by summer826

Yellowbirds Release Second Single From Upcoming Debut Album

Sam Cohen of Apollo Sunshine fame has formed a new band called Yellowbirds and is giving listeners a chance to download the second single from the band’s debut album The Color which is set for release February 15^th 2011.

“The Honest Ocean” is the second single to be released from the album following “The Rest Of My Life” which was made available in October and went on to be selected as Spinner “Mp3 Of The Day”. The song is a nostalgic trip back to a time when legends like Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly ruled the airwaves and layers of distorted and fuzz guitar sounds intertwine with the trippy sounds of the keyboard.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Cohen now lives in New York City, a stark contrast from the home of Big Oil and the Space Program. It seems as though Cohen has certainly found inspiration among the beautiful architecture and vast amount of modern art the city has to offer. Sam decided to embark on his own and create this new band in response to the melodies he was creating in his head.

Listen to “The Honest Ocean” here.

Upcoming Yellowbirds shows:
December 11 | The Rock Shop | Brooklyn, NY

12.09.10

by Justin Sarachik

Mister Heavenly Adds a Star to It’s Already All-Star Lineup

Mister Heavenly is the new brain child of Man Man’s Honus Honus, Islands’ Nick Thorburn, and Modest Mouse’s Joe Plummer. Deriving the sound from a mixture of their own bands style, they have now added movie star Michael Cera on bass for the rest of the West Coast portion of the tour.

Cera has previously worked with Thorburn in the Islands’ video for “No You Don’t” as one of the actors. Cera has played characters who were bassists in both Scott Pilgrim Vs the World and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Play List, now he gets to do it for real.

Mister Heavenly is on tour with and opening for band, Passion Pit. Their first show was at Seattle’s Moore Theater. Check out the video from Pitchfork down below.

12.09.10

by Justin Sarachik

Montreal Quartet, the BRAIDS, Gain Critical Acclaim

Led my female vocalist Raphaelle Standell-Preston, this experimental/folk/trippy pop group is breaking barriers with groundbreaking music. Using intense vocal harmonies and melodies along with pulsing and vibrant yet mello music, BRAIDS creates an almost euphoric dream like listening experience for all the senses.

These four best friends from High School gambled on skipping college, and choose to make music instead. Their hard work paid off as they are now being noticed for their self-released debut, Native Speaker.

They were recently named to Stereogum’s “40 Best New Artists of 2010“, and recorded a “Pop Montreal Session” while at Break Glass Studios. Listen to that session here.

12.09.10

by Sedera Ranaivoarinosy

4AD and The Red Hot Organization Donate $1,000,000 Thanks To The Album Dark Was The Night

As World AIDS Day on December 1st reminded us that AIDS is still a threat and continues to kill, good news came to us from the folks of 4AD and the Red Hot Foundation. In February 2009, 4AD released Dark Was The Night, a musical collaboration conceived and produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, and Red Hot founder John Carlin, and its sales have now raised $1,000,000 for charity!

The compilation is made up of 32 exclusive tracks by Arcade Fire, Blonde Redhead, Bon Iver, Cat Power, The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors + David Byrne, Grizzly Bear, The New Pornographers, Spoon, and Sufjan Stevens… the list goes on. Each band has recommended a charity to which the funds raised will be donated. This is the 20th album put out by The Red Hot Foundation, which has been working to help fight AIDS since 1989. You can still purchase it HERE.

Here is the list of the charities chosen to receive Red Hot grants:
Advocates For Youth (recommended by The National)
After Hours Project, Inc (recommended by Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings)
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (recommended by Bon Iver)
A Loving Spoonful (recommended by New Pornographers)
Bronx AIDS Services (recommended by The National)
Camp Amerikids (recommended by The National)
Casey House (recommended by Kevin Drew/Broken Social Scene)
Central City Concern (recommended by Decemberists)
Citta (recommended by David Byne)
Housing Works (recommended by Dirty Projectors)
Nebraska Aids Project (recommended by Conor Oberst)
Out Youth (recommended by Iron & Wine)
Partners In Health (recommended by Arcade Fire)
San Francisco AIDS Foundation (recommended by Kronos Quartet)
Tamasha (recommended by Sufjan Stevens)
In addition to Terrence Higgins Trust, PSI/YouthAIDS, and CHAI.