The Dan Craig Band: "What Is This Alchemy?" (MP3)

If you're a fan of the folk/rock/pop sound of musicians like Pete Yorn and the great Josh Ritter then you will definitely be interested in this.

The Dan Craig Band (The Daniel Craig Band has a better ring to it don't you think?) have their new album, Alchemy, coming out on August 20th.  It's the fourth full length from the Denver-based group and it has a lot of promise from the little I've already heard.

Take a listen to the hook-laden track "What Is This Alchemy?" and judge for yourself.

The Dan Craig Band's website
The Dan Craig Band's Myspace

Ceschi: "The One Man Band Broke Up" (album review)

There's little about Ceschi's new album The One Man Band Broke Up that could be described as ordinary.  Strings arrangements and instruments traditionally associated with roots music (ukulele, banjo, accordion, etc) are fused with modern hip hop to create a unique genre-bending excursion.

Far from abandoning the traditional hip hop genre, Ceschi builds solidly upon it and takes it to new, fresh places that it so desperately needs to go.

Solidifying his hip hop credentials are Ceschi's raps.  His delivery of his clever rhymes is laser-sharp, and at times an absolute aural blitz.

What Ceschi really accomplishes on this record is proving once and for all that hip hop needn't be simply bland repetitive beats and ho references.  You'd be best to remember this one when the end-of-year best of 2010 lists start rolling out.

Best tracks: "Hangman", "No New York"

Track listing for The One Man Band Broke Up:

• The One Man Band Broke Up
• Half Mast
• No New York
• Lament for Captain Julius
• Fallen Famous
• Bridge
• Serious Business
• Hangman
• Bad Jokes
• For My Disappointing Hip Hop Heroes
• Long Live the Short Lived
• Swallowed Salt
• Julius' Final Lament

8.5/10

Ceschi's Myspace

Quick Hits: Simple, The Lava and Ash

Here's my weekly look at stuff I didn't have time to look at this week.

Simple
This North Carolina band hit you with high energy, catchy, punk-inspired guitar rock.  Their latest release is a live EP that was recorded for NC State's college radio station WKNC.

Check out "Signs In The Sky".

Simple's website

The Lava and Ash, Playing Cards
If you just listened to the opening track of this Toronto band's new EP you'd think you were for some fairly generic sounding indie rock.  You would be sorely mistaken.  After you get through the initial blah of "Cicada BuZZzz" you're treated to an intriguing blend of art rock and hillbilly stomp.  It's worth checking out for "Unicorn Fucks Unicorn" alone.


The Lava and Ash's Myspace

Backwords sewing a musical "Quilt" (MP3)

On September 7th Brooklyn psych-folk trio Backwords (like 'lumbar' and 'vertebrae' I assume) will release their third full length album, Quilt.

Download the track "And the Sigh" now.

Here's the track list for the album:

• And Then Sigh
• Center of the Earth
• In the Air & on the Ground
• $80 Haircuts
• Better Off Alone
• Think of Me (As a Quilt Made Out of Stars)
• Dig Deep
• Gotta Talk
• I Have Seen
• None of This is Wrong
• This is What That Last One’s For

Backwords' website
Backwords' Myspace

Jens Lekman: "The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love" (MP3)

God bless Jens Lekman.  Not even Swine Flu can stop the Swedish indie pop maestro from coming up with remarkably catchy ditties.  His latest is a delightful giveaway track "The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love".

Hopefully this is a harbinger of things to come.

Download your copy of the track here:

Jens Lekman's website
Jens Lekman's Myspace

Lissie: "Bully" (MP3)

credit: Chuck Rausin

As previously reported, singer Lissie releases her debut album Catching A Tiger on August 17th.  I've got the first single for you to download and enjoy now.

Check out "Bully".

It doesn't look like Lissie has any Canadian dates lined-up yet, but I'll keep my eyes peeled for you.

Lissie's Myspace

Stars: "The Seance" (EP review)

It's been just about a month since Montreal's Stars released their phenomenal new album The Five Ghosts (review).  Now I've finally had the chance to go through The Seance EP, the four track record that comes with the deluxe edition of the album.

It's easy to see why these songs weren't included on the proper release.  While they are very similar in eerie theme, they simply don't fit from a musical perspective.

The record opens with "Opinions Versus The Sun", a trippy hypnotic groove.  "The Five Ghosts" comes at you with in-your-face beats and a slightly 80s synth-Goth overtone.  A little more subversive, "The Black House, The Blue Sky" at first seems like filler, but without you even noticing it burrows it's way into your head.

The only real toss-away is "The Dead Beg For More".  The track is filled with a fuzzy swirling drone that neither builds to a satisfactory climax nor leads in any really interesting direction.

If you have the choice between the original and deluxe version of The Five Ghosts, the expanded package is probably worth the investment.

Stars play Massey Hall in Toronto on October 23rd.

Best track: "The Five Ghosts"

Track listing for The Seance EP:

• Opinions Versus The Sun (Stars Vs The Album Leaf)
• The Five Ghosts
• The Black House, The Blue Sky (Stars Vs Montag)
• The Dead Beg For More (Stars Vs Of Montreal)

Stars' Myspace

3 More To Explore: Clockwise, Aaron Peta, Young Heretics

Here are three more artists that are worth your time this weekend:

Clockwise
For those who like: The Rolling Stones

Every now and then you need a simple rock n' roll kick in the ass.  That's what this Toronto band will give you.

Clockwise's Myspace

Aaron Peta
For those who like: Stereolab, Pavement

A transplanted Canadian, Peta is a slacker weirdo who's new album I'm Not A Hipster will have you in stitches.

Aaron Peta's Myspace

Young Heretics
For those who like: Islands, Liars

This Aussie duo have recently released their new album in their native land.  Hopefully we'll get it here soon.

Young Heretics' Myspace

Tin Star Orphans to release Cormac McCarthy-inspired album

Toronto indie roots band Tin Star Orphans have announced the wider release of their latest album The Days of Blinding Fear.  The record, which saw a very limited release in May, will be available coast-to-coast on September 21st.

The album is apparently inspired by Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Road.  It's lucky for me I finished reading it a couple of weeks ago.

Tin Star Orphans play The Rivoli in Toronto on September 17th and the Supermarket on September 22nd.

Tin Star Orphans' website
Tin Star Orphans' Myspace

Superchunk cover The Cure's "In Between Days" (video)

The latest entry in the AV Club's Undercover project features the mighty Superchunk covering The Cure's "In Between Days".  It's actually sounds exactly how you'd expect Superchunk covering The Cure to sound.

Check it out:


Of course, Superchunk have their own long-long-long-awaited album Majesty Shredding coming out on September 14th.

Superchunk's website
Superchunk's Myspace

Keegan DeWitt: "Hearts Beat Loud" (video)

Singer/songwriter Keegan DeWitt released his Daytrotter-exclusive EP Nothing Shows a couple of weeks back.  I've got the video for the record's "Hearts Beat Loud" to share with you now.

Check it out:


Keegan DeWitt's website

Antony & the Johnsons give glimpse of "Swanlight" companion book

Christina's Farm

As previously reported, Antony & the Johnsons release their new studio album, Swanlights, on October 12th.

What makes this release more unique, on top of Antony's vocals of course, is a companion 144-page hardcover book of Antony's art.  The book includes paintings, photographs, poetry, and more.

A couple of images of the art have been released, which you can see here.

Here's the track listing for the album:

The Creek

• Everything is New
• The Great White Ocean
• Ghost
• I'm In Love
• Violetta
• Swanlights
• The Spirit Was Gone
• Thank You For Your Love
• Flétta (with Björk)
• Salt Silver Oxygen
• Christina's Farm

Antony & the Johnsons' website
Antony & the Johnsons' Myspace

Los Lobos: "Tin Can Trust" (album review)

It can be expected that any band that has been making music together for nearly 35 years will not producing their best work near the end.  Few bands of that tenure have managed to keep the standard as high as Los Lobos though.

The band, now in it's fourth decade, releases its new studio album Tin Can Trust on August 3rd.

The new album is an expectedly mature effort.  Songs like "Burn It Down", "On Main Street", and the title track showcase Los Lobos' nearly perfected combination of blue collar rock and dusty blues.  "West L.A. Fadeaway" is a rock solid blues number, while "Do the Murray" boasts some of the hottest guitar licks of the year so far.

As always the band never stray too far from their heritage.  The spicy Latin "Yo Canto" and the album closer "27 Spanishes" make certain of that.

With the exception of the all too moody "Jupiter or the Moon" there are very few missteps on this album.  Even the Spanish polka (a concept that could go oh so wrong oh so easily) strikes all the right chords in execution.

Best tracks: "Do the Murray", "Mujer Ingrata"

Track listing for Tin Can Trust:

• Burn It Down
• On Main Street
• Yo Canto
• Tin Can Trust
• Jupiter or the Moon
• Do the Murray
• All My Bridges Burning
• West L.A. Fadeaway
• The Lady and the Rose
• Mujer Ingrata
• 27 Spanishes

7.5/10

Los Lobos' website
Los Lobos' Myspace

Pete Yorn gives away "Precious Stone" (MP3)

A few weeks back I mentioned that Pete Yorn would be releasing his new Frank Black-produced album, Pete Yorn, on September 28th.  Now you can hear the first fruits of that labour with a free download.

Grab your free MP3 of "Precious Stone" now.

Pete Yorn's website
Pete Yorn's Myspace

The Watson Twins give away "Human" b-side

The Watson Twins are giving fans a little extra something.  Chandra and Leigh have made "Human", a b-side from their Talking To You, Talking To Me album, available for free download.

Grab yours here:

The duo have announced new tour dates.  Unfortunately they don't seem to be showing Canada any love this time around.

The Watson Twins' website
The Watson Twins' Myspace

Grinderman: "Heathen Child" (stream)

Unless you've been living under a rock by now you probably know that Grinderman 2, the second full length from Nick Cave's Grinderman project, comes out on September 14th.

The single "Heathen Child" comes out the week prior and will be backed by "Super Heathen Child", featuring legendary guitarist Robert Fripp.

"Heathen Child" is up and streaming.  Take a listen to it for yourself:


Grinderman's website
Grinderman's Myspace

Jukebox The Ghost cover Donna Lewis' "I Love You Always Forever" (video)

Irresistible piano power pop band Jukebox The Ghost release their sophomore record Everything Under The Sun on September 7th.  To promote it, the band have just posted a live cover of Donna Lewis' "I Love You Always Forever".

Watch the clip here:


Grab the download for the track and the album track "Empire" now.

Jukebox The Ghost's website
Jukebox The Ghost's Myspace

J. Tillman: "Three Sisters" (MP3)

On September 14th J. Tillman, arguably best known for his work behind the kit for Fleet Foxes, will release his seventh studio album.  The record, Singing Ax (sic), was assisted by the legendary Steve Albini.

I've got a track from the record for you.  Listen to "Three Sisters" now.

Tillman will be touring with Phosphorescent in support of the album.

We Are Hex: "Hail the Goer" (album review)

Indianapolis isn't exactly the first place that pops into your head when you think indie art rock.  We Are Hex and their sophomore album Hail the Goer seem determined to change that.

The new album, out August 3rd, melds sombre angular post-punk with elements of early shoegazer to create an impenetrable wall of morose rock.

The album opener, "Birthplace of the Mystics", casts a dark shadow while still featuring a repetitive metallic squeal.  The result is reminiscent of The Argument-era Fugazi.  "We Are the Goer" cuts a frenetic path.  A ghostly guitar soars and crashes on "Don't Let Dirt In Here", while "Teeth Collection" climbs to an irresistible heights.

The weakest aspect of the songs is undoubtedly the vocals.  Often residing too far below the din to be distinctly heard, they don't serve to enhance the impact of the tracks.  When they are prominent, they tend to be high-pitched yelps, a la Jaguar Love, a combination that does not work well with the overall mood.

Even though the individual components of We Are Hex's music have been around for decades now, the band manages to take them, reshape them, and reassemble them in way that makes it all sound fresh.  Hail the Goer is one of those albums you'll reach for when you need to set a specific mood in a hurry.

Best tracks: "

Track listing for Hail the Goer:

• Birthplace of the Mystics
• We Are the Goer
• Gold Silver
• Singer Tastemaker
• Teeth Collection
• Don't Let Dirt In Here
• Warphone
• Cutter Giver

7.5/10

We Are Hex's website
We Are Hex' Myspace

Bad Religion: new album "The Dissent of Man", new track "The Devil In Stitches" (stream)

Still going strong after 30 years, the world's most literate punk band Bad Religion (who also happen to be my favorite punk band), return on September 28th with their new studio album The Dissent Of Man.

Here's the track list for the album:

• The Day That the Earth Stalled
• Only Rain 
• The Resist Stance 
• Won’t Somebody 
• The Devil in Stitches 
• Pride and the Pallor 
• Wrong Way Kids 
• Meeting of the Minds
• Someone to Believe 
• Avalon 
• Cyanide
• Turn Your Back On Me 
• Ad Hominem 
• Where The Fun Is 
• I Won’t Say Anything

Listen to the first track, "The Devil In Stitches" here:


The record is available for pre-order from the band's website now.

Bad Religion's website
Bad Religion's Myspace

Badly Drawn Boy to release new album "It's What I'm Thinking"

It seems like forever and a day since we last heard from Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy.  Well the Mercury Prize-winner is returning with a new album, It's What I'm Thinking, on October 4th.

You can get a free download of the demo for the track "In Safe Hands" in exchange for your email address here.

Here's a look at the track list for the album

• In Safe Hands
• The Order Of Things
• Too Many Miracles
• What Tomorrow Brings
• I Saw You Walk Away
• It’s What I’m Thinking
• You Lied
• A Pure Accident
• This Electric
• This Beautiful Ideas

Badly Drawn Boy's Myspace

Rusty Anderson (of Paul McCartney's band): "Born On Earth" (video)

Rusty Anderson has found time during his gig as guitarist for Paul McCartney's band to record his own second album Born On Earth.  The album is slated for an August 3rd release.

Check out the video for the title track here:


Also grab the track "Where Would We Go?".

Rusty Anderson is currently on tour with Paul McCartney.

Rusty Anderson's website
Rusty Anderson's Myspace

Born Ruffians: "What To Say (VOWLS Remix)"

Toronto's VOWLS have just released a new remix.  You can stream or download their reworking of Born Ruffians "What To Say" here.

The group have a new 7" of their own available from the website too.

VOWLS' website
VOWLS' Myspace

Cheynne Mize & Bonnie "Prince" Billy release EP

Let's talk oddball releases for a moment.  That's definitely one way to describe Among the Gold, the new EP from Cheyenne Mize and Bonnie "Prince" Billy.  The EP is a collection of 19th Century parlour songs done by the duo in their own special style.

Better yet, the whole thing is free.  Grab yours here.

Here's the track list:

• Silver Threads
• Loves Old Sweet Song
• Beautiful Dreamer
• Let Me Call You Sweetheart
• Kiss Me Again
• Only A Dream

Cheyenne Mize's website
Bonnie "Prince" Billy's Myspace

Miniature Tigers: "Fortress" (album review)

Arizona quartet Miniature Tigers debuted with an album of fun, quirky pop songs.  Now they've returned to try to keep up the momentum with their sophomore full length Fortress.

Miniature Tigers try to keep it rolling by trying some new things alongside the proven winning formula.  "Mansion of Misery" and "Rock N' Roll Mountain Troll" are pure pop fun, while "Japanese Woman Living In My Chest" is pure absurdist gold.  Those songs represent the band's past.  "Goldskull", with it's trippy electronic blips, represents the best of the band's future.

It's hard to fault a band for trying new things.  Unfortunately what Miniature Tigers try on Fortress fails more often than it succeeds.  Tracks like "Dark Tower" and "Egyptian Rose" are too laid back to be of any interest, and "Bullfighter Jacket", while catchy, is too derivative of The Flaming Lips to ignore.

Fortress is one of those albums that just fails to make a huge impact.  There's nothing aurally offensive on the record, but there's simply nothing terribly memorable either.

Best tracks: "Japanese Woman Living In My Chest", "Goldskull"

Track listing for Fortress:

• Mansion of Misery
• Rock N' Roll Mountain Troll
• Dark Tower
• Goldskull
• Bullfighter Jacket
• Egyptian Rose
• Japanese Woman Living In My Chest
• Tropical Birds
• Lolita
• Coyote Enchantment

6.0/10

Miniature Tigers' Myspace