As I was sitting at my desk listening to Asobi Seksu’s forthcoming album, it sort of dawned on me that this was indeed their fourth album since 2004. Just sort of amazing to think that time has gone by so quickly, as it feels as if I just discovered them yesterday.
Anyways, yes, Fluorescence is the the new album which is due out on Valentine’s Day in the UK, followed by a US release the next day. While the group has never really been able to shake that Shoegaze stigma that has followed them since day one, listening to the majority of the new record that things have not changed and that is perfectly fine. It’s one of those instances where that old saying comes into play, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While it would be great to see the group branch out a little bit more, there are occasions where a band ultimately becomes defined by their sound, and if they happen to deviate from that even in the slightest, it can come as more of a hindrance than anything else.
Well, there was the mysterious track leak, and now there appear to be rumors floating that Monday Radiohead will release a digital EP called Wall of Ice… check out the rumor mill here and here. I think these guys deserve honorary PhDs in making the internet geek out. And, if you didn’t hear “These are my Twisted Words,” I’m posting it below…
As I’m sure you’ve read on the TYS Twitter, PJ is in the midst of moving right now. So I’m here to pick up on his (and my own…mostly my own) slack. I’ve spent the week going through ‘09 releases that I’ve picked up since I’m reading everyone’s lists from half way through the year to get a better grasp on what would make my own list. I’ve made a few discoveries, weathered a few disappointments, but one album that has grabbed my attention since soon after its April 1st release and then kept it was Impossible Hair’s What Is the Secret of Impossible Hair?
As much as I love how many of these well-known bands are beginning to provide free songs to download from upcoming releases, the actual process to acquire said song is completely unwarranted as far as I’m concerned. Besides bullshitting most of the information it usually asks for (fake name/address? check.), I even have an email account that I specifically created for this kind of nonsense.
This time around the free download comes courtesy of the boys from Air, who recently announced their new album titled Love 2, which is set to be released on October 6 on Astralwerks.
![Broken_Records2[1]](http://theyellowstereo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Broken_Records21.jpg)
There’s something about a Scottish accent that allows a singer to be as emotionally ragged as he wants without crossing over into dreaded ‘emo’ territory. Broken Records will probably remind some of the Twilight Sad in this respect, as both vocalists tend to sing with an emotional intensity that goes straight for the heart.
The first time I heard Fruit Bats was a few years ago through Cable & Tweed; a song called “The Earthquake of ‘73? from their 2005’s Spelled in Bones. So in a sense, it only seems fitting that I find this new song through C&T once again. I ended up listening to that album constantly for a couple of months afterwards, and a couple of years passed without kind of updates on any new material.
As you may have noticed, along with the lack of posts going on around here, the Graboid has seemingly disappeared as well the past couple of weeks. To catch everyone back up to speed, I’ve decided to post the album releases from the past few weeks that we’ve missed along with everything from this week. I’m sure I may have missed some releases, but I think I’ve covered most of the important stuff for the most part. As usual, let us know what album(s) you’ve been excited about and if we managed to forget anything!
Completely missed out on the opportunity to be on the early giveaway of “Footsteps” the new single from London’s Pocketbooks earlier in the month. The single has now been released as of yesterday via iTunes, but I can still give it a mention here at least. It’s a lovely toe-tapping indiepop song from the band’s debut Flight Paths which will be released on the London label How Does It Feel To Be Loved? which, by the way, is the best label name I’ve ever heard. Exaggerating of course, but it’s still wonderful!
When it comes to indie pop, I hear so much about Sweden that often I forget about some of the other frozen lands to the North. Anderson’s latest album, It Runs in the Family, just put the Netherlands on my map. The album has a very loose concept where each song is about a different member of the Benson family spread all around the world, but it never feels high-concept or weighted down by the concept. It’s more like an album where each song is about a different character. And the music? Well, it makes me think of what a collaboration with Loney, Dear being produced by the Postal Service and the Notwist.
Those lovely Leeds-lads of The Lodger are set to release a brand new 7? EP titled I Think I Need You via Elefant Records on June 22nd. It’s sure to build upon the jangly English guitar pop goodness of last year’s Life is Sweet, which was released on the mighty Slumberland Records.
Photos from a recent FOE gig - a friend of our friends Hold Your Horse Is - she’s gonna be big!!! Read the gig review after the jump.
Shots of North Carolina’s folk-rocking Avett Brothers’ stop in Glasgow - 22.08.11
Read the review of the gig here.
Take a look at the acts and art on offer at this year’s Latitude Festival in Suffolk. Included are the likes of Fight Like Apes, Lykke Li, Sea of Bees and Seasick Steve. Photos from our own...
Good time with Bad Guys. Photos from the May 29th gig at the Old Blue Last. Read the review by the Bad Guy himself, Stuart London after the jump.
Artrocker.com exclusive: for fans of White Lies and Crocodiles we’ve got some fresh pictures from their UK show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire earlier this month, courtesy of Alessandro...
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