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."

Dan Deacon

Baltimore's Day-glow-stick electric maestro Dan Deacon is readying his new album "America" for release in August from Domino.  Check out the track "Lots" below and get your strobe lights ready.