We All Want Someone To Shout For

Harriet is a new Los Angeles based band who have released a fantastic song called “I Slept With All Your Mothers”. The bands drummer Henry Kwapis interned with me at Beggars Group two summers back. The band’s also fronted by former Dawes member Alex Casnoff.

Harriet carry a strong willed american rock sound that packs a powerful punch. The bands ability to convey a story is definitely something that has helped the band stand out from the rest.

“I Slept With All Your Mothers” is taken from their debut EP, Tell The Right Story, which will be self-released on January 31.

Vincent Morisset directed the music video for Arcade Fire’s “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”. The video features Régine dancing around the suburbs, in similar fashion as she does live. Watch the video below. There’s also an interactive version of the video that you can play around with here.

The National have come a long way over the last few years. Playing six shows in a row at The Beacon Theatre is no light task. Unlike other bands that have rose to fame, The National have paced themselves, letting everything happen naturally. That’s why no one is calling them sellouts. No one hates them for being able to sell out wonderful venues in NYC the minute they announce them. Everything about this band is humble, sincere, and honest. It’s why they’re the best band in America right now.

Picking a show to go to this week is like rolling a pair of dice. They’ve been altering their setlists with different songs from different era’s of their career, allowing a little something for everyone. On Thursday night they opened with “Thirsty” a song from 2002′s Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers. It was a keen reminder to the bands earlier days, a thank you to all the fans who have watched them grow ample amounts. From there, they dabble with songs from Alligator, picking two of my personal favorite cuts, the fiery “Abel” and the sincere emotional juncture that is “Baby, We’ll Be Fine”. Of course you got a strong selection of High Violets pieces (“Anyone’s Ghost”, “Conversation 16″, “England” and Boxer (“Slow Show, Squalor Victoria, “Fake Empire”).

The band were in high spirits, at ease with each other and the crowd. Matt was at the perfect buzz, hilariously starting “Sorrow” a few verses off, and realizing it after a few more. It was moments like this that make The National so much better than other bands. They connect with you on a level that’s so real, it’s scary. Just like their music. It all comes together full circle.

They threw in two rare cuts (“Exile Vilify” & “Driver, Surprise Me”) to my delight, and thankfully played both of the new songs, which are simple understated beauty. It’s always fun to get pumped up to “Mr. November” and “Terrible Love”, but after witnessing a perfect acoustic version of “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” that allowed the crowd to take over as lead vocalist, I’m 100% sure it’s the only proper way to end their shows.

The National are wrapping up their High Violet tour after this run of shows, and we may not see them again for some time. If you can, be sure to catch them either tonight or tomorrow. You won’t regret it, I promise.

The setlist, and more photos after the jump.

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Sleigh Bells have revealed the first jam from new album Reign Of Terror. It’s called “Born To Lose” and it’s the perfect introduction to Sleigh Bells version 2.0. You still got a big assault of guitar crunch and beats, but this time Alexis Krauss sound crystal clear.

A band like Sleigh Bells are going to benifit a great deal from better production. “Born To Lose” is a badass first single to release, getting me plenty excited for the rest of Reign Of Terror.

Listen to it below.

Reign Of Terror is out on February 14th via Mom + Pop Music.

Lana Del Rey’s music video for “Born 2 Die” features two tigers, an odd romantic relationship, and a overly dramatic ending. It’s very Lana Del Rey, and it’s a perfect reel of images for the song.

Watch it below.
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The Shins have announced a new album titled Port Of Morrow. It will come out sometime in March on James Mercer’s own Aural Apothecary label via Columbia Records.

Since Mercer is pretty much the only member left, he wrote all the songs and recorded most of the instruments. Greg Kurstin produced it. The album art is posted above, and the tracklist is after the jump.

Here’s a video of the band playing a new song live at a show this past summer.
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Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 show just premiered the studio version of Radiohead’s “The Daily Mail”. It’s a song that they first played at their From The Basement concert, and that they have been playing live. The band finally announced that they are releasing the proper studio sessions of “The Daily Mail” and “Staircase” on December 19.

We have a radio rip of “The Daily Mail” for you guys to enjoy for now. Is it as great as you hoped it would be after hearing it live? I think so. See what you think below.
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Watch The Vaccines perform a new song called “No Hope” live at their recent show at Brixton Academy. The guys never seem to stop releasing new material. I’m not complaining.

Watch the performance below.

The band also has a new song called “Tuck & Roll” that they included on their “Tiger Blood” single (it was also on “All In White”). It’s available purchase on iTunes here). Take a listen of a stream below.

Arches have released their new EP, Enough, for free. You can grab a free download over at their bandcamp page. It’s also available to stream below.

It’s a tight EP consisting of 4 psych-dream jams that will help get you through the drowsiness of the mid-December days. If you’re in finals mode, you know exactly what I am talking about.

If you like the EP, you can pre-order a cassette tape from Treetop Sorbe Recordings.

Fresh off releasing his new EP Center Of A Tension, Kuhlamity has released a music video for “From The East To The West” that features him and Chuuwee. It’s as real and raw as one could hope. Check it out below, and download his EP for free here.