Everyones favorite NYC rockers The Strokes have finally given us some insight of their soon to be 4th album. They have 3 potential songs so far. Lead singer Julian Casabalancas said that

“Some of the new stuff has a ’70s vibe, like Thin Lizzy or Elvis Costello. But then some of it is bizarre music from the future that we’re trying to tone down to sound catchy. So we’re trapped between the future and the ’70s.”

You can read the rest of the article over at NME. This is pretty good news. The album is finally underway, plus the songs sound pretty cool. Sad to see that they are not playing at APW this year….. Sigh.

[mp3] : The Strokes – Trying Your Luck

Was it possible for All Points West to out do Radiohead as a 2 night headliner? Well although there are no 2 night headliners we got 3 solid headliners and a deeper all around lineup. Check it out below:

This is pretty incredidible! Arctic Monkeys!! Vampire Weekend, The National, YYY’s, Beastie Boys, Fleet Foxes, Ra Ra Riot, MGMT, Coldplay, Echo & The bunnymen, Elbow, SilversunPickups, We Are Scientits….oh man!!!!!

This is pretty much as good of a lineup as anyone could have asked for! Tickets go on sale this Friday at noon. I will be there….will YOU???? Just the fact that Arctics are there makes me quite happy!!!

Hey guys Break Thru Radio was kind enough to name We All Want Someone To Shout For the blog of the week! How cool is that? Every week they pick a blog that they hand picked themselves and they ask us to pick 5 of our posts to display on their site, pick 17 songs, and record a few interview questions that they tie in to the show. So yeah…you can hear my own awkward voice online. Oh boy.

To hear the show all you gotta do is head over to Break Thru Radio look on the left and click The Anatomy Of A Blogger. It’s on that radio menu thing. If you want to see the posts that I submitted just click Articles and Blogger of The Week….and there you go.

They said they liked my playlist so I guess I am doing something right!

Click Here To Listen To The Show

Here are some of the songs I picked if you like’d them and want to d/l them:

[mp3] : Blitzen Trapper – Furr

[mp3] : Beach House – D.A.R.L.I.N.G.

[mp3] : My Teenage Stride – To Live and Die In Thre Airport Lounge

My Dear Disco is from Michigan and they have been working pretty hard touring non stop to try and get their name out. I usually don’t post remix’s but I thought this one was pretty cool. It is a remix of Franz Ferdinand’s “Ulysses” – probably the best track off their new album “Tonight”. I also included two other remix’s that they did. One is a remix of Kanye’s “Love Lockdown”, and the other is a track of their own called “White Lies”. Both are very cool and dance worthy for sure!

[mp3] : Franz Ferdinand – Ulysses (My Dear Disco Remix)

[mp3] : My Dear Disco – White Lies

[mp3] : Kanye West – Love Lockdown (My Dear Disco Remix)

“Laugh, It’s a Fright” is the debut album from one of my personal favorite bans that I have discovered on my blog. I also consider them friends of mine. This is why I want to apologize to the band for taking so long to writing about their album. My sincere apologizes fellas. I have been posting about these guys for some time showing you their outstanding EP and hauntingly good covers. Now, on to the album.

From the first track “This Isn’t A Fire Fortress” you get a good grasp of what the Chairs are about. Strong distinct vocals from Alex, great instrumentation that makes you forget that you are listening to a debut album. These guys play with enough skill to rub off as vets of the game. The song are well constructed with chorus, concise playing from their rhythm section, and light but well placed guitar plucking. Songs like “No Fingers” show an intimate stripped down side of the band.

“The Hipster” actually reminds me of the Cold War Kids. The Chairs are working with a very raw personal sound that suites them. Check out “If You Were a Murderer” to get a really good idea of The Chairs.  The Chairs are not afraid to use a variety of instruments that give each track a distinguishable trait.

The real strength of the band is their restraint. They allow the instruments to do the talking, and Alex to guide them with his warming vocals. (Check out “Brave The Storm”, it is a prime example) It is a formula that more bands need to stick with. Finally you have to applaud them for the albums production. The production is top notch especially for a self released album.

Overall this is one of the better true indie albums of the year. Spring is finally upon us, go for a nice drive with no destination in mind and pop in “Laugh, It’s A Fright.” It will accompany you well.

[mp3] : The Chairs – If You Were a Murderer

[mp3] : The Chairs – The Hipster

Buy the album directly from The Chairs!

Seeland is the collaboration of UK artists Tim Felton and Billy Bainbridge. The band have given us a free legal mp3 of the song “Call The Incredible” which is one their debut album “Tomorrow Today”. The song is delightful electronic-pop offering. Their sound is really mellow, providing me with a really nice listen. You gotta just put on some chill music every now and then and just kick back. These lads have a nice little things going on!

[mp3] : Seeland – Call The Incredible

visit Seland on their myspace

Think back to when Zach Braffs indie smash film Graden State came 0ut. The film got a fantastic reception (I still re watch it constantly), as well as its soundtrack. One of the bands that really saw their career take a boost from this soundtrack was The Shins. The band were always indie darlings but now they actually saw some mainstream fame. They were Sub-Pop heroes who could make a dent in the billboard charts as well as with critics and bloggers.

Well The Shins have grown up now. It has been almost been 8 years since “Oh, Inverted World” if you can believe it. The band announced that they are leaving their label Sub-Pop. Who knows where they will end up next, but my guess is a pretty big label. I am fine with this as long as they stay true to themselves. Then again we are talking about The Shins, they don’t seem like the type of band who would completely change their sound. We shall find out soon, word is that the band is working on their new album. Their is a rumor that James Mercer has been seen with Danger Mouse,  possibly a hint that a solo album is on the way?

If you want to catch the band during their free agency period these tour dates are your chance:

5/02 – Bellingham, WA @ Western Washington University
5/04 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox
5/05 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox
5/06 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
5/07 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
5/09 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
5/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
5/11 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA
5/13 – Richmond, VA @ The National
5/14 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
5/15 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live
5/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
5/17 – Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theater
5/18 – New York, NY @ Terminal Five

[mp3] : The Shins – New Slang

[mp3] : The Shins – Baby Boomerang

God that is a well done trailer. I am really, really, pumped for this movie. Plus that version of the Arcade Fire’s epic song “Wake Up” only adds to the excitement. I wounder if it will be a soundtrack exclusive?? It has been a long time since I have read the book, but oh man it looks like they did a real good job with it! Spike Jonze directed the film, and it is going to be release October 12th.

[mp3] : Arcade Fire – Wake Up

I like to read other great blogs just as much as I like to write my own. Sometimes I am less motivated to write a post if a blog friend of mine has already written about the same topic. Some people can just do it better, so why regurgitate the same thing? Either way, it is always nice to link up other blogs and help network them. Their hard work deserves to get noticed. Here are some great posts from this week that you should check out from some lovely people that are featured on my blogroll:

• Linda from speed of dark made a great post on her blog introducing a great new band: Grand Lake. She provides some nice background information on the band and offers two delicious mp3s!
• Preston from …and music will set you free introduced me to a band called Those Darlins who are starting to make a name for themselves after strong SXSW performances.
• How Marvellous has a good post on Michael Zapruder talking about his new album. Color me intrigued!
• Mars Needs Guitars is finally back after a long absence. It sure is great to have you back Merz!
• Liz from the wounderful blog the bliss list has some really good posts going on. You gotta dig posts that tie in everyday life and music! She is also really hyping The Antlers up! I gotta get around to giving them a listen!
• Side One: Track One has nice coverage of SXSW, you gotta head over there and check them out! I’m jelous!
• Adam from Pretty Much Amazing gave a thorough, whole hearted review of the new Peter Bjorn and John review. Go enlighten yourself…like…now!!!
• If you haven’t already please check out my good friend (in real life lol) Rogo’s blog It’s A Rap. He has everything from rap, r&b and rock that you need.

Here are some random tunes that I probably wouldn’t have a spot for anytime else:

[mp3] : The Walkmen – Don’t Forget Me
[mp3] : Phoenix – Lost And Found
[mp3] : Spoon – I Summon You
[mp3] : Stars – The Night Starts Here

Wow this new St. Vincent track “Actor Out Of Work” really floored me! St. Vincent’s vocals sound really beautiful and sinister over the fuzzy guitars and well used synths. Everything that she put into this 2:16 track felt in place. She is really showing why she is one of the prominent women in indie rock today. This is going on repeat for the rest of my night leading right into Lost/Southpark!

This is the second track that has surfaced from her new album “Actor”. If you missed the first track “The Strangers” you better check that out because it is one of my favorite tracks of 2009 so far! So far “Actor” is really shaping up to be a must hear album.

[mp3] : St. Vincent – Actor Out Of Work

St Vincent on: myspace | website