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Hey, it looks like Kutztown, PA is going to get hit with even more snow. This sucks. I'm so sick of snow. Is it spring yet? At least it's not sticking to the roads ... yet. I'm currently held up in the Student Union's computer lab because I wasn't high on going to my literature class. Partially because I didn't read the assigned chapters and partially because I don't feel like walking in a winter wonderland any more. Anyway, these "note" posts are pretty lazy and I apologize for my lack of enthusiasm. I tend to get out all my energy doing other things. But, if this is your number one source for indie rock news, then thank you and I hope you are informed. Here are the notes during your lunch hour:
+ New Shout Out Louds record, Work, was released Tuesday. We'll be playing opening track "1999" on the show Friday (weather permitting).
+ LCD Soundsystem has apparently wrapped up recording their new record. Title unknown at this point. They'll be playing the big festivals this summer and touring with YACHT.
+ M.I.A. has hinted on a new album dropping in June. Of course, this comes from the world's foremost news outlet, Twitter. We'll have to stay glued to the tweets for more information on this one.
+ Vampire Weekend is returning to Saturday Night Live on March 6th. Some say they'll be playing "Giving Up The Gun". I'd rather hear "Diplomat's Son" or "Taxi Cab", but whatever's good. I might stay in that night. Maybe.+ Thom Yorke's solo band has been named Atoms For Peace. They plan on doing some touring this summer.
Snow sucks.
Friday night into Saturday midday was bad enough, but on top of that snow, we folks in Kutztown received a fresh blanket Tuesday night into Wednesday midday. 28 inches total? I've seen enough snow. I'm moving to Florida. Perhaps the only thing good to come from the "Snowmageddon" was the outlandish and totally welcomed two full school days canceled. This kind of thing never happens, especially here in Pennsylvania. Whatever, no complaints from me about that. However, digging my jeep out the street sure wasn't fun earlier tonight. Sorry to the community of Kutztown for pushing my snow back out into the street. I had to get to the Student Union building to plan our show for tomorrow night. Oh, and while we were buffeted with white powder, my housemates and I built an epic snow fort and invited all our friends up to christen it. We also drank excessively and threw our empties in the woods. College kids will be college kids. Okay, onto the notes:+ Holy Spring tours!: Arctic Monkeys, Juilan Casablancas, Phoenix, and The Tallest Man On Earth.
+ New Japandroids tune: "Art Czars".+ New live She & Him track. It was played on the radio. How fun.+ Yeasayer played Jim's favorite tune of 2009 on Fallon last night. Behold "Ambling Alp".+ Thom Yorke is going to remix Major Lazer?+ Bonnaroo line-up looks great so far.+ Grizzly Bear and Arcade Fire found their way into the ears of Super Bowl viewers. Google had a sick ad, too.
This may be the most anticipated soundtrack of all time, let alone, 2009. It may have (500) Days Of Summer beat. I like to think it's because some of the biggest names in alternative rock are releasing brand new, never-heard-before music on this CD. And it points out what a pivotal moment we're in for indie rock. Our favorite artists are once again on the fence, teetering over the edge, and potentially falling into the dreaded mainstream, where haters will swarm every blog and bash them with their posts. This will be a very commercial CD, no doubt about that, but it's already facing some with pitchforks and torches for certain artists touring Hot Topic outlets around the nation, promoting the release. However, though there is a need to fret a tad, there's so much to be excited about. The music is promising by roll call alone: Death Cab For Cutie, Thom Yorke, Lykke Li, The Killers, Muse, Bon Iver & St. Vincent, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Sea Wolf, Grizzly Bear, and Editors. Now that's a star-studded cast. Those working behind the soundtrack must have really persuaded these artists to get them to agree to such a thing; or maybe they all just really like the books, movies, and the subject of vampires in general? (We know Death Cab does).
We've talked about Death Cab's song before (they've been popping up on our blog in one form or another for quite some time now, with weddings and whatnot), but all this other new music is starting to make my head spin. It's a good kind of motion sickness, like being on an amusement park ride. I'm sure you can all find the music somewhere on the web and/or download the torrent someplace, but for me, I'm going wait and purchase this CD when it's physical release hits the shelf. I'm really going think about it. Really, really think about it. I guess my main concern is, what does such a commercial compilation mean for alternative rock in 2009? It's a decently-sized query. The music will do half the answering, I'm sure. The rest is up to how we handle it.
Here's the tracklist:
1. Death Cab For Cutie - "Meet Me On The Equinox"
2. Band Of Skulls - "Friends"
3. Thom Yorke- "Hearing Damage"
4. Lykke Li - "Possibility"
5. The Killers - "A White Demon Love Song"
6. Anya Marina - "Satellite Heart"
7. Muse - "I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)"
8. Bon Iver & St. Vincent - "Rosyln"
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Done All Wrong"
10. Hurricane Bells - "Monsters"
11. Sea Wolf - "The Violet Hour"
12. OK Go - "Shooting The Moon"
13. Grizzly Bear (Feat. Victoria Legrand) - "Slow Life"
14. Editors - "No Sound But The Wind"
15. Alexandre Desplat - "New Moon (The Meadow)"The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack is out 10/20 via Atlantic.
Get a load of this. I take one weekend off from blogging (after our show's semester debut on Friday night) and all of a sudden, I get more news than I know what to do with. How convenient. But the great thing about all of this is that everything I'm reporting on is really positive. We'll start off with one of our favorite frontmen in modern rock: Thom Yorke of Radiohead.
Remember his solo record, The Eraser back in '06? I do, because it was a touching record and it was uber cool to see him do his own thing away from the boys in the band. Well low and behold, he's doing solo things again. And just when you thought he was going to chill out or lay low after working on the Wall Of Ice EP, he's releasing new songs. First off, we have to discuss his Mark Mulcahy cover track for the upcoming tribute in his honor. The song, "All For The Best", is one that many Miracle Legion fans hold near and dear. But fret not those fearing any blasphemy to the legacy of MM, because Yorke and his little brother, Andy, do the track justice. Here's the video:
As much as I enjoy this, I still wish more Polaris tracks made the cut onto the CD. Maybe on the B-sides? Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy comes out September 29th.
Up next, the physical release of his latest personal work. And for the record, let's just throw it out there and say we, as the music fan community, should no longer be shocked by out-of-the-blue Thom Yorke releases (despite having a month's notice on the latest two songs). Because they are just going to happen whenever. Is it a bad thing? Absolutely not.
"Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses" is side A, "The Hollow Earth" is side B. Together, they make for one fascinating Thom Yorke release. "Feeling" reacquaints us with a "Reckoner"-type style. As it should, because according to Stereogum, "'Reckoner' was said to be born out of the coda to the song, a six-and-a-half minute sketch that pairs a funky, repetitive bassline with Thom's heavily echoed, reliably cryptic poetry." The striking percussion stands out immediately, followed by Yorke's spacey vocals, and then coated with a repetitious, jungle excursion-themed bass (or at least that's how I can describe the image that comes to mind when I close my eyes). And after 7 minutes, you have felt definitely been through something; maybe not a painful death via wild horses, but definitely something."The Hollow Earth". I'm high on the vocals. Also the ticks and taps on this make me move a little more than it's A-side. And the return of the "House Of Cards" atmospheric moans are welcomed back with open arms. The song, as a whole, feels very schizophrenic and unstable, but who says giving into the urges is so bad? It's the B-side, so take it as you will.Both tunes are available via TBD from w.a.s.t.e.What is going on inside the mind of Thom Yorke? No one knows. But the music that comes of it sure is special.
Hey, it looks like Kutztown, PA is going to get hit with even more snow. This sucks. I'm so sick of snow. Is it spring yet? At least it's not sticking to the roads ... yet. I'm currently held up in the Student Union's computer lab because I wasn't high on going to my literature class. Partially because I didn't read the assigned chapters and partially because I don't feel like walking in a winter wonderland any more. Anyway, these "note" posts are pretty lazy and I apologize for my lack of enthusiasm. I tend to get out all my energy doing other things. But, if this is your number one source for indie rock news, then thank you and I hope you are informed. Here are the notes during your lunch hour:
