More sad news across music blogs…indie rock band Sparklehorse’s frontman Mark Linkous has taken his own life by shooting himself in the heart at age 47. According to his publicist, Linkous had almost finished working on a brand new Sparklehorse album that was going to be released through Anti-Records.
Go to Sparklehorse’s MySpace page and listen to “Cow” and “Piano Fire.”
Check out Pitchfork’s saddening article: “Artists React to death of Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous”
Danger Mouse and James Mercer’s collaborative project Broken Bells FINALLY released their self-title debut today.
Track listing: (my favorites are in BOLD)
1. The High Road
2. Vaporize
3. Your Head Is On Fire
4. The Ghost Inside
5. Sailing To Nowhere
6. Trap Doors
7. Citizen
8. October
9. Mongrel Heart
10. The Mall & Misery
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Highly Anticipated, new albums
We still have a few weeks to wait for MGMT’s new album Congratulations to hypnotize our ears, BUT Spinner has put up a stream of their first single “Flash Delirium.” Click here to get there and listen! Hurry!
Filed under Highly Anticipated, new albums
It started off as a drunken conversation at Corsica’s Calvi Rocks festival in July 2009. Friendly Fires had just played live, Holy Ghost had just finished DJing, and in the post-gig haze the decision was made by each band to cover one of the other’s songs.
Click here to hear what Stereogum calls a “shimmery disco-dusted electro anthem!”
The following download list will be available March 8, 2010:
1. Friendly Fires – Hold On
2. Friendly Fires – Hold On (Instrumental)
3. Holy Ghost – On Board
4. Holy Ghost – On Board (Instrumental)
5. Holy Ghost – On Board (Dub)
Ninjasonik – Daylight Remix
The trio Ninjasonik is unleashing a raw and uncut synthesis of styles with their Art School Girls full length debut album via Green Owl / Chief Records due April 20th, 2010. Green Owl is a label that is ahead of the game in itself by respecting the planet both economically and environmentally through sustainable technology, news, and information.
The Brooklyn trio has established themselves as the next generation of live hip hop by creating a synergy between their rhymes and a newly evolved performance art in the making. Having shared the stage with artists such as Spank Rock, Dan Deacon and The Cool Kids, Ninjasonik has melded enough sounds to bring in fans across all genres.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Highly Anticipated, new albums, video
British post-punk legends Echo & The Bunnymen are launching their (first!) US tour in support of their acclaimed new album, The Fountain. The shows are hot on the heels of the band’s recent tour celebrating their landmark album Ocean Rain that included orchestral performances at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.Their highly anticipated appearance at the Coachella Festival will kick off the tour.
Frontman Ian McCulloch calls The Fountain “the best thing we’ve done since Ocean Rain.” The press has been raving about the record with Alternative Press praising its “brisk, vibrant pop songs” and Filter calling it “ replete with shimmering, flaw-repellant pop, all glorious melodies and gorgeous atmospherics.”
Echo & The Bunnymen 2010 US Tour Dates
4/16: Indio, CA @ Empire Polo Grounds (Coachella Festival)
4/18: Sparks, NV @ John Ascuaga’s Nugget
4/19: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
4/21: Chicago, IL @ Metro
4/23: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
4/25: Glenside (Philadelphia), PA @ Keswick Theatre
4/26: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
4/27: Fairfield, CT @ Fairfield Theatre Company
4/28: State College, PA @ State Theatre
4/30: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
5/1: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Pretty Good Dance Moves – Free mp3 download of “Alive Tonight”
PDGM, out March 9th on Township Records, is set to impress with its use of sinuous synthesizers, bewitching dance beats, and impressive array of guest stars including Chicago-based vocalist Angelina Lucero and singer-songwriter Heather Christian.
In celebration of the upcoming release, Pretty Good Dance Moves will be headlining two shows at Schubas, March 12th and 13th in Chicago. After that, the boys head to Austin for a SXSW run!
SXSW Dates and Locations
3/16 The Locals Show @ Shangri La – 10:00pm
3/17 AM to AM Party @ Paradise – 7:00 pm
3/18 South By South Wurst @ Sholz Garten- 3:00pm
3/18 Gypsy Sun Vintage Clothing Party @ 420 Spot- 6:00pm
3/19 Township Records showcase @ Teddy Malones – 9:00pm
3/19 No Door Agency Late Night Party- 11:30pm
3/20 Six Stages over Texas Festival (Headliner Stage) – 7:00pm
3/20 Custom Tattoos – 9:30pm
Also — here’s a happy little bit of info for you Cut Copy fans:
The members of Cut Copy have been busy at work on their third album and are getting ready to take over the festival scene this summer. Take a look at what the band had to say to their fans and what their tour schedule is looking like this summer on MySpace now!
Yessssssssss! I can’t wait!
Filed under downloads, new albums, Shows
The Disco Biscuits are taking the pre-order game to a whole new level. Everyone and their mother does the signed CD/poster/ticket bundle (which they’ll be doing too), but that’s not the good stuff. Starting TODAY fans have the opportunity to pre-order an autographed copy of Planet Anthem (Out March 16th via their own Diamond Riggs/ILG) and pick from over 32 different combination options. These (most awesome) options include but are not limited to:
* Dinner with the band
* An opportunity to sing on the next Biscuits record
* Writing the band’s setlist for a night
* Shots of Jameson with the band
* Playing a song with the band on stage during a show
* Guitar/Bass/Keyboard/Drum lessons with a band member
* Attending a Philadelphia Eagles game with the band
* Playing tennis verses the band
For a full list and pre-ordering, check out http://planetanthem.com/
Have a listen to the first single from the album, “On Time” by clicking here.
And have another listen to the Juan MacLean remix of “You and I” by clicking here!
From press release:
Planet Anthem marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band. Since they formed in 1995, the guys created their own movement by fusing the jam band and electronic music scenes. However, their forthcoming release prominently features elements of pop, indie dance, hip hop, and straight up rock music. This is not the band you think they are. This is a band that makes damn good pop songs that, if you gave them a chance, would resonate with you. Don’t be scared, give it a whirl.
The Biscuits collaborated for the first time with multiple producers, songwriters, and outside musicians, including Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry (Ludacris, Chris Brown, Beanie Sigel). The result is an album filled with sing along melodies and infectious beats. Another first, the new video for “You and I” has been added to rotation at both MTV2 and MTVu and the band is going to be hosting Subterranean as well.
After plowing through 5 sold-out dates at Nokia Theatre in NYC over New Years and four sold-out shows at Boulder, CO’s Fox Theatre in January, The Biscuits will hit the road again starting tonight in Baltimore. The band will be performing at Ultra Music Festival in Miami alongside Tiesto, Deadmau5, Carl Cox, Passion Pit, Major Lazer and more. They’ll also be playing Bonnaroo 2010 this June in Manchester, TN. They also just announced details for the annual music festival they put together, Camp Bisco, which is now in in 9th year. Past performers have included Snoop Dogg, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, The Roots, MSTRKRFT, Nas and Damien Marley, Girl Talk, and Kid Cudi. This year, the event will take place July 15 – 17 in Mariaville, New York. Lastly, the Biscuits will be hosting their even Bisco Inferno at Red Rocks on May 29th. This year’s lineup will feature Aeroplane, Pnuma Trio, The Crystal Method (DJ Set), Booka Shade, The Glitch Mob and of course 2 sets of the Biscuits.
Filed under downloads, Highly Anticipated, new albums
Prolific remixer Classixx has produced a light and playful remix of Groove Armada’s Black Light highlight “Paper Romance,” replacing the hard four-to-the-floor of the original track with bubbling synths, softly skittering drums, and delicate, swooning guitars that bring out the passionate vocal takes from SaintSavior and Fenech-Soler.
Click here for a free download!
And guess what other remix I’ll be sharing with you soon? DAN DEACON’S remix, that’s who! Whoooo!!!
Also, here’s some upcoming tour dates for Groove Armada:
03/19: San Francisco, CA @ Grand Ballroom
03/20: San Bernardino, CA @ NOS Events Center (DJ Set)
03/21: Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theatre
03/22: Los Angeles, CA @ KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic
03/24: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
03/26: Miami, FL @ Ultra Music Festival
Filed under downloads, new albums
Portland’s YACHT previously announced that for the first time in their history they’ll be hitting the road with a backing band, who they’ve lovingly named The Straight Gaze. Today you can hear your first taste of what YACHT sounds like with live accompaniment via their new iTunes session in the studio with The Mystery Lights Band. The session features three tracks from last year’s critically acclaimed full-length, See Mystery Lights, as well as a cover of Weezer’s song “Holiday.”
Click here to listen to Yacht’s version of Weezer’s “Holiday”
Fun fact: Back in high school YACHT’s Claire L. Evans ran Geekrocklove, the 2nd most popular Weezer fansite at the time.
YACHT & The Mystery Lights Band iTunes Session Track List:
1.) Summer Song
2.) The Afterlife
3.) Psychic City (Voodoo City)
4.) Holiday
YACHT & The Straight Gaze Tour Dates:
(All Shows with Bobby Birdman except Philadelphia with MNDR and Los Angeles with Small Black, Washed Out, Picture Plane)
02/19: Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore Cabaret
02/20: Victoria, BC @ Sugar Nightclub
02/22: Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop
02/23: Calgary, AB @ The Hi Fi Club
02/24: Saskatoon, SK @ Scratch
02/26: Northfield, MN @ The Cave at Carleton College
02/27: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
02/28: Gambier, OH @ The Horn Gallery
03/02: Pontiac, MI @The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom
03/03: Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah
03/04: Toronto, ON @ Wrongbar
03/05: Ottawa, ON @Ritual
03/06: Montreal, QC @ Le Belmont
03/07: Buffalo, NY @ Big Orbit Soundlab
03/11: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
03/12: Philadelphia, PA @ Voyeur/ Makin Time
03/13: Monterrey, MX @ Festival Nrmal – Alianza Francesca
03/15: Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
03/16: Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn
SXSW
03/25: San Diego, CA @ Museum of Contemporary Art
03/26: Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex (With Small Black, Washed Out, Picture Plane)
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Shows
Musically Amusing 