Year: 2008

For the most part, there are two kinds of musicians: those that make lots of records and those that make good ones. Of course there are notable exceptions to this rule, and Tim Kinsella is certainly one of those. In his relatively short life as a musician, he has released fifty-nine records, not one among them a throwaway.

In what seems to be a growing trend amongst mid-level bands signed to major labels, the Secret Machines have cut ties with their former label, Warner Bros. Records due to label obligation disputes. The band has announced that they will self-release their next album in collaboration with World’s Fair Label Group, who will take over the day-to-day services leading up to the LP’s release.

With the release of Fleet Foxes‘ acclaimed self-titled debut now over a month old, the Foxes have released the album’s first single and accompanying video for the track, “White Winter Hymnal.” The video, which you can enjoy below, features well designed claymation of the band created by singer Robin Pecknold’s own brother, Sean Pecknold.

Founded in the early ’90s by guitarist Jesper Strömblad, In Flames, along with Carcass and fellow Swedes At the Gates, pioneered a breed of death metal that featured melodic guitar leads and harmonized riffs in addition to the customary vocal growls. In Flames released a couple of the genre’s finest albums, notably 1995’s The Jester Race (Nuclear Blast), but with Reroute to Remain (Nuclear Blast) in 2002, the band introduced slick electronic elements and singer Anders Fridén made a significant change to his delivery, replacing his constant snarl for a high-pitched scream that was often layered with clean vocals.

The abstract hip-hop aficionados Why? have revealed their summer tour plans, in which they will be backed by Tobacco, Tussle, and Mount Eerie sporadically throughout the tour.

It’s the first show, first song, and first word out of his mouth, and Johnny Geek hurls himself into the crowd. Such is the approach of Oakland, California rock quartet Triclops! If it isn’t in some way confrontational, then it’s probably not worth doing. “We want to make music that puts people on edge, makes them uncomfortable, or at least makes them think. I don’t want to be making something that people put on in the background for dinner,” says guitarist Christian Beaulieu. Geek agrees, adding, “I feel that the only worthwhile ‘punk’ is music/art that challenges the listener to wrestle with it.”

North Carolina-based sludge/doom-metal five-piece band Sourvein recently signed to Candelight Records. Currently on tour, the group will soon release an EP entitled Imperial Bastard on September 30. As well, their label debut, produced by Billy Anderson, is set for release sometime in early 2009. The group recently relocated to Cafe Fear, North Carolina after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The Dutchess is Kimberly Morrison and The Duke is Jesse Lortz. The guitar-pop duo is a pair of old friends that grew up playing music in the same community in Seattle and finally joined forces together. She’s The Dutchess, He’s The Duke, their debut full-length on Sub Pop offshoot Hardly Art Records, is full of deceptively cheerful melodies that are offset by personal lyrics that seem darker given their sunny surroundings.

Following last year’s critical favorite In Advance of the Broken Arm, Kill Rock Stars announces the release of Marnie Stern‘s sophomore effort, This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That. Due to drop October 7, the album marks a turn for the singer as she focuses on creating a deeply personal record of anthemic and uplifting songs.

Sub Pop has announced that it will be unveiling another installment of their Singles Club, aptly titled Sub Pop Singles Club 3.0. The offer will run for the duration of one year and will mail 7 ” singles every month to its subscribers, including music from The Notwist, Black Lips, Black Mountain, Arthur & Yu, Tyvek and many more. The resurgence of the Club will be in celebration of Sub Pop‘s 20th anniversary as an independent label.

Juana Molina is an Argentinian comedy actress turned songwriter, minus the Hollywood cliché dampening most celebrity musical attempts (Hasselhoff anyone?). After taking a two year break from recording, Molina returned to her South American home outside of Buenos Aires to record Un Dìa. The album, which is Molina‘s fourth album and her first since 2006’s Son, is set to be released October 7th on Domino Records.