HOT TRAXXX: Cat Power - Ruin [MP3]

MP3: Cat Power - Ruin

"I have to say, the past couple of months I have been bad… not bad. I’ve been revisiting my teens and actually smoking a little marijuana. I’m telling you that because it actually helps my mind calm down a lot and relaxes me when I’m by myself. I haven’t sat down and played records since I was a teenager."

With that, her recent breakup and the new haircut, I'd say this new Cat Power record is gonna rule!

(quote via The Stool Pigeon)

Perfume Genius - All Water [MP3]

MP3: Perfume Genius - All Water

When Matador released this track from the album in winter, I was intrigued. I never listened to the first Perfume Genius album, so it really caught me off-guard. Crawl a few months forward and it's still one of the prettiest tracks of the year to hit my ears, its dense synths powering the song forward. Enjoy.

New Kurt Vile: The Creature

MP3: Kurt Vile - The Creature

Looks like come November 8th Matador Records will re-release this year's great Smoke Ring for My Halo because... um? But the bright side of such a pointless endeavor is that it's being packaged with (and thankfully available on it's own 12 inch vinyl release) So Outta Reach, a new ep of 6 songs from those sessions, touched up upon and thrown at an adoring public. Oh and one of the songs is a cover of Boss classic "Downbound Train". You know, this one:

Maybe it sounds like this?

Los Jicks

MP3: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Forever 28

We're no stranger to SM, and frankly I always look forward to each new release of his slacker jams. With Mirror Traffic out next week, now's a good time to post a track. "Forever 28" finds the Jicks bringing out their inner ELO, and to satisfying results. Enjoy.

David Comes 2 Trife

MP3: Fucked Up - Turn the Season

Fucked Up are a very popular and widely prolific band. Which makes it somewhat strange that the upcoming David Comes To Life is only the third full-length output in a band that's conceptually very regimented. Perhaps, that's why, of course, they've only released three—to ensure that the quality of such meets only their highest standards. After the "Royal Pudding" incident, Canadians are surely in need of a pick-up, which this provides. Enjoy.

Drug dreams

MP3: Harlem - LSD Saves

Missed this one when it came out, but recently caught on: Harlem released a 7 inch with 2 brand new songs not on "Hippies". This is the a side.

New Cold Cave: The Great Pan Is Dead

MP3: Cold Cave - The Great Pan Is Dead

Wes Eisold's Cold Cave project is back with a new album called "Cherish the Light Years", and if it's first single (and opening track) is any indication, it's back in full blast. Download "The Great Pan Is Dead" above or below through the widget for an email address (which will give you lyrics and art). This, their 2nd album, comes out April 5th on Matador.

Reatarded

MP3: Jay Reatard - Fluorescent Grey
MP3: Deerhunter - Oh It's Such a Shame

It's been a full year since Jay Reatard's passing and I'm going to let this post be it for today, as we miss the dude a ton. I wrote a quick blurb last year after getting the news which should still be checked out and heard and today I'm posting his split with Deerhunter where they covered each others hits.

Pitchfork posted an oral history on him that's great because a) they didn't write it and b) it talks mad shit on Matador. Read it here: http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/7916-jay-reatard-in-memoriam/

His Shattered Records is going to release a final single from him, recorded just 2 days before his passing. It's for club members only and there's still time to join. Do that here.

Hope you're partying hard in hell, nuder!

BEAVER FEAVER.

MP3: Kurt Vile - Jesus Fever

Good morning. Yesterday, Matador gave the world another peek into Kurt Vile's upcoming long player, which is sure to be another win for the team. I saw him and the Violators on tour with Deerhunter last year and they totally murdered everyone there. Their drummer looked like a metal Weird Al, which is so fuckin' baller.

"Smoke Ring For My Halo" is out March 11th: catch the fever!

FUCK NO: About as white as it gets...

MP3: The New Pornographers - Silver Jenny Dollar

The New Pornographers have returned with yet another album of unnecessarily bland adult contemporary songs. One thing about this lot is at least they're formulaic and consistent. NPR and Paste could not be happier to wade their way through another summer of mediocrity. I feel for you, Canada.

New Kurt Vile: Invisibility : Nonexistent

MP3: Kurt Vile - Invisibility : Nonexistent

To ease the pain between Kurt Vile records, the "Square Shells" ep has been conceived and will be birthed May 25th from Vile and Matador. Check out “Invisibility : Nonexistent”, the first ultrasound from the power duo.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #13 - Shivering King and Others

MP3: Dead Meadow - Everything's Going On

#13 - Dead Meadow - Shivering King and Others
Matador Records 2003

Matt On Shivering King and Others:

Three records in, and Dead Meadow drops a fucking bomb. In addition to superior production when compared to their previous albums, Shivering King takes the sludge, drone and shoegaze up into a shroomed-out bliss.

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #25 - Closing In

MP3: Early Man - War Eagle

#25 - Early Man - Closing In
Matador Records 2005

Joey On Closing In:

When I took the plunge into stoner metal a few years back, Early Man were in the forefront of that decision. It saved my brain, giving me faith in music and live shows once more and I will always be thankful for that. "Closing In" is not to be fucked with, every track is a slice leaving you bloodless and craving more, endlessly. I probably listen to this album or at least a song from it every week and it truly is the blueprint of all things great.

New Kurt Vile: "Hunchback"

MP3: Kurt Vile - Hunchback

Another mp3 from Kurt Vile's upcoming Matador Records debut "Childish Prodigy" was released and man am I getting more and more excited. Smoke this nug and look out for the lp on October 6th. Matador is also offering a free 7 inch if you preorder from them, so do it!

Are you coming over for Christmas?

MP3: Belle & Sebastian - Are You Coming Over For Christmas?

Happy holidays all. I am fairly confident that our output should remain consistant throughout the week, but these times always find a way of paralyzing you out of no where, so I'm trying to remain half ready for it.

The always rad Belle & Sebastian have posted a new single, "Are You Coming Over For Christmas?", on their myspace. It's available there for download just for today, but in case you miss it, I've posted it here. No need to rush now, though it is a wonderful pop song.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

MP3: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Batimore

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks have given us a taste off of their upcoming sure-to-be-a-fucking-facemelter/gash-slayer "Real Emotional Trash". If "Baltimore" is any indication (and I think it is), we're in for a treat with sexy harmonies, usual Malkmus guitar shredding and excitingly loud and brutal drums from everyone's favourite rock and roll drummer and new "Jick", Janet Weiss. We'll have to wait until March to be rocked, but hopefully Matador or the bloggers will be kind enough to leak a couple of tracks every month or so to keep our respective smiles large.

In the meantime, look for every blog to make some sort of quip about Baltimore while posting about this track. Our quip? Baltimore fucking sucks. This song? It does not.

{purchase stephen malkmus and the jicks recordings from matador}

Cat Power

MP3: Cat Power - Dreams

My friend Dave hooked me up with the newest Cat Power record last month when I was home for Christmas. I'm not the biggest fan (always have been close to jumping on) but I heard the opener, the title track, and I was hooked. It's sad and upbeat and her voice really shines on this record.

Plus the artwork is great, I mean c'mon, what else could an album called "The Greatest" look like?

Today's mp3 comes from the Japanese version of the record, a cover of the song "All I Have to Do Is Dream". Enjoy!

{buy cat power recordings on insound}