Wednesday in Words (#3): The Wooden Sky-"Oslo"

Here's the next installment of a new feature we started up a few weeks back, taking a closer look at some songs and lyrics that have gotten to us in one way or another. This week were taking another look at a song off of The Wooden Sky's fantastic new album, If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone, which we've been heaping praise on the last few months, and the track "Oslo."
Look out for the beautiful backing vocals on this one by Debra-Jean Creelman.

Oslo - The Wooden Sky

The Wooden Sky-"Oslo"
I woke up this morning with dead leaves inside my bed
You said "You're better off just where you are
than to be stuck in my head
You've got to leave it all behind you
and give yourself up to chance"
So I gave myself to chance

And I packed a little suitcase
Brushed my teeth and washed my hands
I'd been bluffing here for years
and now I think it's time I showed my hand
I'm going to move to New York City
and set the sky on fire
Oh don't the night look so alive
with it's desire

to cross the River Jordan?
But it just don't feel the same
When I came home Friday morning
With no one but myself to blame

See I have trouble with numbers
and paying the ones I owe
I put what I had left in the pocket of my coat
I went out to find a liquor store
and make a home there in the snow
Give myself a little shelter from the cold

I was bound here by my choices
Oh my god how I felt so ashamed
Still I hoped that you might join us
And take this little light of ours out on parade

I used to look at others trying to find some way to grow
And now I just look around me
I'm going to reap the seeds I've sown
I try to picture myself in Oslo
But lord help me if I go
I've been running around
and I believe it's starting to show

So I'll cross the River Jordan
If it just don't feel the same
and I'm not home Friday morning
I'll have no one but myself to blame

The Wooden Sky - A Documentary In Pieces Part 1 (SD) from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.

for tour dates and other info visit The Wooden Sky on myspace.

new video: Cursive-"Let Me Up"

If you thought stylish and cinematic videos have gone to the wayside along with your CD walkman, your probably right. But Omaha, Nebraska band Cursive are doing their part to bring them back. The band recently released a new video for the track, "Let Me Up" off of their latest LP, Mama I'm Swollen, directed by Evan Glodell, that features not only great production quality but also a story that makes you actually want to stick around until the end of the video.
In addition to the new video, the band also just taped a live audio session with the folks over at Daytrotter, that saw them playing the tracks, "What Have I Done?" and "The Casualty" , as well as covers of The Cure's "Love Cats" and David Bowie's "Modern Love".
You can listen to or download the session here.



follow Cursive on myspace.

Still Life Still- NYC debut next week

This young group which hails from the ever impressive Toronto music scene, just released their energetic, sex infused debut, Girls Come Too after signing on with the Canadian hit making indie label, Arts & Crafts. The group which has been together since grammar school, built up a solid reputation off of their live shows, which included the house party circuit, catching the ear of Broken Social Social Scene's Kevin Drew, who in addition to signing the band produced their debut. They just wrapped a tour with The Most Serene Republic, and beginning next week will be playing their first shows in New York City. Word is the band will be supporting the Hold Steady on some of their Canadian tour dates coming up as well.

Kid - Still Life Still

upcoming Still life Still tour dates:
Oct 7 Mercury Lounge New York, New York
Oct 8 Mercury Lounge New York, New York
Oct 15 The Hideout Chicago, Illinois
Oct 17 Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois
Oct 22 Union Pool Brooklyn, New York

Still life Still on myspace.

This Weeks New Releases (WK 9/29)

September closes out with some releases we've really been looking forward to. This weeks short list features new albums from Langhorne Slim, and The Avett Brothers, as well as new music from Portland's, The Shaky Hands, plus the new compilation, 7 Worlds Collide, that features music from Johnny Marr, Neil Finn, Wilco, and Ed O'Brien & Phil Selway of Radiohead.

This Weeks New Releases (WK 9/29):
7 Worlds Collide- The Sun Came Out
Animal Kingdom- Signs and Wonders
Anya Marina- Satellite Heart (single)
Atlas Sound- Logos
The Avett Brothers- I and Love and You
Bebel Gilberto- All in One
Cymbals Eat Guitars- Why There Are Mountains
Drummer- Feel Good Together
Foo Fighters- Wheels (single)
Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions- Through the Devil Softly
The Horrors- Whole New Way (single)
Langhorne Slim- Be Set Free
Panther- Entropy
Pete Yorn- iTunes Live
Maps- Turning the Mind
The Shaky Hands- Let It Die
T.H. White- Company Book
Where the Wild Things Are- Soundtrack
Will Hoge- The Wreckage
Zero 7- Yeah Ghost

El Perro Del Mar: Love is Not Pop

This October 20th, Swedish songstress El Perro Del Mar, will release her newest album, Love Is Not Pop via The Control Group. On the new disc EPDM teamed up with Rasmus Hägg, half of the acclaimed Swedish duo Studio, as a co-producer, creating a sexy new sound that can be heard on the first single, 'Change of Heart."
El Perro Del Mar will be returning to the US for a brief tour next month, that will coincide with the new albums release, with most of the dates with fellow Swede's Peter Bjorn and John.

El Perro Del Mar-"Change of Heart" mp3

El Perro Del Mar tour dates:
10.20 – Other Music Free In-Store – NYC, NY***
11.07 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
11.08 – Theater of Living Arts –Philadelphia, PA
11.09 – Joe’s Pub – New York, NY***
11.10 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY
11.11 – Phoenix Theatre – Toronto, ON
11.12 – Metro – Chicago, IL
11.13 – Gargoyle Club – St. Louis, MO
11.14 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
11.15 – La Zona Rosa – Austin, TX
11.17 – Rialto Theater – Tuscon, AZ
11.18 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
11.19 – Great American Music Hall– San Fran, CA
11.20 – Great American Music Hall– San Fran, CA
11.21 – Club Nokia – Los Angeles, CA
11.23 – Hotel Cafe – Los Angeles, CA***
***Headlining show

visit El Perro Del Mar on myspace.

'Say Yes' to this weeks 'Song of the Week' by Langhorne Slim

I've absolutely loved every track I've heard so far off of Langhorne Slim's upcoming new disc, Be Set Free which comes out tomorrow Sept. 29th on Kemado Records. The latest album, which is Slim's third overall, was produced by The Decemberists Chris Funk, and sees Slim tackling relationships, love and regret, with a humble wide-eyed maturity. The latest infectious sing-along to get stuck in our head is for the new track "Say Yes."
Give a listen and you'll be saying yes to Langhorne Slim too.

Langhorne Slim-"Say Yes" mp3

Be Set Free track listing:
1. Back to the Wild
2. Say Yes
3. I Love You, But Goodbye
4. Land Of Dreams
5. Cinderella
6. Be Set Free
7. For A Little While
8. Sunday By the Sea
9. Leaving My Love
10. Yer Wrong
11. Blow Your Mind
12. So Glad That I'm Coming Home
13. Boots Boy

Langhorne Slim on myspace.

Creepy new video: Hickey Underworld-"Blond Fire"

Here's another band I had the chance to get familiar with when I was living in Belgium, The Hickey Underworld. The band broke onto the scene in their homeland after winning Humo’s Rock Rally in '06, which is Belgium's big rock contest, that has launched bands like dEUS. Their self-titled debut, dropped in March and was produced by Das Pop, featuring the bands devilish, dark, post-hardcore sound, which is all too fittingly captured in their new video for their latest single, "Blond Fire" below.


watch their hit single "Future Words" performed at the Rock Werchter festival:


The Hickey Underworld on myspace.

new video: The Avett Brothers- "I and Love and You"

Just the other day, we spotlighted The Avett Brothers stunning new track, "I and Love and You" in our new feature, Wednesday in Words, as we took a closer look at the tracks heartbreaking lyrics. With their new album hitting store shelves next Tuesday the 29th, the band is in a full on media assault of late. Not only did the band just unleash a brand new video for the aforementioned title track, but they also recently announced dates they have lined up for appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman next Mond. Sept. 28, and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson scheduled for Tues. Oct. 6th. Check out the new video below.



more info on the band at the AvettBrothers.com

Friday Freebies

Last week we started up this new feature on the site highlighting some of the music (mp3's) we've received in our inbox over the past week. These are the ones that maybe we didn't have time to spotlight, but we still thought were interesting enough to pass along and share with you guys.

Here's the second installment of, 'Friday Freebies.'

Old Canes: Solo project of Appleseed Cast's Chris Crisci. His new album Feral Harmonic drops Oct 20 on Saddle Creek records.
Old Canes- "Little Bird Courage"

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson: From his forthcoming album, Summer of Fear, which saw him working with Kyp malone of TV on the Radio, and members of Grizzly Bear. Out 10/6 on Saddle Creek.
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson-"The Sound"

Panther: The Portland band is back with their new high energy LP, Entropy, out Sept 29 on Kill Rock Stars.
Panther-"Love is Sold"

Octoberman: Hushed melancholy from this Canadian collective>. Their new album, Fortresses hits stores on Oct. 6th via White Whale.
Octoberman-"Trapped In the New Scene"

Venice is Sinking: Orchestral indie-pop from Athens, GA band Venice is Sinking, off their new EP, Okay.
Venice is Sinking-"Compass"

Music Go Music: Dance pop hailed as the new Abba. New disc, Expressions out Oct. 6th on Secretly Canadian.
Music Go Music-"Warm In the Shadows"

The Fresh & Onlys: The San Francisco band released their new album, Grey-Eyed Girls Sept. 15, on Woodsist.
The Fresh & Onlys- "Invisible Forces"

Metronomy: UK electro-pop four piece, release their new EP. Not Made For Love EP on Because Music digitally on Oct. 5.
Metronomy-"Not Made for Love (Alalal Remix)"

Pretty Lights: His third album, Passing By Behind Behind Your Eyes, will be available as a free download beginning Oct 6 via PrettyLightsMusic.com.
Pretty Lights- "Sunday School"

Yo La Tengo play 'Take Away Show'

Veteran indie-rockers, Yo La Tengo returned to the scene earlier this month with their stellar new disc, Popular Songs via Matador Records. The trio recently hooked up with the talented, Vincent Moon (The National documentary, ' A Skin, A Night') and his now famous, and often copied, 'Take Away Shows.' Moon filmed the pair in two parts while at a stop in Paris in the neighborhood of Montmartre. Pt1 features the songs, "With a Girl Like You" (Troggs cover)/"Our Way to Fall,"' while Pt 2 has the band playing, "'Sugarcube"/ "Periodically Double or Triple."

Yo La tengo - A Take Away Show - Part 1 from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Yo La Tengo - A Take Away Show - Part 2 from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Sneak peak at Thao w/ the Get Down Stay Down's new album

If your like us and your really looking forward to Thao with the Get Down Stay Down's new album, Know Better Learn Faster, the wait 'till the Oct 13th release date seems a long way off. For those who are impatient, Thao along with her label, Kill Rock Stars just put out a new video taking you behind the scenes of the making of the disc, with cool interviews and in studio footage.
You can also check out the title track below.

(mp3) Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down-"Know Better Learn Faster"

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down in the studio from Kill Rock Stars on Vimeo.

Asobi Seksu: give away Hope Sandoval cover, begin new tour

With a new album and an EP already released in 2009, Brooklyn's Asobi Seksu aren't letting up as the year comes to a close. The band just announced plans for a new acoustic record called, Rewolf, which will be available beginning November 10th via Polyvinyl. The new record, the groups fourth full length, was recorded at Olympic Studios on an off day during its 2008 UK tour, and features a cover of the Hope Sandoval track, "Suzanne."
You can download the song for free right here:
Asobi Seksu-"Suzanne" mp3

The band also just kicked off a new N. American tour, which features a handful of dates w/ Loney Dear and Anna Ternheim.

Asobi Seksu tour dates:
Sep 24 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
Sep 26 - The Mohawk - Austin, TX
Sep 27 - Hailey’s - Denton, TX
Sep 29 - Plush - Tucson, AZ
Sep 30 - Casbah - San Diego, CA #
Oct 1 - Troubador - Los Angeles, CA
Oct 2 - Slims - San Francisco, CA
Oct 3 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
Oct 4 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA
Oct 6 - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver BC
Oct 9 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN
Oct 10 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
Oct 11 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH
Oct 12 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto ON
Oct 13 - Il Motore - Montreal QC
Oct 14 - Great Scott - Boston, MA
Oct 15 - Maxwells - Hoboken, NJ
Oct 16 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
Oct 17 - Johnny Brendas - Philadelphia, PA
# w/Loney Dear and Anna Ternheim

Fanfarlo- Live at The Bell House 9/22/09

Watching Fanfarlo at The Bell House in Brooklyn last night, you get the feeling that this might be one of the last times you'll get to see the band in such a small and intimate style venue. Just one night prior in NYC, the band sold out The Bowery Ballroom, after the show got moved from the much smaller Mercury Lounge. Last nights show at The Bell House was the bands last of a quick one week tour of the U.S, with select dates on the East and West Coasts, and all this comes without the band even having a full on release of their fantastic debut Reservoir, which has only been available digitally or through the bands website. That will all change shortly as the group recently signed on with Atlantic/Canvasback for Reservoirs re-release, which is due out Oct. 6th.

The band who's music ranges from sweeping anthems to gypsy-infused folk, kicked off the night with a slightly stripped back version of "Drowning Men," with just three members, before swelling back later to it's usual six and seven. Besides a slight tuning problem in the middle, the band was tight throughout the set, interchanging instruments and harmonies, with Cathy Lucas especially strong, lending backing vocals, along with violin, mandolin and xylophone. With the just under one hour set, the band played mostly tracks off of 'Reservoir", with particular highlights for me being the full band sing along of,"The Walls are Coming Down", "Harold T. Wilkins" which I liked much better than the album version, the slow stomping "I'm A Pilot" and the delicate epic, "Comets." The band did manage to blend in a new song before the night was done called, "Waiting in the Wings" which showed a diverse sound that should quell the critics, before wrapping up the night with encores of "Ghosts," which saw the band handing out whirling noise-making tubes (check the video below) to help with the intro. The festivities ended with a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel's, "In The Airplane Over The Sea" before Balthazar lost his voice, which he said was starting to go on him.



for more info on the band visit Fanfarlo.com
photo credit- G. Paul Burnett/The New York Times (from Monday's Bowery show)

Wednesday in Words( #2): The Avett Brothers-"I and Love and You"

Next Tuesday, Sept 29 The Avett Brothers release their major label debut, I and Love and You, for American Recordings/Columbia Records, which was produced by Rick Rubin. A lot of people are saying this one could be a game changer for the North Carolina band, bringing them to the next level, and the lead single and title track sure don't do anything to dissuade that thinking. 'I and Love and You,' is a beautiful piano ballad that was actually inspired by a gig the band played at Brooklyn's, Galapagos. Scott Avett told Spinner... "It was the coolest place we'd ever been, and the furthest from home we'd ever been in every sense," ... "So the Brooklyn chorus kind of embodies the rest of the lyrics."

Now through Sept. 29, NPR Music is hosting an exclusive first listen of of the album, if you go here.
The band is also set to perform the title track on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday September 28, and another new track, "Laundry Room," on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Tuesday October 6th.

The Avett Brothers-"I and Love and You"

Load the car and write the note
grab your bag and grab your coat
tell ones that need to know
we are headed north

All one foot in and one foot back
but it don't pay, to live like that
so i cut the ties and i jumped the tracks
for never to return

(chorus):
brooklyn brooklyn take me in
are you aware the shape im in
my hands they shake my head it spins
brooklyn brooklyn take me in

when at first i learned to speak
i used all my words to fight
with him and her and you and me
oh its just a waste of time
its such a waste of time

that women shes got eyes that shine
like a pair of stolen polished dimes
she asked to dance i said its fine
ill see you in the morning time

(repeat chorus)

three words that became hard to say
i and love and you
what you were then i am today
look at the things i do

(repeat chorus)

dumbed down and numbed my time and age
you dreams to catch this world the cage
the highway sets the travelers stage
all exits look the same
three words that became hard to say
i and love and you
i and love and you
i and love and you
the highway

visit the Avettbrothers.com

new video: Tim Williams-"I Hit Another Wall"

Last month we were talking about Tim Williams inspiring comeback from intensive heart surgery, having his left pulmonary replaced back in 2008. Williams is healthy again, and on his new forthcoming album, Careful Love, due out October 20th on Dovecote Records (Ed Harcourt, Mason Proper), he chronicles some of his harrowing struggles of life and death. You can get a taste for the album with the lead single, "I Hit Another Wall", which he just released a new video for below.

“Finally some warm sun
to heal all my new scars.
Life's what you make it.
Now I can take it.”
-Tim Williams, “I Hit Another Wall”

Tim Williams - I Hit Another Wall OFFICIAL VIDEO from Dovecote Records on Vimeo.

He'll be playing a one off show in NYC this Thursd night at Cake Shop, highlighting some of the new material, with more dates to be announced shortly.

Tim Williams on myspace.

Twilight Sad: 'Forget the Night Ahead'

Scotland's, The Twilight Sad release their hotly anticipated sophomore album today in the U.S, with a release date of Oct. 5th in the U.K., Europe, & the rest of World. The band is well known for their brooding, emotional music, and the first two tracks that got leaked off the disc, "Reflection of the Television" and 'I Became a Prostitute" indicated an even darker turn from the band.

Here's some of what singer James Graham said about the new album, ... “We have definitely moved on from ‘Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters’, musically and lyrically. One thing that I can promise is that the lyrics are very dark, but you might have to look into them a bit to realise [that]. They are mainly based around things that have happened to me over the past two years, revolving mainly around losing people and being none too proud or happy with myself about my antics and situations I’ve found myself in.”
You can get the full album rundown track by track by Graham over at The Skinny here, and you can also stream the whole album for free over on the Fat Cat website.

This Weeks New Releases (WK 9/22)

We told you September is a busy month for new releases, and this weeks list comes packed with anticipated new discs, ranging from Pearl Jam's, Backspacer, and the Monsters Of Folk compilation, to new discs from WHY?, The Twilight Sad, and Bon Iver's latest project, Volcano Choir.

This Weeks New Releases (WK 9/22):

The Big Pink- A Brief History of Love
Birdmonster- Blood Memory
Brand New- Daisy
The Bravery- Slow Poison (single)
David Gray- Draw The Line
Girls- Album
Hallelujah the Hills- Colonial Drones
Harper Simon- self titled
The Hidden Cameras- Origin:Orphan
Islands- Vapours
J. Tillman- Year In the Kingdom
James Yuill-Turning Down Water for Air (Remixed)
Julie Peel- Near The Sun
Le Loup- Family
Monsters of Folk- self titled
Mum- Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know
No Age- You're a target (single)
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart-Higher Than the Stars
Pearl Jam- Backspacer
Rain Machine self titled
Rose Melberg- Homemade Ship
Sean Kingston- Tomorrow
Sea Wolf- White Water, White Bloom
Tegan & Sara-Back In Your Head (Complete Collectn)
Times New Viking- Born Again Revisited
The Twilight Sad- Forget The Night Ahead
Volcano Choir- Unmap
Why?- Eskimo Snow

'Song of the Week': Peasant- "The End"

23-year-old singer/songwriter, Damien DeRose, aka Peasant just released a new EP, The End earlier this month, which is a precursor to an upcoming album he has in the works, 'Shady Retreat', scheduled for a 2010 release on Paper Garden records.
“The End” is the first single, and it features DeRose's signature sleepy, whispered vocals and intimate, confessional writing.

The End - Peasant

follow Peasant on myspace.

Jealous Girlfriend, Holly Miranda signs to XL

With the Jealous Girlfriends apparently done, or at least on hiatus, singer Holly Miranda has just signed on with XL Recordings (which is part of the Beggars group) to release her first solo album, which is due out sometime in the early 2010. While there is no title or track listing available yet, there is a new 7" coming out in November, which will be featuring the song, "Forest Green Oh Forest Green" and a Yoko Ono cover, "Nobody Sees Me Like You Do." Her 5-song EP, Sleep on Fire is currently streaming over at her website.

Secret Identity - The Jealous Girlfriends

Pela calls it quits

In what's clearly the worst news I've heard all week, NYC band, Pela have called it a day. In a surprise move, the band issued a statement on their myspace this past Friday announcing the decision. No word as of yet as to what will happen to their new album that they had wrapped up this year, Rise Ye Sunken Ships. I really thought these guys were ready to blow up.

Here's the statement from the band ...."It is with great sadness that we write you today. Pela's collective journey has come to an end.

Over the past 2 years we've faced tremendous obstacles. We recorded an album twice, had a falling out/legal battle with our old label, fired 2 managers, had a big record deal fall through, and Billy had a hand injury followed by a foot injury.
We've worked tirelessly to get our music out of ourselves and into your ears. We worked endlessly to make the music and our live show the best we could. At the end of the day we had to start dealing with some realizations.
We will never be able to thank you enough for your support. For those of you that drove and flew hours just to see a show, we thank you. For those of you who wrote us and gave us the opportunity to get to know you, we thank you. For those of you who told us to keep soldiering on, we thank you. Words can't really describe how we're feeling about this difficult decision, but we want you to know that it's the healthiest decision we could make."

xoxo- Nate, Billy, Tom, and Eric

Pela-"Waiting On The Stairs" mp3

Friday Freebies (new feature)

One of the perks of doing the blog, is that you get sent a lot of free music, some known, and lot's unknown. So I decided to start up a new feature that would highlight some of the new music that I received each week, that may have peeked my interest in one way or another, but I didn't have time to spotlight each and every artist.

Here's some of what I thought might interest you guys this week .

- 11-piece Brooklyn outfit, creating beautiful orchestral-pop songs.
Emanuel and the Fear- "The Rain Becomes The Clouds"

- Their 2008 album Alopecia earned the band critical acclaim, now WHY? return with their fourth album, Eskimo Snow, out Sept. 22nd on Anticon.
Why- "This Blackest Purse"

- The title track off their forthcoming new album, a sweet piano ballad that was inspired by a show at Brooklyn's Galapagos.
The Avett Brothers- "I And Love And You"

- This band comes out of the Kent, OH, music scene band, their new disc, Thunder$troke, which comes out October 13th on Fat Possum.
Beaten Awake- "Coming Home"

-On their US debut called All For The Neighbourhood, this psychedelic folk-pop group evoke touches of Flaming Lips, and David Byrne.
Real One's- "Every Dog Has His Day"

- Hard Drugs is an alt-rock indie opera led by Jeffry Lee that includes members of Blood Meridian, Black Mountain, Lightning Dust, Pink Mountaintops, and Bonnie "Prince" Billy, among others.
Hard Drugs- "Bad ideas (Don't Give Up)"

- Up & coming singer/songwriter, from her upcoming 5 song self titled EP, due out Sept 29th.
Anna Rose- "Picture"

- Former Azure ray singer, Orenda Fink collaborated with Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) on "High Ground", the first single from her upcoming October 6th release Ask The Night.
Orenda Fink- 'High Ground"

Frightened Rabbit: releasing new single, 'Swim Until You Can't See Land"

We mentioned back in June, a new song by Frightened Rabbit that singer Scott Hutchinson had played while appearing on Offthebeatentracks tv, titled, "Swim Until You Can't See Land." Now it appears that the group will be releasing the song as a new single this November on Fat Cat Records. The single "Swim Until You Can't See Land" which will have another new track on it called "Fun Stuff" is set for a release date of Nov 16th in the UK, or also available on the Fatcat website for fans in the US or otherwise. There will be a pre order option going up soon over at Fat Cat so check back in over there. No word as of yet if either song will be appearing on the groups next album, which is tentatively slated for an early 2010 release.

Episode #5.2: Frightened Rabbit - "Swim Until You Can't See Land" from Off The Beaten Tracks on Vimeo.

Frightened Rabbit on myspace.

new video: Lucero-"Darken My Door"

Lucero is known for a few things, among them their incredibly intense live shows and their rabidly loyal fans. So to help promote their upcoming new album, 1372 Overton Park, the band has enlisted the help of those fans, having them create a music video for each of the songs on the record (which means 12 in total). The group will be premiering a new video every Thursday leading up to the release of '1372 Overton Park', which drops on Oct 6th and is the bands major label debut for Universal Republic Records. After the release date, the rest of the videos will be made available for fans to watch on their website, but in the meantime the first up is by videographer Alex Mecum, who created a video for the song, "Darken My Door" which stars a homeless puppet. You just have to watch to get it, trust me.
Also listen to the new track, "Smoke" below.

Lucero-"Smoke" mp3

Darken My Door from Lucero on Vimeo.

Grooms: ready debut, cover Chris Isaak

After two EP's and a name change, Brooklyn band Grooms (formerly known as Muggabears) are set to unveil their debut album, Rejoicer, which is available Oct. 13, 2009 on Death By Audio. The trio's sonically expansive sound has earned them a reputation of not being afraid to challenge their own, or their listeners perceptions of what they are, and has found them touring alongside bands such as, Crystal Stilts, Wavves, Ponytail, and Abe Vigoda to name a few. Part of that experimental vibe recently found the band tackling a cover of Chris Isaak's late 80's classic, "Wicked Game" which you can listen to on Stereogum here.
You can also check out the lead single, "Dreamsucker" off the new disc below.

Grooms-"Dreamsucker" mp3

Rejoicer track listing
1 - Dreamsucker
2 - Thumbs
3 - At the Pool
4 - Fag Feels Good
5 - Acid King of Hell (Guitar Feelings)
6 - Ghost Cat
7 - She-Bears
8 - C.J.
9 - Kier
10 - The Nights Were Walls (We Climbed Them All)

get to know Grooms on myspace

Wednesday in Words (#1)

We're starting up a new feature here on the blog, that will be up every Weds. called, 'Wednesday in Words.' What I wanted to do was take some time to focus on great songwriting ( I know that's subjective) by sharing some great music and lyrics that have struck a chord in one way or another.

First up we wanted to highlight two songs by Toronto band, The Wooden Sky, who's fantastic new disc, If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone we've been digging heavily. If there's anything you want to see highlighted on an upcoming feature let me know.

(Bit Part) - The Wooden Sky
The Wooden Sky- "(Bit Part)"
Well, I stood up
You know I had to keep moving
I couldn't just sit here alone in this one place
You called my name
But you know I never hear you
But there will always be some things that stay the same
Even in some crazy world of constant change
So I changed the locks
I'm not looking for love, now
Just another pretty face that I could blame
If I get lost
You know it's all the same now
And I don't really even care to know her name
All the people in my past just stay the same

(chorus)
You know I don't have time
To play a bit part in your life
Thinking you could change my mind
That'd be crazy
You'd be no friend of mine
Be rehearsing all the time
Thinking you could put our love upon some stage

So I stood up
Yeah, I had to keep moving
Trying to get a little blood back in my veins
We called it off
But I can't sleep now
Just dreaming every night what might've been
You know I've been here before
And now I'm here again

(repeat chorus)

You could come around here just knocking on my door
Keeping me up all night just begging me for more
And I'm not really sure
What we do these things for
So I stood up,
Yeah I had to keep moving
I couldn't just sit here alone in this one place

Oh My God (It Still Means A Lot To Me) - The Wooden Sky
The Wooden Sky- Oh My God (It Still Means a Lot to Me)
Wake up you're getting old
I've been dreaming about mountains
and you've been dreaming about gold
And if I ever make it home
to find my key won't open the door
I've been thinking about selling off every shirt I own
just to stand naked out here in the cold
trying to make it on my own

(chorus)
Oh my god it still means a lot to me (repeat 6x)

A pretty girl said to me
'you've got to take all the little pieces, put them in one big box
and just throw away the key,
no don't you ever show them to me."
I've made that mistake before
and came home to find my life just spilled out on the floor
she said she was trying to make room for more
was trying to make some room for more

(repeat chorus)