Maya Arulpragasam, better known as M.I.A. will be releasing her second album Kala on August 21. The London-born, Sri Lanka-raised rapper will be working with the likes of Diplo, Timbaland, and Three 6 Mafia on the new record.
The video for the unofficial first single from the album was filmed in Jamaica and financed by M.I.A. personally. Enjoi this video for “Bird Flu”. There’s also some good videos from the first album after the (more…) link.
Yes yes! The Long Blondes (Website / Myspace) have announced a North American tour! What do I say to that? About freakin’ time. They will be in Toronto on June 11, definitely a show not to be missed.
I leave you with a clip from this 60’s pop inspired band. It will give you a little taste of what to expect at the concert.
Who knew listening to complicated love problems of young female teenagers could be so damn entertaining?
The Cribs‘ (Website / MySpace) third album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever will be released on May 21. The Alex Kopranos (of Franz Ferdinand) produced album will be preceded by the single “Men’s Needs”, the video for which can be seen below. The song definitely lives up to some of their best singles like “You’re Gonna Lose Us” and “You Were Always the One”. They’re on their North American tour supporting the album right now so I can’t wait to check them out next Saturday in Toronto.
I’ve also included their best videos after the (more…) link. Enjoi!
I realize the title of this post is exactly the same as my previous post, except for the fact that I now present to you Mando Diao (Website / Myspace) instead of We Are The Take. I was debating with myself whether or not the title of this post deserved something clever and unique, to compliment the witty-ness of Mando Diao’s music. Witty-ness? Can I even say that? Who cares, it’s my post! When debating this question, I came to the conclusion that I don’t like Mando Diao more than I like We Are The Take. Rather I admire them both on the same musically ear soothing level (if that’s even possible). Although one could argue their styles are completely different, but alas I digress.
If you’re looking for some new summer tunes to get strapped up into your I-pod (or whichever hand held musical device you prefer, or possibly even a compact disc? *crowd whispers*) then I suggest you take a listen to Mando Diao. If you haven’t even heard of them, that’s even better. Start off with their older stuff and move on to their newly released album, Ode to Ochrasy. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. And if you are, let’s take it to the schoolyard chump!
With a band name like that, I didn’t even have to think of a witty title. You Say Party! We Say Die! (Website / Myspace) are this hip band hailing from good ol’ Vancouver. Classified as new wave, this post-punk band is sure tearing things up. The female vocalist transitions nicely from softer vocals to just ripping up her larynx. Lose All The Time is their latest album, and it makes me sorta want to do a jig on my desk. They are definitely experimental with their instruments and they remind me a tad of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. Me likes, me likes a lot and I think you will too. So support the Canadian Indie Scene and check them out.
Post-punk was one of the most creative periods in music history, and lucky for us it still hasn’t ended. But being that it was so creative, there were so many styles of post-punk; it could be funk/r&b (with a sax to boot), it could be electronica, it could be absolutely tuneless, and/or it could be personal and harrowing. And most forms came with my favourite ingredient: angular riffs. There is no doubt in my mind that the premier champions of the later form were Joy Division. And with everyone going ga ga over everything post-punk in the new millenium since The Strokes and The Rapture made it cool again, there are three bands which truly perfected the sound which Joy Division started in Manchester so many years ago. Those bands are The Organ, The Stills, and Interpol. I just love this selection because not only do I think it’s accurate, but also two of the bands are Canadian. The Organ broke up earlier this year, The Stills second album showed a departure from the sound which I said they had perfected, but Interpol is still kicking.
Although very few of the details have been confirmed, Interpol (Website / MySpace) will be releasing their third album Moderation on June 5. There is no touring scheduled yet, except for an appearance at Coachella, and we don’t know much else. But this is exciting news, and Ca Va Cool will keep updating as new information is revealed.
So I don’t have any music or videos to post from the new album, but if you want to learn/recap why Interpol is so great, click on the (more…) link to see all of Interpol’s six singles from first to last. Enjoi!
Shout Out Louds are going to be releasing their second album Our Ill Wills in Sweden on April 25 on Bud Fox Recordings. An international release will follow but they’re kicking off the promotion with a European tour, hopefully with a North American tour afterwards. The first single is “Tonight I Have to Leave It” and shows that they haven’t lost their knack.
The album is produced by Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn And John, not the first collaboration since the Peter Bjorn And John video for “Young Folks” was directed by Ted Malmros, bassist for the Shouts. I just love that song and video so much that I’m going to include it in the post. Click on the (more…) link below to check out the best pop song of 2006.
The most true advocates of 60s pop in music today. It’s true, but they haven’t ignored history since then, adding in the melodic sensiblities of Galaxie 500, Felt, Television, etc. The first time you hear The Clientele (Website / MySpace) it’s not hard to confuse them with a band actually from the 60s. Well, this time around they’ve added a girl, Mel Draisey, on strings making their arrangements ever more lush (Sorry I couldn’t find an updated picture of the band), and will be releasing the new songs as God Save The Clientele! on May 8. Here’s a sneak peak of the album.
Check them out on their North American tour soon (details on their MySpace). And if you still can’t get enough, go and buy Suburban Light, their “Singles and Beyond” collection.
Go Guitar Go! Art Brut (Website / MySpace) will be releasing their second album It’s a Bit Complicated on June 25. If you’re not excited, you haven’t listened to enough Art Brut. I haven’t heard it yet, but it’s sure to be chock-full of Eddie Argos’ cunning wit. The songs are supposed to have a more grown up subject matter this time around, but that probably just means he’ll take the character of a 19 year-old instead of his usual 18 year-old.
No word on a first single, but the album is due to contain “Nag Nag Nag Nag” which was released as a single last year. Spread the word of Art Brut and maybe they will finally live their dream of appearing on Top of the Pops. Enjoi!
