Firstly, that’s not the official title above. The super long real one, “Matty G, ‘Layin in Bed,’ DJ/Rupture f. Elizabeth Alexander, ‘Overture: Watermelon City (Acappella), Lloop, ‘Autumn Rain’” didn’t play so nice with our website. The actual music fares much, much better.
The DJ-Shadow-esque cut centers on a sample of Elizabeth Alexander reading from her now infamous poem, entitled “Overture: Watermelon City.” Though nobody seemed to go for it at President Obama’s inauguration it serves as a stable bedrock for DJ/rupture and Matt Shadetek’s manic forthcoming mix LP, Solar Life Raft. The NY DJs squiggle Rupture’s original steez with Alexander with some electro grit. Some Middle Eastern drums add a nice touch to the moody dance cut. It’s no wonder then that tribal experimenters Gang Gang Dance get a re-rub on their song, “BeBey.” Solar Life Raft drop November 10th through The Agriculture. (via The Fader)
Neon Indian
“Mi Viejo” (At the Bar with Southern Comfort) Video
Fader TV‘s regular video feature, called At The Bar With Southern Comfort, is where they chill out with some of their (and our) favorite new groups at hometown bars and film them covering some of their favorite artists/bands. We’ve already seen clips of Vivian Girls taking on The Whipers and Born Ruffians covering Springsteen in previous installments. This time it was synth-pop artist Alan Palomo (aka Neon Indian) at Dallas’ Barcadia. He played a traditional Argentine folk song with a pretty melody. It was refreshing to hear the hypnagogic popper/glo-fi/cassette tape warper/whatever out of his element. Neon Indian’s very excellent Psychic Chasms EP is out October 13th via Lefse. Also, if you pre-order it from Insound now, you’ll get the full album in MP3 format on September 28th. That’s a full month before the vinyl release folks!
Julian Casablancas
“11th Dimension” MP3
Sep 18, 2009
On Julian Casablancas’ first single for Phrazes for the Young, “11th Dimension,” he drops a line that cuts eerily close to what Strokes fans are thinking with each new solo project: “your faith has got to be greater than your fear.”
Well, forget The Strokes’ lone dud, First Impressions of Earth, and somewhat lackluster solo ventures. Though it’s been about six years since something notworthy has crawled out of the East Villager slackers’ camp, there’s still some hope with the frontman’s solo LP, Phrazes for the Young. It’s out October 19th in the UK (October 20th in the U.S.) courtesy of RCA, and the aforementioned first single, “11th Dimension,” just might change your churlish mood.
It’s got plenty of dripping-with-nostalgia ‘80s synths and coiling guitars, plus Casablancas’s supercilious delivery. That massive, Pheonix-meets-Daft Punk bridge gets the job done too. Give it an aural preview at his MySpace or above.
(Note: Home page photo illustration by Warren Fu/Williams+Hirakawa)
The Blakes
Premiere: “Ramshackle Hearse” MP3
Sep 17, 2009
On October 13th, The Blakes will self-release Souvenir, the follow-up to its Streets EP and the recent reissue of The Blakes. They started in rural central Maine, with brothers Garnet and Snow Keim. After a move to Seattle, the siblings hooked up with drummer in Bob Husak. The band take their name from a dream Garnet had after he attended a showing of the works of William Blake, but the trio make bluesy guitar-pop in the vein of The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Dandy Warhols. On this exclusive preview track, titled “Ramshackle Hearse,” the group tap into their inner Doors with that harpsichord line. The paranoid lyrics weave a story of sinister bankers, communists, daddy grave diggers and suicide. The Blakes craft grave stuff but it’s incredibly appealing.
Q-Tip has a somewhat new full-length out called Kamaal/The Abstract. The album was originally recorded in 2001 but never garnered an official release after the record label claimed it wasn’t commercially viable. Thankfully, Jive Records’ Battery imprint gave the lost record a home.
The hip-hop maven appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night (September 16th), where he performed “Barely in Love.” Throughout the night Tip lended his vox to house band The Roots so when it came time to play his track they returned the favor, compentently delivering its hot funk-soul groove. Plenty of people make fun of Fallon but he sure nabs some of best musical guests in the biz. The Roots might probably have something to do with that. Their new album, How I Got Over, drops October 20th, via Def Jam.
The Flaming Lips
“Convinced of the Hex” and Interview (Live on The Colbert Report) (Video)
After an appearance at last weekend’s ATP New York, Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne sat down for an interview on The Colbert Report last night (September 16th). The hillariously conservative host tells Coyne that he doesn’t trust him, that he’s weird and that he doesn’t want his mind expanded by his music.
Coyne smiles and laughs throughout, with the only awkward moment coming during a discussion of the lyrical sadness in “Do You Realize?,” Oklahoma’s new rock anthem. Colbert assures him he’s just teasing after the Oklahoman valiantly defends the perennial cut. Coyne then regroups with an expanded band for a trippy live rendition of Embryonic‘s “Convinced of the Hex.” Consequentially, the forthcoming double album is now streaming in its entirety at Colbert’s official website until Monday.
Embryonic is out October 13th via Warner Bros. You can pre-order the CD or a furry deluxe edition here.
Jookabox
“Phantom Don’t Go” MP3
Sep 17, 2009
The Indianapolis band Jookabox (formerly Grampall Jookabox) has a zombie-themed record coming out entitled Dead Zone Boys. It drops November 3rd via Asthmatic Kitty. The press release describes David “Moose” Adamson & Co.‘s third release as a “love story meets psychedelic zombie-musical.”
That sounds about right after listening to the tribal “Phantom Don’t Go.” The drum and bass hits of Ropechain‘s “The Girl Ain’t Preggers” are still present but the group’s lyrical grime is equally pandemic in scope. Give some of the kudos to Jookabox’s thunderous new drummer Ostry Okerson. This is spooky music to listen to while reading The Walking Dead or watching a George A. Romero flick. Be sure to keep your ears to the ground and your shotgun at your side for an exclusive Jookabox Halloween contest coming to this space next month.
Globes on Remote
“Space Camp” MP3
Sep 17, 2009
The members of Los Angeles’ Globes on Remote are Stephen Andrews, Tawny Carson, Kevin Ignatius, and Daniel Medina. Carson is the only L.A. native in the foursome. The rest largely hail from small towns, such as St. Augustine, FL and Winters, CA, and kick out dancefloor-ready tunes with a hardcore DIY bent. Aside from mastering, the group self-recorded, mixed and produced their forthcoming record, The Woo Hoo Hoo, in a self-built studio. The self-release LP drops November 17th but you can listen to the wonderfully intergalactic “Space Camp” above. R.I.Y.L.: Tom Tom Club or just ‘80s New Wave in general.
Firstly, that’s not the official title above. The super long real one, “Matty G, ‘Layin in Bed,’ DJ/Rupture f. Elizabeth Alexander, ‘Overture: Watermelon City (Acappella), Lloop, ‘Autumn Rain’” didn’t play so nice with our website. The actual music fares much, much better.
On October 13th, 
The Indianapolis band 
The members of Los Angeles’ 
