Bravelydone.com is hosting a new video for Wolf Parade ’s “Yulia,” which is a new single from their recently released album, Expo 86 . Production notes by the video’s director, Scott Coffey , are included with the video. If you don’t care about the video, the song is still pretty good. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

The Black Angels Phosphene Dream Blue Horizon Released: 9.14.10 Cover art by Beatrice Pediconi No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

No Age ’s new album, Everything In Between , is now out so promotion is necessary. A review for the album is pending via Kicking Against The Pricks , but in the meantime Sub Pop Records has made available a trailer for the album and another single, “Fever Dreaming.” Give it a look/listen. Fever Dreaming by subpop Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

While I wouldn't call them the second coming of Jeffrey Lee Pierce , or even The Gun Club , the song structure and jangle of "Waterfall," newest single from The Fresh & Onlys , has that refreshing timbre and evokes The Gun Club's melodic presence and even marries the guitar work of Johnny Cash and R.E.M. 's Peter Buck . At least, I hear it. Give it a listen and tell me what you think. "Waterfall" You can find information on the band's upcoming album, Play It Strange , and tour dates here . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Via Earsplit PR: EARTH Announce Release Details For Reissue Of First Recording Sessions We have been blessed with a massive offering from the gods! For the first time ever the debut recordings of drone purveyours EARTH are available in one concise, beautifully documented capsule. A Beaurocratic Desire For Extra Capsular Extraction contains the entire 1990 Smegma Studios sessions which are the debut recordings from EARTH. Previously available scattered via the Extra Capsular Extractions EP and Sunn Amps and Smashed Guitars CD, this essential collection contains every note from the infamous first EARTH recording sessions. All 7 tracks have been carefully remastered by Mell Dettmer . It is actually questionable what mastering if any was done on the original tracks so we entrusted the task into the very capable hands of Mell who has mastered all the other EARTH releases via Southern Lord. Bearing exclusive artwork by Simon Fowler and package design via Stephen O'Malley , the end...

A few weeks ago, I received a copy of Common Wealth , which is the fourth album from psych-folk band, Bird By Snow . Admittedly I wasn't expecting much, the natural elements that grace their album's cover indicative of indistinguishable and typically light and airy folk-based acoustic music that was likely to be overly sentimental and sensitive. Some of what I assumed to be true (i.e. "light," "airy") was, but Bird By Snow pull together some graceful harmonies and the guitar melodies are beautifully arranged and striking. I'm happily surprised at the level of sophistication Common Wealth boasts and "Friends In The City" ably qualifies as a perfect summation of Bird By Snow's sound. Common Wealth will be released October 27th from Gnome Life Records and it is worth your time and money. "Friends In The City" Single was made available through Tiny Mix Tapes . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

So, Frankie Rose is given the Carrie treatment by a room full of Goths. Her vengeance is taken via the Sissy Spacek stare but, evidently, there wasn't enough of a budget to visually carry out any sort of graphic or horrifying consequences. So, the Goths yell and fall to the ground, almost as if the second single from Frankie Rose & The Outs , "Candy," was enough to cause them pain. I'm sure that's not the case as it is one of the best songs on the album, but there's little evidence of what catastrophic happenings are sending the bullying Goths into torment. Some of them are holding their ears; just saying. Their self-titled debut was delivered Tuesday from Slumberland and the video was directed by Vice Cooler ( Hawnay Troof, XBXRX ). The video is from Pitchfork : Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Run Thick In The Night is definitely a contender for best album artwork. Information regarding the new album from U.S. Christmas is below. Via Earsplit PR: Psychedelic, high-volume blues rock ensemble U.S. CHRISTMAS will release their long-anticipated fifth full-length, Run Thick In The Night , via Neurot Recordings on September 20, 2010. The disc was recorded by Sanford Parker at Fahrenheit Studio in Johnson City, Tennessee, mixed by Parker and USX members Nate Hall, Matt Johnson and Josh Holt at Semaphore Studios in Chicago, IL and mastered by Collin Jordan . Hailing from the Appalachian Mountains in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, U.S. CHRISTMAS create a kaleidoscopic brand of sound that evades easy classification. Founded in Marion, North Carolina in the summer of 2002, the band played rough biker bars, art spaces, and house shows all over the southeast dirt circuit for years, self-releasing albums in rough CDR format. Scott Kelly of Neurosis heard the band...

Swans My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky Young God Records Released: 9.21.10 Cover art by Beatrice Pediconi No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

2010 hasn't, for the most part, been the best year in terms of financial nonchalance. It would be safe to say that, if not for the generosity of record labels and PR reps, I'd have nothing to review and Letters From A Tapehead would probably shrink to irrelevance and ultimately disappear. But, I did manage to score a couple opportunities this year to hit the record stores, and though I sort of lagged as far as detailing my purchases, many of them have been 2010 albums that I've been meaning to discuss. So, my first record store trip happened in May as I was armed with some gift certificates. Chester County Book & Music Company , West Chester, PA: Butthole Surfers Hairway To Steven Latino Bugger Veil Originally Released: 4.11.88 (on Touch & Go) Michael Azerrad 's Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 is still, for me, music literature's wish list for pre-Alternative independents and Hairway To Steven was one of...

Boris & Ian Astbury BXI EP Southern Lord Released: 8.17.10 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

David Bowie Station To Station (Special Edition) Virgin/EMI Originally released: 1.23.76 Reissued: 9.28.10 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

My favorite recorded 14 minutes/16 seconds can be found at the end of Black Sabbath ’s self-titled debut, the three-song blues assault known as “A Bit Of Finger/Sleeping Village/Warning.” I demand a complete absence of outside stimuli when immersed in its goings on, my attention undivided as the Bill Ward/Geezer Butler juggernaut craft one of the best rhythm sections in rock history. Bold statement? Probably, but to me there are few moments on any record that hold up throughout decades of “bigger and badder,” still managing to boast this level of strength, determination and blistering evil. I’m certainly not overlooking Tony Iommi ’s spider-ing guitar solos or Ozzy ’s eerie delivery, certainly both are at the forefront as far as the Sabbath persona and the occult-ish lean they embodied so well, but Ward and Butler champion my attention with every listen. I sometimes feel as though I’d been born in the wrong era, especially when confronted by Sabbath’s debut and the idea of hearin...

There's a new video for Black Mountain 's second single, "The Hair Song." Their new album, Wilderness Heart , will be out later this month. You can find a review of the album here . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Moondoggies — “It’s A Shame, It’s A Pity” Tidelands , the newest album from Moondoggies , will be released on October 12th through the Hardly Art label . "It's A Shame, It's A Pity" is a pretty laid back and lightly textured rock song, nicely harmonized and rhythmically sound. Worth the couple minutes: "It's A Shame" If you like what you hear, below is some information regarding Tidelands and touring. Via Hardly Art: “It’s a Shame, It’s a Pity” serves as a perfect introduction to Tidelands , the new Moondoggies record coming out October 12th. Embracing more deliberate songwriting and band dynamics, “It’s a Shame, It’s a Pity” is a stomping but solemn ode, marked by the somber and pensive tones found throughout Tidelands . While the band’s 2008 debut Don’t Be A Stranger won the band fans for it’s easygoing mood, Tidelands catches the Moondoggies at a more contemplative and mature moment. Carried over from the first record, however, are the harmon...

Ever heard of a guy named, Stephen Friedland ? If you have, then you know the story behind Brute Force , which was the name Friedland used to record his 1967 album, I, Brute Force — Confections Of Love . This album is being reissued in October by Bar-None Records , having been out of print for over forty years. I’ve never heard the album, but it is a highly regarded, apparently underrated and obviously obscure thanks to its lack of circulation. The big point of interest with the album, though, is “The King Of Fuh,” which is being included in the I, Brute Force reissue as a bonus track. “The King Of Fuh” caught the attention of John Lennon and George Harrison , both of whom issued the song as a single in 1969 via Apple Records. Capitol and EMI refused to distribute the single thanks to Frieland’s tale of the “Fuh King,” so 2,000 copies were released independently by Apple as “Apple 8.” Needless to say, the track is obscure, but I did find a YouTube clip of the single and its B-si...

In late June, I received a press release regarding the John Lennon reissues/compilations that were being released in honor of what would've been his 70th birthday. This time, there are pictures. Read below for more information. Via EMI Press Release: Sweeping Catalogue Initiative Overseen by Yoko Ono and EMI Music Commemorates Lennon's 70th Birthday London, England ­ September 1, 2010 ­ EMI Music unveils today the complete tracklists and cover art for a broad selection of remastered John Lennon albums and new collections to be released on CD and digitally on 4 October (5 October in North America). Announced last month, EMI Music's global John Lennon Gimme Some Truth catalogue campaign is being overseen by Yoko Ono and commemorates the music legend's 70th birthday on 9 October, 2010. Featured in the sweeping initiative are eight remastered John Lennon solo albums and new titles including Double Fantasy Stripped Down, Power To The People: The Hits, Gimme Some Truth ...

Dusted Angel Earth Sick Mind Mankind Records Released: 10.12.10 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead