Interviews

Texas is the Reason: Catching Up with Surfer Blood

Shannon Hassett :: Friday, July 16th, 2010 6:00 pm

This was an article originally written for Issue 24 of Death+Taxes. Since sitting down with Surfer Blood at SXSW, the boys have continued their mission to play everywhere on earth ever. After joining this year’s roster at Siren, they’ll fly to Chicago for a set at the Pitchfork Festival on Sunday. And what better setting for the summer happy sounds of debut album Astro Coast than one Coney Island, the perfect hot dog and beer filled welcome party for the Floridian fivesome. MORE »

Matthew Carefully Leads Pack of Upstaters On the Move

Shannon Hassett :: Monday, May 10th, 2010 11:30 am

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Upstate New York is not limited to its references in anti-Soda tax ads and its abundance of farms offering up goods at Green Market. There is a budding music scene, and while it may be a slower paced, more tightly knit and networked community of artists, concerned with the lives of their fans (who double as friends) over the fastest route to Pitchfork, this makes it all the better. MORE »

Track Review: “Tell ‘Em” - Sleigh Bells

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 2:40 pm

“Tell ‘Em,” the new track from indie darlings Sleigh Bells, debuted today. It’s kind of insane, but not quite in the way that it was intended to be. The music is reminiscent of a fight song played at an enormous stadium, and I feel that it would probably be best experienced in a similar way. Maybe if I had heard this song amid hundreds of grinning, sweaty, slightly drunk revelers, I’d be more inclined to like it. As it stands, I’m not looking to listen to the grating “Tell ‘Em” during my day-to-day life in the same way that I’m not trying to make “Who Dat?” part of my regular rotation. The song’s tone is certainly different from a lot of other music garnering attention right now, but sometimes different isn’t enough to compensate for tunelessness…or the fact that I feel like it would be fitting to witness a pack of scantily-clad, overly-tanned women jump and gyrate in the middle of a field with this as the score. Sleigh Bells are incredibly talented, but this song is a misstep.

Department of Eagles To Release Archive 2003-2006

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, April 23rd, 2010 2:15 pm

Department of Eagles, responsible for one of the best albums of 2008, the lush, swooning In Ear Park, are releasing a collection of “lost tracks” spanning from 2003 to 2006. It chronicles the progression of the band, comprised of Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen and school roommate Fred Nicolaus, from like-minded college students to fully-formed and capable musicians and promises to be an interesting listen. The compilation, Archive 2003-2006, is due out on American Dust on July 20, but you can stream the track “Brightest Minds” on Pitchfork now. It’s interesting to hear a band so frequently praised for their symphonic sound rely on much less production, especially on the scattered, fluttering piano and guitar melodies. If you’re one of those people who likes to obsessively peruse a band’s musical history, it’s definitely worth a listen. But hey, even if you’re not, it’s still a pretty enjoyable song. Check out “Brightest Minds” here.

Bear In Heaven Video Premiere for “Dust Cloud”

Amy Laviero :: Friday, April 23rd, 2010 2:15 pm

Like a handful of other indie artists forced to cancel their Coachella appearances, Bear In Heaven had a monkey wrench thrown into their European tour schedule thanks to that unpronounceable Icelandic volcano (Eyjaf… what?). However, instead of being pissed off by their “pure and unbreakable boredom,” the band used a shitty situation to their advantage. They stuck a camera on a baggage claim belt and turned it into a video for the Beat Rest Forth Mouth song “Dust Cloud.” The video, which premieres today on Pitchfork is pretty cool, albeit slightly nauseating, to watch.

The band are currently playing shows in Europe, although they will return to the US in May for a tour with Metric. Click through for a full list of the dates and to check out the inventive video for “Dust Cloud.” MORE »

MGMT Releases Video for “Flash Delirium”

Shannon Hassett :: Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 2:45 pm

Pitchfork is all up in arms about how “batshit” the new MGMT video ended up being. Really, Pitchfork? It’s certainly Adams Family meets Twin Peaks. It features a ton of old people, a bald veteran in army fatigues and ventriloquist dummies — all elements we’ve come to know as creepy. There’s some seriously phallic renegade medical procedures and Andrew VanWyngarden looks beyond bored for the duration of the video, but “pure absurdity” it is not. It’s possible to piece together a loose and uninspiring plot if so desired, but why? Is it not enough that the pair even took the time to make a video in this age of constantly leaking albums, one in which Gaga’s Tarantino attempting “Telephone” passes as art? A friend sent me this last week raving about how moving she found it. The song is beautiful; the video is literally nauseating and only appealing to someone who just got dumped (sorry, friend). “Flash Delirium” may not musically be the MGMT of yesteryear, but as a video, it contains all the necessary elements for video success. I’d rather watch a group of geezers do the electric slide than ponder the meaning of life a la Nate Vernon (and 2200 shots from a DSLR pieced together ad nauseum) any day. MGMT’s new album, Congratulations, is out on April 13 or is available in its entirety as a free stream here.

Yeasayer Tour Begins April 3rd

Amy Laviero :: Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 3:35 pm

Yeasayer are set to begin a full North American tour, starting April 3rd in Washington D.C. The tour is in support of Odd Blood, their most recent release which is enjoying acclaim from Pitchfork to the Onion for its toe-tapping, psychedelic experimentation. Click through for a full list of dates. MORE »

Today in Music

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, March 11th, 2010 5:45 pm

Barbershop Punk is premiering at SXSW and looks like the coolest documentary ever.

Frightened Rabbit got mad at Pitchfork, and so have a lot of other bands, apparently.

Band of Horses is touring with Pearl Jam. Huh?

Kid Cudi, MGMT and Ratatat made a second video for “Pursuit of Happiness.”

Not music, but easily the best thing I’ve read all week. Long live NPR.

Imaad Wasif Announces US Tour with Dead Meadow

Shannon Hassett :: Monday, March 1st, 2010 1:15 pm

It’s been a busy past year for Wasif, helping out the likes of Karen O, Bradford Cox and Jack Lawrence on the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack and playing guitar on “Little Shadow” from the YYY’s latest album, as well as Lou Barlow’s upcoming solo LP, Goodnight Unknown. There was also the release of Wasif’s own third album on Tee Pee in October, The Voidist, which was met with positive reviews and a strong 7.7 on Pitchfork. Wasif has now announced a US Tour in support of Dead Meadow and the MP3 premiere of “Our Skulls” on Brooklyn Vegan. A full list of dates to follow. MORE »

Today in Music

Amy Laviero :: Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 2:30 pm

Broken Social Scene fans need not wait any longer; the band debuted their new track, “World Sick,” over at Pitchfork where they also unveiled the title (Forgiveness Rock Record) and cover art for the much anticipated release.

Broken Bells debuted new songs and played a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In An Aeroplane Over the Sea” during an L.A. Showcase last Friday.

The Hold Steady released the track-listing to their album, Heaven is Whenever, and will begin a North American Tour on April 2nd in Ardsley, NY.

According to Sterogum and the New York Times, All Points West have “reserved, but not confirmed, its dates at Liberty State park” and no headliners or performers have signed on just yet.

LCD Soundsystem tweets the completion of his upcoming album: “mixing last song right now to send to the amazing bob weston to master. meaning, record DONE. i hope people like it.”

Beatles and Abbey Road fans fear not; the studio has been deemed a historical site by the UK government.

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim collaborate on a track featuring Cyndi Lauper and Tori Amos to be featured on an upcoming album about a “shoe-loving dictator’s widow Imelda Marcos.”

Bonnaroo: Worth It This Year?

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 3:20 pm

Bonnaroo is the weirdo of all the big festivals. It’s not really about industry, or after-parties, or what celebrities turn up. You invariably lose your cell phone. Make-up and any/all attempts at being fashionable are sneered at (it’s a hundred-degree sweatfest and no one has showered in days. Face it, you’re not going to look all that great). It’s kind of disgusting. Yes, Bonnaroo is basically about setting up your tent in the mud next to the campsite of a dude named Squirrel and liking it, and I don’t think anyone who’s been would have it any other way.

Spoon Debuts New Video, Embarks On 2010 Tour

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, February 5th, 2010 3:35 pm

Spoon debuted the video for the first single from Transference, “Written In Reverse,” today on Pitchfork. The video takes a literal approach - they play the track in front of an enormous mirror. They’re also about to begin their tour of Europe, North America, and Australia, beginning in the UK on Valentine’s Day.

Ambush of New Album Announcements

Shannon Hassett :: Friday, January 29th, 2010 1:00 pm

It may have been a slow week with regard to news (unless you’re the sort that found the State of the Union entertaining), but as for music, there were enough new album announcements to tide us over for a year. The artists themselves seemed to be just as excited about the prospects, with a slew of sources publishing interviews and information on the upcoming releases. For your (anticipated) listening pleasure, a summary of the week’s heavier hitters. MORE »

New from She & Him

Amy Laviero :: Friday, January 22nd, 2010 4:45 pm

She & Him released a song from their upcoming album, Volume Two, today on Pitchfork and since I have a girl crush on Zooey Deschanel, I thought I would share. You can listen to “In the Sun” here.

The duo has also announced a handful of shows, listed after the jump, which will begin early March and conclude with Coachella on April 16th. MORE »

iTunes Slowly Taking Over

Isaac Lekach :: Thursday, December 10th, 2009 1:30 pm

How long until we start referring to Steve Jobs as Big Brother? Oh, I kid. Apple’s latest acquisition isn’t that subversive. Click here to read the full report. If you’re familiar with Pitchfork, which you probably do, you’re already familiar with the web-based music servicing Lala. Well, Apple owns it now. Smart right? Swallow the competition Jobs! All this begs the question, where was Bill Gates when Apple was just a fledgling brand? Way to blow that one Willy.