Check, check... is this thing on? Anyone out there? If you're reading this, it means I've successfully overcome a severe case of blogger's block. Not that I haven't had anything to share - the opposite is true, actually - just that I've been stuck in a simple catch-22: When I'm in the mood to write, I lack the time, and when I find some time, I lack the mood. Wanting to spend all my non-work moments with A & B means my priorities are properly in order, but it sure keeps the 'Nac quiet.
My trip to ATP NY is partially to blame, as the time away and overwhelming amount of music through my brain (along with a demanding job schedule since my return) turned me into a homebody for a couple weeks there. But I've recovered, so I'll be sharing some words, and more importantly some sounds, from that incredible experience in the days to come. In the meantime, there are many ATPictures. And for now, a quick Sunday afternoon post. Check back tomorrow morning for a new live recording that I'm very, very psyched to be sharing up.
Also coming tomorrow is the first of two painful live music conflicts this week: While the Wedding Present will be downstairs at the Middle East, Stereolab are across the river at the Paradise. As much as I love the 'Lab and their best-in-awhile new album, my loyalty lies with with the Weddoes. Gedge and co. are well aware of the dueling shows, as they acknowledged it with a MySpace bulletin saying that Stereolab's set should be over before they start. But given that the doors to the Middle East open early at 7:30, and there's only one opening band (The Jealous Girlfriends), I have a tough time swallowing that one. Either way, I won't be risking the double-dip, so please refrain from telling me how great the Stereolab show was, k? I can't heeeaaaar yoooouuuu...
(and I can take some comfort in NYCtaper's wonderful recording of the band's NYC stop last Thursday).
There are now two Tim Middlewick-directed videos from the Wedding Present's "El Rey" album, so have a look...
Know what I love? The perfectly judicious use of tambourine in the above "The Thing I Like Best...". I don't think they're able to do that live, though. Maybe they'll let me handle that part tomorrow? I can both shake it and not break it.
And look what's going on just before the show, pretty nearby the club... Elephant Parade! With added zebra action. I'm so there.
Here, have some songs, all from albums that will be arriving in the coming weeks...
My own fingers are crossed in hopes that my pre-order of the album and accompanying DVD arrive in the next day or two. And by the way, Mr. Bachmann, the lack of a Boston-area date on your current tour schedule saddens me.
(an update - My deluxe edition of Crooked Fingers' "Forfeit / Fortune" arrived on Monday, a day ahead of the official date. Let's hear it for self-released shipping punctuality! Now that's service.)
+/- {Plus/Minus} releases "X's On Your Eyes" on October 21st thanks to Absolutely Kosher, and I've been fortunate to spend some serious time with it over the past couple weeks. Enough time to know it's my favorite +/- record yet, hands down. The preview cut is...
... and it's one of many, many great songs to be found within. I'm especially loving "Unsung", which I'm told I can share up in a couple weeks.
Here's a happy surprise that just arrived in my inbox: News from Planting Seeds Records of tomorrow's (digital) release of the debut EP from International Jetsetters. Why the happiness? Well, check this pedigree:
"International Jetsetters is an Oxford-based five piece. The band was formed in March 2007 by singer and guitarist Mark Crozer (The Jesus And Mary Chain) and bass player Bert Audubert. The line-up also features drummer Loz Colbert (The Jesus And Mary Chain, Ride), lead guitarist Paul Crozer, and vocalist Fi McFall."
Hey, it's Loz! Even without the added JAMC connection, that would rate instant addition to my playlist, and yours, too...
International Jetsetters' six-song "Heart Is Black" EP arrives digitally tomorrow at Planting Seeds, and physically through the wonderful Darla Distribution on October 21st.
The Sea & Cake quickly follow up last year's "Everybody" with a new Thrill Jockey disc on October 21st entitled "Car Alarm", and with just a couple days of listening under my belt, I'm into it even more. It's still smooth S&C, but with an added energy that I found lacking from the previous album. Here's a preview, the title track...
The Sea & Cake plays downstairs at the Middle East in Central Square, Cambridge on November 21st. Tickets here or at the MidEast box office from 1-7pm daily.
And here's a new song from the ever-transforming Labrador one-man band The Legends, who will release it as a single on November 5th...
It is, of course, a catchy little number, but rather than the early-Cure electronic sparsity of their last album, we get a song about tryptizol covered in a crunchy coating of Flying-Saucer-Attack style fuzz. The single will also include the song "Over and Over" and its remix, and can be preordered here.
A higher-rez version is here, and I also discovered a fun-with-microfiche video for "Quicksand Under Carpet" off their previous record, which I didn't even know existed. And here I thought I was a semi-knowledgeable NRSK fan. For shame.
The disbanded Hot Snakes have given us two new bands, and while we got the recorded debut of John Reis' Night Marchers last April ("See You In Magic" on Vagrant), we've only heard a couple live recordings from Rick Froberg's Obits. Until now. Discriminating record label Comedy Minus One has just shared up a song from the band's debut 7" on their MySpace and Facebook pages. Just use the embedded players to stream Obit's "One Cross Apiece", which will accompany "Put It In Writing" on the out-in-December 7". Another 7" will follow in January 2009, along with the band's debut full-lengther on Sub Pop shortly after.
Former Juno frontman Arlie Carstens has shared up some new (well, new to the internet, at least) recordings under his Ghost Wars banner: a song called "The Conductor" and a 4-track cover of Husker Du's "Divide & Conquer" (with Boston's own Drew O'Doherty on guitar). They join four other previously-shared songs.
Vermont band Farm's sophomore long player, titled "The Cave", will be out officially next Saturday, October 11th. While the trio doesn't have a Boston-area show scheduled yet, they'll be in Northampton, MA this Thursday, October 9th, opening for Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at the Pearl Street Ballroom. Stream some Farm sounds at their MySpace page.
Alright, little B is fast approaching the keyboard, so the time has come to post this sucker before he uea,djeioad014. Too late...
