The press release begins with "finally." Agreed. Not in a negative manner of course, as Kisses, (and Jesse Kivel's band Princeton) have been touring and writing for the past 2 years. But, in blog years, 24 months is nearly a lifetime. Nevertheless, today is a good day, as the new Kisses tune "Funny Heartbeat" is an infectious ear worm of a late-summer gem. Produced by Saint Etienne's pop wizards Pete Wiggs and Tim Larcombe, the new track is a positive sign of things to come on Kisses' new LP. Their excellent debut The Heart of The Nightlife is out now.
We had a great hang w/ the Princeton brothers in Austin after their last gig of what was a long and busy week for the LA group. With all of us having been perhaps "over served" the night before, we commiserated over an afternoon beer and discussed their great new album Remembrance of Things to Come, and how I couldn't figure out which brother (Jesse or Matt Kivel) was also in the band Kisses (it's Jesse). The conversation strayed to how great the Kisses Robert Palmer cover is, and how the duo are upping the production value on the new tunes, and making sure everything is really solid before hitting us with any music. Princeton work hard and feature one of the more distinctive male voices in "indie" rock right now. Pick up the new record, it's worth it. Via Yours Truly.
We were initially apprehensive when we heard Princeton were taking a minimalist orchestral approach to the songs for their new album Remembrance of Things to Come, released yesterday. It wasn't until we heard the album via a Paste full album stream that we realized their charming west coast pop sensibilities were still intact, and in fact - better than ever. This is a more mature band, and one that has honed their song-craft for the second LP. Indeed including flashes of orchestral minimalism, their new songs still feature the wistful vocals we've come to love from the previous Princeton record, and our longtime favorite side project Kisses. Check out the Camera Obsucra remix, buy the album, see them on tour, stream it at Paste - do whatever you want - just tell your friends.
Live Dates:
Feb. 22 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent*
Feb. 27 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
Feb. 28 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
Mar. 01 - Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue
Mar. 02 - Avon, CO - Snowball Music Festival
Mar. 10 - Phoenix, AZ - Lo Fi Coffee House
Mar. 13-18 - Austin, TX - SXSW
*Noise Pop Festival
It's no secret we're huge fans of Jesse Kivel's "side project" Kisses, but we're also pretty sold on Kivel's main creative outlet Princeton - the LA collective that also features his brother Matt. Princeton's debut record made a solid impression on critics and fans alike, even if it didn't fully break through to the indie "overground." Either way, we're psyched to hear some new music from these folks. They have an LP coming later this year a limited edition 7″ featuring “To The Alps.” Let's hope a little blast of LA sun can brighten up this dreary February Monday in New York.
We know. Our blogging has been lax, but if you know us, you know why. We apologize to our loyal readers however.
**First, we must take this time to send our best wishes to Dennis Hopper who was recently rushed to the hospital, according to the Breaking News twitter. Folks, this shit just can't keep happening -- hopefully he will be OK.
On to Princeton, a Stark favorite of the summer-fuzz bands. These LA-natives released their fantastic debut effort, Coccon of Love, yesterday via Kanine Records. Fronted by two twin brothers, Princeton leave little to the imagination honing a mature, rollicking, tasteful, but in-your-face-West Coast sound. The band just released a new MP3 for your enjoyment above.
Princeton is set to embark on a massive tour with OK GO, Art Burt and Ra Ra Riot. Dates after the jump.
PRINCETON
Sep 29th The Masquerade Atlanta, GA $ & Sep 30th Cat's Cradle Carborro, NC $ & Oct 1st 9:30 Club Washington, DC $ & Oct 2nd Trocadero Philadelphia, PA $ & Oct 3rd Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA $ & Oct 4th Knitting Factory Brooklyn, NY & Oct 8th Terrace Club Princeton, NJ * Oct 9th Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar Charlottesville, VA @ Oct 10th Duke Coffee House Durham, NC Oct 16th Middle East Cambridge, MA + Oct 17th Maxwell's Hoboken, NJ + Oct 18th Black Cat Washington, DC + Oct 19th Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC + Oct 20th The Earl Atlanta, GA + Oct 21st Club Downunder Tallahassee, FL + Oct 22nd The Bottletree Birmingham, AL + Oct 23rd Spanish Moon Baton Rouge, LA + Oct 24th Walter's On Houston, TX + Oct 25th The Mohawk Austin, TX + Oct 27th Club Congress Tucson, AZ + Oct 28th Casbah San Diego, CA + Oct 29th Glass House Pomona, CA + Oct 30th Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, CA + Oct 31st UC Davis Davis, CA + Nov 1st Holocene Portland, OR + Nov 2nd Neumo's Seattle, WA + Nov 5th The Basement Columbus, OH # Nov 6th The Grog Shop Cleveland, OH # Nov 7th Blind Pig Ann Arbor, MI # Nov 8th Southgate House Covington, KY # Nov 10th Intersection Front Room Grand Rapids, MI # Nov 11th Canopy Club Urbana, IL # Nov 12th Zorn Auditorium Eau Claire, WI # Nov 13th Otto's Dekalb, IL # Nov 14th Rock Island Brew Co. Quad Cities, IL #
$ = w/ Ra Ra Riot & = w/ Maps and Atlases @ = w/ Tune Yards * = w/ Le Loup + = w/ Art Brut
Our favorites from the left coast, Princeton, face a pretty tough ride in this new video for their tune "Martina and Clive Krantz." Priceton just played Union Hall in celebration of their debut record Cocoon of Love, which is out digitally now on Kanine Records.
There is no shortage of great shows happening tonight in NYC. The featured show is the stacked line-up at the Mercury Lounge. New West's Tim Easton shares the bill with our current favorite A.A. Bondy and music industry vet/ace musician Dave Godowski. For anyone that fancies a bill of solid songwriters who draw from the storied cannon of American Music, this is the one.
Tonight at Union Hall, the LA group Princeton celebrate the release of their excellent new album Cocoon of Love which is out 9/29 on Kanine Records but is available now digitally. It's a mix of summer pop and more straightforward indie rock. All in all it's an intoxicating debut that's as well written as it is tastefully executed. Kanine Labelmates ZaZa are also performing down the road at the Bell House with The Drones.
Judee Sill released two acclaimed albums on Dave Geffens' Asylum Records in the mid-to-late '70s -- one self title, the other titled, Heart Food. Her music has since been heralded and cherished by modern musicans who found it fitting to come together to record a tribute record, Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee Sill dropping Sept. 22 on American Dust. Featured artists include Ron Sexsmith, Beth Orton, Daniel Rossen and Frida Hyvönen (Grizzly Bear), Marissa Nadler, Princeton and more.
Full featured artists and tracklist after the jump.
Various Artists Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee Sill (American Dust) Street date: Sept. 22, 2009 01 Ron Sexsmith: "Crayon Angel" 02 Beth Orton: "Reach for the Sky" 03 Daniel Rossen: "Waterfall" 04 Frida Hyvönen: "Jesus Was a Cross Maker" 05 Shalants: "Lopin Along Thru the Cosmos" 06 Final Fantasy: "The Donor" 07 Nicolai Dunger: "Soldier of the Heart" 08 Trembling Blue Stars: "Lady-O" 09 Colossal Yes: "The Phoenix" 10 Marissa Nadler & Black Hole Infinity: "The Kiss" 11 Princeton: "Down Where the Valleys Are Low" 12 The Bye Bye Blackbirds: "There's a Rugged Road" 13 Meg Baird: "When the Bridegroom Comes" 14 Bill Callahan: "For a Rainbow" 15 P.G. Six: "Til Dreams Come True"
We wrote a few weeks ago in excitement at the news that West Coast summer-rockers Princeton finally got signed to a real deal record contract with Kanine. Their debutCocoon Of Love comes out on 9/29. Princeton's poppy string and woodwind laced rock jams will provide a wistful backdrop as summer transitions to fall. Luckily we'll be getting early tastes of the record (mp3 above) whilst the heat and humidity are still on us. Ballantine 40s on the roof? Sure. See their tourdates after the jump including a stop at Union Hall. (via) 07/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ E2 Building [Night Lights Benefit] 08/29 - Los Angeles, CA @ Pehrspace 08/31 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court 09/01 - Denver, CO @ Hi Dive 09/02 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room # 09/03 - Iowa City, IA @ Picador 09/04 - Dekalb, IL @ The House Cafe # 09/05 - Toledo, OH @ Frankie's # 09/06 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks # 09/08 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar [Talking Head Club Stage] 09/09 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall % 09/10 - Ithaca, NY @ Castaways $ & 09/11 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace $ & 09/12 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place & 09/13 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop $ & 09/14 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement $ & 09/17 - Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater $ & 09/19 - Urbana, IL @ Krannert Center [Pygmalion Fest] $ 09/20 - St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird $ & 09/21 - Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck $ & 09/23 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater $ & 09/24 - Austin, TX @ Emo's $ & 09/25 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live $ & 09/26 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon $ & 09/27 - Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree $ & 09/29 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade $ & 09/30 - Carborro, NC @ Cat's Cradle $ & 10/01 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club $ & 10/02 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero $ &
# = w/ Ice Palace % = w/ Phil and the Osophers $ = w/ Ra Ra Riot & = w/ Maps and Atlases
Ever since corresponding with one of the band members while he was working a PR job last year, we've been rooting for the Los Angeles-based Princeton. Of course, we also really enjoy their music. As it's finally nice weather again, Princeton's music provides the perfect back drop to outdoor festivities. Channeling Paul McCartney-style vocal melodies, alongside a pleasing back drop of woodwinds and piano, Princeton deliver a relaxing yet subtly sophisticated brand of indie-pop that perfectly captures the laid back west coast feel of their home town.
Princeton's debut record, Cocoon of Love, comes out September 29th on Kanine Records. See a full run of tour dates after the jump featuring shows with Ra Ra Riot and LAKE. Check back for more as I'm sure we'll be writing about these guys for awhile.
PRINCETON
07/07 San Diego, CA The Casbah 07/09 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge * 07/10 Seattle, WA Azteca * 07/12 Olympia, WA House Party + 07/25 Los Angeles, CA E2 Building / Night Lights Benefit 08/29 Los Angeles, CA Pehrspace 08/31 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court 09/01 Denver, CO Hi Dive 09/02 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room # 09/03 Iowa City, IA Picador 09/04 Dekalb, IL The House Cafe # 09/05 Toledo, OH Frankie's # 09/06 Pittsburgh, PA Garfield Artworks # 09/08 Baltimore, MD Sonar / Talking Head Club Stage 09/09 Brooklyn, NY Union Hall % 09/10 Ithaca, NY Castaways $& 09/11 Toronto, ONT Lee's Palace $& 09/12 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place & 09/13 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop $& 09/14 Columbus, OH The Basement $& 09/17 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater $& 09/19 Urbana, IL Krannert Center / Pygmalion Fest $ 09/20 St. Louis, MO The Firebird $& 09/21 Lawrence, KS The Bottleneck $& 09/23 Dallas, TX Granada Theater $& 09/24 Austin, TX Emo's $& 09/25 Houston, TX Warehouse Live $& 09/26 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon $& 09/27 Birmingham, AL Bottle Tree $& 09/29 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade $& 09/30 Carborro, NC Cat's Cradle $& 10/01 Washington, DC 9:30 Club $& 10/02 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero $&
* = w/ Miniature Tigers + = w/ LAKE # = w/ Ice Palace % = w/ Phil and the Osophers $ = w/ Ra Ra Riot & = w/ Maps and Atlases
Bruce Springsteen is having a hell of a year so far, crotch slides and all, and it's only getting better. The Boss's official site has enlisted a heap of indie artists to contribute to "Hanging Out On E. Street," a series of video interviews and performances dedicated to Springsteen's songs. Our favorite so far is The Avett Brothers' stripped-down but jubilant take on "Glory Days." The Brothers took a break from recording their Columbia debut with Rick Rubin to participate in the project, which also features bands like The Gaslight Anthem, Teagan and Sara, Ted Leo and Valencia. Check out the performance after the jump.
Meanwhile, there are other great things going on in cyberspace this morning. Obi Best, who is fronted by Alex Lilly (backups on The Bird And The Bee's latest) brings us the dreamy video for "Green and White Stripes." It's directed by Max Goldblatt, who also did MGMT's "Boogie Down" clip. We've also got a showcase from Princeton, who first came on our radar last year. They shot a low-budget video on Super-8 film over the course of a winter weekend in LA for "The Waves," which has serious replay value. Lastly, check out some footage of North Carolina's Roman Candle performing new sessions at the Lake Fever Sessions, complete with a cute little kid talking about boogers in the beginning of the clip. We are so there.
