In relation to yesterday's (see below) audio release of "The Suburbs" and "Month of May," Arcade Fire have confirmed details for their 3rd studio album The Suburbs.
Check out their website to pre-order the much anticpated album, stream the single, read lyrics and dream of listening to the full length August 3rd.
That 12" single I reported about last week has reportedly turned up in various record stores today and BBC Radio 1 got ahold of it. They then played it and some techie ripped it from the radio, so you and I can hear it. Funny how it works these days, eh?
Alejandro González Iñárritu, director of the films Babel and 21 Grams has put together (due in part with the Portland, OR based hip kids, Wieden + Kennedy) a beautiful ad for Nike's World Cup Write the Future campaign. Beautifully shot and somehow (which I didn't think was possible) I am even more excited for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. USA!
Big news surfaced over the weekend that the Arcade Fire will be releasing a single June 1st. Well, you can now hear a little bit of both the A and B side of the 12" only release in the form of a digital record.
Preview The Suburbs and Month of May via the interactive record below. (sorry for the sizing issue)
I stumbled upon a beautiful acoustic cover of the Rumors classic cut, Dreams by the Morning Benders.
Lead singer Chris Chu holds his own vocally and it's a nice little track to compliment what I would assume to be one of their influences. But you can decide for yourself below.
Maybe they will play it tonight at the Fonda as part of their opening slot in front of Broken Bells. See ya there?
The Black Keys released an OUTSTANDING album Tuesday and have also provided a pretty damn funny video for their new single Tighten Up (stream below). I suggest you purchase their new album ASAP as well as tickets to their show at the Hollywood Palladium September 27th.
NPR Music has a cool series where bands swing by and play impromptu sets at their office (cool, right?). The dapper Parisian band Phoenix carved out time from their busy schedule of taking over the world to play a few tunes in the latest edition; and it's pretty damn good. Check it out here.
Also remember the band will be playing the Hollywood Bowl September 18th.
Black Keys excellent new album Brothers will be released May 18th along with Band of Horses crucial new listen, Infinite Arms. NPR has provided an advance peek into Brothers, while KCRW has the Band of Horses goods. Check 'em out!
For those that know me, it should come as no surprise that I would jump at the opportunity to promote two of my favs in one sitting.
So here's the deal - The National will be performing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music May 15th, benefiting Red Hot and KCRW wants to send you there. Of course there is a mild catch. Sign up to be subscriber by Friday May 7th at noon and you will automatically be eligible to win airfare, a stay at the Ace Hotel and tickets to the show, all for two. (It really does feel better to listen as a subscriber, trust me).
Additionally, the concert is going to be simulcast on You Tube and will be directed by the famous DA Pennebaker; really cool stuff.
To learn more about the sweepstakes and to become a member head on over to KCRW. And just to hammer the point home once more, take a listen below to High Violet; it's wonderful.
Throw Wolf Parade into the mix of anticipated summer album releases. The Montreal band will drop Expo '86 June 29th via Sub Pop.
You can download/stream two new tracks below. They recorded this album live to tape as opposed to dubbing and laying down tracks individually. I think it suits their sound nicely and based upon a couple quick listens, no directional changes from these dudes, but solid messy pop music that we've come to love from them.
Furthermore, you can catch them at the Wiltern Saturday July 31 - tickets here.
