Harlem


Meet Harlem from Texas. Cool poprocks tunes. Their name has been floating around since their first release Free Drugs ;-), but I didn't mention them because they're title is so similar to Harlem Shakes, one of my personal favorites who have since broken up.

Thankfully, Harlem doesn't sound much like The Shakes.
Their second release Hippies is due out on Matador Records April 6 and they're on a small club tour now.

Hippies' single free, courtesy of Matador:
“Friendly Ghost” (192k mp3)

MGMT Says 'No Singles for Sophomore LP'


Although MGMT's singles (Kids, Time to Pretend) have enjoyed an overwhelming amount of success, the group has decided that their sophomore Spring release Congratulations will have no pre-released tracks.

"We'd rather people hear the whole album as an album and see what tracks jump out rather than the ones that get played on the radio – if anything gets played on the radio!" The band said in a recent NME interview.

Not putting out singles would minimize the number of illegal downloads (and pretentious singles-ain't-cool listeners), potentially saving labels and bands a bit more money. Could this be the future of releasing material?

Panda Bear's Sophomore LP: Tomboy


Noah Lennox, also known as Panda Bear from Animal Collective, has revealed the title to his mysterious second LP. The disc, titled Tomboy, is the follow-up to 2007's indie favorite Person Pitch.

The record is due to hit shelves this September and will be released on Paw Tracks, Animal Collective's label.

VIDEO: Local Natives - "Airplanes" + Gorilla Manor


Local Natives | MySpace Music Videos

Here is the video for Airplanes by Local Natives. Pretty unique combination of stop-motion and real time. This song really tells a story, as does the video.

Their LP Gorilla Manor has been out in the UK for awhile now, but look for it in the US on Frenchkiss Records February 16.

Two Door Cinema Club to Release LP


UK newcomers Two Door Cinema Club have announced that their first LP Tourist History will be released March 1 on French label Kitsune. Many of the cuts have previously been released on various singles and EPs.

Tracklist:

01 - Cigarettes in the Theatre
02 - Come Back Home
03 - Do You Want It All?
04 - This is the Life
05 - Something Good Can Work
06 - I Can Talk
07 - Undercover Martyn
08 - What You Know
09 - Eat That Up, It's Good For You
10 - You're Not Stubborn

Juliet Casablancas Pregnant + Strokes News


Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas' wife Juliet is expecting the couple's first child!
The photo above is the first to circulate (on tumblr), and it has been reported that the baby is due next month.

In other Strokes news, the band has definitely been in the studio recording the infamous fourth album. Julian may also be lining up some more solo shows. He's already signed up for Coachella Festival in April, but keep watch on his twitter for other live announcements.

Contra


Congratulations to Vampire Weekend for debuting on Billboard at NUMBER ONE for their sophomore LP Contra with 123,597 units sold in the release's first week. That's just 25,000 less than Ke$ha, who had the top spot last week.

The album is really great (especially Diplomat's Son). There really aren't any duds on this one. The fact that they made the best of their backlash to backlash status with a killer follow-up is just awesome for them.

Way to go, Vampy!

Last Night: Vampire Weekend


On Sunday I went to see Vampire Weekend play at the United Palace Theater, a beautiful old restored movie theater, which is located under the George Washington Bridge (well, almost). Thankfully, the show that these preppy local heroes put on was well worth the long trip on the A train. Unfortunately, it was a seated gig, so I didn't have much control over my spot in the theater. The picture above is just a plain point and shoot shot, not sure why it's as fuzzy as it is. Taking pictures just wouldn't have been worth it. If you'd like to see some professional photos, head over to BKV.

They played every song in their discography, with the exception of Bryn from the s/t and I Think UR a Contra. Their first New York show was a lot of fun, they played really well for the young crowd and it was apparent that everyone in the theater was all for them.

Setlist:
(the band coined it as their longest show ever!)

White Sky
Holiday
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
I Stand Corrected
M79 (strings)
California English
Cousins
Taxi Cab
Run
A-Punk
One (Blake's Got a New Face)
The Kids Don't Stand a Chance (strings)
Diplomat's Son (strings)
Giving Up the Gun
Campus / Oxford Comma

ENC
Horchata (strings)
Ottoman (strings)
Mansard Roof
Walcott

Read about the other times I've seen the Vamps
HERE , HERE & HERE

Last Night: JULIAN CASABLANCAS

I went to see Julian Casablancas play his homecoming show at New York's monster hellhole venue Terminal 5 a few days ago on Thursday, January 14th. What an incredible performance, and getting there early enough to be in the front row just made it so much better.
Although I've coined the three Phoenix shows I've seen the best & my favorites, Jules may be sweeping in for the number one spot. After all, The Strokes mean so much more to me than the poppy Frenchmen do. Anyway...

**
"Hello hello hello, we're Tanlines, we're from here, just like you." Jesse the keyboardist of the Brooklyn band says (in between every song the duo played). Thankfully, they started their set right on time at 9:00 and were the first band of three on the bill. For thirty minutes, they blasted out some unmemorable beachy experimental tunes. Mixed with the strange draft and the undanceable music they were playing, it really felt like a South American jungle.

(as always, all photos by me: SLR used, except some of the JC shots are pocket camera)


***

The second band on the bill was Telepathe. I'm sorry, but I just hate them. I saw them play in December 2008 supporting Vampire Weekend.
They're still boring and repetitive, overly synthed and unmusical. They had an even longer set than Tanlines, which just killed the vibe totally. It's a mystery why Telepathe keeps getting booked for big name shows. Absolutely nobody was moving in the crowd.



***

With the awfulness of Telepathe dissipating as the last set change ensued, Julian finally took the stage around 10:30 pm to Ludlow St. The five piece band at his back was as tight as it could be, and Jules swaggered his way through the set clad in head to toe leather, gripping the mic stand and occasionally jumping into the crowd.



He seemed genuinely humbled by the wild reception and constant cheering. He mumbled quite a bit of gratification in between songs, as well as how he was nervous to play back in New York after such a long time and how Alicia Keys' Empire State of Mind was stuck in his head.


Pretty much everything he played was off his solo album, except for a cover of Velvet Snow (Aha Shake Kings of Leon). He did not do justice to that song. It's sort of like that Elvis cover of Something by the Beatles. All of the artists involved are fantastic. And opposite vocally.

Only accompanied by an electric keyboard, he also sang I'll Try Anything Once - a slow Strokes demo of First Impressions of Earth's single You Only Live Once in the first encore. It seemed like everyone in the crowd knew the song. It was a great couple of minutes.


Jules returned for a second encore, playing Tourist.
After all of his band left the stage, he brought his drummer back to do a beat so he could sing a little bit of Empire State of Mind.


Now you're in New Yooork...

Jay Reatard Found Dead at 29


It has been announced today that Jay Reatard passed away in
his sleep last night. He will be surely missed by the indie-rock
community. Apparently he was a lot of fun to be around.

On a brighter note, he did outlive a spot in the 27 Club.
RIP

Paparazzi


Lady Gaga has recently teamed up with Polaroid to reinvent the iconic brand in its return to the photography market. She has been appointed “creative director” and “inventor of specialty products”.

"The Haus of Gaga has been developing prototypes in the vein of fashion/technology/photography innovation - blending the iconic history of Polaroid and instant film with the digital era,” she said.

In other Gaga news, the singer, who will be honored with five GRAMMY nominations later this month, has designed "jewel-shaped earbuds (below) that were designed to look more like a fashion accessory than a piece of technology." Maybe that would explain the $US119.95 price tag.



Rock Annex Closed


It's a shame to announce that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in Soho is now closed. I has a chance to visit it once last summer. All of the exhibits were really well done, and the John Lennon room was beautiful.

Even though the museum was relatively small, it really makes you appreciate how much New York has done for rock & roll.

Preview VW's "Contra" in Full


Contra, Vampire Weekend's second LP, is out next week. Steam it all on myspace.
Where can you buy the disc & get a bonus CD? Find out!