Haven't posted any of these in a while.  Two sessions for your listening pleasure. 2.4.11: Moondoggies' Daytrotter set You can find the session here . 2.9.11: Sun Airway's Daytrotter set You can find the session here . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Dinosaur Jr. ’s J. Mascis continues to release singles so as to promote his upcoming first solo album, Several Shades of Why . “Is It Done” has him paired up with Ben Bridwell from Band Of Horses , but don’t let that stop you from checking out the song. March 15th is the street date via Sub Pop. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

A trailer posted yesterday for Mastodon’ s upcoming live release, Live at the Aragon , which includes a CD and a DVD. The performance was recorded live October 19, 2009 and it will feature a live performance of their bulletproof Crack The Skye album. Having seen them perform Crack The Skye live myself, the opportunity to hold onto something like this is worth taking.  In my opinion, anyway.   Live at the Aragon will be out March 16th. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

The sun has been managing to maintain some semblance of sunlight past 5:30 lately, which means we’re slowly moving, (or trudging), through this cold and icy murk toward warmer weather. The groundhog missed its shadow, so superstitious folk should be pleased with the hope of possible sunshine heading our way. Our progress toward warmer weather, though, also means that it’s time for Record Store Day updates and I saw my first one this morning via Kill Rock Stars : RECORD STORE DAY REISSUE! (02/07/11)   We're doing on our part on Record Store Day, April 16: Twenty years ago, yes T-W-E-N-T-Y, Slim Moon formed the fiercely independent label Kill Rock Stars and released a comp of the same name. It was a silkscreened, limited edition LP and featured bands that had either played the International Pop Underground Convention or who were from Olympia. This included bands that were already successful ( Nirvana , The Melvins ) mixed in with bands that were about to affect pop culture ...

I don’t know much about The Soft Moon , other than that it’s the work of Luis Vasquez , and that the project's self-titled album came out last November. The music I’m linking in this post via Pitchfork seems the lovechild of Brian Eno , David Byrne and Travis Bickle . Granted, the shoegaze-y atmosphere plays prevalent, but the eerie drones and almost assaultive combination of sounds is mesmerizing, hints of Joy Division and even the post- Wire Bruce Gilbert/Graham Lewis project, Dome , informing Vasquez’s mix. The Soft Moon has some tour dates coming up with Autolux . All information is from Force Field PR. The Soft Moon announces California tour dates with Autolux   STREAM - "When It's Over" - http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12085-when-its-over/   VIDEO: "Circles" - http://bit.ly/frUvMk On the heels of two sensually dark 7 inches, Luis Vasquez of The Soft Moon, released his self-titled debut full-length on Captured Tracks, on Novem...

Phone interview with Marnie Stern Lansdale, PA 1.17.11 Photo by David Torch No Ripcord interview Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Fans of Animal Collective and Panda Bear (or, Noah Lennox for those of you with an aversion to monikers), I'm sure you've heard "Slow Motion" many, many times by now.  NPR has been streaming it for most of January, generating some anticipation for Lennox's upcoming solo release, Tomboy . The album won't be out till April 12th, but any of my New York readers will be pleased to know that there will be listening party for Tomboy .  Check out some information below via Force Field PR.  If inclined, give the track a listen. Paw Tracks presents a listening party for Panda Bear's Tomboy Feb. 16 in NYC at Le Poisson Rouge Gallery STREAM: "Slow Motion" - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128469300 Panda Bear is the project of Animal Collective member Noah Lennox . Tomboy , his long-awaited fourth album as Panda Bear, and follow-up to Person Pitch , is now complete and will be released on his own label, Paw Tracks on April...