NEW FLEET FOXES SONG AND ALBUM!!!!!!!!!

via stereogum

This is quite possibly, my most highly anticipated album for 2011.  Fleet Foxes will release Helplessness Blues via Sub Pop on May 3!

Get a first listen, thanks to Stereogum.com

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues [mp3]

Listen to Bright Eyes' "The People's Key" - Streaming on NPR

Head over to NPR's "First Listen" to stream the album in its entirety or listen to individual tracks.

The Go Reflex - new video - The Irresponsible Siblings

Anyone who knows me well may be familiar with my longtime obsession with a little known band, The Go Reflex.  Brainchild of Flying Blanket Studios producer, Bob Hoag, they put out a great EP a few years back, but then disbanded.  Bob, since busy running his super-studio, has recorded some great bands - from Dear in the Headlights, Shark Speed, The Format, The Ataris, Adam Panic, Before Braille, Art for Starters, Kinch, Gospel Claws, Mr. Kline and the Wizards of Time, the Letterpress....and the list goes on.  Needless to say, this has kept bob busy.

At one time, Bob had an entire Go Reflex LP recorded, but never released it (Rumors that I have a copy may or may not be true).  A few songs on compilations have popped up here and there.  Below is a video for the most recent, from a studio compilation of bands Bob has produced. 

Most exciting of all, however, is news that Bob and the boys have been scheduling studio time and recording new tunes.  Surely, there will be more news on that when it comes out.  Suffice it to say, you should be very excited.

So, head over to the Flying Blanket Studios website, listen to the many mp3 samples of bands recording there, and express your excitement (and intent to purchase) new Go Reflex material. 

Album Review: The Get Up Kids - There are Rules

Initial Thoughts Album Review

The Get Up Kids - There are Rules

3 out of 5 stars

After a first listen, I am a bit lot for words.  If I didn't recognize Pryor and Suptic's voices, I would not in a million years have known this was a Get Up Kids album.  Portions sound heavily influenced by some of the grittier keyboard-based sounds of Dewes' Reggie and the Full Effect.  The track "Birmingham" would fit well on a Japandroids release.  "Shatter Your Lungs" seems out of place - fitting better with the likes of "Fountain of Youth" from Pryor's side-project New Amsterdams' album, At the Foot of my Rival.

There are Rules is dominated by lots of fuzzy distorted bass, distorted effects on vocals and electronic noise - none of which are elements familiar to longtime TGUK fans.  In addition, the timbre and tone of the guitars is strikingly on the treble end - little bass-end distortion on the guitars - little traditional punk palm-muted rhythms.

This is one of their more consistently noisy efforts since Woodson or Four Minute Mile.  The more pop-oriented sensibilities of more recent releases make appearances, but they are fleeting and isolated to a few tracks.  A lot of noise here.  It sounds a bit like a band, now reunited, wanting to reemerge with a new and evolved sound.  This would be par for the course, as each of their previous releases signaled significant departures in sound.  However, this new effort sounds like that evolution was a bit forced.  It sounds like they are trying to NOT sound like their previous albums (and they succeed), but the result lacks a consistency that most of their other big changes (On a Wire, in particular), did maintain.  I get that this isn't the same old Get Up Kids - they have made that point loud and clear.

I am left asking myself, however, what then is this?  I hear a bunch of fractured sounds, ideas and approaches thrown together.  It is not that I don't like it.  In fact, I rather enjoy all the noise, angst and gritty vocals.  But, I am not sure how well it all holds together... Perhaps after a few more listens things will start to gel and make sense...we'll see...

Out January 25th 

Okkervil River - New Song, New album

We are Very Far - due May 10th!

Shatter Your Lungs - Another new Get Up Kids track

From the upcoming Regents Court.  This is perhaps the most UN-Get Up Kids song I have heard!  Not bad, but very different.