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Driftless Pony Club : Cholera
By Greg Swan, on September 28th, 2006%
Driftless Pony Club
Cholera
Chicago’s Driftless Pony Club are releasing their second full-length album in Minneapolis this week, and it’s a CD release show not to be missed.
With barking Fred Schneider-influenced vocals (B-52s) set to grooving bass and buzzy brash guitars, the 12 hyper-rock tracks on Cholera are exceptionally mature and refined for the indie rock noise genre.
They sound a lot like Modest Mouse, but the songwriting arrangements are unique — tracks like “Carry a Torch” and “Let’s Do This Here” are surprising complex for 3 minute tracks. And while sometimes the tracks are a bit belabored (“Mountains and Ruins”), we really like . . . → Read More: Driftless Pony Club : Cholera
Emily Haines & Soft Skeleton : Knives Don't Have Your Back
By Greg Swan, on September 27th, 2006%
Emily Haines & Soft Skeleton
Knives Don’t Have Your Back
Label: Last Gang Records
Release date: September 26, 2006
It’s been rainy in cold in Minnesota the past few weeks. Luckily, there’s nothing that goes better with dreariness than melancholy piano ballads.
Emily Haines, of Broken Social Scene and Metric, released her solo album this week, Knives Don’t Have Your Back. A meandering journey into love, loss, failed relationships and strife set to piano, organ and strings, Knives is the complete opposite of the shoulder-shrugging in-your-face punk of Metric. . . . → Read More: Emily Haines & Soft Skeleton : Knives Don't Have Your Back
Perfect Porridge Contest: Kasabian
By Greg Swan, on September 26th, 2006%
England’s Kasabian are soaking in the good reviews for their new album, Empire (our review), which dropped stateside in August. Check out the video for “Empire” here (WIN).
What You Could Win:
To celebrate the new disc and tour, we’re giving away a copy of the new album, Empire, a copy of the “Empire” CD single and a deck of Kasabian-branded playing cards.
To win, simply e-mail us your name and address with “Kasabian Contest” in the subject by Tuesday, October 3, and we’ll pick a winner at random.
The group hits Minneapolis’ Fine Line Music Café with Mew (our review) on October . . . → Read More: Perfect Porridge Contest: Kasabian
Sebastien Schuller : Happiness
By Greg Swan, on September 26th, 2006%
Sebastien Schuller
Happiness
Label: Minty Fresh Records
Release Date: September 26, 2006
French percussionist Sebastien Schuller is releasing his U.S. debut today on Minty Fresh, and it’s really super good.
We’ve had a copy for a few weeks now and have really enjoyed the beautiful minimalism and measured approach Schuller takes on this record. Each note has a place and a purpose with a European-gypsy-meets-Thom Yorke-Eraser vibe.
For instance, we love the honk-a-long organ on “Ride Along the Cliff” and the instrumental ambient daydream of “Where We Had Never Gone.” But we really like the gentle sing-song sway of the single, “Weeping Willow,” for which you can . . . → Read More: Sebastien Schuller : Happiness
The Slats make Spin Magazine
By Greg Swan, on September 26th, 2006%
Minneapolis/Iowa City indie-post-punk group The Slats are featured in the new issue of SPIN, who talks up “King of Hawaii” from the new record, Boom Patrol. Listed under a feature “Songs To Download Now!” on pg. 24.
We love this album. Congrats, guys!
We don’t have “Kings of Hawaii” for you, but check these two out:
The Slats — “Ironman” (mp3)
The Slats — “Bash the . . . → Read More: The Slats make Spin Magazine
New Music Tuesday : mp3s
By Greg Swan, on September 26th, 2006%
The Johns
Preacher
Label: Anko Records
Buy at iTunes Music Store
MP3: “Preacher” (MP3, 192kbps)
Only Son
The Drop To The Top
Label: Cassette Recordings
Buy at iTunes Music Store
MP3: “House On The Highway” (MP3, 192kbps)
Honeycut
The Day I Turned To Glass
Label: Quannum Projects
Buy at iTunes Music Store
MP3: “Shadows” . . . → Read More: New Music Tuesday : mp3s
Sparklehorse : Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain
By Greg Swan, on September 26th, 2006%
Sparklehorse
Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain
Label: Astralwerks / Emd
Release Date: September 26, 2006
North Carolina’s Sparklehorse are back – five years out from their lauded album It’s a Wonderful Life. But as we spin the disc, it seems the understated freak show that is the eccentric Mark Linkous is on a leash.
Sure, we hear the distinctive SP folk rock melodies and Linkous’ patterned vocals on the sad choruses, but there are fewer impromptu moments, pitch changes and vocal distortion – despite their collab with DJ Danger Mouse (the group also worked with Tom Waits and Steven Drodz (Flaming . . . → Read More: Sparklehorse : Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain
The Lemonheads : Self-titled
By Greg Swan, on September 26th, 2006%
The Lemonheads
Lemonheads
Label: Vagrant Records
Release Date: September 26, 2006
The first new Lemonheads album in over a decade is in stores today. And as we listen through the 11 new tracks lush with catchy rock vibes and powerpop melodies, we can’t fathom they were ever really gone.
Naturally, Evan Dando’s latest release doesn’t come close to Creator or Lick, but if you liked Come on Feel the Lemonheads, check this one out.
VH1′s streaming the whole album HERE.
The group hits Minneapolis’ 400 Bar on December . . . → Read More: The Lemonheads : Self-titled
Perfect Porridge Music News
By Greg Swan, on September 25th, 2006%
–The Transit War are shooting a video for “Radar” this week with director Darren Doane (AFI, Every Time I Die, Deftones). The melodic post-hardcore quartet from San Diego have a new disc coming out Oct. 3, Miss Your Face and will be crusing through Minneapolis’ The Entry on Oct. 7 with Allister and Self Against City.
–Fullerton, California’s Cold War Kids have announced dates from their tour with The Futureheads. Unfortunately,regardless of the insane liberal political climate that should make CWK feel right at home, they aren’t coming to MN. To promote their new album, robbers & cowards (out Oct. 10), We’ve . . . → Read More: Perfect Porridge Music News
Cursive : Ladyfinger (ne) : The Thermals : First Avenue : Minneapolis, MN 9-23-06
By Greg Swan, on September 24th, 2006%
Cursive, Ladyfinger (ne), The Thermals
September 23, 2006
First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
It was no ordinary tour stop for Nebraska’s Cursive last night at Minneapolis’ First Avenue. After Nebraska’s Ladyfinger (ne) – a talented group with a Belushi-esque spirit overcoming menial vocals – and The Thermals of Portland, Oregon – a overhyped indie punk act best heard outside during a smoke – left the stage, Minneapolis scenesters gathered in quiet expectation for Omaha’s Cursive and their First Avenue main stage debut.
Touring on their new album, Happy Hollow, the Minneapolis stop was only the second stop on the group’s extensive national tour (Fargo was #1).
With . . . → Read More: Cursive : Ladyfinger (ne) : The Thermals : First Avenue : Minneapolis, MN 9-23-06
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