Grant Manship

Favorite New Release of the Week - Feb. 27th, 2007

Money Mark - Brand New By Tomorrow

Brand New By Tomorrow will remind you of Beck's Sea Change in a lot of ways.  Both albums are written by men who can masterfully bring the funk, or any other genre for that matter.  With this album however, and just like on Sea Change, we find the author showing a softer, more vulnerable side.  Both albums stemmed from the painful disintegration of a relationship.  Due to this, each album gives us a view into the heart and mind of the artist as they navigate the break-up and its aftermath.  The familiarity of the subject matter to all of us is a reason why both albums connect so well with the listener.

There's definitely a fair share of heartache on this album, there are also plenty of triumphant moments.  The triumph I'm talking about is the kind a person feels when they realize they're far better off without the source of their heartache.  "Radiate Nothing" sums this feeling up perfectly as Money Mark proclaims, "One of these days/I'm gonna find me someone to shine with/'Cause you radiate nothing".

Finally, while I'm sure the events that inspired this album were tough for Money Mark, the resulting album indicates he's gonna be just fine.  You, as the listener, will certainly be better off for having this collection of songs as well.

• Money Mark - "Pick Up the Pieces" from Brand New By Tomorrow
• Money Mark - "Everyday I Die a Little" from Brand New By Tomorrow

Buy Brand New By Tomorrow at: iTunes | Amazon

Peter Bjorn & John - Objects of My Affection

(via Brooklyn Vegan)

Free David Vandervelde Show Tonight!!!

Make sure you don't miss David Vandervelde tonight at Alchemize!  The fact that the show is free potentially makes this the deal of the century!!!

• David Vandervelde - "Jacket" from The Moonstation House Band

Peter Bjorn & John - Let's Call It Off

739 Free MP3's from SXSW

If a torrent of 739 free mp3's from bands showcasing their talent at this year's SXSW festival sounds like something you'd be interested in, you're in some serious luck.

That's right, the good people at SXSW are giving away the massive torrent for your listening pleasure right here.

Favorite New Release(s) of the Week - Feb. 20th, 2007

Dr. Dog - We All Belong

Whether it's paying homage to the Beach Boys' "Sloop John B" on "Worst Trip", reminding me to watch The Last Waltz more often with "Alaska", or evoking John Lennon on "The Girl" Dr. Dog show that, while they may have their influences, they're experts in applying them to their own inventive brand of rock music.  While I'm sure comparisons to the above influences may become tiresome to the band, I'm making them with the highest level of praise in mind.

The band has expanded its psychedelic sound and polished it into a priceless gem of a record this time out.  This is partly due to leaving their basement and 8-track behind for a 24-track and an actual studio.  The other reason behind this expansion is surely due to their constant touring, hard work, and subsequent honing of their craft.

As far as some of my favorite tracks go, I didn't think the sing-song confession of "My Old Ways" could get any better until I saw the video.  The video is a perfect expression of what's so charming about this band.  Finally, I don't know when I'll be able to stop listening to "The Girl" on repeat.  The gritty guitars, distortion and piano in the verse juxtaposed with the waterfall of harmonies and harpsichord (I think it's a harpsichord) in the chorus make this my favorite moment on the album and certainly reason enough to make We All Belong a strong contender for one of my top albums of 2007 regardless of what follows.

• Dr. Dog - "Ain't It Strange" from We All Belong

Buy We All Belong at: iTunes [2/20] | Amazon [2/27] | Insound [2/27]

Richard Swift - Dressed Up For The Letdown

There are several moments on Dressed Up For The Letdown that address the ridiculously sad state of today's music industry.  While it's unfortunate that an artist like Richard Swift isn't absolutely huge right now, at least he hasn't bowed to pressure and compromised his art like many of his counterparts.

We first hear signs of his determination to stay true to himself on "The Songs of National Freedom" when he sings, "I made my way into the spotlight/Just to realize it's not what I want".  We're also presented with several valid reasons for avoiding the spotlight, or to be involved in the music business on "their" terms, on "Artist & Repertoire".  What sounds like a scathing response to moments from a painful conversation between the artist and some pompous record exec begins with, "Sorry Mr. Swift but there’s no radio/That likes to play the songs of your lover's sorrow/Just sing us a jingle/And we’ll float you some bread/And all it will cost you/Is your heart and your head".

Despite what I'm sure countless of capable artists like Richard Swift have heard from various industry heads, there are plenty of reasons on this record that show why these "experts" are so wrong.  "The Songs of National Freedom" is a bouncing number that heralds a sound from some glorious bygone days of music.  "Buildings In America" is the perfect acoustic lullaby to every girl you've ever loved but just wanted a little honesty from, regardless of how improbable getting it actually was.

Despite Richard proclaiming he's dressed up for the letdown, it sounds like a situation of being all dressed up with nowhere to go.  That's because there is clearly no letdown in sight for Mr. Swift and his brand of music.

• Richard Swift - "Kisses for the Misses" from Dressed Up For The Letdown

Buy Dressed Up For The Letdown at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound

New Material from Avey Tare of Animal Collective

We all know that Panda Bear is almost ready to unleash Person Pitch on the world but what's up with the other members of Animal Collective?  Well, in Avey Tare's case he's been recording with his wife Kria Brekkan.  Kria is Kristin Anna Valtysdottir formerly of the band múm.

The duo recorded their debut collaboration Pullhair Rubeye with guitars and piano on an eight track in their practice space in Brooklyn before mixing it down onto a friend's two-track.  Check out some of the results from their upcoming album Pullhair Rubeye, due out April 24th, below.

• Avey Tare & Kria Brekkan - "Sis Around The Sandmill" from Pullhair Rubeye

Richard Swift - Kisses For The Misses

Exciting New Record Label - Dead Oceans

Key figures at the superb labels of Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, and Misra have joined forces to create a new label called Dead Oceans.  The new label is co-owned by the wizards behind SC and Jag (Ben Swanson, Chris Swanson, Darius Van Arman, Jonathan Cargill), along with Phil Waldorf, formerly of Misra.

The initial Dead Oceans roster includes Bishop Allen, Dirty Projectors, Evangelicals, and Iran.  I think it's safe to say there will be nothing but absolute greatness coming from this new venture.

• Bishop Allen - "Click Click Click Click" from July - EP
• Dirty Projectors - "Fucked for Life" from New Attitute - EP
• Iran - "We Could Go Away For Awhile" from The Moon Boys
• Evangelicals - "Snowflakes (Demo)" (previously unreleased)

Panther - How Well Can You Swim? (E*Rock's Glass Dove Remix)

Cold War Kids - St. John

(via The Take-Away Shows)

Favorite New Release of the Week - Feb. 13th, 2007

Times New Viking - The Paisley Reich

I haven't had a chance to sit down and give this album the attention it deserves to write a full review yet.  I can say all the wreckless abandon that was so attractive to me on Dig Yourself is on full display here.  There's certainly no sign of a letdown from this Columbus trio, that's for sure.

Until I can come up with a more thorough review I'll just say I don't think you can go wrong by picking up this album.

• Times New Viking - "Teenage Lust!" from The Paisley Reich
• Times New Viking - "Love Your Daughters" from The Paisley Reich

Buy The Paisley Reich at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound

Alex Delivery get ready to deliver Star Destroyer

Some news from Jagjaguwar landed in my inbox today regarding Alex Delivery.  They've been hailed as "the most original still-obscure band playing in New York" by The Deli Magazine and to call the band original or interesting would both be serious understatements.

I'm still not exactly sure what I think of their music or, at least, how I would express the feelings it evokes right now other than I think I really like it.  I will say the press release about the band does a pretty good job of explaining things by saying, "they take cues from elements of Krautrock, space rock, electro-dance music, and musique concrète and mash them all into a delicious sonic goo with a flavor all its own."  Anyway, check out "Komad" off of Star Destroyer, due April 24th, below:

• Alex Delivery - "Komad" from Star Destroyer

Addendum: Favorite New Release of the Week - Feb. 6th, 2007

Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block

I can't believe I forgot about the US release of this record last week.  Thank God for addendums right?  Anyway, enough about my fleeting memory and on to the music.

The Scandinavian brand of Europop Peter Bjorn & John are slinging on this album has been, and continues to be, extremely infectious.  The song "Young Folks", which you may or may not have heard on Grey's Anatomy depending on your commitment to being one of the sheep herded masses, is a perfect example of the catchy moments found on the record.  After you spend a few days trying to get the whistling from the song out of your head you'll know what I mean.  The video for the song, found below, was also one of my favorites from last year.

The album is full of these catchy moments.  If I was a hip-hop producer I would be sampling the beat from "Amsterdam" like it was nobody's business.  If you just happen to be a hip-hop producer and are reading this right now, just put me in the "thank you" section of the liner notes and everything will be great.  "Let's Call It Off" is another track I find myself coming back to time and time again.  I can't seem to get enough of the song.  I've grown tired of having to reach over and repeat the song while driving.  Someone needs to invent a repeat button for cars because of songs like this.

The breezy moments of "Paris 2004"  make you wish you could find yourself at the center of the situation playing out in the song.  It should certainly be a staple on all new, young lovers' playlists.  During one of the more grandiose moments on the album, the band takes a page  from The Walkmen's playbook with the soothing tremolo on "Roll The Credits".  The song would certainly be perfect to use while doing as the title suggests or as the last song you hear while drifting off to sleep.

It doesn't sound like the members of Peter Bjorn & John actually had any problems with writer's block while making this record.  That being said, I'd love to hear what they would come up with once they got over such an ailment.

Buy Writer's Block at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound

Review of Rhys Chatham in Cincinnati on 02/04/07

Professor Ken Katkin, who I mentioned brought Times New Viking to my attention after attending Rhys Chatham's recent performance in Cincinnati, sent me his review of the show.  He said I could post the review if I wanted and considering how great it is, I can't resist.  Here it is, in its entirety, for your reading pleasure:

Testing the limits of what is hopefully a cease-fire in the City of Cincinnati's longstanding war on genius, Rhys Chatham braved fierce winter weather and the ever-present threat of arrest on Sunday February 4 to perform "Guitar Trio" here. The gig took place in the Skull Lab, a "raw" (i.e., unheated and totally empty) space (probably a reclaimed crack house) located in one of the Queen City's most abandoned-looking neighborhoods (which is saying something).   In its primitiveness, the Skull Lab reminded me somewhat of the Gas Station, a one-time venue on the eastern end of Houston Street in NYC, where bands used to perform in an unrenovated room that had once been the service bay of an actual defunct gas station.   (I will never forget an amazing David Kilgour gig that took place there).  Conceptualized that way, it seemed like an appropriate venue for Rhys Chatham's third Ohio gig in seven months, following three decades of his having successfully avoided the Buckeye State! (Rhys's first Ohio gig took place at the ultra-swank and state-of-the art Wexner Arts Center on the Ohio State University campus, in March 2006. His second took place at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom just two nights before this Cincinnati gig).

The Cincinnati show was organized by Skull Lab proprietor Jon Lorenz with some key assistance from Cincinnati's heroic and erudite "Art Damage" cooperative, whose members deserve to be awarded seventy virgins apiece for their unflagging efforts to edify the handful of dissenters from middlebrow-ism who inhabit this otherwise hostile and ignorant burg.  (The local hostility to genius infects even the commissars of Cincinnati's "alternative" cultural institutions.  Earlier this year, the "Art Damage" overnight radio show was kicked off of community radio station WAIF-FM for the second time—not for any infractions of FCC Rules or station policy, but simply for airing a program that floated too far over the heads of the all-volunteer noncommercial station's board members).

New Video and Tour Dates from David Vandervelde

David Vandervelde released the much anticipated video for "Jacket", the first single off The Moonstation House Band yesterday, along with some new tour dates.  David will be here in the US for the February dates before heading across the pond to join label mate Richard Swift in the UK.  Check out the video and tour dates below.

• 02/22/07 - Athens, OH - Casa Nueva
• 02/23/07 - Cincinnati, OH - Alchemize
• 02/26/07 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
• 02/27/07 - New York, NY - Piano's
• 03/04/07 - Nottingham, United Kingdom - Social* 
  
• 03/05/07 - Glasgow, United Kingdom - ABC2*
• 03/06/07 - Manchester, United Kingdom - Life Cafe*
• 03/08/07 -Bristol, United Kingdom - Thekla*
• 03/09/07 - Brighton, United Kingdom - Audio*
  
• 03/10/07 - Oxford, United Kingdom - The Zodiac*
• 03/11/07  - London, United Kingdom - Arts Theatre*

              * w/ Richard Swift

Buy The Moonstation House Band at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound

Dr. Dog - My Old Ways

Grizzly Bear - Knife

(via Stereogum)

Frog Eyes Prep New Album

The new Frog Eyes album, Tears of The Valedictorian, is due out May 1st on Absolutely Kosher Records.  The record is the first Carey Mercer and crew since completing the trilogy of records which included The Bloody Hand, The Golden River, and The Folded Palm.  The music is a departure from the abrasiveness exhibited on the pieces of the trilogy.  This time around, the songs spread their wings while covering a broad range of emotions with two tracks, "Caravan Breakers" and "Bushels", being the centerpiece of the album.  You can hear "Bushels" below:

• Frog Eyes - "Bushels" from Tears of The Valedictorian
  

Ladyhawk ready to Fight For Anarchy

Ladyhawk are set to release the 6-song Fight For Anarchy on May 22nd.  The tracks come from the so-called "Mushroom Session".  The band spent one day last year recording these songs during a break in touring while supporting their excellent self-titled debut.  Check out the track "War" from Fight For Anarchy below:

• Ladyhawk - "War" from Fight For Anarchy

The Smashing Pumpkins to Release New Album on 07.07.07

Billy Corgan, who some might say is a man of many words at times, only had this to say via the following MySpace Bulletin.  I guess in some cases, less really is more.  I absolutely can't wait for this album!

Saddle Creek to release Enhanced White Flight CD

White Flight's debut LP White Flight is going to finally be released on CD after Range Life Records signed a distribution deal with Saddle Creek to do so.  The CD, which until now had only been available on vinyl or through iTunes, will be in record stores on March 6th.  The enhanced version of the record will feature a documentary, The Making Of White Flight, that was previously available only as part of a download package from Range Life. 

White Flight also just released a single for "The Condition" in the UK. The single features "The Condition" and the "SayMyName" remix of the song on the A-side with "Timeshaker" and the "1,000,000 Light Years" remix of that track on the B-side.

• White Flight - "The Condition" from White Flight (SayMyName Remix)

Buy White Flight at: iTunes | Amazon

Times New Viking

Ken Katkin recommended I check out a band called Times New Viking after seeing them open up for avant-garde legend Rhys Chatham over the weekend in Cincinnati.  I'm glad he did.  The unbridled energy the band injects into their music is incredible.  The spirit heard from the band is certainly a breath of fresh air.  While I was reading up on the band it's clear a wave is building around them.  Basically, if you hadn't heard of them before now, it was just a matter of time.

Many of the reviews or articles about the band mention influences like The Fall, Swell Maps, Guided By Voices, or early Pavement.  All of these are fitting for various reasons.  The band is unabashedly raw.  To say their work is lo-fi is most certainly an understatement, albeit, a complimentary understatement.  The music and its presentation reminds you that you're listening to something that not everyone is privy to.  It's definitely the kind of music you have to seek out or discover and then work hard to keep to yourself.

The band, who hail from Columbus, OH, features Beth Murphy on keyboards and vocals, Adam Elliot on drums and vocals, and Jared Phillips on guitars.  The three-piece single-handedly inspired Tom Lax to resurrect Siltbreeze Records and put out their debut LP Dig Yourself in 2005.  The label had formally put out early releases from Guided by Voices, the Dead C, and Sebadoh, to name but a few, so the band is certainly in good company.

The band's next album Present the Paisley Reich is due out next week [Feb. 12th] on Siltbreeze.  That will be the final release for the band on Siltbreeze before Matador takes the reigns for the band's third LP.  This is after Matador officially made them their last official signing of 2006. 

Check out a couple tracks from Dig Yourself below:

• Times New Viking - "We Got Rocket" from Dig Yourself
• Times New Viking - "Natural Resources, I Love Mine" from Dig Yourself

Buy Dig Yourself at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound

New MP3 and Video from The Little Ones

The Little Ones recently released a single for "Oh, MJ!" on 7” vinyl, 7” picture disc, and CD in the UK.  They've also just released their first ever video for "Oh, MJ!".  You can check out the Crystal Castles remix of "Lovers Who Uncover" featured on the CD single and the new video for "Oh, MJ!" below.

• The Little Ones - "Lovers Who Uncover" from Oh, MJ! - Single (Crystal Castles Remix)

COLTS WIN!!!

Queen - "We Are the Champions" from News of the World

The Berg Sans Nipple - Along the Quai

The Berg Sans Nipple, yes... that's the name of the band, released Along the Quai a couple of weeks ago.  I missed it then but I'm well aware of it now.  I might be a sucker for this type of electro-pop but I can't help but think many of you will like this as well.  That and the fact that I think this isn't just your run-of-the-mill electro-pop.  The varied assortment of percussion instruments exhibited on the record add a lot more than the standard fare found on most albums in this genre.  The organic feel of the record amidst the numerous buzzes and blips provides for an extremely pleasant listening experience.

The duo is made up of Nebraskan Shane Aspegren and Parisian Lori Sean Berg and while they aren't actually Siamese twins separated at birth, as rumors previously suggested, they're definitely in sync musically despite any distances that originally separated them.

If you like what you hear below you can stream the entire album or at least let your friends do so with this e-card.

• The Berg Sans Nipple - "Along the Quai" from Along the Quai
• The Berg Sans Nipple - "Mystic Song" from Along the Quai

Buy Along the Quai at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound