Another evening well-spent, alternating hours up in the River Gods DJ nook with my pal Jay Clicky Clicky, playing nothing but new songs under our NEW MUSIC NIGHT moniker. We’re back on the every-other-month schedule, and we already know when the next one is: Mark down Thursday night, May 30th, for the tenth edition of NMN. Double-digits, kids. Maybe we’ll do something extra special for #10? Ticket giveaways? Hugging (DJ) booth? Oh, the possibilities.

Here’s what I played last night, along with links to where you can hear/download/buy the tracks. So click through and listen up. And check over here for Jay’s playlists, too.

New Music Night IX
at River Gods in Cambridge, MA
on Thursday, March 21st, 2013

* Boston-area band

Set one / Brad Almanac / 9pm – 10pm

* 01. Hallelujah The Hills – “The Three Minute Mark”
[ from their Winter 2013 single / stream & buy at Bandcamp ]
02. Mount Moriah – “Younger Days”
[ from their new Merge Records LP, "Miracle Temple" / stream the album ]
03. Neko Case – “That’s Who I Am”
[ from the "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" soundtrack / stream via Soundcloud ]
04. Low – “So Blue”
[ from their new "Invisible Way" LP /  MP3 ]
05. John Vanderslice – “A Better Whirlpool” (Bowie / “Big Brother” cover)
[ from his full-album covering of Bowie's "Diamond Dogs" LP / MP3 ]
06. Ola Podrida – “Staying In”
[ from the "Ghosts Go Blind" LP, due out 4/30 / MP3 ]
07. Ex Cops – “Separator”
[ from the "True Hallucinations" LP / Video ]
08. Gold Paint – “Hold On”
[ from the "Faraway Places" EP & 7-inch / stream & buy at Bandcamp ]
09. Beach Fossils – “Careless”
[ from the "Clash The Truth" LP / MP3 ]
10. Wax Idols – “When It Happens”
[ from the "Discipline and Desire" LP, out next Tuesday / stream at Soundcloud ]
11. The House Of Love – “A Baby Got Back On Its Feet”
[ from the "She Paints Word In Red" LP, out next week / stream at Soundcloud ]
12. Suede – “Barriers”
[ from the "Bloodsports" LP / stream at Soundcloud ]
13. My Bloody Valentine – “New You”
[ from the "MBV" LP / listen at YouTube ]
14. Kid Canaveral – “The Wrench”
[ from the "Now That You Are A Dancer" LP / stream at Soundcloud ]
15. Tullycraft – “Lost In Light Rotation”
[ Title track from their forthcoming LP & new 7-inch / Video / stream at Soundcloud ]
16. The Little Ones – “Forro”
[ from "The Dawn Sang Along" LP / stream & buy at Bandcamp ]
17. The History Of Apple Pie – “See You”
[ from the "Out of View" LP / stream at Soundcloud ]
18. Mariage Blanc – “Footsteps”
[  from the "Undercurrents" LP / stream & buy via Bandcamp ]

Set two / Brad Almanac / 11pm – midnight

19. Mikal Cronin – “Shout It Out”
[ from his forthcoming "MCII" LP, out 5/7 on Merge / stream on Soundcloud ]
20. Golden Grrrls – “We’ve Got…”
[ from their new self-titled LP on Slumberland / stream on Soundcloud ]
* 21. Fat History Month – “Bad History Month”
[ title track from forthcoming LP, out 4/1 on Exploding in Sound / stream at Bandcamp ]
* 22. Bookkeeper – “Glory”
[ from the "Elphino" EP / stream & buy at Bandcamp / MP3 ]
23. Kingsbury Manx – “Future Hunter”
[ from "The Bronze Age" LP / stream at Soundcloud ]
24. The Replacements – “I’m Not Sayin” (Gordon Lightfoot cover)
[ from the "Songs For Slim" benefit EP / stream at P4K ]
* 25. Broken River Prophet – “Persephone”
[ from the "A Dagger & A Dove" LP / stream & buy at Bandcamp ]
26. Desaparecidos – “Anonymous”
[ from their new 7-inch / stream at Soundcloud ]
27. Telekinesis – “Wires”
[ from the forthcoming "Dormarion" LP, out 4/2 on Merge / Video ]
28. Survival Knife – “Traces Of Me”
[ from their new Sub Pop 7-inch / stream the b-side at Soundcloud ]
* 29. Ho-Ag – “See You At The Brush Pass”
[ from the "World-Destroying Zig-Zags" LP / stream at Bandcamp ]
30. Ghost Box Orchestra – “Vader”
[ from the forthcoming "Vanished" LP, out on 5/14 / stream at Bandcamp ]
* 31. Young Adults – “Context”
[ from the "Born in '91" EP / stream at Bandcamp ]
* 32. Z*L - “Steev Millar”
[ from the forthcoming self-titled debut LP, out 4/23 on Midriff Records ]
33. Yo La Tengo – “Cornelia and Jane”
[ from the "Fade" LP ]
34. Rose Melberg – “Tonight You Belong To Me” (Patience & Prudence cover)
[ from her "September" covers cassette, available via Lost Sound Tapes ]

Next up for NMN: Thursday, May 30th. When winter will be well behind us. Right?

In the first volume, I re-shared live songs & sets from Chisel in 1994, The Church in 1988, Fugazi in ’95, Ida at MFABoston in 2005, The Karl Hendricks Trio from 2004, Versus in 2000, Low & Pedro the Lion in 2005, Ted Leo in 2004, (nearly) the entire 1992 Sub Pop Vermonstress Fest, and a London set from The Wedding Present in ’92.

This time I’ve re-posted and zipped up old Almanac sets from The National, Nada Surf, Rilo Kiley, Crayon, the Softies, The Lucksmiths, Ladybug Transistor, & Pipas. Go on and grab ‘em, and check back for the third installment in the series sometime… soon… ish….

The National – Cambridge, MA 6/4/2005
15 song set from TT the Bears
[MP3] The National – “Abel”

Rilo Kiley & Nada Surf – South Burlington, VT 5/21/2005
Sets from both bands at Higher Ground
[MP3] Nada Surf – “The Way You Wear Your Head”
[MP3] Rilo Kiley – “Paint’s Peeling”

Crayon – Burlington, VT 7/2/1994
9 songs at 242 Main, transferred from an old VHS tape
[MP3] Crayon – “Knee-High Susan”

The Softies – Burlington, Vermont 7/2/1994
7 songs at 242 Main, transferred from an old VHS tape
[MP3] The Softies – “Goodbye“

The Lucksmiths, Ladybug Transistor, & Pipas – Somerville, MA 5/7/2005
35 songs from a special night at PA’s Lounge
[MP3] The Lucksmiths – “Camera Shy“
[MP3] Ladybug Transistor – “Splendor In The Grass“
[MP3] Pipas – “Book Launch“

The Wedding Present – Cambridge, MA 4/28/2005
21 songs live at the Middle East Downstairs
[MP3] The Wedding Present – “Dalliance“

Before server space became cheap as dirt, I’d post recordings for a short time only, then pull them down to make room for the new. With that limitation long-since-gone, it’s high time I took advantage of the extra gigs. With extra gigs. Yeah, I’ve decided to re-up just about every live recording I’ve ever shared, one by one. This is no small task, but should ultimately prove to be a pretty satisfying undertaking. Well, maybe more for you than for me, but still.

I’ll be sharing the re-ups in batches of 10 or so, repairing broken links and images, uploading .zip files to make things easier to grab, and in some cases, adding live songs when I originally only shared partial sets.

Here’s Volume One of what I’ve dubbed The Almanac Live Archive Project, with a link to each original post and a sample track from each set. Keep in mind, a few of the early recordings I’ve shared are from other sources, and vary wildly in quality. The fidelity should even out in future installments. Enjoy. And if you find any broken links, let me know…

Chisel – Burlington, VT 4/16/1994
9 song set from the 1st Burlingtonitus fest
[MP3] “Sunburn” (live)

The Church – NYC 6/9/1988
8 song set at the Ritz
[MP3] “Tantalized” (live)

Fugazi – Burlington, Vermont 4/9/1995
Full 22 song set at Memorial Auditorium
[MP3] “Bed For The Scraping” (live)

Ida – MFA Boston 2/20/2005
Full set from the MFA Boston’s Remis Auditorium
[MP3] “Late Blues” (live)

The Karl Hendricks Trio – Boston 11/11/2004
5 songs from a set at Great Scott in Allston
[MP3] “Overweight Lovers” (live)

Low & Pedro the Lion – Somerville, MA 2/7/2005
Full sets from the Somerville Theatre
[MP3] Low – “Sunflower” (live)
[MP3] Pedro the Lion – “Revolution Blues” (live)
(Neil Young cover with Low’s Alan Sparhawk on guitar)

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – Cambridge, MA 12/9/2004
Full set at the Middle East Downstairs
[MP3] “The High Party” (live)

Vermonstress – A Sub Pop Music Festival
14 bands in Burlington, Vermont in October 1992
[MP3] Drop Nineteens – “My Aquarium” (live)
[MP3] Pond – “Perfect Four” (live)
[MP3] Six Finger Satellite – “Sex Transistor” (live)
[MP3] Green Magnet School – “Penance” (live)

Versus – Chicago 10/26/2000
4 songs from a set at the Empty Bottle
[MP3] “Blade of Grass” (live)

The Wedding Present – London 7/7/1992 (Part 1) / (Part 2)
At the Astoria Theater
[MP3] “Dare” (live)

(Last updated: January 27th, 2013 @ 10am)

Every January brings the expected avalanche of new music release announcements, and this year it feels like they’re flowing faster and more frequently than ever. Not sure if there’s really more music coming or just more ways to find out, probably both. I could delay this post another day and add another half-dozen albums, but I figure I’ll just get my annual “upcoming releases” list out there and update as needed.

Sure, there were more than a few solid collections of songs put out in 2012, but I’m ready to call it now: 2013 is gonna trump its predecessor. It might be wishful thinking, but there are lots of longtime faves with albums on the way, alongside newer bands I’m particularly psyched about.

This isn’t meant to be a complete list, just the stuff that strikes me. Something missing? Well, it was either by intention, ignorance, or absent-mindedness. If you’re extra psyched for an upcoming release, and feel its omission is a glaring error, speak up, either here in the comments, over on the Almanac Facebook page (which has become a bit more active lately), or hell, just tweet at me.

A few notes first…

• I’ve included preview MP3s if they’ve been shared by the band/label, and links to streams when possible.
• Label names link to purchase/pre-order pages if available.
• The second half of January is NUTS with new releases. Seriously. Just look at the 22nd & 29th.
• There are some truly special new collaborations in the works this year: Overseas (Pedro the Lion’s David Bazan, Centro-matic’s Will Johnson, and the Kadane Brothers from Bedhead & the New Year), Outros (Throwing Muses’ Kristin Hersh, Pond’s Chris Brady, and 50 Foot Wave’s Rob Ahlers), and the unexpected pairing of The Church’s Steve Kilbey with Greg Dulli from The Afghan Whigs. The Overseas album is done and on the way, Outros is in the relatively early stages, and the Dulli/Kilbey team-up is only plans at this point. But some of my favorite musicians intermingling for new music? I’m practically giddy.
• Download all 17 legally-available MP3s below in one big ol’ .ZIP file.

Alright, here are your personal soundtrack possibilities for the next few months…

Almanac Anticipated 2013 Album Releases…

January

• Jules Verdone – “Dopodomani” (1/2 via Bandcamp)
  [ stream the entire LP at Bandcamp ]
• SPC ECO – “Push” EP (1/6 via Bandcamp)
  [ stream full EP at Bandcamp ]
• Chris Brokaw – “The Coyote of Deadhorse Canyon” [ltd. cassette release] (1/7 on Capitan Records)
• Broadcast – “Berberian Sound Studio” [soundtrack] (1/8 on Warp)
  [ stream full soundtrack at NPR ]
• Pere Ubu – “Lady From Shanghai” (1/8 on Fire Records)
  [ MP3: "414 Seconds" / stream track at Soundcloud ]
• Christopher Owens (of Girls) – “Lysandre” (1/15 on Fat Possum)
  [ stream two tracks at Soundcloud ]
• Mariage Blanc – “Undercurrents” EP (1/15 via Bandcamp)
  [ stream the entire EP at Bandcamp ]
• Pickwick – covers EP  (1/15 – self-released)
  [ Video: album trailer / download cover of "Lady Luck" w/Sharon Van Etten here ]
• Yo La Tengo – “Fade” (1/15 on Matador)
  [ Videos: "Ohm" / "Before We Run" / stream full LP at Pitchfork ]
• Guillermo Sexo – “Bring Down Your Arms” EP (1/16 via Bandcamp)
  [ stream the EP at Bandcamp ]
• Blood Red Shoes – “Water” EP (1/22 on V2 / Cooperative Music)
  [ MP3: "Black Distractions" / Video: "Red River" / Stream at Soundcloud ]
• Camper Van Beethoven – “La Costa Perdida” (1/22 on 429 Records)
  [ MP3: "Someday Our Love Will Sell Us Out" / Soundcloud / stream LP at 429 Records ]
• Esben and the Witch – “Wash The Sins Not Only The Face” (1/22 on Matador)
  [ Videos: "Deathwaltz" & "Despair" / stream album at Pitchfork Advance ]
• Ex Cops – “True Hallucinations” (1/22 on Other Music)
  [ stream tracks "James" and "Ken" at Soundcloud / stream LP at P4k ]
• Fonda – “Sell Your Memories” (1/22 on Minty Fresh)
  [ stream track "Seeing Stars" at Soundcloud ]
• Guided By Voices – “Down By The Racetrack” EP (1/22 on GBV Inc.)
  [ stream track "Copy Zero" at The Fire Note ]
• The Night Marchers- “Allez Allez” (1/22 on Swami Records)
  [ stream track "Loud, Dumb, and Mean" at Rolling Stone ]
• The Joy Formidable – “Wolf’s Law” (1/22 on Atlantic)
  [ Video: album trailer / Video: "Cholla" / Stream entire album at Soundcloud ]
• Muy Cansado – “Let It Go” (1/22 via Bandcamp)
  [ Video: "Not For Nothing" / stream full LP at Bandcamp ]
• New Order - “Lost Sirens” [collection] (1/22 on Rhino/Warner)
  [ stream full LP at Rolling Stone ]
• Ra Ra Riot – “Beta Love” (1/22 on Barsuk Records)
  [ MP3: "Beta Love" / stream more tracks at Soundcloud ]
• Retribution Gospel Choir – “3″ (2-song full-length – out 1/22 on Chaperone)
  [ stream track "Seven" (with guest Nels Cline) on Soundcloud ]
• Alasdair Roberts & Friends – “A Wonder Working Stone” (1/22 on Drag City)
  [ Listen to track "The Year of the Burning" at MTV ]
• Widowspeak – “Almanac” (1/22 on Captured Tracks)
  [ MP3: "Ballad of the Golden Hour" / Stream entire album at Soundcloud ]
• Mogwai – “Les Revenants” EP (1/28 on Rock Action)
  [ stream track "Wizard Motor" via YouTube ]
• Amor de Dias – “The House At Sea” (1/29 on Merge)
  [ MP3: "Jean's Waving" / stream track at Soundcloud ]
• Being There – “Breaking Away” (debut – 1/29 on Young & Lost Club)
  [ Videos:  "The Radio" & "Back to the Future" ]
• Buke and Gase – “General Dome” (1/29 on Brassland)
  [ stream the title track at Soundcloud ]
• Ducktails – “The Flower Lane” (1/29 on Domino ]
  [ stream track "Letters of Intent" on Soundcloud ]
• Fleetwood Mac – “Rumours” [reissue] (1/29 on Rhino)
  [ details & full multi-disc / vinyl track list available here ]
• The History of Apple Pie – “Out of View” (1/29 on Marshall Teller Records)
  [ stream first single "See You" at Soundcloud ]
• Local Natives – “Hummingbird” (1/29 on Frenchkiss/Infectious)
  [ Video: "Breakers" / Stream track at Soundcloud ]
• Radar Brothers – “Eight” (1/29 on Merge)
  [ MP3: "If We Were Banished" / Stream track at Soundcloud ]
• Stereo Telescope – “On and Running” (1/29 self-released)
  [ stream track "Fires" at Soundcloud ]
• The Ruby Suns – “Christopher” (1/29 on Sub Pop)
  [ MP3: "Kingfisher Call Me" / Stream track at Soundcloud ]
• Tegan and Sara – “Heartthrob” (1/29 on Warner Bros)
  [ Video: "Closer" / Stream track at Soundcloud ]
• The Replacements – “Songs For Slim” [ auctioned 10" vinyl benefit EP / self-released digitally ]

February

• Frightened Rabbit – “Pedestrian Verse” (2/5 on Canvasback/Atlantic)
  [ stream track "The Woodpile" at Soundcloud / Video: "The Woodpile" ]
• Kingsley Flood – “Battles” (2/5 – fan-funded & self-released)
  [ MP3: "Down" ]
• Matt Pond – “The Lives Inside the Lines in Your Hand” (2/5 on BMG)
  [ stream track "Love To Get Used" at Soundcloud ]
• Thao & the Get Down Stay Down – “We The Common” (2/5 on Ribbon Music)
  [ Video: "We The Common (for Valerie Bolden)" ]
• Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “II” (2/5 on Jagjaguwar)
  [ stream track "Swim and Sleep (Like A Shark)" on YouTube ]
• The Little Ones – “The Dawn Sang Along” (2/12 on Branches Recording Collective)
  [ stream track "Forro" on Soundcloud ]
• Pissed Jeans – “Honeys” (2/12 on Sub Pop)
  [ MP3: "Bathroom Laughter" / MP3: "Cathouse" / stream track at Soundcloud ]
• Texas Is The Reason – “Do You Know Who You Are?: The Complete Collection”
  (Anthology release on 2/12 via Revelation Records) [ stream track at Rolling Stone ]
• Veronica Falls – “Waiting for Something to Happen” (2/12 on Slumberland)
  [ stream track "Teenage" at Soundcloud ]
• Shepherdess – “I’m Saving Myself For Shepherdess” (2/14 on TinyRadars)
  [ stream two tracks at Bandcamp ]
• Anders & Kendall – “Wild Chorus” (2/19 via Nine Mile Records /CD / LP)
  [ Kendall Meade & Anders Parker debut collaboration / Video: "We're On Fire Babe" ]
• Beach Fossils – “Clash The Truth” (2/19 on Captured Tracks)
  [ MP3: "Careless" / stream "Careless" & "Generational Synthetic" at Soundcloud ]
• HO-AG – “World-Destroying Zig-Zags” (2/19 via Bandcamp)
  [ stream first single "See You At The Brush Pass" at Bandcamp ]
• Mark Kozelek – “Like Rats” [covers record] (2/19 on Caldo Verde)
  [ stream his cover of Bad Brains "I" at Caldo Verde ]
• Mark Kozelek – “Live at Phoenix Public House Melbourne” (2/19 on Caldo Verde)
  [ stream track "You Missed My Heart" at Caldo Verde ]
• Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie “Prince” Billy – “What the Brothers Sang” (Everly Bros. tribute – 2/19 on Drag City)
• Deathfix – self-titled debut (2/19 on Dischord)
  [ stream track "Transmission" at Spin ]
• Lady Lamb The Beekeeper – “Ripely Pine” (2/19 on Ba Da Bing)
  [ stream track “Rooftop” at Soundcloud ]
• Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – “Push the Sky Away” (2/19 on Bad Seed Ltd.)
  [ Videos: "We No Who U R" / "Jubilee Street" ]
• Superchunk -  “I Hate History” b/w “Glue” [7-inch w/SSD cover] (2/19 on Matador)
  [ for the Matador 2013 "Singles Going Home Alone" subscription series ]
• Skimmed – “Summer Lovers” (2/23 via Bandcamp)
  [ MP3: "Ronnie" / stream track at Soundcloud ]
• Kid Canaveral – “Now That You Are A Dancer” (2/25 on Fence Records in the UK)
  [ stream track "Low Winter Sun" on Soundcloud ]
• Atoms for Peace – “Amok” (2/26 on XL Recordings)
  [ Video: "Judge Jury and Executioner" ]
• Girls Names – “The New Life” (2/26 on Slumberland/Tough Love)
  [ stream tracks "Hypnotic Regression" and "Pittura Infamante" on Soundcloud ]
• Johnny Marr – “The Messenger” (2/16 on Sire/ADA)
  [ Videos: "The Messenger" & "Upstarts" / stream "The Right Thing Right" at Soundcloud ]
• Golden Grrrls – “Golden Grrrls” (2/26 on Slumberland)
  [ Bandcamp / stream track "We've Got..." at Soundcloud ]
• Mount Moriah – “Miracle  Temple” (2/26 on Merge)
  [ MP3: "Younger Days" / stream track at Soundcloud ]
• Shout Out Louds – “Optica” (2/26 on Merge)
  [ stream tracks "Blue Ice" and "Walking In Your Footsteps" at Soundcloud ]

March

• Bloody Amateur – self-titled LP (3/5 on Teenbeat)
• Chelsea Light Moving – “Chelsea Light Moving” (w/Thurston Moore’s – 3/5 on Matador)
  [ MP3: "Empires Of Time" ]
• Ólöf Arnalds – “Sudden Elevation” (3/5 on One Little Indian)
  [ Video: "A Little Grim" ]
• Robyn Hitchcock – “Love From London” (3/5 on Yep Roc)
  [ Video: "Be Still" (rehearsal footage) ]
• David Bowie – “The Next Day” (3/12 on Iso/Columbia)
  [ Video: "Where Are We Now?" ]
• The Mary Onettes – “Hit The Waves” (3/12 on Labrador)
  [ stream first single "Evil Coast" on Soundcloud ]
• Mice Parade – “Candela” (3/12 on Fat Cat)
  [ stream "The River Has A Tide" at Soundcloud / Video: "The River Has A Tide" ]
• Pickwick – “Can’t Talk Medicine” (3/12 – self-released)
• Billy Bragg – “Tooth & Nail” (3/19 on Essential Music)
  [ Video: album announcement on YouTube / download "Handyman Blues" at his site ]
• Low – “The Invisible Way” (3/19 on Sub Pop)
  [ stream track "Just Make It Stop" at Soundcloud / stream "Plastic Cup" at NPR ]
• Purling Hiss – “Water On Mars” (3/19 on Drag City)
  [ stream earlier releases at Bandcamp ]
• Marnie Stern – “The Chronicles of Marnia”  (3/19 on Kill Rock Stars)
  [ stream "Year of the Glad" at Soundcloud / stream "East Side Glory" at Bandcamp ]
• Stornoway – “Tales From Terra Firma” (3/19 on 4AD)
  [ stream track "Knock Me On The Head" on YouTube ]
• William Tyler – “Impossible Truth” (3/19 on Merge)
  [ stream track "Cadillac Desert" at Soundcloud ]
• Alex Calder – “Time” EP (3/26 on Captured Tracks)
  [ MP3: "Suki and Me" / stream "Suki and Me" and "Light Leave Your Eyes" on Soundcloud ]
• Wax Idols – “Discipline & Desire” (3/26 on Slumberland)
  [ stream tracks "Sound of a Void" and "AD RE:IAN" on Soundcloud ]
• Wire – “Changes Become Us” (3/25)
  [ stream track "Doubles & Trebles" at Soundcloud ]
• Depeche Mode – title TBA (March on Columbia)
• Suede – “Bloodsports” (March)
  [ download first track "Barriers" at their website ]
• Statistics – “Peninsula” (March on Afternoon Records)
  [ stream track “Nineteen Ninety-Nine” on Soundcloud / Download here ]

April

• The Besnard Lakes – “Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO” (4/2 on Jagjaguwar)
  [ stream track "People of the Sticks" on YouTube ]
• Bleached – “Ride Your Heart” (4/2 on Dead Oceans)
  [ stream track "Next Stop" via YouTube ]
• Cold War Kids – “Dear Miss Lonelyhearts” (4/2 on Downtown/V2)
  [ stream track "Miracle Mile" on Soundcloud / Video: album teaser ]
• EmptyMansions – “snakes/vultures/sulfate” LP (Sam from Interpol – 4/2 on Riot House)
  [ stream track "Lyra" at Soundcloud ]
• The House of Love – “She Paints Words In Red” (4/2 on Cherry Red)
  [ Facebook press release / track list ]
• Mudhoney – “Vanishing Point” (4/2 on Sub Pop)
  [ download track "The Only Son Of The Widow From Nain" at Sub Pop ]
• Telekinesis – “Dormarion” (4/2 on Merge Records)
  [ stream track "Ghosts and Creatures" at Soundcloud ]
• The Knife – “Shaking the Habitual” (4/9 on Mute)
  [ Video: album teaser on YouTube ]
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Mosquito” (4/16 on Interscope)
  [ Video: album teaser on YouTube ]
• Codeine – “What About The Lonely” [live LP] (4/20 – RSD – via Numero Group)
• Sun Kil Moon & The Album Leaf – “Perils from the Sea” (4/30 on Caldo Verde)
• Junip – self-titled LP (4/23 on Mute)
  [ Video: album teaser / stream track "Line of Fire" on Soundcloud ]
• Alessi’s Ark – “The Still Life” (4/30 on Bella Union)
• Coliseum – “” (4/30 on Temporary Residence)
  [ stream track "Black Magic Punks" at Soundcloud ]
• Guided By Voices – “English Little League” (4/30 on GBV, Inc.)
• Phoenix – “Bankrupt!” (April on Glassnote, according to Rolling Stone)

May

• Come – “11:11″ [double LP/CD reissue] (5/7 on Matador)

Coming in 2013, but with no exact date yet…

• David Bazan – new solo LP [ from here: "I’m aiming for a fall release..." ]
• The Breeders – “LSXX” [Last Splash reissue] (on 4AD)
• Chris Brokaw – “Now, Forager” [Soundtrack] (Spring on Dais Records)
• Chris Brokaw – “Four Kings” [double LP] (Autumn on Jellyfant Records)
• Cloud Nothings [ via MTV Hive: "... due out next autumn" ]
• Mikal Cronin (on Merge)
• Tanya Donelly (Belly/Throwing Muses) – [ From the First Night Boston 2013 press release: "Her latest project is a series of collaborations with various authors and musicians, which will be begin release in early 2013. Some of the collaborators involved so far are authors Rick Moody, Mary Gaitskill, Wesley Stace/John Wesley Harding, songwriters Kristin Hersh and Bill Janovitz, Claudia Gonson and Sam Davol of Magnetic Fields, One Ring Zero, Dylan in the Movies, and more to come as the series continues." ]
• The Empty House Cooperative
• Fossil Collective – “Tell Where I Lie” [ photographic evidence on Facebook ]
• Ghost Box Orchestra – full-length coming [ Nazli says "mid-to-late spring for sure" ]
• Hidden Tooth [ Chris Brokaw & David Michael Curry]
• Bill Janovitz (of Buffalo Tom) – “Long Island of the Mind” [ fan-funded/self-released sometime in 2013 ]
• MG Lederman – sophomore full-length [ Spring on Midriff Records ]
• The Martha’s Vineyard Ferries
• The New Mendicants – “Australia, 2013″ EP ( Joe Pernice of Scud Mountain Boys/Pernice Bros. & Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub )
  [ stream their cover of INXS' "This Time" at Soundcloud ]
  [ from here: "They are also recording a full length, working title The Book of Norman." ]
• The New Year
• Overseas (David Bazan of Pedro the Lion), Will Johnson of Centro-matic, & the Kadane Bros of The New Year/Bedhead)
  [ from here: "... an expected release of May or June" ]
• The Pastels – “Slow Summits” (on Domino)
  [ Video: album trailer ]
• Pernice Brothers
• Rilo Kiley (rarities/b-sides compilation)
  [ from Facebook: "Record is almost finished, and artwork is nearly done."
• Sebadoh [photo on Jason Loewenstein's site: "Sebadoh recorded today." ]
• The Strokes
• Throwing Muses – “Purgatory/Paradise”
  [ from Kristin Hersh's messageboard: "We have the most amazing 32 song Muses album which will be released as a book (like “Crooked” was but this time with a CD inside and with a US publisher!)"
• Tullycraft - "Lost In Light Rotation" (on Fortuna Pop)
  [ stream the title track on Soundcloud ]
• Thalia Zedek – “Via” LP (early 2013 on Thrill Jockey)
  [ lyrics and track list at Thrill Jockey ]

Full-lengths in progress?

• Arcade Fire
• Bent Shapes
• The Broken River Prophet – “A Dagger & A Dove”
  [ from their site: "After 4 years the album is done." ]
• Camera Obscura [ from Twitter: "Working til the death to finish this record" ]
• Deerhunter
• Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs) / Steve Kilbey (The Church) collaboration
  [team-up starting in the next couple months]
• Dylan In The Movies – “Sweet Rebel Thee”
  [ MP3: "Girls With The Black Tights" (with Tanya Donelly) / more on Soundcloud ]
• Explosions In The Sky [to their email list: "we have a bunch of things we're working on for 2013 and in the next couple of months we hope to have some news for you." ]
• Loney, Dear [from Emil's blog: "Making of album # 7 - I'm making a record." ]
• Mary Lou Lord [ Kickstarter-funded record in progress ]
• The National [ from Facebook: "Recording is going well..." (with bonus jazz noodling) ]
• Obits [ from Brooklyn Vegan: "On the horizon - finishing our next album." ]
• +/- {Plus/Minus} [ from Facebook: "We're almost finished with a new one. Details to come." ]
• Tara Jane ONeil [ Kickstarter-funded full-length ]
• Outros [ from Kristin Hersh's forum: K has a new music entity she’s begun with Chris Brady (Pond, Audio Learning Center) and Rob Ahlers (50 Foot Wave). It’s called Outros, named for the all the best parts of all the best songs ]
• Serena-Maneesh [from Facebook: "YES! A NEW SM RECORD IS IN THE MAKING!!"]
• Survival Knife (members of Unwound)
  [ from Facebook: "... a recording session (last) November." ]
• Trashcan Sinatras [from Facebook: "we have been brewing a new bunch of songs and if all goes well they should be ready sometime in the new year" ]
• Jen Wood [ so sayeth Wikipedia ]

It’d be nice to see…

• My Bloody Valentine (“by the end of 2012″ my shoegaze-lovin’ arse)
• Bottomless Pit
• Built To Spill
• John Roderick / Long Winters (the time has come)
• Land of Talk
• Rose Melberg
• Versus
• The Wooden Birds
• and, as with every year… I hold out hope for any new Arcwelder songs

So how about you? What are you most looking forward to? Lay it on me.

Remember last year when I gratefully stated how above-average my 2011 was? Well, 2012 sure did even up the scales. Good riddance to this particular stretch of 365 days, I say. Sure, there were a few standout personal moments, a bunch of great shows, and a fair amount of very good music released. But overall? A big ball o’ blah.

To help put this year in the rearview, here’s my annual alphabetical list of my favorite full-length albums released in 2012, along with whatever artist/label-approved audio I could share. Listen up, click through, and check out anything you missed. This is the stuff that helped get me through.

Time permitting, I’ll be doing a quick follow-up post with a ZIP file of all the MP3s below, maybe some commentary on my faves, and a quick list of EPs and reissues. But right now, I’m heading over to Bogarts. Bring on a brand new year…

My favorite full-length albums of 2012…

---

Allo Darlin’ – “Europe”
[on Slumberland]

stream full “Europe” LP via Soundcloud

---

Arc In Round – “Arc In Round” (self-titled debut)
[on La Société Expéditionnaire]

[MP3] Arc In Round – “Hallowed“

stream more songs at Bandcamp

---

Beachwood Sparks – “The Tarnished Gold”
[on Sub Pop]

[MP3] Beachwood Sparks – “Sparks Fly Again“

---

Chris Brokaw – “Gambler’s Ecstacy”
[on 12XU]

[MP3] Chris Brokaw – “Danny Borracho“

stream another track at Soundcloud

---

DIIV – “Oshin”
[on Captured Tracks]

[MP3] DIIV – “Sometime“

---

Rebecca Gates & the Consortium – “The Float”
[on Parcematone]

Stream two songs at Soundcloud

---

Hallelujah the Hills – “No One Knows What Happens Next”
[on Discrete Pageantry Records]

[MP3] Hallelujah the Hills – “Get Me In A Room“

stream full LP at Bandcamp

---

Neil Halstead – “Palindrome Hunches”
[on Brushfire Records]

stream the full LP at Soundcloud
download a free tour EP at Noisetrade

---

The Karl Hendricks Trio – “The Adult Section”
[on Comedy Minus One]

[MP3] The Karl Hendricks Trio – “The Men’s Room At The Airport“

---

The James Rocket – “Launch”
[via Bandcamp]

[MP3] The James Rocket – “Paper Valentines

stream the entire LP at Bandcamp

---

Metz – “Metz” (self-titled debut)
[on Sub Pop]

[MP3] Metz – “Wet Blanket

stream earlier tracks at Bandcamp, including a Sparklehorse cover

---

Bob Mould – “Silver Age”
[on Merge Records]

stream the entire LP at Merge

---

Nada Surf – “The Stars Are Indifferent To Astrology”
[on Barsuk Records]

[MP3] Nada Surf – “When I Was Young“

stream more Nada Surf songs at Soundcloud

---

AC Newman – “Shut Down The Streets”
[on Matador Records]

[MP3] AC Newman – “I’m Not Talking“

stream another track at Soundcloud

---

Now, Now – “Threads”
[on Trans Records]

[MP3] Now, Now – “Thread

stream more tracks at Soundcloud

---

Pile – “Dripping”
[on Exploding In Sound]

[MP3] Pile – “Prom Song“

stream the full LP at Bandcamp

---

Pinback – “Information Retrieved”
[on Temporary Residence]

stream another track at Soundcloud

---

School of Seven Bells – “Ghostory”
[on Vagrant Records]

[MP3] School of Seven Bells – “The Night“

---

Sharon Van Etten – “Tramp”
[on Jagjaguwar]

[MP3] Sharon Van Etten – “Serpents“

---

Wild Nothing – “Nocturne”
[on Captured Tracks]

stream another track at Soundcloud

Well, seeing as the world didn’t end, I suppose I should share up Thursday’s playlist from the eighth edition of New Music Night over at River Gods in Cambridge, MA. A lovely evening all-around, independent of the fine song selections made by myself and Mr. Jay Clicky Clicky. His playlists are right over here. And yes, there were holiday songs involved… but only a few. Unavoidable, really.

Lots of listening links for your eyes and ears to follow below…

New Music Night mach VIII
at River Gods in Cambridge, MA
on Thursday, December 20th, 2012

* Boston-area-ish artist

set one / brad almanac / 9pm – 10pm

01. Beach Fossils – “Careless”
[ from the upcoming "Clash the Truth" LP, due 2/19/13 on Captured Tracks / MP3 ]
02. The Mary Onettes – “Evil Coast”
[ from the upcoming "Hit the Waves" LP, due 3/12/13 on Labrador / Soundcloud ]
03. Marnie Stern – “Year of the Glad”
[ from the upcoming "The Chronicles of Marnia" LP, due 3/19/13 on Kill Rock Stars / Soundcloud ]
04. Evens – “King of Kings”
[ from their just-released LP "The Odds", out now on Dischord ]
05. Wax Idols – “Sound of a Void”
[ from the forthcoming "Discipline & Desire", out 3/26/13 on Slumberland / Soundcloud ]
06. Parks – “Sweater Weather” *
[ debut "name your price" digital single / Bandcamp ]
07. Statistics – “Nineteen Ninety-Nine”
[ from their "Peninsula" LP, coming in March on Afternoon Records / Download / Soundcloud]
08. School of Seven Bells – “Secret Days”
[ from the new "Put Your Sad Down" EP, out on Vagrant / Soundcloud ]
09. Orange Blossom Flyover – “Near Beyond Alone” *
[ new self-released digital single / free download on Soundcloud ]
10. Ducktails – “Letter of Intent”
[ from the forthcoming "The Flower Lane" LP, due 1/29 on Domino / Soundcloud ]
11. Matt Pond – “Love To Get Used”
[ from "The Lives Inside the Lines In Your Hand" LP, coming 2/5 via BMG / Soundcloud ]
12. Amor De Dias – “Jean’s Waving”
[ from "The House at the Sea" LP, arriving 1/29 via Merge / Soundcloud ]
13. Zip-Tie Handcuffs – “Ode To Light” *
[ from their "In The Sky" LP, just released on Curve of the Earth Records / Soundcloud ]
14. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – “I Know My Life Is Wrong”
[ East River Pipe cover from their most-recent 7-inch, out on Slumberland ]
15. Boris – “Neu Years” (Asobi Seksu cover)
[ from a split 7-inch, self-released on Black Friday's Record Store Day / Bandcamp ]
16. Strange Mangers – “Treffpunkt”
[ from their new EP, "A Rare Time", released via Bandcamp ]
17. Flock of Dimes – “Curtain”
[ solo project from Jenn of Wye Oak / 7-inch on Merge / Soundcloud ]

set two / brad almanac / 11pm – midnight

18. John Roderick (The Long Winters) – “The Week In Between”
[ from the new "One Christmas At A Time" EP with Jonathan Coulton / Soundcloud ]
19. Johan Hedberg (of SKWBN) – “Some Kind of Christmas”
[ new Christmas song, offered as a free download from Labrador Records / MP3 ]
20. Mount Moriah – “Younger Days”
[ from their forthcoming LP, "Miracle Temple", due out 2/26 on Merge / Soundcloud ]
21. Anders & Kendall – “We’re On Fire Babe”
[ from their upcoming "Wild Chorus" LP, arriving in February on Nine Mile Records / Video ]
22. Lilys – “Well Traveled is Protest”
[ from a new split 7-inch with Big Troubles on Speakertree Records / Soundcloud ]
23. MMOSS – “Another Dream”
[ from their new LP, "Only Children", out now on Trouble In Mind / Soundcloud ]
24. Widowspeak – “The Dark Ages”
[ from the forthcoming "Almanac" LP, due out 1/22 on Captured Tracks / Soundcloud ]
25. Lady Lamb The Beekeeper – “Rooftop”
[ from the debut full-length, "Ripely Pine", coming 2/19 on Ba Da Bing / Soundcloud ]
26. The Box Tiger – “Set Fire To Your Friends”
[ just-released digital single / "name your price" download on Bandcamp ]
27. Bent Shapes – “Panel of Experts” *
[ from their new flexi disc / Soundcloud ]
28. Allo Darlin’ – “Dear John”
[ from the 2012 wiaiwya-7777777 singles club / Bandcamp ]
29. Eux Autres – “What It Is”
[ from the 2012 wiaiwya-7777777 singles club / Bandcamp ]
30. Owl and Mouse – “Canvas Bag”
[ from a forthcoming split 7-inch with Black Tambourine via Hangover Lounge Records  ]
31. Bloody Amateur – “Companions”
[ from the forthcoming self-titled LP, due out 3/5 on Teenbeat ]
32. Girls Names – “Hypnotic Regression”
[ from "The New Life" LP, out on 2/26 thanks to Slumberland / Soundcloud ]
33. Big Dipper – “Robert Pollard” *
[ from the long-awaited "Crashes On The Platinum Planet" LP, out on Almost Ready Records / Soundcloud ]
34. Frightened Rabbit – “The Woodpile”
[ from the forthcoming "Pedestrian Verse" LP, out 2/5 on Canvasback / Soundcloud ]
35. Yo La Tengo – “Before We Run”
[ from their next LP, "Fade", arriving 1/15 on Matador / Video ]

Greetings, and happy official-start-of-the-holidays, dear readers. All 12 of you. I keed, I keed… there are at least a couple dozen of you out there, I’m sure. One of these days I’ll check my stats and find out.

I’ve got plenty of things in my life to be thankful for, though “blogging time” is not one of them. As I’ve said, I seem to be spending my non-work, non-being-a-dad hours seeing shows rather than writing about them. There was a time I could do both, but lately it’s just not happening. Que sera, etc.

Thanks to my place of employment, I was set free a little early today, so I had a couple unexpected hours to spare. How did I spend it? Enjoying some Kiwi Rising and sharing up some songs. You’re welcome.

David Bazan, former Pedro the Lion focal point, current solo-but-with-a-band guy, and longtime personal fave, brought his “Control” tour to Brighton Music Hall last week, and it was maybe the best I’d ever seen him. That’s saying a lot, because I’ve seen him oh so many times. The sound was great, the crowd was psyched, his 3-piece band (which includes Andy Fitts on bass and Alex Wescoat on drums) was tight as hell. A well-oiled machine, as they say. And that machine was playing the entirety of what may be Pedro The Lion’s best album, though “It’s Hard To Find A Friend” holds a perfectly special place in my heart. First love and all.

The trio played “Control” side one, then a handful of other well-chosen Bazan-penned songs, and finished up the show with side two. No encore, as per usual, but there was one major bit of unusual: Dave’s friend and former Pedro the Lion bandmate (and ace songwriter on his own) Tim “TW” Walsh took Alex’s place behind the drum kit for a couple songs, including “When They Really Get To Know You They Will Run” from the aforementioned “It’s Hard To Find A Friend”. Considering they only ran through it once in soundcheck, he nailed it. Here it is…

Check out the setlist from the show, which gives (spoiler alert) the list of songs that Dave & co. draw from for the non-Control creamy filling of the set. The rest of my photos from that night are here.

Speaking of TW, his fans successfully (over-)funded a vinyl pressing of the the two fantastic Soft Drugs EPs he released in 2006 and 2008.  They’ll be joined together on one slab of undoubtedly-expertly-mastered colored wax (with bonus digital goodies), and you can get an early peek at the artwork on the Kickstarter page

Want to know what “When They Really Get To Know They Will Run” would sound like without drums? Have a listen to this live version from a recent episode of the Live Wire Radio variety program podcast. Check out the full stream of the show for a live take on “The Fleecing” as well…

Can’t remember the last time I had as much unfiltered fun at a show as I did at former Fuzzy member Chris Toppin’s birthday bash at the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain a couple weeks back. She turned the big Five-Oh, and the place was packed with friends and fans to wish her a happy. Fuzzy reunited, Buffalo Tom rocked the smallest room they’ve played in awhile, Tanya Donelly sang a couple of Belly songs (with Buffalo Tom backing her), and a celebratory crowd was treated to some surprising covers.  One of those was “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around“, with Tanya playing Stevie Nicks and Buffalo Tom’s Bill Janovitz channeling his best Tom Petty. Nailed it…

Photos from that special night are here.

The next day, during some random Fuzzy-related surfing, I happened upon this short video of Chris Toppin and her bandmate Hilken Mancini doing a bit of “Pulp“, a Smudge song the band used to cover back in the day. The clip, however, is a recent one, recorded over the summer during an interview segment for an in-the-works music documentary called “If It’s Catchy, It Means You Stole It”. The subject? Australian musician and Half A Cow record label founder Nic Dalton, a one-time member of Boston’s own Lemonheads. The connection? Fuzzy and Smudge were Half A Cow labelmates. Here’s the trailer…

When Chris Toppin’s birthday party (above) was announced, I knew I’d be going, but I was bummed it went up against Now, Now‘s set at the Paradise, opening up for Motion City Soundtrack. While I’m no fan of MCS, I’m a longtime admirer of Now, Now (fka Now, Now Every Children), and they don’t play around here often enough. Back in 2009 I wanted to see them play so badly that I set up and presented a rare Almanac show at TTs, the trio’s first visit to Boston. I hadn’t been able to catch them since, and the fact that I had conflicting plans was painful.

Fortunately, RadioBDC had the band on for a “Live In The Lab” acoustic session that I was able to attend that very afternoon. While I was there, I discovered they’d be playing early enough at the Paradise for me to catch their set before I headed to the Midway. The scheduling gods smiled on me, for once. Y’know what else I learned? That 2009 show was the first time the band met their latest bandmate, Jess, who came down from Maine for the show. Proud to have played a small part in their band history.

Here’s one of the stripped down songs they played at RBDC (and one of my favorite songs of the year)…

My photos from the Live in the Lab session, and a few from the Paradise show that night, are right here. You can watch & listen to the band perform their 3-song acoustic set, which also includes”Dead Oaks” and “But I Do”, over at RadioBDC. Area music blog They Will Rock You reviewed their Paradise show here.

When Death Cab’s Ben Gibbard stopped by the Somerville Theatre a couple weeks ago in support of his new solo record, “Former Lives”, I figured we’d get a cover or two. What I didn’t expect was an old Lemonheads number. Major kudos for the local hat tip, Mr. Gibbard…

Ben’s setlist from that night pulled from all over his songwriting history…

Ben Gibbard
at the Somerville Theatre
Somerville, MA
11/4/2012

* from “Former Lives”

Shepherd’s Bush Lullaby *
Such Great Heights [Postal Service]
Oh, Woe *
These Roads Don’t Move [Farrar/Kerouac collaboration]
Dream Song *
Cath [DCFC]
When the Sun Goes Down ['Arthur' soundtrack]
Grapevine Fires [DCFC]
The Dream Of Evan & Chan [Dntel]
Something’s Rattling (Cowpoke) *
Couches in Alleys [Styrofoam]
Passenger Seat [DCFC]
Duncan, Where Have You Gone? *
Unobstructed Views [DCFC]
My Drug Buddy [Lemonheads cover]
Soul Meets Body [DCFC]
Cleveland [All-Time Quarterback!]
Teardrop Windows *
Crooked Teeth [DCFC]
You Remind Me Of Home ['Home' EP w/Andrew Kenny]
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight [Postal Service]

encore…
Broken Yolk In A Western Sky *
A Movie Script Ending [DCFC]
I’m Building A Fire *
I Will Follow You Into The Dark [DCFC]

More photos from Ben’s show are here.

Alright, enough outta me. Gotta head home before the big Metz / Pile / Speedy Ortiz triple-punch at the Middle East tonight. Jeez, I can’t remember the last time I was upstairs at the Middle East. Sad fact, that. Glad the Bowery has stepped in and given me a reason to go. See you there?

Kristin Hersh, the distinctive voice and guitar of both Throwing Muses & 50 Foot Wave, let fly some seriously exciting news in her latest email update to fans, and I must share. Frankly, I can hardly contain myself.

First: “The new Throwing Muses record — four years in the making —  is finally mixed and mastered. We’re now designing the book that it will be (like the Crooked book, but with a CD included).” Kristin is supported, in large part, by regular contributions from fans (called “Strange Angels“), who get a variety of special perks and access to new songs in the making. One of those fringe benefits was an early listen to this upcoming 33-track (!) Muses record, not due out until early next year. It’s titled Purgatory/Paradise, and it is absolutely epic. I’m overwhelmed by it, in the best way.

Next, Kristin says: “I’ve just recorded basic tracks for what I believe is the best acoustic record I’ve ever made. And because of you, that record includes Martin McCarrick (cello) Rob Ahlers (drums) and Dave Narcizo (drums, too.)” For those unaware, Martin McCarrick is the brilliant cellist who has contributed to a wealth of beautiful string sounds to songs from the likes of Siouxsie and the Banshees, This Mortal Coil, The Glove, Therapy?, Lush, and so many more. And those drummers? Naturally they’re her bandmates from 50 Foot Wave and Throwing Muses, respectively. Both of them on the same record? Hot damn.

But wait, there’s more: “50 Foot Wave just finished another Ep with Mudrock. As soon as we find a spot in the release schedule where it will get the most attention — from us and you — we’ll get it out there in the world where it can make friends.” More 50′~? Yes, please.

Also? “I’m writing a new book, with another two in the pipeline…” I inhaled her written debut, “Rat Girl”, and the promise of more thrills me.

As exciting as all that info is, she tops it with this corker: “I’ve started a happifying new project called Outros, with Rob Ahlers and Chris Brady (Pond & Audio Learning Center), two of my favorite people and favorite musicians.” Now this, I can hardly believe. Y’see, I’m basically a Chris Brady fanboy. I absolutely adore the songs he wrote with Pond and ALC, love his bass playing, voice, and lyrics, and have always hoped he’d get back to making new music. The fact that he’s doing so with Kristin is a dream come true – a dream I never knew I had. This trio is the musical version of a comic book superhero team-up.  The first time I heard a Chris Brady-penned song? 1992, just before (the real and only) Pond’s debut album for Sub Pop was released, and just after they finished their first UK tour… opening for Throwing Muses. Full circle.

Work on Ted Leo & his Pharmacists’ next full-lengther is well underway, and I’m assuming/hoping we’ll get some news from Matador any day now on when we’ll hear the results. While we wait, Ted’s been touring solo with some truly talented ladies lately (the UK with Rebecca Gates last month, and a North American tour with Aimee Mann, that starts tonight – with Boston on 11/3), and I figure he’ll kick into full-band mode once the record hits (in early 2013?). His personal Soundcloud page, where he shares the occasional self-recorded oddity, has been pretty quiet for the past few months, until he offered up a little gem a few days ago. As he says: “Francesca Blumenthal’s heart ripping torch song re-purposed for election season.” Have a listen…

I’ve lamented this too many times, but one of the great disappointments of my band-loving life is the cancellation of Unwound’s Boston-area show during the tour for their final (and my favorite) album, “Leaves Turn Inside You”. The reason was more than understandable (the date? 9/11/2001), but the fact that they broke up shortly after was a tough pill to swallow. No future chances to see them, and worse, no new Unwound songs. Ever.

Which makes this year’s unexpected arrival of Survival Knife all the more appreciated. It’s Justin Trosper (vocals/guitar) and Brandt Sandeno (guitar) from Unwound, Meg Cunningham (bass/vocals) from Blues Druid, and Kris Cunningham (drums) from Western Hymn. The quartet made their debut in late March with a show in Olympia, Washington, and they were tight right out of the gate. According to Facebook, they’ll start recording in November, and yes, they sound just enough like Unwound for me to love them immediately and intensely. Oh, how I’ve missed Justin’s guitar playing and songwriting style. Feels like a long-empty void has been filled.

Gloriously, you can watch the entirety of their first show on YouTube. Here it is…

I first became aware of the band back in early May thanks to Swan Fungus, who shared up the setlist from that debut show along with a soundboard recording of one song, “Thud of the Jackboot” (it’s since been removed). Rather than reshare that track, here’s another live one. Tag team: Let’s see another blog share another song, and so on…

Next week David Bazan and his band will hit the road for a month to play Pedro the Lion‘s amazing “Control” album from front-to-back, and they’ll be in Boston at Brighton Music Hall on November 13th. Tickets here. They’ll no doubt be lugging boxes full of newly-remastered Pedro the Lion vinyl releases, so make sure you bring extra cash and hit the merch table. I couldn’t quite pull the trigger on buying the beautiful box set of Sloan’s “Twice Removed” LP for $90 when I was at their BMH show last week… but $70 to pre-order those 5 remastered Pedro LPs (Hard To Find a Friend, The Only Reason I Feel Secure, Control, Achilles Heel, and Winners Never Quit)? With bonus goodies that won’t be sold individually? Yeah, I pre-ordered that sucker the day it was announced. Bring it on, Mr. Mailman. They have arrived!

Listen to the remastered “Control”…

… and one remastered track from each Pedro the Lion LP …

Big weekend coming up… heading down to Brooklyn with Colin & Dana to play drums on some Let’s Whisper recordings. Equal parts nervous and excited… hope the rust comes off easily. Keep an eye on my Twitter account for potential in-studio updates from within Marlborough Farms, if you’re into that sort of thing.

129 live MP3s, and this time I’ve saved you some effort: Here they are in one gigantic .zip file.

(As I mentioned when I first offered this up, the old Maxell XLII-90 cassette with Buffalo Tom and The World According to Steve‘s sets sadly disappeared ages ago. I think I’ve finally given up hope that it would find its way back to me one day. Apologies, fellow BT fans. And if anyone knows the missing titles of the HP Zinker tracks, speak up.)

the Vermonstress press release (click to enlarge)