Watch her get shot here:
Monday, August 31, 2009
Juliette Lewis: new album video teaser
Juliette Lewis' new album Terra Incognita gets its release tomorrow (September 1st), and she's just posted a somewhat bizarre, yet strangely entertaining, commercial...er...teaser for the record.
Polaris Prize poll results are in
Voting in our Polaris Music Prize poll has now closed and it was a tight one right down to the wire.
The winner by a nose was probably not surprisingly our readers' choice was Chad VanGaalen's Soft Airplane (21%), edging out Metric (18%), Great Lake Swimmers (15%), and Fucked Up (14%). The field was rounded out by Joel Plaskett, Hey Rosetta!, Patrick Watson, K'Naan, Elliott Brood, and Malajube (in that order).
We'll see how the opinion of our readers matches up with the Polaris jury.
The Polaris Prize Gala will take place in Toronto on September 21st. You'll be able to stream it via MuchMusic or listen to it live on Sirius/XM.
Charlotte Gainsbourg to release Beck-produced album
French singer, actress, etc Charlotte Gainsbourg has announced the release of her new album. IRM will see a November 30th release in Europe, but won't make it to our shores until some time in January.
What makes this even more interesting is that Serge's daughter was joined by Beck for a good portion of the record. The "Loser" produced the album as well as wrote most of the music and co-wrote the lyrics.
Add this to his ongoing track-by-track cover of The Velvet Underground and Nico (and rumoured Daydream Nation covers) and we have Beck really flexing his artistic independence. Good for him.
The Rifles: "The Great Escape" album review
A little while ago we reviewed the debut EP from London foursome The Rifles. On September 15th the band gets their North American full length debut with the solid The Great Escape.
The band draws upon all the best traditions in UK indie rock to create a uniquely catchy amalgam. The result may very well be a new apex in British pop music.
The title track is a soaring, melodic number reminiscent of British Sea Power. The reflective handclapper "Winter Calls" and the lead off "Science In Violence" betray a heavy Jam influence. Shimmering guitars glisten on "Out In The Past". A jangle better than anything Pete Doherty's given us lately bounces us through tracks like "Romeo & Juliet".
When all is said and done, The Great Escape is the calling card of a band nearly ready to assume the mantle of best rock band in England.
The Rifles play the Horseshoe in Toronto on September 28th.
Best tracks: "The Great Escape", "Romeo & Juliet"
Track listing for The Great Escape:
- Science In Violence
- The Great Escape- MP3
- Fall To Sorrow
- Sometimes
- Toe Rag
- History
- Winter Calls
- Out In The Past
- Romeo & Juliet
- The General
- For The Meantime
8.5/10
Chasing Jones release "Anniversary" single
Edmonton rock quartet Chasing Jones have recently released their new single "Anniversary" and fans of melodic power pop should rejoice.
Imagine Superchunk playing songs written by the Gin Blossoms...the results are better than you'd think.
Check out the infectious single on the band's Myspace page.
Ash: "Return of the White Rabbit" video
As previously reported, Irish alt rockers Ash are set to hit us with a unique release concept. Beginning with "True Love 1980" on October 12th the band will be releasing one single every two weeks for a year.
You can check out the first video from the A-Z Series, "Return Of The White Rabbit", here:
This week's entertainment picks: Motorhead w. Reverend Horton Heat, Matt Singer
Planning a week of entertainment? Try these on for size:
Motorhead w. Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville Pussy, Sep. 2nd, Sound Academy
Blistering metal and a doubel dose of psychobilly. I've seen the Reverend more than any other live act and can positively state that this will be fantastic.
Matt Singer w. Great Elk, Sep. 3rd Chehowski
This intimate show should be a sleeper hit with great folk and roots music. Check out my recent interview with Singer here.
...also this week:
- Truman Peyote, Sep 2nd
- Jason Mewes, Sep 3rd
- Iconoclast, Sep 4th
- Kid Rock, Sep 4th
- O.A.R. w. Brett Dennen, Sep 5th
- Titus Andronicus, Sep 5th
- The Killers w. Wolfmother, Sep 6th
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sherwood announces new album release
California indie pop 5-piece Sherwood have announced the release of their new studio album. Qu will be unveiled October 13th.
The album was produced by heavyweight alt rock producer Brad Wood.
We'll give you more details as we get them.
Concerts announced this week
Here's a look at concerts announced for Toronto this past week:
- Turman Peyote, Rancho Relaxo, Sep 2
- Wax Mannequin, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 3
- Iconoclast, Lee's Palace, Sep 4
- The Sadies, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 12
- Moneen, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 15
- A Hawk and a Handsaw, Lee's Palace, Sep 16
- The Duhks, Rivoli, Sep 16
- Marilyn Manson, Air Canada Centre, Sep 17
- Green Go, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 18
- Classified, Lee's Palace, Sep 19
- Kate Voegele, Opera House, Sep 22
- The Albertans, Drake Underground, Sep 23
- The Antlers, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 24
- The Watchman, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 25
- The Watchman, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 26
- KISS w. Buckcherry, Air Canada Centre, Oct 2
- Mars Volta, Kool Haus, Oct 4
- The Slackers, Lee's Palace, Oct 9
- The Slackers, Lee's Palace, Oct 10
- Marianas Trench, Sound Academy, Oct 10
- Rock Plaza Central, TBA, Oct 10
- Rock Plaza Central, TBA, Oct 11
- Rock Plaza Central, TBA, Oct 12
- Mika, Sound Academy, Oct 12
- Silversun Pickups w. An Horse and Cage The Elephant, Sound Academy, Oct 15
- Two Hours Traffic, Lee's Palace, Oct 16
- Daniel Johnston, Mod Club, Oct 17
- Hey Ocean!, Rivoli, Oct 17
- Shonen Knife, Horseshoe Tavern, Oct 18
- Rain Machine (TVOTR's Kyp Malone), Lee's Palaca, Oct 19
- Dead Man's Bones, Music Gallery, Oct 20
- The Used, Kool Haus, Oct 20
- Corb Lund, Horseshoe Tavern, Oct 22
- La Roux, The Guvernment, Oct 23
- Elliott Brood, Opera House, Oct 30
- Simian Mobile Disco w. State Radio, Mod Club, Nov 6
- Peaches, The Phoenix, Nov 18
- Little Girls, The Phoenix, Nov 20
- Camera Obscura, The Phoenix, Nov 26
- The Big Pink, Lee's Palace, Nov 29
- King Khan & BBQ Show, Lee's Palace, Dec 4
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Quick Hits: D'Haene, Van Ghost, Stareblind
Welcome to our second edition of "Quick Hits". These are albums or artists that have come across my desktop this week but I haven't had time to do a full feature on. This week we have:
D'Haene
This New York band is truly rock n' roll in the best sense of the word. The songs are gritty and soulful with a definite rhythm and blues influence. A real throwback.
Van Ghost
Hailing from the Windy City, this band plays super catchy slick rock with a twang. Check out the earworm "Summer Promise" on their Myspace page.
Stareblind
For those of you who like razor blades in your cereal, you should check out the new self-titled album from Montreal metalheads Stareblind. It will rock your socks off. The band will be playing the Bovine Sex Club on Oct. 9th as part of Indie Week in Toronto.
Whatever happened to: American Hi Fi?
Last week in this feature we asked the question about former Letters To Cleo singer and solo artist Kay Hanley. This week we look at one of her former bandmates.
Stacey Jones was the drummer in Letters To Cleo before forming American Hi Fi. The band had a monster hit with the catchy power pop ditty "Flavor Of The Weak". They had a couple of albums after that hit but eventually faded away.
I haven't heard much about Jones or the band recently, so that makes me ask: whatever happened to American Hi Fi?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Supersuckers release "Day On The Grass" 1998 digital download
How can we go into the unofficial last weekend of the summer without talking about the best party band in the world, The Supersuckers?
Just in time for your end of summer cottage blowout bash the boys are bringing you yet another in their growing line of live digital downloads. This one goes back a little bit further to a festival at the Mural Ampitheatre in Seattle in July, 1998.
As is to be expected, the set leans heavily on their then soon-to-be-released Evil Powers Of Rock N' Roll album. This is definitely one for the rock fans.
Alongside favorites like "Creepy Jackalope Eye" and "Born With A Tail" are special treats like the rarely played live "She's My Bitch" and a killer cover of AC/DC's "Rock N' Roll Singer". The biggest surprise of all may be that we not only get the Supersuckers Patent Pending Fake Encore, but an actual honest to God REAL encore.
Despite the cavernous echo caused by the venue's acoustics, it is a balls out rock performance.
Electric Tickle Machine: debut album details, "Part Of Me" MP3
New York indie band Electric Tickle Machine are poised to release their debut album. Blew It Again (with its risque cover art above) will see the light of day on October 7th.
We've got a sample of the band's garage-influenced pop for download:
- "Part Of Me"- MP3
The track listing for the album looks like this:
- Blew It Again
- Bones
- Somethin Else
- Part Of Me
- Find A Home
- Gimme Money
- Ask Me Anything
- Fast Train
- Honest Injun
- Tongues Of Fire (Outro)
Birds Of Avalon: "Your Downtime Is Up" MP3
Over the past two years Birds Of Avalon have opened for a veritable who's who of the indie rock world from The Flaming Lips to Black Mountain to Ted Leo to The Raconteurs.
The band's latest album is Uncanny Valley and we are pleased to be able to bring you a download from that album. Check them out here:
- "Your Downtime Is Up"- MP3
3 More To Explore: The Zookeepers, Yoni Gordon & the Goods, State Radio
Hey, take these artists into the weekend with you:
The Zookeepers
For those who like: eclectic indie
You never know from track to track what you'll get from t
his MA band.
Yoni Gordon and the Goods
For those who like: Ted Leo
On the flipside you know you're getting punk-inspired power pop from Gordon.
State Radio
For those who like: RX Bandits
Polished punk with a dash of ska.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Spiral Stairs (Pavement) gives away free MP3
As previously reported former Pavement bigwig Spiral Stairs is releasing his first official solo album, The Real Feel, on October 20th.
Sign up for his mailing list now and you'll get a free download of the non-album track "Dreams They Guide Us". Sign up here.
While you're there you can also check out the single "Maltese Terrier".
Nathan Lee: "El Diablo Y El Angel" MP3
Nathan Lee is an artist with a deep appreciation for rock n' roll. His music is big in scope, and even bigger in emotion. His new album Risk Everything, comes out on September 1st.
If you aren't familiar with Lee you can get a sample of his work here:
- "El Diablo Y El Angel"- MP3
Tom Fun Orchestra: "Throw Me To The Rats" video
Cape Breton fusion band Tom Fun Orchestra have just released a video for their stellar track "Throw Me To The Rats". If you like the idea of Tom Waits fronting The Pogues you should probably check this out:
Langhorne Slim: new album details, "I Love You, But Goodbye" MP3
Langhorne Slim is poised to release his third album of soulful rock, Be Set Free, on September 29th. We've got some details for you.
The cover art is above, and the track list below:
- Back to the Wild
- Say Yes
- I Love You, But Goodbye
- Land Of Dreams
- Cinderella
- Be Set Free
- For A Little While
- Sunday By the Sea
- Leaving My Love
- Yer Wrong
- Blow Your Mind
- So Glad That I'm Coming Home
- Boots Boy
We also have the first track to share with you. You can download it here:
- "I Love You, But Goodbye"- MP3
Truman Peyote: Toronto gig, MP3
With their new album Light-Lightning, MA post-rock band Truman Peyote have been drawing lots of comparisons to the hipster-adored Animal Collective.
Don't believe me? Check out their track "New Wife New Life" here:
- "New Wife New Life"- MP3
Truman Peyote pull into Toronto to play Rancho Relaxo on September 2nd.
Grant-Lee Phillips: stream the entire new album "Little Moon" now
Former Grant Lee Buffalo frontman and Gilmore Girls troubadour Grant-Lee Phillips is poised to release his new studio album. Little Moon will hit the streets on October 13th.
You can stream the entire album here and now:
Anna Rose: "Anna Rose" EP review
While I usually make it a personal rule not to talk smack about a women how appears in falconry gear on her album covers, I'm going to bend that when I talk about the forthcoming self-titled debut EP from Anna Rose.
Anna Rose is a collection of five indie singer/songwriter style tracks from the Los Angeles-based musician. Unfortunately the songs could come from any of a thousand struggling artists who perform in that genre space. The songwriting isn't exceptionally clever or catchy.
Musically, Rose's songs are simple, many built around piano or guitar lines. Those lines are innocuous and unobtrusive. That would be fine if her songwriting was more remarkable and a better focal point.
Rose's voice is pleasant. But here again it isn't distinctive or lovely enough to separate her from the hordes.
That all makes for an EP that is fine as background music, but doesn't warrant any serious listening.
Best tracks: "Picture", "You Got It For Free"
Track listing for Anna Rose:
- The Four Corners
- Picture
- In The Morning View
- Wilshire Blvd
- You Got It For Free
4.0/10
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tegan and Sara reveal new album art, track list
About a month ago Tegan & Sara announced via website video that their new album Sainthood would be released on October 27th. Today we got some more info about the project.
The album artwork has been revealed (above) as has the track list. Take a gander:
- Arrow
- Don't Rush
- Hell
- On Directing
- Red Belt
- The Cure
- Northshore
- Night Watch
- Alligator
- Paperback Head
- The Ocean
- Sentimental Time
- Someday
Massive Attack announce new EP, full length to follow
Trip Hop trailblazers Massive Attack are coming back with the release of a new EP. Splitting The Atom is a four song set that will see the light of day on October 6th.
A new full length album is scheduled to follow in February 2010. There's a great line-up of guest appearances set for that including Hope Sandoval, Damon Albarn, and TV On The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe.
We'll give you more details as we get them.
Music Emissions launches third annual Indie Of The Year contest, lots of great prizes
One of the other websites I contribute to, Music Emissions, is about to run their third annual Indie Of The Year contest.
Visit the site here, and you can submit your band and later vote for Independent Artist Of The Year. There are over $13,000 in prizes to be won by bands and readers.
So go check it out!
Loch Lomond announce new EP, give away teasers
Red hot indie folkster Loch Lomond have announced the release of their second EP this year. Night Bats (as opposed to those who run around in the daylight) is set for a November 10th release.
The track list for the EP looks like this:
- Ghost of an Earthworm
- Night Bats
- Spine (MMIX)
- Holiday
- Wax and Wire
The band is also providing a set of teasers that you can hear here.
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