The Ocean Pelagial Metal Blade Released: 4.30.13 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

My fascination with the avant school of jazz music has much to do with that it's the frantic, loosely constructed illustration of the human psyche in a state of personal, societal and internal unrest.  Some call it annoying.  I call it the artistic realization of an extreme as a mind incapable of settling knows no boundary or structure, and life in tumult brings this sort of offensively off key deliverance to people unprepared to accept and ready to dismiss.  Because of when and how it grew out of the continual evolution of jazz music in the 60s, the idea of improvisational styles completely losing any semblance of key or structure, the avant and/or free jazz stands as truer testimony to the era, moreso in some ways than the folk swaying hippie culture that's typically identified as the protest music of the decade.  This is loud and chaotic surface noise designed to delve into and distill.  It's not "peace" and "love" inasmuch as it's

Ten Kens Namesake (self-released) Released: 5.21.13 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Exwife : "Rituals" (via Noisey ) Hooded Fang: "Ode to Subterrania" (via NME ) Free The Robots: "Transmission" (via FACT ) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I guess this could be called the "only box set that matters," (and I'm sure once I publish that less than clever little comment, I'll find 77 just like it.)  To be released in the US in early September, The Clash 's upcoming discography-disguised-as-a-boombox set called Sound System , will be released alongside a new hits compilation, The Clash Hits Back .  I'm sure the box set will be very inexpensive, except not really. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Jim Morrison may have been the voice, but Ray Manzarek was the sound. The Doors ' keyboardist succumbed to cancer yesterday, May 20th, at the age of 74.  He, of course, is the mastermind behind the omnipresent licks that drove "Break On Through (To the Other Side)," "Light My Fire," "Five To One," "Riders on the Storm" and I could go on and on.  It's actually absurd the overabundance of well-known music that The Doors had churned out between 1965 and 1973, much of it brilliantly conceived and driven by Manzarek's melodies.  Lest I use the occasion of his unfortunate passing to assassinate the character of Morrison, I'll just say that, for me, I've always considered the The Doors to be Manzarek's band.  While I can't argue that Morrison redefined the role of frontman and remains a lasting and influential presence in rock n' roll history, Manzarek shaped the band's tone and certainly their identity during the t

New song and video from Liars along with tour info, a mini-documentary, special occasion shows and a contest.  Are they not giving? Liars' last album, 2012's WIXIW , was reviewed at No Ripcord . All info is courtesy of Mute.  Offer Free Download of Two New Exclusive Tracks With Mini Film Play The MET on May 18th & Le Poisson Rouge on May 19th European Tour Starts Next Week Including Primavera, Sonar, Manchester Parklife & Brighton Festivals Before LIARS embark on their European tour next week, they will be playing two very special shows in New York this weekend. They will perform at The MET in the Temple of Dendur on Saturday, May 18th and Le Poisson Rouge on Sunday, May 19th. The MET show is sold out, but tickets are still available for Le Poisson Rouge show – grab them while you can ! As they get ready to head out on the road, they are also sharing a special surprise: a free download two brand new tracks – “I Saw You From The Lifeboat” and “Perfume

Here's the complete set of Queens of the Stone Age 's ...Like Clockwork promo videos artistically conceived and executed by Boneface .  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

In the interest of keeping my Sunday morning unholy, I checked out the new five-track promo release from the Dullest Records' acquisition, CLEANTEETH .  If the music alone, doom-laden grime meets ambient experimentalism, isn't enough to sway you into giving CLEANTEETH a try, it needs to be noted that they have a track called "2 in the Pink, 1 N'Sync," which is one of the best track titles in history of track titles. Dullest will be releasing the band's LP, Pushing Rope , later this month.  In the meantime, you can check out the promo below along with info on LP, tour dates and then, if you're compelled to do so, give the band $5: Crush Your Teeth (2013 Tour Promo) by Cleanteeth All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. CLEANTEETH: Crush Your Teeth Trek Ongoing; Tour Promo Available Online Brooklyn’s savage underworld collective CLEANTEETH is still out pummeling rockers abroad on the remaining dates of their 2013 Crush Your Teeth Tour. While the

Two Inch Astronaut : "Blood From a Loyal Hound" (via Exploding In Sound Records) blood from a loyal hound by Two Inch Astronaut Indian Handcrafts : "Bruce Lee" (via Noisey /Sargent House) Big Deal : "Dream Machines" (via Mute) The Child Of Lov : "Owl" (featuring DOOM ) (via Life or Death PR) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

What I hear is Josh Homme 's Desert Sessions and Neu! filtered through a voluntary downer intake and hours of hunting shows and scrambled porn.   Master Musicians of Bukkake 's Far West will be out June 10th.  In the meantime, check out "Gnomi" and view the info, which was provided by Rarely Unable.   MASTER MUSICIANS OF BUKKAKE EUROPEAN TOUR BEGINS THIS WEEK; ANOTHER VIDEO UNEARTHED On the eve of their 2013 European tour, Master Musicians of Bukkake have released another mysterious video, a sequel of sorts to the previously unveiled 'White Mountain Return' this time for the track 'Gnomi'. On this video there are similar unsettling vibes but the tone of the song and the music takes a u-turn from white noise and synths into progressive folk with sinister vocals. Here is the direct link: http://youtu.be/BDnlztE9Yog Don't forget you can also watch the video for 'White Mountain Return': http://youtu.be/zof_tW4HrT0 Both tracks ar

Little Big League Barren Girls Marnie Stern Johnny Brenda's Philadelphia, PA 5.10.13 Marnie Stern ended the American leg of the Who Gives A Hoot '13 tour in Philadelphia on what wound up being a very rainy Friday night.  Indoors at Johnny Brenda's, we were being charmed by Stern, who amusingly attributed her lack of voice to an excessive helping of blow jobs during the tour, (the real reason being a drunken night of karaoke, a factoid publicly disclosed by bassist Nithin Kalvakota ), and demanded that the crowd relieve themselves of their clothing (a couple t-shirts made it to the stage).  Touring drummer, Joe Wong , had no trouble shedding his t-shirt for the cause. Yes, the banter always wins at a Marnie Stern show.  But, so does the music. Since 2009 , I've been to every Stern event in Philly, (the ONE exception being that Tera Melos show that I'm still annoyed I missed), and with every event she's become a bigger name who draws larger audie

From Tracking Force : Who wants a free unplayed copy of the limited edition (and OOP) RSD Roky Erickson "Mine Mine Mind" single? Everyone who LIKEs the Tracking Force Facebook page between now and midnight friday will be entered in a random drawing to win it. The only catch is that the winner must be a person who lives in the lower 48 states because of shipping. So, enter for a free Erickson 7" and then peruse Tracking Force.  There are some enviable sides featured, really good stuff for collectors.  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Earsplit PR, the organization that has so generously provided me a wealth of music over the years, is sponsoring a Philadelphia-based event to benefit the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, also known as P.A.W.S., which is a no-kill animal shelter.  The music and arts festival is being co-hosted by the webzine, Blow The Scene.  Please find event info below, which was brought to me courtesy of Earsplit PR. Blow The Scene Hosts P.A.W.S. Benefit Philly-Based Art Show & Music Festival Confirmed  This June, Philadelphia-based music/arts webzine Blow The Scene is co-hosting a massive benefit drive including both an underground art show and killer music fest to aid in funding a no-kill animal shelter and rescue for P.A.W.S (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society). Blow The Scene editor-in-chief Joshua T. Cohen and Richard Stockton College art professor Ryann Casey have teamed up to host both the Homeward Bounds Art Benefit Show as well as the first annual Blow The Scene Fest 20

Yesterday, news of two new tracks from Queens of the Stone Age 's upcoming new album, ...Like Clockwork , surfaced via Consequence of Sound .  "I Sat By the Ocean" and "If I Had a Tail" were both recorded live for a radio session in Belgium. Being that there were six years of silence since the last QOTSA album, ( Era Vulgaris , which was reviewed in 2007 ), and myself being an admitted fanboy, the likelihood of any commentary regarding ...Like Clockwork having any real objective clout or lack of bias is small.  That being said, this will probably be something I cover after the anticipatory glow of the album fades, leaving behind the true product from which to assess its worth.  In the meantime, though, I'm enjoying the steady flow of singles that keep appearing, "My God is the Sun" and the recently released "I Appear Missing (Calling All Commas)." Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Man Or Astroman? : "Communication Breakdown, Pt. II" (via Force Field PR) Steve Gunn: "Water Wheel" (via Enabler Agency) Water Wheel Demon Lung: "Eyes of Zamiel" (via CVLT Nation ) Eyes of Zamiel Reproacher: "Casemate" (via Earsplit PR) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I remember, as a matriculating Catholic school student of maybe 11 or 12, looking at a full-page ad in some metal magazine (could've been Rip or Hit Parader) for Slayer 's South Of Heaven and being simultaneously fascinated and mortified by its cover illustration.  The various goat heads mixed with swipes of blood and darkly hued chapels weren't necessarily as corrupting as they were wildly infused with otherworldly magic, depictions that contradicted the ideological deity I'd been praying to every Sunday.  Cut to a few years later, and I'm walking to my bus stop while blaring a cassette of Seasons in the Abyss I'd borrowed from a friend into my ears, hoping "War Ensemble" would end before I reached the landing and had to take off my headphones for the sake of conversation.  There were many days when I just wanted to funnel music into my brain and be left alone.   In my little suburb, late 80s-early 90s, it was crucial to reject our insular envi

Because METZ and Pissed Jeans can't have all the fun, here's a single from Sandrider 's 2011 self-title debut, "Gorgon."  This track is brought to you in correlation with news of the band recording a new album slated for release later this year.  Details below were generously provided by wonderful folks over at Good To Die Records. SANDRIDER enters the studio! Seattle, WA's hard rock saviors, SANDRIDER (ex- Akimbo ), enter the studio this weekend to record the hotly anticipated follow-up to their much praised 2011 self-titled debut. The band is again recording with Matt Bayles ( Russian Circles, Ken Mode, Mastodon, Helms Alee ) at Red Room Studio and a Late Fall / Early Winter release is expected via Good to Die Records. More details, including album title, release date and regional touring plans will be announced soon. The band’s debut is currently available for streaming via their official Bandcamp page , and a pro-shot video of brand new so

A bit of Southern-laced, slow rock to warm the blood — "Lioness," the latest single from Iron Tongue 's upcoming LP, The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have Flown , evokes the 70s hard rock spun by groups like Deep Purple and Cactus , though it's hard to discount the stoned rage of bands like Goatsnake and Sleep .  Really sweet bass tone. All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. IRON TONGUE Unleash Soulful Southern Jam "Lioness" Via Classic Rock Arkansas southern rock rabble-rousers IRON TONGUE have unleashed another soulful hymn from their forthcoming album, The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have Flown , which is set for release in North America via Neurot Recordings on May 28th. One of the standouts of the record, “Lioness” draws listeners in from the opening stoney, groove-laden bass wizardy of Andy Warr and Stephanie Smittle 's alluring backing vocals, before the ultra-bottom heavy guitars and Chris Terry 's rugged, blues-stained vocals com

"In the Dark" is a new single/video from LA producer William Bensussen , who is better known as The Gaslamp Killer .  The single is pretty sleek and ominous, string ensembles merged with John Carpenter -evocative tones.  The video certainly helps enhance the atmosphere of the track. All info courtesy of Life or Death PR & Management. Credit: Abby Wross THE GASLAMP KILLER SHARES THE NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR "IN THE DARK" VIA INTERVIEW MAGAZINE Watch: "In The Dark" - http://youtu.be/0TN1TLMHlvE Los Angeles' William Bensussen, aka The Gaslamp Killer, is proud to share the music video for Breakthrough highlight "In The Dark". The clip was directed by HYPERBALLAD ( Dano Cerny and Marielle Tepper ) in a forest outside Prague and in a medieval crypt built in the 12th century. Inspired by the mystic beauty of the song, the directing duo chose to shoot in Prague because of the city's ancient connection to the occult. The video also inc