I’ve always been a sucker for the Bloc Party/Minus The Bear connection of Foals.  The super-groovers have just released a new single for their upcoming album, Total Life Forever, to be released on May 10th.

“Spanish Sahara” is a bit more moody and mellow than anything they’ve put out in the past, but it’s a nice departure.  Foals leans more on their Minus The Bear atmospheric qualities than they do the dancefloor panic side of Bloc Party.  “Spanish Sahara” takes a few moments to acclimate yourself to, but once you do, it’s a beautiful thing.

MP3:  “Spanish Sahara” – Foals

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MP3:  “Your Hands (Together)” – The New Pornographers

The New Pornographers, despite rumors of their imminent demise, have returned to the studio and have a full-length due out May 4.  This first single definitely makes New Pornographers’ fans anxious for the upcoming album . . . The huge band of gypsy musicians that they are breeds a HUGE sound on the track.  “Your Hands (Together)” is an epic, percussive single that makes me think of old 1980′s cop movies for some reason.  Perhaps I’ve just had too much morning coffee and the repetitive rolls and cymbal crashes are a bit much this morning.

Besides . . . I swear I’m hearing lyrics about Lee Majors or something.

Together is out on Matador, May 4.

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MP3: “The Ghosts That Wake You” – Follow That Bird!

I’ve been reading a lot of stuff online about how great Follow That Bird! is.  I’ve seen a few pictures of the above ladies, sitting quietly by themselves, painting a content little pop-band.  I definitely thought I was about to hear another synth-pop band.  Fortunately, I was wrong.

Follow That Bird! is a dirty, bluesy, rock band that reminds me of B.R.M.C. and even has elements of old David Bowie riffs.  Great song and a great band that I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on.

• Follow That Bird on Myspace
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3. Sights: Leftmore: "Knives In My Father's Eyes/Drinking with Ghosts"

Mp3: “Under The Milky Way” (Church Cover) – The Happy Hollows

To begin with, “Under The Milky Way” is a cover of The Church‘s eclectic creeper from the Donnie Darko soundtrack.  The Happy Hollows have definitely given the song a redecoration and made it into a stunning shoegazer for the electro-age.

If you haven’t heard The Hollows’ latest album, Spells, you’re missing out on a whole lot of rock that you’d never expect from the band posted here.  Spells will garage-fuzz-kick your ass.  Autumn Tone has a winner on their hands.

• Autumn Tone Records
• The Happy Hollows on Myspace
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1. Track of the day: Mumford & Sons – “Cousins (Vampire Weekend cover)”
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MP3: “I Can Talk” – Two Door Cinema Club
MP3: “Something Good Can Work”-Two Door Cinema Club

In my opinion, one of the most promising up and coming bands out of the United Kingdom is dropping their first album in March of 2010 under the label of Kitsune records.  The three lads (Alex Trimble, Kev Baird, Sam Halliday) of Two Door Cinema Club are out of Bangor, Ireland and have been working together since 2007. Tourist History is the second album to have been recorded in Eastcote studios in London, and mixed in the recently built Motorbass, the first of which was Phoenix’s new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.  The trio is without a drummer so they use a drum machine as a substitute which gives the band a unique electronic/alternative sound, self-dubbed by the band as “alteronica.”

Taking their influences from the likes of Bloc Party, Death Cab for Cutie, Wolf Parade and Broken Social Scene, the trio sets out to create a fun and quirky sound that immediately invades your ears.  All three of the band members are vocalists and utilize their rhythmic, quasi-soothing guitar/bass while juxtaposing palpitating drum machine developed beats to produce a unique sound that is a breath of fresh air from the stale pop tracks that are being pumped out indiscriminately ad nauseam.

At first listen I had a hard time with Tourist History, the reason for this being that there seemed to be more emphasis on the drum machine than in previously released EPs.  The songs I had enjoyed prior to the full length album had been revamped with more sophisticated drums and beats while basically maintaining the same addictive guitar, bass, and vocals.  For me, the songs had (temporarily) lost their lo-fi appeal that previously drew me in save for my personal favourite I Can Talk.  However after the second listen I had become obsessed with the more electronic, catchy, foot tapping Tourist History.  As my old guitar teacher always said, “A band that doesn’t evolve isn’t a band worth listening to.” After all who wants to hear the same sounding track just combined with different lyrics over and over?  I for one would not, but that is just me.  Bottom line: Listen to Two Door Cinema Club.

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1. Two Door Cinema Club – “Something Good Can Work”
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3. Sights: Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk

mp3: “Ballad of Big Nothing (Elliot Smith Cover)” – Cymbals Eat Guitars

The Long Islanders who put out, arguably, one of the best albums with the worst album art of 2009 have just put out a spot-on rendition (with a few tweaks of course) of Elliot Smith’s “Ballad of Big Nothing”.  At the risk of getting bottles hurled at me on here, I’ll say that this cover more than does the song justice.  Bands like Cymbals Eat Guitars and Phoenix have been making some pretty brazen cover attempts lately that have really impressed me.

Is Elliot Smith “uncoverable”?  I can hear the entire Pacific Northwest in an uprising as we speak . . . even though this is an insanely great homage.

• Cymbals Eat Guitars Official Site
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mp3:  Ascending Melody
Listen to Ascending Melody
TrendRobot Rating:  9/10

Good lord I love the Dirty Projectors. After snagging my top spot for albums of 2009, the band releases a 7″ that continues to hone their odd-rock orchestra.

Ascending Melody is a song that definitely embodies what the Projectors are all about. Carefully crafted and improvised at the same time, the song sounds like a family garage jam-session. Guaranteed to brighten the most overcast days, The Dirty Projectors are a band unlike any other.  Head to their official site to download the Ascending Melody 7″ in it’s entirety, for free!

• Dirty Projectors official site
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Tour Dates:  Anyone going to Coachella will be in for a show

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Virgil over at Suburban Home Records has a keen eye for talent and a wide-spanning catalog of musicians.  Recently, on VinylCollective, he posted this stream from singer/songwriter PJ Bond as a part of his “if you like . . . you’ll like” series.

“PJ Bond’s debut, solo album, “You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical”. It is one of the few albums everyone in the office can agree on and one that I personally like a lot. I hear some Elliott Smith influences, but the playing and singing reminds me quite a bit of Rocky Votolato. I have yet to see him play (missed him on the last tour), but I look forward to seeing him some day.”

The record is definitely loveable right from the get-go.  Elliot Smith influences have yet to emerge on this, my first listen through the album, but Rocky Votolato is definitely in the mix.  In the recent years, Rocky has morphed into more and more of a folk singer and moved away from diverse melodies like on Suicide Medicine or Burning My Travels Clean.  PJ Bond sounds like a young Rocky, honing his craft.  [VinylCollective]

• Support PJ Bond and pick up “You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical” from VinylCollective

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3. Album Review: Rocky Votolato – “True Devotion”

TrendRobot Rating:  8/10

Listen to “Beat The Devil’s Tattoo” from the forthcoming LP, due out March 9, 2010

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club always seem to be just what rock n roll needs.  A gypsy band of guys in leather jackets, doing garage-rocking, jangles with very very lo-fi production.  “Beat The Devil’s Tattoo” takes rock n roll back to it’s dirty, Rolling Stones, roots.

From the forthcoming LP, Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, the title track is an ode to every influence that the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has ever had.  With a touch of southern voodoo and flair, this track is really as much of a party-stomper as it is a preview track.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Site

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TrendRobot Rating:  8/10

Listen to “1999″ from Work, to be released Feb. 23, 2010

The Shout Out Louds have always had an air of panic about them.  On 2005’s outstanding debut, Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, the band found a popster niche with bright melodies and a subdued new wave sound that immediately made them noticeable.  Followed in 2007 by the equally great Ill Wills, the band had made two records that forcefully pushed you out the front door and into the great unknown.  Whatever stood between you and your dreams was a matter of experience . . . the band and listener were both young, ecstatic about art and love, and wouldn’t settle for a life in the slack tide.

After extensive touring over the course of 5 years, the band decided it was time for they, themselves, to exit stage left and go about their lives to find out what made them tick.  The existential journey would end back in Stockholm a year later, where the band was originally formed.  At this point, they would decide what would become of the Shout Out Louds, the band with unwavering dreams.  Apparently, in that 6-12 month period, the band experienced everything that had missed out on during their extensive youth and found wisdom far beyond their years.

The aptly titled Work was recorded in Seattle in a make-shift musical temple, constructing a full-on studio in a rural barn, and all of the angst, all of the hopes, all of the luster of the first two records are now laid to rest behind the tired eyes of veteran singer Adam Olenius.   Work is a record that, at first, seems to beg at the bright, gleaming pop of the Howl Howl, but slowly eases its way into a tour through maturity and aging.  Anecdotes that seem suited for an old-timer’s story time, the album shows a more mature, structured conscience from the mile-a-minute Shout Out Louds.

If the first two records were about the endless summer, Work is the inevitable regrets, mistakes and lost loves that ensue.  Opening the album, “1999” is Olenius’ ode to everything that brought the Shout Out Louds to where they are now.  The song’s chorus, “Who I ever was/who’ve I’ve always been” seems an apt mission statement for the band, who begrudgingly hold onto their values while acknowledging that, even though following your love may pan out, there are hard spots, infidelities, and missed cues along the way.  “Fall Hard” and “Candle Burned Out” really showcase the Shout Out Louds at their simplistic best, churning out charming, poppy ballads about lost loves and missteps.  “Walls” is undoubtedly the stand-out track off of Work and begs every last ounce of rebellious youth out of Olienius and Co.  The song is one of the most potent anthems the band has ever crafted.  Basically, no matter what you do with your life, the inevitable bills, failures, and “work” will be a part of your life, but it’s how you break down those “walls”, with your passions in between, that matters.

All in all, the album seems more to be a stepping stone to a new period in the band’s growth as opposed to a book-end.  The songs may not be as bright and the themes a bit more serious, but for those of us who grew up on Howl Howl, they’re pains we know all too well.  We’re no longer the bright, innocent youth that will reject the system, we’re the ones doing the work to keep the fire lit.  In 5 years of touring, the band has grown from raucous teens with instruments to being parents, travelers, and effective adults with a serious vendetta against maturity.  Unfortunately, keeping up with your passions, whether a relationship, band, or pastime; takes work.  Between all of the necessary evils in adulthood, it’s how you keep your passion alive that counts, and the Shout Out Louds are a living testament to the art.

Given away free on Shout Out Louds site: “Walls” mp3

• Official Shout Out Louds Site
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1. Track of the day: Shout Out Louds – “Walls”
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