Folk/Acoustic
Listen: Lord Huron – “Ends Of The Earth”
On October 9th, Lord Huron released their first LP, Lonesome Dreams. The first two tracks to their new release can be streamed below. Also, check out their Fall U.S tour dates.
Lonesome Dreams
- Ends of the Earth
- Time to Run
- Lonesome Dreams
- The Ghost on the Shore
- She Lit a Fire
- I Will Be Back One Day
- The Man Who Lives Forever
- Lullaby
- Brother (Last Ride)
- In the Wind
Fall U.S Tour
10/08 Philadelphia, PA @ KungFu Necktie
10/09 New York, NY @Mercury Lounge
10/11 Allston, MA @ Great Scott
10/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands Gallery
10/13 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
10/15 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
10/16 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
10/18 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
10/19 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
10/20 Boise, ID @ Neurolux
10/21 Seattle, WA @ Barboza
10/22 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
10/24 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
11/01 San Diego, CA @ Casbah
11/02 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
Review: The Smith Street Band – Sunshine & Technology
The Smith Street Band – Sunshine & Technology
Released: August 24, 2012
Label: Poison City Records
Purchase: Poison City Records
In the past year, I have become very fond of the wave of bands coming from Australia, with a folk-punk aesthetic. In particular, The Smith Street Band, a five piece band from Melbourne whom I interviewed earlier this year which can be found here.
Their sophomore record, Sunshine & Technology, released on August 24th, has had high expectations after their first LP No One Gets Lost Anymore which didn’t have a single track that disappointed. Self-described as “Folk Party Punk” with the most honest lyrics I have ever heard, Wil Wagner, does not take the same approach to his songwriting as many current day bands do. Instead of arrogantly trying to make his lyrics appeal to every listener, he writes very personally about emotions, mishaps, parties, and his views of society. In “I Want Friends”, he howls out social commentary and a way to live life through “exist[ing] between the margins, not between the lines.”
Sunshine & Technology is more band orientated than their debut album, as opposed to solo songs With added guitars and drums, each song now is much fuller and definitely written with the entire band in mind. The beloved, distinct Smith Street Band sound with their addictive folk melodies, backed up by punk-esque sounding guitars and a rhythmic drum beat is present in this release. My personal favorites alongside “I Want Friends” which I mentioned previously, are “Tom Busby” and “Don’t Mention The War” for their sound and Wagner’s lyrical genius. “The things you loved started gathering dust years ago. You know more than anyone would give you credit for, we’re killing ourselves to live the best life possible.” (Tom Busby). The final song that allows the album to end with a bang, “Don’t Mention The War” escalates to a cohesive masterpiece with each instrument playing loudly as Wagner cries out above everything.
The Smith Street Band are first doing a national tour of Australia which has already commenced, followed by a nine day stop over in China for six shows and then a month in the U.S. Tour details can be found on their Facebook page, and the Poison City Records website.
This album, alongside their debut album, are my version of the 90’s generation’s Nevermind by Nirvana. Sunshine & Technology is an album not to be ignored, and is sure to receive critical acclaim. It can be purchased in mp3 format from iTunes and in CD and vinyl record from the Poison City Records website. You can also listen to a free stream of the album here.
9.0
Standout Tracks: “I Want Friends”, “Tom Busby”, “Don’t Mention The War”
Tracklisting:
1. Sunshine & Technology
2. I Can’t Feel My Face
3. I Want Friends
4. Why I Can’t Draw
5. Stay Young
6. What’s Changed
7. Tom Busby
8. Young Drunk
9. When I Said Us I Meant Them
10. Don’t Mention The War
Listen: Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Getting Back Together”
Stream: mewithoutYou – Ten Stories
Ten Stories Track-listing:
01) February 1878
02) Grist For The Malady Mill
03) East Enders Wives
04) Cardiff Giant
05) Elephant In The Dock
06) Aubergine
07) Fox’s Dream Of The Log Flume
08) Nine Stories
09) Fiji Mermaid
10) Bear’s Vision Of St. Agnes
11) All Circles
[via TheNeedleDrop]
Jack White Makes Solo Debut With ‘Blunderbuss’
The album portrays the jigsaw pieces of White’s career coming together to create thirteen exemplary tracks. A wide variety of genres are covered in the album from blues to garage rock, including White’s signature catchy riffs, and distorted vocals. Styles from all of his projects including The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather as well as from his musical influences like Son House are all definitely present in the album. It represents White’s chance to produce a record which is truly representative of him. In his own words, “I’ve put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas.”
Blunderbuss is now streaming on iTunes for free listening and will available for purchase on the 24th, including vinyl copies of the album from Third Man Records.
Blunderbuss Tracklisting:
01. Missing Pieces
02. Sixteen Saltines
03. Freedom At 21
04. Love Interruption
05. Blunderbuss
06. Hypocritical Kiss
07. Weep Themselves To Sleep
08. I’m Shakin’
09. Trash Tongue Talker
10. Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy
11. I Guess I Should Go To Sleep
12. On And On And On
13. Take Me With You When You Go
Blog Tapes: The Coachella Mix
About a year ago, some of us blogger folk decided to band together for a series of Monday Mixer playlists. We’ve proudly joined forces again to restart the series – bigger and better than ever before. Blog Tapes, the new mixtape collective featuring our favorite music blogs on the Internet today, kicks off today with its very first mixtape: 8 hand-picked songs from artists that are all playing at this year’s Coachella festival. Give it a listen above!
DJ Shadow – “Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt”
It’s rare in music for something to completely transcend the strict boundary lines that separate genre from genre. For some reason, we feel the need to box what we listen to into such explicit categories that we’ve even created subgenres within genres and so on. Dream-pop? Surf-rock? Seriously? Since stunning audiences with 1996?s Endtroducing….., the very first album to be recorded using only sampled sounds, DJ Shadow has somehow managed to consistently avoid being defined by labels. By blending songs from all areas of the musical spectrum, DJ Shadow’s sample-heavy music is a fantastic look into the world of music that doesn’t have to be classified to be enjoyed. Seriously. – Frank @ Lost In The Sound
The Head and the Heart – “No One To Let You Down”
I’ve been a fan of this Seattle band for awhile. They’ve only released their debut album but they have a treasure trove of unreleased materials like “No One To Let You Down” to listen to and fall in love with. – Ian @ 1146 Miles
Grouplove – “Colours”
I thank my sister for my love of Grouplove, the 7? of Colours was a birthday present from her, chosen because of it’s excellent cover. Anyone heading to Coachella needs to put these guys near the top of their lists if only for the huge rolling choruses which have the noise of Doolittle-era Pixies and the energy of any festival headline act. The outro alone is made for mud-spattered singalong sunsets. –Marcus @ A Pocket Full Of Seeds
Oberhofer – “Gotta Go”
Brad Oberhofer deals in sun-ripened throwback fuzz-pop that is practically tailor made for singing along to in big crowds. You bet your ass I will be up in the mix belting out all the big “OOoohhs” during “Gotta Go.” In fact, the whole jam is prime sing along material. It’s Oberhofer’s thing. A handful of other Oberhofer gems are kicking around the internet and debut LP Time Capsules II is out now. If you don’t know these guys then skip the pool on Sunday and get to the Mojave Stage at 1:10 to join the sing along! – Brandon @ The Burning Ear
We Were Promised Jetpacks – “Act On Impulse”
Scotland has always had a rich heritage of music, but it is the emotive and fierce We We Promised Jetpacks that are carrying the Saltire with pride at the moment. The band have come a long way from their debut album, keeping the desperation and energy, but have now found a little warmth in their hearts as here in Act On Impulse. – Tim @ The Blue Walrus
Keep Shelly In Athens – “Hauntin’ Me”
One of last year’s discoveries that I’ve been keeping an eye on has to be Greece’s Keep Shelly In Athens. Seemingly coming out of nowhere to making it to the Coachella stage in the matter of a year, their set is sure to bring the perfect early afternoon vibes to the early afternoon crowd. I only hope I can drag myself to the fest early enough to see them myself. – Chris @ dailybeatz
Death Grips – “I’ve Seen Footage”
I’m not going to Coachella but if there’s one act I’d rush to see in a festival setting it would be Death Grips. The trio twist punk, hardcore and hip-hip into antagonizing soundscapes fit for a slaughterhouse. Their rhythm and noise formula is a fist in the air, fuck the system blast of energy well-suited for losing your mind under the hot desert sun. Tear the tents down! – Veronica @ Cream Team
Kaskade – “Turn It Down”
It wasn’t a surprise to me that this year’s Coachella is heavily EDM. The somewhat underground movement have been brought to the main stage- plus a DJ is many times cheaper than a band so the decision makes a lot of sense economically. Kaskade is my favorite dance act of the festival. His Fire & Ice album, released back in October 2011, is the reason I’ve been dying to see him live ever since. – Ben @ The Metropolitan Jolt
Listen: jj – “Beautiful Life”
This new song will appear on their forthcoming single jj n° 4 alongside another new song entitled “Burn”. Starting May 8th, you’ll be able to purchase the single from Secretly Canadian and Sincerely Yours either as a 7″ record or as a digital recording. Check it out below.
Live Review: Death Cab For Cutie @ Shanghai, China’s Yunfeng Theatre (03/09)
Band: Death Cab For Cutie
Location: Shanghai, China’s Yunfeng Theatre
Date: March 9, 2012
From that point on, it was obvious that the band had settled into a comfort zone of sorts, launching into their more well-known tracks like “You Are a Tourist” and even a solo performance of “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” that had the crowd singing and swaying along. Although the tracklist was heavy with songs from 2003’s Transatlanticism (a total of six songs!), the band rounded out the evening by including songs from Narrow Stairs, We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes, and The Photo Album.
Accompanied by waves of flashing lights, Ben even took a turn on an extra set of drums for an extended, heavily instrumental rendition of “We Looked Like Giants” where the band launched into a five-minute jam session. For the rest of the night, Ben alternated between playing the keyboard and the guitar, but of course, he was at his best behind the microphone, with the acoustics of the theatre and the diligence of the sound crew making his voice sound even better than on record. Those who weren’t awestruck by Ben’s stage presence and his vocal skills happily sang along, giving the theatre an extremely warm and intimate atmosphere that really complemented the music being played.
After going through 21 songs in just under two hours, Ben graciously thanked the adoring crowd and the band headed off surrounded by cheers from the packed theatre that just wasn’t ready to leave yet.
Setlist:
A Lack of Color
I Will Possess Your Heart
Crooked Teeth
We Laugh Indoors
Photobooth
Doors Unlocked and Open
Long Division
Grapevine Fires
Codes and Keys
Different Names For The Same Thing
I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Title and Registration
You Are a Tourist
The New Year
Company Calls
Company Calls Epilogue
Soul Meets Body
Cath…
We Looked Like Giants
The Sound of Settling
Encore:
Underneath The Sycamore
A Movie Script Ending
Transatlanticism
Andrew Bird Visits Stephen Colbert
Interview:
Video: Bon Iver – “Towers”
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