New Music from TWILIGHT SINGERS: Tonight @ Metro

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May 17, 2011 by Edward Silha

When 90s alt-rock outfit The Afghan Whigs split in 2001, front man Greg Dulli went to work on a solo career and on making what had been his side project, The Twilight Singers, into his main endeavor. The fifth Twilight Singers full length album Dynamite Steps came out in February on Subpop, and is a collection of solid, gritty, brooding rock that you can hear live Tuesday at Metro. Sometimes it's bright and cheerful stuff that makes you snap your fingers as you walk down the sidewalk or drive along the road...but other times you need something that just plain has some coarseness and attitude to it. This new Twilight Singers … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: Chicago, concerts, greg dulli, metro, NBC, new music, Nude Hippo, pogo, twilight singers

UK Indie Rock from MAZES

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May 4, 2011 by Edward Silha

This group has been stuck in my head for the past couple of days after I got a taste of their new debut record. They’re Mazes, a 4-piece formed in Manchester, UK who are now kicking it in London. They’re drawing big comparisons to British contemporaries Yuck (who are playing a couple of sold out gigs at Lincoln Hall this week, plus Pitchfork Festival), putting them as the next in line of guitar-based English exports. It’s extremely catchy and full of hooks, and I think you’ll dig it if you’re a fan of 90’s alt-rock like Pavement, or the likes of Sloan or Guided By Voices. Adding to the story behind this music on the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: mazes, new music, Nude Hippo, pogo

Yet Another New One From MY MORNING JACKET

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April 25, 2011 by Edward Silha

A couple of weeks ago, I posted up the first single and title track to the new record called Circuital from My Morning Jacket, which comes out on 31st May on ATO Records. Today, they've put another track off of the record out there, entitled "Holdin' On To Black Metal". The band continues to become more and more unpredictable, and this falsetto-drenched number might make you either love them or hate them. It's being reported that front man Jim James said this to the rest of the band before they recorded the track: “I want it to sound like we’re Cuban or Cambodian kids, and we’re wearing berets and we’re walking through an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: ato, circuital, holdin on to black metal, my morning jacket, new music, pogo

Sunny Indie Rock Tonight At Empty Bottle

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April 21, 2011 by Edward Silha

Fans of wistful, breezy indie rock, listen up. Brooklyn-based Beach Fossils bring their jangly melodic tunes to Empty Bottle tonight. Lo-fi, catchy hooks with delicate vocals--it would be the perfect stuff for spring…if we were, you know, actually having spring weather right now. The group’s new EP entitled What A Pleasure arrived in March, and their self-titled full length was released a year ago. Not that you shouldn’t trust your own ears, but both have received excellent reviews and each earned a rating of over 7 from Pitchfork. As we finally emerge from our winter hibernation cubby holes, this is just the stuff to have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: beach fossils, brain idea, concerts, craft spells, empty bottle, new music, pogo

South African Indie Rock Saturday at Schubas

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March 11, 2011 by Edward Silha

If you can manage to keep the Jameson shots and Guinness-in-a-plastic-cup to a minimum this Saturday while Chicago does its annual St. Patrick’s Day observance thing, you’ll want to rally to get to a late show at Schubas. The Parlotones, who hail from Johannesburg, South Africa are touring their latest album ‘Stardust Galaxies’, a nice collection of grandiose synth-rock. What you get is layered, melodic driving melodies that should really float your boat if you’re into the likes of Muse and The Killers. Critics are raving about their bombastic live shows, so we’re in for a treat seeing this in a space like Schubas. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: concerts, new music, Nude Hippo, parlotones, pogo, schubas

Released Today: the New Record from LYKKE LI

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March 1, 2011 by Edward Silha

Lykke Li (real name: Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson) is a Swedish indie pop singer whose 2nd full-length record ‘Wounded Rhymes’ is released today. Showing considerable growth and maturity in both sound and substance, it’s hard to believe that the girl is still only 24 years old. She’s stated that being 19 and in love when recording her 2008 debut ‘Youth Novels’ had a direct effect on that record’s mood and sound. Conversely, it’s a bit different this time in her post-breakup world. Describing her current state of mind with phrases such as “sadness is my boyfriend” on the track “Sadness Is A Blessing”, one … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: atlantic records, lykke li, metro, new music, new releases, Nude Hippo, pogo

New Radiohead Video, Album Released A Day Early

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February 18, 2011 by Edward Silha

Never ones to do anything ordinarily, Radiohead has released their 8th album called 'The King Of Limbs' today, one day earlier than expected. Don't think for a second that this was done on a whim...these guys know exactly what they're doing in today's music sales/distribution climate. You can buy it digitally for $9, or go big with the full-on physical version (which will ship in May--you download the songs now, though, to tie you over) for $48 which comes on two 12" vinyl records and a copy on CD, plus oodles of artwork. The band is calling this complete version, with all that is included in it, the first ever "Newspaper … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: king of limbs, new music, Nude Hippo, pogo, Radiohead

New Tunes From MOGWAI and ASOBI SEKSU

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February 16, 2011 by Edward Silha

Are your ears feeling frisky? Here's just a couple of examples of new music out this week worth checking out: ASOBI SEKSU – ‘Fluorescence’ New York indie duo Asobi Seksu returns with their 4th full-length release (5th, if you throw in a 2009 collection of acoustic versions of songs already in their repertoire). The driving force of the group is the duo of Yuki Chikudate (vocals/keyboards) and James Hanna (guitars), who have built up a reputation of creating a sonic rush of layered guitar swells with Yuki’s voice tucked away nicely into the mix. Think 90s shoegaze bands like Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine tossed with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: asobi seksu, mogwai, new music, Nude Hippo, pogo, polyvinyl, sub pop

Download the New Single From THE RAVEONETTES

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February 10, 2011 by Edward Silha

The Danish duo The Raveonettes are geared up and ready for another go-round. ‘Raven In The Grave’ will be the Copenhagen group’s fifth full-length release and is scheduled to arrive on April 5th on Vice Records. Continuing their trend of putting out a new record every two years, The Raveonettes have worked at a pretty steady clip with now 5 full records released since 2003. Since Day 1 I’ve been enamored by this group’s seamless marriage of 60s Girl Group/Phil Spector rhythms and melodies with the fuzzy guitars of The Jesus & Mary Chain, and I’m anxious for more. Have a listen to the first single: “Forget That … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: concerts, forget that you're young, lincoln hall, new music, Nude Hippo, pogo, raven in the grave, raveonettes

First Taste of the New Foo Fighters Album

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January 17, 2011 by Edward Silha

After recently completing the recording of their upcoming 7th, Foo Fighters stoked the flames of anticipation today by posting up a 30-second clip of one of the new tracks. Outside of regularly tweeting photos and video from the studio, the band has been more or less tight-lipped where details of the album are concerned. But that’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of things of note surrounding it. First off, on again-off again guitarist Pat Smear is officially back as a full time member of the band, and played on all the tracks of the new album. As well, the effort is being overseen by all-star record producer Butch Vig who, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Around Chicago Tagged With: foo fighters, new music, Nude Hippo, pogo