Pomegranates’ set to Release "One Of Us"

ZACH THAT:

Very excited for this release:

New York, NY – Cincinnati, Ohio’s Pomegranates are set to release their third full-length studio album – One Of Us – on October 26th on Afternoon Records.  The new album is their first for Afternoon Records and was co-produced by the band and TJ Lipple of Aloha (MGMT, Headlights, Minus Story), who also mixed and mastered the record.  Pomegranates will kick off a US tour on September 15th and the three month long trek which starts off with Colour Revolt, will include a performance at this year’s CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival.

Formed in 2006, the young indie band quickly distinguished itself with its mesmerizing art-pop compositions, eliciting acclaim from My Old Kentucky Blog (“Sweet, sweet sounds are pop honey to my ears”), massive support from WOXY.com and invitations to tour from the French Kicks, Islands and Jimmy Eat World.  Pomegranates’ 2008 full-length debut, Everything Is Alive, was hailed as “shimmering” by SPIN, which noted: “the 11-track collection shows a youthful, open-eared quartet enlivened with a kick-ass record collection, ceiling-less imagination, ragged guitars, and songwriting chops for days.”

In 2009, Pomegranates followed up their debut with Everybody, Come Outside! – a concept album that prompted Daytrotter to observer: “Pomegranates is a band that already, over the course of two records, has shown itself to be of the highest ambition and they’ve already successfully executed some wonderful maneuvers, tightening a sound that is still mostly delightful experimentation…to create something that really does border on true elegance.”

The band followed the new release with loads of touring and following a stellar performance at this year’s SXSW, SPIN once again weighed in favorably and picked Pomegranates as “Best Bid At the Big Time.”   In addition, this show earned them an interview with the renowned BBC Radio One who subsequently started playing the band on their channel.

Enter fall 2010 and the Pomegranates continue to broaden their sonic palette with One of Us.  The band employs strings for the first time (“The Positive Light”) and experiments with instrumentation throughout to conjure up what they describe as “weird fever dream-type sounds.”  There is also a kind of exquisitely organic ebb and flow that permeates the entire album starting with the first song and title track.  In addition, the albums’ lead single is the raucous rave-up “Prouncer” which is a nod to the early 80’s and features the call and response vocals of Joey Cook and Isaac Karns – who trade off on vocals throughout the album.

Pomegranates are Joey Cook (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Isaac Karns (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Jacob Merritt (drums) and Dan Lyon (guitars).  They will hit the road forever in support of this amazing new release.

One of Us track listing
1. One of Us
2. 50′s
3. White Fawn
4. Prouncer
5. Perception
6. Create Your Own Reality
7. Anywhere You Go
8. Between Two Dreams
9. The Positive Light
10. Demond
11. Venus
12. Skull Cakin’
13. Into the Water, Into the Air

Pomegranates Upcoming Tour Dates with Colour Revolt:
9/15: Cleveland, OH - Case Western Reserve University
9/16: Grand Rapids, MI - Calvin College
9/17: Chicago, IL -  Schubas
9/18:  Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin
9/21:  Minneapolis, MN -7th Street Entry
9/22:  Iowa City, IA -  Blue Moose Lodge
9/23: St. Louis, MO – Firebird

Pomegranates Upcoming Tour Dates:
10/6: Macon, GA – The 567
10/7: Atlanta, GA – Star Bar
10/8: Charleston, SC – Tin Roof
10/9: West Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
10/10: Charlotte, NC – The Milestone
10/11 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
10/12: Washington, DC – Black Cat
10/14: Philadelphia, PA – The M Room
10/15: New Haven, CT – Lily Pad
10/16: Portland, ME – Empire
10/17: Danbury, CT – Cousin Larry’s
10/18: Allston, MA – Great Scott
10/20: Pittsburgh, PA – Garfield Artworks
10/21:  New York, NY - CMJ
10/22:  New York, NY - The Rock Shop
10/23: The Lemon Grove – Youngstown, OH

Pomegranates Upcoming Tour Dates with Oh No Oh My:
11/1: Chicago, IL – The Empty Bottle
11/2: Madison, WI – The Frequency
11/4: Minneapolis, MN – University of Minnesota
11/5: Lincoln, NE – Zoo Bar
11/6: Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge
11/7: Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
11/8: Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
11/9: Missoula, MT – Badlander
11/10: Spokane, WA – Empryean Coffee
11/11: Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern
11/12: Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
11/14: Santa Cruz, CA – The Crepe Place
11/15: San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
11/16: Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Theater
11/17: San Diego, CA – The Cabash
11/18: Phoenix, AZ – Rythem Room
11/19: El Paso, TX – Black Market
11/20: Austin, TX – Mohawk
11/21: Denton, TX – Hailey’s
11/22: Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone
11/23: Lexington, KY – The Dame
11/24: Cincinnati, OH – Southgate House

Slow Animal - "theFUNsun" (Music Video)

ZACH THAT:

via p4k

Discographies

HANK ALTOGETHER:

I don't do this whole Twitter thing, but Discographies is fucking hilarious. And at times, sublime. See how they break down other bands here.

Some other favs:

Tom Waits: 1-7 scoobly-deebly bop-a-roonie, you dig?; 7-12 Captain Beefheart for girls; 13-16 Jimmy Durante for anyone under the age of 85.

Pavement: 1 the idea of "a band"; 2 the idea of "an album"; 3 the idea of "songs"; 4 the reality of "a career"; 5 the idea of "going solo."

The Arcade Fire: 1-2 At last, the indie-rock "Riverdance"!; 3 has eight different covers--one for each person who still buys physical music.

Animal Collective: 1-4 "Upon dosing, subjects exhibited disorientation..." 5-7 "...gradually resolving into..." 8 "...clarity and euphoria."

MUST WATCH: Parlovr - "Pen To Paper" (Music Video)

ZACH THAT:

"As promised. Our fun little hommage to pixies' velouria and, er, flaming lips?" - Parlovr

Parlovr - Pen to the Paper from *safe solvent™ on Vimeo.

Woohoo! I just got my Marissa Nadler Handmade Covers CD!

HANK ALTOGETHER:

It's understated, but pretty as is Nadler's vintage languid musical style. You might remember us talking about this a few weeks ago. Now, it's finally here. Nadler's selling them here, on her Etsy site. You can get your own. The proceeds go to Nadler recording her new album, which is something else we all need.

For the tracklist, see the next photo.

15 Favorite Bandcamp Tracks

ZACH THAT:
We all know I have a crush on Joanna Newsom, but outside that Bandcamp might be stealing my heart.  Every band that isn't signed to a label (even those who are) should be on this clean site that easily distributes music.  For the musician: it's easily customizable, great stat read outs, and 100% of all sales go to the artists.  For the listener: full track streams, amazing sharing and embedding capabilities (look how cool the list below looks), and simple pay pal purchasing power.  I'm not going to say Bandcamp is perfect, would love some way to browse the site to find new music, but it's pretty close.  Below in alphabetical order are my 15 favorite tracks on Bandcamp.  As always, if you like what you hear, throw the musicians a little cash love.  Enjoy:

WAVVES - Post Acid (MUSIC VIDEO)

ZACH THAT:

You have to go HERE and tweet or facebook it for access.  John Norris makes a cameo.

TRACK OF THE DAY: Deer Tick - "Piece By Piece, Frame By Frame"

ZACH THAT:

Deer Tick - "Piece By Piece, Frame By Frame"

DEER TICK

Wed-Oct-06    Chapel Hill, NC    Local 506
Thu-Oct-07    Athens, GA    40 Watt Club *#
Fri-Oct-08    Greenville, SC    Fall For Greenville *
Sat-Oct-09    Auburn, AL    Bourbon Street *
Sun-Oct-10    Birmingham, AL    Zydeco
Mon-Oct-11    New Orleans, LA    One Eyed Jacks
Tue-Oct-12    Houston, TX    The Bronze Peacock Room @ House of Blues
Wed-Oct-13    Austin, TX    Emo's
Thu-Oct-14    Laredo, TX    Old No. 2
Sat-Oct-16    Tempe, AZ    Sail Inn
Sun-Oct-17    San Diego, CA    The Loft / UCSD
Tue-Oct-19    Los Angeles, CA    El Rey
Wed-Oct-20    San Francisco, CA    Regency Ballroom
Thu-Oct-21    Portland, OR    Crystal Ballroom
Fri-Oct-22    Vancouver, BC    Biltmore Cabaret %
Sat-Oct-23    Bellingham, WA    Wild Buffalo
Sun-Oct-24    Seattle, WA    Neumos
Tue-Oct-26    Salt Lake City, UT    Urban Lounge
Wed-Oct-27    Denver, CO    Larimer Lounge
Thu-Oct-28    Omaha, NE    TBD
Fri-Oct-29    Minneapolis, MN    Triple Rock Social Club
Sat-Oct-30    Chicago, IL    Bottom Lounge
Tue-Nov-02    Washington, DC    Black Cat
Wed-Nov-03    Philadelphia, PA    First Unitarian Church

* = w/ JASON ISBELL
# = w/ Blitzen Trapper, Malcomb Holcolmbe
% = w/ Phosphorescent

"Daydreaming" MG&V song performed by John McCauley of Deer Tick with Mountain Man from Partisan Records on Vimeo.

Starfucker Signs To Polyvinyl/Releases 7"

ZACH THAT:

Starfucker - "Julius"

FROM POLYVINYL:

Led by principal songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Hodges, Starfucker has received almost as much attention for its immensely accessible dance hooks than for its not-always-accessible moniker.

Yet, despite selling out shows from coast to coast behind its critically acclaimed self-titled debut album and follow-up EP Jupiter, the members of Starfucker were constantly being told that their name was holding them back from bigger and better things.

And so, at the insistence of those around them, the group invited fans to send in suggestions for a new name before finally settling on Pyramiddd. The change was short-lived.

Having now firmly settled on Starfucker once again, the focus can now rightly return to what got people talking in the first place: their endlessly catchy, hook-laden pop.

And there's no better place for that conversation to begin than with "Julius" -- the first single from the band's upcoming full-length (to be released in early 2011 on Polyvinyl).

A darker and more groove oriented track than anything the band has recorded to date, the song was initially recorded in Hodges' bedroom before the band entered the Odditorium (the studio established by The Dandy Warhols) to add flourishes and finishing touches with producer Jacob Portrait (Mint Chicks, The Dandy Warhols).

PREORDER

MGMT - "Congratulations" (MUSIC VIDEO)

ZACH THAT:

The Roots (ft. Jim James) - "Dear God 2.0" (Video)

Seriously, how great and constantly surprising is this Roots album?

REVIEW: Sufjan Stevens - "All Delighted People" EP

Sufjan Stevens - "All Delighted People" EP

Release Date: Aug. 20, 2010

Get it here.

Incomplete

HANK ALTOGETHER:

No grass grows under Sufjan Stevens' feet. From A Sun Came to The BQE, Stevens has managed to carve out possible careers from a classical composer to an electronic artist. But what Sufjan is probably best known for is his "50 States Project" which turned out only 2 states, and 4 albums, Michigan and Illinois and their collections of songs that didn't fit on the albums Seven Swans and The Avalanche (respectively). There's a beguiling simple beauty to each of these albums. A sort of populist songwriting that manages to touch on history, folksy wisdom, sentiment, and complex arrangement at the same time. Equal parts Carl Sandburg and Leonard Bernstein, these albums evoke the true Americana that they can't be sold in Cracker Barrel -- a country that is oddly naive, glorious, and (in the best of Sufjan's songs like "Romulus" and "Casmir Pulaski Day") tragic. Connected to land, people and faith. It's no secret that Stevens is a devout person and that this faith pervades his recordings. And perhaps, it's surprising that he's managed to become such an integral figure in indie rock given his religious leanings. In a scene steeped in irony, listlessness, and ambivalence, Stevens is sincere, ambitious, and prayerful.

So, when the All Delighted People EP hit the web on Friday, available from Stevens' bandcamp page (streaming and for purchase), it's no wonder that we all took notice. For one, Steven's has insinuated himself as one of the true poets working in music today. And for second, no one had ANY idea this was coming.

All Delighted People is less a conceptual exercise and more a collection of songs like concert mainstay "The Owl and The Tanager" and the titular "All Delighted People" and it's remixed versions. In this case, it seems that Stevens has put the cart before the horse, releasing a collection of songs that (probably) won't make it onto his next LP slated for later this fall (?). But, like most of the stuff Sufjan does, there's nothing small about this EP. The 8 tracks clock in just short of an hour including the epic 17-min long track "Djohariah." So, as a collection of odds and ends, it's still pretty hefty.

And, as a collection, there are parts that shine more than others. The biggest hit is the aforementioned "Djohariah" which has shades of "Sister" from Seven Swans but manages to cram more notes into 17 minutes than you could think possible. It's also probably the most lyrically engaging of the batch. The same goes for the ponderous "Arnika" which pushes out of tune noodling together with character sketches. It's here that we see what's possibly the next direction of Sufjan's work -- less epic and more biographical. Not about states but about people.

That said overall this album feels like Sufjan is a little tired of his states schtick. "All Delighted People" sounds less delighted and more like an obligation as in "I'm supposed to make you make you feel how joyous this is." It crosses into Christian sing-along territory more than anything else he's ever written. And the evocation of Simon and Garfunkel seems to signal a break with the troubadour tradition. Stevens' is too studied to see himself in the folksinger vein. And as the allusion to "Sound of Silence" shows, he's more interested in contrast than homage.

For someone that we've heard make huge music intimate and intimate music huge in an almost effortless manner, this EP feels like it took the most effort. As a collection, I'm not sure if it's possible to rate it without something more conceptual behind it. So, it gets an incomplete grade from me. Not for lack of listening, but because I'm waiting for what comes next.

TRACK OF THE DAY: Violens - "Acid Reign"

ZACH THAT:

Violens - "Acid Reign"

Violens - Amoral (Friendly Fire / Static Recital) Street date: Nov. 2, 2010

Future Islands - Vireo's Eye (Acoustic Live Video)

ZACH THAT:

Future Islands - Vireo's Eye (acoustic) from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.

WLFY 3rd Birthday NYC Show @ Pianos 9.11.2010

Ted Leo Continues To Be Awesome

ZACH THAT:

Reginald VanVoorst! 

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists - "Bottled In Cork" (Official Video) from John Hodgman

Track of the Day: Black Mountain - "Hair Song"

Black Mountain - "Hair Song"

Wilderness Heart comes out Sept. 14 via Jagjaguwar

New Sufjan EP!

Who knew? Get it here. $5 American.

 

Is that Dave Navarro?

I think it is. You tell me.

To quote Scott Aukerman from the sublime "Comedy Death Ray" -- "why do people do comedy songs?" This one's pretty funny and nicely done.

Track Of The Day: Indian Rebound - "Make You Mine"

ZACH THAT:

Indian Rebound - "Make You Mine"

From WAWSTSF:

Earlier this summer I introduced you to a young up and coming NYC duo known as Indian Rebound. The band consists of Ethan Levenson & John Kallen, two friends who have an incredible gift for penning youthful anthems full of depth. It’s hard to believe that something this good is coming from two high school kids. Well, you better start believing it. Indian Rebound have got the goods.

They first caught my attention with an honest set of demos that showed plenty of promise. This week they posted their first single release on their myspace: “Make You Mine/I’m Not Yours”. Both songs are exuberant displays of strong songwriting and smart musicianship that is as focused and solid as they come. These guys are the real deal.

I once called Indian Rebound a mix of Girls and Elliot Smith, and I still stand behind this statement. With strong songwriting, and an obvious ode to 60s/70s california rock, the band creates a sound with timeless appeal. After drawing inspiration from the classics, the band was able to create a sound that is familiar, yet completely fresh. With tight interplay between Ethan’s guitar riffs and John’s timely percussion, there are plenty of tight hooks and melodies to pack a devastating punch. (It should be noted that they record as a full band in the studio).

The boys recorded two more songs during the same sessions that brought “Make You Mine/I’m Not Yours”. You can hear one of them “Sunshine” over at their myspace. They allowed me to share “Make You Mine” with you guys for free as their first legal download ever. You can stream “I’m Not Yours” right below it. These songs are as equally impressive as they are instantly gratifying. One can only imagine what they can do over time.

Don’t let Indian Rebound get out of your radar. They are most certainly one to watch over the next couple of years.

Download: Avi Buffalo - "Truth Sets In" & "Coaxed" (Acoustic)

(photo via)

HANK ALTOGETHER:

Like Dent May's album last year, we're one of the few people still waving the Avi Buffalo flag high above the Avi Buffalo bandwagon. We were afraid they were going to break up, but looks like there's a fall headlining tour & two lovely acoustic versions of "Truth Sets in" & "Coaxed"

Tracks here.

Tour:

Wed Oct 6 Nashville, TN Exit/In
Thu Oct 7 Birmingham, AL Bottletree
Fri Oct 8 Orlando, FL The Social w/ Blitzen Trapper
Sat Oct 9 Tallahassee, FL Club Downunder w/ Blitzen Trapper
Mon Oct 11 Washington DC Rock and Roll Hotel
Wed Oct 13 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Fri Oct 15 Boston, MA Middle East Upstairs
Sat Oct 16 Montreal, CAN Il Motore
Mon Oct 18 Toronto, CAN Horseshoe
Tue Oct 19 Detroit, MI Majestic
Wed Oct 20 Chicago, IL Schubas
Thu Oct 21 Minneapolis, MN 7th Entry
Sat Oct 23 Omaha, NE Slowdown
Mon Oct 25 Denver, CO Hi Dive
Tue Oct 26 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
Fri Oct 29 Vancouver BC The Biltimore
Sat Oct 30 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
Tue Nov 2 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
Thu Nov 4 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill

Of Montreal - Coquet Coquette (Official MUISC VIDEO)

ZACH THAT:

You saw it here first:

Track of the Day: Dent May - "Eastover Wives"

Dent May - "Eastover Wives"

Order the 7" here.

Mountain Man (Stunning Videos)

Pitchfork rolled out these amazing videos of Mountain Man playing three songs.  The production team is called Archer's Mark and they make Yours Truly/Take Away Shows (two of the top music production teams) looks shameful in comparison.  This has to be the front runner for best live music video of 2010.  Shocked by the beauty of the frame.  Their is a section toward the end of "Dog Song" where one of the singer's hair starts to gently move with the wind...I'm stunned.  Going back to watch again.

WATCH THEM HERE

Track of the Day: The Swell Season - "Young Hearts Run Free" (Candi Staton Cover)

The Swell Season - "Young Hearts Run Free" (Candi Staton Cover)

(via)

The Henry Clay People Announce US Fall Tour

ZACH THAT:

This is simple:

The Henry Clay People wrote one of the best albums of 2010 (REVIEW).  It was grossly underrated.  They are amazing live.  They have a full fall tour.  BE THERE:

September 11 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
September 12 - Tempe, AZ - The Yucca Tap Room
September 16 - Tuscaloosa, AL - The Dixie*
September 17 - Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall*
September 19 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre*
September 22 - Mobile, AL - Soul Kitchen*
September 23 - Houston, TX - House of Blues*
September 24 - Austin, TX - Stubb's BBQ*
September 25 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues*
September 26 - Kansas City, MO - Crossroads*
September 28 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theater*
September 29 - Iowa City, IA - The Englert Theatre*
September 30 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue*
October 1 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater*
October 2 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant*
October 3 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue*
October 7 - Morgantown, WV - Mountainlair Ballroom*
October 10 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
October 12 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
October 13 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
October 14 - Washington, D.C. - Black Cat Backstage
October 15 - Philadelphia, PA - Kungfu Necktie
October 16 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
October 17 - Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's Place
October 19 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
October 22 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
October 23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
October 25 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
October 26 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
October 28 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill

*with Drive-By Truckers

FYF Fest Looks Mindblowing

ZACH THAT:

FYF FEST 2009 from CATJAM Studio on Vimeo.

When I was living in Los Angeles, FYF was a great echo park festival but this year they're going all out.  This is one of the best non-major festival lineups I've seen in years.  For a cool 25 bucks you can see The Rapture, !!!, Man Man, Thee Oh Sees, The Mountain Goats, Ted Leo, Local Natives, Cults, Magic Kids, and others.  Those are the acts I would see, but they also have WLFY shrug artists Panda Bear, Ariel Pink, and Best Coast (I mention them because I'm sure tons of people love them).  I can't think of a better way to celebrate the Labor Day weekend, so go buy some tickets.

Track of the Day: Grouper - "Hold"

GROUPER -- Hold by ROOM40

Buy it here.

What to Do for a Loved One

HANK ALTOGETHER:

First, the news.

November 2, Kill Rock Stars will release An Introduction to... The subject of this retrospective needs no intro on this blog. It's Elliott Smith. The CD and vinyl will include 14 tracks pulled from Elliott's 7 studio releases.

Track list:

1 Ballad of Big Nothing - from Either/Or
2. Waltz #2 - from XO
3. Pictures of Me - from Either/Or
4. The Biggest Lie - from Elliott Smith
5. Alameda - from Either/Or
6. Between The Bars - from Either/Or
7. Needle In The Hay - from Elliott Smith
8. Last Call - from Roman Candle
9. Angles - from Either/Or
10. Twilight - from From a Basement on the Hill
11.Pretty (Ugly Before) - from From a Basement on the Hill
12. Angel In the Snow - from New Moon
13. Miss Misery (early version) - from New Moon
14. Happiness (single version) - from Figure 8

Now the commentary.

On Oct. 21 it will have been 7 years since Elliott passed away. And in that time I've had a difficult time trying to figure out what to do with his death and his memory. Perhaps it had to do with the odd and sudden way that he killed himself. Perhaps because his music is so foundational to my own understanding of music, and by extension my understanding of myself. In many ways I feel like I measured my own growth from high school to college to grad school with Elliott records: Either/Or in high school, xo and Figure 8 college, and some weeks after I moved to Santa Barbara for grad school Elliott died and I was left with From a Basement on a Hill. I've mused before (about a rumored album that would include the rest of the Basement recordings which didn't make the New Moon cut) that it felt as if we were profiting off Smith's death. In that post, I tried to describe how fans might feel torn about the demoed, but never properly done, tracks. Could you call a demo a new track if given without the consent of the artist?

The bottom line for me is that I'll never listen to Elliott Smith the same way again. And so, upon receiving the news of this "Introduction" to his work I don't understand why Kill Rock Stars is doing this.

Of course, the reasons are probably rather simple: 1. Introduce a new generation to Elliott's work. 2. Bank some cash (which for an indie label is no small thing). In fact, Kill Rock Stars (Smith's longtime label) has made a move to be the label securing Elliott's legacy. In December, they added Roman Candle (originally out on Cavity Search) and From a Basement... (originally on ANTI-) to their catalog, which resulted in a reissue of Roman Candle. These moves along with their release of New Moon -- a collection of b-sides and songs not finished before Elliott's demise -- has positioned them as the primary curator of Elliott's work and, most likely, those who hold his most important albums (Elliott Smith and Either/Or).

If there's a reason that the Introduction to... album might seem redundant, it's probably because it is. There already is an introduction to Elliott Smith. It's the 1997 movie Good Will Hunting, which Gus Van Sant used to show Portland's Smith to the rest of America. And the next thing you know, Smith was nominated for an Oscar alongside Canadian blow-hard Celine Dion. Smith's songs still shine in that film. No movie since The Graduate has used a songwriter's works in conjunction with film so powerfully.

I'm wary of "Greatest Hits" albums to begin with (obviously these aren't "hits" but it's the same idea). How can you take a song out of the context of an album and expect it to hold up? You wouldn't rip chapters out of books and put them together to make "The Greatest Words of Proust." Pavement's recent Quarantine the Past was a logical move for a band that hadn't been together in years and was going on tour and thus needed something new to sell. So, what about Smith who'll never tour again?

This album is less about the past as it is about the future about preserving Smith's work. But this isn't the way to do it. For one thing, the track list is questionable. Why the demo of "Miss Misery" and not the resplendent Oscar-nomed version? But really, I can't think of any way to do the track list that would satisfy -- why have a collection of things when you could reissue entire albums? Perhaps with tracks like "Division Day" or the acoustic version of "Son of Sam" to create an actual artifact of Elliott's work in one place. As a fan, I think that Kill Rock Stars (which I might add is one of my favorite labels) has a responsibility to the memory of Smith and the perseverance of his music. This album doesn't come close to living up to what a label in their position should do.

There is one other possible reason for this collection. That the proceeds from the record will go to a charity of Elliott's family's choosing. After his death, their was a fund set up, if memory serves for homeless and then another fund which proceeds from New Moon were directed to which served music education. (UPDATE: It's called the Elliott Smith Memorial Fund and you can find out about it here.) And, because I can't find anything to confirm this, I'm dubious but hopeful that this is the true reason for the "introduction." If you work for Kill Rock Stars, please contact us and let me know if this is the case. If it is I'll retract this post. Because for me, it's about what you do for a loved one. This feels like rearranging someone's furniture after they die, not seeing that they live on.

Elliott took his own life. It's up to us to make sure that isn't where his work ends.

Alden Penner - The Hidden Words (Videos)

ZACH THAT: 

Alden Penner - The Hidden Words from Video Marsh on Vimeo.

Unreleased/Remixed Starfucker Songs

ZACH THAT:

Click HERE To Listen

"I put some new songs up on the SKELETRON page. Mostly some mash up's with unreleased starfucker songs."

Summer Camp - "Round The Moon" (Music Video)

ZACH THAT:

This video and song makes me happy for art.

SUMMER CAMP - Round the Moon from Paddy Power on Vimeo.

VIA GVB
Here’s the brand new clip for the soaring, synth-driven first single from Summer Camp’s forthcoming EP, Young. “Round the Moon” sounds like it could’ve been lifted from one of the classic ’80s teen flicks the duo is so fond of sampling, so these visuals (a “Niles East production,” by the way) feel tailor-made. The excellent Young EP is out early next month on Moshi Moshi, with a Round the Moon 7″ following on September 13.

Two MP3s From Burnt Ones

ZACH THAT:

Instead of just one "track of the day" we are happy to have two gems from Burnt Ones.  The music is a must listen and must buy.  Here are the tracks and details:

Burnt Ones - "Kaleidoscope Eyes"

Burnt Ones - "Burnt To Lose"

BUY FROM ROARING COLONEL RECORDS

On August 10, 2010, My Old Kentucky Blog's recently launched label, Roaring Colonel Records, will release Black Teeth & Golden Tongues, the debut album from San Francisco-via-Indianapolis trio Burnt Ones. Hot on the heels of the All Night Long 7-inch (RCR001), Black Teeth & Golden Tongues is a self-produced, 11-song trip through wall of sound séances and blissed out rock 'n' roll, with doses of psych, sun, spit and girl group worship. Too boomy to be lo-fi and certainly not hi-fi, Burnt Ones want to go steady with your ears and leave your mind at home.

Burnt Ones fuzzed out rock 'n' roll is built on hazy melodies and sleazed-out electric rhythm. Their sound recalls Brian Wilson at his most Phil Spector obsessed, the warped pop ears of Joe Meek, sleazy T. Rex stomp and a little Spacemen 3 thrown in for good measure, while staying within throwing distance of like-minded groups such as Thee Oh Sees, Dum Dum Girls and Ty Segall.

Burnt Ones will be touring throughout the later half of 2010 and throughout 2011 in support of Black Teeth & Golden Tongues, with more 7-inches and limited releases due throughout the next year.

Track Of The Day: Cheyenne Marie Mize - "Best"

ZACH THAT:

Cheyenne Marie Mize - "Best"

Cheyenne Marie Mize’s debut full-length album, Before Lately, is by no means
her first foray into music. She is what some would consider an “old soul,” at
least in musical terms. Cheyenne’s hometown of Louisville, KY is known for
pushing the boundaries of the homegrown sound. A sound that is continuously
redefined by Mize, and her friends and contemporaries Ben Sollee, Will
Oldham’s alter-ego Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and Jim James of My Morning
Jacket crafting music that is an amalgamation of contradictions – rugged and
gentle, innocent and forlorn, spacious and intimate, desolate and uplifting.

Her introduction to the world as a solo artist came in the form of a joint EP
recorded with Bonnie “Prince” Billy, in whose band she was a touring member.
The two handpicked a collection of 19th century American parlor music for what
would become Among The Gold, and a subsequent tour with Ben Sollee to
promote his Sub Pop collaboration with Daniel Martin Moore earlier this year
further established Cheyenne as an artist to watch.

And now comes Before Lately, a collection of ten songs dripping in Cheyenne’s
honey-tinged vocals and raw emotion. The album begins with “Best” and
Cheyenne singing “I tried my hardest to be what you wanted/But now we
both see it was all for the best.” You can hear the truth in her voice and in
her instrumentation. The sparse instrumentation on “Rest” forces the listener
to sit back and hear her - really hear her. But there will be no arguments.

“Kind” features the playful warning “Do what you want to do/Say what you say/
But be kind/Because my heart is set on you.” There’s no mistaking her intent.
The stunning “With(out)” showcases the control that Cheyenne has in her
message. With a simple guitar, the song builds slowly on the emotionally honest
lyrics and her delivery. “I don’t know if I can do what it takes/ to be with you/
And I don’t know if I can take/what it does to me/to be without you.” A painful
dilemma wrapped up in a gorgeous song.

It’s the emotion, the delivery, the style, the grace that sets Cheyenne apart.
There is no mistaking the fact that Cheyenne is special. One listen of Before
Lately will convince you of that. Just try to not fall in love with her. Just try. She’ll
win you over every time. And you’ll be better for it.

Stream the whole album at Bandcamp

Bloggers Pick 14 Bands You Should Know

ZACH THAT:

I asked blogs to pick bands that excited them and here is the list:

Culture Belly - Crystal Fighters

Indie Shuffle - Ethan Kennedy

SFCritic - Pure Ecstasy

Song, by Toad - Eagleowl

The Blue Walrus - D/R/U/G/S

Tsururadio - Hard Drugs

Muruch - Gaba Kulka 

Songs:Illinois - Mike Behrend 

A Pocket Full Of Seeds - 60 Watt Kid

We All Want Someone To Shout For - Faded Paper Figures

Knox Road - Hands

OHH! SO FAMOUS! - Mikky Ekko 

Dysonsound - Kid:Nap:Kin

Reviler - Brute Heart

Cults: Do They Deserve The Buzz? Are They Good Live?

ZACH THAT:

In a few months, Cults went from being a band with three tracks on Bandcamp to having a 7” released on Forest Family Records, an Adult Swim produced music video, nation wide tour, and being the toast of thousands of blogs.  With this instant success, a cloud of skepticism followed the band…do they really deserve this buzz or is it manufactured?  A few hours before I saw the Cults here in Louisville, I posted a message on twitter and facebook saying: “Going to see Cults, let’s see what they’re worth.”  Within minutes I had fifty responses asking me to let them know how the show was…everyone seemed 50/50 on Cults…do they deserve what some bands struggle for years to obtain?  It’s impossible to know a band’s merit based on three tracks, so I decided the live show would settle it. 

Cults are the real deal.  I was expecting a cutesy two piece who couldn’t step outside the brilliant “Go Outside” and what I witnessed instead is a solid six piece that played music that transcended the buzz.  Frontwoman Madeline Follin has a majestic quality about her voice and stage presence that creates a hypnotic, yet toe tapping, live show.  Talking to Madeline after the show, the subject of Joe Meek came up and she admitted that as a kid she wore a shirt that read “Got Meek?”  This is not a band who cheated their way into music, their love for music runs deep and they have the knowledge of music history to smartly implement their favorite influences.  Guitar player Brian Oblivion and Madeline have an on stage relationship with the unique sounds they present that can only be described as special.  The backing band includes members from Willowz, one of my favorite bands of the early 2000’s and adds a perfect backdrop to the energy between Brian and Madeline.  The music, surprisingly, is unpredictable; weaving it’s way from 50’s prom music to 90’s stripped down indie rock.

I stood at the venue stunned.  This was not a blog creation, a band riding the wave of buzz, a group hiding behind their one known track.  I can say with a smile that Cults truly deserve everything that is coming to them and they are a magnificent band.  In the world of blog buzz, it’s fair to be skeptical of those bands that rise out of the blackhole of free mp3s.  After last night, I’m no longer concerned with how Cults deal with the buzz; rather I’m excited to see what one of the best new bands of 2010 does next.  Yes, they’re a real band…and they’re amazing.

Junip Tours with Sharon Van Etten

HANK ALTOGETHER:

Alumni of "Track of the Day," Junip has big news: a full-length and world tour. The full-length, Fields, is out Sept. 14 in the USA. You can check out the William Blake does 70s art cover above. And the world tour starts on 9/24 with quite a few stateside stops featuring none other than Marissa Nadler tour-mate and the WLFY drool-invoking Sharon Van Etten.

Check the dates here:

08-12 Gothenburg, Sweden - Way Out West Festival
08-13 Niederrhein, Germany - Haldern Pop Festival
08-14 Helsinki, Finland - Flow Festival
08-15 Leicester, England - Summer Sundae Festival
09-10 Berlin, Germany - Berlin Festival
09-24 Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gehfärlich
09-25 Leipzig, Germany - Central Theater
09-26 Vienna, Austria - Szene
09-27 Munich, Germany - Atomic Cafe
09-28 Zurich, Switzerland - Exil
09-29 Stuttgart, Germany - Club Schocken
10-01 Tourcoing, France - Grand Mix
10-02 Hasselt, Belgium - Mo Club
10-03 Bristol, England - Thekla
10-04 London, England - XOYO
10-06 Nottingham, England - Bodega Social Club
10-07 Manchester, England - Deaf Institute
10-08 Dublin, Ireland - Whelans
10-09 Glasgow, Scotland - The Arches
10-10 Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club
10-11 Brighton, England - Komedia
10-12 Cologne, Germany - Gebaeude 9
10-13 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Trouw
10-15 Reykjavik, Iceland - Iceland Airwaves
10-16 Copenhagen, Denmark - Lille Vega
11-01 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe *
11-02 Boston, MA - Royale Nightclub *
11-04 Montreal, Quebec - Belmont *
11-05 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's *
11-06 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
11-07 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center *
11-10 Seattle, WA - Neumos *
11-11 Vancouver, British Columbia - Venue *
11-12 Portland, OR - Doug Fir *
11-13 San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
11-14 Los Angeles, CA - Music Box at the Henry Fonda Theatre *
11-16 Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room *
11-18 Austin, TX - Mohawk *
11-19 Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's *
11-20 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon *
11-21 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
11-22 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *
11-23 Washington, DC - Black Cat
11-24 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
11-26 Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli
11-28 Paris, France - Cabaret Sauvage

* with Sharon Van Etten