New Girls Record in September!

Track Listing:

1. Honey Bunny
2. Alex
3. Die
4. Saying I Love You
5. My Ma
6. Vomit
7. Just A Song
8. Magic
9. Forgiveness
10. Love Like A River
11. Jamie Marie

Very nice surprise in my inbox this morning!

Thurston Moore x 12 String Meditations For Jack Rose

A message from VDSQ:
"VDSQ Solo Acoustic Volume Five- 12 String Meditations For Jack Rose.
Solo, untreated, 12-string compositions in tribute to one of the greats. An album of instrumentals in requiem."

Vinyl only- February 2011. This is probably going to make me want to get a 12-sting axe all the more.

LCD Soundsystem: "This Is Happening"

After letting this one sink in for a few weeks, I can say with certainty that, as a complete record, This Is Happening will be the most lasting LCD Soundsystem effort to date. Lyrically, both James Murphy's keen sense of self-awareness and penchant for writing songs packed with social commentary continue over to LCD's third LP. Sonically, there are elements of kraut, punk, robot funk, and disco which basically translate to straight up jamz. The one misstep LCD makes on the record is first single Drunk Girls, which is a bit of an underestimation of the fanbase's intelligence...but with that being said, the song is most likely on the record due to it's length and 'single appeal' (all other songs on the album are between 6-9 minutes long). Bands have to eat too. Bonus points go for the cover art which brings to mind Robert Longo's Men In The Cities work.

Click HERE to check out one of the better albums you'll hear this year. Pinky swear.

Besnard Lakes "The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night"

The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night is the third full length from this Canadian group led by husband/wife duo Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas (Jace takes production credits). BL's last record, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, was my #12 favorite album of 2007 and so far this one is looking like it could make my top 20 this year. BL stick with elements that work for them well: layered, crunchy guitar tracking, slow builds + release and lots of vocal harmonizing.

Take a listen to first single "Albatross" here and take it easy on the tremolo bar.

The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night is out now via Jagjaguwar.

Go to your favorite independent record store to snag a copy!

Systems Officer: "Underslept"

(Originally written for and posted to Thunder on 10/31/09)

Systems Officer is the solo project of Armistead Burwell Smith IV who was a founding member of the post rock band Three Mile Pilot and continues to work as a founding member of Pinback. Underslept is the band’s first proper LP, following a self-titled EP that came out in 2004 and shares many similar sonic qualities with Pinback’s earlier records.



Underslept is out November 3, 2009 via Temporary Residence.