Hola Amigos

New year, and the same old delivery schedule. Everyone has already shot their wad with their Ones to watch, and Tips for the Top.

My only tip this year is Daughter. Caught them at lounge on the Farm, and they were very good. Think post rock and new folk wrapped into a tight embrace.

Records to avoid - The Lemonheads Hotel Sessions. Full review is up on DiS. 3/10 says it all for a band I once loved. Sloppy addition to their catalogue, general poor shew all round.

Records to seek - New Nada Surf is a mini thrill ride.
If you like American Indie Rock, you will almost certainly like this album.

I predict - Toronto'sMemoryhouse to take the critical world by storm. I've had the album for three days and every play gets a little more pleasant. It is Elitebait for critics, and they're playing up a vague Arcade Fire-ness in the PR gumphf. It's there when you listen to them, for sure, but there is something else that I can't quite put my finger om yet. A cold insouciance . They're giving away a couple of tracks of it over on SubPop, streaming the singles here.

Under the radar, everywhere in the universe - Caithlin De Marrais' Red Coats LP. Streams here, another late 90's emo hero makes good with a solid solo record. Those people are setting patterns, and getting totally fucking ignored by mainstream media. No press, no radio. It's all groundswell and hard yards, they've become the troubadors of old. I suppose it keeps indie indie, huh?

End of Year Lists - Note for listmakers

If your list doesn't include either the Destroyer album, or the True Widow album, it is invalid.

Also, you are dead to me.

A Place To Bury Strangers announce new E.P, has nice picture on cover

Great little picture on the sleeve, isn't it? Very Zeitgeisty, with the ancient ruin contrasting and lining up against a building of finance gently leaning back, as though it were about to collapse. All cultures fail, and time is absolute. Onwards to the Wall, why that just hints at an uprising of the people doesn't it? At the same time, with the picture in mind, it is onwards towards death.

Tracklisting:

1. I Lost You

2. So Far Away

3. Onwards To The Wall

4. Nothing Will Surprise Me

5. Drill It Up

 

Onwards To The Wall will be released February 6 on CD/12"/Digital formats. 'So Far Away' is up on Pitchfork. See what you make of it.

Jeff Buckley & Elizabeth Fraser - All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The S...

A few pictures from True Widow at the Macbeth - Click for larger

Pictures 1 and 5 Amy Cullen, 2 to 4 Mine. All rights reserved, all wrongs reversed.

Wild Flag review is Up and Atom

And here it is. It's a very good album on its own merits. Feel quite guilty for mentioning the band that prefigured this one so much, but what can you say? THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THEM.

True Widow at the Macbeth tomorrow night. There will be a few pictures, I imagine.

New Frank Ocean video... solid

Once you go mersh, you can't go back...
and how swiftly those OMGWGKTA players move to the majors, eh?
Still, solid work from Mr Ocean.