June 2009
Radio K Posts New Gospel Gossip Session
*MP3: Gospel Gossip - “Wind” Radio K recently posted a session with nu-gazers Gospel Gossip, who just put out their MFR-approved release Dreamland this past weekend. Of the tracks performed, only one, “Home,” is taken from the Dreamland EP. The rest are unreleased songs, which include “Sippy Cup,” “Chores” (sensing a theme here) and...
Amanda Palmer Makes $19,000 Dollars In 10 Hours...
If you haven’t already, check out Amanda Palmer’s fascinating account of how she made $19,000 dollars using micro-blogging site Twitter. Palmer’s blog is a bit on the long side, so I will sum it up like this: Basically, over a 10 hour period, Palmer was able to use to Twitter to organize fans to buy custom made T-shirts, donate to a webcast auction of special goods, and to...
Block Zero Booking Announces "Pet Rock" Show for...
(Kill to Kill)
So I bet you’re wondering who the deuce Block Zero Booking is. Well, as Syl from 90s alt-rock revivalists Kill to Kill explained on a recent MySpace bulletin, Block Zero Booking is, well, a booking company who are throwing their first event on behalf of the Humane Society (yay!). The event is called—and why not?—“pet rock.” As Syl explains:
Block...
VIDEO: Cobra Starship - "Good Girls Go Bad"
(Ian Anderson)
New Video: Toki Wright End of CD Release Party...
A video of the Twin Cities’ best emcees—including Brother Ali and Abstract Rude—freestyling to celebrate Toki Wright, who was celebrating the release of this month’s A Different Mirror. Watch it at the top!
Toki Wright MySpace Page
(Jon Graef)
New Video: Kanye West - "Street Lights"
(via)
One of my favorite songs from last year’s 808s and Heartbreak now has a video, although I have to agree with the commenter on Nah Right who hilariously said that the clip “looks like an early 90s racing PC game or something.” Judge for yourself by watching the clip at the top.
Kanye West MySpace Page
(Jon Graef)
NEW: Eyedea and Abilities - "Burn Fetish"
*MP3: Eyedea and Abilities - “Burn Fetish”
*MP3”: Eyedea and Abilities - “This Story”
The release of MPLS hip-hop duo Eyedea and Abilities’ first album in five years, By The Throat, is but a few weeks away, and it would seem as if the twosome are, well, grabing by the throat in order to promote it.
First, E&A released “This Story,” then...
VIDEO: Anni Rossi - "West Coast"
(Ian Anderson)
Paramore Release Album Art, Tracklisting
Paramore’s new album, “Brand New Eyes,” will be out on 9/27 via Atlantic/Fueled By Ramen. And yes, this is the highest resolution available on the internet. Here is the tracklisting: 1. Careful 2. Ignorance 3. Playing God 4. Brick by Boring Brick 5. Turn It Off 6. The Only Exception 7. Feeling Sorry 8. Looking Up 9. Where the Lines Overlap 10. Misguided Ghosts 11. All...
NEW: Fleet Foxes - "Blue Spotted Tail" (Live on...
*MP3: Fleet Foxes - “Blue Spotted Tail” (Live on BBC 6) Fleet Foxes have released a recording of new song, “Blue Spotted Tail,” that they cut live on BBC 6. (Ian Anderson)
Review: Gospel Gossip - Dreamland
*MP3: Gospel Gossip - “Pre-Med (Just In Case)”
*MP3: Gospel Gossip - “Nashville”
Gospel Gossip
Dreamland (Guilt Ridden Pop, 2009)
Grade: A-
For a group so young, Gospel Gossip immediately showed immense promise on their 2007 debut Sing Into My Mouth, as their pop-minded variation on shoegazer demonstrated a startlingly strong grasp of melody and songcraft on songs...
VIDEO: Deerhoof - "My Purple Past"
(Ian Anderson)
Volcano Choir, A New Project From Justin Vernon of...
I’m very excited that this was released to the press so that I can finally talk about it! Volcano Choir is the new project from Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Collections of Colonies of Bees. The purely studio project will be releasing their first LP, “Unmap,” on 9/22 via Jagjaguwar. Unmap Tracklisting:
1. Husks and Shells 2. Seeplymouth 3. Island, IS 4. Dote 5. And Gather ...
Sunny Day Real Estate Announce Tour Dates
*MP3: Sunny Day Real Estate - “Seven” Sunny Day Real Estate have announced their tour dates, which include a stop in Minneapolis at First-Avenue on 9/23. Get tickets! Sept. 17: Vancouver (Commodore Ballroom) Sept. 18: Portland, Ore. (Crystal Ballroom) Sept. 20: Salt Lake City (Murray Theatre) Sept. 21: Denver (Ogden Theatre) Sept. 23: Minneapolis (First Avenue) Sept. 24: Chicago...
TONIGHT: Phoenix at the Varsity Theater
*MP3: Phoenix - “Lisztomania” Phoenix are playing at the Varsity Theater tonight. The show is sold out, so find a friend who has a ticket and convince to give it to you. It will be a great show. (Ian Anderson)
VIDEO: Topspin's Ian Roger's Discusses Music...
(Ian Anderson)
Best New Releases for June 23, 2009
The Gossip - “Music For Men” (101)
*MP3: The Gossip - “Heavy Cross” Buy it on iTunes. Mount Eerie - “Dawn” (Chicago Independent) *MP3: Mount Eerie -“Flaming Home” Buy it on iTunes. Phenomenal Handclap Band - “Phenomenal Handclap Band” (Friendly Fire)
*MP3: The Phenomenal Handclap Band - “15 to 20” Buy it on iTunes....
VIDEO: Sing It Loud - "Come Around"
Minneapolis-natives Sing It Loud just released this video for “Come Around,” which is definitely their best effort in the video world. (Ian Anderson)
NEW: All Time Low - "Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If...
*MP3: All Time Low - “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” All Time Low’s new album, “Nothing Personal,” will be out on 7/7 via Hopeless Records. “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” is the first catchy-ass single from the upcoming album. MySpace (Ian Anderson)
Tonight: The Rural Alberta Advantage at the 7th...
*MP3: The Rural Alberta Advantage - “Don’t Haunt This Place” *MP3: The Rural Alberta Advantage - “Frank, AB” The Rural Alberta Advantage are playing tonight at the 7th St. Entry. The recent Saddle-Creek signings have been one of my late favorites and I definitely give this show a solid recommendation. Doors to this 18+ show open at 7:30pm, Chris Koza is opening. ...
Rock The Garden 2009
Rock the Garden, held on the grounds of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in late June, is a unique kind of music festival. A one-day event hosted by local public radio station The Current in collaboration with the Walker, it’s a short but sweet lineup of four bands representing a small cross section of the station’s eclectic playlists. Last year’s inaugural run featured...
Tonight: JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound @ Nomad...
*MP3: JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound - “Baltimore is the New Brooklyn”
JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound are one of the most energetic, joyful live bands going on today. This Chicago-based band sounds like if Otis Redding individually whipped each member of The Velvet Underground off of heroin, and transformed them into a disciplined, show-stopping Stax soul band. They’re playing...
Tonight: Red Pens Record Release Party @ 7th...
*MP3: Red Pens - “Street Issue”
The fuzz-and-drone-heavy Minneapolis nu-gazers have their record release show for their debut Reasons at the 7th Street Entry. For fans of Minneapolis psychedelic/shoegazer scene (ourselves included), this show is a must. Peep the details below:
(Info via)
Red Pens with Sharp Teeth The Vignettes Total Babe Sat. Jun 20th 7th Street Entry...
NEW: Bloc Party - "One More Chance"
*MP3: Bloc Party - “One More Chance” The latest single from Bloc Party has arrived, “One More Chance,” which will be available 8/10 via Wichita Recordings. MySpace (Ian Anderson)
MFR Tour: Tonight, Chicago at the Abbey Pub
*MP3: The Lemonheads - “If I Could Talk I’d” *MP3: The Lemonheads - “Dirty Robot” (Featuring Kate Moss) *MP3: Now, Now Every Children - “Sleep Through Summer” I’m spending the weekend in Chicago with Now, Now Every Children, we’re opening for the Lemonheads tonight and tomorrow at the Abbey Pub. For show details, click here. As usual,...
VIDEO: The Future of Music Journalism
Christopher R. Weingarten, a freelance writer for Rolling Stone, Idolator and others, spoke at the “140 Characters Conference” and touched on a lot of pressing issues that are messing with the infrastructure of music journalism. Video courtesy of Hypebot. (Ian Anderson)
VIDEO PREMIERE: Ice Palace - "Thoughts/Facts"
(Ian Anderson)
NEW: Modest Mouse - "The Whale Song"
*MP3: Modest Mouse - “The Whale Song” Modest Mouse’s new 7” “Autumn Beds” (out June 23) features a great B-Side in “The Whale Song.” I wasn’t particularly impressed with Side-A, “Autumn Beds,” but this I like. Tripwire is running a feature on “The Whale Song” and listen to “Autumn Beds” on Spinner. MySpace...
Top 20 Sellers for June 18, 2009
*MP3: Black Eyed Peas - “Rock That Body” *MP3: Mos Def - “Quiet Dog” *MP3: Sonic Youth - “What We Know” *MP3: Dirty Projectors - “Remade Horizon” The numbers are in for the week prior to June 18 and it looks like Black Eyed Peas owned #1 with 304,109, an excellent first week showing. Mos Def’s “Ecstatic” had a great debut at #9...
St. Vincent's Lake Fever Sessions Posted
Annie Clark of St. Vincent performed three songs acoustically as a part of her Lake Fever Sessions. I believe this is the first time Clark has performed in such a way, so they’re pretty interesting videos. Watch more at www.lakefeversessions.com.
(Ian Anderson)
VIDEO: Fever Ray - "Triangle Walks"
(Ian Anderson)
Review: Gay Beast - "Second Wave"
Gay Beast Second Wave (Skin Graft Records, 2009)
Grade: A
*MP3: Gay Beast - “EEEXXPPPAAANNNDDDIIINNNGGG”
There are many adjectives that can be used to describe Second Wave, the latest LP from experimental Minneapolis trio Gay Beast: Cacophonous, frantic, confusing, arrhythmic, and jarring are but a few that immediately come to mind. But here’s another watchword that, amongst all...
Top Ten Tracks on Elbo.Ws Reviewed in 50 words or...
1. *MP3: Yo La Tengo - “Periodically Double or Triple”
“Proven review” or not, the Hoboken-based indie legends latest track starts off as an irritatingly cliche garage-rock romp. But thanks to the band’s insistence on sticking with a danceable groove, “Double or Triple” ingratiates itself enough so that the charm of the track starts to become apparent...
VIDEO: The Gaslight Anthem - "The '59 Sound"
The Springsteen-indebted, Westerberg-esque rockers are set to play The Cabooze on October 3rd.
The Gaslight Anthem MySpace Page
(Jon Graef)
John Vanderslice WOXY Sessions Posted for Download
*MP3: John Vanderslice - “Too Much Time” (WOXY Sessions) *MP3: John Vanderslice - “Romanian Names” (WOXY Sessions) *MP3: John Vanderslice - “Forest Knolls” (WOXY Sessions) *MP3: John Vanderslice - “Sunken Union Boat” (WOXY Sessions) Last week, John Vanderslice recorded a WOXY session, which was awesome. WOXY just posted the entire sessions for...
Tonight: Small Towns Burn A Little Slower Reunion...
*MP3: Small Towns Burn A Little Slower - “Con Artist” Small Towns Burn A Little Slower are playing a reunion show tonight at the Triple Rock Social Club with other reuniters The Semester and Gloria. Small Towns were an essential band to the TC-post-hardcore/pop-rock scene for years, and I personally can’t wait to see them play again. This all ages show starts at 6pm. MySpace...
Silversun Pickups Pickup #1 on Billboard Modern...
*MP3: Silversun Pickups - “Panic Switch” Silversun Pickups have done what no other independent artist has done in 11 years: claimed the #1 slot on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart as their own. “Panic Switch” from their recent “Swoon” (Dangerbird Records) has surpassed Linkin Park and Green Day and joined a club which includes the likes of The Offspring and...
Report Predicts Digital Sales to Account for 82.6%...
Market research and analysis think-tank eMarketer announced today the findings of their “Digital Entertainment Meets Social Media” report. Not much of a surprise that the report predicts that digital music sales will account for 82.6% of music sold by 2013, which doesn’t say much considering that music spending is down to $5.8 billion in 2008 from a peak of $14.6 billion in...
MFR's "Best of 2009 So Far" List
Since this week is rather slim for new releases, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the first half of 2009 with a “Best of 2009 So Far” list. Between you and me, although this year has been amazing thus far, I’m even more excited for what has yet to come.
An Horse - “Rearrange Beds” (Mom & Pop)
*MP3: An Horse - “Horizons” Buy it on...
VIDEO: Micachu & The Shapes - "Golden Phone"
(Ian Anderson)
NEW: Discovery - "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"
*MP3: Discovery - “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” I think I’m in love. MySpace (Ian Anderson)
Sunn 0))) Announce Tour Dates
*MP3: Sunn 0))) - “It Took The Night To Believe” Sunn 0))) announced a week of Midwest tour dates coming up in July with a date at the Varsity Theater on July 5. I recommend picking up a ticket now, I was blown away when I saw them last. Tour dates: 07.02.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle 07.05.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater 07.06.09 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium/Underground...
Mount Eerie to Release "Wind's Poem" August 18
Phil Elverum is at it again. His new Mount Eerie record, entitled “Wind’s Poem,” will be out 8/18 via P.W. Elverum and Sun. Tracklisting: 01 Wind’s Dark Poem 02 Through the Trees 03 My Heart Is Not at Peace 04 The Hidden Stone 05 Wind Speaks 06 Summons 07 The Mouth of Sky 08 Between Two Mysteries 09 Ancient Questions 10 (something) 11 Lost Wisdom Pt. 2 12...
NEW: The Phenomenal Handclap Band - “15 to 20”
*MP3: The Phenomenal Handclap Band - “15 to 20” The Phenomenal Handclap Band are delightful. This 8-piece onslaught from New York is coming out with their first via Friendly Fire on 6/23. MySpace (Ian Anderson)
Tonight: RadioK's Battle of the Underage...
Tonight is RadioK’s 9th annual Battle of the Underage Underground at First Avenue. This is one of my favorite events every year. It never fails to showcase what’s next in local talent: Linus, Tiki Obmar, Melodious Owl, Battle Royale are all amongst the winner. Here’s who’s playing this year: Silent Agency Auburn The Fearless Human Race Total Babe Trinity Munting for...
Tonight: Metric at First Avenue
*MP3: Metric - “Help I’m Alive” *MP3: Metric - “Combat Baby” Metric are playing tonight at the First Avenue Mainroom. Doors to this 18+ show open at 6pm. I recommend it! MySpace (Ian Anderson)
VIDEO: Animal Collective - "Summertime Clothes"
(Ian Anderson)
NEW: Lightning Dust - "I Knew"
*MP3: Lightning Dust - “I Knew”
Lightning Dust’s new album, “Infinite Light,” will be out on 8/4 via Jagjaguwar. “I Knew” is the first single from the upcoming album and I like it. Short, sweet, and to the point. MySpace (Ian Anderson)
Wavves Theory
*MP3: Wavves - “So Bored” “This sounds like snot, it’s totally disposable, it’s just a mess, it’s totally on drugs and drunk. I have to sign it.” These were the now embarrassing and ironic words of Fat Possum Records president Matthew Johnson in a March edition of the LA Times in describing his then newest and hottest prospect, 22-year-old Nathan...
Beyond The Elbo.Ws Top Ten: June 12th
1. *MP3: Sun Volt - Down To The Wire
The low-key alt-country ambience (lead by the usual Hammond organ, acoustic guitar, and soft, but persistent drum work) make the latest from Son Volt palatable. But a little more excitable elements—perhaps more emotion from vocalist Jay Ferrar, a faster tempo—would help to make “Wire” more memorable
Grade: B-
2. *MP3: Gay Beast -...
