I apologize for this, the second Wolf Parade post in a week. I know I should be out with my ear to the wind, trying to find the next big experimental solo artist, but I can’t help myself. I’ve spent more time with these Wolf Parade teaser mp3s and the more I listen to them, the more I realize I love them. I hate to diss such a recent incarnation of myself but what was I thinking 4 days ago?

Take a listen to ‘Language City’, the second legally released mp3 from At Mount Zoomer. It doesn’t sound too different from ‘Call It a Ritual’. It doesn’t really pop. Or grab you. What it does is sink into your head like a brain worm and carve a home for itself, deep in your sub-conscious. Eventually you will go brain dead and die, but until then you can enjoy the refined indie-pop coming out of your lobes. Speaking of which, I’ll be damned if ‘indie-pop’ isn’t the least descriptive label ever. I wish I knew fancier words, or even how to write. That’d be useful.

Wolf Parade - Language City

Pre-order Wolf Parade’s At Mount Zoomer on Amazon.com

For a four piece band Bodies of Water sure sound busy on record. The Los Angeles band’s self-released debut Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink is a swirling storm of melodramatic pop, harmonized vocals and jangly percussion. Of course, much of the magic was added in the studio but the band does often recruit an expanded lineup for hometown shows to help re-create their frantic pop sound. When I saw them open up for John Vanderslice last year in LA, I was treated to an army of musicians hitting, blowing, & strumming whatever they could fit on stage with them, and shouting- I remember there was lots of group shouting. Despite all the activity, however, the music is never very chaotic; a little over-indulgent perhaps but never offensive.

‘Under the Pines’ is the first mp3 released off the group’s up coming sophomore record- and Secretly Canadian debut- A Certain Feeling (out July 22nd). Despite the better production, the song still carries much of the feeling of their debut- group melodies, long instrumental stretches, lots and lots of percussion. The theatrical ‘flair’ is here too, which seems to be becoming one of the band’s distinguishing trademarks.

Bodies of Water - Under the Pines

Pre-order Bodies of Water’s A Certain Feeling on Amazon.com

BONUS FUN FACT:

Lead singer and organ player Meredith Metcalf supposedly doubles as a commercial actress (see the following Domino’s Oreo pizza beard commercial).

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkEc67m_jvM

Beside the epic first track (Is There a Ghost), the latest Band of Horses release proves to be a bumpy second album. Fans of Everything All the Time will notice a much more subtler and reserved tone on Cease to Begin, as none of the songs travel into that stratospheric, echoed territory that touched most of their previous album. What is most disappointing about this is that, despite the shift in tone, the new songs still follow the band’s old formula, essentially making them less interesting versions of what you’ve already heard. There are even some downright misses in this bunch (Marry Song, Window Blues).

A snooty blogger might suggest they have titled the record Everything All the Time B-Sides, whereas a nicer, more compassionate one would simply consider this a mistep in what is hopefully a great musical career. Plus, that first song is just so epic!

[mp3] Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost

Hey, how have you been? Long time no talk. I’ve so been enjoying my freedom from my mp3 posting duties!

I’ve spent my time listening to a handful of records, all of which I’ve purchased with my own money strange enough. Unfortunately, the bulk of what I receive to review is pretty uninspiring. Most of it comes from upstart labels whose artists are still trying to figure out what they want to do. Some records have been pretty interesting (check out Patience Please, they’re fun!) but none of it comes close to capturing my attention the way new records from the National, John Vanderslice, and M.I.A. have. I’ve even found myself addicted to Tegan and Sara’s latest guilty pleasure of a record The Con. Back in Your Head is sooo catchy!

Hands down the sweetest thing I’ve heard recently is the Bat for Lashes record, Fur and Gold. The thing is so haunting and eery. Even the slow piano ballads, which normally are the downfall of female piano pop acts, are great here. Check out the creepy fun video for the single What’s a Girl To Do?.

I recently heard the new Band of Horses mp3 on their Myspace page. I know a ton of band members have left but I really hope the rest of the cd is better than this.

The real reason I decided to pop my head in and post is because I’ve just heard the most hilarious intro to a song EVER. Seriously. Download this new leaked Britney Spears mp3 and laugh your bottom off.

[mp3] Britney Spears - Gimme More

Truthfully, the thing I enjoyed most about Wolf Parade’s critically acclaimed Apologies to the Queen Mary was Dan Boeckner and his unique singing voice. Perhaps that is why I consider myself a fan of Boeckner’s other band the Handsome Furs. The voice is there in all its glory, hovering above a desert of drum beats and accoustic guitar (which are provided by Boeckner’s real life spouse Alexei Perry). Unlike some of SubPop’s other recent releases (*cough* Jenifer Gentle *cough*), this is some good old fashioned indie rock I can get behind.

[mp3] The Handsome Furs - What We Had

And just because:

[mp3] Jenifer Gentle - Electric Princes

Whenever a band or artist’s website is prefaced with a disclaimer that “we don’t like the internet” or “we hate Myspace” it reeks a little bit of self-importance and pretention. If having an online identity where fans can access your music easily and efficiently is such an ethical comprimise for you then don’t have one. I don’t want to hear how a band’s Myspace is run by a third party because the “artist” doesn’t want to harm his integrity by filling out the fields on his own.

With that said, UK experimental act Microphone Stand is one of these bands. Their Myspace page reads “This page was setup and is run on behalf of microphone STAND, as they do not like myspace…”. Gee, thanks for that heads up. I would have thought they loved Myspace had the issue not been clarified. As for the music itself it is a claustrophobic, paranoid mish mash of gently strummed accoustic guitars, distorted cymbals, and sporadic heavy blasts of electronic beats; pretty much what you’d expect from an experimental solo artist with a laptop, some editing software, and a personal mantra that includes not selling out to Myspace (or at least not directly selling out to Myspace).

[mp3] Microphone Stand - Orchestra Gob

Before he became known as the less familiar half of the Postal Service, electronic songwriter Jimmy Tamborello was arranging his bleeps and clicks under the name Dntel.

His first album, 2001’s Life is Full of Possibilities, featured Tamborello’s electronic glitch-pop layered underneath several guest vocals from artists such as Mia Doi Todd, Strictly Ballroom guitarist Chris Gunst, and the more familiar half of the Postal Service, Ben Gibbard. This collaborative element added an interesting variety to his textured landscapes and is featured once again on his latest album, Dumb Luck.

Almost six years in the making, Dumb Luck is filled to the top with indie rock’s brightest young stars: Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst, Grizzly Bear’s Edward Drost. Even Mia Doi Todd returns for another go round. Add to that appearances from Fog’s Andrew Broder, Lali Puna’s Valerie Trebeljahr and Markus Acher, Arthur & You’s Grant Olsen and Sonya Westcott, and Mystic Chords of Memory’s Christopher and Jennifer Gunst, and you have a record that works simultaneously as an electronic pop album, a killer who’s who compilation, and a reminder that before ‘Such Great Heights’ Jimmy Tamborello was very much alive and making some great music.

The immediate stand out tracks are Jenny Lewis’ ‘Roll On’ and Conor Oberst’s ‘Breakfast in Bed’, however this may vary according to the listener’s familiarity with each vocalist. In the end Dumb Luck’s strong suit lies in its ability to draw all the different vocals into one cohesive whole. The bleeps and glitches float beautifully behind Jenny Lewis’ country drawl, Conor Oberst’s wavering and fragile storytelling, and Edward Drost’s airy voice.

The marraige between Tamborello and his friends works so well you may start confusing your favorite vocalist as ‘the singer for Dntel’.

MP3
Dntel - Dumb Luck

[mp3] Magnolia Electric Co. - Lonesome Valley (from the record Fading Trails out now on Secretly Canadian Records)

Jason Molina and crew are forever waltzing along that dry desert highway, spreading their Neil Young-inspired country rock one lonely story at a time. Their second full length Fading Trails may not have been as strong as their debut What Comes After the Blues, but it features a few strong tracks such as the attached ‘Lonesome Valley’.

[mp3] Stephen Merritt - The Meaning of Lice (from the compilation Plague Songs out now on 4AD records)

Biblical disaster serves as the inspiration behind 4AD’s recent compilation Plague Songs. Featuring exclusive tracks from artists such as Imogen Heap, Brian Eno, Rufus Wainwright, and the attached Stephen Merritt (The Magnetic Fields), Plague Songs takes a hauntingly beautiful look at each of the ten plagues as interpreted by eahc artist. The attached track, ‘The Meaning of Lice’, is an upbeat pop song dedicated to the little known lice plague.

You read the title. Invisible Limb is giving away a copy of the critically acclaimed Drums and Guns, the newest record by America’s favorite slow rockers Low. All you have to do to enter this once in a lifetime giveaway is send an e-mail to richard@invisiblelimb.net with your name and favorite pizza topping. Open to US residents only! Winners will be chosen on Friday, April 6th!

Here is an mp3 of ‘Breaker’ from Drums and Guns.

[mp3] Low - Breaker

The National’s new record Boxer comes out May 22nd on Beggar’s Banquet but, of course, you already knew that. You’ve been checking their official website and Myspace everyday looking for updates and any trace of information concerning the status of their new record. You’ve been reading over the official tracklisting over and over again hoping that one day soon they would feed your obsession and finally post a song from the record. We know you too well.

Well, my friends, the day you are waiting for has finally arrived. As of Friday, March 23rd the first song from the highly anticipated follow up to 2005’s critically acclaimed Alligator was made available both for streaming on the band’s Myspace and download on their website.

Hellz yes.

The name of the song in question is ‘Fake Empire’, a softly sweeping piano ballad that shows off an exciting new side of the band. Color me much impressed! The three minute track reminds me of the subtle intensity and lyrical emotion of ‘About Today’ (Cherry Tree EP) combined with the clean interweaving guitars featured on Alligator. Much like the men featured on the record’s cover, this is a classy National dressed up in a black fitted suit and tie. By the time the climactic flurry of horns hits, I am already itching for the replay button.

Now all we need is John Vanderslice to follow suit and show us what he’s been working on all these months.

[mp3] The National - Fake Empire