by nmcollins

Portland Singer-Songwriter Anya Marina Releases EP

Anya Marina has been quite busy the last couple years. With the release of her second record Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II (2009), Marina gained mainstream attention, along with a song on the New Moon Soundtrack. While working on a new full length album, Marina gives fans something to chew on with a new EP titled The Spirit School.

A slight departure from previous work, School Spirit features five tracks, including a remix of her New Moon song “Satellite Heart” by Sam Fogarino of Interpol. A more stripped down and “less fussed over” approach to recording and songwriting than previous efforts, Spirit School features Marina “having fun with songwriting again.”

Spirit School also touts Dandy Warhols frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor on the song “Whatsit.” “Busrider” and “You Are Invisible” are home demos made pretty by producer Ken Andrews (Pete Yorn, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, etc).

Look for Spirit School out TODAY on Chop Shop Records/Atlantic Records.

“Whatsit” featuring Courtney Taylor-Taylor of The Dandy Warhols.

11.16.10

by justgentile

Generationals – “Trust” EP

Generationals is a spunky little trio out of New Orleans that this past summer went out to Austin, Texas to lay down the four tracks I’ve come to own as the Trust EP. Generationals has been Grant Widmer and Ted Joyner, joined now by drummer and back up vocalist Tess Brunet. Recorded this past August, the EP starts out with “Carrying the Torch”, a poppy bass riff that spins off into an almost indie take on the classic new wave hit “Melt With You.” A tightly loose danceable affair with some light strings in the back round to really make all the tracks blend seamlessly.

“Say For Certain” grooves along organically from the start, pulsing and clicking. A sparse yet melodically decorated tune with some lyrics that definitely got into my head. The syncopation is viral and feels over too soon. “Trust” is another thumping groover with a surfer bend. The song is a mellow poppy jingle that chugs with a beachy sunny sound. I can see the song taking over radiowaves soon, and it is the EP’s title track with good reason, it’s highly infectious. “Victim of Trap” is an excellent closer for many reasons. One being it is a hypnotic, textured, and challenging track that is very welcome after three almost upfront post-pop tunes. The band really builds on each track and it makes me very excited for anything they’re planning on putting down in the studio soon.

The Trust EP is available on the iTunes store now for only $1.99.

11.16.10

by iamrickylewis

Shilpa Ray Announce New Album and Spring Tour

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers are back and will be starting off a busy early 2011 with a new full length record, Teenage and Torture, out January 18th on Knitting Factory Records. Ray, an Indian-American who grew up in a working class family in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, has made something of a name for herself turning her much-talked about alienation in to startling, bluesy rock n’ roll; even Nick Cave has stated he’s a fan. The band’s fall tour was cancelled and they must be eager to get back on the road: they’ve planned a pretty staggering 28 show run in just 31 days with Acid Mothers Temple starting on the West Coast in March and running through Canada and the Northeast before stopping in Austin in late April.

You can find the full list of dates below, as well as stream the second MP3 to be shared from the new record, “Heaven in Stereo”.

Stream the “Heaven in Stereo” Mp3 HERE

Upcoming Tour Dates:

*= w/ Acid Mothers Temple

NOVEMBER

JANUARY
21 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl (Record Release w/ Hooray For Earth, Soft Black)
22 – Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place

MARCH
23 – Los Angeles, CA – Spaceland*
24 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill*
26 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge*
27 – Bellingham, WA – The Wild Buffalo*
28 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey*
29 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret*
31 – Calgary, AB – Broken City*

APRIL
01 – Missoula, MT – The Badlander*
02 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge*
03 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge*
04 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre*
05 – Minneapolis, MN – 7^th Street Entry*
06 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle*
07 – Kalamazoo, MI – The Strutt*
08 – Toronto, ON – El Mocambo*
09 – Montreal, QC – Il Motore*
10 – Allston, MA – Great Scott*
11 – Milford, CT – Daniel Street*
13 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brendas*
14 – Washington, DC – Red Palace*
15 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar*
16 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506*
17 – Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light*
18 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl*
19 – New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks*
20 – Houston, TX – Fitzgeralds*
21 – Dallas, TX – The Loft*
22 – Austin, TX – Red 7*

11.16.10

by nmcollins

The Dears At Work On New Album

Montreal rockers, The Dears, have made a name for themselves as a band that can move from electrifying pop, to full-on primal screams; grinding guitar solos, to a soulful baroque. With a musical hiatus since their 2008 album Missiles, The Dears look to announce a forthcoming album Degeneration Street. The release date is set for February 15^th, 2011 on Dangerbird Records.

Produced by Tony Hoffer (Phoenix, Belle and Sebastian), Degeneration Street is said to be a “return to form” for frontman Murray Lightburn and company. The new material traces back to the band’s previous albums such as No Cities Left (2003) and Gang of Losers (2007).

Check out new song “Omega Dog” live in Mexico City:

11.15.10

by Jane Lambert

NYC’s Weekly Show Roundup!

Sufjan Stevens @ Beacon Theatre

DJ Shadow @ Irving Plaza

Fiction Plane, The Globes @ Mercury Lounge (Early Show)

Oh Land @ Mercury Lounge (Late Show)

Mumford & Sons, Cadillac Sky, King Charles @ Terminal 5

Jonsi (and Kjartan of Sigur Ros), Alex Somers (of Riceboy Sleeps), Hilliard Ensemble, Latvian National Choir, Wordless Music Orchestra
@ The Church of St. Paul the Apostle