The Walkmen Add Dates, Pre-Release Album For Charity

In a very generous move, NYC's The Walkmen have made their new album, You & Me, available for download 3 weeks before the street date of Aug. 19th. For a measly 5 bones, you can get the album in it's entire and support cancer research and treatment. All proceeds from the downloads will go to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Do your good deed for the day and download the album here.

The Walkmen have also added a few dates to their tour.

08-18 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
08-19 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
08-21 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour %
08-22 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour %
08-23 San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Festival
08-27 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge %
08-28 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards *
08-29 Victoria, British Columbia - Rifflandia Festival
08-30 Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
09-06 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club !
09-09 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa !
09-10 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern !
09-11 Pontiac, MI - Pike Room @ Crofoot !
09-12 Chicago, IL - Metro !
09-13 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
09-14 Madison, WI - The Annex #
09-15 Columbus, OH - The Basement !
09-18 Cambridge, MA - Middle East !

% with Richard Swift
* with Man Man
# with Okkvervil River
! with Golem

Broken Social Scene Annouce Tour

Canada's Broken Social Scene will hit the road this summer/fall to support the solo releases of members Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. The tour will feature selections from Canning's recent Something for All of Us and Drew's 2007 effort Spirit If.... They will also delve into their own songs as a group.

08-02 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-02 Chicago, IL - The Metro *
08-04 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
08-08 Regina, Saskatchewan - Regina Folk Festival
08-10 Edmonton, Alberta - Edmonton Folk Music Festival
08-15 Ottawa, Ontario - Ottawa Folk Festival
08-21 Salt Lake City, UT - Twilight Concert Series
08-22 San Diego, CA - House of Blues
08-23 Los Angeles, CA - Sunset Junction
08-24 San Francisco, CA - Golden Gate Park (Outside Lands Festival)
10-08 Grand Rapids, MI - Calvin College
10-11 Madison, WI - Union Theatre at University of Wisconsin
10-13 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
10-14 Omaha, NE - Slowdown
10-16 Kansas City, KS - The Beaumont
10-17 Columbia, OH - The Blue Note
10-18 St. Louis, MO - The Gargoyle
10-19 Champaign, IL - Foellinger Auditorium at University of Illinois
10-21 Richmond, VA - Toad's Place
10-22 Falls Church, VA - State Theatre
10-24 Brooklyn, NY - Masonic Temple
10-25 Brunswick, ME - Bowdoin College
10-26 Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre

* with Yeasayer

Also check out the video for 'Hit The Wall' from Brendan Canning's new album.

Rotten vs. The British Press...

Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon appeared on UK television last night (July 28) to strongly deny recent newspaper reports calling him racist.
The star, appearing on BBC1's 'The One Show', also said he would take legal action against any publications that said otherwise, following his recent backstage spat at Spanish festival Summercase.

Referring to various articles that appeared in British newspapers over the weekend, Lydon said: "There's been a hell of a lot of 'freedom of the press', shall we say, where they’ve run wild, absolutely atrocious, really hurtful stories."
"My grandchildren are Jamaican," he added (which is the equivalent of "I'm not a racist, I got a black friend!"). "It's an absolute offence to them and me when I read stories like that, that are allowed to go to print absolutely unfounded."
He explained: "And [the newspapers] have the liberty to take liberties with a man like me and call me racist when my entire life has proved exactly the opposite."
Presenter Adrian Chiles then asked: "So you're not a racist then?" to which Lydon replied: "Absolutely not. And any bugger that says so is gonna have their day in court with me." - NME.COM

NEW DISCOVERY: Swivel Chairs

Sounds like: Pinback, Sebadoh, a masculine Camera Obscura, Later SonicYouth, Elliot Smith & 238

Rating: 5/5

Review by Amazon - The Slow Transmission is the first fruit of a two year creative burst that saw the musical partners write and record nearly 40 songs. The album is packed with a memorable collection of songs that range stylistically from retro guitar-pop to alt-country, new wave and folk-rock. The album's cohesion comes from the sharply crafted hooks that stick with the listener long after the album is done and the genuine emotions that come out in their lyrics. Album opener "Here Out Of Reach" takes a simple repeating guitar figure and builds on it with acoustic guitars, cello and vocal harmonies to tell a tale of disappointment and rejection. The propulsive drums and guitar of "Afterthought" combine with Jason Brown's declamatory lead vocals and Jeremy's harmony-heavy backing vocals on the chorus to convey the frustration of being taken for granted by the one you love. Whether it’s the elegiac "December Ghosts," the country-folk "Calloused Hands" or the layered guitar intricacy of the instrumental "Clockwise," the album keeps delivering from beginning to end.

Review by Stewart Mason - The second full-length by the Swivel Chairs is power pop the way it used to be a musical generation or so ago: say, between the release of the dB's' Stands for Decibels in 1981 and Cotton Mather's Kontiki in 1997. Unlike many contemporary power pop acts, songwriters Jason Brown and Jeremy Grites have little interest in slavish devotion to trying to replicate the sound of their musical idols. Those songs that do recall earlier acts (the dreamy "All at Once" has a strong Let's Active vibe, not least because Grites' breathy tenor at times sounds shockingly like Mitch Easter's) seem to do so either by accident or by virtue of shared musical antecedents: the Swivel Chairs have no evident interest in being the Rutles. The overall vibe of the album is low-key verging on mellow, but the songs' carefully detailed arrangements, clever hooks, strong melodies, and varied emotional moods, along with neat changeups like the spacy two-minute instrumental "Clockwise," keep The Slow Transmission from sounding like one deadened midtempo shuffle after another. Instead, this is a mature, intelligent pop record that's both a clear step up from the Swivel Chairs' earlier albums and proof that there's life in the pop underground yet.

Kings Of Leon Preview New Album, Offer Up Free Track

Head on over to KOL's website for a free mp3 download of the track 'Crawl' from their new album 'Only By The Night' set to drop 9/23. They've also posted a home movies trailer of sorts previewing another track from the album and footage taken during the album's recording sessions. Check it out.

John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band

I'm sure that everyone is well aware of John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band album but I just want to take a second to reflect on the Walrus and this album.

John Lennon is a fucking genius and the Plastic Ono Band album is a work of art!!! I've had this album for quite sometime and I always appreciated it but never really got a chance to dig in to it and let it sink in. Over the last couple days I've listened to this album maybe 13 times and I personally feel that it is some of the best post Beatles work ever produced (and just to be clear that's not a slight on any other solo album released by the Beatles members).

Lennon had a hit or miss career towards the end and after his split with the Beatles (due to his experimental works and relationship with Yoko) but the Plastic Ono Band album solidified Lennon as a solo artist that could produce introspective and imaginative material that was raw, emotional, deeply personal, painful and palatable with Yoko and without the help of Paul McCartney.

I easily would put this album in my top 10 albums of all time only to be proceded by the complete Beatles catalog and some of rock music's foundational albums.

Check out more information on this album @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon/Plastic_Ono_Band

NEW DISCOVERY: Wake The Bear

Wake the Bear is the new project from former Promenade vocalist/songwriter, Scott Cunningham. More woe; less rock. More keys; less guitar. Written, recorded and produced by Cunningham, Woe is Meat was released in October 2005.

A humble, dreamy lushness is crafted with acoustic guitars, keys, synths, layered voices and heart-swelling string sounds, all tied together by Cunningham’s emotive, vivacious lead vocals, which have the kind of effortless elasticity that only truly great singers can pull off.
- CityBeat, October 2005

Karen O from the YYY's debuted new side project , Native Korean Rock

Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O unveiled her side project Native Korean Rock on July 21st with two performances in the same night at Brooklyn's Union Pool venue.

The shows were only announced last week, but sold out instantly despite the low-key nature. Only 100 or so lucky fans got tickets for the 40-minute set of folky love songs and an elaborate nautically themed stage set which featured her singing from the hull of a model boat. Her back-up band consisted of drums, guitar and a string trio and were all dressed as sailors to fit the theme.

"I felt really nostalgic about playing love songs in New York in the summer because it’s pretty much what I did before the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It's just what I felt like doing right now so I don't think there will be any more shows like this. The main thing I'm concentrating on is the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs record, which we’ve been working on for a while and it's nearly done. It should be out by early next year." - Karen O

Revamped MySpace Music Coming This Fall

MySpace will launch an all-inclusive music service to offer everything from paid downloads to concert tickets to all of Tom's friends.

The social networking site is slated to roll out its MySpace Music initiative in September, according to Fortune magazine. The site, which will offer a traditional digital music retail platform, is also slated to allow the MySpace kids a place to get concert tickets and other merchandise. Free streaming music services, similar to the ones in artists' pages now, will also be supported - Aversion.com

NEW MUSIC: Corey Feldman - The sweetest song ever!!!

It gets incredible at about 1 minute 20 seconds...

Top 5 List

Top 5 songs that invoke summer (in no particular order) ***NO WILL SMITH***

1. Blueside (Rooney - Rooney)
2. Good Vibrations (Summer Dreams - The Beachboys)
3. Let Forever Be (Surrender - Chemical Brothers)
4. When You Wake Up Feeling Old (Summerteeth - Wilco)
5. Cherub Rock (Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins)

Lo's List

-Hot Fun In The Summertime (Greatest Hits - Sly & the Family Stone)
-Spill The Wine (Eric Burdon Declares War - Eric Burdon & War)
-Sunny Afternoon (Face To Face - The Kinks)
-Summer Breeze (Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts)
-(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay (The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding)

Annuals reveil details about second album.

Annuals have released the tracklisting for their second album, slated to be released on October 7.

The Raleigh, NC six-piece recorded ‘Such Fun’ throughout their home state, and frontman Adam Baker produced the album with Jacquire King who’s previously worked with Modest Mouse and Tom Waits.

The album is the follow up to 2006’s ‘Be He Me’ which saw the band hit the road opening for the likes of Bloc Party and The Flaming Lips.

Tour dates to coincide with the release will be unveiled shortly.

The tracklisting for ‘Such Fun’ is:

01. Confessor
02. Hot Night Hounds
03. Springtime
04. Down the Mountain
05. Always Do
06. Talking
07. Hardwood Floor
08. Hair Don’t Grow
09. The Tape
10. Blue Ridge
11. Wake

Russia's got the right idea...

A new Russian law could make being an emo kid illegal in the eastern European country.

Legislation is currenting being formulated in Russia to heavily regulate emo websites and ban emo and goth dress style in schools and government buildings.

The new laws are apparently being driven by fears that these "dangerous teen trends" encourage depression and suicide.

The legislation was presented last month at a hearing held by the State Durma, where critics claimed that the "negative" emo culture encourages anti-social behaviour and glorifies suicide.

Emo kids were described as teenagers who wear black, have facial piercings and black hair with fringes that "cover half the face", reports The Guardian

The weekend saw mass protests by Russian emo kids.

In Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, where laws are already being implemented, protestors in a march held signs saying "A Totalitarian State Encourages Stupidity".

Dmitry Gilevich of Russian emo band MAIO stepped in backing the protests, saying: "Expressing psychological emotions is not forbidden by law."

However, emo critics remain unconvinced.

Alexander Grishunin, an adviser to bill sponsor Yevgeny Yuryev, described a ban as necessary, stating: "This is the first step in the public discourse."

The moves in Russia follow criticism of the genre in the UK earlier this year, which saw My Chemical Romance fans protesting at the offices of British newspaper The Daily Mail over their coverage which linked emo with suicide - NME.COM

NEW MUSIC: Let's Wrestle

Check out this new band making waves from London. Very catchy skinny jeans type punk/indie rock. Nothing truly mind blowing here but I think it's their simplicity that plays a big part in their appeal. eMusic users can download their EP and a single here. Here's a video for their single 'I Won't Lie to You' from their In Loving Memory... EP.

Bon Iver Daytrotter Session

Head on over to Daytrotter for downloads of 4 very solid live tracks for Bon Iver's album For Emma, Forever Ago. While you're at it, check him out on tour.

7.21.08 Detroit, MI - Crofoot Ballroom w/ Bowerbirds
7.22.08 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace w/ Bowerbirds
7.23.08 Montreal, QC - Cabaret Music Hall w/ Bowerbirds
7.25.08 Portland, ME - SPACE Gallery w/ Bowerbirds
7.26.08 Boston, MA - Museum Of Fine Arts w/ Bowerbirds
7.27.08 Dennis, MA - Cape Cinema w/ Bowerbirds
7.29.08 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom w/ Bowerbirds
7.30.08 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall Of Williamsburg w/ Bowerbirds
7.31.08 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church w/ Bowerbirds
8.01.08 Washington, DC - Black Cat w/ Bowerbirds
8.02.08 Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theatre w/ Bowerbirds
8.03.08 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center w/ Bowerbirds
8.04.08 Indianapolis, IN - The Lawn at White River State Park w/ Wilco
8.06.08 Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre w/ Wilco
8.07.08 North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Performing Arts w/ Wilco
8.08.08 Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre w/ Wilco
8.10.08 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light w/ A.A. Bondy
8.11.08 Nashville, TN - Exit/In w/ A.A. Bondy
8.12.08 Bloomington, IN - Waldron Arts Center w/ A.A. Bondy
8.14.08 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre w/ A.A. Bondy
8.15.08 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue w/ A.A. Bondy
8.24.08 San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival
8.25.08 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour w/ A.A. Bondy
8.26.08 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour w/ A.A. Bondy
8.29.08 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater w/ A.A. Bondy
8.30.08 Seattle, WA - Neumo's w/ A.A. Bondy

Bloc Party Frontman Fights Johnny Rotten

Bloc Party lead singer Kele Okereke threw down fisticuffs over the weekend with none other than punk legend and Sex Pistols leader Johnny Rotten aka John Lydon.



From Billboard:

"Details are coming to light today about a brawl between Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke and the Sex Pistols' John Lydon, as well as members of the latter's entourage. The altercation took place backstage Saturday at Spain's Summercase festival.

Okereke, who describes the fight as an "unprovoked racist attack," endured "severe facial bruising" and a "split lip." He says he approached Lydon backstage at Summercase to ask if he'd ever reunite with Public Image Ltd., one of Okereke's favorite bands.

But according to Okereke, Lydon then "became intimidating and aggressive while his entourage responded with a racist tirade including the statement, 'Your problem is your black attitude.'"

A fight quickly ensued between Okereke and three members of Lydon's entourage, with Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson and Foals lead singer Yannis Philippakis becoming embroiled as well. Festival security broke things up but the altercation was reported to both Spanish and U.K. police.

"It's not an issue of the physical assault, even though it was an unprovoked attack, it is the fact that race was brought into the matter so readily," Okereke says in a statement. "Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon should know better than to bring race into the equation, or socialize with and encourage those who hold such narrow-minded attitudes. I am disappointed that someone I held with such high regard turns out to be such a bigot."

Lydon is blaming the entire incident on "jealousy," saying in a statement that "When you are at a festival with bands who are jealous fools, lies and confusion usually follow. If they need publicity so badly, this is the allegation universe they run into."

The artist further says that Okereke should "grow up and learn to be a true man. When you have achieved as much as I have, come back and talk to me. It's a shame that the wonderful world of the media is riddled with nonsense like this."

NEW VIDEO: Tokyo Police Club - "Graves"

Graves - Tokyo Police Club

Latest video from TPC's debut full length Elephant Shell. The song is called Graves. Go see these guys live.

Tokyo Police Club Fall 2008 U.S. Tour Dates:

09/08 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar *
09/10 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club *
09/12 - Austin, TX @ Emo's *
09/14 - Red Rocks, CO @ Monolith Festival *
09/16 - Phoenix, AZ @ Brickhouse *
09/18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theatre *
09/19 - Pomona, CA @ Glass House
09/20 - San Diego, CA @ Street Scene Festival
09/21 - San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Music Festival
09/26 - Omaha, NE @ Slow Down *
10/25 - New Orleans, LA @ Voodoo Music Festival

* w/ The Whigs

Top 5 List

Top 5 White Stripes Songs (in no particular order)

1. The Hardest Button to Button (Elephant)

2. Black Math (Elephant)

3. 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues (Icky Thump)

4. Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground (White Blood Cells)

5. We're Going To Be Friends (White Blood Cells)

New Discovery: Little Brazil

* Artist: Little Brazil
* Release Date: February 22, 2005
* Label: Mt. Fuji Records / Redeye

Landon Hedges is best known outside of the Omaha indie rock scene as the bassist in Conor Oberst's rocking side project Desaparecidos and in Tim Kasher's gentler Cursive spin-off the Good Life, but like seemingly everyone else in that fertile scene, he's got his own albums to do. Little Brazil is a quartet with Hedges on guitar and vocals, plus bassist Dan Maxwell, second guitarist Austin Britton and drummer Corey Broman, all fellow members of the second tier of Omaha indie notables.

The obvious parallel is Sebadoh, but unlike Lou Barlow, Hedges has both a fairly bright lyrical and musical outlook and a knack for catchy indie pop tunes. The brief You and Me showcases both aspects, most notably in the jaunty sunshine pop (complete with acoustic guitars and handclaps) of the title track and the Apples in Stereo-meets-Pavement drive of the exceedingly catchy album high point, "Pointing Fingers." Hedges is perhaps a little anonymous as a singer, with a better than average but not particularly distinct voice, but his songwriting smarts are enough to pull You and Me through, and promise even better to come - Review by Stewart Mason, All Music Guide.

Strokes drummer...side project...girlfriend...new album!

The Strokes drummer Frabrizio Moretti is working on a new album with his girlfriend, Binki Shapiro.

The band's tentative name is Little Joy, which is also the name of a popular dive bar in the Echo Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

The album is slated for an autumn release on Rough Trade in the US, and is reminiscent of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vince Guaraldi and Sixties wall-of-sound girl groups, according to Rolling Stone.