Category Archives: News

12.29.10
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Jonquil’s Oxford Invasion


Oxford England’s Jonquil are not the Beatles, but they are British, and coming to America. Hugo Manuel, Sam Hudson Scott and Robin McDiarmid have been rehearsing and recording in their studio, aka their UK flat.

As a leading sound in Oxford’s Blessing Force collective, alongside Pet Moon, Trophy Wife, Fixers, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Chad Valley (Jonquil’s own Hugo Manuel), Jonquil brings an exciting and new sound to pop music. Influences of The Smiths, Paul Simon and Mark Ronson, they deliver a royal slice of indie-pop.

Releasing their single, “Fighting Smiles” on RCRD LBL, a vinyl version of their EP, One Hundred Suns is available now and will be released on vinyl in January 2011. Jonquil are slated to perform at SXSW in March 2011, perhaps even adding some US dates. Check ’em out here: Nylon Free Music Download “Fighting Smiles.”

12.28.10
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The Decemberists Frontman Looks To Broadway

The Decemberists

 

The Decemberists just finished a new album (The King Is Dead out on January 18th) but frontman Colin Meloy is already after bigger things.

The singer told Spin that he’d already been in contact with the director of Green Day’s American Idiot musical about penning his own show.

According to Spin, Meloy is not quite sure what the musical would be about, but he has some ideas. It will have to wait for a little while at least because the Decemberists embark on a three-month tour January 24th.

12.28.10
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Happy New Year Receives Gift in “Hotel” Video


Yay for privacy! We complain about not having enough of it, but when artists can retreat to make-shift studios in condemned 19th century breweries to record solo projects, it’s time to count your amendment blessings.

Eleanor Logan of Adult Themes released a 7″ of vengeful pop songs receiving critical acclaim (as if anyone else would take the time) under the name Happy New Year.

UK Director, Rob Heppell created the enticing video for “Hotel” which you can view once you’ve finished reading this sentence.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR- HOTEL from rob heppell on Vimeo.

12.28.10
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The Luyas Are ‘Too Beautiful To Work’


Canadian futuristic pop group, The Luyas, have outdone themselves with a masterpiece in Too Beautiful To Work.  Their debut album will be released on February 22nd on the Dead Oceans label. 

Band mates Jessie Stein, Mathieu Charbonneau, Pietro Amatro and Stefan Scheider have incorporated the use of some unique instruments like a French horn and a 12-string electric zither called a Moodswinger to bring their sound into the space-age pop sound they’ve developed while Jessie’s voice adds to the heady and airy sound of the album. 

This week they released the video for “Tiny Heads”, the first single off the album.  You can watch the video on Pitchfork. 

TRACK LISTING:
1. Too Beautiful to Work
2. Worth Mentioning (Bell Song)
3. Tiny Head
4. Moodslayer
5. Canary
6. Spherical Mattress
7. Cold Canada
8. What Mercy Is
9. I Need Mirrors
10. Seeing Things

12.28.10
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Metal Mountains Prepare Debut Album

Metal Mountains have set a date for their debut album. The album Golden Trees will be unveiled on January 25th, 2011.

Out on Amish Records, the album is described as a “minimalist psych-folk masterpiece” that combines violin, finger-picking guitar and a generous use of silence.

The members of Metal Mountain, Helen Rush, Pat Gubler and Samara Lubelski have had their hands full with Tower Recordings up until now. Alongside Matt Valentine, they make up the key components of Tower.

Look for the album Golden Trees on mp3, vinyl and CD this January on Amish Records.

12.28.10
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Lower Dens Plays a “Yours Truly” Session, and Releases First Single, ‘Batman’


Female fronted Indie rock band from Baltimore, Lower Dens, has announced their 2011 tour dates. Starting on January 3rd in Washington DC, they will finish March 15th in Norman, Oklahoma.

Previously releasing their first album, Twin-Hand Movement, the new single “Batman” is off the upcoming EP of the same name to be released January 18th. They recently performed the single for a “Yours Truly” Session that you can watch here.

Listen to previous single, “Blue and Silver”

Tour Dates

01/03 – Washington DC – The Kennedy Center
01/12 – Carrboro NC – Cat’s Cradle $
01/13 – Atlanta GA – Variety Playhouse $
01/14 – Asheville NC – Grey Eagle Tavern $
01/15 – Nashville TN – Exit In $
03/11 – Washington DC – Black Cat !
03/12 – Chapel Hill NC – Local 506 !
03/13 – Atlanta GA – The EARL !
03/15 – Norman OK – The Opolis !

$ = w/ The Walkmen
! = w/ Wye Oak

Check out their Myspace for more information.