New Music: Moon King- Appel

One day after brother Airick released his Doldrums album Lesser Evils, brother Daniel Benjamin (Woodhead) will not be outdone with the announcement today that he and partner Maddy Wilde, aka Moon King,will put out the follow up to their Obsession I  EP in April. The duo have stated they have expanded their sound on the new EP, aptly titled Obsession II, and they prove that with their newest track, "Appel," which features more of a dream pop sound than what they had on their original EP. Download the song below:

Obsessions II will be out on Record Store Day, April 20th, via One Big Silence.

For fans of  Cocteau Twins, Lush

New Music: Priests- Radiation

Very angry, very anti corporate and very anti television track from DC post punk band Priests. The  irate voice you hear in their new track "Radiation" is that of Katie Alice Greer who also spends time in the band Chain and the Gang.

The intense spoken song sees Greer angrily screaming about the evils of corporate branding and the emergence of television screens everywhere you go. The track builds over a slow drum beat until the intensity peaks with the ireful chorus  "Now I'm worried about radiation," and then ends with a wall of screeching guitars. Listen below:

For Fans of X-Ray Spex, Chain and the Gang

New Music: Cold Cave- Oceans With No End + Other New Music and News

This is a little bit ill timed because of the death of former member Justin Benoit, but Cold Cave has shared the title track from his new Oceans With No End EP. Life goes on......

Cold Cave front man Wesley Eisold played all of the instruments on the mini album which results in his now familiar sound of sparkling synth and distorted guitars. Listen below:

Oceans With No End will be out very, very soon via Deathwish.

Cold Cave- Oceans With No End

Yeah Yeah Yeahs seem to shooting for the stars with "Sacrilege", the epic first track taken from their upcoming new album Mosquito. The blues rock number even makes use of a gospel choir. Listen below:

Mosquito will be available April 16th via Interscope.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Sacrilege

Psychic Twin have dropped the B Side to their great new 7" inch for "Strangers". And guess what? The flip side song " Dream State" is every bit as good as the A side. Listen below:




Diplo's crazy dancehall reggae project Major Lazer have finally announced a release date for their new LP. The group recently signed to Secretly Canadian and that afforded them to finally ready the album, Free The Universe,"for an April 15th release. Listen to the first track "Watch Out for This (Bumaye)" [ft. Busy Signal, the Flexican & FS Green]




Best Coast have released a teaser for their special Record Store release single "Fear Of My Identity". RSD is on 4/20 this year so light up a spliff and enjoy:

Best Coast- Fear Of My Identity

The Academy Awards got it right when they selected "Searching For Sugar Man" for best documentary. Rodriguez is a brilliant musician with a very interesting back story. The movie is out on DVD now. Go watch it!!!

Rodriguez- Sugar Man

Toronto music festival NXNE has announced an initial list of bands playing this year's instalment which takes place June 10th to the 16th. They always get one major band to play the Saturday free showcase at Yonge/Dundas Square and this year is no exception. Following in the footsteps of Iggy & The Stooges, Devo and The Flaming Lips, The National will do the honour of playing a free gig on Saturday June 15th.

Other cool artists that have been announced so far are Iceage, Milk Music, Mikal Cronin and Merchandise. Check out the list here and look for over 600+ more acts to be added.

The National- Conversation 16

And how could I forget about David Bowie. The Thin White Duke has come out with another track, with accompanying video, from his upcoming new album The Next Day. The clip for "The Stars (Are Out Tonight),” is directed by Toronto girl Floria Sigismondi, and features a perfectly cast Tilda Swinton who's thinness and ginger hair make her the perfect choice to play Bowie not only in this video but also in a biopic of the singer. Watch below:

New Music: Still Corners- Berlin Love

Synth love from London based duo Still Corners. Their new hypnotic single, "Berlin Love", is taken from their forthcoming new album Strange Pleasures which is out May 7th via Sub Pop. Download the dreamy track below:

New Music: Decades- Tonight Again

Decades are another great up and coming band from Toronto, aka my hometown. The group have so far only released one 7" back in 2012, but they have been busy and are set to put out their debut album in April. They recorded with producer/engineer Alex Bonenfant (METZ/Diamond Rings/Crystal Castles) so you know the record is going to be good.

"Tonight Again" is the debut track from the LP and features a mix of garagey post punk guitars and punk rock shrieks. The song starts out as a slow melancholic ballad that builds and builds and eventually ends up as a shouting punk rock heartbreaker. Listen to the track below:

Decades’ self-titled album is out April 30th via White Girl Records.

For fans of The Vaccines, The Horrors, Crystal Antlers.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Gives Away Free EP + Other Music News

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will be releasing their sixth studio album, Specter At The Feast, on March 19th and to celebrate the band are giving away a free EP. The EP, which is available now at the band's website, contains two songs and a live track.

"Let The Day Begin" was originally recorded by The Call, whose frontman, Michael Been, is the dad of BRMC lead singer of Robert Levon Been. The other songs on the EP are "Returning" and a live version of the latter track.

Download for the price of giving up your E-mail address over at blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com.



This post was originally written on Friday but through a technical difficulty with Blogger all the the information was erased before I got  a chance to publish. 

Frightened Rabbit debuted a new video last week for their track "Backyard Skulls" from Pedestrian Verse. Watch as the band play to an almost empty school auditorium.

Frightened Rabbit- Backyard Skulls

Not really a big fan of the noise punk band The Men, but this track is pretty good. It rocks like Neil Young and Crazy Horse. "I Saw Her Face" is from the forthcoming new album, New Moon, out March 5th via Sacred Bones.

The Men- I Saw Her Face

Ex-Das Racist rapper Heems has put out a video for his shoegaze inspired track "Desi Shoegaze Taiko". The clip is not very original as it just shows the opening scene from the movie Blade, but the song is pretty cool.

Heems- Desi Shoegaze Taiko

Entertainment Weekly reported last week that Martin Gore of Depeche Mode is working on a song with R&B songsmith Frank Ocean for his next album. Apparently Ocean is a big fan of DM. Read more on EW"s website which also includes an extensive interview with Gore.

Depeche Mode- Master & Servant
Frank Ocean- Pyramids

Sad to hear that one time Cold Cave musician Justin Benoit passed away last week. The announcement was made on the band's Facebook page which you can read here. No cause of death was given.

Cold Cave- Love Comes Close

NME featured another episode of one it's excellent Song Stories segments. Watch as Brett Anderson and Matt Osman of Suede discuss the writing and recording of their classic song "Animal Nitrate".

Five Star Songs: The High Numbers- Zoot Suit

Before The Who became The Who and grew into one of the biggest hard rock bands in the world they were known for a few months in 1964 as The High Numbers. They released one single, "I'm The Face/Zoot Suit", under The High Numbers moniker before changing to their now infamous name.

Zoot Suit is the more original song on the single but it was still a rip off of an old song called "Country Fool" by an old R&B group called The Showmen. Of course this was the original mod era and this track was perfect for that time with lyrics that reference Ivy League jackets, inch wide ties and brogue shoes. Listen below:

The High Numbers- Zoot Suit

Saturday's Record: Close Lobsters- What Is There To Smile About

Nice find at the used record store. #NowPlaying Close Lobsters- What is There To Smile About.

Great Scottish indie pop in the same vein as Orange Juice, The Wedding Present and the Trash Can Sinatras.

New Music: Keep Shelly In Athens- Madmen Love

Greek synth pop duo Keep Shelly In Athens are finally going to release their debut album later this year and to tide us over the couple have put out a dark dreamy new single titled "Madmen Love" (No the song is not about the TV Show). This song is the first new material the duo have put out in over a year (not counting that beautiful collaboration they did with The New Division) and it sounds like they have evolved from their chillwave beginnings. Listen to the pulsating new song below:

Keep Shelly In Athens have recently signed to Cascine and will release their new album some time this summer.

For fans of Teen Daze, James Blake, Air France

No Joy Release A Little Bit Of Happiness + Other New Music & News

Montreal indie gazing band No Joy seems to have done a 180 degree sound shift on this new track off of their forthcoming new album. There is still a hint of shoegaze, but they have traded in their wall of sound grunge for  much cleaner sounding dream pop- at least it sounds that way on their new track "Lunar Phobia".

The band were originally supposed to record their new LP, Wait To Pleasure, with the Raveonettes Sune Rose Wagner, but that never materialized and No Joy decided to work with Jorge Elbrecht (Chairlift). The result is a lot more keyboard and pianos, much cleaner production and an overall much more happier sounding group. At this rate they may have to change their name. Listen to "Lunar Phobia" below:

Wait To Pleasure is out April 23rd via Mexican Summer

No Joy- Lunar Phobia


Lots of new music, videos and news from the first few days of the week including:

French alt pop band Phoenix finally released a preview from their new album this week. "Entertainment" sees the band progress in to more anthemic territory as they try to equal the popularity of Coldplay and Mumford & Sons. Much better than those bands though. Listen below:

Phoenix will release Bankrupt on April 23rd via Glassnote.

Phoenix- Entertainment

Primal Scream finally made it official that they have recorded a new album after hinting about it for several weeks. Surprise!!! Kevin Shields does make a guest appearance, playing guitar on the lead single, "2013" Watch the creepy video for the track below:

The album is titled More Light and will be out in May.

Primal Scream- 2013

Young Galaxy have released a second track from their upcoming new album. Listen to "Fall For You" from Ultramarine which will be released on April 23rd.




Doldrums is streaming his new album, Lesser Evil, over at Pitchfork Advance. You can also download the song "Golden Calf" from the album below:




Listen to the title track, " Hit The Waves'',  from Swedish indie poppers The Mary Onettes new album. The LP will be out on March 12th.




Bat for Lashes has released a new video from her excellent The Haunted Man LP. Watch the Where The Wild Things inspired clip for "Lilies" below:

Bat For Lashes- Lilies

Jangle rockers DIIV keep on rolling and have put out a video for their Oshin track "Wait" which features a cast of indie girls, including 'it girl" Sky Ferreira. Watch the NSFW video below

DIIV- Wait

The Juno Awards nominations were announced yesterday and with it the usual parade of awful bands and singers. There are some bright spots amongst the deadwood, mostly in the Alternative and Electronic categories, including nods to Metric, Grimes, Purity Ring, Japandroids, Daphni and Crystal Castles. See the full list here:

Metric- Breathing Underwater

Jack White was named Record Store Day Ambassador. Watch a video of his acceptance over at the Record Store Day website and also read his diatribe about all things impersonal.

Jack White- Freedom at 21

Last week we told you about a new Music Festival happening in Toronto in the first week of July called The Toronto Urban Roots Festival. They have announced a few more artists that will take part including Belle & Sebastien, Neko Case, Flogging Molly and The Joel Plaskett Emergency. More acts will be annouced throughout February and March.

Belle & Sebastian- Another Sunny Day
Neko Case- Deep Red Bells

Robbie Furze has announced through his band's Facebook page that Milo Cordell has left The Big Pink. Cordell will leave to concentrate on his up and coming record label, Merok, while Robbie Furze has confirmed he will continue to work on the new Big Pink album.

The Big Pink- Crystal Visions

Finally, another week, another rock 'n roll death. This time the founding member, singer and bassist Kevin Ayers of the legendary 60's psychedelic band, The Soft Machine, has passed away. The singer died in his sleep last night at the age of 68.

Soft Machine- Moon In June

New Music: The Ocean Blue- Sad Night, Where Is Morning?

After a long hiatus, veteran Pennsylvania indie rock band The Ocean Blue are back with music from their first new album to be released in 13 years. "Sad Night, Where is Morning" is a preview of their new LP, Ultramarine, which will released on March 19th via Korda Records. Listen to the beautiful shimmering track below:

For fans of New Order, The Smiths, REM

New Music: Implodes- Scattered In The Wind

Listen to Chicago band Implodes and their soaring post rock and reverb friendly new track "Scattered in the Wind."

From their new LP, Recurring Dream, out April 1st on Kranky.

New Music: Nü Sensae- Throw

Vancouver punkers Nü Sensae will release their first new music since they added guitarist Brody McKnight and expanded to a trio. The vicious screaming lyrics and thumping drum and bass are still present on "Throw", but now with the addition of McKnight's ferocious guitar this band now sounds almost scary. Pretty good though!!! Listen below:

The song will be the B side on split 7' limited release that will also feature a song titled Derek's Song by label mates The Coathangers . The single will be available soon through Suicide Squeeze.

New Music: Dream Affair- From Now On

Dream Affair are an indie band from Philadelphia who specialize in the darkest reaches of post punk music.  The band formed when they were teenagers in 2009 and already have one release under their belt and are about to come out with another new EP, From Now On, at the end of the month.

The EP contains six great songs of shimmering guitars, dark vocals and icy synths that produces a gothic desolate soundscape. Listen to the title track "From Now On" below:

From Now On will be available for digital download on February 26th, 2013 and on vinyl April 9th, 2013 via new Toronto record label Artificial Records.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 1st- Montreal: Katacombes

March 2nd- Toronto: Double Double Land

March 15th- Austin: SXSW- Soho Lounge

For fans of The Soft Moon, Black Marble, Joy Division 

New Music: Comanechi- Patsy + Dream Of Dream

London noise rock band Comanechi are back and as depraved as ever. The recently expanded group led by former Big Pink drummer Keex just released their new album You Owe Me Nothing But Love on Valentine's Day and as expected it is a really good clusterfuck of an album.

The high point of the album is the seven minute soaring song titled "Patsy", which sees singer Akiko (Keex) Matsuura at her miscreant best singing about incestual affairs and exposing herself to strangers.  Beware: this grungy, debauched song isn't for everyone. Listen to the track plus the much tamer first single "Dream Of Dream" below:

You Owe Me Nothing But Love is out now on Tigertrap Records. You can stream the full album over at Dazed Digital.

For fans of Metz, Pre, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan

Five Star Songs: The Mighty Wah!- Come Back

"Come Back" is one of those songs that you don't hear for years and years and all of the sudden it appears out of nowhere and you say to yourself "Shit, I remember that song!!!"

The song was written by Pete Wylie of the British new wave band The Mighty Wah!, also known as Wah!, Wah Heat!, and several other different band name variations with the name Wah. Wylie was one of those under the radar musicians in Britain who didn't get too much exposure but worked with a lot of bigger, well known musicians. In fact, before he formed Wah! he was in a band called Crucial Three which featured Ian McCulloch (Echo & The Bunnymen) and Julian Cope (The Teardrop Explodes). Wylie might be better known for his collaboration he did later in his career with a band called The Farm and their song "Sinful! (Scary Jiggin' With Dr Love)"

In 1984 "Come Back" was chosen as single of the year by legendary late BBC Radio DJ John Peel. Like Mark E. Smith and The Fall, Wylie and his band were one of those acts Peel liked to promote and proclaimed that the song will "knock your socks off." As usual he was right. Listen below:

"Come Back" is on the LP A Word To The Wise which you can find on Amazon or if you are lucky at a local record store.

Warning.......This music video may contain bad 80's hair styles.

Saturday's Record: Bat For Lashes- The Haunted Man

Imported all the way from the UK. #NowPlaying Bat For Lashes- The Haunted Man #vinyl

Watch a couple of different versions of The Haunted Man songs below

New Music: The Strokes- All The Time + Other Recent Releases and Music News

"All The Time" is the second track to be released from the upcoming new Strokes' album Comedown Machine. While the synth heavy a-Ha-like first song from the LP, "One Way Trigger", was a bit of a head scratcher, the second track is a garage pop/indie rock barn burner that recreates the sound of their debut album. Now that's more like it!! Listen below:

Comedown Machine is out March 26th via RCA.




Other Goings Ons From The Week That Was:

Wild Nothing shared a new video for the track "Only Heather" from his great 2012 release Nocturne. Watch the video of a guy walking down the street with a large sword impaled through his body.

Wild Nothing- Only Heather

Foals came out with a video for the song "Milk and Black Spiders" taken from their awesome new album Holy Fire. The video features the band rehearsing and we get to spy on them through CCTV.

Foals- Milk and Black Spiders

Celebrity cameo of the week goes to Passion Pit for their new video for the track "Carried Away" from Gossamer. Sophia Bush from the TV show One Tree Hill guest stars.

Passion Pit- Carried Away

Darkwave band Black Marble have shared a new video for A Great Design off their 2012 album A Different Arrangement. Watch as a kidnapping goes wrong...errr... right.

Black Marble- A Great Design

Legendary folk punk troubadour Billy Bragg has a new LP coming out on March 19th titled Tooth and Nails. Watch the video for the country-ish "Nobody Knows Anymore":

Billy Bragg- Nobody Knows Anymore

British/New Zealand post punk band The Veils have announced a new album and released the first single "Through The Deep Dark Wood.". The album is titled Time Goes, We Stay and will be out April 23rd. Watch the video for the new track below:

The Veils- Through The Deep Dark Wood

Just because I don't post about hip hop, it doesn't mean I don't appreciate the genre. R.I.P. Tim Dog. The legendary hip hop artist died this week from a seizure.

Tim Dog- Fuck Compton

Finally, watch as guitarist Johnny Marr talks to NME about the The Smiths' classic song "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and performs it for the first time in 25 years.

New Music: Pure X- Things In My Head

Texas dreamy indie rock trio Pure X announced a new album titled Crawling Up The Stairs earlier this week and with it comes the downcast first track, "Things In My Head".

The band have stated that they are staying true to the dense sound they explored on their last album, but have added twinkling atmospherics and a new clarity to their carefully cultivated, emotionally heavy songs. Download the new single below:

Crawling Up The Stairs will be out May 14th via Acéphale Records/Merok.

For fans of Women, Minks.

New Music: !!! (Chk Chk Chk)- Slyd

Everybody's favourite dance band-who's name are punctuation marks-are back with a brilliant new tune from their forthcoming new album. !!! (Chk Chk Chk) have indicated that their new LP, THRI!!ER will be their high water mark and judging by the first single, Slyd, they are well on their way. Listen to the track below and head over to the band's website for a free download of the song.

THRI!!LER will be out April 30th on Warp.

For fans of The Juan MacLean, Fujiya & Miyagi, YACHT

New Music: Hibou- Glow

Hibou is the brainchild of Seattle musician Peter Michel, who is also the drummer of west coast indie rock band Craft Spells.  Listen to his debut, Glow, which takes the jangle rock of DIIV and turns into a dreamy summer soundtrack.

For fans of DIIV, Beach Fossils, Craft Spells.

New Music: British Sea Power- Machineries Of Joy + Other Recent Releases And Music News

Hard to believe but British anthemic indie rock band British Sea Power are about to release their 5th full length album, Machineries of Joy. The band announced today that the follow up to 2010's Valhalla Dancehall will be out on April 9th via Rough Trade. The album was produced by Dan Smith (The Clash)  and Ken Thomas (David Bowie, PiL, The Cocteau Twins). Listen to the title track below:

British Sea Power- Machineries of Joy

Soulful dubstep producer James Blake last week announced a new album and premiered his new single, Retrograde, on BBC Radio1. Now he has released the excellent song in a proper format with accompanying video. Blake's new album, Overgrown, will come out April 8th via Republic.

James Blake- Retrograde

Also announcing a new album this week is Philly indie singer songwriter Kurt Vile. The new LP is titled Wakin on a Pretty Daze and will be released on April 9th via Matador. Listen to the 9 minute epic first single, "Wakin on a Pretty Day":

Kurt Vile- Wakin On A Pretty Day

And another new album announcement from Portland indie rock band The Thermals. The new LP is titled Desperate Ground and will be out April 16th on Saddle Creek. Stream the first single, "Born To Kill":

The Thermals- Born To Kill

The celebration continues for the forthcoming reissue of the great Postal Service LP Give Up. The duo of Ben Gibbard and DNTL will be coming out with two brands new songs for the reissue. Listen to the first one, "A Tattered Line of String", which features special guest Jenny Lewis. Give Up will be re-released April 8th via Sub Pop.

Postal Service- A Tattered Line of String

Mystery surrounds a new music festival in Toronto set for four nights on the evenings between July 4th to July 7th. All we know is that it will be called the Toronto Urban Roots Festival, it will take place at Fort York and two bands (so far) will be playing. Today the festival finally got a website, and including the previously announced She & Him and Camera Obscura, the festival promises 30 acts in total. Very curious about who else will be added to the line up.

Camera Obscura- Forest & Sands

Awesome news of the day!!! Bobs Burgers is one of my favourite TV shows and it was revealed today that both St. Vincent and Stephen Merritt will make appearances on the cartoon comedy. Watch St. Vincent play a cover of "Bad Girl" from an upcoming episode.

New Music: Fonda- She Is Real + Music Video

Here is a really nice song just in time for Valentine's Day. "She Is Real" is courtesy of dreamy Los Angeles indie pop band Fonda, best known for writing the theme song to the original Spy Kids movie. The romantic video for the track, and it's scenes of a warm California evening, is a great one to snuggle up to with a loved one on a cold February evening.

Taken from the album Sell Your Memories, out now on Minty Fresh Records.

For fans of Ummagma, Darling Buds, Her Vanished Grace.

New Music: Youth Lagoon- Mute

No sophomore let down from Mr. Trevor Powers. If the first two tracks released from Youth Lagoon's upcoming new album are any indication, it just might be one of the best records released in this early new year. We've already heard the pop eccentricity of Dropla and now Powers has dropped a six minute epic full of dreamy instrumentation and wonderous tempo shifts.

Youth Lagoon's new album, Wondrous Bughouse, is out March 5th via Fat Possum.

New Music: Solar Year- Magic Idea + Music Video

Jamie Harley might be the best music video director going these days. The man has worked extensively with bands like Memoryhouse, How to Dress Well, Twin Shadow and Keep Shelly In Athens, making some of the most brilliant cutting edge music videos from the last few years. Here he takes slow motion visuals from a music festival, with a sea of thousands of ecstatic fans, and backs it with the laid back heavenly synths of Montreal's Solar Years' track "Magic Idea". Somehow the visuals and audio create a perfect symmetry that will leave the viewer in  hypnotic euphoria.

For fans of Grimes, Youth Lagoon, Jacques Green.

Music Video: Ummagma- Human Factor

Aural Report favourite dream pop couple Ummagma have just released a new video for their track "Human Factor" from their excellent 2012 self titled album.

Since we last posted on the Ukrainian/Canadian couple the pair have had a fair amount of success and even recently went to Number 3 with "Human Factor" on the Scottish New Music charts. They have also been featured in a Rolling Stone Russia article and are collaborating with The Blog That Celebrates Itself Records.

As you may recall Ummagma are influenced by a lot of different music styles and both of their albums that were released last year, Ummagma and Antigravity, have an eclectic mix of sounds that stretch from shoegaze, to prog rock to ambient. "Human Factor" is a good example of variant sounds on the album, as the track has a slight psychedelic feel but does not lose any of the duo's dream pop signature style.

The music video was directed by graphic designer Dimitry Uziel, with the assistance of The Blog That Celebrates Itself, and features some trippy backward footage along with gymnasts performing in silhouette. Check it out above.

For more information on Ummagma you can check them out at their new website ummagma.com and don't forget that their albums are available for streaming on their bandcamp site. As well, watch out for a remix competition from the band in the coming weeks.

Five Star Songs: Morrissey- The Last Of The Famous International Playboys

It wasn't all doom and gloom news this week if you are a fan of former Smiths frontman Morrissey. As Moz was recovering in a Michigan hospital from a bleeding ulcer, word came out on Thursday that he will be reissuing the 1991 seminal album Kill Uncle along with a special release of his treasured 1989 single "The Last of The Famous International Playboys".

The single will be reissued in three different versions including a picture 7" vinyl, CD single and digital single. The great thing about the reissued track is that all three versions will include new Morrissey songs that were recorded live at the BBC in 2011. Collect all three and you will get the new tracks "People Are The Same Everywhere" with the vinyl, "Action Is My Middle Name" with the CD, and "The Kid's A Looker" with the download.

Something just as cool that was planned for the reissue of "The Last of The Famous International Playboys" was the single's new artwork. Apparently Morrissey wanted to use a private picture that was taken with himself and David Bowie in 1991 on the sleeve of the single. However, Bowie wouldn't give permission and ordered Morrissey and EMI UK not to use the photograph.

"The Last Of The Famous International Playboys" was originally released in 1989 in the long period between his first and second albums. The track was produced by long time Morrissey collaborator Stephen Street and went to # 6 on the British charts. The darkly humorous tune is an ode to his idols, The Kray Brothers, who were notorious twin British gangsters who were, at the time, locked up in a London jail.  (There is a great movie about the Krays starring Martin and Gary Kemp from the band Spandau Ballet-Find it and watch it!!) The lyrics of the track are written in a way of a fan club letter and reflect the devotion of his own fan's adoration for himself and his music.

"The Last Of The Famous International Playboys" and Kill Uncle reissues will be released on April 8th via Parlophone. Kill Uncle will come out on both CD and vinyl with new artwork plus bonus tracks "Pashernate Love", a Herman's Hermits cover "East West", and a live version of "There's a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends".

New Music: Dead Gaze- I Found The Ending

Dead Gaze is the project of Mississippi DIY artist Cole Furlow, who is part of the Cats Purring collective which has also helped given birth to artists such as Dent May and Bass Drum of Death. Furlow has just released a new track, "I Found The Ending", which is a mix of garage and psychedelia with a hint of synth that turns the track into a great piece of dream pop. Listen below and go over to the Dead Gaze Facebook page for a free download in exchange for a "like".

For fans of Bass Drum of Death, Vex Ruffin.

Jack White Collaborates With A Butthole Surfer + Other Great New Music From This Past Week

The busiest man in rock & roll, Jack White, continues to find interesting recording partners for his Third Man Blue Series singles. This time he has recorded with former 90's psychedelic rock singer Gibby Haynes of Butthole Surfers fame. The pair have teamed up to record two original songs, "You Don't Have to Be Smart and "Horse Named George", plus a cover of the hardcore punk band Adrenalin O.D.'s "Paul's Not Home". Listen to fun track below:

The single will be released on Valentine's Day, February 14th, via Third Man Records.

A lot of other great music releases from the week including three great Swedish synth pop tracks and a couple of good shoegazing tunes:

Frightened Rabbit released a music video starring a Jesus look-alike dude for a new track titled "Today's Cross". The song is a B Side to the single "The Woodpile".

Frightened Rabbit- Today's Cross

San Francisco dream pop/shoegaze band Young Prisms debuted a music video for their song "Runner". The song is from their excellent  2012 album, In Between.

Young Prisms- Runner

Toronto shoegaze collective Beliefs have also released a music video for their new song "Violets". The track is taken from the band's upcoming eponymous debut LP.

Beliefs- Violets

Another great song from shoegazing singer/songwriter Rachel Zeffira. Stream her newest "The Deserters" below and watch out for her new album, also titled The Deserters, out March 12th.




Young Dreams have shared a track off of their new LP, Between Places, which is out March 5th. Listen to "First Days of Something":




Swedish producer Lust For Youth has shared a magical new synth pop single titled "Chasing The Light".




The Swedish band Shout Out Louds have shared another new track from their new LP, Optica, which will be out on February 27th. Listen to "Illusions"




Mike Diaz, aka MillionYoung, has shared the title track off of his upcoming new LP, which is out February 12th. Download "Variable" below:




Finally, disheartening news today about School of Seven Bells' Benjamin Curtis. He has been diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma cancer. The news was posted by SVIIB's Alejandra Deheza on the band's Facebook page earlier today. You can read it here. Get well soon Benjamin!!!

School of Seven Bells- Put Your Sad Down

New Music: CHVRCHES- Recover

2012 buzz band CHVRCHES (Formerly Churches) are back with a new track and have also announced a new EP that will be released in March.  The Scottish trio had a blog hit last year with their   synthy great track The Mother We Share and now they keep the pop goodness going with their new song Recover. The highly melodious tune features the saccharin sweet voice of Lauren Mayberry backed by icy cold synths that cascade throughout the track as she sings of giving a lover "one more chance."

CHVRCHES new EP, Recover, will be released on March 26th via Glassnote.

CHVRCHES will be touring North America in March, making several stops including SXSW in Austin on the 15th and at Canadian Music Fest  in Toronto on March 20. Check your local listings for all tour dates.

For fans of Purity Ring, Phantogram.

New Music: Psychic Twin- Strangers

Psychic Twin is the alias of songstress Erin Fein and instrumentalist Brett Sanderson , a duo who make gorgeous inspired 80's new wave synth pop. The unusual recording for Strangers finds Fein harmonizing over her own voice creating competing vocals that duel with each other leaving in it's wake a hauntingly beautiful song. Listen below:

Strangers will be released on 7" and will be released on March 5th via Polyvinyl.

For fans of Julia Holter, Nite Jewel, M83.

New Music: Elephant- Skyscraper

Elephant singer Amelia Rivera sounds like her voice is soaring to the sky in the appropriately named Skyscraper from the duo's upcoming debut album. The couple of Rivera and Christian Pinchbeck are seemingly starting over after a break up in 2012, and it sounds like the chemistry between the two have returned as well. Think Beach House if they were fronted by Madeline Follin instead of Victoria Legrand and you have the gist of this song. Listen and/or download below:

For fans of Cults, Beach House

New Music: Fan-Tan- Window + Music Video

Gazey new music from Brooklyn three piece post punk band Fan-Tan. These guys are heavily influenced by the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Gang of Four and The Jesus & Mary Chain and you can certainly here the sounds of those bands on this track.

The silly video takes us back to the heyday of post punk with scenes of ancient computers, stoner kids and of images Ronny Raygun. Watch below:

Fan-Tan will release their new LP, A Strange Game, sometime in March via Goodnight Records.

For fans of My Bloody Valentine, Killing Joke, The Chameleons.

MBV Release New Album (Finally) + Other New Music Releases and News

If you haven't heard the news yet (you might be living on the moon), 90's shoegaze genius Kevin Shields and his band My Bloody Valentine have finally, after 22 years, put the finishing touches on their new album m.b.v. The album was released on midnight Saturday (UK time) on their website and after initial problems due to their website crashing, I was finally able to download and listen the LP before midnight (EST). The album is absolutely spectacular and should be deemed mandatory listening for all shoegaze fans.. You can purchase the the album here or listen to the entire record on youtube.

My Bloody Valentine- She Found Now

And speaking of My Bloody Valentine, up and coming Canadian/British artist Rachel Zeffira has recorded a  beautiful acoustic cover of MBV's To Here Knows When for her debut album The Deserters which will be released on March 12th. See the studio recorded video for the track below:

Rachel Zeffira- To Here Knows When

Suede share a new track and video: Watch It Starts and End With You is from their upcoming album, Bloodsports, which is out in March. Watch below:

Suede- It Starts and Ends With You

80's synth pop legends Depeche Mode share a new track and video: Heaven is from the band's forthcoming LP, Delta Machine, out March 26th

Depeche Mode- Heaven

Another great 80's synth pop band Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark share a new track, and music video plus announce a world tour that includes a stop in Toronto on July 11th. Atomic Ranch is taken from the LP English Electric which comes out April 9th.

OMD- Atomic Ranch

Former goth king Nick Cave shares a new video for the track Jubilee Street. The video is directed by Cave's friend John Hillcoat and features English bad ass actor Ray Winstone. The track appears on The Bad Seeds new album Push The Sky Away which is out February 19th.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- Jubilee Street

British indie rock band Coves share a great new song and video:

Coves- Last Desire

Tame Impala psychedelic side project POND share a new track: The band have a new album coming out this spring titled Hobo Rocket.



New York indie rock band Caveman share a new track from sophomore LP. In The City will appear on the band's new s/t album, out April 2nd via Fat Possum.


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Finally. so sorry to here about the death of Troggs lead singer Reg Presley. The frontman died today at the age of 71 after suffering from lung cancer. This song is awesome:

The Troggs- I Can't Control Myself

New Music: Alpine- Gasoline

Fantastic new track from Australian indie pop band Alpine. Gasoline really loads on the sugar sweet vocals courtesy of singer Phoebe Baker, plus when they add in some shimmering synths and poppy guitar struts it provides the perfect song to cheer you up in the cold dark depths of winter. Listen below:

Alpine will release their debut album, A Is For Alpine, on May 21st via Votiv.

For fans of Cardigans, Metric, Cults.

Five Star Songs: Sonic Youth- Superstar

It's no secret that I am a sports fans. Hockey, baseball and sometimes football are my favourite sports and like a lot of people I will be glued to the TV to watch today's Super Bowl. One thing I will not be watching is the celebrity shit show known as the Halftime Show. I am not a fan of Top 40 lip syncing pop stars whose appearance and personal branding are more important than their art.

Instead of Beyonce´, a better selection for today would be Sonic Youth's cover of the classic song Superstar. There are umpteen versions of this songs by a multitude of artists, including The Carpenters who charted the highest with the track, but this is the coolest rendition. Listen below: 

Here is hoping all of the Super Bowl's superstar plays are on Baltimore's side this year. Go Ravens!!!

Saturday's Record: Handsome Furs- Face Control

 Handsome Furs- Face Control #NowPlaying

New Music: Sunshine- Showering With Wine + Music Video

Sunshine are a new band from Vancouver who make great swooning twee gaze indie pop. The band just released a really cute video for their latest track Showering With Wine that features Batman and Superman getting drunk and making out. Watch below:

Sunshine have enlisted some heavy hitters to help on their new self titled album that is due out February 26th. Sune Wagner Rose of The Raveonettes makes a guest appearance along with members of The New Pornographers and Morrissey's band.

For fans of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Raveonettes.