From the news so flippin’ hot it’ll burn your epidermis department: Shortly after Komakino announced that they were disbanding, they announced the birth of their new project: You Animals.

While the band has yet to launch the player on their Myspace page, they did put together a video digest that I have embedded above so you can check them out. I will keep you updated on this project as their debut effort unfolds.

Have a safe and Happy New Year!! Here’s to 2008!!

Tickets for all shows in New Zealand and Australia are available now. Click here for information.

15 JAN 2008: AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Kings Arms
16 JAN 2008: BRISBANE, Australia - The Zoo /
17 JAN 2008: BRISBANE, Australia - The Zoo // SOLD OUT
18 JAN 2008: MELBOURNE, Australia - The Corner // SOLD OUT
19 JAN 2008: MELBOURNE, Australia - The Corner
21 JAN 2008: SYDNEY, Australia - City Recital Hall Angel Place w/ Clogs
22 JAN 2008: SYDNEY, Australia - City Recital Hall Angel Place w/ Clogs
23 JAN 2008: SYDNEY, Australia - City Recital Hall Angel Place w/ Clogs

22 FEB 2008: BROOKLYN, New York - BAM Opera House

09 MAR 2008: BIG CYPRESS RESERVATION, Florida - Langerado Music Festival

MP3: The National - “Apartment Story”

As many of you are probably painfully aware, Seattle’s legendary Crocodile Cafe has closed it doors. I received an e-mail about a benefit the wonderful ladies from Three Imaginary Girls had arranged and wanted to do my good deed for the weekend and pass the information along.

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / P-I

To help the stellar group who were employed at the Crocodile Cafe who found themselves suddenly without income, Chop Suey and Three Imaginary Girls have assembled a benefit show this Sunday, December 30.

Join them this Sunday for an evening of fine songs from some of Seattle’s rock star royalty, share your Croc story, and get a chance to say goodbye…with members of Fleet Foxes, Peter Parker, Siberian, Pale Pacific, J.Tillman, Damien Jurado, Pleasureboaters, Dave Bazan, Triumph Of Lethargy, Dave Terry (of Aqueduct), Sonny Votolato and many more!

If you’re not able to make it to the show but still want to donate, organizers suggest you buy a ticket (or two) to the show as all proceeds will benefit the cause.

MP3: Mudhoney - “Touch Me I’m Sick”
MP3: Soundgarden - “Rusty Cage”

I know, I know…this was posted on their Myspace well over a week ago, but cut me some slack and realize I tried my hardest to enjoy the holidays and not worry about the site being updated. I’m sure it’s new to someone.

The message was short and sweet, but here it is: Death Cab For Cutie is hard at work on their new studio album. It will be in stores May 2008, but you can take a sneak peak by clicking here to watch some video footage from the studio.

MP3: Death Cab For Cutie - “Crooked Teeth”
MP3: Death Cab For Cutie - “For What Reason”

What can be said about Kurt Cobain that hasn’t already been said?! I revisit Nirvana’s studio albums from time to time and always walk away feeling enlightened in a sense. The guy got the big picture, did he not?! He might not have liked it, but he certainly had the insight to make it transparent.

From a personal perspective, I think Cobain shed light on how ridiculous the 80s lifestyle was for me. That’s probably something I should’ve been able to figure out on my own, but I didn’t. He made me realize that the “rock star” mindset was a thing of the past. We’re all equals regardless of sex, race, creed…uplifting oneself upon a pedestal wasn’t tolerated in Cobain’s world. Reference their video Live! Tonight! Sold Out! where he talks about the band Extreme and how ridiculous the way they carried themselves was. Brings a smile to my face every time I watch it. I’m rambling.

I was listening to In Utero this morning and decided to take two lesser known Nirvana tracks (if there is such a thing) and pull some lyrics from them. Almost every song Cobain penned has something ridiculously clever in it (to me at least). One of my favorite lines from this album that hits so close to home is from the album’s opener, “Serve The Servants”:

“As my bones grew they did hurt, they hurt really bad…I tried hard to have a Father, but instead I had a Dad”

Heavy stuff! You know lyrics of that nature are going to be felt by the masses. Here’s another example that you can’t help but wonder how he stole the thoughts directly from so many heads and communicated it back through song. From the song “Dumb”:

“My heart is broke, but I have some glue…help me inhale and mend it with you”

The summer of ‘82 started on a rough note when I skipped the last day of my freshman year. I met a girl named Shari that day and the two of us spent the latter portion of that afternoon at the local video arcade. I got home a few hours late and held up a family outing…I was greeted with the words “you’re grounded”.

A neighbor of mine had a few older sisters that would turn us on to albums from time to time. I had borrowed April Wine’s Nature of the Beast from one of them prior to getting in trouble…it would keep me company while I spent the first days of that summer vacation in my room.

I’m not sure what triggered this memory or thought about this album as I don’t have any April Wine in my collection. I was driving to work recently and it just came to mind. I’m going to have to revisit this one, I think…I’m really enjoying what I downloaded this evening!

MP3: April Wine - “Just Between You And Me”
MP3: April Wine - “All Over Town”

The eagerly awaited debut offering from Temposhark, The Invisible Line, will be released March 3rd on Paper and Glue Records. The album was produced by Sean McGhee (Kate Havniek, Robyn, Sugababes) with two tracks produced by Guy Sigsworth who has worked with both Madonna and Bjork. Other notable collaborations include Imogen Heap,Youth(Killing Joke/U2/The Verve’s Urban Hymns) and virtuoso violinist Sophie Solomon.

Photo: Jim Dyson

The album is full of suprises shifting from filmscore-esque chillout to underground electronica. These darlings of the London club scene played two showcases at SXSW in 2007. They supported former Savage Garden front man Darren Hayes on his tour of Canada and the US in June 2007 building up a strong fanbase stateside. Influential LA radio station, KCRW, have begun spinning several tracks from the album. KCRW were responsible for breaking Coldplay, Sigur Ros and Damien Rice amongst others in the states.

Consisting of Robert Diament, Luke Busby, Mark Ferguson and Mathis Richet, Temposhark play intelligent electronic music. They remind me of Depeche Mode meeting Patrick Wolf. Sure, they will appeal to the mainstream, but there is more to Temposhark than catchy tunes. The track “Crime ” shows what they are all about and is representative of the album as the NME wrote “You will be hanging their picture on your wall”.

Potentially a major artist of 2008! I for one will be interested to see how the band develops.

- Mark

MP3: Temposhark - “Crime”

It’s been a while since I tossed a handful of mp3s in your direction and asked for an opinion, but the stack of CDs on my counter isn’t getting any smaller, so it’s time to start cleaning house once again.

If you like any of the songs I’ve shared below, please take the time and share your opinion. These artists were cool enough to share their blood, sweat, and tears with us…the least that could be done is if you like what you hear, let them know.

MP3: The Common Men - “Dance Little Girl”

MP3: The Feminists - “How To Kill A Country”

MP3: Microfilm - “After Dark”

MP3: Mister Vague - “Midnight To 7″

MP3: Northern Liberties - “Controlled By Voices From Beyond”

MP3: The Shondes - “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”

My friend, Lucius, from Zest PR has been telling me to check The Parlotones. Friday, I recieved their single e.p (due for release in the UK on 04/02/08). The lead track is called “Beautiful” and was used for the Fujifilm advertising campaign in Ireland. This has given the band a kickstart outside of South Africa.

These boys are big news in their home country! Their album Hand Controlled Robot went gold…it also won “Album of the Year” (South Africa’s equivalent of the Brit’s). The effort also spawned three Top 10 singles including a number one. The band also performed at the South African leg of Live Earth.

They have also just released some UK tour dates, if you like them I would catch them at these intimate venue’s. I expect with the backing they have that mass radio exposure will follow. I really enjoyed the e.p and look forward to the album.

15 Jan - Pressure Point - Brighton
16 Jan - Barfly - Birmingham
17 Jan - Louisiana - Bristol
18 Jan - London Barfly - London
20 Jan - Aberdeen Tunnels - Aberdeen, Scotland
21 Jan - Caberet Voltaire - Edinburgh, Scotland
22 Jan - Barfly - Glasgow, Scotland
23 Jan - Barfly, Liverpool
24 Jan - Rio’s, Leeds
25 Jan - The Cellars - Eastney, Portsmouth
26 Jan - West End Centre, Aldershot

- Mark

MP3: The Parlotones - “Beautiful”

I received a Myspace message from Sara Lov this morning. She informed me that she posted a new track on her page that was available for download. I’ve shared it below, but don’t let that stop you from visiting her page and checking out the other new song she posted.

There’s something haunting about the Devics‘ singer’s voice. I’m sure I’ve compared it to Tanya Donelly a time or two before…the innocence stripped, if you will. If you’re not familiar with Sara, I highly recommend checking out the song “Touched” which we’ve shared here in the past.

MP3: Sara Lov - “Just Beneath The Chords”
MP3: Devics - “Just One Breath”