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Russian Circles - Harper Lewis
Chicago, IL
File Size: 10.3 mb, Length: 7:12
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Having the pleasure of living in the same city that Russian Circles recorded its follow up to the lovely “Enter” allowed me to witness the unveiling of the new material in the live format a couple times. Each time I was blown away, and each time further cemented “Station” as one of my most anticipated albums of 2008. Where as the band took a bit of a mathy route last time, Russian Circles went for some more straight up dynamic changes. As much Pelican as it is Mogwai, this wall of sound live is something fierce to be witnessed. And from what I’ve heard of the live material, the studio versions of it all will as well. “Station” drops in the beginning of May.

Artist Website:Russian Circles
Label Website:Suicide Squeeze Records

The Dodos - Red and Purple
San Francisco, CA
File Size: 9.4 mb, Length: 4:40
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The Dodos are a duo out of San Francisco that as you listen to you are sure you have heard on some random indie flick somewhere. Thing is you haven’t. The experimental duo rely on african tribal influences and almost heavy metal influenced drums to produce its interesting take on the world of indie-rock. The Dodos have shared the stage with such freak folk outfits as Akron/Family. The music is somewhat similar, minus a few multi-instrumentalists, but just as good.

Artist Website: The Dodos

Yip-Yip - Gender Changers
Winter Park, Florida
File Size: 1.97 mb, Length: 2:09
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Yip-Yip has shared stages with such entertaining acts as HEALTH, Melt Banana, and the Locust. Not that their music sounds like any of these bands, though. They are all about spastic electronic music that is, more likely than not, inspired by old-school video games. Yip-Yip does play more than just keyboards, surprisingly; their songs do include the use of real saxophones and organs, despite the fact that they sound as though they were born 100% from stock keyboard noises. To come for Yip-Yip is a cover of Nirvana’s “Very Ape,” which will be featured on a split 7″ record, out May. This 7″ will feature covers of Nirvana bands by six different bands, and it will be self-released to basically… avoid trouble. Cautionary words for what Nirvana fans should probably expect.

Warning: Obnoxious in large doses.

Artist Website: Yip-Yip
Label Website: SAF Records

Forward, Russia - Gravity & Heat
Leeds, England
File Size: 11.3 mb, Length: 6:03
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This right here is good stuff. Forward, Russia have been hanging out in Seattle recording its sophomore album “Life Processes” with Matt Bayles, and he has once again hit the production knobs correctly. The post-hardcore outfit from England will be putting forth an emotionally savage blast of music upon the world in a couple months. Until then, enjoy this little taste.

Artist Website: Forward, Russia
Label Website: Mute Records

Ghostland Observatory - Dancing On My Grave
Austin, TX
File Size: 3.8 mb, Length: 2:56
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The duo of Ghostland Observatory are just out to make you dance, plain and simple. Combining elements of funk, Prince, Bowie, and Daft Punk, the Austin duo of Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner are just releasing their third album “Robotique Majestique”. It is trashy dance proto punk at its finest. Put those dancing shoes on…

(tour dates courtesy of lazy cut and paste from myspace)

Feb 29 2008 9:00P
Austin Music Hall (sold out) Austin, Texas
Mar 8 2008 9:00P
Langarado Music Festival Everglades, Florida
Mar 13 2008 9:00P
House of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana
Mar 15 2008 6:00P
Dallas Observer - St. Patrick’s Day Party Dallas, Texas
Mar 28 2008 9:00P
Webster Hall New York, New York
Mar 29 2008 9:00P
9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington DC
Apr 3 2008 9:00P
Crystal Ballroom Portland, Oregon
Apr 4 2008 9:00P
Showbox (sold out) Seattle, Washington
Apr 5 2008 9:00P
Showbox (sold out) Seattle, Washington
Apr 17 2008 9:00P
The Mezzanine San Francisco, California
Apr 18 2008 9:00P
Henry Fonda Theatre Los Angeles, California
Apr 19 2008 9:00P
Fox Theatre Boulder, Colorado
May 2 2008 9:00P
Metro Chicago, Illinois
May 3 2008 9:00P
St. Andrews Hall Detroit, Michigan
May 15 2008 9:00P
House of Blues San Diego, California
May 16 2008 9:00P
Joshua Tree Music Festival Joshua Tree, California
May 17 2008 6:00P
Southern Comfort Music Experience Atlanta, Georgia
Jun 13 2008 12:00P
Bonnaroo Music Festival Manchester, Tennessee

Artist Website: Ghostland Observatory
Label Website: Trashy Moped Recordings

Muse - Feeling Good (Acoustic - Cover)
England
File Size: 2.98 mb, Length: 3:15
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Muse - Plug In Baby (Acoustic)
File Size: 3.02 mb, Length: 3:18
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A lot of times, when bands do acoustic sets, they sound a bit boring and unimpressive. Not so with Muse. I’ve been meaning to post these MP3s for like, a half a year now. In fact, I thought I’d already done it, but evidently not. They’re nothing new, but amazing if you like Muse. Matthew Bellamy can sing, for sure. A cover of “Feeling Good” and one of my favorite Muse tracks, “Plug In Baby” are here, in all of their acoustic glory. Long live Muse. One of few bands majors have gotten it right with, more or less.

There are actually acoustic versions of “Time Is Running Out” and “Sunburn” too but er, available upon request, I suppose.

Artist Website: Muse
Label Website: Warner Brothers Records

Genghis Tron - Board Up the House
Philadelphia, PA
File Size: 9.5 mb, Length: 5:55
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The plague of Genghis Tron is almost upon this. The bands sophomore debut, “Board Up the House” showcases the electronic madness of noise. Don’t let the volume fool you, this three piece is made up of more electronic equipment then the laptop I write this post on. There isn’t even a drummer! This is the title track off the new album and it perfectly showcases the madness that is in store. Genghis Tron have also hopped on an incredible tour with the Converge and the Red Chord…too bad it isn’t hitting Seattle.

March 30, 2008 Worcester, MA
April 1, 2008 New York, NY
April 3, 2008 Cleveland, OH
April 4, 2008 Detroit, MI
April 5, 2008 Chicago, IL
April 6, 2008 Chicago, IL
April 8, 2008 Minneapolis, MN
April 9, 2008 Sioux Falls, SD
April 10, 2008 Iowa City, IA
April 11, 2008 Omaha, NE
April 12, 2008 Lawrence, KS
April 13, 2008 Denver, CO
April 15, 2008 Boise, ID
April 16, 2008 Portland, OR
April 18, 2008 Los Angeles, CA
April 19, 2008 Pomona, CA
April 20, 2008 Tempe, AZ
April 22, 2008 Austin, TX
April 23, 2008 Dallas, TX
April 24, 2008 Houston, TX
April 26, 2008 St. Petersburg, FL

Artist Website: Genghis Tron
Label Website: Relapse Records

Protest the Hero - Bloodmeat
Ontario
File Size: 6.8 mb, Length: 3:55
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I’m not one that is really that big on the new wave of metalcore. There are a few exceptions here and there, but those exceptions tend to be few and far between. And then there is Protest the Hero. I can’t exactly place what it is that makes this song so awesome. It is the first track off of just recently released album “Fortress.” I think it maybe because seemingly for once there are such a shambled mish-mash of genre blurring, none of it necessarily spectacular. But it is all done with a ferocious tenacity reeking of an almost uncalled for desperation. It may not be anything that fantastic, but Protest the Hero are worlds above its peers just by this one effort.

Artist Website: Protest the Hero
Label Website: Vagrant Records

The Sword - Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians
Austin, TX
File Size: 5.05 mb, Length: 3:35
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There are multiple new faces of metal. There is the stuff in the vein of Lamb of God and what not, made to thrive solely on the sheer power of meatheads and walls of death. Then there is the stuff sort of like Mastodon, made to make you think, made to make you question how it is technically possible to pull off what you just heard. Then there is The Sword. The Sword is a blast from the past, the finest elements of everything that made metal the ultimate genre. The new album “Gods of the Earth” doesn’t come out till April 1st, so this little taste will have to do. While those other bands make metal a bit more acceptable, The Sword, fueled by its monster rock riffs, make metal cool again.

Apr 14 : Lubbock, TX - Jake’s Sports Center w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 15 : Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 16 : Phoenix, AZ - The Brick House w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 17 : San Diego, CA - The Casbah w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 19 : San Fransisco, CA - Slim’s w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 22 : Seattle, WA - Neumo’s w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 24 : Boise, ID - Neurolux w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 25 : Salt Lake City, UT - Club Vegas w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 26 : Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 28 : Wichita, KS - BarleyCorns w/ Slough Feg & Children
Apr 29 : Oklahoma City, OK - The Conservatory w/ Slough Feg & Children

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