At the beginning of “Norway”, the new single from Baltimore’s Beach House, there’s a hint of the second-hand organ that dominated most of their self-titled debut.  But then they come crashing in with pristine, breathy harmonies that make it sound like they’re putting that Sub Pop money to good use.  Over a deliriously warped guitar straight out of Kevin Shields’ playbook, Victoria Legrand steps out on this heady Nordic drama, her voice less obscured than usual.  To top it all off, she accompanies herself and makes like a one-woman Supremes on some misty cascading backup vocals.

Teen Dream is out January 26.

Beach House, Norway

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When a band drops an unreleased jam on Minnesota public radio, chances are most people outside of the Twin Cities won’t really catch on. But when that band is Girls, chances are most people outside of the Twin Cities will be trying to figure out how to cop said jam. The kid-tested, Pitchfork-approved act busted out a San Francisco treat for the listeners of the Land of 10,000 Lakes in the form of “Heartbreaker” – a mid-tempo lament that finds lead Girl Christopher Owens pining for a lost youthful love. “When I said that I loved you honey, I knew that you would break my heart.” I think this dude needs a hug. Check it out below or over at the Current, where you can take in a gab sesh with Mr. Owens and hear live takes of Album faves “Ghost Mouth” and “Lauren Marie.”

This is the part where the girl walks away. Most likely it’s in slow motion and the camera pulls out on the guy as he drops the flowers to the floor. The girl is making her way to the door, pausing momentarily to look over her shoulder at him. There’s a hint of a smile, or a smirk, or something that no one can pin down before she heads out and the credits roll. Ever so slightly everyone winces in a heartbroken agony. “Now that we’ve lost our way, the rest can all fall apart.” Jeez. Tearjerker material here. Asobi Seksu have recorded a few bare bones updates of their already-cinematic dreampop for the album Rewolf, recorded in a flash at London’s soon-to-be shuttered Olympic Studios. Beneath those gossamer vocal effects and fuzzy blanket guitars lay some sublime melodies and affecting lyrics that are given a life of their own with this set of revisions. Check it out 11/10 on Polyvinyl.

Asobi Seksu, Thursday

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“Cornerstone” is the second single from the solid Humbug. When we think of Arctic Monkeys singles, we usually think of something like a derailed express train, steaming through stops with new basslines coming from all directions that accelerate a track to it’s absolute peak within a three minute time constraint. This one, however, is definitely the boys coasting on the local track, with Turner himself even stressing “elongating my lift home” while pining for a girl that might or might not exist. In a way, it’s Arctic Monkeys doing Spoon doing the Arctic Monkeys. This is a good look for them. Unsurprisingly, “Cornerstone” is one of the only three tracks on Humbug not produced by Josh Homme, and this softer side really lets Turner’s smooth, seductive croon seep through. And, you know, it’s pretty hard to sound seductive over all the guitar layers and flam taps Homme probably would have insisted on. Check it out below.

At the very least, hearing “New Fang” made us realize how little straight up guitar-driven power rock exists for our consumption these days. This thing feels like a build up to a build up to a build up where like 15 guitars are simultaneously trying to one-up each other (we mean that in an awesome way). The lyrics didn’t really stick with us all that much on the first couple go-rounds and they probably never will,  but “New Fang” has got us ready for plenty more of the same backdrop come November 17th. Check it out for yourself.

(Via: P4K)

There’s been a lot of fuss lately about the whole Kurt Cobain Guitar Hero avatar. And while we understand some people’s hearts are in the right places on this one, the more the whole thing blows up the more it kind of bums us out. But the one medium where the man can live on forever on his own terms is certainly his music. So the news that the first preview from Sub Pop’s deluxe Bleach re-release was ready was a welcome change of pace from the Courtney Love versus Guitar Hero/Dave Grohl/the whole world legacy debate. And this remastered version of “About A Girl” hits you smack over the head with a reminder of why that legacy is worth protecting in the first place.

Nirvana, About A Girl (Remastered)

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Because we’ve been swooning over the folk explosions of Austin’s Brazos for a minute now, it’s with great, unbridled pleasure that we share “Day Glo” with you today. It’s an aired out, ridiculously melodic strummer off their soon-to-drop LP, Phosphorescent Blues. They’ll be steamrolling the Eastern half of this country with fellow Austinites White Denim in the next few weeks, dates for which you can check just below the spot where you click/procure a slice of peace to take with you into the WEEKEND.

Brazos, Day Glo

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10.24 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
10.31 Dallas, TX @ Grenada Theater
11.02 St Louis, MO @ Firebird
11.03 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
11.04 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar
11.05 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
11.06 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
11.07 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
11.09 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11.10 Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
11.11 Cambridge, MA @ TT the Bears
11.12 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
11.13 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
11.14 Washington, DC @ Rock ‘n Roll Hotel
11.16 Nashville, TN @ The Basement
11.17 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree
11.18 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
11.19 Orlando, FL @ The Social
11.20 St Augustine, FL @ Cafe Eleven
11.22 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks

Syncopated rhythms, droning synth squarbles and hushed harmonics were all prominent in Arthur Russel’s ever-evolving blend of progressive New York musics. Whether it was disco or avant-pop or interstate strumming, the sound Russell conjured was undeniably his own. The same can be said of White Hinterland, neé Casey Dienel, whose latest tour-only offering features a cover of Justin Timberlake’s “My Love” that sounds like it was recorded in a million gallon steel cistern, as well as an extremely faithful, though completely evolved reworking of Arthur Russell’s “Lucky Cloud.” Released posthumously on Another Thought, “Lucky Cloud” is aligned with Russell’s World of Echo work, an obvious touch point for Dienel, who seems to take Russell’s lyric “the more I look ahead, the more I see behind” to heart. A visceral lullaby by an apprentice, White Hinterland’s rendering finds a student paying respect to a mentor. A lucid homage to a teacher who did more for Dienel than any professor, “Lucky Cloud” is a rare example of a cover reaching the same heights as the original, to the point where it almost feels like Russell remixed the track himself.

White Hinterland, Lucky Cloud (Arthur Russell Cover)

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Tour Dates

10.14 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East w/ Former Ghosts
10.15 Brooklyn, NY @ Bruar Falls
10.16 Philadelphia, PA @ Milkcrate Cafe
10.17 Charlottesville, VA @ Random Row Books w/ David Sickman
10.18 Richmond, VA @ The Triple
10.19 Charlotte, NC @ YAUHAUS
10.20 Atlanta, GA @ 529 w/ Tea Lights
10.22 Houston, TX @ Rudyard’s Pub
10.23 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
10.26 Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space
10.28 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern w/ Former Ghosts

As we relayed to you yesterday, Bon Iver and his bandmates played their last show together as a unit for an “indefinite” amount of time. The show came on the same day Justin Vernon was the honorary chair of AIDS Walk Wisconsin and took place at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater. In case the news of the brief “hibernation” has you down, RadioMilwaukee broadcast the whole performance live. And we can now share the stream of the show with you thanks to the fine folks over there. Enjoy, or drown your sorrows, or do whatever it is you do. Regardless, click away.

No real surprise that a member of Of Montreal would be a full-fledged Numanoid, right? James Husband, a face you’ll mostly likely recognize if you’ve witnessed that band’s disco spectacle on stage, is preparing to unveil A Parallax I next week, a most excellent album of solo material he recently recorded with his OM bandmates. Pre-order the album and you’ll acquire an additional bonus disc featuring six cover songs, one of which is this faithfully groovy take on Gary Numan’s “My Shadow in Vain.”

James Husband, My Shadow in Vain (Gary Numan Cover)

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Every mention of Grass Widow in the music press is like, “did you know that the definition of Grass Widow is ……….?”  Not here at Tripwire.  No way.  We feel we’re doing more than enough by sharing “Lulu’s Lips” off Grass Widow’s new 12″ on Captured Tracks.  You want an English lesson in addition to musical epiphanies?  Then give us $40,000 instead of handing it over to your fancy private college’s admissions office.  And until we receive that check in the mail, you’re just going to have to look up info on Grass Widow’s upcoming New York City shows yourself.  Consider yourself lucky.

Grass Widow, Lulu’s Lips

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Stripped of the Shrines, the Almighty Defenders and regular co-conspirator BBQ Show (aka Mark Sultan), “Desert Mile” finds King Khan going back to basics. However, in this case it doesn’t mean a one-man, three-chord garage stomper, rather a jangly downtrodden number, fleshed out by Khan and a mysterious female backing vocalist. The two reminisce about love lost and searching for a place to call home, at times giving “Desert Mile” the feel of a Lee Hazelwood-Nancy Sinatra collaboration, a nod to the classic American song. Surely Khan’s country-western leanings shouldn’t surprise anyone, as his understanding and consistent re-contextualization of uniquely American genres (doo-wop, garage, soul, punk) has proved Khan an apt educator for children looking to delve into the annals and archives of radio stations come and gone. “Desert Mile,” along with an interview with Khan dubbed “We’re bending the spoons of our minds!,” appears on the forthcoming Viva Radio The Best of Me + You Vol.1, along with fifty-plus other interview/exclusive cuts recorded on Viva Radio, featuring takes by Fiery Furnaces, Growing, Tyvjk, Amazing Baby, Jennifer O’Connor, Dark Meat, Fiasco and Khan co-conspirators the Black Lips.

King Khan, Desert Mile

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Web bros The FADER have just unleashed the penultimate installment of their most bodacious podcast series, the fifth (!) as presented by and curated for ABSOLUT to be specific. Something is the concept, idea and inspiration this time around and the playlist includes jams from the likes of Free Energy, Best Coast, jj and Tanlines. Listen right here.

ENJOY WITH ABSOLUT RESPONSIBILITY® ABSOLUT® VODKA. Product of Sweden. 40% Alc./Vol. Distilled from Grain. ©2009 Imported by Absolut Spirits Co., New York, NY.

Vic Chestnutt has a history of benefitting from charity.  A 1996 Chestnutt covers compilation, whose proceeds benefitted The Sweet Relief fund, threw Chestnutt into the spotlight.  Contributing a track to the Hempilation II compilation, which benefitted NORML, has led to countless free bowls for Chestnutt.

With his new single, “Flirted With You All My Life”, Chestnutt meditates on his own death.  Based on past luck, a free ticket to heaven is currently en route to Chestnutt’s mailbox.  The melancholic single comes from the upcoming record, All The Cut, which is scheduled for release September 22nd and features guest appearances from Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto and members of Godspeed! You Black Emperor.

Vic Chestnutt, Flirted With You All My Life

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Web bros The FADER just ripped into the second half of all things great podcasts, their fourth in a series presented by ABSOLUT to be specific. Leads To is the concept, idea and inspiration behind the a new docket which includes jams from forward thinkers like Foreign Born, White Denim and Theophilus London. Listen right here.

ENJOY WITH ABSOLUT RESPONSIBILITY® ABSOLUT® VODKA. Product of Sweden. 40% Alc./Vol. Distilled from Grain. ©2009 Imported by Absolut Spirits Co., New York, NY.

Web bros The FADER just started sharing with the world yet another great podcast, the third in a series presented by ABSOLUT. Differently is the concept, idea and inspiration behind a list which includes jams from such disparately awesome sources as King Charles, Douster and Shogun Kunitoki. Listen right here.

ENJOY WITH ABSOLUT RESPONSIBILITY® ABSOLUT® VODKA. Product of Sweden. 40% Alc./Vol. Distilled from Grain. ©2009 Imported by Absolut Spirits Co., New York, NY.

Web bros The FADER just started sharing with the world yet another great new podcast, the second in a series presented by ABSOLUT. Things is the concept, idea and inspiration behind a list which includes jams from increasingly familiar faces like Restless People, Dam Funk and Zomby.  Listen right here.

ENJOY WITH ABSOLUT RESPONSIBILITY® ABSOLUT® VODKA. Product of Sweden. 40% Alc./Vol. Distilled from Grain. ©2009 Imported by Absolut Spirits Co., New York, NY.

Alaska-bred, Oakland-based Port O’Brien, known for their authentic mix of shanty tunes and raucous live shows complete with audience members banging away on pots and pans, might be the last band on the planet you’d expect to hear a glitchy, skip-laden remix of. But that’s exactly what the Bodega Girls do to “My Will is Good,” which finds Van Pierszalowski channeling the ghosts of Isaac Brock circa-The Moon & Antarctica. The original, in and of itself, is a massive departure for the band, and shows growth, as does the remix, which features a fluttering synth breakdown over a muffled beat box, before Van’s spirit in the hallway vocal creeps back in. Be-overalled farmers beware, this is not your mother’s Port O’Brien, rather a logical stepping stone in the career of a band bound for bigger things than PacNor farm fests and salmon boats. While I don’t expect them to release a chopped and screwed remix album just yet, it’s safe to say that Port O’Brien’s sound is becoming more influenced by city life; industrial back alleys, empty dark streets and the grime of their post-industrial home than the frozen sea, that which provided the inspiration for All We Could Do Was Sing.

Port O’Brien, My Will is Good (Bodega Girls Remix)

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Tour Dates:

09.23 Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern*
09.25 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue*
09.26 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive*
09.28 Omaha, NE @ The Slowdown*
09.29 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry*
09.30 Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet*
10.01 Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern*
10.02 St. Louis, MO @ The Billiken Club*
10.03 Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio*
10.04 Cincinnati, OH @ Southgate House*
10.05 Rock Island, IL @ Barn Show “Daytrotter Presents” +
10.07 Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center for the Arts*
10.08 Pontiac, MI @ Verner’s Room at the Crofoot+
10.09 Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee’s*
10.10 Montreal, PQ @ Il Motore*
10.12 Northampton, MA @ Ironhorse^
10.13 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club*
10.14 New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge*
10.16 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall*
10.17 Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar*
10.18 Baltimore, MD @ The Talking Head Club*
10.19 Washington, DC @ DC 9*
10.21 Chapel Hill, NC @ Nightlight Bar & Club*
10.22 Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light+
10.23 Atlanta, GA @ Criminal Record Instore
10.23 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl*
10.24 Nashville, TN @ Exit In*
10.26 Houston, TX @ Rudyards+
10.27 Dallas, TX @ The Cavern*
10.28 Austin, TX @ Emo’s Jr. *
10.30 Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts*
11.02 La Jolla, CA @ The Loft @ UCSD+
11.04 Santa Barbara, CA @ Muddy Waters+
11.02 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill+
11.06 Sacramento, CA @ Luigi’s+
11.07 Santa Cruz Mountains, CA @ Folk Yeah Presents @ Brookdale Lodge+
11.24 London, ENG @ Scala+
* with Sea Wolf
+ Port O’Brien headlining date
^ with Grand Archives

Like a sea shanty ringing out over a haunted harbor town on the Gulf of Mexico, Thomas Function’s “Belly of the Beast” is as drunkenly catchy as mononucleosis in a freshman dorm. Bouncy, both in its rhythm and the melody of the insanely sweet keyboard riff, “Belly of the Beast” is the sort of instantly enjoyable tune that can only be described by one word, “pop.” True, its not Miley, but it could easily sit beside Ray Davies circa ‘74 and engage him, and maybe Ringo, in a conversation about song structure and uneasy joy. Come to think of it, Ringo may be the subconscious inspiration for Thomas Function, who, like the famed Richard Starky, do the unthinkable; play inherently straight forward pop songs that even the grooviest, chicest, most apathetic bohemian douche can bob his or her head to. An accomplishment in and of itself.

Thomas Function, Belly of the Beast

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Translating William Blake into Indonesian as song lyrics is almost as nutty as translating international musical styles into clattering punk rock.  Malaikat Dan Singa, an World infused solo project from the man more famous as part of Old Time Relijun, proves that if music isn’t the universal language, it’s at least more universal than than Indonesian.  Nama Bersembunyi either sounds like some third world eccentrics got their hands on the New York Noise compilation or like some New York eccentrics got a hold of some Sun City Girls disks.   Malaikat Dan Singa is due out on K Records this November.

Arrington Del Dionysio, Nama Bersembunyi

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Web bros The FADER just started sharing with the world an excellent new podcast, the first in a series presented by ABSOLUT. Doing is a means for motion that includes jams from increasingly familiar faces like the Drums and Major Lazer. Quick! Stop wasting time for crying out loud! Listen right here.

ENJOY WITH ABSOLUT RESPONSIBILITY® ABSOLUT® VODKA. Product of Sweden. 40% Alc./Vol. Distilled from Grain. ©2009 Imported by Absolut Spirits Co., New York, NY.

Maybe FrankMusik knows something we don’t. This is the happiest damn break-up song we’ve ever heard. Whenever we get dumped, we just go listen to Belle & Sebastian and cry in our rooms. But this song makes us want to dance with a sno-cone on top of a rainbow. Remind us to break up in southwest London next time… And check out the song below.

FrankMusik, Better Off As Two

Turns out the new 13th Floor Elevators box set won’t be sitting in my CD player as long as expected.  The Black Hollies are pitch-perfectly channeling that era of psychedelic nuggets with their upcoming album, Softly Towards The Light, to be released October 6th by the Ernest Jenning Record Co.  If’n you like the sound of “Run With Me Run”, you might just wanna check out their tour with Benjy Ferree.  Dates are posted below.  It’s like if, what if man, what if there is a time after the 60s but before the 70s.  And that time is 2009.  Whoa.  Awww man, I just remembered I have a bunch of chips in the kitchen.  Yeah man.  Groovy.  So good.

The Black Hollies, Run With Me Run

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UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

* = with Benjy Ferree

August 2009
29 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar Scooter Rally

September 2009
04 – Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s *
05 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge *
06 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s *
09 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern *
10 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Cafe *
11 – Chicago, IL – Reggie’s Rock Club *
12 – Des Moines, IA – Vaudeville Mews *
13 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird *
15 – Athens, GA – Caledonia Lounge *
16 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn *
17 – Charlotte, NC – The Milestone *
18 – Norfolk, VA – The Boot *
19 – Arlington, VA – IOTA *

October 2009
02 – Reaction @ Sidebar, Baltimore MD
03 – 4th Street Art & Music Festival, Jersey City, NJ

More dates and CMJ schedule TBA…

From the Where The Wild Things Are soundtrack, Karen O and her band of Kids actually sound like ecstatic children running into the sunset on this first listen.

Listen: Karen O & The Kids – All Is Love

Marriage records promotes this new Little Wings track as “Sunday morning summer music”, but Kyle Field’s vocals sound as crackly as the Autumn leaves that will be falling in a month or so.  As Little Wings, Field is perhaps most known as part of Devendra Banhart’s Golden Apples Of The Sun compilation that established the name of freak folk a few years back.

The present single comes after a two year period of silence after 2007’s awesome Soft Pow’r LP, although Field has also recently designed a few skateboard decks.  The interest in skateboarding gives further insight into the possibility that Field and his cracking voice are reverting to middle school maturity.

Little Wings – Sandy Babe

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Venerable Oxford, Mississippi label Fat Possum has recently been snatching up great new bands as if they knew something everyone else didn’t. Wavves and Crocodiles were the first surprise signings, and now they’ve got former Be Your Own Pet dude Jonah Stein’s band Turbo Fruits coming with a new album named Echo Kid in September. It’s loaded with twangy, loose and scratchy rebel rock that would sound really good as you and your buddy floor it towards the cliff’s edge to impress some girl. Don’t do that, just saying. We’re happy to offer one of Echo Kid’s finest moments—full of whistles and shouts, pounding drums and guitars about to fall apart. Check for Turbo Fruits on tour with the maniacal Monotonix in September and October and, if you gotta date coming up, catch them playing in the round in Drew Barrymore’s sure-to-be-classic rollerderby flick Whip It! on October 9th. Ellen Page is attached!

Turbo Fruits – Mama’s Mad Cos I Fried My Brain

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You’re driving down Sunset in a rented Miata looking for something…anything.  It’s not a town you could really see yourself living in, you know, the whole “it’s a great place to visit” thing.  It’s been a couple of hours since you landed, by now you’re all cleaned up – still a little groggy from the flight, but still steady enough to take on the night.  For a while you just turn onto the streets you’ve heard of on television, just trying to kill time before you’ve got to show up to the front door of a party you don’t want to go to for a person you don’t want to see.  There’s no making any sense of the radio stations so you dig around for some kind of diversion.  A loose CD is rattling around in the passenger’s side door.  It says “To Ashley, Love, Tony.”  The first song is a slinky dance floor lullabye that flickers like the rhythmic passing of streetlights.  After pulling to a stop in front of the house, you write “Breathe In Tact” on your hand.  You take a deep breath, shut off the car, and head to the front door.

Cale Parks, Breathe In Tact

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— Joseph Tirabassi

Seemed like when the whole Columbus Lo-Fi thing hit, Psychedelic Horseshit was in the spotlight.  After not too long Pink Reason was headlining shows over PHS and now Times New Viking has stolen the crown and got themselves signed to Matador.  Meanwhile PHS is somewhere complaining about how Wavves is such a rockstar.

The upcoming Times New Viking album, Born Again Revisited is due out on September 22nd.  It’s cool.  You’ll like it.  Play it in your car with your friends.  They’ll like it too.

Times New Viking – No Time No Hope

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Mayyors plays the soundtrack to rooting up a dirt lot in a 4×4 truck with a hostage tied up in the trunk.  Appropriately enough, all the covers for their new 12″, Deads, were actually run over by a car.  Unfortunately the record sold out within a few hours of its release.  Fans of In The Red and Fat Possum records owe themselves a trip to Ebay.  Hopefully some label will handle the reissue soon.  For now, just love the fact that “Clicks” has the most intense use of delay pedal ever.

Mayyors, Clicks

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Meet “15 to 20,” a new mpfree from the Phenomenal Handclap Band! The eight-member, anthemic, orchestral, psychedelic, electro group (to provide only a few basic descriptors), will be playing at Joe’s Pub on July 21, Le Poisson Rouge on August 12, and the BKLYN Yard on August 15 before jetting off to California for a few more tour dates.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band, 15 to 20

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Full tour is as follows:

07.21.09 New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
08.12.09 New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
08.15.09 Brooklyn, NY @ BKLYN Yard
08.23.09 Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
08.24.09 Los Angeles, CA @ The El Rey
08.25.09 Los Angeles, CA @ Cinespace

“Everybody” anachronistically flies back to an era of 1970s Afro-funk, choosing to appropriate and amplify the era’s appeal rather than imitate it.

Ancient Astronauts, Everybody

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The thumping cadence of “Classic [ft.Pharcyde]” is reminiscent of DJ Premier’s best work. As always, Pharcyde’s Imani & Bootie Brown’s seamless flow donates infectious edge to the song’s unrelenting pulse.

Ancient Astronauts, Classic [ft. Pharcyde]

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–Michael Cranston

“We just recently returned from a two week stay in Big Sur, Calfironia where we wandered the forest with a bunch of stoned out folk and worked on new material,” is the explanation for why I couldn’t find much info on Red Daughters’ Myspace about their new album.

Sounds like something my friends who are into jam bands would say, but Red Daughters are serving up some ballsy countrified rock-and-roll true to the Minnesota soil that bred Dylan.  And, truth be told, I do prefer my bands wandering out in the woods rather than updating their Myspace.  The debut album, Ugly Horses, is due out August 8th.

Red Daughters, Prairie Fire

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A good friend of ours told us recently that he doesn’t have the slightest bit of love for Discovery’s self-titled R&B odyssey. He think it’s electro-laziness, we think it jams. A duo comprised of members from Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot, Discovery are releasing their debut next week and “Orange Shirt,” is an ounce of mpfree goodness we’ve been meaning to share for the past couple weeks to help you decide— Modest Mouse and LIFE got in the way is all.

Discovery, Orange Shirt

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For the next few days we’re sharing an exclusive sneak preview of “Whale Song,” a recent live staple and now B-side on Modest Mouse’s new limited Autumn Beds 7-inch. It’s as dark and dissonant a six minutes as Isaac Brock has churned out since The Moon & Antarctica, the master stroke that made the Mouse indie rock holy cows. Only drawback: You probably shouldn’t hold your breath for the Kids Bop version to come bouncing down the pipeline any time soon.

Modest Mouse – The Whale Song

Drug Rug, “Never Tell”

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Theo Angell, Tenebrae

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Circulatory System, Overjoyed

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The Clean – In The Dreamlife You Need A Rubber Soul

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One of our favorite French Canadian exports dropped a new CD entitled Labyrinthes back in March. We’ve had the new Malajube record in our iTunes since, but find it creeping into our consciousness as a standout when we’ve got the player on shuffle. With a pleasant, if not instantly recognizable, demeanor, statements like, “Wait, who is this?” followed by, “This is pretty good.” are common whenever a track from Labyrinthes pops up.

In typical Malajube fashion, most — if not all — of the songs are sung in French, and with a quieter yet far more expansive tone on their latest LP, they sound a bit like Dungen (with the Montreal appeal of course). Often, these slower tempo tracks, like “Dragon De Glace” for example, are our favorites on the album. For good reason “Porté Disparu” is the lead single; with a more-traditional pop bent and uptempo stride, it’s the obvious choice, but we kind of dig the ethereal vision of the whole record.

Malajube – “Porté Disparu”

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