I hadn’t given too much thought to why Conor Oberst has been releasing records under his own name, as opposed to using the Bright Eyes brand, because I didn’t think his 2008 solo debut for Merge differed all that greatly from the last Bright Eyes record, Cassadaga. It’s only natural to feel stifled by something […]

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Jarvis Cocker’s new record Further Complications was recorded in Chicago by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio. I would pay good money to have been a fly on the wall during those sessions. “Angela” is the first single from that meeting of the minds, and it sounds as though Cocker has been cozying up to some […]

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Matador has just released the first mp3 from Sonic Youth’s highly anticipated new record, The Eternal, due out June 9. It’s an aggressive showcase of the classic Sonic Youth sound with Kim Gordon’s patented yelp over a shower of surging yet oddly tuned (of course) guitars. Easily the band at its most powerful and rocking. […]

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Well, this is certainly surprising. Last time I heard Noisettes the London trio was hardly confined to one genre, but its muscles flexed hardest on the rock side of the fence. The band’s recent UK single is a far cry from anything on its sprawling debut, What’s the Time Mr Wolf?, eschewing sinewy bass lines […]

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Back on April 3rd Lily Allen sat down with Jimmy Kimmel before performing two songs off It’s Not Me, It’s You, looking ridiculously adorable. She discussed her recent Twitter fetish and how she gives tickets away for her shows each night by Twittering clues. With 144,000 followers it’s not exactly surprising that fans would find […]

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Cursive is quickly following up it’s fine new album, Mama I’m Swollen, with a split 10″ picture disc. Fellow Saddle Creek labelmates Ladyfinger (ne) will take the flip side with one track off its latest, Dusk, and an unreleased song. The joint venture is in honor of the second annual Record Store Day on April […]

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Devo’s appearance on that short-lived early ’80’s sitcom Square Pegs, famous for launching the careers of Sarah Jessica Parker and Jami Gertz, was filled with far more debauchery than anyone might have imagined from a bunch of futuristic nerds and new wave teenagers. According to a piece in Heeb magazine, drugs were rampant off-camera, even […]

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