New Interpol Song Appears Virtually Out Of Nowhere For Free

Am I crying?

Without so much in the way of a Tweet, the sharp-dressed gentlemen of Interpol has dropped their latest effort entitled Lights. That's it. No title for their fourth album. No release date. According to Pitchfork, they were the recipients of a cryptic email from the band stating that they will be "posting important information and dates in the coming weeks". So, you should look for that.

Now that we have that out of way, next order of business. Is the track any good? After releasing a debut album that was one of the best in the past decade, Interpol has only had flashes of their original greatness. Lights kicks off with that trademark(ed by Joy Division?) gunslinger guitar trodding across a vast landscape. Next comes that trademark (by again, JD) deep, brooding and intentionally obscure vocals that sets the injured drama rolling echoed by trickles of an insistent piano. When the kick drum commences more than 2 minutes in, the trickles build into a cloudburst; a rainstorm of high hat and keyboards splash and crackle as the chant "That's why I hold you" insists on your recognition as the track slowly passes away.

To answer the question: an emphatic yes. Download it with my full endorsement.

Sleigh Bells First Album Due May 11, New Track Available For Download

Power tools. Heavy artillery. Crashing airplanes. These are not common descriptors for the sound of a new band. In whatever case, welcome to the Brooklyn-based duo Sleigh Bells. Although the name invokes a light and carefree sound, the only thing that qualifies as such is the baby-doll female vocals. Yet, her voice soars over the clashing metal guitar riffs and distorted drum machine beats booming at a hip hop tempo. If you like your music more than loud and offensive, this will set the mood. Their debut LP Treats on Mom and Pop and M.I.A.'s label N.E.E.T. is due out soon.

Download the new track Tell 'Em here. Don't worry, the link is there. Just keep looking...

Sleigh Bells - Beach Girls

Harlem, Jaill Coming To Chicago May 1, Free Downloads Available

Desperate to try to get out this weekend, I am scanning who is playing live in Chicago. Saturday evening at the Empty Bottle has a rather enticing bill. Headliners are the Austin trio Harlem, bringing the silly back to garage rock. There is something to be said for a joyous sing-a-long about Casper the Friendly Ghost played with reckless abandon. Their latest album Hippies was released April 6 to some solid reviews here. And here.

Supporting band out of Milwaukee, Jaill has a cleaner sound, but the same speedy pop-punk bounce that brings the kids up to the front of the stage. Also from across the Cheddar Curtain, Call Me Lightning sports a serious riff and earnest vocals that will surely translate well to the stage of a small venue. Give the music a listen below and maybe I will see you at the Empty Bottle Saturday night.


Purchase the new Harlem album here.

Keep an eye out for the new Jaill album here. Due out July 27.

Listen to their sample tracks below. Download by clicking on the down arrow.

Harlem - Friendly Ghost


Jaill - Everyone's Hip

Free Track Available From Band Of Horses, New Album Out May 18

Reverb loving indie folk outfit Band of Horses has been hard at work on the Internets promoting their third LP Infinite Arms. The first anyone heard from the album was the track "Compliments" made available for free download as a music video. Preorders for the new album include the $99.99 deluxe edition featuring both CD and 180 gram vinyl, a DVD featuring "videos for each song on the album synced to a 5.1 surround sound mix of the record", and fancy packaging as a 100 page coffee table book. Ah, the joys of being on a major label...

Next up, the obligatory teaser track for an email address is now available. The new song "Factory" is a swooning waltz complete with string arrangements that give a joyous lift to the song's emotional gravity. The drums pop like fireworks as lyrics ache over acoustic strums. It is a lovely song that swells with simultaneous joy and pain. This is a hopeful return to the power of their first album Everything All The Time after what I feel was a distinctly average sophomore release. Download and enjoy.

Preorder the album through the Band of Horses website.

First Blur Single In Seven Years Made For Record Store Day, Available For Free Download

Record Store Day happens on the third weekend in April every year. All around the world, independent record stores host events to get people through their doors. Bands play live and sign products, DJ spin records and labels give away free stuff or send exclusive releases to independent shops.All in all, it is an inspired event meant to show that the connection between the artist and the purveyors of their product is more than monetary.

That day has gone and past, according to reports, successfully. One of the bigger stories is the release of a new track by Brit Pop standard bearers, Blur. The band has not had any new output since 2003, an iffy single from their uneven effort, Think Tank. The members of Blur have kept busy, notably with frontman Damon Albarn's Gorrilaz project and guitarist Graham Coxon's many solo albums. With the popularity of these diversions, the presence of a new Blur track is surprising, and after a few listens, most welcome.

The track entitled "Fool's Day" is a simple track about trying to live the simple life of being English. This is a well explored topic for Blur, being the motif of their seminal 1994 effort Parklife. The beats and hooks are leisurely and light, drifting the longtime Blur fan back to the height of their popularity. The track is a definite first step in the right direction for a new Blur album if the band members choose to do so.

A quote for their from Blur’s manager states that it was important that the song was made available to fans legally. "To avoid fans having to illegally obtain an inferior copy of this track from pirate sites – we have made it freely available through the band’s website". Excellent move, gentlemen.

Give it a listen and download it below.

First Video From LCD Soundsystem's New Album, Release Date On May 18

If you are an Indie Rocker (and let's face it, if you are not one then what is the point), you can't click on any of your usual web pages without having emblazoned headlines screaming "THE NEW LCD SOUNDSYSTEM ALBUM 'THIS IS HAPPENING' IS COMING OUT!". It isn't that you are not excited about it, it is just that, well, you already know that. There are plenty of ways to listen to songs from the album already, most notably from the stream from the LCD Soundsystem website. However, since you are at your computer anyways, why not give check out the new video?

The first single called "Drunk Girls" is out and as you have already heard, you will have no problems stepping to this beat. The video adds to the party atmosphere by depicting a full on assault of James Murphy and two band members by some sort of panda bear loving cult. It suits the track beautifully. Directed by Murphy and Spike Jonze.

Preorder the new album here.

Free Caribou Download, Album Out April 20, Remix Contest Included

This week is all about Dan Snaith (aka Caribou). His third album Swim is released tomorrow. His first release since 2007's lush and joyous Andorra, Caribou's latest is a darker, slinkier feel with a stronger pull to the dance floor. Where Andorra was oft compared to an electronic version of a day at the beach, the setting of Swim is more along the lines of winding urban streets making your way to the next loft party. Make your own comparisons by giving the entire album a free listen below. The wonderful first single "Odessa" is also available for download.

In celebration of his new release, Caribou has sponsored the quickly-gaining-popularity remix contest. Offering us the separated high quality raw tracks from the new album's second and most dancable track "Sun". There are no other rules provided, so get to it all of you laptop sound engineers.

Click on the down arrow below for free version of "Odessa"


Listen to the full length album "Swim". Purchase the album by clicking on the down arrow, then the "Buy this set" button below.


Click on the down arrows to download each of the 14 tracks individually. All tracks are large (60,000 kb) .WAV files and will take time to fully download.

Wiping Off The Dust: Supergrass - In It For The Money; Breakup Reported

Today is a sad day in the annals of Brit Pop as veteran band Supergrass has called it quits after 17 years. Their sound have evolved over the years from snot nose punk to reflective acoustic numbers while making frequent stopovers in that little, well-visited town called Beatlesque. Often in the same discussion with more well known bands such as Oasis, Blur, Pulp and The Libertines, Supergrass made their sound distinct by never being bogged down by taking themselves to seriously while effortlessly churning out album after album of infectious, joyful and catchy pop songs.

I heard of Supergrass like most people; their first singles "Caught By The Fuzz" and "Alright" were all over the charts in the U.K. in 1995 and reached the states through alternative routes. However, their second album, "In It For The Money" was the more mature, polished and expanded effort that set their sound in motion for their forthcoming albums. The raucous, revved-up fun was still there on the singles "Cheapskate" and "Richard III", using their new keyboardist effectively and employing a Theremin in the latter track, just for the hell of it. Nevertheless, it is always those songs that break new ground and expand into new arenas that garner new listeners and keep the present fans interested and happy. Mellow tracks like "It's Not Me", "Hollow Little Reign" and single "Late In The Day" begin their journey into maturity without losing that playful edge. The real gem here is the extended rocker "Sun Hits The Sky", a song so ready for concert encores that you can feel the crush and hear the sing-along of the crowd in that bouncing bass and uplifting chorus. Overall, there is no filler on "In It For Money" with each track having direction and it's own personality making it of my favorite albums of that period.

According to NME,  Supergrass has split while recording their seventh album "Release The Drones". There is no indication of when, or if, the album will be released, or if it is even finished. Their understated swan song will be a simple tour of four European concert dates. Nevertheless, Supergrass deserves high praise for being a British band whose retained their popularity without being splashed across gossip pages for interband brawls, publicized celebrity dating and drug abuse. Instead, Supergrass kept it simple producing great music while making it all look easy.

Tracklist

1. In It For The Money
2. Richard III
3. Tonight
4. Late In The Day
5. G-Song
6. Sun Hits The Sky
7. Going Out
8. It's Not Me
9. Cheapskate
10. You Can See Me
11. Hollow Little Reign
12. Sometimes I Make You Sad

Late In The Day



Sun Hits The Sky
 

The National Give Away Another Track From The New Album, Full Album Out May 11

About three weeks ago, I posted a link for new National track "Bloodbuzz Ohio"; an urgent,emotional rocker that set expectations high for their new album, High Violet. Apparently, they can't wait for the release date. The National has released another enjoyable track for our listening pleasure.

The new track, entitled "Afraid Of Everyone" has an achy, dark yearn as the burning slowly spreads to strings, woodwinds and an insistent drumbeat. The chorus is a surprising sing-a-long despite the dark tone and fearful lyrics. By the end, the drums are the approaching footsteps of phobia and eventually overtake the songs as it descends into a dissonant fadeout. Back to back great songs like "Afraid Of Everyone" can only mean that The National have done it again.

The new album goes on sale May 11 on 4AD. Buy it here.

Download "Afraid Of Everyone" here. Or here. Or listen below.


 

The New Chemical Brothers Song Is Really Good, New Album Out June 8

Yeah, I admit it. I was surprised.

The Chemical Brothers had their place and time. In the Pantheon of 90's Big Beat Electronica, they stood tall. Always with their tongues in their cheeks and a nod to drug culture, they were the rave standard. However, the 90's are at least a decade ago and Electronica has moved on to a smarter and more varied template.

Instead of drawing from the same decade old well, they give us this jawdropper. This track below titled "Escape Velocity" is an excellent blend of the new and the same. I am thinking a remix of Boards of Canada by Underworld in their prime. Equal parts spacey, glitchy and rave-y, this 12 minute epic is full of anthemic claps and crescendos that will keep your feet moving and head bobbing for its sweaty entirety.

The new album from The Chemical Brothers is due June 8 on Astralwerks.I am thinking this site will have some more info soon. Meanwhile, enjoy this YouTube stream.

Stars New Album Out June 22, Free Track And Tour Schedule Available Now

Oh Canada...

The collective Stars have a new album,"The Five Ghosts" coming out on June 22nd. In the giving spirit, they have made the track "Fixed" available for the price of one email address. What a deal.

The new song is a return to form for fans of the 2005 Stars' breakthrough effort "Set Yourself On Fire". "Fixed" is a light and breezy bundle of joy featuring flitting female vocals and waves of 80's keyboard glitz. For those who live to go retro, this song would not be out of place on a John Hughes' soundtrack. For some of you, I guess that is a warning.

Added bonus! Stars begins their tour soon, hitting Chicago on June 9th. If you go to their website, they are taking fan requests for their encores. Feel the joy...

Pissed Jeans Live At The Empty Bottle April 14th, Links To Free Music Below

Right now, I need a little asskicking in my life. I am considering checking out a show next Wednesday at the Empty Bottle. Let me share with you a few tidbits about it and, hopefully, you will go as well.

First off, the band’s name is awesome. Pissed Jeans. Before you even hear the music, you already have an initial impression of what these guys are all about. Their sound is uncomfortable, dirty and infuriating like, well, wetting yourself. They are a foursome from Allentown, Pennsylvania who fill the void left by The Jesus Lizard for music that is the sonic equivalent of getting kicked in the face while some screams at you for scuffing his boots. Couple that with David Yow-like rants about the banality of everyday life and its annoyances and you have yourself a full evening.

Sound intriguing? Well, it does to me. Through their label website Sub Pop, they have some free downloads from their two full lengths: 2007’s Hope For Men and 2009’s King Of Jeans. Check it out and maybe I will see you there. 

Click here to download four tracks from Pissed Jeans.