Cannibal Cheerleader

BEACH HOUSE IN NORWAY


It’s no surprise that Dallas, Texas’ Beach House’s second LP Devotion which came out at the beginning of the year still receives spins on a regular basis here at the Cannibal Cheerleader headquarters. A collection of some of the best dream-pop in ages, Beach House is really coming into their own and Devotion remains one of our favorite releases of the year.

Recently the band traveled through Norway by train and were apparently asked by a Norwegian film crew if they would write a song impromptu for the trip. What the film crew captured was an inspired, transcendent sing-a-long worthy of inclusion on their next, sure to be excellent LP. Check it out, straight from Stereogum:
Stereogum comes this report of a video done by a Norwegian film crew following the band as they rode a train through the country. What follows is a transcendent little singalong that you can check here:
Beach House – “Wedding Bell” (from the Devotion LP)

********************************************************************
NEW BAND CHEER – THE ROLLER


Austin, Texas’ own black-metal act The Roller have just come onto the Cannibal Cheerleader radar and we’re sorry we didn’t know about these guys earlier. With a dirgey, brutal delivery and instrumental experimentalism both reminiscent of bands like Wolves in the Throne Room, true Norwegian darkness has finally landed in Texas. Check out this tune and swing by their Myspace.

The Roller – “Rattle of the Shaman”

********************************************************************
NEW BAND CHEER – WHAT LAURA SAYS

Tempe, Arizona’s What Laura Says Thinks and Feels – “July 23rd”

********************************************************************
THE HORROR, THE HORROR – THE STRANGERS


Here’s a new feature for Cannibal Cheerleader – The Horror, The Horror, where we preview new horror movies coming out. The inaugural flick is The Strangers, starring Liv Tyler, seems like a blast from a suspenseful past. Check the trailer.

Promises to have a low body-count but will undoubtedly have some wicked scares to make up for it. Reminiscent of my favorite movie of ‘08 thus far, Funny Games, in that it seems obsessed with how Americans no longer feel safe in their own homes, trapped in the prison of suburbia. On Monday I’ll post up a review!

Sorry to have skipped Terror Thursday for the past few weeks, and sorry for the small update yesterday. Comment folks and see you next week!

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:

Beach House – “Gila”