Album News: Calexico - Carried to Dust

On September 9th this year, Calexico return to their more countrified roots with Carried to Dust, the follow-up to their disappointing Garden Ruin album. Their sixth record promises to be a return to form, and features guest appearances from Sam Beam of Iron & Wine fame as well as Douglas McCombs from Tortoise. The following day, the 10th of September, they play TriPod in Dublin along with Wood Pigeon. Sure to be a treat.

Tracklist
1. Victor Jara's
2. Hands
3. Two Silver Trees
4. The News About William
5. Sarabande In Pencil Form
6. Writer's Minor Holiday
7. Man Made Lake
8. Inspiración
9. House of Valparaiso
10. Slowness
11. Bend To The Road
12. El Gatillo (Trigger Revisited)
13. Fractured Air (Tornado Watch)
14. Falling From Sleeves
15. Red Blooms
16. Contention City


The band released an official teaser trailer (kind of like in the movies - maybe they should have these on instead of all those bloody Coke ads before films) on their iLike Page yesterday:

Upcoming Brilliance: The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

It seems the world is finally catching up to the brilliance of Craig Finn's sing-speak, and warmly embracing Brooklyn's The Hold Steady. Since the days of Lifter Puller, Craig Finn and Tad Kubler have been vastly undervalued musicians. However, the release of their later band, The Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America in 2006 was their catapult to a worldwide audience. That album was vaunted by every critic I know (including myself on that previous website I wrote for...do some investigative work!)

It was also their first record to be released in Ireland. Their previous two, Almost Killed Me (which features the oh-so-wondeful 'Knuckles') and Separation Sunday got a fair bit of love the other side of the great wide ocean, but not here. Boys and Girls changed that, and with the release of their newest album, Stay Positive, this Friday, they're set to embrace an even wider market. Tom Dunne is even playing 'Sequestered in Memphis' for Christsake. How much more popular can you get in Ireland?

The band are also due to perform at Oxegen this weekend. They played a great show earlier this year at The Academy (I was present to hear live versions of some of the new tunes, and they soung great, especially 'Yeah Sapphire'). That show featured support from the Kanyu Tree, a Galway band who make some excellent summery pop.

But as for now...
"Yeah, Sapphire
I'm sick and I'm tired and I'm fried
And you gotta believe me

Yeah, Sapphire
If I cross myself when I come,
Would you maybe receive me?

Yeah, Sapphire
You were feisty at first,
But I broke you and I showed you the temporal

Sacramento,
It swung at us first
But it ended up going down gentle

Sapphire, if Cheyenne's too small
We'll haul it all back to St. Paul
I was just about to call you
When you called

Yeah, Sapphire
I know the last time we touched
I came on a bit rough, please forgive me

Yeah, Sapphire
After you left, it was a big sketchy mess
They almost killed me

Sapphire, if Cheyenne's too small
We'll haul it all back to St. Paul
[these lyrics are found on http://www.songlyrics.com]
I was just about to call you
When you called

Sapphire, if St. Paul don't call
We've always got Aberdeen
'Cause dreams they seem to cost money
But money costs some dreams

It went just as you predicted
I swear there must be something in your dreams
It all went down exactly like your visions
And I know you said don't call until I'm clean

I'm not drunk, I'm cut
I'm gushing blood
And I need someone to come and pick me up

I was a sceptic at first, but these miracles work
I was a sceptic at first, but these miracles work
I was a sceptic at first, but these miracles work
I was a sceptic at first, but these miracles work"

Stream: Black Kids - Partie Traumatic

It's a preposterous album title, which was saved an element more of preposterousness by not being called Partie Traumatique, but I just like the word preposterous, so I thought I'd mention it. Anyhow, this album has been hyped up to the armpits by everyone from your dog to your ma. Yeah, your ma. I went there.

The album was released over the weekend here and in the UK, but Americans have to wiat another two weeks. It's not really revenge for us having to wait an extra week for The Dark Knight though, is it?

Stream it here:
http://www.myspace.com/blackkidsrock

Album News: Bruce Springsteen - Magic Tour Highlights EP

Over a hundred thousand of us turned out for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's visit to the RDS at the end of May, and a great time was had by all (an especially great time was had by the drunken middle-age tools behind us).

The Magic Tour has featured many wonderful performances (my brother was treated to 'Summertime Blues' in Amsterdam), and there were some great guests as well.

Sadly, E Street legend Danny Federici passed away during the tour, and a charity has sprang up in his name. To raise money for the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are releasing Magic Tour Highlights EP featuring the late keyboard player's last ever performance, as well as guest appearances from other legendary acts.

The EP will be released on July 15th online, and has the following tracklisting:

1. 'Always a Friend' featuring Alejandro Escovedo from Houston (14 April 2008)
2. 'The Ghost of Tom Joad' Featuring Tom Morello from Anaheim (7 April 2008)
3. 'Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There Is A Season)' featuring Roger McGuinn from Orlando (23 April 2008)
4. '4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)' from Indianapolis (20 March 2008)

Here's a lovely tribute to Danny:

Live: MC5 at The Button Factory Cancelled

Sadly, rock veterans MC5 are suffering from the problems that come with old age, and have pulled out of their July 18th show at The Button Factory due to "health problems". At least they gave a reason unlike those confounded Sugababes (Babe my eye) who were due to support Boyzone a few weeks back.

MC5 has also cancelled their Belfast date (the following night) as well as other shows on their European Tour. No rescheduled date has been confirmed.

Album News: Bloc Party - New Album

Bloc Party are currently working on their third album, which is due out later this year. Or knowing Bloc Party, right at the start of next year, so come year-end when people make their Best Of lists, they're forgotten about. The follow-up to A Weekend In The City and their superb debut Silent Alarm, does not yet have a title, but will be produced by Jacknife Lee and Paul Epworth.

Singer Kele Okereke said of the album: "It doesn't sound like anything we've done before and I'm really excited about it" Hopefully it won't sound like A Weekend in the City, because that album was a massive letdown.

You can see for yourself what one part of it sounds like anyway, as lead single 'Mercury' is now available for your viewing pleasure, and is due to be released August 11th.

Bizarre: 100 Worst Ever Album Covers

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