Monday Giveaway! The Beatles - Hit Single Collections

For this wonderful, post-Thanksgiving Monday morning, Stark has teamed up( yet again,) with Cornerstone Promotion and Amazon to offer you another fantastic giveaway. This time, we have two Beatles compilations up for grabs. The "Red" and "Blue" Beatles collections are remastered hit singles from both 1962-1966 ("Red") and 1967-1970 ("Blue"). Below is an expert from the press release:

The Beatles' original 1973 compilation 1962-1966 ("Red") and 1967-1970 ("Blue") have been remastered by the same dedicated team of engineers at EMI Music's Abbey Road Studios responsible for remastering The Beatles' original UK studio albums, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release. Both 2CD packages include expanded booklets with original liner notes, newly written essays by Bill Flanagan and rare photos. "Red" and "Blue" are the first Beatles compilations to be released after the band's 1970 disbandment, the popular collections each feature a selection of singles and album tracks written by the band's members

To order both compilations visit Amazon  HERE.

CHECK OUT HOW TO WIN AFTER THE JUMP!


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Be the first to RETWEET @starkonline when he tweets "Monday Giveaway! The Beatles Rock Remasted Compilations! Come and get 'em!" and we will contact you for shipping information. We have one of each compilation to giveaway to one lucky Tweeter.

La Sera; Overcoming Expectations

[mp3] La Sera: "Never Come Around"

If you ever read this rag, or our twitter feed(s) - you know that we're not the most massive Vivian Girls, er, guys. Yet, there are only so many times one can hear a song and love it, without telling everyone about it. While we haven't heard the upcoming self-titled album from Vivian Gal Katy Goodman's band La Sera (February 15th, Hardly Art), lead single and A-side of her recently released 7", "Never Come Around" is about as charming as they come, and does well in its efforts to channel the omnipresent Phil Spector girl group sound running rampant out there right now. While not rewriting the indie/pop songbook, La Sera's new tune is catchy and quite repeatable, brining us one step closer to moving past the unforgettable bathtub interview and towards acceptance. Preorder HERE.

We're on Vacation!

[mp3] Destroyer: "Chinatown"

If you haven't noticed from our lack of posts in the last few days, we're on Thanksgiving vacation from the blog. Vince usually writes these, and they're generally more funny, BUT since I have great taste, I am using this opportunity to post the new Destroyer tune, from their highly anticipated new record Kaputt due January 25th on Merge. After our first cursory listens, the album is a smoother (don't call it chilled out) version of Dan Bejar's usually angular and pointed songwriting. Personally, we're really enjoying the rounded corners, and lilting melodies that are easy to listen to, but are far from easy listening. It's clear some fans will chastise the move to a more produced digital sound, but the songs are still there, and so is Bejar's one of a kind voice -- to us that's all that matters. See you next week, (you bastards).

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TONIGHT! Stark Presents: Roadside Graves @ Piano's

Roadside Graves - "Far & Wide / Jail" from DUKE STREET on Vimeo.

[MP3] Roadside Graves -- "Far and Wide"

Take a taste of what happened last time Stark hosted a Roadside Graves show at Pianos above (recognize anoyone in there??) What's it taste like? Rock? Well then...Yes. It is that time again. It seems like only yesterday that the Roadside Graves were packing out Piano's for a near sold out gig, filled with folk ready to have a ramped up good time. When have you left a Roadside concert unfulfilled? When have you said to yourself, "They were kind off tonight." Rarely if at all. The Roadside Graves are one of the most consistently entertaining, rambunctious, musical sound and fantastically creative bands on the road right now. Gigging behind their newest EP, You Won't Be Happy With Me Roadside return to NYC for what will undoubtedly be a rollicking good time. We caught up with the band almost a year ago -- here. We look forward to seeing how things have progressed since then. The band works extremely hard both on and off the stage leaving the listener with a high level of satisfaction and a longing for more high caliber musicianship. We can't say enough about Roadside Graves other than Stark is a champion, and as champions we will rock tonight. See you at Pianos. Get there early, for the drinks go down smoother before things get white hot.

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Teletextile EP Release Party Saturday

STARK vs. TELETEXTILE

[mp3] Teletextile: “What If I”
[mp3] Teletextile: “I Don’t Know How To Act Here”

I’m trying to make every show a unique experience from here on out, that’s the advantage of going solo again. I can be as creative as I want and let my imagination be as volcanic as I desire.

Brookyln band Teletextile will be celebrating the release of their new EP Reflector with us this Saturday as part of a stacked line-up featuring Roadside Graves, Motel Motel and Dinosaur Feathers at Pianos. Teletextile purvey a melodic and slightly haunting brand of indie-pop with singer and lead songwriter Pamela Martinez’s wistful, yet powerful vocals dominating the foreground. At times flirting with Florence Welsh power, and Sade subtlety, Martinez carries the day, with more than ample backup coming from her capable bandmates, who cultivate a musical aura that blends Grizzly Bear’s ethereal instrumental ruminations, and (vintage) Sufjan Stevens vocal harmonies. We had a chance to catch up with Martinez via email – read our discussion after the jump!

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What do you find to be the biggest differences between the musical community in Texas and Brooklyn?

Well I’m not sure if I’m the right person to answer this question considering that the last time I lived in Texas I was a teenager more recently I spent time in Boston and Detroit. But to answer your question…

In Texas I had a luxury, which I will never have in Brooklyn… time. I had time to be creative and grow wild as an artist. Growing up in that slow paced world gave me time to explore. I grew up in a neighborhood called Eden - a very fitting name. I was a latch key kid, home alone a few hours everyday. The time before my mother got home from work was paradise. Most often I actually wasn’t alone, but off gallivanting around the neighborhood.

In big cities there are alleys behind the house or apartment complex, but San Antonio where I grew up the back yard lead to a vast wilderness. Some of my friend’s backyards didn’t even have fences they just kept going. But most of the time there was a loose board in the fence and we could cross over to the other side where there were literally canyons to explore. We picked wild blackberry build a tree houses, but not just one, an entire apartment complex of integrated tree houses.

My dream was to take what we would do in our world and show it to others. It was very “Goonies”-esq. I wanted to do this so badly that I actually started my own music and arts festival at the age of 13. It was called Kookfest, named after the David Bowie song with was our sort of a call to arms for weird crazy fun. I would throw a that music festival every year until I was 18 and it got bigger and bigger. Our last one was at a VFW when I moved away for college.

As a music scene San Antonio, TX or even Texas in general will never compare to what we have in Brooklyn, but as a place to be creative it was perfectly dreamy.

How have things changed playing with a fixed line-up as opposed to playing and writing solo?

Well I always write the songs before I ever take them to the band. The band is really helps create the mood of the song. How it is colored and textured. Luke was especially helpful at creating a swells and bangs that only a drummer can do. And Caitlin has a great ear for harmonies, so that inspired me to invest more time in that. My biggest collaborator is actually Al Carlson, my current producer. He really helps me clean up my ideas and put them in some kind of order. I generally have a lot going on in my head and I have to be subtractive more than additive most of the time. But things are constantly changing and I’m not going to be working as closely with Luke and Caitlin anymore. The album just kind of turned out to me a record of that brief period of my life and I’m on to new things now. I’ve already begun writing what will become the new record. I foresee lots of toy percussion, vocals, and found sounds plus guitar, harp, keys and strings as usual. I’m excited about some future collaborations I have in the works.

What artists, old or new, have blown your hair back this year?

Jonsi, Oh Land, Active Child, Ava Luna, Arms, Fanfarlo, Bermuda Bonnie. These are all groups I’ve seen live I preferred to be wowed in a live concert than on a recording. I think that’s a big challenge as a musician. I personally feel more comfortable in a studio than I do on a stage. I’ve seen Jonsi / Sigur Ros play probably more than any other band live. Not only because I like them, but because somewhere along the way we met each other through a friend. As far as a live performer I think Jonsi is the best. He has really strong ideas about how sound and image go together, about how to be the music instead of just being a musician. He is a true artist and I love to see him live.

What are the band’s plans behind the new EP and into 2011?

Like I said I’m going to be working as a solo artist again. So I want to start working on music for a new recording right away. I’ve been writing a lot on harp and guitar lately. I just started playing guitar live again. I hadn’t done that in 5 years or so. I’d really like to start touring as well, but I have to do get things in order before I can commit to that.

What should the Stark faithful expect from your live show on Saturday?

Bubbles, no really I bought a bubble wand and I’m really trying to work it in there! You can also expect feathers, which I’m always into. Other than that I’m going to play guitar live which is a new thing for me. I’ll be performing with a small chorus of 4 people to help recreate a lot of the vocal harmonies that I came up with in the studio. I’ll also be playing with an ambient guitarist that my friend Doris of the Freelance Whales was a match-maker for. She said “you have to play with Alex, I don’t know why I never thought of this before.” He’d be perfect for Teletextile.” I’m trying to make every show a unique experience from here on out, that’s the advantage of going solo again. I can be as creative as I want and let me imagination be as volcanic as I desire. So for this show it’s all about singing. The next show I might get a string quartet in on the mix or go solo or do a loop based set. Experiments, Experiments that’s the way I see the future.

Video of the Year?

[mp3] Arcade Fire: "The Suburbs"

Because it's fucking incredible. Peter Macia nails it for FADER.

We’ve gotten so used to watching videos assembled from found footage and old movies that we forgot how compelling the form can be if you spend a lot of time and money. Arcade Fire’s new video benefits from the, we’ll say it, genius of Spike Jonez, who turns the band’s ghostly honky tonk lament into a bizarre and foreboding mini-thriller that somehow evokes Children of Men and Over The Edge in the same frames. He also produced Jackass 3-D which has made $115 million dollars already and probably cost three. Maybe Obama should ask him how to fix the deficit.

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Slow Drag With Josephine

[mp3] Elvis Costello: "National Ransom"

Elvis performs a gem for AOL from his fantastic new album National Ransom, out now.

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There's A Lesson Here

[mp3] Twin Sister: "All Around and Away We Go"

So, there was a big snafu over this video this morning. According to the ever reliable Twitter, Pitchfork was promised the exclusive on the new video for Twin Sister's excellent track "All Around and Away We Go" but someone in the Twin Sister camp made the video live on Vimeo this morning. Gorilla vs. Bear, being an astute (almost creepily so) follower of Twin Sister, found the vid and posted it. In the internet battle of who could [really] care less, we side with GVB. Fault lies with the band's management, producer, publicist, or the band themselves for the fuck up. Justice is served. Sorry about the Ben Folds Five reference. Now enjoy the tune and video dammit!

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Baeble Does Deluka

[mp3] Deluka: "Nevada"

We were here, bleary eyed, shell-shocked, and well-satisfied after a day of playing army in the Fader Fort. We love Deluka. Seen them about 200 times this year touring behind their new record You Are The Night. T'was also on this chilly CMJ night that we finally met the outstanding folks behind Baeble. We shared free pizza, commiserated about the week, and decided that yes, Deluka would be our last show of CMJ. We parted ways, happy, our dance-rock bones sufficiently rattled... "Vámonos, amigos," Vince whispered, and threw the busted leather flintcraw over the loose weave of the saddlecock. And we rode on in the friscalating dusklight.

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New Video: jj "You Know"

[MP3] jj - "Let Them"

Sweden's at times formidable jj, has become of the biggest question mark acts of 2009 to present ebbing and flowing between the known and unknown. Since naming her debut full-length, jj n° 2 my number one record of 2009, she released a very under-whelming follow up, jj nº 3 , had a near meltdown performance at SXSW and ultimate fell out of the blogger eye. At one point, jj's creative hip-hop infused, angelic-pop, tropical-electro song constructions had the press world by the Big Time. Perhaps that time has come again. Since recently releasing her new track, Let Them" -- a mash up of T.I. and Lil' Wayne -- available above, jj teamed up with the good folks at Sincerely Yours, to film her newest video for "You Know" available HERE. What does this mean for jj's 2011?  You tell us. 

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Been Loving: Young Galaxy

[mp3] Young Galaxy: "Peripheral Visionaries"

Yes. Cover art matters. It's hard to get approvals, make everyone happy. It's worth it though. I don't even think that this is one of the best covers that I've seen this year, but it caught my eye, and in the wold of a 200+ press release glut, sometimes that's what it takes. The press release references The Knife and New Order, yet, the silky smooth licks of opening single "Peripheral Visionaries" seem at odds with those qualifiers. We're completely fine with that. Dan Lissvik's (of Swedish duo Studio) production here is worth the pretty penny they probably paid for it - the sounds are imbued with tiny hooks everywhere as the song morphs and evolves into different verses and grooves. This is far from lo-fi material here, and we're loving it. Young Galaxy's Shapeshifting comes out February 8th on Paper Bag Records.

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NSFW: Beware of the Tokoloshe! Antwoord to Help!

[MP3] Die Antwoord - "Enter the Ninja"

Scary times when you hear there is a Tokoloshe on the loose. Even scarier times when you find out what a Tokoloshe really is. Ninja and Yo Landi are South Africa's Die Antwoord; the pseudo-rap, hip-hop duo who's music can be more accurately described by the band's aesthetic looks: grungy, snarky, dirty and plain stange. In the video above, Ninja and Yo Landi are searching for the Tokoloshe, South Africa's Yetti, Abomination Snowman and Brian Williams' sex-creeper all in one. It is also worth mentioning that the Tokoloshe has a big penis. Die Antwoord are on the move to research the existance of the Tokoloshe via primary sources whilst erradicating it from existance via Witchdoctor. If you have 12 minutes to spare today, we highly recommend spending it here, with Die Antwoord and the infamous TOKOLOSHE!


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Acrylics Announce Album, Debut Single

[mp3] Acrylics: "Nightwatch"

It's been a long time since we named Acrylics one of our Bands To Watch back in May, of 2009 - an eternity in blog years. We're happy to say that our instincts proved well founded as this duo have recorded, what seems on our first few cursory listens, to be a continuation of their cottony 70s pop sound, complete with top notch production and deliciously understated vocal performances from singer Molly Shea. "Nightwatch" debuted today on Gorilla vs Bear, and their debut album, so long in the making, Lives and Treasure is out January 25, 2011, on Hot Sand Records.

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Johnny Cash on the Radio

[mp3] John Francis: "Johnny Cash on The Radio"

We're very excited about a new player in the world so easily described as "Americana." We first learned of Francis through Some Velvet Blog, and have been enjoying his fantastic new record, The Better Angels which dropped Tuesday on Dualtone. Following in the tradition of bands you know we already love, see Roadside Graves, Francis blends barroom, roadhouse country with the softer more melancholy touches of a veteran songwriter. Clearly a fresh talent, and someone we're glad we've discovered!

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Decemberists Reveal Cover Art for The King Is Dead

[mp3] The Decemberists: "Down by The Water"

This one is really a no brainer for us. The Decemberists, Gillian Welch, a Portland barn, and “a set of 10 concise, country-based songs.” Come on! The lead single “Down by The Water” is hooky and lush with sweeping harmonica leads and Gillian Welch’s backing vocal properly juiced in the mix. With a January 18th release date for The King Is Dead, The Decemberists look to capture early 2011 fans, as the majority of priority releases seem to be dropping on the 25th. Smart move. The Decemberists hit Conan on Nov 18th and the pre-order begins Nov 22. The new album sounds like a refreshingly spare effort compared to their wildly ambitious, yet fairly bloated (for these ears anyway) last effort The Hazards of Love. Of The King is Dead Colin Meloy notes: “For all my talk about how complex those [previous] records were, this one may have been harder to do,” he says. “It’s a real challenge to make simple music, and lot of times we had to deliberately hold off and keep more space. This record is an exercise in restraint.” Mark this one as highly anticipated.

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CMJ Photo Recap - Never Too Late

(Pictured above: Kitten) ALL PHOTOS BY STARK'S VERY OWN KARP

[MP3] Funeral Party - "Just Beacuse (Kids of 88 Remix)"

Did your CMJ look like this? If not, what did it look like? Was it fun? Worth the effort? We at Stark, made some stellar CMJ choices. While it is weeks after the event, we would like to show you one Starkians CMJ photo-perspective... we give you KARP.

Kids of 88

More photos, after the jump.


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Diamond Rings

Kitten

Funeral Party

She Keeps Bees

Kids of 88

PS I Love You

New Cloud Nothings: "Understand it All"

Could Nothings clean up their sound, but keep the same janglely garage-ethos of their previous work. As much as one can say this with such a warped vocal track, this new track really reminds us of the core values of many early Elvis Costello songs when he was still angry and punk. There's a sweetness here that can't be denied, and shit man, this song is just really fucking catchy. Their self-titled record comes out on Carpark Jan 25th!

Cloud Nothings - 'Understand At All' by nmemagazine

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Been Loving: Seapony

[mp3] Seapony: "Dreaming"

Seapony are one of those frustrating new bands, who just don't have enough content out there to satisfy; and we mean this is a totally positive way. There are plenty of bands out there with gluttonous releases, and not a good song in the bunch. Seapony release their crisp, well-crafted "Dreaming" 7" on Nov 15th via Double Denim, with the brand new video above. This Seattle trio's deliciously gauzy hook-laden tunes have been turning heads, and leaving us impatient bloggers combing hypemachine for more.

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Conan is Back!

So Conan is back on the air and all is right with the world. His opening montage was one of the funnier things I have seen on TV since the original Iron Chef Japan started rerunning every night at 11:00PM. It seems that Conan may have had a direct hand in the shows first music booking. With the Katy Perry's of the world vying for that last minute, fourth quarter look, it is Jack White that takes the stage. With Conan in tow, White rips through Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock," and some of his more quintessential guitar solos. We can only hope that Conan starts the tradition of joining all his guest performers on stage. Next week, Conan whips his hair on the floor. He whips his hair. He whips his hair.

PS - Where can I get my 'Conan' guitar strap?

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MillionYoung Signs to Old Flame Records

[mp3] MillionYoung: "Calrissian"

We've been following MillionYoung (aka 22 year old Mike Diaz), and the quickly rising Old Flame Records for a good bit, and it was much to our pleasant surprise when we learned during CMJ that the two were coming together in an epic haze of synth, driving rhythms and full-on pop hooks. Old Flame will release MillionYoung's debut LP entitled Replicants, digitally on January 11 and as a 12" and c.d. on February 15, 2011. The new single (Lando) "Calrissian" actually cuts down a bit on the haze and dreaminess of their previous work, and offers a more taut and direct approach, which is ultimately more rewarding than moody soundscapes. Take it from us, what other tunes we've heard of the new record deliver in spades, making this a clear highlight of early 2011.

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Drive-By Truckers: Go-Go Boots Cover Art

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS: Go-Go Boots, February 15, 2011 on ATO Records.

DBT will also be releasing their documentary The Secret to a Happy Ending on DVD

[mp3] Drive-By Truckers: "Used to be A Cop"

“We recorded nearly 40 songs last year and into this year and fairly early on divided it into two separate albums” explains DBT co-founder Patterson Hood. “The Big To-Do, released first, was the more straight forward "Rock" album. Go-Go Boots is what I sometimes (semi-jokingly) refer to as our country, soul, and murder ballad album. Those elements definitely play into it, but it's a little more open ended than that.”

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Tallest Man Soundtracks Your Parents' Home Movies

[mp3] Tallest Man on Earth: "Love is All"

A whistful and nostalgic look through vintage 8mm film, as if projected onto the white wall of your childhood home. Tallest Man's new EP, Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird is out now on Secretly Canadian.

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Yours Truly Does Warpaint

Yourstru.ly Presents: Warpaint "Undertow" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Yourstru.ly Presents: Warpaint "Bees" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

[mp3] Warpaint: "Undertow"

We've posted enough about Warpaint, and Yours Truly for yall to know how much we love both of them. So, for now, just sit back and enjoy what happens when they both meet. Warpaint's debut LP The Fool is out now on Rough Trade, we would suggest grabbing it, um now. Warpaint are on tour with another Stark favorite, Family Band - check out those dates below.

11/30 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott #
12/01 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg #
12/03 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church #
12/04 – Washington, D.C. @ Rock And Roll Hotel #
12/12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

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Games: That We Can Play

[mp3] Games: "Planet Party"

Games, the beat-driven, synth laden duo of Daniel Lopatin aka Oneohtrix Point Never and Joel Ford of Tigercity have dropped their much blogged about EP That We Can Play today, which can be streamed in its entirety over at XLR8R. Usually, we don't get down on this kind of stuff, but we found the melodies to be genuine, and the beats and sounds odd and intriguing. Just don't fucking call it "blissed out" ok?

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New Sunset Video: "Lunar Eyes"

[mp3] Sunset: "Lunar Eyes"

In all his musical incarnations, Bill Baird has a precise knack for creating memorable melodies and downright pleasing hooks. Here is Baird's fantastic outfit Sunset's new video and single for "Lunar Eyes" an echoing Beatles infused jam off their recent Loveshines LP on Autobus Records.

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Fat Possum Continues to "Crush It"

[mp3] Tennis: "Marathon"

Someone should be promoting the A&R folks down there at Fat Possum, because they really have been a dominating force in the critical marketplace this year. That being said, we have two new records to tell you about -- yes Vince it's another DOUBLE POST!!
First up is Tennis. While we've heard some conflicting reports about Tennis' live show, their recorded output has impressed -- a light and airy approach to summery, whistful, indie-pop. While they have yet to totally blow us away, consider our appetites whet enough to look forward to hearing their debut LP Cape Dory on, of course, Fat Possum.

ElSEWHERE IN FAT POSSUM NEWS

The Smith Westerns have released the new single from their upcoming album Dye It Blonde (Jan 18th) which will be their first for Fat Possum. Their last self-titled record delivered in a trashed-out yet melodic way and has us sufficiently excited for their new record. Check out "Weekend" below.
Smith Westerns - Weekend by forcefieldpr

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New Record Announcements: Adele and Drive By Truckers

Drive-By Truckers "Used To Be A Cop" from Jason Thrasher on Vimeo.

We're admittedly more excited for one over the other. Can you guess? Here's a hint.

On February 15th, the Drive By Tuckers will release their newest LP titled, Go Go Boots on ATO Records. We were initially surprised by this announcement as their last record, The Big To Do, just dropped back in March. Go Go marks the band's 10th release since Gangstabilly in 1998. We're always ready for another DBT record. Always.

[MP3] Adele- "Hometown Glory"

On February 22, two-time Grammy award winning singer/songwriter, Adele will release her sophomore record and first for Columbia Records/XL titled, 21. Do we see a recurring album theme? Wonder what 21 stands for? Adele's first single, "Rolling in the Deep" will impact adult radio on Nov. 15 and she will be performing it on Ellen December 3rd. While this record seems highly ripe for the dreaded sophomore slum, perhaps Adele can do what she does best and sing her way out.

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Happy Election Day You Sons of Bitches: Here's Some New Bag Raiders!

[mp3] Bag Raiders: "Shooting Stars"

It's no surprise to anyone when we say that we're pretty obsessed with the first single "Shooting Stars" from the upcoming self-titled Bag Raiders' LP dropping January 25 in the US on Modular. It's hooky, sad, happy, danceable, introspective, extroverted, and just generally amazing. Yeah, we don't know how it can be all of those things at the same time either, it just is. We've played it for pretty much everyone in the past few weeks, and now we can share it with you all leagally. US tour dates for this aussie duo of Chris Stracey and Jack Glass coming soon. Enjoy, and go vote you bastards.

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