First video from The Cure's upcoming album: "The Only One"

The Cure's yet-to-be-titled new album drops September 13th. Robert Smith has promised a new song for fans every month, starting this month with "The Only One." And they've made a video for what appears will be their first single.

Grand Archives on Craig Ferguson

I wasn't allowed to stay up late enough to see the best new band of the year perform on the Late Late Show. God Bless Youtube, huh. Matt and co. chose the sublime "Torn Blue Foam Couch" to play for the occasion.

Album of the week

Portishead
Third (Mercury)









hear: Silence, The Rip, We Carry On, Machine Gun, Small, Magic Doors

New video: Portishead's "The Rip"

Not for the most sensitive eyes, but definitely intriguing.

Destroyer @ Bowery Ballroom, 4.23.08

Recommended listening:

My Bloody Valentine return to the American stage; "My Bloody Underground" released

This may be old news but I would be remiss if I didn't mention something about My Bloody Valentine touring North America. Yes, the 2nd best shoegaze band ever(congratulations Slowdive), will play the big cities this Fall: L.A., NYC, SF, Chicago, and uh, Toronto? What has Seattle and Miam- just Seattle- done to you Kevin?! Sale dates and prices aren't available as of yet. Also not available is a detailed explanation as to the reason they chose Roseland in NYC for their grand reunion tour. Roseland?

Dates:

9.22 New York, NY: Roseland
9.23 New York, NY: Roseland
9.25 Toronto, Ontario: Ricoh
9.27 Chicago, IL: Aragon Ballroom
9.30 San Francisco, CA: The Concourse
10.01 Los Angeles, CA: Santa Monica Civic
10.02 Los Angeles, CA: Santa Monica Civic




In not-so-related-news, the winner for best album title so far this year goes to The Brian Jonestown Massacre for their latest release, "My Bloody Undergound." Even funnier is that it already has a wikipedia page of its own. The blatant intentionality of the name is just hilarious. That's Anton Newcombe for you. What I don't get is that if it's supposed to pay homage to The Jesus and Mary Chain as well, where's their spot in the album title? "My Bloody Underground's Mary Chain"? Come on Anton.

Tapes 'n Tapes release "Hang Them All" video

Tapes 'n Tapes' first single off the recently dropped Walk it Off is the power-poppy "Hang Them All." And as these things typically go, they made a video for it.

AlbumS of the week

Cut Copy
In Ghost Colours (Modular)










hear: Feel the Love, Lights and Music, Unforgettable Season, So Haunted, Far Away, Strangers in the Wind, Nobody Lost Nobody Found

















The Kills
Midnight Boom (Domino)












hear: U.R.A. Fever, Cheap and Cheerful, Tape Song, Getting Down, M.E.X.I.C.O.C.U., Sour Cherry, Alphabet Pony

The National releasing Boxer "making of" DVD; EP

Apparently the boys from Ohio(originally) thought Boxer was such a hit that they should release a video of how they actually did it. And apparently, so did La Blogotheque's Vincent Moon, who is the director of the film, titled "A Skin, A

Night." I'm betting Vincent came up with that gem. Included with the video is the less-stealthly titled 12-track Virginia EP, a collection of unreleased songs, demos, live performances, and covers. It may be the lengthiest EP to date. Both are set for a May 21st release date. Below is the tracklist.

Virginia EP tracklisting:

01) YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN, VIRGINIA (previously unreleased)
02) SANTA CLARA (UK b-side)
03) BLANK SLATE (UK b-side)
04) TALL SAINT (demo)
05) WITHOUT PERMISSION (unreleased cover of Caroline Martin song)
06) FOREVER AFTER DAYS (demo)
07) REST OF YEARS (demo)
08) SLOW SHOW (demo)
09) LUCKY YOU (daytrotter session)
10) MANSION ON THE HILL (live)
11) FAKE EMPIRE (live)
12) ABOUT TODAY (live)

Morrissey performs on Craig Ferguson

Morrissey has apparently released a new single in the UK: "All You Need is Me." But it looks as though he still spends plenty of time in L.A., as he introduces the new single for the "Late Late Show." Homeboy still isn't aging too well...

Portishead rock Coachella

They kill this song. Can't wait to hear the entire album.

Album of the week

M83
Saturdays=Youth (Mute)










hear: Kim & Jessie, Skin of the Night, Graveyard Girl, Up!, We Own the Sky, Dark Moves of Love

New Scott Weiland solo album

That's right, dust off your flannel shirt and faded jeans -or buy some leather pants and a Slash wig I guess- because the lead singer of the former bands, Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, is in the studio working on his 2nd solo album. We recommend that Scott dust off the flannel shirt and not the leather pants though. His 1st solo album, 12 Bar Blues, was released back in the late '90's when STP was in full throttle -and other than Tiny Music and Purple, is probably the best album Weiland has ever put out solo or collectively. Although there is a rumored STP reunion, Weiland is looking to release a record down the lines of his old school sound, no doubt with some modern structure that his 1st solo work shined with. Adrian Young, the wild hands behind the peddles of No Doubt, is lending his sticks to the project, and Veteran producer Steve Albini is apparently helping Weiland on the production side.

Rogue Wave @ Fillmore(Irving Plaza), 4.12.08

Zach Rogue is one nice dude. I'm pretty sure he appeased every single bursting request that came from the crowd. I guess this stood out to me because in these parts, bands don't go out of their way to be congenial. Rogue Wave is from Oakland and so it makes perfect sense. Great energy and solid execution from the band. They seemed to really mean it and the crowd responded well. The set list included tracks from all three records but it was heavily bias toward the new album -which I love so it was cool with me. "Harmonium," the final song from their first set tore the house down and was definitely my favorite of the night. The crowd was split, some cheering loudest for Lake Michigan and others for the beautiful ironic "Screw California," which apparently a couple chicks in the front were pretty desperate to hear.


Recommended listening:

New R.E.M. video: "Hollow Man"

Good song but a video that really doesn't go with the song at all. All you need to know is that the video was done by someone named "Crush." Yep, sensory overload. It is worth watching once though.

New Weezer album cover unleashed

I wish so bad it was April 1st

AlbumS of the week

Destroyer
Trouble in Dreams (Merge)


Dan Bejar is one of the most intellectual minds in music. While Trouble in Dreams doesn't match the brilliance of Destroyer's Rubies, it still shows Bejar's knack for rustic, infectious tracks and clever lyrics. It starts off very strong with the first two tracks and reaches it's climax at the album's centerpiece, the amazing "Shooting Rockets(From the Desk of Night's Ape)." But the album also finishes off strong with the solid tracks, "Leopard of Honor" and "Libby's First Sunrise." It's not necessarily a "troubled" album but it does have an overall undertone of frustration, especially relevant to women.
























hear: Blue flower/Blue Flame, Dark Leaves Form a Thread, Foam Hands, Shooting Rockets (From the Desk of Night's Ape), Leopard of Honor, Libby's First Sunrise




R.E.M.
Accelerate (Warner Brothers)










Somebody has been listening to Teenage Fanclub. Much has been made of the new R.E.M. album. We get it -the power is back. And the power is very much welcomed. Still, while Accelerate is a very fun and intriguing album with clever lyrics of its own, track for track, it's not one of R.E.M.'s best. Don't get me wrong, Accelerate has many good tracks and I totally recommend it. It just doesn't have many "great" tracks. But songs such as "Houston" and "Mr. Richards" are compelling, and Accelerate is definitely consistent. If I were to star it, I'd give it 3 and a half.


hear: Man-Sized Wreath, Supernatural Superserious, Hollow Man, Houston, Accelerate, Mr. Richards

New My Brightest Diamond material!

Shara Worden's voice is majestic. Her new album, A Thousand Shark's Teeth is due out in June. The first sample from the new album is the sublime "Inside a Boy." Check it.

Heidi Montag raps on TRL...well, tries

Warning: this video is not for the faint of heart.

R.E.M. does marathon Take Away Show session

La Blogtheque isn't just for itsy-bitsy indie-rock bands but full-blown rock bands like the magnificent R.E.M. After releasing just over half-an-hour of welcomed amped-up rock, R.E.M. and Vincent Moon of La Bogotheque met as R.E.M. performed 5 songs. That's right -not just 2 or 3..this is R.E.M- it's 5. Four songs were from the new album: "Until the Day is Done," "Living Well is the Best Revenge," "Houston," and "Sing for the Submarine." The fifth song was "On the Fly."

R.E.M. - Until the day is done

R.E.M. - Living well is the best revenge

R.E.M. - On the fly

R.E.M. - Houston

R.E.M. - Sing for the Submarine

New M83 video! album released...

Finally, M83 aka Anthony Gonzalez, returns. The album, titled Saturdays=Youth was released Tuesday- and the first single and video have been dropped as well. The song is "Graveyard Girl." The video rules! Oh boy this is exciting...

Album of the week

Sun Kil Moon
April (Caldo Verde)










Sun Kil Moon release their first original material since 2003. April has met the expectations and then some. The album starts out with one of its strongest tracks, "Lost Verses," which lasts nearly 10 minutes and ends with an amped up riff or two, after a subdued first 9 minutes. The ending complements the song well, almost like its wrapping the somber tone up and getting on. And subdued is a good word to describe the whole of April. It resembles Kozelek's Red House Painters(especially "Songs For a Blue Guitar") in that it has a darker undertone than Ghosts of the Great Highway and is surprisingly, extremely personal as Kozelek opens his experienced heart for all to examine. Kozelek sang about love before, but it seemed as though it was through a filter of some kind, never quite letting us completely in as April does.

If the album were to have a single, it would be "Moorsetown," probably the strongest overall track on the album although personally, I prefer the stripped down live version on Little Drummer Boy. It may be polished more but it still shines and is one of Kozelek's strongest songs -in sound and lyrics- yet, as is "Lost Verses" and "Heron Blue." "Heron" Blue" is a minimal powerhouse. It sounds as if it's suspended, where a bomb could drop at any time; the key being the bass drum which sneaks in halfway through the song. The arrangement is perfect and it sounds like new territory in production for Mark. Another standout, "Unlit Hallway" was also released on the live Drummer Boy and is also polished, albeit for the better this time due mainly to the Ukulele and backing vocals from Will Oldham who adds his voice to "Like the River" as well. Ben Gibbard also contributes vocals in "Lost Verses." Other highlights include "Tonight in Bilboa" and "Like the River." In fact, there's really not a bad song on the album. "The Light" and "Tonight the Sky" are somewhat monotonous, but even still, Kozelek's ability to lock you in with his vocals is unleashed. And you will find it hard to kick the melodies from "Lucky Man" and "Harper Road" from your mind.



hear: Lost Verses, Lucky Man, Unlit Hallway, Heron Blue, Moorestown, Like The River, Tonight in Bilbao

Chewbaka- I mean, Devendra Banhart and Natalie Portman an item

Oh look at those matching coats. I like Dev's better. I picture Natalie with a musician. Just not Devendra Banhart. He seems like too much of a philanthropist for the pure Isobel Campbell-like actress. Maybe Zach Condon? Now that would be a cute couple. And is it me or does Devendra look like the cookie monster in this picture? Think about it...Natalie is a delicious cookie...

New video/song from Death Cab: "I Will Possess Your Heart"

The Song is "I Will Possess Your Heart." Apparently it's the first single from their forthcoming Narrow Stairs album, set to drop in a couple weeks. The video is sort of boring but the (long)song sounds exciting, even if the lyrics are a little bland.

Radiohead has its own net. site, Kanye his own travel site...and Ramielle kicked off American Idol?

I'm gone for 2 weeks and this is what I come home to? We all know Ramielle rocked so RIP Ram -not to mention the Australian dude who is way better than half the young ones remaining on that show. At least he's lived in America for like 10 years, unlike the Irish American wannabe who's only been here 2 years. Am i really blogging about American Idol? Yes. Yes, I am. I can't take Kanye seriously ever since he said he was the McDonalds of music. People listen to your music to go to the bathroom?

As for Radiohead, way to keep massaging the hand you've been jawing on for the past decade. A social networking site? You're Radiohead! You're one of the best bands in the world -not a vehicle by which people can get to know each other -or even you- better. You already have forums. Pretending you were the first band to give their music away for free is one thing...but dipping your hand into the economics of social media is just lame. I understand some bands are more than just bands. But even then, their true essence hasn't changed. By doing this, you're transforming yourself from a band into something fundamentally different at the core. There is such thing as too much Radiohead. And although I arrived at that point many times in the past, this is beyond that. This isn't music and it's a departure from which you excel. It really has nothing to do with music. Stop trying to be revolutionary and just play.