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Mark Lanegan Band

I love Screaming Trees. One of my favorite concerts was seeing them with Poster Children back in 1993. They are one of those bands that I can go back to and never be disappointed.

Mark Lanegan, the former singer of Screaming Trees has always been busy releasing solid solo albums, even during his time with the Trees. Along with his solo work, he has released albums with former Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell, and The Twilight Singers’ Greg Dulli under the name The Gutter Twins.  His latest release, Blues Funeral, on 4AD is another notch on the “solid solo release” belt. The music is dark and powerful, and his voice is as smokey and gravely as ever. Have a listen to “The Grave Digger’s Song” below. Whether you were a fan of the Screaming Trees before or just hearing of Mark now, you will enjoy this song.

Mark Lanegan Band – The Grave Diggers Song from Blues Funeral (2012)

 Mark Lanegan

4AD

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King Loses Crown

Darker than Devo, faster than Depeche Mode, denser than Killing Joke, but sharing the apocalyptic atmosphere of those artists, San Francisco trio King Loses Crown releases their new single today, “My Revenge.” We reviewed an earlier demo version of this song a few years back, but the band has since added a member, beefed up production and further honed their sound. And as luck would have it, their sonic assault met its visual match in visual effects director Jim Mitchell (Harry Potter, Sleepy Hollow, and Jurassic Park III). Mitchell directed the video, also released today, a documentary style, sci-fi look into the future where our technology catches up with us and our darkest impulses.

It’s not everyday that a full-fledged Hollywood filmmaker produces the video for an emerging band, so I checked in with Mitchell to see why he decided to get involved with King Loses Crown. He told me that a friend invited him to see the band at the Elbo Room and he was “blown away by the intensity and energy of their songs.” Mitchell had been developing a robot character and when he heard “My Revenge” he realized the song’s theme was “similar to what [he] was imagining for the world of the character.” He edited a few of his robot animations to the song and “couldn’t believe how it just seemed to naturally sync up like they were meant to be together.” The band agreed. So do I. You probably will too.

My Revenge from You Can’t Escape EP, February 2013

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Peoples Temple

It’s probably obvious from most of my posts this year that I have been smitten by the resurgence of 60’s style garage and psych rock. Michigan’s own Peoples Temple (or The Peoples Temple) are no exception. Sounding like they traveled through time to the 21st century after wrapping up a summer tour in 1967 with Love. Peoples Temple recently released their second full length album, More For The Masses, with Hozac Records. We have two songs for your listening pleasure below, “Looter’s Game” and “Loose (Fire)”, both from their new album and both killer examples of their psyched out sound. Get comfortable and give these songs a listen. Enjoy.

Peoples Temple – Looters Game from More For The Masses (2012)

Peoples Temple – Loose (Fire) from More For The Masses (2012)

Peoples Temple

Hozac

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Mac DeMarco

Here is another great find from the Captured Tracks label, Mac DeMarco. Mac is out of Vancouver, British Colombia. He just released his first proper full length album, 2, back in October, and a 12 song EP called Rock and Roll Night Club earlier this spring. 2 is an excellent album, and I highly recommend it. The streaming track below, “My Kind of Woman”, from the album 2, with it’s jangly guitar and almost soft-spoken vocal delivery, is a great example of the entire album’s sound. Enjoy.

Mac DeMarco

Captured Tracks

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The Super Vacations

My introduction to the Super Vacations came by way of a 7″ split that I received in the mail. I hadn’t heard of either band on the split, and had no idea what to expect when I put the needle down. The driving rhythms and psych-tinged guitar instantly grabbed my attention. I was pleasantly surprised, and blown away by The Super Vacations. They released their 3rd full length album, Heater Pt. II, with Funny / Not Funny Records back in September. Check out the two songs below from this release, “Controller”, and “El Ray”, then hurry over to F/NF‘s site and get you a copy before they are all gone.

The Super Vacations – Controller from Heater Pt. II (2012)

The Super Vacations – El Ray from Heater Pt. II (2012)

The Super Vacations

Funny / Not Funny

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The Mountain Goats

I’m sure to a lot of you The Mountain Goats are not new, in fact we posted a few of their songs back in 2004. To those of you who haven’t heard of, or taken the time to listen to, them there is never a better time than now.

The Mountain Goats recently released their 14th proper album, Transcendental Youth, with Merge Records. I highly recommend the album. Check out “Cry For Judas” below. It’s one of their more upbeat songs, from the new album, and a great starting point if you’re new to the band. Enjoy.

The Mountain Goats – Cry For Judas from Transcendental Youth (2012)

The Mountain Goats

Merge Records

Here is Sam’s original post from 03.12.2004

John Darnielle may not be singing into his trusty Panasonic boom box anymore, but his incisive, tuneful narratives are as raw and compelling as ever.

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Golden Void

Golden Void are a 4-piece band out of San Francisco. Their style is a throwback to the heavier rock bands of the 70’s, and they bring everything from that genre to the table, soaring vocals, heavy rhythms, huge riffs, plenty of hooks, and lots of organ. They are set to release their debut self-titled album with Thrill Jockey in November. Check out “The Curve” below, it’s four minutes and forty-six seconds of super heavy riffs, psychedelic swirled organs, and racing guitar solos that slows down for a bit in the middle, to let you catch your breath, before they pummel you into the ground for a solid minute and a half and leave you for dead. Enjoy.

Golden Void – The Curve from S/T (2012)

Golden Void

Thrill Jockey

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Ghost Wave

We have an Indian summer happening out here in Utah. It’s a wonderful thing. The leaves are changing, the mountain ranges are colorful, and it’s still in the 80’s. With Autumn on the doorstep, Ghost Wave is the perfect band to help hold on to summer no matter what the temperature outside is.

Ghost Wave is a 3 piece band out of Auckland, New Zealand. They play a 60’s style, surf guitar pop similar to bands of yesteryear like The Ventures, and current musicians like Ty Segall, and Wavves. They released their debut S/T EP last month, you can snag it on iTunes. “On A Breeze” (below), with it’s jangly surf guitar, is my favorite song from the EP, and is a great example of how good this release is. Enjoy.

Ghost Wave – On A Breeze from S/T EP (2012)

Ghost Wave

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The Limiñanas

The Limiñanas | Crystal Anis | 3hive.com

The psychedelic/pop revival continues on with The Limiñanas. This French pop duo, consisting of Marie Limiñana on drums, and Lio Limiñana playing pretty much everything else, including vocal duties (other vocals provided by guests), have their genre pegged. Wearing their Gainsbourg, Velvet Underground, and any of the ye-ye girls of the 60’s influences on their sleeves, they also sound like what I think Stereolab would’ve sounded like had they been around in the 60’s.

The Limiñanas latest album, Crystal Anis, out now on the great Hozac Records, is pop perfection. The hardest part about writing this post was deciding which of the 11 songs to share. For your listening/downloading pleasure, (below) we have the straight forward, fuzzy, and over-before-you-know-it “AF3458”, and the sing-talking, Hammond and bass driven title track “Crystal Anis”. The more I listen to these, the higher this album moves up my favorites of the year list. Give these songs a spin. I know you will enjoy them.

The Limiñanas – AF3458 from Crystal Anis (2012)

The Limiñanas – Crystal Anis from Crystal Anis (2012)

Hozac

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Divine Fits

Divine Fits is a new side project/new band/supergroup made up of Britt Daniel from Spoon, Dan Boeckner from Handsome Furs and Wolf Parade, and Sam Brown from New Bomb Turks. They are releasing their debut album, A Thing Called Divine Fits on August 28, with Merge Records.

Full of throbbing synths, echoed vocals, and driving beats, A Thing Called Divine Fits is very catchy, just what one would expect after reading the bands lineup. Britt and Dan share lead vocal assignments, each singing lead on half of the album’s tracks. The two tracks included below are samples of each singer’s distinctive voices, and how those voices make each of their respective songs sound unique, but flow well with each other as well. “My Love Is Real”, the opening track sung by Dan, has a dark, fuzzy vibe to it. While “Would That Not Be Nice” sounds pretty much like a Spoon song, with a thumping bass line and maracas ushering in Britt’s vocals. Both songs are really good, and will give you a good idea of how great the entire album is.

Divine Fits – My Love Is Real from A Thing Called Divine Fits (2012)

Divine Fits – Would That Not Be Nice from A Thing Called Divine Fits (2012)

Merge Records

Divine Fits