The Softies’ Rose Melberg at a solo show / photo by David Greenwald
If you’re not familiar with One Week One Band, founded by my friend Hendrik Jasnoch, it’s grown from a concept — that old music is worth talking about in the flood of Relevant New MP3s — into a sort of weekly blog version of the 33 1/3 books. I’m proud to be writing about the Softies, my favorite band, for the site all week. Here’s what’s up so far:
LA Font, one of L.A.’s best rock bands — and, obvious full disclosure, friends of Rawkblog — are raising funds via Kickstarter to make their sophomore album. This is the new reality: if you’re not on Pitchfork or NPR, no label is going to give your band money to make a record. Surely “Lipsmack” alone has given you more than a few bucks’ worth of enjoyment? Watch the band’s plea to Rawkblog readers above and give them a hand on Kickstarter.
Two years ago, one of my more trusted publicists sent over a track from a brand-new band. They were called Pepper Rabbit. “Wanted to get you the scoop,” he wrote. I skimmed their EPs. “Red Wine,” with its piano chords landing like brontosaurus feet, stood out immediately. Rawkblog premiered the track. Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s a worthy Kickstarter project: Heaven Adores You, a love letter to Elliott Smith and his lingering influence in Portland, his home for many years and the city that birthed his unparalleled early records. Kick in some funds on Kickstarter, where you’ll find a nice trailer for the film.
Nothing new to report on Searching for Elliott Smith, the other recent doc — hopefully it gets a home video/VOD release sooner.
An unreleased Smith track, “Misery Let Me Down,” has been making the rounds recently — it’s great, one of the better surprise Smith songs to emerge in the last couple years. Download it and the rest of the radio session it emerged from at WMUC’s Tumblr.
* Lambchop will follow up 2008 classic OH (Ohio) with Mr. M, due Feb. 21 on Merge. Has it really been four years? Whatever the age, the band is the rare one that keeps getting better.
* Princeton, another band in the Kisses orbit, will release Remembrances of Times To Come on February 21 on Hit City U.S.A. I’ve heard it; you’re going to want to, too.
* Jens Lekman continues to tease his fourth LP, debuting another new song, “I Don’t Know What to Do With This Information,” at Maida Vale Studios. Here the full session at Point of Everything.
Here’s a worthy Kickstarter project: Heaven Adores You, a love letter to Elliott Smith and his lingering influence in Portland, his home for many years and the city that birthed his unparalleled early records. Kick in some funds on 
