Frank Wu
The Starting Line Premiere New Song
Watch The Starting Line perform a new song called “Luck” live below.
Jamie xx + Gil Scott-Heron = Remix Album
I’m New Here, released in February 2010, was Gil Scott-Heron‘s first album in thirteen years. Jamie of The xx has remixed thirteen tracks from the I’m New Here studio sessions, creating a new album entitled We’re New Here, which is scheduled for a February 21st release. Read more to listen to the tracks “I’ll Take Care Of U” and “NY Is Killing Me,” as well as the tracklisting.
Track Listing
01. I’m New Here
02. Home
03. I’ve Been Me (Interlude)
04. Running
05. My Cloud
06. Certain Things (Interlude)
07. The Crutch
08. Ur Soul and Mine
09. Parents (Interlude)
10. Piano Player
11. NY Is Killing Me
12. Jazz (Interlude)
13. I’ll Take Care Of U
Single: Donots – “Calling”
Track: “Calling”
Artist: Donots
Release Date: November 23, 2010
Label: Solitary Man Records
There is nothing particularly new on Donots’ punk-rock anthem “Calling”, but in all honesty, the track doesn’t strike me as an effort to reinvent the wheel. Instead, “Calling” is more of an attempt to stick with a previously tried-and-true songwriting formula. From the tremolos of the guitars to the echoed vocals of the chorus to the fast-paced drumming, nothing seems particularly innovative, yet everything still seems to fit together. The song is extremely catchy and an enjoyable listien altogether, but if it seems like you’ve heard this song before, you probably have – it just probably wasn’t called “Calling” and it probably wasn’t performed by the Donots.
“Calling” is from The Long Way Home, out now.
MP3: Donots – “Calling”
Rating: 6.5/10
Cults Album and Tour Dates
Pop duo Cults will be releasing their debut full length in May 2011 via In The Name Of / Columbia Records. They will also be heading on a North American tour, playing shows with Small Black and Asobi Seksu, as well as headlining shows of their own.
Check out the confirmed tour dates below.
Cults 2011 Tour Dates:
02/05 – Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Institue College of Art
03/10 – Chapel Hill, MC @ Local 506 *
03/11 – Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn *
03/12 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree *
03/13 – New Orleans, LA @ The Saint *
03/15 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds *
03/17-19 – Austin, TX @ South by Southwest
03/22 – Nashville, TN @ The End ^
03/23 – Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
03/24 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter ^
03/25 – Washington, DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel ^
03/26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas ^
03/30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
03/31 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
04/01 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
04/02 – Montreal, QC @ II Motore
04/04 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
04/06 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
04/07 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
04/08 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
04/11 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Café
04/12 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
04/14 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
* = w/ Small Black
^ = w/ Asobi Seksu
Finally Famous: Finally No DJ
G.O.O.D Music signee Big Sean‘s 2010 mixtape Finally Famous Vol. 3 has been rereleased. This time around, the mixtape no longer has annoying DJ shouts throughout each song. Download the mixtape for free here (via the G.O.O.D Music blog).
Drummer Leaves The Dangerous Summer
Drummer Tyler Minsberg has announced his departure from The Dangerous Summer. He has stated that he will continue to make music, but has not revealed any further details. Read more to see Tyler’s goodbye message.
EDIT: AJ Perdomo has written a statement in regards to Tyler’s departure from the band, revealing that Spencer Peterson (Hidden in Plain View, Black Cards) wrote all of the drum parts for the band’s sophomore release. You can also read AJ’s statement after the break.
Tyler’s Message:
I feel it is absolutely my responsibility to both quiet any rumors and answer any questions regarding my participation with The Dangerous Summer. As of roughly over a month and half ago, I made the decision to sever myself from that band for personal reasons.
I’d like to thank from the bottom of my heart my fans, my family, my label, any industry personnel , and without any question the band that allowed me to live a dream that I had since I was a child. You all gave me an opportunity that I will never forget and that I can proudly say, I never took for granted. I learned about myself as a person, and as a professional musician through four great years of writing, recording, and performing live, a style of music that I felt perfectly fit the message that I wanted to help express.
The most important thing I hope is that none of you take this personally. You all did exactly what I wished from you and that was unconditional support. Please do not stop supporting this band, but do not think that I am finished with music. I have all different kinds of plans regarding my involvement in the music industry, and I hope that if I present you the audience with anything new, I can count on the incredible strength you gave me once again. I love you all. Thank you.
-Tyler Minsberg
AJ’s Statement:
Dear everyone in the world,
We were going to wait till christmas to tell you, but the bubble popped. We are no longer playing with Tyler Minsberg. He was one of the best drummers I had known, and had always known him since elementary school. I wish the absolute best for him in everything he does in the future. I hope he sticks with music more than anything. I think moral differences and musical barriers were being established. I feel it’s important to choose very carefully who you surround yourself with, and more importantly who you pour your heart out with. I hope our fans hold Tyler very dear to their hearts, he will always be a part of what built something great. As for the future of our band, we haven’t stopped. As soon as Tyler departed we focused on just finishing this record. Spencer Peterson (Hidden in Plain View, Black Cards) flew up a little bit ago and wrote all of the parts for the new album. He is a drummer we have looked up to for a very long time, and I have no doubt that you guys will be very happy with the results. We have yet to decide whether we would like to even permanently replace Tyler. Everything happens for a reason, and we as a band will always be working day and night to make the art that we have been developing for years.
Love,
AJ
Stream The Decemberists
You can stream The Decemberists‘ new album, The King Is Dead, on NPR. The album will be streamed in its entirety until its January 18 release via Capitol Records.
Dispatch Announce Reunion Tour For 2011
Dispatch will be reuniting for the first time in almost a decade, embarking next summer for a six-leg tour. Fan pre-sale tickets will be available starting January 21st, with the general on-sale to follow on January 28th. A portion of all ticket proceeds will go towards education programs in local communities. If that’s not enough, the band is offering all four of their full-lengths for free digital download. Go here for more information and check out the tour dates after the break.
Dispatch 2011 Tour Dates:
06/04 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
06/08 – Chicago, IL @ Millennium Park
06/11 – Berkley, CA @ Greek Theare
06/18 – Harrison, NJ @ Red Bull Arena
06/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park
06/25 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
Interview: The Dangerous Summer
I had the opportunity to speak to Cody Payne of The Dangerous Summer today, recapping the band’s experiences in 2010 and discussing their plans for a busy 2011. He was kind enough to answer some questions about their past and upcoming tours, their upcoming album, and an acoustic version of Reach For The Sun.
It was such an amazing tour for us, for the first time we really got to see what we were worth to our fans and it was great to see so many people coming out to the shows. Three of the shows actually sold out, one being in Canada. It really just blew us away. It was probably the best tour we have ever done.
In February, you will be heading to the UK with Francesqa. How did this tour come together?
We had just been in touch with their manager and their booking agent over the last year and they hit us up recently asking if we wanted to do direct support for the tour. We had to take it, we love it in the UK and it has been a good while since we have been there.
Not too long ago, you guys released a live EP. Can we expect an acoustic record as well or is that out of the question?
It is looking like we are going to be releasing an acoustic version of Reach For The Sun sometime in the early new year. I haven’t heard much info about when it’s coming out, but it is recorded. (more…)
New Passion Pit, The Antlers, and Andrew Bird Thanks To American Express
You don’t have to be a fan of commercial jingles to appreciate American Express’s ongoing ZYNC campaign. Passion Pit, The Antlers, and Andrew Bird have all recorded new tracks, which can be listened to below or downloaded from the American Express Facebook page.
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