Cold Cave have unveiled a new website and christened it with a free download of a demo they recorded in April of 2009; a cover of Hunkydory’s 1982 track “Tomorrow”. Click here, or head over to http://www.coldcave.net/ to check it out, along with the latest updates from the band. Don’t forget, the band will hit the road for a quick westcoast run in September

Download: Cold Cave – Cold Cave – “Tomorrow” (demo) [by Hunkydory]

Sep 2 2010  9:00P

@ Casbah w/ DELOREAN & ABE VIGODA

San Diego, CA

Sep 3 2010  8:00P

@ Detroit Bar w/ ABE VIGODA

Costa Mesa, CA

Sep 4 2010  12:30P

FYF FEST at LA State Historic park www.fyffest.com

Los Angeles, CA

Sep 5 2010  7:00P

@ Great American Music Hall w/ ABE VIGODA

San Francisco, California

Sep 6 2010  6:00P

@ Henry Miller Memorial Library w/ABE VIGODA

Big Sur, California

Sep 9 20108:00P

@ Holocene

Portland, Oregon

Sep 10 20108:00P

@ Neumos

Seattle, WA

Sep 30 2010 7:00P

@ Hollywood Palladium w/ SPOON

Hollywood, California

Oct 1-3 2010
@ The Pearl at The Palms Resort
Matador at 21
Las Vegas, NV

*photo from neitherfishnorflesh‘s flickr

Glasser’s Ring is arriving in our hands September 28th but for now, here is the first taste of Ring entitled “Home”. The song remains in line with the Glasser we’ve heard before, eclectic and beat-driven with instrumental melodies often driven by Cameron’s own voice. But there is a depth to both the arrangement and recording which somehow makes the song simultaneously intimate and explosive.

Glasser- Home (mp3)

Pre-order Ring HERE and get either limited clear vinyl or limited deluxe cd jacket designed by Tauba Auerbach.

TOUR DATES W/GAYNGS (Feat. Bon Iver)

Sept 29 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall

Sept 30 Chicago, IL @ Metro

Oct 2 Boston, MA @ Paradise

Oct 3 New York, NY @ Webster Hall

Oct 4 Brooklyn, NY @ The Music Hall of Williamsburg

Oct 5 Washington, DC @ Black Cat

Oct 7 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Magic Kids are serious about the craft and composition of rock music. Superball, off of their debut record Memphis out 8/24, demonstrates this incredibly. Using the tools they sharpened in their old D.I.Y. bands, The Barbaras and Girls of the Gravitron, they set out to do something classic: take the simple and skeletal structures of rock and garage songs and build into pop epics. The horns, strings and synths are not trim or embellishments but crucial components of their unique compositions. You may have heard an early demo of this song on the 7″ split with the Smith Westerns but this is the version that defines it. We hope you find it as immediate and enthralling as we do.

Magic Kids- Superball (mp3)

Pre-order Memphis and get an instant mp3 download of the WHOLE ALBUM HERE

Magic kids also have more new tour dates that will take them across the country with their neighbor and friend, Bosco Delrey. Memphis isn’t about mourning an era of music that is gone, rather, adding another chapter to the story and Bosco is a perfect companion for this mission. MEMPHIS EVERYWHERE!

Fri 11/05 Dallas, TX @ The Cavern Ω
Sun 11/07 Houston, TX @ Numbers Ω
Mon 11/08 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon Ω
Wed 11/10 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 Ω
Fri 11/12 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge Ω
Sat 11/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Silent Barn Ω
Mon 11/15 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern Ω
Tue 11/16 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle Ω
Wed 11/17 St. Louis, MO @ Firebird Ω
Thu 11/18 Nashville, TN @ The End Ω

Ω= w/Bosco Delrey

Current Dates:
09-01 Lubbock, TX – The Foundation *
09-03 Phoenix, AZ – The Trunk Space *
09-04 Los Angeles, CA – FYF Fest
09-05 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill*
09-08 Vancouver, BC – The Media Club*
09-09 Seattle, WA – The Vera Project *
09-10 Portland, OR – Backspace- Music Fest NW *
09-11 Garden City, ID – Visual Arts Collective *
09-13 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court *
09-14 Denver, CO – Hi Dive *
09-16 Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge *
09-17 Memphis, TN – Hi Tone Cafe *
10-1 London, UK @ Barfly
10-2 London, UK @ Camden Proud Galleries
10-3 Bruges, Belgium @ Botanique/Witloofbar
10-5 Amsterdam, Holland @ Paradiso
10-6 Tilburg, Holland @Tilburg 013/Batcave
10-7 Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow
10-8 Helsingar, Denmark @ Musikhuset Elvaerket
10-9 Oslom, Norway @ Café Mono
10-10 Gothenburg, Sweden @ Pusterviksbaren
10-11 Stockholm, Sweden @ Landet
10-12 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Lades
10-13 Berlin, Germany @ Magnet
10-14 Köln, Germany @ Werkstatt
10-15 München, Germany @ Atomic Cafe
10-16 Zurich, Switzerland @ Club Zukunft
10-17 Milan, Italy Indierocket party @ Rocket (free entry)
10-18 Paris, France @ Point Ephemere
10-19 Oxford, UK @ Jercicho Tavern
10-21 Bristolm UK @ Louisanna
10-22 Bristol, UK @ The Social
10-23 Cardiff, UK @ Swn Festival
10-24 Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny
10-25 Leeds, UK @ Nation of Shopkeepers
10-26 Birmingham, UK @ Hare and Hounds
10-27 London, UK @ TBC
10-28 London, UK @ Lexington
* w/Candy Claws

Yesterday, we dropped a bit of a bombshell (said in Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton voice), revealing the Monday release of the full length debut from Seattle songwriter/vocalist Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, ‘Learning’. It’s usually our habit to drop an MP3 or two prior to commercial availability and while we hardly regret embracing the element of surprise, at the end of the day, we are creatures of habit.

“Learning” (160k mp3)

‘Learning’ is available today on LP, CD, MP3 or FLAC from The Matador Store

“Heartbreaking, rip-your-toenails out bleakness is part of the charm…a fragile, fucked-up little wonder.” (9/10), Camille Pia, NME

“‘Learning’ is a bruised and suggestive affair; of catharsis and rare, redemptive beauty, which ranks as one of the most uniquely endearing and quietly forceful debut albums of recent years.” (9/10), James Skinner, Drowned In Sound

True Panther is incredibly excited to announce that on August 24th Magic Kids‘ debut album Memphis will see the bright, gleaming and summery light of day. Recorded in the Memphis studio of Doug Easley over the course of several months it is an attempt to re-frame the city, not as the home of musical eras long-gone, but a place where crumbling neighborhoods hidden BBQ places, and closed-down roller rinks are all enveloped by a thick summer air, and a sense of MAGIC.

What Magic Kids share with last century’s masters- Jeff Lynne, Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks–  is a belief in the promise of the pop song; in the ability to take a tiny and simple melodic gem, a small moment of wide-eyed sincerity, and translate it into something that is bursting with life. The arrangements and colors hinted at with their singles on Goner and Fat Possum, are in full bloom on the album. There are touches of late 80s Britpop, the Delphonics’ heartbreaking harmonies, ELO’s grandeur, and Belle & Sebastian’s intimacy. And MEMPHIS. While home to artists that range across genres- the music of the city is honest, robust and joyful- often made by iconoclastic, rebellious and larger-than life musicians. This is the Memphis where Magic Kids were born, where Bennett, Al, Ben, Michael, and Will grew up playing in garage bands, hanging around Goner Records and listening to records. It’s also the city that houses the orchestra of musicians they called upon to realize the sound and ambitions planned for this new collection of songs.

Memphis reminds us of some of the first exciting moments of becoming a lifelong music listener. The excitement, sounds, lush harmonies, and celebration. Their music isn’t positive because of the difficulties of life, but in spite of them. They are close to our hearts because they believe that no matter what the circumstances are, deliberate hard work and ambition mixed with joyous honesty still make it possible to craft classic, beautiful, and eternal pop music.

This first song “Summer” is a slightly more restrained and nuanced than what you may have heard before. In the words of the band “this song isn’t ‘fun in the summertime’ kind of summer, but more the wistful, fighting-loneliness-with-your-friends kind of summer.” We felt like sharing this one because honestly, it’s torture watching summer days blaze by without people having this mellow anthem at their disposal. So here we go. Enjoy the summer!

Magic Kids- Summer (mp3)
Pre-order Memphis HERE (and get a free poster and 10% off)
On-Tour with Ariel Pink this Summer

(Photo by Alejandra Sabillon)

After a steady stream of remixes for Cold Cave’s “Life Magazine”, a vinyl piece collecting each of them is available in stores now. We’ve to date witnessed Pantha Du Prince, Arthur Baker, Optimo and Delorean take a crack at manipulating “Life Magazine”‘s elements through each of their unique visions. The final track on the EP is Cold Cave member, Dominick Fernow’s ecstatic arrangement under the nom-de-plume of his longstanding project, Prurient.

Life Magazine (Prurient Remix) [160 kbps]

You can find the “Life Magazine” 12″ in Matador’s store, in music retailers across the world and on Cold Cave’s merch table.

Thursday 17   Chicago, IL         Empty Bottle w/Hair Police, Locrian
Saturday 19    Toronto, ON      Wrongbar
Sunday 20      Montreal, QC     Le Belmont

Have ye heard this? I don’t know how Ted Leo consistently writes such solid songs, not to mention how he gets through a song like this on stage without passing out. Not a lot of room for breaths in this one! The entire new album is terrific. I am told that it is out today as a single, with a demo version as the B-side:

Bottled in Cork (zipfile with 160K MP3s and cover image)

Incidentally, he also turned in what is far and away the best remix of a Spoon song ever. I still haven’t seen him since then so if you do, please pass along my appreciation.

[Ed note: by popular request, we've made each of the tracks streaming below

A. Bottled In Cork (from 'The Brutalist Bricks')
B. Bottled In Cork (demo version) ]

Pete Rock remixes Yo La Tengo’s “Here To Fall,” the lead-off track on their most recent album, the monumental Popular Songs:

Here To Fall (Pete Rock remix) (160k mp3)

Buy the track in high-quality digital at iTunes this morning, or wait for the full Here To Fall Remixes EP to come out on 12″ EP and CDEP on June 8. You can preorder it from the Matador Store. We are also offering a limited-time bundle deal when you buy the EP together with the Popular Songs LP or CD.

Last week, we gave you a download of “Life Magazine (An Optimo (Espacio) Mix)” which will appear on Cold Cave’s Life Magazine Remixes 12″.

Because we just can’t stop sharing, we’re kicking off this week with a free download of an entirely different mix provided by Optimo. The alternate, “Optimo (Espacio) Flexi Pop Mix” of “Life Magazine” will NOT be available on the vinyl version of the EP and is available right now as what we in the biz tenderly call “a freakin’ awesome online exclusive”.

Cold Cave – “Life Magazine (Optimo (Espacio) Flexi Pop Mix)” [160 kbps]

The Life Magazine Remixes EP will be available on vinyl on June 8 and is available on the Matador Store for pre-order now.

Don’t forget to catch Cold Cave on their UK/EU tour, which is happening RIGHT NOW.

Track A2 from the forthcoming ‘Life Magazine 12″‘, featuring the remixes we’ve already told you about, is brought to you by the DJ duo (featuring, for those who’ve done their homework, a celebrated Matador alumnus) Optimo . Having just closed the doors on their legendary club night in Glasgow, JD Twitch and JG Wilkes have focused their efforts to their essential mixes, live appearances and remixes as awesome as this mutation of Cold Cave’s “Life Magazine”.

“Life Magazine (An Optimo (Espacio) Mix)” [160 kbps]

The Life Magazine Remixes EP will be available on vinyl on June 8 and is available on the Matador Store for pre-order now.

photo via nikkisneakers‘ flickr

Don’t forget, this Friday (May 7), Cold Cave play a ton of dates in the UK and Europe with their first stop at All Tomorrow’s Parties this weekend.

May
Fri 07     Minehead, AD UK        All Tomorrow’s Parties
Sat 08     Leeds, DS UK            Nation of Shopkeepers
Sun 09     Glasgow, OW UK            Captain’s Rest
Mon 10     Manchester, ER UK        Deaf Institute
Tue 11       London, UK            Upstairs at the Garage
Wed 12     London, UK            Cargo
Thu 13     Brighton, ON UK            Great Escape Festival
Fri 14     Amsterdan, AN             Paradiso
Sat 15     Brussells, LS BE            Rotonde
Sun 16     Hamburg, RG DE            Ubel & Gefarlich
Tue 18     Stockholm, LM CH        Svenska
Wed 19     Copenhagen, EN DK        Rust
Thu 20     Berlin, IN DE                Bang Bang Club
Fri 21     Berlin, IN DE                Offenbach
Fri 21     Offenbach, CH DE        Hafen 2
Sat 22     St. Gallen, EN CH        Theater Palace
Sun 23     Fribourg, RG CH            FRI-SON
Mon 24     Bologna, NA IT            Rocker Festival
Tue 25     Turin, IN IT                Spazio 211
Thu 27     Paris, IS FR                Point Emphere
Sat 29     Barcelona, NA ES        Primavera Club
June
Thu 17     Chicago, IL                 Empty Bottle
Sat 19     Toronto, ON CA            Wrongbar
Sun 20     Montreal, QC CA            Le Belmont

Kurt Vile & The Violators are currently working on an autumn 2010 followup to last year’s tremendous ‘Childish Prodigy’ with producer John Agnello, and while early signs are Kurt’s got a monster of a new album in the works, let’s address the gap between albums with a new 12″/digital EP of post-’Prodigy’ recordings,  ‘Square Shells’ hitting stores on May 25.  We’ve made a bit of racket over the past year about Vile being one of the more important figures in American music and while we love aggressive hyperbole as much as the next record label (especially when you agree with us), 2010 is shaping up to be a year in which Kurt’s versatility as a singer-songwriter will be undeniable. It’s hard for us to think of an artist who’s been equally in his element sharing a stage with Big Star as he was doing the same with Fucked Up, and at the risk of really clobbering you over the head about our depth of feeling for this artist, we’re thoroughly convinced his songs and performances are gonna be remembered long after considerations of genre & circuit have been forgotten.

Here’s a taste in the form of “Invisibility : Nonexistent” ;

“Invisibility : Nonexistent” (160k mp3)

Though there’s a long list of shows about to be confirmed for mid-to-late Summer, here’s a handful we’re allowed to announce presently.

JUNE:
Sat-Jun-05 Seattle, WA – High Dive w/ the Sadies
Sun-Jun-06 Bellingham, WA – Wild Buffalo w/ the Sadies
Mon-Jun-07 Portland, OR – Doug Fir w/ the Sadies
Fri – Jun – 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool (with The Mad Scene)

Preorder ‘Square Shells’ from the Matador Store.

Cold Cave – Life Magazine 12″
OLE-941
12″ EP / Digital — June 8, 2010

A1. Life Magazine (The Arthur Baker’s Not Going Back Remix)
A2. Life Magazine (An Optimo (Espacio) Remix)
B1. Life Magazine (Pantha Du Prince First Flash Remix)
B2. Life Magazine (Prurient Remix)

On June 8, Matador will release the second single from Cold Cave’s Love Comes Close LP, “Life Magazine”as a limited vinyl 12″ and digitally.

The A-side features a remix from legendary producer Arthur Baker (Afrika Bambaataa, New Order) and the Glasweigan DJ duo, Optimo.

The more outre b-side contains remixes from minimal-techno mastermind Pantha du Prince and the noise artist Prurient (Cold Cave’s Dominick Fernow).

Today, we offer the Pantha Du Prince mix for your listening pleasure:

Life Magazine (Pantha Du Prince First Flash Remix) [160kbps]

Ordering information will be available soon.

In the meantime, head over to the TOURS page to find out where you can catch Cold Cave live this Spring.

(polaroid by Pooneh Ghana)

Harlem are headed back to Austin for a slew of SXSW-related activities before they hit the road yet again in April, taking just a little bit of time off to set themselves on fire in the name of promotion and marketing. We’re thrilled to be associated with persons willing to put their bodies on the line for our bottom line art, and as such, feel privileged to present the 2nd MP3 from the forthcoming ‘Hippies’ (April 6) full-length, “Gay Human Bones”.

“Gay Human Bones” (160k MP3)

(Preorder ‘Hippies’ on LP or CD for 15% before April 6 from The Matador Store – poster included)

(photo by Jason Creps)

If the snowflakes pouring down over the website didn’t tip you off, it’s time for everyone to put their hands (together) right now. Below is a taster from The New Pornographers’ forthcoming album Together, out May 4:

“Your Hands (Together)” (160k MP3)

This song is just the tip of the iceberg so far as Together is concerned – here is the full track listing:

1. Moves
2. The Crash Years
3. Your Hands (Together)
4. Silver Jenny Dollar
5. Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
6. My Shepherd
7. If You Can’t See My Mirrors
8. Up In The Dark
9. Valkyrie In The Roller Disco
10. A Bite Out Of My Bed
11. Daughters Of Sorrow
12. We End Up Together

As always, the album features the immense talents of A.C. Newman, Dan Bejar, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins, Kurt Dahle, Todd Fancey and Blaine Thurier. It was produced by Phil Palazzolo and recorded at various studios in Vancouver, Brooklyn and Woodstock New York, and oh man, do we love it.

Now preorder the album and get a free 7″ and a free poster:

Preorder Together right now!

thenewpornographers.com

(photo by Frank Yang)

Seems like it should have happened ages ago. Check out Shearwater covering “Baby’s On Fire” by Brian Eno. Taking Tiger Mountain was my introduction to non-mainstream music, years ago. Listen on Chromewaves Radio.

The Golden Archipelago is in stores on Tuesday (or last week if you live in Europe).

[edit: I guess this one's actually from Here Come The Warm Jets. Memory is not what it used to be. I was clearly thinking of "The Fat Lady Of Limbourg."[/edit]

(Photo by Matt Jordan)

“The Mighty Sparrow” is the opening track from the new Ted Leo and the Pharmacists album, The Brutalist Bricks, and it’s a burner:

The Mighty Sparrow (160k MP3)

Keep your eyes on this spot for the video of the song in upcoming weeks.

In other news, Ted will be playing Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Monday, March 8 – the night before release date. If you’re in or near New York and you’d like to be in the studio audience. click on the link below. Enter for a chance to win seats on the band benches and surround the stage during Ted’s performance. Please make sure you include the code “TED” in your entry form:

fallonbandbench.com

There will be another special event during release week. Once again, keep your eyes on this space. And of course, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists start their tour on Thursday, March 11 in Cleveland:

Thu – 3/11 – Cleveland OH – Grog Shop – Title Tracks
Fri – 3/12 – Pontiac MI – The Crofoot – Title Tracks
Sat – 3/13 – Chicago IL – Bottom Lounge – Title Tracks
Sun – 3/14 – Madison WI – High Noon Saloon – Title Tracks
Mon – 3/15 – Minneapolis MN – First Avenue – Title Tracks
Thu – 3/18 – Spokane WA – The Blvd -
Fri – 3/19 – Seattle WA – Nuemo’s – Hive Dwellers (feat Calvin Johnson)
Sat – 3/20 – Portland OR – Doug Fir Lounge – Golden Bears
Sun – 3/21 – Portland OR – Doug Fir Lounge – Hive Dwellers (feat Calvin Johnson)
Tue – 3/23 – San Francisco CA – Great American Music Hall – Bleached
Wed – 3/24 – Santa Barbara CA – Soho Restaurant & Music Club – Titus Andronicus, Bleached
Fri – 3/26 – Pomona CA – Glass House – Bleached
Sat – 3/27 – West Hollywood CA – Troubadour – Bleached
Sun – 3/28 – Tucson AZ – Club Congress – Bleached
Tue – 3/30 – Dallas TX – House Of Blues – Screaming Females, Sally Crewe & The Sudden Moves
Wed – 3/31 – Austin TX – Parish Room – Screaming Females, Sally Crewe & The Sudden Moves
Fri – 4/2 – New Orleans LA – One Eyed Jacks – Screaming Females
Sat – 4/3 – Tallahassee FL – Club Downunder – Screaming Females
Sun – 4/4 – Atlanta GA – The Masquerade – Screaming Females
Mon – 4/5 – Carrboro NC – Cat’s Cradle – Screaming Females
Wed – 4/7 – Philadelphia PA – First Unitarian Church – Obits
Thu – 4/8 – Washington DC – 930 Club – Obits, Screaming Females
Fri – 4/9 – New York NY – Irving Plaza – Obits, Screaming Females
Sat – 4/10 – Boston MA – Paradise – Obits, Screaming Females

Preorder The Brutalist Bricks – get a 15% discount and (NEW) a free poster
tedleo.com
timorousme.org

For some people: Burt Reynolds, Larry Merchant, Leslie Nielsen, and Jennifer Aniston to name a few, 2/11 can never be forgotten, it’s their birthday. For sports fans 2/11 marks the day Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson (1990), Dean Smith (UNC) racked up his 600th career coaching win (1987), and Willie Mays became the highest paid player in baseball with an annual salary of $130,000 (1966). Others who are historically inclined remember 2/11 as the day Mandela was freed after 27 years in prison (1990), Dwight Eisenhower became the commander of allied forces in Europe (1943), and Pennsylvania Hospital, the first in America, was opened in large part because of Benjamin Franklin (1752).

So as I’ve demonstrated there are plenty of reasons to never forget 2/11. But in our humble opinion there is no reason more important than Times New Viking and their greatly under appreciated album of last fall, Born Again Revisited. So in doing our part to never forget 2/11, we’re offering a free MP3 download of TNV’s 2/11 Don’t Forget with a few stipulations. 1) you play it loud and often, and 2) you never forget 2/11. We never will.

download available here:
2/11 Don’t Forget

(Jose, Coomers and Curtis dealing with the elements at Fun Fun Fun last November. pic taken from Pooneh Ghana’s Flickr page)

In addition to a mid February trio of shows in New York City and a Feb. 6 appearance as part of Matador’s Casual Victim Pile revue at Austin’s Beerland, Harlem are pointing their compass in a western direction at the end of the month, previewing selections from their forthcoming ‘Hippies’ LP/CD/digital album.  Or so we hope.  We’re not really in the business of dictating repertoire, mostly because it’s embarrassing when we get the song titles wrong (admittedly, this doesn’t happen so often with Harlem, but keep in mind, they’re pretty new on the label).  A video for “Friendly Ghost” will be unveiled pretty soon, once we’ve received a thumbs-up from the extremely powerful Ghost Lobby that tends to control most of the entertainment business.

Thu, 2/18 – Phoenix AZ – Trunk Space (tickets)
Fri, 2/19 – Los Angeles CA – L’KEG Gallery
Sat, 2/20 – Los Angeles CA – Spaceland (tickets)
Sun, 2/21 – San Diego CA – Casbah (tickets)
Tue, 2/23 – San Jose CA – Blank Club (tickets)
Wed, 2/24 – San Francisco CA – Cafe Du Nord – Noise Pop (tickets)
Fri, 2/26 – Portland OR – Dantes (tickets)
Sat, 2/27 – Seattle WA – Funhouse (tickets)
Wed, 3/3 – Santa Cruz CA – The Crepe Place (tickets)
Thu, 3/4 – Costa Mesa CA – Detroit Bar
Fri., 3/5 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress (tickets)

(Preorder ‘Hippies’ on LP or  CD for 15% before April 6 from The Matador Store – poster included)

“Friendly Ghost” (192k mp3)

Here’s a new song from Shearwater’s The Golden Archipelago (out Feb 15 UK / Feb 23 US). A haunting call to arms, it is entitled “Black Eyes:” Black Eyes (192k mp3)
	Photo by Kathryn Yu

Preorder the album with 15% discount plus limited-edition perfect-bound book.

At the same time we can announce the Shearwater Spring US tour:

Sat 3/13 AUSTIN, TX – Red 7 (Jonathan Meiburg solo, supporting Xiu Xiu)
Wed 3/24 ATLANTA, GA – The Earl – with Wye Oak
Thu 3/25 CHAPEL HILL, NC – Local 506 – with Wye Oak
Fri 3/26 WASHINGTON, DC – Rock N Roll Hotel – with Wye Oak
Sat 3/27 NEW YORK, NY – Bowery Ballroom- with Wye Oak
Sun 3/28 PHILADELPHIA, PA – Johnny Brenda’s- with Wye Oak
Tue 3/30 BOSTON, MA – T.T. the Bears – with Wye Oak
Wed 3/31 MONTREAL, QC – La Sala Rosa – with Wye Oak
Thu 4/1 TORONTO, ON – Lee’s Palace – with Wye Oak
Fri 4/2 ITHACA, NY – Castaways – with Wye Oak
Sun 4/4 CHICAGO, IL – Lincoln Hall – with Wye Oak
Tue 4/6 MINNEAPOLIS, MN – 400 Bar – with Wye Oak
Wed 4/7 GRINNELL, IA – Gardner Lounge at Grinnell College – with Wye Oak
Thu 4/8 LAWRENCE, KS – Bottleneck – with Wye Oak
Fri 4/9 NORMAN, OK – The Opolis – with Wye Oak
Thu 4/22 PHOENIX, AZ – Rhythm Room
Fri 4/23 TUCSON, AZ – Club Congress
Sat 4/24 LOS ANGELES, CA – Spaceland
Sun 4/25 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Bottom Of The Hill
Tue 4/27 PORTLAND, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
Wed 4/28 VANCOUVER, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret
Thu 4/29 SEATTLE, WA – Triple Door
Fri 4/30 PULLMAN, WA – The BellTower
Sat 5/1 BOISE, ID – Neurolux
Tue 5/4 DENVER, CO – The Walnut Room
Fri 5/7 AUSTIN, TX – The Parish

* Some more information on “Black Eyes.” Every track on The Golden Archipelago is associated with an island somewhere around the world, in this case the buried South Pacific city of Nan Madol, off the eastern shore of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. The name means “spaces between” – it was actually a series of artificial islands linked by a network of canals, and inhabited until about 1500 A.D. The city was gradually abandoned and exists today in a state of decay and can only be visited by governmental permission.

The band have completed work on the limited-edition dossier that explains and enlarges upon the themes of the album. Contents range from the national anthem of the displaced Bikini Atoll islanders to photos of isolated islands where animals remain unafraid of human beings. The dossier is 73 full-color 8 1/2 X 10″ sheets in a stamped envelope. You still have to the end of January to donate to secure your own copy (via kickstarter.com).

shearwatermusic.com

A new year, a new single from Girls. Laura is probably our favorite track from the album. Such a ripper! At this point, you’ve probably heard enough of us going on and on about our love for this thing so just know that the 7″ comes with an exclusive b-side, the haunting and heartbreaking “Oh, Boy”.

Laura (256k mp3)
Laura (FLAC)

Pre-order from the Matador Store and get a free 3″ Girls button, previously available only at shows and a few days during CMJ.

Pre-order the single HERE from the Matador Store
Order “Album” HERE

Girls are also embarking on yet another US tour with some of our favorite bands right now, Magic Kids, Smith Westerns and Hunx and His Punx. A real family jam. The tour culminates Valentines Day, which features all four bands and marks the almost two-year anniversary of Girls’ first show ever at Cafe Du Nord. Just found this old post from back in the day and got a little teary-eyed.

Mon 1/25 Detroit Bar. Costa Mesa, CA $@
Tue 1/26 Club Congress. Tucson, AZ $@
Wed 1/27 The Launchpad. Aburquerque, NM $@
Fri 1/29 The Parish. Austin, TX *@
Sat 1/30 House of Blues. Dallas, TX *@
Sun 1/31 Walter’s On Washington. Houston, TX *@
Tue 2/2 One Eyed Jacks. New Orleans, LA *@
Thu 2/4 Bottletree. Birmingham, AL *@
Fri 2/5 The Earl. Atlanta, GA *@
Sat 2/6 Exit/In. Nashville, TN *@
Sun 2/7 The Gargoyle. St. Louis, MO *@
Mon 2/8 The Blue Note. Columbia, MO *@
Wed 2/10 Bluebird Theater. Denver, CO *@
Fri 2/12 Urban Lounge. Salt Lake City, UT *@
Sun 2/14 Great American Music Hall. San Francisco, CA *@$

* w/Magic Kids
$ w/Hunx and His Punx
@ w/Smith Westerns

(photo by Pooneh Ghana)

As mentioned some months ago, the Austin, TX based trio  Harlem had their summer vacation canceled by Matador Records and they ended being forced to work long hours at Costa Mesa’s Distillery in an effort to produce a worthy followup to 2008′s ‘Free Drugs’. Apparently, there are laws against this kind of thing and eventually, the band had to return to their glamorous lifestyle of making club gigs seem like living room shows (and living room shows feel like club shows with better furniture and cheaper drinks).

Now that the dust has cleared, however, the resulting 16-song pop meisterwerk, recorded with the assistance of Mike McHugh, reveals the triumvirate of Coomers, Curtis and Jose in fine fettle. The gents really “knocked it out of the park” as ice hockey fans are so fond of saying, but we remain hopeful, if not confident this album will have great appeal even for those of you who’ve never laced ‘em up.   Harlem’s 2nd album, ‘Hippies’ hits North American record shops, farmers markets and digital storefronts on April 6 on the always popular LP, CD and MP3/FLAC configurations.  Here’s a taste ;

“Friendly Ghost” (192k mp3)

Though Harlem’s early 2010 dates will be announced soon, we’d be remiss in not mentioning they’re playing Austin’s Emo’s tonight in support of labelmate Jay Reatard, and again on December 17 at the Mohawk with Crystal Antlers.   There’s more news to follow very soon (pre-album 7″, videos to make, travel plans to book, tire pressures to check, etc.)

As noted in this very space some 5 weeks ago, on January 26, 2010, Matador will be releasing ‘Casual Victim Pile’, a double LP/single CD/19 track digital album, in which 17 Austin bands (plus a pair from Denton) are either (take your pick) exposed to a wider audience for the first time….or find themselves brutally exploited by a NYC entertainment monolith  after their friends’ labels have worked so hard to lay the groundwork.  Or maybe it’ll be some combination of the two.  Pretty hard to say this early.

In any event, it’s been a couple of decades since we’ve tried our hands at a regional compilation, and the last time we did this, the notion of an pre-album MP3 hadn’t yet come up.  No matter who we leave out of the mix on this post, it’s pretty hard to get a sense of the stylistic range represented on ‘CVP’, and while I’d hesistate to call the artists below polar opposites — their family trees are only one degree of separation apart — you might at least get a hint this project is not all-about-one-kinda-thing.

(photo by Will Slack)

Though Follow That Bird! have yet to hit either coast, they’ve ventured beyond state lines this year, and the trio’s new, one-sided 10″ EP on Monofonous Press probably won’t be available much longer. Long before last year’s addition of bassist Mitchell Tellstrom, the duo of Lauren Green and Tiffanie Lanmon had staked a claim as one of the nation’s more exciting live bands. These days, however, they’re improving so rapidly, I only pray it’s not a ‘Flowers For Algernon’ type-scenario that will end in tragedy.   “The Ghosts That Wake You” (160k – mp3) is the first song on side one of ‘Casual Victim Pile’ (or if you prefer, the first on a CD that only plays on one side)\

(photo by Shannon Bozeman)

Love Collector (formerly the Modern Fuckers) have one of the comp’s more glittering pedigrees (Ape Shits, Sex Advice, The Fells, The Dirty Sweets, Deadly Companions, old ties to CVP compatriots Lost Controls, The Stuffies and The Persimmons) and their most recent 7″, “My Baby Goes Waaah” b/w “Tell Me”, “Come Back” (Big Action) is yet another “blink and you won’t be able to buy it” classic single.  Recorded under the supervision of the Marked Men’s Mark Ryan, “First 48″ (160k mp3) — which may or may not remind you of this television program —  is the first song on side two of ‘CVP’.

As promised during the last news item about the comp.,  most of the album’s participants will be taking part in a 3-night stand we have planned for Austin’s Beerland on Thursday, February 4, Friday , February 5 and Saturday, February 6.  The full bill and running order will be announced soon.

There’s a ton more news surrounding the folks on this album, but space is almost as limited as your patience.  Tre Orsi‘s new LP will be out in February , Bad Sports‘ self-titled debut album just came out on Douchemaster.  The Golden Boys‘ amazing 4th album, the Greg Ashley-assisted ‘Electric Wolfman’ is newly available from Daggerman.  While stores struggle to find copies of Woven Bones‘ new 12″, the trio are touring in preperation for a new full length on HoZac.  I could tell you a thing or two about the new Harlem album coming out in Spring 2010 but that’s supposed to be the subject of it’s own multi-paragraph news update (and it will be — sooner than you think).

“Casual Victim Pile’ is currently available for pre-orders from The Matador Store for the discount price of $15.30 for the double vinyl, $8.50 for the 19 song CD.

“The Golden Archipelago” is the third album in a triptych of mindblowingly beautiful, dense and ambitious excursions about man’s impact on the natural world from Austin’s SHEARWATER.

This time singer-songwriter Jonathan Meiburg turns his attention to life on islands – a world of lushness and austerity, silence and sudden cataclysms. From rising sea levels to displaced populations, Meiburg travels from the Falklands to Madgascar, from the Bikini Atoll to the Tierra Del Fuego.

The music matches the grandeur and melancholy of its subject matter. This is a true album in the larger sense of the word. Meiburg’s soaring vocals and complex song structures recall opuses like Kate Bush’s “Hounds Of Love,” Hüsker Dü’s “Zen Arcade” and classic Pink Floyd.

The CD comes packaged with a 50-page perfect-bound book that is a set of extracts from a dossier of records, photos, regulations and images collected by Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg. The LP contains 2 bonus tracks & an MP3 download coupon (that includes the album + PDF of the dossier). (Note: LP pre-orders will ALSO receive a copy of the CD-sized perfect bound book.)

Serious researchers will have a way to obtain the actual, full-sized, full-color 73-page dossier in its special envelope – this will be announced soon, so keep your eyes on this space.

Preorder the album, and get a 15% discount plus the extras noted above.

Below is the first MP3 from The Golden Archipelago, “Castaways.” You can just play the MP3, or you can download a zip file containing either a 256K MP3 or a FLAC of the track, along with a digital single artwork and some images from book extracts of the dossier:

Castaways (192k mp3)

Castaways (zipfile of 256k mp3, single artwork, dossier pages)

Castaways (zipfile of FLAC, single artwork, dossier pages)

Shearwater will be touring Europe and the US the spring. US dates still to be announced; European dates are as follows:

17 Feb: Melkweg – Amsterdam (NL)
18 Feb: Botanique – Brussel (B)
19 Feb: Le Nouveau Casino – Paris (F)
20 Feb: La Route du Rock winter edition @ L’Omnibus – Saint-Malô (F)
21 Feb: The Freebutt – Brighton (UK)
22 Feb: The Brudenell Social Club – Leeds (UK)
23 Feb: Captains Rest – Glasgow (UK)
25 Feb: Scala – London (UK)
26 Feb: 4AD – Diksmuide (B)
27 Feb: Knust – Hamburg (D)
28 Feb: Magnet club – Berlin (D)

2 Mar: Rote Sonne – Munich (D)
3 Mar: L’Usine (PTR) – Geneva (CH)
4 Mar: Nouveau Monde – Fribourg (CH)
5 Mar: La Casa 139 – Milan (I)

shearwatermusic.com
matadorrecords.com/shearwater

A few months ago, we not-so-casually mentioned the addition of Ted Leo & The Pharmacists to the Matador roster of Talented & Good-Looking Artistic Persons.  Admittedly, it was the bog standard Matador signing announcement.   Obligatory mention of Ted’s impressive back catalog.  Citation of Ted as one of our all-time favorite live artists and songwriters.  Oh-so-predictable references to Chipotle and Trump Realty.

Of course, that was before we heard the new album.  And make no mistake, ‘The Brutalist Bricks’ — available on LP, CD and via all popular digital storefronts March 9, 2010 — is one of those career-defining, “can you believe what you’re hearing?” kinda records that makes most other activity the day you first play it nearly impossible (in other words, we’re suggesting you shower before you open the package).   Recorded through 2009 at Brooklyn’s Seaside Lounge, ‘Bricks’ could be the most confident, kinetic and varied work in Ted’s canon, and considering his body of work until now, that’s no easy claim to make.   If you’ve seen Ted/Rx at any point in the past year, you’ve probably heard a few of the songs before, but the final studio versions pack a considerable punch. And here’s a punch to tide you over (we’d prefer you pay for the full beating) :

“Even Heroes Have To Die”  (192k MP3)

Upcoming dates :

(Ted Leo & The Pharmacists)

Wed, Dec 2nd – Philadelphia PA – First Unitarian Church
Thu, Dec 3rd – Washington DC – The Black Cat
Sat, Dec 5th – Cambridge MA – Middle East
Sun, Dec 6th – New York NY – Bowery Ballroom (sold out)

Thurs, December 10 – Spain – Madrid – Primavera Club ’09
Friday, December 11 – Spain – Barcelona – Primavera Club ’09
Saturday, December 12 – Spain – Barcelona – Primavera Club ’09

Ted Leo (solo):

Mon., December 14 – UK – Brighton – Engine Room (with Dillinger Four + Hard Skin)
Tues., December 15 – UK – Canterbury – Bramleys
Weds, December 16 – UK – London – Brixton Windmill
Thurs., December 17  – UK – Kingston – New Slang
Fri., December 18  – UK – London – Grosvenor (with Wat Tyler)

Ted Leo -website, MySpace,  Twitter

Here is the first MP3 from Fucked Up’s 25-song COUPLE TRACKS singles compilation, coming out January 26.

Neat Parts (192k mp3)

originally released as the B-side to the “Triumph Of Life” 7″ (Vice/Jade Tree, 2006)

Here is what the band has to say about the song in the extensive liner notes:

“Neat Parts contains an acoustic guitar. The only thing you can do with a guitar that’s more embarrassing than sitting in a studio with headphones on playing an acoustic guitar, is riding the subway with one strapped to your back so everyone knows you are going to band practice. Otherwise this is a snappy little bside. The title doesn’t mean anything, it just sounds cool. I think we might have seen it written on the wall at our practice space. The drum beat from this song and ‘Teenage Problems’ is taken from the Undertones song ‘My Perfect Cousin.’”

To confuse matters slightly, Fucked Up will be releasing a 7″ entitled “Couple Tracks” / “Holden” on the same day as the comp. These are two brand-new songs. Although the cover image will be identical to the album, the packaging is going to be a little bit unusual – we’ll get into that closer to release day.

There will be special ways to get the 7″ both from us (including if you’ve preordered already) and from select indie retailers, to be announced shortly. We’ll also have something to announce about getting your hands on some rare original 7″es collected on the comp. For now, your best bet is to preorder the album, currently with a 15% discount – more details coming soon: UPDATE – YOU CAN NOW PREORDER THE SINGLE AS A PREORDER BUNDLE WITH THE ALBUM, CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

Preorder the album (with full details on track listing).

Tons of shows coming up in Europe starting this week, and North America in February:

Wed 25 Nov 2009 – London, UK – Barfly
Thu 26 Nov 2009 – London, UK – Barfly
Fri 27 Nov 2009 – Brussels, Belgium – Le Botanique
Sat 28 Nov 2009 – Urecht, Holland – Ekko ‘Le Guess Who Festival’
Sun 29 Nov 2009 – Leipzig, Germany – Conne Island
Mon 30 Nov 2009 – Krakow, Poland – Drukarnia
Tue 01 Dec 2009 – Vienna, Austria – Arena
Wed 02 Dec 2009 – Graz, Austria – PPC
Thu 03 Dec 2009 – Dusseldorf, Germany – Rotkompot
Sat 05 Dec 2009 – Minehead, UK – All Tomorrows Parties
Tue 23 Feb 2010 – St. Catherines, ON – L3 Nightclub w/ Leatherface

(ADDENDUM : the following February dates with Kurt Vile have just been confirmed)

Fri-Feb-12 Oberlin, OH The ‘Sco (Dionysus Disco) / Oberlin College
Sat-Feb-13 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
Sun-Feb-14 Bloomington, IN Video Saloon
Mon-Feb-15 Newport, KY Southgate House
Tue-Feb-16 Baltimore, MD Ottobar
Wed-Feb-17 Philadelphia, PA Barbary
Thu-Feb-18 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s
Fri-Feb-19 Brooklyn, NY Europa
Sat-Feb-20 Boston, MA Middle East Downstairs)

matadorrecords.com/fucked_up
lookingforgold.blogspot.com

photo by: Ryan Muir

The time has come. The long-awaited Matador re-release of Cold Cave‘s debut long-player, ‘Love Comes Close’ is out today! The album hits your favorite record shops in formats including-but-not-limited-to compact disc and vinyl. It’s also available via your favorite digital retailer.

As a special treat with your digital purchase and/or with your download coupon bundled with the vinyl, we’re offering the three bonus tracks featured as the b-sides on the celebrated, and still available, ‘Death Comes Close’ 12″.

In celebration of the release, we’re offering a special download of one of the extra tracks – Get “Theme From Tomorrowland” here.

Cold Cave are currently trekking across the UK. You can catch them tomorrow (Wednesday) speaking live at 4PM-7PM GMT on Steve Lamaq’s BBC6 Music show and performing at the following venues:

November

• Tuesday     03     London, UK                  White Heat @ Madame Jo Jo’s
• Wednesday     04     Manchester, UK     Camden Barfly
• Thursday     05     Manchester, UK       The Corner
• Friday     06     Bath, UK                          Moles
• Saturday     07     London, UK               Be @ Proud Galleries
• Thursday     12     Purchase, NY             SUNY Purchase Student Center
• Friday     13     Washington, DC             Rock and Roll Hotel
• Friday     20     Allston, MA                     Great Scott
• Saturday     21     New York, NY             Terminal 5 w/Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth
• Monday     23     Boston, MA                   Wilbur Theater w/Sonic Youth
• Monday     30     Seattle, WA                   The Vera Project

December

• Tuesday       01     Portland, OR               Rotture
• Thursday     03     San Francisco, CA     Bottom of the Hill
• Saturday      05     San Diego, CA            Casbah w/Nite Jewel
• Sunday         06     Los Angeles, CA        Echo w/Night Jewel

(photograph by Peter Ellenby)

Y’know, in the midst of all the hoopla surrounding Pavement’s return to the concert stage , there’s probably a tendency to overlook the forthcoming release of the first album to formally bear the Spiral Stairs nom de plume. Which is a lowdown, dirty shame, as Scott Kannberg has crafted the most (equal parts) brooding-funny-catchy-smart work of his post-Pavement oeuvre in the form of ‘The Real Feel’.

“True Love” (192k, MP3) is but one example.

In addition to the following dates (all supporting Bob Mould other than 10/18),  there will be a Spiral Stairs performance at Sonic Boom‘s Ballard location (2209 NW Market St.) on Wednesday, October 14 (6pm).  Though ‘The Real Feel’ isn’t formally released until October 20, Sonic Boom will have copies of the CD and LP available that day.

10/15 – Neumos – Seattle, WA
10/16 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
10/18 – Treasure Island Music Festival - San Francisco, CA
10/19 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA
10/20 – Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA

(preorder ‘The Real Feel’ on CD or LP from The Matador Store)

(flickr photo by BigAssLens)

The second MP3 from Kurt Vile’s upcoming album Childish Prodigy is the dark and intense “Hunchback.” Not to be confused with other versions of the song floating around, “Hunchback” opens the record, and is a definite departure from the beginning of the last album, the ebullient “Freeway.” Check it out, and if you haven’t already gotten it, also take a listen to Overnite Religion which we put out a couple months ago. If you like what you hear, go and preorder the album, in stores on October 6, and get a free copy of the 7″ “He’s All Right.”

Hunchback (192k MP3)

Kurt will be on tour from early October through early November, as per below. Stay tuned for European dates to be announced shortly.

October
Saturday 03 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie
Wednesday 07 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Thursday 08 Poughkeepsie, NY Vassar College w/Indian Jewelry
Saturday 10 Oberlin, OH The ‘Sco (Dionysus Disco) at Oberlin College
Sunday 11 Lexington, KY Al’s Bar
Monday 12 Bloomington, IN Video Saloon
Tuesday 13 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
Wednesday 14 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
Friday 16 Missoula, MT The Palace
Saturday 17 Seattle, WA High Dive w/Crystal Stilts
Sunday 18 Portland, OR Holocene w/Crystal Stilts
Tuesday 20 Arcata, CA Jambalaya
Wednesday 21 San Francisco, CA Hemlock Tavern
Thursday 22 San Diego, CA Crepe Place
Friday 23 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland
Sunday 25 San Diego, CA Casbah
Tuesday 27 Phoenix, AZ Modified Arts
Thursday 29 Lubbock, TX Bash Riprocks
Friday 30 Austin, TX Mohawk
Saturday 31 Dallas, TX Lounge on Elm Street

November
Monday 02 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone Cafe w/Lovvers
Tuesday 03 Dallas, TX The Loft
Thursday 05 Washington, DC Black Cat

Kurt Vile on MySpace
Preorder “He’s All Right” 7″ (out September 22)
Preorder Childish Prodigy (out October 6))

Catalog number OLE-896 is Times New Viking MOVE TO CALIFORNIA 7″, slated to come out on September 8. The four song 7″ contains two tracks from the upcoming BORN AGAIN REVISITED LP, those being “Move To California” and “City On Drugs,” plus two songs from the coveted STAY AWAKE REVISITED cassette, namely “Pentagram” and “Teen Spirit In Hell.”

Preorder the new album, in stores September 22, and get this 7″, plus a copy of last year’s STAY AWAKE 7″, and a free poster, all for only $13 – while supplies last.

Download the MP3 of “Move To California” here, and enjoy your weekend:

Move To California (192k mp3)

Oh, and fuck your blog.

(image from Johnny Hanel‘s flickr)

Over the past 18 months, we’ve encountered a series of maddeningly limited vinyl and cassette releases* from the fantastic Philadelphia outfit, Cold Cave. With records on Dais, Hospital Productions and What’s Your Rupture, Cold Cave effortlessly marry elements of experimental noise, sound collage and synth pop. Last month, they released their debut longplayer and one of the most exciting debut albums we’ve heard, ‘Love Comes Close’, on their own publishing house, Heartworm Press. Not surprisingly, it sold out immediately.

We are happy to announce that Matador will be re-releasing ‘Love Comes Close’ worldwide on November 3 as well as additional odds and ends to be announced shortly.

Cold Cave is led by musical journeyman Wesley Eisold and is joined by an orbiting line-up that includes fellow allies Caralee McElroy (formerly of Xiu Xiu), Dominick Fernow (contemporary noise icon Prurient) and Max G. Morton (celebrated author).

We’ve provided two downloadable mp3s from the album:

“The Laurels of Erotomania” (160kbps mp3) showcases album’s rhythmic sensibility with menacing dissonance dappled atop.

“Life Magazine” (160kbps mp3), already an online favorite, brings sonic warmth emerging from Cold Cave’s electronic landscapes, and as The Fader writes, “swims soft, an unmistakable pop bubble bursting bar after bar.”

Cold Cave have collaborated with Prurient, contributed to 2009′s No Fun Fest and have gigged with groups ranging from NON to Comet Gain. You can find Cold Cave on the West Coast in September with many more dates being confirmed as we speak.

September 3: Soda Bar, San Diego w/ Crocodiles & Strange Boys
September 4: The Casbah, San Diego w/ Glass Candy
September 5: LA Historic State Park, Los Angeles: FYF Fest (w/ Black Lips, Lightning Bolt, Fucked Up, Times New Viking, Kurt Vile & More)

* latecomers can find many of these tracks compiled on the Hospital Productions collection ‘Cremations‘

http://www.coldcave.net

http://www.myspace.com/coldcave

http://www.theheartworm.com