A Week at the Most

New Website...

2008-08-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

If you some how still happen to come here...please make your way over to the new A Week at the Most!

'Past Lives' sign to Suicide Squeeze

2008-08-05T23:30:00.001-07:00

Past Lives, consisting of Jordan Blilie, Morgan Henderson, and Mark Gajadhar all formally of The Blood Brothers, have signed with the ever so prosperous Suicide Squeeze Records and have joined the digital EP gang. Currently available at their official website as a 5 dollar download, Past Lives first release is an EP entitled Strange Symmetry. If you would rather wait to hold the record in your hands, Suicide Squeeze will release the 5 track album on November 5th.

If you know what's best for you you would buy both the digital download now and the record in November! Also make sure to check them out live at the following west coast dates:

08.09.08 Seattle, WA
@ Greenhouse w/ Talbot Tagora, Crocodiles, Capillary Action

08.30.08 Los Angeles, CA
@ F Yeah Fest w/ No Age, Mika Miko, Abe Vigoda, many more

08.31.08 San Diego, CA
@ Whistle Stop

09.01.08 San Diego, CA
@ Che Cafe w/ Crocodiles, Kill Me Tomorrow

09.02.08 Los Angeles, CA
@ The Smell w/ Protect Me

09.03.08 Oakland, CA
@ Heco's w/ Clipd Beaks, Casey & Brian, Religous Girls

09.04.08 San Francisco, CA
@ Hemlock Tavern w/ Clipd Beaks, Leyna Noel & The Finer Things

09.06.08 Portland, OR
@ Satyricon w/ Fucked Up, Crystal Antlers, Sex Vid, Street Plants

09.07.08 Seattle, WA
@ Neumo's w/ Dead Science

Fasciinatiion, the latest record from Omaha's 'The Faint' is now online for your streaming pleasure

2008-08-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

So ever since I mentioned the release of a new The Faint record, I know you have been dying to here it.

You have contemplated world destruction because the waiting was just too much. But wait. There is still time to change your mind.

To stop you from going through with it, the kids of The Faint have decided to give in and let you hear the record in its entirety at their Myspace page. That's right, those crazy new wave boys have put a stop to your untimely demise and instead warmed your heart and soul with solace.

Take a listen now, you zealot and make sure you buy Fasciinatiion for your very own on August 5th.

Debut 'Jaguar Love' video premieres

2008-08-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

You know you want to check out the first video from Jaguar Love's debut record Take Me To The Sea. What song did they shoot a video for, you ask? Well, 'Highways of Gold', silly.

I think the video is swell and so will you. Follow me to Matador Records now to feast your eyes on one purty video.

Don't forget Take Me To The Sea streets on August 19th.

Wanna catch them on tour? You better get on the ball cause it starts tomorrow with the fine folks from The Faint (and a few with Crystal Antlers too) -

8/2 - Redmond, WA - The Old Firehouse
8/3 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
8/5 - San Francisco, CA - Grand Ballroom
8/6 - Pomona, CA - Glass House
8/7 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
8/8 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction
8/9 - San Diego, CA - Soma
8/11 - Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
8/12 - Dallas, TX - Palladium
8/14 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
8/15 - Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle
8/16 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
8/17 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
8/19 - Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw
8/21 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
8/22 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
8/23 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium

The Shape of Things to Come

2008-07-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to take a minute of your time to break a few things down that should be happening in the not so distant future.

As I type, I am currently in the process of turning this thing into a full fledged website. Once all that is said and done look for A Week at the Most to expand to not only more music news and reviews but also some happenings in the film world.

Currently the fine folks at Benten Films who have brought to DVD such critically acclaimed indies as Quiet City, Dance Party, USA, LOL, The Guatemalan Handshake and the recently released German film The Free Will, have been gracious enough to help me move along with this journey. Look for a review of their upcoming release Team Picture here sometime in the coming month.

Don't forget that I will also be beginning two new feature here at A Week at the Most - "For Those You Missed" which will highlight an older release which I feel never reached its full potential of listeners and "Hello, My Name Is" which will introduce artists that lot of you may have never even heard of but really need to.

As always, hope you enjoy.

'These Arms are Snakes' and others to cover In Utero

2008-07-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

Please don't send hate mail my way, I am about to be honest. Nirvana was a bit overrated. There I said it. I will admit, however, that their '93 release In Utero was one hell of a record and the record label Robotic Empire must agree.

The label is currently in the process of gathering some great bands to give each track from the momumental release their own take on the bands musical sampling. So far the likes of These Arms are Snakes, Daughters, Young Widows, Meneguar, and Broken Social Scene are all on board with others yet to be announced.

Three of the four have already recorded their cuts with the kids from These Arms are Snakes confirming that they have tackled the highly successful "Heart Shaped Box."

Robotic Empire admits the release of the compilation is quite a while off with the rest of the publicly unrevealed bands still to hit the studio and lay down their tracks. More on this as things come to fruition.

In the meantime, if you wanna check out a cool older interview with These Arms are Snakes in which the cover record is discussed, check out Three Imaginary Girls.

'Your Enemies Friends' shoegaze into 'Seaspin'

2008-07-27T16:49:00.000-07:00

Your Enemies Friends is/was a rough and tough band from the heart of Los Angeles. Snotty vocals and organized chaos is/was at the core of this highly energetic band who signed with Buddyhead Records and released two records: the The Wiretap EP and the full length You Are Being Videotaped.

Between both records, the band went through a little bit of a transformation losing a few members but gaining a few others. One of the additions was new keyboardist and sometime singer, Jennifer Goodridge who took over the Dana James' spot as accompanying vocalist to frontman Ronnie Washburn. In the last few years, however, the band has been keeping it quiet with their one time official website now sending their fans to what seems like a Spanish casino.

Well, thankfully, Ronnie Washburn and Jennifer Goodridge is back with an entirely new project entitled Seaspin. Up until last week, the band had yet to leak any samplings of what to expect from the ex-Your Enemies Friends members aside from describing themselves as shoegazing.

Seaspin has now dropped a couple of tracks at their Myspace page and their sound definitely harks back to the late 80s/early 90s when bands like Yo La Tengo, Slowdive and the highly influential My Bloody Valentine paved the way for the genre of music know as shoegaze. Washburn this time around takes the back seat letting the female vocal stylings of Goodridge to take front and center.

Currently the band has yet to announce a record label but expect a EP to arrive shortly thereafter.

'Portastatic' 2-disc rarities record out September 9th

2008-07-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

Fans of Superchunk frontman Mac McCaughan's ongoing side project Portastatic can rejoice with the news of a rarities collection coming September 9th.

Merge Records will release Some Small History, a 2-disc collection from Portastatic featuring b-sides, rarities, EP tracks, compilation cuts, covers, and anything else McCaughan recorded from 1990 to 2007 which may have not made its way on one of his official releases.

For a complete track list of the 44 song album click on over to the Merge Records now.

Wanna hear the new 'Conor Oberst' solo record?

2008-07-25T08:43:00.001-07:00

If you wanna get a taste of the Conor Oberst first record as a solo artist, make your way over to his official websit e.

That is right, my friends, the entire album is available to stream as of right now. The album was complete with the help of the Mystic Valley Band which translates pretty much to all his musician friends that have worked with him on most the previous Bright Eyes recordings.

The record is a gentle little piece which will please fans of his music and could we be arguably some of his finest work since the 2002 Bright Eyes release Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground. Judge for yourself and take a listen now.

Don't forget, the record hits stores August 5th from Merge Records.

Panthers split becomes official

2008-07-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Today comes news straight from the source concerning the possible breakup of the legendary Brooklyn band Panthers.

Guitarist Justin Chearno was kind enough to shine some light on the subject. Sadly the Panthers have indeed called it quits. The split was apparently on good terms and all members felt it was time to move on to other ventures.

Singer Jayson Green has formed Violent Bullshit and has been playing some shows in New York recently. By the sounds of some early recordings, it seems like he is back to the hardcore stylings of his previous band the epic Orchid.

Bassist Geoff Garlock has continued writing sketch comedy while Chearno, himself, hopes to get the ball rolling soon on another record from his amazing band Turing Machine. When asked about a third record from the math rock trio, he informed me that work is indeed in motion but may not be ready for release until possibly the fall of 2009.

New 'Sea Wolf' track found on audio book of latest work from author Augusten Burroughs

2008-07-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

It must be the week for music news to sneak on by me undetected. Sea Wolf, a brilliant musician who last year released both an EP (Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low) and a full length (Leaves in the River) on Dangerbird Records, has released yet another taste of his medicine . If you have been craving more from the man, like I have, look no further than the audio book for the latest memoir from writer Augusten Burroughs entitled A Wolf at the Table. The new track 'Song of the Magpie' is more of the same of what we have come to love from Sea Wolf. Also on the disc is new music from Patti Smith, Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara, and Ingrid Michaelson. All of the cuts can currently be streamed at the author's official website.

'The Swell Season' to come to the US in September

2008-07-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

By now, a decent about of people are familiar with the work of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

Hansard is the frontman for the band The Frames and also recorded music with Irglova for the indie hit "Once" that one them both an Academy Award earlier this year for Best Song.

For the last two years, the duo has been playing together as The Swell Season, even releasing a record in April 2006.

They seem to have been touring non-stop for quite some time now and will once again make their way to the US in September. The planned tour is as follows:

Sept 17th New York, NY Rumsey Playfield
Sept 19th Boston, MA Agganis Arena
Sept 20th Toronto, Ontario Massey Hall
Sept 21st Pittsburgh, PA Byham Theatre
Sept 22nd Columbus, OH Palace Theatre
Sept 24th Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
Sept 27th Austin, TX Austin City Limits Festival
Sept 29th Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
Sept 30th Albuquerque, NM Popejoy Hall
Oct 2nd Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
Oct 3rd San Diego, CA Open Air Theatre
Oct 4rd Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

'Foals' spend some quality time at Daytrotter

2008-07-19T15:53:00.001-07:00

Really have no idea how this one snuck on by me, but indeed it had. Back in June, Daytrotter did a session with Oxford’s own Foals. During this little gathering, the band recorded three tracks from their album Antidotes ( 'Heavy Water’, ‘Red Socks Pugie’ and ‘Electric Bloom’) along with two unreleased songs - ‘Jam (Figure #3)’ and ‘Humanate ( Jam Figure #5)’ not found anywhere else. Do yourself one hell of a favor and take a listen now.

Former 'Braid' frontman, Robert Nanna, creates weekly recordings for Threadless website

2008-07-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

In a killer move, Robert Nanna the man who has graced our presence as the singer for such bands as Braid, Hey Mercedes, and most recently The City on Film now contributes mini-songs for a t-shirt website entitled Threadless. On a weekly basis, Nanna records between 4 to 10 short songs most of the time running no longer than 2 minutes in length that can heard on the site.

Each song, as far as I can tell, is inspired by a t-shirt design sold at the website. Quite an act of genius if you ask me. Currently the list of mini-songs totals more than 175 tracks.

Take a listen now and put a smile back on your face.

A plethora of indie musicians collabrate on 'Telephono'

2008-07-18T08:49:00.001-07:00

Following in the footsteps of coast to coast projects like The Postal Service and Hot Snakes, the latest music collabration comes in the form of Telephono. While both of the above projects were actual bands, Telephono is more of an musical experiment, however, using the same technique of recording. One artist may set down a vocal track, while another may add his/her little trademark to the song. They are never recording anything together instead the material is sent from one artist to another like a game of telephone.

Coyote Bones frontman David Matysiak lead the way by gathering such artists as Robert Nanna (Braid/Hey Mercedes), Tim Kasher (Cursive), Mike Kinsella (Joan of Arc/Owen), Jason Lowenstein (Sebadoh), Dapose (The Faint/VVerevvolf Grehv) and Clark Baechle (The Faint) among others to create a truely new sound for Telephono.

Over a period of 6 months 10 songs were created by a hybrid of 50 musicians and a box set of all the music is currently available through the Telephono website. Included in the set is 5 unique 7" records with handcrafted, screened, and hand numbered art and packaging along with a supplemental cd of the songs found on the box set, as well as rarities, unreleased tracks and new Telephono songs for the public to work on themselves and share among one another.

Thanks to Pitchfork for this exciting news!

Review: Jaguar Love's Take Me to the Sea

2008-07-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

I figured one of the most promising bands of the last year deserved a standalone review so suffice to say I gave in. The creation of Jaguar Love is a bit of a dream project for me, honestly.

Singer Johnny Whitney and guitarist Cody Votolato as you all may know by now came from the now-defunct band The Blood Brothers. I had been an avid follower of the band since their 2000 debut This Adultery is Ripe. The remaining band member Jay Clark not only played guitar in Pretty Girls Make Graves but also for two short lived bands which I also insanely admired Sharks Keep Moving and Killsadie. So to say this project had a bit of history behind its origin, well, that would be an understatement.

I'm not going to lie I always favored Jordan's vocals over Johnny when it came to choosing sides in the days of The Blood Brothers dueling vocals but man does Johnny paving the way for Jaguar Love kick it hardcore. Really, this band has some great potential to become an exceptional band. I was highly impressed with the earlier released three song Jaguar Love EP and their full length Take Me to the Sea does not disappoint.

From the very start the record gets slammin' with the catchy combo 'Highways of Gold and 'Bats Over the Pacific Ocean' before slowing it down a bit with one of my personal favorites 'Georgia.' The highlight of the disc, however, comes 7 songs in with 'Antoine And Birdskull' which is just simply amazing and will remind you a lot of the greatest moments of The Blood Brothers. The album nicely comes to a close with the mellower EP track 'My Organ Sounds Like...' which honestly could not have been a better song to finish things off.

Take Me to the Sea streets August 19th from Matador Records. Do me one simple favor. When the time comes run don't walk to your nearest music store, that is, if you are smart enough to know what great music is.

From the ashes of indie past comes 'House & Parish'

2008-07-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

If you were around during the heyday of indie rock the names Jason Gnewikow and Scott Winegard should sound relatively familiar. Gnewikow used to play guitar for The Promise Ring while Winegard was the bassist for Texas is the Reason. In case you were wondering what the hell they are doing now, I have an answer for you. They joined up with ex-The Gloria Record drummer Brian Malone and singer John Herguth to form House and Parish. The band, which calls Brooklyn home, has been on the up and up since their debut EP One, One-Thousand hit shelves late last year with the help of Arena Rock Recordings. House and Parish has created a sound all their own, choosing wisely not to harp back on similar territory of their past efforts.

Back in April of this year, the band reported that they planned to distribute 3 self-released singles featuring bonus tracks and covers, however, as of yet nothing has come to fruition. According to their label's website the band has decided to take a little break. We can only hope this "break" does not last very long.

Dischord Records' entire catalog now available online in digital download form

2008-07-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

The house that Fugazi built, Dischord Records, has released their entire catalog for your downloading pleasure. Individual songs can be downloaded by purchasing digital credits, which contain 15 downloads for only $10. Complete releases can also be downloaded for three separate prices: Full length albums for $7, Maxi-albums for $8, and EPs for $4. Free MP3 downloads of albums will also be available with the purchase of each LP release.

Hot Damn! Saddle Creek signs Sebastien Grainger

2008-07-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Just got an email from Saddle Creek on the signing of Sebastien Grainger. Today also brings the official release of the digital EP on US iTunes. The digital EP can also be found straight from the Saddle Creek Store. Expect Grainger's first full length record in October courtesy of Saddle Creek Records.

'Bloc Party' releases brand spankin' new single

2008-07-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

In a strange turn of events, Bloc Party has released a new single which is not from their current album A Weekend in the City which leads everyone to believe that it may be from a yet to be announced third album. The track entitled 'Mercury' is a very slick very electronic tune, which is sure to please fans of the last record. The official Bloc Party website has even released a video for the song along with the opportunity to buy a limited edition single set which contains not only a cd single but also a 12 inch and a 7 inch. The set is filled mostly with remixes of 'Mercury' with the bonus track 'Idea For A Story' exclusively found on the 7 inch.

You can pick up this fancy little package on August 11th for just 8 UK Pounds which translates roughly to about 16 US dollars.

'Randy' may head back to the studio soon

2008-07-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

Those crazy Swedes from Stockholm known the world over as Randy may finally be back with a new record soon. Have they recorded anything yet, hell no. But they have been writing some new material here and there and have even played one or two of them live recently. On their official website they remark that they hope to make their way into the studio in the coming months to record a solid 14 tracks or so for the new record. I would bank more on an early 2009 release which would put it a good 4 years since the release of their last record, Randy the Band. Hopefully Pelle Gunnerfeldt, producer extraordinaire and member of the amazing Fireside, will be back behind the boards for yet another album.

Things to look forward to in the coming week...

2008-07-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

As I move closer to creating a full fledged website out of A Week at the Most, there are two features I want to bring to the the forefront.

One will be a weekly post on a unsung possibly little known record from the past decade or so. One of those great records which is unfortunately gone and buried and may have not received as much exposure has it deserved.

I also want to make an effort to dig up a new up and coming band which may be completely new to not only myself but also my readers. I will strive to make these two new additions a reality within the next week or so. I hope you enjoy.

Also look for another set of music reviews coming to you hopefully by weeks end.

MGMT shoot for Summer '09 for next record

2008-07-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

That's right folks, those crazy New York kids known as MGMT are hoping to make their way back into the studio in January of next year to record the follow up to their brilliant 2007 release Oracular Spectacular. Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, the duo that makes up MGMT, are banking that final recording for the new album will be completed in time for a Summer '09 release. Many thanks to Drowned in Sound for breaking this exciting news.

Also of note is a small 8 show US tour with a larger North American trek planned for the Fall. The Summer dates are as followed:

Jul 23rd & 24th - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
Jul 25th - Starlight Ballroom - Philadelphia, PA
Jul 27th - McCarren Park Pool Party - Brooklyn, NY
Jul 28th - 9:30 Club - Washington DC
Jul 29th - The National - Richmond, VA
Aug 1st - Double Door - Chicago, IL
Aug 2nd - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL

Update on the 'Sebastien Grainger' digital EP

2008-07-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

Sad news here on the US front. It seems that the Sebastien Grainger digital EP of American Names that I discussed awhile back is a iTunes Canada release only. Even more depressing, I discovered more on what would be included on the exclusive release. While the 7 inch contains the tracks 'American Names' and 'Ways to Come Home', the digital EP features two more tracks: 'Map of the World' and 'Epilogue'. As mentioned previously the 7 inch is currently available now at Outside Music.

UPDATE * Sebastien was awesome enough to post a comment informing me that the EP will actually be available on US iTunes in the next few weeks. I, for one, can not wait!

Life after JR Ewing emerges in 'Altaar' and others

2008-07-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

Ask and ye shall find. I did a little soul searching and discovered their has definitely been life after the break up of the great Norway band JR Ewing. Former JR Ewing frontman Andreas Tylden also has a band currently on the horizon called Altaar which seems to be strictly instrumental. The band tests the waters of your typical metal band but still manages to bring something unique and original to the table. Guitarist Erlend Mokkelbost has not only joined forces with a metal band entitled Killl but has also collaborated on a more mellow project called Montée. Drummer Kenneth Lamond has also shed his talents for a pet project of Harald Froland, formally of Jaga Jazzist fame, which he calls Black Feather. A beautiful little creation, Black Feather contains collaborations with other guests of the Norway music scene but most of the instruments are played by Froland himself.

Matador Records leaks new 'Mogwai' track

2008-07-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

The fine folks at Matador Records have let the world in on a new tune from UK legends Mogwai from their upcoming record the September 23rd release The Hawk is Howling. Entitled The Sun Smells Too Loud, the track is a nice mix of what we have come to expect from the established band. Don't forget the band will also drop the Batcat EP on September 9th featuring two exclusive tracks.

The band will also start a US tour in September as follows:

September 2008 :

3-Portland, OR @ Music Fest NW (Mogwai headlining)

4-Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo

5-Victoria, BC @ Element

6-Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom

8-San Francisco, CA @ The Grand Ballroom

9-Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre

10-Tucson, AZ @ The Rialto

12-Austin, TX @ Stubb's

13-Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater

15-Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse

16-Richmond, VA @ The National

17-Washington DC @ 9:30 Club

18-New York, NY @ Terminal 5

19-Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom

21-Monticello, NY @ ATP Festival

22-Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theatre

23-Montreal, QC @ Metropolis

24-Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus

25-Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot

26-Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater

27-Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue

Minus the Bear on Jimmy Kimmel Live in July; Daytrotter releases four recordings

2008-07-03T08:57:00.001-07:00

Since their 2001 debut release, This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic, the band Minus the Bear have been on the rise with each and every release. Now the band is set to make their late night talk show premiere with an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on July 18th. The band will be performing their new single 'Throwin' Shapes' from 2007's Planet of Ice. Minus the Bear have also performed four tracks found from Planet of Ice for Daytrotter. If you remember a few weeks back I introduced you all to this website which released two new tracks from Cursive. The session which includes the tracks 'Knights', 'Ice Monster', 'Part 2', and 'Throwin' Shapes' are all curently audible for you now.

Gravestone of famed singer 'Ian Curtis' missing

2008-07-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

Some disturbing news came in from England yesterday. The gravestone of Ian Curtis, singer of the famed band Joy Division, was stolen from his final resting place at the Macclesfield Cemetery on Tuesday morning. Even more disheartening is the fact that authorities have no idea of who may have been involved. The tombstone was simple but perfectly fitting for the legendary vocalist. It contained his name on the first column, the date of his passing on the second, and the infamous words "Love Will Tear Us Apart" inscribed on the bottom. We can only hope that Macclesfield, England bonds as one to find those responsible for this heinous crime.

Is there a Conor Oberst/M. Ward/Jim James mystery project in the making?

2008-07-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

So what exactly does Conor Oberst, M. Ward, and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James have up their sleeves. Wouldn't we like to know? Unfortunately not much is know at this time. Pitchfork broke the news that in a recent Rolling Stones article on My Morning Jacket the famed magazine mentions that the trio are all collaborating on a LP together. Conor and M. Ward have worked together in the past so throwing James in the mix should always had to something really special. More on this as word comes through on the project.

Zack de la Rocha resurfaces as 'One Day as a Lion'

2008-07-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what happen to Zack de la Rocha ex-frontman of Rage Against the Machine? Over the last 7 + years he has worked with such artists as varied as DJ Shadow and Trent Reznor to try to nail down what he really wanted his sound to feel like. Last Year, he joined forces with former Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore to create what would be come his first solid release as a solo artist. The result goes by the name of One Day as a Lion and will hit stores July 22nd courtesy of Anti Records. The UK music magazine NME has stated that the new project sounds like a mix between Led Zeppelin and Dr. Dre.

'The Photo Atlas' to record new album in July

2008-06-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

For those out there who have never heard of The Photo Atlas, let me fill you in with a quick breakdown. Formed in 2006 the Denver native band released their first full length record in 2007. Imagine if At the Drive In was still around and was still creating organized chaos, then throw in a dab of Fugazi, and you will have a better idea of the direction The Photo Atlas is headed in. I found thier album No, No, Never to be one of the best records of 2007 and feel they really have something going for them. As of right now, the band are writing a handful of new tunes and plan on playing a few in their next few upcoming live shows before heading back to the studio to lay down some tracks at the end of July. They have even leaked out a new cut in the last month or so entitled 'Class of 99' which can be heard here.

Wondering where the hell the new 'International Noise Conspiracy' record is? Yeah, me too.

2008-06-29T13:59:00.000-07:00

The International Noise Conspiracy has been pretty quiet these days. Their last record, Armed Love, was released way back in 2004 and was a bit of a step back for many. Not that it was a bad album, it is just the simple fact that the previous efforts were just so damn great. Talk of a new record date back to 2006 and recording was done sometime in 2007. Coined The Cross of My Calling, the new record was awaiting final word from producer Rick Rubin and his label American Recordings. Flash to half way through 2008 and still no word on when the record will hit the shelves.

For now fans may want to savor on TINC's lead singer, Dennis Lyxzen's long running side project, which has gone through a bit of a change as of late. Newly named and linguistically changed, the band was originally known as The Lost Patrol, then The Lost Patrol Band, and now Invasionen (which translates to The Invasion). They also now sing in Lyxyen's native language, Swedish. After a bit of a lawsuit problem with an American band of the same name, the former Refused vocalist decided to go in an entirely different direction with his newly redesigned. Three demo tracks from Invasionen can now be found here for your sensory pleasures. In my opinion, the Swedish lyrics and the more rockin' sound gives the band a whole new feel.

Ex-'Elliott' vocalist evolves into 'Frontier(s)'

2008-06-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what happen to the band Elliott which seemed to break up sometime in 2003? Their 2000 release False Catherdrals was considered by many as a musical masterpiece. In 2003 they released Songs in the Air, their last record as a band. Two years later the band even released the record Photorecording packaged with a DVD containing a documented journey of their final US tour. Then like that, they were gone. Singer Chris which was full of b-sides, lives tracks, demos convenientlyHigdon decided to focus on a photography business with his wife for the last few years...until now. Chris has officially returned to the world of music with a brand new band called Frontier(s). While they are still trying to develop as band, they have been testing some tunes with a live show here and there in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky for a little while now. They have also created a myspace page, which unfortunately does not at the moment containing any musical samplings. Stay tuned for more info on the band as things began to materialize.

Members of 'Small Brown Bike' and 'The Casket Lottery' create spawn in the form of 'Able Baker Fox'

2008-06-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, two of the most unique and influential bands of the late 90s post hardcore scene was Small Brown Bike and The Casket Lottery. Nathan Ellis, singer of The Casket Lottery, sometimes drew comparisons to the early sounds of The Get Up Kids (were talking during their Four Minute Mile and Red Letter Days era) but I really felt he had more of a raw sound to him. Small Brown Bike, on the other hand, rose to excellence with No Idea Records release of Dead Reckoning which really showed off the potential the band held. That very record ironically was their first collaboration with Ellis and the two bands would eventually record a split album together in 2002. Sadly, Small Brown Bike called it quits two years later while The Casket Lottery broke up and reformed countless times until an indefinite hiatus in 2006.

This is where Able Baker Fox truly began. Nathan Ellis officially hooked up with with Small Brown Bike vocal duel Matt and Ben Reed, who also brought along their former drummer Jeff Gensterblum to complete the band. After writing some killer tunes they recorded an 11 track album with master producer Ed Rose at the boards last year and Second Nature Recordings finally released the record in January 2008. Entitled simply Voices, the record is bound to gain an even bigger following than the two previous bands combined. To yourself a favor now and make your way over to Second Nature Recordings to hear some tunes or even buy the record!

Have the Panthers quietly called it quits?

2008-06-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn's own Panthers have been very quiet as of late with their last contact to their fanbase being a picture posted on their official website in February of this year. The image is of a long hall which has come to an end. Has this amazing band who released their last record The Trick in 2007 finally decided to disband or is it just simply a way for vocalist Jayson Green to get Panthers supporters all wound up? I will do my best to keep on any information and truth to this theory. Could it be that they are at an end with their music stylings and plan to evolve yet again. Lets hope I simply have just jumped to conclusion and our loving Panthers are still rockin'!

Envy/Jesu split tracklist and tentative cover art

2008-06-23T17:42:00.001-07:00

Aaron Turner founder of Hydrahead Records, vocalist for the band Isis, and bonafide graphic designer, revealed on his blog the complete track listing for their upcoming release of the split album from Japan's Envy and the UK's Jesu. Envy will contribute three songs (Conclusion of Existence, A Winter Quest for Fantasy, Life Caught in the Rain) while Jesu will record only two tracks (Hard to Reach, The Stars that Hang Above You). He also leaked a little taste of what the artwork may look like for the record. This is not Turner's first step at cover art, design. He has worked on a plethora of album covers for the likes of such artists as Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Cave In.

Music Reviews O' Plenty...well, three at least

2008-06-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Be Your Own Pet - Get Damaged EP
Okay, so I have to admit something. I never knew what these guys sounded like and never really cared. I always saw their stuff at the record store but had no idea what they were all about. Their latest EP was sent my way courtesy of Ecstatic Peace so I figured I would give it a listen. Hell, the thing only contains 3 tracks so what could it hurt. The band, made up of musicians in their late teenage years/early twenties, takes a stab at the modern day punk scene and are definitely a pleasure to listen, at least, judging by this EP. The first track, 'Becky' is just downright hilarious. A hysterical ode to teenage friendships, the track modes will with the other two tunes - the catchy 'Black Hole' and the too short 'Blow Yr Mind'. While a bit silly at times, yeah, but if you dig female singers you really should give this band a listen.

Reggie and the Full Effect - Last Stop: Crappy Town
My opinion of Reggie and the Full Effect goes way back. In the early days of Vagrant Records, when The Get Up Kids had just released Something to Write Home About, I discovered the first evolution of Reggie. A side project created by TGUK keyboardist, James Dewees and singer Matt Pryor, the band released its first record entitled Greatest Hits 1984-1987 on Second Nature Recordings swapping vocals from track to track. A gimmick band created to sprout off some great ridiculously catchy (not to mention silly) songs that would never end up on an album from their day job, The Get Up Kids. The follow-up released by Vagrant a little while later,now containing simply Dewees, was equally as satisfying but felt it was missing something. I can't honestly comment on the two records that followed because I lost a bit of interest in his search for self-parody. The latest record Last Stop : Crappy Town, though seems more highly influenced by Dewees past band Coalesce. He rotates from singing to screaming throughout the entire album. Sadly while the record contains quite abit of originality I could never complete get into it. The track 'N train' is the highlight of the album and really grabs hold of my interest and doesn't let go. Unfortunately, it is also the last track and is a little too late. The album is also a bit of a risk with some reviews bound to rename it "Last Stop: Crappy Album." While not that bad, I must say it still was a bit of a disappointment.

Foals - Antidotes
Fortunately, for me, my week of listening to new material did pay off. Once again, and band named Foals, came my to me by way of Sub Pop Records entitled Antidotes with little to no knowledge of the band previously. All I knew of them was that they were Dance Rock which could easily vary from true greatness (like The Faint and The Washdown), to the entertaining (Moving Units), to the over-hyped (The Rapture), to the downright bad (I will refrain from any names in hopes of not hurting anybody's feelings). After listening to the American debut record from the Foals, they can definitely be moved to the top of the list. This album is a utter joy to listen to. Hailing from Oxford, England the band destroys from the very first track. Highlights on the record are by far 'Cassius', 'Two Steps, Twice', 'Tron', and the bonus track 'Mathletics.' The only minor misstep on the entire album is 'Heavy Water' which goes on a bit too long and attempts to veer off into too many directions. Overall , however, Anidotes is an incredible album which openly proclaims its math rock roots. Amazing!

I will return soon with more exciting reviews. Still ahead is my review of the latest from Joan of Arc called Boo! Human. Stay tuned.

First Few Reviews Coming Soon...Promise!

2008-06-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

So I have been slacking on my reviews and I promise a handful will be posted by weeks end. In the next few days look for a review of the latest EP from Be Your Own Pet, the new full length from Reggie and the Full Effect, Joan of Arc's Boo Human, the latest release from Sub Pop recording artist Foals, and possibly a few more. Please make an effort to meet me back here in a few days...

Cursive working towards developing new record

2008-06-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

C to the U to R to the S to the I-V-E. You really gotta love these guys. Their last two records, in particular, are just downright amazing. They are currently back in the studio recording close to 15 tracks with about 10-12 making the final cut. Two candidates, which may or may not wind up on the final recordings, can currently be found at a website titled Daytrotter Radio. Available for both download or simply a streaming listen are the tracks 'Let Me Up' and 'Donkeys' both of which seem like a bit of a departure from the material found on both Happy Hallow and The Ugly Organ. To make up your own mind on what direction Cursive is heading, check out the new material now exclusively at Daytrotter Radio.

Conor Oberst unveils cover art and tour

2008-06-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

Mr. Bright Eyes has finally revealed the cover of his first solo album simply titled Conor Oberst. Planned for release on Merge Records on August 5th, the 12 track record is sure to be somewhat a departure from other side projects in the past. A world tour begins on July 15th and runs all the way through to October 5th. From late July through the middle of August, Conor Oberst will arrive in the US for 10+ shows. Below are the following spots he is set to play:

07-30 Seattle, WA - Neumos

07-31 Bend, OR - Midtown Ballroom

08-01 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill

08-02 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill

08-03 Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre

08-05 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour

08-08 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge

08-09 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle

08-10 Norfolk, VA - The NorVa

08-11 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero

08-12 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

08-17 Saratoga, NY - Saratoga Music Festival

Rick Froberg of Drive Like Jehu/Hot Snakes fame forms new group Obits

2008-06-17T19:23:00.000-07:00

Rick Froberg, singer of Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes, has finally gotten the ball rolling on his new project aptly titled Obits. The band, whose origins have dated as far back as 2006, played its first live show this past January, have decided to hit the road with a few scattered shows between late June and August presumably to test out tracks for their debut album. While no official word has yet to be announced about their choice of distribution, one can assume long time friend of Froberg, John Reis will more than likely release the record on his own Swami Records.

The Faint reappears sans Saddle Creek; Band creates new label and sets tour with 'Jaguar Love'

2008-06-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

So if you're like me, you are probably wondering, where the hell have The Faint gone. Well an answer comes in the form of both good news and bad news. Let's start with the bad news first. The Faint has officially left the great Saddle Creek, which has been their friend and label for all of their existence (unless you count the Norman Bailer days). The good news, however, is that they have branched out on their own and plan to release a new record on their very own brand spankin' new label Blank.wav.

More good news. The band is set to release their next record, Fasciinatiion, on August 5th courtesy of Blank.wav. They also plan on touring the US in late July and August with Jaguar Love. Their tour thus far, with a date or two yet to be added, is as follows:

07.29.08 - Denver CO - Ogden Theatre
07.30.08 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
08.01.08 - Vancouver BC - The Commodore
08.02.08 - Portland OR - Crystal Ballroom
08.07.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
08.09.08 - San Diego, CA - Soma
08.11.08 - Austin TX - La Zona Rosa
08.12.08 - Dallas TX - The Palladium
08.14.08 - Atlanta GA - Variety Playhouse
08.15.08 - Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle
08.16.08 - Washington DC - 930 Club
08.17.08 - Philadelphia PA - Trocodero
08.20.08 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
08.21.08 - Toronto, Ontario - Opera House
08.22.08 - Chicago IL - Vic Theatre
08.23.08 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium

Kurt Halsey, Philly, and Reviews abound

2008-06-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

So I am off to Philadelphia for 4 days to check out an art show of my favorite modern starving artist, Kurt Halsey. His art work is so comforting to me. I love it to death. Fear not I will be back online soon to bring you some more music news and my first set of reviews. Look for a review of the latest from Joan of Arc entitled Boo! Human courtesy of Polyvinyl Records as well as one of Vagrant Records release of the Reggie and the Full Effect album Last Stop: Crappy Town.

Big thanks to Sub Pop, Saddle Creek, Polyvinyl, and Vagrant for helping a poor music fascist get his blog off the crowd in a proper fashion.

Andreas Tylden, of JR Ewing fame, shows acting chops in newly released 'Reprise'

2008-06-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

If you caught ex-JR Ewing singer Andreas Tylden in the Norwegian film Reprise, which is currently making its limited US run, then you have some good eyes. If you have yet to see this charming little gem which contains shades of the great films of the French New Wave, Andreas plays a minor role as a character named Rune who is ironically what else - a musician. Please, make an effort to catch the film you will not be disappointed.

Unfortunately, a post-JR Ewing music project has yet to be announced by any of the members of this legendary band. In several articles and interviews since their split two years ago, Andreas had mentioned that he was planning to continue playing music but also wanted to return and finish school. Here's hoping school is nearly complete so that Andreas can get back to music where he belongs.

New record from Mogwai titled 'Hawk is Howling' expected in September

2008-06-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Seems to be a good year for follow up records. Word on the street is that UK's Mogwai will hit the shelves this September 23nd with their new album entitled The Hawk is Howling. In the US, the record will be released by Matador Records who is also responsible for their last 4 albums.

Before 2006's Mr. Beast, I thought the band had hit their peak with the 2001 release Rock Action. However, Mr. Beast was a true work of art. Just quite simply a beautiful record. I should expect nothing less from The Hawk is Howling.

To whet your appetite right before the album, Mogwai will be also release a 3 track EP in the UK and Canada two weeks prior to the full length release. which contains to non-album tracks. With a track called Stupid Prick Gets Chased By The Police And Loses His Slut Girlfriend, honestly, how can you pass it up.

Former 'Planes Mistaken for Stars' frontman, Gared O'Donnell forms 'Hawks and Doves'

2008-06-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

I must admit I was pretty floored when the boys of Planes Mistaken for Stars decided to call it quits early this year. I have always been a huge fan of the band and thought their past two records were pure works of genius. I honestly didn't believe they could rise above No Idea's release of Up In Them Guts in 2004 but what was to become their last record Mercy, just simply blew me away. The thing was simply put their masterpiece.

Sometimes bands break up and become teachers or something (cough...Blake Schwarzenbach...cough) while others continue to rock on, which is what PMFS singer Gared O'Donnell plans to do. After relocating to Illnois, Gared began work on what would become Hawks and Doves, whose name I assume comes as a tribute to the classic Neil Young record.

As with most new beginnings, Gared is currently mixing some tracks which will eventually end up on a 7 inch to be released by good ol' standby No Idea Records. The two definite cuts for the record as of right now are Glass Owls and Hush Money. A few other tracks in various stages of creation, including what I believe is the final version of Hush Money, can be heard now at his Hawks and Doves page.

Jaguar Love, featuring ex 'Pretty Girls' and 'Blood Brothers', set EP/full length with indie giant Matador

2008-06-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Unless you have been under a rock this past year, you probably already know that The Blood Brothers split up confidently breaking vocalists Jordan Billie and Johnny Whitney into two separate bands. Jordan formed Past Lives with Mark Gajadhar and Morgan Henderson while Johnny went off with Cody Votolato and created Jaguar Love with ex Pretty Girls Make Graves/Killsadie (and personally favorite musician of mine) Jay Clark.

While Past Lives have yet to officially announce a record label for their already recorded EP, Jaguar Love have set their sights on legendary Matador Records with both a EP and full length record in the pipeline. The 3 track EP drops tomorrow June 3rd while their first full length, Take Me To The Sea, streets August 19th. If you can't wait until tomorrow or simply are not cool enough to have a record store around that carries good music, make your way over to Matador's Jaguar Love page now and hear yourself a sampling of the track Bats Over the Pacific Ocean now!

For more tuneage of both Past Lives and Jaguar Love, including to official cuts from Take Me to the Sea, don't forget to also hit up their myspace pages.

ex-DFA Sebastien Grainger releases 7 inch/digital ep

2008-06-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

I will just come out and say it - Sebastien Grainger is the shit. One half of the defunct Death From Above (I refuse to use the tagged on 1979) has been doing alot of solo tracks since the bands split. The man has released nearly an album's full of tracks online but has finally set his sights on something you can carry around with you every where you go... a lovely little 7 inch. Yep, that is a picture of it above. Looks like a beauty doesn't it.

Also available is apparently a digital downloadable EP. Unfortunately at the moment i can not decipher whether or not the 7 inch and the digital EP are actually one in the same. Sebastien's own website hosts a link to the distributor Outside-Music which is currently selling copies of the brand-spankin-new 7 inch.

These Arms Are Snakes switch to Suicide Squeeze; band plans for an October record release...hopefully

2008-06-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

I have been a fan of These Arms Are Snakes since their creation. My love for these boys go way back. Vocalist Steve Snere used to sing in Killsadie, a short lived band from the late 90s which in my opinion was one of the most gnarly bands ever to exist. An early formation of the band included Erin Tate the incredible drummer of both Killsadie and more recently Minus the Bear fame.

Previously of Jade Tree, the band is now set to release their follow up to Easter on Seattle's Suicide Squeeze, coincidentally the same home of Minus the Bear and Russian Circles (who even borrowed These Arms Are Snakes' Brian Cook for their latest record Station). Isn't that cute how everything comes together.

Anyways, the new record was all ready to street October 7th but according to a recent post on their myspace page, the damn test subjects for the new album have not been to favorable to what they have heard. I suppose all we can do is cross our fingers and hope they come to their senses and release the puppy on schedule.

RFTC's John Reis is back with 'Night Marchers'

2008-06-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

So this one nearly got past me last month so I figure I would let everyone else no just unless it may have slipped passed you too. The man of the century John Reis of Rocket From The Crypt/Hot Snakes/Drive Like Jehu (and numerous others) fame has formed yet another modern masterpiece with his latest band The Night Marchers. After both the break up of both Rocket From The Crypt and Hot Snakes in the last two years many had believed that maybe John Reis has given up on rockin' and rollin'. Not the case.

Vagrant dropped the first record of The Night Marchers on April 22nd and the monsters begins where RFTC left all. Mostly composed of members of his two previous bands anyways, the band has set out to take over the nation and conquer it with the use of good ol' fashion rock'n'roll. Take a listen for yourself now at their myspace page which samples a little taste of what See You in Magic has to offer. If you don't enjoy what you hear, try cleaning out your ears.

Built to Spill set tour and follow-up to 'Reverse'

2008-05-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

Okay so the new album is a while off but according to Billboard, the one and only Built to Spill is beginning to prep for a Spring of 2009 release of their next record on Warner Bros. I for one thought that their last offering You in Reverse was by far one of the best records of 2006. A handful of songs have been record and have even been tested out live from time to time to get a feel for how well they will work.

The band has also set up a future tour but not two test out more songs. Instead the new tour will be a chance for Built to Spill to play their 1997 album Perfect From Now On in its entirely. They have even decided to bring along the record's cellist cellist John McMahon to recreate the experience.

While this move seems a bit odd I think it will be a great chance for admirers of the band and the album to bring a classic record to life. While the tour will unfortunately not bring Built to Spill near my neck of the woods, it will at least reach both coasts within a one months time. The dates and venues are has follows:

09.08.08 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s
09.09.08 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s
09.10.08 - Hollywood, CA - Troubadour West
09.11.08 - Hollywood, CA - Troubadour West
09.12.08 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy and Harriet’s
09.17.08 - New Haven, CT - Toad’s Place
09.18.08 - Northampton, MA - Calvin Theater
09.19.08 - Monticello, NY - All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival
09.20.08 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero
09.21.08 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero
09.22.08 - Richmond, VA - The National
09.23.08 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
09.24.08 - Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head Live
09.25.08 - New York, NY - Terminal 5

09.26.08 - New York, NY - Terminal 5

09.27.08 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre

Envy to release two split records by Oct. 08

2008-05-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

So if you have yet to hear Envy then you suck at life. Envy is an amazing band from Japan that has been only grown more insanely fantastic over the years. Their latest release the EP entitled Abyssal was release late last year in Japan on their own Sonzai Records and in the US earlier this year on the great Temporary Residence. With only 4 songs, the record is more complex and layered than some albums 4 times its length. Please do yourself a favor and buy it right this instant.

Now on with the news. The band has announced that they will not only release one but two split records. The first which is set to hit Japanese shelves on July 11th is a split cd with Jesu on the label Daymare Recordings. For those of us in the US fear not, Temporary Residence has also planned a split cd/vinyl with the fan favorite Thursday. This baby should be pretty bad ass with the LP and the cd included in the package with a website exclusive version (screenprinted by hand, and will be limited colored vinyl editions) available straight from the label. While there is yet to be a solid date for this release the split it tentatively schedule schedule to drop sometime in October.

The beginning...

2008-05-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

I suppose this is a bit of a celebration for me. I am taking the next step to creating a website. well sort of. I already have my film blog over at End of Cinema, which I absolutely love doing but I wanted to take a new step so to speak. I want to write more and more. I think that has become my true aspiration and I would like to carry it on. By having to blogs to manage and continue to write for the awesome KFC Cinema, I will just learn more and more about myself and writing skills and honestly get a true feeling for what I am capable of.

This new blog will give me a reason to write alot more about love of music and I hope to get some label backing to get the ball rolling for this site. So welcome everyone I hope you like what you read here.