is it worth all this war just to win...

New Patrick Wolf MySpace profile picture:

i'm tired of the looks you give me when i get home late

The amazing new Wilco album Sky Blue Sky is enhanced with a free bonus download of a track entitled "The Thanks I Get". It is a little song about two people trying to make their relationship work once again. The song has this old rock and roll-ish feel to it, it kind of reminds me of something from The Beatles’ Rubber Soul or even "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart. Nonetheless, it is a nice bonus track and it is free... enjoy!

The Thanks I Get
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buy Sky Blue Sky here

can i just be another risk you're running

I didn’t really know what to expect when I received Straylight Run's The Needles, The Space in the mail on Monday morning. Aside from the new single, "Soon We’ll Be Living In The Future", I haven’t really heard any new Straylight Run materials since their self-title album back in 2004. After listening to The Needles, The Space for the past few days, I strongly feel that it is an overall more solid record than Straylight Run. Unlike their former album (which had a handful of highlights but the overall album felt a little empty), most of the tracks on the new record fit wonderfully together and they work excellently with each others. Perhaps one of my favourite elements on The Needles, The Space is the lovely balance of vocal duties between John and Michelle Nolan. The contrast of their voices from track to track creates a sense of flow and movement. Michelle Nolan’s pretty, but at the same time haunting vocal strangely fits perfectly with the joyful sounding music in "The Miracle That Never Came" while John Nolan’s quiet and humble voice will sure make "Buttoned Down" a fans’ favourite. Their contrasting vocals on "Take It To Manhattan" interplay with one another to generate a grand volume. The production on The Needles, The Space is superb as well! The record is full of fantastic layers right from "The Words We Say" as the xylophone notes give the track extra textures. After listening to The Needles, The Space, I thought that Straylight Run has changed a great deal. Yes, they are a much better sounding band and the new album is a definite improvement from their self-titled debut. Nevertheless, aside from the terrific production and increased vocal contribution from Michelle Nolan, Straylight Run’s style reminds similar: they are still very emotionally charged and truthfully genuine in their songs.

Sorry, I cannot share/upload tracks from The Needles, The Space at the moment, but you can watch the brand new video for "Soon We Will Be Living In the Future" below.


The Needles, The Space comes out on June 19
you can pre-order it from Newbury Comics and receive an autographed CD booklet
or pre-order it from SmartPunk and receive a free vinyl version

now that the dreams are all coming true

If you missed Patrick Wolf's performance of "The Magic Position" on Jimmy Kimmel Live, you can watch it below.

three bands to look out for during nxne

North By Northeast starts today in Toronto, what bands are you seeing? Multi-dates music festival can be pretty overwhelming; and deciding which few bands to see out of hundreds can be tough! So, to help all you concert goers out, I have narrowed down three bands you must see during NXNE!

1. The Nymphets

The Nymphets was the best act I saw during CMW a few months back. Their fast tempo and ultra energetic sets will win anyone over.

You Look So Good [wicked-cool song]
Dreaming [wicked-cool song]
Murder [wicked-cool song]

The Nymphets is playing at Comfort Zone on Friday at 11pm


2. A Northern Chorus

Their 2005 release, Bitter Hands Resign, featured some beautifully composed music. A Northern Chorus will sure produce a grand atmosphere with their heroic music.

This Open Heart
Watershed Divide

A Northern Chorus is playing at Sneaky Dees on Thursday at 12am


3. Sydney

Incredible band... fans of Taking Back Sunday’s Tell All Your Friends must check out Sydney... that is all I have to say!!!

Got Some Purple Stuff... Hey, Sunny D
Seething

Sydney is playing at Kathedral on Friday at 10pm

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better run when you hear the sirens coming

The only release that matters this week is Maths + English, the third studio full-length by Dizzee Rascal. The album features "Sirens", which is one of my favourite tracks/videos of 2007 so far. Despite the fact that Dizzee’s sound and style has not really evolve dramatically overtime, Maths + English certainly carries the best elements taken from Boy In Da Corner and Showtime. Aside from one lousy song ("Suk My Dick"), the new record is pretty much flawless! Each song is highly additive and memorable; from the in-your-face loud beats to electronica-inflenced dance rhythms, Maths + English offers a wide variety of Dizzee’s innovative styles.

Pussyole (Oldskool) [wicked-cool song]
Sirens [super-wicked-cool song]
Paranoid [wicked-cool song]
Bubbles [wicked-cool song]
Hardback (Industry) [wicked-cool song]
Wanna Be [wicked-cool song]
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buy Math + English here

turn the key over and over...

Patrick Wolf has the most impressive collection of b-sides in music right now. From early wonders such as "Penzance", Nico’s "Afraid", "Souvenirs", and the Yeats tribute "The Hazelwood", P. Wolf has showcased his magnificent musical talent in non-album forms. His latest, The Magic Position, has yet another lovely collection of b-sides. He has already brought us "Ari's Song" (Nico), "Underworld", "Adder", and "On Sussex Downs" (Larrikin Love) ; however, if those are not enough, you can now add "The Marriage", "Augustin", and "Secret Garden II" to quench your thirst. The lyrically brilliant song, "The Marriage", is in my opinion, Patrick’s most sexual song to date. It is an extremely intimate and delicate track. "Augustin" and "Secret Garden II" should have been produced as one track rather than two different tracks. They fit so well together, it is really a crime to split them up!! "Augustin" is lonely without "Secret Garden II" while "Secret Garden II" sounds incomplete without "Augustin". Therefore, you need both "Augustin" and "Secret Garden II" together to complete "The Marriage"!

Augustin from The Magic Position 7" Sinlge - Part I [wicked-cool song]
Secret Garden II from The Magic Position 7" Sinlge - Part II [wicked-cool song]
The Marriage from The Magic Position CD Sinlge [super-wicked-cool song]
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buy The Magic Position 7" Sinlge - Part I here
buy The Magic Position 7" Sinlge - Part II here
buy The Magic Position CD Sinlge here

mama, I saw the stars tonight

Watch NYLON TV:MySpace special with The Klaxons and Patrick Wolf below.

my heart grows colder with each day

Watch the new Bat For Lashes video for "What's A Girl To Do" below.

What's A Girl To Do [wicked-cool song]

buy Fur And Gold here

i scream as loud as anyone, but when asked to make a point I tend to whisper

The Format has announced new tour dates!!!! They will be on the road all summer long, so make sure to check them out when they are playing at a city near you!

Jun 14 Mayan Theater - DVD TAPING! Los Angeles, California
Jul 13 Orpheum Theatre Phoenix, Arizona
Jul 14 Orpheum Theatre Phoenix, Arizona
Jul 16 House of Blues Dallas, Texas
Jul 17 Antones Austin, Texas
Jul 18 Meridian Houston, Texas
Jul 20 The Club @ Firestone Orlando, Florida
Jul 21 Fuel Coffeehouse Jacksonville, Florida
Jul 22 Jannus Landing St Petersburg, Florida
Jul 24 Culture Room Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Jul 25 Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Jul 26 House of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana
Jul 27 New Daisy Theatre Memphis, Tennessee
Jul 28 D-Fest Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jul 29 Sunshine Theatre Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 31 SOMA San Diego, California
Aug 1 Avalon Hollywood, California
Aug 2 House of Blues Anaheim, California
Aug 3 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, California
Aug 4 Hawthorne Theatre Portland, Oregon
Aug 5 Neumo's Seattle, Washington
Aug 7 Croatian Cultural Centre Vancouver, British Columbia
Aug 9 The Warehouse Calgary, Alberta
Aug 10 Dinwoodie Lounge @ University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta
Aug 11 Louis Pub @ University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Aug 12 Ramada Theatre Winnipeg, Manitoba
Aug 16 The Opera House Toronto, Ontario
Aug 18 Higher Ground Burlington, Vermont
Aug 19 Avalon Boston, Massachusetts
Aug 21 Webster Hall New York, New York
Aug 22 Starland Ballroom Sayerville, New Jersey
Aug 23 The Trocadero Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 24 Norva Norfolk, Virginia
Aug 25 930 Club Washington, Washington DC
Aug 26 Cats Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina
Aug 28 Bogarts Cincinnati, Ohio
Aug 29 Agora Theatre Cleveland, Ohio
Aug 30 Intersection Grand rapids, Michigan
Aug 31 St Andrews Hall Detroit, Michigan
Sep 1 The Vic Chicago, Illinois
Sep 2 Station 4 St Paul, Minnesota
Sep 4 The Picador Iowa City, Iowa
Sep 5 Pops Sauget, Illinois
Sep 6 The Granada Lawrence, Kansas
Sep 7 Gothic Theatre Englewood, Colorado

The Format will celebrate the one year anniversary of Dog Problems' release by offering it for FREE!!!! That’s right, the entire album will be available for download from June 25 till July 15 on their official site. This is your chance to get a hold of my favourite record of 2006!!!