[mp3] Happy Halloween!

Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?

My absolute favorite Halloween tune (sorry MJ). Back in 2005, a bunch of great bands and comedians got together and formed the satirically named North American Halloween Prevention Initiative (NAHPI). The supergroup made a hilarious, yet fabulous song in the spirit of All Hallows' Eve, and sold it for charity. All proceeds were donated to Unicef, in support of the annual Trick-or-Treat for Halloween. Years later, the fund raiser is over, but the song still remains. Watch the video posted above, or listen to the song linked below. Enjoy, and as always, have a most happy Halloween!

MP3: NAHPI - "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?"
(Buy "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en" single)

[new music] Spoon - Transference (New Album)

New Spoon!

Wow, Friday has just officially become AWESOME! Pitchfork just dropped the bomb that Spoon will be releasing its seventh studio album entitled Transference on January 26 in North America via Merge. And for everyone overseas, you'll be able to get it a day early via Anti-.

After Spoon released the 3-song EP Got Nuffin, I figured that was just a small ration to keep us from musical starvation... little did I know it was merely an appetizer for the main course. Now all we do is wait. Track listing is posted below, and you'll notice "Got Nuffin" made the cut. Also, listen to the bootleg of "Written in Reverse" from 2008's Pitchfork Festival. This is going to be good.

Track listing:

1. Before Destruction
2. Is Love Forever?
3. The Mystery Zone
4. Who Makes Your Money
5. Written in Reverse
6. I Saw the Light
7. Trouble Comes Running
8. Goodnight Laura
9. Out Go the Lights
10. Got Nuffin
11. Nobody Gets Me But You

Buy :: Got Nuffin (CD, LP, Digital)

[news] Foals - Back in the Studio

Recording Antidotes' Follow-up

Earlier this summer, Foals re-entered the studio to record its second album. Following the success from their solid debut album Antidotes, the Oxford quintet retreated to Göteborg, Sweden for a little transcendental inspiration. Perhaps like the great Thoreau, Foals will gain a more objective understanding of society by recording in the secluded location? Or maybe it's just a really good recording studio. Nevertheless, the band stated back in August that they had recorded one and a half songs, and that they were great (though every band says that). On Monday, they posted some studio pictures, which is a good sign that things are still going strong. Also on Monday, the band played a set at London's Transgressive Records anniversary show, and according to NME, the band showcased a few new jams. Below is the performance of "Spanish Sahara" from Monday night's show which found its way onto YouTube. The song struggles to start, but definitely picks up pace and builds into a strong finale. There's no more news about the Foals' new record, but it we'll definitely keep you posted on further details.

[new music] Them Crooked Vultures - "New Fang"

Them Crooked Vultures to release debut album

Them Crooked Vultures, the supergroup comprised of Josh Homme, Dave Grohl, and John Paul Jones, have announced the release date for their debut album. On November 17, we'll finally get to hear what few have witnessed in concert. Though all of their concerts thus far have banned any types of recording devices, we've been lucky enough to see/hear snippets of songs thanks to the advent of iPhone video. While these movie captures have been good, I'm very anxious to hear some studio cuts. But the wait is only a mere 3 weeks, and soon we'll get our taste of TCV. Until then, enjoy their first single, "New Fang", which can be streamed at their site, or played at the top of this post.

Them Crooked Vultures have announced its first ever shows in California:

November 17 - Wiltern Theater (Los Angeles)
November 19 - Fox Theater (Oakland)

Additional shows are being announced in the wake of the album's release, including but not necessarily limited to December dates in the UK and Europe, and a January trip to Australia and New Zealand.

The complete track listing of Them Crooked Vultures is as follows:

1. No One Loves Me & Neither Do I
2. Mind Eraser, No Chaser
3. New Fang
4. Dead End Friends
5. Elephants
6. Scumbag Blues
7. Bandoliers
8. Reptiles
9. Interlude With Ludes
10. Warsaw or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up
11. Caligulove
12. Gunman
13. Spinning In Daffodils

Pre-Order :: Them Crooked Vultures - S/T LP

[new album] White Denim - Fits & Exposion

White Denim's US Debut

Today is the day - White Denim's music finally hits US shelves via Downtown Music. Fits, which has been raved about overseas and has caused quite a buzz around the band, has made its way across the Atlantic to American listeners. I'm hoping that the power of Downtown can give WD the exposure they deserve.

This isn't the first attempt that White Denim has tried to tap into the US mainstream. Over a year ago in an unfortunate business venture with Transmission, the major US release of Exposion was thwarted; however, now you can finally get your hands on a physical copy thanks to this new record deal.

If you buy the band's fabulous LP Fits, you'll also receive a bonus disc with White Denim's debut record Exposion.

If you're a long-time reader, you'll recall that Exposion ranked 2nd in the Top 13 Albums of 2008. You also might remember that Fits was 2nd in the Midterm Report for 2009. These albums are absolute stunners by themselves, so to receive them together as a packaged deal might possibly be the best deal of 2009. Grab yourself a copy and you'll see what all the hype is about.

Buy :: White Denim - Fits/Exposion (CD or LP)

To further entice you, here's the trailer park/Mad Max-themed music video for "I Start To Run", the first single off Fits.

[news] Cold War Kids Progress Report

Cold War Kids finishing EP, starting new LP

Reported earlier at Cold War Kids' website, the band is apparently finishing an EP of probably 5 songs that will release in January called Behave Yourself. The band will also play a few shows to promote that short-player, and then re-enter the studio for work on a their third album. The band reports that they're serious about "hankering down into album mode," complete with turning off their cell phones, reading books, watching movies, and listening to music - all things to inspire the creative left side of their brains.

[video] Treasure Hunt Jam Session

Treasure Hunt perform at Mount Zoomer

Posted over at the Wolf Parade fansite, we now have a great glimpse of the supergroup Treasure Hunt. Consisting of two drummers and two bassist, the instrumental quartet must have played a private show at fellow band member Arlen Thompson's recording studio Mount Zoomer. Sadly, this experimental side-project may have been just a one-time venture. Treasure Hunt will probably record an album to "document the band's existence," but their duties are now being fulfilled by their respective bands. Until then, enjoy these rare videos and patiently wait for record in the near-future.

[news] White Denim - Pre-Order Fits & Exposion

White Denim Arrives on Downtown (soon)

Head over to Insound to pre-order yourself a copy of White Denim's Fits, which they've so kindly packaged alongside their previous killer album Exposion as sort of a bonus disc. This will be the first official "label release" for the Austin trio here in the States. Here's what others had to say about Fits:

"Like Ike and Tina Turner...White Denim never do anything nice and easy. The band's chopped up punk delirium is effortless sorcery, evoking Talking Heads' dancing-bones rock, the dervish thrash of the Minutemen and the Strokes' pneumatic-guitar pop...White Denim is not simple work, but everything you get is nice and rough." - Rolling Stone

"The Austin trio that can sound like the Ventures transplanted to Texas, psychedelic catapulted toward math-rock, ZZ Top on a caffeine binge or the early Talking Heads with a chip on their shoulder. White Denim should be the proverbial hard act to follow." - NY Times

Pre-order :: Fits/Exposion (vinyl or CD)

[video] Grizzly Bear w/ Victoria Legrand on Conan

Grizzly Beach Bear - "Two Weeks"

Last night on the Late Show with Conan O'Brien, Grizzly Bear performed my favorite song off their latest LP Veckatimest. Aiding the band with her amazingly beautiful pipes, Beach House's Victoria Legrand sang some eerie back-up vocals on this rendition of "Two Weeks".

What is it with female vocalists enhancing Grizzly Bear tracks? I loved when the boys broke out Horn of Plenty's "Service Bell" for Dark Was The Night and hired the help of Feist. Hopefully we'll get to see more tunes with this new collaborative combo of Grizzly Bear/Beach House, perhaps...

[mp3] Owen Schmitt - There Will Be Blood

Another O. Schmitt Moment

Seattle Seahawks' fullback Owen Schmitt has always been known for his brutish ability to deliver/receive the hardest of hits in football. During his college days at West Virginia, this machine of a man mananged to mangle his facemask every few games - those things are really hard to bend! Part of his pre-game ritual sometimes included hitting his head with the very own helmet that's supposed to protect that precious cargo which resides inside that thick skull of his.

Fast forward to yesterday when the Seahawks were about to play an evenly matched (so the sports critics said) Jacksonville Jaguars. With an already injury-riddled team, the last thing we Seattle fans need is another injury to worry about. That's why many of us were utterly confused/shocked by Schmitt's decision to "pump up his team" with this act of barbarism. Take a look at the video above to see what I mean. Maybe it worked in the end, since the Hawks shut out the Jags 41-0 in another fantastic home victory. I put more emphasis on Hasselbeck's return: a 4-TD day from a man with broken ribs is not too shabby.

Anyway, Schmitt's pre-game injury got me thinking of an old My Morning Jacket song title. The track appears on an EP that's seldom talked about, Chocolate and Ice. Enjoy.

MP3: My Morning Jacket - "Can You See The Hard Helmet On My Head"
(From Chocolate and Ice EP)

[news] Spoon - New Years Eve Show (Milwaukee, WI)

Spoon's NYE show w/ Jay Reatard

In the latest Spoon news, it appears that the band will be playing the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, WI for a New Years Eve gig. Tickets for this performance will go on sale Oct 23, but there will be a pre-sale just for Spoon fans beginning at 10am CST on Monday Oct 19th. These pre-sale tickets will exclude venue surcharges.

And if that wasn't great enough news, it also looks like the opening band will be Jay Reatard (that is, if he's able to get his band back together).

DECEMBER 31
SPOON W/ JAY REATARD
RIVERSIDE THEATER
(Milwaukee, WI)

In other Spoon news, the first four full-length albums in the Spoon catalog are now available digitally worldwide for the first time, along with various propaganda items old and new, through this site.

[video] Treasure Hunt (live @ Zaphod Beeblebrox)

First look at Treasure Hunt

What do you get when you put two drummers and two bassist on the same stage? I'm not sure what I expected either, but watch the video above to catch a glimpse of Treasure Hunt - a newly formed supergroup featuring Arlen Thompson from Wolf Parade, Dustin Hawethorn (ex-Hot Hot Heat), Mike Bigelow (Wintersleep/ex-Holy Fuck), and Loel Campbell (Wintersleep/ex-Holy Fuck). The band played a few shows in September in support of Young Galaxy, and the Wolf Parade fansite was nice enough to share this video with everyone. This particular set took place at Zaphod Beeblebrox in Ottawa on September 9, 2009.

If Treasure Hunt records an EP or LP with this kind of energy, I'm sure it's bound to be awesome.

[reminder] Elysian's Great Pumpkin Beer Fest '09

The Great Pumpkin Festival 2009

For the fifth year in a row, Seattle's Elysian Brewery will be hosting its annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival this weekend (October 10-11). The event will take place at the Capitol Hill Elysian Brewery (across the street from Chop Suey) and will showcase the latest, greatest pumpkin-flavored concoctions from Elysian, as well as 16 guest pumpkin beers from several Seattle-area and non-Seattle-area brewers .

In addition to their flagship pumpkin ale Night Owl, Elysian is serving up:

• The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
• Dark o’ the Moon Pumpkin Stout
• Hansel and Gretel Ginger Pumpkin Pilsner
• Jack o’ Bite Barrel-aged Strong Scottish Pumpkin Ale
• Mr. Yuck Sour Pumpkin Ale
• Bete N’Owl Dark Belgian-style Pumpkin Ale
• Kaiser Kurbis Pumpkin Hefeweizen
• 8472 Amber Sour

The other beers will be from the following breweries: Allagash, Big Time, Cambridge, Dogfish Head, Elliott Bay, Iron Hill, Jolly Pumpkin, Nodding Head, Pike, Rock Bottom, Russian River, Silver City, Snoqualmie, Southern Tier, Stewart’s, Stoudt’s, and Trade Route.

But don't forget about The Great Pumpkin! For those unfamiliar to the festival, Elysian also a has a huge gourd filled with pumpkin ale which has been sealed up with wax and allowed to undergo a second fermentation. At 4:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday, a tap is hammered into "The Great Pumpkin" and the beer inside is served to the hoards of thirsty pumpkin enthusiasts.

FESTIVAL HOURS: Saturday, Oct. 10 (Noon-10pm); and Sunday, Oct. 11 (Noon-6pm). Tickets are a very reasonable $15, which includes entrance fees, a commemorative glass, as well as 6 drink tokens. Additional tokens will be available at the festival for $1.50 each. Tickets can be purchased at any Elysian Brewery, as well as at the gate.

If you happen to live somewhere far away from Seattle, but would love to get your taste buds on these wonderful beers (especially the Dark 'O The Moon Pumpkin Stout), Elysian will be hitting the road for two East Coast appearances: Blind Tiger in Greenwich Village, New York City (October 14) and South Philly Tap Room in Philadelphia (October 18).

[video] Say Hi - "One, Two ... One"

Lots of Oohs & Aaahs in this music video

Seattle's Say Hi (formerly know as Say Hi To Your Mom) has just debuted a music video for "One, Two ... One" from the band's latest album Oohs & Aahs. According to the Say Hi's Eric Elbogen, the talented director Drew Norton and a crew of amazing folks helped to make the first ever Say Hi music video. Check it out above.

Also, Say Hi is currently on tour and will conclude their extensive North American conquest back here in Seattle at Neumo's on November 7 (with David Bazan and The Sea Navy).

Buy :: Say Hi - Oohs & Aahs

Say Hi tour dates:

10-05-09 @ Solar Culture -- Tucson, AZ; (All Ages) #
10-07-09 @ The Mohawk -- Austin, TX; All Ages) #
10-08-09 @ Dan's Silverleaf -- Denton, TX; (21+) #
10-09-09 @ Hi-Tone Cafe -- Memphis, TN; (18+) #
10-10-09 @ Murray State -- Murray, KY; (All Ages) #
10-11-09 @ The Bottletree Cafe -- Birmingham, AL; (18+) #
10-13-09 @ The Social -- Orlando, FL; (All Ages) #
10-14-09 @ The Drunken Unicorn -- Atlanta, GA; (21+) #
10-15-09 @ Local 506 -- Chapel Hill, NC; (18+) #
10-16-09 @ The Black Cat -- Washington, DC; (All Ages) #
10-17-09 @ Kung Fu Necktie -- Philadelphia, PA; (21+) #
10-18-09 @ Bowery Ballroom -- New York, NY; (18+) #
10-20-09 @ TT The Bear's -- Cambridge, MA; (18+) # *
10-21-09 @ Il Motore -- Montreal, QC; (18+) #
10-22-09 @ Lee's Palace -- Toronto, ON; (19+) #
10-23-09 @ The Pike Room -- Pontiac, MI; (19+) #
10-24-09 @ Schubas -- Chicago, IL; (18+) #
10-25-09 @ The Highdive -- Champaign, IL; (19+) #
10-27-09 @ High Noon Saloon -- Madison, WI; (18+) #
10-28-09 @ Turf Club -- Minneapolis, MN; (21+) # ^
10-29-09 @ The Picador -- Iowa City, IA; (19+) #
10-30-09 @ Jackpot Saloon -- Lawrence, KS; (18+) #
10-31-09 @ The Slowdown -- Omaha, NE; (All Ages) #
11-01-09 @ The Hi-Dive -- Denver, CO; (All Ages) #
11-02-09 @ Kilby Court -- Salt Lake City, UT; (All Ages) #
11-05-09 @ Media Club -- Vancouver, BC; (19+) #
11-06-09 @ Mississippi Studios -- Portland, OR; (21+) #
11-07-09 @ Neumo's -- Seattle, WA; (21+) # $

# w/ David Bazan
* w/ TW Walsh / The Soft Drugs
^ w/ Wye Oak
$ w/ The Sea Navy

[video] Plants and Animals - "Feedback in the Field" (Télé-Québec)

Télé-Québec.tv airs Plants and Animals video

On the corner of Saint-Jean and Scott St in Québec, Plants and Animals "impress passersby with an excerpt from their album Parc Avenue. Playing music while walking, what better way to attract attention!" Head over to Télé-Québec to watch the Montreal trio play a torn-down version of "Feedback in the Field."

Watch video here.

[mp3] Spoon - "Ghost (AcaPella)" October Bonus Track

Spoon's Spooky Version of "Ghost"

In the month of October, Spoon offers up a Halloween-themed rendition of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga's "The Ghost of You Lingers." Entitled the "AcaPella" version, this song appears to contain only the vocal track and none of the backing tracks. Be patient, the first 30 seconds are silent.

MP3: Spoon - "Ghost (AcaPella)"
(October Bonus Track)