Seems it's that time of year when there's so much new music being released by new bands as well as established ones. We start with the debut studio album by Hill Country Revue, Make A Move, 10 tracks of raw blues and classic southern rock recorded at Jim Dickinson's famed Zebra Ranch Studio as well as at Young Avenue Sound in Memphis. The band features a great combination of musicians, and will touring extensively through September. The album will be released May 12th.mp3:
Hill Country Revue: MySpace • Pre-order Make A Move (available May 12th)
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The Low Anthem will be releasing an updated version of Oh My God, Charlie Darwin on June 9th. The Low Anthem is a three-member folk-indie band from Providence, Rhode Island, and features "new songs that come from old songs". Their vocals are lush and flowing and the stories their songs tell are haunting but friendly. The band also has several tours dates scheduled for the summer.mp3:
The Low Anthem: Website • MySpace • Pre-order via Nonesuch Records
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's psych-pop band Black Moth Super Rainbow have released one of two versions of the eerie, swirling psychedelic first single Born on a Day the Sun Didn't Rise from their forthcoming album Eating Us. It's part of a limited edition run of 500; side A is the album version, and side B is a soft, stripped-down version recorded with a banjo and sticky electro beats. The band will also be touring through July with School of Seven Bells in the majority of the stops. That should be a great show as both these bands are terrific.mp3:
Black Moth Super Rainbow: MySpace • Pre-order the limted edition via Graveface
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LA's Downtown/Union is an indie-driven garage rock band featuring Bo Bory on guitar, Jeff Electric on drums, Joey Siara also on guitar and Andy Siara on bass. With their heart on the sleeve lyrics, fuzzed out guitars and bouncy drums, they are known for their high energy sets. The band has set the release date of their debut full-length, Aurora Ahora, as April 28th. Includes are ten tracks exploring such universal themes of freedom, longing for home, unity, falling in love, not wanting to fall in love, hooking up, ducking out, rescue from feeling desolate, toxic relationships and spacing out. I've heard the entire album and it is excellent. You don't want to miss this, it could be one of your favorite listens of the year.Downtown/Union: MySpace • mp3:
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Toronto's Quest For Fire will release their self titled debut on June 9th. The band is one of the best you never heard of when it comes to classic rock and psychedelia. Andrew Moszynski (guitar), Chad Ross (guitar, vocals), Mike Maxymuik (drums), and Josh Bauman (bass) have spent more than a year refining a sound that is nothing short of a sonic assault, with some tracks running more than 10 minutes in a live setting. Recently signed to the great TeePee Records, the band's days of travelling in shitty vans and playing five bars may well be over but something tells me the aesthetics are secondary to the music with them. In any case, it's killer music by a great band. Hopefully, many people find that out with this debut release.mp3:
Quest For Fire: MySpace • Available via Kill The 8
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It's like The Go-Go's morphing with The B-52's...well, to me anyway. The band is the all-Norwegian girl Cocktail Slippers-Rocket Queen(guitar and vocal), Squirrel(guitar), Modesty Blaze(vocal and organ), Sugar Cane(bass) and Bella Donna(drums)-and if Steven Van Zandt(E-Street Band) signed them to his label they must be good. And they are, their music is extremely addictive and is a great mix of 60's thru 80's girl rock that is likely to last longer than many bands in this vein. The album is titled St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, and is due for release April 28th. The band's music is also featured on Van Zandt's collection of music on his Little Steven's Underground Garage radio show. Another release not to be missed!mp3:
Cocktail Slippers: MySpace • Available via Wicked Cool Records
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Bridge and Tunnel, the latest album from Linda Draper, showcases ten fresh new songs further exploring Draper’s signature sound - light, enchanting music with gentle, heartfelt honest lyrics. Linda has been described as a folk, antifolk or indie-pop artist. After one listen to her charming (and deceptively addictive) songs, and the listener can understand how Draper’s music transcends categorization. She has earned comparisons to songwriting luminaries such as Aimee Mann, Suzanne Vega, Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell but has still managed to carve out a sound that is all her own.mp3:
Linda Draper: Website • MySpace • Available via Planting Seeds Records
Hi Chris, sorry not been around lately, work work and tiredness.
But wow I've got alot of music to catch up one, hope you are well?