On Now You Are This, post-punk trio Numbers combines basic songwriting elements of pop music — melodies, simple progressions, and consistent tempos — and applies its own unique brand of disjointed themes.
Plock and Tunstall Collaborate on Subterranea
Subterranea, the collaboration between ALARM illustrator Ferris Plock and his girlfriend Kelly Tunstall, opens this Saturday at Fuse Gallery in New York City. Though the couple lives in San Francisco, it used the network of New York City subways, tunnels, and sewers to inspire a body of work depicting the lives of creatures inhabiting a mythical underground world.
Sub City to Donate Over $1 Million to Charity
In 1999, Hopeless Records imprint Sub City was created in order to raise funds and awareness for non-profit causes through music. With a roster that has included Against All Authority, The Weakerthans, and Thrice, Sub City has released over thirty albums in eight years, created the annual Take Action Tour, and now reached $1 million in its fundraising efforts.
Bedouin Soundclash: Street Gospels
Bedouin Soundclash‘s Street Gospels is a predictable third release that stays true to its influences of dancehall, dub, reggae, some punk, and a little rhythm and blues.
The Ontario-based trio formed in 2001 and has received much recognition from the Canadian music community. In 2006, the band took home a Juno (Canadian Grammy) for the “New Group of the Year” category.
Young Widows, Modern Life is War to Tour Midwest
Young Widows, the noise-rock unit borne of Breather Resist, is preparing for a short tour with melodic hardcore outfit Modern Life Is War. The tour, mainly in the Midwest, was announced soon after news that Young Widows is working on the follow-up to its successful 2006 full-length, Settle Down City.
Coalesce: There is Nothing New Under the Sun
When mathy, groove-heavy hardcore outfit Coalesce remodeled a short disc’s worth of Led Zeppelin tunes in 1999, fans of Zep’s famous riffage banged their heads in a whole new way. Guitarist Jes Steineger acted as a down-tuned Jimmy Page, former drummer James Dewees flawlessly recreated Jon Bonham’s beats, and, most importantly, vocalist Sean Ingram created a brutal presence in place of Robert Plant’s pipes.
Frank Black Records Live for iTunes
Frank Black, who seems to lately be embracing dichotomy, has recorded a five-song session with his touring band exclusively for iTunes. This comes on the eve of the full-length release, due out in September, by his doppelganger Black Francis.
LCD Soundsystem to Tour with Arcade Fire, Issue Digital EP
After a miniature European tour, Grammy-nominated dance punk project LCD Soundsystem will return to North America this fall to tour with multi-layered Canadian rockers Arcade Fire. Just days after the tour begins, LCD is slated to perform live on Jay Leno as well as release a digital EP September 18th on DFA Records, the label of producer/vocalist James Murphy (shown left).
The Austerity Program: Black Madonna
One of the nicest surprises in the ALARM mailbox this week was Black Madonna, a crushing full-length album by New York duo The Austerity Program that comes out today on Hydra Head Records.
The Melvins, Big Business Hit the Road with a Space Monkey
Since their 2006 release of (A) Senile Animal, The Melvins seem to be bent on proving they are anything but. The sludge rock quartet will be touring around the country for over a month along with supporting act Big Business and a screening of A Purge of Dissidents, a series of animated shorts from visual artist Dalek.
Weekly Burlesque: Interview with Margaret Cho
In the latest installment of Weekly Burlesque, accomplished burlesque performer/blogger Jo Weldon converses with comedian/actress Margaret Cho, not exactly known for her work as a dancer. But Cho, the stand-up comic turned dancer and variety show creator, continues to prove that she’s quite the renaissance woman.
11th Hour Picks Up Where Gore’s Truth Left Off
The commercial success of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth broadened mainstream discussion of environmental issues. The 11th Hour, a documentary produced and narrated by green poster boy Leonardo DiCaprio, continues where the former vice president ended, but further leans on the crisis button.