Stereo Total Release Baby Ouh! on Kill Rock Stars

[mp3]Stereo Total: "Baby Ouh!"

What do we know about Stereo Total? Not much. What do we think of the title track from their newest album, Baby Ouh! out now on Kill Rock Stars? Mixed feelings. Being the suckers that we are for French-speaking music and a good dance beat (See: Yelle), we gave it a shot; plus, Kill Rock Stars very rarely leads us astray. Baby Ouh! is a Frankenstein of a release -- ST recorded over 40 tracks in preparation for this release, while only 17 made the final cut. Currently hanging their hats in Berlin, Germany -- ST are gearing up for a North American summer kicking it off at NYC's Le Poisson Rouge on Aug. 25. This album marks the band's 11th release to-date starting in 1995 with their debut, Oh Ah!


August 2010
25 - New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
26 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
27 - Montreal, QC, Canada @ La Sala Rossa
28 - Toronto, ON, Canada @ El Mocambo
29 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
30 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
31 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey

September 2010
1 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
2 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
3 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
4 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk

New Horse Feathers: Thistled Spring

We loved House with No Home. It was a string-laden, bleak, wintry affair, filled with gorgeous vocals, delicate instrumentation and well-written folk tinged songs of loss. Portland based Justin Ringle with his group Horse Feathers returns on April 20th with their aptly titled third record Thistled Spring (Kill Rock Stars). While we've yet to get a taste of the album, the release promises: "an album of rebirth, renewal, and fragile hope. The sun is out in the world evoked by this music, and in the first couple of songs it feels like the sun of early spring, glinting on a frosty river where the ice is just breaking up." Cover art above, track list after the jump. You know the drill.
Track listing:

01. Thistled Spring
02. Starving Robins
03. Belly of June
04. Cascades
05. This Bed
06. The Drought
07. Vernonia Blues
08. As a Ghost
09. The Widower
10. Heaven's No Place

New Thao Record!

[mp3] Thao and The Get Down Stay Down: "Bag of Hammers"

You know we love Thao lots. Time is short this afternoon, but we're thrilled to offer the news that Thao and her band The Get Down Stay Down will release Know Better Learn Faster on October 13, 2009 (Kill Rock Stars). This will be the follow up to their amazing debut We Brave Bee Stings and All which ranked on almost everyone's end of '08 lists. Cannot wait to hear this. Album guests include Andrew Bird, Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper, Laura Veirs, Nathan Crockett of Horse Feathers, and close friend and new 4AD artist Tune-Yards.  From the press release:

With super-producer and friend Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Bill Frisell, Jim James) again at the helm, Know Better Learn Faster perfectly captures the band as their more mature, tastefully raucous, subdued and musically adventurous selves. Honed, trimmed and tightened over the last year and a half of constant touring, the now-trio delivers Thao’s cleverly crafted and emotionally evocative songs with vibrant, innovative instrumentation, incredible energy and a still-acutely-solid sense of what sounds good. The new batch of songs spans all genres and influences, all the while staying faithful to their distinct style, sharp wit, and the infectious and enamoring exuberance of their renowned live shows.

Jeff Hanson - RIP

Jeff Hanson: 1978-2009

Truly saddening news tonight. Talented Kill Rock Stars singer and songwriter Jeff Hanson has passed away in his home tonight due to what their publicist calls a "tragic accident." This is indeed shocking and awful news, as Jeff had recorded several fantastic records, but clearly had many many years of music left to make. His most recent record, Madam Owl, was released in 2008. Our thoughts go out to his fellow fans, family and friends.

After the jump.

Deerhoof "Fresh Born" New Video

Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie" - mp3
Deerhoof finally released the completed version of their first single "Fresh Born" yesterday via video and iTunes. To date, 39 different fan-created versions of the tune are up on Deerhoof's site --it will be interesting to compare and contrast these fan copies against the real thing. Fans wrote their own versions of the tune after Deerhoof issued the track in the form of sheet music. Offend Maggie (Kill Rockstars) comes out on iTunes Spet. 30 and physically Oct. 7. MP3 of "Offend Maggie" above. If you already bought the two singles, just click "complete my album" to download the rest of the tracks.

New Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie" - mp3

Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie" - mp3
Today the title track off the new Deerhoof LP "Offend Maggie," debuted exclusively as the AOL Spinner free mp3 of the day. The full record, due October 7th (Kill Rock Stars,) plays out like a sprawling classic-rock-infused masterpiece. With Offend Maggie, the band continues its triumphant march towards full rock-stardom, channeling Rolling Stones-style guitar riffs through the filter of Deerhoof's own jagged and shifting sound. While the band manages to retain its own definitive and bold personality, Offend Maggie offers more accessible arrangements seeming to guarantee a huge year for this band. While more listens are certainly required, it seems that Offend Maggie is destined for many 'best of lists' at the year's end. Tour dates after the jump.


On Tour!
10-03 Los Angeles - Avalon *
10-04 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
10-06 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom ^!
10-07 Seattle, WA - Neumo's ^!
10-09 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge ^!
10-11 Denver, CO - Bluebird ^!
10-13 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown ^%
10-14 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue ^%
10-15 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall ^%
10-16 Bloomington, IN - Buskirk Chumley Theater ^%
10-17 Chicago, IL - Metro ^#
10-18 Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom ^#
10-21 New York, NY- Spiegeltent
10-22 New York, NY - Irving Plaza ^#
10-23 Cambridge, MA - Middle East ^#
10-24 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street ^#
10-25 Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom ^#
10-26 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club ^#
10-28 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle ^#
10-29 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle ^#
10-30 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge ^#
10-31 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club ^#
11-01 Orlando, FL - The Social ^#
11-02 Tampa, FL - Crowbar ^#
11-05 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues ^#
11-06 Houston, TX - Numbers ^#
11-07 Dallas, TX - Granada ^@
11-08 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
11-10 El Paso, TX - Club 101 ^+
11-12 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress ^+
11-13 Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse ^+


*with Okay, Happy Hollows
^ with Experimental Dental School
! with Coconut
% with Au
# with Flying
@ with Hawnay Troof
+ with KIT

New Deerhoof - Video & Charity

There always seems to be a good video that comes around late on Friday's. "Tears and Music of Love", is the first track from the new Deerhoof record Offend Maggie (10/7 Kill Rock Stars). We just received the record yesterday, so expect more next week. With a little hurricane action heading towards NY, there will probably be a lot of music listening going down this weekend -- Deerhoof' is at the top of the list. For now, enjoy this exclusive Pitchfork.tv track.

Offend Maggie Digital Sales to Benefit Organization That Fans Choose
A percentage of all digital sales from Offend Maggie will go to benefit one of the following organizations: 1. Why Tuesday? 2. FAIR 3. Peace Action West 4. Z Magazine 5. Doctors Without Borders

Deerhoof are asking for your help in picking which of these charities will receive the donation. Cast your vote by sending an email to deerhoofcharityvote@gmail.com with your choice. Submissions will be accepted until October 1, 2008 and the organization that’s chosen will be announced on October 7, 2008. Please vote only once for the organization of your choice.