Jack White & Brendan Benson's new band: The Raconteurs

Stereogum has some info about and a downloadable tune from this highly-anticipated collab. between Detriot natives Jack White and Brendan Benson. You Aint No Picasso has got another track. For all you mathematics majors--that's both of the tracks from their limited edition 7" single released today in the UK/Europe. The same limited edition single will be released 3/7/06 in North America. Their debut full-length album Broken Boy Soldiers will be released 05/2006.

The band has a fab new retro-styled website as well: theraconteurs.com.

You know you're interested:
Link to Stereogum's post | Link to You Aint No Picasso's post



Posted by: Matt

Robert Pollard - From a Compound Eye

On Tuesday, former Guided By Voices frontman Bob Pollard released his first major solo release since GBV's final tour. The 26 tracks on From a Compound Eye vary greatly in quality from fully realized studio tracks to crappy "demos" seemingly made on a 4 track. But, this is certainly not a surprise. As any GBV fan knows, Bob has always been hyper-prolific (way before the 'P' word became inextricably linked to Ryan Adams) and his records usually contain a few pop gems scattered among the weaker material. From a Compound Eye is no different. "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men" is one of catchier tunes Pollard has ever released and almost single-handedly makes the album worth owning. My other early favorites include "Love is Stronger Than Witchcraft", "Light Show", and "Blessed in an Open Head".

Robert Pollard tour dates:

01.28.2006 * Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
02.09.2006 * Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
02.10.2006 * Columbus, OH @ Little Brothers
02.11.2006 * Newport, KY @ Southgate House (I'll be there)
02.24.2006 * Los Angeles, CA @ The Knitting Factory
02.25.2006 * San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
02.27.2006 * Portland , OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
02.28.2006 * Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Cafe
03.30.2006 * Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
03.31.2006 * Chicago , IL @ Metro
04.01.2006 * Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews
04.20.2006 * New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
04.21.2006 * Boston, MA @ Paradise
04.22.2006 * Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts


Tunes:

Robert Pollard - "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men"

Robert Pollard - "Love is Stronger than Witchcraft"

Robert Pollard - "Blessed in an Open Head"


Buy From a Compound Eye here.



Posted by: Matt

The Plastic Constellations - Crusades

The Plastic Constellations released their third album, Crusades, on Tuesday. The Minnesota natives formed when they were all only 14 years old and they are already 10 year veterans of the indie-rock scene. This album is their first release on Frechkiss Records (Les Savy Fav, The Hold Steady, Thunderbirds are Now!) and upon a cursory listen, Crusades is a large improvement over their last effort, 2004's Mazatlan. The album features 10 songs and clocks in at just 35 minutes. Following the 7 seconds of distorted guitar sustain that opens the album, the guitars and drums explode--from this point on, the tempo rarely slows and the band propels forward at nearly break-neck speed throughout. The band plays a technically and musically impressive brand of post-punk with a powerful rhythmic intensity and strong vocal melodies.


Read Pitchfork's review of the album. (7.8)

Read AP's review of the album. (4 out of 5)


Tunes:

The Plastic Constellations - "Phoenix and the Faultline"

The Plastic Constellations - "Iron City Jungles"

The Plastic Constellations - "Sancho Panza" (right click, "save target as")


Buy Crusades here.



Posted by: Matt

Rilo Kiley Showdown: Jenny Lewis vs. The Elected

Rilo Kiley's two principle members both released albums today. RK's front woman Jenny Lewis released her debut solo album Rabbit Fur Coat and The Elected, fronted by RK's guitarist/co-songwriter Blake Sennett, released their second album Sun, Sun, Sun. It seems that Jenny Lewis has been getting more love from the blogs and has been getting better reviews (with the exception of Pitchfork)...is there a clear winner already? Which do you guys prefer? I haven't listened to either enough to form a preference quite yet.

Read what critics have said about Rabbit Fur Coat: Here.

Read what critics have said about Sun, Sun, Sun: Here.


Tunes:

Perhaps for a limited time only, you can download Jenny Lewis' Rabbit Fur Coat in its entirety via Team Love's webpage: HERE.

I personally recommend "Melt Your Heart", "Rise Up With Fists!" (vaguely reminds me of Lucinda Williams), & "The Big Guns".
*If these songs are removed, I'll try to post a couple highlights from the album*

*Update: Track 9 "Handle With Care" seems to be the only track you cannot download from this link. EDIT: This track is a Traveling Wilbury's cover and this is the most likely reason for this.
Jenny Lewis f. Ben Gibbard, M. Ward, & Connor Oberst - "Handle With Care"

Traveling Wilburys - "Handle With Care"



The Elected - "Not Going Home". (right click, "save target as")

M3 Online has 3 other tracks from Sun, Sun, Sun available: Here.



Posted by: Matt

Ester Drang - Rocinate

Ester Drang's third full-length album, Rocinate, was released today on Jade Tree Records. The trio hails from Oklahoma and features vocalist Bryce Chambers, James McAlister (percussion), and Jeff Shoop (guitar). McAlister and Shoop took time out while recording the new album to serve as backing musicians on an album you may or may not be familiar with-- Sufjan Steven's Illinois. Below I have posted two tracks from the album that I really enjoy.


Tunes: (right click, "save target as" for both tracks)

Ester Drang - "Come Back Alive" *recommended*

Ester Drang - "Valencias Dying Dream"


Here's what some members of the press have said about Ester Drang:

"Blending an etheral space-like ambience with lush, layered guitars" -Rolling Stone.com

"Get with this multi-layered Oklahoma act before Zach Braff decides to put
them on the soundtrack to Garden State II: Fully Lodi" -Sync

"Moody shoegazer symphonies rendered with guitars, pianos, samplers, synths,
drums, mini discs and various percussion instruments" -AP


Ester Drang on MySpace
Ester Drang's Website



Posted by: Matt

Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On" (John McEntire Remix vs. Original)

In a review of the two "EPs" (singles) from Gimme Fiction, David Raposa made the following assertion: "Thankfully, the six minutes of lead-footed boom-bap on the remix more than makes up for the other track's ("Sunday Morning Wednesday Night") shortcomings. I dare say that McEntire's "Camera" is an improvement on the official version, but I prefer my disco moves to be opulent and gaudy; mileage will undoubtedly vary." While I like the remix fairly well, I have to say I vastly prefer the original. What do you guys think?

The remix appears on the "Sister Jack" single released in late November; the original is from Spoon's great 2005 album Gimme Fiction.

Tunes:

Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On" (John McEntire Remix)

Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On"



Buy the single here.

Buy the album here.



Posted by: Matt

Top 65 Music Videos of 2005

M3 Online posted their top 65 videos of 2005 on Tuesday. Strong recommendations that come complete with download links. (but many are currently unavailable because of problems with hosting service ezarchive) Videos include selections from Sigur Ros, White Stripes, Pinback, LCD Soundsystem, Stars, obviously many more.

View these picks: Here.

Franz Ferdinand - "Do You Want To?" (Max Tundra Remix)

Yesterday, P'fork gave this track a rare 5 star rating.

"Unlike a lot of genre-translating remixers, Max Tundra doesn't pretend there was dance music hidden in the original-- just over-the-top sugar-rush pop. One bit feels like someone playing Nintendo for an arena of cheering fans, another throws up a flurry of flickering funk-lite synths, and the whole thing matches the song so perfectly that this is now the version that gets stuck in my head." -Nitsuh Abebe

Read the entire review: Here.


Tune:
Franz Ferdinand - "Do You Want To? (Max Tundra Remix)"