Another new track from Frightened Rabbit

These guys nabbed our 2008 album of the year honors last year, and if the new tracks that have come out so far are any indication of how their forthcoming disc, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, due on March 1st 2010 is shaping up then they're a sure bet to place high again in 2010. A while back we heard the dreamy first single of the new disc, titled "Swim Until You Can't See Land" and now the band have already released plans for their next single, "Nothing Like You" which comes out on February 22nd. You can preview the new track below from a live session the band recently recorded for the BBC.
Frightened Rabbit-"Nothing Like You" (live)


Frightened Rabbit-"Swim Until You Can't See Land"

new video-: Fever Ray-"Keep the Streets Empty For Me"

The Knife's Karin Dreijer Andersson, aka Fever Ray sure knows how to keep it dark and ominous on her self titled solo debut. Known for her distorted tones and use of masks and other on stage theatrics Andersson has kept the creep factor high on the previous singles and videos for "When I Grow Up", "Triangle Walks", and "Seven" to name a few. Now Fever Ray has just put out a new video for the album track, "Keep The Streets Empty For Me" which is directed by fellow Swedes Jens Klevje and Fabian Svensson. Here's what the pair had to say on making the video ..."Fever Ray and the song struck us immediately with its fateful sound and images of abandoned suburbia begun to grow in front of our eyes. We wanted to continue the journey that started in the former videos and our ambition was to catch the feeling in a very direct and true way and create a video where dream and reality intertwine."



http://feverray.com

New album from Tape Deck Mountain

Just a few weeks ago Tape Deck Mountain released their debut full length titled, Ghost . The California based and self proclaimed “mid-fi” band is the project of San Diego native Travis Trevisan, who had gotten laid off from his job almost a year ago, and with his newfound spare time put together TDM's debut of fuzzed out tunes. 'Ghost' ranges from quiet intimate moments to loud, booming sonic guitar scorchers, my favorite of which is the track, "On My Honor" which you can hear below.
'Ghost' is out now on Lefse.

On My Honor - Tape Deck Mountain

and also check out the first single off the album, "Ghost Colony."
Tape Deck Mountain- "Ghost Colony" mp3

Tape Deck Mountain-'Ghost'
1. Scantrons
2. F-
3. On My Honor
4. 80/20
5. Dead Doctors Don’t Lie
6. In the Dirt
7. Ghost Colony
8. A+
9. Bat Lies

Follow Tape Deck Mountain on myspace.

'Song of the Week': Pixie Carnation-"When the Lights Go Out"

It's not everyday that you hear a band out of Sweden get compared to Bruce Springsteen. But the new Swedish Americana inspired-rock group, Pixie Carnation evoke images of 'the Boss' with their track, "When Did The Lights Go Out" off of their self-released 3 song EP, Fresh Poems.
The group which is made up of childhood friends Tobias Helkvist and Ola Pålsson, formed in Malmö, Sweden, in late 2007, and completed the line-up with a full backing band complete with drums, cellos, violin, and piano.
Springsteen comparisons aside, the sweeping opening string section of “When Did The Lights Go Out” also brings to mind some Arcade Fire influences as well, before the song jumps into a a full on Americana-orchestral rocker. Check it out for yourself below.

Pixie Carnation-"When the Lights Go Out"

Pixie Carnation on myspace.

get to know: Hurricane Bells

Hurricane Bells is the new project from Steve Schiltz, frontman from the NYC band, Longwave. Back in 2003 Longwave released a fantastic disc called, The Strangest Things that recalled an atmospheric early 90's sound, led by the driving number, "Everywhere You Turn." For Hurricane Bells' debut album, Tonight Is The Ghost via Vagrant records, Schiltz wrote, recorded, and played everything on the album entirely by himself and had plans just to self-release the disc. Then, a b-side from the album, "Monsters," found itself landing on the super-hyped new Twilight/New Moon soundtrack, and before he knows it his little solo bedroom project landed him a deal with Vagrant.
You can download the single "This Year" below or catch Hurricane Bells at an upcoming headlining show in NYC at the Living Room on 12/2.

Hurricane Bells-"This Year" mp3

Everywhere You Turn - Longwave

Hurricane Bells on myspace.

Wednesday in Words: Matthew Ryan-"The Wilderness"

If you haven't gotten familiar with longtime Nashville singer/songwriter Matthew Ryan over his first 11 albums, well frankly you've really missed out. But don't fret because Ryan just released his 12th studio album, Dear Lover, digitally last month, and he picks up right where he left off crafting intimate tunes that deftly capture the battles of love, loss and all that goes in between, just like he's been doing for the past 11 discs.
The physical version of 'Dear Lover' will be available in-stores this Feb. 16, 2010 via CIMS/Junket Boy, or if you head on over to Blurt Online you can stream the album in it's entirety.
And definitely stay tuned in the next week or so for a new 'Field Recordings' session we shot with Matthew while he was recently in NYC.

Matthew Ryan- "The Wilderness"
Our hearts were broken
When we came here
There's really only one thing
That I want to dear

The wilderness
Comes creeping
& carves you a hollow
Are you ready for tomorrow?

Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh

I want the dream that we never had
I want the dream that we never had
Before the dark and the day go bad
I want the dream that we never had

Where all the fires
& cruel disease
& all that brings us to our knees
Dissolves, despairs, concludes, concedes
The future here now please

I want the dream that we never had
I want the dream that we never had
Before the dark and the day go bad
I want the dream that we never had

The wilderness
Comes creeping
& carves you a hollow
Are you ready for tomorrow?

Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh

I want the dream that we never had
I want the dream that we never had
Before the dark and the day go bad
I want the dream that we never had

Amazing grace is it too late?
Is it too late?
Is it too late?

Amazing grace is it too late?
Is it too late for me?
To save a wreck like me?


plus check out the new video for "City Life" below.


Official Matthew Ryan website.

Holly Miranda- Solo debut

I always liked Holly Miranda's work in the Jealous Girlfriends and now she is prepping her full-length debut for XL Recordings titled, The Magician’s Private Library . The forthcoming 10 track disc is due out on February 23, and was produced by Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio, who managed to nab contributions from bandmates, Kyp Malone and Jaleel Bunton (TV On The Radio), and Eric Biondo and Stuart Bogie (Antibalas).

The first single off the new LP, “Forest Green Oh Forest Green” is out now as a 7” & digitally. The track is backed with her cover of Yoko Ono’s "Nobody Sees Me Like You Do".
“Forest Green Oh Forest Green”mp3

In other news, Holly will be joining label-mates Friendly Fires and The xx on the first half of their upcoming tour, beginning 11/20 in San Diego through 11/27 in Seattle.

Holly Miranda on tour (with Friendly Fires + The xx)
11/20 San Diego CA, Casbah
11/21 Los Angeles CA, Henry Fonda Theater
11/22 San Francisco CA, The Independent
11/23 San Francisco CA, The Independent
11/24 Sacramento CA, Sacramento St University
11/25 Portland OR, Doug Fir Lounge
11/26 Vancouver BC, The Commodore
11/27 Seattle WA, Neumos

Follow Holly Miranda on myspace.

Still Life Still add new tour dates

A few weeks ago we had the chance to do a shoot with the guys in the Toronto band, Still Life Still for an upcoming 'Field Recordings' session, while they were in town for some shows in NYC. The quintet just announced that they'll be coming back to the area with a new three-week North American tour beginning in February 2010 with the UK’s, Wild Beasts. The band recently released their sexually charged hook filled debut, Girls Come Too, back in August, which was recorded by Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, who also signed the band to his label, Arts & Crafts (Feist, The Dears, Broken Social Scene).
The group which has been together since grammar school, built up their reputation off of their live shows around Toronto, which caught the ear of Drew, and before long the band put out an EP, 'Pastel', soon after releasing 'Girls Come Too'. They toured the U.S. for the first time in September supporting labelmates The Most Serene Republic, while also making their New York debut with three performances in Oct. including the CMJ Music Marathon.


Upcoming Still Life Still tour schedule:
11/17/09 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11/19/09 – Ottawa, ON @ Café Dekcuf
11/20/09 – Kingston, ON @ The Mansion
11/21/09 – London, ON @ Call The Office
11/25/09 – Guelph, ON @ Brass Taps
11/26/09 – Waterloo, ON @ Wilfrid Laurier Univ.
11/27/09 – St. Catherines, ON @ Level 3
11/28/09 – Windsor, ON @ Basement Pub
11/29/09 – Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah
2/10/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour*
2/11/10 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent*
2/13/10 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge*
2/14/10 – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey*
2/17/10 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry*
2/18/10 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s *
2/19/10 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s *
2/20/10 – Detroit, MI @ Pike Room *
2/22/10 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
2/24/10 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott *
2/25/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s*
2/26/10 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom*
2/27/10 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
* w/ Wild Beasts

Still Life Still on myspace.

Magnetic Fields get real

The Magnetic Fields are dropping a new disc in early 2010. Realism will be released January 26 on Nonesuch Records, and will be the bands 10th studio LP dating back to the early 90's.
The new album is the bands third release on Nonesuch records, and follow's up their cirtically acclaimed 2008 disc, 'Distortion.'

Realism tracklisting:
1 You Must Be Out of Your Mind
2 Interlude
3 We Are Having a Hootenanny
4 I Don’t Know What to Say
5 The Dolls’ Tea Party
6 Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree
7 Walk a Lonely Road
8 Always Already Gone
9 Seduced and Abandoned
10 Better Things
11 Painted Flower
12 The Dada Polka
13 From a Sinking Boat

The Magnetic Fields on myspace.

'Song of the Week" : Lissie-"Little Lovin"

Just last month, young folk singer, Lissie released her debut EP, Why You Runnin', which featured the track "Little Lovin" which has grown on me with every listen.
She had help on the five-song EP from some of her friends like, Tyler Ramsey and Bill Reynolds from Band of Horses, the latter of which produced and played bass on the record, and also Ed Harcourt who worked on the track "Oh Mississippi." The songs were recorded at her home in Ojai, CA, and at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC, and range from hand-clapping, foot-stomping numbers like the aforementioned, "Little Lovin" to country and soulful '60s pop-esque ballads, centered around her powerful and haunting raw vocals.

She'll be appearing tonight solo at The Mercury Lounge in NYC, with more tour dates scheduled opening up for Ray LaMontagne (check all the dates below).

Lissie-"Little Lovin"

Lissie tour schedule:
Nov 9 Mercury Lounge NYC, New York
Nov 10 Why You Runnin’Release show Oxford
Nov 11 Daytrotter Presents Rock Island, Ill.
Nov 12 The Auditorim Theater Chicago, Ill #
Nov 13 State Theatre Minneapolis, Minn #
Nov 15 Nob Hill Masonic Center San Francisco,CA #
Nov 17 Ellie Caulkin Opera House Denver, Co #
Nov 18 Ellie Caulkin Opera House Denver, Co #
Nov 20 Orpheum Los Angeles, California #
Nov 21 Orpheum Los Angeles, California #
Nov 22 Orpheum Los Angeles, California #
Nov 24 KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic Santa Monica, Ca
Nov 24 Bootleg Theater Los Angeles, Ca
Nov 27 Slowdown Jr. w/ A.A. Bondy Omaha, Neb
Nov 28 Mojo’s w/ A. A. Bondy Columbia, Missouri
Dec 2 Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen London
Dec 3 Lock Tavern London
Dec 4 Wilmington Arms London
Feb 21 Cayamo 2010: A Journey Through Song Miami, Florida

# w/ Ray LaMontagne

Yeasayer new single: "Ambling Alp" (free download)

Brooklyn band, Yeasayer are set to unveil the highly-anticipated follow up to 2007’s All Hour Cymbals. The band have signed on with Secretly Canadian for the release of the new album, Odd Blood, which hits stores on February 9, 2010. In advance of the new LP, yeasayer released the discs first single, "Ambling Alp," which is available for a free download over at their website HERE, and was also released digitally and on a limited edition 12" vinyl. "Ambling Alp" is the groups first new recording since their acclaimed contribution "Tightrope" that appeared on the 'Dark Was The Night' benefit compilation earlier this year.

visit Yeasayer.net

new video: Great Bloomers- "This Ain't You"

Getting in the Fall spirit of things, the Great Bloomers new video for "This Ain't You." sees the band playing in a field on a hillside in their homeland of Canada. The video was directed by Bob Lyte and edited by two members of the group, Lowell Sostomi (vocals/guitar) and Shawn Dell (keys), and is taken from their full length debut album, Speak Of Trouble.



check out Great Bloomers on myspace.

Are you a man or are you a bag of sand?- 'Wednesday in Words' w/ Frightened Rabbit

After unveiling their new single recently, "Swim Until You Can't See Land", Frightened Rabbit have also announced the title and release date for their upcoming 3rd studio LP, The Winter of Mixed Drinks. The new disc will be out this March on FatCat Records, and follows up the bands utterly brilliant, 'The Midnight Organ Fight.' which nabbed our '08 album of the year honors.
Whereras the last album dealt in vivid detail of a break-up of a relationship, frontman/guitarist Scott Hutchinson say's that this album needed a fresh direction ... "Thematically, this record had to be different from the last," "Nobody wanted to hear more break-up songs, and thankfully, I no longer had any in me." The LP's lead single, "Swim Until You Can't See Land," is streaming now via FatCat's website and will be out digitally this Nov.17 with the additional track "Fun Stuff."

Frightened Rabbit-"Swim Until You Can't See Land"
We salute at the threshold of the North Sea
in my mind
And the nautical board-man that drove me here
to face the tide and swim
(Whoaaaa) I swim (Whoaaa) swim (Whoaaa)

Dip the toe in the ocean. Oh how it hardens and it numbs.
And the rest of me is a burgeoned man
built to collapse into crumbs
And if I hadn’t come down
To the coast to disappear
I may have died in a land-slide
Of the rocks, the hopes and fears.

So swim until you can’t see land.
Swim until you can’t see land.
Swim until you can’t see land
Are you a man or are you a bag of sand?
Swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Are you a man or are you a bag of sand?

Up to my knees now, do I wait? Do I dive?
The sea has seen my like before though it’s my first
And perhaps last time.
Let’s call me a baptist, call this the drowning of the past
She’s there on the shoreline
Throwing stones at my back

So swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Are you a man or are you a bag of sand?
Swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Are you a man or are you a bag of sand?

Now the water’s taller than me
And the land is a marker line
All I am is a body adrift in water, salt and sky

So swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Are you a man or are you a bag of sand?
Swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Swim until you can’t see land
Are you a man or are you a bag of sand?

follow Frightened Rabbit on myspace.

Paste lists Top 50 albums of the decade

It's that time of year again where magazines and the like start compiling their year end lists. But as 2009 rolls to a close we not only have the usual year end lists but we are also closing out the first decade of the 21st century, so it's time to go way back in your collection and see what still grabs your attention from the 00's. The latest site to weigh in with their thoughts on the decade in music is Paste Magazine, here's what they came up with.

50 Björk - Vespertine (Elektra, 2001)
49 Libertines - Up The Bracket (Rough Trade, 2002)
48 Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose (Interscope, 2004)
47 Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino, 2006)
46 Once - Music From The Motion Picture (Columbia, 2007)
45 Radiohead - In Rainbows (self-released, 2007)
44 The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music (Lost Highway, 2003)
43 Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala (Secretly Canadian, 2007)
42 Jay-Z - The Blueprint (Roc-A-Fella, 2001)
41 LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (Capitol, 2007)
40 TV on the Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain (Interscope, 2006)
39 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (Merge, 2007)
38 Gentleman Jesse - Introducing Gentleman Jesse (Douchemaster, 2008)
37 Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days (Sub Pop, 2004)
36 Pedro The Lion - Control (Jade Tree, 2002)
35 Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino, 2009)
34 Various artists - O Brother Where Art Thou? (Mercury, 2001)
33 Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head (Capitol, 2002)
32 The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (Warner Bros., 2002)
31 Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism (Barsuk, 2003)
30 Damien Rice - O (Vector, 2003)
29 Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar, 2008)
28 Paul Westerberg - Folker (Vagrant, 2004)
27 Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day (New West, 2003)
26 Over the Rhine - Ohio (2004)
25 Sigur Rós - Med ud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust (XL, 2008)
24 The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop, 2003)
23 Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (Bloodshot, 2000)
22 The Decemberists - The Crane Wife (Capitol, 2006)
21 Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (XL, 2008)
20 The National - Boxer (Beggars Banquet, 2007)
19 Beck - Sea Change (Interscope, 2002)
18 Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (Universal Republic, 2007)
17 Kanye West - The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella, 2004)
16 Rufus Wainwright - Want One (Dreamworks, 2003)
15 Patty Griffin - 1000 Kisses (ATO, 2002)
14 The Strokes - Is This It (RCA, 2001)
13 Josh Ritter - The Animal Years (V2, 2006)
12 Spoon - Kill the Moonlight (Merge, 2002)
11 The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America (Vagrant, 2006)
10 M.I.A. - Arular (Interscope, 2005)
09 The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You (Columbia/American, 2009)
08 OutKast - Stankonia (Arista/LaFace, 2000)
07 Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator) (Acony, 2001)
06 The White Stripes - Elephant (V2, 2003)
05 Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (Saddle Creek, 2005)
04 Radiohead - Kid A (Capitol, 2000)
03 Arcade Fire - Funeral (Merge, 2004)
02 Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch, 2002)
01 Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty, 2005)

get familiar w/ Portland Cello Project

There's a ton of great music coming out of the Portland area these days, and the community of musicians there are known to be quite tight knit. One of the more interesting projects to hail from the area, the indie orchestral collective, Portland Cello Project have collaborated with more than a few local acts, like Weinland, Laura Gibson, Horse Feathers and most recently a session with Thao w/ the Get Down Stay Down. The PCP is actually out on the road right now, touring with Thao as the opening act, and the collective rolls into NYC tom. night at the Bowery Ballroom, where they will also be joined by Justin Power.
You can check all the dates below.


PCP out on tour:
Nov 3 Middle East Downstairs Cambridge, Mass
Nov 4 The Bowery Ballroom NYC, New York
Nov 5 The First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, Penn
Nov 6 Black Cat Washington, DC
Nov 7 The Canal Club Downstairs Lounge Richmond, Virginia
Nov 9 The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 11 Warehouse Live Houston, Texas
Nov 12 The Mohawk Austin, Texas
Nov 13 Lola’s Fort Worth, Texas
Nov 14 Jake’s Lubbock, Texas
Nov 16 Santa Fe Brewing Company Santa Fe, New Mexico
Nov 17 Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona
Nov 18 Plush Tucson, Arizona
Nov 19 Casbah San Diego, California
Nov 20 The Glass House Pomona, California
Nov 21 The Independent San Fran, California

visit portlandcelloproject.com