CMJ

Watch: Wavves’ Video For “That’s On Me”

Tanisia Morris — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:43:03 +0000

Who needs anger management when you can take your aggression out on a set of soda bottles…or a watermelon…or a trash can? And the list goes on. Directed by Brandon Dermer, Wavves’ new video for That’s On Me features a suit-wearing assailant whose hostility can’t be tamed. With a samurai sword in hand, a slicing-session is sure to ensue.

That’s On Me is off the band’s latest album, Afraid of Heights, and it’s appropriately riff-heavy and angry-sounding. Check out the video below and learn about alternative ways to de-stress.

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Listen: Danny Brown’s Studio Version Of “Kush Coma” Feat. A$AP Rocky

Nancy Hoang — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:52:11 +0000

Danny Brown stopped by BBC Radio 1Xtra‘s Westwood last weekend to drop the official studio version of his newest single, “Kush Coma.” The weed-honoring track has been floating around the interwebz since March but now is getting its proper release with a guest spot from frequent collaborators A$AP Rocky and Zelooperz.

The previously released version sans Rocky was attention-grabbing enough, but this new studio recording is more of an upper than a downer with its cutting, fast-paced Skywlkr beat. The synth-loaded single comes off Brown’s upcoming album, Old, due out in August via Fools Gold. Put yourself in a “Kush Coma” below.

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Hanson @ Irving Plaza: June 18, 2013

Erin Lebar — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:47:12 +0000

Going to a Hanson show is like entering an alternate universe. A universe in which women have willingly tattooed song lyrics on their bodies… multiple times. A universe in which the venue is packed an hour before the set was supposed to start. A universe in which Taylor, Zac, and Isaac Hanson are musical gods that have been building this cult-like following for years, seemingly without anyone else knowing. So the best (and only) thing to do was take a swig of the ol’ Hanson Kool-aid and just roll with it.

Jokes aside, Hanson may be one of the most underrated bands around. The brothers have released some pretty solid albums over the years, including their newest, Anthem, their latest release in their 21-year career. As they have aged (gotten married, become fathers) their sound has progressed from pop to soul, stretching even further to Motown, and a bit of rock, all of which suit their penchant for writing catchy hooks and choruses sure to be stuck in your head for days. Seriously.

This show was meant as an album release for Anthem and was the second of a two-night, sold-out stint at Irving Plaza. The band gave the ecstatic audience a nice mix of old and new during the over two hour set. But they probably could’ve played anything, because it seemed like the crowd knew literally every word to every song. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

For the non-hardcore Han-fans (myself included), they were kind enough to play their singles as well as a few fan favorites from older albums. The harmonica solo in “Penny And Me” elicited such screeches and wails that you’d think the biggest musical heartthrobs in the world were on stage, and when the intro to “If Only” kicked-off, the room vibrated with the sheer amount of noise the overwhelmingly female audience created.

The standout moment of the night, of which there were many, was the acappella song the brothers laid down about halfway through the set. There was never a question that Hanson are a talented trio of musicians, both vocally and otherwise, but to hear them on their own, stripped down, and indulging in their spot-on three-part harmonies was truly astounding. Throughout the night, each Hanson brother took on lead vocals, which was nice to hear as most of the songs in my immediate memory featured Taylor primarily. While Taylor has particularly impressive vocal range, power, and precision, the other brothers are nothing to scoff at. Each has their own distinct sound that is equally as polished as Taylor, and offered a nice variety to the show.

This show had such a weird atmosphere that it’s still hard to pinpoint even hours after. It was like simultaneously being stuck in a time warp from 1998 while still being fully aware that the whole point of this show was to release an entirely new album. Maybe it was just the mindset of the crowd—it’s been 16 years since “MMMBop” hit the charts (yes, they played it and yes, it was awesome), and the majority of fans at Irving Plaza last night have clearly been on the bandwagon since then. Maybe Hanson fans get perpetually stuck in 14-year-old girl mode when they see Hanson live, and that creates a very youthful ambiance. It’s by no means a bad thing, just a unique concert-going experience that very few bands could hope to replicate.

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Watch: METZ Release Face Melting Video For “Get Off”

Nancy Hoang — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:12:17 +0000

How many super weird music videos is too many? Why would you ask such a thing? That’s not even a question for Canadian noise rock trio METZ, whose visual aesthetic only gets stranger with new each video. METZ released “Wasted” back in March which featured a confused-looking, but completely adorable dog and today’s video features Smahmpy the Flying Retriever, a super hero dog—cape and all, that comes to save the world from a morphing junk yard operator trying to obliviate alien beings.

The video, which premiered via Stereogum earlier today, will have you questioning whether or not you’re actually watching Adult Swim with its plentiful slaughtered limbs and futuristic flying vehicles, but the vivacious track will surely make up for any incurring acid trips. Directed by fellow Sub Pop label mate, Chad Van Gaalen, the song comes off the band’s self-titled debut released last year.

Listen to the face-melting new track with matching face-melting (literally) video below as well as upcoming METZ tour dates.

Tour Dates For METZ:
6/21 – Calgary, AB – Royal Canadian Legion #1
6/22 – Calgary, AB – Broken City
6/23 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
6/28 – St. Gallen, Switzerland – St. Gallen Festival
6/29 – Helsinki, Finland – Rock The Beach Festival
7/04 – Arendal, Norway – Hove Festival
7/06 – Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival
7/12 – Toronto, ON – Downsview Park
7/20 – Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
7/26 – Guelph, ON – Hillside Festival Of Guelph
8/01 – Venlo, Netherlands – Julianapark
8/02 – Liege, Belgium – Micro Festival
8/03 – Katowice, Poland – Off Festival
8/08 – Oslo, Norway – Oya Natt Festival
8/09 – Rees-Haldern, Germany – Haldern Pop Festival
8/11 – Castelbuono, Italy – Ypsigrock Festival
8/24 – Los Angeles, CA – F Yeah Fest
9/26 – Champaign, IL – Pygmalion Festival
9/27 – Cincinnati, OH – Midpoint Music Festival
10/30-31 – Reykjavik, Iceland – Iceland Airwaves Festival
11/01 – Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Den Atelier
11/02 – Brussels, Belgium – Witloofbar
11/03 – Eindhoven, Holland – Hit The City Festival
11/04 – Hamburg, Germany – Hafenklang
11/06 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Beta
11/07 – Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser Strand
11/08 – Oslo, Norway – John Dee
11/09 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
11/11 – Berlin, Germany – Bi Nuu
11/12 – Warsaw, Poland – Hydrozagadka
11/13 – Wroclaw, Poland – Bezsennosc
11/14 – Prague, Czech Republic – 007 Club
11/15 – Wurzburg, Germany – Café Cairo
11/16 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Le Romandie Club
11/17 – Milan, Italy – Lo Fi Club
11/19 – Lyon, France – Marche Gare
11/20 – Paris, France – La Gaite Lyrique
11/22 – Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
11/23 – Glasgow, UK – Broadcast
11/25 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
11/26 – Bristol, UK – Start the Bus
11/27 – Brighton, UK – The Haunt
11/28 – London, UK – Village Underground

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Beat Club (WUDR) And Wax Children (KSPC)

Carrie Brothers — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:13:42 +0000

Wax Children playing live at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana, CA – Photo by Wax Children

Each week the CMJ staff sifts through thousands of radio playlists that contribute to our weekly charts. In the Chart Discovery column, we highlight exciting artists, albums and songs brought to our attention by the charts of our reporting panel of college and non-commercial radio stations. This week’s favorites come from WUDR in Dayton, OH and KSPC in Claremont, CA.

Beat Club on WUDR

The two-year-old L.A.-based trio Beat Club caught our attention when it snuck up to the Number 30 position on WUDR’s playlist this week. Named for a German TV show that aired in the ’60s and ’70s, the trio makes dance punk with a distinct pop sweetness. They blend ’80s hip-hop rhythms with a flurry of synths, prominent base lines, the occasional jangly guitar, and plenty of playful vocals.

Wax Children on KSPC

Coming in at Number 29 on KSPC’s Radio 200 playlist is Safe Hands from the L.A.-based Wax Children. The experimental garage group’s sound features a vast, psychedelic sonic landscape full of fuzz and reverb, but not without the occasional burst of noise-rock power and soothing melodies. A little surf rock in the guitar and clear ’60s influences round out the foursome’s sound.

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Listen: No Age Release Opening Track To An Object, “No Ground”

Nancy Hoang — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:33:10 +0000

Releasing two new tracks within a week of each other? That’s totally normal for L.A. skuzz rock duo No Age—in fact, that’s exactly what they’ve done. Just last week the band released the first single, “C’mon Stimmung” off their upcoming album, played on a ocean landscaped non-video to boot. Now the band has released the opening track to An Object, “No Ground.”

The slow-building track plays like No Age is holding nothing back. There’s a sense of urgency in singer/drummer Dean Spunt’s vocals as he wails, “I don’t work for you/You have no clue” above a high energy guitar riff and pounding drums. You can check out the tour dates for No Age below, and stream No Ground over at NPR.

Tour Dates for No Age:
06/19 – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix
06/20 – London , England – Corsica Studios
06/21 – Camber Sands, England – All Tomorrow’s Parties (Camber)
06/23 – Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands – Best Kept Secret Festival
06/24 – Paris, France – Espace B
06/27 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Bakken
06/28 – Oslo, Norway – Gut Feeling Festival
06/29 – Bergen, Norway – Perfect Sound Festival
07/25 – Santa Monica, CA – Santa Monica Pier
08/18 – Arcata, CA – MexNwoW *
08/19 – Eugene, OR – Cozmic Pizza *
08/20 – Seattle, WA – Washington Hall *
08/21 – Portland, OR – Backspace *
08/22 – Chico, CA – Cafe Coda *
08/23 – Berkeley, CA – Art Museum And Pacific Film Archive *
08/24 – Bolinas, CA – TBA *
08/26 – Reno, NV – The Holland Project
08/27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
08/28 – Denver, CO – Rhinoceropolis
08/29 – Kansas City, MO – Folk Center
08/30 – Dallas, TX – Texas Theater
08/31 – Austin, TX – The Museum Of Human Achievement
09/01 – New Orleans, LA – The Big Top Three Ring Circus
09/02 – Atlanta, GA – Arts Exchange
09/03 – Durham, NC – The Pinhook
09/04 – Baltimore, MD – Floristree
09/05 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall Of Williamsburg
09/07 – Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA
09/09 – Cincinnati, OH – Contemporary Arts Center
09/15 – Bloomington, IN – Waldron Arts Center
09/18 – Norman, OK – Mainsite Contemporary Arts Center
09/19 – Marfa, TX – Padre’s
09/21 – Albuquerque, NM – Small Engine Gallery
09/25 – Ojai, CA – Ojai Ranch Inn
10/02 – London, England – Koko
10/03 – Birmingham, England – The Hare And Hounds
10/05 – Dublin, Ireland – The Grand Social
10/06 – Limerick, Ireland – Bourkes
10/06 – Glasgow, Scotland – Stereo
10/09 – Leeds, England – Brudenell Social Club
10/10 – Manchester, England – Deaf Institute
10/12 – Bristol, England – Simple Things Festival
10/14 – Brighton, England – The Haunt
10/15 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Secret Location
10/19 – Bologna, Italy – Covo
10/20 – Padova, Italy – Movement Padova
10/21 – Rome, Italy – Circolo Degli Artisti
10/22 – Torino, Italy – Astoria
10/24 – Vienna, Austria – Flex

* with Sun Foot, Devin Gary & Ross

Tracklist For An Object:
01. No Ground
02. I Won’t Be Your Generator
03. C’mon Stimmung
04. Defector/ed
05. An Impression
06. Lock Box
07. Running From A-Go-Go
08. My Hands, Birch and Steel
09. Circling With Dizzy
10. A Ceiling Dreams Of A Floor
11. Commerce, Comment, Commence

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Listen: Arctic Monkeys Return With “Do I Wanna Know?”

Nancy Hoang — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:59:14 +0000

It’s been two long years since Arctic Monkeys’ 2011 LP, Suck It And See, and now the band has come back with a new single “Do I Wanna Know?”. While on a string of U.S. tour dates, the Sheffield band have been playing the new track live with it first surfacing online from a show at California’s Ventura Theater, creating quite the stir, and this morning they’ve released the studio recording and music video for the song.

The fuzzy rock track is the first single off their as of yet untitled fifth studio album due out later this year, as frontman Alex Turner told the BBC. “Do I Wanna Know?” features the band again exploring psychedelic territories as Turner ominously croons “Crawling back to you” over a slow burning guitar riff as the animated video swirls in and out of outlines of women. The Arctic Monkeys have also been playing “Mad Sounds” live, a second new track that plays more like a ballad, hinting that the forthcoming album may be filled with soundscapes other than just fuzzy psychedelic tracks. Watch the bodacious music video for their new single, “Do I Wanna Know?” below.

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Watch: Die Antwoord Be Weird In The Video For “Cookie Thumper”

Tanisia Morris — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:35:24 +0000

We’re not sure where Die Antwoord gets their cookies from, but judging from the new video for their single, “Cookie Thumper,” we’re sure they’ve got some freakish ingredients. Highlights of the Ninja-directed video include masked rump shakers, a weak-bladdered Yo-Landi and a raunchy sex scene without much filter.

The story seems simple enough, but fans of the South African rap-rave clique know better. It features Yo-Landi Vi$$er decked out in a school girl outfit as she strolls through a gritty neighborhood to meet up with her gangsta-boo Anies, who was recently released from prison. Yo-Landi raps in a squeeky, quick-paced tempo about bad boys, O.P.P., and cookies, which we’re assuming is a euphemism for something. But oh, the lyrics don’t prepare you for the twisted visuals ahead. Check out the video below if you dare, and look out for their forthcoming release Donker Mag, to be released in February 2014 via ZEF Recordz.

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Guards @ Brooklyn Bowl: June 18, 2013

Eric Gossett — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:08:01 +0000

Guards – Photo by Eric Gossett

Garage-gaze trio Guards performed to a packed-house at Brooklyn Bowl Tuesday night as part of the Local X Local showcase in Williamsburg. The event celebrates local beer, art, food and of course, music. This was Guards’ first time playing in New York since December of last year. Sadly, this would also turn out to be the last time the band would play together (sort of).

At first glance, some might mistake Guards for the long-haired indie-pop group Cults. That’s probably because a few of them are actually former band members of the New York band: Drummer Loren “Ted” Humphrey and lead singer Richie Follin, who is also the older brother of Cults frontwoman Madeline Follin. Richie and Loren parted with the band in 2010 and began playing shows as the newly formed Guards. The visual aspect is about the only thing the two groups have in common. With Guards, Richie has taken his sound in a more rock-driven direction, as opposed to the dream-pop stylings of Cults. The band released their debut album In Guards We Trust earlier this year via Black Bell Records and have been touring heavily over the last few months, playing music festivals like Coachella and Primavera.

Although In Guards We Trust is a high-powered album full of intensity, it hardly reflects the driving energy of Guards’ live shows. Follin’s animated performance sustained the energy in the room and kept the audience’s attention through every moment. He repeatedly held his guitar above his head to shred, and at one point, ran the strings of his guitar wildly across a drum cymbal. After powering through their high-octane hits like “Nightmare,” “Silver Lining” and “Not Supposed To Know,” the band treated the audience to some classic rock and roll with a cover of Neil Young’s “Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black).” One song and a lengthy jam session later, the band prepared to play its final song.

But before finishing their set, Richie made the announcement that guitarist John Fredericks and bass player Andy Briehan were playing their last show with the band. Follin said he wanted to “wait until the end of the show so no one’s heart would get broken.” He then went on to say, “I just want to say thanks to John and Andrew for playing with us. It means a lot. We couldn’t ask for better people to play with. Alright, let’s go out on a high note.” He then walked backstage and came back with a handful of shot glasses, proclaiming, “I’ve got shots for everyone to do.” The band members met in the middle, toasted each other, toasted the crowd, and downed their shots. As the crowd continued to cheer, the band hammered into “Resolution Of One,” the first song off their self-titled EP. At the request of Richie, the crowd gave the band a finale to remember, as they jumped around and danced, before the members finished their set for the last time as a group.

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Lemuria – The Distance Is So Big

Corinne Bagish — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:27:51 +0000

Although the legend of the lost continent Lemuria has been determined scientifically defunct, punk trio Lemuria continues to persevere on its third full-length album, The Distance Is So Big. Released via hardcore-rooted label Bridge Nine (F-Minus, Agnostic Front), this effort is not the typical Bridge Nine release, nor is Lemuria the label’s most typical act. Hailing from Buffalo, these indie popsters are sugary sweet, but also occasionally literary and a little intense—they pack a honeyed punch with each thoughtfully intonated verse. As with 2011′s celebrated Pebble, Jawbox’s J. Robbins (Jawbreaker, Against Me!) hopped on to production for this one, giving each track a rugged sheen. There are no loose ends and each note serves a purpose; Lemuria uses space economically in this album and most of the songs hover around the three minute mark. They test us to take them at face value—sunny boy-girl indie pop—but it’s much more than that, and after a decade of band-hood, it’s clear Lemuria is comfortable and deliberate in their brand of forceful adorableness.

Following an ambient intro track, Lemuria hooks the listener with melodic-beyond-melodic single, “Brilliant Dancer.” Cheekily sped up verses and shared vocal duties ramp up to a shouted, “This is the last place on Earth.” It’s a simple, but oh-so-addicting formula. Sweet, but not cloying, this is not pop to be taken lightly. Plucky guitar lead-ins, sprinkled piano, and vocalist Sheena Ozzella’s playful lyrical delivery lend “Brilliant Dancer” a quirky indie backbone. Ozzella makes each syllable count.

Drummer and co-vocalist Alex Kerns takes the lead on the next track, “Clay Baby.” His voice—an almost monotone—isn’t necessarily the strongest, but it brings Ozzella’s soaring effervescence into sharper contrast. Peculiar lines like “I don’t want to come home to federal architecture” keep it clever and fun to chant along to. It’s a charmingly awkward (think middle school dance) balance, but in a more intentional way; they’ve really gotten this equilibrium down to a science. Stand out track “Oahu, Hawaii” comes to us smack in the middle of the record and serves as an emotional fulcrum. An almost wistfully layered sound—waves of violin come in at just the right moment—paired with wry, Pavement-esque lyrics like “Pig with lipstick/medical mutiny” add complexity to the longest song on the album.

In 2-minute ditty “Public Opinion Bath” the sharper, punchier side of Lemuira takes center stage. It’s a fast-paced track, steeped in punk, and almost anthemic with an earworm of a chorus: “You started making your own bed/Doctor said it would help you feel less like a shit head.” Even when things get a bit snarky, Lemuria balances it with a touch of something sweet; a smattering of floaty “oohs” break up the verses and make the chorus, when it returns, that much more powerful. It’s on tracks like this where Lemuria’s Bridge 9 ties make a lot of sense. They may not be hardcore, but what they do, they do with vigor. Sweet and thoughtful but not without edge, Lemuria knowingly toys with us on The Distance Is So Big, reveling in the loops of the lyrics and the strength of their unique saccharine force.

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CMJ 2013 Artist Submissions Deadline Approaches!

Brandon Kim — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:30:53 +0000

Metz @ Cameo Gallery, CMJ 2012 by Adela Loconte

CMJ staff spend months of blood, sweat and ruined ear drums booking the showcases for the Marathon each year, but they always save some of the carnage for you. Any artist can apply for the chance to play at CMJ, but the deadline is fast approaching! Artist hopefuls (hopefully prepared with an EPK) can apply via Sonicbids before midnight on Wednesday, June 26 for the chance to showcase at CMJ 2013.

See our “How To Play CMJ” guide for some tips about what to include in your EPK.

Submit To Play CMJ 2013
Note: the deadline will not be extended for any reason, so get that submission in before midnight June 26!

CMJ Music Marathon 2013 takes place October 15-19 in New York City.

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Track Premiere: Ovlov’s “Milk” Does A Body Good

Lizzie Plaugic — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:25:54 +0000

Ovlov is a fun word to say. It reminds me of Bob Loblaw’s Law Blog. It’s also Volvo spelled backwards. And most importantly, it’s a band from Connecticut that’s way more exciting than those other things. Ovlov are toying with the kind of sonic persona that defies a time period—’70s punk, ’80s hardcore, ’90s grunge—it’s all in there in a mangled, grimy speed-rock mass. The band, with a carousel of members, has been releasing music since 2008, but is set to drop its debut full-length, Am, July 2 via Exploding In Sound.

Thier sound is like angry shoegaze: exhausted drums that can barely keep up with themselves and waves upon waves of reverb and dirty, drawling vocals. “Milk” begins without hesitation as fuzzy guitars create a path for frontman Steve Harlett to dive in, suddenly making the track both melodic and rough. The song is easy to like because it doesn’t try to disguise its catchiness, but it’s still raw enough to make you feel cool when you listen.

We talked to Steve Hartlett about Ovlov’s musical evolution, cars and what else he wanted to be when he grew up (watch out Jorge Posada). You can stream the premiere of “Milk” off Am, below.

What did you have in mind when you started this album?
To make a super green album that sounds as close to what we sound like live as possible.

To me, it seems like there’s been a pretty strong evolution from some of your earlier music, like Not The Same Without You to Am. How would you say your sound has changed over time?
Our first release (Crazy Motorcycle Jump) and the song Chicken Coop were written by Quentin Ham and I about 5 years ago. We were really into making good music to drive to. He rides motorcycles, so it added the edge to my mini-van cruises I can’t come up with on my own.

It’s just you and your two brothers in the band now, right?
We still don’t quite have a solid set member line up. Am is my brothers Jon and Theo and me as the band. Everyone in Grass Is Green but Jesse Weiss played on a few songs, and Sadie Dupuis sings on about half the album. We have a different line-up almost every show, depending on when and where it is and all that. Though my brothers and I do have a lot of deeper connections that help us to read what the other is thinking better than we may with one of our friends. We have a lot of the same friends as well and a lot of them play in Ovlov, so it helps us not get in as many brother fights as we may if it were just the three of us all the time.

Is “Milk” a euphemism for something?
I called the song “Milk” because there’s a line in the song that goes “Milk or wine for mine?”, and milk sort of represents the less appealing, but more beneficial choice when given two options in life. Both wine and milk are good for the body in separate areas, but too much of either is, of course, bad as well. It’s easier to choose wine because it’s seems like it has so much more to offer than milk does, but it has its clear consequences.

Who is Dini?
Alexander Dini Naldini is the reason Ovlov is a band all together. My brother Jon, Quentin and I really just wanted to see him as the lead singer of a band ‘cause he is like no one in the world and we want the people to see what he can do. So we wrote the first EP instrumentally at first with the intentions of him writing words to them all but he didn’t really get around to writing more than a sentence for a song after a few months, and naming the EP and all the songs. We unfortunately had to move on without him, but will hopefully figure everything out soon so that the people can learn about and love Dini.

You just played a few shoes with Anamanaguchi, right? How’d that go?
We actually went on tour with our best-band-friends-forever Grass Is Green. It was our first tour and it was one of the best times of my life. The most fun I had was the day and night we spent in Chesterton, Indiana hanging out with this dude Orion that opened the show we played there. He had some of the best stories I’ve ever heard and made us an awesome fire. The day before we left for the tour though, we played with Anamanaguchi in CT, which was really great of course.

You sent out a message to fans at the start of 2012 saying that you were going to start working under a new name. What changed?
Lots of things, mainly just thought I wanted to do something different, but quickly realized it was a dumb, stupid, dramatic decision.

Ovlov is in honor of your friend’s Volvo, right? Volvos have some really dedicated owners. I have a Volvo that’s an ’88. That’s old.
Yeah, Volvos rule for sure. I hope to own one myself one day. I hear they are the safest on the road. Dini had a Volvo he called Ovlov and thought it made a good band name.

Where do you see your next album going from here?
We will probably try to focus on a new color to help inspire new sounds. It’s impossible to really say at the moment.

What do you always wish people would ask you during interviews? And do you want to answer that now?
I’m not really sure. Maybe what I wanted to be when I grow up. I’ve always wanted to be a catcher for the New York Yankees but I fear it is too late for that now.

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Local Natives’ “You And I” Video Is An Animal Lover’s Worst Nightmare

Jonathon Alcindor — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:51:02 +0000

For all of the animal lovers out there Local Natives’ video for “You And I” may be tough to swallow. Directed by Daniel Portrait, the video chronicles the journey of a dog, who happens to be the last pup on Earth, and a detective who’s unwilling to accept a dystopian future without man’s best friend. Soundtracking the clip is the band’s sunburnt “You And I,” which works surprisingly well given the subject matter. As the song reaches a crescendo, the story climaxes with (spoiler alert) the death of the dog. But don’t feel too down—the story brightens up in the final seconds.

Local Natives released Hummingbird earlier this year on Frenchkiss. The record built on the ideas explored on their previous album and showed a group more comfortable in their songwriting and instrumentation. Watch the video for You And I below, maybe with a friend.

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Listen: Dan Bodan’s “Anonymous” For DFA

Jonathon Alcindor — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:08:14 +0000

DFA’s take on pop music has always been far from center and the story doesn’t change with Dan Bodan’s new single, “Anonymous.” “Anonymous” is the first skittering single from Bodan’s forthcoming LP. With an emphasis on sub bass and a boom bap drum pattern, he strips the song back to the bare essentials: the drums, the bass, sparse synths and his voice. The B-side is from DJ Richard, who opts to use a sliver of the original vocal and gritty bass tones. His version simultaneously throws the listener into a pit of darkness and gives off an ethereal vibe.

Apart from being based in Berlin and releasing his debut single on DFA last year there’s not much in the way of information on Dan Bodan, but he’s clearly a talent finding his footing the music world. His debut album is due out on DFA sometime this year; as of right now it is untitled. Check out “Anonymous” and the DJ Richard remix below.

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Watch: Fuck Buttons’ “The Red Wing” Video

Eric Gossett — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:51:33 +0000

Electronic-duo Fuck Buttons announced last month that their new album, Slow Focus, will be released July 23 via ATP. This will be the first album for the English duo since its haunting 2009 release, Tarot Spot, and they’ve already already given us a taste of it with the pulverizing buzzsaw of a single, “The Red Wing.”

Today, the group has shared a fittingly discombobulating and warped video for the track via Pitchfork. The clip is a series of mirrored scenes centered around a single girl dancing and looks like it belongs at the opening credits of a James Bond film—let’s call it From Fuck Buttons With Love. Check out the video for “The Red Wing” below.

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