The Brooklyn-based quartet The Art of Shooting went through several lineup changes in the last decade, but the poppy art-punks have finally settled on a steady lineup. Frontwoman Kelly Irene Corson’s rich vibrato (vocals, guitar) is now aided by Julie Rozansky (vocals, bass), Jim Archer (drums), and Gavin Dunaway (guitar).
They will self-release the stark debut full-length, Traveling Show, on April 27. The awash follow-up to Tyrant’s Black Eyes EP (Ace Fu Family Business) was produced by Paul Mahajan (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, The National, Liars) in Brooklyn and at engineer Keith Souza’s (Battles, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) Machines with Magnets Studios in Pawtucket, RI.
The record’s shadowy, lycanthropic cover art and shoegaze-rock songwriting apparently stem from Corson’s personal (and even humiliating) problems leading up to the recording sessions. As a result, she revisits all the nervy pressure points that made Siouxsie and the Banshees and its splinter group The Creatures so damn enjoyable.
The Galaxie 500-esque rocker “Japanese” is exclusively on offer today. Its dreamy shoegaze hooks and deep bass will help start your week off on the right foot. Check it out while perusing the band’s upcoming tour dates. Listen to more tracks at their Bandcamp page. “The Birdcage” and “It Goes (Home)” are recommended.
Blur
“Fool’s Day” MP3
Apr 18, 2010
Yesterday was Record Store Day and 1,000 lucky Blur fans quickly snatched up the seminal Britpop group’s new 7-inch. “Fool’s Day” is the first new Blur cut in seven years. It was put to tape in London a few weeks ago. The band’s last single was Think Tank‘s “Battery In Your Leg.”
Unfortunately, none of the exclusive vinyl got to the U.S., which spurred the London outfit to offer a free MP3 and WAV file via their website. (Maybe they should throw us another bone and actually tour in the U.S. again.) You can also stream “Fool’s Day” below. It’s about fatherhood and city strolls. Lyrics are also included in the YouTube clip. (Via Stereogum.)
Memoryhouse
“Lately (Troisième)” MP3
Apr 16, 2010
Memoryhouse‘s (or multi-instrumentalist Evan Abeele and singer/photographer Denise Nouvion‘s) retooled version of “Lately,” is just as beautiful as the original, where the duo sampled Jon Brion’s beautiful Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind score. The new track features an ever-ascending piano figure tailor-made for live acoustic performances.
The Lately single is expected on June 1 via Inflated Records. It features the original version of the tune, backed with a remix by Teengirl Fantasy. Note: Any artist that references both Brion and Max Richter (the band name) is A-OK in my book. If you haven’t already, check out the young Guelph, Ontario twosome’s debut EP,The Years. Check out some of their recent videos below. (Via Gorilla vs. Bear.)
We Have Band
“Honeytrap” MP3
Apr 16, 2010
London trio We Have Band recently released their debut full-length, WHB. Here’s some more of their angular disco rock. The band self-produced the album, with some aide from producer/mixer Gareth Jones (Grizzly Bear, Can, Wire, These New Puritans). The slick cut, “Honeytrap,” kicks into a higher gear when co-vocalist Dede WP starts shouting “Rejoice! / Line up! / Clap hands!” If you liked that, you’ll love their zany video for single “Divisive.”
WHB is out now via the French indie imprint, Naïve. (Via Stereogum.)
Deerhunter
Spoon
“Who Makes Your Money” / “Is Love Forever?” (Live on Jimmy Kimmel) Video
Spoon dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live to perform the Transference cut “Who Makes Your Money.” By the way, perfect song selection for tax day. Tourmate and Deerhunter leader Bradford Cox added some of his guitar skills. Cox largely sticks to the background here, but throws in a back-to-back with bass-man Rob Pope. Check out forthcoming tour dates at Spoon’s official site.
The Austin, TX rockers also played “Is Love Forever?,” without Cox. We’ve got both videos for your viewing pleasure below, via Prefix.
Update: Hear the new singles “Celestica” and “Mother Knows Best” at Some Kind of Awesome. The former is out now in digital format for U.K. fans.
“Doe Deer” is the frenetic new single from Crystal Castles. It aired yesterday on BBC Radio 1, and We All Want Someone to Shout For got their mitts on a stream, which is above. It’s all over The Hype Machine too. This cut is extremely blown-out electro-pop, with plenty of yelping from singer Alice Glass. Oh Crapp posted a lossless WAV file of the tune, and you can listen here.
“Doe Deer” will be on the band’s self-titled sophomore LP, and will be issued as a Record Store Day 12-inch single. Only 500 copies will be available, so you better hurrry. Crystal Castles comes out June 7 in Europe and June 8 in North America, through Fiction. The duo’s got a ton of tour dates this summer. (Via Stereogum.)
The Futureheads
“Struck Dumb” MP3
Apr 15, 2010
Sunderland post-punks The Futureheads misplaced much of their playful group singing on the mega-lame “Hearbeat Song,” but The Chaos’ latest preview cut, “Struck Dum,” gets them back on road to the jerky anthems of yesteryear.
Their fourth LP of sharp guitarwork comes out June 1 on Nul/Dovecote.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings released their fourth LP, I Learned the Hard Way, last week to rave reviews. The Daptone release also debuted at #15 on the Billboard chart, with 22,693 copies sold. The group’s previous full-length, 100 Days, 100 Nights, went on to sell over 100,000 copies in two years after a modest 4,000 copies in its first week.
To celebrate, here’s the music video for “I Learned the Hard Way.” It’s a ‘70s-esque beaut directed by Philip Di Fiore. The band is set to appear at NYC’s Apollo Theater for a sold-out weekend on April 30 and May 1. For the rest of the country, the soul-funkers will be on tour in May and June. Check for new dates at sharonjonesandthedapkings.com. If you want to see the band from the comfort of your living room, tune in to one of their upcoming late night appearances.
The Brooklyn-based quartet 
Memoryhouse
London trio 
Sunderland post-punks 
