ELK Announces New Album

Elk (press photo)

Justin Stein (aka ELK) had a trying time recording his upcoming album Let’s Get Married. After his computer crashed halfway through production, Justin had to decide whether to pay rent or buy a new computer. He chose a computer and ditched Brooklyn to move back to his parents’ house in Michigan.

His album is literally a bedroom production, and features electronic pop mixed with shoegaze and Philip Glass samples. The album will be out February 15th on Shape Up Records (released via cassette and digital download). The song “Volleyball” is the first single from the album, and you can hear it right here.

ELK also recently created a mix that he calls the “Snow Mixtape” to commemorate the giant blizzard that recently swept through New York. Featuring samples from MGMT and Thin Lizzy (among others), you can hear it right here. ELK will be playing in New York soon, with a date at Cake Shop on February 11th (with Keepaway, Pistola and Lost Coves).

 

The Beets Go On Tour

beetsknife

 

The Beets strive to capture the feel of the garage rock from the ’60’s, back when lo-fi was the norm. Hearkening back to the Ramones, their songs are quick and to the point, bare without being boring.

The formula is not altered too much on the band’s second album, Stay Home, which is out now on Captured Tracks. The band has also released a single from the new album, called “Time Brought Age” which you can check out right here!

Aside from the new album and track, the band has also announced their North American tour. You can see the Beets at several locations, including:

02/18 Vassar @ The Mug
02/19 Allentown @ Warehouse space
02/20 Washington DC @ Velvet Lounge
02/21 Charlottesville, VA @ Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
02/23 Athens GA @ Farm 255
02/24 Nashville, TN @ Glenn Danzig’s House
02/27 Chicago @ Permanent Records In-store
02/27 Chicago @ The Hideout
03/1 Toronto @ Parts and Labour

The Dodos Announce Fourth Album

The two-piece group The Dodos have been diligently working on their fourth full-length album, and are now ready to share some info about it.

Called No Color, the album’s main goal was to “bottle the frenzied folk approach” that the band has featured prominently on past recordings.  “I have a love for ‘90s riffs that I haven’t gotten to showcase in this band,” explains guitarist/singer Merc Long. “The most fun I had with this record was when I got to strap on the electric guitar and come up with Billy Corgan riffs while the tape was rolling.”

People can start looking for The Dodos’ No Color on Frenchkiss Records on March 15th, and news of an upcoming spring U.S. Tour will be coming soon.

 

Asobi Seksu Announce Album Release And Supporting Tour

Asobi Seksu have announced a release for their highly anticipated fourth full-length and they’ve revealed a full North American tour in support!

The album Fluorescence will be out February 15th on Polyvinyl Records on CD, LP, and MP3. The first single for the album, “Trails” is already out and you can listen to it right here!

What else to do with new material but to take it on the road, right? Asobi Seksu have announced a full North American tour this winter, with support from Brahms, BRAIDS and Cults! You can check out their new stuff right here:

1/27/2011 – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY*
2/17/2011 – Album Release Show at Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
2/25/2011 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA**
2/26/2011 – Casa Del Popolo – Montreal, QC**
2/27/2011 – Legendary Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON**
2/28/2011 – Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL**
3/01/2011 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN**
3/03/2011 – The Badlander – Missoula, MT**
3/04/2011 – Chop Suey – Seattle, WA**
3/05/2011 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, BC**
3/06/2011 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR**
3/08/2011 – Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco, CA**
3/09/2011 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA**
3/10/2011 – Detroit Bar – Costa Mesa, CA***
3/11/2011 – Casbah – San Diego, CA***
3/12/2011 – Neon Reverb Festival – Las Vegas, NV***
3/13/2011 – Rhythm Room – Phoenix, AZ***
3/14/2011 – Corazon – Santa Fe, NM***
3/22/2011 – The End – Nashville, TN****
3/23/2011 – Pilot Light – Knoxville, TN****
3/24/2011 – Strange Matter – Richmond, VA****
3/25/2011 – Rock and Roll Hotel – Washington, D.C.****
3/26/2011 – Johnny Brendas – Philadelphia, PA****

*w/ White Lies

**w/ BRAHMS

***w/ BRAIDS

w/ Cults

 

Feist Releases A Documentary

 

Feist’s album The Reminder was so great, they had to make a movie about it. Well, Look At What The Light Did Now is more about the collaboration between sound and imagery than just a Metallica-style “making an album” documentary, but it’s still damn cool.

Feist tells Pitchfork that she “wanted what’s in the movie to be things we’ve never seen before.” Explaining that “it focuses on the people whose job isn’t necessarily to be seen. Their part of the puzzle is to make imagery that gets seen, but they themselves are a bit invisible in the process. I wanted to show the smoke and mirrors a little bit.”

In her discussion with Pitchfork, Feist also mentioned that she will be making another album sometime this winter, but refused to elaborate any further. Look At What The Light Did Now is in stores now, and stay tuned for any other news about Feist’s upcoming album. In the mean time, check out the trailer for her documentary right here.

M83 Readies New Album

M83 Talks "Very, Very, Very Epic" New Album

 

M83’s latest work was contributing a soundtrack to a French film L’Ature Mondem or Black Heaven. As it turns out, that wasn’t the best experience.

M83 (Anthony Gonzalez) told Pitchfork that it was a “shitty soundtrack” for a “shitty movie” that left him “pissed” in France.

Luckily for him (and us), he moved back to L.A. earlier this year and has been working hard on a follow-up to the 2008 hit Saturdays=Youth. He told Pitchfork that he already had more than 20 demos ready for the studio and that he looks to record with Vocalist Morgan Kibby and Bassist Justin Medal-Johnsen.

Gonzalez is shooting for a spring release for his latest album. Oh, he’s also working on another movie soundtrack. No word on whether this one will be described as “shitty.”