The new album (their fourth) from Dragonette, Royal Blues, is due out on Friday! Check out the latest single, “Darth Vader”.
The band is currently on tour — check out the dates below.
Tour Dates:
* = w/ Lowell
^ = w/ Gibbz
11/9: Waterloo, ON @ Maxwell’s*
11/10: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre*
11/11: Montréal, QC @ Théâtre Fairmount*
11/12: Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre*
11/16: Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid Cabaret*
11/17: Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ Pub*
11/18: Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room*
11/19: Calgary, AB @ The Gateway at SAIT*
11/22: Kelowna, BC @ Sapphire Nightclub*
11/23: Vancouver, BC @ Imperial*
11/24: Victoria, BC @ Sugar Nightclub*
11/26: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge ^
11/27: Seattle, WA @ Neumos ^
11/29: San Francisco, CA @ The Independent ^
11/30: West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy Theatre ^
12/2: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Bar ^
12/3: Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater ^
12/5: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry ^
12/6: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall ^
12/8: Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar ^
12/10: Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw ^
12/11: Boston, MA @ Royale Boston ^
NENA coming to America: it’s one of the great unrequited love stories of pop culture history.“99 Luftballons” was the first German-language song to enter the US charts since Marlene Dietrich, yet although the pop queen toured all over the world, she never made it over to the US to perform. NENA has continued to rule the charts in Germany with sixteen studio albums and countless hits, and now is finally her time to take America by storm.
In the 33 years since it was released, NENA’s “99 Luftballons” (“99 Red Balloons”) has had an unmatchable impact on popular and music culture. Although NENA never stopped making music – she’s had a three-and-a-half decade career of hits and 16 studio albums behind her in Germany – and has toured in countries as far as Japan, NENA never got to tour the US. It’s one of those flukes in music history where what should have happened didn’t happen. But in NENA’s own words, “…now’s the right time. It’s always now!…When you want to do something and it just doesn’t happen, you shouldn’t be sad or disappointed because, well, 35 years later, it happens! It’s perfect timing.”
At the heart of NENA is a rock’n’roller with unbeatable stage presence and energy to spare, whether she’s playing to regularly sold-out crowds at the biggest arenas or more intimate club venues. Just take a listen to NENA’s latest outing – the excellent, energetic and rocking live album Live at SO36, recorded during a within-minutes sold-out concert at the famed Berlin club SO36. The opening rocking riffs of “Noch Einmal” NENA struck on her Telecaster sent out a shockwave of energy that carries through an entire night. From pure rockers to new-wave favorites to the touching ballads that fans sing along word-for-word, NENA can electrify a crowd with her incomparable, instantly recognizable voice and her own brand of rock’n’roll that includes influences of The Ramones, Blondie, and Talking Heads, among many others. The dancing never lets up with NENA until the lights finally go on at the end of the night. That’s what NENA is going to ultimately bring to the US – an amazing live energy that can shake an entire audience to its core.
She’s captured the hearts of Germany: her numerous top ten hits and 25 million sold records are proof of that. Now it’s time to share that with America. NENA’s most recent studio album, Oldschool, is the perfect fusion of her constant drive for artistic development and genuine authenticity. Produced and co-written by German hip-hop superstar Samy Deluxe, it blisters with a sense of immediacy and newness while especially playing lyrically with references to her past.
NENA has never been a nostalgia act; she still delivers onstage an exhilarating mix of her amazing and expansive discography. With that much spark, it’s a recipe for an utterly mind-blowing evening. American fans that missed the opportunity to see NENA when they were first introduced to her now have that chance. To paraphrase her latest single, there’s no time like “Genau jetzt” (right now).
NENA will be playing San Francisco on September 30, Los Angeles on October 2, and New York City on October 4.
NYC-based, indie-pop duo MS MR has announced that their debut album, Second Hand Rapture, will be released May 14th in the U.S. on Columbia Records. Lizzy Plapinger (MS) and Max Hershenow (MR) began their musical collaboration in December of 2010, recording in secrecy, at Hershenow’s home studio in Brooklyn, NY over the course of 2011. Produced by Hershenow, with additional production and mix by Tom Elmhirst, Second Hand Rapture is comprised of 12 tracks and includes the band’s debut single “Hurricane.”
In May of 2012 MS MR mysteriously released the eye-catching video for their single “Hurricane” (I posted it here) which was named “Best New Track” by Pitchfork and has since skyrocketed to over 1 million views. Noteworthy media outlets across the world were instantly captivated by the then unknown act’s compelling blend of nostalgic, atmospheric pop. “Hurricane” was the first of three additional tracks (“Bones,” “Dark Doo Wop,” and “Ash Tree Lane”, exclusive remixes by Twin Shadow, Tom Vek, Chet Faker and Charli XCX and music videos) released off of the band’s critically acclaimed debut EP Candy Bar Creep Show. Debuted via a unique widget on MS MR’s Tumblr, the duo received praise for their unconventional EP to which The Guardian noted, “prepare to be blown away” and the Wall Street Journal raved, “a very promising debut.”
Having toured with Marina and the Diamonds and Grouplove last year, the band will make their debut this year at SXSW, perform at NYC’s Governor’s Ball and plan to tour through the release of their new album this summer.
The wait for the Santigold’s album, Master of My Make Believe, is almost over! Today she releases the first official single, “Disparate Youth.” Produced by Santigold and Ricky Blaze, the track is a contemporary rebel song with a new spin on punk & reggae that underscores its message of pushing through all roadblocks and claim “a life worth fighting for.”
Last month Santigold released the video and MP3 for “Big Mouth” to great acclaim. Santi calls out all trash-talkers on “Big Mouth,” with a schoolyard taunt melody backed by an explosive carnival beat that will shake the streets from Bed-Stuy to Baja. The track was produced by Switch and Buraka Som Systema and is available for free download at www.santigold.com. If you’re heading to SXSW this year, be sure not to miss her there!
Click image to stream the new single "East Harlem"
Beirut announces its first album in four years with The Rip Tide, set for release on August 30th.
The Rip Tide marks a dramatic and intimate shift from The Flying Club Cup (2007) and his “stop-off in Mexico” by way of the March of the Zapotec EP (2009). The album will feature “East Harlem” and “Goshen,” which appear on the band’s new limited edition single out NOW.
The Rip Tide will be released internationally and independently on Pompeii Records (via Revolver in the US), a label started, and wholly owned by Beirut’s Zach Condon with no large label affiliation whatsoever, so as to keep total creative control.
YACHT have already released their apocalyptic-themed synth-pop anthem “Dystopia (The Earth is on Fire)” and now that
the rapture hasn’t actually destroyed the earth the duo are ready to share its companion track “Utopia.” Click HEREto give it a listen. Both songs will appear on YACHT’s forthcoming new album and second for DFA Records, Shangri-La (out June 21st).
“Utopia” is both thematically and sonically different from “Dystopia.” The track is a frantic piece of arty disco funk. YACHT’s Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans fuse their vocals to create appropriately celestial-sounding harmonies. Multiple layers of keys, guitars, drums, and more pound away in varying rhythms while the two sing lines like “there’s nothing in the future / it’s up to us to make utopia.”
YACHT will be joining bands like Guided by Voices, Wavves, Atlas Sound, and more as part of Brooklyn’s Northside Festival. YACHT’s show will be at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Midnight Magic, The Miracles Club, and DFA DJ’s on Sunday, June 19th.
On Shangri-La, (the new album out June 21st) YACHTasserts that the future is a blank slate upon which anything can be imposed.
Shangri-Laargues that “Paradise is kinetic potential, a latency within us that has been eaten alive by time.” In line with the existing emphasis on self-empowerment in the YACHTphilosophy, YACHT’s idea of “Utopia” is personal. They believe that the only real sustainable paradise is in our minds, and hence creative output can be a tangible piece of the Utopia within each individual.
Shangri-Laliterally is YACHT’s Utopia, a place made of songs.
YACHT US Tour Dates:
04/13/11 San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club
04/15/11 Indio, CA – Coachella
04/17/11 Marfa, TX – Padre’s
04/19/11 Austin, TX – Emo’s
04/20/11 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
04/22/11 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
04/23/11 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
04/24/11 Richmond, VA – The National
04/25/11 Washington, DC – Black Cat
04/26/11 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
04/27/11 New York, NY – Webster Hall
04/29/11 Providence, RI – The Met Cafe
04/30/11 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
05/01/11 Montreal, QC – Cabaret Du Mile End
05/02/11 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
05/04/11 Columbus, OH – Wexner Center
05/05/11 Chicago, IL – Metro
05/06/11 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
05/07/11 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
05/09/11 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
05/10/11 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
05/12/11 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
05/13/11 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
05/14/11 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
05/15/11 Astoria, OR – Fort George Brewery
Last year I encouraged you to check out Glasnost. They did a remix of La Roux‘s “Bulletproof” that was pretty sick. Seemingly, most people have gotten to know the group for their recently released remixes. Yet, aside from producing killer dance floor remixes, Glasnost is also a live, four piece, electro pop band and DJ crew. Now they’ve released their newest original track, “Corridor.”
Their influences include Cut Copy, New Order, MSTRKRFT and Midnight Juggernauts. Glasnost remixes have been exciting blogs and dance floors worldwide. While releasing other “Glastnostized” renditions of tracks like Tiga’s “What you Need” and most recently Metric’s “Hands,” the band’s been busy producing their next collection of original tracks for their forthcoming album, Decade, due to release in late April. (AND right now they are at SXSW!)
British band on the rise, Clock Opera will release their beautiful new single “Belongings” on May 9th via UK label Moshi Moshi (known for the early championship of acts like Florence and the Machine), as well as making their way across the pond to Austin’s SXSW to showcase their dynamic live show which is garnering them praise and fans in leaps and bounds.
Produced by front man Guy Connelly, “Belongings” is already a highlight of their live set; an incredibly beautiful and emotive song, while the b-side is the understated brooding and delicate “Let Go The Lifeboats.”
They have supported the likes of Yeasayer and Au Revoir Simone on their UK tours and have also delivered inspired remixes for the aforementioned artists as well as reinterpretations of The Drums and The Golden Filter. Clock Opera will be performing at this year’s SXSW festival for the first time, and wrapping up recording their debut album slated to see release later this year.
The last album from The Go! Team was Proof of Youthin 2007. In January next year, we’ll get a new album, Rolling Blackouts. This album will have spots featuring Satomi Matsuzaki from Deerhoof and Bethany Cosentino from Best Coast.
Click here to check out Pitchfork’s interview with Ian Parton AND listen to the new single “T.O.R.N.A.D.O.”
Musically Amusing 