Exclusive Depeche Mode at Jimmy Kimmel Pics!

I was fortunate enough to have a generous friend that attended the Depeche Mode appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show. She was kind enough to allow me to share these exclusive photos. Depeche Mode fans, enjoy! Thank-you R.F.!

Free Nephu Huzzband track

A band featured on Like Sugar PopCast #6, Nephu Huzzband is offering a free mp3 over at Artrocker.tv. The track is "No, Not Ever."
>>Here's the link<<

Computerclub is no more

Sad message posted by a band I just played on Like Sugar 23. I was so looking forward to more of the sound these guys were creating!

"Hey everyone,
Unfortunately, after 4 years, line up changes, singles and albums, destroying and simply amazing times, computerclub is no more. There have been no fall outs, no disagreements, no punch ups, we simply feel the club has run it's course. We would like to thank every single one of you that has listened to our records, seen us live, bought a song or generally supported us in any way. We will all miss the club very much and miss you also, we've had an awesome time.
We have uploaded our last demo for you and made it available for download, a parting gift lets say.
Take Care,
computerclub
iheartccx"

New Horrors - listen to the album right here!

The Horrors are back after two years with a brand new album 'Primary Colours', set for release on May 4th, 2009! Listen to album right here!

This one almost slipped by me

If it wasn't mentioned by another music fan, on twitter no less, I would nnot have noticed that Maximo Park has a new one coming out May 4th. Drowned in Sound cover it quite well here.

Depeche Mode on Jimmy Kimmel Tonight

And I have a friend that's VIP and will be there! Hope she gets pics. Check back here if so! Updates on twitter rather then here on the blog: http://twitter.com/djtalbot

New album from The Legends

There are certain artists that I buy everything from their catalog*. The Legends are one of those bands. I am looking forward the new one, the first album from The Legends in two and a half years time!

Out May 6. Pre-order The Legends "Over and Over" here.
Free mp3 of "Seconds Away" here.

Johan, of The Legends sayeth: "I recorded this album as a cure for angst. It's certainly a mixed blessing that it turned out so bloody good that I will suffer of anxiety for years trying to surpass it."

The Labrador press release says "Over and over" marks a new creative peak the band. Hypnotic washes of distorted synthesizers and sweet bouncy melodies echoes under walls of feedback and crushingly loud shimmering guitars in modern mix of white noise, 60’s girls pop, indie and krautrock. Pure loveliness!"

Track-list:
Track listing
1. You won
2. Seconds away
3. Always the same
4. Monday to Saturday
5. Heartbeats
6. Dancefloor
7. Turn away
8. Recife
9. Over and over
10. Jump
11. Something strange will happen
12. Touch

*is that proper English?

RSS Roundup and it's getting interesting

It's so hot, I'm lethargic. I can hardly conjure the energy to type. I made a typo on twitter. It's historically / normally 69F on this date. Today, it hit 99F.
Browsing through my RSS feeds, I came across some interesting posts:

>> Head over to http://jarviscocker.net/ & sign up for an instant new free song. "Angela" is available and it's got Steve Albini producing. I spotted this deal on rocksellout.com.

>> I'm a Vaselines fan, and I spotted this announcement about a re-issue on rocksellout.

>> NME reviews Depeche Mode's new "sounds of the universe" in a paragraph ending a bad reference (They don’t always get the balance right between new and old, but this suggests...") Read it all here.

>> Drowned in Sound is doing a Shoegaze week. There's in introduction here. I enjoyed this interview with Mark Gardner of Ride. I'd skip the comments section. Why does it seem like Brits are meaner or more hateful in their comments than other English speaking countries? Just an observation and only applies to music discussions. I mean, the c-word is taboo here, but there, it just flies. What is their c-word?

Pete Tong essential selection

Pete Tong essential selection (BBC Radio 1 4-17-2009)
http://www.aimnat.net/2009/04/pete-tong-essential-selection-bbc-radio_18.html

He's got the first play of Basement Jaxx new single.

LA Riots Remixes Vol. 1

LA Riots free mix: http://www.zshare.net/audio/519423659733b680/

Thoughts from a synthpop label

If you have a big heart for electronic music, or, deeper, the people who provide us the treasured sounds we love...well, I must suggest the insightful words of Todd Durrant. He's the man, and a family, really, behind the A Different Drum Label and he's got a blog with some real insightful posts about the state of the independent music label world. I am quite taken with his plight. Please read: http://toddiovision.wordpress.com/

Good news for electronic indie piano pop fans

My readers and listeners know that I've been all over the latest work by Color Theory. I'm pleased to pass along the announcement that "Second Thoughts", the companion EP to "The Thought Chapter", is officially released! It features the four original songs that didn't make the album, plus six remixes of album tracks.

Get your physical or digital copy by visiting http://colortheory.com/

You can hear a preview of the four original songs here.

Track-list:
1. Sagittarius
2. Monochrome
3. Indestructible
4. Last Song
5. Hypothetically (Rupesh Cartel Club Remix)
6. If It's My Time to Go (Original Mix)
7. If Not Now When (Cosmicity Remix)
8. We're Not Getting Any Younger (Fidgital Remix)
9. Figured Out (Blind Faith and Envy Remix)
10. Zero Crossing (Quantum Remix)

I've been diligently voting for Color Theory's entry in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The track is "If It's My Time To Go".

Re-re-re post, but that how I do!

I just uploaded Like Sugar PopCast 23 to Mevio.
>>Direct link to file is here<<

You can expect the usual mix of modern rock with a mix of electronic tracks. I think the episode really works well in that the mood shifts are subtle. Lyrics play an important character in my Like Sugar series and this mix showcases some strong words underneath all the noise. Seems I always include a cover and some 80's to boot. See if you can spot the cover! Not to mention the "mash up" intro I created, which is very 80's and slice of what I was into 20 years ago.

You can also find the show on zshare, but you'll be swarmed by chicks in bikinis and pop schemes a-plenty. The file is a sexy 69 megabytes (by design, I swear).

Track-list:
01 - The Von Bondies - Pale Bride
02 - Computerclub - Before the Walls Came Down
03 - M83 - Couleurs
04 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
05 - Royksopp - Happy Up Here (Breakbot Remix)
06 - New Order - Temptation
07 - Lush - Ex
08 - AM Vibe - Simple Disaster
09 - My First Tooth - Typewriters
10 - Mira - High In The Lows
11 - CSS - I Fly
12 - The Ramones - I Don't Wanna Grow Up
13 - Ostrich - Press Hold
14 - Maethelvin - Delight (Demo)
15 - Zeigeist - Fight With Shattered Mirrors
16 - Thermostatic - Dubbelbbel
17 - Blue October (UK) - When You Leave
18 - Mesh - Four Walls
19 - Beastie Boys - Professor Booty
20 - Pale Saints - Kinky Love

New To Me and I Like It! James Yuill

This announcement landed in my InBox today and I am impressed with this ep's sound. Nettwerk says "London-based singer/songwriter James Yuill will release his debut album, Turning Down Water For Air, in North America on May 26. Turning Down Water For Air is a brilliant fusion of Yuill’s many influences, from the emotional songwriting of artists like Nick Drake, Radiohead and Sufjan Stevens to the dynamic beats of Justice, Chemical Brothers and Aphex Twins. With his debut album, Yuill has managed to create a sound of his very own."
Nice to have something new and refreshing come along.

I Want to Interview Billy Bob of Boxmasters

I am seriously going to see if I can get an interview for my Like Sugar PopCast "show".
I will focus only on things that have nothing to with music or acting. Next, I will seek out Joaquin Pheonix and finally, Elvis.

For real entertainment, check out his website. It's awful! Or is it a joke? See for yourself: http://www.billybobthornton.net/

Eardrums Music offers new free compilation

I *heart* the title: "Birdsongs, Beesongs Volume B". I am happy to see Arthur and Martha in the list, and I thank them for mentioning this free comp.
>>>Download it here<<<

Eardrums says: "The B-volume is a bit more laidback and dreamy than volume A (and C+D). It will probably work best on a rainy spring day, or when the evening comes and you are ready to relax. Still, it’s very much a pop-album and the melodies are definitely present!"

TRACKLISTING:

01 Promise And The Monster - Words
02 Parachutes - Tree Roots Turn To Forts
03 Charlotte & Magon - I Love You, You Are My Friend
04 Martin Carr - Why You Gotta Bring Me All This Rain
05 Monobird - Exploding view
06 The Jealous Sea - A Boy, A Girl & A Rendez-Vous
07 No Kids/Mount Eerie - Prisoner Of Desire
08 The Electones - The Huntress
09 Cryptacize - Mythomania
10 Seeland - Pretty Bird (alt. version)
11 Looking Glass - Ah La La
12 Blue Roses - Doubtful Comforts
13 tailor made for a small room - Pleasant Hill
14 Montt Mardié - Castle In The Sky
15 Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam - Inside the Egg
16 Arthur and Martha - Japanese Kiss
17 Wild Honey - The House By The Sea
18 Wisdomtooth - Bandits
19 Tramontana - Low Rise
20 Aquella Illusion - Buscador
21 Jonathan Johansson - Du Sa

News from Sweden's and the world's finest purveyor of pop music

"Download the Labrador Spring Sampler 2009 from Pirate Bay! After seven months of darkness we're starting to see the light and it comes in the form we call "Spring". We like it. And that, dear friends, makes us like you even more. So, here a little present we hope you'll enjoy!

Download from Pirate Bay here

The free Labrador Spring Sampler 2009 includes upcoming tracks like the genius "The Hateful Eye" by Little Big Adventure and the blog chart topping, grandiose "Dare" from The Mary Onettes. We've also included recent gems from The Legends, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names and The Sound of Arrows... and there's a whole bunch of oddities, oldies and goldies from Sambassadeur, Acid House Kings, Tribeca and more.

Tack!

LABRADOR
www.labrador.se
info@labrador.se"

For now, Like Sugar PopCast 23 can only be found here:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/583430636f0fb5e2/

Other sources coming soon!

Tracklist:
01 - The Von Bondies - Pale Bride
02 - Computerclub - Before the Walls Came Down
03 - M83 - Couleurs
04 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
05 - Royksopp - Happy Up Here (Breakbot Remix)
06 - New Order - Temptation
07 - Lush - Ex
08 - AM Vibe - Simple Disaster
09 - My First Tooth - Typewriters
10 - Mira - High In The Lows
11 - CSS - I Fly
12 - The Ramones - I Don't Wanna Grow Up
13 - Ostrich - Press Hold
14 - Maethelvin - Delight (Demo)
15 - Zeigeist - Fight With Shattered Mirrors
16 - Thermostatic - Dubbelbbel
17 - Blue October (UK) - When You Leave
18 - Mesh - Four Walls
19 - Beastie Boys - Professor Booty
20 - Pale Saints - Kinky Love

Like Sugar 23

For now, Like Sugar PopCast 23 is only available here: http://www.zshare.net/audio/583430636f0fb5e2/
Other sources coming soon!

01 - The Von Bondies - Pale Bride
02 - Computerclub - Before the Walls Came Down
03 - M83 - Couleurs
04 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
05 - Royksopp - Happy Up Here (Breakbot Remix)
06 - New Order - Temptation
07 - Lush - Ex
08 - AM Vibe - Simple Disaster
09 - My First Tooth - Typewriters
10 - Mira - High In The Lows
11 - CSS - I Fly
12 - The Ramones - I Don't Wanna Grow Up
13 - Ostrich - Press Hold
14 - Maethelvin - Delight (Demo)
15 - Zeigeist - Fight With Shattered Mirrors
16 - Thermostatic - Dubbelbbel
17 - Blue October (UK) - When You Leave
18 - Mesh - Four Walls
19 - Beastie Boys - Professor Booty
20 - Pale Saints - Kinky Love

Just Some Sad Stuff

In the past months, two of my close friends have lost their mothers. This has prompted me to appreciate my own mother and the step-mother that raised me.
I have re-posted the obit for my dear friend below:

Sally Ann Francis, 58 Escondido-- She wanted so little for herself and so much for her family. Sally Ann Francis passed away peacefully on Saturday March 21, 2009, in San Diego, CA. She is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, Robert William Francis Sr.; and her four children, Margaret Mary, Catherine O'Mally, Robert William Jr., and Mary Elizabeth; she is also survived by her four siblings, Tom Evans, Charles Evans, Kate Evans and Peggy Kargel. Sally was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 10, 1950, to the late Frances St. Leger Evans and Charles F. Evans. Sally worked as a special education teacher's aide in the classroom for the Escondido Union School District for 19 years. She had a fierce passion for history, thoroughly enjoyed reading and knitting in her spare time. She always thought of others and gave so much of herself. Sally devoted her life to her family and was the best mother and wife anyone could ever ask for. She will be deeply missed and always loved. In lieu of flowers memorial funds can be sent to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 601 Maiden Choice Lane, Baltimore, Md. 21228. A closed funeral took place at the Resurrection Catholic Church in Escondido on March 30, 2009, and an open celebration of life memorial will take place at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 16, 2009, at the Resurrection Catholic Church in Escondido.

New Puracane

I just came across some great news. I have played tracks from Puracane's "Things We Should Leave Alone" in my live DJ sets for years. Puracane has a great cover of Jane's Addiction's "Summertime Rolls" that I play frequently.
Puracane has announced a new album titled "I've Been Here The Longest". It will be released on Astraea Records and is due out early June. Four tracks are now up on their Myspace player including the single "God Can Make You Pay".

www.myspace.com/puracane

Jamie Longer and The Sound of Arrows

I've posted tons about Labrador Records, but it's because they sign the sound I like. Anyway, I just "friended" Jamie Longer on myspace. He's got a remix of The Sound of Arrows track "Years". He's got some other material worth checking out too: The Never Years (Releasing April 7th) featuring six new songs and a remix by The Sound Of Arrows.

http://www.myspace.com/jamielonger

Free Mary Onettes mp3 "Dare"

Labrador Records is offering the new Mary Onettes single for free. The label says "Written in isolation and partly recorded in a church "Dare" still ends up their most uplifting song to date - imagine a Swedish equivalent of The National on a diet of speed, Planet Earth DVDs and Go-Betweens singles and you’ll have a vague idea of how wonderful this is!"

>>> Download it here <<<

Decisions...decisions....

Decisions...decisions....

Saturday, April 4th. 2 places I want to be.
Come out and celebrate!

Special guest DJ Xian
(Malediction Society, Ruin, Hex, Wumpskate)

New Wumpscut and And One giveaways.


Thrill Kill Kult Tickets up for grabs.

OR OR OR OR AND?
"1990s!"

FASHION WHORE

FASHION SHOW & DANCE PARTY

Bruno Trailer

Khant vait for ze neu Bruno!
The trailer is out: