As you may have noticed, we’ve been a little weak with the content this week. You get our sincere apologies. It’s been a busy few weeks for all of the Dicks and we’re slowly finishing up the circle laps we’ve been swimming. We’ll keep this short and simple: There are huge things happening musically and this week has been pretty active. This week’s list includes some of the best tracks we’ve been hearing of late. In the meantime, make sure to:
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This Week’s Track List
James Vincent McMorrow – If I Had a Boat – This one popped into our submission dropbox earlier this week. James Vincent McMorrow’s gentle croon is easy to like here. His debut album drops on February 26th in Ireland and there’s certainly a unique mix of brooding folk and drenching soulful vocal delivery. Check out his myspace page HERE, and look further into his music. There’s a distinct maturity that unfolds upon multiple listens.
James Vincent McMorrow – If I Had a Boat
Future Islands – Tin Man – The fine folks at Thrill Jockey just sent over the upcoming Future Islands album, In Evening Air, which is set to be released on May 4th. This first downloadable track, “Tin Man” bursts into your ears with heavily chopped percussion and snarling vocals. Since we’ve just received the album, we don’t have much to report here, other than that this first track has pushed the album up in our listening pile. Check out the band’s website HERE and stay tuned for more.
AB and the Sea – Bone Dry – We stumbled upon AB and the Sea during our recent research on The Morning Benders. This Bay Area band is locked and loaded and “Bone Dry” is being offered for free download for registering on the band’s website. Check out the embedded link below and snag this track. It’s loyally honest and sincere. It’s ear candy for a lazy Sunday morning. The band is releasing 5 free singles and using an interesting “unlock” strategy to get folks to embed the widget on their sites. Well, damn. I’m a sucker. When enough people download “Bone Dry, they’ll unlock the second track. This process continues until all five free tracks are released. Check out the band’s website HERE for more information and to catch the next four singles.
Epstein – A Lost Animal – Roberto Carlos Lange goes by quite a few names, most recently Helado Negro, and we absolutely loved his 2009 output. Also going by Epstein, Lange is hard at work again with a two brand new full lengths on the way, the first being When a Man is Full, He Falls Asleep, due out March 9th. Additionally, the entire back catalog of his inspired 10 year career will be released for the first time to US store shelves. This just popped into our email recently, so we’ll spend some time with the new album and write again soon. In the meantime, enjoy the album’s closing track, “A Lost Animal,” and give us your thoughts. To me, there’s something incredibly magnetic going on here. Check out the Asthmatic Kitty website for more information regarding these releases.
Epstein – A Lost Animal (Featuring School of Seven Bells)
Annuals – Loxtep – We had the chance to sit down with Annuals when they rolled through Cleveland in the dead winter of 2009. When caught in a live setting, this North Carolinian sextet projects enough sound to blow out most arenas. The tiny Grog Shop atmosphere was, needless to say, restricting. We’ve been patiently waiting for the next project, and it seems to be close on the horizon. “Loxtep” is part of an EP named Sweet Sister that will be released on March 30th. Their 2009 LP Such Fun was quietly one of the better albums of the year. We’re excited to hear the newest material. Even if it’s just five songs, it should be enough to tide the old fans over and provide a taste for those just diving in.
Follow That Bird – The Ghosts that Wake You – We picked this one up (via You Ain’t No Picasso) and did a little digging afterwards. We’re fans of the straight-laced rocking energy this track. They’ve recently done a lounge act at WOXY and you can snag that session by going to The Futurist.
Follow That Bird – The Ghosts That Wake You
Broken Social Scene – World Sick – We don’t have this one linked up for you to download. You’ll have to go to the band’s website and sign up with your email. However, is this a difficult thing to decide? The seminal band is primed for the new LP release and is offering this one up to those who register with the site. We’re stoked to head up to Toronto to see the Island Concert with Pavement and Band of Horses later on this year. Get out your old BSS records and go to work. This one’s going to hit the interwebs hard this year. Might as well get a head start. To get the download, click HERE to snag it.
Ted Leo – The Mighty Sparrow – We’ve already got our tickets prepared for Ted Leo’s tour-opening show on March 11th in Cleveland. With a new full length set to be released through Matador, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists have released the album’s opener for download. Two days before they hit Cleveland, the full length is getting its proper release on March 9th. “The Mighty Sparrow” promises that The Brutalist Bricks will stomp and kick with enough jarring energy to make cakes fall in your neighbor’s oven.
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – The Mighty Sparrow
The Megaphonic Thrift – Mad Mary – We’ve sorely dropped the ball in recognizing this band. We posted “Acid Blues” yesterday and discussed the Norse noise rock band’s weekend performances at by:Larm in Oslo. This six minute track is also from the Acid Blues 7” and moves into poppier modalities but exhibits mature musicianship, as well. The band is made up of a conglomerate of Norwegian acts of note, including Casio Kids and Low Frequency in Stereo. Check out yesterday’s POST to snag “Acid Blues” and enjoy “Mad Mary.” This is 100 percent a band to watch and follow. Their sound will translate well over here in the US, and the last three minutes of this song provides all the proof you need.
The Megaphonic Thrift – Mad Mary
The Morning Benders – Excuses – Ever since Yours Truly popped the video of The Morning Benders performing the orchestral rendition of “Excuses,” the buzz train has begun to mount fairly heavily across the blogosphere for this band. We’ve heard Big Echo and it’s as advertised. As the band marches into indie-darling status, do yourself the favor and hop on board early. This song maintains all the shifty retro coolness we’d expect after the initial leak of “Promises.” Noteworthy, however, is that the full album sneaks around plenty of corners and rarely leaves listeners stuck in one mode. Enjoy “Excuses,” an check out the full length in early April.
CANT – Ghosts (Class Actress Remix) - Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor is crazy busy over at his own Terrible Records, and has just released a remixed version of “Ghosts” out into the world. That track dropped quietly at the tail end of last year and the remixed version is worth a listen. Check out the website’s blog for more information on all of the stirring the pot Taylor’s been up to.
CANT – Ghosts (Class Actress Remix)
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