Crystal Stilts

I’m late to the party. Like, we’re talkin’ everybody’s half in the bag and the keg is floated late. Better late than never, but I have to give my two cents on this album. Imagine if the Beach Boys went all goth and were named the Night Boys. The debut album is moody with great melody and surf rock guitar. The S/T album will be released Oct. 28th and you can buy it here.

Crystal Stilts-Crystal Stilts [mp3]

Crystal Stilts

I’m late to the party. Like, we’re talkin’ everybody’s half in the bag and the keg is floated late. Better late than never, but I have to give my two cents on this album. Imagine if the Beach Boys went all goth and were named the Night Boys. The debut album is moody with great melody and surf rock guitar. The S/T album will be released Oct. 28th and you can buy it here.

Crystal Stilts-Crystal Stilts [mp3]

Blitzen Trapper

The clever story telling on Black River Killer has me wanting to go to the Rio Grande and stirrin’ up some trouble. The group’s ability to weave from O.G. twang rock to soulful funky 70′s sounds is almost like a reflex and doesn’t warrant an explanation for not sticking to one genre. The new album, Furr, will be released September 23 via Sup Pop and you can purchase the album here.

Blitzen Trapper-Black River Killer[mp3]

Don’t forget that the guys will be opening up for none other than, Mr. Malkmus and they will be here in a couple of weeks for Monolith.

Blitzen Trapper appearing with Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks

Sun 11/02/08 buy tix Columbia, MO The Blue Note
Tue 11/04/08 Omaha, NE Slowdown
Wed 11/05/08 buy tix Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall
Thu 11/06/08 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre

Blitzen Trapper

Sun 11/09/08 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
Mon 11/10/08 Indianapolis, IN Locals Only
Tue 11/11/08 Columbus, OH Skully’s Music Diner

appearing with Iron & Wine

Thu 11/13/08 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
Fri 11/14/08 Buffalo, NY Asbury Hall @ Babeville
Sat 11/15/08 Northampton, MA Pearl Street
Sun 11/16/08 Providence, RI Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
Mon 11/17/08 buy tix New York, NY Terminal 5
Tue 11/18/08 buy tix Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
Wed 11/19/08 buy tix Norfolk, VA NorVa
Thu 11/20/08 buy tix Asheville, NC Orange Peel
Fri 11/21/08 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
Sat 11/22/08 Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Theatre
Sun 11/23/08 buy tix Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

Blitzen Trapper

Mon 11/24/08 Denton, TX Hailey’s
Wed 11/26/08 Austin, TX The Mohawk
Fri 11/28/08 Tucson, AZ Solar Culture Gallery
Sat 11/29/08 San Diego, CA The Casbah
Sun 11/30/08 Los Angeles, CA Echo
Tue 12/02/08 San Francisco, CA The Independent
Thu 12/04/08 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
Sat 12/06/08 Vancouver, BC Media Club

Speaking of Monolith, looks like they put up a video game for the inner gamer in you, and alongside, you get to bump to some jams from performers from the festival, i.e. Passion Pit, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Hearts of Palm, Chain Gang of 1974 and more..

Takka Takka

I still don’t get their name. Seriously, I thought they were from Norway when I heard their name. More importantly, I try not to pimp on Music Tuesdays, but this album has me smitten like a 13-yr old girl crushing hard on the Jonas Brothers. The close proximity of Takka Takka’s relationship w/Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! may have something to do with my feelings. Did I mention that Bryan from the National is on the album as well. The album hits epic late 90′s tech boom and plunges to late 00′s economic doom. Both are needed to create everything inbetween and Migration teeters on both at every second. Buy this album here.

Takka Takka-Silence [mp3]

Takka Takka

I still don’t get their name. Seriously, I thought they were from Norway when I heard their name. More importantly, I try not to pimp on Music Tuesdays, but this album has me smitten like a 13-yr old girl crushing hard on the Jonas Brothers. The close proximity of Takka Takka’s relationship w/Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! may have something to do with my feelings. Did I mention that Bryan from the National is on the album as well. The album hits epic late 90′s tech boom and plunges to late 00′s economic doom. Both are needed to create everything inbetween and Migration teeters on both at every second. Buy this album here.

Takka Takka-Silence [mp3]

Ra Ra Riot

The new album from permanent East-Coaster’s Ra Ra Riot to many could have been an easy affair to get. They had toured the hell out of an EP and a 7″ but the final day of a proper full length was something I didn’t expect this soon. One of the best pickups from Barsuk has proven that touring incessantly CAN be a good thing and it has only brought the kids together to create an effort that is one of my favorites of the year. The cello/violin combo is what gets me on every song. Or, perhaps, is it the brilliant songwriting of what it’s like to be in love in the early years of youth. In any case, they will be touring with Walter Meego?!?!
You can purchase the forthcoming album, Rhumb Line, August 19th, here.

Ra Ra Riot-Dying is Fine [mp3]

SEPTEMBER:

3 Lambi (Montreal, QC)#
4 Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto, ON)#
5 Mojo’s (Jamestown, NY)#
6 Bug Jar (Rochester, NY)#
7 Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)
9 The Basement (Columbus, OH)#
10 Case Western (Cleveland, OH)
12 7th Street Entry (Minneapolis, MN)#
14 Jackpot Saloon (Lawrence, KS)#
16 Hi Dive (Denver, CO)#
17 Kilby Court (Salt Lake City, UT)#
18 Neurolux (Boise, ID)#
20 King Cobra (Seattle, WA)#
21 Media Club (Vancouver, BC)#
22 Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR)#
24 Rickshaw Stop (San Francisco, CA)#
25 The Echo (Los Angeles, CA)#
28 The Casbah (San Diego, CA)#*
29 Modified (Phoenix, AZ)#*
30 Plush (Tucson, AZ)#*

OCTOBER:

2 The Loft (Dallas, TX)#*
3 Stubb’s (Austin, TX)#*
4 Rudyards (Houston, TX)#*
7 The Social (Orlando, FL)#*
8 Club Downunder (Tallahassee, FL)#*
10 Drunken Unicorn (Atlanta, GA)#*
11 Local 506 (Chapel Hill, NC)#*
12 Black Cat Backstage (Washington, DC)#*
14 Ottobar (Baltimore, MD)#*
15 Johnny Brenda’s (Philadelphia, PA)#*
18 Middle East Downstairs (Cambridge, MA)#*

# w/ Walter Meego
* w/ the morning bender

Ra Ra Riot

The new album from permanent East-Coaster’s Ra Ra Riot to many could have been an easy affair to get. They had toured the hell out of an EP and a 7″ but the final day of a proper full length was something I didn’t expect this soon. One of the best pickups from Barsuk has proven that touring incessantly CAN be a good thing and it has only brought the kids together to create an effort that is one of my favorites of the year. The cello/violin combo is what gets me on every song. Or, perhaps, is it the brilliant songwriting of what it’s like to be in love in the early years of youth. In any case, they will be touring with Walter Meego?!?!
You can purchase the forthcoming album, Rhumb Line, August 19th, here.

Ra Ra Riot-Dying is Fine [mp3]

SEPTEMBER:

3 Lambi (Montreal, QC)#
4 Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto, ON)#
5 Mojo’s (Jamestown, NY)#
6 Bug Jar (Rochester, NY)#
7 Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)
9 The Basement (Columbus, OH)#
10 Case Western (Cleveland, OH)
12 7th Street Entry (Minneapolis, MN)#
14 Jackpot Saloon (Lawrence, KS)#
16 Hi Dive (Denver, CO)#
17 Kilby Court (Salt Lake City, UT)#
18 Neurolux (Boise, ID)#
20 King Cobra (Seattle, WA)#
21 Media Club (Vancouver, BC)#
22 Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR)#
24 Rickshaw Stop (San Francisco, CA)#
25 The Echo (Los Angeles, CA)#
28 The Casbah (San Diego, CA)#*
29 Modified (Phoenix, AZ)#*
30 Plush (Tucson, AZ)#*

OCTOBER:

2 The Loft (Dallas, TX)#*
3 Stubb’s (Austin, TX)#*
4 Rudyards (Houston, TX)#*
7 The Social (Orlando, FL)#*
8 Club Downunder (Tallahassee, FL)#*
10 Drunken Unicorn (Atlanta, GA)#*
11 Local 506 (Chapel Hill, NC)#*
12 Black Cat Backstage (Washington, DC)#*
14 Ottobar (Baltimore, MD)#*
15 Johnny Brenda’s (Philadelphia, PA)#*
18 Middle East Downstairs (Cambridge, MA)#*

# w/ Walter Meego
* w/ the morning bender

The

Magnetic

Fields

Stephen Merritt and Co. only tour about once every four years. Catch them performing songs off of one of my favorite albums of the year.

The Magnetic Fields-Nuns Litany (Alternate Vocal) [mp3]