[MP3 Premiere] The Ladybug Transistor – “Clutching Stems” (new album out 6/7 on Merge!)
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:04 pm | No Comments
It is with no small amount of pleasure that I’m able to share some truly wonderful news: After a 4-year wait, we’ll soon see and hear a new full-length from The Ladybug Transistor. The Brooklyn combo has readied their seventh collection, the 10-track “Clutching Stems”, for release on Merge Records on June 7th, and it marks the band’s first recordings since the immensely sad and sudden passing of drummer San Fadyl in 2007. Frontman Gary Olson, bassist Julia Rydholm, and keyboardist Kyle Forester have carried on, adding new recruits Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, and Michael O’Neill to the mix, resulting in a record that both honors and expands upon the Ladybugs’ rich aural history.
Thanks to Merge, I’m not only sharing the news, but also some sight and sound, with a first peek at the album cover, tracklist, and a high-quality MP3 of its lead-off title track. Enjoy, and get those pre-orders in to score a poster of the album cover…
The Ladybug Transistor – “Clutching Stems”
Release Date: June 7, 2011 on Merge
1. Clutching Stems [MP3]
2. Light on the Narrow Gauge
3. Fallen and Falling
4. Ignore the Bell
5. Oh Christina
6. Caught Don’t Walk
7. Breaking Up on the Beat
8. Into the Strait
9. Hey Jack I’m On Fire
10. Life Less True
Pre-order from Merge Records
[Somerville This Saturday] Pains of Being Pure At Heart “Belong” album release party
Posted on March 22, 2011 at 3:36 pm | No Comments
This Saturday, March 26th, I’m very happy to be co-hosting the Boston-area release party for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart‘s new album, “Belong”, which popped up today on iTunes and officially hits record stores next Tuesday. Starting at 10pm at The Independent in Somerville’s Union Square, I’ll be spinning the record along with a slew of other fine Slumberland Records-released songs. And thanks to that ridiculously-great label, we’ve got some cool merch to give out during the party, including Pains posters, limited-edition white vinyl copies of “Belong”, and 7-inches of the album’s first single, “Heart In Your Heartbreak“.
Two lucky attendees will also each get a pair of tickets to see the band play at the Paradise on Tuesday, May 3rd with tourmates Twin Shadow and locals Cuffs (grab tickets here). Speaking of Cuffs, guitarist Martin graciously helped me set this night up, and he’ll also be hosting/spinning along with his Reports bandmate Joe. We’ll also probably get a guest-DJ appearance (and more Slumberland hits) from Cuffs singer/guitarist Andrew who, of course, fronted the wonderful Slumberland trio Pants Yell!. If you didn’t get all that straight, don’t worry, you won’t be graded.
So, in short: You. Us. The Independent. 10pm. Come Saturday. RSVP, if you please.
By the way, the band appears tonight on David Letterman. Think they’ll play the album’s title track? Here it is for your streaming pleasure…
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Belong by Slumberland Records