Converge’s Axe to Fall is quickly topping my list of most anticipated albums of the year, especially after hearing lead single “Dark Horse”. Also, some incredible news to announce, looks like Converge will be coming to Austin on Nov. 13th supporting none other than Mastodon with High on Fire in tow – an incredible, face-melting lineup that’s sure to annihilate Austin in the best possible way. Check the Converge website for details.
Take a look at this soon-to-be iconic album cover for Converge’s next opus Axe to Fall – the familiar female theme now meshed with a disturbing Mexican-skull-face design to gruesome effect. Some stunning stuff.
That’s not all that’s rocking our world right now though, as the first single from the band’s latest LP has just been announced and is up for streaming over at the group’s Myspace. “Dark Horse” can only be described as a pummeling maelstrom, some unrelenting punishment for our musical sins, and a fiersome announcement that Converge, with Kurt Ballou’s signature wailing guitar sounds, Ben Koller’s destructive blast-beats, and Jacob Bannon’s all too familiar screech, buried here under a wall of thrashing sonics. Definitely check this one out – eagerly awaiting the full album. Tracklist below:
STARS RECORDING NEW ALBUM. Exciting new update from the Stars camp, our favorite Canadian indie-pop collective who have been leaking material at a satisfying drip, including last year’s delectable treat the Sad Robots EP. Looks as if the group has a new album in the works, tentatively titled The Black House, The Blue Sky, and it’s being recorded in the same studio where the likes of Godspeed! You Black Emperor committed their hits to tape. This album also marks the return of Set Yourself on Fire producer Tom McFall whose work propelled the group to true indie-stardom. The band also has a new, completely dreamy song streaming on their Myspace called “Dedication” from the In Our Bedroom After the War sessions and you can follow Torquil Campbell, the opinionated male singer of the group on Twitter here. Check out more info from the official press release below:
hello beloved listeners… Stars have returned to the studio to start work on our 5th (!) album, tentatively titled The Black House, The Blue Sky. We’re working in Hotel2Tango, the magical mile end house of music put together by the legendary Godspeed/Mount Zion/Constellation records crew. It’s pretty fucking inspiring in there as you can imagine; so much great music has been made there, and Ephraim and Thierry and Howard and all the people involved in the space are such true musicians, such lovers of music, that you cant help but feel focused and inspired when you walk in the building. We feel lucky to have checked into the hotel…. Plus there are more great dogs roaming around that place than we have seen possibly ever, and you know, when there are great dogs around, you can be sure there are some great people around to tell them to stop chasing squirrels and sneak them pieces of baguette.. We are also truly blessed to have Tom McFall back with us as co-producer. Tom worked on Set Yourself On Fire with us, and since then has been enormously in demand, working with such bands as R.E.M., Bloc Party and Snow Patrol. So we are truly honoured he’s slumming it with us; Tom is a true artist, a true friend, and….well, he’s cookies and cold milk. We fucking love him.There’s a lot of synthesizers in the room, and a lot of love in the air. We think this combination of emotions running high and machines running hot is going to be pretty amazing.…fingers crossed..until then, we have a newish tune up on myspace, entitled division, culled from the original six and a half hour version of In Our Bedroom After The War, and we’ll be sending more songs you haven’t heard out into the ether in the coming months, so keep your ears open. Meanwhile, Amy and Torq continue to chug toward the finish line with their respective solo joints, with Amy in the lead by…oh, about three miles…..and, god help us, we have been told to twitter. So twitter we will…go to the twitter thingy and search “youarestars” and then sit back and wait for Torq to say something stupid….We are also extremely excited to be working with Danny Goldberg as our new manager. google the dude. He’s a fucking legend. His only weakness: he’s a Yankees fan. But at this point, you gotta feel more sorry for them than anything….We feel lucky these days. And even if everything goes wrong, i think we’re gonna keep feeling that way. Cause after all this time, and all these tears, we’re still drinking together and playing together and making fun of each other and everyone else….and that’s something to be thankful for….check you soon loves, xostars
Stars – “Undertow” ******************************************************************** WATCH FULL CONVERGE CONCERT Check out this incredible recording of our favorite hardcore act Converge at Burning Fight from Hate5Six Productions. Great stuff, lean back and soak it up over the weekend. Still can’t wait for the new full-length, details forthcoming…
Converge – “Locust Reign (live)” ******************************************************************** HEARTLESS BASTARDS LIVE TRACKS Lastly here are some sweet live renditions by the Heartless Bastards of some tracks from their excellent new LP The Mountain via Luxury Wafers. Check out the video below.
Comments? We’ve been getting a lot of good feedback recently so here’s another question for the CC faithful – we’ve been doing three hefty updates a week as opposed to five little ones on each weekday but which method would you actually prefer? Smaller daily updates or substantial thrice-weeklies? The danger of everday updates is that sometimes we find ourselves repeating the blogosphere at large (f*ck that) but we want to give you the reader what you want. Suggestions? Hail to the horror people, seeya Monday!
Don’t mean to post two Lissy Trullie updates in a row, but the NYC starlets have a new video up on their Myspace. It’s an EPK for their “Boy Boy” single and it features some pretty sweet live footage and behind the scenes looks so it’s definitely worth checking out. The Self-Taught Learner EP is shaping up to be one of our favorite releases of the year so far!
Well, is it better? Is Grey Britain worse? Does it boast the same vitriolic level of carnage and bloodshed as Orchestra of Wolves. Cleaner production and a major label may have made the riffs sharper and Frank Carter’s lyrics a little less muddled, but UK hardcore act Gallows still retain their passionate and heartfelt desire to shred faces on both sides of the pond. Listen to a few tracks below and offer your verdict!
Things are looking up for Cannibal Cheerleader favorite Agent Ribbons who will be playing a string of dates opening for Camera Obscura, who recently named the band one of their favorite new bands! Exciting times for AR, check out the dates on their Myspace and watch a video from their performance at this year’s Cannibal Cheerleader SXSW Blood Bath below!
News leaks as a snail’s pace out of the Converge camp when it comes to any new material from the band, but this time around it looks as if the Boston-based hardcore quartet will be keeping fans up to date with every step of the recording of the new album via their Twitter page. Seems like everyone is on Twitter these days. Here’s hoping for a repeat of the majesty that was No Heroes.
Dance-rock megastars the Sounds have posted the first single “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake” from their upcoming album Crossing the Rubicon (out June 2nd) as well as a tracklist which you can check out below. Sounds like Sounds to us, classic stuff people. Check it out at their Myspace.
1. No One Sleeps When I’m Awake 2. 4 Songs & A Fight 3. My Lover 4. Dorchester Hotel 5. Beatbox 6. Underground 7. Crossing The Rubicon 8. Midnight Sun 9. Lost In Love 10. The Only Ones 11. Home Is Where Your Heart Is 12. Goodnight Freddy
Featuring instantly enjoyable twee-pop absolute jams, Camera Obscura have a wallop of an album on their hand with their fourth release My Maudlin Career. Featuring hooks the likes of which catch indie-rock sharks (from the French Navy perhaps?) this new album sees the Glasgow sextet at the top of their pop game, expanding on the work of Let’s Get Out of This Country by offering more expansive instrumentation and more artistic flourishes than even the bravest hipsters wouldn’t dare to try. While Diana+’s may be a fad, Camera Obscura is a band that’s here to stay – check out a few mp3s below.
On a completely different note, check out this new video from Cannibal Cheerleader favorite Rolo Tomassi. It features an interview with Eva Spence, Edward Dutton (drummer for RT), Matt Caughthran of the Bronx, and Damian Abraham of Fucked Up (who we absolutely love by the way) all talking about their favorite four songs of all time. Check it below:
Sounding like a doomier, younger Converge, Throats comes snarling out the UK with a sound meant to tear your face clean off and cleave your metal-loving brain straight in two. Seriously folks, we’ve had enough of middling hardcore, and the likes of Throats with bands like Rolo Tomassi are bringing back the heat in a big way – forward thinking, fierce, and lungful-of-blood-spitting-venom brutality the likes of which we’ve never seen. The future of hardcore may be across the pond – bring it over here folks! We’re just lucky Rolo Tomassi is performing their first ever US show at our day party on Wednesday March 18th! Check it out folks!
Comments? Anyone else notice the massive musical expanse between Throats and Camera Obscura? Anyone else think that it’s pretty awesome we like them both?
Seems our friends Balmorhea have been busy over the last few months, recording, mastering, and ultimately finishing their upcoming third LP All Is Wild, All Is Silent (cover up above). From the recent show we covered (video coming soon!) the gang’s new tunes are going to blow the lid off of everything they’ve done before now. Check the tracklist below, CD due out March 9th!
TRACK LISTING: SETTLER MARCH 4, 1831 HARM AND BOON ELEGY REMEMBRANCE COAHUILA NIGHT IN THE DRAW TRUTH NOVEMBER 1, 1832
With a setlist to die for and sounding tighter than Jenny Lewis’ thigh-highs, Rilo Kiley blazed through classics old and new at their triumphant turn at Austin’s Stubb’s BBQ.
4. MY MORNING JACKET AT THE PARISH
We managed to catch My Morning Jacket three times this year but none better than in the intimate setting of the Parish, where their magnificently raucous live antics threatened to collapse the second-story floor and show off their technical skill rather than their arean-rock readiness.
3. BE YOUR OWN PET AT STUBB’S
Ripping and shredding up the stage like a pack of wolves, Be Your Own Pet managed to sound both fresh with their brand new Get Awkward tracks and wizened with their undeniably punk ethos during their brief set at Austin’s Stubb’s BBQ.
2. CONVERGE AT RED 7
With a fiery set reminiscent of end-of-days prophecies, Converge annihilated all expectations with a set that was both brutal and enthralling, recalling the days when punk meant something more than just fast guitars.
1. CAT POWER AT STUBB’S
Easily topping the list of this year’s most enthralling live sets, Cat Power at Stubb’s recalled classic soul songstresses of yesteryear, soaring through classics from You Are Free, the Greatest, and this year’s Jukebox, all the while maintaining the composure and confidence of a road-weary but hardened troubadour. Chan Marshall has walked through the fire and come out the other side a little older, a little dustier, but all the better for her trials.
TOP FIVE HORROR MOVIES OF THE YEAR
5. THE RUINS
Simple setting, not-so-simple enemy, the Ruins managed to combine pleasingly-gory special effects with an overbearing sense of dread as the protagonists find themselves trapped on an ancient pyramid being eaten by, what else, rabid plants. Bloody pom-poms awarded all around.
4. THE STRANGERS
Perhaps the most outright terrifying flick on our list, the Strangers captures the nihilism of modern horror with stark and brutal imagery and enough impending dread to make you queasy throughout. Plus, check out the awesome old-timey poster, great stuff.
3. TEETH
A coming of age tale for the morally reprehensible amongst us (myself definitely included) Teeth tells the story of a young girl blossoming into full-fledged womanhood and all the blood, guts, and terror that it inevitably involves. Recommended for every frat-boy considering date-rape (warning: castration abounds).
2. FUNNY GAMES
A horrifically stark and undeniably enjoyable trek into the darkest reaches of the horror-film psyche, Funny Games forces the viewer themselves into sadism for continuing to watch the terrible torture of an affluent family by a deranged duo of golf-club wielding maniacs. Are we the real monsters for enjoying the film? It’s hard not to be when Naomi Watts starts gunning people down. A must see.
1. THE SIGNAL
Of all the horror movies this year to question the brutal and sadistic nature of the genre, none dared to go so far as to question the medium of delivery itself, to identify the maddening pervasiveness of media in our society and our cult-like devotion to it. In the Signal, the three directors attempt just that, fusing elements of horror, drama, zombie-flick, dark comedy, gore, and psyche-freak-out all into a visionary masterpiece that undeniably captures what is at times both the best and the sickest elements of horror cinema – the unending search for meaning in a cruel world attacking from all sides. So highly recommended I’m wondering why you’re still reading this and not buying it. You must have the crazy.
Any other readers have horror movie faves? Comments?
(that picture above is the Submarines, this picture below is Headlights) Add 6/13 to our summer tour list because Cannibal Cheerleader definitely wants to attend the double-header of Headlights and the Submarines at Emo’s that day. An indie-pop love-fest the likes of which may never be seen again (seriously, go to this show and you’ll experience a spiritual Nirvana), this show promises to be fantastic. Hit up each band’s Myspace up there and check these tracks:
Hi, we’re going to work on our myspace less (because myspace sucks) and focus more on this new FFA BLOG. It’s a mix of FoodForAnimals projects, other music-videos-etc, DJ mixes, writings on whatever-we’re-into-today, etc.
Check it out, its up already!
Ricky”
So hey, if you dig these guys as much as we do, swing by their new blog, you know we will!
******************************************************************** AUSTINIST PREVIEWS RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS SHOW
The Austinist posted a little the Riverboat Gamblers so give that one a read. I’d also like to take this time to announce we will be filming the Gamblers this Saturday at Red 7, so definitely be there for what promises to be a great show! ******************************************************************** CONVERGE ARTICLE FROM WAFFLES
It’s come to my attention that many of you cannot read the article by yours truly that was up on the front page of Waffles.fm this week because it’s a members-only site. Well here I have it reprinted for your enjoyment, please read and comment! To those for whom the word ‘converge’ is usually preceded by the words ‘mother-fucking!’ and shouted from breathless lungs as a furious pit swirls dangerously around them, the Webster’s definition of the term which reads “to come together from different directions so as to meet”, seems, at best, deficient. The denotation implies some form of unity; some advanced knowledge or foresight, not the urgent fiery carnage and whip-crack wailings that is the ferocious Converge; a fabled hardcore act originally from Salem, Massachusetts. “Circle pit right now!” screams bassist Nate Newton at an Austin, Texas Converge show at the Red 7 nightclub in April. The already battered hardcore kids happily oblige as lead singer Jacob Bannon wrenches a monitor from the front of the stage mid-verse and heaves it up onto his shoulder before thrusting it into the pit with utter abandon. Shrieking in blood-curdling alto, spit and bile stream down his face and onto the front of his captive audience, all awash in glorious fury, eyes alight as in a fever-dream. To an outsider, the scene couldn’t seem farther from a ‘coming together’, though perhaps when the world does end (it won’t look much different from this) the singleness of destruction at hand will suggest some unity. However, from a more academic standpoint, the band Converge represent a welcome trend in a hardcore community become too far removed from its artistic origins. The menacing cries and technical guitar-work expose a degree of thought that suggests a band ahead of its time while still heavily entrenched in the hardcore scene. As modern hardcore bands attempt to recapture the energy of the past by dumbing-down their music to rudimentary levels, it’s comforting to know that bands like Converge still bring ingenuity to the sound of hardcore. Guitarist Kurt Ballou stands solo on stage, apparently tuning his guitar and correcting the volume on the monitors. What starts as rudimentary noodling with his strings slowly segues into the opening riff of a No Heroes standout tune “Plagues” and the audience comes to the slow realization that they are no longer experiencing the sound check. As lead singer Jacob Bannon would state later in the night, “I’ve been in this band since I was thirteen years old! I’m 31 now. The numbers have reversed! It’s an anagram!” He’s not kidding either — Converge formed in 1990 and graduated to live shows in 1991 after some home-recorded demos. Converge has been a staple of the hardcore scene for approximately two decades now. With a sound derived from hardcore acts like Born Against and proto-metalcore like the astounding Starkweather, Converge’s blend of polyrhythmic drumming, intricate and distorted guitar-work, and the token Jacob Bannon shriek have given the band amorphous sound qualities which have “converged” multiple genres together. Mixing the noise-rock elements of bands like New York’s Rorschach, the hardcore tendencies of Detroit’s Negative Approach, and even the no-wave experiments of bands like New York’s Swans, Converge’s musical influences are as disparate as the band’s music. “You’re at a hardcore show, you’re surrounded by friends!” barks Bannon mid-set in Texas, answering all questions as to where the band feels they fit into the musical spectrum. The air fills with stage divers as the band launches into “Eagles Become Vultures” from the experimentally-tinged You Fail Me. To define the band as merely ‘hardcore’ however almost cheapens the technical skill and virtuosity that each band member displays. While Bannon’s declaration of adherence to the hardcore scene represents his affinity with its unity, the progressive lengths Converge’s writing has taken remains leaps and bounds above simple three-chord punk acts. Since their first release, the underrated Halo in a Haystack, Jacob Bannon has exemplified the role an artist plays in hard rock music. Many of the greatest icons of rock and roll were art students, from John Lennon, to Mick Jagger, and finally, to punk legend John Lydon (otherwise known as Johnny Rotten). Since the origin of punk, some the best minds were art-school students turned musicians, thus it comes as no surprise to discover Jacob Bannon’s alternate life as an accomplished visual artist whose work is highly respected among art communities. All of Bannon’s work is done by hand and much of it has been displayed as part of the Converge canon in the form of cover art, T-shirts, or other items. The designs selling at the merch table in Austin looked to be the work of a mad graffiti artist rather than a proper screen-printer. His unique work could be seen on the sweat-stained clothing of moshing hardcore fans throughout the show “Look at that!” screams Newton as he points to Ben Koller, the drummer who seems to be delivering blast beats at one-hundred miles per hour throughout the Converge rarity “Locust Reign” from their Deeper the Wound split EP with Hellchild. The technicality of the band on this song is reminiscent of early Converge recordings like Caring and Killing and Petitioning the Empty Sky. Of course, while the band was gaining notoriety in the underground, their brand of hardcore first became more known to the general public with the release of their album When Forever Comes Crashing and their concept album Jane Doe. The latter, a story of a devastating romantic breakup, instills a great sense despair and fury. Some consider the album to be the band’s defining work. However, the band burst back into the hardcore scene with their follow-ups to Jane Doe, You Fail Me and a throwback hardcore album No Heroes. The latter, their most political and confrontational album to date, was lauded by metal giants such as Mastodon and Isis as being one of the best hardcore albums in years. “This song is from Jane Doe”, spits Bannon, heaving with exhaustion at the end of the show. “And this song…” he says before pausing for emphasis and to allow the shouts of the crowd to die down “…is also called “Jane Doe”.
The band ends their set with their 12-minute epic, a testament to their technicality and rage all in one. Even as Bannon curls up into a ball in the middle of the stage, pulling his microphone close to his chest and writhing and shrieking like a dying animal, the crowd does not move but watches instead in awe. The guitar riffs, perhaps more at place in a shoegaze outfit, blend atypical guitar strumming and drum clicking for truly engaged experience. With the final shouts, Bannon lets his microphone drop to the ground and walks off stage, aloof, leaving his band mates to shake hands with the hardcore kids who rush the stage to congratulate the foursome on a fantastic show. While much of music criticism seems focused on the popular aspects of modern music, the more ferocious and technical work of bands such as Converge deserve respect as well. There is a hidden thoughtfulness both in their lyrics and song structure despite the aggressive nature of their music, and while some may think the band sacrifices mass-appeal for speed or scene politics, Converge continues to produce exactly what they know they are good at. They may not be easy to approach for the average listener, but they most certainly push the limits and continue to define a particular hardcore sound that is distinctly their own.
Sorry for the late update guys – slept in too late. Oh well, any comments today (especially on the article)?
SO, we have finally secured a rehearsal space to call our own. now we can get down to business. we are currently planning our next release, which as of the moment looks like it will be another e.p. released on vinyl and download. the release for this will be determined as soon as we are done recording it! i am also beginning pre- production on our next self made music video…im thinking sweet girl but i also fancy making one for down on you…maybe i should let you decide. We are playing our next show June 3rd at Emo’s with the great SWERVEDRIVER….so come get launched into outerspace with us! thanks for being our #1 fans!(we will play in your area this fall) -elliott
Ringo Deathstarr and shoegaze greats Swervedriver sharing the same stage? Awesomeness! You’ll know we’ll be attending this June 3rd show and hopefully we’ll have a camera in tow! ******************************************************************** MY MORNING JACKET PERFORMED ON SNL
My Morning Jacket’s first Saturday Night Live appearance apparently happened over the weekend, much to my dismay as I had not planned to record it. More details will obviously be forthcoming (what songs, hopefully a video, etc) but until then, here’s a taste of some live action MMJ has done on TV shows in the past!
******************************************************************** SLOW WEEKEND – I ADDED ADSENSE
So yeah, slow weekend on the music news front but hey, let it be known I added AdSense so click on the ads a few times over there on the right margin. Also, look what Yahoo are apparently selling!
Cannibal Huge selection of Cannibal items. Yahoo.com
That’s right, if you’re looking to buy a Cannibal or cannibal related items, Yahoo is the place to go!
That said, this week I’ll start posting some longer reviews/articles I’ve done recently for the viewing public. Look for reviews (that I’ll actually be submitting to magazines and such) for My Morning Jacket, Death Cab for Cutie, Converge, and the Last Shadow Puppets (who do indeed rock). See everyone tomorrow!s
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!
According to this Pitchfork article, that picture up there featuring a mustaschioed Rivers Cuomo might just be the official cover of Weezer’s Red Album. Seeing as all the press photos we’ve been seeing of our favorite antithetical rock frontman lately have had him sporting a strange hairdo (see this soccer photo), it’s only fitting that he be as strange on his latest album cover. The tracklist was also posted:
The Red Album Troublemaker’ ‘The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)’ ‘Pork and Beans’ ‘Heart Songs’ ‘Everybody Get Dangerous’ ‘Dreamin’’ ‘Thought I Knew’ ‘Cold Dark World’ ‘Automatic’ ‘The Angel and the One’
Bonus Disc for US Release
‘Miss Sweeney’, ‘Pig’, ‘The Spider’ and ‘King’
Ten songs, classic Weezer action. This album seems to be making the ‘return to rock’ a reality for the Weez machine, especially given the sound of their first single “Pork and Beans“. Also, it looks like fan favorite “Pig” was relegated to b-side status, which is fair enough as everyone has heard it more than enough since it leaked a few years ago. Of course if you haven’t heard it yet, here’s what it sounds like!
Can’t wait for this album! ******************************************************************** SALLY SHAPIRO – REMIX ROMANCE VOL. 2
If you’re like me you’ve been spinning Sally Shapiro’s Remix Vol. 1 constantly since it came out last week. The tracks maintain a dancey edge reminiscent of old-style disco tracks without ever becoming to campy or ridiculous, meaning normally hardcore rock and roll fans (cough cough) can hide in their rooms and listen to it on their headphones, bobbing their heads to the beat approvingly in private. The techno infiltration of the likes of Holy Fuck and Junior Boys on Vol. 1 makes the original tracks interesting in new ways and Vol. 2, with remixes by the likes of Dtnel, promises to be no different. Here’s the first track from this album which will be released in June, and go pick up Vol. 1 soon!
******************************************************************** SCARLETT JOHANSSON – NEW TOM WAITS COVER SONG
Last week I posted what I felt was a ‘bait and switch’ when I told everyone that a new Scarlett Johansson track from her upcoming Tom Waits’ covers album (entitled Anywhere I Lay My Head) had been posted online, though it had already been taken down by the time I wrote the post so no one got to hear it. Well, thanks to “>Falling Down” from Big Time, and like the last track, it’s shoegazey wonder and completely different from the source material. Still, as a big fan of female vocalists, shoegaze, and Tom Waits, I can’t help but to enjoy myself when I listen to it. Definitely will be picking up this record. ******************************************************************** CRYSTAL CASTLES’ PITCHFORK ARTICLE
While most people read Pitchfork probably for the overwrought album reviews, people should know they have articles down in the lower right hand corner. And while the weekly Puritan Blister isn’t as good a series as say Poptimist, it’s always good to read a piece like today’s PB article where the author explains in detail his absolute obsession with Crystal Castles. Read it to find out what I’ve been going through for over a year myself! I especially like the part about trying to figure out the lyrics, finding out they’re about suicide, violence, and death and thinking they’re all the cooler for it. Check it out if you don’t mind relatively pompous and way too self-referential music journalism. ******************************************************************** COOL SHOWS IN AUSTIN THIS WEEK
Converge tomorrow at Red 7! There will be blood@! There will be pictures! Dynamite Boy reunion this Saturday! Cruiserweight show this Saturday! Fun times to be had by all enjoyers of rock music this week.
That’s it for this update – comment away folks, it makes me uber happy!
Converge’s Axe to Fall is quickly topping my list of most anticipated albums of the year, especially after hearing lead single “Dark Horse”. Also, some incredible news to announce, looks like Converge will be coming to Austin on Nov. 13th supporting none other than Mastodon with High on Fire in tow – an incredible, face-melting lineup that’s sure to annihilate Austin in the best possible way. Check the Converge website for details.
