The National’s highly anticipated upcoming release Trouble Will Find Me is out proper on May 21st and the first video from the recording just set loose earlier this week titled “Sea Of Love”. Who doesn’t like kids that play air guitar?

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Local band The Blind Pets, known to party and throw down pretty heavy live, just put out a promo video for their upcoming release “Heavy Petting”. Let’s hear it for bringing back some rock-n-roll with swagger…No known release date, so stay tuned.

The fact that there haven’t been many posts on this site lately is result of what I perceive to be the current state of what is considered to be “cool” or “hip” music these days. Not that I strive to be either of those, but the current field of what is getting most of the attention is pale and weak.  The current climate of music draped in sappy, daydream, marshmallow, misled lyrical bliss wrapped up in paper thin attempts at music, makes it feel that rock-n-roll is almost dead. A Place To Bury Strangers don’t give a shit though, and their latest offering on Dead Oceans titled Worship proves that point with plenty of blissful noise, dark, unsettling, and ultimately conquering.

Worship hits legal status on June 26th.

Enough of my ranting about the state of music. You can stream Worship right now over at Stereogum.

And there is still time to pre-order the album and be entered to win a Death by Audio pedal designed by frontman Oliver Ackerman.

MP3> A Place To Bury Strangers ‘You Are The One’

The Brooklyn based noise rock trio A Place To Bury Strangers have album number 3 in the wings ready for release June 26th on the Dead Oceans label and titled Worship. The band just released the video for the track “You Are The One” and for anyone that is familiar with the band’s previous work, the video is a dark, appropriate reflection of what they do..sexy, violent, dangerous, and dark. What’s not to love?

You can catch the band here in Austin on June 3rd at 29th Street Ballroom.

Sigur Rós have a new album titled Valtari dropping May28th and this is the first track off the record, accompanied by a video. If you are any much of a fan of the band, and you haven’t seen the Heima film by the band, do yourself a huge favor and check it out soon. Amazing music accompanied by some of the most amazing footage of the band’s homeland, Iceland.

Sigur Rós – Ekki múkk from Sigur Rós on Vimeo.

Garage, noise rockers A Place To Bury Strangers have a new EP coming out Feb 7th on Dead Oceans titled Onwards To The Wall. A tour with Joy Formidable set for the Spring as well, and this little snapshot video for “So Far Away”

A Place to Bury Strangers “So Far Away” from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.

Former Mighty Lemon Drops guitarist and songwriter turned producer/engineer David Newton, has resurfaced as a player once again with his latest outfit David Newton & Thee Might Angels and just released the Paint The Town EP.

I have to admit that my interest in some of the new music that is coming out these days has been fading in favor of revisiting some of the older stuff that occupied my time. The Mighty Lemon Drops were definitely a favorite of mine for awhile until they disbanded in 1992. Happy Head, World Without End, and Laughter all deserve a little revisit or visit if you haven’t done so yet.

Before you do that, check out David Newton & Thee Mighty Angels title track from the Paint The Town EP.

MP3> David Newton & Thee Mighty Angels ‘Paint The Town’

Speaking of festival favs, The Antlers secured a spot with me as one of my favorite bands of current. They pulled off one of the best performances at this year’s ACL Festival despite an early, early time slot on one of the main stages. That, and they were some of the nicest guys.

A little late on board with these guys, just discovering the beautifully heart-wrenching Hospice earlier this year, but better late than never as they say. This year’s follow up to that album Hospice is about to find a same year EP following in it’s wake titled (together) which is set for release Nov 22nd on Frenchkiss Records. If the track “Parentheses (PVT remix) is any indication, The Antlers are having a damn good year.

You’ll find guest appearances on the EP from Neon Indian, Bear In Heaven, and Nicole Atkins

MP3> The Antlers ‘Parentheses (PVT Remix)’

Just over a week after catching this intriguing Japanese trio Boris, weave their mystical sound of multitudes of styles and genres at Fun Fun Fun Fest, the band releases the second track from their upcoming release aptly titled New Album. “Flare” follows the first single released which was titled “Spoon” and can be found on New Album released on limited edition vinyl and CD at independent retailers on Record Store Day: Black Friday Nov 25th and worldwide on December 6th.

Still trying to wrap my head around this stuff, but it’s fun for sure.

MP3> Boris ‘Flare’

The real true heroes of rock-n-roll never really disappear, and Guided By Voices are the perfect example of that. Six years after the members laid Guided By Voices to rest, the original members reunite, tour, and tool away on some new recorded material. Bypassing the traditional studio setting the band has recorded 21 new tracks in living rooms, basements, and garages, to be released in album form in early 2012. Let’s Go Eat Factory will be prefaced by the release of three 7″ singles, the first of which, titled The Unsinkable Fats Domino / We Won’t Apologize For The Human Race to be released November 22nd on Matador.

Sometimes things are just too good to really disappear forever…

Listen to “Doughnut For A Snowman”..

Guided By Voices – Doughnut For A Snowman by FIRE RECORDS

Former Pavement (love ya!) frontman Stephen Malkmus and his Jicks band are set to release their 5th full length recording on August 23rd, titled Mirror Traffic, and the press surrounding the album suggests that this might be the bands best work to date. If you are interested in checking it out, you can find Mirror Traffic streaming in it’s entirety over at NPR. We’ve got the track “Senator” here for you as well. You know what a Senator wants? Just take a listen.

MP3> Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks ‘Senator’

Tour dates below as well, with no Austin date currently scheduled, but you would have to believe that Malkmus wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to play our fine city.

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks – TOUR DATES

8/23 – Los Angeles, CA Amoeba Free All Ages Instore Performance – 6pm
8/25 – Brooklyn, NY Academy Free All Ages Instore Performance – 6pm
8/25 – Manhattan, NY Other MusicFree All Ages Instore Performance – 9pm
9/20 – Detroit, MI, Majestic Theater
9/21 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre
9/22 – Ottowa, ON, Ritual
9/23 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre
9/24 – Boston, MA, Royale
9/26 – New York, NY, Terminal 5
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of Living Arts
9/29 – Baltimore, MD, Ram’s Head Live
9/30 – Charlottesville, VA, Jefferson Theater
10/1 — Saxapahaw, NC, The Haw River Ballroom
10/2 – Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse
10/4 – Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge
10/5 – Indianapolis, IN, Earth House
10/6 – Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre
10/7 – Milwaukee WI, Turner Hall
10/8 – Minneapolis, MN, Pantages Theatre
10/11- Seattle, WA, Neptune Theatre – (with Ty Segall)
10/12 – Vancouver, BC, The Biltmore Cabaret – (with Ty Segall)
10/13 – Portland, OR, Crystal Ballroom – (with Ty Segall)
10/16 – San Francisco, CA, Treasure Island Music Festival
10/19 – Los Angeles, CA, The Music Box – (with Ty Segall)
10/20 – Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern – (with Ty Segall)

The Dallas based stonegaze, sludgerock trio True Widow have set loose a video for the track “Skull Eyes” off of this years release As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center Of The Circumference Of The Earth (whew!) on Kemado Records. The bands self-titled 2008 debut has received more than it’s ample amount of attention from this guy, and I look forward to spending more time with AHATHHAFTCOTCOTE.

True Widow – “Skull Eyes” from Kemado Records on Vimeo.

Sundress has been on the fringes of my radar for a little while, mostly through word of mouth and stumbling upon their live show awhile back here in town. The Denton based band has managed to raise quite a few eyebrows with little in the way of recorded material available, including a nomination for Best New Band by Dallas Music Observer as well as catching the attention of some guy named Wayne Coyne. With Coyne on board one can assume what you might be in for stylistically…maybe a little bit of  psych tinged rock?

While there’s a definite 90′s British shoegaze, psych-rock feel to the songs, Sundress craft a sound that makes it all feel fresh and relevant again. The upcoming self-titled EP, offers up a diverse, solid collection of 6 tracks that will certainly see the band making waves for the next few years if they continue on this plotted course.

The self-released Sundress EP sees official street date Aug 16, 2011.

MP3> Sundress ‘Derelict’

Look for the band to tour later this summer and into the fall with these two dates scheduled currently.

7/23 – Denton, TX – Hailey’s w/ Stardeath & White Dwarves
10/7 – New York, NY – Cameo Gallery w/ No Man, No Eyes

Canada’s modern answer to hardcore, punk based rock, Fucked Up are set to release their epic 18 track album titled David Comes To Life next Tuesday 6.7.2011. Two dates into the David Comes To Life tour finds the band playing Mohawk during the Chaos in Tejas weekend this Sunday 6.5, and if you haven’t seen this band live, you owe it to yourself to get a little Fucked Up. The larger than life, bald, and often wearing little clothing lead singer Damian Abraham is worth the effort.

MP3> Fucked Up ‘The Other Shoe’

Get TICKETS

Watch a short doc on the making of David Comes To Life

Fucked Up Tour:

Jeff the Brotherhood have album number 2 set for release later this month, June 21st to be specific, titled We Are The Champions. This is my first listen to this band, and right off the bat..I’m diggin it.

Check out the video for “Hey Friend” directed by Lina Plioplyte.

Check out Jeff The Brotherhood on tour: Read more