Local Vertical

Uh, Not

2009-07-11T17:52:00.003-04:00

I reiterate, the weather may be an issue.

Next try, Sunday evening at 7:13 as the weather should improve a bit.

Weather...or Not

2009-07-10T19:45:00.003-04:00

Like I said, the weather may be an issue...

This Dark Day • 12 Stones, from 2007's Anthem for the Underdog

127 To The Heavens-Take 2

2009-07-08T20:00:00.003-04:00

Almost time for this weekend's launch of Shuttle Endeavour so as usual we'll be away until after the launch. The weather is looking fairly iffy this far in advance, but being it's Florida the rule is wait ten minutes and check again. We'll effort to resume the posts(we better, the music is really piling up) sometime early next week. Launch time is 7:39pm Saturday evening, so if you are in the area be sure to stop by and catch the show.

Stars • Kid Dakota, from 2008's A Winner's Shadow

New Music: New Roman Times, On The Sleeve

2009-07-05T18:48:00.006-04:00

New Roman Times is a quartet fronted by husband/wife team Daniel Owens and Josie Fluri. Their new album, On The Sleeve, will be release on July 14th and is a follow-up to 2005's International Affairs. The album features '80s club beats with a precise amount of indie rock and the result is a very well done long-player that ultimately sounds familiar from the first listen. But don't mistake it for a genre re-hash of some sort; the style is fresh and unique enough to stand on its own. The band is from Austin, Texas by way of Orlando and includes drummer Mike Allen and guitarist Harris Thurmond. On The Sleeve will be released on the New Granada label. The band is planning a fall tour in support of the release.

Smoke In Your Disguise • VCR
New Roman Times: Website • MySpace • Pre-order On The Sleeve via Amazon

Latest Mixtape: 10-Fourth

2009-07-04T16:33:00.015-04:00

Near Side
20 Minutes, 40 Years • Isis, from Wavering Radiant
Already Gone • Saint Bernadette, from Word To The Lourdes
Becoming Chaos • The Unravelling, from 13 Arcane Hymns
Deerslayer • Black Math Horseman, from Wyllt
Run • The Atomic Bitchwax, from Tab 4

Far Side
Take Me Home • Lowstar, from Natrual High
This Is Where It Ends • Clair. Obscur, from Hitch
Two Birds • Assembled Head In Sunburst Sound, from When Sweet Sleep Returned
Where You Sleep • Apteka, from the Tour EP
Whores • Jane's Addiction, from Up From The Catacombs(The Best of Jane's Addiction)

New Music: Fanfarlo, Reservoir

2009-07-04T09:07:00.004-04:00

Today is the last day you can download Fanfarlo's great new album, Reservoir, for just a dollar through the band's website. We spent most of yesterday driving around running errands and had the music playing the entire time and enjoyed every track on the album. Each song stands on its own in conception and delivery, and it is one of the flowing albums I've ever heard. Simon Balthazar has assembled a wonderful group of musicians whose music is more of a defining moment or an event than just a song. The obligatory hooks and assorted sounds are there, but there is something more to what this band is doing; maybe it's just everything seems to mesh so well that one can only hope there is much, much more to come from them in the future. I first learned of this band via a post from Captain Obvious, and from what I've read the band is proving to be a blog favorite. They should...this album needs to be in most everyone's collection. Highly recommended, should be one of the top releases of the year.

Drowning Men
Fanfarlo: Website • MySpace

From The Blogroll: 07.03.09

2009-07-03T21:51:00.002-04:00

Echoes In The Wind...I Wasn't There
Foeweel !!! ???...The Wall Can't Read Your Handwriting
How Marvellous...The Lure
Mars Needs Guitars...The Letter
The Midnight Tracker...A Sleepy Summer Night

From The Inbox: 07.03.09

2009-07-03T21:01:00.000-04:00

Toronto's The Junction will be releasing their third album, Another Link In The Chain. If you aren't familiar with the band, they feature a nice combination of upbeat indie-pop grooves and jazzy melodic bits resulting in a very catchy sound. The band will self-release the album and will be in stores on July 28th. The Junction is comprised of Brent Jackson(guitar/vocals), Matt Jameson(bass) and Mike Taylor(drums), and have become a staple in the Canadian music scene.

Pick Your Battles
The Junction: Website • MySpace • Watch the band's store for the release

• • • •

Concord, North Carolina's Avett Brothers feature some of the most beautiful traditional folk/bluegrass/acoustic music you'll hear. Scott(vocals and banjo) and Seth(vocals and guitar) started making music together as kids, and their group's genesis begins when they were members of a rock band called Nemo which played regularly in Greenville, NC. They will be releasing their newest body of work, I and Love and You, on September 29th through Columbia Records. They will also tour extensively through August in support of the release. Exceptional sound, highly recommended.

I and Love and You
The Avett Brothers: Website • MySpace • Pre-order I and Love and You thorugh Amazon

• • • •

Pacific Theater will release their debut full-length album, Animals at Night, on August 11th. Two years in the making, and recorded and mixed in Farnham, Quebec at Petite Église by Mark Lawson (Unicorns, Final Fantasy, Beirut), the record blends indie rock sounds, new wave influences, ambient textures and a hint of shoegaze while establishing energetic and original sounds. Pacific Theater formed in the spring of 2007 by Dan Ryan and Adam Travis, who worked together at New York City’s venerable Bowery Ballroom. The duo became the band as they are known today with the additions of friends Daniel Bellury and Gina Yates, accomplished musicians and songwriters in their own right. Pacific Theater are currently playing shows along the East Coast and are planning a U.S. tour in support of the new album. They've also already started work on their next album.

Lions
Pacific Theater: Website • MySpace • Watch Whale Heart Records for the release

• • • •

Seattle's Final Spins has released their debut album, This Is Then/That Was Now, and the sound is totally 60's garage rock with a twist of Dylan and Springsteen. No surprise considering the band lineup: singer/guitarist Joe Syverson(Throw Me the Statue), bassist Zach Tillman and guitarist Colin Wolberg(Siberian), keyboardist Chris Early(Amateur Radio Operator, Band of Horses) and drummer Colin English(Hardly Art’s Pica Beats). Amazingly, the band only played six shows together before releasing the album; hard to believe, since they sound so deep into their music for such a short time together. Excellent!

Let Me Fall
Final Spins: MySpace • This Is Then/That Was Now available via CD Baby

• • • •

August 4th is the release date for Medeski Martin & Wood's third segment of the Radiolarians Series, Radiolarians III. Recorded last December, Radiolarians III finds the group doing what they do best, mixing genres perfectly and improvising in what is the best album for them to date. Rising grooves, primal beats, a bit of psychedelia and electronica all mesh together into a flighty sound that actually becomes more epic with each listen. All three albums will be compiled into a limited-edition boxed set with extensive packaging, vinyl, and bonus audio and video content, in time for the holiday season of ‘09. Radiolarians III will be released through the band's own label, Indirecto.

Undone
Medeski Martin & Wood: Website • MySpace • Watch the band's store for the release

• • • •

The lovely Genna Giacobassi of Fiction Like Candy is in the midst of a neat project, a cover song a week for the summer and all done by fan submission. The two most recent offerings are Elvis Costello's Beyond Belief and a tribute to Michael Jackson with Girlfriend. If you haven't heard Genna sing, you need to. If her voice doesn't do it for you, someone needs to check you for a pulse.

July Sky

2009-07-03T20:19:00.005-04:00

Took this image from our back patio about 20 minutes ago. It looked pretty unique so I thought I'd share it.

Lights In The Sky • Nine Inch Nails, from The Slip

Mooning You

2009-07-03T07:26:00.004-04:00

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has begun mapping the moon for future landings, and later in the mission will capture images of the Apollo equipment left behind from those fake moon landings (the movie set has been moved from Arizona to Taurus-Littrow), so those of you that subscribe to that theory will be able to shift focus back to Area 51. We left that in Nevada.

Moon Baby • Godsmack. from 1998's killer self-titled LP
Goodnight Moon • Shivaree, from 1999's I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump
All I Wanted Was The Moon • Josephine Foster, from This Coming Gladness
Living On The Moon • Jeremy Fisher, from 2005's Let It Shine

Repost: Lowstar, Natural High EP

2009-07-02T21:56:00.000-04:00

Lowstar, one of the first bands we'd heard from when Local Vertical was just a baby blog-and sadly one band that still seems to fly under the radar-has some new music out and not surprisingly it's just fantastic. Four tracks make up the Natural High EP, and even though it's only four it was very difficult to choose which one to share. But you can hear all of them at the band's website as we felt like torturing you into a couple of mouse clicks. Lowstar is a London-based four-piece band that has a knack for killer guitars, appropriate lyrics, stomping drums, and not getting the recognition they deserve. Hopefully, a label will discover how good they are and sign 'em up. Until then, let's hope the blog word-of-type chain works in their favor. Highly recommended.

mp3: Natural High • Drone, from 2006's Alphabet Blues
Lowstar on MySpace • Website • Alphabet Blues on You Tube

New Music: Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle, Havana Winter

2009-07-02T17:47:00.003-04:00

Wayo, I've got three days off! For those of you that don't know me-that's pretty much all of you-that's like an eternity of time off for me. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do but a break is always welcome. And to set the extended stay away off right, I present to you these two droids...err, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle. A Toronto-based four-piece folk rock band, their new release Havana Winter is good music to further a good mood. Hearn is best known for his work with Barenaked Ladies and has continues to refine his solo career. Featuring collaborations with Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, Hearn and Thin Buckle feature dynamic and soaring melodies along with catchy tempos. Appropriately described as a great headphones album, Hanava Winter is just a good listen all the way around. It's the band's fifth album and will be released in the States on July 28. Excellent, highly recommended.

Huntsville.ca
Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle: Website • MySpace • Watch Kevin's store for the release

More Of The Lonely H

2009-06-27T15:03:00.004-04:00

Thought we'd share another track from the killer recent release by The Lonely H, Concrete Class. The Lonely H is a four-piece Seattle classic rock band that has flat got it figured out. The booming voice belongs to front man Mark Fredson, and along with drummer Ben Eyestone, bassist Johnny Whitman and guitarist Eric Whitman, their music is simply timeless in sound and lyrics. Perfect for any tabletop jukebox in any diner on Route 66, in any local honky tonk or on any stereo playing in front of a group of friends, their sound is almost a celebration of Americana and old blue jeans and moonshine. In this day and age of so much electronic communication that the mouth is almost obsolete, Concrete Class takes you back to the front porch of the house you grew up in while you watched Uncle Ed change the battery in the Torino. I hate using the hokey term 'feel-good music', but that's exactly what it is. They are going to be on tour through the end of July, and if my work-schedule luck holds out a bit, we're going to try and catch them either in Jacksonville or Orlando in early July. Yes, they sound a lot like the Eagles; by coincidence, the Eagles also sound a lot like them. Highly recommended.

Out West
The Lonely H: MySpace • Concrete Class available via Amazon

New Music: Precious Fathers, Alluvial Fan

2009-06-27T10:50:00.010-04:00

The four guys that comprise Vancouver's Precious Fathers have released their second album, Alluvial Fan, and have proven a singer isn't always a required ingredient. When a proper instrumental rock mix of driven guitars, smooth and steady rhythms, pulsing beats and classic rock patterns causes you to lose vocal focus, the band has obviously done something right. The guitar work of Tim Loewen and Jared Penner play off each other in a mesmerizing and dueling fashion, while bassist Paul Goertzen and drummer Josh Lindstrom complete the musical mood rush. If you are like me and driving long distances is only tolerable when you have the music to help get you through it, this is something you need to have playing. Alluvial Fan proves to be much louder and more driven than their self-titled debut album, but that's not uncommon when a band finds a different direction they are more confident in taking. A "maturing of moods", if you will. Their music is some of the best of the instrumental rock genre; highly recommended.

100 Percent Pure Rock Fibres
Precious Fathers: MySpace • Alluvial Fan available via White Whale Records

From The Inbox: 06.27.09

2009-06-27T06:29:00.019-04:00

Admittedly not much of a fan of his music, I feel compelled to at least acknowledge the passing of Michael Jackson and his immense contribution to music and dance. His personal demons notwithstanding, it was too soon an ending to a life that started with so much promise and a career with so much talent. Actually, it was kind of a sad week all around with the passing of Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett. Americana losing icons is always difficult in the sense of saying goodbye to yet another part of one's adolescent past. The writers of Licorice Pizza, AM, Then FM, Fusion 45, Rock Sellout and Echoes In The Wind have shared their thoughts in excellent posts on their respective blogs. I'm hoping he can find the peace wherever he is now that he couldn't find down here.

• • • •

Chicago's Joe Pug has released In The Meantime, a free EP of five unreleased songs recorded during his Nation of Heat sessions. The download is available exclusively at www.joepugmusic.com. Since self-releasing the Nation Of Heat EP in 2008, Joe has gone on to win critical praise from Paste Magazine, NPR, KCRW, and many others. If you aren't familiar with Joe's music and are a folk-rock fan, you are in for something special. He'll also be touring through September with Steve Earle, Josh Ritter & with The Low Anthem in selected locations.

Dodging The Wind
Joe Pug: Website • MySpace • Free EP available here

• • • •

June 23rd marked release date of Donny Hue and the Colors new album and free EP giveaway. We've had a couple of mentions of the fun and whimsical brand of music they make and the six-song set is available here. Thanks to Mike at The Kora Records for the heads-up on this terrific band.

My Toy Steamboattrain
Donny Hue & The Colors: Website • MySpace
Letter From New Virginia available via Kora Shop

• • • •

Youth Group is an Australian four-piece who released their third full-length, The Night Is Ours, this past April. They will be following that with a tour beginning September 15 in Denver. Youth Group's music is comprised of memorable, melodic indie-pop rock featuring the excellent vocals of Toby Martin and a great layered sound that becomes extremely addictive with each listen.

Two Sides
Youth Group: Website • MySpace • The Night Is Ours available via Amazon

• • • •

Hugh Cornwell's music is a mix of rhythm & blues, rockabilly and post-punk. He is the original vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter for punk legends The Stranglers. Hugh's new album, Hooverdam, will be in stores in the States in September but you can find it as a free download via his website. The album features the jangly guitars you've come to expect from Cornwell as well as his singular lyrical method. There is not a bad track on the entire album; whether you are a fan of his or not, you'll really like this. Highly recommended.

Within You Or Without You
Hugh Cornwell: Website • MySpace • Buy Hovverdam (UK)

• • • •

Lee Memorial’s debut album, The Lives Of Lee Memorial will be released on July 21st. The principal of Lee Memorial is Karl Smith, formerly of Sodastream. Band members include drummer Laura MacFarlane(Sleater-Kinney, Ninety Nine), lead guitarist Tom Lyngcoln(Nation Blue), clarinet/celloist Madeline Spawton and bassist Matt Bailey(Paradise Motel). The album, a superb mix of suburban pop, is already receiving overwhelming praise in the band’s homeland of Australia and likely will here in the States.

Long Days In Bed
Lee Memorial: MySpace • Watch Dot Dash for the release

This Weeks Kick-Ass Space Image

2009-06-22T18:19:00.004-04:00

Image of the June 18th launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. You know, the mission to go to the moon and destroy all extraterrestrial civilizations living there.

New music from Night Horse's Good Bye Gone, the first of three split singles the band will release. Killer music to launch a rocket to!

Good Bye Gone
Night Horse: MySpace • Available via TeePee Records

Fever Ray: Triangle Walks

2009-06-20T21:18:00.007-04:00

Seems everything Fever Ray does lately is creepy yet cool. Had she been around 20 years ago, her music would have been perfect for Miami Vice.

From The Inbox: 06.20.09

2009-06-20T08:49:00.013-04:00

Starting with this post, I've decided to take Local Vertical in a new direction. I've rearranged the furniture and the computer I use to write this is now facing east.

• • • •

Toronto six-piece Rock Plaza Central is preparing for the second leg of their tour of the US, this time hitting the midwest and west coast. To kick off their tour, and in celebration of their recent album release and Paper Bag Records debut, At The Moment Of Our Most Needing, Or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone. The name is ungodly long, but the music is undeniably RPC.

(Don't You Believe the Words of) Handsome Men
Rock Plaza Central: Website • MySpace • At The Moment Of Our Most Needing...available via Paper Bag Records

• • • •

Stockholm, Sweden's The Legends new album, Over and over, is out now in North America and the track You won is a fine example of the sparkling pop, doomy 80s-esque drum sounds and anthemic quality of their music and this release. Over and over was release June 15th in the states and is probably the band's best work since their first album. a brilliant mix of white noise, indie, and 1960's girly-pop...and extremely hypnotic. Highly recommended.

You won
The Legends: MySpace • Over and over available via Labrador

• • • •

Seattle classic rock quartet The Lonely H has a new album out, Concrete Class, and it is loaded with equals parts Bob Seger blue collar howl and Tequila Sunrise. The 12 tracks were recorded and mixed on miles of analog tape and showcase melodies that pump at the passing of every mile marker. If you of the age to remember the glory days of classic rock in the late 1970's and early 19080's, The Lonely H will take you back in grand style. Concrete Class is the band's third full-length, following up their 2006 debut, Kick Upstairs, and 2007's Hair. Excellent.

Diggin a Hole
The Lonely H: MySpace • Concrete Class available via Amazon

• • • •

Our friend Charlie Ashcroft has another great episode of his Low Slung podcasts up and running. Included is an interview with the guys from Post War Years as well as music from Heels Catch Fire, Moving Targets, Trip, Lost Without Lacie and Panic Point. Episode 15, as well as Charlie's poddy of works, are available on his MySpace page. They can also be downloaded via iTunes. Charlie does a great job sharing music from many bands you may have never heard of otherwise; you owe it to yourself to check them out.

• • • •

A Brief Smile is releasing 3 new EPs this summer, one for every month (May, June, July). Each EP has three songs, and will be given away for free to fans on the band's website for a limited amount of time. A Brief Smile is a five-piece New York rock/indie/shoegaze band with a bit of a Porcupine Tree-sound to their music, and it's extremely well-composed and mixed. We'll share the track Motorcyle, and if you like what you hear there is more of their fine music available from the Restaurant Airport album via their MySpace page. While there, have a listen to Century At Heart; it's an excellent track.

Motorcycle

• • • •

Formerly known as The Sapiens, Chicago's Blane Fonda(love the name)will release a seven song EP in August, Master of Stars and Broken Arms. Many of the musicians that made The Sapiens one of Chicago's best and most-followed bands have made their way over to Blane Fonda, and the hooks and melodies are even better than before. We'll update you as the release date(August 13th) draws nearer, but for now enjoy a samping of what's to come.

Modern Woman • Opportunity Rocks
Blane Fonda: MySpace • Twitter

Your Unravelling Is Imminent

2009-06-20T07:12:00.004-04:00

If a band's list of influences include groups such as Dead Can Dance, Tool, Opeth, Nine Inch Nails, Arcana, Jeff Buckley and Dillinger Escape Plan, you know their music will be good. This is the case of Calgary's The Unravelling, a progressive rock band whose music will steer you to descriptive superlatives such as haunting, intense, engaging, inviting, threatening. The kicker of their music is the band is a duo; The Devil Has The Best Tuna penned the best description I've come across for the music of Gustavo De Beauville and Steve Moore: "For a duo they make an unholy noise with all the aggression of a feral pit bull on steroids. With it's recurring theme of being presumed dead and buried alive '13 Arcane Hymns' should come with a warning to agoraphobics." Tons of bands have tried to sound like this; some have succeeded, most haven't. The Unravelling's music sends messages, building on itself as it takes you in and refuses to let go. Their debut album due out later this summer, 13 Arcane Hymns, is one of the most highly addictive albums I've heard and has reinforced my faith in that there is still great prog rock out there. If you are going to buy 5 albums this year, make sure this is one of them. Highly recommended.

Unscripted Disclosure • Fire Breather
The Unravelling: Website • MySpace • Watch The Unrevelling's store for the release

The Pies Have It

2009-06-20T06:41:00.004-04:00

If all disputes could be settled this way, I might actually watch some television.

Honey Pie, from The Beatles White Album
Cherry Pie, from Marvin & Johnny
Dragonfly Pie, from Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Real Emotional Trash

This Weeks' Kick-Ass (Waiting To Go Into) Space Image

2009-06-14T06:39:00.008-04:00

Fixing it...planning it...lighting it...sending it. Soon.

Edit 15 June: Launch rescheduled for Wednesday morning, 5:40am. Hell of an alarm clock if you are in the area. See you folks after the launch, probably towards the end of the week.

Edit 17 June: SLDD(same leak different day). Well, now shooting for 11 July. Frustrating, but it's not something to take any chances with.

Fully Alive • Flyleaf, from their self-titled debut album

Introducing What About Me

2009-06-13T20:33:00.003-04:00

If you are anywhere near North Florida, specifically north and east of Jacksonville in Atlantic Beach, you might feel the ground shake from time to time. No, it's nothing geological; it's likely a band called What About Me. Consisting of four guys that are doing their best to make sure you don't get any sleep, What About Me has flat got PTR* figured out. From the tribal pounding drums on Kodiak to the hard guitars on Hats Off To You, WAM's new self-titled CD will prime you for anything the day(and night) throw your way. The band is having a CD release party on June 19th at Jacksonville Beach's Landshark Cafe, and if you dare you'll join them there. We're going to try and make it but with today's launch pending a reschedule we are in state of flux as far as time goes. But don't let us not being there stop you, you'd be cheating yourself if you missed the party. It won't be hard to find it, just look for the shaking building. And tell Mr. Sloppy we said howdy. If this is your genre, this is your band. Highly recommended.

U.P.S. • What About Me: MySpace

*punk/thrash/rock

From The Inbox: 06.13.09

2009-06-13T12:24:00.007-04:00

The 4th Free Side is out from Brooklyn's Donny Hue and the Colors. Called My Toy Steamboattrain, it's typical of the raucously fun and whimsical brand of music the band is known for.Their new album, Letter from New Virginia, will be released June 23rd. If you find music helps make a bad day better, this is your band!

My Toy Steamboattrain
Donny Hue & The Colors: Website • MySpace
Letter From New Virginia available via Kora Shop

• • • •

Taller Children is an ode to all of the adults who just never quite figure out how to grow up. It's also a track from Brooklyn's Elizabeth & The Catapult's debut album of the same name which has just been released. Like Brooklyn's Donny Hue, it's got a good dose of playfulness to it with more of a pop flair. The great vocals belong to Elizabeth Abby Ziman and the trio also includes guitarist Pete Lalish and drummer Danny Molad. The band will tour through August in support of the release.

Taller Children
Elizabeth & The Catapult: Website • MySpace • Taller Children available via Amazon

• • • •

Minneapolis indie rock band Ice Palace recently wrapped up a tour with Cloud Cult and Say Hi, and their newest record Wonder Subtly Crushing Us shows the band is hitting on all eight with their unique dirge-yet-tuneful sound. Adam Sorensen has been called "has to be one of the brightest new dark-night-of-the-soul singer-songwriters" by City Pages Jim Walsh; it's a well-deserved description. The band's debut album Bright Leaf Left received excellent reviews and this release will reconfirm the band's music has earned a place among indie's best.

Thoughts/Facts
Ice Palace: Website • MySpace • Wonder Subtly Crushing Us available via Earthology Records

• • • •

San Francisco's Kid Mud is lead by singer/multi-instrumentalist Sean Duncan. Opening for Great Northern and Tom McRae, Kid Mud has drawn comparisons to Rogue Wave, Sparkelhorse and Badly Drawn Boy and Duncan's prior credentials including playing with Fiver, a band that toured with Death Cab For Cutie. June 16th is the release date for Kid Mud's new album, Now They Shut Us Down, and it features Duncan's singular talent of multi-instrumentation. Rich and lush vocals abound, harmonies are prominent but don't dominate, and an assortment of vocalists combine to make the album a testament to Duncan's talents. Very well done.

Federated
Kid Mud: MySpace • Now They Shut Us Down available via Amazon

• • • •

Auradrone is an L.A.-bsed electronic rock band and their debut album Whitelite Britelite is drawing comparisons to Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, and Depeche Mode. It's a sultry, pounding mix of electronica, darkwave and Trip Hop featuring the mesmerizing vocals of Jon Mack. She also did all the mixing, writing and performing of the music and the result is a signature sound of her own. I've said this about a couple of artists and it deserves to be said for Jon Mack: if her music doesn't do it for you, someone needs to check you for a pulse.

Auto Erotic
Auradrone: MySpace • Whiteline Briteline available via CD Baby

• • • •

Pete Yorn's new album, Back and Fourth, sounds like no other Pete Yorn record because it was made like no other Pete Yorn record. For the first time, Yorn wrote lyrics before composing melodies, resulting in his most personal songs to date. He left L.A. for Nebraska and a more serine setting to focus on the music, and lived in a guest house behind Mike Mogis’s(Bright Eyes) Omaha studio where he made the record. He spent his spare moments driving around Nebraska exploring the wide-open landscapes and writing, and the inspiration has paid off with his most complete body of work to date. His fourth full-length, Back and Fourth will be released on June 23rd.

Shotgun
Pete Yorn: Website • MySpace • Pre-order Back and Fourth(available June 23rd) via Amazon

• • • •

Fanfarlo’s highly acclaimed debut album, Reservoir, is being made available for just $1.00 now through July 4 from the band’s website. Available to download worldwide, this amazing deal also includes four exclusive bonus tracks not on the record. This band's music is terrific, and I'll direct you to Captain Obvious' excellent post about them and their music. Fanfarlo is an alternative-pop-folk band from London whose members are actually from all over Europe; the official release of Reservoir is in September.

Luna
Fanfarlo: Website • MySpace

• • • •

Toronto-based Little Girls released their new EP, Tambourine, on June 2. Little Girls emerged from Toronto's post-punk scene as a solo recording project of multi-instrumentalist Josh McIntyre. The songs combine lo-fi distorted surf rock with layers of fuzz to create murky, haunting, and melodic walls of sound. Little Girls will release two more EPs before the end of this year. They will be touring through the end of July, most shows with Japandroids. Little Girls' sound is driven by 'youth and nostalgia' according to multi-instrumentalist Josh McIntyre, who has been creating and playing music since his early teens. His influences come from the 80's no-wave post-punk scene and the early 80's golden era of hip-hop.

Tambourine
Little Girls: MySpace • Tambourine available via Paper Bag Records

Learning Music: All In A Summer's Day

2009-06-13T10:19:00.005-04:00

Interesting concept: songs are written after the video is created. More here.

Repost Due To Re-leak

2009-06-13T06:04:00.003-04:00

SSDF(same problem different flight). The fellas that make the decisions will make one tomorrow on a new launch date, so in honor of the gassy delay we resurrect the appropriate mixtape. And since I have some unexpected free time, we'll likely get some music posted after I get caught up on some sleep. Eighteen-hour shifts are a bit draining!

Near Side

1 The Steps • mp3: Pull The Cord, from the self-titled album
2 Audrye Sessions • mp3: Perfect, Sometimes, from the self-titled album
3 The Lovetones • mp3: When It Comes, from Dimensions
4 Reigns • mp3: Everything Beyond These Walls Has Been Razed, from The House On The Causeway
5 The Rest • mp3: The Lady Vanishes, from Everyone All At Once

Far Side

6 The Weight • mp3: Sunday Driver, from Are Men
7 Shiloe • mp3: Alarms, from ...And Now The Screaming Starts
8 Me Talk Pretty • mp3: Wake Up, Wake Up, from Me Talk Pretty
9 Pooma • mp3: All Worked Out, from Pooma Music
10 Heartless Bastards • mp3: Early In The Morning, from The Mountain