Grant Manship

New MP3 from Clogs

Check out a track from the new Clogs record, The Creatures In The Garden of Lady Walton, due out March 2nd on Brassland. The Clogs are comprised of Bryce Dessner, Rachael Elliott, Thomas Kozumplik and Padma Newsome. The track below also showcases the talent of Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) on vocals.  In addition to Shara's multiple contributions, Sufjan Stevens makes an appearance on a track called "We Were Here".  You can listen to that song here.

• Clogs - "On The Edge" from The Creatures In The Garden of Lady Walton

Neon Indian Remixes Grizzly Bear

Here are a couple remixes from Neon Indian of Grizzly Bear's, “Cheerleader.”  Both of them are awesome.  If you don't have Neon Indian's record Psychic Chasms by now, I don't know what you're waiting for because it's also awesome. 

• Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader [Neon Indian Sega Genesis P-Orridge Mix]
• Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader [Neon Indian Studio 6669 Mix]

New MP3 from Yeasayer!!!

Yeasayer's new record won't be out until February of next year but that doesn't mean I can't already be freaking out with excitement for the record does it?  The fact that it comes out on my birthday is just icing on my birthday cake!  Luckily the band is giving us a little preview of what's to come on Odd Blood.  The song is called "Ambling Alp" and it picks up where "Tightrope" left off.  Hurry up and get here February.

• Yeasayer - "Ambling Alp" from Odd Blood

New MP3 from WHY? & Show Next Week @ Northside Tavern

WHY? are getting ready to release their new album Eskimo Snow next week and will be kicking off a two month tour with a free show at Northside Tavern on Sept. 24th.  Eskimo Snow, which was actually recorded at the same time as Alopecia, will be out two days before the Northside Tavern gig.  That means you have two days to buy it and learn all the songs so you can sing-along at the show.  Check out an MP3 from the album below.  See you at the show.

• WHY? - "This Blackest Purse" from Eskimo Snow

New Track from Despot

While I'm not a huge hip-hop aficionado, Despot is without a doubt one of my favorite rappers.  It's a travesty the guy isn't a huge star by now.  His song "Crap Artists" is ridiculous and most rappers only wish they could write a track that's half as good.  Regardless, I think his time is coming.  As they say, the cream rises to the top right? 

Anyway, I've got a new track from the guy with his buddies Ratatat provide the beat.  I'll let the track speak for itself.  Once you're done listening proceed to jump on the Despot bandwagon if you haven't already.

• Despot - "Look Alive " from Definitive Jux Presents IV

New Album Info and MP3 from Daniel Johnston

Now this is the way to start off the workweek, with news of a new Daniel Johnston album and an mp3 to go along with it.  The album is called Is And Always Was and is due Oct. 6th on Daniel's own Eternal Yip Eye Music.  The note that accompanied this news stated that the record showcases a move away from the familiar lo-fi sound we're accustomed to hearing from Daniel.  While I had to listen to the track at extremely low volume here at work, the production sounds great as done Daniel.  As for the decision to ramp up the production, Daniel is quoted as saying, "Everyone needs to take their demos and go back to the studio."

For Is And Always Was, Daniel has joined forces with musician and producer Jason Falkner, who is known for his work with Beck, Air, and Paul McCartney to name a few.  The record also finds Joey Waronker lending a hand on drums.  Check out the track below and make sure to catch Daniel on his North American and European dates that will go through the end of the year.

• Daniel Johnston - "Freedom" from Is And Always Was

Preview Volcano Choir's Unmap

Here's your first peak at Volcano Choir's debut album Unmap.  If you're unfamiliar with who makes up Volcano Choir it's Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and the boys from Collections of Colonies of Bees.

Maybe this is what For Emma, Forever Ago would have sounded like if the remote cabin in the woods Justin holed himself up in to record For Emma was pimped out with a bunch of sweet gadgets, satellite TV and a flat screen or two.  Something tells me it wasn't.  Regardless, now we know what would have come out of those sessions if it had and it sounds great!  I'm definitely looking forward to hearing the rest of this record.

• Volcano Choir - "Island, IS" from Unmap

The Strange Boys

I posted a video for The Strange Boys song "Woe Is You And Me" back in March and hopefully you dug it and subsequently checked the band out.  I've been listening to their album ...And Girls Club during my commute to work this week and I thought I should post something else in case you failed to hold up your end of the deal.  Here is another track from the record.  Listen to it and then buy the record or just buy the record and then listen to it.  Either way, you should buy the record!  You can catch the band out on the road for the next couple of months here in the States.  Check out their MySpace page for the dates.

• The Strange Boys - "Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up" from ...And Girls Club

The Lava Children

Graveface Records is one of those labels that if a band is on the label, I feel pretty confident that I'm going to like their record.  The Lava Children, a psychadelic duo out of Oklahoma, further proves this point.  They're on Graveface, they're putting out a record and I like it.

In a day when bands are coming up with all kinds of incentives for people to buy records, I think the band should package this mini-LP with it's own oil wheel light setup.  This is definitely the kind of music that the device was invented for.  When listening to "The Green Word" I can't help but think of the images you see in old footage from the early days of the psychadelic movement.  Check out the aforementioned track below.  The record hits stores on May 26th.

• The Lava Children - "The Green Word" from The Lava Children 

An MP3 from the Bowerbirds' Upper Air

I'm digging this.  The new album is due out July 7th here in the US (July 6th in the UK).  Enjoy!

• Bowerbirds - "Northern Lights" from Upper Air