Gregor Samsa are video.

MP3: Gregor Samsa - Jeroen Van Aken

Hello friends. I was going to wait another week or two before gushing over my love of Gregor Samsa, but they debuted a phenomenal video for their "Jeroen Van Aken" track that needed to be addressed. So yes, a full review/mp3 post of "Rest" coming shortly, but in the meantime read this press release, download the song and enjoy the video. And buy "Rest", it's been haunting me for a month now with it's brilliance (as all Gregor Samsa albums tend to do).

PRESS RELEASETASTIC:

Gregor Samsa has just released a video from their upcoming album Rest... Take a look at the stunning clip for "Jeroen Van Aken" directed by Rick Alverson from the band Spokane.

In their third full-length album in seven years, Gregor Samsa takes a new approach to composition, both in process and instrumentation. The result is Rest ; nine pieces composed over e-mail during the course of nine months by key members in New York, Chicago, Boston, DC and Richmond, VA.

In Rest, Gregor Samsa expand on their affinity for minimal, classical instrumentation mixed with mangled and manipulated sound through integration of new instruments such as the celesta, clarinet, classical voice and vibraphone. Along with these new sounds, guitar has been almost entirely replaced by piano, whose parts were recorded on a rare Bösendorfer once owned by Philip Glass. The record is being released in 5 different formats (digital and limited ed. out now, official unlimited version out May 13).

Euro tour dates.... (tour of USA later this summer)

05-08 Leuven, Belgium - Stuk
05-09 Karlsruhe, Germany - Jubez
05-10 Würzburg, Germany - Cairo
05-11 Berlin, Germany - Schokoladen
05-12 Leipzig, Germany - Nato
05-13 Munich, Germany - Kafe Kult
05-14 Vienna, Austria - Chelsea
05-16 Milan, Italy - Leoncavallo
05-18 Rome, Italy - Traffic
05-20 San Sebastián, Spain - La Casa de Cultura de Okendo
05-22 Barcelona, Spain - Be Cool
05-23 Lyon, France - La Marquise
05-24 Bičvre, Belgium - TBA
05-25 Bruges, Belgium - Cactus
05-26 Paris, France - Mains d'Oeuvres *
05-27 Amiens, France - Le Grand Wazoo *
05-28 Lucerne, Switzerland - Treibhaus *
05-29 Frankfurt, Germany - Elfer *
05-30 Luxembourg, Luxembourg - d:qliq *
05-31 Münster, Germany - Gleis 22 *
06-01 Duisburg, Germany - Steinbruch *

* with Kayo Dot

"Rest" is out now from The Kora Records. More formats coming soon, read all about that here.

Beachwood Sparks: getting the band back together!

MP3: Beachwood Sparks - Surfing Saints

Now that I've found a gap in the essential postings, let's take a step back from some of the best news announced as of late. Sure, Sub Pop is turning 20 and to celebrate they are holding a festival in the summer, but playing are BEACHWOOD SPARKS!

You can't beat news like that. I say for those of us on the opposite coast we should set up a bus or something and hightail it over to Washington. We'll figure it out, but tickets are on sale now on the Sub Pop site and thanks to The Calming Seas (the most important site for BWS fans) they have a mini interview with drummer Aaron Sperske which can be found here. Keep an eye out for the mention of MORE GIGS! But sadly, it is looking like no Farmer Dave (fucking Interpol).

To celebrate this epic news, please enjoy this b-side from the Japanese release of the self-titled lp.

FUCK YEAH: Boris

MP3: Boris - Statement

It's a wonder that we haven't posted about Boris on the blog before: both myself and frequent contributor Matt Giordano are big fans of the gash slayers, but I suppose we just assumed everyone was hip to them and didn't need to be told what to listen to.

But that is the beauty of the FUCK YEAH posts... oh and they put out a new record. "Smile" is out today, and worth getting online from Southern Lord so you can get the limited dvd (only in 3000 copies of the disc, numbered and all) with videos for Statement (today's mp3), My Neighbor Satan and the rarely seen video for Pink. Word.

If you've never heard Boris or "Smile", I posted "Statement" as a first listen. If you have heard Boris AND "Smile", this is here because you know it's a fucking killer track.

Good night.

"Smile" is out today on Southern Lord.

VIDEO FOR "STATEMENT"!

FUCK YEAH: U No Danava

MP3: Danava - Down From A Cloud, Up From the Ground

"UnonoU", the first official full length effort from Portland's Danava may be one of the most creative "metal" (if that's what we're calling it) albums made in recent memory. It's fully laced with horn parts and layered organ tracks over the group's typical 5 minute plus epic stories, making it a unique and utterly enjoyable listen.

In fact, since I got this record a couple of months back, it rarely has left my regular listening rotation, and when it does it is always sorely missed and shortly returned to the stack.

Thanks as always goes to Kemado, for continuing to release the Earth's greatest music. We all appreciate it greatly.

ps if you dig this, don't forget to catch the band's self titled ep that came out awhile back. it's just as fan-fucking-tastic as this gem.

{purchase danava recordings from kemado}

She & Him

MP3: She & Him - I Was Made For You

You kids might be over this record, but I am still loving on it a whole bunch. She & Him's "Volume One" comes along in a lovely 2008 Spring season, ready for full enjoyment. I like "I Was Made For You" the best. Word.

"Volume One" is out now on Merge.

{purchase she & him recordings from merge records}

My Morning Jacket tease our Urges.

MP3: My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

What a way to spend the weekend. Here is a preview from My Morning Jacket's upcoming "Evil Urges" coming this June. Us at the Team are stoked, despite the atrocious album cover. See you next week, here is what the band had to say:

"hello all you fine and wonderful people out there that are interested in what we do. we now live in the 90's - the era of the interweb and instant gratification. these are confusing times for all humankind, but especially for those of us in the music world as you well know... a week or so ago we played some of our new songs for the first time at a show in houston tx! about an hour later all of those songs were available on the interweb- talk about speed!!! since those and other non-album audiovisual recordings are available to people on the interweb, we wanted to make at least one "real" song version available (if one was interested in what the "real actual studio album" might sound like) to those of you who have supported us most and have seemed most excited about what we are doing over the years.

so here is the song "evil urges". we sure hope you are to enjoy it! we would put the whole thing out there on the interweb, but gosh darn-it, we're still a little old fashioned in that way of wanting the listener to be able to get the actual music when it is supposed to be released, when we say it is finished- not when someone else puts it on the interweb.... but it is the 90's now, we understand that. its a new decade and we want to be part of this decade, but whilst still maintaining a link to the past - where one can't necessarily get everything they want immediately when they want it, but rather when they are told they can have it - by their real life keeper or their digital daddy! we will play both roles here. we all personally relish waiting to unwrap that shrink wrap and smelling that fresh vinyl or compact disc plastic, mmm...that fresh cardboard and paper. or if we buy it off the interweb we all love holding our computers up to our noses and smelling those brand new digital downloads...mmm...fresh! gall durn it- we're just old fashioned that way. sometimes... gentle reader, in this age of instant gratification, waiting can be so rewarding, it can teach us a valuable lesson about the triumph of the human spirit... but sometimes, like our old friend tom petty said- waiting is the hardest part. thank you all for being so supportive of us, and unending in your love... from the bottom of our cold dead hearts!

love,
mmj!"

No Age: erasing bad music.

MP3: No Age - Eraser

Our friends over at Insound were rad enough to ship my "Eraser" vinyl single to me on Saturday, a mite bit early from the April 8th release date. It does serve as an applicable teaser for May's "Nouns" lp from the lovable No Age. The b-side manages to fit 3 covers on itself and they do not disappoint. My only complaint is that Sub Pop did not release a download code with this one. Rats. If anyone has a rip, send it on over to unicorntastic@gmail.com. Word.

Enjoy "Eraser". I am.

{purchase no age recordings from insound}

Vapnet

MP3: Vapnet - Plötsligt händer det inte

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the invincible Matt Giordano, who was kind enough to send in another post in our attempt to make this blog a complete Hybris tribute. Fuck yeah!

Not only does Vapnet create some great tunes, but they've become somewhat prolific, offering up new music every year since their inception. It's all been quality, and it's all had that nice spring/summer vibe emanating throughout the music even if the lyrics did not. Two years ago "Thomégränd" was my song of the summer, and if this new single is reflective of their highly anticipated new album Döda Fallet, then I wouldn't be surprised if a track would end up taking the prize again. This track is the proper single, which is out now on the ever stellar Hybris, and is fucking brilliant. Enjoy.

{purchase vapnet recordings from hybris}

FUCK YEAH: The Gods have returned.

MP3: The Sword - To Take The Black

Tomorrow, "Gods Of the Earth" is released to masses, the sophomore effort for The Sword, aka the best band ever. I am mostly sure that is my album of the year (which makes 2 years in a row that a Kemado release has been my #1), and it has not left my cd player since it's arrival a few weeks back. It is a flawless record, from the start to finish. I was going to do a huge post on this but it is better to let the song speak for itself. This is why I love music. Thank you for your time.

Neva Dinova continue to dream

MP3: Neva Dinova - Will The Ladies Send You Flowers

The always solid and enjoyable Neva Dinova return with their 3rd lp proper "You May Already Be Dreaming" next month, and it is yet another winning affair. It's been awhile since we last saw the boys in 2005's "The Hate Yourself Change", but they are back with their Saddle Creek debut and while it's more of the same goodness, the band feels a bit more relaxed and focused (probably from the downtime which included equipment destroying floods and eardrum blowing bar room brawls ). "Will The Ladies Send You Flowers" is as good an example of any of this album, a lush effort that floats and stings along the way.

"You May Already Be Dreaming" is released April 8th on Saddle Creek.

{purchase neva dinova recordings from saddle creek}

Midnight Movies

MP3: Midnight Movies - Nights In White Satin

Before receiving this wonderful ep, I was not very familiar with Midnight Movies beyond the name, but boy am I happy to know of them now. The "Nights" ep is as good an introduction as any I would think, right from the opening track that I've provided here titled "Nights In White Satin". It sounds like it's existed forever, birthed along with the Earth itself representing all that is great in the form of sound. For fans of the French language, Midnight Movies close things out with "Mes Rêves De Satin", which is the song sung in French, proving these folks are a real class act. While doing research, I've seen the term "psychedelic pop" thrown around and I am going to adopt that here as well.

This release is digital only, though it looks like a vinyl of it is on the way, and it features 6 songs (2 of them remixes, one from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner and the other from ex-Smashing Pumpkin and current remix master James Iha), all fantastic. Super recommended.

The "Nights" ep is available now on all digital outlets from New Line Records.

{purchase midnight movies recordings from the band}

Your Forests Are So Full Of Blueberries

MP3: The Social Services - The Baltic Sea

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the mighty Matt Giordano, who should think about growing a mustache. Fuck yeah!

This track is pretty much a repost from It's A Trap!, because it's just that fucking good. Between Avi and Swedesplease championing stellar music from Scandiland, this stands out among some of the best I've heard in a while. The Social Services are fucking brilliant, plain and simple, and if all indie-pop were this good, then derivation wouldn't occur. Thank Thor that bands like this exist. The society should be grateful for their service. Enjoy.

Fuck Buttons

MP3: Fuck Buttons - Ribs Out

Gnarly stuff right here: Fuck Buttons are a duo of dudes who make noise and add a punch of beauty for flavour. Highly recommended with drugs and gash slaying.

"Street Horrrsing" is released tomorrow on ATP Recordings.

{purchase fuck buttons recordings from insound}

GO TEAM: The Prigs

MP3: The Prigs - T.V. Reporter

NOTE: Today's GO TEAM contribution comes from Matt Giordano, a bro that loves himself his Prigs. Gnarly.

Not only are The Prigs good friends of mine, but they also happen to be a great band. They've been busy playing to the drunken New York City audiences for the past couple of years, and have just now released their first proper set of recordings entitled "Health Sunday United", which fits the Health Sunday ideals so well. With their bar-band atmosphere and just all-around fun loving, I'd hope The Prigs to come to more attention in the near future. Oh yeah, and their live show is fantastic. Enjoy.

Don't Mess With Juvelen

MP3: Juvelen - Don't Mess

Holy fuck, he's done it again! Not that it's a shocker, but after Juvelen's excellent debut ep on Hybris last year (which both me and Matt featured on our top 10 lists and both posted about here on this blog) we finally get a glimpse at what is sure to be a front runner for album of the year.

And what a song it is! The trademark falsetto is in full swing, as well as his trademark gash slaying with his lady loving lyrics and general confidence. Don't you worry Juvelen, we won't ever mess around with your love.

Download this NOW. Then buy the ep if you don't have it already. Fuck yeah.

{purchase juvelen recordings from it's a trap!}

Catcall

MP3: Catcall - Chicky Babe

Thanks to the awesome folks at Einstein, dressed as Robin Hood for turning me onto this one.

Not sure if this one is coming stateside or not, but Australia's Catcall is radical. She's down with all your favourite bands like the Gossip, Dan Deacon, Crystal Castles and probably Zeppelin too. "Anniversary", an ep, comes out in the AU in April from Instant Touch Recordings. Look for it, just in time for spring hotness to expand and blow up on ya!

El Perro Del Mar

MP3: El Perro Del Mar - How Did We Forget

On the first listen of El Perro Del Mar's "From the Valley to the Stars", it was very easy for me to dismiss it as rubbish. It lacked the hooks and desire of 2005's "Look! It's El Perro Del Mar", but certainly not the simplicity. Maybe on first thought I figured that was the downfall, but out of boredom I went in for a round two and suddenly the previously compiled slag fest I had as a review vanished in favour of what you are now reading. Yes, I like it.

Let's be clear: it's no album of the year. But it's sweet, simple (ah ha!) and honest. Sarah Assbring might not know how to write sprawling epics, but that's quite alright. The best way to sum up this record is that it's a follow up with the same mindset, but on a slightly larger budget leaving more room to play. Yes, it's repetitive, but it works wonders in the background of your life. I worry that the reviews I've read will kill the hype train Assbring was rightfully riding, but let's hope her followers are one step ahead of what their peers are peddling as "hip".

Walk, don't run to your record store, Sweden, (we'll get it soon enough United States) to grab this one, and walk home with it playing in your ears. Why move quickly, when you risk the possibility of missing out on something that is plain on the surface but rewarding when you look around.

I do wish she was still on the flawless Hybris though...

"From the Valley to the Stars" is out now in Scandinavia from Licking Fingers, in the UK in mid-May from Memphis Industries and April 22nd in the US from the Control Group.

The Black Keys

MP3: The Black Keys - Strange Times

One could argue that the Black Keys are really giving us the same thing every time, which is mostly true, except I'd have to retort that with each album they get just a little bit better. Which is adding up to really be something, considering right from the start they were really fucking great.

"Attack & Release" comes out April 1st on Nonesuch, seeing outside production from Danger Mouse oddly enough (strange times indeed) and takes the band into their first real live studio. While both of these things sound like possible trouble to mix in the untainted formula, the Keys make it work like 2 mad scientists. Radical.

{purchase the black keys recordings from insound}

Tilly and the Wall's newest trainwreck: not just audible bile anymore!

In an effort to stay current, I've decided to delay my planned mp3 post to focus on a video that came to my attention via the always wonderful Stereogum.

Today, they premiered a video for the new single "Beat Control" by Omaha's Tilly and the Wall. Now I must say, this is a real backwards leap in pop music, with rhymes written like they taken from a high school girl's diary who just discovered 80's night at her local teen center. I will shamefully admit that at one time I enjoyed the group's first record, but I mean seriously at this point, it's time to come clean: all of this cutesy rubbish is a gimmick right?

Take the video itself: their smiles look painted on, goofy for the sake of a teenage fanbase, dressed like complete retards peddling recycled keyboard drum beats and a lazy organ line. They even resort to pounding "the beat" into our heads forcefully instead of taking the time to actually write a respectable hook.

For what looks like 2 records now, the band took what people liked about them and saturated it into an unrecognizable mess, accepting the fact that they will never write anything timeless or worthwhile in their recording careers. I mean honestly guys, your fans are going to grow up and leave you for better records... are you prepared for the future? Judging from "Beat Control", I think it's safe to say not even in the slightest.

However, there is a small beam of hope: this is only a 7 inch single track, with no plans to put it on the band's upcoming full length, though something tells me that it will still be more of the same throw up they've been calling songs all this time. Pick this up? Fuck no.

Judge for yourself: @ sterogum

Welcome to the overhypedome!

NOTE: Today's essay comes from our boy Matt Giordano. To check out past essay "Cheese Metal - A Brief Memoir", click here. We'll be posting more of these in the future, and if you'd like to contribute shoot an email to unicorntastic@gmail.com. Word.

The vittula that is blog land has been squeezing some nasty shit out of its urethra lately. At first I expected it caught another case of blogmydia, but then I saw it was a new virus called "Vampire Weekend", presumeably the result of way too much PR money being inserted into that little hole. This "Vampire Weekend" virus may take a little while for the negative side effects to show, but once they do, you'll want to beat the fuck out of the twat that gave it to you. No topical solution can cure it, and in a few months, you'll become as soulless as the creators of it. Diagnosis: FUCK NO!

Throw Me The Statue

MP3: Throw Me The Statue - Lolita

Once you get past the typical reasoning to love this album (I.E. it's on Secretly Canadian, they're from Seattle, the city that always the delivers and there are breasts on the cover), you will find something really special inside. Throw Me The Statue seemed to come from no where and are hitting the musical ground running, not looking back and leaving behind some interesting sounding dust for us to eat.

I like this "Lolita" song a lot. I hope you do too.

"Moonbeams" is released February 18th from Secretly Canadian.

{purchase throw me the statue recordings from sc distribution}

Lullatone put me to sleep.

MP3: Lullatone - The Bathtime Beat

Lullatone's 2006 effort "Plays Pajama Pop Pour Vous" was a list making record that didn't make mine for the sad fact that I didn't catch up until early '07, but made up for it by listening (and falling asleep) to it as much as I could throughout the year. This trend continues into the year current, and luckily I will be able to give it a new partner: the duo release "The Bedtime Beat" in March on Australia's Someone Good record label.

They describe the effort as "our strangest and most pop CD yet, featuring the sounds of bathtubs, underwater humming, snoring cut up into drum beats, Yoshimi's human beatbox and much much more." Count me in. You can sample some of the splashing on "The Bathtime Beat", the album's opener, showcasing their usual brilliance and unique creativity, with the expected/adored focus of singer Yoshimi's hushed vocals on full display behind Shawn's understated production choices.

Fuck yeah.

Tracklicious!

1. The Bathtime Beat
2. Your Snore
3. The Bedtime Beatbox
4. Make Believe Melody
5. Maboroshi Ondo
6. Marching to Sleep
7. Tiny Cinema
8. Goodnight Train
9. Make Believe Melody #2
10. Oyasumi

{purchase lullatone recordings from darla}

FUCK YEAH: Rick Astley

MP3: Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

NOTE: Today's FUCK YEAH! contribution comes from Matt Giordano, whom I plan on never giving up. I should also note that I went with the pop up video version of this single, because who doesn't love fun facts? Answer: not you.

"Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you"

The video for this song rules, check out the fellow dancing behind the bar. Enjoy.

The Billionaires

MP3: The Billionaires - The End Of Summer Song

MP3: The Billionaires - NYCab

I can dig this: The Billionaires have a ton of songs on the upcoming "Really Real Forever" that can be best described as nostalgic pop fueled by cheap liquor and pill highs. You gotta stay hip and "in" you know, and these duders are a start. Radical.

FUCK YEAH: The Spits

MP3: The Spits - Let Us Play Your Party

Work fucking sucks. Go party. Let the Spits play and we'll all smash holes in your walls with your dad's bowling balls. Fuck yeah.

Say Hi

MP3: Say Hi - Northwestern Girls

This band has been around town for a little bit but the biggest turnoff for me was always the name: seeking out a band called "Say Hi To Your Mom" just really wasn't high on my to do list. Thankfully, songwriter Eric Elbogen dropped the 'To Your Mom' to the simpler Say Hi, moved to Seattle, went on a killer tour with the Velvet Teen and put together his 5th album "The Wishes And The Glitch" which is a finely crafted record of honesty and delicious hooks.

The opening track and by far my favourite "Northwestern Girls" struck me right away. For me personally, it was very easy to relate to the prospect the song was selling me. I too have moved from the East Coast to the Northwest and been stunned by the fantastic women that populate the area. While everyone else may not get the meaning that literally, I think it's pretty a universal feeling to be somewhere new and just be completely taken in by all of exciting change around you and thankfully I now have a soundtrack to that feeling.

"The Wishes And The Glitch" comes out February 5th from the band.

{purchase say hi recordings from the band}

Canadians

MP3: Canadians - Summer Teenage Girl

Just a quickie, since I am super sick...

Canadians' gem of a record "A Sky With No Stars" hit my mailbox a few months back and I slacked on it. A quick listen told me that I like it enough to post on it but would need another listen to know what the hell I would be talking about.

Skip to a few weeks ago and I am still waiting for that next listen. Luckily, the clever bastard that is iTunes shuffle decided to throw me "Summer Teenage Girl" and for a little over 4 minutes kicked my ass with it's pop goodness. While it's not reinventing the wheel it sure is showing one of it's more flashier models.

Everyone has their band comparisons for these Italian duders (mine? The Rentals meets the Beach Boys) which happen to be bands that everyone loves and I feel that's for good reason: Canadians are easily up to par with all of your favourite bands & songs and are very worthy of being in your cd stand/iPod/computer bootlegging. From the second you hear this songs' "ooh la la la"'s, I think you'll be hooked or else your claims of loving quality pop music will be decided upon a jury of your peers... or not. Whatever, your loss.

"A Sky With No Stars" is out now from Ghost Records.

{purchase canadians recordings from ghost records}

A Weather: warm songs for cold times.

MP3: A Weather - Shirley Road Shirley

When we last A Weather, I was enjoying their then recently released "Feather Test" single and loving it. Here they return with "Cove", coming March 4th on Team Love. They still sounds the same, except a little better and thankfully with more than 2 songs to offer us. A wonderful offering of dream pop goodness, pick this little guy up when you see it in your record shop.

See you dudes in Portland this fall, my one big regret is that when I lived there, I never saw you live. Weak.

Tracklisting:

1. Spiders, Snakes
2. Shirley Road Shirley
3. Screw Up Your Courage
4. Small Potatoes
5. Hanging Towers Of Baltimore
6 Pilot’s Arrow
7. Oh My Stars
8. Pinky Toe
9. It’s Good To Know

{pre-order "cove" from team love}

GO TEAM: Monitor and the Merrimac

MP3: Montior and the Merrimac - Lonesome House Blues

NOTE: Today's GO TEAM contribution comes from one of my favourite Connecticut artists: David Grazynski, who performs as Monitor and the Merrimac. He released "Grandma's Old Couch" at the end of last year and has been a consistent staple in my listening habits from then and well into this year. The record features contributions the CT all stars including members of Mates of State, Quiet Life and TITLES and is all hits, no misses.

David has been kind enough to give us some background on one of my favourite songs from the album, "Lonesome House Blues". Fuck yeah!

I have to preface my explanation of this song by telling you that I purchased a town home in the summer of 06 that I live in by myself... It has a pool and a nice back porch and I made the entire record down there. Ok... here goes...

I wrote this song sometime during the summer of 07 when I was feverishly writing and recording during some downtime at work. It started, as do most (if not all of my songs) with a line "I sing the big lonesome empty house blues" and the verse that begins "go tell your father..."I remember going to the pool and sitting there for a while right before a late afternoon heatwave storm rolled in and I just started jotting down lines for verses that could end with "I sing the big..." It was around this time, and it should be noted, that my girlfriend took an internship with Howard Stern in the city. Now living in the north end of Bridgeport isn't exactly "Country livin", but I just don't like the hustle and bustle of the city all the time, for me it all depends on my mood, sometimes I love it, sometimes it gets me down. So that's kinda what started those lines (about the city), as my friends all migrate towards New York I am still here and very content at being here...

The breakdown and the last verse were all written much later, the original lines were really just placeholders. those are very true to the situation that was happening with the recording of Grandma's Old Couch. I would be stealing time in the afternoons in the basement pounding on drums trying to learn how to play the drums, all hoping that my neighbors wouldn't get pissed off. I recorded everything in my basement except for the instruments at the end and the foot stomps and hand claps in the breakdown... Those were done at my friend Jason's house. We were stomping on an old suitcase and he played the piano and concertina at the end. I am happy with the way the recording sounds... I wanted it to sound like we could be on my back porch... I am trying to get that same sound and feeling throughout the rest of the record too... like.. you could hear these songs in a bar or you can hear them played by a bunch of friends on a porch. All in all the song is just about a dude living alone in a house. Being bored, doing far too much sitting on the porch and bbqing. Banjos and shuffle beats and foot stomps and hand claps and harmonica and hollering.

{purchase "grandma's old couch from monitor and the merrimac}

Someone Still Loves You Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin!

MP3: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Glue Girls

It's always great news when a great band gives word of a new great record. It's even greater when you get to hear a bit of said great record. Enter "Glue Girls", the lead track from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's upcoming "Pershing" lp. Even though "Broom", the band's last effort, feels so new, it being a reissue resulted in it appearing younger than it truly was. So while it's been some years since their last proper effort (the band dropped a killer seven inch last year [that I covered right here] which gave hint to what was to come), they seemed to have skipped a couple of albums worth of "feeling it out" to go straight to polished guitar pop brilliance. "Glue Girls" caught me off guard at first, because it was so different but I soon realized these seeds had been planted long ago.

I can't stop listening to the song and will be looking forward to April 8th, when "Pershing" drops on Polyvinyl.

Tracktastic!

1. Glue Girls
2. Boring Fountain
3. Dead Right
4. Beach Song
5. Modern Mystery
6. Some Constellation
7. Think I Wanna Die
8. You Could Write a Book
9. Oceanographer
10. HEERS
11. Doris Tailspin (Boring Mountain)

Tourtastic!

01-25 Columbia, MO - Mojo's
01-26 St. Louis, MO - The Bluebird
01-27 Bloomington, IN - Space 101
01-28 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
01-29 Rock Island, IL - Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor
01-31 Northfield, MN - Carleton College
02-01 Grinnell, IA - Joe Rosenfeld Center (Grinnell College)
02-12 Springfield, MO - The Gilloiz Theatre (Brooke Fletcher benefit)
03-14 Austin, TX - Habana Calle (SXSW)

Hello, Blue Roses: All the best songs begin with 's'.

MP3: Hello, Blue Roses - St. Angela

MP3: Hello, Blue Roses - Sunny Skies

From what I've noticed, most everyone is paying attention to Hello, Blue Roses because of Dan Bejar's (Destroyer, New Pornographers, Swan Lake) involvement which, is all well and good, but hopefully after being drawn in by that fact they will realize the true shining star of the group is songwriter Sydney Vermont. She really stands out with her near divine singing and her ability to create such vivid imagery from her lyrics. It should come as no surprise that this beauty is coming from a visual artist: she really does paint stunning, audible pictures.

I really appreciate the dynamic of the group: Vermont builds them up and Bejar arranges them and then proceeds to knock it all out of the park. In the end, you have an album's worth of songs that are carefree, deep and original. I think it is safe to say that "The Portrait Is Finished And I Have Failed To Capture Your Beauty..." is the first great record of 2008. Best wishes and good luck to everyone else who decides to release music this year.

"The Portrait Is Finished And I Have Failed To Capture Your Beauty..." is out tomorrow, January 22nd from Locust Music.

{purchase hello, blue roses recordings from locust music}

Top 15 Songs of 2007: The rest!

To say we took a break is an understatement. Time got the best of me, and I never got around to finishing my top 15 songs of 2007 posts and to move forward you've got to complete that which was start. So here is the rest, then I will be taking the rest of this week off to compile many posts to look ahead on the new year. Thanks for sticking around!

10: Dr. Dog - Heart It Races

The audible definition of polishing a turd (sorry Architecture In Helsinki). After hearing this, it begs the question: when is the covers album coming out Dr. Dog?
http://www.drdogmusic.com

09. HEALTH - Perfect Skin

Just got this record on wax a few weeks back and it sounds great. "Perfect Skin" rules even harder on it. This track is so fucking powerful, and it has the best sounding drums I've maybe ever heard.
http://www.healthnoise.com

08. Welcome - Natural Frost

Probably the best rock and roll record of the year, and a this song is a mix tape staple for me for the past 6 months.
http://www.myspace.com/yrwelcome


07. Alicia Keys - No One

My personal favourite pop song of the year and the only radio track that didn't make me want to shoot myself. Old girl has pipes and when that synth lines kicks in, it's over for me. Pure gold.

06. Dri - Free Tonight

2007's party anthem. "Smoke Rings" was unstoppable, and I see it dominating 2008.
http://www.myspace.com/drismokerings

05. Juvelen - Summer-Spring

I find out about bands on this blog too. When Matt posted about Juvelen, I was hooked. I know he swears by "Watch Your Step", but it was "Summer-Spring" for me that was the deal maker. Pop music at it's finest/sexiest.
http://www.juvelenjuvelen.com

04. No Age - Neck Escaper

No Age is the Jesus of punk music. I like this song cause it's catchy and it's from my favourite single of theirs. I'm pretty sure their debut on Sub Pop is my most anticipated album of '08.
http://www.myspace.com/nonoage

03. Spank Rock & Benny Blanco - Loose (featuring Amanda Blank)

Another Matt posted gem. The whole Bangers & Cash ep was a party for me (dudes: where's the full length?) and this was it's crowning achievement. Amanda Blank spits fire at the closing end of this opus.
http://www.myspace.com/spankrock

02. Scout Niblett & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Kiss

Beautiful, beautiful music. I loved the output from both of these heavyweights of rock this year, but no one can deny the power of "Kiss". A perfectly orchestrated song from the beginning to end. A real tear jerker/love partier/gash slayer.
http://www.scoutniblett.com
http://www.bonnieprincebilly.com

01. Sam Sparro - Black & Gold

From the second I heard it, I knew "Black & Gold" was my favourite song of the year. Catchy as all fuck and sung by Sparro's soulful voice, it's like all the best drugs being transmitted to your ears. Count me in! Hope 2008 brings an lp from this modern wonder.
http://www.myspace.com/samsparro

So there you have it. If you want to see my best records of 2007 list, I posted those on the Pink Teeth website. Check them out here: http://www.pinkteeth.com/bestof2007.htm. See you next week!

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.

Top 15 Songs of 2007: #11 Bat For Lashes

MP3: Bat For Lashes - What's A Girl To Do


NOTE: Happy birthday Mom. Just for you, here is post #5 from my personal list of the 15 greatest songs of 2007. Faaaaantastic.

It is so rare when you hear a song that sounds like nothing else and it's even more rare when it turns out that the song is actually good as well. Not only did I get this from "What's A Girl To Do", but honestly Bat For Lashes' debut lp "Fur And Gold" delivered an album full of unique pop music.

"What's A Girl To Do" has those thundering drums and great loops I love so much, with it's infectious chorus and honey sweet vocals from Lashes' mastermind Natasha Khan that will fucking cut you if the timing was right.

It's also impossible to post about this song without mentioning the just-as-incredible video shot for it. There is a reason it showed up on everyone's favourite video lists this year, so if you haven't caught it yet, please enjoy it below.

Top 15 Songs of 2007: #12 Fourth Of July

MP3: Fourth Of July - I Don't Want To Lose You

NOTE: Awwww yeah suckas, day number 4 from my personal list of the 15 greatest songs of 2007. Maybe more posts today, maybe not, but I'd check every now and then just in case. Either way, these posts are coming daily so come on back tomorrow at least. Wonderful.

I try not to post about my friends here too much without having them involved in some way, but since this is my top 15, I'm going for it.

Lawrence, Kansas' own Fourth Of July released a fantastic record titled "Fourth Of July On the Plains" this year on Range Life Records (friend of the blog) that is chock full of fantastic music that will stick to your head like gum on shoe (that you purposely stepped on).

When they went on tour this fall, they released 3 "tour singles" of all new music that were freshly recorded and ready for the public's ear to enjoy. And enjoy we did, as they had already topped themselves months after the gem they just dropped on us. For me, "I Don't Want To Lose You" was the stand out of those 3 incredible songs, with it's irresistible hook and it's overall sincerity coming from a band of rock geniuses.

Plus, they have a pretty sweet crib too:

{purchase fourth of july recordings from range life records}

Top 15 Songs of 2007: #13 Grinderman

MP3: Grinderman - Get It On

NOTE: We're still at it mother fuckers, the 3rd day of my personal list of the 15 greatest songs of 2007. Don't stop looking, some days will probably have more than one post (hint: probably today), and you don't want to miss out on pure gold! This shit might continue to be posted daily as I haven't been slacking much. Alright!

Grinderman's self-titled debut this year was really one of the best things to happen to 2007. It gave us that raw edge that rock and roll has been missing for so long (and in some ways had never seen) as well as giving us bits and pieces of tenderness as only Nick Cave could deliver. Back in March, Matt introduced us to "No Pussy Blues", certainly one of the stand out tracks from the lp, but the one that constantly stunned me was the opening song "Get It On". And while I could go on and on about how amazing it is, really all you need is what could be the greatest lyrics ever penned:

"He drank panther piss and fucked the girls you're probably married to."

Fuck yeah.

"Grinderman" is out now on Anti Records.

Top 15 Songs of 2007: #15 Akron/Family

MP3: Akron/Family - Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead

NOTE: I am counting down my personal list of the 15 greatest songs of 2007. I may put up a couple a day, and I do plan on doing our regular posts as well so please keep checking back, as we could double up in that day. If all goes to plan, these songs will be posted daily. Sweet.

One of the most endearing and representational tracks of Akron/Family as a whole was, to me, "Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead" from this year's "Love Is Simple". It not only captures an emotion, but has an entire song written around it, becoming even stronger with the group's four part harmonies and delicate instrumentation. Lyrically, it's the album's strongest (my main beef with the lp was the quality of lyrics, a strong point in Ak Ak's previous efforts but mostly absent in this round) and it has everything great about Akron/Family: rising build up to a grand finale, in this case it's audible love. As they sing the titular line over and over, you realize it's very true: love is simple, especially when it comes to loving Akron/Family.

"Love Is Simple" is out now on Young God Records.

{purchase akron/family recordings from insound}

Paul Duncan

MP3: Paul Duncan - The Fire

MP3: Paul Duncan - High In the Morning

I fucking hate say what I'm about to say, but here goes: dude sounds a lot like Will Oldham. It's nobody's fault or anything and it's actually kind of awesome because thankfully, he writes songs that sound like Paul Duncan songs and they're totally great.

"Above the Trees" came out this year and I didn't get to spend a lot of time with it. I've had it since before it came out and really was mostly excited about it's beautiful cover art (seriously its the best album cover of 2007 hands down), but this past week I dusted it off and haven't stopped listening to it. Oh Hometapes, why must you be the best label ever? Well done as always.

{purchase paul duncan recordings from hometapes}

No Age continue to slay streaming internet video

We love No Age, and this performance at Other Music in NYC during CMJ time is proof further why us musical blogs get erect for such rad jams from these gents. Dig that new song "Sleeper Hold", is it showing up on the Sub Pop debut mayhaps? Oh and "Neck Escaper" never gets old, rock that shiz for life. I will.

FUCK YEAH: Iron Maiden

MP3: Iron Maiden - The Prisoner

MP3: Iron Maiden - The Number Of the Beast

NOTE: Today's FUCK YEAH! contribution comes from my life partner Matt Giordano, who sent this in forever ago (October 4th to be exact) but I never got to it. Literally, I never even read it so this is just as new to me as it is to you. Enjoy the weekend, stay warm and don't let the snow kill you. Even though that would be so metal.

Some days you just want to be rocked, so you have turn back to the classics. Most modern music just isn't rocking enough, save a few, but it just seems to lack the qualities of the older lot. It could be the newer recording techniques compress the sound waves so that everything sounds flat and the quiets and louds are wrongfully balanced. Anyway, Iron Maiden fucking slays, and, if you disagree, you're a fool, and, give the beast a chance.

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}

Get Loose

Too hard not to enjoy this last minute entry for best video of 2007 for "Loose" off the impossible to hate Bangers & Cash ep. Everyone loves women on the toilet, titties and Spank Rock playing bitchs' asses like bongos. Enjoy the video and download the track from when we posted it here. There is mad breasts and almost gash in this, so obviously NSFW. Fuck yeah!

Chromeo

MP3: Chromeo - Bonafied Lovin' (Tough Guys)

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from adventurer Matt Giordano, who hopefully enjoyed his Moral Orel dvd collection I watched him purchase over the weekend. Fuck yeah!

Sadly for the music lovers, this time of year brings the stress of recollecting the best of the year, and trying to catch up on what we've missed. This track is a combination of the both, but a bit more of the latter. Homeboy David Lizmi was playing this the other night, and it's über-catchy 80's pop mimmicking just got to me. This song will get your booty shaking Don Johnson coke party style.


Chromeo's "Fancy Footwork" is out now on Vice.

The Terrordactyls

MP3: The Terrordactyls - Devices

MP3: The Terrordactyls - I Want to Cry

BONUS HOLIDAY MP3: The Terrordactyls - Landscapes and Heartaches

Hey duders, I certinally enjoyed my birthday week (the official day being yesterday, fuck yeah), but here it is: Monday and back to business.

The Terrordactyls are the duo of Michael Cadiz and Tyrel Stendahl, and together they make some fantastically fun, fantastically glum and just plain fantastic music. It's honestly honest and really the perfect record to dissect, and throw on mixtapes with the pure intention of it sticking out like a sore thumb. Each song works by itself easily, but as a whole these 14 songs flow like a river compliments by everyone's favourite instruments along the way: kazoos and toy pianos.

Kimya Dawson even found time to stop on by, singing on the albums standout track "Devices", by far a last minute favourite of the year for me. I've posted that, along with a gem titled "I Want to Cry" and finally, the boys gave us blogs a holiday bonus along with the note: “Dear Mr. Blogs: Here is a song about traditions; ones that we make no effort to perpetuate, but that we continue to carry with us anyway... mostly just because.” – Michael and Tyrel, The Terrordactyls.

Finally, here is their video for the song "Decoration Daniel". If anything, you can't say these dudes aren't giving. Score!

The Terrordactyls self titled full length is out now from Pankof Records.

{purchase terrordactyls recordings from the band}

Aloha

MP3: Aloha - Body Buzz

MP3: Aloha - The End

Don't make those best of lists just yet! With a new Ghostface album that dropped yesterday and a new Wu Tang to follow next Tuesday, it seems some of our favourites are popping up in December to challenge all previous discs with the promise of being more fresh in our minds and also being just as awesome. Case in point? Aloha's "Light Works", which hit shelves yesterday.

I still haven't taken it all in, but what a lovely little ep we've got here. First, the art is amazing. A beautiful cover, graced on a digipak with materials made from recyclables in a gentle package. Quite honestly, I could roll with the word "gentle" for this whole post. An ep meant to tide over fans before dropping a new lp in 2008, Aloha shows a gentle side that has been hinted at over the years, but finally delivered completely for the first time (and hopefully not the last!). The 7 songs go by somewhat quickly, just under a half hour, which is enough time to fall in love and replay for countless repeated listens.

They're all highlights honestly, but look out for the 2 gems I've posted here, "Passengers" which flows nicely with lovely harmonies backing Tony's sweet pipes and the closer "Equinox", which is a song built around around an improvised piece. It's all so carefree and inviting, very much worth checking out, even if you're not familiar with the band (but thankfully we all know that's not true).

It sounds perfect in these winter days and can morph quite nicely for the holidays, if you so wish. Thank you Aloha, see you next year!

{purchase aloha recordings from insound}

FUCK YEAH: The Come Along & Eat It

MP3: The Come Along & Eat It - Taste the Blood

MP3: The Come Along & Eat It - ZOMBIES (cover)

MP3: The Come Along & Eat It - Eat UR Family

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from ho-zone Matt Giordano, is hopefully buying me a birthday pint this weekend. Also, these songs he sent are tagged really annoyingly, so download and enjoy at your own will. Fuck yeah? Fingers crossed!

The Come Along & Eat It were passed along to me last year, and it's always been one of the most challenging groups I have ever listened to. However, the rewards of this band are so great, mostly as a result of their reinvention of "indie" music. The boundaries have been pushed so far, you'd almost expect said boundaries to push back, yet they cannot. It's rare that a band can take such an cascadingly bland genre and make it their own.