Frank Wu
Arctic Monkeys Reveal New Single
“Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I Moved Your Chair” will be the first single from the Arctic Monkeys‘ forthcoming album Suck It And See.
You can check out the release dates and different formats that will be available below.
April 11:
Single Digital Download Release
1. Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I Moved Your Chair
April 16:
Record Store Day 7″(RUG406)
1. Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
2. Brick by Brick
May 30:
7″(RUG406S)
1. Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
2. I.D.S.T
10″(RUG406T)/Digital Download(RUG406DI)
1. Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
2. The Blond-O-Sonic Shimmer Trap
3. I.D.S.T
Lost In The Sound Sessions: The Great Valley – “Dirty Work”
Today we are very excited to bring you an exclusive Lost In The Sound Session with The Great Valley, who performed their new single “Dirty Work” acoustically. Their new album Ruthless was released independently on March 1, 2011 and can be purchased from iTunes here.
Film Credit: Matt Reamer
Muse To Play ‘Origin Of Symmetry’ In Full
Matt Bellamy has announced via his Twitter page that Muse will be playing 2001’s Origin Of Symmetry in full during their headlining slots at the Reading and Leeds Festivals this summer on August 26-28.
The band wants to mark the ten-year anniversary of Origin Of Symmetry by playing the album in full for the last time. “It’s probably the last time some of these songs will ever be played live again,” he said, explaining that the performances would include the band “drawing a line under one phase of our career”.
Review: Hailey, It Happens – Aurora
Hailey, It Happens – Aurora
Released: April 5, 2011
Label: Self-released
Purchase: iTunes | Amazon
Some of the best things in life just happen – you stumble upon them unknowingly, with absolutely no idea how important they will be to you in the future. But later, after the fact, everything sinks in and the waves of emotion hit. At this point in time, a personal importance is assigned and we’re left clutching at thin wisps of memories. These are the moments when we realize just how lucky we are and what we have run into. Things happen.
Life happens. The other day I stumbled upon electronic pop duo Hailey, It Happens and, for better or for worse, decided to give their debut album a listen. Now, after the fact, I’m certainly glad I did. Their debut albumAurora is pop in the vein of Owl City and Ben Gibbard’s The Postal Service fused with the songwriting talents of Andrew McMahon (Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate). Picture a less poppy, more capable Owl City and you have Hailey, It Happens.
“I Gave Her My Heart, She Gave Me a Pen” opens the album with a combination of drums, piano, and synth. Vocalist Chris Cleary’s superb range is highlighted through the chorus – the noticeably high quality mixing by Paul Levitt complements the band’s sound quite nicely, allowing Chris’s voice to really shine. His honest and endearing delivery takes center stage on Aurora. On “Invincible”, Cleary sings, “…and this is where I spent my nights with the king of pop and the piano man”, a warm memory that should be easy for many to relate to.
Holistically speaking, the overall sound of Aurora could be characterized by the natural phenomena itself. The album includes numerous breath-taking moments of sonic brilliance – the music is fun, catchy, and poppy enough to hook you in, but once you’ve been pulled in, the honest, passionate lyrics keep you around for more.
But that isn’t where Aurora shines brightest – the intricacies of the album are what really make it great. It might be a backing synth line from Bobby DiBari on one track or an echoed “woah” on another, but on each song, there’s something unique and inherently beautiful hidden underneath the basic makeup of their music. This is what makes Aurora so good.
Aurora isn’t without its flaws, though, as the duo provide very little variety throughout the course of the eight-track album. For the most part, the songs are all pretty similar sounding with similar song structure and composition. Closing track “Hurricane” is a bit more toned down and is certainly more reserved than the rest of the album, ending the album on a different (and welcomed!) note.
Great things may in fact be better when they are least expected. Things happen. Life happens. I may not know who Hailey is, but Hailey, it happens. Life happens. We’re all just here for the ride.
8.4
Standout Tracks: “Brighter”, “Aurora”, and “Hurricane”
The Morning Benders Release New EP for Japan
To help raise money for the Japan Society’s Earthquake Relief Fund, The Morning Benders have released Japan Echo EP featuring remixes from Star Slinger, Wild Nothing, and more. 100% of proceeds will be donated. Download and donate here.
“Last week we were scheduled to go to Tokyo to play our first show ever in Japan. It was going to be a very special trip for us, and for me in particular. I had always dreamt of going back to Japan to play music. Not many people know this, but I was actually born in Japan, and although I only lived there for a couple of years, I’ve always had a deep love for the country and its people. I cannot express how sad and helpless I’ve felt reading about everything that is happening there right now, and even though we couldn’t be there, we wanted to do everything we could to help.
We love you Japan.
xo,
Chris”
Check out the track listing below.
Japan Echo EP (日本・エコー) Tracklisting:
1. Cold War (Star Slinger Remix)
2. Better In Blue
3. Hand Me Downs (Wild Nothing Remix)
4. Excuses (RAC Remix)
5. Mason Jar (Twin Sister Remix)
6. Wet Cement (Aislyn Remix)
7. Little Riot
8. Promises (Star Slinger Remix)
Hawthorne Heights Announce Tour and Contest
On their upcoming tour, Hawthorne Heights will be hosting a Meet & Greet contest, allowing the winners to meet and hang out with the band before the show, as well as a limited edition out of print Saying Sorry 7″ UK single on either pink or blue vinyl. More information about the contest can be found here.
Check out the tour dates below.
United Scenes of America Tour Dates:
Mar 31, Louisville, OH @ The Carriage House
Apr 1st, Westland, MI @ The Token Lounge
Apr 2, Steger, IL @ Another Hole In The Wall
Apr 3, Toledo, OH @ Frankies Inner City
Apr 4, Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel
Apr 5, Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
Apr 6, Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
Apr 7, Albany, NY @ Bogies
Apr 9, Manchester, NH @ Rocko’s Rock Club
Apr 10, Providence, RI @ The Ruins
Apr 12, Hamden, CT @ The Space
Apr 13, New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Apr 14, South Hackensack, NJ @ School Of Rock
Apr 15, Vineland, NJ @ Hangar 84
Apr 16, North East, MD @ North East Fire Hall
Apr 17, Towson, MD @ Recher Theater
Apr 19, Charlotte, NC @ Treemont Music Hall
Apr 20, Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligan Music Hall
Apr 21, Fayetteville, NC @ The Rock Shop
Apr 22, Marietta, GA @ Swayze’s
Apr 23, Johnson City, TN @ Spring Street Music Hall
Apr 25, Cedar Falls, IA @ The Wheelhouse
Apr 26, Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
Apr 27, Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
Apr 28, Iowa City @ The Blue Moose
Apr 29, Terre Haute, IN @ The Venue
Apr 30, Bloomington, IN @ Rhino’s
May 1, Kalamazoo, MI @ The Strutt
May 3, Parkersburg, WV @ Rader’s Music Venue
May 5, Nashville, TN @ The Exit/In
May 6, Indianapolis, IN @ Rock House Cafe
May 7, Lebanon, OH @ Venue 42
Interview: Valencia
We recently had the chance to chat with Brendan Walter, guitarist of Valencia, discussing the band’s new tour, their most recent album Dancing With a Ghost, their return to I Surrender, and their plans for the rest of the year. Check out the interview after the break.
Valencia: We’re doing great!
LitS: You guys just began a tour with A Rocket To The Moon, Anarbor, Runner Runner, and Go Radio. How excited are you?
Valencia: So excited. Everything has been going swimmingly and the shows have been insane (all sold our so far – 1 week in). We couldn’t ask for a better tour.
LitS: Which shows are you looking forward to most on this tour?
Valencia: I’m really looking forward to the Anaheim show. Chain Reaction is always such a crazy place to play. Kids are just so excited to see and experience music there and all of the positive vibes really make for a good time. (more…)
Third Eye Blind Announce 2011 Tour Dates
Pop-rock band Third Eye Blind has announced tour dates for April-July 2011. Their most recent album, Ursa Major, was released in August of 2009. Rumor has it that the follow-up to Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, will be released sometime this year. If so, these tour dates could be in support of the new record.
Check out the tour dates below.
Third Eye Blind 2011 Tour Dates:
April 29th – Hampton Beach Casino – Hampton, NH
May 1st – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel – Providence, RI
May 3rd – Calvin Theatre – Northampton, MA
May 4th – The Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
May 5th – Sound Academy – Toronto, ON
May 6th – Palace Theater – Greensburg, PA
May 7th – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
May 10th – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC
May 14th – Western Connecticut State – Danbury, CT
May 21st – Addison Circle Park – Addison, TX
May 22nd – Vinoy Park – St. Petersburg, FL
May 28th – Mountain Creek – Vernon, NJ
June 10th – Fairfax Government Center – Fairfax, VA
July 1st – Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI
July 4th – Sill’s Parade Field – Garrison, HI
July 8th – Clays Park Main Stage – North Lawerence, OH
The Dangerous Summer Play New Song and Cover
On March 15, The Dangerous Summer played a show The Studio at Webster Hall in New York, premiering a brand new song called “Everyone Left” and playing a cover of Bush‘s “Glycerine”. “Everyone Left” will be included on the band’s forthcoming album, set to be released later this year, and is the same song that was demoed on the band’s Tumblr back in October.
Check out the videos below.
The Dangerous Summer – “Everyone Left”:
The Dangerous Summer – “Glycerine (Bush Cover)”:
Death Cab For Cutie Album Finished, Details Announced
Chris Walla, the guitarist and producer of Death Cab For Cutie, has announced via his Twitter account that the band’s new album, Codes and Keys, is finished.Codes and Keys will be released on May 31, 2011.
You can check out the tracklisting below.
Codes and Keys Tracklisting:
1. “Home Is a Fire”
2. “Codes and Keys”
3. “Some Boys”
4. “Doors Unlocked and Open”
5. “You Are a Tourist”
6. “Unobstructed Views”
7. “Monday Morning”
8. “Portable Television”
9. “Underneath the Sycamore”
10. “St “Peter’s Cathedral”
11. “Stay Young, Go Dancing”
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