Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Signal-to-Noise - I Won't Let the World Become a Prison (2014-2015)

Well sadly this will have to be another shoehorned posting of sorts as I am of course in limited time and a bit of a limited amount of listening of this album thus far.

But, this is a band/project from Michael Downing of the Chicago-based band Single Channel Stereo who I saw play a show with Bend Sinister back in 2013 in Chicago. ....fdsfdsfasdfds fast-fwd

He contacted me the other day about this project and album of his, and was nice enough to send me a download, etc. Very cool of him.

In the brief amount of time I've listened to this album (2 times listening at this point), I can say I enjoy a lot of it. Stylistically, I think it shares some in common with a few artists, but the main one I keep thinking of at this point early-on is the great Scottish chamber/folk pop band My Latest Novel (and I suppose include their new band/project Alphabetical Order Orchestra I guess).

I guess that comparison is primarily in the use of vocal harmonies and the tone of them, and the production. Michael doesn't have the slight Scottish accent or maybe the European references? or whatever.

I guess I wouldn't describe this music as exactly like MLN, and over time that comparison may not hold as much water as it does initially. But mind you, I actually like how it is like MLN and I just like a lot of the songs on here in general.

I hopefully will find the time to get to know this record a fair amount better soon (and don't be surprised to see it in the upcoming Midseason report/ranking/countdown).

 But just to pick a few favorite tracks: Biologic, Universal, Presque Vu, Something to Say

Released today 3/31/15

http://www.findyoursignal.com/


1 Firebox 02:27
2 Something to Say 04:14
3 Rivals 04:41
4 Avenall 03:20
5 Biologic 03:43
6 Night Owl 04:07
7 Vacant Lot 03:36
8 All We're Told 03:33
9 MCC 02:56
10 Universal 03:46
11 Presque Vu 04:19

per Facebook:


StNR is a creative outlet to spread a very simple message: that the truth of experience can be revealed to anyone willing to look inwards. I will never tell anyone what to believe. In fact, I would suggest doing away with all belief. Assumption breads delusion. An examination of the inner workings of the mind without judgement or preconception allows us to trade believing for knowing, to end all suffering and set our true self free from the bounds of physical reality.

This message is not my own. It is older than time itself. Everything you might find here seeks to reinvigorate the universal spirit dwelling within us all. Therefor StNR seeks not only to heal the world, but also to heal its creato. There is no beginning and no end to personal growth. In this way we are all in the middle, all equal, all capable of lifting ourselves ever upwards. The present moment will always give exactly what is needed to take the next step. Embrace the experience itself, not the impermanent objects within it, and YOUR truth will be revealed

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Mayer Hawthorne opening for Hall and Oates, Irivine, CA 8/30/15



I don't live near Irvine, CA of course, but with Mayer and Hall and Oates on 1 bill together, the Fiancee would freak out to see this show.

For the 2 of us, it may end up around $1200-$1500, including a trip finally to Amoeba I suppose, but that price range isn't completely unthinkable considering some different factors from now until August 30th.

Of course Mayer was once on "Live From Daryl's House" and has even covered "You Make My Dreams"

We'll see, but it would hardly be shocking if we make this *that* trip post-Grad School for her.

This is almost like Marillion + Rush or Ours + dredg for her, so it is *that* much of an EVENT, and likely just a 1-off as Hall and Oates don't do a ton of touring extensively now (more festivals and such).

Also if it is the same venue, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, I think it is, Outdoors, etc..it is the place I saw Dream Theater on Gigantour,

edit: July 24th, 2005, so 10 years and a little over a month..I was out there for a Family Reunion actually, and it was pure luck/coincidence I was able to attend that festival.

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dream-theater/2005/verizon-wireless-amphitheater-irvine-ca-43d6d3db.html



2014-2015 Anticipated Music: November-Summer: LIST..minimal Blurbing

2/23/15 9:02PM

I honestly have spent more than enough time adding/editing this list and really very little time actually writing about these records, and over so much time, I have just come to the conclusion time is again not on my side to completely, save for some future edits. And the real write-ups will have to come in the midseason countdown, likely in April.

But at least for now and future edits (because I don't see why there shouldn't be), this is just an updated schedule/calendar and artworks, with potentially more info about these records and more records like cover art, and titles, etc.

tl;dr the blurbs are taking too long, ah fuck it.

Already released:


Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

I like a lot of this record. The production is better than Portal of I, and the songwriting is shorter, more concise as a whole. I guess I can best say that there are a handful of moments I enjoy on this album,


Pink Floyd - The Endless River

A woman has powder make-up applied to her face as she is surrounded by ukiyoe imagery, an airplane and a guitar.
Ringo Sheena - Hi Izuru Tokoro

This may be a collection of older tunes or something, but I really love a lot of this. Probably at least 2/3 of it are on par if not better than most of her solo work that I've heard (which isn't a ton mind you, as I never spent as much time with it as Tokyo Jihen, but with TJ no more, it makes more sense, it's just not as easily available I suppose).

Excellent record or collection.


Thomas Giles - Modern Noise

Between the Buried and Me frontman/vocalist/keyboardist; I like this more than his last solo record, as it seems to have a little more depth to it. Although it still needs more time to fully gauge.

Zozzled cover art
Hardcore Crayons - Zozzled
I hear Rush and Battles and Primus obviously. 'More Sugar" and "Kid is Goat" are among the standouts.


Demians - Mercury

Nicholas Chapel 3rd LP, but 1st since 2010's Mute. A lot of this sounds like alternative rock, which I'm may be what Nick's interest may be in songwriting. I'm not sure how much I will get into this though, as the really progrock element of the Demians debut LP Building an Empire I'm noticing a lot of. And "Chapel" the atmospheric prog metal Silent Ceremony demo that I loved so much, may just remain just that it seems, but who knows. A revisiting may be required soon.

New World cover art
Dave Kerzner - New World

This is honestly, a fair amount more enjoyable than I expected. It is obviously prog rock and has an assortment of guests that are known appear. From Keith Emerson to Steve Hackett to Simon Phillips, to Colin Edwin of Porcupine Tree, to some of Dave's old Kevin Gilbert bandmates Nick D'Virgilio and Russ Parish. .I do naturally appreciate 'My Old Friend" for it's nod to Kevin Gilbert in more than one way.

There's a VERY big Pink Floyd element on this album, even beyond Dave's David Gilmour-vocal resemblance.

I think the biggest track for me is the 7th track "Ocean of Stars"..incredibly surreal and moody. Dreamy as hell. The guitar solo is gorgeous.

The guitar work Fernando Perdomo does on"Nothing" sounds incredibly like Steve Howe at times, I almost thought it was a Yes song.



January 1st-October 27th

Songs Of The Week cover art
Timmy Sean - Songs of the Week
A new "older" tune from Timmy's archives will be released every week per his bandcamp page . Whether they be from his "Celebrities" band, Sir Video, Luzer or "The Mahoney Brothers"? among some others, he has a lot of goodies to share.

January 12th


Archive - Restriction
This record has great flow, and some great moments, that while not all that new for Archive, still works on many levels.

January 13th


Subterranean Masquerade - The Great Bazaar 

Review(s) pending, but this is a tremendous comeback album, that ti seems the 10-year wait was all worthwhile.

Image of Cryptodira/East of the Wall Split 7"
East of the Wall [Split EP]

January 20th



The Decemberists - What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World

Spotty at best.

January 27th


Punch Brothers -  The Phosphorescent Blues

Deceptively Good.

February 1st

New World Sundown cover art
Hotel of the Laughing Tree - New World Sundown 
Consistently good record.

February 13th


Susanne Sundfør - Ten Love Songs


February 17th

Caravan of Thieves - Kiss Kiss

February 21st


Small Leaks, Sink Ships - Face Yourself and Remove Your Sandals
https://twitter.com/smallleaks

February 27th/March 2nd-3rd



Steven Wilson - Hand.Cannot.Erase

March 3rd

Tuxedo

Tuxedo - Tuxedo

March 13th/15th

Aerial Love EP + Instant Grat

Daniel Johns - Aerial Love
As much of a departure the title track seems to be, I like it and this EP which hopefully will just be a sample of what is to come later this season from the ex-Silverchair frontman.

March 30th/31st

Carrie & Lowell cover art

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie and Lowell


Mercies - Blue Against Green



Godspeed You! Black Emperor  'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress'



ThurisazThe Pulse of Mourning

April 6th-7th


Timbre - Sun and Moon
https://twitter.com/TimbreCierpke



The Barnum Meserve - The Barnum Meserve

The Embers of Time, Josh Rouse

Josh Rouse - The Embers of Time

Umphrey's McGee - The London Session

April 13th



Gavin Harrison - Cheating the Polygraph

April 20th


Nordic Giants - A Séance of Dark Delusions

April 27th



Mew - + -


April



Tangled Thoughts of Leaving - Yield to Despair

May 19th

Faith No More - Sol Invictus

May 25th

Mike Vennart - The Demon Joke
https://twitter.com/Vennart

June 8th

Muse - Drones
https://twitter.com/muse

June 21

God is an Astronaut - Helios | Erebus

June 30th

The Velvet Teen - All Is Illusory
https://twitter.com/thevelvetteen

June?
Kaddisfly - Horses Galloping on Sailboats (HGOS MMXV)
https://twitter.com/Kaddisfly

July 7th



Between the Buried and Me - Coma Ecliptic
https://twitter.com/btbamofficial

Spring

The Dear Hunter - Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
https://twitter.com/CaseyCrescenzo


Album Finished with Titles

22- You Are Creating
https://twitter.com/22NEWENERGY


Gatherer - Heavy Hail

Klimt 1918- Die Sentimentale Jugend
https://twitter.com/Klimt1918music

Neverending White Lights- Act IV
https://twitter.com/iamNeverending

The Pneumatic Transit- Concerto Moon


Album done/in the works but no info:

The Bird and the Bee - TBA

Happy Body Slow Brain - TBA
Album Teaser 1

Hands of Despair - TBA
Coming Late in 2015

Mutemath - TBA
https://twitter.com/MUTEMATH

*shels - Samwise the Demon
https://twitter.com/shelsmusic

Unclear/To Be Announced

AM and Shawn Lee

Anakdota

Anderson / Ponty Band

The Apples in Stereo

Arch / Matheos

Between Two Skies

Bubblemath

Casey Crescenzo + Jessy Ribordy project

Cloud Cult
https://twitter.com/CloudCult
Recording "Every Thing"

Diablo Swing Orchestra

The Dissociatives - [EP]

Dream Theater

Erstwhile - Matt and Brett of Fair to Midland's new band.

Falling Up
YouTube Channel

Fjokra-  TBA
https://twitter.com/Fjokra

Beyond the Mellowsound Sessions [EP], there likely will be something new as Fjokra has been posting clips and photos about it recently.


Genders

Gojira

Gotye
https://twitter.com/gotye

House of Fools
https://twitter.com/houseoffools1

Jazzkamikaze
https://twitter.com/jazzkamikaze

Journal

Lehto and Wright
https://twitter.com/LehtoWright

Majestyy
https://twitter.com/Majestyy_

Paul Mac
https://twitter.com/thepaulmac

Todd Menton

Meshuggah

Miracles of Modern Science
https://twitter.com/wearemoms

Moonloop
https://twitter.com/moonloopband

Motopony

NewVillager - A Book and new music in the Fall
https://twitter.com/NewVillager

Oddland
Opus Dai - Insectum Vol. 1

Ours
https://twitter.com/JimmyGneccoNews

Ramona Falls
https://twitter.com/ramonafalls

Sculptured

Stateless - TBA [EP]
https://twitter.com/StatelessOnline

Vektor
https://twitter.com/VektorMetal

Misc.

January 19, 2015

 
Kevin Gilbert - Thud Deluxe Edition (Vinyl + CD)

Kimbra - As You Are (String-driven Rearrangement ft. Van Dyke Parks)

Pretty bloody breathtaking.

Damn, too bad her upcoming tour isn't coming to Minneapolis. Would be lovely to witness live.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress' (2014-2015)

3/24/15 11:55AM

Guardian has the official Soundcloud Embed

I haven't been able to listen yet as my morning has been consumed by working without headphones.

But, just based on some of the comments on various sites, my guess is what I suspected before. More droney Godspeed, and less layered climaxing Godspeed.

But can't be sure yet.

[hyperbole/tangent/soapbox]If I am right, I think an entry and maybe even a Video could be in order for what I guess I could describe "Trendrock music from artists I have liked, but recent work is overhyped and not close to the music I fell in love with them."

a mouthful I suppose, but  that's the jist of it. Basically, all the bands I like who the hipsters like who have done prog of a kind in the past, new stuff whether prog or not, just frankly, is not very good or memorable.

But a lot of Trendrock fans are going to succumb to the hype, even just telling everyone else about it. Even albums like the new Kendrick Lamar is being shoved down so many people's throats, much like Kanye West new albums are, it becomes highly nauseating to me, at least for awhile. [/hyperbole/tangent/soapbox]

2/24/15 4:22PM

Not a bad title, but it looks/reads, with the single-quote marks and 4-word length, a bit like their last record's title "'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!, which down the road, may cause many to mix them up.

I love how they mention "inviting" local Record stores to submit links for Preorders and Minnesota is nowhere to be found on the list, kind of like how Minnesota seems to be nowhere to be found on any tour agendas of theris either, lol.

This 1st piece shared "Peasantry or 'Light! Inside of Light!", which was originally called "Behemoth" I guess, I'm luke warm about at best. Godspeed doing more drone? I hope it's limited. Their last record 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!, while a pleasant surprise to have anything new from them, was uneven.

Based on that, I am not expecting anything as good as the Skinny Fists record here. But I'll certainly check this out.

The fact they are putting out a new record is not surprising, even though I recall a couple of years ago, seeing many people not expecting a new album/new material so soon.  But the fact as that write-up below says, they've been incorporating new music in those Minnesota-less Live shows since 2010, really suggests they were bound to record some of it and put it out. Well, here it is (their last record of course was all old material).

March 31st is the street date. March and April keep getting more filled up with new music.


http://cstrecords.com/cst111/



1. Peasantry or ‘Light! Inside of Light!’
2. Lambs’ Breath
3. Asunder, Sweet
4. Piss Crowns Are Trebled

We've invited independent music retailers to submit links for pre-orders and we encourage you to support them. You should also benefit from much lower shipping costs by doing so (outside Canada, and especially for the 180 gram gatefold vinyl). This list of indie retail links will be updated throughout the week of Feb 23-27. 

UNITED STATES: 
• SCDISTRIBUTION: CD/LP 
• EXPERIMEDIA (Kent, OH): LP / CD 
• ORIGAMI VINYL (Los Angeles, CA): LP 
• AMOEBA MUSIC (Los Angeles, CA): CD / LP 
• TONEVENDOR (St. Augustine, FL): CD / LP 
• NEWBURY COMICS: LP 
• GRIMEY'S (Nashville, TN): In-store preorder 
• LANDLOCKED MUSIC (Bloomington, IN): In-store preorder 
• LOVE GARDEN SOUNDS (Lawrence, KS): In-store preorder 
• ZIA RECORDS (Phoenix/Tucson, AZ): CD / LP 
• LUNA MUSIC (Indianapolis, IN): LP 
• DEAD TANK (Jacksonville, FL): LP 

UNITED KINGDOM: 
• NORMAN RECORDS: CD / LP 
• RESIDENT: CD / LP 
• PICCADILLY RECORDS: CD / LP 
• ROUGH TRADE: CD / LP 
• BOOMKAT: CD / LP 

GERMANY: 
• FLIGHT 13: CD / LP 
• GREEN HELL: CD / LP 
• FINEST VINYL: LP 
• GLITTERHOUSE: CD 
• DENOVALI: CD / LP 

CANADA: 
• TINY RECORD SHOP (Toronto, ON): CD / LP 
• ENCORE RECORDS (Kitchener, ON): CD / LP 
• DR. DISC (Hamilton, ON): In-store preorder 
• COMPACT MUSIC (Ottawa, ON): In-store preorder 
• BLACKBYRD MYOOZIK (Edmonton, AB): In-store preorder 
• FRÉQUENCES LE DISQUAIRE (Ste-Hyacynthe, QC): CD / LP 
• GOOD MUSIC (Toronto, ON): In-store preorder 


DESCRIPTION
Godspeed You! Black Emperor (GYBE) returns with its first single LP-length release since the group's earliest days in 1997-99. 'Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress' clocks in at a succinct 40:23 and is arguably the most focused and best-sounding recording of the band's career. Working with sound engineer Greg Norman (Electrical Audio) at studios in North Carolina and Montreal, GYBE slowly and steadily put the new album together through late 2013 and 2014, emerging with a mighty slab of superlative sonics, shot through with all the band's inimitable signposts and touchstones: huge unison riffage, savage noise/drone, oscillating overtones, guitar vs. string counterpoint, inexorable crescendos and scorched-earth transitions. 

Following Godspeed's return from a long hiatus at the end of 2010 to begin playing live shows again, and with the hugely acclaimed 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! release in 2012 marking their first new release in a decade, the group continued to perform regularly on their own headlining tours (and as headliners at many leading festivals), often including a new multi-movement piece in concert over the past couple of years. Known to fans and through live show recordings by the sobriquet "Behemoth", GYBE has gradually distilled this new work down to a fastidious and uncompromising essence in the studio, with the swing-time swagger of the opening unison riff in "Peasantry or 'Light! Inside of Light!'" giving way to increasing microtonal divergences and an exhilarating immersion in the harmonic power of massed amplified instruments, before collapsing into some of the most visceral and unalloyed noise/drone the band has yet committed to tape on "Lambs' Breath" and "’Asunder, Sweet'”. The album closes with "Piss Crowns Are Trebled", a classic 14-minute piece of vintage Godspeed, where ascending and descending guitar and violin melodies intertwine over gut-rattling distorted bass in 3/4 time, segueing into a pummeling four-on-the-floor series of sparkling, soaring crescendos 

'Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress' finds Godspeed in top form; a sterling celebration of the band's awesome dialectic, where composition, emotion and 'note-choice' is inextricable from an exacting focus on tone, timbre, resonance and the sheer materiality of sound. The album is available on 180 gram vinyl in a gatefold jacket with printed inner sleeve and insert poster, on CD in a 100% recycled custom paperboard jacket, and on all manner of formats in our fractured digital marketplace. 

Thanks for listening. 

Release date: 31 March 2015 
Running time: 40:23 


PACKAGING NOTES
CD comes in a custom gatefold jacket printed on thick 24pt. paperboard with a printed CD dust sleeve. LP is pressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl at Optimal (Germany) and comes in a heavyweight gatefold jacket with full-colour printed dust sleeve, pull-out art poster and download code for 320 kbps MP3 copy of the album. 

TRACKLIST
1. Peasantry or ‘Light! Inside of Light!’ 
2. Lambs’ Breath 
3. Asunder, Sweet
4. Piss Crowns Are Trebled 

CREDITS
PERSONNEL 
Thierry Amar: Bass and contrebasse 
David Bryant: Electric guitar, portasound, organs and drones 
Aidan Girt: Drums 
Timothy Herzog: Drums and drones 
Efrim Manuel Menuck: Electric guitar 
Michael Moya: Electric guitar 
Mauro Pezzente: Electric bass 
Sophie Trudeau: Violins and drones 
Karl Lemieux: 16mm film projections 

Recorded by Greg Norman at Fidelitorium, Hotel 2 Tango and The Pines. 
Mixed by Greg Norman and GYBE at Mixart and Hotel 2 Tango. 
Masted by Harris Newman at Greymarket.

Friday, March 20, 2015

God is an Astronaut - Helios | Erebus (2014-2015)



http://godisanastronaut.com/

Another record from one of the better Post Rock bands still around. Being released on June 21st. I swear their last 2 records, I was up for when they came out, and then I just forgot about them.

edit: Origins from 2013

Age of the Fifth Sun from 2010, I recall liking, although not as much as their earlier records, In fairness, that was not that long after I got into these guys., But Origins I don't remember a ton about, so I guess with this new upcoming record, I can't totally expect a huge amount from.

Their best record for me still remains 2005's All Is Violent, All Is Bright. If I recall, features some nice samples and of course piano. Frankly, 2 of the things of what I love and think of this band for.

Per the trailer for Helios | Erebus, there isn't any indication of a ton of that on this record, but it's only 49 seconds.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

RisingSide - In My Skin [Single] (2015)

http://www.risingside.com/

Another impressive track from these guys. Epic, multi-part track; love Juan Carlos's guitar tone at points.

Excellent production.

Definitely adds to the optimism about where they are going.

Latest Newsletter

We are proud to release our newest single "In My Skin" to the world today. Take a listen above and don't forget to download it! We have been working very hard on recording and writing and are finally happy to share with all of you. Thank you for listening in and being a part of our crew. Always more to come!
Here is what is in store for RisingSide in the next few months:

- This Sunday we will be recording another single with Kevin Israel at RiverRock Studios in Northeast.
- Our next show is May 16th at Wild Tymes in St. Paul, details TBA
- We are working on Wisconsin tour dates the last weekend in May!
- June to July Scotty will be touring Brazil for an International Percussion conference - good luck Scotty!
- Ryan, Juan, and Katie will be writing, promoting, and doing a few special performances while Scotty is away.

Make sure to support all your favorite local musicians/bands - we can't succeed without all of you. RisingSide will continue to strive and grow and bring only the best performances and music to our fans. Now lets go melt some faces!

www.risingside.com/music

RisingSide OUT.

end transmission...

Warpaint - No Way Out / No Way Out [Redux] / I'll Start Believing [Single] (2015)

Warpaint\


They seem to be back. I can't help but wonder where was this kind of moody, rocking-out material on their snoozy S/T LP from 2014? this definitely holds optimism for their next record.





Spotify Link with all 3 tracks here

Monday, March 16, 2015

Madam Officer - Madam Officer [EP] (2014-2015)

Really digging this EP from some of the members/people involved with Kaddisfly. More to add later, but I think the songwriting, mix, and style is right up my alley. I suppose it helps that I usually enjoy Aaron Tollefson's guitar work on most anything.

The female singer is quite good too.

I suppose a comparison can be made to Warpaint and Genders among some others..sort of Dreamy rhythmic rock with a pop element.

hopefully more to add soon.

Madam Officer (EP) cover art

1. Golden 03:23
2. Fantasy 03:25
3. Sundaze 04:42
4. Lines 03:21

https://www.facebook.com/madamofficer

http://madamofficer.bandcamp.com/releases

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Thurisaz - The Pulse of Mourning (2014-2015)

Being released on March 31st. 1st song/single "Patterns of Life"

I really like this Belgian band's record from 2007, Circadian Rhythm. Great atmospheric blackened prog/death metal.

I recall the follow-up from 2011, The Cimmerian Years, not being as good (hence why I didn't spend a ton of time with it).

The 1st single below, I'll admit, sounds pretty nice. Not vastly different in style, although I like the sample they use.

I dunno, this could be a little bit a sleeper record if turns out great.


1 Longing...
2 ...For a Change
3 Patterns of Life
4 Tangram
5 Rays of Light
6 One Final Step
7 Enslaved Dreams
8 In All Remembrance
9 Stargaze



Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Small Leaks Sink Ships - Face Yourself and Remove Your Sandals (2014-2015)

3/11/15 2:04PM

New video review. I would like to go more in-depth with this, and I very well may, or at least may in here.

I guess it's of course a time thing, but i at least will try and transcribe the details and quotes from my notes into here just to offer up at least a bit more semblance of a review and specifics.

Love-this-record. We'll see if all the great stuff to look forward to from now until Halloween can measure-up, but no matter, this record is one that I can foresee standing the test of time, as it seems to be that good. But of course, truly, only time will tell us.



2/21/15 5:43PM

They finally put it up for sale on their bandcamp today! And the EMBED is just below this of course. It's coming out on CD and digital formats; although don't be surprised if a Vinyl pressing happens at some point.

edit: Twitter post mentions an upcoming Kickstarter for the Vinyl

But, it's been 1 month to the day since I posted this and honestly, this record has become my clear favorite record this season, and I gave in as I keep enjoying it so damn much, I put it up to 5-stars.

A review/Video Review should be coming soon (not only for this, but a few others in fact). But for now, I can say this very much reminds me of one of those records that comes out of nowhere to become an all-time favorite of mine. I am rather in awe and still addicted to it, and very happy it is finally being released.

My failure I suppose is not spending more time with their other releases which I plan to rather soon.




1/21/15 5:40AM
This is just an initial post about this record, I stumbled upon the other day and checked out and was pretty floored by actually. A top album of the Season contender? I might not want to go that far at this point; but I did really enjoy this record, which to be honest, I cannot find much if any concrete info about the release date, etc.., I only found just the obvious blogs and other sites with vague info that has the artwork and /tracklist.

The only specific thing is the single "Yellow Bird" below which is embedded per their bandcamp page, and the trailer for this record posted on YouTube (and Vimeo) back in October.

In the interest of time of course, I will just say, I heard about this band maybe even around the time of their debut LP in 2007, or maybe a year or 2 after. I recall they were from Arizona, and I think where I saw their name was one of the annual Alternative Press "100 Bands You Need to Know" issues. Come to think of it, I think it was either 2009 or 2010.

Anyway, I recall not thinking they were bad, but not exactly a band I heard tons of potential with.

But with this new record of theirs, some 4 or 5 years after my initial impressions, I think I may have been won over a lot more. I love the use of piano throughout this whole record.

Is it kind of low-fi? I suppose, but that adds to its charm in a lot of ways. Is it prog? yeah, I guess, and Post Rock, math rock, psych, dreamy among many other sections. I hear bands like Murder By Death and early Menomena among others. Great atmosphere and nice use of strings at points.

Either in here or in hopefully the upcoming Season preview (or midseason review, which should come in April) I'll include more. But right now, I can already say this is 1 of the 5 best records I've heard thus far in 2014-2015.

edit: I really should update this anyway, just at the point when the details of a release date and things is finally given, I imagine on their bandcamp page, etc...as I can definitely see myself purchasing a hardcopy of this record if/when one becomes available.


http://www.smallleaks.com/
Facebook
https://twitter.com/smallleaks
















01 Power Outage
02 Midnight Jin
03 Yellow Bird
04 Orchis
05 Snowball Fight Attack Formation
06 We All Die
07 Building Blocks
08 The Devil Is In The Desert
09 Iceberg
10 The Mind Is Its Own Place






Monday, March 9, 2015

Daniel Johns - Aerial Love [EP] (2014-2015)

3/9/15 5:20AM
"Preach"

kind of digging this tune more than the title track. The layering stands out.




1/28/15 6:08PM

http://www.danieljohns.com/



Song/EP.

4 track EP, and then the album later.

March 13th release:


Aerial Love EP + Instant Grat

1. Preach
2. Aerial Love
3. Surrender
4. Late Night Drive


JB Hifi March 15th
getmusic CD + MP3
"The song is taken from a four-song EP of the same name, which is set to drop on 13th March in preparation for Johns’ first-ever solo album".
'Aerial Love', being closer to the sounds of Frank Ocean or James Blake than to anything that Silverchair have ever recorded, "is sure to polarise Johns’ fanbase".
“I try not to look backwards”, Johns has said. “Too many ghosts.”


story



1/16/15 2:29PM

per FB

Album or Single? I suspect this is an album title, but I guess we'll find out on January 29th, which is a Thursday of all days. Perhaps albums come out on Thursdays down under?

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Kansas - Miracles out of Nowhere [New Documentary DVD] (2015)

http://www.miraclesoutofnowhere.com/

Preorder



About the film:
In 1973, six guys in a local band from America's heartland began a journey that surpassed even their own wildest expectations, by achieving worldwide superstardom... watch the story unfold as the incredible story of the band KANSAS is told for the first time in the DVD Miracles Out of Nowhere. 


This actually looks pretty good. Some of the interviews: Brian May and Garth Brooks?

I'd go for seeing this in a theater, but odds don't seem likely with the DVD release it won't.

I doubt there will be a ton about the original or what was called "Proto-Kaw" period, but maybe in the bonus footage?

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Faith No More - Sol Invictus (2014-2015)

3/1/15 5:25PM

"Superhero" ..Pretty nice, even though it does resemble a lot of their 90's stuff.




Also the cover art there and posted below.




Odd, almost biblical kind of title. Also the name of a neo-classical band. Anyway, good to finally get some more details on this record. More deets, more bumps of course.



possible artwork (maybe not the cover?)



edit: tracklist below rs dot com



1. Sol Invictus
2. Superhero
3. Sunny Side Up
4. Separation Anxiety
5. Cone of Shame
6. Rise of the Fall
7. Black Friday
8. Motherfucker
9. Matador
10. From the Dead

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10, 2015Sol Invictus, Faith No More’s highly anticipated follow-up to Album of the Year, arrives on May 19 via Reclamation Recordings/Ipecac Recordings.
“What I can say is that I think through our experience as musicians over the years, I think what we’re doing reflects where we’ve gone since we made our last record as Faith No More. I think this kicks things up a notch,” explained Bill Gould in a recent Rolling Stone interview. “And I think there’s parts that are very powerful and there’s parts that have a lot of “space.” Everything we do, with our chemistry, the way we play; it’s always going to sound like us. It’s just what we do, that makes us feel good. “
Sol Invictus was produced by Gould and recorded in the band’s Oakland, Calif. studio. 

metalsucks link w/ press release

Per that story, a special 7-inch single for "Superhero" comes out on March 17th (later released digitally on March 31st)

1422051816734-0o7eloqpjowq-76dab0c0636f8dfa69b8a268655733ad

"Super Hero" live:



1st single "Motherfucker" released last November:


Tour dates, of course NO MINNEAPOLIS at this point.

April 15 – Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum
April 16 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater
April 17 – Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium
April 19 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
April 20 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
April 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
April 24 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
April 25 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
May 7 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
May 8 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
May 9 – Toronto, ON @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
May 11 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
May 13 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
May 14 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
May 15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory