With the release of At The End Of A Day coming late last week, YuTaNi continues his role with the debut of his new music video for “Mt. Minakami.” Directed by acclaimed visual artist and Montreal native Jason Voltaire (Jacques Greene Live, Skunch), the video is a perfect compliment to the ambient textures of Mt. Minakami, at once soothing and engaging all the same. Examining and tearing apart the relationship between tangible and digital, the sounds of Yutani blend into smooth symbiosis with Voltaire’s visuals as the ambience renders it impossible to tell the synthetic from the organic.
Mt. Minakami is just the first of many peaks in At The End Of A Day, which is quickly finding it’s way into the ears and hearts of discerning tastemakers the world over — don’t miss out on what’s quickly becoming a sleeper hit of the summer.
Minneapolis’ indie rock trio Bad Bad Hats released their critically acclaimed debut album Psychic Reader today. In celebration of the highly anticipated record, the band will kick off a national fall tour, making stops in Chicago, DC, NYC, Philly and more. They will join Saddle Creek’s Mynabirds as direct support for this stint of live dates.
Album opener “Midway” is an undeniably infectious track that is broken up by a danceable, energetic pop chorus that tells a story of a relationship’s impending end. Check out the video below.
Psychic Reader is comprised of experimental beats, growling guitars, and catchy pop melodies that are both dreamy and strikingly deep. Bolstered by the touches of producer Brett Bullion (Poliça), the band takes a refreshingly rebellious approach with lyrics that challenge gender conventions. Catch the band’s captivating live show in a city near you!
8/14: Minneapolis, MN @ Icehouse (11pm set)
9/10: Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern *
9/11: Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar *
9/12: Boise, ID @ Neurolux *
9/14: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
9/15: Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive *
9/17: Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
9/18: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry *
9/19: Chicago, IL @ Schubas *
9/20: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland *
9/23: Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle *
9/25: Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade *
9/26: Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall * * = Direct Support for Mynabirds
“IAMDYNAMITE have carved deeper into their unique style, blending elements from their musical roots of Seattle sound and 80s pop.“ – Earmilk
“Ridiculously good… The songwriting is light years beyond their debut.” – Pop Dose
“Infectiously catchy hooks that pair atmospheric synths” – The Joy of Violent Movement
” IAMDYNAMITE are back, and they’ve done a complete 180 – making an 80s-inspired slow burn record that comes off as Sting & Oates.” – A-Sides with Jon Chattman
Michigan-based IAMDYNAMITE announce slew of new tour dates in support of its forthcoming new album Wasa Tusa (out August 7th on Brando Records) and reveal a new cut from the album.
The tour sees the duo of Chris Martin and Chris Phillips hitting the road across the U.S. from August through October playing such venerable venues as NYC’s Webster Hall, House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, Chicago’s Bottom Lounge and many more. A full list of dates can be found below.
The guitar-driven tension of “Bloom” bursts forth much like the name of the track implies. Premiering today, it’s the second cut revealed from IAMDYNAMITE’s sophomore album Wasa Tusa and follows the lead album track “Be There” which recently premiered via EARMILK.
Drawing inspiration from 80’s pop pioneers such as The Police and Hall & Oates to early 2000 nu-rave revivalists such as Klaxons and Simian Mobile Disco, IAMDYNAMITE’s synth-driven rock and alt-pop hooks are as danceable as they are delicious.
Wasa Tusa, set for release on August 7 via Brando Records sees IAMDYNAMITE expanding their repertoire and experimenting in the studio to create a new brand of freewheeling pop. Produced by Matt Novesky, the album highlights their melodic, hook laden songwriting skills and delivers a swift emotional punch.
IAMDYNAMITE Tour Dates
8/15: Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
8/18: Lacrosse, WI @ The Warehouse
8/19: St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
8/20: Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
8/21: Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room
8/22: Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
8/23: Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
9/10: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
9/11: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
9/12: Charlotte, NC @ 1065 The End’s Weenie Roast
9/13: Raleigh, NC @ 95X Big Shindig
9/19: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
9/20: Providence, RI @ Simmon’s 677
9/23: Stanhope, NJ @ Stanhope House
9/24: Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall
10/1: Dallas, TX @ Double Wide
10/2: Houston, TX @ Walter’s
10/6: Albuquerque, NM @ The Jam Spot
10/7: Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
10/8: Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock Live
All Signs Point To Yes is the first solo release from Tokyo Police Club bandleader Dave Monks. Made up of six songs, including the lead single “Gasoline,” the EP was released on Tuesday, June 16 via Dine Alone Records.
Dave has now shared his first music video from the EP for the lead single “Gasoline.” Premiering on BlackBook, the video is simple and clean, with the camera trained on Dave as he performs his single with just an acoustic guitar. It was directed by Chris Schoonover and features camera work by Tyler Kufs, Stephanie Dimiskovski, and Jonathan Schoonover.
All Signs Point To Yes was written and completed over the latter half of 2013, while Monks was falling in love with a new person and a new place. Inspired by that romantic relationship and a move from Toronto to Brooklyn, Monks sought to hone in on the honesty in his songwriting, stripping away other sounds in order to focus the spotlight on his voice and acoustic guitar. The result is an EP of fully formed, earnest, and insightful songs that serve as both a natural evolution and familiar embrace of Monks’ music.
Removing the other instruments also revealed a creative freedom for Monks, inspiring a simplicity and directness to which all songwriters aspire. “As I was writing these songs I just thought, ‘What if this is the song, what if it just starts with me and I don’t have to add anything else and I can embrace all the things that come most naturally to me?’ There’s definitely less stuff to hide behind.”
Settled in his new place in Bushwick, Monks embraced the collaborative spirit and structure of New York City, adding a new bass player and drummer to the project while sharing songs constantly with his girlfriend and other musician friends. “It’s definitely honest,” he says of his voice on the EP, which he recorded himself in his apartment before handing over to be mixed by Rob Schnapf. “It could be too honest for some people but I’m in a really good spot and wrote a bunch of sweet songs. I appreciate the connection that comes from sharing something that somebody might not have seen, that’s not visible to the naked eye. People do relate to it, and I find that super rewarding; that drives me in a lot of ways. I’m trying to understand what people really want to get out of music.”
Despite all its sincerity and intimacy, All Signs Points To Yes still manages to avoid being too wistful or overly serious while still giving us a very real look into the life of its singer. It is a small record with a big heart, a snapshot of a man in a new time and new place who is learning to expand his reach, all while stripping away the superfluous and concentrating on connecting through trust, humor, and sincerity.
All Signs Point To Yes Tracklisting
Vegas
Gasoline
The Rules
Miss You
Heartbeat Blues
Summer Dream
Brick + Mortar will release their highly anticipated EP on 7/17. But, right now, they are thrilled to premiere their new video for “Train”. The video plays off of the trops of the star-crossed lovers by reenacting some of the most iconic scenes from famous love films to create an epic ode to love.
The video plays homage to such films as:
Romeo + Juliet
Say Anything
Annie Hall
Titanic
It’s a Wonderful Life
Dirty Dancing
American Beauty
Sixteen Candles
Grease
Blue Valentine
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Requiem for a Dream
Love Actually
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Lost in Translation
The Graduate
Tour Dates
7/16/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe 7/17/15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Fountain Square w/ The Ting Tings 7/18/15 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s 20 Lanes 7/19/15 – Columbus, OH @ Woodlands Tavern 7/21/15 – Detroit, MI @The Shelter 7/22/15 – Chicago, IL @ The Beat Kitchen 7/23/15 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada 7/24/15 – Denver, CO @ Underground Music Showcase 7/25/15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Music Garage Live 7/27/15 – Seattle, WA @ El Corozon 7/28/15 – Portland, OR @ Analog Cafe 7/29/15 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop 7/30/15 – Redlands, CA @ Hangar 24 Brewery 7/31/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite 8/01/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge 8/02/15 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress 8/04/15 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk 8/05/15 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 8/07/15 – Tampa, FL @ New Wrold Brewery 8/08/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Wrecking Ball 2015 8/09/15 – Orlando, FL @ Backbooth 8/11/15 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle 8/12/15 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter 8/13/15 – Washington, DC @ DC9 8/14/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary 8/15/15 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall Studio 8/16/15 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
With just a week remaining until the release of their explosive new album, How Does It Feel, music duo MS MR (Lizzy Plapinger and and Max Hershenow) have unveiled their brand new single, “Criminals.” First shared by Zane Lowe on Apple’s Beats 1 World Record this week, listen to the shimmering and energetic pop anthem below. How Does It Feel, which will be released July 17 via Columbia Records, is available to pre-order today exclusively at iTunes: http://smarturl.it/HDIF.
To celebrate the album’s release, MS MR will make a huge splash in Chicago during Lollapalooza weekend later this month. Starting Wednesday, July 29, the band, in partnership with Airbnb, will perform a private in-home concert for one lucky Airbnb host and 20 guests. That same night, Lizzy and Max will also DJ Vevo’s LIFT Live concert at The Vic Theatre; MS MR is currently featured as Vevo’s LIFT artist for the month of July. On Thursday, July 30, MS MR is joined by Columbia labelmates Wet for a sold-out Lollapalooza After Show at Lincoln Hall. And on Friday, July 31, the band takes the stage at Lollapalooza.
Tickets are now on sale for MS MR’s North American/European fall headline tour, which kicks off September 24 and features supporting acts Circa Waves, Jack Garratt, VÉRITÉ, Crater, Tigertown and more. Throughout the tour, MS MR will be donating a portion of every ticket sold to an inspiring organization, Third Wave Fund, a national fund that supports and strengthens youth-led gender justice activism.
MS MR ON TOUR:
7/12 – Philadelphia, PA – Festival Pier – Tix
7/22 – Melbourne, Australia – Russell- Tix
7/24 – Byron Bay, Australia – Splendour in the Grass Festival – Tix
7/25 – Sydney, Australia – Metro Theatre – Tix
7/29 – Chicago, IL – Vevo’s Lift Live – SOLD OUT
7/30 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza – Aftershow at Lincoln Hall (w/ Wet) – Tix
7/31 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza – Tix
8/2 – Montreal, Canada – Osheaga – Tix
8/7 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field – Tix
9/8 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Pumpehuset – Tix
9/9 – Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser Strand – Tix
9/10 – Oslo, Norway, Parkteatret – Tix
9/12 – Berlin, Germany – Lollapalooza – Tix
9/24 – Houston, TX – House of Blues (w/ Circa Waves, Crater) – Tix
9/25 – Austin, TX – Emo’s (w/ Circa Waves, Crater) – Tix
9/27 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues (w/ Circa Waves, Crater) – Tix
9/28 – Nashville, TN – The Cannery Ballroom (w/ Circa Waves, Crater) – Tix
9/29 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West (w/ Circa Waves, Crater) – Tix
10/1 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club (w/ Circa Waves, Crater) – Tix
10/5 – Boston, MA – Royale (w/ Jack Garratt, VÉRITÉ) – Tix
10/8 – New York, NY – Terminal 5 (w/ Jack Garratt, VÉRITÉ) – Tix
10/10 – Toronto, Canada – Danforth Music Hall (w/ Jack Garratt, VÉRITÉ) – Tix
10/12 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall (w/ Jack Garratt, VÉRITÉ) – Tix
10/17 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre (w/ Jack Garratt) – Tix
10/19 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom (w/ Jack Garratt, Tigertown) – Tix
10/20 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre (w/ Jack Garratt, Tigertown) – Tix
10/21 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom (w/ Jack Garratt, Tigertown) – Tix
10/23 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre (w/ Jack Garratt, Tigertown) – Tix
10/25 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues (w/ Jack Garratt, Tigertown) – Tix
10/27 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern (w/ Jack Garratt, Tigertown) – Tix
11/06 – Brighton, UK – The Arch – Tix
11/07 – Manchester, UK – Club Academy – Tix
11/08 – Glasgow – Art School – Tix
11/10 – London, UK – Electric Brixton – Tix
11/12 – Brussels, Belgium – Orangerie – Tix
11/13 – Paris, France – Trabendo – Tix
11/14 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg (Old Room) – Tix
11/16 – Zurich, Switzerland – X-Tra – Tix
11/17 – Munich, Germany – Technikum – Tix
11/18 – Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp – Tix
11/19 – Cologne, Germany – Gloria – Tix
11/21 – Hamburg, Germany – Mojo – Tix
“A gritty two-and-a-half minutes of wobbly bass, wailing guitar, and front woman Kerry Alexander’s slinky vocals, it is a blast—and there is more like this to come.” – FADER
“‘Shame’ goes down like a refreshing, kick-you-in-the-face-strong cocktail, most likely swilled after a booty call gone bust. Wash that man right out of your hair.” –SPIN
“Complete with the crunchy kick of slightly manic-sounding guitar and the pulse of some very punchy bass…” – Paste Magazine
“ …the love-struck optimism of “Psychic Reader” harkens back to some of Wilson’s preferred buoyant romanticism” – Stereogum
“… programmed to fire all neural pathways associated with carefree indie rock fun. But beware: These lyrics will bite.” – NPR
Minneapolis-based Bad Bad Hats reveal their debut album Psychic Reader, streaming exclusively with Interview Magazine now until release on July 17 via Afternoon Records.Named as one of SPIN’s “Artists to Watch,” the indie rock trio emerges with a record that is both artistically honest and widely accessible.
Psychic Reader is comprised of experimental beats, growling guitars, and catchy pop melodies that are both dreamy and strikingly deep. Bolstered by the touches of producer Brett Bullion (Poliça, Bon Iver), the band takes a refreshingly rebellious approach with lyrics that challenge gender conventions.
In celebration of the new record, Bad Bad Hats announced a hometown album release show in Minneapolis, August 14 at Icehouse.
“Recaptures that sad-eyed, happy-footed disco-Beatlemania that made Of Montreal’s mid-aughts electronic renaissance so satisfying.” – Stereogum
“…channels a bit of Primal Scream’s Screamadelica the same way Jaqwar Ma have and also wouldn’t sound out of place on a mix next to Cut Copy.” – Under The Radar
“A brain-warpingly awesome cut of tripped-out pop.” – Noisey
Painted Palms’ second full-length album, Horizons, exudes a sense of confidence and purpose that is only present when two creators share a singular focus and absolute trust in each other’s talents. On Horizons, emotional states are suspended between light and dark, driven by the tension of efficient song structures. This week the band shares the synth-laden “Tracers,” melding ’60s psych pop with heavy-footed ’80s drum machines. Though vocalist Chris Prudhomme and producer Reese Donohue chose to collaborate on their second full-length by sending song ideas back and forth over e-mail, just as they did when crafting their 2014 debut Forever, Horizons marks the first time the duo has expanded their sound beyond the bedroom by stepping into the studio. Mixed by former DFA house engineer Eric Broucek (LCD Soundsystem, Classixx), Horizons engages with a diverse sonic palette on each track: ’60s psych-pop, ’80s synths, hypnotic vibes of the kind induced by Bjork and early ’90s Creation Records bands, and the trunk-rattling minimalism of Southern hip-hop. Horizons is a meditation on achieving balance in a place where things are always changing, and there are no real ends. As a result, Painted Palms refines and executes their best work to date.
Vancouver’s Teen Daze will release his first album for Paper Bag Records on August 7th 2015. ‘Morning World’ was recorded with John Vanderslice at Tiny Telephone, his all-analog studio in San Francisco with co-producer Simon Bridgefoot. Watch the ‘Morning World‘ trailer below.
In 2010, Jamison, the person behind Teen Daze, had no idea what Four More Years would bring. That debut EP, a collection of blissful home recordings, was the work of a carefree 24 year-old. By 2012, things had changed, as they tend to do: relationships dissolved, illness affected his family, windows for outward communication were closing. The gravity of it all made for constant output; he reached for futuristic utopia with All Of Us, Together, found a devotional sanctuary inside The Inner Mansions, and embraced hibernation on Glacier. In hindsight, this was an artist coping through various forms of introverted escapism.
While proud of the material, Jamison sought to break this cycle when approaching the next record. He knew it would take a few leaps of faith, most directly: out of his bedroom… out of his comfort zone. For the first time, he gave up some control, inviting the input of others. Bearing over 30 demos, Jamison joined one of his musical heroes John Vanderslice at Tiny Telephone, his all-analog studio in San Francisco. Beyond the immediate sonic advantages of recording to tape, the sessions with Vanderslice and co-producer Simon Bridgefoot encouraged a new positivity and confidence to his craft.
Track Listing:
1. Valley of Gardens
2. Pink
3. Morning World
4. It Starts At The Water
5. Post Storm
6. Life In The Sea
7. You Said
8. Garden Grove
9. Along
10. Infinity
11. Good Night
TOUR DATES:
9/12 – Vancouver, BC @ Fortune
9/15 – Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett
9/16 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
9/17 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
9/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Rickshaw Stop
9/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
9/24 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
9/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
9/26 – El Paso, TX @ The Lowbrow Palace
9/28 – San Antonio, TX @ 502 Bar
9/29 – Dallas, TX @ HOB Cambridge Room
9/30 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs Jr
10/1 – Houston, TX @ Rudyards
10/2 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
10/3 – Hot Spring’s, AR @ Maxine’s
10/5 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
10/6 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 Club
10/7 – Raleigh, NC @ King’s
10/8 – Washington, DC @ DC9
10/9 – New York, NY @ Baby’s All Right
10/10 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott
10/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
10/14 – Montreal, QC @ Newspeak
10/15 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake
10/16 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
10/17 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency
10/18 – Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
10/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
10/20 – Kansas City, KS @ The Riot Room
10/21 – Wichita, KS @ Rock Island
10/22 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
10/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
10/24 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
“Great drama, enhanced by their ability to create lovely passages as well as jarring odd moments” – DC Rock Live
“There are deep, medicated grooves and purposefully rough patches. It’s the sort of record that reveals something different every time—circumstantial, temperamental, and yet somehow definitive.” – NME
After the success of “The Kelpies” project with filmmaker Walid Salhab and following the release of the “TicTac Toe” single, the 3rd Iglomat album is here and ready to drop on CD and download. Iglomat III is again another quality collection of bristling post rock electronica that is as melodious as it is “effortlessly cool”. 9 slices of musical sustenance that are as much “food for the soul” as they are “post rock perfection”. And as if to celebrate progression there are even some small forays from the instrumental path, with an energetic vocal performance on “Elgato Elgato” from 7-year-old Noah Macdonald followed by profoundly heart achingly subtle performances from Rachel Sermanni and Jennifer Austin on “King Of The Sun” and “No Place Like Home”.
Perhaps Iglomat’s main technical unit David Jack describes the album best; “Years ago when we first started on this exploration, Iglomat was just an idea and a couple of guitar lines floating around in cyberspace. Now as we’ve grown musically and with communication technology progressing exponentially, we can work as remotely and as freely as we like. Which means the music that we heard in our heads is as close to what comes out of the speakers as near as dammit. A recent review described us as a little bit like Goblin which made me laugh, as we try to be a lot like Goblin. So we must be getting close.”
About Iglomat:
Iglomat thrives in the transitional realm. The cross-continental recording project operates across landlines, highways, and hard drives – chronicling tales of distance and time. Such efforts would normally lose some spontaneity and urgency in the transfers. But consider Iglomat’s pedigree: producer David Jack, a beat chemist praised by no less authority than John Peel (just check his Peel Session) long-time collaborator and another Peel session veteran Scott MacDonald ; and acclaimed photographer Sandy Carson, whose narrative focus comes through as much on record as it does in print.
Musically Amusing 