New Music: The Preatures- Is This How You Feel? + Manic Baby

The Preatures are a another really good Australian group poised to take the other side of the world by storm. The Sydney five piece have just released a new EP titled Is This How You Feel?, which contain five songs of alt pop sugary bliss. Listen below to the title track which has lead singer Isabelle Manfredi doing her best Feist imitation and then watch the Scissor Sisters-like music video for the song "Manic Baby".

New Music: David Bowie- The Next Day + Music Video

Okay, the Catholic church is pissed at David Bowie because his music video for "The Next Day" doesn't depict their church in the right light. Bowie is an artist and he is not doing it right if he isn't creating controversy. He brings along the beautiful Marion Cotillard and Sid Vicious portrayer Gary Oldman for the ride. Bowie being awesome again!!! Watch below:

The Next Day is out now. Go get it, because it is good!!

Five Star Songs: The Dandy Warhols- Godless + News of a 13th Anniversary Reissue of Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia

Portland psychedelic alt rock band The Dandy Warhols released some of the finest LP's from the time around the turn of the century including ....The Dandy Warhols Come Down, Welcome To the Monkey House and their best album Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia. These guys were a welcome reprieve from the musical garbage of The Limp Bizkits and the Creeds et al who were polluting the airwaves in the era before The Strokes.

News came this week that the band have announced that they will be playing a tour to celebrate that classic 2000 album plus reissuing a special edition of the record (details to come). The Dandy's already did a mini tour around their hometown on March 27th, singing one song at thirteen different location in and around Portland. Now the group are about to embark on a tour of North America where they will play the album in full at each stop. They will be playing The Phoenix in Toronto on June 6th. Check here for all tour dates.

The song "Godless" was the third single featured from the album and probably the most understated track on the LP. The song features a surge of trumpets underlain with Courtney Taylor-Taylor's quiet vocals and a great mess of head swirling acoustic and electric guitar. Listen below:

New Music: David Bowie- Where Are We Now? + Music Video

Yes, I was one of those people that thought David Bowie had retired and that we would not hear any new music from him again. Surprise!! Surprise!!! the Thin White Duke has shocked us all by not only releasing a new song but announcing a whole new album. And it's Bowie's birthday. Fitting that his new track, Where are We Now? is him taking a retrospective look back at his Berlin years. Watch the freaky lyrics video for the song below:

There is no indication that Bowie will be touring this album or even doing press, which indicates that he will remain reclusive and semi retired.

Bowie's new album, The Next Day, is out March 11th via Columbia. 

Five Star Songs: Primal Scream- Swastika Eyes

My New Years Eve this (last) year was spent with a lot of beer, Scotch, champagne and eight hours of really cool music. I don't remember much about the latter parts of NYE, but I do know that when Primal Scream's Swastika Eyes came on the stereo it turned the night into hyperdrive.

The single is the first off PS's 1999 XTRMNTR album which, if I remember correctly, topped many music critics best of lists...and deservedly so. The album was heavily influenced by the rave music scene at the time and featured many guest stars including Bernard Sumner of New Order, Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine and the Chemical Brothers who did an fantastic remix of the featured song. At the time, Swastika Eyes was the most controversial and angriest thing that Primal Scream ever recorded. Surprisingly, the anti American government electro punk song actually made it to number 22 on the British Charts. Listen to the original album track and the Chemical Brothers remix below:

Primal Scream- Swastika Eyes
Primal Scream- Swastika Eyes (Chemical Brothers remix)

And in other Primal Scream news there is a new album in the works. PS leader Bobby Gillespie has stated that the new LP will come out some time before summer of this year and will have guest musicians Debbie Googe from My Bloody Valentine and Mark Stewart from The Pop Group. Kevin Shields will not be part of the new record and the group will also be missing Mani who has left to focus on the reunion of The Stone Roses.

Buy XTRMNTR on Amazon or check your local record store.

New Music: Foals- My Number

I was going to post Foals latest song, My Number, last night in one of the many, many lulls of last night's somewhat boring 12/12/12 concert , but when I went to stream the song the bastards had reset the YouTube clip to private. Does 24 hours make a difference? Apparently so, since every other music website and blog have already posted the song during the day, which now makes me late to the game. (Some people...like me.... have real jobs during the day). The groovy, funky break up song is less grungy than Inhaler, the first single from the new album, but it is definitely more danceable.

My Number will appear on Foals new album Holy Fire which will be released on February 12th via Warner.

New Music: Foals- Inhaler + Music Video

Totally psyched that Foals are returning in the new year with a brand new album. To tease us the band gave us their brand new single today, Inhaler, plus an accompanying NSFW music video. The new album, Holy Fire, was helmed by the tag team of Flood and Alan Moulder who are known for producing Depeche Mode, among others.

Inhaler is a lot more harder edged than their previous work, but the band still manages to maintain that funky math rock vibe.

The video features all sorts of pulmonary imagery including a topless girl with a painting of lungs on her chest and group of kids writhing on the ground and doing weird breathing exercises before they break into a big synchronized dance. Watch and listen below:

Holy Fire will be released on February 12th via Warner.

Favourite Songs: U2- The Unforgettable Fire

It is really easy to bash U2 these days, with subpar records and lead singer Bono trying to save the world,  it is easy to forget they were one of the greatest bands in the world at one time. A lot of modern day artists owe a debt of gratitude to U2. Without them, there would probably be no Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene and countless other bands.

My favourite record by U2 is The Unforgettable Fire. This was the first time that Brian Eno and his young understudy Daniel Lanois worked with the band and Eno's influence is all over the record. On the previous three albums that U2 released Steve Lillywhite had styled their music toward anthemic post punk with echo laden guitar and big drums. U2 couldn't do this sound forever and they needed to make a change, so they brought in Eno to make a more artistic sounding album. The transitional album got mixed reviews but those who love it, really love it. It is reported that Miles Davis asked that the album be played while he was on his death bed.

The title track, The Unforgettable Fire, was the fourth track and the second single off the album. The inspiration for the song was an art exhibit by survivors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The dark mysterious dream-like song is textured with soundscapes, ambient guitar, and a fade out featuring eerie violin strings. Watch a live version of the below via YouTube

The Unforgettable Fire was re-issued as a box set in 2009 and is available on Amazon or check your local record store.

New Music: The Joy Formidable- Cholla

The Joy Formidable have been busy lately. Not only did they release the title track to their forthcoming track Wolf's Law last week, they followed that up today with a second track called Cholla. The first single, Wolf's Law, was a much more subtler tune compared to the other songs in the band's discography, whereas Cholla is more akin to the music that was released on The Big Roar.

Take a listen below via Soundcloud.

The Joy Formidable will release their new album Wolf's Law some time in January.

New Music: The Joy Formidable- Wolf's Law + Music Video

When A Place To Bury Strangers came to Toronto last spring with headlining band The Joy Formidable, I was little apprehensive about seeing the featured group. Not sure why....I bought The Joy Formidable's vinyl album and have been a big fan of their music since being introduced to them while listening to British radio.

Was I in for a big surprise because the band were one of the most high energy groups I have ever seen. Pixie singer/guitarist Ritzy Bryan was a whirling dervish of fun riffing on her guitar and dancing around like a mad woman while drummer Matt Thomas was a real comedian and kept cracking jokes. The last show on the tour is always the best.

Now after a short turnaround The Joy Formidable have released a new single called Wolf's Law. The song is a ballad and is decidedly more low key than the power pop on their previous album The Big Roar.  Watch the video below.

Favourite Songs: The Sundays- Can't Be Sure

Unless you are half dead, you probably already know that the Olympics started the other day with the marathon, overly stuffy opening ceremonies. Even the queen looked like she was going to fall asleep as  athletes from every country in the world, including tin-pot dictatorships and South Pacific atolls, marched into the stadium. On top of that, Canadians had to endure CTV's blase coverage which consisted of Brian Williams blabbering geography lessons and political opinions that nobody cares about. I heard that NBC's coverage was even worse, with them cutting away from Danny Boyle's tribute of terror victims, to an interview that was given by Ryan Seacrest. Really!!! Ryan Seacrest?? Pathetic!!

Anyway, I will be cheering for the Canadian team like everyone else. I don't think the Canadians will win many medals. In Canada, there isn't the excitement around the Summer Olympics like there was around the Vancouver Winter Olympics where we won 14 gold medals. People in Toronto would much rather cheer for their favourite nation in the Euro Cup than cheer for their home country in The Olympics. The media do their best though, over-hyping Canadian athletes that probably won't even come close to winning a medal.

Watching the Olympics yesterday I noticed that there are some events taking place at Earl's Court arena in London's west end. This reminds me of a trip I took to Britain when I was 10 years old. Highlights of the trip included shopping at Harrod's, walking through a race riot in Cardiff, watching dumb people picnic in the lion area of a safari park, and seeing a Tattoo at Earl's Court. No, I am not talking about the ugly tramp stamps you will find on the back of suburban housewives. I mean the militaristic shit show with bagpipe bands, soldiers building and shooting cannons and special forces guys rappelling down ropes from the ceiling of the arena.

One of the good things about my trip to England was the fact it did not rain while I was there. I have heard stories that this one of worst summers for rain in Britain in recent memory. The third day of the games provided the inevitable rain that England is famous for. The lyrics in the song Can't Be Sure by The Sundays is a really good song to describe the mood in Britain at this time. The people of Britain are going to enjoy these Olympics games despite the economy, phone hacking scandals, weather etc.....

"England my country the home of the free, such miserable weather
But England's as happy as England can be
Why cry"

The Sundays are an English alternative band led by angelic voiced singer Harriet Wheeler. Best known in North America with their cover of the Rolling Stones classic Wild Horses which was featured in a Budweiser commercial. Can't Be Sure was the band's debut single in 1989. The song's lyrics basically mean to live life simply and that there are some things you can't change (like the weather). The band recorded three albums in the 90's and I don't think they officially broke up.

Download the song Can't Be Sure and buy the three Sunday albums on iTunes

Download: The Sundays- Can't Be Sure

Buy: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic on iTunes
Buy: Blind on iTunes
Buy: Static and Silence on iTunes

GO CANADA!!!!!

New Raveonettes Single

Danish Shoegazers the Raveonettes have released a new single called Observations. The single's sound indicates that nothing has changed much musically from their last few albums. Who is complaining....it is still Sharin Foo's beautiful voice backed by Sune Rose Wagner's jangly guitar.
The band have announced a new album called Observator to be released on September 11th. They have also announced a tour and will be at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto on October 2nd. I plan to be there!!!

Listen below


Raveonettes-Observations

Beach House Myth

Beach House is playing the Koolhaus in Toronto on Saturday October 13th and bought I tickets to see them today. Myth is one of my favourite songs of the year. Victoria LeGrand has a beautiful voice and it is really exemplified in this song.