Jams: Broken Social Scene’s new “World Sick,” a Ryan Adams goof-metal track, the Radio Dept.’s amazing “Heaven’s On Fire,” Jim O’Rourke’s The Visitor.
Videos: The Beachwood Sparks play “Canyon Ride” at a 2008 reunion show, the Happy Hollow’s animated, awesome “Death to Vivek Kemp,” Miles Kurosky’s puppet-packed “Dog in the Burning Building.”
Deeper Into Movies: The one and only The Room (pictured).
Broken Social Scene’s first single since 2005’s self-titled album picks up where that release left off – with a swelling, saturated anthem. The red-lining “World Sick” may not hint much at the smoothing presence of new producer John McEntire (The Sea and Cake, Tortoise), but it’s a welcome reminder that no band in indie rock brings this sound better. Forgiveness Rock Record is due on May 4. Grab it after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
From the band of Los Angeles cosmic Americans’ August 22, 2008 reunion show at the Echoplex. Princes of California country, every one of these gentleman.
Previously: Live: Beachwood Sparks at the Echoplex, 8.22.08
In today’s Best News Imaginable, Jim O’Rourke has made a Burt Bacharach tribute album, All Kinds of People ~Love Burt Bacharach~, and (gasp!) will be singing on it. The relatively bad news is that other people sing on it, too, but I’ll take what I can get. Wilco drummer and Loose Fur bandmate Glen Kotche mans the skins throughout. TwentyFourBit has the full story and tracklist (great as I’m sure this’ll be, wish he’d done “This Guy’s In Love”); it’s due April 7.
Previously: Rest of 2009: Jim O’Rourke – The Visitor
Oh, God. How did I miss this one? Ryan Adams has issued another goof-metal jam for The Awl, where he was writing a column before he stopped writing a column. What is he doing!? Where is the box set?! Interrobang?! I’m going to go ahead and say it — I bet he and Mandy are secretly trying for BABIES, after which he’ll become a Cool Dad and start touring with Wilco. Ball’s in your court, D.R.A.! (Photo by Kurt Christensen)
Ryan Adams (as Sleazy Handshake) – “Revenge of the Awl”: stream
Previously: More Ryan Adams Posts
The Radio Dept. are known, and rightfully so, as sad bastards. But on “Heaven’s On Fire,” the second track released from their delayed-like-Lil Wayne Clinging to a Scheme, finds the unrepentant shoegazers kicking up their heels with a Jens Lekman-style party jam. “Heaven’s On Fire” is all major 7th chords, toy keyboards and a love that might not be unrequited for once: “When I look at you, Heaven’s on fire.” As long as it’s not their, um, sex. Clinging’s burnin’ love arrives, the band claims, on March April 21 via Labrador Records.
Update: now with MP3!
The Radio Dept. – “Heaven’s On Fire”: mp3
More: New Music | 2010 Album Release Calendar
The Miles Kurosky Comeback Tour continues with this puppet-packed clip for The Desert of Shallow Effects jam “Dog in the Burning Building.” Beulahphiles can catch the singer at Amoeba Hollywood on March 11 and at the Echo on April 7, as well as at SXSW, where I will attempt to see him play 12 times or until I pass out.
Wiseau Films
The cinematic experience that is The Room could only be the result of Trig Palin writing, directing and producing a feature-length movie with only a working knowledge of Cinemax softcore and a Wikipedia plot summary for the Book of Job. It is, without a doubt, the worst movie I have ever seen. Of course, the gulf between “worst movie” and “least enjoyable movie” (hello, Le Divorce) is often a wide one, and The Room fills that considerable expanse with two hours of inexplicably heart-warming delirium. Read the rest of this entry »
