[new music] Spoon - Bonus Tracks 2008-2009

Spoon's bonus tracks now on CD

For those of you who have diligently followed Spoon over the last two years, you are probably well-aware that nearly every month, their website has released a "bonus track" - usually a demo or live version of an existing Spoon song. Well now over at the Spoon Store, you can purchase these tracks in the first installment of Bonus Tracks 2008-2009 on CD or digitally, which features album art by Nate Duval and liner notes by Britt Daniel. Below is the track listing. CDs cost around $9, and the digital copy runs around $6.

Because the band continued to release songs into 2010, I would expect an additional album to follow this, cleverly titled Bonus Tracks 2009-2010 or something along those lines. At the bottom of this post, I've provided a list all the bonus tracks and the months they were released. Enjoy!

Track Listing:

1. Was It You Demo
2. Rhythm And Soul Demo
3. Don't Let It Get You Down Demo
4. Cherry Bomb Country Version Demo
5. My Little Japanese Cigarette Case Oceanside Demo
6. Merchants Of Soul Demo
7. Eddie's Ragga Writing Exercise
8. My Mathematical Mind Demo
9. You Gotta Feel It Rehearsal
10. In The Right Place The Right Time Demo

Complete List of Spoon Bonus Tracks (2008-2010)

2008
"Paper Tiger (live Sydney '05)" February
"Eddie's Ragga (demo)" March
"Cherry Bomb (country version)" April #1
"I Turn My Camera On (first version)" April #2
"Don't Let It Get You Down (demo)" May
"Was It You (demo)" June
"Merchants of Soul (demo)" July
"You Gotta Feel It (rehearsal)" August
"My Mathematical Mind (demo)" September
"In The Right Place The Right Time (demo)" October
"Ghost (Ga ga ga ga ga ga ga demo)" November
"The Beast and Dragon (live Sydney '05)" December

2009
"Black Like Me" (demo) February
"30 Gallon Tank (Sydney, 2005)" April
"Japanese Cigarette Case (Demo)" June
"You Got Yr Cherry Bomb (from scratch demo)" July
"Vittorio E (Live Sydney '05)" August
"Rhythm & Soul (demo)" September
"Ghost (AcaPella)" October
"Everything Hits At Once (live @ Sydney '05)" November
"Japanese Cigarette Case (delay song demo)" December

2010
"Something To Look Forward To (early demo)" July
"Goodnight Laura (demo)" September
"Nobody Gets Me But You (demo)" October
"Out Go The Lights (demo)" November

[news] The End of Wolf Parade (for now)

Wolf Parade take indefinitely long hiatus

After just releasing two new tracks from the Expo 86 sessions, you'd think Wolf Parade were gearing up for another tour. Unfortunately, towards the end of their November 26th show in Toronto at Sound Academy, Spencer Krug apparently announced that it would be their last show "for a long time." To confirm the sad news, the Wolf Parade Fansite had this to say:

“It does not come easy for me to post this news. Dan Boeckner has contacted us and stated that Wolf Parade will be taking an ‘indefinite hiatus’.”

So what does this mean for WP fans? Well, I would think that we should expect records from their various other musical projects in the near future. Sunset Rubdown has also been placed on hiatus as well, so in a perfect world, late 2010-early 2011 would witness releases from Moonface (Spencer Krug), Handsome Furs (Dan Boeckner), perhaps Treasure Hunt (Arlen Thompson), and Johnny and the Moon (Dante DeCaro). Though that would be asking for way too much this Christmas.

[new music] The Cave Singers - No Witch

The Cave Singers - No Witch Out February 22

The Cave Singers and Jagjaguwar have announced the release date of February 22, 2011 for the band's third album No Witch (cover art above). According to the press kit, this album is of a different breed:

No Witch is grander and more lush than The Cave Singers' previous efforts. It's also a nervier, scrappier affair: greasy guitars buck and rear up; Eastern-influenced blues snake through songs; gospel choirs rise up like tidal waves. There are big, grinning nods to Beggars Banquet-era Stones, the best of Mellencamp ("Clever Creatures") and the juke joint legends of Mississippi like Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside ("Black Leaf" and "No Prosecution If We Bail"). Of course, it's all filtered through that particular, magical Cave Singers formula: Pete Quirk's reedy, behind-the-beat delivery and existential wordplay, Derek Fudesco's lyrical guitar runs and drummer Marty Lund's no nonsense rhythms.

The Cave Singers worked with producer Randall Dunn (Black Mountain, Sunn O))), Boris) for No Witch. The band is currently on tour road-testing new tunes from the new album. All tour dates below, including a stint with Cold War Kids!

The Cave Singers tour dates:
11/27/10 - Las Vegas - The Bunkhouse
11/28/10 - Albuquerque - Low Spirits*
11/30/10 - Nashville - The 5 #
12/02/10 - Charlottesville - Jefferson Theater^
12/03/10 - Knoxville Bijou Theatre^
12/04/10 - Asheville - Orange Peel^
12/06/10 - Athens - 40 Watt Club^
12/07/10 - Charleston - Music Farm^
12/08/10 - Jacksonville - Free Bird Live^
12/10/10 - Birmingham - WorkPlay Theatre^
12/11/10 - Memphis - Minglewood Hall^

* w/ Birds & Batteries, Excalico
# w/ Shane Tutmarc, Derek Hoke, & Mike Younger
^ w/ Cold War Kids

[video] Gorillaz cover the xx's "Crystalised"

Gorillaz v. the xx

When two of my favorite bands cross paths, the potential for something special increases. Watching Wolf Parade's Dan Boecker perform on stage with Spoon while singing "Modern World" is a fantastic example. And while this particular case isn't nearly as epic as the aforementioned junction, apparently Damon Albarn and the Gorillaz project made a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge appearance this past weekend, and among the songs showcased was a beautiful cover of the xx's "Crystalised." Also, special guest Daley helped to perform "Doncamatic" and an exclusive stripped back version of "On Melancholy Hill" (see below). Check out the rest at Some Kind Of Awesome!.

[mp3] Spoon - "Out Go The Lights" (demo) November Bonus Track

New Bonus Track from Spoon

Once again, Spoon has released a new bonus tracks at their website. This month's treat is a short, softer demo of "Out Go The Lights" off Transference. Check it out below.

MP3: Spoon - "Out Go The Lights" (demo)
(November Bonus Track)

[video] Spoon - "Nobody Gets Me But You"

Surveillance-stylized live music video

Spoon just released a new music video for their "it's much better live" track "Nobody Gets Me But You" off Transference. The studio cut has a nice groove to it, but if you see this track performed live, you'll experience something with so much more raw energy and fierce chops from lead singer Britt Daniel. So to much of my pleasure, the new music video was actually filmed live during a performance of the song at New York's Cake Shop, shot with a surveillance-style effect. Very cool. Check it out. And in other news, Spoon has a new bonus track posted at their site, a demo of "Out Go The Lights" (here).

[new music] Wolf Parade - "Semi-Precious Stone" Single

"Semi-Precious Stone" b/w "Agents of Love"

When Wolf Parade recorded the jams that would ultimately end up on their 3rd LP Expo 86, they alluded to the idea of releasing an EP later in the year with some of the extra songs that didn't quite fit on the album. Holding true to their promise, WP is now selling two new tracks on iTunes (here). The a-side single, "Semi-Precious Stone," is a synth-heavy brooder sung by Krug. The b-side, "Agents of Love," is vintage Boeckner: pop-fueled rock song with an uncertain sense of urgency. Both tunes can be purchased digitally for a mere $0.99 each. Check them out here, and check out the band in a city near you (dates below).

Wolf Parade tour dates:
11/03 – Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre
11/04 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
11/05 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live
11/06 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
11/08 – Charleston, SC @ The Pour House
11/09 – Orlando, FL @ Social
11/10 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore
11/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
11/13 – Oxford, MS @ The Lyric Oxford
11/15 – Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa
11/16 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
11/18 – Iowa City, IA @ The Englert Theater
11/19 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada
11/20 – St. Louis, MO @ Pageant
11/22 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
11/23 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
11/24 – Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom
11/26 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy

[sports] Can Clipboard Jesus Save Seattle?

Charlie Whitehurst to start in place of injured Hasselbeck

Coming off the worst showing of the year and suffering numerous key injuries in the process, the Seattle Seahawks look to forget the beating they suffered from the hands of Oakland, and hope to prevail against the mighty Giants with a new leader. While experts are saying Seattle needs a miracle to take on New York, Hawk fans may have gotten the answer to their Sunday wishes. Known to some as "Clipboard Jesus," Charlie Whitehurst will finally make his NFL debut at Qwest Field this weekend while starting QB Matt Hasselbeck recovers from a concussion.

How does one earn the nickname Clipboard Jesus? Whitehurst's holy resemblance is undeniable, and he's been holding a clipboard on the sidelines as a backup quarterback for the last 3.5 years I'm optimistically wishing for the best, and in honor of Charlie throwing his first regular season NFL pass since he joined the league in 2006, I've picked a classic Soundgarden jam to send him off in style. If only they could play song when he first takes the field...

Soundgarden - "Jesus Christ Pose"

[news] Specer Krug played Ska?

S-T-A-T-U-S... BABY!

Exploring a well-established musical artist's back catalog can be a very rewarding experience. Sometimes, you discover the true roots to the band you know and love. Once examined openmindedly, the evolution of your favorite artists can be tracked with various changes to the group dynamics (see Pick Floyd post-Barrett). Occasionally you'll find some real gems (see Britt Daniel's Drake Tungsten), and other times you just scratch your head and say, "Huh?"

Readers of this site may already be familiar with this recent discovery from earlier in the year. However, thanks to the Forums over at the Wolf Parade Fansite, I finally have my hands on a copy of Mantifiluss by the Two•Tonne Bowlers. Please keep reading for those of you asking, "Who?"

Spencer Krug (of Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Moonface, Swan Lake, Frog Eyes, Fifths of Seven) is one of the most prolific indie music artists around. Those familiar with his work will even recognize how one of his songs inspired the name for this site. And while he had probably wished away the existence of his earliest work, luckily (for us SK fans) some ska lover decided to hang onto a copy of this aforementioned album. As it turns out, Spencer Krug was a founding member of the ska band Two•Tonne Bowlers which released Mantifiluss in 1994. With songs like "Fallopian Tube Fandango," this 9-song LP is by no means representative of the direction in which Spencer Krug's musical career continued; however, it's a fun listen and worth checking out for its pre-historical context. The album cover is featured above, and below you can listen to the opening track "Status." I hope you enjoy!

MP3: Two•Tonne Bowlers - "Status"
(From Mantifiluss)