It’s a beautiful thing when stars align.
And so, when it was first announced that Neko Case and Nick Cave — two of the most talented people making music today, period — were going to collaborate on a cover of The Zombies’ classic “She’s Not There” for the season premiere of HBO’s True Blood, we were more than a little excited. We thought we were going to have to wait until the June 26 premiere and/or steal cable to hear the song, but now the wait is over. Continue reading…
San Diego’s TV Girl made a national splash last year after releasing their Todd Rundgren-sampling song “If You Want It” on Bandamp. With its forlorn musings and bubblegum charm, the track had all the hallmarks of the digital millennium — seemingly spontaneous creativity, a new twist on something lame old, and what felt like fair use. Continue reading…
MP3: Nurses – “Fever Dreams” (from Dracula)
MP3: Nurses – “Technicolor” (from Apple’s Acre)
MP3: Nurses – “Caterpillar Playground” (from Apple’s Acre)
Portland band Nurses are back with their new album, Dracula (out September 20 in the U.S.), the follow-up to their 2009 homemade psych gem Apple’s Acre. While steeped in the strange pop brew that bore Apple’s Acre, Dracula shows a maturity and embodied depth that makes it the older brother to AA‘s younger sibling. Band member Aaron Chapman describes the change, “Apple’s Acre was more rooted in the fantastical, intangible, surreal. After making that record we became way more interested in the more physical aspects of life – solid, real things. Mainly the human form. Dancing and playing basketball. Beats. How rhythm speaks to the body. Dracula feels like it has more of a physical presence to us.” This corporeal sense is translated in the final product; it is bolder and heavier with deep grooves, funky bass lines and a focus on rhythm.
via Dead Oceans
Radiohead debuted a new song, titled “Staircase,†online today.
The track is taken from the group’s upcoming From The Basement session, produced by Nigel Godrich, which will be broadcast internationally July 1 via BBC Worldwide.
via Paste
Stream: Wild Flag – “Romance”
At long last, the debut album from Wild Flag has a release date.
Wild Flag are, of course, the supergroup comprised of Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney), Mary Timony (Helium), Rebecca Cole (The Minders) and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi). Until now, the band has only put out one recording, the “Future Crimes”/”Glass Tambourine” 7-inch released on Record Store Day. The 2-song single was a tantalizing calling card for the group’s full-length debut, and now we know when we’ll get to hear it. Continue reading…