The video for “Crying Lightning”, the first single from Arctic Monkeys new album, Humbug.
Monthly Archives: August 2009
Album of the Week: Alberta Cross – “The Broken Side of Time”
Artist: Alberta Cross
Album: The Broken Side of Time
File Under: Moody Rock
Recommended if You Like: Neil Young, My Morning Jacket
Featured Track: “Rise From The Shadows”
God damn, I love this album. Take Neil Young’s vocals, his hard-driving Americana rock and combine it with the pathos of Kurt Cobain and you’ve got Alberta Cross. It’s the best way I can describe it. Other than it’s good, damn good. Just listen to “Rise From The Shadows”. This song slays me every time I hear it. Swirling, haunting melodies that build into a crashing wall of guitars. It’s cathartic and this song should be all the convincing you need to buy their debut album, “The Broken Side of Time”, that comes out on September 22 on ATO Records. It’s a seasoned, polished album start to finish and hard to believe it’s only their first.
If you can’t wait that long, go out and get their EP “The Thief and The Heartbreaker”. Another stellar effort that won’t disappoint. And if you want to be really impressed, go see them live. They’ll be at Lollapalloza this weekend then at Austin City Limits later this fall. More US dates will be scheduled soon. Stay tuned.
Trendspotting: Indie Bands Making Short Films, Part 2
I’ve noticed a trend of indie bands making short films (see Part 1). Well, it looks like Sufjan Stevens has jumped on the bandwagon too with The BQE, a 40-minute symphonic and cinematic exploration of New York’s infamous Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Stevens directed and scored the film himself, which consists of footage of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway alongside hula hoopers. Asthmatic Kitty will release The BQE CD/DVD on October 20 with a 40-page booklet with extensive liner notes & photographs and an accompanying stereoscopic 3-D Viewmaster reel.
And if that’s not hip enough for you, Asthmatic Kitty will release a limited edition double gatefold vinyl edition of The BQE on 180-gram vinyl with a large-scale 32-page booklet including liner notes, photographs and a black and white version of a 40-page BQE-themed Hooper Heroes comic book.
Ah but wait, there’s more. The film is going on tour, with modern string quartet OSSO performing a re-arrangement of Stevens’ album Enjoy Your Rabbit. I don’t know what you think, but this smacks of a little too much self-importance for me.
Outside Lands Adds Night Shows – Tickets on Sale 10AM Today!
The weekend of August 28-30 is shaping up to be a veritable music bonanza. Organizers of San Francisco’s Outside Lands Festival have announced a series of night shows for those who just can’t get enough live music that weekend (or who don’t take well to crowds.) The night show series will take place at three fine San Francisco venues: The Independent, Mezzanine, and Rickshaw Stop and will feature a tasty line up of artists such as Calexico, Conor Oberst, The Dodos, The Dirtbombs, Ty Segall, Gang Gang Dance and more.
For the full line up and schedule, click here. Tickets go on sale at 10AM today! Calexico at The Independent? I’m on it.
Boat Beam – “The Rain Pauly” [MP3]
I’ve had this track on repeat for the past week from Boat Beam – an all girl Spanish indie pop trio. While they hail from Spain, the ladies are actually all from different nationalities (Australian, American and Spanish). Right now they are promoting their first album “Puzzle Shapes” available now on iTunes.
the OCMD 