Tune in today (6/8) at 11:15am for a live studio performance by singer-songwriter/guitar virtuoso, Anna Calvi, on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic!
Hailed by Brian Eno as “the best thing since Patti Smith” and, according to KCRW DJ Anne Litt, “When the record books are closed on 2011, Anna Calvi’s debut will be in top 10’s across the board.” When it comes to music, I don’t dare argue with these two…and neither should you. Tune in.
A smorgasbord of new music was released today and the last thing I want to say is that there’s too much. But if your time is limited and you can only check out a handful of these new releases, please consider these recommendations.
(in alphabetical order)
Key Tracks: Abducted, Never Heal Myself, Most Wanted, Oh My God, Never Saw the Point
For Fans Of: Tennis, The Raveonettes, The xx, Smith Westerns
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s a Corporate World
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – Morning Thought
Key Tracks: Morning Thought, We Almost Lost Detroit, Simple Girl, An Ugly Person On a Movie Screen, Nothing But Our Love
For Fans Of: Pepper Rabbit, Bear Hands, Yellow Ostrich, GIVERS
3. Fucked Up – David Comes To Life
Key Tracks: Queen of Hearts, The Other Shoe, Let Her Rest, Running On Nothing, A Slanted Tone
For Fans Of: Career Suicide, Future Islands, No Age, Weekend
Key Tracks: Ceiling of Plankton, Up Up Up, Saw You First, Noche Nada, Atlantic
For Fans Of: Generationals, Portugal the Man, Okkervil River, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Pepper Rabbit
5. The Postelles – The Postelles
Key Tracks: White Night, 123 Stop, Boy’s Best Friend, Hey Little Sister, Sleep On the Dance Floor
For Fans Of: The Strokes, Buddy Holly, Albert Hammond Jr, Marty McFly and the Starlighters
If you do have extra time at your disposal (ahem, Glenn), you should definitely take a gander at Paste Magazines quite thorough overview of today’s new releases.
Tune in today (6/3) at 11:15am for a live studio performance by former Elefant frontman, Diego Garcia, on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic!
Mr. Garcia will be treating listeners to gorgeous, 70’s-inspired tracks, from his debut album, Laura, and much, much more. Take my word for it and tune in, you won’t be disappointed.
But that’s not all! This Saturday (6/11), Diego Garcia kicks off KCRW’s Summer Nights 2011 at One Colorado Pasadena. KCRW DJ Anne Litt, who will open and close the FREE show, calls his music a “wonderful amalgamation of Diego’s Argentine heritage, 70’s AM pop radio, and the dusty sounds of dreams.” Be there. [event details]
Diego Garcia – You Were Never There
[bonus] Elefant – Now That I Miss Her
The debut full-length from NYC rockers, The Postelles, is out today (6/7) and it’s definitely worth your attention.
If you’re not familiar with The Postelles, they’re a bunch of NY youngsters with a knack for 1950’s doo-wop and indie garage rock…think Buddy Holly singing lead vocals for The Strokes (neat little fact, album was produced by The Strokes’ rhythm guitarist Albert Hammond Jr). Last.fm describes the band as “a more modern take on the soundtrack to a 1950s prom with a New York edge thrown in for good measure.”, but Paste Magazine sums it up best — ‘They’re the group that would have been had Marty McFly stuck with his band at the Under the Sea dance and helped develop their sound into a mix of their Motown roots and the rock that would follow, touring the boozy backwaters outside Hill Valley to the delight of any crowd.”
I haven’t heard a single disappointing song from these guys, but White Night is definitely my favorite track. Check out the video and track below, then do yourself a favor and grab yourself a copy of the album here.
If you happened to be listening to KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic today (6/2), you were treated to a live studio performance by GIVERS.
Hailing from Lafayette, LA, GIVERS are an indie pop quintet that specialize in youthful songs filled with optimism and positivity. They have a peppiness to them that reminds me of Vampire Weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and Pepper Rabbit.
I really didn’t know much about GIVERS until today. A number of my favorite blogs have featured them, but I never really gave them a chance…but I really wish I had. In 2009, GIVERS released their self-titled and self-produced GIVERS EP. Since then, GIVERS have toured with Dirty Projectors, Ra Ra Riot, and more. In 2010, GIVERS was named the ‘Best of What’s Next’ by PASTE Magazine and a ‘Band to Watch’ by Stereogum, who describes their music as “packed with that sort of psychedelic buoyancy, homegrown exoticism… and rattling optimism/joy.”
I have a feeling 2011 is going to be a big year for GIVERS. They’re set to release their debut full-length, In Light, on June 7th, and they’ll be touring throughout June in support of the release (LA peeps, they play the Bootleg Theater tonight, 6/2). Until then, check out a couple of my favorite tracks below and become a fan of GIVERS on facebook.
GIVERS – Ceiling of Plankton
GIVERS – Up Up Up