Keeps me in my bed

My Old Kentucky Blog debuted a track from the upcoming new Stars album The Five Ghosts yesterday, and as with the other material that the band have showcased so far, it bodes well for the record. And, if you haven't already heard "We Don't Want Your Body," head on over to I Guess I'm Floating, and savour the absolutely glorious chorus. June 21st really can't come soon enough.

You make my eyes go boom

Just a quick reminder to you all that I recently reviewed the new Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti album Before Today over at City Lifers. It'd mean a lot to me if you could check it out; it's the first time I've actually contributed content to another website. It's an excellent record, one worth spending a bit of time with - one of the highlights of 2010 so far. Here's the video to "Bright Lit Blue Skies," a faithful cover of an obscure garage band, the Rockin' Ramrods:


Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "Bright Lit Blue Skies" from gorillavsbear.net on Vimeo.

The radio sings a patriot song

After debuting two of the tracks from Expo 86 last month, Wolf Parade have a couple more for our listening pleasure, "Yulia" and "Cloud Shadow On The Mountain." They're both pretty damn impressive, raising my expectations even further ahead of the June 28th release of the new album.

2 songs from Wolf Parade's EXPO 86 by subpop

You could only be free

"Game Of Pricks" is undoubtedly one of the best songs in the vast Guided By Voices oeuvre, and one of the most frequently covered. Jimmy Eat World contributed a version to the Future Soundtrack for America collection; you can listen to A Sunny Day In Glasgow tackle it here; and I saw Surfer Blood perform it in concert last month (here's footage of it from another gig). Now, we can add Owen Pallett to the ranks of alternative acts who've put their own spin on it, as part of the previously mentioned A.V. Club Undercover sessions.


Owen Pallett covers Guided By Voices

Talking Up...Pearly Gate Music

It's always nice when an artist emerges from nowhere to take you by surprise. I'm having that experience right now with Pearly Gate Music, whose self-titled debut album wasn't remotely on my radar until a recommendation from the sadly now defunct music blog Pop Tarts Suck Toasted. In writing about it previously, I spoke of the understated beauty that defines the album. That's painfully evident on the standout track "I Was A River." I find it hard to believe anyone will release a more beautiful song all year; strikingly sparse, it relies almost entirely on Zach Tillman's wonderful vocal performance, as the lyrics build to the heartbreaking refrain of "if I still loved you / I wouldn't be free." The sincerity of the sentiment shines through, and it marks Tillman out as a songwriter of tremendous potential. "Big Escape," meanwhile, is a subtle pop gem, an ode to growing up that actually becomes somewhat anthemic the more you listen to it. It's not the most immediate of records, but it's worth spending some time with; it's definitely a grower.

Anyway, here's a trio of songs recorded in live venues that I think you might enjoy:

"Bad Nostalgia" and "Navy Blues"



"Gossamer Hair"

Tell him your troubles

The Morning Benders continue to go from strength to strength; after the critical acclaim that greeted their second album, Big Echo, they still have enough left in the armoury to put out the fantastic "Go Grab A Stranger" on a limited edition tour 7". They're playing the Night & Day on June 28th, a date definitely worth marking in the calendar.

Go Grab A Stranger by themorningbenders

I'm gonna change your life

The Thermals have become an impressively prolific band as of late, putting out albums with a minimum of fuss whilst consistently improving on past efforts with each new release. Which is reason enough to look forward to their latest; Personal Life is due September 6th, with the first single "I Don't Believe You" out on August 9th.

Personal Life track list:

1. I'm Gonna Change Your Life
2. I Don't Believe You
3. Never Listen To Me
4. Not Like Any Other Feeling
5. Power Lies
6. Only For You
7. Alone, A Fool
8. Your Love Is So Strong
9. A Reflection
10. You Change My Life

You were my only friend

It's amazing to me that, three albums in, BOAT's absolutely infectious indie pop hasn't yet earned them a wider audience. For a recent WNYU session, they contributed new song "Grand Opening," as well as a Guided By Voices cover. Both of which you can check out over at You Ain't No Picasso. I fully recommend that you do so.

I'll leave you alone forever now

Round these parts, I've spent too long focussing exclusively on music lately. Fortunately, there's a new Scott Pilgrim trailer for us all to enjoy/pore over with delirious glee. I've always described myself as cautiously optimistic at best as far as this film is concerned; I love the graphic novels so much that I couldn't bring myself to build my hopes up too much, despite the involvement of Edgar Wright. Now, I'm throwing caution to the wind, and deciding that 6th August cannot come soon enough.

How we lived our lives

For all those of you who felt that Sharpen Your Teeth was Isaac Brock's finest hour, here he is performing a new Ugly Casanova song, "Here's To Now." It always seemed unlikely that we'd get any new material from the band, but as it happens, they'll be contributing eight songs to the soundtrack of documentary feature 180° South. Which is both unexpected and wonderful news.