Pistols & Hearts

"Why should I bother?"

I've been due for a Captain Phoenix post. I know you've already bought the band's first tune, "Living On The Guestlist", because I've mentioned it far too many times for you not to have jumped. Well, it's that time again. The band's second single "Pistols & Hearts" has hit the shelves (and the indie charts as well, so I've been told). What else can I tell you? I swear by this band; I shouldn't need to twist your arm. Buy the single, love it, learn it, sing it aloud, and sit and wait patiently for the band's debut album, Life.Temper.Riot., to follow. I've included a great remixed version of the track done by Union of Knives.

Captain Phoenix - Pistols & Hearts (Union of Knives remix)

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Attack In Black

"...and i really hope it's hope that you deliver."

I may have found a new favorite band in Canadian punks Attack In Black. It's not often I say things like that, either. Their newly released disc "Marriage" is my CD of the moment. It's one of those track-after-track greats...and who wants to waste time pressing the skip button, anyway? The disc comes highly recommended, as does nearly everything in the Dine Alone catalog (Bedouin Soundclash, anyone? What's not to like?).

Attack In Black - Come What May
Attack In Black - If All I Thought Were True (highly rec'd)

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Mighty Six Ninety

"There's no reason for all of this..."

I was worried for awhile that we lost Mighty Six Ninety to the UK. The band, who signed with London's Kids Records, is now back in action in the States. Their debut full length, Cheers to the Bitter End, has just been released via Invisible DJ Records. I've been championing M690 for awhile. In fact, they were one of my first features. The jangly acoustics and new-wave proclivities call to mind favorites like the Stone Roses and the Smiths. Frontman Richard Garnder even seems to channel Morrissey's exuberant vocal stylings...in a manner all his own. A slew of shows have been scheduled in the LA area (San Fran and Vegas are also in order)...do your best to catch one sometime.

Mighty Six Ninety - Mistakes Like These
Mighty Six Ninety - Keeping You In Mind

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AjiSignal

http://www.AjiSignal.com

A quick heads up for everyone - I was pretty lucky to be asked to be involved in an interesting new project. AjiSignal is a city-specific music site that just launched today. I was asked to represent Minneapolis/St. Paul as a staff writer for the site at least for the few months before I head back to London. While I'm certainly not the know-all-end-all of the of the local music scene, it's my hope that you'd possibly find my Minneapolis musings at least mildly interesting. The current plan is to have articles published weekly (considering I don't flake out, which is always a strong possibility) that could deal with anything from upcoming concerts to catch, band profiles, live show reviews, etc. MP3s are always included, naturally. So far the site has enlisted the help of other writers such as Sean and Dan from Said the Gramophone (cool) and Justin Gage from An Aquarium Drunkard (ultra cool). Cities covered so far are Los Angeles, Montreal, San Francisco, and the Twin Cities. More to follow, I'd imagine. My first post is up - I've profiled my local favorites Love-Cars and Halloween, Alaska.

AjiSignal

Ryan Adams, Minneapolis, June 18th

"I've been going from door to door with nothing to sell."

I finally got my hands on a live recording of the Ryan Adams show I attended back in June. He played an 18 song set with the Cardinals at the Cedar Cultural Center. It was brilliant. He's coming back to Minneapolis in September to the State Theatre. If you're in the Cities, please get your tickets...hopefully there will still be some left. I posted "Blue Hotel" because Ryan wrote it for Willie Nelson's recent album, Songbird. Also, I remember being pretty enthralled with the night's version of "Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd.", so I included that as well. You can grab the whole show, if you're interested, over at Archive.org.

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Blue Hotel
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd.

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Organized Sports

"I go forward blindly, but not long enough to get ahead."

"I built a seatbelt into my drumstool for this one," was my introduction to Organized Sports. That's exactly what I like to hear. While the playing-really-loud and playing-really-fast concept often times has me wondering whether any real talent is lurking below the thick layer of noise, I can wholeheartedly say that OS has shattered any preconceived notions that I harbored. Why hasn't New York caught on yet? That city lives for stuff like this. Catch the band at Charleston in Brooklyn on Aug. 22 if you're in the area. I can hardly imagine you'd emerge feeling disappointed.

Organized Sports - Lines (rec'd)
Organized Sports - Kicked It Up

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Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start

"I could use a little help, please?"

It's a great feeling, isn't it? Hearing a song for the first time and knowing, immediately, that it's one of your favorites... Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start (yes, seriously) has me rebuking myself for not delving into their catalog much sooner. Moreover, the band has given away every past release over their website entirely free. They've been doing it for years. For their new full length, Worst Band Name Ever (I disagree), the guys have decided upon a new business model. They're making you drop some cash this time. Rightfully so, because the songs are absolutely stunning. Drop by the Up Up Down Down official site to grab some back catalog while purchasing the new disc.

Up Up Down Down... - The Red Loop (highly rec'd)
Up Up Down Down... - I'll Thank You Later

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Obadiah Parker

"What's cooler than being cool?"

Not often (nearly never, actually) do I broach the subject of hip-hop. If I do, it usually has something to do with Mike Skinner, which is probably enough to make any serious hip-hop aesthete speak derisively. Even now, it's not really of my own accord - I can't take credit for finding this, I didn't just happen upon it...a friend of mine questioned me about it a couple of times last week. The track comes courtesy of Mat Weddle, frontman of Arizona folk band Obadiah Parker. An acoustic folk cover of Outkast's Hey Ya? I tried to conceptualize it. My spirit of inquiry had me tracking it down on the internerd a few days later. Cheers, Mat. It's beautiful.

Obadiah Parker - Hey Ya!

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Right Away, Great Captain!

"You are exactly what nightmares are for."

Side projects make the world go round. Thanks Andy Hull, because I haven't had enough of you yet. Considering the amount of press that Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra has been getting, I'm wondering why more haven't picked up on frontman Andy Hull's side project - Right Away, Great Captain! Though Hull's apparent penchant for lo-fi folk is of a different breed than his usual electric power pop propensities, it doesn't mean it isn't great. Via Favorite Gentlemen, a label started by Manchester Orchestra, Hull has released the RAGC debut, The Bitter End. There also seems to be another on the way...

Right Away, Great Captain! - Night Marry You
Right Away, Great Captain! - I'm Not Ready To Forgive You

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