NEW VIDEO FRIDAY

My Robot Friend - Robot High School


DOWNLOAD - My Robot Friend - Robot High School from the forthcoming album "Robot High School", due early 2008.

The Raveonettes - Dead Sound


"Lust Lust Lust", the new album from The Raveonettes is very, very good. The disc will be released early 2008 on Vice Records.

We Are Wolves - Magique


"Total Magique" is available now on Dare To Care Records.

The White Stripes - Conquest

LOVE IS ALL - "...Mixed Up"

My favorite new band of 2006, Love Is All, are on the verge of releasing their sophomore LP, due spring 2008. In the meantime we get a special remix album, perfectly titled "Love Is All...Mixed-Up". A collection comprised of remixes from their phenomenal debut "Nine Times That Same Song", the disc will include reworkings from an amazing group of artists, including Hot Chip, Optimo, Maps, Metronomy, The Bees, and Studio. The set will be released in the UK both physically and digitally, but the U.S. release is still up in the air.

GORILLAZ - "D-Sides" 63%

Reviewing a b-sides compilation album is not an easy task. First you have to take into consideration that the material was not recorded with the intention of being formed into a cohesive album. Secondly, you have to consider the recording as a companion piece to the album of which it was spawned from, in this case the 2005 blockbuster release “Demon Days”. And thirdly, you have to decipher whether the collection is at all necessary.

Damon Albarn is without a doubt one of the most prolific figures in modern music today. With word of a new Blur album on the way and the possibility of new material from The Good The Bad and The Queen in the near future, Albarn somehow still finds the time to release “D-Sides”, a splattering of Gorillaz outtakes, demos, sketches and b-sides (with an extra disc of remixes by DFA, Hot Chip and Soulwax, among others). And that is exactly what you have here. A few gems surrounded by some strange and experimental dabblings that don’t always add up.

Among the highlights are the opening track ‘68 State’, an atmospheric piece of ambient electronica that plays out like the score to a science fiction road trip through outer space. ‘People’, an early demo of ‘Dare’, succeeds by ultimately sounding very little like the huge hit that it evolved into. Another diamond in the rough here is the gorgeous ‘Hong Kong’, where Albarn croons woefully:

“The radio station disappeared
Music turned into thin air
The DJ was the last to leave
She had well-conditioned hair
Was beautiful but nothing really was there”

Not faring as well are the ill-fated ‘We Are Happy Landfill’, an agonizing track plagued by an overwrought vocal, and ‘Murdoc is God’, a left field noise-rock experiment gone awry. A few tracks are nice, but easily forgettable. ‘Hongkongaton’ and ‘Spitting Out Demons’ come off like unfinished sketches, resulting in something not unlike filler.

Despite the low points, the collection is not at all bad. These cartoon alter egos have fun at times, like on the silly new single ‘Rock It’, where Albarn sings “Stick it in your nose, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…” Things stay playful on the relatively bizarre and reggae-tinged ‘Bill Murray’ and on ‘The Swagga’, an experimental disco-rock stomp complete with jubilant Whoo!’s.

But certainly the most solid effort here is the gorgeous closing track ‘Stop the Dam’. Originally included on the ‘El Manana/Kids With Guns’ single, the song features the kooky stylings of Einar Örn (of The Sugarcubes). On the bittersweet outro, Albarn repeats, “The sun will shine again, the sun will shine again”, which hopefully refers to another glorious incarnation of Gorillaz in the future.

-by Scot Bowman
Originally published on Kevchino.com.

In Pop Diva News - Sally Shapiro, Robyn, Roisin Murphy

A new remix of Sally Shapiro's adorable 'Anorak Christmas' has arrived just in time for the holiday season. The 'Piano Mix' of 'Christmas' is starker than the sugar-sweet original, finding a stripped-down romanticism that almost makes the track a bit more personal and real. The original is still better, but this new take on a great song is still worth checking out. The album "Disco Romance" is available now.

DOWNLOAD - Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas (piano mix)

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Robyn has a new video for 'Be Mine', the fourth British single from the re-release of her self-titled album. The song had an earlier video for the Swedish release of the album back in 2005. It's actually far better and you can check it out here. The album will finally see its US release early next year.

Robyn - Be Mine (music video)


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Roisin Murphy is releasing the third single from her excellent new album "Overpowered". The Andy Cato (Groove Armada) remix of 'You Know Me Better' is available in limited edition format here. Roisin also recently performed on 'Later with Jools Holland'. The pre/post-accident??? appearance featured performances of 'Primitive' and 'You Know Me Better'. Check out the performance of the new single on Jools Holland below.

Roisin Murphy - You Know Me Better (live on Later with Jools Holland)

Save The Silent Barn!

-Bradford Cox & Karen O at Silent Barn

It was reported by Brooklyn Vegan today that The Silent Barn could be on the verge of shutting down as a result of a Con Edison bill. The Silent Barn is a house that serves as a DIY venue in Ridgewood, Queens, closely bordering my neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn. Many great shows have occured there in the past year or so, including Black Lips, Deerhunter (the one where Karen O got onstage), Dan Deacon, and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone.

If you live in Brooklyn (or Queens) it is crucial that you read the article over at Brooklyn Vegan.

In Shoegazer News - JESUS & MARY CHAIN, MY BLOODY VALENTINE

According to Billboard.com, Jesus & Mary Chain "...are now whittling down dozens of new songs to 12 or so for the new album." That 'new album', their first since 1998's "Munki", is tentatively set for a late spring 2008 release. Some tracks that could make the cut are 'All Things Must Pass', which they performed earlier this year on 'Late Night with David Letterman', and 'Dead End Kids', a track that was played live on their 2007 reunion tour. A label has yet to be selected to release the new album.

A new Jesus & Mary Chain 4-disc box set is expected to be released though Rhino Records in March. Kevin Oberlin, the manager of JAMC says of the collection, "There are some great finds -- demos of a couple songs, alternate takes and rare acoustic versions."


As previously reported, My Bloody Valentine are readying their first album in 16 years. It has just been announced that the set will be released digitally (ala Radiohead-style, though a price will be set) in 2008. A vinyl release is also being discussed.

**UPDATE** - The MBV album will not be released digitally and will be completely unlike the Radiohead approach with its release. Read more about this here.

SHOCKING PINKS - "self-titled" 76%

Nick Harte is no stranger to isolation. He grew up in New Zealand, a nation where it is said that the human population is outnumbered by sheep. But being the child of artists who went to school with post-punk band The Gordons, Harte was exposed to a wide variety of eclectic musical genres. And when his mother bought him the “Loveless” cassette by My Bloody Valentine, a whole new world had been opened up.

Shocking Pinks is the culmination of Harte’s deep love of post-punk and eighties teen nostalgia. In fact the name is apparently an ode to the film ‘Pretty in Pink’. After drumming for The Brunettes, Harte began recording on his own, turning out three modest albums. With the new self-titled album, he has essentially combined songs from his previous two records - “Mathematical Warfare” and “Infinity Land” (both released in 2005) - to create this impressive DFA Records debut. Written, performed and produced by Harte himself, this is an introspective post-modern record, full of raw angst and gentle vulnerability. And whereas the first Shocking Pinks album “Dance the Dance Electric” embodied more of a dance-punk sensibility, the latest has a decidedly intimate, fuzzed-out dream-pop tone about it.

The strength of the album lies heavily upon the stripped-down production style. On the tinny rocker ‘Blonde Haired Girl’, Harte croons in a distorted and ultra close-up monotone vox that sounds like he recorded it onto a cassette recorder, but somehow it’s as if he’s inside your head. On the instrumental track ‘Cutout’ a Peter Hook bass line dances around a driving beat and a gentle guitar refrain to create a gorgeous road song. The upfront single ‘End of the World’, without question one of the standout tracks here, relies on a simple new wave synth-pad that dangerously recalls heights previously reached by The Cure.

But more important than Harte’s eighties persuasion is the dark romanticism in his voice, which does a fine job of keeping a relatively sporadic album cohesive and real.

by Scot Bowman
Originally published on kevchino.com.

THE KILLS - 'URA Fever'

Alison Mosshart and James Hince, aka The Kills, are prepping their third album for release in March. The first track to emerge is the slow burner 'URA Fever'. The new album, which as far as I can tell doesn't have a title yet, will be released through Domino Records.

If The Kills have anything to say about it, 2008 is gonna be dirty, hot and sexy...

STREAM - The Kills - URA Fever

THE PRESETS - 'My People'

The Presets are back with a brand new single!! 'My People' will be released as a digital single and on vinyl December 18th via Modular. No word as to whether this is the precursor to a new album yet or not, but a video for the track is expected to be released soon. The Presets will be touring Australia with Daft Punk throughout December, though most dates are already sold out.

STREAM - The Presets - My People

Coachella Rumors...

As tipped by ProductShopNYC, you can now add Radiohead, The Verve and Spiritualized to the growing list of bands being heavily rumored to appear at Coachella 2008 April 25-27. Check out the post at PSNYC, which also includes their list of the 50 best albums of 1997.

Here are the strongest of the rumored acts so far:

Radiohead
My Bloody Valentine
The Verve
Portishead
Spiritualized

VAN SHE - 'Cat & the Eye'

After an immensely popular EP, Australian synth-rock sensations Van She have spent the last year hard at work on their full-fledged debut LP. And now the first glimpse of the forthcoming album has been let loose.

The new single 'Cat & the Eye' attempts to recapture the dizzying contagiousness of their previous hit 'Kelly'. Though milder than its predecessor, the track grows on you in that sort-of perfect pop kind of way. Judge for yourself. Check out the new video here.

The debut album should see a release via Modular early next year.

Van She - Cat & the Eye (music video)

SHIRLEY MANSON - Details of Solo Album Emerge

Shirley Manson's much anticipated debut solo album has been shrouded in secrecy for quite some time now. At one point, it was reported that Manson was working with both Jack White and Billy Corgan on the new record for a spring 2007 release, but nothing surfaced. Then "Tell Me Where It Hurts", a fairly bad new Garbage song was released over the summer, taken from the inevitable hits compilation "Absolute Garbage".

And just when I was about to close the door on Manson's future endeavors, new details have emerged about that solo album again! Well, actually it's just a tracklist. With new titles like ' Hot Shit' and 'Pissholes', maybe Manson is ready to rock. I really hope so. The album currently has no title or release date (Spring 2008 most likely) and the tracklist below is not in sequential order.

'Don't Want Anyone Hurt'
'Don't Want To Pretend'
'Gone Upside'
'Hot Shit'
'Kid Ourselves'
'Lighten Up'
'Little Dough'
'No Regrets'
'Pissholes'
'Pure Genius'
'So Shines A Good Deed'
'Spooky'
'Stop'
'Sweet Old World'
'The Desert'
'To Be King'

THE FIERY FURNACES - 'Navy Nurse'

The Fiery Furnaces have made a video for the excellent track 'Navy Nurse', from their latest album "Widow City". The song is a meandering rock epic that perfectly highlights the Furnaces' unique style. The video is like going on vacation with singer Eleanor Friedberger, a nice contrast to the chilly weather here in New York this weekend.

If you haven't yet listened to "Widow City", it is one of the band's better albums. It is available now on Thrill Jockey.

The Fiery Furnaces - Navy Nurse (music video)

Burial - "Untrue" 96%

If ever I have recommended an album, this is the one to listen in on...Burial's second album "Untrue" has just leapfrogged over the masses to find itself securely etched in my list of the best albums of the year. A throwback to early trip-hop and drum'n'bass, yet eerily dark, beautiful and haunting, "Untrue" gets it right on so many levels it's astonishing. The album embodies dirty scratches, passionate old soul vocals, and menacing synth-pads to enhance the overall tone, playing out like a homemade mix-tape to a scorned, unforgettable lover.

"Untrue" is available now on Hyperdub Records.

-Scot Bowman

The Sky Report Turns 1

A week ago today, The Sky Report had it's one year anniversary...and I forgot! But we got a great gift just in time for the occasion...a nomination for Best Music Blog at the Hey Nielson/Billboard.com Best Music Blog contest. The competition is incredibly stiff, so if you have a minute, please click the link and vote for The Sky Report.

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog. It has been very motivating to see that people actually read what I have to say about music.

Also, I'll be DJing on my laptop Thursdays in Bushwick (current or former stomping ground of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, White Rabbits, Amy Winehouse, Santogold) at the new Northeast Kingdom downstairs lounge. Every Thursday from 11-2...L Train to Jefferson...18 Wyckoff @ Troutman...if you live in NYC, come by and say hi.

And please take part in the Best Album of 2007 poll at the bottom of the scroll.

Thanks
Scot

Tuesday Throwback - MY BLOODY VALENTINE

In light of the news that My Bloody Valentine are reforming and will soon be releasing the follow-up to their classic 1991 LP "Loveless", let's take a look back at why the band are regarded on an almost Godlike level.

After a series of EP's in the eighties, MBV released the 'You Made Me Realise' EP in 1988, considered to be the band's breakthrough release. The title track was released as a single, garnering a heapload of acclaim for the shoegazer band from Ireland.

You Made Me Realise (1988)


A new single quickly followed. 'Feed Me With Your Kiss' was taken from the official debut LP "Isn't Anything", an album that solidified MBV as a strong force in the post-modern rock world of the late 80's.

Feed Me With Your Kiss (1988)


In 1991 My Bloody Valentine released "Loveless", an album that is now considered one of the best albums of the 90's and the greatest shoegazer set ever recorded. Endless bands and artists note "Loveless" as a major inspiration.

Only Shallow (1991)


To Here Knows When (1991)


Soon (1991)


Following the staggering critical success of "Loveless", the band's record deal dissolved and they went into near obscurity. Kevin Shields went on to join Primal Scream for the albums "XTRMNTR" and "Evil Heat" and Colm O'Ciosoig eventually joined Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions.

In 2003, Shields contributed new solo songs to Sofia Coppola's beloved film 'Lost in Translation', a move that brought My Bloody Valentine's music back into the spotlight.

Kevin Shields - City Girl (from Lost in Translation) (2003)


A new MBV album is expected in the next few months. The recording will be a combination of new stuff and collected unreleased material from the "Loveless" era.

New LADYTRON Album On the Way

Pitchfork reports that Ladytron have signed to Nettwerk Records and are currently in Paris, prepping their fourth LP, due for release in May 2008. Even more exciting, the article states that Ed Banger alumni Vicarious Bliss is producing the album. I'm all over that.

DOWNLOAD - Ladytron - All the Way (from The Witching Hour LP)

PJ HARVEY 'The Piano'

Here's the new DIY style video for 'The Piano', PJ Harvey's second single from the "White Chalk" album. The video is strange and doesn't feature Polly Jean at all, but it is kind of interesting...especially the shadows hovering at the edges of the frame.

Coachella Rumors...

Taking it all with a grain of salt of course, rumors surrounding the 2008 Coachella Music & Arts Festival have officially begun, with seminal shoegazer band My Bloody Valentine and groundbreaking 90's trip-hop act Portishead already widely speculated as having confirmed. It was recently announced that the festival will be held April 25-27 in Indio, California.

According to a recent article in Entertainment Weekly, My Bloody Valentine are definitely going to reunite at Coachella. And another recent article on thedailyswarm.com states that Portishead have indeed already confirmed. There is still a long way to go and the official line-up won't even be revealed until January or February, but other bands also currently being mentioned as rumored to appear are R.E.M., Death Cab For Cutie, The Screaming Trees, The White Stripes and Radiohead.

CSS Poised for a US Hit?

CSS may be on track to repeat Feist's recent success, which was propelled by lending her track '1,2,3,4' to a wildly popular Apple commercial. After her song appeared in the ad she hit the top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Now 'Music is My Hot, Hot Sex', a track from CSS' 2005 debut album, appears in the new iPod Touch commercial, currently in heavy rotation on US television. Last week the track debuted on Billboard's Pop 100 chart and is currently #24 on iTunes. It is not unlikely that the band may have a big hit on their hands, which would undoubtedly shoot them to a new level here in the States.

CSS are currently in Brazil, working on new songs for their forthcoming sophomore album before heading back out on the road in December for a special UK Christmas tour with Justice and Metronomy.

DEBORAH HARRY Kicks Off Solo Tour in NY

Deborah Harry, looking radiant as ever, took the stage at The Fillmore New York last night, beaming with charisma, as she launched into opening number 'I Can See Clearly'. The crowd of die-hard Debbie fans were great, singing along to many of the songs, including new tracks from her latest album "Necessary Evil". The setlist had many highlights, I only wish it didn't get loaded down with so many new songs in the second half. Highlights for me were definitely the opening number, as well as old gems like 'Rush Rush', 'The Jam Was Moving' and 'French Kissing'. Amazingly, Debbie touched on every one of her five solo albums and did sing-a-long acoustic versions of Blondie hits 'The Tide is High' and 'Heart of Glass'.

Unfortunately, the venue took my camera away, so no pics, but you can see some photos from the show here.

Fillmore New York setlist:

I Can See Clearly
Necessary Evil
Jam Was Moving
Two Times Blue
If I Had You
French Kissing
Rain
The Tide Is High
Heart of Glass
Lovelight
School for Scandal
Rush Rush
Love With a Vengeance
In the Heat of the Moment (w/ Nomi))
What Is Love
White Out
You're Too Hot
-encore:
Charm Alarm (w/ Miss Guy)

CAT POWER - "Jukebox" (Updated Again!)

Things change. That's life. But sometimes it's for the better. Matador has just re-released the tracklist for Cat Power's forthcoming covers record "Jukebox". No more 'Fortunate Son', but we do get a bonus CD, with covers of Patsy Cline, Roberta Flack, and Nick Cave. As well, the reassembled original disc will now close out with a cover of Joni Mitchell's 'Blue'. The album will be released January 22, 2008.

The times they are a changin', but for the better.

Jukebox tracklist (updated):

01 New York (Frank Sinatra)
02 Ramblin' (Wo)man (Hank Williams)
03 Metal Heart (Cat Power)
04 Silver Stallion (The Highwaymen)
05 Aretha, Sing One For Me (George Jackson)
06 Lost Someone (James Brown)
07 Lord, Help the Poor and Needy (Jessie Mae Hemphill)
08 I Believe in You (Bob Dylan)
09 Song to Bobby (Cat Power)
10 Don't Explain (Billie Holiday)
11 Woman Left Lonely (Janis Joplin)
12 Blue (Joni Mitchell)

Bonus:

01 I Feel (Hot Boys)
02 Naked If I Want To (Moby Grape)
03 Breathless (Nick Cave)
04 Angelitos Negros (Roberta Flack)
05 She's Got You (Patsy Cline)

-Scot Bowman

LOU RHODES - 'The Rain'

Lou Rhodes, the lead singer of Lamb, recently released her second solo album "Bloom". Her first solo effort, "Beloved One" was nominated for the Mercrury Music Prize last year, and her latest effort is possbly even better. I may be biased, as Lamb is one of my favorite trip-hop acts of all time. Lou solo is a slightly different affair, but her unique, honest voice remains. The first single, 'The Rain', comes accompanied with a stellar video, check it out here.

STREAM - Lou Rhodes - The Rain

Lou Rhodes - The Rain (music video)


-Scot Bowman

SHOCKING PINKS - 'End of the World'

Shocking Pinks is essentially New Zealand bred Nick Harte and his debut DFA release, simply titled Shocking Pinks, is well worth checking out. Aching vocals reminiscent of Elliott Smith, accompanied by a raw synth-rock sound, slowly draw you in. Repeated listens are essential, but the rewards are worth it. The album is basically two earlier albums compiled into one long disc, with the rougher stuff (good rough) saved for the second half. The current single, and standout track 'End of the World' utilizes a very simple, yet effective synth-pad. Check out the video...

DFA can do no wrong.

Shocking Pinks - End of the World (music video)

MGMT - "Oracular Spectacular" 87%

The duo that comprise the origins of MGMT (formerly The Management and now a trio), are Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. The pair met while undergraduates at Wesleyan University and have since relocated to Brooklyn, signed to Columbia Records, and now find themselves opening for electro-glam gods Of Montreal. The future is bright for sure, but these guys seem almost afraid of it, haunted by the yellow-tinged innocent days of the past.

With its knees deep in experimentation, MGMT’s full-length debut “Oracular Spectacular” is, ironically, a hook-heavy and beautifully precise psychedelic-pop album that stands out as one of the best of the year. Produced by Dave Fridmann, the man responsible for the otherworldly, expansive production on records by The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev, the album is both an uplifting and nostalgic disc about a generation at odds with the blistering pace of the world and the widespread uncertainty of the future.

‘Time to Pretend’, the album’s opening track, is an instantly catchy anthem about rock ‘n’ roll dreams of excess and hedonism as a means to avoid the mundane everyman life. Just when you think to dismiss the song as pretentious with its ruminations of moving to Paris, marrying models and doing heroin, the concept is suddenly juxtaposed by grainy images of an innocent youth and the song, in turn, becomes more about how to rise above the harmful entrapments of, well, the glamorous life.


On ‘The Youth’, the vocal begins with “This is a call to arms to live and love and sleep together, we could flood the streets with love, with light, with heat, whatever”. MGMT are inspired by fragments of a time that precede their young existence, a fascination that is apparent on virtually every track on the album. The inevitable extraction of ‘youth’ seems almost an obsession. “The youth is starting to change, our youth is starting to change…are you together, together, together…?” The complications of becoming an adult and the fears associated with such are a running theme here, superbly elevating the album to great heights. And while this may not seem like the most complex idea for a ‘concept album’, these guys sell it well, utilizing honest lyrics and a vast number of sonic influences ranging from electro-new wave (‘Kids’) and falsetto-laden disco funk (‘Electric Feet’) to 70’s progressive rock (4th Dimensional Transitional’ and ‘The Handshake’).

Again the past is pondered and deconstructed on ‘Pieces of What’, easily the heart of the album and the closest thing here to a ballad. Clocking in at well under three minutes and perfectly placed on the second half of the disc, the track conjures an aching nostalgia… “Buried by all of the pieces falling from the sky…but pieces of what? Pieces of what we used to call home”.


The final track ‘Future Reflections’ vibrantly flashes forward to a distant, fantastical time – an uplifting dream of a more existential and better time to come. Images of primitive Greek islands, streets missing buildings and the overall feeling of spirits leaving serve as a metaphor for overcoming fear in general. “As long as you feel it, I’m a believer, my heart is faster”.

Ultimately, it seems that MGMT are not unlike the rebel kids of the sixties. At once eager to confront the issues of now, while somehow remaining optimistic, longing for that golden time of peace somewhere down the line. The final lyric sums things up nicely…“To be alone, sitting in the sunlight…we’re not alone…”

-Originally published on kevchino.com.

HOLY HAIL - 'Cool Town Rock'

Holy Hail are exciting me more and more with every release. They first grabbed my attention about a year ago with the track 'Dig My Grave with the Songs I've Sung', then last April with the awesome 'Born of Star'. Now, their new single 'Cool Town Rock' has me reeling. A catchy synth-pop jam, with a killer video to accompany it. These guys are on their way to something really great...like The B-52's of the modern generation.

Holy Hail are currently touring Europe with Bonde Do Role, and will be sharing one-off dates with Crystal Castles and CSS in December.

The new single is out November 26th on Adventures Close To Home.

Check out more tracks like 'Big Guns' over at their Myspace page.

Holy Hail tour dates:

23 Oct - Kagelbanam, Stockholm
24 Oct - Pusterviksearen, Gothenburg
26 Oct - Debaser, Malmo
26 Oct - Little Vega, Copenhagen
31 Oct - Paradiso, Amsterdam
2 Nov - Petrol, Antwerp
3 Nov - Kaiserkellar, Hamburg
4 Nov - Gebaude 9, Cologne
5 Nov - The Magnet, Berlin
9 Nov - Ubu Club, Rennes
10 Nov - Grand Mix, Lille
12 Nov - Moby Dick, Madrid
13 Nov - La 2 De Apollo, Barcelona
15 Nov - The Plug, Sheffield
16 Nov - The Arches, Glasgow
17 Nov - Kill Em All @ Junction, Cambridge
20 Nov - The Thekla, Bristol
21 Nov - Concorde 2, Brighton
22 Nov - Scala, London
24 Nov - Crawdaddy, Dublin
26 Nov - Bar Academy, Birmingham
27 Nov - Stealth, Nottingham

GRIZZLY BEAR - "Friend"

Today Grizzly Bear are releasing "Friend", an EP of "new, reworked, and re-recorded material (including covers and collaborations)". To be more specific, here you'll find the band's takes on classics like The Crystals' 'He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)', covers of Grizzly Bear by CSS, Band of Horses, and Atlas Sound, as well as collaborations with Dirty Projectors and Zach Condon (of Beirut).

Unfortunately, Grizzly Bear's appearance on Conan O'Brien tonight has been cancelled due to the Writer's Guild strike, but the band will be doing a free show at the Virgin Megastore (Union Square) on Wednesday. Grizzly Bear will take the stage in the cafe at 7:00 pm, but it is a good idea to get there early.

"Friend" tracklist:

01 Alligator (Choir Version) (w/ Zach Condon and Dirty Projectors)
02 He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)
03 Little Brother (Electric)
04 Shift (Alternate Version)
05 Plans (Terrible vs. Nonhorse: Sounds Edit)
06 Granny Diner
07 Knife (CSS)
08 Plans (Band of Horses)
09 Knife (Atlas Sound)
10 Deep Blue Sea (Daniel Rossen Home Recording)

THE TEENAGERS - 'Starlett Johansson'

The Teenagers' debut full length is tentatively set for a February 2008 release, via Merok/XL. And for those of us who have been dying to see these French hipsters live on this side of the Atlantic, they'll be touching down in January for a brief tour - LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, New York and Philadelphia, to be exact. In the meantime, enjoy the video for the new single 'Starlett Johansson'.

The Teenagers - Starlett Johansson (music video)


The Teenagers N. American tour 2008:

22 Jan 2008 The Echo, Los Angeles
23 Jan 2008 Spaceland, Los Angeles
24 Jan 2008 Pop Scene @ 330 Ritch, San Francisco
26 Jan 2008 Sonotheque, Chicago
27 Jan 2008 The Social, Toronto
30 Jan 2008 The Mercury Lounge, NYC
31 Jan 2008 Hiro Ballroom, NYC
1 Feb 2008 Making Time @ Pure, Philadelphia
2 Feb 2008 Studio B, Brooklyn

NEW VIDEO FRIDAY

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights


Panda Bear - Comfy in Nautica


Liars - Houseclouds


Holy Hail - Cool Town Rock


The Softlightes - The Microwave Song


Black Dice - Kokomo

THE B-52'S Played Roseland Ballroom

The B-52's looked and sounded fantastic at the Roseland Ballroom last night. The crowd was extremely energetic and most were dressed up for Halloween. What a fun night!


The band premiered about six new songs from their forthcoming album "Funplex", including the title song, 'Pump', 'Juliet of the Spirits', 'Keep This Party Going', and 'Love in the Year 3000'.


Highlights from the set were the the opening number 'Party Out of Bounds', which was followed by a killer version of 'Mesopotamia', as well as 'Strobe Light', 'Roam', 'Give Me Back My Man' and 'Planet Claire'. And of course the place turned into an all out dance masquerade for their biggest hits 'Private Idaho', 'Love Shack', and 'Rock Lobster'.


Unfortunately we missed The Rapture, who opened the show. I heard they were great, but I've also seen them many times before.

-photos by Derek Morris