Sharon Van Etten: Are We There May 27th

"Sharon Van Etten's Are We There is out May 27th on Jagjaguwar. After a series of warmup shows in the Northeast, her initial nationwide tour in support of Are We There will kick off the second week of June with three New York shows and culminate in Chicago at the Pitchfork Music Festival... we are witnessing a new awareness, a sign of Van Etten in full stride, writing, producing and performing from a place that seems almost mythical, were it not so touchable and real. Always direct, and never shying away from even the most personally painful narratives, Van Etten's songwriting continues to evolve." Press Release.

Tristen: CAVES - OUT TODAY

We've watched the subtle complexities of the songs that make up CAVES (out now on Pupsnake / Thirty Tigers) develop during live sets and on demo recordings over the past year and change. Today, Tristen releases these fully realized tracks to the world. Bold and mature, CAVES moves beyond the girl-group harmonies, tremelo and reverb-laden guitars and strings of her excellent debut Charlatans at the Garden Gate. Yet, Tristen and lead collaborator Buddy Hughen don't miss a melodic step when it comes to the core of their songwriting. Intact are the poignant lyrics and tight hooks - that are now driven more by synth and drum machine than their more organic counter parts. With standout tracks such as "No One's Gonna Know" "Catalyst" "Gold Star" and "Monster" CAVES is compelling cover to cover, taking everything you loved about tracks like "Eager for Your Love" processing it - refining it - and making it outright infectious. Buy it HERE. Stream it HERE.

New Music:: Star Slinger - "Free"

What more can we say about Star Slinger that we haven't already said HERE. The man is a genius and easily one of our favorite DJs/Producers of the past couple years. "Free" is the latest offering off his upcoming full-length due out in 2014. He announced a few new tour dates which are below. Details are still rolling out on this project...but go get free now.

Tour Dates:
10-31 Vienna, Austria - Pratersauna
11-06 Las Vegas, NV - Commonwealth
11-07 Las Vegas, NV - Ling Ling Lounge
11-08 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
11-10 New York, NY - Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival
11-13 Philadelphia, PA - The Dolphin
11-14 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
11-15 Montreal, Quebec - Le Belmont
11-16 Toronto, Ontario - Drake Hotel

Tristen Announces New Album C A V E S

Time is short at Stark HQ in these early hours, but we would be completely remiss to not highlight the new music and kickstarter campaign from our longtime friend and songwriter extraordinaire Tristen. We're pretty sure that if you're reading this post you already know who Tristen is, love her, have seen her live, and know how talented she is. Tristen has been honing these new songs (and in all likelihood has another record ready, she's that prolific) for a few years now in the studio and on the road - but needs her fans' help to bring it to the masses. New track above, "No One's Gonna Know" showcases her new sounds perfectly: beat driven rhythms, larger choruses, and the same direct vocal clarity we've come to expect. More to come on C A V E S on Stark, but for now - pledge your money and enjoy the fantastic new tunes. Welcome back Tristen.

Caitlin Rose Announces New Album

Exciting news today, as longtime Stark favorite Caitlin Rose announces her new album The Stand-In Feb 25 via Names Records (in the UK). The new record will be released on March 5th in the States via ATO and we very much welcome the new track, "No One To Call" below. Featuring Rose's signature vocal, "No One To Call" recalls the best of More Adventurous era Rilo Kiley intertwined with the warm glowing instrumentation and harmonies of the classic 70s-era Rondstandt anyone who follows her social media knows she loves so well. Great to hear new stuff from Ms. Rose. Tracklist after the jump.

Jessie Ware - Devotion (Album Teaser)

Really looking forward to this record...out 8/20. Happy Friday!

Lazy Blogging: And This?

Dogs abound! Could have made a really bad pun there...anyone guess as to what it is? New Norah Jones' new album art for The Fall, release date TBA.

Lazy Blogging: Oh Hey, There's This

Yes, Weezer is the worst.

Lazy Blogging: New Tegan and Sara Album

Tegan and Sara: Sainthood

Oct. 6, 2009

Sire Records

Cover:

Tracklist:

Arrow

Don't Rush

Hell

On Directing

Red Belt

The Cure

Northshore

Night Watch

Alligator

Paperback Head

The Ocean

Sentimental Tune

Someday

Get stoked on it, k? (via Tegan and Sara)

Llamas Are The Move

Such a great time to be a llama, you guys. There's no denying that the animal is in the midst of a serious career renaissance, after falling out of the public eye in recent years. In the new Dirty Projectors video for "Stillness Is The Move," which is scientifically proven to be the jam of the year, lead Projector and part-time herder Dave Longstreth has some serious one-on-one time with a llama while his female bandmates get their Destiny's Child on in a field. Meanwhile, today marks the release of Wilco's long-awaited seventh disc, Wilco (the album), whose cover artwork prominently features a llama in a birthday hat. Or is it a camel? Shit, we can never tell the difference. Anyway, it's also scientifically proven that all even-toed ungulates are serious indie snobs, so today is probably the best day for them, know what I mean? Enjoy it. Video via P4K TV.

New WHY? Album This Fall; Stoked City, Population: Us

[mp3] WHY? - "The Hollows"

P4k has an interview with WHY? frontman Yoni Wolf this morning, in which the musician reveals the details behind the trio's brand new album. Eskimo Snow is the title of the follow-up to last year's brilliant Alopecia, and it's expected to drop in the fall via Anticon. The band recorded the album during the Alopecia sessions, and was initially due for release before the Best Of 2008 opus. According to Wolf, the songs that make up Eskimo are "song-songs" - i.e., more conventional verse/chorus structures - and the record is the least hip-hop project he's ever been involved in. We're not fretting, though. Anything this band touches turns to gold. Check out the full interview here. 

Win A Free Copy Of The Drones' Havilah, Get Your Ass Destroyed

[mp3]

The Drones: "The Minotaur"

One listen to "The Minotaur," from The Drones' brand new record Havilah and you'll sensibly want to run and hide in the attic. We mean that in the best way possible. The band of Aussies' excellent track starts off innocently enough, but slowly teeters on the verge of destruction before finally reaching a thrilling, ultimately frightening climax of screeching guitars and vocalist Gareth Liddiard's strained shouting. (Shit, we just gave away the ending.) Havilah just dropped via ATP, and we're lucky enough to be giving away two free copies of the album right now! 

All you have to do is send an e-mail to me: Blueintheface@gmail.com with your name and address, and we'll have a copy of this thing in the mail to you faster than you can even comprehend. First two to e-mail win. Get on it!

Gushing About Manchester Orchestra

[mp3]

Manchester Orchestra: "I've Got Friends"

Manchester Orchestra's forthcoming Mean Everything To Nothing is my favorite album of the year so far. It doesn't hit stores until the end of April, but thanks to the kind folks at Columbia, my car's been rocking the disc since February. (Sick brag!) In my small, humble opion, Mean Everything is the logical successor to Foo Fighters' seminal The Colour And The Shape and a kindred spirit to both Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea and Weezer's Pinkerton. It's full of raw angst and unfiltered poetry, capturing what it's like to be a twentysomething on the precipice of a new, adult life, split between shunning that tide or reluctantly embracing it. The music is so perfectly composed of passion, quirk and feedback that the band's sound and influences are immediate. I guess I just can't say enough about it. Look for a full review as the release date approaches.

Anyway, hopefully I've gotten you excited, or at least curious enough to check out the videos for the first two songs on the album, "The Only One," and "Shake It Out." The band enlisted directors Clay Lipsky and Jason Bognacki to helm clips for all twelve songs from Mean Everything, similar to what Death Cab For Cutie did with Plans a couple years ago. The videos are being unveiled each week before the album hits, and you can find the aforementioned first two clips in the replies, via Absolute Punk and Spin. Enjoy!

The Only One:

Shake It Out:

.

New Blackout Beach Album & Mp3

[mp3s]

Blackout Beach: "Nineteen, One God, One Dull Star"

"Cloud of Evil"

Carey Mercer, he of Frog Eyes and the indie supergroup Swan Lake, is dropping his second release under the name of Blackout Beach today. It's ridiculously lavish but unquestinonably stunning. Skin of Evil is a concept album in the best sense of the word: Mercer picks his story and sticks with it the entire way, dedicating himself to seeing the thing through. "Donna" is the subject of the story, and each of her lovers (past & present) say their peace in song (Donna gets her song, too). Mercer based the album loosely upon the classic Greek notion of the ideal woman. Destroyer's Dan Bejar, who coincidentally enough plays with Mercer in Swan Lake, is glowing about the album. He describes it much better than we can:

"A frame of reference for something like this might be: 

Goofy American babbler (Jerry Lee Lewis/Dennis Quaid) meets the highest, the most harrowing of modernist Euro nightmare (The Drift ) -- By this I guess I mean that there can be no frame of reference, for these two things have never met before, and external forces work hard to make sure they never do, but somehow the sonic space created for this set of singing happened, and feels familiar, doesn't give me the willies.  Maybe it's 'cause Scott Walker has never hinted at expressing an interest in the traditions of rocknroll guitar (neither does Carey but it can really sound like he must when he plays.) ...I believe Skin of Evil is the best record I will hear all year."

If that doesn't want to make you check this out, nothing will. Grab the two mp3s above, and then buy the whole thing via Soft Abuse. You're welcome.

Nobody's Talking About The New Sonic Youth Record

...Which leads us to question, why not? There's been a conspicuous lack of talk about the band's forthcoming new album, The Eternal, which should see the light of day in June via Matador. Their last work, 2006's Rather Ripped, was great. There's nothing to suggest that the follow up won't be. According to a blurb in Rolling Stone, the band is currently in the final stages of recording the new album, which is a "record replete with juicy supersonic songs," per Thurston Moore. What's not to like about that description? It's also pretty exciting that this will be the first SY record on Matador, which immediately seemed like the perfect fit when the two announced their pairing last year. 

Anyone? Well, at least we're jazzed.

New Darren Keen - "Good People Like You," "Hot Air Balloon"

[mp3]

Darren Keen: "Good People Like You"

Darren Keen: Hot Air Balloon"

The obviously great looking man above is Darren Keen, and no, he isn't homeless. But he is a working musician, so actually, homelessness wasn't too bad of an assumption to have made. He's releasing a fantastic new record on Slumberparty Records tomorrow called, appropriately enough, Slumberparty Record. It's 24 minutes in length, and at 13 tracks, that means the average song length is 1.75 minutes. See? I can do math. (Actually, I stole that from his Myspace. Shame.) If you dig bedroom projects with casio keyboards and unabashed out-of-tune vocals a la Ben Gibbard's All-Time Quarterback, you'll love this. Really. It's brisk, candid and lots of fun. Here's what Keen had to say about the project:

The point. Everyone wants everyone to get to the point. I guess that's what I'm trying to do with my music. I've wanted to make a "nice" album for a long time, but, my other bands are all strkingly un-"nice" sounding. The point was at first to please the ear, but that only led to the realization that my voice will never "please" any "ears". The point for me was to write pop gems that didn't drag on. One verse, one chorus, maybe two if that's what it took to get the point across, that's the point. Postmodern huh? My name is Darren and I made "Slumberparty Record" in my bedroom all by myself. I'm terrible at the drums so I used a $5 toy keyboard rhythm section. This was really fun to make, and I hope you enjoy listening to it. You'll never get to heaven if you're scared of getting high.

Please take the two mp3s above, and if you dig, buy the album from Slumberparty, a tiny, friendly label from Omaha distributed by (who else?) Saddle Creek. Sadly, mustache rides are not included.

New Black Lips- "Starting Over" mp3

[mp3]

Black Lips: "Starting Over" mp3

We get our first taste of the new Black Lips album today with "Starting Over," from their forthcoming LP 200 Million Thousand (complete with trippy cover art, which seems to be a growing trend for '09 releases) which hits stores via VICE on February 24. The track, which you can -- no, absolutely should -- grab for free above, is a delightful nugget of flower power with a guitar line reminscent of The Byrds' "Turn Turn Turn" and a fidelity rivaling Bee Thousand-era Guided By Voices. Of course, lead singer Cole Alexander's punkish snarl remains firmly in tact. Okay, now we're officially excited for this album.

Black Lips Like Numbers, New Album In February

While we're busy counting out the title to The Black Lips' new album, 200 Million Thousand, you can start counting down the days until it arrives February 24, 2009 via VICE. We're excited to announce the release date of the album, the follow-up LP to last year's wacky Good Bad Not Evil. 

The 14 tracks that make up 200 Million Thousand show true early rock and roll at it’s finest: simple, straightforward songwriting mesh perfectly with the Black Lips distinctive howl to create a time capsule rife with nods to simple pleasures and a world of worry.  It’s a modern, mature reflection on life and the world traveled.  As has come to be expected, 200 Million Thousand will be followed by ample opportunity to see Black Lips do what they do best – whip a crowd into a pure ball of drunk, unpredictable energy. Having spent the better part of their formative years touring the world, Black Lips have emerged garage rock veterans.

If you haven't already snagged it, VICE recently released a free Christmas sampler (featuring Black Lips' "Veni Vidi Vici") that is available now via Amazon.