All Smiles new Oh For The Getting And Not Letting Go is just okay

By Greg Swan, on June 30th, 2009%

The new All Smiles (aka Jim Fairchild of Grandaddy and Modest Mouse fame) album is out today. It’s Fairchild’s second full-length and is called Oh For The Getting And Not Letting Go.

After listening through a few times, I can testify the album is a safe, unobtrusive, shoulder-shrugging effort.

If this was baseball, OFTGANLG would be a base hit. Definitely not a foul ball and certainly not a home run. However, it’s a solid effort and worth a post-game pizza party with Fairchild and his teammates.

Stream the entire album . . . → Read More: All Smiles new Oh For The Getting And Not Letting Go is just okay

Open the door, get on the floor. Everybody walk the dinosaur.

By Greg Swan, on June 29th, 2009%

. . . → Read More: Open the door, get on the floor. Everybody walk the dinosaur.

Bobby Evans :"Freak-A-Zoid Robotz" Video

By Greg Swan, on June 29th, 2009%

From the press release:
Director Marcus Herring: “The visual look of the video was inspired by the beauty of low resolution pixel art in classic arcade games. I was intrigued by the idea that a face can still look beautiful even when it is scaled down to a resolution of 12 pixels tall.” As Delicious Vinyl Curator Rick Ross, who produced the video, says: “We really aimed to break that proverbial fourth wall in the gaming universe – the fine line between man, woman and machine.”

The video’s concept was based on an original arcade game specially designed for the 12-inch artwork for . . . → Read More: Bobby Evans :"Freak-A-Zoid Robotz" Video

Trainwreck Riders : "Chug Along" (mp3)

By Greg Swan, on June 29th, 2009%

San Fran’s Trainwreck Riders are sharing “Chug Along” off their new EP, The Perch (Alive Records). It’s an unobtrusive meandering soundtrack suited for a cloudy Monday morning recoviering form a weekend of exhaustive extended family visits and chores.

Trainwreck Riders : “Chug Along” (mp3)

The band plays a house show in Minneapolis on July 29 with Pretty Boy Thorston. Check their MySpace . . . → Read More: Trainwreck Riders : "Chug Along" (mp3)

It's Silversun Pickups, Manchester Orchestra ticket day!

By Greg Swan, on June 27th, 2009%

Silversun Pickups, Manchester Orchestra and Cage the Elephant will play Minneapolis’ State Theater on August 10. These are three great bands, and it’s safe to say I’m fairly psyched for this show. Tickets go on sale at noon.

Silversun Pickups are touring on their new album, Swoon, which has already surpassed the 100k sales mark. Lead single “Panic Switch” recently ranked #1 on Billboard’s Hot Modern Rock Songs chart — even more impressive since it’s been 11 years since an independent artist hit #1.

Manchester Orchestra are touring on their sophomore release, Mean Everything to Nothing and are giving away a free download . . . → Read More: It's Silversun Pickups, Manchester Orchestra ticket day!

Please insert 25 cents into your headphones to continue…

By Greg Swan, on June 26th, 2009%

. . . → Read More: Please insert 25 cents into your headphones to continue…

The Mars Volta – "Since We've Been Wrong" Video

By Greg Swan, on June 26th, 2009%

The Mars Volta – “Since We’ve Been Wrong” . . . → Read More: The Mars Volta – "Since We've Been Wrong" Video

Get Gospel Gossip's Dreamland at Turf Club tonight

By Greg Swan, on June 26th, 2009%

Saint Paul band Gospel Gossip sent me their full length this week. Huzzah.

Dreamland features big, loud guitars with sloppy sustain building a junior wall of sound — a lush reverb mess serving as a backdrop for Sarah Nienaber’s pensive, sometimes entitled lyrics.

Gospel Gossip “Nashville” (mp3)

Don’t get me wrong — I really like this. But it wasn’t until Track 4 when I finally heard Nienaber burst out the expressive emotion I encountered in their live shows.

Speaking of, check out Gospel Gossip performing live in The Current studios

Gospel Gossip play their CD Release Show at The Turf Club with Lookbook, Black Horse . . . → Read More: Get Gospel Gossip's Dreamland at Turf Club tonight

New classic rock that doesn't suck: The Lonely H (Lee’s Liquor Lounge tonight)

By Greg Swan, on June 25th, 2009%

I keep getting pitches for a Seattle-based classic rock quartet The Lonely H, and just the phrase “Seattle-based classic rock quartet” continued to puzzle me enough to finally open the CD and give it a spin.

Turns out The Lonely H are, in fact, the real deal (and you were thinking closeted sweater-wearing grungeheads). Schooled on a healthy curriculum of Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, BTO, Bad Company, CCR and the like, The Lonely H aren’t out to blaze any new musical trails but they indeed pay a decent homage to the greats on their new 12-track album (recorded on analog tape, of . . . → Read More: New classic rock that doesn't suck: The Lonely H (Lee’s Liquor Lounge tonight)

Douglas Armour : "Flushed & Flamelike, Themselves" Video

By Greg Swan, on June 25th, 2009%

Check out this Daft Punk-produced video for Douglas Armour‘s “Flushed & Flamelike, Themselves”

Douglas Armour “Flushed & Flamelike, Themselves” from daft arts . . . → Read More: Douglas Armour : "Flushed & Flamelike, Themselves" Video