No Clever Title, Just New Music Videos

   “Borders” by The Sunshine Underground

   from: Leeds, England
   album: Raise the Alarm (2006)
   [Website / Myspace]

 

 

   “Ageing Had Never Been His Friend” by Love Is All

   from: Gothenburg, Sweden
   album: Nine Times That Same Song (2006)
   [Website / Myspace]

 

 

   “We Danced Together” by The Rakes

   from: London, England
   album: Ten New Messages (2007)
   [Website / Myspace]

 

 

   “North American Scum” by LCD Soundsystem

   from: New York City, United States of America
   album: Sound of Silver (2007)
   [Website / Myspace]

 

 

Feist Returns With ‘The Reminder’

Leslie Feist will be releasing her second album The Reminder on April 23 in Europe and on May 1 in the rest of the world. The first single is going to be “My Moon, My Man” which you can stream from her website. The site has undergone a renovation with a classy new motif, almost as classy as Feist herself. Unfortunately, the fame Let It Die brought her is taking her new tour to more impressive venues, which gives me little hope for seeing her in Kingston, Ontario again. (Website / MySpace)

“My Moon, My Man” from The Reminder (2007)
Feist - My Moon, My Man.mp3

If you missed the Feist hype the first time around, check out these videos from the first album: Mushaboom, One Evening, Inside and Out.

We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives

That is the name of the debut single from Los Campesinos!, and lucky for us, it’s free. The Cardiff, UK based band has put the song up for download from their website for rien. Marxists? I think not, but damn fine indie pop with the energy of punk rock. The first thing that popped into my head was an indie pop version of Born Ruffians, unless they’re already indie pop, in which case I’m just confused. Genres suck. But one thing I’m not confused about is how snappy these songs are. You can also download some additional songs on their Myspace page. Click on the links below to get your slice:

  We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives 7′’
     a. We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives
         We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives.mp3
     b. Don’t Tell Me to Do the Math(s)
         Don’t Tell Me to Do the Math(s).mp3

They have a funny (cute, if you will) video for the lead song based on the same artwork as the release cover. Their site claims the song is not a protest against violence, but the video doesn’t make much of an argument. Enjoi!

Maximo Park’s ‘Earthly Pleasures’

Maximo Park will be releasing their second album Our Earthly Pleasures on April 2. This is damn good news since 2005’s A Certain Trigger is one of my favourite albums in recent memory. The first single and video is the keyboard heavy “Our Velocity” (Clicking song title will link to video). The lead singer needs to lose the hat and they’re looking a bit too much like the killers (the first time around), but the song rocks. (Website / Myspace)

Here are some links to two videos from the first album and before: Apply Some Pressure, The Coast Is Always Changing.

Ashtray Rocking at the ECMAs

I’m home from school for a week and forgot my iPod, which means that today in the car I was forced to listen to modern rock radio. On a bad day this means “Higher” by Creed, on a good day “She Sells Sanctuary” by The Cult. Today I got lucky, because just as I’m about to turn it off, they played the newest single from Joel Plaskett.

According to no lesser authority than the Joel Plaskett Website, there is set to be a new Joel Plaskett Emergency (Website / Myspace) album released on April 17th entitled Ashtray Rock. The site (which is obviously not biased) describes the album as “soon to be classic.” The first single from the album is “Fashionable People.” The song is full of Plaskett’s classic songwriting (i.e. reminiscing about high school party fights, like a less macho version of “Too Drunk to Fuck”) and seems to be a return to harder rocking more upbeat numbers which made 2003’s Truthfully Truthfully such a good listen. After four solid solo albums, Joel has proved to be one of the most consistent Canadian rockers, and hopefully this album continues the trend.

He’s also had some success earlier this week at Canada’s East Coast Music Awards winning Single of the Year, DVD of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. You can see photos and information about the award show at the Joel Plaskett Emergency blog. 

Unfortunately, I haven’t found anywhere to stream the new single, so here are a couple of links to videos of older songs: Come on Teacher from Truthfully Truthfully (2005) and Maybe We Should Just Go Home from Down at the Khyber (2001).

I Took a Drive for ‘A Weekend in the City’ and It Was Awesome

Bloc Party never ceases to shock and astonish me. From Silent Alarm (their 2005 release) to their newest released album A Weekend in the City, they never miss a beat (they just add more). If you’re looking forward to hearing something Silent Alarm-esque you’ll be in for a big surprise. Although the band remains the same, they have shown their audiences that they are never afraid to reinvent themselves. The loveliness behind it all is that we never really quite know what to expect, even from the beginning of a Bloc Party track. We can never exactly see where the music is going, and that in my opinion is the very foundation of the Bloc Party vibe; mystery. I love surprises and A Weekend in the City does just that for its audience. It keeps you guessing. (Website / Myspace)

Bloc Party - The Prayer, I Still Remember.

Singles from Good Shoes and The Whip

To anticipate the release of the Think Before You Speak LP on March 19, Good Shoes will release the Never Meant to Hurt You 7′’ (Clicking the title will stream the music video) I don’t know how I feel about the song yet, but if it’s anything like the last two singles, I won’t be disappointed. Check out the All in My Head and Photos on My Wall videos at YouTube. (Website / Myspace)

The Whip I’ve never heard of. But when I watched this video I definitely felt like dancing. Like so many from Manchester before them, they’ve gone the route of Alternative Dance. Their erotically (maybe) titled song Muzzle #1 has just been released as a video that can stream here. Just watch as the drummer concentrates to get the off-beat right. They also have a bunch of songs and remixes available on their Myspace page. (Website / Myspace). Enjoi!

I’m a Sap for the Sombre Sounds…But Hey It Soothes the Soul!

What can I say? I’m a sucker when it comes to overly dramatic lyrics accompanied by a faint piano and/or guitar playing ever so quietly in the background. Is that so wrong? I think not. It’s always nice to close your eyes and take time to breathe in the surroundings, listening to something a little slower paced than usual. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, and feel like stepping away from the fast paced life for a while (just a while, don’t worry), I suggest you take the time to visit your local record store and purchase Damien Rice’s recently released 9 album. (Website / Myspace)

 

Too many reviews are bashing this album, saying he’s crossed the line of cheesiness (something he was impressively able to avoid in his 2003 release of O), but who cares? Are we listening to listen or are we listening to feel? As profound as that is, some albums are simply better off heard for the feeling it evokes in our souls rather than the immediate bashing so many review sites have come to tool.

Take a listen! I dare you to listen with your body and not with your mind. Check out the video for “9 Crimes” from the recently released album.

Damien Rice - 9 Crimes.

 

Why British Guitar Bands Still Rule!

So this is the first post on Ca Va Cool. Since it was created to talk about the music we love, I thought which better way than to crisen it by talking about British Guitar Bands. Recently they’ve gotten heat. It seems you can’t be in a tight british four-piece without being accused of copying Arctic Monkeys, even though if anything it’s Franz Ferdinand or the Libertines. When was the last time Arctic Monkeys was mentioned actually talking about the Arctic Monkeys? Anyways, It’s been a good five years enjoying the multitude of British Guitar Bands, and I don’t care if a floodgate has opened and there are too many of these bands, it’s still better than Indie Folk.

So without further ado, check out these videos (all the singles really) from three bands that are due to have albums out pretty soon who show that the talent hasn’t dwindled since Pete Doherty let the drugs take over:

The Maccabees - Latchmere, First Love, About Your Dress. (Website / Myspace)

Harrisons (pictured above) - Wishing Well, Blue Note. Monday’s Arms coming soon! (Website / Myspace)

The Pigeon Detectives - I Found Out, Romantic Type. (Website / Myspace)

I’ll take this raw energy over folk or electronica any day.