Sure, I was excited at the thought of a new Portishead release. But it was going to take more than a record for me to believe they were really back. The new album (Third, released yesterday in the states) was merely a declaration of Portishead’s long-awaited return. Their Coachella performance was the affirmation.
Although I was only able to attend Coachella on Saturday, I say with confidence that Portishead’s performance was by far the best of the night (sorry Prince), and speculate that it may have been the best performance of the entire three days.
I think it was either Geoff Barrow or Adrian Utley who merely uttered, “…thanks for waiting,” at the end of the set, and these were the only words spoken by the band the entire time they were on stage. In a way, they were also the only words that needed to be said. When the set was over I didn’t care that I’d had to stand in the face-melting-heat for hours. I didn’t care that I wasn’t going to see The Verve. I didn’t care about any other show I’d ever missed. I didn’t even care that I had waited nearly 7 years to see Portishead perform live. It was at once the single, most completely inspiring and mind-blowing show I’ve ever seen, and I’m totally bummed that it’s over.
Now for the nitty-gritty:
April 28, 2008 – 11:16 pm
This one’s gonna be short & sweet.
I guess that either Stephen Malkmus or Silver Jews are coming out with a new record in June, and it’s called “Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea.” The reason why I thought it was Stephen Malkmus is cause that’s what Insound.com tried to tell me, but when I played the album in iTunes they said it was Silver Jews, which is what it sounds like to me. Anyway, it’ll be out on June 14th via Drag City, and I really like this song a lot right now:
Silver Jews - We Could Be Looking For The Same Thing
Remember how I told you guys about the new Stereolab? Ok well now I can let you hear it. This one’s hot off the press. The song’s called ‘Three Women’ and it’s off the forthcoming Stereolab record, “Chemical Chords,” which comes out in August on 4AD.
Stereolab - Three Women
And finally, I’m sure you’ve all had a chance or twenty to hear ‘Black Cat’ off of Ladytron’s upcoming album, “Velocifero” (Nettwerk, June 3rd). The last track features Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode and is pretty damn good, as far as Ladytron is concerned; in my (not so humble) opinion I think it’s the best track on the album. And yes, that does mean I have the whole thing. Now go tell all your friends.
Ladytron - Versus
Stare at them on the internet until they’re available for pre-order:
By c4
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Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, MUSIC
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Tagged 4ad, chemical chords, downloads, drag city, ladytron, lookout mountain lookout sea, mp3, MUSIC, nettwerk, silver jews, stephen malkmus, stereolab, upcoming releases, velocifero
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I have a hangover and I really don’t envy those of you who are at Coachella right now. Why? Cause it’s 96 degrees in Tustin so I can only imagine how hellacious the heat is in Indio. Bad enough to warrant usage of the word ‘hellacious’. Which apparently isn’t even a real word. Look what you make me do.
Anyway, I thought I’d share something with those of you who aren’t full of beer and being microwaved by the desert sun today: John & Jehn. I first heard John & Jehn on Friday when I wasn’t supposed to be screwing around on myspace, and they literally made me jump out of my office chair. I’m not sure if it REALLY warrants that much excitement, but I always get stoked when I find new music that’s actually GOOD. Anyway yea I got a little too stoked about it and actually gasped with excitement. Everyone in the office stared at me like I was crazy, but I wasn’t even embarassed. That means I dig it. You will too.
John & Jehn are the cutest thing since Pebbles & Bam Bam, and The Line of Best Fit wasn’t just being really, really cheesey when they wrote that John & Jehn’s music was “like darts from cupid”. If you like Suicide and the Jazz Butcher and LSD and harmonicas and couples who are so fucking cute that they seriously make you want to yak, then this will be your favorite thing ever. If you don’t like those things I feel bad for you. Except for the LSD part. I don’t really like that stuff either.
Moving on.
These tracks are from their April 23rd Faculty Music release, called, simply, “John & Jehn”. If you like what you hear you can listen to the whole thing by clicking these blue words, and you can buy it by clicking these other blue words.
John & Jehn - Make your mum be proud
John & Jehn - 20 L O7
Although they haven’t been absent for nearly as long as Portishead, The Breeders, or Eno & Byrne, I’m psyched because I just heard that a new Stereolab record comes out at the end of this summer. It’s true, guys, and I’m kind of at a loss for words because of it. I said kind of. The nitty gritty: Stereolab’s new album is called Chemical Chords, and will be released on August 18th by 4AD. I smell tour. Obviously.
Until I get ahold of it, let’s get nostalgic with a track off Emperor Tomato Ketchup:
Stereolab - Motoroller Scalatron
Buy old Stereolab here.
Note: I really have to thank C4 for introducing me to my new favorite band, Fleet Foxes (who are Robin Pecknold, Casey Wescott, Craig Curran, Nicholas Peterson, and Skye Skjelset).
The band’s debut EP, “Sun Giant” is a perfect introduction to Sub Pop’s new baby and leaves enough anticipation for the eponymous LP (scheduled for a June 3rd release). “Sun Giant” is filled with beautiful tonal shifts, sweeping harmonies, and echoes of the past.
The Seattle based quintet have been quickly lumped in with a bunch of (really great) alt-country, reverb-heavy bands, and not-so-accurately compared to My Morning Jacket and (Sub Pop label-mates) Blitzen Trapper (Fleet Foxes and Blitzen Trapper tour dates here!)–all totally valid comparisons, but I feel like Fleet Foxes are extremely reminiscent of classics like Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Band, and even Simon and Garfunkel. Fleet Foxes take me back to better days. You know, the lazy ones where all you really wanna do is lay in the park and enjoy the breeze.
Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant
Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant (Live in Chicago, 4/14/2008)
Want more? Head over to Daytrotter.com
to hear the Fleet Foxes sessions.
And thanks to Ohmpark.com for the bootleg. Click that link to download the rest of the show.
Preorder “Sun Giant” from insound.
By A. Bomb
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Posted in MUSIC, RANTS
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Tagged alt-country, blitzen trapper, bootleg, daytrotter, downloads, fleet foxes, mp3, MUSIC, my morning jacket, reverb heavy music, seattle, Sub Pop, Sun Giant, white winter hymnal
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April 21, 2008 – 10:17 pm
So THIS is what happens when I get busy, hmm? I forget to check my feeds for like 2 weeks and apparently David Byrne tells NME that he has just finished a new record with a one Mr. Brian Eno, and the duo plans to tour sometime in the near future. I’m not gonna taint this one with my stupid comments, guys. I’m only gonna tell you that Byrne has reportedly said that it sounds like “electronic gospel” and that it will supposedly be released before the end of 2008 on Nonesuch Records. See the rest yourselves:
Story via NME.com
Story via Drowned in Sound
Story via NY Daily News
No tunes with this one. If you haven’t heard 1981’s Eno/Byrne release, “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts” this is me forcing you to go buy it. At a real store.
But I’m not gonna tell you where. See cause it comes out on May 6th, which clearly isn’t for another 2 weeks. But here’s what I will do. I’ll post a couple tracks (other than the ONLY one you can find ANYWHERE, Eraser) and we’ll see where that takes us. Rest assured, though, the record is good. And I’m being as non-descript as possible.
No Age - Miner
No Age - Teen Creeps
(MP3) No Age - Things I Did When I Was Dead
(MP3) No Age - Brain Burner
Pre order the record from Sub Pop here.
