Very little is known about the archduke’s long-anticipated third album, besides apparently false reports that the Scottish band has worked African influences into their sound. They’ve been in and out of the studio for almost a year now, but they have been busy producing the third, and best, Cribs album (just Alex), and with side project bands such as Correcto and The Royal We.
As of a few days ago, Alex Kapranos and the gang have unleashed a glimpse of the new album with “Lucid Dreams,” which is available for your listening pleasure in the music section of their homepage.
In completely unrelated news, I’ve discovered some really enjoyable videos of New Order in 1984 performing songs live in their studio. Click on the (more…) link to enjoy!
What the hell is up with Bloc Party? After Flux (which I rather liked) came out late last year, I figured that they’d be moving in a more electronic direction in the near future. Little did I know how prophetic that was. Out comes the new single last week, Mercury. I’ve spent a few days trying to digest it, and I just can’t figure out whether I can stomach it or flat-out hate it. With a chorus consisting solely of the phrase “My mercury’s in retrograde” looped over and over, I’m left weirded out. I don’t hear a single guitar, just (presumably synthesized) horns and a cacophony of drumbeats. Perhaps I’m just baffled at how different this is from what I expect from them, but I guess we’ll see where they’re going with this in the coming months. I’m wondering if their set at VFest is going to be considerably different from the last time I saw them.
I have no idea what Wild Beasts are on about, but if that isn’t a catchy song title then I don’t know what is. I’ve recommended this on many occasions and no one seems as struck as me. Granted it’s not very traditional, sounding as if Tiny Tim of “Tip-Toe Thru’ the Tulips With Me” fame took over lead vocals for the Archie Bronson Outfit. Oh, and throw in some of those coconuts banged together from Holy Grail. It just, well, goes. It’s so unusually good that I have to love it. If you like it, then check out out all ten tracks on their new album Limbo, Panto.
These fuckin Apple ads are infectious. They haven’t changed up the way they’ve marketed the iPod in like 5 years, yet everytime I see those white headphones on those colorful backgrounds, I know I’m about to see some sweet Indie-kid dance moves set to some song that I haven’t heard yet, that I’m going to love soon. Case and point:
You have no idea how badly I want to be the chick in the fedora.
The song comes courtesy of The Ting Tings, a British electro/indie-pop duo which formed in 2006. They’re about to release their debut LP (We Started Nothing) next week, and so far I’ve heard three tracks which I spend half my days dancing to in my living room.
Here’s some tracks from the LP and one remix that I’m enjoying:
Anyone who knows my music taste (or has heard me talk non-stop about what I’m into) knows that I love The Lodger. Love. Their first album Grown-Ups was to me the best album of 2007. It’s perfect guitar pop for anyone who’s ever wondered if “this is what life is all about” while listening to “Wan Light” by Orange Juice.
But sometimes I never want a sophomore album to come out because it just diminishes my holy view of a debut. I don’t know if Life Is Sweet, The Lodger’s second album due out May 19, will be as perfect as its predecessor, but the first single “The Good Old Days” has got me excited. It’s being released by Bad Sneakers Records, home to the equally excellent Wild Beasts, whose debut album is sure to be overplayed on my stereo when it finally comes out. But back to the good old days. Imagine if the Mystery Jets tried to record a Saint Etienne song. Nuff said.
Trains to Brazil is a great song, and it made me rather obsessed with Guillemots for awhile. Then I got the EP for cheap at Sunrise Records and enjoyed it, but once again focused on that song, and then kind of forgot about them. I meant to check out their LP Through the Windowpane, but it got lost in the shuffle. And suddenly I find out they have a new album (Red) out and a killer new single. So basically what I’m saying is: I’m sorry Guillemots. I haven’t given you the respect you deserve. I promise I’ll make it right. Yet another band to add to the recent Britpop kick I’m on.
And this has nothing to do with Britpop, but Man Man’s new album is going to be something special. For your listening pleasure, this is Top Drawer. Enjoy the weird. I can’t wait for Rabbit Habits.
A friend of mine suggested I listen to the new Mystery Jets album, so I checked out the single Young Love. It’s fun Britpop, but it didn’t really hit me until Laura Marling started singing.
I think I’m in love. Intrigued, I immediately sought out her album Alas, I Cannot Swim and, expecting more bouncy pop music, found some of the best folk music I’ve heard in some time. I was also surprised to learn she’s only eighteen. Beautiful and haunting, Ghosts is a song I’m going to be listening to for some time.
Primary 1 come from the homeland of neon and bedhead (London) which automatically gives them COOL status and The Shoes are from France…
London + France in one remix = ubercoolness
On this side of the ocean…Steve Aoki…I love him. LA Riots…I love them. Uffie…I love her, but she doesn’t show up for her concerts, so she gets less love than the others. Oh, and Scanners…they’re Euro and wonderful.
British band Black Box Recorder have teamed with Art Brut’s Eddie Argos to release the best Christmas-themed pop song since Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas.” The group, called The Black Arts for their only 7′’ release “Christmas Number One,” is hoping to win the cherished number one Christmas spot this year, a victory which evaded Cliff Richards for so many years. Although this seems unlikely, let’s spread word and see if we can make their Christmas wish a reality.
I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes. Christmas is all around me, It’s everywhere I go.
In keeping with the Christmas spirit of things….. nothing about this song is Christmasy at all…. BUT…. it is fabulous, fun and it makes me feel good the way Christmas does.
Another amazing remix by my favourite Parisian dj duo…Justice…. this time remixing British alternative/new rave rockers, Klaxons. If you lurve 70s pop than you will heart this song… i swear!! The kids at Missingtoof pointed out a similarity between this remix and the Doobie Brothers’ 70s classic, ‘What a Fool Believes’.
