Dance-punk quartet The Faint recently started touring in support of Saddle Creek’s deluxe reissue of 2001 classic Danse Macabre. Though the tour is ostensibly to perform that album in its entirety, the band has announced that it’ll be performing new music as well.
And if you can make it to a show, a limited-edition tour twelve-inch will be for sale with the band’s first new tunes since 2008’s Fasciinatiion. Check out a stream and download of “Evil Voices” below.
[audio:http://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/05-North-Star.mp3|titles=The Rural Alberta Advantage: “North Star”]
The Rural Alberta Advantage made a name for itself the old-fashioned way: by being good. In 2007, the Toronto-based trio self-released an impressive concoction of frenzied indie-folk rock with Hometowns. Set to a backdrop of erratic drum work, fuzzed-out electrics, and heart-strumming acoustics, as well as a flutter of harmonies from singers Nils Edenloff and Amy Cole, Hometowns explored themes of growing up, going out, moving away, and coming home. Perhaps most striking is Edenloff’s nasally, Jeff Mangum-like howl, evoking Neutral Milk Hotel’s gritty arrangements and lo-fi production.
After touring the hell out of the album in North America and Europe, some buzz began to build on the blogosphere, and it didn’t take long for people to notice that the Canadian band was indie’s newest best-kept secret — one well worth discovering. And so, in 2008, the band signed to Saddle Creek and re-released Hometowns with widespread distribution and to critical acclaim.
Veteran prog-pop band Minus the Bear played a show at Chicago’s Vic theater recently with Cursive frontman Tim Kasher as main support. The Seattle-based headliner is touring on the strength of its 2010 album, Omni (Dangerbird, 5/4/10), while Kasher is playing tunes from his first solo album, The Game of Monogamy (Saddle Creek, 10/5/10). ALARM contributing photographer Elizabeth Gilmore was on hand to document the indie stalwarts’ performances.
This week’s news recap includes pre-order info for the Secret Chiefs 3 live DVD, details for new albums from Cursive and Burnt by the Sun, info on Farmers Market‘s “Norwegian Grammy,” and more.
The Faint: Evil Voices 12-inch (Saddle Creek)
