New FREE 3-song EP from RA Scion

BEG x BORROW x STEAL

Pause whatever you are doing, and head on over to http://www.rascion.com for a free download of his new BEG BORROW STEAL EP.  3 songs, inspired by and in honor of the Anonymous Movement, and from what I heard previously, the Occupy Movement(s).

You may remember me promoting RA Scion's previous work as the MC for Common Market and his subsequent project Victor Shade.  His 2008 album "Tobacco Road" made my top 5 that year.  Heck, I even had a "Common Market Week" once - back when this blog was a bit more active.

He is one of my favorite MCs, and from my communication, seems like a generally alright guy.  Friendly, honest, earnest, sincere.  Those seem to be attributes in short supply lately.

Go download the EP, spread the word and send RA Scion your words of encouragement and support!

If you like this music, please spread the word on twitter, google+, facebook or other social networks.

New Fanfarlo track - Replicate

via music for kids who can't read good

A new track off Fanfarlo's upcoming 2nd LP.

Fanfarlo - Replicate [download mp3]

New Death Cab for Cutie track - Home is a Fire

DEATH CAB for CUTIE - Home Is A Fire by ATL REC.

Add this to:

Death Cab for Cutie - You Are a Tourist [mp3]

From the upcoming Codes and Keys (May 31)

New (old) Sigur Ros tracks

Via the Sigur Ros soundcloud page, a number of outtakes, live tracks, unreleased miscellanea.  Here are just a few samples.




fjöll í austri fagurblá by sigur rós

nýja lagið (live) by sigur rós

Sigur Rós - untitled 6 by sigur rós

leit af lífi by sigur rós

hrafnagaldur óðins [odin's raven magic] - chapter 3 (live) by sigur rós

New They Might be Giants - Can't Keep Johnny Down

Out of loyalty to a great band from my teenage years, I thought I was obligated to post this.  Actually, it doesn't sound half bad!  

They Might be Giants - Can't Keep Johnny Down [mp3]

From their upcoming July 2011 LP, Join Us.

via pitchfork

New Death Cab for Cutie track - You Are a Tourist

Death Cab for Cutie - You Are a Tourist [mp3]

From the upcoming Codes and Keys (May 31)

Another new Fleet Foxes track - Battery Kinzie

Fleet Foxes - Battery Kinzie by One Thirty BPM

From the upcoming Helplessness Blues.  Add this to the already previewed track, "Helplessness Blues," [download mp3] and the new LP is sounding GREAT!

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]

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.

New Get Up Kids album announced - These Are Rules

 Head over to stereogum.com's Progress Report for a full report on the new Get Up Kids album, due early 2011, which reportedly will be "bizarre and unlike anything [they have] ever done before."

The write-up also does a good job of explaining TGUK's odd position of having been at the forefront of a genre that in later years has taken some HORRIBLE turns.

The Get Up Kids - Regent's Court [mp3]

4 New Grand Archives Songs!!! For FREE!!!

Head on over to grandarchives.com to download 4 new demos from their upcoming LP, Villains.

Or, click below to listen:

Grand Archives - Hey Hey Heart Attack [mp3]

Grand Archives - Villains [mp3]

Grand Archives - West of Worry [mp3]

Grand Archives - Are We Coming to Get You? [mp3]

Longtime blog readers will recall that Grand Archives' debut LP was one of my favorite albums of 2008.  It had so many great tracks and promised BIG things for the band.  Unfortunately, their 2009 followup, Keep in Mind Frankenstein was not one of my favorites.  Quite disappointing, to be honest.  These 4 new demos, however, are VERY promising!  Wow.  What a return to form!  These make so very excited for their next full length. 

New FREE John Vanderslice EP - Green Grow the Rushes

Head over to www.johnvanderslice.com for the free download, or click here.



John Vanderslice - Thule Fog [mp3]
John Vanderslice - I'll Never Live Up To You [mp3]
John Vanderslice - Pony Express [mp3]
John Vanderslice - Streetlights [mp3]
John Vanderslice - Lay Down [mp3]
John Vanderslice - Penthouse Windows [mp3]

Album Review - J. Tillman, Singing Ax

 

Followers will know that I have been just nuts about the last few J. Tillman records (2 of them last year).  Thus, it was with great excitement that I heard he is putting out another on already.  It is available now on Western Vinyl - for sale on iTunes, amazon, emusic, etc . . .

Here are my thoughts.  I divide Tillman's discography into 2 phases.  Tillman's first 3 LPs, I Will Return, Long May you Run and Cancer and Delirium were sparsely beautiful, but quite lo-fi.  For many people, the scratch of low quality recordings won't allow them to really appreciate the great songs that are hiding underneath on those records.  The most recent 3 LPs, Minor Works, Vacilando Territory Blues and Year in the Kingdom, brought both better production value AND a much richer sound with increased instrumentation.  Singing Ax is a hybrid of these two phases.

Instrumentation is SPARSE.  Almost nothing there.  In this regard, it is much like his first releases.  Production value, however, is much improved - like his more recent releases.  So, if you like "Dry" folk with great songwriting and lyrics, this will be a great record for you.  I will likely gravitate back towards the LPs with fuller instrumentation, but Tillman hasn't lost me here.  I am still fully in the fan camp.

And, as long as he keeps on cranking out this high volume of records - I will definitely stay a fan.  There is something to be said for a guy that writes songs, and just records and releases them - instead of waiting to release every 2-3 years.  I know some bands are constricted by record companies on how often they release so its not their fault . . . but I really commend Tillman on this.

Make music, make it often.

Sample songs

J. Tillman - Diamondback [mp3]
J. Tillman - Three Sisters [mp3]

Unreleased: Iron & Wine - Cold Town

Iron & Wine - Cold Town [mp3]

unreleased demo

c. 2000

New Fleet Foxes songs, kind of

Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold has been on tour with Joanna Newsom, and recently posted a short tour documentary.  There is some great footage of him playing some new tunes - some of which have been floating around for a pit.  They are definitely worth checking out, regardless.  Also, skip to the bottom for a few live MP3s of new tunes, via We All Want Someone to Shout For and Pitchfork Media.

The video embed has been disabled, so go over to Fleetfoxes.com to watch it.

 Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) - Lorelai [mp3]


Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) - Helplessness Blues [mp3]

Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) - Look Up, Look Down that Lonesome Road [mp3]

Unreleased: Iron & Wine - Chelsea Hotel Nr. 2 (Leonard Cohen cover)

Chelsea Hotel Nr. 2

unreleased demo, c. 2000

Unreleased: Iron & Wine - A Book Unfinished

A Book Unfinished

unreleased demo, c. 2000

Unreleased: Iron & Wine - Blue Leaves

Blue Leaves

unreleased demo, c. 2000

Unreleased: Iron & Wine - Our Friend's Shrine

Our Friend's Shrine

unreleased demo, c. 2000

Song du Jour Nr. 115

Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

by

The National

from

High Violet