Navvy

Myspace // "My New Building" [mp3]

Navvy are a Sheffield-based quartet influenced by the likes of The Fall, Wire and The Breeders. They play a sort of arty punk rock that's heavily percussive and aggressive, full of big yelping vocals, thrashing guitars, and thumping drums. Their music is a bit more difficult than some of the stuff we feature regularly, as it's a bit rough and discordant at times but I definitely find it enjoyable. Their debut EP, the aply named Four Songs By Navvy, drops today in the United Kingdom via Angular Recording Company.

Grammatics

Myspace // "The Vague Archive" [mp3]

"D.I.L.E.M.M.A.," the new single from Leeds-based Grammatics is out April 14th through Dance to the Radio, but what should you care?

Honestly, I didn't like them the first time I heard them. Or even the second. But finally one of their songs stood out and I got it -- I don't even remember which song it was, but it was that day that everything fell into place with these guys. The band is obviously influenced by Cursive, but missing is the angst, and it's replaced with some of the most epic and creative tunes that has come out of England in some time. The best bands are those that you don't get at first, and these guys are ambitious enough to throw you for a loop or two.

The Violets

Myspace // "Climb Me, Miss Me" [mp3]

Angular Recording Company is one of the great taste-making indie labels based out of London right now. The one time home of Klaxons, Art Brut, and The Long Blondes, Angular currently houses a herd of young talent that includes These New Puritans, Navvy, and The Violets. That last band, The Violets, is a female fronted group that plays a brand of arty post-punk in the vein of Siouxsie & The Banshees and The Duke Spirit. Mixing brash vocals with jagged guitar gymnastics and animated drumming, the band's songs brim with a ferocious punk energy perfect for drunken dancing on a Saturday night.

Sally Shapiro Gets Remixed

Myspace // "He Keeps Me Alive" [mp3]

After Sally's DJ debut and first set of public appearances on North American shores, her 2007 debut Disco Romance will now get double the remix treatment with the release of Remix Romance Vol. 2, a second remix record of Sally's acclaimed album, set for digital-only release on June 17. This second round of remixes is scheduled to follow April's release of Remix Romance Vol. 1.

We've posted about Sally a bunch here, and if I said that I was starting to get sick of her, I'd basically be lying. All fans of Moloko, Mylene Farmer and Saint Etienne needs to listen to her right fucking now.

Remix Romance Vol. 1:
1. I'll be by Your Side [Tensnake Remix]
2. I Know You're My Love [Juan MacLean Remix]
3. Find My Soul [Holy Fuck Remix]
4. Anorak Christmas [Woodhands Remix]
5. He Keeps Me Alive [Skatebård Remix]
6. Hold Me So Tight [The Cansecos Remix]
7. Skating in the Moonshine [Jon Brooks Remix]
8. Jackie Junior [Junior Boys Remix]
9. Time to Let Go [Lindstrøm Remix]
10. Sleep in my Arms [Between Interval Remix]

Remix Romance Vol. 2:
1. Time to Let Go [CFCF Remix]
2. I Know [SLL Remix]
3. Find My Ghost [Dntel Remix]
4. Skating in the Moonshine [Solvent Remix]
5. I'll Be By Your Side [Russian Futurists Remix]
6. Time to Let Go [Eliot Spitzer Remix]
7. Anorak Christmas [Alexander Robotnick Remix]
8. Hold Me So Tight [Dyylan Remix]
9. Find My Soul [Johan Agebjörn's Norwegian Electrojazz Mix]
10. Jackie Jackie [Dyylan's Subzero Nocturne]

Interview: Q Without U

Myspace // "Sleep in Thirteen Eight" [mp3]

Back in January, I wrote about Q Without U, a band I liked so much that I decided to interview them over at Stranded in Stereo. Check it out below:

Not to be confused with another band with a very similar name, Glasgow-based quartet Q Without U already have a few singles of math-influenced power pop under their collective belts. While the guys are still under the radar, the world as a whole is starting to notice as they received write-ups in some key blogs and their shows keep getting bigger and bigger. We sent the guys a few questions over e-mail and they were kind enough to respond. Here is what they had to say.

Read the rest here.

The NME wants to be Exitfare

Every now and then I feel like someone at the NME is watching us. Maybe they're stalking us or maybe they're simply fans, but we know they're watching as they've been dropping a clue here or there -- we see the tracks that we first mentioned in their referrals section, or even more telling, they start to herald a band that we started to hype months earlier.

The Maccabees, Foals, Duels, The Voom Booms, Johnny Flynn, O Fracas and more.

Last week's issue takes the cake though (I'm in the States, we get our copies a week or two behind), as White Lies was the Radar Live pick, a band that we first highlighted back in November, and if we really want to get technical, we wrote about their old band, Fear of Flying, last summer.

Next, there's the Elle Milano mention. Welcome to 2006, guys!

The highlight was their scene profile on West Yorkshire, the county containing Leeds and a scene we have been hyping for the better part of two years as not just one of the best in England, but one of the best in the entire world. Featured bands include Exitfare favorites Grammatics, Sky Larkin, Wintermute and Televised Crimewave, which features two ex-members of Black Wire.

(BTW NME, you forgot to mention Pulled Apart By Horses)

I guess I'm not really mad because it's flattering that anyone from the NME stops by here, and really, if they want to nick a band or two, then that's fine -- I've been doing it for about 15 years. Maybe we should develop a working relationship -- you guys can continue to "discover" bands here and you can give us a column on the website once a month. Sound good? Let me know, my e-mail is on the sidebar.

Kidnapper Bell

Myspace // "What Arthur Said" [mp3]

Brum quartet Kidnapper Bell are a product of their own influences, exhibiting shades of indie dance, but also being cautious enough to look beyond a genre that has unfortunately been beaten to death in recent years. While ready for the disco, the band add in extra helpings of Fugazi and Seafood with the songwriting chops of The Replacements to create a diverse group of tunes. Less Me, More Sky is their self-released EP, which is available via their Myspace page.

Foals: Album Out Today (UK)

Myspace // "Cassius" [mp3] // "Balloons" [Video] // "Hummer" [Video] // "Matheletics" [Video]

In the short span of the past fourteen months, Oxford group Foals have gone from art school dropouts with a dream to every hipsters favorite band of right this second. Despite being the first American blog to write about the band, we are not about to blow them off because they're too big for us now.

Antidotes, which came out yesterday in the UK (and April 8th in the US through Sub Pop) is exactly what we wanted from the band. A fresh and excitingly off-kilter collection of tunes that are jerky enough to dance along with, yet are dissonant to make the fans of Dischord Records notice. The band is currently on the road from now until forever, so keep an eye open -- they'll be in your town soon enough.


"Cassius"

This Et Al: New EP

Myspace // "Wardens" [mp3]

According to their Myspace page, Bloc Party/Cursive-insprired outfit This Et Al are set to release a new EP. From their missive:

We’re delighted to announce our first release for far too long -- The Figure Eight EP. Recorded with our long time friend James Kenosha over December to February, it’s released on 10” vinyl, CD and all digital formats nationwide (via On The Bone Records / Pinnacle Distribution) on Monday 28th April 2008. We have some splendid artwork courtesy of Chicago artist Diana Sudyka and it features four tracks ("Figure Eight," "Medicine Hammer," "Ice Age" and "(The Tale Of) Frosty Jackson)." Look at our player and our photo album for a free preview and a flavour of the artwork. We’ll be heading out on a UK tour for the first time in a good while (where the EP will be available) so if you can’t wait till release date, get down to a show!

A preview of the release and UK tour dates are up now on their Myspace page.

White Lies

Myspace // "Death" [mp3]

White Lies are probably the best band that you've never heard. With three unofficially released demos to their name, not to mention zero web presence, scant press mentions, and a ridiculously low friend count on Myspace (864 at time of writing), they've somehow already been handpicked to play alongside Crystal Castles, Friendly Fires, and Team Waterpolo on the NME New Noise Tour in May. It's no surprise to me, the first person to write about them back in November, as their music is really fucking impressive. Their songs feature melancholy tinged vocals and heavy lyrics contrasting with upbeat, 80s sounding synths, pulsating bass and drums. Think of White Lies as the bastard love child of Editors and The Killers, only better.

Apr 16 2008 - The Scala (London)
Apr 19 2008 - Camden Crawl (Camden)
May 2 2008 - Carling Academy - NME New Noise Tour (Oxford)
May 3 2008 - Thekla - NME New Noise Tour (Bristol)
May 4 2008 - Waterfront - NME New Noise Tour (Norwich)
May 5 2008 - Concorde 2 - NME New Noise Tour (Brighton)
May 6 2008 - Rescue Rooms - NME New Noise Tour (Nottingham)
May 8 2008 - Carling Academy 2 - NME New Noise Tour (Birmingham)
May 10 2008 - Arches - NME New Noise Tour (Glasgow)
May 11 2008 - Academy 2 - NME New Noise Tour (Newcastle)
May 12 2008 - Academy 2 - NME New Noise Tour (Manchester)
May 14 2008 - Astoria 2 - NME New Noise Tour (London)
May 15 2008 - The Sugarmill - NME New Noise Tour (Stoke)
May 16 2008 - The Great Escape Festival (Brighton)

Interview: Pull in Emergency

[Photo Credit: Nick Pomeroy]

Myspace // "Backfoot" [mp3]

Like most teenagers, the members of Pull in Emergency toil each night on their homework assignments trying "with difficulty" to get everything done by the next morning. But unlike other kids their age, the five piece juggles their schoolwork with tons of packed shows around the United Kingdom, recording sessions, and interviews. They've already made fans of writers at the NME and The Guardian, as well as their own parents most of whom reportedly want to join the band.

Pull in Emergency started in earnest back in August 2006, when Alice, Dylan, Faith and Suneet started pissing around on their instruments for fun. Everything clicked when Faith and Alice met guitarist Frankie "at a party on Primrose Hill late at night." After talking a bit about music, the girls sung him an a capella version of one of their first songs ("Backfoot") and basically "asked him there and then to join." The rest is history, so to speak.



Although Pull in Emergency hadn't set out to be a serious band, Frankie's addition pushed them to take things a bit further. Their sights are now focused on being better than the other teenage acts in London, not to mention "as good as bands twice or three times our age." Influenced by bands with expansive and experimental sounds like Arcade Fire, Mystery Jets, Broken Social Scene, Radiohead, Joy Division, Queens of the Stone Age, and The Strokes, Pull in Emergency's early demos gear more towards jangly indie rock that's upbeat and totally dance floor accessible. Imagine The Libertines with a wailing siren on the mic and you're halfway there.

Although Alice and Frankie told me that they're worried Dylan may one day wind up on a cover of a tabloid for his sherbet addition (no joke, the delicious frozen dessert), I think that the future looks bright for this young band. Right now, Pull in Emergency reports that they're "writing new material, recording more songs, developing our sound, and releasing our first single (if all goes to plan) in April on Mute Irregulars." Cross your fingers for some big dates over the summer, as they're currently only scheduled to play the "Another Music = Another Kitchen" night at Proud Gallery on May 22.

The Clik Clik

Myspace // "My Dunks" [mp3]

In the past few years, England's dance and grime scenes have mutated so much that they are barely recognizable anymore. Old styles become irrelevant and the new groups are making noise that would have seemed unfathomable just a year ago. Teenage group The Clik Clik sound like a collabo between The Ting Tings and Jamie T, while their latest single, "My Dunks," has wowed the great Stephen Merchant. They have a ton of dates this spring, including some action with Hadouken, Alphabeat and a date at The Great Escape in Brighton.

A little busy....

I suppose I'll get to some proper posts later tonight, sorry for the delay. Until I can get a SXSW wrap-up finished, here's one of my highlights from last week -- really great stuff seeing Billy Bragg team up with Kate Nash for a few songs at the Filter day party on Saturday.

SXSW 2k8 Preview: Friday Picks

Myspace // "Crimewave" [mp3]

I don't really get Health, their music is pretty out there. It's noisy and challenging, amelodic and weird... but their rhythms are absolutely mind blowingly ridiculous and I find myself listening to them on repeat in spite or maybe because of the weirdness. Health are playing everywhere today, hitting the Village Voice party at La Zona Rosa at 12pm, The Side Bar at 4pm, and The Flamingo Cantina at 12:20am. Hit the late show, the booze drenched atmosphere will probably make it their best set of the night. On Saturday, you can catch them at the SESAC Day Stage Cafe at the Austin Convention Center at 2pm, the Paste Magazine / Stereogum party at Volume at 4pm, and the Todd P party at Ms. Bea's later at 7pm.



Myspace // "Stop" [mp3]

Delorentos released one of my absolute favorite albums of last year, In Love With Detail. The Dublin based four piece play an upbeat brand of indie rock with big riffs and even bigger melodic choruses. Unless you're nursing a serious hangover, you should check out their short set at the SESAC Day Stage Cafe at the Austin Convention Center today at 12:30pm.


[Photo Credit: Kirk Harrington]

Myspace // "Need Your Needs" [mp3]

Recent Saddle Creek signees Georgie James are bringing their infectious indie pop to a million different shows this year at SXSW. Expect gorgeous male-female harmonies over top of saccharine sixties influenced pop instrumentals. Today they'll be playing both the SESAC Day Stage Cafe at the Austin Convention Center at 2pm and The Orchid at 4pm. If you can't fit them into your busy schedule, you'll have another shot tomorrow as they'll be performing at Emo's IV Lounge at noon and the Dirty Dog Bar at 7pm.



Myspace // "Steven Fucking Spielberg" [mp3]

I only learned about Bearsuit a couple days ago after tooling around the SXSW website for a few hours. With orchestral and electronic elements intertwined with arty and punk rock sensibilities, their music is a mishmash of weird sounds that somehow comes together in a very poppy way. The weird six piece from Norwich are playing the Piaptk records and HHBTM records party at 5:30pm followed by a set at the Thristy Nickel at 10pm. Tomorrow, you can see them at the KVRX Radio stage at 12:30pm and Waterloo Cycles at 3pm.


[Photo Credit: Rett Peek]

Myspace // "Real Love" [mp3]

Little Rock's American Princes are set to release their third album Other People on April 15th. The band has said that their "goal with this record was to create something bigger and more ambitious than anything [they'd] done prior," something that clearly shows on their lead off single "Real Love" with its full layered sound, big sing-a-long chorus, and heavy lyrics ("I don't care about real love, I just want a world that will bear its own weight"). You don't want to miss their electric stage show, you can catch them twice today at the Yep Roc / HARP Magazine party at the Dirty Dog Bar at 5pm and the Yep Roc showcase at The Ale House at 11:50pm.

SXSW 2k8 Preview: Pick Your Own Showcase

The place to be tonight at SXSW is the Pick Your Own showcase at Latitude 30. Period. The showcase brings together some of the most exciting new acts from across the Atlantic, who play disparate styles of music (indie rock, neo-folk, blues, and punk) with one common denominator--awesomeness. The line-up includes perennial Exitfare favorites The Voom Blooms, Emmy the Great, and Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, a blues band that I don't give a shit about (Son of Dave), and my new obsession Ida Maria. It's a can't miss night, take my jealousy-tinged word for it.

Schedule:

8:30pm - The Voom Blooms (Myspace // "Nine Ships" [mp3])
9:30pm - Emmy the Great (Myspace // "Easter Parade" [mp3])
10:30pm - Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit (Myspace // "Leftovers" [mp3])
11:30pm - Son of Dave (Myspace // "Devil Take My Soul" [mp3])
12:45am - Ida Maria (Myspace // "Oh My God" [mp3])

Back on that last band... Ida Maria is a great young band from Sweden fronted by an electric Norwegian siren named Ida Maria (go figure). Stylistically, they seem most comfortable playing energetic punk music with wailing vocals, buzzy guitars, and thrashing drum beats under some killer choruses. But I have the feeling that they're not a one note band by any means, as their song "Louie" is up-tempo indie pop while "Any Given Day" sounds like Bjork crossed with The Sundays (i.e. the antithesis of punk). I haven't really figured them out yet, but I think they're great. Expect big things.



"Stella"

SXSW 2k8 Preview: Emmy the Great

Myspace // "The Hypnotist's Son" (Live From Black Room Sessions) [mp3] // "Easter Parade" [Video]

We first wrote about Emmy the Great well over a year ago, so we thought it would be a good time to catch up with her, especially since she'll be in Austin this year for SXSW. While still unsigned, she has self-released an EP, My Bad, which was recorded in her home with various collaborators and friends, including Noah & the Whale and Dev of Lightspeed Champion. Some might call her "anti-folk," but she's too good to be put in the same category as the awful Kimya Dawson.

Thursday 03/13/08 Austin, TX @ Urban Outfitters
Friday 03/14/08 Austin, TX @ Latitude 30
Saturday 03/15/08 Austin, TX @ French Legation Museum (Press Here Party)
Monday 03/17/08 Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy Theater


"M.I.A."

SXSW 2k8 Preview: Johnny Flynn

Myspace // "Leftovers" [mp3]

I've been championing Johnny Flynn for the past fourteen months, calling him a special talent with gorgeous early demos brimming full of lush instrumentation and diverse influences. I've been so impressed with his musical development that I even named him a band to watch for 2008. Apparently, other people are starting to take notice of the young troubadour from London as, in recent months, he signed and recorded a full length for Mercury Records and started building some buzz on both sides of the pond. It's incredibly well deserved, as Johnny Flynn is easily the most exciting neo-folk artist in the world right now with some of the most memorable and moving songs of recent memory. Make sure to hit some of his many shows at SXSW, because I have the feeling they will be among the most talked about performances of the year.

Mar 12 2008: SXSW (BMI Showcase @ 12:00pm)
Mar 13 2008: SXSW (Transgressive / ’NME’ Party, Wave Rooftop @ 2:00pm)
Mar 13 2008: SXSW (Latitude 30, Pick Your Own, Official Showcase @ 8:00pm)
Mar 14 2008: SXSW (+1, House Party @ 4:00pm)
Mar 15 2008: SXSW (’Mojo’, Bootleg BBQ @ 4:00pm)

SXSW 2k8 Preview: Paper Garden Records

Myspace // Peasant "The Wind" [mp3] // Darla Farmer "Dirty Keys" [mp3]

Paper Garden Records is having its first ever SXSW appearance this year, teaming up with After The Jump and Indie Outlaw to throw the most irresistible party there is at SXSW. With Speakerheart on board as our main sponsor and a great partner for Paper Garden, we have all come together to give you the best musical experience of all! Oh, and I guess there’s going to be free stuff…and plenty of it! Free music, food, booze, shirts, bags, more booze, and hook-up opportunities for all! If this isn’t a daylight savings, I don’t know what is!

Peasant and Darla Farmer will be appearing another time this week as well -- full schedules below.

Peasant
Thursday (3/13), 11:45am - Maggie Mae's (Planetary Group day party)
Saturday (3/15), 12:15pm - Lucky Lounge (After The Jump/Paper Garden/Indie Outlaw day party)

Darla Farmer
Saturday (3/15), 1:45pm - Lucky Lounge (After The Jump/Paper Garden/Indie Outlaw day party) Saturday (3/15), 5:00pm - The Pangaea Patio (Team Grizzly/Stranded In Stereo day party)

SXSW 2k8 Preview: The Rascals

Myspace // [mp3] // "Out of Dreams" [Video]

Coming from Liverpool, The Rascals are Arctic Monkeys-approved and the first group endorsed by them that is actually qualtiy. In fact, Rascals frontman Miles Kane and head Monkey Alex Turner have formed a proper pop group -- The Last Shadow Puppets, who will be dropping an album called The Age of the Understatement on April 21st.

But back to The Rascals. The band will be all over SXSW this year, and they have a big sound, merging beautiful pop with spacey psychedelia. Their latest single, "Suspicious Wit," is out now on Deltasonic, while their debut LP will be out this June.

13 Mar SXSW (12 noon - 3) - The British BBQ Austin, Texas
13 Mar SXSW - Free Yr Radio Austin, Texas
14 Mar SXSW - BPM Party Austin, Texas
14 Mar SXSW (1 am) Wave Rooftop Showcase Austin, Texas
15 Mar SXSW (3-6) Sound City Party Austin, Texas
15 Mar SXSW - Latitude 30 Austin, Texas


"Suspicious Wit"

SXSW 2k8 Preview: The Pigeon Detectives

[Photo Credit: Ami Barwell]

Myspace // "I'm Not Sorry" [mp3] // "I Found Out" [Video] // "I Found Out" (Original Version) [Video]

While the labels keep shoving shitty albums down our throat, The Pigeon Detectives' great debut album, Wait For Me, still has yet to be released in the States. I guess it's not too big of a deal because the record is easy to track down online, but it's a shame because these deserve an American audience bigger than a few thousand. The guys aren't really worried because they're all set to release a new album, Emergency, on May 26th, which will be preceded by the single "This is an Emergency" on May 12th. They remain on the absolutely flawless Leeds label Dance to the Radio. They'll be doing a full scale tour around the single/album release in the UK.

Best news of all is that the band will be back in Austin for SXSW this year. Perhaps more than 50 people will show up to their showcase this time around.

8 Mar LEE’S PALACE TORONTO, Ontario
10 Mar GREAT SCOTT BOSTON
11 Mar BOWERY BALLROOM NEW YORK
13 Mar 23:45 FRIENDS (SXSW - CLASH MAGAZINE SHOWCASE) AUSTIN
14 Mar 14:00 CEDAR STREET COURTYARD (SXSW - FILTER PARTY) AUSTIN
15 Mar 16:30 DRISKELL HOTEL (SXSW - Q MAGAZINE PARTY) AUSTIN
17 Mar SPACELAND LOS ANGELES
18 Mar CINESPACE LOS ANGELES
20 Mar POPSCENE SAN FRANCISCO

MAY
3 Leeds Millennium Square
4 Leeds Millennium Square
17 Glasgow Academy
18 Newcastle Academy
19 Lincoln Engine Shed
21 Sheffield Academy
22 Manchester Apollo
24 Cambridge Corn Exchange
26 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
27 Portsmouth Guildhall
29 Plymouth Pavilion
31 Bridlington Spa
JUNE
2 Birmingham Academy
3 Brighton Dome
5 Newport Centre
6 London Brixton Academy


"Take Her Back"

SXSW 2k8 Preview: The Stills

[Photo Credit: Liam Maloney]

Myspace

The Stills are currently doing a short run of US dates, including a stop at SXSW, previewing material from their third album. Expect it this summer -- it will be their first on Arts & Crafts.

The video for “Snake-Charming The Masses” is currently available for streaming on the band's website.

3/6/08 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s
3/7/08 – Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s
3/8/08 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
3/13/08 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s/Canvas Media-AV Club-Arts&Crafts-Saddle Creek, 3pm
3/14/08 – Austin, TX @ The Fader Fort, 6pm
3/15/08 – Austin, TX @ Beauty Bar, 4pm
3/15/08 – Austin, TX @ The Parish/Arts&Crafts Showcase, 1am

Mystery Jets "Young Love"

Myspace // "Flakes" [mp3] // "Flakes" [Video] // "Young Love" [Buy]

We were big fans of the Mystery Jets' first album Making Dens, and the release of their Erol Alkan-produced second disc, Twenty One (out on March 24th in the UK on 679), has us pretty excited as well. First single "Young Love," featuring Laura Marling, is easily the band's best tune yet -- it's pop without sacrificing what makes them unique.

Look for them on the road all spring in the UK.

Sun 13 Apr Night and Day, Manchester
Mon 14 Apr Brickyard, Carlisle
Tue 15 Apr Cornerhouse, Middlesborough
Thu 17 Apr ABC, Glasgow
Fri 18 Apr Hive, Edinburgh
Sat 19 Apr Cluny, Edinburgh
Mon 21 Apr Independent, Sunderland
Tue 22 Apr Plug, Sheffield
Wed 23 Apr Arts Centre, Norwich
Thu 24 Apr Scala, London
Sat 26 Apr Cavern, Exeter
Sun 27 Apr Railway Inn, Winchester
Mon 28 Apr Academy, Oxford
Wed 30 Apr Joiners, Southampton
Thu 01 May Fire Station, Bournemouth
Fri 02 May Barfly, Cambridge
Sat 03 May Ifor Bach, Cardiff
Mon 05 May Mole, Bath
Tue 06 May Central Station, Wrexham
Wed 07 May Sugarmill, Stoke
Fri 09 May Soundhaus, Northampton
Sat 10 May Royal, Derby
Sun 11 May The Welly, Hull
Mon 12 May The Brudenell, Leeds
Wed 14 May 12 Bar, Swindon
Thu 15 May Barfly, Birmingham
Fri 16 May Charlotte, Leicester
Sat 17 May Digital, Brighton


"Young Love"

Head of Femur: New Album

Myspace // "Isn't It a Shame" [mp3] // "Jetway Junior" [mp3]

Orchestral pop might be a little square for some folks, but when done in the style of Head of Femur, things start to get more interesting. Brainchild of pop auteurs Mike Elsener and Matt Focht (former Bright Eyes drummer), the band's new album is called Great Plains and is an aural testament to their home state of Nebraska and its miles and miles of absolutely nothing, and the continuation of their journey in the urban jungles of Chicago. Look for the band's latest effort on March 25th through Greyday Records.

SXSW 2k8 Preview: Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man

[Photo Credit: Gabriel Loverman]

Myspace // "Motherhood" [mp3]

With a name referencing the apocalypse and a foreboding sound to match, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man are clearly an odd bunch of early twenty something year olds. Recently signed to Transgressive Records, the London band quickly released a "concept single" in November called "Fatherhood/Motherhood," played some shows, then jumped back into the studio to start recording an EP. According to their Myspace blog, the EP may or may not be a 25 minute opus divided into five movements but should see the light of day sometime later this spring.

In supreme contrast to many of their contemporaries in the United Kingdom, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man seems to have no interest writing about drunken make-out sessions and instead delves into deeper issues like the complexities of fatherhood and motherhood. With a dark, expansive sound, the band experiments by mixing noise together with disparate elements like heavy metal, epic rock, and the most current indie rock. The ultimate result is really intelligent music that somehow is also melodic and enjoyable. I wouldn't be surprised if they're one of the breakout bands from SXSW this year, so make sure to hit their shows early.

Tour Dates:

Mar 8 2008 - Club Shoo @ Sin (Central London)
Mar 13 2008 - Transgressive Records BBQ (SXSW, Austin, Texas – 4pm)
Mar 13 2008 - Trade & Industry Showcase @ Latitude 30 (SXSW, Austin, Texas)
Mar 14 2008 - NME Showcase @ Wave Rooftop (SXSW, Austin, Texas)
Mar 20 2008 - Not In Kansas Anynore @ Ginglik (West London)
Mar 22 2008 - The Plug (Sheffield)
Mar 24 2008 - Kasbah (Coventry)
Mar 25 2008 - TC’s (Carlisle)
Mar 26 2008 - Doc Brown’s (Middlesborough)
Mar 27 2008 - Bish Bash Bosh @ Midnight’s (Telford)
Mar 28 2008 - Babies @ The Hope (Brighton)
Mar 29 2008 - Long Live Rock n’ Roll @ Lennon’s (Southampton)
May 16 2008 - Transgressive Records Showcase @ The Great Escape (Brighton)

Alphabeat "Fascination"

Myspace

The greatest bad video ever...at least for this week.

The Charlatans New Album: Download (Legally) for Free

[Photo Credit: Roger Sargent]

Myspace // "You Cross My Path" [Video]

In a music industry first, today The Charlatans have become the first band to release their album for free in association with a radio station, namely, Xfm.

More info can be found here, including options to download the entire album or just tracks individually.

You Cross My Path is out physically in May through Cooking Vinyl.

SXSW 2k8 Preview: Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong

[Photo Credit: Dan Curwin]

Myspace // "Lucio Starts Fire" [mp3] // "Lucio Stars Fires" [Video]

Two of the better singles ("Lucio Starts Fires" & "Lonely Buoy")I've heard filter out of the UK recently have both been penned by Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong. Reading the message boards, it seems that the band is being derided simply as hype, but the band really is worth your time. They are by no means reinventing the wheel, but their take on classic British rock is infectious and smart.

The band's next single, "Lonely Buoy," hits shops on March 10th in the UK, and you'll be able to catch the same day at Sister Ray Records at number 31-35 in London's Berwick Street. Those of you in the States can catch this month on the coats and at SXSW, while they will be doing a very extensive tour back home in April and May.

Mar 11 - Mercury Lounge, NEW YORK CITY, New York w/ The Pigeon Detectives
Mar 12 - Union Hall, HEADLINE SHOW NEW YORK CITY
Mar 13 - SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 14 - SXSW AUSTIN, Texas (Mercury Records Showcase @ The Parish 2-6 pm)
Mar 15 - SXSW AUSTIN, Texas (Emo's Main Room @ 9 pm)
Mar 17 - Spaceland Los Angeles, California
Mar 18 - Cinescape Los Angeles, California
Mar 20 - Popscene San Francisco, California

UK Tour Monday
21st April - Hull Asylum Tuesday
22nd April - Loughborough Room 1 Thursday
24th April - Reading University Friday
25th April - Coventry Warwick Marketplace Sunday
27th April - Bournemouth Old Fire Station Monday
28th April - Guildford Surrey Rubix Thursday
1st May - Stoke Underground Friday
2nd May - Coventry Kasbah Saturday
3rd May - Tamworth Palace Monday
5th May - Liverpool Academy 2 Tuesday
6th May -Newcastle Academy 2 Thursday
8th May - Aberdeen Tunnels Friday
9th May - Glasgow King Tuts Saturday
10th May -Bristol Thekla Monday
12th May - Preston 53 Degrees Tuesday
13th May - Oxford Academy Wednesday
14th May - Leeds Cockpit Thursday
15th May - Manchester Academy 3 Saturday
17th May - Sheffield Leadmill Sunday
18th May - Birmingham Academy 2 Monday
19th May - Nottingham Rescue Rooms Tuesday
20th May - Brighton Concorde 2 Thursday
22nd May - London Scala Sunday
25th May - Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms Tuesday
27th May - Norwich Waterfront

"Lonely Buoy"