Fionn Regan "For A Nightingale" (live acoustic video, new track)

Fionn Regan - For a Nightingale from Sebastien Dehesdin on Vimeo.
On January 31st, 2012 Fionn Regan's 100 Acres of Sycamore will be released via Heavenly Recordings/Cooperative Music/Downtown. Above is an acoustic rendition of "For A Nightingale" from the upcoming release. According to Regan the beautifully orchestrated album is "the story of a couple dancing between the gutter and the chandelier." The above video is just a taste of what's to come from the Irish songwriter's upcoming album.

Real Estate "It's Real" (video)

Recorded over five months in a New York barn Real Estate's latest album Days is indie pop at it's finest. The band has set out on an extensive tour (dates below). Check out the Weird Days directed video for "It's Real" above.

REAL ESTATE        Wed-Nov-30    Barcelona, Spain       KGB Thu-Dec-01    Valencia, Spain         Wah Wah Fri-Dec-02     Madrid, Spain         El Sol Sat-Dec-03    Lisbon, Portugal     LZB Mon-Dec-05   Clermont Ferrand, France   La Cooperative De Mai   Tue-Dec-06   London, England    Scala  Fri-Dec-09    Copenhagen, Denmark     Vega Sat-Dec-10    Gothenberg, Sweden    Henriksberg Sun-Dec-11   Stockholm, Sweden    Slussen Mon-Dec-12   Oslo, Norway   John Dee   Sat-Jan-14    New York, NY   Terminal 5 #  Sun-Jan-15    Boston, MA            Brighton Music Hall Mon-Jan-16    Providence, RI            Met Cafe Tue-Jan-17    Burlington, VT            Higher Ground Showcase Lounge Wed-Jan-18    Montreal, QC            La Sala Rossa Thu-Jan-19    Ottawa, ON            Mavericks Fri-Jan-20        Toronto, ON            Lee's Palace Sat-Jan-21    Cleveland, OH            Beachland Ballroom Sun-Jan-22    Washington, DC        Black Cat                    Fri-Mar-09    Sydney, AUS            The Standard Sat-Mar-10    Meredith, AUS            Golden Plains Festival Mon-Mar-12    Melbourne, AUS        Corner Hotel Tue-Mar-13    Brisbane, AUS            The Zoo Thu-Mar-15    Auckland, NZ            Kings Arms Fri-Mar-16    Wellington, NZ            San Francisco Bath House   # = w/ Girls

Austra "Believe Me" (live acoustic video) "Crying" (Roy Orbison cover)

Toronto's Austra recently recorded a live, acoustic version of several tracks including "Believe Me" (above) for their label Paper Bag Records (also watch part 1 "Lose It" and part 2 "The Choke"). Today Paper Bag Records (and Domino Records outside of Canada) is releasing Feel It Break (Deluxe Version) featuring an entire disc's worth of music including previously released and unreleased b-sides, remixes, and a cover Roy Orbison's "Crying" (below). Grab this limited edition release while you can.
Austra - Crying by DominoRecordCo

Sharon Van Etten "Serpents" (new track)

Sharon Van Etten - Serpents by Pretty Much Amazing

Sharon Van Etten's Tramp will be released on February 7th via Jagajaguwar. The fantastic first single "Serpents" (above) features The National's Aaron Dessner's and his brother Bryce, The Walkmen's Matt Barrick, Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner, and Doveman's Thomas Bartlett. Other artist who contributed to the album include Beirut's Zach Condon and Julianna Barwick.

Bon Iver "Hinnom, TX" (video)

Tomorrow (November 29th) Jagjaguwar is set to release a Deluxe Edition of Bon Iver self-titled album including accompanying videos for each track. Above is the Isaac Gale and David Jensen directed video for "Hinnom, TX".

Leonard Cohen "Show Me the Place" (new track)

Show Me The Place by leonardcohen
Leonard Cohen is set to release his first album in eight years on January 31st 2012 via Columbia Records titled Old Ideas. The album, including a collector's package of limited edition (5500 digitally numbered copies) featuring a lithograph of Cohen's artwork, can be ordered here.

Cover art by Cohen himself

The Stepkids "Suburban Dream" (video)

The Stepkids released their self-titled debut album via Stones Throw earlier this year to critical acclaim. The band teamed up with director Chris King for the funky video to match their neo-electro-soul sound. For a true sense of The Stepkids you have to see them live, check the dates below.

THE STEPKIDS Tour Dates

11.24 Paris, France - Le Petit Bain

11.26 Toulon, France - Midi Festival

11.29 London, UK - Old Blue Last

11.30 London, UK - Notting Hill Arts Club

12.03 Cologne, Germany - Weekend Festival

12.06 Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Paradiso

12.07 Porto, Portugal - Plano B

12.08 Lisboa, Portugal - Music Box

12.23 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place

01.14 Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory

01.25 Perth, Australia - The Bakery

01.27 Sydney, Australia - Sydney Festival @ Keystone Festival Bar

01.28 Melbourne, Australia - East Brunswick Club

Caveman "Easy Water" (video)

Brooklyn's Caveman recently teamed up with Bianca Butti and have released a beautiful new video for "Easy Water" from the bands debut album CoCo Beware that dropped via Magic Man! Records/ORG Music earlier this year. Check it out and catch them live (dates below).

Caveman live shows: 11/22/11: New York, NY @ Other Music (free @ 9pm) 12/05/11: Seattle, WA @ Crocodile 12/08/11: Los Angeles, CA @ Echo 12/11/11: San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1/13/12: Chicago, IL @ Schubas 1/20/12: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom(ticket info HERE)

Neon Indian "Hex Girlfriend" (For No One TV)

Shot at Chicago's Lincoln Hall the video, produced by For No One TV, catches Neon Indian performing "Hex Girlfriend". Kind of makes you want to see them live eh? Details below.

NEON INDIAN        November 17 - Hare & Hounds / Birmingham, UK November 18 - Day & Night / Manchester, UK November 19 - Cooler / Bristol, UK November 21 - Paradiso / Amsteram, Holland November 22 - Point Ephmere / Paris, France November 23 - Silencio / Paris, France November 24 - Magnet / Berlin, Germany November 25 - Meat Factory / Prague / Czech Republic November 26 - Radio on3 Festival / Munich, Germany    December 01 - Bardot / Art Basel Miami, FL December 31 - Lights All Night / Dallas, TX     Februrary 24 - Prince Bandroom MELBOURNE, Australia February 25 - Rocket Bar ADELAIDE, Australia February 26 - Perth International Arts Festival PERTH, Australia February 29 - Neverland Bar GOLD COAST, Australia March 1 - Woodland BRISBANE, Australia March 2 - The Standard SYDNEY, Australia March 3 - Playground Weekender 2012 Festival Del Rio Riverside Resort, NSW Australia

Bon Iver Deluxe Edition of 'Bon Iver'

On November 29th Jagjaguwar will release a digital only Deluxe Edition of Bon Iver's self-titled album featuring a short "film" to accompany each track. With contributions from Dan Huiting, Isaac Gale, JoLynn Garnes, and Justin Vernon himself. Check out the trailer above.

Cast "You For Me" (from An Afternoon at The Zoo)

Here's part II of An Afternoon at The Zoo with Cast. The name of this track is "You for Me" and finds the duo adding a little guitar to their sound. If you missed part one or for more about this rad new band check here. Part III coming soon. Thanks again to Knuckleduster Music for recording and mixing the audio, Shaine Jones Photography for the camera work (check out some behind the scenes photos here), The Kozmik Zoo for the great sounding space, and most of all to Cast for the good times.

The Rapture "Sail Away" (video)

The Rapture - Sail Away (short version) from DFA Records on Vimeo.
"Sail Away" is the second single from The Rapture's latest album  In The Grace of Your Love (out now on DFA records) and their first video in five years. The video was directed by Kris Moyes and features a silver pillow. The Rapture is also having a re-mix contest on for "How Deep is Your Love?" over at their website here, check it out to download the stems and for more details.

Black Lips "Raw Meat" (video)

Black Lips - "Raw Meat" from Urban Outfitters on Vimeo.
The Black Lips released their best album to date this year with Arabia Mountain (out now via Vice Records). The latest video is for the track "Raw Meat" and features the band along side Leo Fitzpatrick, Janell Shirtcliff, and Tennessee Thomas. The video was made as a collaboration between Black Lips, Vice Records, Urban Outfitters, and director Phil Pinto. Super-rad!

Wu Lyf "We Bros" (video)

On November 18th the UK's Wu Lyf will be at Vancouver's Electric Owl for what is sure to be a sick show. Just in time for the upcoming live gig is this new video for Go Tell Fire To The Mountain highlight  "We Bros". Get psyched.

Parenthetical Girls "The Privilege" (video)

Parenthetical Girls: The Privilege from Parenthetical Girls on Vimeo.
Don't get me wrong, I think music is an incredibly valuable commodity but, with the unavoidable advent of the digital release, the CD isn't worth the physical materials it's made from. The CD can be duplicated virtually infinitely not to mentioned the unlimited availability of digital downloads which, by the laws of supply and demand, renders them arguably worthless. It seems that perhaps The Parenthetical Girls have solved this problem in a unique way. The latest album from The Parenthetical Girls titled Privilege will be released as 5 limited edition EPs (500 physical copies each numbered in the blood of a different band member), dropping one a quarter over the next 15 months via they're own Slender Means Society imprint. The fifth and final instalment will come in an LP box designed to hold all 5 12"s. Now that's value. Especially with a song like "The Privilege" (video above) as part of the package. The four track fourth instalment Privilege, pt IV: Sympathy for Spastics dropped on the 1st of November 2011. Once again The Parenthetical Girls have re-invented the wheel. Keep it going!

An Afternoon at The Zoo with Cast

Vancouver's music scene is constantly evolving. One relatively new band that we're excited about is Cast. The two piece band made up of Ben Brown and Jessica Leger revolves almost exclusively around percussion and voice. Although both members have played (and in some cases still play) in many different projects in the city it is the first time they have collaborated. Cast takes two of the oldest instruments (voice and drum) and connects them in ways never quite heard before. The concept almost sounds too easy but anyone who's ever tried can tell you it takes some serious chops to pull off.

We caught up with Cast at Vancouver's Kozmik Zoo for an Afternoon at The Zoo. The band performed three songs for our camera's as well as having a conversation with us. We have documented it all for you and will release part 1 today. The name of the track is "Whitehorse"(a cover of an instrumental track by The Airplane Trio to which Leger added lyrics).The following two tracks and more footage of their conversation will follow later this week. Go!

Cloud Nothings "No Future/No Past" (new track)

Cleveland's Cloud Nothings are set to release their sophomore LP Attack on Memory via Wichita Recordings on February 6th, 2012. Front man Dylan Baldi (who played everything on the debut album) put together a strong live band to tour with and that's who is heard on this new album. This new direction is propelled even further forward by producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies). Check out the first single "No Future/No Past" below and get stoked.
Cloud Nothings - No Future / No Past by Wichita Recordings

Band of Skulls "The Devil Takes Care of his Own" (video)

On February 12th, 2012 Band of Skulls will release (via their own label Electric Blues Recordings) their sophomore LP Sweet Sour. The band is also set to support The Black Keys on the UK leg of their tour in February. Check out the video for the first single off of the upcoming album.