Fun Fun Fun Fest leaks...

The Fun Fun Fun Fest 7 leaks are beginning to flow...Atlas Sound, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Baroness, and now Danny Brown, Tomahawk, and David Cross (who may or may not be in withered, acid-ridden sausage form).  Hooray!

Dean Blunt - Flaxen

Dean Blunt's already got some killer stuff out this year with co-conspirator Inga Copeland (see "Black Is Beautiful"), and if that weren't enough, he's apparently hard at work on a solo record as well called "The Narcissist III."  Listen to the very calming, yet eerie "Flaxen" below, and just sink...

New Why?

Always stoked to hear new jams from the rap/folk/indie-pop weirdos from Why?  And, it's been awhile.  "Sod in The Seed" come from the new EP of the same name due in August from Anticon.  Hooray!  Listen and download below.

Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky

Here's the video for Lana Del Rey's "National Anthem," featuring (in the video) A$AP Rocky and Lana as JFK and Jackie O.  Say what you will about Lana Del Rey's music, but her videos are always pretty awesome.

Sensations' Fix

Donnie and Joe Emerson may be getting all the re-issue press right now, but RVNG Intl. have decided to grace us with some awesome unearthing of some 1970's Italian prog rock.  "Music Is Painting In The Air" is a collection of alternate mixes and rarities from the 74-77 output of Italy's Sensations' Fix.  Listen to the dreamy, lo-fi "Dark Side of Religion" below and get the double LP here.

Lumerians

If there's one thing San Francisco does right, it's spawn dozens and dozens of tripped-out, psyche-rock, garage bands.  Lumerians are a 5-piece act who combine their forays into "mindbender space rock" with psychedelic projections.  While you can't see those projections here, you can certainly jam to the freak-out of "Track 3" below.  Get the "Transmissions from Telos: Vol. IV" from Hands In The Dark and Permanent Records.

DIIV - Oshin

Hey!  It's those kids who made me feel really, really old at SXSW earlier this year.  DIIV's new LP "Oshin" comes out next week from Captured Tracks, but you can stream the whole thing below (courtesy of The Hype Machine).  Hooray!

Chris Cohen

Here's some nice psychedelic pop for a Sunday afternoon from Chris Cohen.  "Caller No. 99" combines all the right retro-60's pastiches with a warm melody that's perfect for sipping tea or something with a little more oomph by the pool, or the beach, or just in a lawn chair in the backyard with the sprinklers on.  What else would you expect from a musician who's done time with Deerhoof, Ariel Pink, Danielson, and Cass McCombs.  Listen and download below, and look for his "Overgrown Path" LP in September from Captured Tracks.

JJ - Summer High

JJ's got a new EP of dreamy tunes just waiting for your enjoyment.  Download "High Summer" for free from Sincerely Yours, and listen to "Big Hearts, Big Dreams" below.

Lunar Miasma

Looking for that perfect soundtrack for your vacation to the minefields of Mars?  Look no further than Lunar Miasma's "Observing the Universe" cassette from Moon Glyph.  Listen to "Expanded Dimension" below, grab the tape here, pony up for your memory implants, and get your ass to Mars.

Saga

I don't post about comic books nearly as often as i should, but every now and then, a book comes out that's just too awesome not to recommend to everybody (see Ed Brubaker's and Sean Phillips' "Fatale").  My latest favorite comes from writer Brian K. Vaughn of "Y: The Last Man" fame and features the beautiful artwork of Fiona Staples.  "Saga" is a sci-fi book featuring warring races of different aliens and creatures.  A man (with horns) from one sector falls for a woman (with wings) from another and the two have a child together.  Aside from that, there's bounty hunters, spider women, the ghosts of ripped-in-half dead children, lying cats, and android royalty with televisions for heads.

This is one of my favorite things.  Get it from Image Comics and your local comic book store.  Hooray!

The FP

So, we watched "The FP" last night.  Is it retarded?  Yes.  But it's also pretty original while at the same time drawing from every movie i ever saw when i was growing up.  So, as retarded as this movie is, it's actually pretty enjoyable.  Check the trailer below.

Food Pyramid

Moments of tranquility as produced by mellow, herb-ingesting robots on a quest to create an aural soup of house music of the far future and spaced-out dub, with some earth-tone synthetic loops on the side for easy consumption.  And thus we have Food Pyramid, a Minneapolis trio of keyboard and sampler chefs.  Their debut full-length LP "Mango Sunrise" is available from Moon Glyph, and it's a veritable taste explosion for your ear-buds.  Buy it here and listen to the whole thing below.

Peaking Lights mixtapes!

In support of their new album "Lucifer" which comes out today via Mexican Summer, and because they're awesome, Peaking Lights have made all 5 of their "Lucifer" mixtapes available for free download.  These are great summer mixes.  Listen to or download below.











Hooray!

Willits + Sakamoto

Here's an dreamy, atmospheric new jam from Willits + Sakamoto (Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto and California guitarist Christopher Willits) on Ghostly.  "Completion" sounds like space.  It's closest counterpart that i can think of would be the ambient bliss that is Brian Eno's "Apollo" album.  Good, wind-down music though, the kind of thing that fans of Miami or Oklahoma City will need after the Finals are over.  Look for the album "Ancient Future" in August and listen to "Completion" below.

The Young

Here's a little rock and roll for you for Father's Day from the new album "Dub Egg" from Austin's The Young.  Think psychedelic garage rock channeled through Neil Young and Big Star.  Get it from Matador, and listen to "Livin' Free" below.

Happy (early) Father's Day

Happy Father's Day everybody.

Best albums of 2012 (thus far...)

Everyone else is doing it, so why can't i?  It's absolutely appalling that 2012 is almost half over.  It freaks me out just a little bit.  Anyway, here are 10 albums that have made the last 6 months awesome:

Chromatics - "Kill For Love"
The Flaming Lips - "The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends"
Julia Holter - "Ekstasis"
Killer Mike - "R.A.P. Music"
Lower Dens - "Nootropics"
Quakers - "Quakers"
Spiritualized - "Sweet Heart Sweet Light"
Trust - "TRST"
Vaura - "Selenelion"
Wreathes - "Wreathes"

Alright bands, let's keep up the good work...

Adult Swim Singles Program 2012

Next week, Adult Swim starts it's third summer of releasing weekly singles for free from a variety of different artists.  Past singles have come from everyone from Washed Out to Mastodon.  This year's collection looks pretty good as well.  Check the full list below.

Adult Swim Singles Program:
06-18 Unknown Mortal Orchestra
06-25 The Hives
07-02 Wye Oak
07-09 Absu
07-16 The Field
07-23 Flying Lotus
07-30 Gauntlet Hair
08-06 Wavves
08-13 Com Truise
08-20 Yamantaka//Sonic Titan
08-27 Elite Gymnastics
09-03 Artist to Be Announced
09-10 Death Grips (bonus)

Moons

Here's some sprawling, moody, new-wave, synth-pop from Atlanta's Moons.  "Bloody Mouth" simultaneously evokes images of cold and heat.  It's the kind of song i can imagine as the soundtrack to sweat and swimming pools, or just as easily as an accompaniment to darkness and a burning fire.  Grab the 7" at No Recordings and watch the video below.

Rudi Zygadlo

In a swirl of classical music, pop, and technology, UK producer Rudi Zygadlo crafts music as art as progressive movements into the future.  This is chamber music for artificial intelligence and their creators.  Watch the drag-race video for "Melpomene" below, and look for the single in July, and full-length "Tragicomedies" in September from Planet Mu.

Poolside

As evidenced by how soaked through my shirt was after walking the dog this morning, it's hot.  Damn hot.  So, cool down with this new summer jam from LA's Poolside, a lovely foray into chilled-out daytime drunken disco jams.  "Pacific Standard Time" is due out in July and watch the video to "Slow Down" below.

Glen Campbell - A Better Place

I don't really know much about Glen Campbell, except that he's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and what Frank Sinatra thought of him (not much), but i thought the video for his song "A Better Place," which Campbell feels is the closing bookend to his career was interesting.  And yes, that is Queens of The Stone Age front man Josh Homme as the bartender.  Watch below.

Charli XCX - Heartbreaks and Earthquakes: The Mixtape

I haven't really fallen into London pop star Charli XCX's fan camp yet, but i'm always a fan of mixtapes (the absence of studio people, financial worry, and legal brew-ha-ha seems to evoke an atmosphere conducive to stellar creativity...pop stars included).  And "Heartbreaks and Earthquakes" is an enjoyable movie-themed mixtape.  Download it for free here, and listen below.

The Alchemist & Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q

Check out this excellent new jam from The Alchemist featuring the always delightful rapping of Danny Brown and Schoolboy Q.  Listen to "Flight Confirmation" below.

Shadow Shadow

Shadow Shadow is a new band from Sweden.  "Riviera" is their first song from an album due sometime in the future.  Think synth love songs played during the pinnacle scene from your older sister's favorite movie (we're 80's kids), but that you actually secretly like too.  Looking forward to some future output.  Listen below.

Beck at Third Man

With rumors abounding and circulating that Radiohead are doing a collaboration with Jack White (after dropping a hint of such at the band's Bonnaroo performance), the most likely product would be a 7" single on the excellent Blue Series.  While we all wait in nervous anticipation, take a listen to the A-side from May's Beck single, "I Just Started Hating Some People Today."  Bluesy, country punk!  Get it at Third Man Records.

Father John Misty

Okay, so maybe i disregarded the wonderful new album from former Fleet Foxes drummer J. Tillman, now recording under the moniker of Father John Misty because i was kind of done with the whole reverby-Appalachian-Beach Boys thing.  And maybe that's kind of snobby of me.  And maybe i just didn't realize that the "Fear Fun" LP is great foray into different styles of Americana and pop folk music, almost akin to the classic "Pacific Ocean Blue" album from former Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson.  The parallels are not lost on me.  Neither is the fact that the album is really good.  So there you have it.  I was wrong and shortsighted.  I can admit that.  Listen to "Nancy From Now On" below and grab the album from Sub Pop.

Holy Other

Holy Other is responsible for some of the best darkwave electro-jams out there.  In August, the debut full-length "Held" comes out from Tri-Angle.  This is total winter time music, but since some of my friends are getting snow where they're at right now (bastards), we'll take a gander.  Listen to "Love Some1" below and wallow in the moodiness of it all.

Frank Ocean

Odd Future's resident crooner Frank Ocean will be releasing his "Code Orange" LP later in the year.  Currently, you can check out the first cut from that album, "Pyramids," below.  Anytime someone can win me over with some R&B, it's testament to their talent.  (Rarely do i approve or concede to modern R&B music.  What can i say?  I'm kind of a snob.)

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti & Dam Funk

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti are readying their new album for a fall release, but in the meantime, take a listen to the sexy rendition of Donnie and Joe Emerson's "Baby" recorded with Dam Funk.  It's a slow jam for the ages.

Beta Frontiers

Get your proverbial analog-synthesizer rocks off with the latest jams from Toronto's Beta Frontiers.  Their self-titled EP is available here, but listen to "Defcon" below, and then watch the awesome lo-fi video for "Oceana" after that.  It's like entering the world of "Tron."

LTD

LTD is the synth-pop side project of Big Troubles' Alex Craig.  Craig and LTD have a 7" due out soon from New Images (run by Real Estate and Ducktails member Matt Mondanile), and the jams are perfect for that hot, summer day where we continue to relive our 80's obsessions.  (On a side note, i just watched all three "Back To The Future" movies, so i'm knee-deep in 80's revivalism mode right now!)

Listen to A-side "Your Must Be Dreaming" below.

Vatican Shadow

We love our dark and moody electro-atmospherics around these parts, so the latest 12" release from New York's Vatican Shadow, "September Cell," is perfect for our darkening, foreboding moods.  The music draws form minimalist synth/techno and industrial doom to craft the kind of jams Throbbing Gristle and the like would approve of.  In a word, it sound sinister.  Get it later in the month from Bed of Nails, and listen to "Cairo Is A Haunted City" below.

Ombre

Ombre is the collaborative project of label mates Helado Negro and vocal artist Julianna Barwick.  Their debut LP "Believe You Me" is due from Asthmatic Kitty in September.  In the meantime, to sate your appetites, take a listen to (and download) the beautiful, moody trance of "Cara Falsa" below.

Literature

Austin's Literature has all the jangly guitar garage rock you need to satiate your hunger for jangly guitar garage rock.  Listen to and download "Grifted" below and head over to the band's bandcamp page to sample and/or procure the rest of the "Arab Spring" LP.  Enjoy.

Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear are back!  Or, at least, they're back in September with a new as-of-yet untitled album from Warp.  In the meantime, listen to album opener "Sleeping Ute" below and check the track list as well.

01 Sleeping Ute
02 Speak in Rounds
03 Adelma
04 Yet Again
05 The Hunt
06 A Simple Answer
07 What's Wrong
08 gun-shy
09 Half Gate
10 Sun in Your Eyes

Television Keeps Us Apart

I don't know what's in the water in Sweden, but those cats have a penchant for crafting wonderful, 60's-vibed pop songs.  (Go back and listen to The Soundtrack of Our Lives' first three records.)  Stockholm's awesomely named Television Keeps Us Apart maintains the tradition with their "Death By Sister Five" single.  No word on a physical release date yet, but you can visit the band at facebook.  In the meantime, listen to the song and the B-side "Is It Really True" below.



 

Anasazi

Caught a pretty cool show from New York's Anasazi last night, a great mix of goth, punk rock, dark wave synth, and "Return of The Living Dead" style.  Fucking awesome.  Get a band T-shirt here, and listen to "Roses In The Dark" and "Burn Everything" below.

2nd Street Sound Check and Chaos in Tejas

A long, exciting day yesterday, featuring everything from brewery visits, to street festivals, to a Chaos in Tejas event.  I even found a new band i dig, Anasazi, a New York goth-punk-noise act, the perfect soundtrack to a goofy, 80's horror flick.  Hell yeah!  Here's some pics from the day:

Polica

Dangerous Boys Club

Rosenkopf

Anasazi

Kindest Lines

King Dude

Pop. 1280

Xeno & Oaklander

Iceage

Iceage

Ween breaks up

Apparently Ween has broken up.  That makes me sad.  Here's "Push th' Little Daisies."