Free EP + Tour : Crocodiles

Seems like forever and a day ago when we first started talking about Sleep Forever, the new full-length from Crocodiles. Sure, September 14th still feels like a long way off, but recognizing that most of us have the attention span of a drunken gnat, Crocodiles have decided to bring interest to a slow simmer by giving away Fires Of Comparison, an EP of instrumentals the band cooked up following the Sleep Forever sessions.  Produced by Jon Greene, who also helmed Sleep Forever, the EP is ostensibly an instrumental affair because Brandon and Charles contracted strep throat while sharing a pipe with a hobo in San Diego’s Presidio Park. Furthermore, the numbers on Fires Of Comparison are best enjoyed under the influence of 2XB-27, a psychotropic cocktail whipped up in Charles’ toilet by their friend, Dr. Russel Cash. You can get the EP here, but you’re on your own for the 2XB-27.

MP3 : Crocodiles – Sleep Forever

Crocodiles on Tour
Sept 17 – Las Vegas NV – Neon Reverb Festival @ Aruba Showroom
Sept 20 – Chicago IL – Empty Bottle
Sept 22 – New York NY – Mercury Lounge
Sept 24 – Brooklyn NY – Glasslands
Oct 26 – Hoboken, NJ– Maxwell’s
Oct 27 – Philadelphia PA – Johnny Brenda’s
Oct 28 – Washington DC – Rock N Roll Hotel
Oct 29 – Carrboro NC – Cat’s Cradle
Oct 30 – Atlanta GA – The Earl
Oct 31 – Birmingham AL – Bottle Tree Cafe
Nov 2 – Orlando FL – The Social
Nov 3 – Miami FL – Grand Central
Nov 4 – Tallahassee FL – Engine Room
Nov 5 – New Orleans LA – One Eyed Jack’s
Nov 6 – Houston TX – Mango’s
Nov 7 – Austin TX – Fun Fun Festival

New Tour : The Dø

I became aware of The Dø several months back, and as much as I liked their breakthrough single, On My Shoulders, I was convinced that they were little more than Paper Lace for the iGeneration. I’m not yet ready  to admit I was wrong, but things certainly seem to be heading in that direction as their debut, A Mouthful, made a lot of feared and/or revered critics sit up on their hinders and applaud. Now, as if just dying to make me eat crow, Olivia Merilahti & Dan Levi are bringing their shiny melodies and irresistible schoolyard taunts over here for a brief North American tour. I’m not quite sure what to expect, but if their performance at the French Grammys is any sort of a yardstick, I’d like a dinner salad and a Diet Coke to go with my words.

The Do on Tour

9/7 Mercury Lounge, New York
9/8 The Bell House, Brooklyn
9/9 La Sala Rossa, Montreal
9/10 The Envol et Macadam Fest, Quebec City
9/11 The Mod Club, Toronto
9/13 Schubas Tavern, Chicago
9/14 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis
9/17 Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver
9/18 Crocodile Cafe, Seattle
9/19 Doug Fir Lounge, Portland
9/21 Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco
9/22 Troubadour, Los Angeles

New Video : Shabazz Palaces : Belhaven Meridian

Even in this age of instantaneous communication, the music folks in the rainy Northwest have managed to keep Seattle hip-hop collaborative Shabazz Palaces under wraps. That will soon change, because after self-releasing two EPs (Of Light and Shabazz Palaces) in the last year , Sub Pop has signed the mercurial act and will release their debut full-length in the (hopefully) very near future.

If you’ve never been privy to the work of Shabazz Palaces, I can think of no better place to start than the Killer Of Sheep-inspired/Kahlil Joseph-directed video for Belhaven Meridian.

Shabazz Palaces – Belhaven Meridian from WHAT MATTERS MOST on Vimeo.

New Song : Clinic : I’m Aware

I gotta admit, I panicked a little when this one hit the Inbox, if only because the subject line read: FREE CLINIC. Never something a fella wants to see. I’m happy to announce I’m clean, and that Clinic, Liverpool’s premiere surgical team, is ready to discharge a new full-length on October 5th. Not a lot of background on Bubblegum at this time, but serious fans will be able to lay their grubbies on a special edition vinyl package, that includes the original album on LP as well as Son of Bubblegum, which features acoustic versions of six songs from Bubblegum. You get a bunch of other crap as well, but unless you’re a huge fan, it’ll likely just end up cluttering your desk for a year until you get sick of moving it and just toss it. And with that, I present the very Radioheady first single, I’m Aware.

MP3 : Clinic – I’m Aware

Clinic on Tour
11-02 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
11-03 New York, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
11-05 Washington, DC – Rock and Roll Hotel
11-06 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
11-09 Montreal, QB – La Sala Rossa
11-10 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
11-11 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
11-12 Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry
11-15 Seattle, WA – Neumos
11-16 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
11-17 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
11-19 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
11-20 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour

New Song : Atmosphere : Freefallin’

Big ups to my ladyfriend for giving me the head up on this one. Freefallin’ is the latest/greatest from Twin Cities hip-hop henchmen, Atmosphere. Next Tuesday, Rhymesayers will release To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs. EPs is the key here, because word is that there are two of them, which in my math equals a full-length, but whatta I know? Lyrically, this is vintage Slug, but the real star here in Ant’s laaaaaaaaaied back track. Always good to hear these boys. Get the digital from iTunes or Amazon, pre-order a physical from Fifth Element, or grab one off the To All My Friends Tour merch table .

MP3 : Atmosphere – Freefallin’

New Video : The Morning Benders : All Day Day Light

Lyrics flash and seasons change around The Morning Benders during their newly released video for All Day Day Light, from their excellent 2010 release Big Echo. The video was directed by Jack Ferry, who also directed recent videos for Magic Kids and Ted Leo.

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MP3 : The Morning Benders – Excuses

New Band Smell : Jupe Jupe

I knew I should have stopped Mom from throwing out my parachute pants. I don’t know if the 80s are coming back, or whether they’ve just been watching Sixteen Candles on beta for the last 20 years, but it’s becoming increasingly clear we’re going to have to deal with them again. Let’s Kiss by Living Days got the juices flowing for me, and now here comes Seattle’s Jupe Jupe., whose full-length debut, Invaders, lands on October 5th.

Where Living Days comes across as a manic Missing Persons, Jupe Jupe seem more comfortable playing the aloof stranger role. The first 2/3 of Invaders treads upon fairly familiar terrain. As suggested by lead single Something About Love, their sound is more human than Gary Numan, less Romantic than Duran Duran and not as fun as the Pet Shop Boys. Clearly, Jupe Jupe is aiming for the dark dance niche once occupied by bands like Depeche Mode and New Order. Then, in the homestretch of Invaders, things get a little weird and wonderful with an extended funk breakdown, a Pink Floydian detour through The Fading Din and the Bowie sci-fi cabaret of Orbiter. Well worth searching out.

MP3 : Jupe Jupe – Something About Love