Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Disconected, Editor's Picks, Pitchfork, Poltergeist, Pretty in Pink, Shy Child
Check out Shy Child's new music video
PREVIEW: WATCH Shy Child‘s music video for their song “Disconnected” on Pitchfork: TV
Need a distraction from the work that already seems to be piling up? Check out Shy Child’s new music video for their song “Disconnected.” The surreal video seems like a mix of two of my favorite 80s movies: Pretty in Pink and Poltergeist. Need I say more?
So I know I don’t have to say more, but I will say that if you visit Shy Child’s Web site, you can even download a song off their new album, Liquid Love, for free. Free. Now I really don’t have to say more.
–Kelsey Bennett, Production Editor
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Absolute Punk, album reviews, Hold On Now, indie pop, Los Campesinos!, Pitchfork, Romance is Boring, We are Beautiful We are Doomed, Youngster
Listen to Los Campesinos! Romance is Boring
PREVIEW: VISIT Los Campesinos! MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 16/20 Watts
High School sucked. We spent so much time ping-ponging between awkward romantic anxiety, blowout house parties and venomous social gerrymandering that a pair of headphones was one of our few solaces. Our computers were our record stores, Pitchfork and AbsolutePunk our ‘zines, nay, our best friends. Few bands can bear witness to those introspective melodramas of adolescence better than Los Campesinos!, the hyper-prolific Wales septet whose first two albums Hold On Now, Youngster and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed, set the bar for hyperactive orchestral indie pop and excruciatingly long song titles back in 2008. (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Editor's Picks, Pitchfork, top albums, top tracks
Check out Pitchfork's top 100 tracks of 2009
PREVIEW: VISIT Pitchfork and check out their Top 100 Tracks of 2009
So, I’m officially done for the semester. Now I just have to find something to occupy my time for the next month so I don’t die of boredom at home.
As luck would have it, I found the perfect thing: Pitchfork’s Top 100 Tracks of 2009. You can listen to each song right there on the site, and if you’re like me, you can judge its worth and try to come up with a better song that they could’ve included. It might seem like a lame game to you, but I find it entertaining and time consuming, so leave me alone.
If you’re really ambitious, you can do the same for their Top 50 Albums of 2009 list.
–Kelsey Bennett, copy editor
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: +1 Records, All Tomorrow's Parties, Amazing Baby, Animal Collective, Danger Mouse, Filter, Girls, Grizzly Bear, Growing, Ida Maria, Iggy Pop, Jay Reatard, Jemina Pearl, Mountain Goats, News of Note, pavement, Pitchfork, Sebastien Tellier, Sparklehorse, Stephen Colbert, Stereogum, The BPA, The Colbert Report, The Dandy Warhols, The Fiery Furnaces, The Life of the World to Come, The Morning Benders, Viva Radio
Is Animal Collective releasing another album before the new year?
PREVIEW: Download Animal Collective’s “Brother Sport” MP3.
Both Stereogum and Pitchfork commented today on Animal Collective‘s latest plans, namely a random, coverless album that’s cropped up on Amazon.com. It’s called Fall Be Kind and is available for pre-order for a mere $11.83. Currently that’s all that anyone knows about the release. In other news, the experimental film that the band’s been working is nearly ready for release. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Best Albums of the Year So Far]
Stereogum also premiered a new Ida Maria video today. Ida Maria re-released her song “Oh My God” from the album Fortress Round My Heart, this time with vocals from the legendary Iggy Pop. Stereogum took issue with Iggy Pop’s baritone vocals supporting acts like Jemina Pearl, Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and The BPA, not to mention on his own jazzy releases. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Iggy and The Stooges Get Nommed]
Did you miss the Mountain Goats on “The Colbert Report” last night? Watch their performance of “Psalms 40:2″ here on Colbert’s website. Colbert had a field day with the Mountain Goats’ biblically inspired latest album, The Life of the World to Come. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews The Mountain Goats’ The Life of the World to Come]
For all the European Pavement fans out there disappointed by their NYC reunion, do not fret. Pavement are scheduled to headline All Tomorrow’s Parties on May 14-16 in Minehead, England, Pitchfork reports. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor’s Pick #180: Pavement’s Reunion]
Brooklyn’s own Viva Radio has announced the release of a compilation including the likes of The Dandy Warhols, Jay Reatard,The Fiery Furnaces, Growing, Amazing Baby, and Sebastien Tellier, reports Filter. Entitled The Best of Me + You Vol. 1, the album was recorded between 2007 and 2009 in their Brooklyn studios and will include interviews and songs from some of the station’s guests. To make the offer even more enticing, the disc is available for purchase along with a limited edition Me + You t-shirt. We’re sold!
Filter also reports that Berkeley-based indie rockers the Morning Benders will play several shows with Grizzly Bear and Girls during their Fall tour. The Benders hooked up with Grizzly Bear on the production of their latest album, Big Echo, which was co-producer by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor. The album is set to drop in March 2010 on +1 Records. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage:Editor's Pick #172: Grizzly Bear's "While You Wait For The Others" (Feat. Michael McDonald)]
– 20 Watts Staff
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: ABBA, Black Gold, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Filter, Genesis, Girl in a Coma, iTunes, Jeff Beck, Kids Company, Kiss, LL Cool J, Matador Records, Metallica, Michael Jackson, MySpace, News of Note, NME, Pitchfork, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rolling Stone, Run-DMC, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, The Stooges
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio
PREVIEW: WATCH the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ video for Californication.
Rolling Stone reports that the Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J, Kiss, Genesis, the Stooges and ABBA are among the artists nominated for the 2010 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. This is the first year in which LL Cool J and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are eligible for induction. Last year’s inductees included Jeff Beck, Metallica and Run-DMC. (Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Industry News, Week 3)
Brooklyn’s indie duo Black Gold has decided to embark on a US tour supporting Texas-native punk sweethearts, Girl in a Coma, as reported by Filter. The multi-instrumental duo comprised of Eric Ronik (lead vocals, keyboards) and Than Luu (drums, percussion, vocals) will be performing tracks from their debut full length entitled Rush, which was released this past February. You can check out their dance beat-infused tunes on both iTunes and Myspace.
An unreleased Michael Jackson single and album has been announced for release in October, reports NME.COM. The track “This Is It” is the fist posthumous Jackson single to be released and will come out October 12, followed by a compilation album on October 26 and a movie entitled “This Is It” on October 28. In a message on Jackson’s Web site, it was revealed that the compilation album will be a two-disc set featuring past hits, previously unreleased mixes and a spoken-word piece from Jackson called “Planet Earth.” [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Syracuse Reacts to Michael Jackson’s Death]
Syracuse.com’s Listen Up Blog posted an especially sentimental birthday note to The Boss, who is celebrating his 60th Birthday today. Bruce’s last gigs in ‘Cuse include a two night stand at the Dome in 1992 and a critically acclaimed show at the Landmark Theater in November 1996. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee apparently celebrated his 60th during a concert on September 21 in Des Moines, Iowa. Seriously, Bruce? No rocking the Spectrum (actually, he’ll be there in October) or perhaps MSG (where he’ll be this November) on the big day? I guess you are getting old…
Pitchfork and NME.com report that Coldplay have donated one million pounds ($1,616,809 American dollars) to the charity, Kids Company. Kids Company aims to provide support for inner-city children. According to NME the band also plans to give music lessons to kids at Kids Company centers. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: The 20: An Essential Guide to Britpop]
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists haven’t had much luck with record labels in the past after Lookout! Records folded and Touch and Go stopped releasing new records. Pitchfork reports that the band has signed to Matador Records.
–20 Watts Staff
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Broadcast, Chris Taylor, Editors, Embryonic, Grizzly Bear, Karen O, Lily Allen, Lykke Li, muse, music video, new moon, News of Note, OK GO, Pitchfork, Radiohead, Rihanna, Stereogum, The Flaming Lips, The Killers, Thom Yorke, twilight, Warp Records, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
For better or worse, New Moon's soundtrack will feature some of our favorite indie artists
Thom Yorke, The Killers, Grizzly Bear, and Muse have all signed on to contribute to New Moon‘s soundtrack. Other artists that will be on the Twilight sequel’s soundtrack include Lykke Li, OK Go and Editors. The full track listing can be viewed at NME.COM. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Thom York and Bon Iver Soundtrack New Moon]
Stereogum reported today that The Flaming Lips released a new video for the song “I Can Be a Frog,” from their new album Embryonic (to be released 10/13). The short song might not seem to make a great video on first listen, but Coyne’s animalistic lyricism makes for a lot of quirky pencil drawings in this unconventional music video. The bikini-clad actress mouthing Karen O‘s “noises” surprisingly adds to the video, but who doesn’t want to see the real thing? Maybe next time. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: The Flaming Lips at ATP, 20 Watts Reviews The Flaming Lips' "Silver Trembling Hands" (from Embryonic)]
Birmingham-based electro-pop group Broadcast have announced their second release with Warp Records. Their full-length debut was punctuated by the extensive use of loops and lead singer Trish Keegan’s 1960s psychedelic rock vocals. Filter reports that the EP, entitled Broadcast & Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age, is available for download from iTunes immediately, but won’t be hitting the shelves until October 27th. The EP can be previewed for free, though, at your next psycho dance party with the help of their trusty Myspace.
Rolling Stone reports that Rihanna’s next LP promises to bring its audience “Big beats and big bass.” She’s recruited producers Justin Timberlake and Chase & Status to help her bring them. This album is sure to take attention away from Rihanna’s past year of drama. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Jay-Z's "Run This Town" (Feat. Rihanna)]
Pitchfork reports that Grizzly Bear‘s bassist and producer, Chris Taylor has started a record label called Terrible Records. Through his new label, Taylor will be releasing his solo work on October 13. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor’s Pick #172: Grizzly Bear’s “While You Wait For the Others” (Feat. Michael McDonald)]
It seems as though Lily Allen and Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien are close to duking it out, Pitchfork reports. Radiohead belong to the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), a British musician’s advocacy group. Apparently Lily Allen disagrees with O’Brien’s stance on file-sharing. After the guitarist released a statement endorsing the practice, the infuriated singer posted her opinion on her MySpace blog. She believes file-sharing hinders the growth of up-and-coming artists. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor’s Pick #93: Lily Allen Is Alright with Me]
Psychedelic folk legends Neutral Milk Hotel have announced plans to re-release their discography through Merge Records, as reported by Filter. The reissues of On Avery Island (1996) and the critically celebrated In the Aeroplane over the Sea (1998) will be released on vinyl along with a digital download code, so that listeners can enjoy the reissues without a turntable. Considering In the Aeroplane over the Sea was the best-selling vinyl album of 2008, there’s definitely a market for it though. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Circulatory System (Elephant 6)]
– 20 Watts Staff
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Bon Iver, Death Cab for Cutie, Glastonbury Festival, Grizzly Bear, Morrissey, News of Note, pavement, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Killers
PREVIEW: Watch the “Shady Lane” video from Pavement
Now it’s official, the Pavement reunion is happening. So far the band has one confirmed show at Central Park SummerStage on September 21, 2010. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone Scott Kannberg confirmed the rumors and said, “It’s been a long time coming.” Kannberg also talked about the possibility of doing more Central Park shows and festivals like Coachella in 2010. Overall he was pretty vague about the future of Pavement, but one show is booked and the band seems pretty committed this time.
Pitchfork reports that Morrissey will release an eighteen-song compilation of b-sides entitled Swords. The b-sides come from his past three albums; You are the Quarry, Ringleader of the Tormentors, and Years of Refusal. Following the album’s October 26 release, Morrissey will embark on a European tour. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: The 20: An Essential Guide to New Wave]
Not only will Grizzly Bear, Thom Yorke, Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers, and Bon Iver be featured on the New Moon soundtrack, but a Hot Topic tour including the soundtrack’s acts is also in the works, Pitchfork reports. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor's Pick #146: Thom Yorke and Bon Iver Soundtrack New Moon]
NME.COM reports that Glastonbury Festival organizer Michael Eavis has set the date that 2010 fesitval tickets will go on sale. The tickets will be 10 pounds more expensive than last years and will be available for purchase starting at 9 a.m. (BST) on October 4. Those wishing to purchase the tickets must register on Glastonburyregistration.co.uk before applying for tickets. The legendary British music festival held annually in the south of England usually takes place in the last week of June, perfect for those studying abroad this summer.
– 20 Watts Staff
