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Showing posts from April, 2013

No Ripcord: METZ (Live at the Church, Philadelphia, PA — 4.19.13)

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Iceage METZ Night Birds White Lung The First Unitarian Church OF Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA 4.19.13 Poster by Rodger Binyone No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Buried in a Good Mix Tape: Modern Rock with Pops and Flaws...

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I went analogue.  It'd been too long. For those who resist cassettes as a viable medium, I completely understand.  Cassettes take work.  Cassettes require patience and the act of fast-forwarding or rewinding seems a chore next to the immediacy of track selection or digital playback.  But, I will continue to promote any resurgent interest in the medium and, if you ask why, I will simply answer with the following: I'm selfish. As I get closer and closer to forty years of age and remember the hours I would spend experiencing music, I ache.  I ache because the feeling I used to get listening to music, which was nothing short of visceral and life-altering, exists only as some very distant recollection and fails to be either relived or re-experienced in the now.  Music no longer affects me like I used to and that realization is painful. This isn't to say that I don't still love music and that I don't remain passionate about it, but there was a time and environment years

Singles: sigur rós, Mick Harvey, Eureka The Butcher, SQÜRL, Big Boi/Killer Mike

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Sigur Rós : "Ísjak" Mick Harvey: "I Wish That I Were Stone" (via Mute) Eureka The Butcher ( Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta & Zechs Marquise ): "Here Comes Eureka B" (via Sargent House & Us/Them Group)   SQÜRL ( Jim Jarmucsh ): "Pink Dust" (via ATP Recordings) Big Boi/Killer Mike : "In The A" Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

No Ripcord: Tera Melos

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Tera Melos X'ed Out Sargent House Released: 4.16.13 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

RSD 4.20 — Post; Past; Afterwards...

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The girl on the steps was handing flyers for a college radio station Does the aftermath of Record Store Day always feel like the day after Christmas, or is that just me?  For me, the day's approach inspires a wealth of excitement followed by a ho hum sigh once it's over.  But, the spoils await, and eventually I'll have the chance to dig in, throw on my new acquisitions and listen.  In the meantime, though, here are a few thoughts: This year, I tagged along with some friends to Double Decker Records in Allentown, PA., followed by a trip to Princeton Record Exchange in Princeton, New Jersey.  I was up this morning at 5:30AM when I saw a Facebook post from Double Decker claiming there were two shoppers already in line.  The post had been made around 4:30. I love my records as much as anyone, hence my annual participation in Record Store Day and my year 'round support of independent record stores, but nothing on this year's list of RSD Exclusives wa

Singles: Ten Kens, Man Or Astro-man?

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Man Or Astro-man? : "Disintegrate" (courtesy of Force Field PR) Ten Kens : "Gently Used" (via Tiny Mix Tapes ) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

RSD 4.20 — Chelsea Wolfe and King Dude

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Here's some info on yet another Record Store Day release: Chelsea Wolfe and King Dude share a split 7" from Sargent House.   All info comes courtesy of Enabler PR. CHELSEA WOLFE RELEASES LIMITED 7" SPLIT WITH KING DUDE FOR RECORD STORE DAY AVAILABLE ON APRIL 20TH VIA SARGENT HOUSE AND EMBARKS ON HEADLINING TOUR IN EUROPE AFTER PLAYING DESERT DAZE FESTIVAL IN APRIL After kicking off 2013 with a sold out US tour, Chelsea Wolfe and King Dude are giving fans a chance to catch them together on vinyl. As a special record store day release the two will be sharing a 7" split, Sing Songs Together. The 7" features Chelsea Wolfe's performance of "Fight Like Gods" and King Dude performing "Satan's Ghost". Pick it up at your local record store this Saturday, April 20th. Fans of Chelsea Wolfe will also have a chance to see her live on April 20th at the Desert Daze Festival in Mecca, CA. Then just a few short days later Wolfe will

Japandroids: "Fire's Highway" (Coachella performance)

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This is a video of Japandroids playing "Fire's Highway" off of their super-anthemic Celebration Rock album.  The video was provided by Grandstand Media. Celebration Rock was reviewed at No Ripcord . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Odonis Odonis: "Better" (Video)

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The dance punk throb of the title track for Odonis Odonis ' new EP now has visual accompaniment.  Though qualifying as "industrial," I liken Odonis Odonis to a bratty, possibly more ominous version of the early 80s Manchester band A Certain Ratio or the funk-laden post-punk from 23 Skidoo .  They also sort of remind me of where Mi Ami was going creatively before singing the body electric .   The Better EP is out today via Buzz Records.  All info comes courtesy of Force Field PR.   Odonis Odonis premiere video for "Better", new EP out today on Buzz Records   On tour now with METZ VIDEO: "Better"   http://youtu.be/0NaTjaW5BrY STREAM: "Better"   http://soundcloud.com/buzzrecords/odonis-odonis-better Toronto-based industrial outfit Odonis Odonis debut the music video for "Better", from their EP of the same name, out today on Buzz Records . The video was co-directed by Dean Tzenos (singer and guitarist of the ba

No Ripcord: Thee Oh Sees

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Thee Oh Sees Floating Coffin Castle Face Released: 4.16.13 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

RSD — 4.20: Mark Lanegan & Moby

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It takes Mark Lanegan 's involvement for me to discuss a Moby release.  This partnership produced the Record Store Day curated "The Lonely Night" 7" along with a video built from moving skies, desert landscapes and dilapidated and abandoned wreckage.  All info comes courtesy of Mute. Watch the new video for Moby and Mark Lanegan’s “The Lonely Night” RECORD STORE DAY LIMITED EDITION 7” VINYL Moby and Mark Lanegan “The Lonely Night” Available April 20 Today, Moby and Mark Lanegan have unveiled the beautiful time-lapse video for “The Lonely Night” , available on limited edition 7" released for this year's Record Store Day, April 20. Watch 'The Lonely Night' on Moby's YouTube channel here. Directed by LA-based cinematographer Colin Rich , 'The Lonely Night” captures California as never seen before - flitting between the desolate and far removed terrain of the Mojave desert and the endless city expanse of Los Angeles. Rich sa

No Ripcord: White Fence

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White Fence Cyclops Reap Castle Face Released: 4.9.13 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Singles: Colin Stetson, Akron/Family, Sofy Major

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Colin Stetson : "In Mirrors" & "And In Truth" Akron/Family : "Until the Morning" (via Dangerous Minds ) Sofy Major: "Comment" (via American Aftermath ) "Comment" Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

MusicFilmWeb: You're Gonna Miss Me

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MusicFilmWeb's Music Documentary Monday feature, 4.8. You're Gonna Miss Me Directed by Keven McAlester Released: 2005   MusicFilmWeb review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Shopping For Records: Trip to The Vinyl Closet, 4.5.13

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I took the day off work. Mind you, I'm not one that typically does the "mental health" day, or just decides "I need some time off."  I'm normally paranoid and guilty enough when legitimately sick that I'll bother my coworkers with updates about how the day is going and whether or not I need to plug in and work from home.  I have a complex, so days off aren't my thing. But, I had some things to take care of today and just figured I would try this "relaxing" that everyone speaks so highly of.  Part of trying to enjoy the day involved me hitting the record store.  I kept it very local today and stopped by The Vinyl Closet in North Wales, which is maybe ten minutes from my house. While the store doesn't hold much for those looking for current artists or recent releases, it is a treasure trove for vinyl addicts.  The first time I'd visited, I found a few things to pick up without spending too much loot.  Today, though, I kept on f

Oikos: "Coagvla" (Video)

Oikos  Solve Et Coagvla Land Of Decay Released: 4.2.13 Oikos - Coagvla from Agartthacave on Vimeo . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Liars: "The Exact Color Of Doubt" (Video)

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Liars released a new video for "The Exact Color Of Doubt," from their 2012 release, WIXIW .  WIXIW was reviewed at No Ripcord . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Tera Melos: "Bite"

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So, Tera Melos decided to release what may be my favorite song from the whole of their upcoming new album, X'ed Out .  "Bite" is rapid scattering of drum sounds and heavy harmonizing unified into an arrhythmic pop tune that goes far to demonstrate where Tera Melos takes its sound for this release.  Give the track a listen and then check out all the info that Us/Them Group was good enough to disseminate.  The band is touring with TTNG (formerly This Town Needs Guns ) whose recently released album, 13.0.0.0.0 , was reviewed at No Ripcord.  You can find that review here .  The Philly dates are sold out. Tera Melos share another song from forthcoming album  North American tour dates with TTNG starting in April Listen to " Bite "   Sacramento's genre-benders Tera Melos premiere a third new song from their forthcoming album, X'ed Out today via innovative art site The Fox Is Black . The song, " Bite " is available to stream/share HE

Daughter of a Tapehead: Represent...

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New shirt... Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead