The Best Song Ever: Lucky Bastard

MP3: Widower - Lucky Bastard

I wish this could be a GO TEAM post, but I only know Widower's Kevin Large so well. What I know in detail is his incredible songs, mostly off the Acres session, which today's Best Song Ever comes from.

The lyrics of "Lucky Bastard" have stopped me in my tracks most anytime I've listened to it: it's the ultimate mission statement of a great man. The music itself is a godsend, the rare reasoning behind the greatness of just someone playing a guitar and putting it all out there for whoever is listening.

Kevin is playing by himself these days, and I can only hope that will mean a return to form, but whatever may be will be and I will always think Lucky Bastard is a bad ass fucking track.

That Feeling b/w Eastover Wives

MP3: Dent May - That Feeling

MP3: Dent May - Eastover Wives

REAL QUICK / MORE FOREST FAMILY: Download this whole 7 inch by Dent May, then pre-order it. This dude is the real deal buds.

OOUTERLIMITSS

MP3: SLEEP ∞ OVER - Outer Limits

Sucks this one is already out of print, but Forest Family released a 7 inch from SLEEP ∞ OVER and it's a fucking gem and a half. "Outer Limits" is the highlight, it totally makes for a nice stoned Thursday night.

Grab the whole thing here.

Double Moon

MP3: Buffalo Moon - Low Tide Moon

It's actually more like a triple moon: Buffalo Moon's new 7 inch "Black Magic b/w Low Tide Moon" sees release in September from Moon Glyph. These guys are one of my favourite bands to come out this year so it's no surprise here that the b-side is stellar. Don't miss out: download this, then pre-order that bad boy before it's too late.

FY!GT! PREMIERE: Crying Shame

MP3: Fourth of July - Crying Shame

Lawrence, Kansas takes Fourth of July for granted.

While living there, I never saw them play a bad gig or write a mediocre song. I would argue that they are the most talented band in that city, if not the entire Midwest and come August 31st I fully believe that this will be realized by the masses (oh, plus I got to sing with a group of Lawrence's finest on "Tan Lines" and a few scatter shots all throughout the LP. So that shit makes this post officially a GO TEAM. Believe it.).

"Before Our Hearts Explode!" is FOJ's sophomore record and a lot has changed with the guys besides haircuts. While you could easily write this whole thing off as a breakup record (which it is PROUDLY) there is so much more going on. Brendan Hangauer's lyrics have gotten more precise and clever, keeping the songs selfishly about himself while weaving incognito tapestries that any listener could easily relate to. Yes, it's a "man"'s record, but the situations are so genderlessly universal that if you are human and you feel, you're in hook, line & sinker. It goes back and forth from sweet to ugly within the blink of an eye.

Today's premiere "Crying Shame" is the perfect example of that: it sounds like a relationship hanging on by a thread where both parties involved do everything they can to screw with each other but come the choruses it returns to the routines of the past and the fear of truly being alone.

So yeah, Lawrence takes Fourth of July for granted, but I think very highly of this album and I bet they will too to the point that it'll be worn like a badge of honor. Bravo FOJ, bravo Range Life Records.

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!

Past post

MP3: D.O.A. - Lady Tell Me Why
MP3: Hope - Dream Away

Numero Group really keeps on pounding the past in "Local Customs: Lone Star Lowlands". Although some of the songs where their influences on their sleeves quite heavily (the included "Dream Away" by Hope lifts its vocal harmonies basically from the Neil Young classic "When You Dance You Can Really Love"), all of the songs are still really well done. [Note: the D.O.A. song that is included here is not the same band that wrote "Marijuana Motherfucker.] However, that's what has always been great about the various compilations Numero has issued—some bands only have one good song, but that doesn't mean that it should be overlooked.

The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love

MP3: Jens Lekman - The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love

It's new, it's true. Read Jens Lekman's account of why this song exists here and then cross your fingers for a new record.

The Best Song Ever: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Graveyard Train [MP3]

MP3: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Graveyard Train

We all love the CCR hits, but it's the tracks in between that have caught my interest as of late. It's so genius that I get to live in a century with iPods on shuffle and once again I've found love for a song through the function: "Graveyard Train" is track 3 from 1969's classic "Bayou Country" and it sticks out like a cock in a cunt fight: it's a total drone-dirt jam, repetitive and pulsing all throughout. It sounds just as fresh as ever in today's changing climates and is my recommendation to you all for a July weekend party closer.

See you Monday nuders!

Where's that new No Age joint?

MP3: Wolf Parade - Cloud Shadow on the Mountain

Not here, unfortunately. But while we await it, here's a track from another Sub Pop band. The new Wolf Parade record is more rockin' than previous efforts, which is always a plus when a band decides to get lively—here's the lead track.

The coolest part is that the fella second from right looks like a young John Candy. NOW GO WATCH CANADIAN BACON.

Return of the Kings.

It's been a little while, but Grinderman return this fall with "Grinderman 2". Today, the single "Heathen Child" was released and holy mother fuck is this going to be a good one. It'll put some hair on your chest and some dirt under your fingernails like a damn jam should. P4K has more info on the single but G2 comes out September 14th in the States. Jus' sayin'.

New Deerhunter: Revival

MP3: Deerhunter - Revival

After Rainwater Cassette Exchange, it felt like the magic spark found in Deerhunter's previous work may have wained a bit. Enter "Revival", a blast of fire from their upcoming long player "Halcyon Digest" (out September 28th) which reignites all kinds of passion from their instruments to your ears. I dig it. Welcome back.

SNOOZE BUTTON

We will be back in full force next week, I pinky swear it.

The Sword return triumphant!

Any month that passes by without a new record from The Sword is painful, but the dudes are finally back with their 3rd long player: "Warp Riders". The artwork for it (and the cover above for the single) pretty much show you how awesome this is gonna sound. Better yet, for your email you can get an mp3 of "Trej Brujas" for free. Get stoked.

"Warp Riders" is out August 24rd from Kemado.

New Abe Vigoda: Throwing Shade

MP3: Abe Vigoda - Throwing Shade

Something happened between last year's great "Reviver" ep and the upcoming "Crush", but the game didn't just evolve, it damn near changed completely. This would be more alarming if Abe Vigoda didn't still sound on point. "Crush", the new sound from Abe Vigoda sees release September 21st on PPM.

Everything Is Gonna Be Alright

MP3: ceo - Everything Is Gonna Be Alright

I'm shocked at the number of random friends I've turned ceo's "White Magic" on to. It's fucking infectous, and today an outtake has surfaced. It, of course, rules.

Stay Gray, yo.

MP3: BAMBARA - Stay Gray

BAMBARA have created an ep that is what the format does best: it teases you, ends too quickly and gets listened to over and over. It's brash, in your face and totally fucking radical and I can't wait to hear more from these dudes. You can download the whole thing for free while digital supplies last at their bandcamp page. You're gonna love this.

You're fucking out, I'm fucking in.

MP3: Frankie Rose and the Outs - Little Brown Haired Girls

After a stellar 7 inch single, superstar Frankie Rose returns as Frankie Rose and the Outs for a full length music-tacular hi-fi experience: a self titled long player. You'll have to wait until September 21st, when Slumberland lets you throw a needle on the wax, but the digital world has allowed "Little Brown Haired Girls" to come out and play. It rules / she rules / you rule / we rule.

New Chromeo: Don't Turn the Lights On

Don't Turn the Lights On by Chromeo

New Chromeo is obviously a good thing. "Don't Turn the Lights On" from the forthcoming "Business Casual" sees the duo retain their smooth Miami Vice suave-swagger, with a bit of evil thrown in. Business Casual sees tangible release on September 14th.

Business Casual Tour Dates

MON 7/26 WASHINGTON DC 9:30 Club
TUE 7/27 PHILADELPHIA, PA Trocadero
THU 7/29 NEW YORK, NY Bowery Ballroom
FRI 7/30 BOSTON, MA House of Blues *
SAT 7/31 MONTREAL, QC Metropolis *
MON 8/2 OTTAWA, ON Capital Music Hall
TUE 8/3 TORONTO, ON Phoenix
THU 8/5 DETROIT, MI Majestic
FRI 8/6 CHICAGO, IL Lollapalooza *
SAT 8/7 MINNEAPOLIS, MN First Avenue
TUE 8/10 CALGARY, AB Flames Central
WED 8/11 VANCOUVER, BC Commodore
THU 8/12 SEATTLE, WA Showbox Market
FRI 8/13 PORTLAND, OR Roseland
MON 8/16 SAN DIEGO, CA House of Blues
THU 8/19 SALT LAKE CITY, UT Twilight Concert Series *
FRI 8/20 DENVER, CO Ogden
TUE 8/24 AUSTIN, TX Stubb's
WED 8/25 DALLAS, TX Palladium
THU 8/26 NASHVILLE, TN Cannery Ballroom
FRI 8/27 ATLANTA, GA Masquerade
SUN 8/29 LOS ANGELES, CA Hollywood Bowl (w/ The Chemical Brothers) *

* No Holy Ghost!

Gentlemen: A look back at a top 5 album from the 90's.

MP3: Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen
MP3: Afghan Whigs - When We Two Parted
MP3: Afghan Whigs - Fountain and Fairfax

First off: GENIUS album cover. The conception of such an idea is worthy of praise alone, but the fact that the photographer got these children to capture that moment so perfectly is nothing sort of incredible. I could seriously make this post about the cover alone, but the music contained inside demands to be written about.

My old boss at this record store I used to work at told me that the audio at the beginning of the Afghan Whigs' "Gentlmen" was the sounds of the highway leaving Cincinnati. It's a brilliant start to the lp and the soul and harshness that continues through cement it as an all time great. It's hard to not just post the whole album, but all 3 of these songs are a great start and a coda to the Whigs as a whole. Fuck yeah!