The Magnetic Fields' 8th album (and #2 for Nonesuch Records), Distortion, is a pretty big departure from their traditional sound. It isn't boring and it isn't predictable. Distortion is not your standard indie rock album. The group re-visits the dream-like, weightlessness that can be found on 69 Love Songs, Vol. 1.
Fielder Stephin Merritt (also known for the 6ths, the Future Bible Heroes, and the Gothic Archies) says, "I wanted to make a record of three-minute pop songs, then they turned into three-minute power-pop songs. The previous Magnetic Fields record had been self-consciously soft rock, with all the songs starting with the letter 'i.' The idea here was to make this record quickly and use the same instrumentation on every song. And if I had to use the same instrumentation all the time, what would I want it to sound like? Well, like the first Jesus and Mary Chain album! So I attempted to adapt the sound of Psychocandy to the orch-pop reality of the Magnetic Fields, where we have a pianist and a cellist. And the occasional accordionist." Do these comments make anyone else extremely happy? Just me? Whatever.
I might be alone in my sentiments, but it's inconsequential because the whole album can be streamed on the Magnetic Fields' myspace profile and I promise that you'll love it. Honestly I don't give a shit if you don't, it just means you're crazy and you have shitty taste in music. Disagree with me--I dare you--but make sure to catch the New Yorkers on their upcoming tour. If you live and die in L.A., that'll be March 2nd and 3rd at the Henry Fonda, and it'll cost you about 30 bucks. Hopefully this time the 30 bucks won't be a waste of money and you won't get five people on a dark stage talking about esoteric bullshit. Cause that's what I got when I took my boyfriend for his birthday like 4 years ago, and he wasn't the brightest star in the sky so he really didn't understand most of what they were talking about. Kind of overshadowed the fact that they didn't play a single song I knew.
Xiu Xiu is at it again--the new record, Women as Lovers will be released 1/29 on killrockstars and can be pre-ordered here, along with a limited edition DVD that includes photos, music videos, and live footage. You should probably buy it, because according to the KRS online store it's gonna be a real big hit--"a howl against the gloom," even. (What the hell is a howl against the gloom? That doesn't even mean anything.
Wanna hear it? It's pretty good. I mean, it's even got a cover of 'Under Pressure' (featuring Michael Gira of Swans fame) that totally owns. You can listen to the entire record via Xiu Xiu's myspace page, and you can download the first track for free right here. It's called 'I Do What I Want, When I Want'--and you KNOW I like that title.
Goldfrapp, Black Mountain, and Ariel Pink: It's news to you
In the interest of keeping you informed, here are several updates to stories we posted in 2007.
1. GOLDFRAPP - Go to the group's MySpace page to preview the first single from their forthcoming album, Seventh Tree. It's called 'A & E,' and it's not that great, but the artwork is pretty cool.
2. BLACK MOUNTAIN - The Canadians have extended their North American tour to include dates with label-mates Bon Iver--but unfortunately for us Los Angelenos, we'll be missin' out. Don't fret, my pets, because we still get to see 'em with Howlin' Rain.
3. ARIEL PINK'S HAUNTED GRAFFITI - Human Ear Records has re-released an old Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti album. Ariel Pink is awesome, and Scared Famous is highly recommended. Pitchfork has the story, and I have to go watch movies on demand now. That is all.
NEW PORTISHEAD SONGS: 3 Tracks/1 Video from ATP 2007
So we weren't lying before, guys. Portishead really does have new stuff, and I'm totally stoked that I'm still on the URB mailing list, otherwise I wouldn't be able to throw it at you guys. That's right--see, my internet is down, like I've mentioned 20 times before, but for some reason I decided to check my email at the internet cafe (this post is costing me like 5 bucks) and found this GEM in my inbox.
To click or not to click? Well, here's the rundown on what you'll find there:
3 live Portishead tracks from All Tomorrow's Parties last weekend 1 live video and some wholly unuseful comments following each.
Yea so, Black Mountain played at my house once. Seriously. I mean, I didn't live there then, and I don't live there anymore but I AM being sued by the owners for like 2500 bucks--not a good situation. Anyway, yea, it was in like 2005, and they played with my friend's bands Terrors and Big Muscles, and I went, and shit got broken, and I found the invitation (hand written by Brett Cutts himself) when I was cleaning out the basement a few months ago. I gave it to Patrick. Not that any of you should really give a shit about any of that.
What you should give a shit about: Black Mountain's new record. In The Future is scheduled to be released on January 22, 2008, and it rules. I'll admit that from what I've heard, some of the tracks are a little...how shall I put it... arrogant? Like, it's pretty shocking that they seriously think they can get away with some of this shit, but IT'S GOOD, and thats why they can do it. Is that a little unclear? Deal with it. Finally, I know some of you lucky assholes have already seen Black Mountain play some tracks from the new album, but I am not one of you. I've never been one of you. So I'm pretty stoked to see that they've already scheduled some tour dates--and with Howlin' Rain, nonetheless. Dates for the In The Future tour are as follows:
TODAY, at ATP with Portishead And February dates (w/ Howlin' Rain): 1 - The Crocodile in Seattle 2 - The Doug Fir in Portland 4 - The Independent in S.F. 5 - The Troubadour in L.A.
Alright, please feel free to let me know if you're sick and tired of hearing about all this reunion shit, but I'm seriously starting to think that my token 90's bands got together one day and decided to make 2008 my favorite year since 1994. I just got word that we can add another to our (quickly expanding) little list of "Holy God Are You Kidding Me?" comeback releases.
That's right. A new release from one of my favorites, The Breeders is coming our way. The scheduled release date for The Breeders' upcoming Mountain Battles,on 4AD, is April 8th, 2008. Don't remember The Breeders? C'mon...don't make me do it...*coughcannonballcough*...
Whatever. I hate that some of you would make me stoop as low as to name what was essentially their 'one-hit-wonder'--so I'm not gonna do it.
But let me confirm these little details for you:
THE BREEDERS ARE TOURING IN 2008 THE BREEDERS ARE PLAYING AT COACHELLA IN 2008 Kim & Kelley Deal are definitely still in the band you can sneak preview a track from Mountain Battles on The Breeders' MySpace page for the next 7 days. Go fucking do it.
GOLDFRAPP joins the party with new album in February 2008
First Portishead. Then My Bloody Valentine. Then we get word that Love and Rockets is playing this month (I've since heard that they're playing for 5 minutes, what will only be one song, and a clash cover, at that. Sorry to get your panties in a bunch about it.)
Anyway, Goldfrapp joins the party with news of a new record, called Seventh Tree, to be released (on Mute) sometime in February of 2008. Other than the track list, which was FINALLY revealed, and that it's going to be very different from 2005's Supernature, everyone's being pretty tight-lipped about the whole record.
Seventh Tree Track List: 1. Clowns 2. Little Bird 3. Happiness 4. Road to Somewhere 5. Eat Yourself 6. Some People 7. A&E 8. Cologne Cerrone Houdini 9. Caravan Girl 10. Monster Love
Subscribe to the Orphan Review feed for up-to-the-minute info on the impending Goldfrapp release as well as all the others... oh and dudes be sure to let me know if you get any of these tracks before the album is released. i promise i won't tell on you!
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Are Coming: Prepare to Be Soul Funked!
Brooklyn-based soul-brothers 'The Dap-Kings' and their queen, Miss Sharon Jones, seriously know how to party like it's Hitsville USA in 1968. I don't know how these cats do it, but they manage to authentically evoke the sound and image of a late 60's/early 70's R&B group without ever making it seem like a facade. It is this talent and sincerity that will instinctively move your ears to appreciate the tones of Miss Jones and her Dap-Kings.
This track is off of 2005 release, Naturally. I think it's pretty safe to say that it has the absolute funkiest, most soul-infecting, involuntary booty-shaking beat you've ever heard in your entire life. Kinda like Stevie Wonder meets a genetically-engineered-to-perfection clone of Blues-singer Koko Tayor and Disco-pop diva Donna Summer. And then they all take ecstasy.
"All future releases by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings will now be required by law to be accompanied by a warning advisory after a focus group fell victim to an incurable dance infection. Dr. Jimothy Henry Louis III, who leads the research explains: "Within the initial moments of exposure to the DAP-1024-A, the group was overcome by an unsupressable need to dance. It is evident that most ears have a little or no resistance to this records." DJ Cleopatra, referred to by many club goers as "the Audiophile from the Nile" doesn't seem surprised by the outbreak. "Nobody can help but get down to this," says this renown DJ and longtime fan. "Sharon Jones is like pure cocaine. Even if you're a longtime user, you're ass is still gonna get high."
Well, my lucky little Los Angelenos, next week you have 2 chances to get soul funked by Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings:
According to The Daily Swarm, My Bloody Valentine has finally really recorded some new material. This news excites me. My Bloody Valentine is freaking awesome & before my hard drive crashed I'm pretty sure I owned everything that they ever released. As well as most of Kevin Shields' solo stuff. This would include the Lost In Translation soundtrack & some other weird bootlegs.
Not familiar with mbv? Sucks for you, but I'm willing to forgive you AND to give you a taste. Yea yea, I know. I'm too kind. Courtesy of imeem, here's 'Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)' from their 1988 release Isn't Anything.
**The band is also expected to be included in the line-up for Coachella 2008. Stay tuned for more details.
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The Magnetic Fields' 8th album (and #2 for Nonesuch Records), Distortion, is a pretty big departure from their traditional sound. It isn't boring and it isn't predictable. Distortion is not your standard indie rock album. The group re-visits the dream-like, weightlessness that can be found on 69 Love Songs, Vol. 1.
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