It seems as if Indie Rockers the Decemberists never stop working. Since there formation a mere five years ago in 2002, they have put out nearly as many full lengths (as many if you count the phenomenal “Tain EP”), they have performed orchestral renditions of their songs alongside the likes of the LA Philharmonic, and have embarked on more tours in this short period of time than any band that comes to mind. Of course, once again, the Decemberists will...
A few years ago when I was DJing clubs that weren’t clubs really, but people standing around listening to dance music, I probably had The Faint in every one of my sets—at least one song. In 2004 that was pretty much all you needed to get the party started. I ended up hearing about Broken Spindles and would drop some of those jams as well. Then there was Bright Eyes, Now It’s Overhead, Ladyfinger (NE), Cursive, etc. I thought it...
As L.A.'s own Cary Brothers made his way back home to play his final show of a 35-date U.S. tour, he was greeted with familiar and unfamiliar faces who all adored him equally. Ground Control caught last night's shows and got some photos of Cary's band and openers Stars of Track and Field, who toured side by side for the past six weeks. Who Are You is out now on Procrastination Music More about Cary Brothers: www.carybrothers.com More about Stars...
Three years after 2004’s Uh Huh Her, PJ Harvey is coming back with the release of a brand new album, White Chalk. Produced by two legendaries, Flood and John Perish, the album is being described by the NME as "Sparse sounds, spine-tingling pianos and vocals that bring a tear to the eye-in a good way," White Chalk is a departure from previous PJ Harvey studio albums in that it was written on piano and does not feature her trademark electric...
A full year after their Oklahoma hometown show, the Flaming Lips are finally releasing their first ever live DVD, U.F.O.’s at the Zoo: The Legendary Concert in Oklahoma City. This is big news. For those of you who have never had the euphoric pleasure of seeing this band play, it is by far the most phenomenal show you will ever witness. I’m talking ever single theatric you could possibly think of…and all that coupled with the band’s incredible sonic ability…it...
The term “thinking man’s rock”—or some variation of it—has been thrown around a lot in the press over the last few decades in reference to a host of different musicians to the point that the term has now either become a sales tool or lost its meaning altogether. At different points in their careers, groups and artists as far-flung as The Deftones, Bruce Cockburn, System of a Down, Husker Du, Richard Hell, Captain Beefheart, Bob Dylan and (of course) Thinking...
Beck is back at it. On Tuesday 8/21 he will release a self-produced new track called "Timebomb", which for one week will be available only at iTunes. The following week the track will be available at all other digital music retail. "Timebomb" is the first new music from Beck since The Information, which was released in October 2006. The lyric of "Timebomb" echoes some of the dark themes from that album but is packaged in digital gris gris thunder as...
Sea Wolf's forthcoming debut full-length, Leaves in the River, due Sept. 25 on Dangerbird Records, will be met with a fall tour alongside New York indie stalwarts Nada Surf. Yet anxious fans won't have to wait until then to hear Alex Brown Church's elegiac narratives and intricate orchestral pop. Church and co. have been offering up glimpses into the highly-anticipated record on their recent jaunt alongside Silversun Pickups and are scheduled to appear at a few more high-profile festival performances,...
The tall, gangly, and always amazing, Thurston Moore will be releasing his first solo album in over 12 years. Trees Outside the Academy, out September 18th via Ecstatic Peace!, finds Thurston breaking from 1995's noise rock escapades on Psychic Hearts with a more acoustic and lyric driven approach. Recorded by John Agnello at J. Mascis' Bisquiteen Studios, Thurston's vocals, acoustic guitar and bass, are supported by a slew of guests. Steve Shelley is featured on drums and Samara Lubelski on strings,...
As happens every so often, a band of like-minded musicians come together under the right circumstances (usually under the guide of serendipity), discovers that they happen to share musical tastes and enjoy each other’s company and, in the spirit of all for one and one for all, change their names in a show of solidarity. That scenario produced The Ramones in New York three decades ago and, last year in Cardiff, Wales, so too came together Los Campesinos! “We all...