THE KILLERS REVEAL “HUMAN” Straight off the announcement their new LP will be entitled Day & Age comes the first leaked track from the upcoming third album from Las Vegas’ own The Killers called “Human”. Reminding of Elton John ballad with extra synth and Brandon Flowers’ warbly, emotive voice, the track finds that sensitive balance between the electro-rock of Hot Fuss and the Springsteen-bombast of Sam’s Town. Definitely leaves us wanting more, check it out below.
The Killers – “Human” ******************************************************************** NEW CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES BLOG It’s been too long since we’ve caught up with our unique songstress and CC fave Charlotte Sometimes who last time we checked on her seemed like she was on the verge of breaking big with her hit single “How I Could Just Kill A Man”. Now she’s on tour and baring her soul outside of the Warped Tour crowd (thank heavens!). Recently Charlotte began a personal blog that’s rather frank and interesting, providing a window into the mind of an artist straddling the line of scene politics and mainstream success. It’s called I Don’t Believe In Sundays and we highly recommend pouring over it.
On a side note, Cannibal Cheerleader is about to start undergoing some small changes. Recently I’ve found myself with less time to devote to the blog as I study for graduate school and deal with an illness. That said, I will be paring down the length of each update to one or two items (a’la GvsB) but I’m still dedicated to trying to update everyday (just smaller amounts!). I’ll try and write one update from the blogosphere at large and one independent update each day. If anyone has trouble with this, let me know and we can work it out! Comments?
BELLE & SEBASTIAN RELEASE BBC LP An unequivocable favorite of our over here at Cannibal Cheerleader through the years has been the now sadly ‘on-hiatus’ group Belle & Sebastian. From their indie-pop masterpiece If You’re Feeling Sinister to their subversively excellent b-sides and rareties (collected on Push Barman to Open Old Wounds) we love it all. That’s why we’re so excited to hear that the band is officially releasing a collection of some of their lauded BBC Sessions. Included is the rare John Peel session that includes the last recorded material with Isobell Campbell as part of the band’s lineup, as well as alternative versions of BS favorites like “The State I Am In” and “Lazy Line Painter Jane”. Tracklist below, thanks to P4K for the info!
Disc One – Radio Sessions:
01 The State I Am In (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96) 02 Like Dylan in the Movies (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96) 03 Judy and the Dream of Horses (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96) 04 The Stars of Track and Field (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96) 05 I Could Be Dreaming (Mark Radcliffe session; 12/96; abbreviated version) 06 Seymour Stein (Evening Session; 07/97) 07 Lazy Line Painter Jane (Evening Session; 07/97) 08 Sleep the Clock Around (Evening Session; 07/97) 09 Slow Graffiti (Evening Session; 07/97) 10 Wrong Love (later recorded as “The Wrong Girl”) (Evening Session; 07/97) 11 Shoot the Sexual Athlete (John Peel session; 05/01) 12 The Magic of a Kind Word (John Peel session; 05/01) 13 Nothing in the Silence (John Peel session; 05/01) 14 (My Girl’s Got) Miraculous Technique (John Peel session; 05/01)
Disc Two – Live in Belfast (12/21/01):
01 Here Comes the Sun 02 There’s Too Much Love 03 The Magic of a Kind Word 04 Me and the Major 05 Wandering Alone 06 The Model 07 I’m Waiting for the Man 08 The Boy With the Arab Strap 09 The Wrong Girl 10 Dirty Dream #2 11 The Boys Are Back in Town 12 Legal Man
Belle & Sebastian – “Dog On Wheels” ******************************************************************** NEW BALMORHEA LIVE VIDEOS CC fave Balmorhea recently recorded some live sessions as a part of the Retread Sessions at Austin’s KUT. Check these videos out below, they feature songs that will be on the group’s upcoming third LP!
Balmorhea “Untitled 2″ from Retread Sessions on Vimeo. Balmorhea – “San Solomon” ******************************************************************** WHO IS MEMORY CASSETTE? With a mysterious and lonely Myspace and a lone photograph (see above), Memory Cassette is a secretive but nontheless entrancing new act with a sound that recalls the disco-retro of bands like Glass Candy and the Chromatics, albeit with a little more techno experimentalism. Check out this tune below and head here if you want to download the whole EP. Thanks to the guys over at GvsB for the heads up on this awesome new artist.
NEW VIVIAN GIRLS VIDEO Over at Pitchfork today they premiered the first Vivian Girls video for their single “Tell the World” and its every bit as lo-fi and punk quality as the Gals’ sound itself. Featuring junior-level green screen effects and mock seriousness on the part of Cassie and the crew, the video skirts the line between ridiculous and genius oh so well. Watch it below.
NEW TREASURE MAMMAL 7” Fresh from our mailbox to your computer screen comes the newest release from Phoenix-based rapper/experimental artist/motivational speaker Treasure Mammal, and boy it’s a doozy. The EP is a split with Whitman but it’s our friend T. Mammal who steals the show, especially with his excellent rendition of “Ain’t No Shame in My Game”. Seriously, Abe’s flow is becoming a serious force to be reckoned with, his scattershot metaphors mixing seamlessly with his vocal delivery, which dances between righteously spastic and smoothly droll. It’s a one-two punch from the mammal-master, so hook yourself up and buy one now. While you’re at it, buy your friends one too so you all can have a proper dance party, Treasure Mammal style.
Treasure Mammal – “Let’s Get Naked” ******************************************************************** NEW TEGAN AND SARA VIDEO Tegan and Sara are still making videos it seems for last year’s excellent The Con, but we here at Cannibal Cheerleader don’t mind one bit! Check out the vid for “Call It Off” below.
Balmorhea – “San Solomon” ******************************************************************** NEW TV ON THE RADIO VIDEO CC faves TV on the Radio have released the video for “Golden Age”, the first single from their new and most excellent LP Dear Science. Check it below!
TED LEO REVEAL ‘RAPID RESPONSE’ EP Coming hot on the tails of the brutal violence police and other security forces rained down upon protesters (many of them peaceful) at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, our favorite working-class punk superhero Ted Leo of TL and the Pharmacists has crafted a new EP entitled Rapid Response that’s available right this second at Touch and Go Records (rapid response indeed!). We could go on discussing the rage Ted Leo felt when he watched footage of the RNC protests, but he tells the tale so much better in the EP’s liner notes:
“EP Liner Notes From Ted LeoFor a very brief moment, it seemed like people were actually reporting the truth. The surveillance, pre-emptive detention, arrest, and beating of journalists, protestors, and watchdogs by the St. Paul police department, the Ramsey County sheriff’s department, and the FBI was so egregious that it couldn’t be allowed to pass without comment. I heard WNYC’s Bob Hennelly compare the treatment of RNC protestors to the fact that Trojan condoms had a product booth inside the building at the Republican National Convention, saying, “It seems as if free speech exists only for those who can pay for it.” I heard the name “Amy Goodman” actually spoken by, and written about in, the “mainstream media” after her roughing up at the hands of the St. Paul police. The story of the ABC cameraman who was smacked around and had his video camera smashed was about to bring down the righteous indignation of a formerly complacent press. And the license and viciousness and carelessness with which these acts and the banal bullying that seemed to be a constant around them – infiltration of peaceful (and not so peaceful) groups by police spies and agents provacatuer – the omnipresent pepper spray repeatedly maiming eyes that were only challenging with looks – stun guns, tear gas, and concussion grenades launched on a citizenry trying yet again to be heard – was finally coming under proper scrutiny. Was there violence launched against delegates, property, and police as well? I’m sure there was. And the majority of it is to be dismissed and condemned, but some of it has be to be understood as what was likely a natural response to this culture of military free-reign that pumps our protectors up to believe that we, exercising our rights as Americans, are an enemy to be crushed without concern and without reason. How they get away with it all… How they get away with anything they want to! We yammer on about the efficacy of trickle-down economics, but we ignore the trickle down effect that eight long years of example of contempt for the standards of the very same reasonable society this government claims to desire to defend, and the cynical exploitation of the populace via their fears and willingness to allow any transgression against their rights in the name of comfort (to inadvertently quote Shelter), but the proof of that trickle-down effect is all around, and was on display during the RNC in St. Paul. And this was actually being discussed somewhere other than within the remnants of punk fanzine culture and marginal message boards! And then came the Sarah Palin Side Show, and we’ve all moved on (but let me dive in, yet again, for one second to relate it to the point I was making above, and ask a question: how is it that a candidate for vice president, one allied with the “anti-big government” “pro-individualism” and even pro-states’ rights faction – can openly mock concern for an individual’s rights in the face of government accusation – endorse a “shoot first, ask questions later” policy – and actually be considered for a post that requires deference to and upholding of the Constitution? In the world that they’ve created, there is no accountability). But real people were hurt in St. Paul, and real people have bills to pay, and real people need funding to continue their good works. We (the band and I) were all feeling these events as deeply as we could from our 1200 mile remove, and so as not to feel entirely powerless, and in an attempt to contribute SOMETHING to that continuation of those good works, we wrote a song and recorded it, along with another new one we’d already been working on that’s pertinent to election time politics, and two covers we enjoy and that also have timely sentiments. It’s a small thing, but as the particle collider that cranked up at CERN yesterday will continue to reveal, all big things are made out of smaller things. Thanks for your contribution in purchasing this EP.A few words about the songs…First of all, don’t get on my case about recording quality, excessive compression, distortion, etc. – the point was to get this down and get it out as quickly as possible, so we just used our usual cruddy demoing set-up, and I mixed it down into, >ulp<... Garage Band. Also, I've been listening to not much but the last two Darkthrone records recently, so... that's probably had some effect on my vision of "production values." Also, I know that at one point it sounds like I'm saying "Amy GoodWIN," but it's just that I had never actually sung the song before, and I was rushing through it, not paying much attention to annunciation - I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt on that one, but you can still consider this a pre-emptive "clarification."“PARANOIA: Never Enough” – written specifically for this event and this release. I wrote it on Thursday in Rhode Island, we recorded it on Friday in New Jersey. Hope you enjoy.“Mourning in America” – it’s about race as a campaign issue. If it makes it onto our next LP, it will no longer be campaign season, but the frustrating irony is that in a few years time, it’ll probably be “timely” again.“I Got Your Number” – it’s pretty explicitly about media manipulation of political thought, I think. I also think it’s about time Cock Sparrer got a reassessment and a bit of the respect they deserve in the Punk Pantheon.“Nobody’s Driving” – apparently Amebix is getting back together. I applaud that. Hugely inspirational. Daryl K. introduced me to them way back when we were in Citizens Arrest. After repeated listens to the EP with just the previous three songs, I felt like it needed another. I spent the afternoon yesterday doing a more elaborate version of this – two guitars, two tin whistles, an air organ, backing vocals, etc. – but wasn’t really feeling it. I recorded over it by just playing and singing it live and alone – one guitar and one voice. Be forewarned – unless Touch and Go somehow manages to do some mastering to this before it gets posted, the first guitar chord comes in a little hot – if you’re listening in headphones, you might want to turn it down a notch when “I Got Your Number” ends.So that’s it!And again – this isn’t meant to be some grand sweeping statement on our part – it’s just a way for us to contribute SOMETHING real to the lives of real human beings, and show our material support for those whose actions and thoughts we value in this ideological struggle.Enough said.Thanks to James, Marty, and Chris for getting right behind this idea, along with Molly at Indivision, and everyone at Touch and Go. It feels good to work with good people!And thanks again to you for helping Democracy Now! and Food Not Bombs. Stay informed, stay alive – resist and survive.xo – TL“
Truly some inspirational words by one of today’s punk greats. I’m only going to post one song from the EP because all of you should really go to the Touch and Go site and donate to buy this album – of all the bands you’re going to drop money for this year, this one may direct that cash in the most sensible way possible. Viva Ted Leo!
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – “Paranoia (Never Enough)” (removed by request) Ok seriously y’all, ask nicely next time. That said, I really encourage everyone to go buy this EP immediately, and I thought by posting just one song of four it’d inspire people to go get the rest. Leave a comment to discuss. ******************************************************************** TRYOUTS: MARNIE STERN’S THIS IS IT AND I AM IT AND YOU ARE IT AND SO IS THAT AND HE IS IT AND SHE IS IT AND IT IS IT AND THAT IS THAT Move past the title, we know its long. And move past the guitarwork, everyone knows it’s amazing and we expected no less from the shredding siren that is Marnie Stern, especially after the masterful debut of In Advance of the Broken Arm. What’s worth dwelling on about the sophomore effort from the NY native is the pop mastery, the seamless fusion of incredible instrumentation with the striking vocals of Stern and her experimental leanings, all coming together to create what will be undoubtedly touted as one of the best records of the year. To venture that Stern was capable of taking the disparate elements of the New York art rock scene and crafting a record so experimental and nonetheless still so welcoming and listenable, brave but modest, would have been met with scorn a year ago. And yet she’s done it, a record of guitar majesty and swirly pop wonderworks – all in all, a perfect indie rock record. Definitely, 100% positively makes the team though you may find Stern beginning a cheerleader cartwheel and accidentally opening a black hole to infinity and spinning at the speed of light forever.
Marnie Stern – “Transformer” Marnie Stern – “Shea Stadium” ******************************************************************** THE KILLERS REVEAL DAY & AGE According to this here Pitchfork article, the Killers have titled their new album Day & Age and its due out Nov. 25th! We at Cannibal Cheerleader of course can’t wait for the next effort from these guys so we wait eagerly for any mp3s to come our way (anyone out there got something for us?).
HEARTSREVOLUTION IN AUSTIN Performing at the most hipster bar in Austin, Beauty Bar, and surrounded by obnoxiously dressed scenester kids, Brooklyn’s infamous Heartsrevolution nonetheless belted out an inspiring rage-filled set of electronic-tinged punk with enough energy to enthrall even the coolest of wallflowers. Starting off with crowd-pleaser “Choose Your Own Adventure” Lo and Ben stomped through their now famous SwitchbladeEP with reckless abandon, invoking a half dance party half most pit in the front row. For her part, Lo impressed the most as while Ben stoodand methodically pumped out beats on his keyboard, she crawled over the ground, bounced around constantly, and screamed even between songs, barking orders at the sound-guy in her own cutesy but fearsome way. All in all, that’s how I’d best describe the evening, a combination of cute, dancey tunes with fiery, explosive punk rock. It’s as if fire and snow or foxes and bunnies had met up together. Hmm……More pictures below. Heartsrevolution – “CYOA“ ******************************************************************** NEW CRYSTAL CASTLES VIDEO – KNIGHTS We were going the new Crystal Castles as reported by Pitchfork and Stereogum here, but apparently the video has been taken down, presumably because the video is actually a fan video. Sad because the video was strangely cool, featuring an MF Doom lookalike. Instead, check out this completely official video for “Courtship Dating” one of our favorite CC songs of all time. Enjoy!
Crystal Castles – “Knights” ******************************************************************** ARCTIC MONKEYS REVEAL NEW LIVE DVD According to Pitchfork we’ll soon be seeing an Arctic Monkeys live DVD, which is welcome news considering the dearth of new AM material as of late, besides the excellent Last Shadow Puppets LP from Alex Turner. Here’s hoping the group puts out more material or even their third LP soon!
THE ACTION DESIGN LIVE IN AUSTIN In what will probably go down as one of our favorite punk shows of the year, the Action Design, starring M formerly of one of our favorite bands of all time Tsunami Bomb, brought their powerful brand of pop-punk to an excited Red 7 audience who thrilled at seeing the gang in fine form. Whipping through a set that included four tracks from their Into a Sound EP and another seven from Never Say, the band rocketed between soul-wrenching classics like “Lounge in Formation” to balls-out rockers like “Landmines”. Dressed complete with her now famous elephant necklace and belting out tunes with all the fire we’ve come to expect, M and co. definitely recalled a time where punk meant more than askew haircuts, tight jeans, and a video on MTV. The Action Design is genuinely the real deal, punk at its finest in 2008, pop sensibility meshing wonderfully with fiery rock and roll. Definitely grab a ticket to the tour if they’re heading through your town, check out their Myspace for dates! More pictures below. The Action Design – “Empty Face” ******************************************************************** JENNY LEWIS FULL ALBUM STREAMING Over on our friend Jenny Lewis’ Myspace you can find the enirety of her new album Acid Tongue streaming right freaking now! Go now young son, and listen to the country-rock majesty of the Rilo Kiley frontwoman’s sophomore effort!
Jenny Lewis – “Acid Tongue” ******************************************************************** TRYOUTS: THE ACTION DESIGN’S NEVER SAY Having just picked up the new CD from the Action Design that is coincidentally only available right now from their tour merch table, we decided we’d right up a little review of what’s promising to be one of our favorite releases of the year. Right from the get-go, M and her TAD cohorts jump in with the soaring choruses that utilizes the lead vocals and churning guitar parts to masterful effect. Seriously, it’s as if a band has finally caught up with Emily Whitehurst’s incredible vocal delivery after all these years, creating a band that works as a cohesive whole. Standout tracks include “Landmines”, “Empty Face”, and “Tokyo Train”, though the album flows so well, working carefully through more dynamics than Tsunami Bomb’s whole discography in a single song, that to call out single songs is quite pointless. Definitely pick this one up if you can (I believe it’s available from Interpunk right now if TAD’s not swinging through your town) and buy some old Tsunami Bomb stuff while you’re at it. Definitely makes the team, though it probably spends more time skateboarding than practicing any cheers.
The Action Design – “Landmines” ******************************************************************** NEW BAND CHEER: THE BOXING LESSON If you’ve lived in Austin for any time at all you’ve probably at least heard of the Boxing Lesson, even if you haven’t heard their music directly. I moved here five years ago and in that time I’ve seen them all over the place, on every flyer on every bulletin board in town. Of course, this is not without just cause, as they’re one of the most exciting and innovative Austin acts that the capital city has to offer. With a sound that’s equal parts electronica-tinged atmospherics and chugging, psychedelic indie rock, the band has honed a unique sound over the years that coalesces perfectly on their new CD Wild Streaks & Windy Days. They’re playing tomorrow with Tokyo Police Club and the Whigs at Emo’s so be sure and check them out. We’ll be keeping track of these guys from now on!
NEW VIDEO FROM GLASS CANDY Quick little update today before I rush off to the Action Design show here in Austin! Pitchfork has a new Glass Candy live video up from the Midi Festival and since we absolutely love GC here at Cannibal Cheerleader, we’ll post it here. Check it:
******************************************************************** NEW SONG FROM THE CHROMATICS Gorilla Vs. Bear has a new song up from another dance-crazy group, the Chromatics. Check it out below!
The Chromactics – “Lady (demo)” ******************************************************************** NEW SONG FROM MARNIE STERN The third song Cannibal Cheerleader favorite and all around awesome guitar shredder Marnie Stern called “Ruler” is ready to be listened to at her Myspace. Check it out now!
INTERVIEW WITH HEARTSREVOLUTION Hey Cannibal Cheerleader faithful, sorry about not updating yesterday, I was busy putting the finishing touches on Issue #2 of the CC zine, the cover of which you can see below! However, on to today’s business, which is a double update to make up for yesterday beginning with an exclusive interview with Lo, Ben, and Kate of Cannibal Cheerleader favorite Heartsrevolution. Here’s a sample:
CC: Tell us about the Heartsrevolution universe. How did it come to be?What’s the Heartschallenger? Lo: heartschallenger is about taking on the things that challenge you. i hated my job..so, i decided to build an ice cream truck because i had dreamt of doing that since i was 15 but everyone told me it would never work.then i realized everyone i knew was stupid and decided to prove everyone wrong. it worked. so, fuck everyone if they are reading this!Ben: Lo made an ice cream truck and I made the music for the truck. We wanted to continue to work together and made music and called it Heartsrevolution. Heartschallenger is the name of our company. The company is a representation of a generation of kids who are creating their own path. There are ice cream trucks that are a part of this world, but they are not called “the heartschallenger”
The rest of the interview can be read below. Heartsrevolution will be playing this thursday at Beauty Bar so make sure you’re there – free copies of the new CC zine will be waiting for you!
Heartsrevolution – “Switchblade” ******************************************************************** M.I.A. SPEAKS ON TERRORIST ACCUSATIONS Having taken several courses on world terrorism in college (and being a music pirate myself, haha) I’m quite familiar with the LTTE, i.e., the Tamil Tigers, a terrorist organization calling for independence in Sri Lanka. While much could be argued to the validity of their claims, the group is most notorious for civilian kidnappings and burning down schools, etc. So what does this have to do with CC fave M.I.A.? Well the London-based Sri-Lankan raised rapper has roots in the LTTE movement, her father being a founder of an off-shoot student-led Tamil organization (his code name was Arular, thus the title of M.I.A.’s first album). Recently, our favorite rapper has come under harsh criticism for being a supporter of the Tamil Tiger a blog to her Myspace. Check it below:
I HAVE JUST ORERED IT SO I HAVENT SEEN IT YET , BUT WITH SO MANY ONE SIDED VIEWS IN THIS WORLD IT IS ONLY FAIR WE STAY EDUCATED AND EXPOSE OURSELVES TO ALL OPINIONS. I WANT TO SEE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE 1. NO ONE HAS EVER ACCESSED THE AREAS THIS FILM WAS MADE IN, AND I ACTUALLY DONT KNOW HOW THESE PEOPLE LIVE.
2. ANY EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE ACCESSED THIS AREA , WHO INVESTIGATED THE TRUTH, HAVE BEEN SHOT DEAD BY THE GOVERNMENT, IN A BID TO KEEP THE PROPAGANDA MACHINE ONE SIDED .
3. I FOUND THIS STORY http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/12934…
READING THE COMMENTS MADE ME WANT TO SPEAK OUT. BUT I WAS DENIED ACESS TO MAKE COMMENTS, ONLY THE WELL CONNECTED INSIDERS ARE ALLOWED TO COMMENT AND THIS IS THE CASE WITH SO MANY OF THESE BLOGS TALKING SHIT ABOUT ME. NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TELL THE TRUTH, AND SET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. SO HERE IS THE COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE!
THE TRUTH TO WHY I LEFT TO SRILANKA WAS … A. I COULD , I WAS BORN IN LONDON.
B. EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE MY MOTHER TOOK US TO WOULD GET BURNED DOWN BY THE ARMY. IN THE END EVEN THE TAMILS WOULDN’T LET US STAY THERE AND AFTER MY SCHOOL WAS SET ON FIRE BY THE ARMY, I HAD NOTHING TO DO THERE, AND WAS REALLY FUCKING BOARD.
C. FUCK YOU TO ALL THESE EVIL PEOPLE TWISTING THE TRUTH. YOU DONT SPEAK FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN SPEAK FOR MY SELF.
D.WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A TAMIL OR A LTTE SUPPORTER TO KNOW THAT BURNING DOWN A SCHOOL WITH 800 KIDS IN THE NAME OF FIGHTING TERRORISM IS NOT COOL. I AM NOT A LTTE SUPPORTER. I WAS JUST AN 8 YEAR OLD THAT DIDNT GET KILLED ON THAT DAY, THATS ALL. I’M A MUSICIAN WHO DOESNT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IN THE MUSIC PRESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING THIS
EVERYTHING IN ME WAS KILLED BUT MY ART IS NOT DEAD!
i love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx m.i.a”
Brush off them haters M.I.A.! Also, start making new material, please!
M.I.A. – “Paper Planes” ******************************************************************** TRYOUTS – TV ON THE RADIO’S DEAR SCIENCE If Brooklyn-based band TV on the Radio’s sophomore LP Return to Cookie Mountain was their experimental take on the modern rock album, Dear Science is their response to modern soul, which this album has in spades. Of course, being a TV on the Radio album one shouldn’t expect any straight-up funk jams or R&B hits, but beneath swirly whirlwinds of David Sitek’s studio trickery lies some of the most naked and heartfelt tunes of the band’s career. While RTCM was a firestorm of bombast and furty, DS is a delicate and hushed wind-swept evening, the perfect soundtrack to biking down a poorly-lit city street at night. Recalling the layered production work of Anywhere I Lay My Head, Sitek’s pet project released earlier this year with Scarlett Johansson, the album swims languidly through sensitive and careful tracks like “Crying” and album standout “Lovedog”. Still, TVOTR do occassionally bring the bounce, albeit with a tender touch, like on excellent opener “Halfway Home” and brilliant single “Golden Age”. The album flows seamlessly and despite early reviews that the record suffered from sameness compared to their older LPs Dear Science stands as a unique and rewarding experience. Definitely makes the team though it may be the nerdy kid who can’t execute a single move but does all the other cheerleaders homework for them.
TV on the Radio – “Halfway Home” TV on the Radio – “Love Dog” ******************************************************************** NEW BLOC PARTY TUNE – “TALONS” Straight off the release of their rushed-to-the-street third album , Bloc Party has released another one-off single from the Intimacy sessions, this one entitled “Talons” and it features all the makings of a great Bloc Party tune. Ingredients include, driving guitars, the requesite Kele Okereke whisper-verse, pummeling Matt Tong drums, and the new electronic soaked underworkings that have come to define the band as of late. Check the single out on their Myspace and buy Intimacy while you’re at it.
Bloc Party – “Halo” ******************************************************************** NEW VIVIAN GIRLS B-SIDE SURFACES
Over at Gorilla Vs. Bear we found a rare b-side for the Vivian Girls that needs to be checked out now. Download it below and make sure and buy these girls’ self-titled debut when it becomes available. More info at their website here.
The Vivian Girls – “My Baby Wants Me Dead” ******************************************************************** FREE RAVEONETTES EP Apparently if you head on over to the Vice Records site you can download a free three-song EP from the Raveonettes which remixes three songs (”Dead Sound”, “Aly, Walk With Me”, and “Lust”) and somehow manages to make these excellent tunes awesome in a different way. Head over there now!
From our office to your hands, from the computer screen to your subway car, the Cannibal Cheerleader zine Issue #2 is out, and it features complete interview with the Vivian Girls, Heartsrevolution, the Action Design, Ponytail, Treasure Mammal, Fight Bite, and more! Pick up yours today here in Austin at locations around town (Waterloo Records, Sound On Sound Records, MonkeyWrench Books to name a few) or just email me if you’d like a copy! We’ll of course have to do an exchange of some sort, so offer me something good, like a cool band recommendation or pictures from an upcoming show. You’ll get your hand on one of these bad boys if you do! Email me at cannibalcheerleader@gmail.com. ******************************************************************** HEARTSREVOLUTION INTERVIEW CONT’D Here’s the remainder of our exclusive Heartsrevolution interview. Bonus questions will only be available in the form of our Cannibal Cheerleader zine, so pick one up to get the whole interview!
CC:How would you describe your music? An amalgamation of electro and rock? Techno? Undefined?Ben:We have a bunch of songs that I think sound pretty different, but they are electronic, pop, punk.Lo: i hate the word electro..and i am pretty sure i don’t like electro music.i hate the word techno..it makes me think of kids who are sucking on pacifiers w/ those weird kanye west shadesCC: How important is the visual aspect to the Heartsrevolution world? Should fans consider their experience incomplete unless they see you live? Ben: It’s super important. The visual aspect of heartschallenger plays a big role here and this actually preceded the music. Sometimes it’s frustrating to not have the means to make the visual aspect known. We have so many specific ideas whether it’s videos, live show, etc. Like, we don’t know how to use photoshop. Luckily we have some close friends that are involved though and help us get things done. Lo: god is in the details.it is important to me to create things that are a reflection of the things that make me want to wake up in the morning.. CC: What’s your live show like for the uninitiated?Ben: A technicolor light up disco floor w/ mosh pit. Or at least it will be!Kate: The live show is where I come into the band, I joined after working with the band on the first record. It seemed right, I wanted to start working in moving image and to push the idea of a visual representation for the music to another level completely. I think a fully considered performance is what the viewers and listeners deserve. People don’t just come to hear the music, they want to see and absorb everything, and we strive to improve and make that the most exciting experience possible.CC: You recently had a split EP with Crystal Castles and it would seem that your two groups are at the forefront of a new musical movement. Do you feel your music is innovative in this way? Lo: cc make great music which is why i wanted to do something with them in the first place.. a friend that worked at vice magazine in the uk told me about them and suggested we do a split. but they are liars and i would love to have it out with them..i am sure that day isn’t far away. our paths will cross and it will come down to a blind folded knife fight…because i am an unforgiving scorpio. other than the fact that “alice” and i both have vaginas…and ben and “ethan” both have penises there isn’t really much else we have in common.CC: Do you identify with Crystal Castles and how has their success affected you?Lo: i love and believe in a lot of what “alice” says. she is a great writer. most people that ask me about them don’t even understand what she is saying..i think that is funny. and their most popular song bugs the fuck out of me…i don’t like crimewave at all. i can still remember 2 years ago “ethan” singing it at cmj /fort fader party…i guess it’s much better having her lip sing it.CC: What bands most influence you? Lo: sonic youth, nirvana…a bunch of the riot grrrl bands i listened to growing up..like bikini kill, comet gain, huggy bear.i used to work at an all age club called jabberjaw when i was 14 and would put on shows..that place was magical and i got to experience this tiny glitch in time that i probably wouldn’t have if i was still in school and going to bed by 9pm.Ben: Everything that I’ve listened to does. It could be bowie or the strokes or daft punk or the beatles or young mc or so many others.CC: What acts are you listening to right now? Lo: i don’t really like most music.one of our songs…called teenage teardrops, we are doing the vocals this week and i have had it on repeat.when i need a break i listen to the sads. they are brilliant and are a good place to go to clear my head.CC: Favorite songs (both ones you listen to and ones you’ve done)?Lo: smells like teen spirit.Ben: Stop in the name of love, the sound of silence, today was a good day, private eyes, she said she said, let the good times roll, young americans, liquid swordsCC: What does the future hold for Heartsrevolution?Lo: collaborations and touring the world in the ice cream trucks so that kids everywhere experience this thing we have built.CC: Can we expect a full-length soon? More EPs?Lo: Yes, both! Full length early 2009.. Switchblade Ep out on iheartcomix Oct 21st. Switchblade remix single on iheartcomix…release date: TBA but i think in Nov.http://www.myspace.com/iheartcomixWe have one of our tracks. “ultraviolence” out on the next Kitsune comp in Oct.http://www.myspace.com/maisonkitsune, split 7″ symbolonehttp://www.myspace.com/symbolonethe split w/ symbolone is going to be limited edition and self released but it is top secret!you will have to check our myspace for detailshttp://www.myspace.com/heartsrevolutionKate: Much more to come, total world domination!!!
M.I.A. GUESTS ON “RAIN DANCE” M.I.A. has been an enigmatic figure as of late. First off there’s the mystery of her retirement – has she truly discontinued making music after her meteoric rise to the top with two blazingly original now classic LPs? Also, her single “Paper Planes” continues to climb the pop charts since it was used in the film Pineapple Express.Some of us of course realized the power of “Paper Planes” and Kala way back when it was released last year, but given today’s political climate and her increased popularity, we’re all hoping for an M.I.A. comeback soon! That’s what makes today’s released of “Rain Dance”, a collaboration between Radioclit and Esau Mwamwaya featuring our favorite Sri Lankan rapper so exciting. Check the video below care of GvsB:
What’s more, here’s another track from Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit’s upcoming collab featuring not only M.I.A. but Santogold as well. Check it:
Here’s hoping M.I.A. pops up in even more substantial roles in the near future! ******************************************************************** JENNY LEWIS REVEALS “THE LAST MESSIAH” Continuing on her string of awkward YouTube’s featuring an equally awkward Ben Gibbard, Jenny Lewis has revealed a new tune called “The Next Messiah” off her sophomore LP Acid Tongue and you can hear it below.
Jenny Lewis – “Acid Tongue” ******************************************************************** ANNUALS REVEAL ALBUM ARTWORK Check out that bad boy! Looks pretty killer if we do say so ourselves, combining the grandeur of Annuals‘ sweeping pop sound with the kitschy playfulness of their rock antics. But maybe it’s just a mountain and we’re reading too far into this. Either way, here’s an Annuals track to tide you over for the weekend.
Straight off the announcement their new LP will be entitled Day & Age comes the first leaked track from the upcoming third album from Las Vegas’ own The Killers called “Human”. Reminding of Elton John ballad with extra synth and Brandon Flowers’ warbly, emotive voice, the track finds that sensitive balance between the electro-rock of Hot Fuss and the Springsteen-bombast of Sam’s Town. Definitely leaves us wanting more, check it out below.
It’s been too long since we’ve caught up with our unique songstress and CC fave Charlotte Sometimes who last time we checked on her seemed like she was on the verge of breaking big with her hit single “How I Could Just Kill A Man”. Now she’s on tour and baring her soul outside of the Warped Tour crowd (thank heavens!). Recently Charlotte began a personal blog that’s rather frank and interesting, providing a window into the mind of an artist straddling the line of scene politics and mainstream success. It’s called I Don’t Believe In Sundays and we highly recommend pouring over it.
