The Stills ; Oceans WIll Rise

"...I've been everywhere in the world."

They had me wholeheartedly with Logic Will Break Your Heart, but very nearly lost me with the release of 2006's Without Feathers. Though certainly a bit more organic than it's predecessor, WF just seemed a bit uninspired and, well, boring. As far as the Stills are concerned, I was in a very precarious position up until the band's apparent reinvigoration and the release of their new disc Oceans Will Rise. I've rediscovered why I was originally so fond of our neighbors to the north. What's not to like about a bunch of good looking Canadian blokes, anyway?

The Stills - Being Here
The Stills - Snakecharming the Masses (highly rec'd)

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The Verve ; Forth

"Love is these blues that I'm singing again."

Richard Ashcroft is the Almighty. Why he'd make us wait over 10 years after Urban Hymns for the next album is beyond me. It certainly puts meaning to the adage "good things come to those who wait," I suppose. We're talking about the Verve here, so there's not much need for my usual verbosity. The aptly, but perhaps uncreatively, titled album Forth hits shelves internationally today. Those of us unlucky enough to live stateside will have to wait one additional day (8/26) until the customary new release Tuesday.

The Verve - Love Is Noise

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Bloc Party ; Intimacy

The digital release of Intimacy came out on Wednesday.
You're nuts if you don't have it.

Bloc Party - Biko

Youthmovies ; Good Nature

"It's not going well and it's not going badly. It's just going."

Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies didn't die, they just made their name easier to google. Youthmovies, the Oxford, UK based super quintet is ostensibly the coolest band, with their mix of trumpets and technical guitar mastery as a testament, to come out of the much renowned university town in the past few years. After meeting at university themselves, the band has shared the stages with some of England's finest young indie bands while at the same time maintaining their DIY credibility by jumping from one small label to the next. They've since jumped into bed with Drowned In Sound Recordings to release their newest LP Good Nature.

Youthmovies - Soandso And Soandso
Youthmovies - If You'd Seen A Battlefield

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the Dudes

"I accidentally elbowed your face on the dance floor, I'm sorry."

Had someone simply told me, "You need to check out this band from Canada, they're called the Dudes", there's not even a scrap of uncertainty in my mind that I wouldn't have done it. In fact, I'm sure I would have actively avoided it. My thought process likely would have been as such - 'how could a band that deigns to call themselves the Dudes really contribute anything meaningful to my playlist?' I was wrong. What's in a name, anyway? I've heard monikers far worse. Had it not been for one of my best friends and random weeknight ride in her car, I'd be Dude-less - and after hearing the entirety of their 2006 release Brain Heart Guitar, I can assure you it's no way to be.


The Dudes - Cup of Blood (highly rec'd)
The Dudes - Mendoza Line [Whoa Caroline]

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the Guardian's "New Band of the Day"

It's my new favorite the thing by far. As far as I'm concerned, the Guardian's "new band of the day feature" makes the world go round. And since I can't be there for the time being, I appreciate any sort of excuse to get nostalgic....

> http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/newbandoftheday <

Dear and the Headlights ; Drunk Like Bible Times preview

Spin Magazine is offering a free MP3, "Talk About", from the forthcoming Dear and the Headlights album Drunk Like Bible Times. Had Whiskeytown never existed, DATH would undoubtedly be my favorite band. It's a very serious endorsement. Grab the track and pick up the album on September 30th. You'll be hearing about it several times pre and post release date from me. Click the purchase link to preview and buy the band's debut (read my review of the album here) "Small Steps, Heavy Hooves". It was my favorite disc of 2007.

Download "Talk About" directly from Spin.com

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Cage the Elephant

"Money don't grow on trees."

You'd hardly expect a group of Bowling Green party boys to hit it big across the pond, would you? But so they have. The five piece from the Kentucky college town, in fact, has hit it harder in the UK than they have here in the States. While in London, I don't recall a week that went by that I didn't hear some kind of buzzing about Cage the Elephant. Whether it was a headlining gig at Camden's KOKO, a club night down the street at Proud Galleries or one of countless shows throughout the entirety of Britain, the boys kept busy...and still do. After a speedy trip home for a couple of shows, CTE returns to Europe to hit the summer fest circuit with sets at both the massively popular Reading and Leeds Festivals. The band's self titled debut hasn't hit yet hit our shelves, but is available in Europe courtesy of DSP/Relentless Records via major retailers like HMV.

Cage the Elephant - In One Ear
Cage the Elephant - Ain't No Rest For The Wicked

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Hot Club de Paris; Live at Dead Lake

"You were meant to keep us safe, and sit tall upon the landscape."

Hot Club de Paris is a band that I never would, nor ever could, take my eyes off of. They are doubtless one of my favorite bands. I've followed them closely (see past post) for the better part of 3 or 4 years now, starting with their decidedly tongue in cheek demo "sometimesitsbetternottostick..." and the debut that followed, Drop It Till It Pops, back in 2006. Their second studio album, which is inexplicably called Live at Dead Lake, is fraught with the same haphazard guitar work and Liverpublian charm as its predecessor. Interestingly enough, the band derives influence from American greats from the post-punk underbelly such as Cap'n Jazz and Owls, but in addition wield their own British sine qua non that makes them ever more enjoyable.

Hot Club de Paris - Hey Housebrick
Hot Club de Paris - I Wasn't Being Heartless When I Said Your Favourite Song Lacked Heart

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Popular Workshop

"...I don't know where I've been and I don't know who I am."

Living in London, keeping company with Art Brut, and jetting off to Chicago to record a debut album with famed producer Steve Albini is fake do-it-yourself indeed. And Popular Workshop has no qualms about admitting it. They’ve certainly had a great deal of help. DIY be damned, I say. What does it even mean in a digitally dominated world, anyway? The band’s acerbic new single “Popsong,” which precedes their highly anticipated (at least in my house!) album We’re Alive, And We’re Not Alone, to be released next month on Fake DIY Records is a sure-shot ticket to Brit indie stardom.

Popular Workshop - Popsong
Popular Workshop - Sunday Morning 10AM

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