Enter your email address below to receive the brand new Jens Lekman song epically titled “The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love.” Hopefully Jens releases the follow up to the tremendous Night Falls On Kortedala sometime this year. 2010 has already been a great year for music, if Jens releases a new album my head might explode.
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Tons more info after the jump…
]]>Jens Lekman is back in the studio working on material for the follow up to his 2007 release Night Falls On Kortedala. We’ve heard a few rumors and rumblings surfacing from Jens here and there, including a playlist he recently put together of some of his favorite tunes called A Summer In 3/4 Time. However, we were pleasantly surprised when Jens contacted us and said he has a new song to share with the world. Entitled “The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love,” you can download this new song by clicking on the widget above or by heading over to the Small Talk blog on Jens’ website HERE. Below is a message from Jens that shares the story behind this new song:
“It was the day before the american election 2008 and I was filled with a hopelessness that only a McCain supporter could have shared with me at the time. I was in Washington DC to perform for swedish TV, sitting in the couch with a profesional smile on my face, joking with the hosts and discussing the lobster with the TV chef. I saw the clips online sometime ago, it’s amazing what an actor I can be if I really make an effort.
I lived in America back then, up in New York. At the time I felt like everything I touched was turning to shit and I had decided to put everything on one card. Subconsciously I knew I needed to hit the bottom so I could work my way up again. I needed confirmation, I needed someone to tell me it wasn’t going to work out, not this way. Yes, there was a girl involved in this. I was very much in love with her.
Some things you just go through. You don’t write about it, you don’t turn it into art because it can’t be turned into art. I didn’t write any songs that year because you can’t pour manure into an espresso machine and expect a cappucino to come out. When they announced the results and the streets filled up with people celebrating I felt happy to be part of something bigger than myself. It was a feeling that lasted me until the very last days of December 2008 when I finally sat down in my old teenage room at my parents house and I wrote this song. Then the year ended.
It’s a song of hope. When love turns it’s back on you it’s nice to know there’s a world out there that doesn’t give a shit about your problems. That forces you to keep your head held high and move on. A world that is fragile and beautiful. Maybe it can sound cold to some of you, but let me make it clear that I believe in love, I just get so wrapped up in it sometimes that I need to put it into proportion. It’s something you have to do a lot when you’re Jens Lekman.”
It’s a pretty slow week for new releases but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few gems out there (we should all ignore the fact that this is my first “new release” post since May. deal? deal.) My pick of the week goes to Best Coast’s Crazy for You. Why? because this should be your summer soundtrack right now and for five summers after this summer. It is just a fun little album that demands you relax and have a good time. I think we all need albums that request this of us every now and again.
I haven’t had an opportunity to listen to the new Menomena in it’s entirety but everything I’ve heard I’ve absolutely loved. Their last album was the best and I expect the same out of this one. Of the other albums I’ve heard I can highly recommend Tony da Gatorra vs. Gruff Rhys’ The Terror of Cosmic Loneliness (click for a cool story) and the Miniature Tigers’ Fortress. While stylistic they are quite different they both make for enjoyable listens.
Enjoy this weeks new releases, streams, MP3′s and album art after the jump…
Best Coast | Crazy for You
Dean and Britta | 13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests
Die Antwoord: 5 EP
Futurebirds | Hampton’s Lullaby
MP3: Futurebirds – “Johnny Utah”
Stream: Entire Album
Major Lazer | Lazers Never Die EP
Menomena | Mines
MP3: Menomena – “Taos”
MP3: Menomena “Five Little Rooms”
Miniature Tigers | Fortress
Stream: Entire Album
Tony da Gatorra vs. Gruff Rhys | The Terror of Cosmic Loneliness
I’m definitely looking forward to this one. 2007′s S/T release was a bit of a grower for me, but is insanely good.
“Heathen Child”, the new single from Grinderman, will be released on 6th September 2010. It is the first track available from Grinderman’s new studio album Grinderman 2 – out through Mute on 13th September (and in the US on Anti from September 14).
A special Heathen Child Limited Edition double A-side 12” Coloured Vinyl will offer the two single tracks, a poster, plus the bonus track Super Heathen Child — a collaboration between Grinderman and legendary guitarist Robert Fripp.Heathen Child will be available as a two-track download, accompanied by exclusive track Star Charmer.
Released by: Mute
Release/catalogue number: MUTE 441
Release date: Sep 6, 2010
Here’s the thing. I am really looking forward to this new Arcade Fire album. I like that they are going back to the whole neighborhood thing like they did on Funeral. I think it’s a cool concept/theme. Not to mention everything I’ve heard so far has been absolutely fucking stellar.
I have been waiting patiently like everyone else until I read this article yesterday. According to the BBC The Suburbs is better than OK Computer. WHAT!?!?! That is a bold ass statement. I don’t know much about the BBC’s taste in music. Maybe they are always just crazy ridiculous and make weird bold statements all the time. Nevertheless I want to hear this thing so bad right now.
But since no one will send me a promo copy these two high quality radio rips of “We Used to Wait” and “Ready to Start” will have to do until they get taken down.
Arcade Fire – ‘We Used To Wait’ [HQ Radio Rip]
Arcade Fire – ‘Ready To Start’ [HQ]
More album info after the jump…
Track Listing:
01 The Suburbs
02 Ready to Start
03 Modern Man
04 Rococo
05 Empty Room
06 City With No Children
07 Half Light I
08 Half Light II (No Celebration)
09 Suburban War
10 Month of May
11 Wasted Hours
12 Deep Blue
13 We Used to Wait
14 Sprawl I (Flatland)
15 Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
16 The Suburbs (continued)
You can pre-order the album here. It will be available in 8 separate covers so buy all 8 or just buy one and know you’re not missing out on much. I mean the covers are cool and all but who really needs more than one? View All 8 Covers Here.
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Updated on 6/10/2010: This update adds The Cure’s Disintegration [Deluxe Edition] to the perfect 10.0 list.
Updated on 5/19/2010: This update adds The Rolling Stone’s Exile on Main St. to this list.
Updated on 3/30/2010: This update adds Galaxie 500′s deluxe reissue version of On Fire to the list of perfect 10.0′s.
Updated on 3/8/2010: Pavement’s first retrospective compilation, Quarantine the Past, has been added to the perfect 10.0 list.
Updated on 3/2/2010: Pitchfork have added Spiritualized’s Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating in Space [Collector's Edition] to their list of perfect 10 reissues.
Updated on 12/11/2009: P4k have added Neil Young’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and After the Gold Rush reissues to their list of perfect albums. A couple of good choices in my opinion. Harvest missed out by receiving a 9.3.
Updated on 9/11/09: Jesus Christ all these perfect 10′s in one week has to be some type of record for P4k. Today they handed out another one for the 20th anniversary reissue of the Stone Rose’s self-titled album. For those counting they’ve issued seven 10′s this week. Of course they’ve all been deserved in my opinion.
Updated on 9/10/09: To include the Beatles’ Stereo/Mono Remastered Reissues of The White Album and Abbey Road.
Updated on 9/9/09: To Include the Beatles’ Stereo/Mono Remastered Reissues of Rubber Soul, Sgt Pepper’s, Magical Mystery Tour and Revolver.
Updated on 8/25/2009: To include Radiohead’s Kid A: Special Collectors Edition.
Updated on 7/2/2009: To include R.E.M’s Reckoning (Deluxe Edition) reissue.
Updated on 5/26/2009: A commenter by the name of Chris was kind enough to point us to a web archive that shows Pitchfork as if it were 2001 (Thanks Chris!). This is actually pretty fun to look around. The first news topic talks about Radiohead announcing the Amnesiac tracklist via bulletin board. After looking around for quite sometime I forced myself to focus and as a result I’ve updated all the links to show their original reviews. Some of these reviews I couldn’t find links to in the first place (cough cough Kiss) so there might be some new materiel for you guys to check out.
Updated on 4/20/2009: To include the Radiohead reissues of OK Computer and The Bends.
Updated on 3/26/2009: to Include Serge Gainsbourg’s Histoire de Melody Nelson.
Updated on 3/19/2009: It appears that in their recent site redesign Pitchfork decided to get rid of any album review that was over ten years old. This means reviews to albums like OK Computer, The Soft Bulletin and I See A Darkness no longer exist. I’m not sure why they did this, but I imagine it had something to do with reviews like this one.
Updated on 2/13/2009: to included the Beastie Boy’s 20th anniversary reissue of Paul’s Boutique.
Updated on 11/24/2008: to include R.E.M.’s Deluxe Edition of Murmur.
Regardless of how you feel about Pitchfork, I don’t think any of us can argue the sites relevancy within the small confines of our music world. Needless to say Pitchfork is always a polarizing topic. You have those that hate the sheer existence of it and deem the writers pretentious music elitists with a little too much power, and then there are those individuals who appreciate the site and rely heavily on its recommendations. Regardless of what side of the fence we are on when it comes to this issue, we all still inevitably read Pitchfork. Truthfully, I read it every day and I look forward to it. I don’t always agree with their reviews (I’m looking at you Fuck Buttons), but I have my coffee, check the news and right before I start working I check the Pitchfork reviews.
I do hate that so many people put so much stock in their reviews, but like it or not a good/bad Pitchfork review can make or break a band. Many people claim Pitchfork is responsible for breaking bands like Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Interpol, Wolf Parade, and Broken Social Scene. I think it’s safe to say all these bands have plenty of talent, but I’m sure the little nudge Pitchfork gave them didn’t hurt their chances. On the other hand a poor Pitchfork review can destroy a bands career just as quickly. We all remember the monkey drinking its own piss review of Jet’s, Shine On, and the satirical review of the Black Kid’s Partie Traumatic.
I haven’t heard much from Jet lately, and I guess we will have to wait and see if the Black Kid’s can overcome their poor review. This got me thinking about how consistent Pitchfork has been with their reviews in the past, so I decided to try and find a list of albums that have received perfect 10.0’s throughout the years as well as a listing of those unfortunate albums that have received 0.0′s.. I didn’t have to look very long as some members of the Ateaseweb forum kindly pointed me to Pitchfork’s wiki page complete with all the information I needed.
I went ahead and linked to as many of the actual reviews as I could, but some of them have been taken down over the years. The list is broken down into three categories. The first list includes actual albums that received 10.0’s upon initial release, the second list included albums that received 10.0’s upon re-release, and lastly is the list of albums receiving a 0.0.
View the lists after the jump…
Albums that have received a perfect 10.0 from P4k
1. Radiohead – Kid A
MP3: Radiohead - The National Anthem (mp3)
2. Radiohead – OK Computer
MP3: Radiohead – Karma Police (mp3)
3. Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I See A Darkness
MP3: Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I See A Darkness (mp3)
4. The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin
MP3: The Flaming Lips – Race for the Prize (mp3)
5. …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Source Tags and Codes
MP3: …And You Will Know Us BY the Trail of Dead – “Source Tags and Codes”
6. 12 Rods – gay? (EP)
7. Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert 1
8. Robert Pollard – Relaxation of the Asshole (received a 0.0 and a 10.0)
edit – It looks like it might just be a 10.0 now.
9. Amon Tobin – Bricolage
10. Walt Mink – El Producto
11. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
MP3: Wilco – I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (mp3)
Reissues that have received a perfect 10.0 from P4k
1. Boards of Canada – Music has the Right to Children
MP3: Boards of Canada -”Aquarius”
2. Glenn Branca – The Ascension
3. James Brown – Live at the Apollo (Expanded Edition)
4. The Clash – The Essential Clash
5. The Clash – London Calling: 25th Anniversary Edition
6. John Coltrane – The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording
7. Elvis Costello and The Attractions – This Year’s Model
8. Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
9. Miles Davis – Sketches of Spain
10. DJ Shadow – Endtroducing….. (Deluxe Edition)
11. The Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace
12. Iggy and The Stooges – Raw Power
13. Joy Division – Closer
14. Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
MP3: Joy Division – “Disorder”
15. KISS – Alive!
16. Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
MP3: Neutral Milk Hotel – Holland, 1945
MP3: Neutral Milk Hotel – King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1
17. Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted: Luxe and Reduxe
18. Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA’s Desert Origins
19. Pink Floyd – Animals
20. Otis Redding – Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (Collector’s Edition)
21. The Replacements – Let It Be
22. Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation: Deluxe Edition
23. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run: 30th Anniversary Edition
24. Television – Marquee Moon
25. The Velvet Underground – Loaded
26. The Velvet Underground and Nico – S/T
Review no longer exists.
27. The Who – Odds and Sods
28. Wire – Pink Flag
29. Wire – Chairs Missing
30. XTC – English Settlement
31. Various Artists – No Thanks!: The 70s Punk Rebellion
32. R.E.M. – Murmur (Deluxe Edition)
33. Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique: 20th Anniversary Edition
34. Serge Gainsbourg – Histoire de Melody Nelson
35. Radiohead – The Bends: Collector’s Edition
36. Radiohead – OK Computer: Collector’s Edition
37. R.E.M. – Reckoning (Deluxe Edition)
38. Radiohead – Kid A: Special Collectors Edition
39. The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour
40. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
41. The Beatles – Revolver
42. The Beatles – Rubber Soul
43. The Beatles – The Beatles (White Album)
44. The Beatles – Abbey Road
45. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Reissue)
46. Neil Young – Everybody Knows this Is Nowhere
MP3: Neil Young – “Cinnamon Girl”
47. Neil Young – After the Gold Rush
MP3: Neil Young – “After the Gold Rush”
48. Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating in Space [Collector's Edition]
50. Pavement – Quarantine the Past
51. Galaxie 500 – On Fire
52. The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St.
53. The Cure – Disintegration [Deluxe Edition]
Albums that have received a 0.0 from P4k
1. Bachman-Turner Overdrive – Remastered Hits: The Best of…
2. The Flaming Lips – Zaireeka
A feature defending the album and criticizing the review was later also published on the website.
3. John Frusciante – Smile from the Streets You Hold
In this review, the critic writes “I’m giving it a 0.0 because you’ll have to call this one on your own, sorry.”
4. Jet – Shine On
This album was not given a rating—the review consisted only of a video of a chimpanzee urinating into its own mouth.
5. Francisco Lopez – Untitled #104
6. Travis Morrison – travistan
7. Kiss – Music From “The Elder”
8. Kiss/Peter Criss
9. Liz Phair – Liz Phair
The review of Phair’s subsequent album expressed regret that the 0.0 was “wasted” on Liz Phair, because “it’s much better than Somebody’s Miracle.”
10. Robert Pollard – Relaxation of the Asshole
In the review, this album was given a “(1)0.0″ theoretically giving it both a 10.0 and 0.0 rating.
edit – It looks like it might just be a 10.0 now.
11. Sonic Youth – NYC Ghosts and Flowers
12. Various Artists – This Is Next
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It’s been far too long since I’ve update so I thought I would go through my email and post a few songs that I have been sent.
MP3: Moonchild – “Girl”
MP3: M.I.A. x CeCe Peniston – Finally XXXO
MP3: Arcade Fire x Crystal Waters – Suburbs Gypsy Woman
MP3: NinetyNine – Teal Queen (Dave Wrangler HOUSIN’ TEXAS Remix) *original remix
MP3: Richard Laviolette & the Oil Spills – “Funeral Song”
MP3: Chris Shiftlett and the Dead Peasants – “Get Along”
MP3: Baths – ♥ (Daedelus’ Snolaxed Remix)
MP3: Stark Folk Band -”You Cannot Shake Me”
MP3: Stark Folk Band -”Ghostman”
MP3: GRAND MAL – “Lower Yer Heart”
MP3: The Innocence Mission – “The Happy Mondays”
MP3: Christ Leo – “So Lonely”
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Stream: DEVO – Something For Everybody Cat Listening Party
The 2010 ACL Music Festival has announced it’s lineup and all and all it looks pretty solid. Being a bad American and all I despise The Eagles so that’s a headliner I’m not too stoked about. The other headliners include: Muse, Phish, The Strokes, M.I.A and the Flaming Lips. I wouldn’t mind seeing any of them.
The good thing about ACL is that they might not always score the best headliners, but they always have a killer mid-tier lineup and this year is no different. Here are a few (maybe more than a few) bands worth noting: LCD Soundsystem, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, Monster of Folk, Sonic Youth, The National, The Black Keys, Broken Bells, Yeasayer, Beach House, The Sword, Matt and Kim, The xx, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Girls, Local Natives, Gaslight Anthem, Devendra Banhart and the Grogs, The Soft Pack, The Almighty Defenders, Mountain Goats, Midlake, The Morning Benders, David Bazan.
Head HERE for the complete lineup.
Feel free to let us know your thoughts on this years lineup.
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It is an amazing week for new releases. There are no less than four albums out this week that will more than likely be in my top 25 of the year. First of all the new LCD Soundsytem is tremendous. I’m not ready to say it’s better than Sound of Silver, but I’m also not ready to say it isn’t. The new Band of Horses isn’t as immediate as their first two, but with multiple listens it really proves to be a fantastic album. Another pleasant surprise was the Black Key’s album Brothers. I’ve never been more than a casual Black Key’s fan, but this album is blowing me away. I don’t know if I just “got it” or what but the album floors me every time I listen. If you haven’t heard the new Beck produced Jamie Lidell album you are really missing out. His last album was pretty great but he seems to push it to the next level with this one. It really has kind of a Prince feel to it. I might be lambasted for that statement but I’m going to stand behind it. I’ve also been listening to the new self-titled Pearly Gate Music album. I had never heard of them before a couple of weeks ago, but it seems like this is now one of my go-to chill albums.
Anyways, it is a great week for new releases so get out their and spend some actual money.
New releases, album art, streams and MP3′s after the jump…
Band of Horses | Infinite Arms
Stream: Entire Album
The Black Keys | Brothers
Stream: Entire Album
Video: “Next Girl”
Harvey Milk | A Small Turn of Human Kindness
Stream: Entire Album
Holy Ghost! | Static on the Wire EP
Jamie Lidell | Compass
Stream: Entire Album
LCD Soundsystem | This Is Happening
Stream: Entire Album
Video: “Drunk Girls”
Pearly Gate Music | Pearly Gate Music
MP3: Pearly Gate Music – “Big Escape”
MP3: Pearly Gate Music – “I Was A River (Live Take)
NPR’s appropriatly titled ” Exclusive First Listen” is giving those of us who weren’t lucky enough to grab the pre-release vinyl on record store day our first listen to the new Hold Steady album, Heaven Is Whenever.
Let us know what your thoughts on the album.
]]>I’m pretty much in love with all things LCD Soundsystem and this video is no exception. Remember you can, and should, stream the entire new album here.
“Drunk Girls” is the first single from the band’s forthcoming album This Is Happening, available in the US on May 18th.
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