Record Store Day is less than 24 hrs away! The year is shaping out to be pretty huge with tones of wicked exclusives. I am extremely jealous of the folks in the UK as Parlophone will be releasing a series of limited 7-inches by 12 artists including The Beatles, Jónsi, Babyshambles, Bat For Lashes... and Blur’s first new single since 2003 “Fool’s Day”!!!!!!!!!
I guess North America isn’t getting a bad deal either with Sub Pop releasing Beach House and The Album Leaf 12-inches—both with 2 new tracks; as well as reissue of Soundgarden’s Hunted Down 7”. Go here for a full list of Sub Pop's RSD releases and check out the Sub Pop Record Store Day Playlist here.
Hot Chip recently covered Shakira’s "She Wolf" (WTF/OMG!) I actually just heard/saw the song/video for the first time the other day—it is pretty amazing... in that funny kind of way. Hot Chip’s version is pretty spectacular, hear it over at Abeano.
A huge announcement from NXNE today that Iggy And The Stooges will be doing a free show at this year’s festival!!!!!! (OMG!!!!) Other acts announced so far includes X, The Soft Pack, Japandroids, Surfer Blood, DD/MM/YYYY, The Besnard Lakes, The Sunshine Underground, Women, and The Raveonettes. Go here for the full list so far.
I just noticed that I have neglected to post about Los Campesinos!’ Romance Is Boring. Well, unless you’ve been living under a rock, Roman Is Boring has been out in both Europe (Wichita) and North America (Arts & Crafts) since the end of January/beginning of February.
This was one of the most anticipated releases for me this year. Ever since seeing the energetic group from Wales played for free at The Horseshoe Tavern about 3 years ago, I have been in love with the band, and Hold On Now, Youngster... is one of my favourite albums of the decade; so saying that Romance Is Boring was a highly anticipated release might be an understatement!
Anyway, on to the actual album: what can I say, Romance Is Boring is yet another brilliant release by LC! I feel that more so than before, the writing on this album is pure genius, and of course, wittier than ever:"We are but two atheists in lust, you know, we gotta make our own luck;""I've learnt more from toilet walls, than I've learnt from these words of yours;" and "They promised they’d be best of friends from now until forever, but both were far too needy not to fall for the other. And how the frequent public displays of sisterly affection left her feeling safe, left him with an erection."
Musically, the album is full of classic LC! dynamic changes in songs like the opening track and "I Just Sighed. I Just Sighed, Just So You Know". Meanwhile, the male/female call & response and group shoutings still feel very fresh and amusing, especially in "Romance is Boring", "We’ve Got Your Back (Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #2)", "I Warned You: Do Not Make an Enemy of Me", and "This Is A Flag. There Is No Wind".
Romance Is Boring features all the characteristics that made so many fall in love the band in the first place—their grand and multi-layered instrumentation and engaging vocals exchanges. Despite this, the highlight for me here is the lyrics as Romance Is Boring is a perfect showcase of extraordinary song writing.
visit Los Campesinos!' MySpace here buy Romance Is Boringhere
Today, I woke up with the song "Undercover Martyn" by Two Door Cinema Club in my head... I was just going to post the video for the song, but instead, I decided to write about Tourist History, the full length debut by the trio from Northern Ireland. Tourist History is by no means innovative or original; it is simply a very UK sounding, catchy-as-hell indiepop album. As a result, Two Door Cinema Club’s debut is not short of cheeky (and sometimes delightfully cheesy) lyrics, memorable melodies, and fancy synth hooks; think Mystery Jets meets The Futureheads meets Late Of The Pier. It is useless to over-analyze Tourist History, take it for what it is—a cheerful and straightforward album with a handful of unforgettable pop songs.
visit Two Door Cinema Club's MySpace here buy Tourist Historyhere
Epitaph Records announced yesterday that the label will re-release the 1998 classic/one of my favourite albums of all time—The Shape Of Punk To Come: A Chimerical Bombation In 12 Bursts by Refused—on June 8. The re-release will come in an awesome three disc Deluxe Edition that will include the original album, a never-before-released live album (omg!), and the documentary Refused Are Fucking Dead on DVD! Really Epitaph? I already own The Shape of Punk on both CD and vinyl... now I have to get the Deluxe Edition as well (this is just like when Sub Pop reissuedDiary last year!).
Patrick Wolf recorded a cover of Kate Bush's "Army Dreamers" for Peace: By Amnesty & Buffetlibre—an ambitious project/compilation featuring more than 100 new songs by artists from 50 countries. You can stream a handful of songs over at Buffetlibre's site.
Old Man Luedecke is playing a FREE in-store at Criminal Records in Toronto this Thursday (8th) at 6:30 pm! Here's a photo from the last in-store at Criminal.
OML just released a new record called My Hands Are On Fire and Other Love Songs, hear a few songs from it here. And if you haven't already, make sure to check out OML's fantastic 2008 release, Proof Of Love.
Record Store Day is less than 24 hrs away! The year is shaping out to be pretty huge with tones of wicked exclusives. I am extremely jealous of the folks in the UK as Parlophone will be releasing a series of limited 7-inches by 12 artists including The Beatles, Jónsi, Babyshambles, Bat For Lashes... and Blur’s first new single since 2003 “Fool’s Day”!!!!!!!!!
I guess North America isn’t getting a bad deal either with Sub Pop releasing Beach House and The Album Leaf 12-inches—both with 2 new tracks; as well as reissue of Soundgarden’s Hunted Down 7”. Go here for a full list of Sub Pop's RSD releases and check out the Sub Pop Record Store Day Playlist here.
