CRYSTAL CASTLES LEGAL TROUBLE While I heard rumblings of trouble with the above apparently ’stolen’ image of punched-up Madonna (which graces many Crystal Castles releases, tshirts, and even serves as the inner booklet for their debut LP) a couple of months ago, it appears everything has come to head between the original artist and CC, so says this Pitchfork article. At this point it all sounds like he-said she-said, and while I’m probably a Crystal Castles apologist, it seems that since they’re willing to pay the artist for the image, he’s just causing a ruckus to gain publicity. Read all about it and hope that this gets sorted out soon (and enjoy the idea of socking it to Madonna). ******************************************************************** RINGO DEATHSTARR LAUNCH WEBSITE
While it’s not altogether different from their Myspace Ringo Deathstarr’s brand new website still shows that the band is getting their footing and gaining ground, soon to explode onto the indie scene with their brand of shoegazey-pop. Check it. ******************************************************************** STEREOGUM EARLY EVALUATION OF EVIL URGES
Stereogum is giving really positive reviews to My Morning Jacket’s new release in their Early Evaluation of Evil Urges. Definitely worth checking out, if just for a description of some of the tracks and the realization (that a lot of us have already come to) that MMJ isn’t your typical old Southern’-rock band and that branching out can lead to great things. This is definitely worth a read.
Also, word on the street is this album has leaked. Get to downloading kids. ******************************************************************** ARCADE FIRE THINK BARACK ROCKS, COVER BOWIE
I think I like the Arcade Fire a lot more now that they’re overtly political and overtly Barockers. Here’s a video of AF performing David Bowie’s “Heroes” at an Obama rally earlier this year. Clearly if you like your music awe-inspiring (and your politics the same way), there’s no better combo than Butler-Barack (’08!!).
Sorry again about the delay readers! I promise this is the last night of this bull – tomorrow I’ll go wait outside Starbuck’s if my internet refuses to work! Comments?
Tonight’s Converge show at Red 7 here in Austin definitely renewed my faith in the hardcore scene. You can get bogged down in lame, crust-punk bands with no sense of integrity or unity to the punk ethos, but then you see great bands like these tonight (Converge, Red Chord, etc.) that really show the intellectual depth of bands such as these. When anger is this awe-inspiring people begin to take notice of what kids are so angry about. From opener “Plagues” to closer “Jane Doe” the Converge crew proved they’re the thinking man’s hardcore group once again. Here are some pictures from the gig. Converge The Red Chord Genghis Tron Coliseum The Network ******************************************************************** CONOR OBERST RELEASING SOLO ALBUM
As we previously reported Conor Oberst and his Mystic Valley Band may be releasing an upcoming album. Turns out they ARE releasing an album, a solo Conor Oberst one, so says this press release. Conor Oberst, as the album will be called, is set to be released 8/5 and here’s a tracklist. We’ll definitely be picking this one up before we see the Bright Eyes frontman at ACL this year.
01 “Cape Cañaveral” 02 “Sausalito” 03 “Get-Well-Cards” 04 “Lenders In The Temple” 05 “Danny Callahan” 06 “I Don’t Want To Die (In The Hospital)” 07 “Eagle On A Pole” 08 “Moab” 09 “NYC – Gone, Gone” 10 “Valle Místico (Ruben’s Song)” 11 “Souled Out!!!” 12 “Milk Thistle”
Also here’s one more, super upbeat solo track recorded live this past December for your enjoyment!
******************************************************************** CAT POWER SHOWS RESCHEDULED
Check out the Cat Power Myspace for more details, but the Austin Stubb’s show is rescheduled now officially for October 11th. The date’s already circled on my calendar!
However, I know everyone gets tired of Cat Power updates lacking content so here’s a bside that’s been floating around the Internet for a while!
******************************************************************** CRYSTAL CASTLES ON NME COVER?
Check it out! How cool is that? Apparently they’re now a ‘hype band’ that we should be watching out for! Read more about it here. Of course, astute readers of CC already know the deal with these guys. ******************************************************************** ARCADE FIRE ROCK (AGAIN!) FOR OBAMA
The Arcade Fire will be playing in support of presidential nominee (hopefully future president) Barack Obama in North Carolina on May 1st and 2nd in anticipation of the upcoming NC primary (story here). Basically, if you like rock and roll at all you’ll vote for this guy. C’mon people, I think it’s required now if you’re reading this blog. ******************************************************************** SCARLETT JOHANSSON SITE FOR WAITS’ ALBUM
Apparently there’s a site up now to cover the release of the new Scarlett album of Tom Waits’ covers. Luckily if you swing by you’ll be able to hear six tracks from the album and, as I’ve said before, it’s pretty darn good stuff. Definitely worth checking out.
Sorry this took so long to update readers! Internet troubles plague music blogs worldwide I’m sure, it’s just lame when I feel like it’s a really good post. If you like what you’re seeing comment peoples!
Updating on a personal favorite amongst working shoegaze bands, California’s Fleeting Joys and their fantastic song “A Good Kind of Tomorrow” are featured on a new compilation of ‘wall-of-sound’ tuneage from InvadaUK. It’s called The Secret Garden Vol. 1.
Check it out and purchase it from the band’s Myspace (and hey, it’s probably worth the buy not only for the Joys, but also for the great Amusement Parks on Fire track as well). *************************************************************************************** In more Obama news, the Democratic presidential hopeful has two more rock and roll supporters today to join the ranks of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Bright Eyes Conor Oberst. First we have Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler whose Scrapbook (just click on Win on the left there) states the following:
“I am watching Hillary Clinton in her victory speech in new Hampshire…they just threw a bunch of college kids behind her, and had her talk about student loans, and had her daughter come out for a long awkward hug…does anyone actually buy it? Surely young people are too media savvy to be fooled by this kind of shit. do we live in a democracy so we can just keep electing the same families? Barack is the first candidate in my lifetime to strip some of this bullshit away, and I just hope we don’t blow this chance. man if we miss this opportunity we don’t deserve it…how bad does it have to get?
fuck!!!!!!!!!”
I screamed the same thing when I saw the New Hampshire results I must admit. Next we have Fallout Boy poster child Pete Wentz whose Blog states that he is hosting a low-dollar fundraiser in support of Obama. His post states:
“I’ve been an Obama supporter from day one,” says Wentz. “After watching the New Hampshire primary, I couldn’t just be an observer anymore – I had to act. Barack is the first politician who’s ever made me feel like our voices actually matter.”
Clearly Obama’s got the rock vote! *************************************************************************************** To end today’s post, here’s some dream-pop from Dallas duet Beach House (seen above performing at Austin’s own Emo’s) whose new LP Devotion drops Feb. 26th. It’s another collection of swirly organs and guitars wrapped in dueling male and female vocals and definitely a step forward from the band’s already formidable debut. Check out one the album’s best tracks here:
