I’ve been waiting for some MP3 newness from Cass McCombs (so I’d have an excuse to post something) ever since I first downloaded the blissfully doped-up “I Went to the Hospital” close to a year ago. But “Sacred Heart,” with its beautiful depiction of British middle-class existence as a tragically poetic way to go — yes, in the tradition of His Majesty Morrissey — is good enough to stand on its own. “Hospital” and “Not the Way” give you something to fill your headphones with lovely sounds for another few minutes.
Alan from Low on their Tour cancellation
His Name Is Alive
Summer’s here, kids, and you know what that means: farmer tans, frozen custard, and a free downloadable EP from His Name Is Alive. The ever eclectic and prolific Warren Defever has been so busy he must have forgot that he put out an LP of the same name less than a month ago. However, it was a limited (like, 50 total) pressing so it’s unlikely to cause too much confusion. As for the EP, it’s not going to be around forever either, so jump on it. I’m posting a link to the buoyant title track and a classic soul side from 2001’s Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth. The rest of the goods can be found on the band’s site, inlcuding the hilariously complex backstory for “Summer Bird.” (Thanks for the tip, Monahan!)
Afraid of Stairs
There are actually two kinds of stair-related ‘phobias: bathmophobia (fear of stairs or steep slopes) and climacophobia (fear of stairs, climbing, or of falling downstairs). Perhaps unable to choose between the two, this Swedish duo simply went with Afraid of Stairs. This track is a couple years old, but it’s all I’ve got. I’d go up or down any number of stairs to get them to put out another single as dreamy — and hopefully not as brief — as this. (Discovered via Jason’s Attack of the Swedes mix.)
Nineteenseventyeight
Looks like these guys are going to turn into a country rock outfit called South of ’78, so enjoy the noisy guitars and drum crashes while you can.
Yahoo Does Music
Math and Physics Club
It already feels like summer. When it gets this hot this early, there’s really nothing you can do but lounge around and listen to pop music and pine about “Weekends Away,” like the Math and Physics Club.
New Mice Parade MP3 posted
Radio 4
My sister Christy saw these guys play at Coachella a couple weeks back and sent me an email asking what I knew of them, especially their percussionist (what is this, a dating service?). To my embarrassment, I knew nada. After reading up, I see that one of their two singers is Anthony Roman, formerly of Garden Variety, who I do know for his ragged, plaintive punk of some 10 years back. After listening up, I hear funky homage to Britain’s most danceable post-punk bands (Wire, Gang of Four, The Clash) and the feelgood politics of NY peers !!! and Out Hud. So thanks, sis, for keeping your brother’s ear to the street (apparently the Mitubishi ad they were featured in didn’t do it) — and happy birthday!
Why?
Why? hits full stride on their new Sanddollars EP. More straight-forward, sing-along melodies and hooky choruses replace the usual meandering, stumble-along style. Consider Why? the hip-hop generation’s answer to They Might Be Giants. And it couldn’t have happened a moment too soon…