and the Rodeo are indeed running the show. Last but not least, the video for "When Love Gets To A Man" is featured below, serving as the true link from their past to the new 'Please Stand By' material.



Download the free Brent Amaker and the Rodeo 'Pink' EP here

Brent & co. hail from Seattle, Washington where it's not always cool to be a cowboy. Dressed in black from head-to-toe, the Rodeo are influenced by original country music classics like Johnny Cash along with art rock and New Wave artists like Devo and glam rock innovators like David Bowie, all who actually gave a shit about putting on a SHOW. Their vibe, their sound, their whole deal, sounds like something that could be blaring from an old jukebox in the background of a rugged Quentin Tarantino crime film. They've gained a reputation for their raucous, whiskey-infused live shows. Their distinctly DIY approach has gained them a rabid cult following both abroad and in the cities where they've done their damage. 'Please Stand By' will be released on vinyl, digitally and on CD on October 19, 2010. The limited vinyl will come with the accompanying comic book 'Mescal De La Muerte' starring Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, written by Jay Cynik and illustrated by Simon Young.

Last but not least... attention Bumbershoot attendees this weekend in Seattle: Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, See Me River, BOAT, The Lonely H, and Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme will each be performing a cover song during their set as part of the Bumbershoot Musical Scavenger Hunt. The person who correctly identifies each of the cover song each band performs will win autographed poster from Bumbershoot 2010 and tickets to the Festival in 2011. This year's addition also includes The Thermals, Jamie Lidell, Hey Marseilles, Weezer, Bob Dylan, The Raveonettes, Trampled By Turtles, and many more. If you figure out BAR's cover song, tweet your answer to Brent Amaker and the Rodeo.

Brent Amaker - vocals
Steve "Tiny Dancer" Davis - lead guitar
Sugar McGuinn - bass
Steve Strehle - guitar/vocals
Bryan "The Kid" Crawford - drums/vocals

When Love Gets To A Man from Black Daisy on Vimeo.

BRENT AMAKER AND THE RODEO
FALL 2010 TOUR DATES

9.06 BUMBERSHOOT FESTIVAL:
Mural Stage, Seattle WA 11:45am
(w/ Trampled By Turtles, The Thermals, The Raveonettes, Jamie Lidell, Mary J Blige, more)
10.22 HEINEKEN CITY ARTS FESTIVAL @ THE CROCODILE , Seattle WA
(Album Release Party @ City Arts Festival w/ Head Like A Kite)
10.27 YAKIMA SPORTS CENTER @ THE HAUNTED BORDELLO, Yakima WA
10.28 THE FILLING STATION, Bozeman MT
10.29 SIGNATURE'S, Mitchell, SD
10.30 5th ANNUAL SIOUX FALLS ZOMBIE WALK
10.31 NOMAD WORLD PUB, Minneapolis MN
11.01 ELBO ROOM, Chicago IL
11.02 OFF BROADWAY, St. Louis MO
11.04 CRYSTAL PISTOL SALOON, Tulsa OK
11.05 FLAMINGO CANTINA Austin TX (w/ Los Skarnales)
11.06 CONTINENTAL CLUB, Houston TX (w/ Los Skarnales)
11.7 THE MIX, San Antonio TX
11.09 LOW SPIRITS, Albuquerque NM
11.10 HOTEL MONTE VISTA, Flagstaff AZ
11.11 DOUBLE DOWN SALOON, Las Vegas NV
11.12 DOLL HUT, Anaheim CA 10pm
11.14 MT. ARBOR THEATER, Portland OR
12.4 BOTTOM OF THE HILL, San Francisco CA
______________________________ ______________________________ ____

Out October 19th from Spark & Shine Records



(photo credit: Chase Jarvis/blood art: Tyson Pickerel)

Listen: "Saddle Up" (mp3)
via PopMatters
+
Listen: "Man In Charge" (mp3)

(album cover photo credit: Chase Jarvis)

BRENT AMAKER AND THE RODEO
'Please Stand By'
(Spark & Shine)

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FaviconThe Acorn Debuts Endless Summer Stop Motion Video for "Restoration" 2 Sep 2010, 8:55 am

Just in time for summer nostalgia to kick in, Ottawa's The Acorn have debuted a brand new stop motion video for the song "Restoration" via AOL Spinner (also available at TheAcorn.ca). "Restoration" is the first single off their forthcoming record, No Ghost, available digitally now and physically from Bella Union Records on 9/7.

The video, directed by Exploding Motor Car, features the band having a picnic at The Mataseje Family Farm in Beamsville Ontario, an hour outside of Toronto. As the sun sets, things take a turn for the eerie as the band is dragged into a surreal forest filled with otherworldly creatures. Front man Rolf Klausener described the tedious stop motion shoot as spending "20 hours, mostly sitting on a picnic table that was jerry-rigged to a rail cart, moving in 2 inch increments. The crew was tireless and totally focused. The cyanide-based smoke machine they used took about 6 years off our lives. By 7am, everyone was delirious, seeing apparitions in the foliage, and speaking in tongues."

The Acorn are preparing for a North American tour, heading out mid-September through October. As the band recorded No Ghost at a secluded cottage in Northern Québec, they will bring elements of that rustic atmosphere with them on the road with a thematic stage show, props, special guests, and more.

Check out the Megafaun remix of "Kindling To Cremation," premiered by long-time Acorn fans My Old Kentucky Blog. There's also a Four Tet/Born Ruffians remix 12-inch, available in select indie stores now.


The Acorn Tour Dates:
September 15 - Halifax, NS - St. Matthew's United Church
September 16 - Fredericton, NB - Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival
September 17 - Sackville, NB - Sackville City Fair
September 21 - Cambridge, MA - TT and The Bear's *
September 23 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge *
September 24 - Brooklyn, NY - Littlefield *
September 25 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie *
September 26 - Washington, DC - DC9*
September 28 - Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom*
September 29 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom *
September 30 - Chicago, IL - Schubas *
October 1 - Minneapolois, MN - Turf Club
October 2 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
October 13 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo ++
October 14 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe du Nord++
October 16 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir ++
October 17 - Seattle, WA - High Dive++
October 20 - Victoria, BC - Lucky Bar++
October 21 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret ++
October 23 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room++
October 24 - Calgary, AB - Republik ++
October 25 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's ++
October 26 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre ++
October 27 - Thunder Bay, ON - The Apollo ++
October 28 - Sault Ste Marie - Loplop Lounge and Gallery ++
December 4 - Ottawa, ON - Capital Music Hall++

* w/Basia Bulat
++ w/Leif Vollebekk


For more information, please visit:

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FaviconOFFICER KICKS - Hold The Magic / 2024 - 6th September 2 Sep 2010, 8:52 am

A sentiment of now, ‘Hold The Magic’, coupled with a song from the future, ‘2024’ - the new release from Officer Kicks.

The first song is taken from the band’s second album, Citywide Curfew, which continues to gain attention, by stealth. “Bold and brash, aiming rock’n’roll anthems at your throat.” (Rocksound Magazine).

Hold The Magic’ is another facet of the London quartet, recently tipped (in no uncertain terms!) on Xfm and reviewed on BBC Radio 1 as a band to listen out for. Crack Magazine calls the song "A very palatable slice of indie-rock in the manor of The Manics at their most tuneful". The song is also now on the XFM evening playlist.

‘2024’ is a completely new tune from the latest recording session and has only been heard live on stage this year, so far. It goes off on another tangent of artists proving their ability to craft pop anthems from sharp and punky rock outrage to melancholic ballads.

Officer Kicks are in the vanguard of world class British Authentic Rock bubbling under the radar. BBC 6Music, Total Rock, Sky TV, BBC even MTV USA have joined what is really encouraging support an an unheard of group and they recently did an interview and session on BBC Radio 5 Live. "You’re on your way to discovering the hottest new band of the year." (Sunday Mercury Newspaper).

Citywide Curfew video diaries of secret rock’n’roll heroes;

Hold The Magic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE4hJgonNqc

And 2024
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WCFnpKmamg

Links:

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FaviconStay Ahead Of The Weather Announce Debut Album 2 Sep 2010, 8:42 am

Stay Ahead Of The Weather is almost a year old. They're four friends living, working, playing music and growing up in a Midwest DIY scene that means the world to them. A few of them play in a couple other bands (Into It. Over It. / Native / Castevet), but started this band for fun. They wanted to write songs that they love and have another excuse to hang out with each other in between going to shows and going to work. After almost 9 months of toiling over each guitar line, drum fill and trying to work around all of their individual touring schedules, they finally set time to record their first 5 songs, a collection which is titled "We Better Get Goin' If We're Gonna." They recorded the album in three days with their friend Mark Michalik (The Swellers, Fireworks, Castevet, Into It. Over It.) at Drasik Studios in Chicago, IL. No Sleep Records was later kind enough to put the record out on a 7", the way the band initially envisioned it (and had always intended it) to be.

* Stay Ahead Of The Weather features:
Evan Weiss from Into It. Over It., The Progress - vocals/guitar
Nick Wakim of Castevet, Oceans - drums
Bobby Markos of Native - bass
Matt Jordan - Guitar

* The new album was recorded in the late summer of 2010 with producer/engineer Mark Michalik (The Swellers, Fireworks, Into It Over It)
at Drasik Studios in Chicago, IL, and mastered by Carl Saff (Melt Banana, Young Widows, Coliseum)




Track List
1. Get Old Or Die Tryin'
2. Impressions & Impressing People
3. Sorority Social Suicide
4. No Sleep Till Humboldt
5. Butchering A Back Catalog

For more information, visit:
www.myspace.com/stayaheadoftheweather
www.nosleeprecs.com

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FaviconAPRIL SMITH AND THE GREAT PICTURE SHOW TO PERFORM AT U.S. OPEN SEPT. 8 2 Sep 2010, 8:40 am

April Smith and the Great Picture Show will bring their swinging, juke joint swagger to one of the biggest stages in sports on Sept. 8, when they perform at the 2010 U.S. Open, in Flushing, NY.

The New York Postdeclares Smith "adorable, quirky, and the owner of a voice that could cure depression," in their PopWrap blog, adding that, "April makes the world a better place. Period." That makes the Brooklyn-based quintet the perfect act for the tennis tournament that boasts the slogan, 'It Must Be Love' - they play on the U.S. Open's Baseline Stage, Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 6pm.

The National Football League are also fans of the five piece, and will be featuring their cover of Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me" in a television campaign kicking off this month promoting a new line of fashionable NFL clothing for women. In the commercials, wives of NFL players throw their husband's jerseys back at them with April Smith and the Great Picture Show playing as the soundtrack.

Audiences nationwide are hearing April Smith and the Great Picture Show on their new single "Terrible Things," which is currently being featured in promos for the hit Showtime television series Weeds. Smith's song "Wow and Flutter" can also be heard in a Colgate Wisps commercial.

"Terrible Things" is the lead track from the band's new release Songs for a Sinking Ship, and is already impacting at AAA radio, where it's gained early support from stations including KEZE (Spokane, WA), KPND (Sandpoint, ID), KCLC (St. Louis, MO), KPIG (Monterey, CA) and WCBE (Columbus, OH). A video for the track will be released this fall.

Labeled one of the New York Post's '10 Musicians to Watch in 2010,' Paste magazine hails April Smith "quite the burlesque bad girl... packing a sound full of sassy hooks and swinging rhythms." "April Smith was born to be an entertainer," agree NPR. "She radiates sunny energy and stage-ready sauciness."

Find out for yourself - catch April Smith and the Great Picture Show live:

Sept. 2 Washington DC DC9
Sept. 3 Teaneck, NJ Mexicali Live
Sept. 8 Flushing, NY Arthur Ashe Stadium, Baseline Stage

For more information:
www.aprilsmithmusic.com

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FaviconAlex Winston Releases Live Acoustic Video For "Don't Care About Anything" 2 Sep 2010, 8:37 am

While it’s a great accomplishment to play a single instrument well, it’s a truly rare gift to play many perfectly. With The Basement Covers EP, singer Alex Winston proves she is one of the exceptional few. Classically trained in opera and bred on musical Americana, the beautiful Detroit- native remarkably played each instrument—guitar, piano, drums—on the four-song EP which she recorded in her actual home basement.

Winston’s truly unique and refreshing sound navigates influential pillars as diverse as Feist, The Arcade Fire, Lykke Li and Sheryl Crow. As the name suggests, the debut offering from Alex consists of five covers of tracks from various artists; Mumford & Sons, Teddy Bears, The Rolling Stones, Jack Penate and Francis and the Lights. She has just finished putting the finishing touches on her debut, Choice Notes, with New York's hottest new producer whizz kids - The Knocks. This taster of Alex's incredible talent is now available for free download and acts as a precursor to her debut release of Choice Notes, released on Limited Edition 7” vinyl through HeavyRoc Music on July 27th.

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