Calexico announce new album details

Arizona alt-counrty rockers Calexico are set to release a new album this year. The new work, which will be the first since 2006's 'Garden Ruin', is called Carried To Dust, and will be coming out on September 8th.

The band who in the past has teamed up with Iron & Wine, will be heading out on tour hitting the festival circuit over the summer before heading back out in Sept. in support of the new album. Here are the upcoming dates:

Jun 20 Southside Festival Neuhausen ob Egg
Jun 22 Hurricane Festival Schlessel
Jul 5 Comerica City Fest Detroit, Michigan
Jul 6 Mod Club Toronto, Ontario
Jul 7 Le National Montreal, Quebec
Jul 8 Quebec City Summer Festival Quebec City
Jul 9 Ottawa Blues Festival Ottawa, Ontario
Jul 27 Robert Z Hawkins Amphitheatre Reno, Nevada
Aug 3 Newport Folk Festival Newport, Rhode Island
Sep 10 Tripod Dublin
Sep 11 Queens Hall Edinburgh
Sep 12 Academy Oxford
Sep 13 Leadmill Sheffield
Sep 14 End of the Road Festival Dorset
Sep 24 Webster Hall New York City
Sep 25 Chicago World Music Festival
Sep 26 The Moore Theatre Seattle
Sep 27 Crystal Ballroom Portland
Sep 28 The Fillmore San Francisco
Sep 29 Henry Fonda Theatre Los Angeles, California

Vetiver- Thing of The Past

An album full of cover songs is always a risky road to take, especially for a band still early in it's career. The new album Thing of The Past by the California alt-folk group Vetiver isn't your typical album of covers though. Vetiver, led by frontman Andy Cabic carefully crafted a list of songs that are not only a sort of homage to traditional American songwriting, but also in turn is well suited to the bands sound. All of the tracks on the album are taken from the late 60's and early 70's and are largely obscure even by most music lovers.

Cabic introduces us to artists and rarities such as Garland Jeffreys on the piano ballad "Lon Chaney", and Biff Rose on "To Baby". Not all of the artists tackled on 'Thing of The Past' are ufamiliar, they also give their take on Loudon Wainwright III's "Swimming Song" and Townes Van Zandt's "Standin". One of the real gems on the album is the opening track "Houses", which is by an artist Elyse Weinberg and apparently even featured Neil Young playing guitar on the original. Houses is a perfect example of how the song selection is so well suited to the bands strengths, openly embracing the past and making it sound as if it could have been something they penned themselves. It's as if Cabic created his dream mixtape and shared it with the rest of us to re-discover his slice of Americana.

Paper Route- New Ep coming

One of the more anticipated new works we've been looking forward to this year is from the Nashville Indie-electronic group Paper Route. The band just unveiled a sneak preview of the new Are We All Forgotten EP in the form of a video teaser. The EP will be hitting stores and online on July 8th.
Although the group has posted several new songs in their rough form over the past 1/2 year or so on their Myspace, we haven't had new material from the band since back in 2006 with their self titled debut EP. The EP featured two of the best songs that '06 had to offer with "Second Chances" and "Cityscape".

Here's the sneak peak:

Tuesday 6/03 -new releases

Here's our list of noteworthy releases this tuesday you may want to check out...

Ed Harcourt- The Beautiful Lie

Paper Rival- Dialog

Joshua James- Sun Is Always Brighter

Fleet Foxes (self titled)

Joan As Police Woman- To Survive

Electric President- Sleep Well

The Watson Twins- How I Am to Be (Single)

Weezer-(Red Album)

Shearwater- Rook

new Track from Hotel Lights

Hotel Lights posted a new track off of the forthcoming Firecracker People which is coming out on August 19th. You can take a listen to the new song "Blue Always Finds Me" that is posted on Hotel Lights Myspace. Hotel Lights is the project of Darren Jessee who is the former drummer from Ben Folds Five, and more recently has collaborated on work with Ghosts I've Met. The new album 'Firecracker People' is the follow up to his fantastic melancholy self titled album from 2006.

Wk 6/2: Video and song of the week- Noah And The Whale

This weeks choice for video and song of the week comes from Noah And The Whale from the UK. The song is the sweet folk-pop infused "Shape of My Heart" which is the current single released in the UK, from their forthcoming debut album which comes out July 28th in the US and in the UK on August 4th.

Noah And The Whale- "Shape of My Heart":



Noah And The Whale on Myspace.

Our "Liner Notes" Intvw w/ Syd Matters

The French group Syd Matters is a band that we first discovered on a Paste Magazine CD sampler a few years back with their beautiful song "Obstacles". Since then, the band that has been compared to such acts as Radiohead, Nick Drake and Pink Floyd have put out their stellar 3rd album Ghost Days, which came out back in early 2008. It could be the band's best work to date, with standout tracks such as the tender "Cloudflakes" & "Everything Else", also "Anytime Now" and the fantastic climactic "Me And My Horses". Frontman Jonathan Morali recently sat down w/ us while in Brussels and chatted about the new album, his shyness, his start in the business and more.

Jakob Dylan- Going Solo

Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan has announced he is putting out his first solo album, Seeing Things which is hitting stores this June 10, on Columbia Records and also in association with Starbucks Entertainment.
Dylan, who has worked with the Wallflowers since the early 90's, worked on 'Seeing Things' with producer Rick Rubin at his home studio in the Hollywood Hills throughout 2007. The album is said to be mostly acoustic by choice as Dylan has said he needed something different from the sounds of The Wallflowers. He and Rubin stripped back the production to try and create a more simple and powerful album based on sounds of American roots music.

'Seeing Things' will be available simultaneously at Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada and at traditional retail via Columbia.

You can listen to two of the new tracks here.

new video from Joan as Police Woman

Joan Wasser aka Joan As Police Woman who has played in such bands as the Dambuilders and Antony and the Johnsons, has a new album coming out this June 9th (UK & Ire), June 10th in the States titled, To Survive. Joan who has an old school soulful sound just recently put out a new video for the first single off the LP, the song "To Be Loved".



To Be Loved - Video

Jem- album in the Fall

It's been nearly 4 years since we last heard from the Welsh born singer Jem. Having last put out an album back in '04 with her electronic, sample and beat driven Finally Woken . Jem is back with a new song that is featured on the Sex and the City Soundtrack called "It's Amazing", which is from her new album, Down To Earth, which should be coming this Fall.
Jem describes the new album and explains her long abscence on her webite ..."With a sprinkle of hip hop, a sprinkle of funk, a sprinkle of rock, an extra juicy helping of dance floor magic, and this time around some Cuban salsa and Japanese vibes mixed in for good measure" ... "I won't say any more as I want it to be a delicious surprise for you all...". On her abscence ... "In case you've been curious, there have been a few hold-ups over the last year which I can happily say are all sorted now. My label decided to buy all their artists back from SonyBmg last year, so I was 'frozen' for quite a while, this included my website etc. Things are now full steam ahead and I've become label mates with the extraordinarily talented Radiohead, so no complaints here!"

Listen to Jem on Myspace.

Big names lined up for 'Red Hot' charity compilation

Some big names are joining forces on the newest edition of the 'Red Hot' charity compilation album, which benefits AIDS research. It's been reported that Feist and Death Cab For Cutie's lead singer Ben Gibbard are teaming up to record a song together for the forthcoming LP. So far the pair will be joining other big named acts such as Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, The National, and Dirty Projectors & David Byrne who together are collaborating for two songs on the album.

The album is being slated for a release in the fall or early 2009.

Martha Wainwright on Jools Holland

Martha Wainwright, who's new album I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too hits stores in the States on June 10th, recently appeared on the UK's Jools Holland show. She is currently finishing up a brief tour in Europe before heading back to North America for some upcoming shows in NY, Montreal, Toronto and California in June.

You can catch her performance of her new song "You Cheated Me".

Sigur Ros- new album details revealed

Sigur Ros posted new album news on their website... according to a statement released by the band, they will be releasing their fifth album, Með suð i eyrum við spilum endalaust, which translates in english to (with a buzz in our ear we play endlessly), on June 24th, 2008 on XL Recordings.
The first track from the album, entitled “Gobbledigook,” will be unveiled on England’s Radio 1 tonight (May 27th), and then the track will be available worldwide for a free download via www.sigurros.com. A pre-sale for the album will begin on www.sigurros.com and iTunes on June 2nd, as well as a special deluxe edition of the album to be released later in the year that will feature a “Making Of…” book, a film and more that will be available to pre-order on the band’s website that same day.

The new album, With a buzz… was co-produced with the band by well known producer Flood, and was recorded in such locales as New York City, London, and Havana, Cuba and is the first album that the band has recorded outside of Iceland. The new album also has another first for the group, which features vocalist Jon “Jonsi” Thor Birgisson’s vocals in English for the first time on one track (the remainder are sung in Icelandic).
The material for the album was written, recorded and mixed entirely in 2008 and is being released just one month after its completion.

The tracklisting for Með suð i eyrum við spilum endalaust (with a buzz in our ear we play endlessly):

1. Gobbledigook
2. Inní mér syngur vitleysingur (Within me a lunatic sings)
3. Góðan daginn (Good day)
4. Við spilum endalaust (We play endlessly)
5. Festival
6. Suð í eyrum (Buzz in our ears)
7. Ára bátur (Row boat)
8. Íllgresi (Weeds)
9. Fljótavík (A place in Iceland)
10. Straumnes (A mountain near Fljótavík)
11. All Alright

Wk 5/26 Video of the Week

This weeks video pick of the week is one that's been out there for a little bit, but that just got our attention. The video comes from The Gutter Twins , which is the project of Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli for their song All Misery/Flowers. Lanegan comes from such projects as The Screaming Trees and Queens of The Stone Age and Dulli from the bands The Afghan Whigs and The Twilight Singers, and both had a heavy hand in defining 90's rock.
For this one, the duo who have been hailed rock's princes of darkness hit the streets of New Orleans complete with an appearance by Dulli behind the drums.

The Gutter Twins- "All Misery/Flowers"

new Ep from Iron & Wine

If your living in the UK consider yourself lucky if your an Iron & Wine fan. Sam Beam a co. will be releasing a new 3 song EP called Lovesong of the Buzzard off of last year's The Shepherd's Dog album.
The three-song 'Lovesong of the Buzzard' EP is scheduled to come out on June 2 exclusively in the UK, and includes two non-album tracks, "The Arms of a Thief" and "Serpent Charmer." Meanwhile the group is readying for a summer tour that will make stops across Europe and the US w/ various festival appearances.

Some upcoming tour dates:

June
11 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
12 - Davenport, Iowa @ Capitol Theater
13 - St. Louis, Mo. @ Pageant Theater
14 - Manchester, Tenn. @ Bonnaroo
15 - Columbus, Ohio @ Newport Music Hall

July
4 - Rothbury, Mich. @ Rothbury Festival*
12 - Redmond, Wash. @ Marymoor Park (SP20 Festival)*

August
3 - Chicago, Ill. @ Lollapalooza
6 - Olso, Norway @ Øya Festival
7 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ Vega
8 - Gothenburg, Sweden @ Way Out West Festival
9 - Rees-Haldern, Germany @ Haldern Festival
10 - Myslowice, Poland @ Off Festival
12 - Modigliana, Italy @ Strade Blue

Our "Liner Notes" interview w/ Cary Brothers

Recently we got the chance to sit down with indie singer/songwriter Cary Brothers. Brothers is the founder of the widely popular travelling singer/songwriter showcase called the Hotel Cafe Tour. The tour over the years has had a rotating cast of talented artists such as Ingrid Michaelson, William Fitzsimmons, Sara Barielles and more, many of whom have broken onto the scene with the help of the tour. Cary himself first gained wider spread notoriety after his song "Blue Eyes" appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Garden State. And in 2007 he released his first full length LP titled Who You Are , which includes his hit single "Ride".
We sat down with Cary and touched on how the Hotel Cafe tour got started, his early beginnings in film, songwriting, the music business, how he met Zach Braff and more.

"Liner Notes" interview w/ Cary Brothers

The National- new Documentary & Ep hit stores

There's something to be said for The National's path to success in today's music climate. The band was formed in the late 90's, well before the world we know today of blogging communities that fuel the hype machine and are always ready to crown the next big thing, and sites like Myspace that help band's get recognized before the majors start calling were around. The band has built their following the old fashioned way, by putting out quality albums and by gaining the reputation for being a dynamic live act. In this model, The National have been a slow & steady builder and have seen a steady growth in fan support with each release, having only recently with 2007's Boxer seen themselves become the critic's darlings.
So coming off their most critical and commercial success to date the group has put out the package of the documentary DVD A Skin, A Night along with The Virginia EP . The film and EP retrace the steps of the band and give a rough look inside the process of what eventually became 'Boxer'. The film which was directed by Vincent Moon, follows the band in the early stages of recording the album and gives brief glimpses of insight into the band and rough sketches of songs that ended up on 'Boxer'. Unfortunately those moments are few and far between as Moon just touches on them in short spurts. There are moments when the documentary lets you in to see the groups vulnerability as artists and anxiety in creating the new work, but more often then not those glimpses turn into an extended music video by Moon. Although visually appealing, the film lacks some structure and substance and left me as a fan wishing I knew more about the thought process of the band and the making of the album.
As for 'The Virgina EP', the disc consists of B-sides, demo's and live tracks and is a perfect compliment for fans of 'Boxer'. Although a few of the songs have appeared in various places before, tracks like "You've Done it Again, Virginia", "Tall Saint" and "Santa Clara" are classic National and easily could have made the original cut. Also on the disc is an alternate take on the brilliant "Slow Show" which reveals a different chorus that ended up being used on the track "Blank Slate". In addition there are covers of "Mansion On The Hill" by Bruce Springsteen and "Without Permission" by Caroline Martin that suit the band's sound and personality. For newer fans of the band that might not know the groups work before 'Boxer' and 'Alligator' there's versions of the older tracks "Lucky You" and "About Today", the latter of which closes things out & gives an eye opening look into The National's live show with an 8 plus minute epic with an explosive finish.

Devotchka on Conan O'Brien

Think you haven't heard of Devotchka before??? Well you probably have. If you've seen the movie Little Miss Sunshine then you've heard the band in action, as the movie helped put the band on the map. The group hail from Denver but sound as if their from a hilltop in Serbia somewhere, with their Eastern European, multi instrumental ecclectic sounds. Devotchka brought those sounds to the Conan O'Brien show last week with a performance of "The Clockwise Witness" off of their newest release A Mad And Faithful Telling .


Devotchka- "The Clockwise Witness":

Smashing Pumpkins planning new songs, DVD and shows

In an interview with Artisannews.com, frontman of the Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan revealed the bands plans for the rest of '08. The new version of the reunited Pumpkins which is Corgan along with Jimmy Chamberlain sans D'arcy and James Iha, are looking toward a busy year. According to Corgan .... "We're working on a DVD that's sort of a documentary of our residency Fillmore shows. We're going to put out hopefully some of our early demos for Christmas, probably put out a new Pumpkins single with new Pumpkins in the fall and then do a fall tour, and then we start putting out a new Pumpkins album probably beginning next year."
The Pumpkins reunited back in 2007 with a new line-up that included new members Jeff Schroeder, Lisa Harriton and Ginger Reyes, and the band played a brief tour. A special set of 20th anniversary shows are also in the works to celebrate the milestone for the group. The special series of shows are planned to make stops in New York, Los Angeles and their hometown of Chicago, and according to Billy, they want to make each show unique and are planning to have special guests appear at each show.

Lykke Li- New album coming

Swedish singer Lykke Li has announced plans to release her debut full-length album in the US this summer. Li's Youth Novels will come out on August 19th and was produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John. The album 'Youth Novels' comes as the follow up to her EP Little Bit, which was released in the US at the end of March. Li has seen success in Europe and abroad with her catchy, funky beat driven single also titled "Little Bit". So far the album 'Youth Novels' has only been available online via Lykee Li's website.
The new album is being released via Li's own label, LL Recordings.

Lykke Li on Myspace.

The 'Youth Novels' tracklisting will be as follows:

'Melodies & Desires'
'Dance Dance Dance'
'I’m Good, I’m Gone'
'Let It Fall'
'My Love'
'Tonight'
'Little Bit'
'Hanging High'
'This Trumpet In My Head'
'Complained Department'
'Breaking It Up'
'Everybody But Me'
'Time Flies'
'Window Blues'

Ohbijou- Sneak peak

The Toronto based band Ohbijou, have just put up a brief teaser of new material that the band is working on in the studio for their next album. Although brief, the sneak peak sounds and looks promising as the band digs in and holes themselves up in the studio for the rest of the summer to complete the new LP which should be out this fall.
We last heard from the group back in 2007 with their indie, dreamy pop sounds off of Swift Feet For Troubling Times. The group also just recently came off their first ever stop in the US with a show in NYC.

Take a peak at what the band is up to: