AC Newman: Shut Down The Streets

[mp3] AC Newman: "Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns" 

AC Newman is a stalwart and consistent songwriter, whether under his own moniker or with The New Pornographers. Newman's songs are almost always filled with powerful and sunny vocal blasts, even if the material doesn't always match the rosy melodies. On this first single from his new solo album Shut Down The Streets (10/9 Matador), Newman is backed up by his longtime and always faithful collaborator Neko Case.

A Great Day for Hockey (and New Pornorgaphers' MP3)

[mp3] The New Pornographers: "Your Hands (Together)"

Even though The New Pornographers' Canadian counterparts, including lead cry-baby Sid "The Kid" Crosby, couldn't put away upstart team USA in hockey last night in Vancouver, The Matablog this morning premiered the Pornographers' excellent new track "Your Hands (Together)" from their upcoming LP Together (May 4). (Preorder the album and get a free 7″ and a free poster)

So with a killer new track on the hi fi, a US Hockey win, and a dominating Alex Ovechkin hit on Jagr, we move into this week with renewed vigor. Cover art and tracklist for Together after the jump.


1. Moves
2. The Crash Years
3. Your Hands (Together)
4. Silver Jenny Dollar
5. Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
6. My Shepherd
7. If You Can’t See My Mirrors
8. Up In The Dark
9. Valkyrie In The Roller Disco
10. A Bite Out Of My Bed
11. Daughters Of Sorrow
12. We End Up Together

New New Pornographers

Coming on May 4: the new album from The New Pornographers, entitled Together. Their fifth full-length was produced by the band and Phil Palazzolo, and recorded in Vancouver, Brooklyn, Woodstock, and Catskill, NY. The album is comprised of 9 A.C. Newman songs and 3 Dan Bejar numbers, and features the full eight-person lineup of Carl, Dan, John Collins, Neko Case, Kurt Dahle, Kathryn Calder, Todd Fancey and Blaine Thurier. Additional musicians include Annie Clark (St. Vincent), Zach Condon (Beirut), Will Sheff (Okkervil River), and the Dap-Kings Horns, among other talents.

You don’t need us to tell you the album is great… but we’ll say it anyway. It’s amazing, more varied, deeper, and broader than its predecessors. Please just look forward to extreme enjoyment. First MP3 coming soon.

Via Matablog!

New Neko Case Album "Middle Cyclone", Due March 3 on Anti

Besides wanting to marry her, we also happen to really love Neko Case's records. It's been awhile -- three years to be exact, since her last outing, the magnificent Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. Although we gotta say that Furnace Room Lullaby is our favorite, Fox Confessor is still pretty excellent. We can't really blame her for the long delay; she's been out making records with the New Pornographers and going on subsequent tours with the Pornos and her own band.

BUT, today, we got news that she will be putting out a new record, Middle Cyclone, March 3 for Anti-. Good news indeed. We haven't heard any music yet, but will be sure to let you know when we do. See after the jump for the track listing and more info on the record.


Track listing for Middle Cyclone
1. This Tornado Loves You 2. The Next Time You Say Forever
3. People Got A Lotta Nerve
4. Polar Nettles
5. Vengeance Is Sleeping
6. Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth 7. Middle Cyclone
8. Fever
9. Magpie To The Morning
10. I'm An Animal
11. Prison Girls
12. Don't Forget Me 13. The Pharaohs
14. Red Tide
15. Marais La Nuit

From the press release from our friends at Shore Fire...

'Middle Cyclone' was produced by Case with Darryl Neudorf and recorded in Tucson, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Vermont. It features Case backed by her core band - guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, backing vocalist Kelly Hogan, multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse, and drummer Barry Mirochnick - along with numerous guests including M. Ward, Garth Hudson, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, The Lilys, and Giant Sand, among others. In addition to twelve new songs written by Case, 'Middle Cyclone' includes covers of "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" by Sparks, and "Don't Forget Me" by Harry Nilsson.