Shiloe: New Music, Praise, and Radio Play

Shiloe - "By The Daggers in Your Eyes" (mp3)

Shiloe have begun debuting some new material for a forthcoming full length. The first track, "By The Daggers in Your Eyes," is a self-proclaimed "three-minute love letter to anyone who's ever been proud to be different." It is reminiscent of what you have heard from the trio thus far, but also suggests an evolving sound. The song has received alternative radio play in markets around the country, while also drawing praise from a host of blogs including Buzz Bands, BeatCrave, Chicks with Guns and The Organ Grinder.

Old Video: The Boy Least Likely To on the N&UR Video Podcast

MP3 - "Be Gentle With Me" - The Boy Least Likely To

Reading Pitchfork's review of the long-awaited second album from The Boy Least Likely To made me think about the time I got to interview the band for our video podcast series. Before N&UR was a label, we ran a 9-episode video podcast series called, well, New and Used Records. That was back in 2006 - The Best Party Ever had been well received, the band had toured with James Blunt. Since that time, the band's songs have been featured prominently on film and television but new material has been scarce. It sounds like the process of getting The Law of the Playground completed and released was a serious adventure (and not the fun kind). That being said, the boys persevered, and I cannot wait to hear this album, which is coming out on +1 - an awesome promo company (who got me that interview) that became a record label with the release of Talking Through Tin Cans by the Morning Benders.

Bonus Track
MP3 - "Hugging My Grudge" - The Boy Least Likely To
[from The Best Party Ever]

Jukebox: So Many Wizards

Jukebox is a feature where we ask our favorite artists, bloggers and DJs their opinions on four songs that are currently generating buzz. Then we ask them for four songs that we should be buzzing about. This week, we put quarters in the record machine with Nima of So Many Wizards...

"Dimmer" - Bishop Allen
Put me in a good mood. The little instrumental plucking was a nice touch. Reminds me of a healthy mix between the Spinto Band and Weezer. Not the best song I have heard but it does the trick. Great pop song.

"Spanish Gold 2044" - Swan Lake
Very distinct voice. Reminded me of so many epic vocalist but still maintained its originality. Very gritty song. Feels like something that could easily come out of the 60's. Maybe it did. The guitar that accompanies the melody is kind of epic. Great song. A good kind of catchy. This was my favorite.

"Elegy" - Caroline Weeks (of Bat For Lashes)
I like the droning in the background. All together very haunting song. I can zone out and relax to this any day.

"Submarines of Stockholm" - AC Newman
Right off the bat starts off strong with a very infectious vocal melody. For me, this is really important. I hate having to get into a song that takes two minutes before i really get what it's about. Great for driving in traffic and keeping a distant point of view from it all.

Nima's Picks...
Here's some songs that need buzzing. Old and New. . .
•"George Pringle I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" - Pulse Out
•"My Little Redbook" - Love (iTunes/HypeMachine)
•"A Whisper" - Jay Reatard (HypeMachine)
•"Pillars of Fire" - Deep Sea Diver (MySpace)

Commentary: Saddle Creek Sell New Cursive Album for $1

MP3 - "From the Hips" - Cursive

Here at N&UR headquarters, we are always monitoring new ways artists and labels are releasing their albums. Saddle Creek is currently pre-releasing the digital version of Cursive's new album, Mama I'm Swollen. Today, it costs $1. Tomorrow it will be $2. Wednesday, $3 and so on and so forth until the album's actual release on March 10. Pre-ordering a physical copy also gets you instant MP3s plus cool packaging - the CD features a 19x14 fold out poster featuring hand written lyrics by Tim Kasher, while the draws of the LP include 180 gram colored vinyl, CD, gatefold jacket, and a 15 page booklet. Both include a download card for bonus music and videos. This is how to release an album especially for a label with a recognizable brand name and a band with a loyal following. I like cheap digital downloads, and at $1 and $2, why try and download it for free? In college, my friends and I loved Cursive and had more disposable income - we would have been totally into the CD or vinyl packages.

This is something for artists and labels to think about it. Have your album available at the traditional digital outlets, but think about making a cheap option available for the curious stream. Then create some incentive for someone to purchase the physical copy - a fancy vinyl package is probably does not make financial sense for a young band or label, but there is still a lot that can be done in terms of making an attractive package. Look out for your fans and they will look out for. Be fan friendly, and you will make new friends.

While we are on the subject of Saddle Creek, I noticed the label just added their entire catalog to Emusic, so go back and download some of the classics - Cursive's Burst and Bloom, The Good Life's Black Out, The Faint's Danse Macabre and many, many more.

[Via MBV]

Bonus Tracks:
MP3 - "The Recluse" - Cursive
MP3 - "The Great Decay" - Cursive

The Bran Flakes I Have Hands Out Today

MP3 - "What It's All About" - The Bran Flakes

You know how, when you're a kid, certain forms of entertainment seem totally normal, but when you're an adult they seem really odd. That was how I felt watching Yellow Submarine as an adult, and that is how I feel about The Bran Flakes. The music is offbeat, but I am sure kids will go crazy for it. In fact, the Bran Flakes are the perfect meeting of my inner child and my inner copyright rebel. I am not off on this one - the Bran Flakes have even located YouTube videos of kids singing their songs. I Have Hands is out today on Illegal Art, and there is something very liberating about it - both the kitschy samples and the memories of caffeine and sugar-induced childhood fun. And if that doesn't do it for you, you have to respect artists who sample Dolly Parton.

Bonus Track:
MP3 - Van Pop - The Bran Flakes

Noise Pop Preview: Mike Relm @ Mezzanine

This week is San Francisco's annual Noise Pop festival. All week we will be previewing Noise Pop shows that may have slipped past you.

MP3 - "Everytime" - Mike Relm
feat. Del the Funky Homosapien & Adrian Hartley

Mike Relm is just the kind of artist we get really excited about at N&UR - an innovative producer working heavily with samples and in multiple mediums. Relm's live shows have become famous for his humorous, real time video mashups. Last year, Relm dropped Spectacle an innovative record that will appeal to anyone who grew up in the school of DJ Shadow. Spectacle features guest spots from the likes of Del the Funky Homosapien, Morningwood, The Gift of Gab and Mr. Lif. Relm co-headlines the Mezzanine with Kool Keith (who is appearing as Dr. Octagon vs. Dr. Dooom).

Bonus Tracks:
MP3 - "Tron" - Mike Relm
MP3 - "Hot to Trot" - Mike Relm

Noise Pop Preview: Man/Miracle @ Benders 2/26

This week is San Francisco's annual Noise Pop festival. All week we will be previewing Noise Pop shows that may have slipped past you.

MP3 - "Pushing and Shoving" - Man/Miracle

One of my favorite aspects of Noise Pop - if not my favorite aspect - are the free early shows and happy hours happening daily. Each weekday the festival will be hosting a happy hour at Bender's, each stocked with loads of local talent. Oakland's Man/Miracle will be opening the happy hour on February 26, which is being presented by Indie Pop Rocks on Soma FM. If you have not heard Man/Miracle before, they are a raucous bunch who manage to still present cohesive, catchy Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-ish rock tunes, all the while trying to have as much fun as humanly possible on stage. If you have not seen them before, a small setting in the early evening presents a great opportunity. Scissors For Lefty and Picture Atlantic will also be playing. Benders is located at 806 S Van Ness Ave.

New Music: Smashing Pumpkins, Interpol, the White Stripes, the View

OK so there are a lot of highly-anticipated releases slated for this summer, and now some previews are available ...

The first new Smashing Pumpkins single in years is streaming here. It would appear that this new incarnation of the Pumpkins is just Billy and Jimmy but more details have yet to emerge. The song is called "Tarantula" and I am not sure what I think of it.

A new Interpol song always excites me ... somehow more than all those bands who just sound like Interpol. I've been pretty excited about their major label debut and "The Heinrich Maneuver" (streaming here) does not disappoint - even if it does not stray too far from the group's winning formula. It is more dance, less atmosphere in their defense.

New White Stripes single is also streaming and totally kicks ass. Jack even does a rap!

Last, I have an acoustic mp3 of "Face For the Radio" by the View which you can download.