WIXIW, (wish you), new album by Liars , will be out June 5th.  In the meantime, NPR has made the full album available for streaming.  I haven't listened to the entire thing yet, but what I've heard is blissfully eerie.  An EP for their new single, "No. 1 Against The Rush," is available as of May 29th.  All info and links are provided by Mute Records. LIARS  NPR STREAMS WIXIW IN ‘FIRST LISTEN’ “NO. 1 AGAINST THE RUSH” DIGITAL EP RELEASED TODAY FEATURING REMIXES BY MATMOS & VINCE CLARKE “WIXIW is Liars' "electronic" record, and a darn good one at that. ” -NPR   “ Liars walked away with what may be the most enjoyable album of their career. ” -SPIN “ In essence, it’s a dark pop masterpiece. " -KCRW NEW ALBUM – WIXIW – OUT JUNE 5TH CD, VINYL & DIGITAL FORMAT Photo Credit: Zen Sekizawa WIXIW (“wish you”) EXPLAINED HERE Liars are Angus Andrew , Aaron Hemphill and Julian Gross . In preparation f

So, one of Pennsylvania's own… Aaron Freeman , better known as Gene Ween of the perpetually strange and very dynamic duo Ween , announced today at Rolling Stone that the band is no more .  Formed in 1984, both Gene and cohort Mickey Melchiondo , or Dean Ween , crafted some of the most deranged, trippy and ridiculous albums to ever gain an ear, venturing in a multitude of styles both brilliantly parodic and truly inventive. For years, thanks to what I still consider to be the atrocity that is "Push th' Little Daisies," (yeah, I still don't like that song), Ween was not on my radar.  Shortsighted on my part, because once The Mollusk and Quebec reached my ears, (thanks, Chris), I wanted to hear little else.  I know the album that critics readily point out is Chocolate and Cheese , which I enjoy very much, but I consider The Mollusk and Quebec two pinnacle albums from the band's canon.  Quebec , especially, is fascinatingly dark, the smooth jazz and Ca

I know I've been jocking Swans hard lately, but a release date and details regarding their upcoming new album, The Seer, have surfaced.  Legacy Swan Jarboe will appear, as will Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs .  The live DVD that I spotlighted over the weekend will be available at concerts only.  So, unless some Philadelphia area shows develop, I guess I'm shit out of luck. All info comes courtesy of Howlin' Wuelf Media.   SWANS - The Seer (YG45) 2xDigipack CD, 3xLP, Digital (This album is also available as a special edition that includes a Swans Live DVD (at http://younggodrecords.com and live concerts only; view a trailer here: https://vimeo.com/42875372 ) RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2012 Track Listing: 1.) Lunacy 2.) Mother of the World 3.) The Wolf 4.) The Seer 5.) The Seer Returns 6.) 93 Ave. B Blues 7.) The Daughter Brings the Water 8.) Song for a Warrior 9.) Avatar 10.) A Piece of the Sky 11.) The Apostate ...Total Running Time: approx. 2 hrs.    Recorded at

The Crassical Collection : A series of Crass reissues distributed through Southern Records, Christ — The Album, Penis Envy, Stations of the Crass, The Feeding of the Five Thousand , Yes Sir, I Will and Ten Notes on a Summer's Day — The Swan Song , are all available as of April of 2012.  Fitting each cover like a puzzle piece, the resultant image is this poster by Crass designer, Gee Vaucher . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

This is a trailer for a live DVD that will be sold alongside special edition copies of Swans ' upcoming new release, The Seer .  My guess?  This is the visual version of their still-new live album, We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Bed .  Still pretty awesome, though, if you've heard that live LP.  A review will be available soon.  In the meantime, check out the trailer: Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I haven't heard I Predict A Graceful Expulsion , the newly released new album from Cold Specks .  However, I was very impressed with a version of Swans ' "Reeling The Liars In" she'd recorded for a Record Store Day exclusive, Dancing Coins EP.  Perfect voice for this kind of song, just a haunting and world-weary tone.  Excellent cover; please give it a listen. Via New Music United . This is a video for her single, "Blank Maps." Links were provided by Mute Records. NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR NEW YORK, MONTREAL, TORONTO AND LOS ANGELES NEW VIDEO FOR “WINTER SOLSTICE” FROM THE HOXTON HALL SERIES  KEXP’S #1 MOST PLAYED SONG OF THE WEEK IS "BLANK MAPS" Debut album, I Predict A Graceful Expulsion out May 22nd “ Haunting doom-laden soul” -Vogue “When she begins singing, you understand the fuss…” -Pitchfork "I can tell you without a doubt that Al Spx is going to be a superstar before year’s end." -YVYNYL “

I received an email a few weeks ago from Derek Jordan , member of the band Decoded , in regards to a benefit called, "Rock For A Difference." For the month of May, Decoded and other L.A. based bands played a show every Thursday at AMPLYFi , inviting Los Angeles area organizations that provide community improvement.  Proceeds from the show would then be donated to the said organization.   I, unfortunately, did not pick up on this quickly enough to write about BEFORE the shows took place, but if Decoded decides to continually organize these events, then shedding light might still be worthwhile.  Plus, there's one show left on May 31st.  May 3rd – Ace of Hearts - http://acesangels.org/ May 10th – Create Now! - http://www.createnow.org/ May 17th - Coalition for Clean Air - http://www.ccair.org/ May 24th – HeARTS Giving Hope - http://www.heartsgivinghope.org/ May 31st – Rent.Food.Broke. - http://rentfoodbroke.com/   For info, click here:  http://decodedband.

Next week, At A Loss Recordings is releasing Avenger , the 2011 release by heavy rock trio, Totimoshi, on vinyl in a very limited run of 500 copies.  Check out the video for the single, "Avenger," and then read my review of the album, which you can find at Stereokiller .  I even got quoted in the press release.  Go me. All info and links are courtesy of Earsplit PR. TOTIMOSHI: At A Loss To Release Vinyl Version Of Avenger ; Pre-Orders Available NOW!   On May 29, At A Loss Recordings will unleash the vinyl edition of Avenger, the critically-acclaimed studio offering from California desert death rock trio, TOTIMOSHI. Championed by Rock Sound for its “ smart and uniquely wonky brand of hard rock that’s sometimes bluesy, sometimes sexy, sometimes spaced out but never anything less than completely compelling,” and commended by The Obelisk for its absorbing variations, noting: “ It’s dissonant but melodic, dirty and clean, noisy but engaging, structured but open,” Aven

Mount Eerie Clear Moon P.W. Elverum and Sun Released: 5.22.12 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

This video of musician Jesse Marchant , otherwise known as JBM , was filmed at the Philadelphia venue Johnny Brenda's by Out Of Town Films .  The song is called "Moonwatcher."  His latest album, Stray Ashes , released 5.22. All info, links and video comes courtesy of Terrorbird Media. JBM Stray Ashes Out Now On Western Vinyl   On Tour Now With Damien Jurado, June East Coast Shows Announced Listen: Stray Ashes via AOL Spinner Download: "Winter Ghosts" Watch: "Ferry" via YouTube W atch: "Moonwatch" via YouTube JBM’s sophomore album Stray Ashes is out now on Western Vinyl . The album is streaming its entirety at AOL Spinner . Stray Ashes is the follow-up to JBM's 2010’s debut, Not Even In July , which garnered an imposing number of accolades from outlets such as American Songwriter, Filter, Paste, Spinner and many others. JBM is currently on tour; supporting Damien Jurado in May and just announced a string of headlining ea

The single, "You Are The One," from A Place To Bury Strangers ' upcoming new album, Worship , has surfaced.  The song itself is minimal and eerie, propulsive and subtly dissonant.  The video is not so subtle, a clear homage to 70s grindhouse, exploitation cinema, blood, violence and nudity in full swing.  Don't watch this at work, but check it out anyway. All info and links provided by Dead Oceans. A Place To Bury Strangers Release Video for "You Are The One"   Worship Pre-Order Available Today A Place To Bury Strangers have released a new video for their song "You Are The One." It is available exclusively at SPIN.com today. Directing duo Matt Moroz & Tracy Maurice deliver a twisted nightmare in this grindhouse-esque clip produced by Greencard Pictures. Shot on 16mm film, their dark, experimental style expertly mirrors the mood of APTBS's track and elevates the music video to a cinematic noir thriller. Moroz and Maurice's

The fourth and final wave of reissues for the monumental and brilliant Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds , their remaining albums, Nocturama, Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus and DIG!!! LAZARUS, DIG!!! , will be released mid-August. All info and reissue details are courtesy of EMI. The third wave of Nick Cave reissues were reviewed for No Ripcord in 2011:   Let Love In & Murder Ballads The Boatman's Call & No More Shall We Part Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! was reviewed in 2008. NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS CLASSIC ALBUMS COLLECTORS EDITIONS U.S. Release Date: August 14 Hollywood, California – May 22, 2012 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have announced release plans for the final set of remastered and expanded reissues of their classic albums. The new CD/DVD Collectors Editions, to be released in the U.S. on August 14, include Nocturama (2003), Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004), and DIG!!! LAZARUS, DIG!!! (2008), Nick Cave & The Ba

Issue #20 of Kicking Against The Pricks has been posted.  For this issue, I was asked to review the recent reissues of My Bloody Valentine 's classic LPs, Isn't Anything and Loveless , along with the new compilation double-disc release, EPs & Rarities , which features You Made Me Realise , Tremolo , some B-sides and unreleased tracks.  My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anything Sony Originally released: 11.1.88 (via Creation Records) Reissued: 5.7.12 Kicking Against The Pricks review My Bloody Valentine Loveless Sony Originally released: 11.4.91 (via Creation Records) Reissued: 5.7.12 Kicking Against The Pricks review My Bloody Valentine EPs & Rarities Sony Compiled and released: 5.7.12 Kicking Against The Pricks review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

"No. 1 Against The Rush" is Liars ' new enticement for their upcoming album, WIXIW , which will be out June 5th.  What the song demonstrates is the band's somewhat expected, or at least "understood," progression from No Wave-influeneced to New Wave-influenced, their one time atonality and dissonant strangeness working slowly towards a more electronic-based, post-punk and synthesized dynamic.  Liars still possesses an experimental and eerie grit, though, and I'm very excited to hear the full extent of what the single merely suggests. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Though I've yet to hear a proper album from The Soft Moon , (consider them shameful inclusions getting way too much heat on the backburner), every song I've listened to has been gothic, post-punk gold and apparently a new album will be out titled, Zeros . This collaborative single, "Evidence," sees Soft Moon Luis Vasquez with John Foxx & The Maths taking on an electronic-based and somewhat industrial approach. Info provided by Life or Death PR & Management.    The Soft Moon vs. John Foxx & The Maths - "Evidence" by Life or Death PR THE SOFT MOON TALKS FORTHCOMING LP WITH STEREOGUM   SHARES JOHN FOXX AND THE MATHS COLLABORATION "EVIDENCE"   After a pair of lauded releases in 2010's self-titled LP and 2011's Total Decay EP , The Soft Moon are proud to announce their forthcoming second LP, Zeros, due this fall for the ever-reliable Captured Tracks. Though still a ways off on the horizon, The Soft Moon

A video for Pop. 1280 's "Bodies in the Dunes" has surfaced online and features a serial killer's threatening silhouette and some scenes involving a few very doomed prostitutes.  The band's latest album, The Horror , was released earlier this year. All info comes courtesy of Life Or Death PR & Management. Pop. 1280's The Horror was reviewed at No Ripcord . POP. 1280 SHARE A KILLER VIDEO FOR "BODIES IN THE DUNE" SUMMER TOUR ANNOUNCED THE HORROR OUT NOW ON SACRED BONES  Today, Vice / Noisey share the new video for "Bodies In The Dunes," the latest single from the grating New York cyberpunks Pop. 1280. The video was directed by Jacqueline Castel , a hyper-talented director who makes tense, kinetic work under her Future Primitive production house. Castel's videos are stark and confrontational-she's created incredible work for Zola Jesus , Naked On The Vague , Blank Dogs , and a bunch of other p

Funk-bred pop out the mouth of former psych band Yura Yura Teikoku frontman Shintaro Sakamoto , "In A Phantom Mood" is something to snap your fingers to: a magnetic and chill little ditty that seems to be in line with last year's Petra Haden / Yuka Honda pop quartet, If By Yes .  An album titled, How to Live With a Phantom , will be out this July.  All info and links are courtesy of Force Field PR. Shintaro Sakamoto preps release of How To Live With A Phantom Due July 17 via newly-launched Other Music Recording Co. S TREAM: "In A Phantom Mood" - http://soundcloud.com/other-music-recording-co/in-a-phantom-mood Shintaro Sakamoto begins a new and perhaps unexpected chapter in his storied career with the release of his debut solo album, the otherworldly folkpop masterpiece How to Live with a Phantom . For over two decades Sakamoto was the frontman and leader of Japanese psychedelic phenomenon Yura Yura Teikoku, a Tokyo-based band that formed in 1989 a

Obits "Let Me Dream if I Want To" b/w "The City is Dead" 7" Sub Pop Released: 5.15.12 Brooklyn based Obits released a new two-song 7," covers of Mink DeVille 's "Let Me Dream if I Want To" and "The City is Dead" by The Kids .  Perfectly out of tune, attitude badly adjusted: if you couldn't get a sense of how much early punk rock owes to Nuggets -based psych garage rockers like The Seeds or The Electric Prunes , Obits, themselves somewhat built out of that sound, ably puts the "garage" across.  The band has a great time with the homage, crafting a really good and entertaining two song single.  I've listened to it maybe four or five times consecutively and the Animals -inspired throb of "City is Dead" is perfect for this type of format. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Sleep Dopesmoker (Reissue) Southern Lord Originally released: 4.22.03 (via Tee Pee Records) Reissued: 5.8.12 Substance experimentation and abuse have been contributing to record collections since before Charlie Parker ’s appetite for heroin inspired his jazz peers to riddle their own arms full of “holes of creative inspiration,” emulating the man’s routine in an effort to become half the player he was. Drugs alter your perceptions, sometimes for the betterment of one’s own abilities to create, and have been known to influence the best known works of art, literature and music. Let’s not consider the junkie’s ultimate price for now as this is NOT an article directed toward protecting children from snake-headed pill pushers or aiding the promotion of a drug-free America. After all, I’m writing about Dopesmoker , one of the loudest, proudest odes to herb since Black Sabbath ’s “Sweet Leaf,” a gargantuan, hour-long tribute brought to be by stoner metal pioneers, Sleep . The last

I received an email not too long ago from Vomitrocious Media about musician Dylan Ettinger and his new album, Lifetime of Romance .  His single, "Wintermute," should garner some attention from those turned on by old school throb of synth pop or artsy interpretations of dance groove, Ettinger's dark arrangements interesting enough to spin in your head for a few days.  Not safe for work due to boobs and butts. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead