DIANA - Born Again [VIDEO]

Whoa this video for DIANA's brilliant smooth 'n pop "Born Again" is like looking through the world with bizzaro sunglasses. It's a great song with some wayyy trippy visuals; lots of colors and flashes AKA that shit we all love. Their self-titled debut is on the way, out August 20th from Jagjaguwar.

Essential viewing:

HOT TRAXXX: Unknown Mortal Orchestra - So Good at Being in Trouble [STREAM]

Unknown Mortal Orchestra once again delivers on incredible production, musicianship and lyricism on "So Good at Being in Trouble", from February 5th's excellent II.

FUCK YEAH: Black Mountain - Mary Lou [MP3]

MP3: Black Mountain - Mary Lou

Black Mountain are back with a score to Year Zero, a sludge looking surf film that has a trailer you can watch here. Some of the soundtrack's songs are old and reworked, some are new - like "Mary Lou", and it's a definite keeper.

Sharon Van Etten - Serpents [MP3]

MP3: Sharon Van Etten - Serpents

Today brings the first taste of Sharon Van Etten's forthcoming LP3 (and Jagjaguwar debut) Tramp. Can't wait for this one, SVE's epic was one of last year's best and she totally fucking ripped when I saw her back in January or whenever it was.

Good to know that the winter will be a bit more bearable on February 7th, when Tramp is released. Sounds toasty.

FUCK YEAH: Time is cyclical.

MP3: Parts & Labor - Constant Future

Life is good: Matthew and I were just last night speaking about how we wish the new Parts & Labor record would leak, and this morning it did! Don't worry, Jagjaguwar, we'll buy the vinyl edition.

2011 is fast proving to be the year that rock and roll destroys everything and a new P&L LP is always a safe bet. "Constant Future" rules and is out March 8th.

FUCK YEAH: Ride, mother fuckers, ride.

MP3: Black Mountain - Let Spirits Ride

Black Mountain deliver their best album yet in "Wilderness Heart" and shine all over, but it's "Let Spirits Ride" that they reign supreme. Fuck yeah Friday!!

LONG HAIR

MP3: Black Mountain - The Hair Song

Black Mountain have described their forthcoming "Wilderness Heart" as their most metal and most folk record. While either of those (mostly the much salivated metal side) have yet to appear, opener "The Hair Song" is still some very, very solid shit. Can't wait to truly rock though!

FUCK YEAH: New Black Mountain

MP3: Black Mountain - Old Fangs

I love me some Pink Mountaintops and Lightning Dust, but man I've been ready for everybody to get back to it and record a new Black Mountain LP for what seems like ages.

Guess what? It is on mother fuckers: Wilderness Heart is the name of the game (that's the album art of the year up above) and will be out September 14th on Jagjaguwar. It's gonna rule, just like "Old Fangs" does.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #15 - Black Mountain

MP3: Black Mountain - Don't Run Our Hearts Around

#15 - Black Mountain - Black Mountain
Jagjaguwar 2005

Joey On Black Mountain:

This shit is right on. If I had a band it would be this band: stoner metal with drone chick and dude vocals, completely capable of taking it down a notch and then skullfucking you when you become complacent. Don't sleep on that new record too long homies.

Women Women Women

MP3: Women - Shaking Hand

I was certainly a casual observer of Women before I saw them live last week with Abe Vigoda, now I am a convert. Digging the album, but REALLY digging "Shaking Hand". What a fucking ripper eh?

FUCK YEAH: New Parts & Labor

MP3: Parts & Labor - Nowheres Nigh

Holy shit: Parts & Labor made a pop record! I was going to take today off to relax and bring some comics back to the library, but then I heard "Nowheres Nigh" off of the band's new record "Receivers" and I couldn't resist. Since we last left the dudes, they lost a drummer and picked one right up as well as a new addition in a guitarist to boot; not sure if that helped to spawn the sound they're producing right now or that I am forgetting that they were a constantly shifting musical group (probably the latter).

So be on the lookout tomorrow, I don't think anything worthwhile is coming out anyway. Just this gem. Run, don't walk. Or trip... seriously, be careful out there.

"Receivers" sees release tomorrow from Jagjaguwar.

{purchase parts & labor recordings from insound}

FUCK YEAH!: Parts & Labor

MP3: Parts & Labor - New Crimes

Fuck yeah Parts & Labor! Out next Tuesday, they deliver the follow up to 2006's "Stay Afraid" with the stellar "Mapmaker", 12 songs of brutal creativity. Everything that was fun and great about this band on the last lp is amplified on this one. The vocals flow better with the crazy guitars and electronics and the drums are even more nuts and exploding. I've had this record for a little while now and have been waiting to make a post because each song is great. It's hard to choose, because this is an ALBUM where all of it must be heard, for the sake of the flow. I hope that "New Crimes" serves as a good introduction of the band or album to you. I dig on it.

{buy parts & labor recordings from the band}