Stream: The Roots - How I Got Over

The Roots new album promises to be something special. It features brilliant, inspired samples, as well as guest performances from a range of acts. You can stream 90 second samples of all the tunes below, including the brilliant Monsters of Folk sampling 'Dear God 2.0' and their take on Joanna Newsom with 'Right On'. the album comes out on Tuesday in the US.

Tracklist:
1. "A Peace of Light" (feat. Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian & Haley Dekle of Dirty Projectors) 1:50
2. "Walk Alone" (feat. Truck North, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw) 3:55
3. "Dear God 2.0" (feat. Monsters of Folk) 3:59
4. "Radio Daze" (feat. Blu, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw) 4:16
5. "Now Or Never" (feat. Phonte & Dice Raw) 4:34
6. "How I Got Over" (feat. Dice Raw) 3:36
7. "DillaTUDE (The Flight of Titus)" 0:42
8. "The Day" (feat. Blu, Phonte & Patty Crash) 3:44
9. "Right On" (feat. Joanna Newsom & STS) 3:36
10. "Doin' It Again" (feat. John Legend) 2:24
11. "The Fire" (feat. John Legend) 3:41
12. "Tunnel Vision" 0:40
13. "Web 20/20" (feat. Peedi Peedi & Truck North) 2:46
14. "Hustla" (feat. STS) 2:56

Album News: Eels - Tomorrow Morning

Mister E must be the most prolific artist around, it seems every month I'm posting news of a new Eels album. The latest of which is Tomorrow Morning. It's due out on August 24th and ends the trilogy of albums that started with El Hombre Loco. End Times was a pretty good album, so hopefully part 3 of 3 can keep the trend going.

Tracklist:
01 “In Gratitude For This Magnificent Day”
02 “I’m A Hummingbird”
03 “The Morning”
04 “Baby Loves Me”
05 “Spectacular Girl”
06 “What I Have to Offer”
07 “This Is Where It Gets Good”
08 “After The Earthquake”
09. “Oh So Lovely”
10 “The Man”
11 “Looking Up”
12 “That’s Not Her Way”
13 “I Like the Way This Is Going”
14 “Mystery Of Life”

Stream: Ray LaMontagne - Beg, Steal or Borrow

This is the first track we've had the chance to hear properly from Ray LaMontagne's upcoming album with the Pariah Dogs, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise. It's a nice tune, and is a good introduction for the record, especially as it features some lovely pedal steel guitar. The album itself is due August 17th.

Tracklisting:
1. Repo Man
2. New York City's Killing Me
3. God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise
4. Beg Steal Or Borrow
5. Are We Really Through
6. This Love Is Over
7. Old Before Your Time
8. For The Summer
9. Like Rock & Roll and Radio
10. The Devil's In The Jukebox

Stream Ray LaMontagne - 'Beg, Steal, or Borrow':

Stream: MIA - MAYA

The new album from MIA, called /\/\/\Y/\, is due for release on July 12th, but can now be streamed in full at the People's Music Store website. The stream allows you to listen to 30 second snippets of the entire thing, so in theory you can listen to all the album. You just have to reload every 30 seconds!

Tracklist:
1 “The Message” 0:57
2 “Steppin' Up” 4:01
3 “XXXO” 2:54
4 “Teqkilla” 6:19
5 “Lovalot” 2:50
6 “Story Told” 3:32
7 “It Takes a Muscle” 3:00
8 “It Iz What It Iz” 3:29
9 “Born Free” 4:07
10 “Meds and Feds” 3:08
11 “Tell Me Why” 4:10
12 “Space” 3:08

Stream:
http://peoplesmusicstore.com/catalogue_items/649539

Album News: Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues

The new full-length from Justin Townes Earle is one of my most anticipated albums of the year. His first two albums The Good Life and Midnight at the Movies have been fantastic, and the third features Jason Isbell on most, if not all, of the album. It's called Harlem River Blues and is due in September on Bloodshot.

Earle co-produced the album himself with Skylar Wilson, and features a fantastic supporting cast: Brian Owings on drums, Paul Niehaus (Calexico) on pedal steel guitar, and Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show) on harmonica.

Album News: Ryan Adams - Blackhole, III/IV

Great news Ryan Adams fans, he's posted some interesting photos and messages on his facebook page. The first is a picture of Ryan Adams holding up two vinyl records:

Accompanied by the following message:
"Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, "III/IV" Double LP, ( unreleased and in the vault since 2006 ) fresh from the mastering plant! Also day one of demo's went great! Have A GREAT WEEKEND yall and that's an order. XX DRA"

The second message and photo:

"oh yeah, p.s. the "Blackhole" LP ( recorded over Christmas in 2005 ) is also back from the mastering plant. I f'n love this thing. It took 4 years to make it and to me it is basically Love is Hell Part 3... lots of shimmery guitar love on this. Exciting times!!!"

He also posted this on the Ryan Adams Archive forum:
"III/IV line-up
DRA, Brad Pemberton, Catherine Popper ( her last with the bad and she sings on this one a good bit ) Neal Casal ( his first with the band )Jon Graboff ( although he is not on every track he is b.a.d.a.s.s. on this- I mean, space-rock pedal steel and out of this world playing, and Jamie C is also on this playing some kickass piano and some rhodes, B-3 hammond whatever on "Dear Candy"
It's a crazy listen. 4 sides of serious old-school post-rock, post-punk American RocknRoll kinda stuff.
It sounds more like what live Cards sounded like in my opinion."

III/IV was recorded in 2006 and was mooted as the follow-up to Cold Roses, and Blackhole is one of fans' most anticipated. Mine too. Love is Hell 3? I'm sold.

No info on when and how these records will be released, but I'd expect a vinyl/digital package like the Orion LP he released last month.

Live: Enemies at Whelan's

Meant to talk about this earlier, but Enemies are launching their debut album We've Been Talking upstairs in Whelan's tonight. Support comes from the wonderful Super Extra Bonus Party as well as Mia Sparrow.

Tickets are €15 on the door, and come with the album! (Or €10 for your partner without the album. No point having two right?)

Speaking of which, you can stream the album in full on State magazine's gorgeous new website here:
http://www.state.ie/2010/06/mp3/stream-enemies-album-weve-been-talking/

Album News: RPA and the United Nations of Sound - United Nations of Sound

Good news Richard Ashcroft solo fans (not so sure whether it's good news for Verve fans, but you must admit that Forth was fairly disappointing). He's back with a new project, RPA and the United Nations of Sound. Richard Ashcroft, alongside Steve Wyreman (guitar), Paul ‘DW’ Wright (bass), and Derrick Wright (drums) are to release debut album United Nations of Sound on July 16th on Parlophone. The album is produced by Chicago hip-hop producer No ID (Common, Jay-Z), with string arrangements from Benjamin Wright (Michael Jackson), and engineering by Reggie Dozier (Outkast, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye). Not a bad castlist at all.

Tracklist:
1. Are You Ready
2. Born Again
3. America
4. This Thing Called Life
5. Beatitudes
6. Good Loving
7. How Deep Is Your Man
8. She Brings Me The Music
9. Royal Highness
10. Glory
11. Life Can Be So Beautiful
12. Let My Soul Rest

Watch rehearsal footage:

Album News: Pete Yorn - Self-titled

Pete Yorn is set to release his fifth album on September 28th. It comes out on Vagrant and is self-titled. Biggest news of all is that it was produced by Frank Black (or Black Francis) of the Pixies.

Black had this to say of the record: "Pete told me he wanted to better define himself as an artist. I think he just wanted to rock out. But as we headed down a path of realization I stripped him down a whole bunch. We battled in the best sort of way. I tried to get the session into a fearless and raw place, and to his artistic credit Pete took his songwriting to a fearless and raw place. This listener will find his or herself sitting right next to Pete on the couch. And the record totally rocks out."

Tracklist:
1. Precious Stone
2. Rock Crowd
3. Velcro Shoes
4. Paradise Cove I
5. Badman
6. The Chase
7. Sans Fear
8. Always
9. Stronger than
10. Future Life
11. Wheels

Album News: Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier

Not only will Irish fans get the chance to see Iron Maiden live this summer at the O2 on July 30th, but two weeks later can get the chance to hear brand new studio tracks on the band's fifteenth album, The Final Frontier. Better still, the band are giving away one of the album's ten songs, 'El Dorado', as a free mp3 download on their official site from today.

Tracklist:
1. Satellite 15.....The Final Frontier 8:40
2. El Dorado 6:49
3. Mother Of Mercy 5:20
4. Coming Home 5:52
5. The Alchemist 4:29
6. Isle Of Avalon 9:06
7. Starblind 7:48
8. The Talisman 9:03
9. The Man Who Would Be King 8:28
10. When The Wild Wind Blows 10:59

Download 'El Dorado':
http://www.ironmaiden.com/download/index.html

Watch: Seth Lakeman - Hearts and Minds

Hearts and Minds is the new album from Seth Lakeman, and like a lot of his albums so far contains a track with the same name as the album. The song 'Hearts and Minds' is the first single from the album. The single is due out June 21st, with the album following a week later.

Watch Seth Lakeman 'Hearts and Minds':

Seth Lakeman - Hearts & Minds (HD)

Album News: David Gray - Foundling

Just a year after releasing his seventh album, David Gray is back with yet another full-length record. This new one is called Foundling and is due August 17th.

The press release states "The first single, 'A Moment Everything Changes' is an upbeat driving force, while songs such as the album opener 'Only The Wine' and the bluesy title track 'Foundling' show David Gray’s understated artistry and hauntingly beautiful vocals that have garnered him fans across the globe. "

Strangely enough, the lead single is from the bonus disc, and not from the main album itself.

Tracklist:
Disc 1
1. Only The Wine
2. Foundling
3. Forgetting
4. Gossamer Thread
5. The Old Chair
6. In God’s Name
7. We Could Fall In Love Again Tonight
8. Holding On
9. When I Was In Your Heart
10. A New Day At Midnight
11. Dave Jones' Locker


Disc 2 - BONUS DISC
1. Fixative
2. Morning Theme
3. The Dotted Line
4. A Million Years
5. Who's Singing Now
6. Old Father Time
7. Indeed I Will
8. A Moment Changes Everything
9. More To Me Now

Album News: Ray LaMontagne - God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise

Great news for Ray LaMontagne's many, many Irish fans. The 'Trouble' singer is back with his fourth album God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise. It's credited to Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs, who consist of Jay Bellarose (drums), Jennifer Condos (bass), Patrick Warren (keyboard), Eric Heywood (guitar) and Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar). It was recorded in two weeks in Ray's own studio at his house in the woods and is entirely self-produced. (Which marks a change from LaMontagne's usual producer Ethan Johns).

The album is slated for US release on August 17th, with the Irish release four days earlier.

Track listing:
1. Repo Man
2. New York City's Killing Me
3. God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise
4. Beg Steal Or Borrow
5. Are We Really Through
6. This Love Is Over
7. Old Before Your Time
8. For The Summer
9. Like Rock & Roll and Radio
10. The Devil's In The Jukebox

Stream: Tift Merritt - See You on the Moon

2008's Another Country was a decent country-pop record from Tift Merritt. For her new album, however, Merritt has taken out most of the pop and made a more straight-up country album. It's more of a throwback to her first and second albums, and is sure to please her early fans. See You on the Moon has just been released in America, and can be streamed in full on Merritt's official website. (The album cover isn't great though!)

Tracklist:
Mixtape
Engine To Turn
Things That Everybody Does, The
Six More Days of Rain
Feel Of The World (with Jim James)
Never Talk About It
All The Reasons We Don’T Have To Fight
Live Till You Die
Papercut
See You On the Moon
Danny’S Song
After Today
Bar With A TV On

Stream:
http://www.tiftmerritt.com/discography/see-you-on-the-moon/

Album News: Ryan Bingham - Junky Star

After getting my hands on new albums from Villagers, Divine Comedy, Drive-By Truckers, the National, the Hold Steady, and many more, I wasn't quite sure what to look forward to for the rest of 2010. Luckily, there's still a few more great albums on the way (Justin Townes Earle' Harlem River Blues, Drive-By Truckers Go Go Boots, and the new Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit record to name a few). So now I'm even more delighted that Academy Award winner Ryan Bingham is back with a new album in September.

It'll be under the moniker Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses, and is called Junky Star. It's due out in America on Lost Highway on September 7th, so expect it on the 4th in Ireland. It's produced by T-Bone Burnett, who was also responsible for that excellent Oscar winning song 'The Weary Kind'.

You can also hear two new songs from the album on Bingham's MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/ryanbingham

Album News: Guggenheim Grotto - The Universe is Laughing

The Guggenheim Grotto's last album (their second), Happy the Man, was one of my favourite Irish albums of 2008. It was a marvellous pop-rock record. So when I saw over on IndieLimerick that there was a new one imminent, I had to find out more.

The Universe is Laughing is the band's third full-length, and has been release online on their official website.

Tracklist:
1. Trust Me I’m A Thief
2. Map Of The Human Heart
3. Wings And Feathers
4. Never Before
5. Concentrate
6. Wisdom
7. Ruby Heart
8. The Spiegel Song
9. The Universe Is Laughing
10. Diamond.

Stream 'Wisdom':

More info/buy:
http://www.guggenheimgrotto.com/

Album News: Feeder - Renegades

After toying with the Renegades side-project, Feeder are back under their original moniker, and have chosen to call their new album Renegades instead. They had released an EP as Renegades, but their new full-length will be a Feeder record. The lead single from the album is 'Call Out', which comes out on June 14th, and had previously been a side-project tune. The album itself is due July 5th.

Feeder are due to play the Academy on August 19th.

Tracklist:
1. "White Lines"
2. "Call Out"
3. "Renegades"
4. "Sentimental"
5. "This Town"
6. "Down to the River"
7. "Home"
8. "Barking Dogs"
9. "City in a Rut"
10. "Left Foot Right"
11. "The End"
12. "Godhead"

Watch Feeder/Renegades 'Call Out' live:

Album News: Rhymefest - El Che

Rhymefest has had a very succesful career so far even though the man born Che Smith has only released one proper album so far. He's a Grammy Award winning songwriter, having co-wrote 'Jesus Walks' with Kanye West, and his Man in the Mirror mixtape (released before Michael Jackson's death) is one of the finest mixtapes I have heard in years. His debut album Blue Collar came out in 2006, and next week he's due to release the follow-up El Che. It's set to be good, the man is damn talented.

Tracklist:
1. "Intro: The Agent"
2. "Talk My Shit"
3. "Say Whassup" (feat. Phonte of Little Brother)
4. "How High" (feat. Little Brother & Darien Brockington)
5. "Chocolates"
6. "One Arm Push Up"
7. "Prosperity"
8. "Truth On You" (feat. Twone Gabz)
9. "Intermisson: Juan Carlos"
10. "Chicago"
11. "Agony" (feat. Glenn Lewis)
12. "Last Night"
13. "Give It to Me" (feat. Saigon & Adad)
14. "Intermission: No Help"
15. "City Is Fallen" (feat. Slique)
16. "Celebration"

Album Cover: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

It's not just the new Arcade Fire 7" that's called The Suburbs, it's also been confirmed as the title of their new album, which is due on August 2nd/3rd (July 30th in Ireland). BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe played both of the new songs, 'The Suburbs' and 'Month of May' in their entirety yesterday, so you can have a listen to them in full below.

Stream 'The Suburbs':


Stream 'Month of May':

Watch: Tom Petty - I Should Have Known It

Tom Petty is awesome. That's all that needs to be said. With an album as good as Full Moon Fever, who can argue? He's back with his Heartbreakers for a new album Mojo later this year, and has just unleashed the excellent first single. Have a look here...

Watch Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - 'I Should Have Known It':

Album News: Nick Cave - Grinderman 2

Nick Cave's non-Bad Seeds project Grinderman are back with a second album of dirty rock. Grinderman 2 is due for release September 13th across Europe on Mute Records (so make that the 10th in Ireland).

It was recorded in London, and is produced by the band themselves along with the debut album's producer Nick Launay. They've also announced Autumn European dates, but no Irish one.

Tour Dates:
09-25 Nottingham, England - Rock City
09-27 Leeds, England - University
09-28 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands
09-29 Manchester, England - Academy
10-01 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
10-04 Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks
10-05 Zurich, Switzerland - Volkshaus
10-06 Milan, Italy - Live
10-07 Rome, Italy - Atlantico
10-10 Vienna, Italy - Gasometer
10-11 Munich, Germany - Muffathalle
10-13 Leipzig, Germany - Haus Auensee
10-14 Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
10-15 Cologne, Germany - E-Werk
10-17 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
10-20 Utrecht, Netherlands - MCV
10-21 Hamburg, Germany - Docks
10-23 Copenhagen, Denmark - Falkoner Theatre
10-24 Randers, Denmark - Power Station
10-26 Paris, France - Cite de la Music

Vintage Review: Robert Post - Robert Post

If you were wondering what Conor O'Brien did between the Immediate and Villagers, here's what he was up to. Well, actually not, but just compare their voices. Identical.



Robert Post - Robert Post

Originally posted on March 22nd 2006 on Canadian website TwoWayMonologues.

We here at twowaymonologues are big fans of Scandinavian music – after all, the website is named after the second album of Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche (for those who didn’t know). A few months ago, I selected Robert Post’s ‘Got None’, an early single from his debut album for Track-Fu. Unfortunately neither Dan nor I could locate the song, and something else was entered in its place. The album itself wasn’t easy to find either, and after much searching (like Terri’s attempt to find Jamie Lidell, or Brandon’s attempt to find Waldo), I came across the album in a second-hand record store in Dublin (if you’re ever in Dublin, make sure you give Freebird Records a visit!) So now, some months after its European release, I can finally review it.

The album opens very strongly with ‘There’s One Thing’. It’s somewhat similar to the kind of music the aforementioned Lerche makes. And people from Norway sound great singing in English – it’s something about the accent which works so well. The chorus here is really catchy, and the song has that familiar feel – like you’ve heard it before, even though there’s possibly no way you even knew who Robert Post was before you saw this review. For me, however, two of the songs here I have heard before – both ‘Got None’ and ‘New Born’ are in the rotation in the shop where I work (there’s about 300 or 400 songs, so you don’t hear them too often). The way Post sings “girls” on ‘Got None’ is more alluring than any way Hugh Hefner could say it! The chorus is really breezy, and the female backing vocals really enhance the song.

The trend of powerful memorable choruses is continued with ‘Silence Makes Him Sick’ – a percussion led song with a very pounding melody – think Eleanor Rigby for the modern generation. It’s not every day you compare someone to the Beatles. Post however, isn’t bigger than Jesus! The piano solo is notable, and sticks out as a strong point on an album full of strong points. ‘High Tide’ slows things down a bit, and replaces the powerful chorus with a nice soul-infused one. The female backing returns to prominence, and Post once again speaks of “girls” – damn I wish I could say it the way he does. That accent would get more women than Sean Connery’s accent!

‘More and More’ is another great pop song, and it’s a wonder why I’ve never heard it on the radio or seen it on MTV (probably because it’s not crap like Cribs or Room Raiders!) The song would be excellent live, as there’s a clap-track in the background, and it’d be sure to get the audience going. The album is full of great pop songs, and ‘Big Boat’ is another one. Although how anyone can be “on a date with the moon” I don’t know. Maybe it’s the man in the moon, he’s on a date with… The bridge section and outro here are excellent and sound like they wouldn’t have been out of place on Parachutes or A Rush of Blood to the Head.

‘New Born’ is a return to the powerful up-tempo chorus, and this chorus perfectly contrasts as well as compliments the verses. ‘Everything is Fine’ is a slower, acoustic number. Fortunately, Post does the down-tempo just as well as he does the up-tempo. It’s the album’s “sit down and get your cigarette lighters out” song. ‘Ocean & A Tear’, one of the best songs on the album, is quite similar to the album’s opener – and that isn’t a bad thing. It shows that Post’s lyrics are just as good as any native English speaker, as the tune is full of excellent maritime metaphors. The song itself is even like the sea: sometimes calm, sometimes choppy, and like Ishmael’s Oceans, very engrossing.

‘Come Home’ is the album’s weak point. It’s a slow song, and seems like there’s something missing throughout. The album’s bonus track, ‘Far Away From This Town’ also suffers from this symptom. It tries to be sentimental, but does this at the expense of what makes this album – strong pop hooks. It’s a nice little ditty, but unfortunately is just that: a little ditty.

Tracks to Download: There’s One Thing, Ocean & A Tear, Got None, New Born

8.0 – a very solid pop album, and ranks up there with Sondre Lerche and Norway’s finest. Let down by the last two songs though.

Live: Gavin Glass at Whelan's

Gavin Glass is set to release his third album Myna Birds on Thursday, May 27th with a special launch party at Whelan's. Myna Birds is the follow-up to his well-received Gavin Glass and the Holy Shakers.

In between then and now, Glass also appeared on Lisa Hannigan's Sea Sew, as well as being part of her touring entourage. Luckily for us though, he's back with a new record. You may have already heard 'Ooh La La' from it, as it appeared on a recent Meteor ad.

Tickets for the launch show are on sale now and cost €15. Support on the night comes from I Draw Slow.

Album News: The Walpurgis Family - Midsummer Party

Midsummer Party is the debut album from the bastard child of Groom, The Walpurgis Family. It's due for release this weekend with a special launch party at Bewley's Cafe Theatre on Friday, the 21st of May. Support for the release party comes from Jonny Fun and The... Hesitations and Mumblin' Deaf Ro.

The Walpurgis Family are made up of 3/5ths of Groom, and make equally melodic songs. Their press release compares them to Wilco and Yo La Tengo, and it's not half wrong. Midsummer Party is a lightning burst of an album, at only 27 minutes, it's full of quick fist-pounding tunes.

They'll also be playing Whelan's on June 19th as part of the Popical Island Collective.

Download:
The Walpurgis Family - 'Output One Two'
The Walpurgis Family - 'Lost in Public Transportation'

More info:
http://www.myspace.com/walpurgisfamily

Album News: Made in Iceland 3

Compilation albums are tricky things. Most of the time they're not successful, as one act always shines far above the others. On the flip side, compilation albums are great because you get to hear songs and bands you would have never heard otherwise (unless it's a Now That's What I Call Music record). Made in Iceland 3 features some new(ish) tracks from most of Iceland's best loved musicians. As well as a tune from Sigur Rós's Jonsi ('Boy Lilikoi'), there's excellent songs from Olafur Arnalds and Valgeir Sigurdsson.

Made in Iceland III is out now on Iceland Music Export.

TRACKLISTING:
1. For a Minor Reflection // Dansi Dans
2. Jonsi // Boy Lilikoi
3. Hjaltalin // Suitcase Man
4. Reykjavik! // Repticon
5. Seabear // I'll Build You a Fire
6. Ben Frost // Hibakusja
7. Stafraenn Hakon // Temporality
8. Berndsen // Supertime
9. Kimono // Tomorrow
10. Valgeir Sigurdsson // Past Tundra
11. Benni Hemm Hemm // Retaliate
12. Pondus // Not Again
13. Lay Low // Aukalagid
14. Feldberg // Dreamin'
15. Snorri Helgason // Freeze Out
16. Sam Amidon // How Come That Blood
17. SkakkaManage // Now or Never
18. Sudden Weather Change // St. Peter's Day
19. Emiliana Torrini // Beggar's Prayer
20. Olafur Arnalds // Tunglid

Sample:
Olafur Arnalds - 'Tunglid'
Hjaltalin - 'Suitcase Man'

More info:
www.icelandmusic.is

Stream: Muse - Neutron Star Collision

Muse premiered their brand new single 'Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever)' last night. It's due to appear on the soundtrack for the third Twilight movie, Eclipse which comes out next month. The soundtrack itself is due June 8th.

Tracklist:
1. Metric – "Eclipse (All Yours)"
2. Muse – "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)"
3. The Bravery – "Ours"
4. Florence + the Machine – "Heavy in Your Arms"
5. Sia – "My Love"
6. Fanfarlo – "Atlas"
7. Metallica - "Blackened"
8. The Black Keys – "Chop and Change"
9. The Dead Weather – "Rolling in on a Burning Tire"
10. Beck and Bat for Lashes – "Let's Get Lost"
11. Vampire Weekend – "Jonathan Low"
12. UNKLE featuring The Black Angels – "With You in My Head"
13. Eastern Conference Champions – "A Million Miles an Hour"
14. Band of Horses – "Life on Earth"
15. Cee-Lo Green – "What Part of Forever"
16. Howard Shore – "Jacob's Theme"


Stream:

Album News: Wolf Parade - Expo 86

The third album from Spencer Krug's excellent Wolf Parade, Expo 86 is due for release in June, and from the previews of it (i.e. it leaked at the weekend), it's going to be mega. If you want to steer on the legal side of things, have a listen to mp3s of two of the songs below (thanks to Pitchfork).

Tracklist:
1. "Cloud Shadow on the Mountain" - 4:22
2. "Palm Road" - 4:41
3. "What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had to Go This Way)" - 5:42
4. "Little Golden Age" - 5:00
5. "In the Direction of the Moon" - 5:46
6. "Ghost Pressure" - 5:16
7. "Pobody's Nerfect" - 5:50
8. "Two Men in New Tuxedos" - 3:09
9. "Oh You, Old Thing" - 5:46
10. "Yulia" - 3:47
11. "Cave-o-Sapien" - 6:19

Download:
Wolf Parade - 'Ghost Pressure'
Wolf Parade - 'What Did My Lover Say'

Watch: Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks

The video for the title track from the debut album of Karen Elson has been released. The album, The Ghost Who Walks, comes out on Third Man Records next weekend, and looks set to be fantastic.

Tracklist:
1. The Ghost Who Walks
2. The Truth Is In The Dirt
3. Pretty Babies
4. Lunasa
5. 100 Years From Now
6. Stolen Roses
7. Cruel Summer
8. Garden
9. The Birds They Circle
10. A Thief At My Door
11. The Last Laugh
12. Mouths To Feed

Watch Karen Elson - 'The Ghost Who Walks':

Download: Drive-By Truckers - Ray's Automatic Weapon

Drive-By Truckers pulled out a new song last week during a live show at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado. It's called 'Ray's Automatic Weapon', and according to frontman Patterson Hood, it has already been recorded in studio for the band's second album of the year, Go Go Boots. Download the song as an mp3 below, and then go have a listen to the full show.

1. Intro (Your Woman Is A Living Thing)
2. The Fourth Night of My Drinking
3. Three Dimes Down
4. Life in the Factory
5. Gravity's Gone
6. Ray's Automatic Weapon
7. Birthday Boy
8. Girls Who Smoke
9. Daddy Needs A Drink
10. A Ghost To Most
11. Home Field Advantage
12. Sink Hole
13. Uncle Frank
14. This Fucking Job
15. Get Downtown
16. (It's Gonna Be) I Told You So
17. Drag The Lake Charlie
18. Zip City
19. Ronnie and Neil
20. Road Cases
21. 72 (this highway's mean)
22. After The Scene Dies
23. Self Destructive Zones
24. Buttholeville > State Trooper
---
25. Encore Intro
26. Marry Me
27. Jay's Circus Intro > The Flying Wallendas
28. Hell No, I Ain't Happy
29. Shut Up and Get On The Plane
30. Let There Be Rock
31. Rockin' In The Free World

Download:
Drive-By Truckers - 'Ray's Automatic Weapon'

Full Show

Album News: Brandon Flowers - Flamingo

While I'm not the biggest Killers fan (I thought they were awful when they played Oxegen a few years back - the year before the headlined it, I think), I can appreciate the music they make and Brandon Flowers' swagger as a frontman. Thus my ears pricked up a little when I heard news of his debut solo album. The biggest selling point for me though is the fact that it's being produced by legendary Daniel Lanois (who worked on some of U2's finest records as well as having an impressive if underrated solo career). Pop producer Brendan O'Brian is also on board, so it should be a great pop-rock record.

Confirmed Tracks (not even a quarter of a Tracklist):
Hard Enough
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

In the new issue of NME Magazine, Flowers gives an in-depth interview about the upcoming solo album, and how he wished it was a Killers record. Have a full read of the article by clicking on the picture below...

Watch: The Divine Comedy - At the Indie Disco

The Divine Comedy's tenth album (yes, ten, impressive eh?) Bang Goes the Knighthood will be released on May 31st, and is sure to be every bit as good as their past attempts, especially if lead single 'At the Indie Disco' is anything to go by. Watch the video for it below.

Tracklist:
1. "Down In The Street Below"
2. "The Complete Banker"
3. "Neapolitan Girl"
4. "Bang Goes The Knighthood"
5. "At The Indie Disco"
6. "Have You Ever Been in Love"
7. "Assume the Perpendicular"
8. "The Lost Art of Conversation"
9. "Island Life"
10. "When a Man Cries"
11. "Can You Stand Upon One Leg"
12. "I Like"


Watch The Divine Comedy 'At the Indie Disco':

Live: The New Breed Launch Party at Tower Records

Tower Records is often host to a lot of great intimate gigs, many of which cost nothing at all to attend. One such one is this Friday's (rescheduled) launch of the excellent new compilation album The New Breed. Attending and playing the launch party at Tower Records this Friday, from 5 p.m. will be Ham Sandwich, The Minutes, The Ambience Affair, and Dark Room Notes. Each band is due to play three or four songs, so it's sure to be fantastic.

Here's a reminder of the tracklist for The New Breed:
DISC ONE
Two Door Cinema Club I Can Talk
CODES This is Goodbye
Dark Room Notes Love Like Nicotine
Messiah J and The Expert Turn The Magic On
Oliver Cole What will you do?
The Blizzards Fantasy
Fred Running
The Laundry Shop Highs and Lows
Delorentos S.E.C.R.E.T
Ham Sandwich St. Christopher
Republic of Loose Comeback Girl
Mick Flannery Tomorrows Paper
The Chapters Videotapes
The Minutes Ukraine
The Urges The Urges Theme
The Revellions Ain't no Fool
Crayonsmith Lost In The Forest
The Jimmy Cake Jettas Palace
Declan O'Rourke Galileo
Julie Feeney Myth
Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club Back To Before

DISC TWO
Le Galaxie We Bleed The Blood Of Androids
The Ambience Affair Devil In the Detail
Cathy Davey Moving
Halves Medals
Subplots Poltis
Halfset Work
Stellarsound Ft Paula Flynn Lets Dance
Roisin Murphy Overpowered
Patrick Kelleher Coat To Wear
Vyvienne Long They’re Not Waving
Lisa Hannigan Lille
Rarely Seen Above Ground Stick To Your Line
And So I Watch You From Afar These Riots Are Just the Beginning
BATS Credulous! Credulous!
Adebisi Shank You Me
Heathers Remember When
David Kitt It's Yours
Valerie Francis Slow Dynamo
The Coronas Grace Don’t Wait

Album News: Fast Forward - An Indie Music Compilation to World Cup 2010

This is perhaps one of the best ideas I've seen in a very long time. It's a collection of 32 songs - one for each team - about the World Cup, featuring some of Ireland's finest artists. Well it's about as close as we're going to get to the World Cup, especially when you look at the French tune, 'Irlande' from the Very Most. Some of the highlights for me have to be Grand Pocket Orchestra, Pearse McLoughlin, Hunter-Gatherer, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

There's some wonderful tunes on here, and it's an album you'll keep coming back to. You can stream it in full over at Indiecater Records' website, or else buy the whole damn thing for €5. A measly €5 for 32 songs!

1) Cop On The Edge - Bafana Bafana (RSA)
2) Standard Fare - Vaya Vaya México! (MEX)
3) Showstar - Uruguay! (URU)
4) The Very Most - Irlande (FRA)
5) The Dirty 9s - Ballad of El Diego (ARG)
6) Grand Pocket Orchestra - Nigeria (NGA)
7) Pearse McLoughlin - Jongmyo Shrine (KOR)
8) At Last An Atlas - The Pirate Ship (GRE)
9) Detox Cute - St George's Day (ENG)
10) Echo Orbiter - Game Without A Name (USA)
11) Boca Chica - Wildlife of Algeria (ALG)
12) Lightholler - Slovenia's Dream (SVN)
13) Betty and the Cavalero - Meet Me At The Red Light (GER)
14) Sleep Good - Australia (AUS)
15) Hunter-Gatherer - Serbia (SRB)
16) The Invisible Clock Factory - We Are The Black Stars (GHA)
17) Burning Codes - Wooded Land (NED)
18) Cleemann - Princes of Denmark (DEN)
19) Goatboy - Japanese City Nights (JPN)
20) Spirit Spine - Field Way (Song For Cameroon) (CMR)
21) Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - Don't Get Fooled By The Football
Players' Summery Outfit (ITA)
22) Harry Bird - Pesadilla No.7 (PAR)
23) Adam & Darcie - Aotearoa (NZL)
24) Escape Act - Slovakia (SVK)
25) Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Back To You (BRA)
26) Francis Bacon's Ghost - Kim Jung II (PRK)
27) Storkboy Choons - Côte d'Ivoire (CIV)
28) Tap Tap - Dry Dry Land (POR)
29) The Yellow Melodies - Vamos A Ganar El Mundial (ESP)
30) Candy Claws - Alp Sway Snow Team (SUI)
31) My Brother Woody - Carlos Dreams of World Cup Glory (HON)
32) Manwomanchild - Chile La Roja (CHI)

Sample:
Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - Don't Get Fooled By The Football
Players' Summery Outfit (ITA)

More info/Buy:
http://www.indiecater.com/fast-forward-an-indie-music-companion-to-south-africa-2010/

Album News: Antony and the Johnsons - Swanlights

After releasing the wonderful album The Crying Light (his best yet, in my opinion) last year as well as his Another World EP just beforehand, Antony and the Johnsons continues his/their prolific phase with a new album in 2010. The album will be called Swanlights and is due for release on October 4th on Rough Trade. Not a lot of other info yet about it, but it will be accompanied by a 144 page booklet of his art as well as a lot more.

More info when it appears...

Stream: Ham Sandwich - The Naturist

Up above is the cover for the new Ham Sandwich single 'The Naturist', which is taken from their upcoming album Natural Causes. The single comes out next Friday (the 14th) and is sure to be all over the radio. Have a listen to it below... They're also playing Whelan's in Dublin on May 15th, so expect to hear plenty more new tunes.

Album News: RSAG - Be It Right or Wrong

Kilkenny's Jeremy Hickey is back with a new album. The follow-up to R.S.A.G.'s excellent 2008 record Organic Sampler is due June 11th. Rarely Seen Above Ground's second album will be called Be It Right or Wrong and is sure to be every bit as good as the Choice-nominated debut. Wonderful Irish music website State.ie has a stream of the first single 'The Roamer' which was given its first play by On the Record's Jim Carroll last night.

Tracklist:
1. BE IT RIGHT OR WRONG
2. BEFORE THEY MAKE YOU RUN
3. THE MESS WERE IN
4. THE ROAMER 5 MOVEMENT
6. THE BITTER SWING
7. HOTWIRE THE HEART
8. MERCY PLEA
9. HANGING ON A LIE
10. MAKE
11. ROOTS
12. TIME ON TRIAL

Upcoming dates:
Wed 16 June – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Thu 17 June – Dolan’s, Limerick
Fri 18 June – Roisin Dubh, Galway
Thu 24 June – The Academy, Dublin
Sat 26 June – Spirit Store, Dundalk

Stream:
RSAG - 'The Roamer'

Album News: Seth Lakeman - Hearts and Minds

Seth Lakeman's second and third albums Kitty Jay and Freedom Fields were two of the finest folk records of the past decade, thus I'm excited to hear that he has a new album (his fifth) on the way.

Hearts and Minds is due on June 14th, and one of the tracks can be downloaded now from his official website (via twitter or facebook).

Possible tracks:
- Circle Grows
- Preachers Ghost
- Fire & Dirt
- Stepping Over You
- The Watchman
- Signed and Sealed

Download:
Seth Lakeman - 'Hard Working Man'

Making of Video:

Watch: Ryan Bingham - Hallelujah

You'd think at this stage, people would stop writing songs called 'Hallelujah'. Everyone just expects it to be a Leonard Cohen cover that won't be as good as Jeff Buckley's. Yet loads of artists still go on using that title. The latest of which is Ryan Bingham, who won the Best Song Oscar this year (Glen Hansard won the year before last remember?) for 'The Weary Kind' from Crazy Heart. His new album is being produced by T-Bone Burnett, who co-wrote and performed that Oscar winning song with him. There's no release date for it yet, but we might expect it later this year.

Watch Ryan Bingham 'Hallelujah':

Watch: M.I.A. - Born Free

M.I.A. is set to release her third album in June, with lead single 'Born Free' leaked to the internet last week. Following the leak, M.I.A. released the official version of the tune, and now there's a NSFW video. The song samples Suicide's 'Ghost Rider' and the video is directed by Romain Gavras.

Watch MIA 'Born Free':

Album News: Phil Collins - Going Back

My love of Genesis knows no bounds. I even own some of those solo albums from Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins. And I don't care what anyone says, but Collins has written and sang some damn fine pop and rock tunes. Thus I'm a little excited for his first release in 8 years (since 2002's disappointing Testify).

Going Back is set for release on September 13th, and will be a covers album of Motown and soul classics. Ahead of the album's release, Collins is to play four shows in June under the banner Up Close & Personal: Phil Collins Plays 60's Motown & Soul. He also said this of the album "You know, I mean, I started it for fun, really, and just chose all the Motown songs, the darker songs that I liked, the lesser known ones. And I ended up with about 40 of them and finished, I’ve actually finished about 29 of them."

This could be amazing. Could be terrible either, but hopefully not.

Tracklist:
1. Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)
2. Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
3. Blame It On The Sun
4. Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer
5. Heat Wave
6. In My Lonely Room
7. Jimmy Mack
8. Standing In The Shadows Of Love
9. Something About You
10. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
11. Papa Was a Rolling Stone
12. Some Of Your Loving
13. Talking About My Baby
14. Do I Love You?
15. Going To a Go-Go
16. Love Is Here
17. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)
18. Goin' Back

Album News: Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises

The exceedingly prolific Sun Kil Moon are back with a new album in July. Admirial Fell Promises will come out on July 17th, and features ten songs at an overall length of sixty minutes.

It's coming out on CD, Download, Vinyl. Anyone who orders the album via the record company's site (Calo Verde Records) will get a free four song Sun Kil Moon EP called I’ll Be There, which features covers of Stereolab, The Jackson 5 and Casiotone For The Painfully Alone. (You can take a guess which Jackson 5 song is covered!)

More news when I get it.

Stream: The Hold Steady - Heaven is Whenever

The new Hold Steady album Heaven is Whenever is just a few weeks away. However, it was released on vinyl as part of Record Store Day and now can also be streamed in full over at NPR. On first listen, it's decent, but may well be their worst album yet. Where's Franz Nicolay when you need him? (Although come fifth listen, I might love it.)

Tracklist:
1. "The Sweet Part of the City"
2. "Soft in the Center"
3. "The Weekenders"
4. "The Smidge"
5. "Rock Problems"
6. "We Can Get Together"
7. "Hurricane J"
8. "Barely Breathing"
9. "Our Whole Lives"
10. "A Slight Discomfort"

Stream:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126023882

Watch: The Dead Weather - Coachella New Songs

Here's four songs from the Dead Weather's upcoming Sea of Cowards (due May 11th), that the band played at the Coachella Festival last night (damn does the US have some great gigs).

'No Horse':


'Die By the Drop':


'Blue Blood Blues':


'Hussle and Cuss':

Album News: Bill Coleman - Black and Green EP (False North)

Bill Coleman has unleashed the latest part of his EP series, following on from Black and Red, he's released Black and Green, also called False North due to the EP's opening track. It can be downloaded for any price you choose (click the link below), but before you do have a sample of the track 'False North' as an mp3 below. You can download the EP in a variety of flavours, mp3, FLAC, whatever you want. Black and Blue is due later this month.

Tracklist:
1. False North
2. Church of Second Chances
3. She Moved Through the Fair
4. I Want You to Know (C:\ Driver Bray Pride Mix)

Download:
Bill Coleman - 'False North'

Download:
Full EP

Download: 202s - Virtual 7 Inch #1

I might be looking for trouble by titling a post "virtual seven inch", but how and ever. Irish rock band 202s (who released their self-titled debut last year) have announced the first in their series of remix singles. Thus the title 'Virtual 7 Inch #1'.

The first release features remixes from Strands as well as St. Catherine's Home for Lazy Infants. Strands is the new project of Stephen Shannon from Halfset, while SCHFLI were another act to release a debut album in 2009. Theirs was called Old Ghosts.

Tracklist:
1. 'A Little At A Time' (Strands remix)
2. 'Repeat' (SCHFLI remix)

Download:
http://202s.bandcamp.com/album/202s-virtual-7-inch-1

More info:
http://202s.blogspot.com/

Live: The Minutes at the Academy

Dublin rock trio the Minutes have announced a single launch party to end their Irish tour. They'll be playing a few dates in Dublin, as well as in Cork, Waterford, and Belfast, before returning to Dublin to play the Academy on the 13th of May. Tickets for the Academy gig are €10, and go on sale tomorrow.

The new single is called 'Secret History', and will be released May 14th. Their ten song album, Marcata, is due this summer, so this should be a nice teaser for it. Stream the tune below.

Upcoming tour dates:
April 23rd - The Button Factory , Dublin 8.30pm
April 24th - Psycho Fest @ Twisted pepper , Dublin 11.00pm
5th May - Skinny Love Club @ Auntie Annies , Belfast 8.30pm
6th May - Crane Lane Theatre , Cork MIDNIGHT
7th May - Electric Ave , Waterford 9.00pm
13th May - 'SECRET HISTORY' Launch @ Academy 2 , Dublin 8.00pm

Stream 'Secret History':


More info:
http://www.myspace.com/theminutesireland

Stream: Band of Horses - Laredo

'Laredo' is one of twelve tracks featured on Band of Horses' upcoming album Infinite Arms. The album is due out this weekend next month (the 19th of May in the UK, and the 16th here), and looks set to be as good as anything they've done. To support the album, they'll also be briefly stopping off on our fair isle, supporting Snow Patrol in Belfast, as well as playing a headline show at the Academy in Dublin on June 4th. Have a listen to 'Laredo' below, and get excited for the new album. It's mere days away now.

Tracklist:
1) Factory
2) Compliments
3) Laredo
4) Blue Beard
5) On My Way Back Home
6) Infinite Arms
7) Dilly
8) Evening Kitchen
9) Older
10) For Annabelle
11) NW Apt.
12) Neighbor

Stream 'Laredo':

Album News: Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic

Chris Thile (formerly of bluegrass sensations Nickel Creek) is back with another Punch Brothers album. Antifogmatic is due to be released in June, and will contain ten songs, three of which you can watch below. I'm really excited for this album, as I felt their debut Punch was only half a brilliant record. I saw them live at the Sugar Club after Punch's release, and they were a million times better on stage. Hopefully that can be bottled for this upcoming release.

Watch 'This is the Song':


Watch 'Alex':


Watch 'Rye Whiskey':

Album News: The New Breed compilation

I got an email about this album the other day, and since I wasn't blogging at the time, I marked it as unread in order to come back to it. I should've came back before now, but you saw the weather over the weekend - we don't get that in Ireland too often. But what we do have in Ireland is some fantastic acts (you might have seen some in my countdown). Thus EMI has prepared a compilation album of some of the best, which will be released this Friday, April 16th, for Record Store Day. There's loads of acts that didn't make the cut on my list, so there's so much more to check out here (perhaps next year I'll do a top 100!)

EDIT: News has just dropped in my inbox that this album has been delayed. I'll post the new release date as soon as I have it.

CD ONE:
1. TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - I CAN TALK
2. CODES - THIS IS GOODBYE.
3. DARK ROOM NOTES - LOVE LIKE NICOTINE.
4. MESSIAH J AND THE EXPERT - TURN THE MAGIC ON
5. OLIVER COLE - WHAT WILL YOU DO?
6. THE BLIZZARDS - FANTASY
7. FRED - RUNNING
8. THE LAUNDRY SHOP - HIGHS AND LOWS
9. DELORENTOS - STOP
10. HAM SANDWICH - ST. CHRISTOPHER
11. REPUBLIC OF LOOSE - COMEBACK GIRL
12. MICK FLANNERY - TOMORROW’S PAPER
13. THE CHAPTERS - VIDEOTAPES
14. THE MINUTES - UKRAINE
15. THE URGES - THE URGES THEME
16. THE REVELLIONS - AIN'T NO FOOL
17. CRAYONSMITH - LOST IN THE FOREST
18. THE JIMMY CAKE - JETTA’S PALACE
19. DECLAN O'ROURKE - GALILEO
20. JULIE FEENEY - MYTH
21. JERRY FISH & THE MUDBUG CLUB - BACK TO BEFORE


CD TWO:
1. LE GALAXIE - WE BLEED THE BLOOD OF ANDROIDS
2. THE AMBIENCE AFFAIR - DEVIL IN THE DETAIL
3. CATHY DAVEY - MOVING
4. HALVES - MEDALS
5. SUBPLOTS - POLTIS
6. HALFSET - WORK
7. STELLARSOUND FT PAULA FLYNN - LET'S DANCE
8. RÓISÍN MURPHY - OVERPOWERED
9. PATRICK KELLEHER - COAT TO WEAR
10. VYVIENNE LONG - THEY'RE NOT WAVING
11. LISA HANNIGAN - LILLE
12. NEW AMUSEMENT - LIGHTS GO DOWN
13. RARELY SEEN ABOVE GROUND - STICK TO YOUR LINE
14. AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR - THESE RIOTS ARE JUST BEGINNING
15. BATS - CREDULOUS! CREDULOUS!
16. ADEBISI SHANK - YOU ME
17. HEATHERS - REMEMBER WHEN
18. DAVID KITT - IT'S YOURS
19. VALERIE FRANCIS - SLOW DYNAMO
20. THE CORONAS - GRACE DON'T WAIT

Album News: The Frames - Deluxe Reissues

Great news Glen Hansard fans, the Frames will be re-releasing their second and third albums, Fitzcarraldo and Dance the Devil as deluxe editions on June 7th. Each album will include five bonus tracks, not included on the original release. These should be really exciting records, as it'll be great to hear some rare early Frames material.

Fitzcarraldo Bonus Tracks:
Roger
One Irish Rover (feat. Liam O'Maolai)
Sworn
Red Chord (Phillpott Remix)
Monument (DJ Mek Remix)

Dance the Devil Bonus Tracks:
Steal My baby Back Home
Look Back Now
Taking the Hard Way Out
Perfect Opening Line (Hook End Version)
Country Song (8-track Version)

Watch 'Red Chord' live at Witnness:

Tracklist: LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

Having claimed that this may be the last ever LCD Soundsystem album, I'm really excited to hear This is Happening. The press release for the album came out today, and calls the album untitled, and since we haven't had any denials about the name... This is Happening. Expect it on May 14th. He's playing Tripod on the 20th and 21st of this month, but tickets are long gone.

The video for 'Drunk Girls' is imminent, but James Murphy (no relation) has put up a teaser trailer for the song. Watch it below.

Tracklist:
Dance Yrself Clean
Drunk Girls
One Touch
All I Want
Change
Hit
Pow Pow
Somebody’s Calling Me
What You Need


Watch 'Drunk Girls' trailer:

Album News: Kele Okereke - The Boxer

Kele Okereke is not taking Bloc Party's one-year-hiatus seriously. He's lined up a number of Irish dates, and will release his debut solo album on June 21st. He wasn't contented taking time out of music, so booked himself into a studio and the rest is history. He says "It was just me and an engineer. I plugged in synths that I had no idea what they would do. I began programming drum beats, which I had never done before. It was completely back to the drawing board. It was exciting and terrifying. In most cases I sat down, pulled a drum beat out of nowhere and arranged stuff around that. This was as exciting to me as the first time I picked up a guitar."

The album promises to be harsher and more physical (well, at least that's what Kele says). It's called The Boxer, and will be preceded by lead single 'Tenderoni' a week earlier (isn't that a Chromeo song though?)

Tracklist:
WALK TALL
ON THE LAM
TENDERONI
THE OTHER SIDE
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED
NEW RULES
UNHOLY THOUGHTS
RISE
ALL THE THINGS I COULD NEVER SAY
YESTERDAY'S GONE

Irish Tour dates:
Friday 14th May – Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick
Saturday 15th May – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Sunday 16th May – The Academy, Dublin
Monday 17th May – Spring & Airbrake, Belfast

Stream: Hanson - Thinking 'Bout Somethin'

Some of you may be gasping with the shock that I'm after posting a stream of the new single from those guys who sang 'Mmmbop', but don't despair, modern day Hanson are actually alright. Anyone who's heard 'Penny & Me' from their last record will agree with me, right? Plus, Taylor's supergroup Tinted Windows were pretty good too. 'Thinking 'Bout Somethin'' is the lead single from upcoming album Shout It Out, due this summer.

In addition, the press release claims: "At the end of April, Hanson are set to perform a sold out, five-night run of live shows in New York, N.Y., where they'll play each of their albums in chronological order." How cool will that be?

Stream: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way

The new album from Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (and their best so far, in my opinion) is released today in Ireland, and next Tuesday in the US. The wonderful NPR has yet another exclusive, where you can stream the album, I Learned the Hard Way, in full.

It's a gorgeous soul-rock album, and sure to be on many end of year best of lists. Highly recommended.

Tracklist:
01 The Game Gets Old
02 I Learned the Hard Way
03 Better Things
04 Give It Back
05 Money
06 The Reason
07 Window Shopping
08 She Ain't a Child No More
09 I'll Still Be True
10 Without a Heart
11 If You Call
12 Mama Don't Like My Man

Stream:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125142001

Album News: Avril's Poison - Jules Verne

Strange little email popped in my inbox this morning, announcing an Irish supergroup called Avril's Poison. They're due to release their debut album Jules Verne on June 18th (the 21st in the UK). The most notable thing about the band is definitely the line-up. It includes Paul Noonan (of Bell X1) on Vocals, Dave Evans on guitar (you'll all know him as the Edge), Mark McClelland (formerly of Snow Patrol) on bass, Colm Mac Con Iomaire on violin and keys, and Graham Hopkins (of the Frames) on drums.

The band is McClelland's brainchild, and the press release said that he's "trying to explore new avenues, both in sound and in public profile." Although this may seem a little strange, McClelland is probably best known these days as the man who's suing Snow Patrol for 25% of their earnings.

The press release also claims that the album is "a bounding rock album, with a large series of hooks. Recorded in secret over a series of weekends, Jules Verne is set to be a landmark record in Irish musical history." The title track is due for release as a single later this month and features Glen Hansard on vocals, so as soon as I have the video, I'll post it up.

Tracklist:
1. Flutter
2. Mother Superior
3. Four Corners
4. Jules Verne (featuring Glen Hansard)
5. Too Late to Get in the Game
6. Sitting/Watching
7. Taiwan
8. Zoom
9. Phase Noise
10. This One's For You

Album News: LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

Finally a title and album cover for the new album from James Murphy under his LCD Soundsystem moniker. The cover is pretty jazzy, with James in full-dance-funk groove, albeit a bit lopsided.

The album comes out May 18th. More news when it appears. The lead single, 'Drunk Girls' is available for download on iTunes and Amazon now.

Watch: Jamie Lidell - The Ring

Jamie Lidell's second album Jim is the best soul (pop-soul) album of recent years, and his debut Multiply is pretty damn good too. Thus, I'm really excited for his third record, Compass, which is due out May 18th. The video for 'Compass', the title track was unleashed last month, and now we have the follow-up single, 'The Ring'. This tune is much better than 'Compass', and has me eagerly anticipating the rest of the album. When you're finished watching that, have a look at Jamie's Introduction to Compass video.

Watch Jamie Lidell - 'The Ring':


An Introduction...:

Stream: The Hold Steady - Rock & Roll Problems

After debuting 'Hurricane J' last week, the Hold Steady have unveiled yet another song from upcoming May album Heaven is Whenever. This time it's the fantastic 'Rock and Roll Problems' which has a great riff. So much for less anthems on this album...

Tracklist:
1. "The Sweet Part of the City"
2. "Soft in the Center"
3. "The Weekenders"
4. "The Smidge"
5. "Rock Problems"
6. "We Can Get Together"
7. "Hurricane J"
8. "Barely Breathing"
9. "Our Whole Lives"
10. "A Slight Discomfort"


Stream:
The Hold Steady - 'Rock & Roll Problems'

Album Cover: The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards

The official album cover for the new Dead Weather album Sea of Cowards has been unleashed by Jack White. I preferred the cloaked wizard posters myself, but what does everyone else think?

According to Jack White, the cover photos were taken with a polaroid camera, and then each part was pieced together to make a whole picture.

Download: Tallest Man on Earth - Burden of Tomorrow

Many of you may already have downloaded 'King of Spain' from the new Tallest Man on Earth album The Wild Hunt, but now I'm giving you the chance to hear another one of the album's ten tracks - all for the astonishing price of free. You can download the mp3 of 'Burden of Tomorrow' below, and whet your appetite even more for The Wild Hunt, which is due on April 9th in Ireland on Dead Oceans. He will also be playing Ireland this summer to promote the record - at Whelan's on June 10th.

Tracklist:
01 The Wild Hunt
02 Burden of Tomorrow
03 Troubles Will be Gone
04 You're Going Back
05 The Drying of the Lawns
06 King of Spain
07 Love Is All
08 Thousand Ways
09 A Lion's Heart
10 Kids on the Run


Download:
The Tallest Man on Earth - 'Burden of Tomorrow'
The Tallest Man on Earth - 'King of Spain'

Album News: Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

The Gaslight Anthem are set to release new album American Slang on June 15th. The first single from the album, also called 'American Slang' made its debut yesterday, and can be streamed in full online. The tracklist and album cover have also been announced. The album promises to be more radio-friendly than the last (at least that's what the single is telling me), and could mark the band's transition to the big time.

Tracklist:
American Slang
Stay Lucky
Bring It On
The Diamond Church Street Choir
The Queen of Lower Chelsea
Orphans
Boxer
Old Haunts
The Spirit of Jazz
We Did It When We Were Young

Stream:
The Gaslight Anthem - 'American Slang'

Download: Burning Codes - Speaking in Code

'Speaking in Code' is the new tune from Belfast's wonderful Burning in Codes. They're led by Paul Archer (brother of the fantastic songwriter Iain), and have improved majestically since their debut album. Burning Codes 2 is released via Indiecater Records, and can be streamed in full over at the Indiecater site. Oh and if you like it as much as I did after hearing 'Speaking in Code', you can also buy it for €4. That's right. Less than the price of a chicken fillet roll!

Download:
Burning Codes - 'Speaking in Code'

More info/Buy/Stream:
http://www.indiecater.com/burning-codes-burning-codes-2/

Album News: Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks

The Ghost Who Walks is the debut album from Mrs. Jack White, Karen Elson. She's releasing her album on Third Man Records (Jack's fantastic new label) and UK indie XL on May 25th. The album features a fine cast of musicians: Rachelle Garniez on accordion and vocals, The Dead Weather’s Dean Fertita on guitar and organ, My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel on pedal steel, Jackson Smith on guitar, as well as her hubby Jack White on drums. Jack White also produced the record, so if his work with Loretta Lynn is anything to go by, this should be amazing.

Tracklist:
1. The Ghost Who Walks
2. The Truth Is The Dirt
3. Pretty Babies
4. Lunasa
5. 100 Years From Now
6. Stolen Roses
7. Cruel Summer
8. Garden
9. The Birds They Circle
10. A Thief At My Door
11. The Last Laugh
12. Mouths To Feed

Watch 'The Ghost Who Walks' live and acoustic: