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New Release Roundup for August 19

Featured new releases for the week of August 19, 2008:

	The Walkmen - You & Me A beautifully recorded and reverb-soaked dose of mid-tempo rock 'n' roll realism that feels off the cuff and worn out in the best way. MP3: In The New Year Full Album Stream Buy from Amazon.com
	Stereolab - Chemical Chords Stereolab have continued to develop over the course of 16 years adding more variation behind the smooth vocals of Laetitia Sadier. MP3: Three Women Full Album Stream Buy from Amazon.com
	The Fiery Furnaces - Remember Always going to great lengths to reinvent themselves for each tour, the siblings Friedberger collect three years worth on this 51-track live comp. MP3: Wicker Whatnots Buy from Amazon.com
	Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Riot Ra Ra Riot's debut full-length follows the orchestrated indie pop blueprint the Syracuse band set on their self-titled EP. MP3: Dying Is Fine Full Album Stream Buy from Amazon.com
	The Music Tapes - Music Tapes For Clouds and Tornadoes Julian Koster, the man-child behind every eerie singing saw warble in the E6 canon, returns with his first Music Tapes album in 9 years. MP3: Majesty Full Album Stream Buy from Amazon.com
	The Moondoggies - Don't Be A Stranger The Moondoggies pay tribute to the Band on their debut album, adorned with three-part harmonies and vintage electric piano. MP3: Changing Buy from Amazon.com

Posted on 08/19/2008 | Comments(50) | Permalink

TAGS: Fiery Furnaces Moondoggies Music Tapes Ra Ra Riot Stereolab Walkmen

Julian Koster Announces The Singing Saw at Christmastime

We haven't heard much from Julian Koster over the past nine years, but the Elephant 6 multi-instrumentalist wizard is making 2008 the year of the singing saw. First came news of the Music Tapes follow-up to 1999's First Imaginary Symphony for Nomad with the 9 years in the making Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes—out August 19th on Merge.

Now there's news of another Koster project: The Singing Saw Orchestra. Koster and friend Nesey Gallons interpret Christmas classics via their spooky metal friends on The Singing Saw at Christmastime—due October 7th also on Merge. Julian reminds us to keep in mind that "Singing Saws sing all by themselves. The idea that a Human Being could play one, as one might a cello or a tuba, is a common misconception perpetuated by the saws themselves for their own amusement."

The Singing Saw at Christmastime Tracklist:

1. The First Noel
2. Frosty The Snowman
3. Silent Night
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
5. Jingle Bells
6. White Christmas
7. Silver Bells
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. O' Come All Ye Faithful
10. O' Holy Night
11. O' Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

MP3: The Singing Saw Orchestra - "Jingle Bells"

Posted on 08/04/2008 | Comments(54) | Permalink

TAGS: Music Tapes Singing Saw Orchestra

Full Album Stream: The Music Tapes - ...For Clouds and Tornadoes

Julian Koster's nine-years-in-the-making second album under the Music Tapes moniker is streaming thanks to the generous folks at Merge. Pick up Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes on August 19th.

Full Album Stream: The Music Tapes - Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes

Posted on 07/22/2008 | Comments(27) | Permalink

TAGS: Music Tapes

Music Tapes To Release First Album In 9 Years

Elephant 6 fans rejoice! Julian Koster, the man-child behind every eerie singing saw warble in the E6 canon, will return under his moniker Music Tapes with Music Tapes For Clouds and Tornadoes on August 19th via Merge. It's Julian's first release since 1999's First Imaginary Symphony for Nomad and we'll let him sum it up:

I just find the imaginary more real than the physical. Magic, the way we find things beautiful, the light behind eyes, kindness, and how we want to serve and protect the things we care about - these things seem like the real foundation of the world to me. I hope that the songs on this record can be more than just postcards from a world, but an invitation to it, to anyone at all who may find such a place comforting and nice.

In addition, Merge reports that a "story album," 2nd Imaginary Symphony for Cloudmaking, is in the works. Sample two tracks from Clouds and Tornadoes below—one in the form of an MP3 stream, the other accompanied by suitably wacky visuals.

MP4: Music Tapes - "Majesty"

Music Tapes - "Minister of Longitude":

Posted on 05/06/2008 | Comments(16) | Permalink

TAGS: Music Tapes

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Daily Download

Staff picked track of the day

Brightblack Morning Light

Hologram Buffalo

"Recorded entirely under solar power," Brightblack Morning Light like things like tee-pees, headbands and most likely hallucinogenic drugs. More solar power to 'em. Their second album of slow motion hippie blues, Motion to Rejoin, is due September 23rd on Matador. [DOWNLOAD]

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Featured Review

Shearwater

Rook

Consider Rook essential summer listening. Like your "Summer Reading" list, Rook isn't really "summer-y" at all. It's heavy, dense, dramatic and beautiful and dark. Four of those five adjectives actually DO apply to summer, come to think of it... - jimtarnation [READ REVIEW]

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