Chairlift "At My Side"

Chairlift does a video!

This is it! Champion

We all love the Strokes. Even if we don't all actually love the Strokes, the sane majority of us do. Devonte Hynes and his new project Lightspeed Champion, whose album is now released on Domino Records, love the Strokes so much, that they covered the blokes at the White Heat party in Mayfair. The cover of "Reptilia" set the party and room on fire!




Lightspeed Champion's album, Falling off the Lavender Bridge, is filled with all the jangle one could hope for (expect a review in the near future), and is worth the purchase. And if you fancy, a short US acoustic tour shall be launched in the Northeast come March. And think, it's cheaper to see them here, rather than in the UK, so be grateful!

Take a gander at the Myspace, with relevant tour info. If you don't believe me, check out the video for "Galaxy Of The Lost" for further validation of awesomeness.

Panther Preps "God," Tour

Panther is about to take the U.S. once again by storm. After dropping last year's testament to Prince in Secret Lawns (featuring one of the greatest singles of the past few years, "You Don't Want Yr Nails Done,") Panther no longer wanted to be just a he, dancing to a boombox on stage. Employing friend Joe Kelly on the drums, they put together Panther's second effort, 14kt God, which will be unleashed on the world via Kill Rock Stars on February 19th.

Shortly after the album's release, the band will hit the road, hang out at SXSW, and spread their new grooves and vibe all around the country. Particularly awesome is his upcoming show here in Boston with former Band of the Week player Casey Dienel's new project, White Hinterland. Also be sure to check out a recent interview I did with Charle Salas-Humar over here.

You Want Yr Tour Done:
2/08 - Mount Vernon, WA @ The Retrodoxy
3/01 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop - Noisepop
3/04 - Seattle, WA @ Nectar
3/06 - Portland, OR @ Holocene*
3/08 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Slowtrain
3/09 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
3/11 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory
3/12 - 3/15 Austin, TX SXSW
3/17 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon#
3/18 - Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn#
3/19 - Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
3/20 - Washington, DC @ Red and Black
3/21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Khyber
3/22 - New York, NY @ Knitting Factory#
3/23 - Somerville, MA PA’s Lounge%
3/26 - Detroit, MI @ Scrummage University
3/27 - Chicago, IL @ Abbey Pub
3/28 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
3/29 - Fargo, ND @ Aquarium

* = w/ Parenthetical Girls
# = w/ WHY?
% = w/ Citay, White Hinterland

Download: "Violence, Diamonds" [mp3] // [Buy Here]

New Release Tuesday

Last year, the whole indie and blog world was a-buzzing about this Vampire Weekend outfit from New York. After many talks of Oxford Comma's (re: SiS Top 10 Songs of 2007) and going out to Walcott, these boys got picked up by XL for their debut release. Relying heavily on their world/afro beat habits that blend with their new wave/sort of post-rock vibe (Remain In Light is the easiest way to compare this band, not to another band, but their album,) their self-titled debut is certainly going to continue to glow in their favor. They've got a spot at Coachella, they might be at Bonnaroo for all we know, and I just know they'll be the Cold War Kids of this year's Lollapalooza. Do enjoy.

Download: "Walcott" [mp3] // [Buy Here]

On the DVD front this week, I of course have to publicize my neverending love for Aqua Teen Hunger Force, who drop their 5th set of calamity in episodic form. Volume 5 features 15 recent faves as "Dickesode" (in an uncensored form here, with a plot I really don't need to go on explaining,) Sean Moran-approved "Carl Wash," and my #2 favorite of all-time, "Handbanana."

In related news, this week is Super Bowl XLII, and Aqua Teen's own Carl is here to share his predictions on how the game will go down.

Seriously, his weekly "I'm Pissed" columns are as good as these episodes. I wonder what he does when the Giants win next week.

Buy: Aqua Teen Hunger Force Volume 5 [Here]

R.E.M. Touring with Modest Mouse, The National

NOW WITH TOUR DATES!!! SEE BELOW!!

As the legendary R.E.M. took the stage for their working rehearsal shows in 2007, I decided to make myself a pact: to see the godfather's of college radio on their next tour. And now, that they have announced who will be supporting them on their upcoming tour, I would not miss it without the shadow of a doubt.

The National recently took the cake as Stranded In Stereo's Album of the Year 2007; after a bunch of critical praise and sold out shows, the band announced on Triple J Radio the other day that, though all details weren't ironed out quite yet, but they would be touring with R.E.M. later this year. Along with Modest Mouse. Good god; I really hope tickets aren't too terribly expensive, because this would be one show I don't want to miss. Reports were confirmed today by both Billboard and the 'Fork. God, I can't really believe this is happening. To gear up for the release of their 14th (?) studio album, Accelerate, R.E.M. teamed up with Vincent Moon for the Ninety Nights project, posting a new clip every day for 90 days leading up to the album's April 1st release. Some feature the band talking, some feature Michael Stipe recording vocals, some feature snippets of songs in live form. Here's the latest clip (which has been removed:)


And the dates are:
05/23 Vancouver--Deer Lake Park
05/29 Los Angeles--Hollywood Bowl
05/31 Berkeley--The Greek Theatre
06/03 Denver--Red Rocks Amphitheatre
06/06 Chicago--United Center
06/08 Toronto--Molson Amphitheatre
06/10 Raleigh--Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
06/11 Washington, DC--Merriweather Post Pavilion
06/13 Boston--Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
06/14 Long Island--Jones Beach Theater
06/18 Philadelphia--Mann Center for the Performing Arts
06/19 New York City--TBA
06/21 Atlanta--Lakewood Amphitheatre

Read an Excerpt from "Black Postcards"

The other week I announced that former Luna and Galaxie 500 head honcho/currently 50% of Dean & Britta was getting ready to drop his book Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance, which will be published in March. This week, I have the glory of letting you in on a sneek peak of the book -- well, not just you, but everyone since it's coming from the pages of Men's Vogue.

Be sure to check out the excerpt here, and make sure to grab your copy of Black Postcards on March 13th.

The Stranded Local Q&A: Fluttr Effect

Fluttr Effect started in 2002 as a creative outlet for four musicians – Troy Kidwell on guitar and vocals, Jason Marchionna on drums, Vessela Stoyanova on MIDI marimba, and Valerie Thompson on electric cello - looking to do something inventive, challenging and interesting. In 2003 they welcomed a fifth member, Kara Trott, as a lead vocalist. In the following years, they played hundreds of shows (including Taubertal Open Air in Germany and clubs all over the UK) and released two albums, entitled Trithemis Festiva and Marking Time. They also started and released an EP (called Swallows and Sparrows) as an acoustic off-shoot of the band, known as the Fluttr Effect Trio. As of this past June, they are back to the original four members, and are continuing to explore new ways to create music.

Vessela took the time to answer the 5 questions SiS always asks:

Hailing from Boston makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because
We can drop down to NYC for a weekend gig in no time at all and still come home to a relatively clean and pretty city for the rest of the week. Besides, it’s a great place to meet people who are NOT from Boston without having to go anywhere.

Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well
Regina Spektor (for the Fluttr Effect acoustic)
Mars Volta
Primus
Queens of the Stone Age
Any of Mike Patton’s projects

Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is
I personally love the Lizard Lounge for the acoustic show. The full band prefers Middle East downstairs and Paradise.

Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can’t hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.)
Late19th – early 20 century classical music for Harmony
Balkan folk music for rhythm

Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is
Lizard Lounge by far.

[Myspace] http://www.myspace.com/fluttreffect

Download: "Say Goodbye" by Fluttr Effect [mp3]

Santi's Gold

That is to say, Santi, of Santogold, is golden- like dope. So much so, that as soon as this post is over, you should go check her out. She rolled into Brooklyn, by way of Philly, and is making quite a name for herself via hard beats and beautiful vocals. Not to mention she is fine as hell!

Santogold is more than just booties and beats, in the sense that its a divergent sound from what is being created, Philly-wise. As a dude that knows his Philly, I can say that while the beats crank as much as S. Rock, who is most notable at this time for an underground Philly sound, Santo has its own credibility outside of Rock's vale of what is acceptably cool. Thats not to say she doesn't work with Spank Rock, just that she could exist without his say so. And her voice, when channeled through high-end speakers will make your underpants vibrate through your jeans- if that isn't enough, I just don't know what is.

This is a call to action kids, go check her out at her myspace!

New Release Tuesday: Times New Viking

I was nice enough to name them one of my bands to watch for this year, and now Pitchfork gives their new album, Rip It Off, a decent review (an 8.4? Jose Fritz will not be pleased,) maybe it is time that Times New Viking will get their moment in the sun. The lo-fi revolution is back in a big way; I mean the Pitchfork review does mention Slanted & Enchanted and Alien Lanes (which, on a complete side note, is only my favorite GBV album. Might be why I took such a liking to what some may call an inaudible cacophony.) Like I said before and I'll say it again, there is a melody buried under on that dissonance, just pay attention. The songs are short and breezy and catchy and noisier than early Sonic Youth at times. The band will celebrate the release of their Matador debut support Super Furry Animals on their upcoming U.S. tour in February.

02.15 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre
02.16 Chicago, IL @ Metro
02.17 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
02.18 Buffalo, NY @ Tralf Music Hall
02.20 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
02.21 Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Music Hall
02.22 Ithaca, NY @ Cornell University
02.23 Boston, MA @ Paradise
02.24 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
02.25 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

Download: "(my head)/R.I.P. Allegory" [mp3] // [Buy Here]

New Counting Crows. Yay(?)

So, I got an e-mail the other day that contained two songs from the Counting Crows upcoming fifth long player, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings. The album is said to be a concept record of sorts: while Saturday Nights is to be all sorts of angry and loud, Sunday Mornings is its quiet counterpart that will cure the hangover.

I remember reading awhile back a small interview with lead Crow/faux-dread enthusiast Adam Duritz saying how some of the songs were dark, darker than your average Counting Crows song. He especially discussed album opener "1492" and how it sounded like a punk version of Crazy Horse; I wouldn't say it sounds so much like a punk version but more like Crazy Horse than most things that try and sound like the formative Neil Young backing band. The middle section of the song, especially. I'm not a huge fan of this band, but you know if this song is this good, maybe the rest of the album won't be so bad? I mean, of the songs I heard them preview to a small crowd at a surprise CMJ set this year, it wasn't the worst of times.

Oh well, I digress. We'll see the outcome of this bipolar experiment when Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings drops on March 25th.

Download: "1492" and "When I Dream Of Michaelangelo" [zip] //[Buy Here]

Download the Title Track from Hot Chip's "Made In The Dark"

As we get closer to the release of Hot Chip's third opus, Made In The Dark, the band is offering up another preview of what they've got cooking in the form of the album's title track. All you have to do is go here and sign up to win your copy of the album on CD and vinyl. The soothing and soulful ballad is one of 13 new tracks that will be included on the album out February 5th on DFA/Astralwerks.

Have you seen Hot Chip's tour dates? They are coming to America.

4/10 @ Starlight Ballroom in Philadelphia, PA
4/11 @ 9:30 Club in Washington, DC
4/12 @ Terminal 5 in New York, NY
4/14 @ Paradise in Boston, MA
4/17 @ Vic Theatre in Chicago, IL
4/18 @ First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN
4/22 @ Showbox in Seattle, WA
4/23 @ Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR
4/24 @ The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, CA

Download: "Made In The Dark" [mp3] // [Buy Here]

Black Milk does a body and soul good

Remember that group called Slum Village? It was backed by the ill producer J-Dilla? Do ya? Well in case you're not a devote follower, they had another producer on the low by the name of Black Milk. Last year, he was met by the indie world for his release of Popular Demand, then he went back on the lam, so it seemed. But now he's back with Caltroit- which is a work with Bishop Lamont. The name of the album speaks to the synergy of the Detroit and Cali artists. So clever, these up and coming rappers!

The album is full of guests, including a spot from Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre and Royce Da 5'9". And if thats not enough, the music is so refreshing, you will most likely never hear it on a ring tone.

The Rosebuds Say "Push It," Cover Pixies

North Carolina sweethearts The Rosebuds put out one of the best albums of 2007 in the form of Night Of The Furies; it did make it in to my Top 10 albums of the year. As they gear up for some east coast dates this weekend, today saw them unleash their rendition of the 80s classic "Push It," as originally done by Salt-N-Pepa. The made at home video features their dog Jasmine putting the finishing touches on their newest hit. It's rather adorable and hot all at the same time.

Kelly and Ivan also contributed their rendition of "Break My Body" to Dig My Fire: A Tribute To Pixies which is available now through American Laundromat.

Oh, those tour dates:
01.16 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
01.17 Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
01.18 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
01.19 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's

Download: "Break My Body" [mp3] // [Buy Here]

The Stranded Local Q&A: Ad Frank

Ad Frank started playing with The Fast Easy Women in the early aughts. He was mostly playing acoustic shows and missed rocking out, so he asked his friends Quick Fix to back him up for one show. It went well, and someone at the show asked if they would open up, so they had a second show. Five years and fifteen band members later, they're still here, delivering their 70s-inspired blend of late glam / early new-wave to clubs throughout the Midwest and East Coast.

His most recent album, The World’s Best Ex-Boyfriend, released in 2005, "bursts with love-lorn desperation," according to the Boston Globe. Now in his third decade as a songwriter and performer, Ad continues to pack local clubs. When not appearing solo or with the Fast Easy Women, Ad can be found playing with Lifestyle, fronted by Sean Drinkwater of Freezepop.


Ad took a few minutes to answer the 5 questions SiS always asks:

Hailing from Boston makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because
Ha. I reject the premise of this question, but I'll play along. It is definitely nice to have so many other bands here to learn from. I read an interview with the Finn brothers where they said one of the reasons that the Split Enz were so out there at first was that they had no one else in New Zealand to copy, business-wise or artistically. You definitely don't have that problem here.

Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well
Well, Erasure of course, though I don't know if there would be room for us amid the swans and balloons. Lloyd Cole, if only so as I could meet him and, ummmm....oh, I just heard Leonard is finally planning to tour again.


Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is
I really love the Cantab and am hoping it blossoms. Great location and easy to work with and it looks like the Frank Sinatra "No One Cares" album inside.

Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically?
Wow. What an amazing question. It is making my jaw hurt. Well, I have had a hard time reconciling the sound and feel of my solo shows with those of my full band shows because they are so different--so I really admire Neil Young and Crazy Horse--how they will rock out for an hour and then seamlessly transition into a solo- Neil set. I am working toward something like that, but its harder when you only have 45 minute sets.

Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is
I've been loving the Newtowne Grill lately. It is the closest thing Cambridge has to a redneck bar--and it has the $15 pizza and pitcher special!


[Myspace] http://www.myspace.com/adfrank

Download: "Winterthru" by Ad Frank (unreleased) [mp3]

New Release Tuesday: Eels Extravaganza

I raised myself on a healthy dose of Eels through high school and college. Though I started off like everyone else in 1996 with "Novocaine For The Soul," it wasn't until 2002 that I had picked up where I left off and obtained my copy of their 1998 masterpiece, Electro-Shock Blues. That album now holds to me some of the most significant pieces of my life: "Dead Of Winter," to me, is the song that always gets me through the most painful times of life, just like that album did for E. Outside of their hit single and most amazing record, the band has released countless other records and have gained enough cultural significance for this week's release of Meet The Eels: Essential Eels 1996-2006. Though the majority of the 24 songs have been released, there is Jon Brion's remix of Blues' "Climbing To The Moon" and the Eels rendition of "Get Ur Freak On" from 2006's No Strings Attached Tour. It also features a DVD with every music video, complete with E commentary, and a book filled with photos and liner notes again penned by E.

For those hardcore fans like me, also released today is the 2-CD/1-DVD rarities comp Useless Trinkets: B Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2007. Featuring exactly what the long winded subtitle suggests, the DVD bundled with this one features selections from their performance at the 2006 edition of Lollapalooza. it also features a book full of liner notes and pictures.

And if that isn't enough Eels of your life, this week's see the UK publishing of Things The Grandchildren Should Know, E's memoirs/autobiography that chronicles E's childhood and all the tragedy that shaped him and fueled his storied output of music. The book will be published in America this fall.

Stream: Various Eels Songs [Here] // Buy Meet The Eels [Here] // Buy Useless Trinkets [Here]

Juno Snubbed at "Globes," Kimya Comes to Boston

So, I endured that pathetic excuse for an awards ceremony last night called the Golden Globes. What a waste of time. Since the WGA is on strike, I'm convinced they didn't want to award who to me were the obvious winners. Ellen Page, who plays the title character in that Juno movie that I finally saw this weekend which was amazing, lost. She lost to a woman I never heard of, in a movie I never even heard of, that apparenty isn't really a comedy or a musical. Whatever; hopefully she wins an Oscar or something cool. At least Javier Bardem took home Best Supporting Actor for No Country For Old Men.

Anyway, to come down from my Globe tangent (at least I haven't endured anyone with my Cowboys tangent,) to celebrate the release of the soundtrack to Juno, Kimya Dawson will be in Boston Thursday night at 7 at Newbury Comics to play some of her songs that are featured in the movie and on the corresponding soundtrack. Pretty cool, huh? No Moldy Peaches jams, though, as her and Adam Green have a long standing agreement to not play Peach pieces without one another's presence. Oh well, there's always that cute duet between Michael Cera and Page.

Download: "Anyone Else But You" by Michael Cera & Ellen Page [mp3] // "Tire Swing" by Kimya Dawson [mp3] // [Buy Here]

A Start From The Top

This week starts a new column from Hip-Hop fan extraordinare, Tinfoil Grillz.

As the first post from Tinfoil Grillz, it's only proper that the content involve Mr. Hip-Hops himself, Jay-Z. In a recent interview with Billboard, Jay tried to "clarify" some aspects of his career and hip-hop in general...sorta. Most of the interview speaks about the rumored departure of J-Hova from Def Jam, to which Jay gives some murky, play the fence type, no-nothing speak on how the contract ran out, but "If we can work something out that's beneficial to all parties involved, we'll see." Whatever that means.

More interesting is Jay re-suggesting retirement, because it worked oh-so well last time. I swear, Jay-Z makes me feel like a bastard child. He keeps the impending threat of retirement dangled in front of us, and if we behave, and don't ask too much of him, then Daddy won't leave us again. I just hope he stops beating up on lil' brother, Kanye. Speaking of whom, in the last few moments of the interview, Jay drops Kanye's name is a potential leader of the new school, but ultimately suggest that Lil' Wanye will be the best rapper alive, once the best rapper retires. Sorry Kan-yeyo, looks like that "Big Brother" track didn't work as well as we could have hoped?

Want to get the entire scoop on Jay, and find out when you can expect to book rooms at the J-Hotel (I hope this means Chingy remixes!!)? Peep the whole interview here.

The Stranded Local Q&A: Miss Fairchild

Usually I'm the one to point out people in the crowd breaking out sweet dance moves at live shows. Yet at Miss Fairchild shows, you can be guaranteed you'll be the odd man out if you aren't shaking yer groove thang...and shaking it hard.

Miss Fairchild is a pop/funk band consisting of Daddy Wrall (vox/percussion), Schuyler Dunlap (keyboards/guitar/flute), Samuel P. Nice (synth/sampler/sax), Patrick Johnson (bass) and Todd Richard (drums). They met playing in a funk-cover band in high school, and their sound has since evolved into contemporary pop music with the sensibility of mid-70s era R&B.

Their latest record Ooh La La, Sha Sha... was released in September, and they have been described by the Boston Globe as channeling “Sly and the Family Stone and Prince into upbeat retro R&B anthems, guaranteed to swing some hips." Miss Fairchild plays Boston next on Thursday, January 31 at Great Scott, so be sure to stop by and start the next dance revolution.

Sam from Miss Fairchild took a few minutes to answer SiS’s five questions we always ask local bands:

Hailing from Boston, makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because
Boston helps us become better at what we do. Not to dig to hard on the Bean, but the city has a rep for being a bit uptight. The whole objective of our music is to get people to let loose, our driving principle is to "put the K back in Fun." Boston gives us a challenge, (one we have been succeeding at by the way, come to a show!) which helps us feel confident that we can do our thing in any town. It’s funny, because many times after shows people come up to us and say “Boston needs you” as if we are somehow helping the city in an important way, which is fine by us!

Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well
Nikka Costa, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Beck

Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is
Great Scott. Great sound, great stage, great crowd, great venue.

Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can’t hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.)
Choosing from many, let’s say pop rock. I think we go for very different things in our sound than most groups in this genre , notably our rhythmic feel, but there have been many times during song writing where we’ve asked ourselves WWSRD? (What Would Sugar Ray Do?)

Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is
The Enormous Room. And since we’re not big drinkers, honorable mentions go to Simon’s Coffee Shop and Boca Grande on Mass Ave. in Cambridge as prime locations for Miss Fairchild sightings.

[Myspace] http://www.myspace.com/MissFairchild

Bang Camaro Hits The Road

Around the city of Boston, it's all about Bang Camaro. Over the course of the past year, the heavy metal lovers has an impressive three lead guitarists and an even more astonishing 20 lead singers (made up in the form of a choir) have made a name for themselves around the area and gained notoriety on a more national level by including their songs in those rather popular Guitar Hero and Rock Band games. In between the sweaty shows and video games, MTV took notice to them while Rolling Stone bestowed them with their Breaking Artist seal of approval.

Now the band is heading out on a national tour that will take them across the country, playing to their fans who know metal is still alive and well. The tour kicks off at the end of this month, as they will play before kickoff and during halftime at the New York Titans lacrosse match at Madison Square Garden. I've had the chance to see them twice now, and trust me, it's an experience worth taking in so grab all your friends who are in to Guitar Hero so they can see what it's all about.

Bang your heads here:
01.31 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden (Titans Kickoff/Halftime)
02.01 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's
02.02 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
02.04 Philadelphia, PA @ The Khyber
02.05 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
02.06 Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
02.08 Orlando, FL @ The Social
02.09 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Studio A
02.12 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
02.13 Birmingham, AL @ The Nick
02.15 Austin, TX @ Stubbs BBQ
02.16 Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
02.18 Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
02.20 Ft. Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre
02.21 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
02.23 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
02.27 Minneapois, MN @ 7th Street Entry
02.28 Madison, WI @ The Annex
02.29 Chicago, IL @ The Double Door
03.01 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
03.02 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
03.05 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small's Theatre
03.06 Columbus, OH @ Ravari Room
03.07 Buffalo, NY @ Showplace Theatre

Download: "Push Push (Lady Lightning)" [mp3] // [Buy Here]

Nada Surf Announce "Lucky" Tour Dates, One-Off with Superdrag!

Simply put, the 12-year-old version of me really can relive the summer of 1996 again, for one night only.

Nada Surf announced details for their upcoming US tour in support of their upcoming fifth long player, Lucky, including a one-off co-headlining show with the band I recently went ape over reuniting and then seeing in November, Superdrag. Someone call a doctor, I'm about to faint. That show will be taking place on April 11th at Terminal 5 in New York.

The rest of Nada Surf dates start with some yet to be determined sets at SXSW, before going from west to east with support from The Little Ones and What Made Milwaukee Famous:

03/17 Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse Music Venue*
03/18 San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues*
03/19 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theatre*
03/21 Ponoma, CA @ Glass House*
03/22 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore*
03/25 Sacramento, CA @ Harlow's*
03/26 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom*
03/28 Seattle, WA @ Showbox*
03/29 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom*
04/01 Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre**
04/02 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room**
04/03 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue**
04/04 Chicago, IL @ Metro**
04/05 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew's Hall**
04/07 Toronto, ON @ Opera House**
04/08 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda**
04/10 Boston, MA @ Paradise**
04/11 New York, NY @ Terminal 5^
04/12 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club**
04/13 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero**

*with The Little Ones
**with What Made Milwaukee Famous
^with Superdrag

Download: "See These Bones" by Nada Surf [mp3] // [Buy Here]
Stream: "Live And Breathe" and "I Only Want A Place I Can Stay" by Superdrag [Here]

New Release Tuesday

After spending a few weeks collecting sales via iTunes downloads, our friends at Rhino drop the soundtrack to the recent indie fave Juno today. Made up mostly of songs by Kimya Dawson and her former band, The Moldy Peaches, the soundtrack also features contributions from The Velvet Underground, Belle & Sebastian, The Kinks, Sonic Youth's awesome rendition of The Carpenters "Superstar," and the film's lovers Michael Cera and Golden Globe nominee Ellen Page dueting on the Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You." I'm happy to see the Peaches finally getting some exposure; some people think they are this up and coming band or a band no one ever knew existed. I'll always remember listening and chuckling with my friends during our senior year of high school six years ago. Welcome to the party.

Stream: "Anyone Else But You" by Michael Cera & Ellen Page [Stream] // [Buy Here]

I don't know why it is, my guess is to make an extra buck off people like me, but there's already a new two-disc director's cut of David Fincher's phenomenal Zodiac for your viewing pleasure. While just adding not even ten minutes of new footage in to the film, the real point of purchase is the plethora of extras missing from the bare bones version Paramount dropped last summer. This new version is filled with commentaries and enough features and documentaries on the real killings that shook up the Bay Area in the 1960s and 1970s that you could be an expert on the subject. Fans of Fincher have even said this two-disc special edition rivals that of his 90s cult hit, Fight Club. I'll keep you posted.

View: Trailer [Here]

Dean Sends "Postcards," Tours with Britta

When Brooklyn's Luna called it quits in 2005, I was a very sad boy. I had raised myself on the band's dreamy melodies and lyrics, and to have no more Luna, especially after Romantica (which was the album they should've ended with, not the swan song atrocity that was Rendezvous,) I started to wonder if I would make it through college or not. But I did, thanks to their 1995 masterpiece, Penthouse. I was lucky enough to catch Luna in the act once, playing to a packed house in Baltimore in November of 04, and was lucky enough to see singer Dean Wareham and bassist Britta Phillips once side project now full time gig as Dean & Britta last year at the MFA. Now, Wareham is jumping on to the rock & roll memoir bandwagon, a la Mark Oliver Everett (or, commonly known as E from the Eels) and Niki Sixx from the Crue of course.

Being added to my list of must reads for 2008 is Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance, Wareham's memoirs that chronicle not only his time in Luna and his first band, the amazing Cambridge trio Galaxie 500, but also takes a look at ups and downs of being a part of this illustrious industry for the past two decades. I doubt the book will detail any sordid affairs or out people with drug habits, but it will at least give us insight to one of the greatest bands of our time.

Black Postcards will be out on March 13 via Penguin Press. In the meantime, D&B will tour the U S of A once again in February, making the most of their leap year as they even play a hometown show in Brooklyn on February 29th.

Tour:
02.07 Boston, MA @ Museum of Fine Arts
02.08 Montreal, QC @ Cabaret
02.09 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
02.10 Chicago, IL @ Lakeshore Theater
02.11 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
02.14 Vancouver, BC @ Richard's On Richards
02.15 Seattle, WA @ Triple Door
02.16 Portland, OR @ Aladdin
02.18 San Francisco, CA @ Yoshi's
02.19 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
02.20 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
02.22 Marfa, TX @ Marfa Ballroom
02.23 Austin, TX @ Cactus Cafe
02.25 Atlanta, GA @ Eddie's Attic
02.26 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
02.27 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
02.28 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
02.29 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Music Hall of Williamsburg
03.01 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

Download: "Words You Used To Say" [mp3] // [Buy Here]

Malkmus Dumps Trash, Tour Dates

Every few years, the world is graced with the presence of a new record by Stephen Malkmus, some guy who used to front some kind of important band in the 90s. This year will be know different as Malkmus will drop his fourth solo effort, Real Emotional Trash, on March 4th.

For the second album billed to SM and his backing band, The Jicks, he trades famed drummers: once John Moen of The Decemberists, Malkmus & Co. are now joined by former Sleater-Kinney skin beater Janet Weiss for the new collection that spawns an hour long over its 10 new compositions. A handful of the songs were previewed on the road last year, and Malkmus will bring the Jicks on the road with him when they hit the road to support Trash, beginning with a few dates in Arizona next week.

01/09 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush
01/10 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
01/11 - Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum
01/17 - Bellingham, WA @ The Nightlight
03/19 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
03/20 - Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
03/21 - Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
03/22 - Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue Theater
03/23 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House
03/25 - Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
03/26 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
03/28 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Fillmore
03/31 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
04/02 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
04/03 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
04/04 - North Adams, MA @ MASS MoCA

Download: "Baltimore" [mp3]

Hunter Valentine Invading NYC

Could 2008 be the year of the resurgence of the all-girl rock band? Could Toronto's Hunter Valentine be the new Runaways? The femme trio spent 2007 touring in support of their newest album, The Impatient Romantic, and even came down to New York to take part in last year's CMJ Festival. Now, the band is primed to make 2008 even better than 2007, and will make a return to the Big Apple.

After ringing in the New Year at home at the Tattoo Rock Parlour, and will continue to rock in to 2008 with a show at Arlene's Grocery in New York on January 16th. NYC's own A Brief Smile will kick off the night's festivities.

Say hello to Hunter Valentine, in the form of their video for "Staten Island Dream Tour"


Buy: The Impatient Romantic [Here]

New Release Tuesday

A New Year is rung in by none other than new release Tuesday here at Stranded In Stereo. But do we really need to talk much more about the album that has infiltrated the lives of most bloggers the past few months?

Radiohead finally drops that tangible version of some In Rainbows record today that you may or may not have read about or downloaded for a price in which you named yourself, somewhere between 0 and 9.99. XL dropped the album in their native UK yesterday, and the 'Head's own TBD imprint unleashes the record today with help from Dave Matthews' ATO.

The question is, with an enormous number of people obtaining the album back in October, and some dropping $81 for that fancypants discbox (some copies are still available if you want one of those,) will they drop the $10 or so to have a real copy? And if so, why would they? Most signs would point to the fact that they would be able to hear it in a sound quality better than the 160kbps the band made it available for on their website. I'll be buying it not just because of that, but more importantly because of the awesome packaging scheme the band has developed for this!



Take that, Beck!

With the new year, Radiohead held a webcast entitled Scotch Mist last night, which found them performing some of the cuts from In Rainbows, among other tomfoolery I'm sure (no pun intended.)

From last night/this morning, it's "Reckoner"


And as a bonus, if you didn't hear of the songs from CD2 of the discbox, my New Year's treat to you is easily the best jam on said disc.

Download: "Bangers 'N' Mash" [mp3] // [Buy Here]