DCFC

Death Cab for Cutie are putting out The Open Door EP next week. Most of the tracks are available for streaming at Stereogum. They sound like they'd fit pretty well in segue with the new Conor Oberst stuff (see below). I like the direction. See if you do...

Little Bribes
A Diamond and a Tether
My Mirror Speaks

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

Conor Oberst and his entourage have a new album on the way entitled Outer South. Go to his website to hear the first track, Slowly (Oh So Slowly). Dare I say that it's upbeat? I'll be checking out the live show at Coachella... don't be jealous, just come with.

Passion Pit

I've been crazy addicted to their Chunk of Change EP (especially I've Got Your Number) since I picked it up used a couple of weeks ago. The news of a full length has therefore gotten me a tad worked up. It'll be called Manners, and will feature The Reeling which is (big grin) now streaming on their Myspace, which has the delightful url... myspace.com/passionpitjams.

Please enjoy.

Metric - Fantasies

If you enjoy highly charged indie pop with sexy female vocals you should already be a Metric fan. Emily Haines & Co. have put together yet another album full of catchy, new wavey tunes to dance to while vacuuming (for example). It's called Fantasies, and it's available for streaming in it's entirety at ilovemetric.com

New Patrick Wolf

This enormously talented young man is putting out a new album in June called The Bachelor. I gotta say... the lead single isn't quite up to the (admittedly very high) expectations I have for Mr. Wolf, but I'm reserving judgment until I hear the whole record. For now, we have a rather racy video for the new song Vulture, which I suggest you wait to watch when not at work.

Patrick Wolf - Vulture


For a superior example of Patrick's artistry, listen to this superb track from his brilliant second album Wind in the Wires:

The Libertine

Empire of the Sun

There's been a wealth of quality dance acts from Down Under (Cut Copy, Presets, Midnight Juggernauts, Muscles) making it big "Up Over" (read: everywhere else in the world), and here's another one: Empire of the Sun comprises Luke Steele from the Sleepy Jackson and PNAU's Nick Littlemore churning out an album full of irresistible synth pop that sounds about what the Scissor Sisters might be like on say, their 5th album. This isn't exactly hot off the presses... they've already conquered the charts in Australia and were getting their fair share of blog attention in the US way back in the fall, but the new news is that they will finally have their debut LP released stateside on April 21st. Check out their appropriately flamboyant videos below.

We Are The People


Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream

It's Blitz!

The new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album won't be in record stores for another month, but (allegedly due to it's recent leak onto the web) it has just been made available for immediate download with the option to have the cd or vinyl shipped upon release. Bad news for retailers, but good news for Karen O addicts like myself who want instant gratification.

Get it here.

The Dead Weather

As if the White Stripes and the Raconteurs weren't enough for young Jack...



That is indeed Alison Mosshart of the Kills on vocals, not to mention a Queen of the Stone Age in there.

Used Bin Purchases

Here's stuff that I bought that you might wanna hear...

For Beginners - M. Ward

Sawdust Man - Ben Kweller

I've Got Your Number - Passion...

Random Firl - Late of the Pier

Be So Happy - Heartless Bastar...

Another World - Antony & The J...

Deserter - Matthew Dear

I also picked up Red, Yellow & Blue by Born Ruffians, but they're hard to find links for.

Foreign Born

I am foreign born. There is a band from L.A. called Foreign Born. Enjoy their latest single. It's quite lovely.

Vacationing People - mp3

What else would I spend it on?

So, when I went to buy the Dark was the Night compilation I was (as ever) beckoned hither by the used section and it's tempting top shelf of prime preowned offerings. Catching my eye first were the copy of the brand new Ben Kweller release and Heartless Bastards' even brand newer album, both enticing me with their sub ten dollar price tags. Upon perusing the entire bin, I came across a number of recent releases (and a couple of older ones) that have been hanging about on my "to buy" list. Score. I ended up with ten discs worth of new tunes for under a hundred bucks, including tax. Anyway... I'll stop babbling and share with you some of the goodies. (More to come.)

Another Comp

My being out of town has impeded my ability to post this week. I'll be making up for it in the next few days.

For now, I'm going to share with you another compilation that I picked up before I left town and have already played right through a number of times. It's called DARK WAS THE NIGHT. Indie heavyweights abound, giving us a slew of unrealeased songs that add up to a really strong tracklist. Arcade Fire, The National, Bon Iver, Feist, Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Sufjan Stevens... need I go on? Alright... New Pornographers, Spoon, Ben Gibbard, Iron & Wine, Conor Oberst... okay, I'll stop (but it really is an amazing lineup). It's a Red Hot mix, so benefits the AIDS cause... so no burning people. It's a double disc, but It's priced like a single and is well worth the money, charitable or not. I'm on a computer with an ancient browser version so can't seem to manage a good link for you (it won't even let me use italics)... find one yourself, or take my word for it and just pick up your own copy.

Heroes

There's a new War Child album out with a bunch of songs requested by legends and covered by the cream of the current musical crop. Hot Chip covering Joy Division? Yes Please! TV on the Radio taking on Bowie? Mm-mmm. Beck does Dylan, Scissor Sisters do Roxy Music, Elbow does U2... Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Hold Steady, and Rufus all make appearances. And it's all for charity, so no file sharing people. Help the kids.

War Child - Heroes Vol.1 - Var...

Ra Ra Riot

I'm going to see them tonight at the new performance space at UCSD, The Loft. I'll write something about the show tomorrow, probably. If you haven't heard them yet... then make it right. You shan't be disappointed.

Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

I can't say I like the name, but the music sounds good. Teenage Fanclubby, Belle & Sebastianey, britpoppy indie rock for your lazy springtime afternoons. Here's a link to the whole, self-titled album, try Come Saturday or Young Adult Friction fore the catchiest stuff.