While fans might have been fine with having just Isn’t Anything and Loveless, the band finally shut us all up last week when Kevin Shields announced that a new record of new material would be released “within two or three days.” This time, the statement held true: ladies and gentlemen, My Bloody Valentine has officially released their long-anticipated third album, simply titled m b v, a mere 21.33 years after its predecessor.

m b v, released on the night of February 2nd, managed to crash the servers hosting the band’s website, but the 9-track album has since been readily available as a digital download in high-quality MP3 and two varying WAV formats. Those looking for CD or limited 180-gram vinyl options can purchase them directly through My Bloody Valentine’s website, and they have been planned for shipment starting on February 22nd. The album was recorded on 2-inch 24-track analogue tape and mixed onto half-inch analogue tape and mastered with no digital processing involved, so you can expect a quality experience.

Without even listening to the album, the artwork of m b v suggests something right out of Loveless’ wheelhouse, an album whose own art and sound reflected one another — the imagery was obscured and layered like the overpowering sonics and textures of the music, and continuous observation could unveil a new image altogether. Having now listened to the new album close to 10 times in its entirety, my assumptions were pretty spot-on.

You can listen to m b v in full for yourself over on My Bloody Valentine’s official YouTube channel, but if you like what you hear (and you more than likely will), then I highly suggest supporting the band and purchasing the album at their official website, where your download will include the album in much higher-quality audio.

m b v Track Listing:

01. she found now
02. only tomorrow
03. who sees you
04. is this and yes
05. if i am
06. new you
07. in another way
08. nothing is
09. wonder 2

For more info:

My Bloody Valentine’s Official Website

The track itself (a moody, groovy, sad bastard pop song) sounds different from anything we’ve heard from Frightened Rabbit before, but the lyrics are familiarly dour. The juxtaposition works in the song, and works even more brilliantly in the accompanying video. While Scott Hutchison sings about a slow death, the video is just a bunch of Scottish dudes being weird on the road. It somehow lands.

Pedestrian Verse is hitting our shores on the 5th of February, 2013. For now, I’ll just keep listening to “Dead Now” on Frightened Rabbit’s Soundcloud page. If these first tracks we’ve heard are any indication, this album is going to rip our collective hearts out. I can hardly wait.

Pedestrian Verse Tracklist:

01. Acts Of Man
02. Backyard Skulls
03. Holy
04. The Woodpile
05. Late March, Death March
06. December’s Traditions
07. Housing (In)
08. Dead Now
09. State Hospital
10. Nitrous Gas
11. Housing (Out)
12. Oil Slick

For more information:

Frightened Rabbit

The video accompanying the piano ballad is just as poignant and somber as the music itself, a swirl of colors, lights, and shadows enveloping the video’s three subjects as they each take their turn at center stage. The Haunted Man is set for release on October 23, 2012 in the US via EMI’s Capitol Records, so get your pre-order in now. You can also download “Laura” now via iTunes.

Bat for Lashes Tour Dates:

09/02 – Electric Picnic, Ireland
09/09 – Bestival, Isle of Wight
10/18 – Inverness, Ironworks, UK
10/19 – Edinburgh, Picture House, UK
10/21 – Glasgow, O2 ABC, UK
10/22 – Manchester, Cathedral, UK
10/25 – Leeds, Metropolitan University, UK
10/26 – Norwich, University of East Anglia, UK
10/28 – Leicester, O2 Academy, UK
10/29 – London HMV Forum, UK
11/01 – Birmingham, HMV Institute, UK
11/02 – Bristol, Anson Rooms, UK
11/03 – Portsmouth, Pyramids, UK
11/04 – Brighton, Dome Concert Hall, UK
11/15 – Huxley’s Neue Welt, Berlin, Germany
11/18 – Zurich Rote Fabrik, Switzerland
11/19 – Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
11/20 – Les Docks, Lausanne, Switzerland
11/22 – Barcelona Apolo, Spain
11/23 – Madrid Teatro Kapital, Spain
11/25 – Le Trianon, Paris, France
11/26 – Le Spendid, Lille, France
11/27 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands

For more info:

Bat for Lashes Website

The Brian Holland Sessions will be released this Tuesday, July 24th, via Belle Isle / Beverly Martel and was co-produced by Holland and Dave Wilder (Macy Gray & Ghostface Killah). I’ve heard the album myself and quickly fell in love with its catchy doo-wop and soul vibe and infectious pop melodies. Check out the track “Another You” and enjoy some behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions below.

Another You by Mozellamusic

For more info:

Mozella Official Website

According to the band’s promotional materials, Battle Born was “written with the live audience in mind,” and I can definitely imagine swaying in the audience of an outdoor amphitheater as “Runaways” blasts at me from the stage speakers. Since falling in love with the group in 2004 via a little track called “Mr. Brightside” (perhaps you’ve heard of it?), I’ve been a continual fan of their music and can’t wait to hear if the rest of Battle Born lives up to this first single. I expect that it will.

“Runaways” will be released to all digital service providers on July 17th, but you can listen to it now via the video below:

For more info:

The Killers’ website

I love everything about the song “Anna Sun,” and after finally checking out the track’s official video, I love everything about Walk the Moon, in general, and their frontman, Nicholas Petricca, in particular. Can we just take a moment to recognize the swoon-worthiness of his little dance at 2:06? Freaking adorable! The group’s self-titled debut album was released last week and has been racking up the plays on my Spotify account. I definitely recommend “Shiver Shiver” (reminds me of Minus the Bear’s newer tracks) and “I Can Lift A Car” (a little slower in tempo but no less catchy), and of course, you should check out the video for “Anna Sun” yourself below:

Walk the Moon Tour Dates:

06/27 – Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI
06/30 – Rust – Copenhagen, Denmark
07/03 – Point Ephémère – Paris, France
07/06 – Club Nme At Koko – London, United Kingdom
07/07 – Festsaal Kreuzberg – Berlin, Germany
07/09 – 59:1 – Munich, Germany
07/10 – Paradiso Kleine Zaal – Amsterdam, Netherlands
07/15 – Forecastle Festival – Louisville, KY
07/20 – Firefly Music Festival – Dover, DE
07/26 – 20th Century Theater – Cincinnati, Oh
07/28 – Scion’s Bonzai 2012 w/ Eve 6 – Rochester, NY
08/05 – House Of Blues w/ Neon Trees – Cleveland, OH
08/07 – Orange Peel w/ Neon Trees – Asheville, NC
08/08 – Free Bird Live w/ Neon Trees – Jacksonville, FL
08/10 – Revolution Live w/ Neon Trees – Fort Lauderdale, FL
08/11 – House Of Blues w/ Neon Trees – Orlando, FL
08/14 – Majestic Theatre w/ Neon Trees – Detroit, MI
08/15 – Town Ballroom w/ Neon Trees – Buffalo, NY
08/17 – Lupo’s w/ Neon Trees – Providence, RI
08/21 – Crocodile Rock w/ Neon Trees – Allentown, PA
08/22 – Altar Bar w/ Neon Trees – Pittsburgh, PA
08/25 – Concerts At Marymoor – Redmond, WA
09/19 – Melkweg Max w/ fun. – Amsterdam, Netherlands
09/22 – Debaster Medis w/ fun. – Stockholm, Sweden
09/23 – John Dee w/ fun. – – Oslo, Norway
09/25 – The Circus w/ fun. – Helsinki, Finland
09/27 – Little Vega w/ fun. – Copenhagen, Denmark
09/28 – Postbahnof w/ fun. – Berlin, Germany
09/29 – Den Atelier w/ fun. – Luxembourg, Luxembourg
09/30 – Ancienne Belgique w/ fun. – Brussels, Belgium
10/02 – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire w/ fun. – London, United Kingdom
10/04 – Hmv Institute Library w/ fun. – Birmingham, United Kingdom
10/06 – Academy w/ fun. – Dublin, Ireland
10/07 – Academy 2 w/ fun. – Manchester, United Kingdom
10/08 – O2 ABC w/ fun. – Glasgow, United Kingdom
10/10 – Maroquinerie w/ fun. – Paris, France
10/12 – Gloria w/ fun. – Cologne, Germany
10/13 – Theaterfabrik w/ fun. – Munich, Germany
10/14 – Harterei w/ fun. – Zurich, Switzerland
10/16 – Indoor Arena w/ fun. – Vienna, Austria
10/17 – Batschkapp w/ fun. – Frankfurt, Germany
10/18 – Alcatraz w/ fun. – Milan, Italy
10/20 – Music Hall w/ fun. – Barcelona, Spain
10/21 – Caracol w/ fun. – Madrid, Spain
10/23 – Tmn Ao Vivo w/ fun. – Lisbon, Portugal

For more info:

Walk the Moon Official Site

The LA-based six-piece is currently in Hollywood’s Sound Factory Studios crafting their sophomore album with producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Depeche Mode, The Temper Trap). The album should be out in October, but if you want to know what’s happening in the interim, just head over to the band’s website where they are documenting the entire process with daily videos, photos, and audio clips.

Fitz and the Tantrums Tour Dates:

06/30 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl w/ Ben Harper
07/01 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl w/ Ben Harper
07/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
07/04 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks w/ Blues Traveler
07/05 – Kansas City, MO @ Crossroads KC
07/06 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
07/13 – Chicago, IL @ Taste of Chicago- Grant Park
07/20 – Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party
07/22 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival- Dover International Speedway
08/10 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands- Golden Gate Park
09/05 – TORONTO, ON @ TMod Club
09/06 – Amherstburg, ON @ Shores of Erie Wine Festival
09/20 – Morristown, NJ @ Mayo Performing Arts Center
09/21 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
09/23 – Pensacola Beach, FL @ Deluna Fest

As someone who has loved Stars for years and proudly proclaims the group to be one of my all-time favorites, I am beyond excited to experience Stars’ intimate and emotional music once again.

Get your chance to download the album’s first track, “The Theory of Relativity,” on Stars’ official website.

The North Tracklisting:

1. The Theory of Relativity
2. Backlines
3. The North
4. Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
5. Through The Mines
6. Do You Want To Die Together?
7. Lights Changing Colour
8. The Loose Ends Will Make Knots
9. A Song Is A Weapon
10. Progress
11. The 400
12. Walls

For those who aren’t too familiar with the veteran band, check out “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” from Stars’ album Set Yourself on Fire below:

Matsson knew he had the crowd hanging on his every word from the start as the lights switched off. The room was buzzing as spotlights illuminated a sole wooden chair, and Matsson walked onstage to already thunderous applause. The gravely-voiced folk singer opened with “To Just Grow Away” followed by the beautifully emotive “Love Is All,” and proceeded to hold the audience on the edge of their seats through the evening.

Matsson has a flair for musical dramatics and performed with the intimacy of a small club show, pulling the audience in by whispering lyrics then quickly shifting dynamics with loud, vocal acrobatics. He often walked away from the microphone during breaks in singing to play guitar, doubled over his instrument, immersed in the song as he hovered above the ground. It was incredible how one man and his guitar could fill up the cavernous, crowded Wiltern, but Matsson made it look effortless.

He told the crowd, “This is a special day for me. I get to release a record, and I get to play for you. My new songs are hard, so I’m going to sit down to play them,” and began “1904″ and “Leading Me Now.” The audience would burst into applause at the recognition of each opening guitar riff, exploding into cheers at the beginning of “The Gardner.”

The silences between songs were typically filled with a simple “Thank you.” The impressive guitar work, obvious folk influences, and minimal banter made me flash back to when I saw Bob Dylan perform in D.C. years ago. The similarities between Matsson and the legendary Dylan were uncanny: incredible talent, gifted songwriting, and introspection that runs so deep there is no need to entertain the crowd between songs. Humor snuck its way into Matsson’s set however; everything he said was so deadpan and awkwardly charming that the audience laughed or applauded at even the slightest joke.

The crowd chuckled when the man known for playing guitar sat at the piano as they got rare glimpses of the fascinating singer as he confessed being nervous before the show, particularly to play a different instrument. There was no lack of confidence, however, as he played the heartrendingly beautiful ballad “There’s No Leaving Now.”

He explained that “Where Do My Bluebirds Fly” was a song written when he “was pissed off,” and “King Of Spain” inspired the crowd to clap along. “On Every Page” merited a lengthy, standing ovation from the audience before Matsson returned to perform an encore of “The Dreamer” and “Thrown Right At Me.” Fans demonstrated a profound love and appreciation for Matsson’s music, and as the applause from his second standing ovation died down, you knew everyone was heading home to listen to There’s No Leaving Now to recapture the incredible energy and beautiful music Matsson presented that night.

For more information on The Tallest Man On Earth:

Official site

States, fronted by former Lydia singer Mindy White, greeted the crowd with beautiful, wailing vocals reminiscent of Hayley Williams of Paramore; it was unexpectedly impressive to see such powerful vocals by such a small singer. The band played mostly songs off their new album, Room To Run, due out this month, including the delightfully poppy “Captivating Me.” Switching gears, White sang a stripped-down, drawn-out version of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” taking her vocals to new heights. “Can’t Explain” was full-bodied pop rock, and White lightheartedly danced around the stage until the end of States set.

The Scene Aesthetic, featuring Andrew de Torres of Danger Radio and Eric Bowley, took the stage backed by a touring band, which gave their sometimes sparse, acoustic guitar-driven emo pop an extra kick. As electric guitars, heavy on the reverb, rang out, they performed a set that included “Come What May” from their A Type and A Shadow EP. The men seemed a little stiff while performing but really shone when they tapped into their folk influences in songs such as “Keep You Around.” When de Torres and Bowley harmonized or overlapped their voices, rather than switching off who took the lead, it was a much more full sound. Despite these shortcomings, their light-hearted pop music warmed up the crowd for The Rocket Summer.

Bryce Avary, the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist behind The Rocket Summer, was welcomed to the stage by an epic drumbeat, a pipe organ, and a crowd already chanting, “Bryce! Bryce! Bryce!” Avary traditionally opens his shows by looping together instruments (he plays all of the instruments on his recorded tracks) so he first pounded out an uptempo drum beat. Looping that with a keyboard and two electric guitars, he created an full explosion of music, which culminated with a crash. Avary smiled broadly and announced that tonight was the album release show for Life Will Write The Words, eliciting thunderous applause from the audience.

Avary opened with the positive The Rocket Summer staples “Do You Feel” and “Hills and Valleys,” explaining this was “a song about following your dreams, which sometimes leads you to California.” With barely a moment to catch his breath, Avary switched from electric guitar to keyboard while running into the audience during the crowd sing-alongs.

Avary’s music is no ordinary pop rock; his tracks are lushly orchestrated, explosively catchy, artful power pop, and the artist maintained a dizzingly high level of energy throughout the show, whether he was playing his instruments, singing full-heartedly, or charming the audience in between songs with his optimistic, upbeat attitude. The evening was filled with songs off the new record, such as “Run and Don’t Stop,” which featured bright, choppy pop chords. Fans were already singing along to the new tracks despite the album being out for less than twenty-four hours.

As if the raised arms, hands cupped in the shape of hearts, and loud singing along didn’t demonstrate the strong connection between the artist and his fans, Avary took his dedication a step further than any artist I’d seen. A box and microphone were set up in dead center of the audience so Avary could play “Soldier” acoustically, inches away from fans. (Please note the man standing directly behind Avary, the only one soaking in this incredible moment sans electronic device.)

Avary then crowd surfed back to the stage before going “old school” and launching into the crowd favorite “Brat Pack.” The audience was deliriously happy to hear such a timeless The Rocket Summer classic and sang the final chorus on their own.

Avary took a shot of the crowd to later post on his Facebook with the caption, “The album release show in LA last night was so special. Made me feel so alive.” before launching into the new track “200,000″ followed by the older, yet equally captivating “Walls.” As he sang the title track off his previous album, Of Men and Angels, he enthusiastically acted out the lyrics as if it were the first time he performed the song. While that song and the following “So, In This Hour” are two of many The Rocket Summer songs that have religious undertones, these thunderous, borderline worship songs were never overtly religious or ostracizing but rather united the audience in what was a clear, undying passion for not only religion, but music.

To kick off the encore and continue his efforts to make sure his fans were having as much fun as he was, Avary — illuminated in a spotlight with just his keyboard — asked, “What do you guys want to hear?” As dozens of songs titles were screamed, Avary decided, “I’ll just play a medley of songs.” He began with “Never Knew” followed by “Save” and “Around The Clock.”

“The night is young, let’s start a dance party!” Avary decided and fearlessly leapt into the audience again. He then hopped onstage and began looping instruments, mirroring the opening of the show. The unstoppable singer fit in one more new song, “Old Love,” before ending the show with the classics “So Much Love” and “Cross My Heart,” during which the audience sang the entire first verse and chorus. Before the final song concluded, Avary had to dive into the crowd one last time.

Avary demonstrated an undeniable talent for music, an overwhelming passion for performing, and a steadfast dedication to his fans who came to sing along and scream, “We love you!” during any musical breaks. Avary expressed his extensive gratitude to the loving crowd, genuinely thankful, saying, “I never take any of this for granted. I love you so much. I don’t want this night to end! Is this real life? Thank you for such an amazing record release show.”

No, thank you, Bryce, for letting us join in your celebration that exceeded what any fan could have hoped for. Hurry back soon.

For more information on The Rocket Summer:
Official website
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