We've finally cracked the code for new trendy band names: illogical locations! Even though the Australian indie-pop outfit Architecture in Helsinki has been around for while, they're only now gaining in true prosperity in America, and their new record Places Like This is sure to be included on quite a few year-end lists (along with spiritual siblings Los Campesinos! and The Royal We). NY-based producer Ruby Beats has remixed AIH's new track "Hold Music", and Get Weird Turn Pro has the scoop.
We've never been ones to get super into the Christmas spirit, but when the Super Furry Animals call, you listen. We've always loved that the Welsh superstars are always as left of center as possible (they're sort of like the anti-Oasis, when you think about it) and now they've gone and made a Christmas single for Beggars called "The Gift That Keeps Giving". It's the usual Super Furry Animals niche, with harmonies, trumpets, acoustic guitars and the like. Not to spoil anything, but the video contains kittens, sobbing children and light satanism, so make sure to watch it till the end...
In case you've missed the blitzkrieg of hype (well-deserved, we should mention), Music for Robots are giving away a totally free Cassettes Won't Listen EP of electro-po '90s covers, called One Alternative. It's totally free and awesome, and features alt.nation classic gems like "Cut Your Hair" by Pavement and "Fuck & Run" by Liz Phair. We never thought we'd live to see the day of a '90s revival, but it's actually upon us. Scary.
It's always cool to see bands from our younger days still with it, and we are definitely still of the mindset that The Thermals will prove their clout as a classic American cult band, when all is said and done. The band have released a hilarious video (West coast punk rock antics!) for "Returning to the Fold", the newest track off of The Body, The Blood, The Machine. Take a look and remember the sweaty mosh pits you once took part in...
More news from Dirtybird today: Riva Starr, a new signee to the label, makes the kind of dirty techno we've come to love from the likes of label mates Claude vonStroke and Worthy. Riva's been busy remixing songs for big house DJs like Armand van Helden, and releasing even more albums and 12"s on labels like Frontroom and Southern Fried Records. Riva sent us his unreleased song "Crazy Frog" (no relation to the incredibly annoying ringtone fad of a few years ago) which has been keeping our heads boppin' all day long at RCRD LBL HQ. Download the tracks below and take a few to welcome this member of the extended Dirtybird roster.
One of the biggest indie runaway hits of last year was Beach House's eponymous debut record, a laid-back, lo-fi LP of ballads and droning slow jams. The album, released on Carpark Records, gave the band the opportunity to open for Grizzly Bear on their national tour, and heavy coverage with all your favorite bloggers. Obscure Sound (a fan from the very beginning of the Baltimore two-piece's career) has just featured two tracks from Beach House's new record Devotion. Like Beach House, the new album revolves around the duo's soothing warmth and organ/keaboards/guitar instrumentation. Check it out at Obscure Sound and prepare to adjust your end of lists...
Our friends over at Dirtybird have just posted a great interview with house DJ Christian Martin on their RCRD LBL blog. They've just released a super limited edition single Martin did with Claude vonStroke (there are only 500 12"s available at three stores worldwide). The song is called "Groundhog Day" and you can be sure that it'll be a crazy slab of bumping techno. Check out the interview and more info on "Groundhog Day" at the link below...
Cold War Kids recorded three 6 song EPs before releasing Robbers & Cowards. The first of the three EPs is called Mulberry Street. Itwas recorded in a day in M. Wignall's garage/studio for some design job favors from Maust and sixty bucks. In between takes, Wignall would play an album over the speakers, like Iggy Pop's Lust For Life or Neil Young's After the Gold Rush, and go on long rants, pointing out sounds and talking about how good these musicians were and how we would be lucky if in ten years we could play a song anywhere near this good. We thought "Who cares! We just want to record our songs for us!" Then he showed us how to record vocals while he went to mow the lawn.
-Nathan Willett, Cold War Kids.
That's right, you guessed it. All this week we here at Downtown will be giving away the Mulberry Street EP for free on our RCRD LBL blog. That's six super-rare CWK tracks to lead up to you Christmas vacation (when you'll doubtlessly be in need for some good tunes).
Obviously, CWK have come a long way from recording Mulberry Street in 2005, playing venues all over the world and releasing their acclaimed Robbers & Cowards LP. Think of this as a special treat for uber-fans, a trip into what it was like to be part of what would become CWK as we know it, at the conception of the group. Or, to put it another way, think of this as their proto-Basement Tapes.
The first two tracks we're offering for download are "Heavy Boots" and "The Soloist in the Living Room", and even though they're early tracks, the band's strong aesthetic of urban Americana (think Tom Petty, Tom Waits, etc) was already strong.
Download the tunes below and stayed tuned tomorrow and Friday for the rest of the EP. Enjoy!
The guys over at the Downtown RCRD LBL blog have just posted the insanely NSFW new Spank Rock video featuring Amanda Blank for "Loose". If you're at a desk, in an office, or in public, we suggest you wait until you are in the privacy of your own home to view this video. However, when you are in privacy of said home, be prepared for some serious booty-shaking and hip-swerving (if you will). Click on the link below to take part in the decadence...
Yesterday the Soft Lightes released their Christmas single, "The Last Christmas on Earth" via iTunes. We've posted the song for streaming before, but if you buy the track all proceeds go to Earth Hour, an ecological organization. So not only will you be rocking out to a cool tune, you'll also be helping to save Mother Earth. Check out all the links below, get into the Christmas spirit and do your part.
