Noise pop 2010

NOISE POP 2010 New Artist Additions Announced;

YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BAND (with Cornelius, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon), The Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative performance, !!!, Harlem, Deerhoof, Memory Tapes, The Fresh and Onlys, Scout Niblett, Far (Reunion Show), The Mumlers, P.E.E (Reunion Show), Mirah, Laura Gibson, Nico Vega, Japanese Motors, Princeton, Free Energy, The Growlers, Nurses, Magic Wands, The Lonely Forest, The Hot Toddies, Tempo No Tempo, Judgement Day

Already Confirmed: Magnetic Fields, Mark Kozelek, Rogue Wave, Atlas Sound, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Four Tet, John Vanderslice, Wallpaper, Zee Avi, The Limousines, We Were Promised Jet Packs & Foreign Born

Claudia Gonson (Magnetic Fields) to be Keynote Speaker at Industry Noise

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Brian Jonestown Massacre

“Nothing short of brilliant.” – FILTER

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE RETURNS WITH WHO KILLED SGT. PEPPER?

** Band’s Tenth Album Set for Release on February 23^rd **

New York, NY, January 6 – The Brian Jonestown Massacre is back and set to release their tenth studio album, Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? on February 23^rd. The 13-track album was recorded throughout 2009 in Iceland and Berlin and features Spaceman 3 legend Will Carruthers on bass, vocalist Unnur Andrea Einarsdottir and a variety of international musicians contributing textures not previously heard on a BJM album. It is to be released on bandleader Anton Newcombe’s own label, “a recordings LTD”, distributed though Red Eye.

The album marks the return of guitarist/vocalist Matt Hollywood, an original member/co-founder of the band who helped write some of the BJM’s classic material from their early albums (Strung Out In Heaven, Their Satanic Majesties Second Request, Take It From The Man, Spacegirl & Other Oddities, Give It Back) as well as penning the infamous dig at the Dandy Warhols, “Not If You Were The Last Dandy on Earth”.

Track list for Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?:

1. Tempo 116.7 (Reaching For Dangerous Levels Of Sobriety)
2. Tunger Hnifur
3. Lets Go Fucking Mental
4. White Music
5. This Is The First Of Your Last Warning (Icelandic)
6. This Is The One Thing We Did Not Want To Have Happen
7. The One
8. Someplace Else Unknown
9. Dekta! Dekta! Dekta!
10. Super Fucked
11. Our Time
12. Feel It
13. Felt Tipped Pictures Of Ufos

About the band:

Most need no introduction to The Brian Jonestown Massacre. BJM has been somewhat of a musical commune for many respected musicians over the years, a band that has spun-off other great bands ever since -- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Warlocks, The Silver Rockets, The Black Angels, The Raveonettes, The Dilettantes (to name a few) are all part of this musical family tree.

Indeed, this is a band that has witnessed many incarnations, since its inception in San Francisco over 15 years ago. Two dozen band members later and numerous “ups and downs” (some have been famously sensationalized in the media,) the one thing that has always remained consistent for this psychedelic collective is front man Mr. Anton Alfred Newcombe. A man and artist many are eager to dismiss as obnoxious and unworthy of the attention he receives. Others however, deem him simply as vulnerable in this world he roams and hugely misunderstood whilst doing so. Like many prolific and artistic “madmen” before his and our time, dare we sum all of the above and categorize Newcombe as a one of the musical geniuses of our time?

Resources:

http://www.myspace.com/brianjonestownmassacre

http://www.brianjonestownmassacre.com/

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Live shows

The Dead Weather



Public Enemy



Wolfmother



Bat For Lashes



The Horrors

All photos by Angel Ceballos Read more / Permalink

Some highlights from last year

Peaches



Daniel Johnston



Caroline Weeks



Warpaint



The Slits

All photos by Angel Ceballos Read more / Permalink

Lights

Lights (Drag City) Announce Winter 2010 US Tour

http://www.myspace.com/lightsmakemusic

Lights are known for their raucous wild live shows that swirl with soft colors and night shapes brought to you by Sophia Knapp, Linnea Vedder and Alana Amram. Once you’ve started spinning their new record, Rites (Drag City), you’ll understand the feeling. Any band that mutates the powers of Jimi Hendrix, unicorns, Stevie Nicks, glowsticks, Prince, Indians and cowboys,Yoko Ono, red wine, Jem and Beyonce into their own smoothly flowing sound, they’re acting from the heart. They were born in rhythm, chanting their message — but with every live show Lights are passing into a more encompassing sense of what their music can be, a collage of the old and the new, where the American East meets the American West in a sexy fairytale world of magic, mirrors and white light.

1/22/2010 Austin,TX @ Mohawk

1/23/2010 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon

1/27/2010 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

1/28/2010 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's

1/30/2010 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory

1/31/2010 Boston, MA @ T.T. The Bear's

2/1/2010 Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab

2/2/2010 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern

2/3/2010 Columbus, OH @ The Summit

2/4/2010 Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle

2/5/2010 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar

2/6/2010 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot

2/8/2010 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive

2/9/2010 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge

2/12/2010 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge

2/14/2010 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent

2/20/2010 Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater

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Warpaint

Warpaint Debut "Elephants" video on FADER, Tour With Akron/Family, and record first LP for Rough Trade
"Exquisite Corpse" out now

Elephants video premiere (via FADER)

MP3: Billie Holiday
MP3: Elephants



Recently signed to Rough Trade, LA's Warpaint are in the studio recording their first LP with producer Tom Biller who has produced Beck, Karen O, and Liars. They have also solidified their line-up with new drummer, Stella Mozgawa. They premiere their new video for "Elephants" today (via FADER) directed by Bruce Muller. The video was shot with the song sped up and then the visuals slowed down to match the songs original tempo to a dramatic effect. You can catch the band on tour with Akron/Family this February across the US.

TOUR DATES


Feb 5 2010 NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM w/ Yeasayer Los Angeles, CA

Feb 17 2010 ARTISTIKA NIGHTCLUB w/ Akron/Family Greensboro, NC
Feb 18 2010 40 WATT CLUB w/ Akron/Family Athens, GA
Feb 19 2010 BACKBOOTH w/ Akron/Family Orlando, FL
Feb 20 2010 CLUB DOWNUNDER w/ Akron/Family Tallahassee, FL
Feb 21 2010 ONE EYED JACKS w/ Akron/Family New Orleans, LA
Feb 23 2010 WALTER'S ON WASHINGTON w/ Akron/Family Houston, TX
Feb 24 2010 THE PARISH w/ Akron/Family Austin, TX
Feb 25 2010 GRANADA THEATER w/ Akron/Family Dallas, TX
Feb 26 2010 HI-TONE CAFE w/ Akron/Family Memphis, TN
Feb 27 2010 EXIT/IN w/ Akron/Family Nashville, TN
Feb 28 2010 PILOT LIGHT w/ Akron/Family Knoxville, TN
Mar 3 2010 MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG w/ Akron/Family Brooklyn, NY

Warpaint "Exquisite Corpse" EP/12" (Manimal Vinyl) LA's Warpaint weaves majestic guitars, hypnotic vocals, and driving post-punk rhythms into gorgeous, sprawling songs that skirt the line between the soundscapes of psychedelia/shoegaze, the haunting intimacy of folk, and rock's primal heaviness. At the core of the band are Emily Kokal, Theresa Wayman and Jenny Lee Lindberg. In early 2009, their self-released debut EP Exquisite Corpse soared straight to #1 on the Amoeba local artists chart. This September, Manimal Vinyl (Bat For Lashes) will reissue Exquisite Corpse on CD and vinyl, complete with a new bonus track. Mixed by John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), the EP successfully captures the band's sonic textures and playful dynamism that they're notorious for creating in a live setting. With a buzz already in the LA air, Warpaint is now beginning to stir the masses with praise in the US and abroad. Dazed and Confused calls Exquisite Corpse "a collection of magical psychedelia drifting over sublime moments of raw melody courtesy of the three free ethereal vocalists," while London's The Independent adds, "They make a quite lovely sound with dreamy vocals, off-kilter hazy guitars." Onstage, Warpaint's disarmingly authentic package can shake a room into a dance frenzy, while simultaneously holding it in a trance-like dreamworld. Playing to many captivated audiences in LA, Warpaint has opened for Flea, Black Heart Procession, Little Joy, and The Slits to name a few. With a busy schedule in the works to close out 2009, Warpaint is poised to win over those willing to join them on their complex, melodic, dark odyssey. 1. Stars 2. Elephants 3. Billie Holiday 4. Beetles 5. Burgundy 6. Krimson www.manimalvinyl.com www.myspace.com/worldwartour

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Lhasa de Sela RIP

By Jim Fusilli

Photo credit: Ryan Morey

Lhasa de Sela, RIP.

Lhasa de Sela, the singer whose warm, lilting music embraced a variety of folk traditions, died January 1 after a lengthy bout with breast cancer. She was 37 years old and lived in Montreal.

Lhasa, as she was known professionally, was born in Big Indian, New York, and traveled widely with her parents and sisters throughout Mexico, where her father was born, and the U.S., according to her publicist Blake Zidell. Her nomadic childhood infused her music with an appreciation for Mexican and gypsy folk melodies, as demonstrated by her three albums, “La Llorana,” released in 1997; 2003’s “The Living Road”; and “Lhasa,” which was issued last year.

Her illness forced the cancellation of a lengthy international tour in support of “Lhasa.” Two of her songs appeared on the soundtrack to the 2009 film “Cold Souls,” written and directed by Sophie Barthes.

Between the release of her first and second albums, Lhasa and three of her sisters worked in a circus and theater troupe in France. In 2005, she was named Best Artist of the Americas by the BBC. Earlier, she received a Juno Award in Canada as Best Global Artist.

Lhasa is survived by her partner Ryan, her parents and stepmother, and nine siblings. Funeral services will be private.

• Lhasa de Sela

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The Strange Boys

The Strange Boys announce early 2010 tour dates with Chain and the Gang
STREAM: "Be Brave" -
http://www.myspace.com/thestrangeboys

The Strange Boys

"The Strange Boys appeal to me because of their brilliant recasting of the roots of rock and roll with a seditious modern twist" - Geoff Travis, Rough Trade

""The Strange Boys make music that can only come from Texas, a perfectly formed, totally accomplished and spot-on executed rock n' roll band. I didn't even know they made them like this anymore." -Larry Hardy, In The Red Records

Recorded by: Mike McHugh at The Distillery, in Costa Mesa, Ca. September 2009
Ryan Sambol: guitar, vocals, harmonica, piano
Greg Enlow: guitar, organ, piano, background vocals, glockenspiel
Philip Sambol: bass, background vocals
Seth Densham: drums
Jenna Thornhill-DeWitt: saxophone, background vocals
Tim Presley: background vocals, bass

The Strange Boys are a phenomenal young group from Austin, Texas.

They are at the same time, both timeless and refreshingly avant garde. They have signed to Rough Trade Records for the world excluding the US (where they remain on In The Red Records). Set to appeal to anyone who has a liking for top quality beat and blues influenced rock n' roll, The Strange Boys have provoked excitement and reaction in the Rough Trade offices the like of which has been unseen since the signing of The Strokes. They played their first UK shows this summer to wild reaction and their live return to the UK is hotly anticipated. Having played across Europe this summer, they've since returned to the US and recorded their 2nd album in Costa Mesa. Entitled, Be Brave, it is the follow up to their debut and Girls Club, which was released on In The Red in the US and became a hugely popular underground record in the UK via import copies alone.

Ryan Sambol explains the background of the new record:

"We got back from Europe and I worked out the songs that I had already started, wrote some more and sent cassette tapes of the songs to Tim, Jenna and Seth. When they got the tapes they all called me back and said they didn't know what they were going to play, but they were interested to try. Then the three of us; Greg, Philip and I, drove out from Austin and played a few shows to get to LA. We met up with Tim, Jenna and Seth, went over to our friend John's house, and rehearsed for a couple hours. The next day, we played FYF Fest, two days later we went to Costa Mesa, and two weeks later we came out with Be Brave."

A limited edition 7" vinyl single to be released on January 25th in the UK and on Jan 26th in the US will precede the new album. Title track 'Be Brave' will be backed by different, non-album, b-sides on the UK and US editions.

"..this is a careful, studied slouch: the loose limbs of garage-rock, rendered through a psychedelic fuzz, with melodies plucked from the blues and 1950s country music. "Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up" sounds both aggressive and aggrieved, and much of this impressive debut album manages wistfulness without sacrificing its knowing edge." - NY Times

"It's passionate, yowling guitar rock at its best" - Rolling Stone


THE STRANGE BOYS

Friday Feb 19th Austin @ Emo's *#
Sun Feb 21 Marfa TX @ Padre's *
Tues Feb 23 Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space *
Wed Feb 24 San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
Thurs Feb 25 Isla Vista, CA @ Biko Garage *
Fri Feb 26 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo *
Sat Fat 27 San Francisco CA @ Elbo Room *$
Sun Feb 28 Reno, Nevada @ Rainshadow Community Charter High School *
Tues March 2 Salem, OR @ The Space *%
Wed March 3 Olympia, WA @ Northern *%
Thurs March 4 Seattle WA @ Comet Tavern *&

Sat March 6 Portland OR @ East End *
Sun March 7 - Boise, ID @ Visual Arts Collective
Mon March 8 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Tue March 9 - Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
Wed March 10 - Boulder, CO @ University of Colorado - Club 156
Fri Mar 12 - Lubbock, TX @ Bash Riprock's

* = w/ Chain and the Gang
# = w/ Yellow Fever
% = w/ The Hive Dwellers
& = w/ Lovvers
$ = w/ Ty Segall, Nodzzz

THE STRANGE BOYS LINKS:

MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/thestrangeboys

Label Page - http://www.intheredrecords.com Read more / Permalink

Rowland S. Howard RIP

Influential Melbourne guitarist Rowland S Howard dies

• Cameron Adams
• From: Herald Sun
• December 30, 2009 5:11PM

Rowland S. Howard. Picture: Karen Dodd Source: HWT Image Library

MELBOURNE musician Rowland S Howard has lost his battle with liver cancer.

He passed away this morning, aged 50.

Howard was waiting for a liver transplant and had cancelled recent shows due to illness.

The influential guitarist came to prominence as a member of Melbourne punk band the Boys Next Door who became The Birthday Party, fronted by Nick Cave.

Howard wrote their iconic hit Shivers, and his guitar skills would inspire a generation to come.

The guitarist was also a member of bands including Crime and the City Soultion and These Immortal Souls.

His second solo album, Pop Crimes, was released in October to critical acclaim.

His final gig was at the Prince of Wales in October to launch the album.

In an interview with Rolling Stone to promote the album Howard spoke of his years of poor health.

“Being told that you've only got a couple of years to live without a transplant is a pretty frightening experience and certainly changes the way you feel about your life, [it] makes things so much closer."

Rowland appeared in this year’s Melbourne punk scene documentary We’re Living on Dog Food, released with the DVD of Australian film Dogs in Space.

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Espers @ Sanctuary

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Cold Cave @ Echo

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BEST OF THE DECADE

BEST RECORDS of the 21st Century so far
By Alexander Laurence

1. Brian Wilson - Smile
2. Sigur Ros – Agaetis Byrjun
3. Primal Scream – XTRMNTR
4. Radiohead – Amnesiac
5. Antony and the Johnsons – I Am A Bird Now
6. Gorillaz – Gorillaz
7. Arcade Fire – Funeral
8. Black Mountain – In The Future
9. Joanna Newsom – Ys
10. Bat For Lashes – Two Suns

11. PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
12. Goldfrapp – Felt Mountain
13. The White Stripes - Elephant
14. LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem
15. Blonde Redhead - 23
16. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
17. The Kills: Keep on Your Mean Side
18. The Strokes – Is This It?
19. White Stripes – White Blood Cells
20. Fiery Furnaces – Blueberry Boat

21. Sparklehorse – It’s A Wonderful Life
22. DFA 1979 – You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine
23. Mercury Rev – All Is Dream
24. The Hives – Veni Vidi Vicious
25. Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
26. The Coral – The Coral
27. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
28. Sparklehorse/Danger Mouse - Dark Night of the Soul
29. Trail of the Dead – Source Tags and Codes
30. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

31. TV on The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
32. Hope Sandoval – Through The Devil Softly
33. Colder - Again
34. The Streets – Original Pirate Material
35. Jose Gonzalez – In Our Nature
36. Burial – Burial
37. Bat For Lashes – Fur and Gold
38. Ali Farke Toure – Savane
39. Wire - Send
40. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell

41. Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing In The Hands
42. Cold Cave – Love Comes Close
43. Portishead – Third
44. LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver
45. The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers
46. Interpol – Turn On The Bright Lights
47. CSS - Cansei De Ser Sexy
48. TV On The Radio – Dear Science
49. Blonde Redhead – Misery Is A Butterfly
50. The Big Pink – A Brief History of Love

51. Bob Dylan – Love and Theft
52. Adult: Anxiety Always
53. Burial – Untrue
54. Murcof - Cosmos
55. Beck – Sea Change
56. Secret Machines – Now Here Is Nowhere
57. Singapore Sling – The Curse of Singapore Sling
58. The Pleased - Don't Make Things
59. The Kills – No Wow
60. Devendra Banhart – Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

61. Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree
62. The Horrors – Primary Colours
63. The Knife – Silent Shout
64. Mogwai: Happy Music for Happy People
65. Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine
66. A Place To Bury Strangers – APTBS
67. TV on The Radio – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
68. Soundtrack of Our Lives – Behind The Music
69. White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
70. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

71. UNKLE – War Stories
72. Elliott Smith – From A Basement On The Hill
73. Ladytron – Light & Magic
74. A Place To Bury Strangers – Exploding Head
75. Klaxons – Myths of The Near Future
76. The Walkmen – You & Me
77. Fever Ray – Fever Ray
78. Spiritualized - Amazing Grace
79. Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose
80. The Vines – Highly Evolved

81. The Libertines: Up The Bracket
82. Ray La Montagne – Gossip In The Grain
83. Doves – The Last Broadcast
84. The xx - XX
85. Teddybears – Soft Machine
86. Grandaddy – The Sophtware Slump
87. White Stripes – Icky Thump
88. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
89. Giant Drag – Hearts and Unicorns
90. A Girl Called Eddy – A Girl Called Eddy

91. ARE Weapons – ARE Weapons
92. Wire – Object 47
93. Hecuba - Paradise
94. Wolfmother – Wolfmother
95. Super Furry Animals – Rings Around The World
96. Black Dice – Beaches & Canyons
97. Raveonettes - Chain Gang of Love
98. Liars – Liars
99. MIA – Arular
100. Autolux – Future Perfect

101. Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man – Out of Season
102. Mull Historical Society - Loss
103. PJ Harvey – White Chalk
104. Soulsavers – Broken
105. Fischerspooner - #1
106. Clinic – Walking With Thee
107. Queens Of The Stone Age – Songs For The Deaf
108. Miranda Lee Richards – The Heretherefater
109. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – How I Long To Feel Summer In My Heart
110. Ryan Adams - Gold

111. Band of Skulls – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
112. David Holmes – Bow Down To The Exit Sign
113. Super Furry Animals – MWNG
114. Shelby Lynne – I Am Shelby Lynne
115. Arab Strap – Mad For Sadness
116. Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour of Bewilderbeast
117. Low – Things We Lost In The Fire
118. The Polyphonic Spree – The Beginning Stages of…
119. The Notwist – Neon Golden
120. British Sea Power – The Decline of British Sea Power

121. Junior Boys – Last Exit
122. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
123. Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
124. M83 – Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts
125. Calla - Televise
126. The Futureheads – The Futureheads
127. Richard Hawley – Cole’s Corner
128. Gorillaz – Demon Days
129. Scott Walker – The Drift
130. Art Brut – Bang Bang Rock and Roll

131. The Black Angels - Passover
132. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
133. Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul
134. Annie - Anniemal
135. Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of The Understatement
136. Grinderman – Grinderman
137. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
138. The Veils – The Runaway Found
139. The Divine Comedy – Absent Friends
140. The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers

141. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
142. The Knife – Deep Cuts
143. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
144. Amy Winehouse - Black To Black
145. Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender
146. Broadcast – Tender Buttons
147. Cat Power – You Are Free
148. Soulwax – Nite Versions
149. Liars – Drum’s Not Dead
150. The Rapture - Echoes Read more / Permalink

VoicesVoices

VOICEsVOICEs to tour US with Prefuse 73 and Gaslamp Killer this January ; "Origins" out next month
Experimental rock duo hit the road on the US as both the openers and the live backing band for Prefuse 73. He also will be playing with their band as well.

MP3: Flulyk Dreams (Edit)

"Their sound-- part ambient electronic, part primal scrawl-- is tough to pin down and always taking unexpected turns"
Pitchfork Media

"schized-out drone pop"
Metromix

VOICEsVOICEs are a two-piece making warm, seductively atmospheric, mostly instrumental music from Los Angeles. Formed in June of 2008, Jenean Farris and Nico Turner, came together to break away from the musical mold they were confined to in previous projects to defy what they've been taught, and challenge what they know. Their use of pedals, looping, spellbinding vocals, and heartrending drumming results in hauntingly beautiful music that will awaken even your most subconscious dreams and fears. L.A. Record says "Los Angeles has one of the most exciting music scenes going on in the world right now and in the center of all this is the darling female duo, VOICEsVOICEs."

Both musicians were originally drummers for other bands and wanted to show that drummers were creative musical forces and more than merely providers of backbeats for other people's songs. The project began as an experiment in the creation of sound, with masking vocals that swirl like ghosts in a sea of reverb, beats and distortion, creating a sound that amounted to a beautiful clutter. Although they hadn't much experience performing other instruments prior to combining their forces, or perhaps because of it, they developed a psychedelic ambient sound that is unique in a way that separates them from the other bands in the abundant Los Angeles music scene.

While they both still play drums and various percussions, they learned to incorporate guitars, pedals and looping effects, even as they were still learning to play the instruments. Rather than procrastinate in a rehearsal space, they chose to perform live as often as they could at any place that would welcome them. Through dozens of shows in their early months, they developed their style and their fanbase at the same time, playing mostly in galleries and all age venues. Rather than relying on luck to be discovered, and confident in the power of their sweeping scores, they released their first self-produced and self-released ep, "Sounds Outside" within a few months of forming and it was warmly received, garnering rave reviews from Los Angeles publications like LA Record and grabbing the attention of influential label Manimal Vinyl and producer Prefuse 73.

Quickly advancing to the the top indie rock clubs in town like Spaceland, The Echo and The Smell, their fanbase and reputation grew in leaps and bounds. They were immediately snatched up by Manimal Vinyl who is releasing their new ep "Origins" in January. The EP was produced by Prefuse 73, who postponed his own recording for the opportunity to work with the band. In the studio, Prefuse added textural instruments and arrangements and brought the two musicians vocals closer to the forefront. The result is a combination of compositions that fall somewhere between Enya and the Plastic Ono Band. Barely a year after combining forces, VOICEsVOICEs were opening shows for artists like Blackheart Procession and Octopus Project In November, 2009 they were tapped for a month-long European touring with Brightblack Morning Light and Rio en Medio. Their shows are notable for attracting some of the top local musicians and scenemakers who become avid fans after one or two listens. Their soundscapes will send you into a peaceful slumber or make you scream and want to break things, sometimes causing both reactions at the same time.

ORIGINS OUT 01.26.2010 on Manimal Vinyl


TOUR DATES

12/31 Aragon Ballroom Chicago IL #
01/19 Music Hall Of Williamsburg Brooklyn NY *
01/20 Middle East Downstairs Cambridge MA **
01/23 Eagle Theatre Pontiac MI **
01/25 Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis MN **
01/29 The Nightlight Lounge Bellingham WA *
01/30 Neumos Seattle WA *
01/31 Holocene Portland OR *
02/02 Slims San Francisco CA *
02/03 Troubadour Los Angeles CA *
02/05 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City UT **
02/06 Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom Denver CO *
# w/ Umphrey's McGee
* w/ Gaslamp Killer, Voices Voices
** w/ Gaslamp Killer

www.myspace.com/wearevoicesvoices Read more / Permalink

Sic Alps

Sic Alps are playing Jamuary 9th at the Wiltern with Sonic Youth.

Photos: Lila Schaffler Read more / Permalink

Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith LPs to be Reissued on KRS, Premiere Unreleased Song

Kill Rock Stars is very excited to announce that on April 6th, 2010 they will be adding Elliott Smith’s Roman Candle and From a Basement on the Hill records to their catalog.

Roman Candle is Elliott Smith’s first solo album and was originally released on Portland’s Cavity Search Records in 1994.

Roman Candle had quite an impact on Slim Moon, Kill Rock Stars' founder: "In 1994, I had been asked to be on this five-person solo-act tour called Pop Chord with Tammy Watson, Carrie Akre, Sean Croghan and Elliott Smith. The first night at the Crocodile in Seattle, I didn't pay too much attention and people talked all thru Elliott's set. Sean Croghan got up next and said "all of you people who just talked through Elliott's set are bummed because you just misssed something very very special." The next night of the tour, at The Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco, I listened very closely to Elliott's set, and it was basically one of those life-changing moments. Instead of watching the rest of the performers, I went out to the tour van and popped Roman Candle into the player, and listened to it on endless repeat for the rest of the evening and beyond. It completely blew my mind. I have never heard music as heartwrenchingly, gut-checkingly honest, intimate, and wise – before or since."


Kill Rock Stars will also be releasing Roman Candle on vinyl for the first time in the U.S.

From a Basement on the Hill was released posthumously in 2004 on ANTI- records.

With the addition of these two records Kill Rock Stars is now the home for all of Elliott Smith’s independent releases: Roman Candle, Elliott Smith, Either/Or, From a Basement on the Hill, and New Moon.

To celebrate the addition of these amazing records KRS are giving away a free, previously unreleased song entitled "Cecilia/Amanda". It was recorded at Jackpot! Recording Studio in 1997 by Larry Crane. An earlier version of this song was initially written and recorded by Elliott's high school band, Stranger Than Fiction, and was known as "Time is Ours Now". "Cecilia/Amanda" is a reworking of that song with almost completely different lyrics. Download/listen here: http://i.listentokrs.com/bands/elliottsmith/audio/CeciliaAmanda.mp3.

Elliott Smith's back catalog is also on sale until January 4th in KRS mail order (http://www.buyolympia.com/killrockstars) and on iTunes.

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Semi Precious Weapons

"Get behind and support Semi Precious Weapons because honestly, the NYC rock scene wouldn't exist without them." - Lady Gaga

Semi Precious Weapons just announced additional US dates with Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour through 2010! They will be performing all over the country, including a four-night stand at New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall. Scroll down to view their revised list of upcoming tour dates!

As an opening act for Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour 2009-2010, Semi Precious Weapons has already begun receiving kudos for their outrageous live stage show! The Boston Globe raved, "Semi Precious Weapons split the difference between AC/DC and Queen with fierce frontman, Justin Tranter." The band previously received rave reviews on their recent tours with Ladyhawke and rock icons The Sounds.

Even before they landed on the biggest gig of the season, Semi Precious Weapons turned heads and made music listeners take notice. SPIN described the band as "Like the Sex Pistols..... If they had emerged from Andy Warhol's downtown Manhattan Factory Scene," while Rolling Stone said “Tranter is like Adam Ant, T.Rex's Marc Bolan and Ziggy Stardust wrapped into one, singing lead on AC/DC's ‘Back In Black’”. After being named the "Best Band in NYC" by the 2008 Reader's Poll, The Village Voice wrote, "Semi Precious Weapons are the most important band in America."

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Wanna hear some awesome music from Semi Precious Weapons? Find out how to score a FREE mp3 download for their self-titled track right here!

Semi Precious Weapons
Perezcious / Haus of Gaga / Streamline / Cherrytree / Geffen
Official Site: http://www.semipreciousweapons.com/ Read more / Permalink

Melt Banana @ Troubadour 12/16

Photo: Lila Schaffler Read more / Permalink

Best of 2009 lists

BEST OF 2009 list
by Guy Blakeslee of THE ENTRANCE BAND

V/A- I Woke Up One Morning in May (Mississippi Records)
Abner Jay- The True Story of Abner Jay (Mississippi Records)
Bishop Perry Tillis- In Times Like These (Mississippi Records)
Joseph Spence- Good Morning Mr. Walker (Mississippi Records)
V/A- Mortika (Recordings from a Greek Underworld) (Mississippi Records)
V/A-String of Pearls (Jewels of the 78 rpm era, 1918-1951) (Mississippi
Records)
Fred McDowell- S/T (Mississippi Records)
Nirvana- Live at Reading DVD (DGC)
Kurt Vile- Childish Prodigy (Matador)
V/A- Fire In My Bones (Raw+Rare+Otherworldly African American Gospel,
1944-2007) (Tompkins Square)
Group Bombino- Guitars from Agadez Vol. 2 (Sublime Frequencies)
Group Doueh- Treeg Salaam (Sublime Frequencies)
Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion (Domino)
The Growlers- Are You In or Out? (Everloving)
Fool's Gold- S/T (I Am Sound)
Sonic Youth- Live performance in Birmingham, Alabama @ Sloss Furnaces

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The Slits TONIGHT

Gallery is here. All SLITS photos here taken by Angel Ceballos in San Francisco.

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Noise Pop 2010

NOISE POP 2010 FESTIVAL DATES AND EARLY ARTIST CONFIRMATIONS ANNOUNCED;
Magnetic Fields, Mark Kozelek, Rogue Wave, Atlas Sound, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Four Tet, John Vanderslice,
We Were Promised Jet Packs, Wallpaper, Zee Avi, The Limousines & Foreign Born



The 18th Annual Noise Pop Festival Will Take Place February 23 through March 1, 2010
Industry Noise Will Take Place On Saturday, February 27th, 2010 At The Swedish American Hall

Click Here To See Pitchfork Premiere Noise Pop 2010 Lineup Read more / Permalink