Wild Sweet Orange : We Have Cause to be Uneasy

By Greg Swan, on July 31st, 2008%

Birmingham, Alabama natives Wild Sweet Orange released their debut full-length record, We Have Cause to be Uneasy, this week on Canvasback Music.

The group was last in Minneapolis this February touring on their EP, The Whale.

Produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon), the new disc is definitely an album the mainstream could love.

Wild Sweet Orange : “Ten Dead . . . → Read More: Wild Sweet Orange : We Have Cause to be Uneasy

Muppet Ode to Joy and Blue Danube Waltz Videos

By Greg Swan, on July 30th, 2008%

. . . → Read More: Muppet Ode to Joy and Blue Danube Waltz Videos

Lollapalooza 2008: August 1-3, 2008 Grant Park, Chicago

By Greg Swan, on July 30th, 2008%

Lollapalooza Live . . . → Read More: Lollapalooza 2008: August 1-3, 2008 Grant Park, Chicago

Raine Maida : The Hunter's Lullaby preview streams

By Greg Swan, on July 30th, 2008%

I used to be a HUGE Our Lady Peace fan. Naveed, Clumsy, Happiness Is Not a Fish You Can Catch and Spiritual Machines have all been called favorites. I’ve driven 500 miles multiple times to see the band live.

But I couldn’t get into Gravity. The band lost founding guitarist Mike Turner (creative differences, you know) and then went to California to chill on the beach and totally lost their edge. Healthy in Paranoid Times never cut it for me, either.

Yet I’m open to giving lead singer Raine Maida another chance on his new solo LP, The Hunter’s Lullaby, which drops August . . . → Read More: Raine Maida : The Hunter's Lullaby preview streams

Beat Union : "Pressure Zone"

By Greg Swan, on July 29th, 2008%

Birmingham, England’s Beat Unionare performing at Warped this Sunday, August 3 on the Hurley.com stage. Be sure to wait for the trombone solo . . . → Read More: Beat Union : "Pressure Zone"

Skirt : Heartbeat. A Flameout

By Greg Swan, on July 29th, 2008%

Minneapolis supergroup Skirt is a blend of Minneapolis bands Chris Koza, Coach Said Not To, Seymore Saves the World, Parts For All Makes and the Mankato Symphony Orchestra.

Skirt’s debut album, Heartbeat. A Flameout, is a provoking, melodic voyage in feminine indie rock (sorry Scott Hefte [Seymore], but it’s true). Guided by Linnea Mohn (Coach Said Not To), this is the best album ever created by a garment which hangs from the waist and covers all or part of the legs.

Stream a few tracks here.

The band is taking a west coast tour this summer out to the SnowGhost studios to work with . . . → Read More: Skirt : Heartbeat. A Flameout

The Watson Twins : "How Am I To Be"

By Greg Swan, on July 28th, 2008%

The Watson Twins‘ music video for their first single, “How Am I To Be,” off their debut album . . . → Read More: The Watson Twins : "How Am I To Be"

Jars of Clay : Closer EP, play Minneapolis October 10

By Greg Swan, on July 28th, 2008%

Jars of Clay played a sweet Christmas show here in the Twin Cities (my first JOC show), and I was super impressed.

The group have a new EP, Closer, coming out on August 5 and will tour through Minneapolis, playing Target Center on October 10.

Here’s the first single…
Closer – Jars . . . → Read More: Jars of Clay : Closer EP, play Minneapolis October 10

Bands I Should Be Writing About, You Should Be Listening To

By Greg Swan, on July 28th, 2008%

Ottawa’s The Eric St-Cyr Band just released their first album, Things Left Unsaid. Listen here.

Gaby Moreno is a Guatemalan singer/songwriter currently living in Los Angeles. Listen here.

New Jersey songwriter Zak Smith just independently released an album. Here are a few tracks:

Zak Smith : “Minstrel Show” (mp3)

Zak Smith : “The Last Beat” (mp3)

I first saw Loxsly down in their hometown of Austin. They quintet sent me their new Flashlights EP, which is worth a shout.

Loxsly : Lamprey Eels (mp3)

Goldcure is another band from Austin and has a debut LP called Portuguese Prince on Sorin Records.

Goldcure : “Make It Stop” (mp3)

Goldcure : “Too . . . → Read More: Bands I Should Be Writing About, You Should Be Listening To

Marvelle, The Has Been, Fitzgerald, Harv play Nomad on August 2

By Greg Swan, on July 28th, 2008%

Marvelle, The Has Been, Fitzgerald, Harv play The Nomad on . . . → Read More: Marvelle, The Has Been, Fitzgerald, Harv play Nomad on August 2