eardrums: @jwojwo Yes it is. My favs are Emperor Tomato Ketchup and Dots and Loops, but they haven't released any bad albums in my opinion. 12 hours ago
Dream Diary is a fairly new band from Brooklyn, who started playing together at the end of summer 2009. I’ve heard two of their songs, “Bird in my garden” and “Is he really mine”, both lovely pop songs with a sweet, dreamy sunshine-sound that reminds me of fine bands like The Field Mice, Brighter or The Fairways. The quartet is currently finishing the recording of their debut EP and are looking for a good label who can release it. I really like these songs, and my ears are definitely ready for more of this. Wonderful songs!
Matinée Recordings have a lot of good news for us, including a couple of free mp3s from some of our favourite bands. The label have several new and very interesting releases ready now, including:
+ matcd054: Northern Portrait – Criminal Art Lovers CD
+ matcd053: The Electric Pop Group – Seconds CD
+ matcd050: Various Artists – The Matinée Grand Prix CD
+ matinée 073: Pale Sunday – Shooting Star CDEP
Mmmm… New music from Denmark’s Northern Portrait… I could listen to this all day!
On the Matinée Grand Prix album, you will find mostly new songs from Northern Portrait, Strawberry Whiplash, The Lucksmiths, The Electric Pop Group, Clay Hips, Tender Trap, Simpático, Cats on Fire, Bubblegum Lemonade, Math And Physics Club and The Guild League.
I am 99.9% sure that the first release in 2010 will be from the fine indie-label WIAWIYA (Where it’s at is where you are). Why so sure, you ask? At 00:01 on 1st January 2010, they will relese the debut solo single by DAVID TATTERSALL (lead singer of The Wave Pictures) as a free download.
The single is called “HAPPY FOR A WHILE”, and this is the title-track from his forthcoming album on wiaiwya, due for release in April. The song is co-written and featuring Stanley Brinks (AKA Andre Herman Dune). The 2 track-single will also include Wave Pictures’ cover of Bruce Springsteen‘s “Pony Boy” (-some readers may know that the band covered another Springsteen track for the cover-album “play some pool, skip some school, act real cool” (spotify-link) early in 2009).
Should you be at your computer on 01.01.10 at 00:01? Yes, you definitely should. The free download single will only be available in 1000 copies, and I guess they will be gone quite soon. The single will be available from http://www.wiaiwya.com/
Our favourite band from Finland, Cats on Fire, has surprised us with a new two-track single, “The Hague”. The single is a free digital release, and it’s not been featured on any of the band’s previous releases. The second track is a demo-version of “The Borders of this land”, which was one of the tracks on Cats on Fire’s 2009-album “Our Temperance Movement”.
According to the band, this new song should be seen as a bookend more than anything else.
You can download the whole single, including artwork and lyrics from Cosy Recordings, who co-release it together with the Cats’ Finnish label Johanna Kustannus.
I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas! The music industry is slowing down in the end of the year, but things are still happening. Here are some of the news and finds I’ve posted about on my twitter @eardrums and that have arrived in my mailbox lately. I’ll also give you some recommendations to new releases you should buy. Let’s start with some “VERY SHORTIES” and below this, you will find a lot of free goodies and music recommendations:
- JJ signs with Secretly Canadian, and jj nº 3 will be released on March 9th in the United States. UK/Scandinavian dates to be announced.
- The Second Hand Marching Band has a new EP out now on Bandcamp, “Grit and determination”. It’s available for download (name your price) and on handmade cd (only available on cd until January1). Get it from: http://thesecondhandmarchingband.bandcamp.com/
- Wool strings has added another ep on his site, free until 25.january http://bit.ly/6YPt8H.
- Sondre Lerche covers Animal Collective’s “Bluish.” http://is.gd/5yO2A [MP3]. He actually made me re-discover this great song!
- Camera Obscura gives away “The Blizzard” as a present now: http://bit.ly/5klJKx - New song from Trembling Blue Stars on myspace! It’s really lovely! I’ve missed that voice… http://bit.ly/8pAc4I
- Hybris & Elias and the Wizzkids gives you the new eatw single Oh These Nights for free http://bit.ly/4ugpwr. A full 2 track single is available for sale at klicktrack.com.
- Labrador records announces new albums from Sambassadeur, The Radio Dept., Club 8, Suburban Kids and Acid House Kings.
- Dark Captain Light Captain will release a new album in the first half of 2010.
- The Album Leaf with new song/mp3, tournews + coverart: http://bit.ly/4K3hLr
- 7 songs free cover ep from Fireflieshttp://bit.ly/4Zlm9q. His new album “Autumn Almanac” is now ready for ordering at his myspace. Lovely!
- jj cover Akon’s Troublemaker. http://tinyurl.com/ydvlocc
- Kristin Hersh has now got two entire albums of free songs on Cash Music, and I think she will be happy if you donate some money in the donationbox. Great songs! While you’re donating, give some money to Vic Chesnut’s (RIP) family via Kristin’s site.
- The Drums have made a new video, “I felt stupid”:
SOME RECOMMENDED RELEASES I HAVE BOUGHT LATELY
Most of these should be available in digital format on either iTunes, 7digital, eMusic, AmieStreet, Klicktrack or from the labels/artists websites. Contact me if you can’t find out where to buy a specific album, and I’ll help you. Most are fresh this week, but some may be older. They’re good anyway!
Kommun – Kommun (album)
Craig Ramsey – Parting gift for a party girl (1/2 of Bears’ solo album, -lovely melody-pop!)
The Second Hand Marching Band – Grit and Determination (buy from http://thesecondhandmarchingband.bandcamp.com/)
Bears – Snowman ep (now available on itunes)
Fireflies – Autumn Almanac (album)
Lofty Heights – Eye Contact (brilliant single!)
Magic Kids – Hey Boy (another brilliant single!)
Best Coast – two eps/singles: Make you mine + When I’m with you
Christopher Smith – Keepsake ep
Monty – En till himmel (new single from Montt Mardie’s new Swedish speaking alias. Sounds great!)
Frankie Rose – Thee only one (single)
Pascal – Dansa (I love this band, and this is their new single. Album coming in 2010!)
Sacred Harp – Sacred Harp ep (very interesting new Norwegian band. Ordered from their myspace)
Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard (new single!)
