FREE MP3: TOKYO POLICE CLUB: BREAKNECK SPEED
Tokyo Police Club’s video for Breakneck Speed from their new album Champ , edited by Mike Juneau. According to singer/bassist Dave Monks, the album will have “… eleven songs, a Disney character, fuzzy bits, Canadian spelling, hockey sound effects, me singing the lowest note in my range, one (1) saxophone note.” Amidst these eleven songs and assorted oddities, is this somewhat misleading song ““Breakneck Speed”; a slow yearning track about the recklessness of youth…or is it? Download the track or watch the video below:
BEACH FOSSILS: BEACH FOSSILS
[rating:4.5]
Beach Fossils: Beach Fossils
Label: Captured Tracks
Release Date: May 25, 2010
We can whine about labels all we want but sometimes labels are helpful. They prevent mistakes.
With labels, you’re less likely to mix up the dog’s generic value time peanut butter with the really good organic stuff or mistake the Swedish vampire film Let The Right One In with the latest Katherine Heigl Rom-Com.
Similarly, beachgaze or surfgaze is a pretty accurate descriptor you’re not likely to confuse with psych metal or day-glo hip-hop.
Likewise with beachgaze band d’jour, Beach Fossils.
The most aptly named band ever, the Brooklyn act’s self-titled debut LP is probably the easiest to get into and the hardest to get out of your head.
The sound?
Cheery bomp-a-bomp drums break high to the beat, muffled bass floats slow and low, and chimy, sea foam surf guitar rings out on an endless blue screen wave of reverb with vintage-sounding boy-girl (boy-boy) vox by way of The Raveonnettes.
One weird but welcome note – the bass curiously contradicts listeners with a muffled but out-in-front sound. At times, it sings more than the lead and remains on equal ground as its more obvious counterpart.
The vibe?
Light but not lite, bright but not blinding, laid back (but not in a surfer-turned-singer-songwriter sort of way) and surprisingly not sun-soaked.
Window View, a towards-the-back sleeper, best embodies the ‘Summer with the shades pulled’ mood most of the album conveys but single, Daydream and Should-be-next-single, Vacation are irony-free, fun-with-the-top-down proof that the band and its listeners both benefit from getting outdoors for some fresh air.
On all accounts, Beach Fossils is proof you don’t have to be a beachcomber, swimmer or surfer to make a great record that captures that summer sound. You don’t even have to be from a sunny climate.
Beach Fossils – Youth
– Casey Bowers
FREE MP3: COWBOY JUNKIES: RENMIN PARK
Somewhere in the recesses of your early nineties record memory, you probably remember the Cowboy Junkies cover version of The Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane” on the Natural Born Killers soundtrack. Well, the band is still together, and one of the few bands that has lasted so long with their original line-up intact. Fewer, still, have created as consistently satisfying a body of work, since 1985 with some milestone albums in the nineties that chronicle the bands creative path which has remained impervious to trends in popular music.
For the first time, the band is now completely free of any recording contracts and obligation and they have recorded a new album Renmin Park. Inspired by a three-month stay that Michael Timmins of the band spent in China—which he describes as “an other-worldly experience”— Renmin Park is the first of four releases planned over the next 18 months, collectively titled “The Nomad Series.” Renmin Park (translated means,”People’s Park”) is a celebration of the sights, sounds, and characters of Jingjiang, a small town situated on the Yangtze River. Several of the tracks were actually built on loops made from “field recordings” that Michael made in China where he recorded a myriad of sounds from music and conversations—from badminton games to students chanting their lessons. The album also includes covers of songs by two of the country’s most important rock artists.
This album will soon be followed by Demons, on which Cowboy Junkies will cover the songs of their late friend Vic Chesnutt, who passed away in December 2009. “His catalogue is so deep and, for the most part, so overlooked,” says Michael. “It will be a labor of love.” The final two volumes of the Nomad Series will be titled Sing in My Meadow the contents of which are still being discussed and The Wilderness, a full album of new songs. The band’s recently revamped website will play an important role in the Nomad Series by taking fans inside the creative process. Timmins adds that the band will be blogging about the series from the inception to conclusion of each album and will be posting demos, works in progress, rough mixes and the occasional aborted effort. After all four volumes are released, plans call for a book that will delve into the character, nature, and inspiration behind each of the albums. It will be published by Whale and Star, the publishing house of the band’s friend Enrique Martinez Celaya, a Cuban-American artist whose “Nomad” paintings helped inspire the series. Michael sums up the band’s motivation for taking on such a massive project quite simply. “The main reason for wanting to do it,” he says, “is that, as we steam through our twenty-fifth year, we feel that we have the energy and inspiration to pull it off.“
Check out a free MP3 Download from the band below:
MP3: COWBOY JUNKIES-“CASCADIAS”
Just in case you cant find that mix-tape your girlfriend/boyfriend made for you in junior high, here’s one for old time sake:
FREE MP3: KIDS OF 88: MY HOUSE (REMIX)
Kids Of 88 have teamed up with the Remix Artist Collective to bring you a free download of their “My House” remix. Download the track below:
MP3: KIDS OF ’88- “MY HOUSE (REMIX)”
McCarthy rules vocals, programming and “complaining too much”. While partner-in-heartbreaking Arts, plays synths, programming and “not complaining enough”.
The twosome describe their music as a “whimful combination of dirt spitting kicks and feathering grit. An overdose of nightlife; the lubricated moan of spilt vodka. The hard realization of concrete and the happiness of blurry vision. An alleyway gangbang between Grandmaster Flash and The Knack.” The rest of New Zealand know Kids Of 88 better as architects of the Platinum selling debut single “My House,” and follow up single “Just A Little Bit” which is a top 3 seller at iTunes. And the rest of the world? A UK Ltd Ed 7” of “My House” already released through Dryden Street / East City Records, official remixes for Ke$ha & Cobra Starship , and Zane Lowe recently playing new demo “Ribbons Of Light” on his UK Radio 1 Evening Session have certainly paved the way for arresting first impressions.
TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT: DISGRUNTLED WORKING MAN ANTHEMS
Discosalt Video of the Week 5/23/10: This weeks video of the week is Drive-By Truckers new video for “Working this Job” off their eighth studio album The Big To Do. Its a more melodic and rocking sounding track than anything since disc 2 of Southern Rock Opera and the perfect disgruntled working man’s anthem to start your week.
And since we are talking sh*tty jobs, If you are sick and tired of slaving your life for the man, Discosalt made you a mix tape: “Take this Job and Shove it: Disgruntled working man anthems.” So, if you hate your job, put down the TPS reports or the fries basket for a few and enjoy…its almost time to go home…sort of….
SIDE A:
1. “Working This Job” 
Drive-By Truckers
2. “This Job Is Killing Me”- The Walkmen
5. “Dead End Job” -The Police
SIDE B:
6. “Working for the Man”- Roy Orbison
7. “Bad Days”- The Flaming Lips
RED WIRE BLACK WIRE: BREATHING FIRE
Just in time for the weekend we have the perfect video for you to watch while getting ready to head out.
Red Wire Black Wire is a Brooklyn based 6-piece that creates music with the immediacy of a DJ and the subtlety of film score. The band’s recordings combine dense but precise layers of synthesizers, guitars, strings, horns, and pounding drums. Eschewing irony, singer Doug Walters focuses on the melancholy; critics have compared him to Robert Smith, William Burroughs, and Frank Miller. Red Wire Black Wire fuse electronic and organic counterpoint to create catchy, textured, and revealing compositions.
The band formed at Wesleyan University in Connecticut where they fleshed out Walters’ basement laptop compositions. The band self-released the 5 song Compass EP in 2008, which was later re-released by Tough Customer Records in the same year.
In 2009, the band moved to Brooklyn, New York and completed their first full-length album, Robots & Roses. The album’s synthesizer drenched, heavy-hitting, melancholic songs tell the story of Walters’ long New York nights from bars to bedrooms. His lyrics range from dreamlike and surrealistic portraits of city life to direct confrontation of lovers. They are stories of irresponsibility and indignation; love and loathing; sincerity and sarcasm. The album sounds just as great on a lonely subway ride home as it does on booming dance floor speakers.
APRIL SMITH AND THE GREAT PICTURE SHOW: LIVE AT BROOKLYN BOWL
Before heading out on the road in support of their most recent release, Songs For A Sinking Ship, April Smith and the Great Picture show headlined The Deli Magazine’s Best Of NYC Fest at Brooklyn Bowl. You can watch April’s performance recorded last Friday with the help of our friends over at Livestream.com.
you can watch the show below:
or download a free track from the band:
MP3: APRIL SMITH AND THE GREAT PICTURE SHOW-Movie Loves A Screen”
“MP3: APRIL SMITH AND THE GREAT PICTURE SHOW-“Colors”
NEW TOUR DATES
5/20: Cambridge, MA—————Middle East
5/22: Hoboken, NJ———————-Maxwells
5/25: Cleveland, OH—-Beachland Ballroom
5/26: Chicago, IL————————-Schubas
5/27: St Louis, MO—————–Off Broadway
5/28: Nashville, TN—————The Basement
5/30: Atlanta, GA————————-The Earl
6/1: Arlington, VA————-IOTA Club & Cafe
6/2: Pittsburgh, PA———————-Club Cafe
“Smith takes a ride into the annals of vintage Mason-Dixon pop, packing a sound full of sassy hooks and swinging rhythms.” – Paste Magazine
“It’s possible you haven’t heard much about April Smith but all that is about to change.” –RollingStone.com
“Smith seems to stomp, glare and wail with every single song that she lays on you, reaching for heavenly notes with a devilish grin…” – Daytrotter.com
THE FUTUREBIRDS: JOHNNY UTAH
The Futurebirds are an unruly band of boys from Athens, Georgia–but they might as well have been reared in the backwoods of Woodstock by Levon Helm himself. Reckless with passion and spirit their live show is a force to behold. Their debut release Hampton’s Lullaby is ready to be introduced to the world on July 13th via Autumn Tone Records.
The story of how the band came together goes something like this: Carter King and Dennis Love grew up together in Atlanta. They spent their days putting stink bombs into the portable toilets at the summer Olympics and discovered their ability to work together as a trouble-making team. The years passed and the boys started recording songs together during their breaks from college with Carter on guitar and banjo and Dennis on steel-pedal guitar.
Meanwhile, Daniel Womack was camped out in Waynesboro, Georgia raising stray dogs—and generally raising hell. Carter and Daniel met during their freshman year and have been playing music together ever since. Next to jump into the mix were Thomas Johnson and Brennan Miles who met Carter at Chase Park Transduction where three were honing in on their audio engineering skills. That leaves Payton Bradford. Payton graduated from University of Georgia on the highest academic scholarship and generally knows everyone–everywhere. He is a musical encyclopedia and can play just about anything he gets his hands on which made his destiny to meet the rest of the boys inevitable.
In the Spring of 2009 they started recording their EP and things have been generally peachy every since. Heavily influenced by local artists Drive-By-Truckers, the Star Room Boys, Elephant Six, The Glands and Dead Confederate.
Currently touring with Jessica Lea Mayfield the Futurebirds are: Carter King on guitar, banjo, drums, vocals, Daniel Womack on acoustic guitar, vocals, Payton Bradford on drums, guitar, banjo, vocals, Thomas Johnson on guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals, Dennis Love on pedal steel and Brannen Miles on bass.
Grab a free download below:
MP3: THE FUTUREBIRDS- “Johnny Utah”
FUTUREBIRDS Tour Dates
May 12–DC9 w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield–Washington DC
May 13–Kung Fu Necktie w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield–Philadelphia, PA
May 14–Southpaw w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield–Brooklyn, NY
May 15–Mercury Lounge w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield–New York, NY
May 16–TT the Bear’s w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield–Boston, MA
May 18–Thunderbird Cafe w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield–Pittsburgh, PA
May 19–Beachland Ballroom w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield–Cleveland, Ohio
May 20–Schuba’s w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield and Dexateens–Chicago, IL
May 21–Zanzabar w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield and Dexateens–Louisville, KY
May 22–Exit / In w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield and Dexateens–Nashville, TN
June 10–Schroeder’s–Rome, GA June 11–Harvest Moon–Albany, GA
June 18–The Earl–Atlanta, GA June 26–AthFest – Pulaski Stage–Athens, GA
July 3–Gnat’s Landing–St. Simons, GA
July 15–Bottletree w/ Roadside Graves–Birmingham, AL
July 16–One Eyed Jack’s w/ Roadside Graves–New Orleans, LA
July 17–Chelsea’s–Baton Rouge, LA July 18–Emo’s (Inside) Austin, TX
SARAH BLASKO: AS DAY FOLLOWS NIGHT
“…for Sarah Blasko’s wonderful third album, As Day Follows Night, the cinematic visions – produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn And John with an almost entirely unplugged palette of strings, sax, piano, nylon guitar, banjo, double bass, percussion and saw – are a rich frame for songs of naked heartache.”
–MOJO
Sydney native Sarah Blasko will release As Day Follows Night in the US on August 10th. The album garnered rave reviews in Australia and was named “Album Of The Year” by Triple J Radio, Australia’s largest radio network. The album is already the best-selling of her career, following her platinum 2004 debut album The Overture and the Underscore and 2007’s ARIA-winning What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have.
For As Day Follows Night, Blasko enlisted producer Bjorn Yttling (from Peter Bjorn and John) and accepted his invitation to record in his Stockholm studio.
“Going to Sweden on my own to work with musicians I had never met before was a bit daunting, but also really refreshing,” Blasko says. “I like the idea of an album being an adventure. Away from home, you’re more open to new ideas. In life in general, I like to feel uncomfortable, I like to put myself through difficulties unnecessarily. Nothing good comes out of being complacent.”
You can Download free track from Sarah below:
HOT CLUB DE PARIS: FREE THE PTERODACTYL 3
Hot Club de Paris are sharing a track from their upcoming EP ‘The Rise and Inevitable Fall of the High School Suicide Cluster Band’ with the equally fantastically titled track ‘Free The Pterodactyl 3’ which basically recounts guitarist Paul Rafferty’s attempt to liberate a 3 metre fibreglass Pterodactyl from an abandoned fairground resulting in a run in with the law.
The EP is released May 24th and celebrates Moshi Moshi’s 100th release.
CASIO KIDS: FINN BIKKJEN
Discosalt Video of the Week 5/16/10: Casio kids are a bunch of misfit Norwegian musicians who churn out bouncy carefree 80’s influenced pop with a childish naivity that is impossible to feel bad listening to. Drawing on afro-beat, techno and out-and-out pop, the band draws similarities from Paul Simon’s “Graceland”, Ivor Cutler, New Order, King Tubby, Bob Hund, Cornelius and Fela Kuti.
The new video for “Finn Bikkjen” (Find Dogs!),directed by Greg Taylor is a dream sequence about a man’s search for his dog that features some fuzzy-eared, neon hoodie-clad and white puppet faced dancer. A strange, joyous and unique video that compliments the bands sound and will leave you day dreaming all day. Casio kids is bringing their live show to music festivals throughout Europe this summer, but will return to the US for a national tour in August. Dates to be announced shortly.
(mp3) Casio kids- Finn Bikkjen!
Casiokids – 2010 Tour Dates
Apr 16 Novafest @ Blå Oslo
May 2 Camden Crawl London (UK)
Jul 2 Roskilde festival Roskilde (DK)
Jul 17 Kjørrefjordfestivalen Farsund
Aug 10 Øyafestivalen (10-14.august) Oslo
Sep 3 Rått og råde Stavanger
PATRICK WATSON: LIVE AT THE BELL HOUSE
Thursday May 6th is a big concert night here in New York, there are 3 excellent show choices, including Local natives with Suckers , Beach House and Canadian indie folk band Patrick Watson and the Wooden Arms. Discosalt will be at the Patrick Watson show at the Bell House. Watson is known for his crazy instrument choices and his breathy vocals. Most bands get together with the intention of record deals and tours, but Watson’s troupe came together to make music to go along with a book, and after a few live shows with enthusiastic responses decided to stick with it.
Download Watson’s “Fireweed” below to prep for the show:
MP3: PATRICK WATSON- “FIREWEED”
Listen for the trademark percussive drumming and airy vocals. Also check out these awesome Take Away videos.
#97 Patrick Watson / Part 1 – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
#97 Patrick Watson / Part 2 – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
#97 Patrick Watson / Part 3 – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
#97 Patrick Watson / Part 4 – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
OR, THE WHALE: TOXIC (BRITNEY SPEARS COVER)
Or, the Whale is a DIY alternative country band from San Francisco who write and play alternative country songs, Americana driving indie rock epics, sweet folk lullabies and barn-stomp traditional country songs somewhere in the vain of Wilco/Sun Volt/Uncle Tupelo/Neil Young. They roll 7 deep, have been paired on tour with bands like Fleet Foxes and The Dodos and their sophomore self-titled record was recently released through Seany Records. Or, The Whale also recently released a twangy “ironic” alt-country cover of Britney Spears “Toxic” that is worth checking out, if only for curiosity sake but you might be surprised how well it works.
Download the track below:
MP3: OR, THE WHALE- “TOXIC (BRITNEY SPEARS COVER)”
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THE MAKING OF INFINITE ARMS BY BAND OF HORSES
It took nearly 2 years, virtual bankruptcy, five states and a dead falcon to get there, but Infinite Arms is the product of a band doing things on their own terms and finally learning to enjoy the results. (Infinite Arms Biography.)
Below is footage from over the past year and a half. Watch as the band spends time in the studio, hear Ben Bridwell explain the collective recording approach that was used on this record and see the band transcend through the final stages of recording process as they bring their latest material to light.
Link to View Making of Infinite Arms Piece: click HERE
Due out May 18th on Brown Records/Fat Possum/Columbia. Pre-order the album and/or Deluxe version at www.bandofhorses.com
OH MERCY: CAN’T FIGHT IT
With Privileged Woes, their DEBUT album Melbourne’s Oh Mercy steps out of Melbourne’s spotlight and into the global musical arena. Mixed by Matt Voigt (Cat Power, The Dirty Three, Paul Kelly) and Mastered by Steve Fallone (TV on The Radio, The Strokes) at Sterling Sound in New York City the album is an insanely melodic guitar pop trip that flirts with your emotions. One minute their songs are jovial,full of rhythm and layers of pop friendly lyrics—and the next they are edged with salty salutations and moody stoicism. Adept and sincere this foursome harmonizes into one and is both bold and memorable. Before you know it you will find yourself hearing the bass line to “Lay Everything On Me” before you have opened your eyes in the morning until you lay down at night. You can download two tracks below:
MP3: OH MERCY- “Can’t Fight It”
MP3: OH MERCY- “Lay Everything On Me”
May 29–Pure Pop Records (All Ages – FREE)–Melbourne, Victoria
June 1–TBA–Melbourne–Melbourne, Victoria
July 22—Metro City w/ The Temper Trap–Perth, Western Australia
July 23–Thebarton Theatre w/ The Temper Trap–Adelaide, South Australia
July 24–Festival Hall w/ The Temper Trap SOLD OUT–Melbourne, Victoria
July 27–Hordern Pavilion w/ The Temper Trap–Sydney, New South
July 30–Splendour In The Grass–Brisbane, Queensland
THE DEAD WEATHER: SEA OF COWARDS
http://www.tweematic.com/deadweather/
Hustle and Cuss
The Difference Between Us
I’m Mad
Die By the Drop
I Can’t Hear You
Gasoline
No Horse
Looking at the Invisible Man
Jawbreaker
Old Mary
THE DIG: ELECTRIC TOYS
Just a little Dig tour/album news for you….
This Friday, The Dig hit the first ever Truck America Festival at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. Then on Saturday, May 1, they start a string of dates with The Joy Formidable in NYC with a sold out show at Mercury Lounge. And then on Sunday at noon, they’ll be at The Bamboozle Festival at the Meadowlands. These guys put on an incredible show so don’t miss out seeing them live this time around. We caught them on tour with the Antlers earlier this year and you can check out the Discosalt review HERE.
Download a track from their new album Electric toys, which will now be released on June 8th, below:
MP3: THE DIG-“YOU’RE ALREADY GONE”
TOUR DATES WITH THE JOY FORMIDABLE
Apr 30 @ The Truck Festival (Full Moon Resort ) – Big Indian, NY
May 1 @ Mercury Lounge – NYC (SOLD OUT)
May 2 @ The Bamboozle (Meadowlands) – East Rutherford, NJ
May 4 @ Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto
May 5 @ The Green Room – Montreal
May 6 @ Harper’s Ferry – Allston, MA
May 7 @ Kung Fu Necktie – Philly
May 8 @ Jillian’s – Albany
BLUR: FOOLS DAY
*MP3: Blur – “Fool’s Day”
It’s been seven years since Blur released a single, but they finally broke the dry spell with “Fools Day”. Released last Saturday on only 1,000 copies of 7″ vinyl in the UK exclusively for Record Store Day. Damon Albarn told The Sun, ”We want independent record stores to continue — they’re an important part of our musical culture.” Since none of this wax made it across the great pond, the band has posted the track for free on their website. Have a listen above and download your copy here.
BON IVER: COME TALK TO ME (PETER GABRIEL COVER)
*MP3: Bon Iver – “Come Talk To Me” (Peter Gabriel Cover)
Bon Iver and Peter Gabriel released a crossed-cover split 7” Vinyl disc for Record Store Day over the weekend, in which they recorded renditions of one song from the other’s catalog. Both pretty cool interpretations of each others songs. The 7” is now available via Jagjaguwar and you can listen to the track above. The Gabe has also put out an open-ended invitation/challenge to the artists whose work he covered on his recent Scratch My Back album, which include songs from Radiohead, Neil Young, David Bowie, Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, Randy Newman, Elbow, Magnetic Fields, The kinks, Lou Reed, Talking Heads and Paul Simon. The goal is to release an eclectic album of Peter Gabriel covers called I’ll Scratch Yours. Whether or not anyone has an itch to scratch anything remains to be seen.
HEALTH: WE ARE WATER
LA Noise Rock band Health has just released a new apocalyptic gore fest music video for the single “We Are Water”, directed by Eric Wareheim. (The same Eric Wareheim from the comedy duo Tim and Eric). It might seem like an odd mix of creative talent, but Eric has also directed the video’s for FlyLo’s “Parisian Goldfish” and MGMT’s “The Youth”. Pretty weird /intense stuff here from start to finish. Its basically three and a half minutes of slow panic and gore. Health’s new album Get Color is now available on Lovepump United and the band will soon be on tour for the European Summer festival circuit. Check out a free download or the video for “Repulsion” below:
HEALTH “We are Water” from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.
