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New Music | River City Extension – There & Back Again

Opening my email this morning, I got all kinds of excited. New Jersey’s River City Extension just announced a new album Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Anger, to be released on June 5 via XOXO Records / Anchor & Hope Music. It got even better when there was more than just an album teaser. Check out the first cut, “There and Back Again,” which if you look at the sound waves is going to pump you the eff up right around 90 seconds. If this isn’t a statement, I don’t know what is. And give it all the way to the end which features a blistering harmonica solo by famed photographer Danny Clinch.

Album Teaser:
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/36663299[/vimeo]

Also it appears there will be some touring in March (I’m sure there will be more)

River City Extension Tour Dates:

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New Music | Moonface – Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips

If you aren’t familiar with the project, Moonface, is Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade) and an ongoing series of changing collaborations. The album, Heartbreaking Bravery, out April 17th was recorded with Finnish band Siinai. Our first taste is “Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips,” a dark, and moody track that builds itself with electronic elements that subtly and hypnotically draw the listener in.

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Review | Heartless Bastards – Arrow


Heartless Bastards – Parted Ways

Austin’s Heartless Bastards release their album Arrow the follow-up to ’09’s The Mountain, which found their way deep into my library and became an album that I enjoyed for its folk rock meets punk noise sort of aesthetic. What Heartless Bastards have done with Arrow is quite similar, an expansive folk rock effort that really puts Erika Wennerstrom on display.

Essentially, Wennerstrom’s voice is the heart and soul of this band and this record. She’s got the passionate sound of Joplin, and a bit of Joan Jett in her voice and style as she lights up this new album. At its core, this is a Folk Rock album, one that seems entirely 70’s influenced. The music is guitar driven, and although there are a few down tempo folk songs like “Marathon,” or “Low Low Low,” there’s a lot of rock and roll here. Rockin’ songs like “You Gotta Have Rock & Roll,” “Parted Ways,” & “Late in the Night” are adorned by heavy riffs and hard driving rhythms, the album strikes a good balance as far as musical style, and luckily always features Wennerstrom’s incredible voice. The album’s arc and storyline sort of creates a feeling of loneliness in travel as I imagine a group of vagabond musicians find their way across the country, connecting with people, going their own way, and finding themselves in the process, and I imagine that’s sort of the way the band feels as they have matured and found their way through their career.

Songs that stuck out to me were the hard driving, “Gotta Have Rock & Roll,” a song that sounds as though it was pull straight from the 70’s era, the ambling, “Only For You,” which to me really defines this band, and Wennerstrom as she stretches the vocals to a fantastic level; and finally, the closing track “Down in the Canyon,” a 7 minute epic rock track with huge crashes, grungy guitars, a dirty, heavy feel, and a soaring finish, its a great feeling track, and the WAY you should finish an album like this.

It’s a great album, the furthers the lore of this bands eclectic energy and spirit, and will make you fall in love with it.

Buy Arrow

Tour Dates: (HUGE FREAKIN TOUR)

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New Music | Horse Feathers – Fit Against the Country

Horse Feathers – Fit Against the Country

Make no mistake, Portland folk band Horse Feathers’ singer Justin Ringle has a voice that could calm a raging storm. Their music is extremely gentle, delicate, and extremely beautiful. The band is about to release a fresh new LP titled Cynic’s New Year, which is set to release on April 17th. Check out the first cut, “Fit Against the Country,” a song that embodies everything that Horse Feathers is.

Tour Dates:

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Stream | Islands – A Sleep & A Forgetting

The follow-up to Islands’ Vapours is finally upon us (street date 2/14) and luckily the guys at ANTI records have allowed the album up for streaming, so we can get an early taste of what Thorburn and the rest of Islands have been up to. The stripped down, confessional art-pop continues here, and sounds so damn fantastic. I’ve recently become a fan of these guys, and I’m digging this new album. Give it a listen. Islands Live Dates: Feb 14 Los Angeles – Bootleg Theatre Feb 15 Phoenix – Crescent Ballroom Feb 17 Austin – St David’s Episcopal Church Feb…

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New Music | Water Liars – $100

Water Liars – $100 I’m really enjoying the music of Water Liars (formerly Phantom Limb) a two piece featuring vocalist Justin Kinkel-Schuster(of Theodore) and drummer Andrew Bryant. Their album (titled Phantom Limb) drops 2/28 and they’ve released album opener “$100.” Its reverb drenched, grungy introduction relents to a guitar heavy anthemic rock track that tickles the ear. Look for a review of the album later this month.

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New Music | Maps & Atlases – Winter

Maps & Atlases – Winter Maps & Atlases are finally back at us with some brand new music, an upcoming album and I for one am quite excited. The first cut off their upcoming album, Beware and Be Grateful (4/17) is “Winter,” combines dense lyrics about a freezing Chicago winter, and their stylistic guitar work that feels a bit high tech & almost mathematical, their variations on musicianship feel quite a bit like they are using the golden ration..its a creative sound that is almost poly-rhythmic as it explores cutting indie-pop / rock arenas.

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New Music | Plants and Animals – Song For Love

Check out the second cut from Plants and Animals’ forthcoming album, The End of That, which is due out at the end of the month on Secret City Records. It’s definitely a track that displays the bands versatility, and its vibrance. The song, “Song for love,” has a cool, west coast breezy feel, that relents to a much more grungy feel towards the refrain.

The guys are legit live and well worth seeing. Check out their huge tour for the album:

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Video | The Head and the Heart – Down In the Valley

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iSQGWpy0qY[/youtube] Watch Seattle’s The Head and the Heart’s video for their standout track “Down in the Valley,” a video made of footage captured during the band’s most recent tour. This song had always been the absolute stand out for me, one that sticks with you for its warmth & beauty. If you don’t already own their debut, I highly suggest it. Buy The Head And The Heart

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