Personally, I’ve never taken interest in tribute albums. I guess I’d prefer to listen to the original songs. When I stumble upon a tribute an opportunity to plug a tribute album for one of my favorite bands, I’ll put those personal feelings aside. Beautiful Escape is a tribute to the band that Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow built, The Posies. I haven’t heard the album in its entirety, so I can’t tell whether I like it or not…I can share the feelings Ken Stringfellow had about it though and share a track I found enjoyable.

Founding Posies member Ken Stringfellow has this to say about Beautiful Escape …is Coming Right Along: “Though I don’t think we’re as important as the Velvets or Big Star, they say that everyone who heard those bands formed a band soon after — and thus, despite not achieving the high water mark in terms of sales, they profoundly influenced the course of popular music. Are the Posies the next band to join that list? Well, drop the word ‘profoundly’ and we’re getting somewhere. So, in a sense, this collection is a nice cross section of the breadth and depth and global diversity of the people in whom we’ve struck a chord of inspiration. And it’s true for all of us who make music, once you put something out there, you will be surprised how far it travels, and whose day it might make better. An inspiring thought, and I’m honored to contribute anytime to the inspiration to create.”

MP3: The Posies - “Dream All Day”
MP3: The Meadows (With Special Guests Jon Auer, Joe Skyward, and Brian Young) - “Dream All Day”

Click here to purchase.

The new opus from Portland’s Pacific UV will be released via Warm Electronic Recordings on April 1st. The effort is the follow-up to their 2003 debut, Longplay 1.

Co-founder Clay Jordan was kind enough to serve a few tracks from Longplay 2 to share with you. Enjoyable stuff! This album is highly recommended for fans of Spiritualized, Mogwai, and Slowdive.

Longplay 2 Tracklisting:
1. Alarmist
2. Need
3. Tremolo
4. Something Told Us
5. Waiting
6. Arson
7. If So
8. Ljiv

How excited was I when I got an email about a free MP3 of the first track on Ladytron’s new album, Velocifero!

This sounds like a natural evolution from the MBVish turn on Witching Hour, while still retaining the distinct sound from their first albums. Oh, and Mira fans rejoice, because this track features her on lead vocals!

The new album is being produced by Vicarious Bliss (Ed Banger) and Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails).

MP3: Ladytron - Black Cat

Tourdates after the jump…
Read the rest of this entry »

Apparently, The Duke Spirit just couldn’t get enough of the good old US of A when they were here for SXSW last week. They’ve just announced a lengthy tour that will see them join forces with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Looks like they’ll be sticking to the East for the most part, so if you’re anywhere near one of these shows, get yourself out there.

In anticipation of their return, we have a special bonus for Rock Sellout readers - a copy of their soon-to-be-released album Neptune (signed by the band), as well as a nifty T-shirt to give away. We have to limit this particular contest to our US readers, as Filter will be shipping these prizes out directly.

In order to win this lovely prizepack, you just need to tell me the name of the band’s original record label that went belly-up prior to releasing their first record. As always, don’t forget to give me your email address so I can contact you for your mailing address!

MP3: The Duke Spirit - Lassoo

Pre-Order: The Duke Spirit - Neptune (April 8th) [iTunes]

The Duke Spirit Tour Dates

April
8 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
9 Boston, MA - TT The Bear’s
11 Philadelphia, PA - Northstar
12 Columbus, OH - CD101 Radio Show

All dates below w/ Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
13 State College, PA - State Theatre
15 East Lansing, MI - Rick’s
16 Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
17 Toledo, OH - Headliner’s
18 Cincinnati, OH - Bogart’s
19 Lexington, KY - The Dame
22 Charlotte, NC - Visualite Theatre
23 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
24 Knoxville, TN - Valarium
25 St Louis, MO - Pops
26 Kansas City, MO - Liberty Hall
29 Columbus, OH – Skullys
30 Champaign, IL - Canopy Club

May
2 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom
3 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
4 Chicago, IL - Metro

- Sean

Everyone’s favorite Winehouse replacement, Duffy, has released a video for her latest chart-obliterating single, ‘Mercy’. This is right on the heals of her SXSW showcase, which by all accounts was quite the rip-roaring time.

The video is available exclusively on MTV & VH1 - they play music now? - but you can stream it at the Island Records website without having to sift through 3 hours of Celebrity Fit Club or Hogan Knows Best.

Duffy will be visiting us over here in the States on the 27th & 28th of April, then she’ll head back to the UK where she has shows booked all the way through August (many of which are already sold out).

MP3: Duffy - Mercy

Video link: Duffy - Mercy

TOURDATES:
Apr 10 Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit Show, Royal Albert Hall - SOLD OUT
Apr 27 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, USA
Apr 28 The Tonight Show Los Angeles, USA
May 25 Great Hall - SOLD OUT Cardiff
May 26 Evolution Festival Newcastle
May 27 Leadmill - SOLD OUT Sheffield
May 29 Ritz - SOLD OUT Manchester
May 30 Venue Cymru - SOLD OUT Llandudno
May 31 Wychwood Festival Cheltenham
Jun 2 ABC - SOLD OUT Glasgow
Jun 3 Wulfrun - SOLD OUT Wolverhampton
Jun 4 Shepherds Bush Empire - SOLD OUT London
Jun 25 Accelerator Festival Stockholm
Jun 26 Hove Festival Arendal, Norway
Jul 4 Rock Werchter 2008 Leuven
Jul 6 Wakestock Festival Abersoch, Wales
Aug 16 V Festival, Hylands Park Chelmsford
Aug 17 V Festival, Weston Park Staffordshire

- Sean

29 member Swedish pop group I’m From Barcelona will be returning to the US next month. They’ll be hitting a few key spots as well as this year’s Coachella Festival.

Their debut came out last spring to rave reviews, and their live performance at Lollapalooza was listed as one of the 10 Best Live Perfomances of 2007 by Time Magazine.

Of course, any time you have that many people in your band, comparisons to The Polyphonic Spree are going to be inevitable. And there are obvious touchstones shared by both, but IFB has that uniquely Swedish quality that somehow elevates their pop above the din of so many similar bands. It’s really joyous music - great stuff to put on when you want to get out of a foul mood or you just find yourself in a funk.

MP3: I’m From Barcelona - We’re From Barcelona

Tourdates:
APRIL 24 @ FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH - PHILADELPHIA
APRIL 25 @ MAXWELL’S - HOBOKEN, NJ
APRIL 27 @ COACHELLA - INDIO, CA
APRIL 28 @ EL REY THEATRE - LOS ANGELES
APRIL 29 @ THE INDEPENDENT - SAN FRANCISCO
MAY 1 @ MASONIC TEMPLE - BROOKLYN

Video: I’m From Barcelona - We’re From Barcelona

- Sean

I’m not even sure what to say about this…other than it’s absolutely amazing. Mexico has actually decided to exterminate an adolescent sub-culture, and it appears this violence was sparked by something a VJ said. Yes, much like when Martha Quinn ordered MTV viewers to their deaths’ in the Gothic Crusade of ‘83, a VJ on Mexico’s Televisa has seemingly started a nationwide Emo Death Squad to begin committing violence against kids that spend too much time at Mexico’s equivalent of Toni & Guy (do they have those down there?).

Apparently as a result of this tirade, violence broke out against Emo kids across the country. L.A. Weekly’s Daniel Hernandez has been covering the story in his blog:

“Some emos I’ve interviewed point to the Kristoff clip as a defining provocation of the current wave of anti-emo violence. Now check out this clip from another Televisa program where three emos are interviewed about the attacks. At the end, the kid on the left asks if he can say more thing: he directly accuses Kristoff of spreading anti-emo hate.

At Last.fm, a user named Harry24 posts a lengthy analysis of the anti-emo phenomenon, suggesting that it’s part of a government conspiracy to divide the populace. “

And it doesn’t end there - apparently the Emo angst has given way to Emo Fu as the kids have begun to fight back.

This is the kind of stuff you couldn’t make up even if you tried. I won’t even go into the apparent political connection. I just find this phenomenon astounding. Yes, we all find the identical haircuts & tendency to whine a bit much, but mob violence? Seriously?

Thanks to The Daily Swarm for giving me a heads-up on such a bizarre story.

MP3: The Clash - White Riot
MP3: The Stranglers - Get A Grip On Yourself
MP3: Freezepop - Pop Music Is Not A Crime

- Sean

Our new friends over at Steele In Music have put together a pretty entertaining collection of videos from everyone’s favorite Decade of Decadance. The feature is called Sweet 16 Metal Moments on YouTube and can be enjoyed in its entirety by clicking here.

The moment I’ve selected to share is from Penelope Spheeris’ documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years. The scene captures an interview with W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes and his mother, Sandy Holmes. Completely dressed, extremely intoxicated, and failing to walk on water…oh, just watch it for chrissakes. Heh. The price of fame doesn’t come cheap, kids…this video is proof.

MP3: W.A.S.P. - “Animal (I F#ck Like A Beast)”
MP3: W.A.S.P. - “I Wanna Be Somebody”

The sophomore effort from Polyvinyl artist Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is now available for pre-order. The follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed album, Broom, is titled Pershing. The album hits store shelves on April 8.

Tracklisting:
1. Glue Girls
2. Boring Fountain
3. Dead Right
4. The Beach Song
5. Modern Mystery
6. Some Constellation
7. Think I Wanna Die
8. You Could Write A Book
9. Oceanographer
10. HEERS
11. Doris Tailspin (Boring Mountain)

Click here to pre-order Pershing (all CD and LP preorders come with a bonus package including a digital download card with three exclusive SSLYBY tracks, a SSLYBY button, 11×17″ band poster, and SSLYBY sticker!).

This hit my inbox from Lucas at Team Cleremont. I have been meaning to post about this guy for sometime now. I kinda like the whole punk folk thing and much as say Weller is considered the Modfather, this guy is the leading influence in this genre and pretty damn good to boot.

Thought you all might be interested in some background information Lucas sent me : “In 1983, a club booker at Folk City, located in Greenwich Village, turned down Lach, a young singer songwriter. His reason? Lach’s style of folk was too punk. Lach then opened up his own club on the Lower East Side called the Fort; which hosted its first event the same week as the New York Folk Festival. His event was called the New York Antifolk Festival, which is still held annually, now at his new club, the Sidewalk Cafe.

Lach is credited with coining the phrase ‘Antifolk’, which has served as a launching pad for musicians like Beck, Michelle Shocked, the Moldy Peaches, and Regina Spektor. His music is influenced by his conflicting love of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, versus his love of The Jam, Sex Pistols, and the Clash. He has released four albums in twenty years, each one receiving rave reviews from everywhere from Billboard to Mojo to the NY Times. The Calm Before, will be released through Fortified Records and delivers classic Lach tunes influenced by his love of folk and punk. As always, Billy Ficca from Television handles the drum duties on the album”

“Lach is the mastermind of Antifolk, like a Lower East Side rendezvous of Bob Dylan and Patti Smith. Like black snow, stalled subway cars and random violence, Lach is a Manhattan institution. - NY Times

- Mark

MP3: Lach - “I Want To Be With You”
MP3: Lach - “Egg”