Record Store Day!

Here's a track from The Thermals, in lieu of this year's Record Store Day, which happens to coincide with the second day of Coachella. Thank you, to all the Indio Valley goers who have vacated Los Angeles for the weekend. It will be nice to actually go places without insane traffic.

Give a listen to "Separate" below. It appears on a split 7" with The Cribs. A pleasant little pop driven ditty, The Thermals have been so good for, all these years. This is their second split 7" for Record Store Day, as last year they released a pressing with Thao With The Get Down Stay Down.

As I mentioned, Angelenos who wish to take advantage of the new found space to roam this weekend, can purchase this and many other great releases at our city's great record shops. For a list of participating stores, check HERE. Happy Record Store Day to all...and to all, a good night.

UPDATED INFO: Lou Barlow, The Dum Dum Girls, One AM Radio, and many others will be playing for free at Origami Vinyl in Echo Park tomorrow, between 2-7pm. More info HERE.

"Separate" by The Thermals

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The Thermals music is available at Amazon

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

Mon UNKLE

(Cover art for "Where Did The Night Fall)"

Here's a track from Mo' Wax guru, James Lavelle's project, UNKLE. "The Answer" features Big In Japan, not the Big In Japan with that kid from the "O.C." tv show, but this Big In Japan, from Baltimore. The track is from the forthcoming album titled "Where Did The Night Fall". The album also features guest appearances by The Black Angels, Katrina Ford from TV On The Radio, Joel Cadbury from the band South, Autolux, and Mark Lanegan from Screaming Trees, fame.

The record is due out May 11th. You can pre-order the album from Amazon. On a side note, kudos to this kid who overcame the terrible "O.C." show to star in one of my favorite LA shows, "Southland".

TRACK REMOVED BY REQUEST

UNKLE music is available at Amazon

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

"You, Flock of Seagulls..."

I remember the balmy night in NYC back in 2003, when I first heard "Losing My Edge", like it was yesterday. I remember the feeling of astonishment of hearing the 8 minute opus, detailing such relevant music, like a Wikipedia page, before my ears. Seven years later, and three official albums later, LCD Soundsystem is still relevant and educational to my senses.

The evolution of the band's sound from a primarily "Dance, Disco-Punk" label received from many earlier in the decade, is no better showcased than on "This Is Happening", which will be released via DFA/Virgin Records on May 17th next month. You can pre-order the album at Amazon.

From the David Byrne-esque delivery in the opening bars of "Dance Yrself Clean", to the furious beats coupled with James Murphy's spoken word style crooning on tracks like "Pow Pow", this latest LCD effort shows that the band can still deliver dance infused pop, while simultaneously showing off their 80's influenced incarnate pop standards. Check out the last track on the album, "Home" below.

"Home" by LCD Soundsystem

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Purchase LCD Soundsystem music at Amazon

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

Shuck N' Jive

The next time I hear a band talk about the rigors of touring, rehearsal, and overall being in a band, I ask you to consider the size and scope of Canada's darlings, the Broken Social Scene. Sure these obstacles become exponentially easier when you have a great label like Arts & Crafts behind you, who will be releasing "Forgiveness Rock Record" on May 4th. You can pre-order the album before the May 4th release date at Amazon.

Its great to see the as many as 19 member act with a new studio product. The new album continues to offer much more of their layered, harmonic, and driving pop sounds. Check out "Water In Hell" below. Makes this fan of Superchunk, The Replacements, and the like type bands, wanna play any of the number of available air guitar slots BSS has to offer.

Also to consider...how productive could you be in the completion of any project, with say you and 18 of your friends trying to get along and be cohesive?

"Water In Hell" by The Broken Social Scene

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Purchase Broken Social Scene music at the Amazon Store

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

More Making Underground Raw Shit

Here's the title track from the forthcoming Murs & 9th Wonder album titled "Fornever". This track features Dogg Pound member Kurupt. The album features the incredibly slick and soulful production, which has become a trademark, of 9th Wonder. Kurupt also guests on the last track of the album, "Live From Roscoe's", a nod to one of this blogger's favorite places to eat in L.A.

Good hip hop is hard to find these days, but look no further than "Fornever". This record marks a wonderful addition to the body of work the Living Legends alumni, Murs has amassed. Who says all the good hip hop only comes out of the East Coast?

"Fornever" releases next Tuesday, April 13th. You can pre-order the album from Amazon, via SMC Recordings.

"Fornever" by MURS & 9th Wonder

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MURS music is available at Amazon.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

BOH

Here's the opening track, from the forthcoming Band of Horses record, titled "Infinite Arms". The album will be released on May 18th, via their new label, Fat Possum. You can pre-order the album from Amazon. You can see the track list for the album below. You can also check out the music video for the other new album track making the rounds on the web, "Compliments" at Under The Radar.

"Factory" by Band of Horses

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"Infinite Arms"
01 Factory
02 Compliments
03 Laredo
04 Blue Beard
05 On My Way Back Home
06 Infinite Arms
07 Dilly
08 Evening Kitchen
09 Older
10 For Annabelle
11 NW Apt.
12 Neighbor

Purchase Band of Horses music at their Amazon Store.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

Avril Fools

Holland Oates
Here's a track from the new Bird & The Bee tribute album to Hall & Oates. I have an older sister who is responsible for my unrealized, subliminal love for these hits. Kudos to Bird & The Bee for also paying homage to the "Private Eyes" album cover, which I was far too familiar with, looking at my sister's collection of Hall & Oates cassettes, in the early 80's. Check out their cover of "Maneater" below. You can order the album "Interpreting The Masters, Volume 1, A Tribute to Hall & Oates" at Amazon.

"Maneater (Hall & Oates)" by The Bird & The Bee
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Ted Leo & Rx
A great time was had this past Saturday night at The Troubadour, to anyone who caught the Ted Leo & The Pharmacists show. Along with showcasing tracks from their latest "Brutalist Bricks" record, Ted also managed to close the night with a great cover of The Misfits "Angel Fuck". I also enjoyed the awkward interaction that caused Ted Leo to ask "what I was doing" when I snapped the photo below, between the runway area of the Troubadour stage and the upstairs lounge, while Ted was speaking to the audience between songs. Check out "Bottled In Cork" from a previous post HERE.

(Ted Leo & The Pharmacists live at The Troubadour)

The Bird & The Bee music is available at Amazon.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.