Reverend Horton Heat: new album details!

One of this bloggers favorite bands, The Reverend Horton Heat, have announced the release of their new album (in fact I've seen them in concert more times than any other act). Laughin' and Cryin' with the Reverend Horton Heat will be the psychobilly band's first studio record since 2004 and will be available September 1st.

There will be a limited deluxe edition of the album as well. It will come in a metal spedometer package and will include a commemorative shot glass and bonus CD of artists covering the Rev's songs.

The track list for the album looks like this:

• Drinkin' and Smokin' Cigarettes
• Ain't No Saguaro in Texas
• Aw, the Humanity
• Crazy Ex Boyfriend
• Oh God! Doesn't Work in Vegas
• Just Let Me Hold My Paycheck
• Oh by Jingo!
• River Ran Dry
• Please Don't Take the Baby to the Liquor Store
• Beer Holder
• Rural Point of View
• Death Metal Guys
• There's a Little Bit of Everything in Texas
• Spacewalk

Just judging from those titles you know it's going to be a good one, full of that humour we've come to appreciate.

The Reverend Horton Heat play the Sound Academy in Toronto with Motorhead on September 2nd.

Reverend Horton Heat's website

Reverend Horton Heat's Myspace

Strokes' singer Casablancas announced solo album

File under the category of "What took you so long": Strokes' frontman Julian Casablancas has finally caught up to the rest of his band. On the heels of Strokes' side projects Little Joy, Nickel Eye, and not one but two solo albums from guitarist Albert Hammond Jr, the singer has announced the release of his solo album entitled Phrazes for the Young.

While there's no release date for the album yet, you can view this nifty trailer. Hopefully the album won't sound quite like this.

Julian Casablancas' website

Cougar to uncage "Patriot"

Wisconsin post-rock instrumental act Cougar have announced the release of their new studio album. Patriot, the band's second full length, will hit streets August 24th.

If the rest of the album is anywhere near as good as the smashmouth single "Stay Famous", this will definitely be one to watch.

In the meantime, check out the band's EPK for the album:

Cougar's website

Vivian Girls: download the new single "When I'm Gone"

As previously reported Vivian Girls are releasing their new album Everything Goes Wrong on September 8th. You don't have to wait that long to hear some. Just download the first single:

• "When I'm Gone"- MP3

Here's the track listing for the new album:

• Walking Alone at Night
• I Have No Fun
• Can't Get Over You
• Desert
• Tension
• Survival
• The End
• When I'm Gone
• Out for the Sun
• I'm Not Asleep
• Double Vision
• You're My Guy
• Before I Start to Cry

Vivian Girls play the Phoenix in Toronto with Fucked Up and Women on July 16th.

Vivian Girls' website

Vivian Girls' Myspace

Riceboy Sleeps: "Riceboy Sleeps" album review

An album like Riceboy Sleeps is difficult to assess. The album is not just a musical document, it's part of a greater audio/visual experience. I'll do my best to separate the musical component, please bear with me.

Riceboy Sleeps is a project from Sigur Ros singer Jon Per Birgusson and his partner Alex Somers. It's set for a July 21st release.

The album consists of nine ambient instrumental tracks. Each of these tracks holds its very own narrative within it. The bright "Indian Summer" for example actually sounds like a summer's that evolves into the sun setting beneath an oceanic horizon.

Structurally a song often begins in one place, only to spins itself off into several completely different directions, eventually reaching a far off destination, uncharted at the origin.

While many of the Sigur Ros tricks are recycled by Riceboy Sleeps, is album is far more minimalist in nature. Yes, atmospheric strings are present on several tracks ("Happiness") and there are slow building ghostly hums throughout ("Atlas Song", "Boy 1904"), but they are far less involved and intricate than Sigur Ros material. The classical piano-based "Stokkseyri" is a good example of this.

Here comes the difficult part. While the musicianship on Riceboy Sleeps is unquestionably superb, how does it fair as a stand alone listening experience. Not well I'm afraid. The album takes too much effort and concentration that you may as well have the entire visual accompaniment for the amount of yourself you need to give to it.

Best tracks: "Indian Summer", "Boy 1904"

Track listing for Riceboy Sleeps:

• Happiness
• Atlas Song
• Indian Summer
• Stokkseyri
• Boy 1904
• All the Big Trees
• Daniell In the Sea
• Howl
• Sleeping Giant

6.5/10

Riceboy Sleeps' website

Riceboy Sleeps' Myspace

Rodrigo y Gabriela announce new album

Mexican indie duo Rodrigo y Gabriela have announced the release of their new studio album. 11:11 will be available September 8th.

Here's the track list for the John Leckie-produced record:

• Hanuman
• Buster Voodoo
• Triveni
• Logos
• Santo Domingo
• Master Maqui
• Savitri
• Hora Zero
• Chac Mool
• Atman
• 11:11

Rodrigo y Gabriela's website

Rodrigo y Gabriela's Myspace

Virgin Festival details/line-up announced: NIN, The Pixies, and more

The details for the 2009 Ontario edition of the Virgin Festival has been announced. The two day festival will take place August 29th and 30th.

My first question is where the hell is Burl's Creek Park (off Hwy 11 in Oro apparently). That's the crappy news.

The good news is the line-up is pretty solid. Day 1 will be headlined by Ben Harper while Nine Inch Nails close out Day 2.

The rest of the line-up looks like this:

Day One

• The Pixies
• Franz Ferdinand
• Paolo Nutini
• Grizzly Bear
• Lights
• Mates Of State
• Sloan
• Down With Webster
• Plants and Animals
• ..and many more

Day Two

• Pet Shop Boys
• Our Lady Peace
• N.E.R.D.
• Cold War Kids
• Mute Math
• Mew
• Von Bondies
• Thunderheist
• ...and many more

It's a solid roster, but the venue may scare some away.

Virgin Festival's website

Portugal. The Man: "The Satanic Satanist" album review

Portugal. The Man is poised to release their fourth studio album. The Wasilla, Alaska natives will be dropping The Satanic Satanist on July 21st.

The album isn't just noteworthy for possessing possibly the best title of the year so far. From start to finish the record is a free flowing joyful ride. Be it the twangy groove rock of the opener "People Say" or the uplifting and hope redemption of the closer "Mornings", this album has something special: it has life.

The Madchester scene had an obvious influence on this album. The loose feel, psychedelic pomp, and lush arrangements evoke thoughts of The Stone Roses. The jazzier elements and funky beats of songs like "Lovers In Love" make one think of Primal Scream. The gospel feel on a track like "The Sun" feels like Spiritualized.

While those songs may beg for comparisons to those bands, Portugal. The Man does well in not sounding derivative. Yes, the influence is apparent, but by adding fuzz guitars, effects, and the occasional falsetto vocal, they really do create a sound of their own from those pieces.

Beyond all of that, the songs on The Satanic Satanist are just plain catchy. Whether it's the rocker "Do You" or the dancier "Work All Night" or "The Woods", there are hooks aplenty to reel you in.

With an effort this good you shouldn't be surprised if you see The Satanic Satanist popping up on multiple year end lists.

Best tracks: "People Say", "The Woods"

Track listing for The Satanic Satanist:

• People Say
• Work All Night
• Lovers In Love
• The Sun
• The Home
• The Woods
• Guns and Dogs
• Do You
• Everyone Is Golden
• Let You Down
• Mornings

9.0/10

Portugal. The Man's website

Portugal. The Man's Myspace

You Say Party! We Say Die! announce new album "XXXX"

Vancouver indie rockers You Say Party! We Say Die! have announced the release of their new studio album. XXXX is the quintet's third record and it will be out on September 29th.

We're really looking forward to this one. More details will be relayed as they become available.

You Say Party! We Say Die!'s website

You Say Party! We Say Die!'s Myspace

Sam Bones: "Rings" album review

There are just certain sounds and certain albums that scream out summertime to you. It's quite possible that Sam Champion guitarist Sean Bones has made one of those albums with his new solo record Rings (out July 21st).

Breaking from the indie rock tradition of Sam Champion, Bones has made a seemingly effortless transition into reggae-infused indie on the new album.

As an onlooker it would be easy to become cynical about the reasons behind Bones' choice of direction, but the honesty and integrity with which he approaches the genre wipes those thoughts away. Bones doesn't try to mimic any reggae performers past or present. He tackles the style his own way with his own voice.

Each track follows the typical reggae ebb and flow. It's punched up in places with horns ("Instigator") or dark twists ("Smoke Rings", "Visions"), but generally it maintains a very laid back infectious cool ("Cry Cry Cry").

Bones does venture into new territory on a handful of occasions. We get a bongo solo on "Captain Tying Knots" and a twangy flare on "Dancehall" but he mostly sticks with the tried and true ("Coco" sounds eerily similar to "Stir It Up" at points).

While not a masterpiece in the genre, Rings is a solid good time summer soundtrack for the indie fan in your life.

Best tracks: "Instigator", "Dancehall"

Track listing for Rings:

• Easy Street
• Cry Cry Cry
• Coco
• Act So Cruel
• Sugar In My Spoon
• Instigator
• Smoke Rings
• Visions
• Dancehall
• Captain Tying Knots
• Turn Them

7.0/10

Sean Bones' Myspace