This is what you call "enticement." Mastodon's upcoming live release, Live at the Aragon, is still pending.  In the meantime, the band has seen to fit to post a live performance of "Ghost of Karelia."  Give it a look/listen. To see my prior entry regarding the release, click here . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I can't really stress enough about how necessary Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds albums continue to be, so it's good that they're continuing to be reissued.  All the information below is courtesy of EMI:     NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS TO RELEASE EXPANDED COLLECTORS EDITIONS OF FOUR CLASSIC ALBUMS ON MAY 17: Let Love In, Murder Ballads, The Boatman’s Call , and No More Shall We Part CD/DVD and Digital Packages Feature the Re-mastered Original Albums, Plus Extensive Audio and Video Extras in 5.1 Surround and Stereo Hollywood, California – February 28, 2011 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds announce the latest in a series of reissues of their classic albums. Let Love In (1994), Murder Ballads (1996), The Boatman’s Call (1997) and No More Shall We Part (2001) -- their eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh studio albums, respectively -- will be released on May 17, each as a separate deluxe double-disc Collectors Edition. These latest releases are the third set of reissues fr

If you’re reading this, might I make a suggestion? An Italian psych/pop band Dumbo Gets Mad has an album out dubbed, Elephants At The Door . The band’s label, Bad Panda Records, is offering a free download of the album so long as you promote it via Facebook or Twitter. This is the label’s maiden release. As far as free albums go, you could do a lot worse. Elephants At The Door is aurally bubblicious and dressed to some extent like a blotter acid Fruit Roll-Up. There are samples/beat machines and occasional lapses into minimalism reminding one of The xx and chillwave-ready lo-fi attached, though not burdened by. The introductory “Limbo’s Village” is like enlightened muzak, department store moog and jazz-syncopated percussion. “Marmalade Kids” sounds like it might have been inspired by countless spins of Steely Dan and The Sugarcubes . “Sleeping Over” crosses interacting keyboards with helium-addled vocalization. Vinyl copies of Elephants At The Door from Big Cartel were

Parts & Labor 's new album, Constant Future , will be out mid-March.  In the meantime, enjoy their single, "Rest," and check out tour information below.  A review of Constant Future will appear in Issue #7 of Kicking Against The Pricks. Information courtesy of Jagjaguwar: Parts & Labor Share New MP3, Play SXSW. Jagjaguwar are proud to share a new MP3 from Parts & Labor's already widely acclaimed opus Constant Future , which is out March 7 in the UK on CD/LP/Digital formats. "Rest" perfectly encapsulates the trio's ability to take elements of noise and turn them into an infectious pop song. Listen to "Rest" here. On March 8, Parts & Labor will celebrate the album's US release with a show at Monster Island Basement in their hometown of Brooklyn, NY. Check out the video flyer here . They will then hit the road in America, including a few appearances at the South By Southwest music festival, before embarking on a Eu

It was around November when I'd heard Chris Schlarb 's single, "I Can Live Forever If I Die Slowly," and had to subject myself to a few rotations of Miles Davis ' In A Silent Way .  Schlarb's Psychic Temple is sort of an indie rock homage to electric Miles, at least that's what I heard, and I think it's a rather fascinating four-songs that deserve attention.  Schlarb is taking the album on the road with musician Aaron Roche , whose own album, Plainspeak , is now available from Schlarb's Sounds Are Active label. If interested, a couple of the links in the press release enable you to hear Schlarb's Psychic Temple and a video game soundtrack for NightSky .  Also, Aaron Roche's Plainspeak can be streamed through Bandcamp or through the Sounds Are Active website. Courtesy of Terrorbird Media: Chris Schlarb releases soundtrack to NightSky ; Brings Psychic Temple To NYC This March Soundtrack to the PC game out now on Asthmati

Le Tigre 's JD Samson is apparently into this band. They're called, Making Friendz . They have an EP coming out. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Mike Watt ’s Hyphenated-Man is just about released. Artist Norton Wisdom , decided to film himself illustrating each of the album’s thirty song titles, which are based upon characters as specifically named as “Beak-Holding-Letter-Man” and “Boot-Wearing-Fish Man.” The video is rather hypnotic. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

SXSW is coming up and so are the parties. Below is a press release for the Force Field PR/Terrorbird Media event along with an online compilation of the bands featured at the event. Terrorbird Media / Force Field PR SXSW Sampler by terrorbird Terrorbird Media & Force Field PR 4th Annual SXSW Day Party Announced! Free Terrorbird/Force Field Soundclound SXSW Party Sampler! LISTEN: Terrorbird Media/Force Field PR Sampler feat. all 16 performers (via Soundcloud) Embed the Sampler w/ this code Wednesday, 3/16/11 Noon - 6:00pm @ Red 7 (611 East 7th @ Red River) FREE. All Ages. Early Arrival Strongly Suggested. Rad Gift Bags for First 100 Attendees Free Ben And Jerry's Ice Cream! Inside Stage: Exray's Cloud Nothings Pictureplane Rainbow Arabia Nite Jewel Lower Dens The Death Set The Soft Moon Outside Stage: Lord Huron Violens Screaming Females Braids Generationals Weekend Toro Y Moi tUnE-yArDs Terrorbird Official Site For

A few days ago, Krist Novoselic tweeted to #happybirthdaykurtcobain .  It would've been Kurt Cobain 's 44th birthday; long after teenage angst paid off well, long after he was bored and old.  His death seemed an easy write-off for a generation based in cynicism, (that's how I remember it, anyway, aside from a candlelight vigil, a couple subsequent suicides and a huge retrospective in Rolling Stone magazine), and for the generation's parents whose arrogance remained self-righteous, unjustifiable and typically out of touch.   Peace and Love sold its soul for Expensive Drugs and Wall Street, naturally its progeny approached its own formative development with a keen sense of what it's like to be proud of obedience or proud of fraudulence.  If there's a legend to Cobain, it's now being upheld by digitized youth enamored with the romantic idea conjured by the notion of Teen Spirit, whatever that was, (deodorant, essentially).  The same could've been said abo

Really good four-song Daytrotter set from Crystal Castles .  Give it a listen if you're so inclined.  They come up with a good rendition of Black Randy & The Metrosquad 's "I Slept In An Arcade." 2.18.11: Crystal Castles' Daytrotter set You can find the session here . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

As overrated and disappointing as the otherwise very well-received Dear Science was in 2008, TV On The Radio ’s new song, “Will Do,” is somewhat of a redemption. I’m happy to hear them using guitars, again. Seemed like instruments were taking a backseat to knob twisting of the kid-in-a-candystore variety, David Sitek more excited to make sounds as opposed to music. But, that’s just my opinion. Dear Science hasn’t been spoken of since it broke on through, so maybe it wasn’t the earth shattering work of genius critics thought it was. We’ll see how TVOTR’s upcoming album, Nine Types Of Light , performs. The song is posted over at 107.7 THE END . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead P.S. — Did you know that David Sitek is in Jane’s Addiction now? Can’t wait to hear him remix "Mountain Song." P.P.S. — Sarcasm. Pure sarcasm.

Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be anymore news about Panda Bear , the man goes and releases a new single.  "Surfer's Hymn" will be released as a 7," the single presented in its regular Noah Lennox version and then a remixed version for the B-side.  The guest re-mixer is Actress ( Honest Jon ). Information below is courtesy of Force Field PR.  The featured single, "Last Night at the Jetty," is from Panda Bear's upcoming Tomboy LP.   Panda Bear announces "Surfer's Hymn" single, due on Kompakt on March 14 Featuring Actress remix on the B-side MP3: "Last Night At The Jetty" (Tomboy album version) - http://www.paw-tracks.com/jetty.mp3 On March 14th, KOMPAKT is thoroughly honoured to release the final installment from ANIMAL COLLECTIVE 's Noah Lennox aka PANDA BEAR limited 7" series. This follows previous 7"es on his own PAW TRACKS label, as well as FATCAT and DOMINO as the build-up co

Would you like to hear The Fresh & Onlys kick it like Roy Orbison ? Listen to "Do You Believe In Destiny," the first single from their upcoming EP, Secret Walls . If you like what you hear, you can find info below on the release and the band's tour schedule, courtesy of Force Field PR. The Fresh & Onlys preps Secret Walls EP for Sacred Bones label STREAM: "Do You Believe in Destiny?" http://soundcloud.com/forcefieldpr/the-fresh-onlys-do-you-believe VIDEO: "Waterfall" (Dir. byAndreas Trolf) http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/8434-fresh-onlys-waterfall-in-the-red Photo by Kristin Klein The Fresh & Onlys have had an unusually prolific past couple of years. On the heels of their critically acclaimed album Play It Strange , the band returns with a bold creative leap forward on their new EP Secret Walls . The cavernous opening sounds of Secret Walls reveal the strong threads of hazy post-punk melancholy that have been woven th

In the wake of last year's The Bride Screamed Murder , The Melvins are releasing a live album in May entitled, Sugar Daddy Live .  Information on the release can be found below via Speakeasy PR. THE MELVINS' LIVE ALBUM, SUGAR DADDY LIVE , SET FOR MAY 31 RELEASE ON IPECAC RECORDINGS photo credit: Mackie Osborne LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 - The Melvins ' latest offering Sugar Daddy Live , a thirteen-track live recording, will see a May 31 release on Ipecac Recordings. Recorded at The Busta-Guts Club in Downey, Calif. the album features fan favorites such as " Boris," "A History of Bad Men" and " The Kicking Machine." The band recently completed a month-long residency at Los Angeles ' Spaceland and are currently in New Zealand with a forthcoming round of Australian dates as part of the Soundwave Festival .  The Melvins were in Christchurch when the Feb. 21 earthquake struck but escaped unscathed and are due to resume their tour later

Baptists Baptists 7" Southern Lord Recordings Released: (Unsure of date, currently available)   Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Yuck Yuck Fat Possum Released: 2.15.11 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Found via XLR8R : Mi Ami is one of my favorite bands over the last few years.  When I'd scored the opportunity to talk to singer/guitarist Daniel Martin-McCormick for an interview last year, he was very expressive and passionate about pushing whatever sounds he and the band could come up with: “It’s mainly just to make the best music we can make and then share it with people.  I don’t want to just dick around, or be fashionable, or half-baked or whatever.  It really matters to me a lot, y’know: making music that I think is worth sharing with other people is worth making again and again every night on tour (laughs).  I would like to explore more melody, or more abstraction too, I don’t know.  There’s a lot of… a lot of things to explore, y’know?  Probably enough to fill up a lifetime.” Bassist Jacob Long is no longer part of the band.  Now that they're a duo, Martin-McCormick and drummer Damon Palermo have taken on electronics for their upcoming EP, Dolphins . (

What I Heard This Morning: Screens... One word: Awesome. I’ve listened to this couple of tracks two or three times at this point and have continued finding positive things to say. I have good feelings about Screens ’ upcoming album, Dead House . All information below is courtesy of Terrorbird Media. SCREENS (FEATURING MEMBERS OF THE APES, MEDICATIONS & THE MALL) DEBUT ALBUM, DEAD HOUSE DUE MAY 17 ON WHAT DELICATE RECORDINGS Performing at NYC’s Williamsburg Fashion Weekend - February 18 @ Glasslands Dead House , Screens' debut full-length, will be released on May 17, 2011 on drummer Andrew Becker ’s own What Delicate Recordings. Download “Pop Logic” from Dead House here . Eldritch weird wavers, Screens seeped into existence in early 2009, after Washington, D.C. defectors, drummer Andrew Becker (Dischord Records’, Medications ) and vocalist Breck Brunson (psych-sludge purveyors, The Apes ) hooked up with keyboardist, Daniel Roland Tierney (San Francisco ag

I'd not heard anything regarding rumors of a Black Sabbath reunion, but apparently speculation was thick enough to justify a response from Geezer Butler . Via Speakeasy PR: GEEZER BUTLER STATEMENT ON RUMORS OF BLACK SABBATH REUNION Feb. 17, LOS ANGELES -- Responding to ongoing rumors surrounding a possible Black Sabbath reunion, Geezer Butler has issued the following statement: "I would like to make it clear, because of mounting speculation and rumours, that there will be definitely no reunion of all four original members of Black Sabbath, whether to record an album or to tour." Butler's most recent musical outing was with Heaven & Hell , a four piece featuring Black Sabbath band mate Tony Iommi as well as one time Black Sabbath members Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice . The band released Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell in November of 2010. www.geezerbutler.com Sharon Osbourne has been more than happy to milk the senility-dist

From PJ Harvey 's newest album, Let England Shake . I'm really looking forward to picking this one up very soon. No Ripcord's Juan Edgardo Rodriguez gave the album a 10 out of 10. Read his review here . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

John Vanderslice is touring in support of his new album, White Wilderness . The real reason I’m posting this is because “The Piano Lesson” is a really good song. Give it a listen. All the info below is courtesy of Dead Oceans. John Vanderslice Announces North American Tour in Support of White Wilderness John Vanderslice will tour this spring with drummer/percussionist Jason Slota as the duo support Vanderslice's much lauded collaboration with the Magik*Magik Orchestra , White Wilderness . The album is a bold and innovative step in JV's expansive career. While the San Francisco native sacrificed his habitual instincts as a musician and studio hound, letting go allowed for a beautiful exploration of a previously uncharted territory. As a Pop Matters review of White Wilderness declares, "Vanderslice is lighting out for the territories and keeping only what he needs of the past as he discovers the new. These songs are downright geographic—you can feel them estab

The buzz around Yuck is building, the salutes are in the works. Expect to see a review of their self-titled debut on No Ripcord this week. In the meantime, here’s some tour info and music to absorb via Force Field PR: Yuck announces US tour with Tame Impala VIDEO: "Holing Out" - http://vimeo.com/19406782 MP3: "Coconut Bible" - http://tinyurl.com/5sdztul UK band Yuck just wrapped up its first ever US tour, opening for Fat Possum labelmates Smith Westerns , and now we're pleased to announce the band's next US trek, with like-minded Aussies Tame Impala . The band will also make its first ever appearance at SXSW this March in Austin. Bio: YUCK! Eeew, I was like, "that is soo gross". Anybutt. I was like whatever. Butt then I saw the tour and it made me feel kinda tingly. It's like totally awesome!!! Like those girls are so cool and like that guy looks weird but then yer like omg he is like so hot. So the show was incredible but

Sunday, February 13th, Henry Rollins turned 50. A hero of my youth, significant in sight, sound and influence, Rollins is essentially responsible for much of my musical upbringing, his aural affront an epiphany to my teenaged ears and on into my early thirties where I still find satisfying brutality in the grooves of Black Flag and Rollins Band . Before The End Of Silence sort of broke Rollins Band out as part of the 90s alterna-cash crop, the band had put out an album called Hard Volume , which is a blues-driven sonic scream that really doesn’t get enough credit. I mean, you wish to hear albums this pure in your lifetime: Rollins’ calamitous outrage awakening your mind’s defenses, the band itself proving their chops with this punk-infused brand of King Crimson -ish progression, blue-rock precision and metallic heft. At some point, I’d like to revisit Hard Volume as it is an under-appreciated chapter in the life of an altogether under-appreciated band. I know I’ve written a

I don’t mean to come off like a press release, but I will anyway. Mogwai ’s new album, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will is out and will stream online for a week starting today. In the meantime, check out some MP3s and a few videos, (the urban-centric “Mexican Grand Prix” is particularly fascinating), and some tour dates. All the info is courtesy of Sub Pop. Mogwai’s Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will out today, February 15th, 2011 Stream entire record now + US Tour Date Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will , Mogwai’s seventh album, is officially available starting today February 15 at your local record and digital store. You can stream to the bands entire record for the next week by clicking here . Mogwai will be bringing their ear blasting live show to the states beginning on April 19 in Washington DC. Please see below for a full list of shows. MP3 “Rano Pano” MP3 “San Pedro” Video "Mexican Grand Prix" Video "How To Be A Werewolf"

Jam out on this sample of Joan Of Arc 's "Brother #2" for the 9 minutes worth that's available.  Consider.  Read up.  Via Terrorbird: Joan Of Arc Releases Limited Edition Instrumental LP featuring Zach Hill After more than a decade of existence, 10 proper full-length albums, and on the heels of their instantly sold-out Cassette Box Set , Chicago's Joan Of Arc has compiled their latest opus: Oh Brother . Out now, the LP see the release of this hand-numbered double LP, limited to just 500 copies. Featuring collaborations with 14 musicians, including Zach Hill of Hella & Rob Lowe of Lichens , this is indie-rock for the initiated. Oh Brother is the combination of four distinct albums embarked upon but never completed by Joan of Arc curator Tim Kinsella . Each album is broken up and spliced together into a tessellating unity of long, noisy, meditative, instrumental movements which fill the totality of each side of this double LP. Each side --A, B, C,

If The Body 's All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood disturbed you as much as it disturbed me, then this news is for you and your turntable. Via Earsplit PR: THE BODY: Vinyl Re-release Announced; Massive Tour Schedule Begins To Unfold With the release of All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood in July 2010, THE BODY has rabidly risen from a virtually unknown underground act to a household name, reaping massive acclaim via year-end lists worldwide, including Decibel, Brooklyn Vegan, About.com , Popdose, Stereogum, Crustcake, MetalSucks, NME, The Quietus and countless more, not to mention the #4 spot on NPR's top 10 metal/drone albums of the year as well as a #6 spot on Pitchfork's Reader's Choice top 10 metal albums in their year-end reader's poll. While the massive All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood was released on CD by At A Loss Recordings, it bore a very limited initial vinyl pressing released on THE BODY's own Aun War imprint, which

So, this should be no surprise.  In the ever diminishing world of popular music, a world whose sole intent to earn capital has left it creatively flaccid (yet continuously lucrative in spite of the crumbling record empire), a Grammy to The Beatles (a Best Historical Album win in honor of their 2009 Stereo and Mono Box Sets ) isn't too shocking.  But, as the less deserving continue to earn accolades, a Beatles' win is a victorious one. When The Beatles' Stereo Box Set was released, I was put to the daunting task of reviewing the set for No Ripcord.  It was a three part series.  If you're interesting, here are the links: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3   Also, just for the sake of revisiting one of the greatest moments in my "career" as a music blogger, some information regarding the Beatles' Love mash up is included in the below press release.  I wrote a review for Love months after its release and, somehow, Giles Martin , son of the one and only George