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Doe announce new album, out this Fall on Topshelf Records

Topshelf Records and Big Scary Monsters are co-releasing London trio Doe’s second album, Grow into It, in September. That’s awesome. There’s a very orange-themed video for the first track here. That’s also awesome, especially if you like orange. You can pre-order Grow into It August 9th at bsmrocks.com and topshelfrecords.com. Waiting isn’t as awesome, but it’s good to practice patience sometimes. 

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Wanna see a new video from Long Neck?

Sure you do. You can watch it here, then you can pick up their album, Will This Do?, released earlier this year on Tiny Engines. 

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Subways On The Sun Sign with Spartan Records

The label is re-releasing the band's debut album The Honeymoon Stagecoach for free! Snag it here. And in other good news, their sophomore album Capsize is out this September! A new song off the upcoming release will be debuting on August 1st to coincide with the launch of pre-orders, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Lord Of The Rings The Return Of The King limited edition box sets announced

Do you collect vinyl? Love Lord of the Rings? Have the sort of expendable income that makes me jealous? Good news! The complete Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King recordings will be released on vinyl for the first time on September 21st as a 6-LP boxed set (for $135, which for what you’re getting is actually not bad, but still too much for my bank account). It’s housed in a collector's box with a green leather-style spine, the collection is limited to 8,000 individually numbered copies on green vinyl.

You can also find the first two collections from the trilogy on Amazon.

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Kevin Devine Streams cover of Now, Now’s "Prehistoric"

The song comes off of Devinyl Splits No. 8, the latest installment in Kevin Devine's Devinyl Split Series Vol. 2. This split, the obvious result of all my stars aligning, features Devine and fellow veteran songwriter David Bazan (Pedro The Lion) covering songs from Now, Now’s perfect album, Threads. You can stream Devin’s contribution to the split here, and Bazan’s here. 

Pre-order the EP over at Bad Timing Records.

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toe unveil new EP - Our Latest Number - via Topshelf Records

toe is fantastic and they’re putting out their new EP on a fantastic label, so pre-order it here. The band is also going to be out on the road in September, so check the dates below and purchase your tickets here.

TOUR DATES:

September 07, 2018 - Washington, DC, US @ Black Cat

September 08, 2018 - Brooklyn, NY, US @ Warsaw

September 09, 2018 - Philadelphia, PA, US @ Union Transfer

September 10, 2018 - Allston, MA, US @ Brighton Music Hall

September 12, 2018 - Toronto, ON, Canada @ Virgin Mobile Mod Club

September 13, 2018 - Chicago, IL, US @ Thalia Hall

September 14, 2018 - Minneapolis, MN, US @ Fine Line Music Cafe

September 17, 2018 - Seattle, WA, US @ The Crocodile

September 18, 2018 - Vancouver, BC, Canada @ The Imperial

September 19, 2018 - Portland, OR, US @ Wonder Ballroom

September 20, 2018 - San Francisco, CA, US @ Great American Music Hall

September 21, 2018 - Los Angeles, CA, US @ Regent Theater

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Spirit of the Beehive announce new song and album out Sept.

After releasing one of our favorite albums last year, Spirit of the Beehive has already returned with a new album! Hooray for us, and hooray for you--whether you’re a diehard fan or are just hearing of them for the first time.

The band's third full-length album, Hypnic Jerks, will be released by the lovely folks at Tiny Engines in September. You can pre-order the album here, and check out the first song on Stereogum. (You can/should peep their upcoming tour dates with Pile over there too)

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Dave Melillo - "You've Got Potential" The Unreleased LP Sessions

You may recognize Dave Melillo’s name from when he hit the scene in the early 2000's and released his debut EP, Talk Is Cheap via Drive-Thru Records. This batch of songs is being released for the first time after being recorded in 2005 and shelved. If you’re nostalgic for that decade-ago sound, revisit Melillo’s EP tonight and then pre-order the album Friday (7/27) at noon PST

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Can’t Swim’s Chris LoPorto talks touring and Cap’n Crunch

A major part of the band's story is that it was signed to Pure Noise before any major release or live show. How did that come about? Those must have been some pretty impressive demos to catch Pure Noise's attention.

I don’t think it’s as uncommon now than it was in let’s say the 80’s. The internet is a powerful tool and can really get your point across to a lot of people with out even stepping out of your bedroom. Pure Noise heard the songs and really got behind what we were trying to do. It was a blessing for sure.

Were you nervous about how your live performance be received when you first started playing for an audience?

Sure. I honestly didn’t think about it too much. The fact that the songs were being so well received on line made me feel very positive about the whole thing. I looked at playing live as more of a challenge than a fear.

You all noticed that to be able to do the songs on Fail You Again any justice live, you would need to make some addition to your members. How has that decision changed your live dynamic since?

Just another brain in the bunch to grab ideas from. Andrea has a lot to bring to the table from a sense of rhythm, melody, or even designs for the band. It has always felt like a family, now, just a larger one.

You founded the band to try his hand at songwriting, is that still the case? Or is it much more of a traditional band process at this point where everyone collaborates and you all construct the puzzle together? It’s certainly more collaborative. I still write all the lyrics and melodies. The strong structures. And then let everyone rip it apart and put it back together the Can’t Swim way. It’s a team effort for sure.

You're just about to start this run with Movements, Super Whatevr & Gleemer. How do you all feel about it? It's always a great feeling to see a number of shows sell out before you all even start the tour.

Yea, it’s very exciting. It’s really nice to see bands i personally enjoy doing well. I think it has a lot of dynamics and difference between the 4 bands and gives kids quite a show to enjoy. I’m very much looking forward to it.

Soon after that tour, you all almost immediately go into your tour with Chase Huglin and Choir Vandals. Then you head to Europe not long after that. Do you all love touring and are hardcore road dogs or does it start to feel more like work after some time?

This early on, it’s still kids in a candy shop. We haven’t been doing this long and we are dying to play and get back on the road once we are home. Ask me again in 5 years haha.

Can all of you swim? Sorry, I just had to ask.

I can’t. they can.

Is there anything else that you'd like people to know?

Cap’n Crunch’s full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch.

Interview by Daniel Romandia

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Andrew Low (the Jazz June) talks new project and shrugging off nerves and criticism

Uncle Hunter and the Buffalo is the Jazz June’s Andrew Low (Uncle Hunter) and Tim Holland (the Buffalo) in a folkier, dirtier light. Though the two have played together for nearly 20 years, the upcoming EP under this new moniker is a departure from what they created with the tunes that projected them to emo fame. Instead of scheduled studio time, the songs were recorded in Andrew’s living room in Walthamstow and in Tim’s apartment in Brooklyn.

Their debut EP will be released next month via Universal Warning Records, and you can stream a new song called “Fight” below. The first single, “Count Me Out,” can be found on the band’s site.

It’s been two years almost to the day since we spoke about “After the Earthquake.” Outside of music, what’s been going on in your life?

Well, the biggest thing is that my daughter Annie was born 16 months ago and is now my best buddy and taking up most of my thoughts and efforts. I also started a new job with the microphone company Shure, so time has been evenly split between work and home. I don’t actually need to sleep anymore because I have gotten used to the crazy sleepless schedule so I found time to write a few new songs in the twilight hours.

I’ve read the bio, but what do you think sets Uncle Hunter and the Buffalo apart from The Jazz June? Other than the fact it was recorded in your guys’ apartments instead of a studio.

The apartment studio recordings were more of a necessity than a choice. We would love to record at a studio but we are starting this thing on our own so we are the ones footing the bill. But that is the huge difference between this project and the Jazz June–everything is brand new and like starting from scratch, whereas the Jazz June has been around for over 20 years. Also, the process of writing a song with just one other person vs. four other people means that we have a lot more discussions about what we should and shouldn’t do between each other, rather than each person writing their individual parts. There are only two of us so we are able to use quieter acoustic instruments and key boards to a more noticeable effect without trying to blend them in with amplified guitars and a loud drum kit.

The songs I’ve heard have heard are far less polished, and a bit folkier—is that something you two were shooting for?

Bryan from the Jazz June has labeled it ‘freak folk,’ which I like. I mean, we didn’t sit down and say, “let’s write an unpolished folk album,” but the music we like, listen to and talk about is more along those lines (Neutral Milk Hotel, Bob Dylan etc.) And again, I don’t think we would ever describe ourselves as a folk band, but when I approach playing acoustic guitar I always seem to treat it as both an instrument that creates rhythm and percussion, so my strumming style is usually less rock and roll/4 on the floor/down stroked and more like a train going down a bumpy track, which is probably where you are feeling the folk influence from. It’s funny because I used to be in a totally electric punk band called wake up dead, and people used to tell me they heard a folk thing going on with the songs.

With regards to the production style, I have always been a big fan of Sebadoh albums like “Smash Your Head on The Punk Rock,” and love the sound of buzzing instruments and tape hiss. I actually prefer it to really quite and clean studio albums.

Even though you’ve been playing with Tim for almost 20 years, was the writing process any different for this EP?

Yes, definitely, because when I used to play with Tim in the Jazz June he would be one of five people standing in a rehearsal room playing a loud instrument over other loud instruments, so now our attention is focused much more on a few quiet instruments that we try to layer and weave in and out of the songs.

Last time we talked I asked if you were nervous about releasing new Jazz June material after more than a decade. Do you still feel any of those nerves now, like you have a reputation to uphold, or is this project a clean slate?

A little bit. I guess the anxious person inside of me thinks that I am going to put anyone who has ever listened to The Jazz June off forever if I put out a new album that they don’t like, but that is just good old paranoia kicking in. I use a small group of friends that I have had for many, many years as a sounding board for all my new music. If they like it and think I should put it out then I am 100 per cent sold and don’t really bother worrying about anyone else’s opinion.

Don’t get me wrong, I want everyone to like it, but my personal satisfaction comes from the people who get the style and references and creativity that I am trying to achieve. Plus, the Jazz June has had so many bad reviews over the years that I am totally immune to negative criticism. It was funny, just after “After the Earthquake” came out we received a one line message from a kid in Australia asking the question “why do you guys suck so bad now?” My point is that I can take the criticism so it is not as nerve wracking as it used to be.

Do you see this EP being a one-off thing, or do you think at this point in your life or career that it gives you some sort of satisfaction that the Jazz June maybe doesn’t?

Definitely not. We have already started working on new songs and converse about video, music, podcasts and other ideas almost every day. I have a back log of ideas on my phone that I need to send to Tim to work on, and he has three or four new ones for me to develop. I am going to do solo gigs in the UK and he is going to come over in April for some shows. We’ll probably do some U.S. shows when I am over in June.

Are you tired of all these Jazz June questions yet?

No, those guys are some of my favorite people in the world and I like having to think about them and the music we have been making for the past two decades.

Did writing for “After the Earthquake” spur you to write more? Or have some of these ideas been bouncing around for a while?

To be totally honest, some of these songs I had originally sent to the Jazz June guys for a follow up EP to “After the Earthquake,” but we are just not able to work on new music right now for various time and scheduling reasons. I have been pretty busy the past 16 months since my daughter was born and those guys all have at least two kids each, businesses to run and busy lives. We’ve had births and deaths, house moves and house fires, new jobs and lots of other things happen over the past two years. Tim visited London for two weeks last April and we just started recording some of them for fun, but once we got into the process it was going so well that we decided to try and see how we could work on them via email between Brooklyn and London.

Can you share some background about the song “Fight”? (STREAM THE NEW TRACK HERE)

"Fight" is a song that has had many incarnations. The lyrics are about being mad at yourself for being lazy. If it had been recorded with a band, I would have asked the drummer to steal the drum beat from the Archers of Loaf song "Web in Front," but I think Tim has selected just the right mix of instruments to suit the down tuned new mood of the song.

Lastly, what can you tell me about “Mutant Albino Radioactive Crocodiles”?

That was just a joke name for the EP. It is actually from a Werner Herzog documentary called “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” that I have not seen yet but heard him mention it on a podcast. Apparently, there are albino crocodiles that have been mutated by radiation from a nuclear plant in the movie. That is all I know. I just thought it was fucking weird and amazing combination of random words, and when you hear Werner say it in his accent it is even better. I must have listed that by accident on the MP3 I sent to you.

Interview by Alisha Kirby

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Single File:

Creative Adult 

“Heal”

Run For Cover

Creative Adult are back with a second single in the lead up to their highly anticipated new LP ‘Fear of Life.’ 

Following the already fantastic “Charged” comes the equally crisp “Heal.” Much like that first single, “Heal” finds the San Fran punks dulling the hardcore edges with a robust dose of buzzsaw guitars, rumbling lead bass, & slacked vocals culminating in a double down on abrasive Alt rock. 

This newfound penchant for straight ahead rock, with a brutalist edge, is doing Creative Adult all kinds of favors…..

Creative Adult’s new LP ‘Fear of Life’ drops 8/5 via Run For Cover Records…

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Now that everyone has had a few days with this album you can at least sort of sing along at any of these dates:

08.21 Los Angeles, CA @ Non Plus Ultra 08.22 Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge   08.23 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad 08.24 Denver, CO @ The Moon Room   08.25 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court 08.26 Boise, ID @ The Olympic 08.27 Seattle, WA @ The Black Lodge 08.28 Vancouver, BC @ 333 08.29 Portland, OR @ Black Water 08.30 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill (Record Release Show) 09.07 Adelaide, AUS @ Metro Hotel 09.08 Melbourne, AUS @ Prekender Party 09.10 Melbourne, AUS @ Weekender Fest 09.11 Melbourne, AUS @ Gasometer Hotel 09.13 Sydney, AUS @ Blackwire Records 09.15 Newcastle, AUS @ Hamilton Station Hotel 09.16 Brisbane, AUS @ The Brightside 09.17 Sydney, AUS @ I Love Life Fest 10.03 Belgium, Antwerp @ Kavka Tue 10.04 Netherlands, Amsterdam @ Winston 10.05 Germany, Cologne @ Blueshell 10.06 Germany, Berlin @ Cassiopaia 10.07 Germany, Nurnburg @ Desi 10.08 Austria Vienna @ Bach 10.09 Italy, Bologna @ Freakout Club 10.10 Switzerland, Zurich @ Dynamo 10.11 Germany, Wiesbaden @ Schlachthof. 10.12 France, Paris @ Mecanique Ondulatoire 10.13 UK, Brighton @ Green Door Store 10.14 UK, London @ Moth Club 10.15 UK, Cardiff @ Four Bars 10.16 UK, Glasgow @ Nice and Sleazy 10.17 UK, Manchester @ Star and Garter 10.18 UK, Leeds @ Brudenell Social Club 10.19 UK, Norwich @ Owl Santuary 10.20 UK, Nottingham @ Basement

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Get to know your cartridge:

Any other vinyl junkies or even just people interested in turntables and how they work may enjoy the latest U-turn Audio blog. It delves into how a cartridge works, why it’s so important to sound quality and what to look for when considering your next purchase. Plus, it’s written in dumbed down language for those of us who want to get technical, but not too technical.

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Wrap yr ears around this smoldering new single from Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) & Jesca Hoop. Let “Milky Way” b/w “Love Is A Stranger” soothe your weary ears.

Beam & Hoop’s European tour in support of album ‘Love Letter For Fire’ begins Aug. 28th in Edinburgh. Find details & Links via Subpop.com.

[Cover Image : @joshwool]

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WE’RE GOING ON A LONG TOUR BECAUSE IT’S FUN AND WE HAVE A NEW RECORD COMING OUT.

Listen to new songs HERE and HERE. Pre-order our new LP “AT THIS AGE” HERE. SEE YA OUT THERE Y’ALL!

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This has been a long time coming, but the 7" split with Colossal and Owen is finally seeing the light of day.

This is a one time pressing of 1,000(500 on red/500 on black) This is a brand new unreleased track from OWEN recorded specifically for this project. This is also the first new recording from Colossal in over 10 years. Pre-orders will ship first week of September. http://asianmanrecords.storenvy.com

and please share with friends. please please

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Check out Deer Leap performing an acoustic version of “Phoebe Weatherfield” from their new LP “Impermanence” for My Parent’s Basement Sessions.

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No Better premiere new music video, single and tour dates

No Better (not to be confused with Better Off) have a lot of news. In addition to their new EP ...forget me not coming out today via Ronald Records, the band is starting a short tour through California (and Portland). Check out the band’s new single and video by clicking the link above. If you like what you hear, you can buy the EP there too. And if you really like what you hear, make it out to a show in your area. Dates below:

08/05 - Pomona, CA @ VLHS 08/06 - Riverside, CA @ Clash City 08/07 - Santa Barbara, CA @ House Show 08/08 - Chico, CA @ 1078 Gallery 08/09 - Portland, OR @ TBA 08/10 - San Francisco, CA @ Honey Hive Gallery