Grant Manship

Daytrotter Sessions - Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear's much anticipated Daytrotter session is now avalaible so get over there and check out the band's story and free songs!

Beirut - Elephant Gun

iTunes Song Suggestion of the Day - Apr. 27th, 2007

The White Stripes - "Icky Thump" from Icky Thump - Single

YACHT ON A YACHT

YACHT's third album, I Believe In You. Your Magic is Real. will be released on May 8th via Marriage Records.  May 5th will serve as the day for what will certainly be an excellent CD release party.  YACHT will perform in Portland, OR on an actual yacht as it cruises around the Willamette River.  You can get all the details about the party after the jump.  Check out a new MP3 from the album right now!

• YACHT - "So Post All 'Em" from I Believe In You. Your Magic is Real
  

Feist - 1234

New Shapes and Sizes

Here are a couple of tracks off of the new Shapes and Sizes album, Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner.  The album is due in stores May 22nd thanks to the good people at Asthmatic Kitty.

• Shapes and Sizes - "Alone/Alive" from Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner
• Shapes and Sizes - "Head Movin'" from Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner

Hear NIN's "Capital G" at exterminal.net/

I mentioned in my review of NIN's Year Zero about a web address that was discovered in the binary code that's visible once the CD is heated.  The web address in question is www.exterminal.net.  If you go to the site and click the <Classified> link a drop-down appears that lists another link entitled, inmate-exhibitA (36 MB).  If you click that link you'll find a version of "Capital G".  You can hear it below:

• Nine Inch Nails - "Capital G" from Year Zero

Favorite New Release of the Week - Apr. 17th, 2007

Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero

Lately, it seems like there's been an endless amount of press focusing on the potentially bleak outlook our world is facing.  Maybe the press got advanced copies of Year Zero and have aligned themselves with Trent Reznor's vision of the future in this extremely dense concept album.  It tells the story of an Orwellian society where the separation of Church and State no longer exists, a totalitarian government is using society's fear of terrorism to advocate their power, and a drug called Parepin has been added to the water supply to assist with mind control.  While writing this I realized that certain aspects of the story aren't that different from our current reality.  Maybe that explains that odd taste I've noticed in the drinking water.

The concept for the album isn't the only thing that's complex or innovative.  The actual disc itself is covered in a thermo-chrome lacquer.  The mostly black disc will turn white when heated to reveal lines, blocks, the copyright notice, and a string of binary code that translates into a web address where more of the story concerning Year Zero can be uncovered. 

Musically, the material on this album ranks as some of the best in the NIN catalog.  The songs are a manifestation of the anger and frustration that is felt as someone  grows tired of watching their world senselessly collapse around them.  Year Zero is Trent Reznor's way of saying, "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore."  The lyrics tell the story of life during Year Zero through the eyes of people living it and, as I alluded to earlier, mirror several of today's issues.  "Capital G", probably my favorite track on the record, is a less than flattering narrative from the viewpoint of a member of the totalitarian leader's constituency.  With lyrics like "I pushed a button and elected him to office and a/he pushed a button and it dropped a bomb" and "Well I used to stand for something/now I'm on my hands and knees/traded in my god for this one/he signs his name with a capital G"  it's not too difficult to figure out who inspired the song.

With the ever present comparison of the war in Iraq to Vietnam and the general discontent with the current administration, daily life has been rife with material for artists to pen protest songs.  That being said, Trent Reznor didn't stop with just one song, he's written an entire, blistering album to voice his dissatisfaction with the way things are going.  After listening to Year Zero, you'll be more than ready to get up and join the fight too.

Buy Year Zero at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound

Secretly Canadian Celebrates 100th Release

Secretly Canadian's 100th album, appropriately titled SC100, is set to be released on April 24th, 2007.

Three years in the making, the album features 18 Secretly Canadian artists covering a couple of their fellow label mates' songs.  Any artist who issued a record from SC01 (June Panic, "Glory Hole") to SC99 (Swearing at Motorists, "Last Night Becomes This Morning") was eligible to appear on the album.  The songs each artist covered were determined by the very precise and scientific method of drawing them out of a hat.  SC100 is a two disc set, with the second disc being available only from your favorite digital download store.

A big congrats to the fine folks at Secretly Canadian for all they've accomplished over the last 11 years.

• Nikki Sudden - "See(ing) Double" from SC100 [June Panic Cover]
• Dave Fischoff - "Abilene" from SC100 [Damien Jurado Cover]
• Marmoset - "Black Cab" outtake from SC100 [Jens Lekman Cover]

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. - R.I.P.

November, 11 1922 - April 11, 2007

Favorite New Release of the Week - Apr. 10th, 2007

Blonde Redhead - 23

I first fell in love with Blonde Redhead after a friend played "In Particular" at a house party in Los Angeles.  I immediately bought Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons and while I listened to the album in its entirety several times, I absolutely wore the second track [In Particular] out.  From the first listen, it was clear 23 would be an entirely different experience from Melody or even its follow-up, Mystery Is a Butterfly. 

It's practically impossible to dissect this record into pieces and talk about this song or that.  23 requires a certain devotion of time and attention. This album is one that, when taken as a whole, seems like it absolutely must serve as the soundtrack to a film, countless long drives, or maybe even a dream you've had.   The lyrics from "SW" actually lend themselves to the idea of a dream with, "I am I am running in my head/I am I am lying on my left/I am I am growing in my bed/I am I am..."

While it's hard to separate out specific songs, there are a few I have to point out.  "SW" and "Spring and By Summer Fall" fall back-to-back on the record and serve as two of the more brooding and aggressive tracks on the record.  The more aggressive feel may stem from the vocals of Amedeo Pace, especially when juxtaposed with the gently haunting vocals of Kazu Makino.  "Publisher" is another standout track that I've found myself anticipating on subsequent listens.

From the sound of 23 it doesn't appear that my love affair with Blonde Redhead will end anytime soon.  I think it's safe to say that if you're like me, yours won't either.

Blonde Redhead - "23" from 23

Buy 23 at: iTunes | Amazon | Insound

 

Stream the new Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero

Trent has unleashed a stream of Year Zero for those of us who can't wait to hear what he's cooked up in his studio.  Personally, and having only been able to listen to the first half so far, I've been blown away by "Capital G".  The track, and what I've heard on the album so far, is absolutely stellar.  Along with news that "Survivalism" has has reached #1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart, the band's fourth consecutive #1 single, it looks like suggestions that Mr. Reznor is at the top of his game are 100% accurate.  Then again, who ever said he hasn't always been at the top of his game?

Aside from the album sounding incredible, the marketing hinting to the concept behind Year Zero is like nothing I've ever seen.  CNN describes the series of cryptic websites as a, "multifaceted Internet scavenger hunt," which may be a huge understatement.  You can check out more fascinating back stories on fan discoveries, research, and insight into the Year Zero story here, here, and here.

Shitdisco - OK

Favorite New Release of the Week - Apr. 3rd, 2007

Kings of Leon - Because of the Times

The Kings of Leon recently spent some time touring Australia with Pearl Jam last November.  After listening to Because of the Times I think the elder statesmen of Seattle grunge may have rubbed off on the young Kings.  Throughout the record I hear a lot of the sounds that were coming out of Seattle in Pearl Jam's heyday. 

Caleb Followill gets busy channeling the spirit of Kurt Cobain on "Charmer" with a steady stream of shrill screams.  Another tribute to the vocal stylings of one other late star of the grunge scene, Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, seems to be present on "Trunk."  The band doesn't just stick to the Seattle sound.  Is it just me or is there a great example of Aerosmith and Steven Tyler's influence on the band on the fifth track, "Black Thumbnail?"  Aside from paying homage to these potential influences, the band does a great job of expanding and branching out from the sound heard on Aha Shake Heartbreak.  There is plenty of experimenting going on to keep things interesting while staying true to what's gotten the band to this point in their careers, a modern take on classic southern rock.

The syncopated jive of "Ragoo" is a perfect example of what differentiates the band from most of their peers.  You know you've heard a lot of what's happening before but they do it in a wholly original and glorious way.  One of my favorite tracks off Aha Shake Heartbreak was "Four Kicks" and I think it's safe to suggest "My Party" is it's rowdier, younger brother.  I can see the pseudo-mosh pits starting now at Kings of Leon shows all over the world.  The song, much like the album, is a relentless loud-quiet-loud throwdown.  Pure and simple, this is an excellent rock record that's perfect for these times, or any other time for that matter.

Buy Because of the Times at: iTunes | Amazon

The Dead Bodies

The one-sheet for The Dead Bodies' Mr. Spookhouse's Pink House says the album sounds like, "The television theme song for a cartoon about zombie circus dance parties... on acid."  It also contains the rather bold statement that, "If Zappa had embraced the drugs of his era and Bowie had grown up harboring a sick infatuation with zombies they would've found themselves neck deep in the sound of The Dead Bodies."  While I definitely agree with the first statement, the second one might be a little over the top but then again, who am I to say it's not an accurate description?  If anything, I certainly appreciate the enthusiasm and have really been enjoying the tracks I've heard so far.

The band has been busy becoming local favorites in Detroit.  The original Mr. Spookhouse's Pink House was apparently a very popular CD-R making the rounds amongst underground music fans in Detroit before finally falling into the hands of Quite Scientific Records.  The record will see it's formal release on April 17th.  You can check out some of the tracks from the record below.

• The Dead Bodies - "Pink Muff Dance Party" from Mr. Spookhouse's Pink House
• The Dead Bodies - "Mr. Spookhouse Himself" from Mr. Spookhouse's Pink House
• The Dead Bodies - "In Heaven, We All Are" from Mr. Spookhouse's Pink House
• The Dead Bodies - "Dancing Has No Class" from Mr. Spookhouse's Pink House