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...