let's all wear red hunting hats to celebrate the life of one of the greatest writers of all time!

R.I.P J. D. Salinger.

song of the moment

Cool—Jemina Pearl (ex-Be Your Own Pet) recorded a track with Iggy Pop! Download it for FREE below:

Jemina Pearl: I Hate People (w/ Iggy Pop)

Also, check out Dirty Laundry's feature with Jemina!

that's when we're slicing through time

Check out this rehearsal video for the song "Hologram" by These New Puritans!



The band have just been confirmed to support The xx on their UK and European tour dates, go to TNP's MySpace for more info.

classic song of the moment

Here's the end credit song from the classic cult film Street Trash. I had to rip the song off the movie since a proper soundtrack was never released... the sound quality is not all that great; but regardless, it is a fucking awesome song from an awesome movie! Enjoy!

Tony Darrow: We Do Things My Way from the film Street Trash! [wicked cool song]

these new puritans: hidden

With Beat Pyramid being my third favourite album of 2008 and one of my favourites of the decade, These New Puritans’ sophomore release, Hidden is by far my most anticipated album of this year. Let me dive right into it: Hidden is a lot like Beat Pyramid, but far more superior. Everything I loved about the first album—the mysterious atmosphere, the killer rhythms and drumbeats, the grand sound and incredible production—is somehow even better... far better in the new record! While Beat Pyramid sounds triumphant and celebratory, Hidden sounds epic and majestic, like an ancient noble battle. I am not going to write much more as I am far too excited about this album to stay cohesive. First Beat Pyramid and now Hidden—which I can’t imagine being out of my top 5 at the end of the year (I know, it’s only January)—TNP proofed to be one of the most talented bands in recent years. I don’t usually rate albums here, but if I were to, I would give Hidden a perfect 10; it is absolutely brilliant, a true masterpiece!

Three Thousand [super-wicked-cool song]
Attack Music [super-wicked-cool song]

visit These New Puritans' MySpace here
buy Hidden here

good shoes: no hope, no future

Good Shoes had some big shoes to fill—their breakout debut was my 6th favourite album of 2007 and "Morden" was my favourite track in the same year. I have been patiently waiting for the band’s sophomore for three years now (while spinning Think Before You Speak on a regular basis); and naturally, I had some high expectations for No Hope, No Future. So after listening to the new album for almost a week, I am happy to say that I am more than satisfied with it! Not much has changed since the last record, No Hope, No Future is slightly, just slightly, more mature, but otherwise, it is once again filled with infectious catchy and energetic DIY indie-pop tunes! The first single, "Under Control" is unbelievably catchy, it has been stuck in my head for the past few days. There are a few unusual sounding tracks on the record: "Everything You Do" stood out when I first heard it because it sounded so different; "Then She Walks Away" is very Foals like; and "City By The Sea" is a non-Good Shoe like ballad with quite beautiful lyrics. Perhaps my favourite track at the moment is "I Know". I absolutely love the melodic song structure; and in a way, it reminds me of "Morden"—the former is a rant about society as a whole while the latter is a commentary on the band’s hometown. No Hope, No Future sounds more cohesive and complete than Think Before You Speak; it feels less choppy while still maintaining that bouncy high-energy tempo. It broke the sophomore curse, and it definitely lived up to the highly anticipated tag... what a great start to 2010!

I Know [wicked-cool song]
Under Control [wicked-cool song]

visit Good Shoes' MySpace here
buy No Hope, No Future here

song of the moment

These New Puritans' epic single, "We Want War" is out on 10-inch vinyl today! The highly anticipated sophomore album, Hidden will be out new Monday (18th), you can stream the entire album on the band's MySpace.

i've got this under control

Head over to Good Shoes' site to listen to four tracks off of the band's new album, No Hope No Future! I am sooooooo stoked for this album... it is out in three days (January 11!) Make sure you sign up for the Good Shoes’ mailing list to get a free mp3 of "Under Control".

The band will also be doing quite a few of in-stores to celebrate the release of No Hope No Future!

Mon 11th - Rough Trade East, London
Wed 13th - Resident Records, Brighton
Thur 14th - Banquet Records, Kingston
Fri 15th - Rise Records, Bristol

the thermals' top 5 albums of 2009

Sorry, I have been neglecting this blog—I am completely addicted to Uncharted 2 (currently on my 3rd playthrough)—nonetheless, here’s a favourite 5 albums of 2009 from The Thermals that was sent to me more than a week ago... sorry for the delay!


Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest
Nurses: Apple's Acre
Bill Callahan: Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Tinariwen: Imidiwan
The Cribs: Ignore The Ignorant

The Thermals’ Now We Can See was #8 in my top 30 albums of 2009 list, it is out on Kill Rock Stars. Buy it here and visit the band’s MySpace here.



I am working on my favourite albums of the decade list... going to take my time with that, so look for it sometime next week.

happy new year + new grouper!

Gorilla Vs. Bear posted a brand new Grouper song, "Vessel" on New Year's day. The song is taken from a new split 12" from Grouper and Roy Montgomery; the rest of the Grouper song on the release are "Hollow Press", "Hold the Way", and "Pulse".

Grouper: Vessel [wicked-cool song]