Portugal. The Man: new album details, stream "Got It All This Can't Be Living Now)"

The greatest musical thing to come out of Alaska since, well...ever, Portugal. The Man, are returning with a brand new studio album.  The new record, In The Mountain In The Cloud, is slated for a July 19th release.

You can hear the new track "Got It All (This Can't Be Living Now)" here:


Portugal. The Man play Lee's Palace in Toronto on May 27th.

Portugal. The Man's website

Reverend Horton Heat & Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band @ Lee's Palace (live review)

Before Friday night's concert at Lee's Palace I was trying to figure out how many times I've seen psychobilly veterans Reverend Horton Heat in concert.  The nearest I can figure is that this gig would be either the 8th or 9th run.  Judging from the audience of greasers and aging rockers, there weren't too many rookies on hand on this night.

The only dud amongst those shows was the Rev's last stop in T.O. at The Phoenix in 2010.  That night he appeared uncharacteristically distracted and/or disinterested.  There would be no such let down on this night though.

Without a new album to plug on this tour, the Texas trio took a different tact in constructing their set.  As the group celebrates their 25th year together, they decided to play a selection of songs from each of their nine studio albums.

Knowing their audience, the band reached deep into the catalogue and dusted off album tracks that we haven't heard live in a while.  It was refreshing to hear nearly-forgotten gems like "Nuture My Pig!", "Cruisin' For a Bruisin'", and the stellar mellow "Crooked Cigarette".

Of course, you can't avoid the crowd favorites forever.  To that end the Rev ensured the crowd was sent home happy with renditions of live staples including "400 Bucks", "Big Red Rocket of Love/Folsom Prison Blues", "Bales Of Cocaine", "Where In the Hell Did You Go With My Toothbrush?", and "Psychobilly Freakout".

The band's moves and tricks could use some updating, but when you have classic spots like surfing on the upright bass or the cross-fretting/cross-strum, it's hard to retire them.

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band lead off the double-Rev bill.  It was my first real exposure to the group, for whom 'big' refers to girth rather than number of members, and it left me with a middling feelings.

The energy level was high, as was the quality of the playing.  There were some entertaining theatrics and interactions involving the band's 'bass player' aka Peyton's thumb.  That made it easy to overlook the more contrived banter moment (a couple of which were lifted nearly line-for-line from Eddie Spaghetti's schtick).

Where the group fell down for me was in the songwriting.  Most cuts consisted of little more than a chorus repeated ad nauseum.  I can't remember the last time I ran across a musician more verse averse.  I'm definitely in the minority though, as the crowd seemed to sop it up.

It wasn't the best Reverend Horton Heat show that I've seen, but it was good to confirm that the last time out was just a hiccup.  The Rev is still an almost-guaranteed great night out.

7.5/10

Reverend Horton Heat's website
Reverend Peyton's website

Last minute plans: Diamonds Under Fire @ the Mod Club

Oh what to do on a Saturday night in Toronto?  I suggest the Mod Club for the Uh Huh Her.

If you do make it out, make sure you get there early to catch Los Angeles-based alternative rock act Diamonds Under Fire.  The group, the brainchild of singer/songwriter Vanessa Silberman, has drawn comparisons to everyone from Chrissie Hynde to PJ Harvey.

The self-titled album is available now.

Diamonds Under Fire's website

Quick Hits: Saskatchewan

Here's a look at things I'm trying to catch up on:

Saskatchewan, "Nice Daze"
No, it's not a large indie pop group (as is the trend from the prairie province), but rather a dreamy, trippy pop outfit from Orlando, FL.  This is the first of two digital 7" singles that will be packaged as an EP.  If the second batch of songs are as mesmerizing as this pair, it will be something special.

Saskatchewan's Bandcamp

Shawn Clarke: "Untitled" (MP3)

I had never heard of Toronto singer/songwriter Shawn Clarke until his album Like Birds Too Tired To Fly arrived in my Inbox.  It didn't take long for it to become a favorite of mine, eventually landing at #11 on my Best of 2010 list.

Now Clarke has been giving away a handful of tracks from that stellar record.  This week he made another track, the album closer "Untitled", available.

Grab the free download here.

Shawn Clarke plays Hugh's Room in Toronto on May 31st.


Shawn Clarke's website

The Watson Twins: "Night Covers" (EP review)

I like cover songs.  I like the melodic folk of The Watson Twins.  So how could I not like Chandra and Leigh's new all-covers EP Night Covers?

The Watson Twins have a unique style.  Ever since their stellar cover of The Cure's oft-covered "Just Like Heaven", I've been interested in hearing them add their vocals harmonies and rootsy arrangements to other songs.  On Night Covers, they've chosen a very broad spectrum of artists to apply their formula to.

The take on The Turtles' "You Showed Me" is melancholy and lovely, as is to be expected from The Watson Twins.  Things get more interesting with "Ain't No Sunshine", a meandering, keyboard-laden airing of the Bill Withers hit, which they infuse with their own different soulfulness.

The EP is actually at it's best when the twins move out of their comfort zone.  That manifests here with the surprisingly upbeat version of The Eurythmics "Here Comes The Rain Again", on which the pair sound loose and relaxed.  They also preserve the smooth flow of Sade's "Sweetest Taboo".  It's the least like the duo's own work and it demonstrates some courage to tackle, but that also makes it arguably the most rewarding track.

A lot could have been done with PJ Harvey's "Angelene".  Unfortunately, the merely stripped down rendition doesn't add anything to the song.  Likewise, the tepid cover of The Black Keys' "Tighten Up" fails to deliver any sort of lasting impression.

Night Covers is never going to be a record for the all-time.  However, it's definitely a fun diversion for both the Watson Twins and their fans.

Best tracks: "Here Comes The Rain Again", "Sweetest Taboo"

Track listing for Night Covers:

• You Showed Me
• Angelene
• Ain't No Sunshine
• Here Comes The Rain Again
• Sweetest Taboo
• Tighten Up

7.0/10

The Watson Twins' website

Last minute plans: Mausoleum, Cowlick, The BB Guns, and Dinosaur Dinosaur @ Rancho Relaxo

If you're looking for bang for your concert buck tonight then I strongly suggest you head on over to Rancho Relaxo where The Indie Machine will be putting on another fine showcase of local talent.

The line-up tonight includes:

• Mausoleum
• Cowlick
• The BB Guns
• Dinosaur Dinosaur

Doors open at 9:00pm and cover is $6.

3 More To Explore: Avalanche City, Boring Girls, Tom Vek

Here are three more artists to check out this week:

Avalanche City
For those who like: I'm From Barcelona, Ben Lee

Thanks to the use of the irresistibly catchy song "Love Love Love" in a promo for New Zealand's TV2, this indie pop band gave away 11,000 free downloads of their debut album.  Catch the wave before it reaches our shores.

Avalanche City's website

Boring Girls
For those who like: Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs

Hailing from Cambridge, UK, these guys make loose indie rock with that Anglo flair.  The songs are simple and catchy, just what you need for a weekend of partying.

Boring Girls' website

Tom Vek
For those who like: The Wombats, The Raveonettes

Leisure Seizure, the new album from British actor/tv presenter Vek is due out on June 7th.  From the lead single it sounds like it's going to be a fun-filled, yet slightly off-kilter affair.

Tom Vek's website

The Silent League: "Texico Bitches" (Broken Social Scene cover)

On May 16th The Silent League will release We Go Forward.  The album is a collection of remixes spanning the band's three albums as well as a selection of covers.

The remixes are done by some impressive folks, including Neon Indian, but it's really the covers that are of interest to me.

Download their cover of Broken Social Scene's "Texico Bitches" now.  You've got to love the strings on it.

The Silent League's website

Lykke Li: "Sadness Is A Blessing" (video)

Lykke Li has a new video from her latest album Wounded Rhymes.  You can watch the clip for the track "Sadness Is A Blessing" below:



Lykke Li plays The Phoenix in Toronto on May 22nd.

Lykke Li's website

Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Cee Lo Green, The Black Keys and more contribute to Buddy Holly tribute

Credit: PopperFoto: GettyImages

In anticipation of what would have been Buddy Holly's 75th birthday, an impressive array of artists have contributed to a tribute album to the rock n' roll legend.  Rave On Buddy Holly is set for a June 28th release.

Here's the complete list of tracks:

• "Dearest - The Black Keys
• "Every Day" - Fiona Apple & Jon Brion
• "It's So Easy" - Paul McCartney 
• "Not Fade Away" - Florence + The Machine)
• "(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care" - Cee Lo Green
• "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" - Karen Elson 
• "Rave On" - Julian Casablancas
• "I'm Gonna Love You Too" - Jenny O.
• "Maybe Baby" - Justin Townes Earle
• "Oh Boy" - She & Him 
• "Changing All Those Changes" - Nick Lowe
• "Words Of Love" - Patti Smith
• "True Love Ways" - My Morning Jacket
• "That'll Be The Day" - Modest Mouse
• "Well...All Right" - Kid Rock 
• "Heartbeat" -The Detroit Cobras
• "Peggy Sue" - Lou Reed
• "Peggy Sue Got Married" - John Doe
• "Raining In My Heart" - Graham Nash

Rave On Buddy Holly website

Dark Mean set to release debut album, give away "Happy Banjo" (MP3)

Hamilton's Dark Mean have been featured here before.  Now they are on the verge of releasing their debut full length album.  The self-titled record, which could easily be the sleeper hit of the summer, is slated for a June 14th release.

Check out the rockingest banjo riff in recent memory on "Happy Banjo".

Here's the track list for the album:

• Algonquin
• Happy Banjo
• Smoke Lake
• Finland
• Music Box
• Lullaby
• Acoustic
• China
• Dark Banjo
• Old Man

Dark Mean's website

Last minute plans: Spectre Hearts @ the Velvet Underground

If you want to get in on the ground floor of something, why not head over to the Velvet Underground tonight for the debut performance by Toronto indie rock band Spectre Hearts.  You can check out a pair of impressive tracks over at the group's Bandcamp page below.

Doors are at 9:00pm with a $5 cover.

Spectre Hearts' Bandcamp

Classified: "Handshakes & Middle Fingers" (album review)

Lots of credit has to go to Classified.  The Canadian rapper who just released his new album Handshakes and Middle Fingers, is one of the most positive forces in hip hop.

Lyrically, Classified is always For instance, when he raps about sleeping with girls, he's referring to helping his daughters get to sleep rather than boasting about strippers and hoes.  The album kicks off with "Intro- Ups and Downs", a self-aware reflection on success and it's relation to everyday life.  "That Ain't Classy" is his ultimate statement, making a strong and admirable declaration of what he stands for.

He also wears his Canadianness on his sleeve, even using the theme from CBC's Danger Bay in the song of the same name (we'll overlook the hamfisted news clips included at the end).

The music also that separates Classified from his peers.  He's not content to rely on retread beats.  Instead the songs are dynamic, often weaving in jazz, R&B and island breeze influences.

Not everything's a winner.  "Stay Cool", for example, sounds a little too much like a smooth '70s AM radio R&B number.  "High Maintenance" is unexceptional both lyrically and beat-wise.

I've never been a huge fan of hip hop as a genre.  If there were more artists like Classified though, that might change.

Best tracks: "That Ain't Classy", "The Hangover"

Track listing for Handshakes & Middle Fingers:

• Intro- Ups and Downs
• That Ain't Classy
• High Maintenance
• Unusual
• Danger Bay
• Stay Cool
• Passion
• Maybe It's Just Me
• Young Soul
• Run With Me
• The Day Doesn't Die
• They Don't Know
• Step It Up
• Desensitized
• The Hangover

8.0/10

Classified's website

Ottawa Bluesfest 2011 line-up announced: Flaming Lips, Black Keys, M. Ward, Josh Ritter, Dropkick Murphys, and much more

This year's edition of Ottawa Bluesfest (sans blues) runs July 5-17 at Lebreton Flats in the nation's capital.  It's another impressive line-up that this year includes:

• Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
• Soundgarden
• The Flaming Lips
• Tegan and Sara
• Bootsy Collins
• Bedouin Soundclash
• Ben Harper
• The Roots
• Mark Kozelek
• Steve Miller Band
• Girl Talk
• The Sheepdogs
• PS I Love You
• Cage the Elephant
• The Black Keys
• Rise Against
• Wanda Jackson
• Hey Rosetta!
• The Tragically Hip
• Justin Nozuka
• Erykah Badu
• The Greenhornes
• M. Ward
• A Perfect Circle
• Dropkick Murphys
• Huey Lewis & the News
• Neon Indian
• Leon Russell
• Diamond Rings
• Yukon Blonde
• Josh Ritter
• John Fogerty
• Buck 65
• My Morning Jacket
• Buddy Guy
• Winter Gloves
• Arkells
• The Tea Party
• Blue Rodeo
• Cuff the Duke
• Hannah Georgas
• Imaginary Cities
• Death from Above 1979
• Nicole Atkins
• Mother Mother
• The Beauties
• Karkwa
• Braids
• Gomez
• Cheap Trick
• Death Cab for Cutie
• Joe Satriani
• Ra Ra Riot
• Galactic
• ...and many more

There are definitely some great acts worth checking out.  Get your tickets through the fest website.

Ottawa Bluesfest website

Sam Bradley gives away new single "Woman You Crazy"

Singer/songwriter Sam Bradley has led an interesting life.  It's taken him from London, England where he was born, to Hong Kong, Nashville, and now our home and native land.  He's even co-written a song with Robert Pattinson (we'll forgive him that).

He's releasing a new single, "Woman You Crazy", on May 10th.  For the next two weeks though, he's giving it away for free download via his website.

Sure, from the song's title one would assume Bradley isn't one for grammar, but who am I to look a gift download in the mouth...or whatever a download has in place where it's mouth should be.  Definitely not a mouth.  That would be creepy.

Bradley has a trio of Ontario dates this week, including:

• Ottawa, Cafe Dekuf, TONIGHT
• Toronto, The Drake, April 30
• London, The Music Gallery, May 2

Sam Bradley's website

Broken Bells: "Meyrin Fields" (EP review)

It isn't the prevailing opinion, but I was not enamoured with the debut from Broken Bells.  Therefore, I wasn't expecting too much when I popped in the new EP from Danger Mouse and The Shins' James Mercer, Meyrin Fields.  I was very pleasantly surprised by what I heard though.

My main criticism of the full length was that I found it too sterile and suffered from being too inorganic.  The harmonica and loose bassline of the title track blew that out of the water from the very beginning of the EP.

The rising and falling cadence of "Windows" makes that track nearly hypnotic.  Mercer's vocals are crisper and more prominent on the EP as well.  It certainly helps that the singing is more distinct on a song like "An Easy Life", rather than being masked by a curtain of electronic nonsense.

The fuzz-filled "Heartless Empire" provides a suitable conclusion to the record.

Meyrin Fields is the album that Broken Bells should have made as a debut, at least in my mind anyway.  It definitely makes me eager to see where they go from here.

Best tracks: ""Windows", "Meyrin Fields"

Track listing for Meyrin Fields:

• Meyrin Fields
• Windows
• An Easy Life
• Heartless Empire

8.0/10

Broken Bells' website

The Black Lips: more album details, "Modern Art" video

A little while ago I mentioned that The Black Lips will be releasing their new album, Arabia Mountain, on June 7th.  Much of the album was produced by mega-producer Mark Ronson.

Check out the second video from the album, "Modern Art", now:


Here's the track listing:

• Family Tree
• Modern Art 
• Spidey's Curse 
• Mad Dog 
• Mr. Driver 
• Bicentennial Man
• Go Out and Get It
• Raw Meat 
• Bone Marrow 
• The Lie 
• Time
• Dumpster Dive
• New Direction 
• Noc-a-homa
• Don't Mess My Baby 
• You Keep On Running

The Black Lips' website

Kate Maki: new album details, "Lose My Mind" (MP3)

Singer/songwriter/school teacher Kate Maki is set to release her fifth album. Moonshine will come out on May 24th.

For this effort she enticed friends, including members of Cuff The Duke, The Pinecones, and The Fembots, to trek up to Sudbury to help record

Check out the track "Lose My Mind" now.

Here's the track list:

• Lose My Mind
• The Signal
• Hanging On
• Shine On My Mind
• Fade To Grey
• Boredom Blues
• Fought The Castle
• Golden Thorns
• When I Go
• Ode

Kate Maki plays the Cameron House in Toronto on June 3rd.

Kate Maki's website

Fleet Foxes: "Helplessness Blues" (album review)

May 3rd will see the release of one of the most anticipated albums of 2011 as Fleet Foxes drop Helplessness Blues, the follow-up to their 2008 self-titled smash.

For the most part, the sophomore album doesn't stray too far from the trail blazed by its predecessor.  That's unfortunate, because despite the beauty of the Byrds-inspired vocal harmonies, the songs do have a tendency to blend into one another.  The music can easily become indistinct, making it hard to keep engaged with it.  Songs like the title track or the paint-by-numbers "Lorelai" make little impression on the listener.

Robin Pecknold's vocals aren't the strength they once were either.  With rare exceptions, like the fleetingly bluesy "The Shrine/An Argument", he delivers his parts with a marked lack of emotion.  At times it takes Fleet Foxes to the cusp of sounding gimmicky.

I'm not expecting or wanting a wholesale change in the band's direction or a complete revamping of their sound, but I do want to hear them give us something new and interesting.  The ideal would be more tunes like the wandering minstrel instrumental "The Cascades".  That song adds layers to Fleet Foxes' previous sound.  It's a simple evolution that's scarcely heard on Helplessness Blues.

On occasion, like on "Bedouin Dress ", the band does bring a Middle Eastern rhythm to the table.  It's a welcome addition and nice step out to broaden the sound palette.  "Sim Sala Bim" brings a little bit more rock to the proceedings, taking them closer to Blitzen Trapper territory.

The truth is, considering the minimal growth between Fleet Foxes and Helplessness Blues, there's precious little reason for someone to own both records.

Fleet Foxes play Massey Hall in Toronto on July 14th.

Best tracks: "Bedouin Dress", "The Shrine/An Argument"

Track listing for Helplessness Blues:

• Montezuma
• Bedouin Dress
• Sim Sala Bim
• Battery Kinzie
• The Plains/Bitter Dancer
• Helplessness Blues
• The Cascades
• Lorelai
• Someone You'd Admire
• The Shrine/An Argument
• Blue Spotted Tail
• Grown Ocean

7.0/10

Fleet Foxes' website

New releases for Apr 26: Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Sloan

Here's a glimpse at the new albums worth checking out this week:

• Big Pauper
• Delhi 2 Dublin
• Matt Dusk
• Steve Earle- Review
• Explosions In The Sky
• Freedom Or Death- Review
• Emmylou Harris
• An Horse
• J.J. Ipsen & the Paper Crown- MP3
• Joe Lally
• Miracle Fortress- MP3
• Sloan
• Laura Stevenson & the Cans- Review
• Teenage Kicks- Review
• Thao & Mirah

Dinosaur Bones: "Royalty" (video)

Toronto buzzy-bodies Dinosaur Bones have announced a number of summer dates, which includes a stop in Toronto for the least-edgy show of the year, Edgefest, on July 9th.  See the complete itinerary here.

They've also dropped a video for the track "Royalty".  Check it out:


Dinosaur Bones' website

Manchester Orchestra: "Simple Math" (album review)

Georgia's Manchester Orchestra consistently put out solid record that meld hard southern rock and indie influences.  They are returning with a welcome new album Simple Math, on May 10th.

The band is a little more pastoral this time around.  The melodic opener "Deer" is mellow, almost hymn-like.  "Pale Black Eye" boasts harmonies and an orchestral arrangement that make it sound vaguely like Fleet Foxes, that is until it builds into a hard-edged cacophony.  The sweeping title track and dreamy closer "Leaky Breaks" add to this.

Personally, I always enjoy the catchier Manchester Orchestra songs the best.  Those count few on this record.  The quick hitting "Pensacola" is one, with a peppy keyboard line.  The other notable is "April Fool", a dirty rocker that will set your head bopping.

The most intriguing track on Simple Math may very well be "Virgin".  The song is ominous and hard.  School children vocals come in near the end, giving an eerie cult-like ritualistic feeling to it.

I would've like to hear some more hooks buried somewhere on Simple Math, but as it stands the album is a good step in the evolutionary process of the band.  The incremental shift keeps the band sounding fresh without alienating existing fans.

Manchester Orchestra plays the Mod Club in Toronto on May 16th.

Best tracks: "Virgin", "April Fool"

Track listing for Simple Math:

• Deer
• Mighty
• Pensacola
• April Fool
• Pale Black Eye
• Virgin
• Simple Math
• Leave It Alone
• Apprehension
• Leaky Breaks

7.5/10

Manchester Orchestra's website

This week's entertainment picks: Duran Duran, Reverend Horton Heat

There's something for everyone on the Toronto concert scene this week.  Here's my picks:

Duran Duran, The Phoenix, Apr 25
Even if you aren't a big '80s pop fan, there's something to be said about a huge band playing a small venue.  This definitely qualifies.

Duran Duran's website

Reverend Horton Heat, Lee's Palace, Apr 29
I never miss 'the Rev' when he comes to town.  The trio put on a psychobilly freakout show like none other.  I've never come away disappointed.

Reverend Horton Heat's website

...also this week:

• All Time Low, Apr 25
• Appleseed Cast, Apr 25
• The Builders and The Butchers, Apr 26
• Frank Turner, Apr 26
• Mogwai, Apr 26
• Coheed & Cambria, Apr 27
• Grails, Apr 28
• The Rural Alberta Advantage, Apr 29
• Foals, Apr 30
• Uh Huh Her, Apr 30
• The Kills, May 1
• Tame Impala w. Yuck, May 1

Black Devils Brigade: "3 Miles Long, 66 Feet Wide" (EP review)

Toronto's Black Devils Brigade have just dropped their first ever release.  The debut EP, 3 Miles Long, 66 Feet Wide, was conceived as a tribute to the Weston neighbourhood where they all grew up.

Blues rock is the order of the day here.  "The Fire Code" has a groove as hot as anything laid down by The Black Keys.  The imposing basslines move throughout tracks like "Gemini", give some impressive heft to the songs.

Things are most interesting though when the band strips back some of the layers.  For example, the album opener, "Raised By Wolves", is pure blues gold.

The vocals are often treated with some fuzzy effects that help lend a timeless quality.  Between the delivery and the production they are almost perfectly suited for this kind of music.

Everything comes together in a perfect storm on the closer "The Killing Business".  It's difficult to put into words the power of the emotionally draining number.

Judging an artist from a debut EP is a risky venture.  However, all indications are that Black Devils Brigade are poised to be a force on the Toronto music scene, and beyond.  We'll have to wait for the full length to see if those hopes are justified.

Black Devils Brigade play Sneaky Dee's in Toronto on May 12th and will also play NXNE (details TBA).

Best tracks: "The Killing Business", "Burgundy Bound"

Track listing for 3 Miles Long, 66 Feet Wide:

• Raised By Wolves
• The Fire Code
• Gemini
• Burgundy Bound
• The Killing Business

8.5/10

Black Devils Brigade's website

Toronto concerts announced this week: White Denimn, Jesse Labelle

Here's a review of the new concerts announced for Toronto over the past week:

• Whale Tooth, Horseshoe Tavern, Apr 30
• Dog Is Blue, Tranzac, May 6
• Jesse Labelle, Drake Underground, May 8
• Adrienne Pierce, C'est What?, May 19
• Jesse Labelle, Drake Underground, May 26
• The Baseball Project, Lee's Palace, Jun 1
• Jesse Labelle, Drake Underground, Jun 2
• Dog Is Blue, Tranzac, Jun 9
• Jesse Labelle, Drake Underground, Jun 9
• White Denim, El Mocambo, Jun 28
• Fitz & Tantrums, Opera House, Jun 30
• John Butler Trio, Sound Academy, Jul 17
• Jesse Malin, Horseshoe Tavern, Jul 29

The Kills: "Blood Pressures" (album review)

As far as blues-inspired indie rock goes, The Kills have been making some of the best over the last decade of so.  Now they return with a new studio album Blood Pressures.

This isn't The Kills we're used to.  Unlike previous albums that have been wild and free-wheeling, a barely controlled frenzy, this is an incredibly tame record.  I don't expect to hear the same band that gave us the aural blitzkreig of "Fried My Little Brains", but I do expect more than the midtempo tracks performed with no sense of urgency.  Songs like "Future Starts Slow" and "Baby Says" sound like a band playing it safe (and possibly trying to cash in on Alison Mosshart's broader exposure in Jack White's The Dead Weather).

Sadly, even Mosshart's vocals, which are usually so raw and seductive, are coated in a polished sheen.  She sounds more like a crooning Shirley Manson than the passionate wailer we're used to hearing.  Her tepid delivery on "DNA" wastes an otherwise strong bluesy effort.

A handful of tracks do shake you out of the duldrums.  "Nail In My Coffins" has that dirty groove that we've come to expect from The Kills.  "Damned If She Do" starts as a dirty-sounding duet before exploding with a big fat bassline in the chorus.  From a lyrical perspective, the kiss off song "You Don't Own The Road" is sinfully delightful.

There are a couple of experiments that don't quite click, but should be applauded anyway.  The first of those, "Wild Charms", is a flighty stripped down number sung by Jamie Hince.  Another, "The Last Goodbye", features Mosshart singing above a piano and strings as an old vinyl album hisses away.

Going in I had great hopes for Blood Pressures.  It's a new record from a band who should by all accounts be at the height of their power.  What we've been given instead in an incredibly sterile and disappointing effort.

Best tracks: "You Don't Own The Road", "Damned If She Do"

Track listing for Blood Pressures:

• Future Starts Slow
• Satellite
• Heart Is a Beating Drum
• Nail In My Coffin
• Wild Charms
• DNA
• Baby Says
• The Last Goodbye
• Damned If She Do
• You Don't Own The Road
• Pots and Pans

5.5/10

The Kills' website

Quick Hits: Laura Stevenson & the Cans, Andrew Vladeck

Clearing the decks, here's stuff I meant to talk about this week but just couldn't get to:

Laura Stevenson & the Cans, Sit Resist
The new album from Stevenson comes out on April 26th.  The album is a collection of folk-based singer-songwriter tracks that tend towards the tender.  Hooks are unfortunately not as plentiful as one would hope, leaving a fairly unremarkable effort behind.

Laura Stevenson & the Cans' website

Andrew Vladeck
New Yorker Vladeck is a past winner of the International Songwriting Competition.  This EP combines his knack for penning interesting lyrics from a uniquely insightful perspective, with elegant arrangements.  His version of folk is reminiscent of Andrew Bird.

The 6-song EP has a fantastic package as well.  An accompanying pocket book presents the records lyrics as poetry.

Andrew Vladeck's website