The Manics are back!

After having gone their separate ways to work on solo projects, the remaining members of the Manic Street Preachers have reassembled to release their eighth album, titled Send Away The Tigers. It's hard to believe that the boys have been around over 20 years making music. The new album is short, ten tracks and thirty-eight minutes, and that's not by accident. The band recorded about 30 songs and spent painstaking time trimming it down to what they felt were the essential ten tracks to give to each and every one of you out there.

The Manics haven't lost their working class values or their political interests. They're rejuvenated and are coming back with an album that displays their influences on their sleeves and celebrates what they've always enjoyed most. For evidence, listen to the following two tracks. The first is a collaboration with Nina Persson (of The Cardigans). The second is the track 10 of the album, which is one of their songs, Winterlovers, followed by some moments of silence, and then a hidden track: their interpretation of John Lennon's Working Class Hero.


Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough (Feat. Nina Persson) : Send Away The Tigers

Manic Street Preachers - Winterlovers / Working Class Hero (John Lennon cover) : Send Away The Tigers

Visit their website, their label Sony Music UK, and become their friend on MySpace.

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The Cardigans - The Boys Are Back In Town (Thin Lizzy cover) : Over the Edge

John Lennon - Working Class Hero : Wonsaponatime

the Dynamic Duo of Tegan & Sara

Following the success of their 2004 hit album, So Jealous, Canadian twin singer-songwriters Tegan & Sara are back with their fifth album, The Con. For production of this latest record, the sisters teamed up with Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie), whose influence is evident with the captivating choruses and haunting instrumental transitions found throughout so many of the tracks. In addition, with many keyboard-leading riffs and poppy hooks, there is a definite New Wave/punk/1980's feel to this latest album reminiscent to that of The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie.

For those of you not familiar with the pair, born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada just 26 years ago, these twin songstresses found a guitar at the age of 15 and simply began to make music. After small tours throughout Canada, the impressive duo toured the US with Neil Young (whose label they're on) which led to bigger tours in Canada (and even Europe and Asia) with artists such as Rufus Wainwright and Melissa Ferrick. After more work in the studio and more gigs at small clubs in the US, Tegan & Sara recorded their hit 2004 album So Jealous and got nominated for a Juno, the Canadian-equivalent of a Grammy. The pair then toured all over the US with The Killers before meeting up with Walla to record this, their newest album, in January of this year.

With good beats and good lyrics, the tracks are catchy and memorable—I found myself still humming along after the CD finished, without yet knowing the words, just the vague outline of the melody. The words and implications are subtle remarks on love and loss, likely based upon quiet and sharp observations of life.

My favorite track on the album is Nineteen (listen to it on the girls' MySpace page), an attractive tune with intoxicating harmonies that make you turn up the volume loud enough so that you can try to blend in with the chorus. The song has just the right amount of angst and edge that every pop song needs to make you want to rock out when no one’s watching.

stream Tegan & Sara - Back In Your Head : The Con (watch the video for the song)

from the deluxe DVD version, check out the video chapter on Hop A Plane

and a couple of older ones:

Tegan & Sara - I Know I Know I Know : So Jealous

Tegan & Sara - You Went Away : If It Was You

Visit their website, their label Vapor Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

Home Sweet Home

I'm on my way
Well I'm on my way
Home sweet home
Tonight tonight
I'm on my way
Just set me free
Home sweet home

Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home : Theatre of Pain

Mad about Matt Nathanson

One week from today, Matt Nathanson will be releasing his latest album, Some Mad Hope. He's returned to the studio for this one after last releasing Live at the Point, but for those of you who've seen him live over the last year and a half or so, you'll recognize quite a few songs on the new album that he's been playing at his shows including Car Crash, Wedding Dress, Come On Get Higher, Bulletproof Weeks, and Detroit Waves to name a few.

I have to tell you, I've been listening to it for a few weeks and the more I listen to it, the more I want to listen to it. It's a catchy album that's sure to hook you if you give it the chance. In support of the album Matt is hitting the road, and if he comes anywhere near you, you HAVE to see him. Honestly. He's a brilliantly entertaining performer who displays real showmanship in person who's sure to get lots of laughs and he's flippin' incredible with covers (check out a couple below). His album is just as good; it starts off kind of jamming with Car Crash (listen below), and then slows down a bit (i.e. Wedding Dress). His genre might be common: a lot of acoustic guitar with introspective lyrics that are touchy-feely, but his take on it is anything but. I'm talking catchy with a capital C. Give the following a spin and try not to like them.


Matt Nathanson - Car Crash : Some Mad Hope

Matt Nathanson - Wedding Dress : Some Mad Hope

and one from his last album:

Matt Nathanson - I Saw (live) : At the Point (live)

Visit his website, his label Vanguard Records, and become his friend on MySpace.

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Some wonderful covers courtesy of the Internet Music Archive

Matt Nathanson - Blister In The Sun (Violent Femmes cover) : Live at Irving Plaza, NYC 10-27-06

Matt Nathanson - Laid (James cover) : Live 4-29-07 at the MSU Union Ballroom, East Lansing, MI

Matt Nathanson - Any Way You Want It (Journey cover) : Live at Mitchell Hall Theatre on 2-25-06

Matt Nathanson - Starfish and Coffee (Prince cover) / Stayin' Alive (Bee Gees cover) : Live at Mitchell Hall Theatre on 2-25-06

The Hottest State

Back in June I wrote about Jesse Harris' seventh album, Feel. Well, he's back already, this time with the soundtrack for the movie The Hottest State (which he also has a part in). The movie is directed by and based on a book written by Ethan Hawke (who also appears in the movie), and tells the story of an aspiring actor struggling with his past, a broken family, and his love for an aspiring actress who he eventually loses.

The soundtrack comes out tomorrow and includes 18 tracks, 16 of which were written by Jesse Harris and performed by Jesse and a wide array of talented musicians including Willie Nelson, Feist, Bright Eyes, M. Ward, Cat Power, and many others. As amazing as the pool of talent is that he recruited, what's equally amazing is his ability to write songs that suit the strengths and styles of them all. The fact that all of these prominent and renowned artists agreed to sing Jesse's songs should provide ample evidence of his song-writing ability. Listen to the following if you need more evidence.


stream Bright Eyes - Big Old House : The Hottest State Soundtrack

Jesse Harris - Dear Dorothy : The Hottest State Soundtrack

and one from Jesse's latest album:

Jesse Harris - How Could It Take So Long : Feel

Visit Jesse's website, his label Velour Recordings, and become his friend on MySpace.

Visit the film's MySpace Page and view the trailer.

On the road again...

You might remember me talking about The One AM Radio's latest album This Too Will Pass earlier this year. You might even remember me talking about seeing them live at the CD's release party (you can go back in time and read them here and here). If not, don't fret, for they're on tour again, and if you missed them last time around, here's your chance to atone for it. This time out, they're with Lymbyc Systym and Montag for select dates. Check out the list below to see how close they'll be to you.

08.06.07 | Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
08.07.07 | Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
08.08.07 | Abilene, TX @ Monks Coffeeshop
08.09.07 | Tucson, AZ @ The Living Room
08.10.07 | Phoenix, AX @ Modified Arts
08.12.07 | La Jolla, CA @ Che Café, with Daedelus
08.14.07 | Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo #
08.15.07 | San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop #
08.16.07 | Portland, OR @ Holocene #
08.17.07 | Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall #
08.20.07 | Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern #
08.21.07 | Missoula, MT @ The Badlander #
08.23.07 | Denver, CO @ Mercury Cafe #
08.24.07 | Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews #
08.25.07 | Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club #
08.27.07 | Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle (FREE SHOW!) #
08.28.07 | Detroit, MI @ Scrummage University #
08.29.07 | Cleveland Heights, OH @ B Side Liquor Lounge #
08.30.07 | Hamilton, ONT @ Pepper Jack Café #
09.02.07 | Montreal, QC @ Casa del Popolo
09.05.07 | Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs #
09.06.07 | New York City, NY @ Union Hall #
09.07.07 | Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church #
09.09.07 | Washington, DC @ DC9

All shows above with Lymbyc Systym. Shows marked with an # are also with Montag.

The One AM Radio - Mercury : This Too Will Pass

The One AM Radio - You Belong to Me : Split EP (with Tracey Shedd)

Visit their website, their label Dangerbird Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

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Bob Dylan - You Belong to Me : Natural Born Killers Soundtrack

Jason Wade - You Belong to Me : Shrek Soundtrack

Senses awake to The Cinematic Orchestra

In most cases, soundtracks are produced in conjunction with a movie, or after the movie has been mostly completed. They're made to complement the movie and allow the listener to re-connect with the movie after they've seen it. But imagine, if you will, a soundtrack being made before the movie. Ma Fleur, the latest album by The Cinematic Orchestra is such a production.

It's been five years since Jason Swinscoe (the heart of The Cinematic Orchestra) produced his last album, Everyday. Since then he's moved from London to Paris, where he started working on the songs that would become Ma Fleur. It's a sweeping piece that immerses you within in itself and carries you along until the end. It's the kind of album that you lose yourself in and when it does end, you wonder what you have been doing for the last hour. While known for their jazz tinted accents, The Cinematic Orchestra has moved beyond the genre into music that sounds like audio emotion and life compacted into an hour.

To assist the music convey that emotion, Swinscoe has brought in three unique woman: The remarkable Fontella Bass (the woman behind both the legendary soul number Rescue Me as well as some of the Art Ensemble of Chicago's finest moments, and who also worked on the group's last album) was an obvious choice to voice the parts of the elderly protagonist in Ma Fleur that Swinscoe envisioned, Mercury-nominated Lou Rhodes who is not only a fantastic singer but also a young mother, which made her the perfect fit for the mid-life singer, and the as-yet unheralded (in the US) Patrick Watson, a remarkable vocalist from Montreal, became the youngest of the trio.

As a final step in the creation of the album, Swinscoe recruited NY photographer Maya Hayuk to take ten pictures to represent the ten tracks of the album. The picture at the top of this post is the one from the second track on the album, Familiar Ground (available below), which features Fontella Bass. You can see all of them here, as well as add your own pictures that the songs connect to for you.


The Cinematic Orchestra - Familiar Ground : Ma Fleur

The Cinematic Orchestra - Prelude : Ma Fleur

The Cinematic Orchestra - Child Song : To Build A Home Single

Visit their website, their US label Domino Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

Looking for...

Looking for... a straight out rocker to listen to? Check out Detroit band Vairon, who are putting out a new EP titled Indigo Skylines on August 21st via Nettwerk Records to prepare for their first full length album due out sometime this winter. If you dig the song, make a video for it and enter a contest to win a signed copy of the EP and a Nintendo Wii (head HERE to check out the details and/or enter).

Vairon - First Time : Indigo Skylines EP

Visit their website, their label Nettwerk Records , and become their friend on MySpace.

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Looking for... something completely free that drifts here and there leaving you wondering where exactly you are? Make Things Make You just might make your day. It's part natural, with birds chirping and conversations going on below the surface, and part artificial with electronic blending that leaves no edges to pry beneath. Head to the band's website to get the complete EP digitally free, or buy a hard copy to impress your friends with.

Make Things Make You - Sunshine : Hidden Hill EP

Visit their website and become their friend on MySpace.

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Looking for... some new Brit-pop to satisfy your cravings while you're waiting to check out The Arctic Monkeys on tour? The Toy Guns (not to be confused with Shiny Toy Guns - maybe they should call themselves Dull Toy Guns?) give it to you fast and furious in the tradition of the Clash, but a little popier, so you can bring your girl to the show and not have her get pulverized.

The Toy Guns - Transmission

Visit their label Regal Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

What's a Zibra?

One look at the band in the picture to the left should tell you everything you need to know about Zibra Zibra. If it doesn't, then let me tell you that the four members of the band go by kid z, killavanilla, the atomic wolf, and technosaurus flex. If you still need to know more, read on...

Take the quirkiness of They Might Be Giants (both instrumentally as well as vocalistically), add to it the immature energy of the Beastie Boys circa Licensed To Ill, add a whole bunch of synth lines and Atari sound effects, and you get 777, Zibra Zibra's second album. When asked, the band defines their genre as, "anywhere between 'titanium' (space age dance-metal) to 'neo-baroque maxominimalstic typotech' (classically inspired pop smashers) to 'zip hop'." And yes it was released on, you guessed it, July 7th, 2007 (7-7-07).

Although the sound of the album is totally 80's synth inspired, the real soul of the album is all about futuristic feelings that your favorite nerd might have. Whether it's about beating the high score in Arcade Catastrophe or glorious breasts in Princess Of Incest, you'll feel the need to fill your pocket protector with mechanical pencils while tottering haphazardly about in a robotic way.


Zibra Zibra - Arcade Catastrophe : 777

Zibra Zibra - Princess Of Incest : 777

Visit their website, their label Royalty, Etc. Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

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They Might Be Giants - Spy : Why Does The Sun Shine?

The Beastie Boys - The New Style (live) : No Alternative (studio version on Licensed To Ill)

More Props for Grace

Less then a week now until Grace Potter's new album This Is Somewhere comes out. In the meantime, the folks over at Vermont Public Radio have enlisted hometown heroes Grace and company to perform the theme song for Vermont Edition, a new daily news magazine that they are putting together which will be starting August 14th. It's an instrumental piece based on Nothing But the Water, from their last album of the same name. Head over to Vermont Public Radio to check it out now, or tune in on August 14th at noon.



Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Stop the Bus : Live 2-18-06 at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA (studio version on This Is Somewhere)

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Nothing But the Water : Live 6-2-06 at World Cafe, Philadelphia on NPR (studio version on Nothing But the Water)

Visit their website, their label Hollywood Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

Robbers On High Street Contest

Last week, Grand Animals, the second album from the trio Robbers On High Street hit the shelves. Included on the album is the super swanky guitar rocking song that has been circulating for some time, The Fatalist (available below if you haven't heard it already), and ten other equally ear worthy tracks.

If you haven't picked up the album yet, here's your chance to score a copy along with a Robbers On High Street t-shirt (pictured to the left). All you have to do is leave a comment (or e-mail me) with your name and e-mail address and you'll be in the running. I'll pick a winner next Tuesday'ish and notify them pronto.

Robbers On High Street - The Fatalist : Grand Animals

Robbers On High Street - The Ramp : Grand Animals

and one from their last EP:

Robbers On High Street - Monkberry Moon Delight : The Fatalist and Friends (available on iTunes)

Visit their website, their label New Line Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

Aaron Schroeder - at it again

A little less than a year ago, I wrote about Aaron Schroeder's debut album Southern Heart In Western Skin (read about it here if you have some time to waste). Well, Aaron is back with his sophomore effort, this one titled Black & Gold, and although I haven't heard the whole thing yet, the two songs I have heard (both below) show great promise for a triumphant return. This time around, he's got a boatload of guests to back him up including Ben Barnett (of Kind Of Like Spitting), Justin Medal-Johnsen (of Beck/Air/Ladytron/etc.), Tyler Blake (of Young Americans), and Jeremy Castillo (of Mighty Six Ninety).

If you haven't listened to Aaron before, give the following tracks a chance. The first, What We Don't Know, is the lead off track for the new album. Call Out To Me, the second song, is a quiet acoustic guitar driven ballad that could be sung around a campfire. The last, Santa Anna, is my favorite track off his debut and is a jiggy Irish punk sounding sort of zipper.


Aaron Schroeder - What We Don't Know : Black & Gold

Aaron Schroeder - Call Out To Me : Black & Gold

and one from his debut:

Aaron Schroeder - Santa Ana : Southern Heart In Western Skin

Visit his website and become his friend on MySpace.