The AGP Review Board


The High Dials - Moon Country
Self Released

It was the winter of 2005 when I first heard Montreal's The High Dials, the band were receiving loads of critical praise and making it onto a lot of year end lists for there superb 2nd album The War of The Wakening Phantoms. Four years have passed, the band has since parted ways with there then label Rainbow Quartz and this time around have decided to release there latest album on there own.

Moon Country was recorded in a stone cottage in Sligo, on Ireland's west coast and in the bands hometown. Weather it was the location for witch they chose to record or a the natural progression from there last record The High Dials have delivered a pristine and powerful pop record and one of the most addictive song cycles I've heard in years. The psychedelic sounds they showcased on there 1st two releases are still present,however they're balanced with power pop in the vein of Big Star and Teenage Fanclub for there most focused and accessible album to date.


The album pays homage to the days of the LP by dividing it into two sides complete with a short track of silence in between Seagull Blues and Open Up The Gates. Just like those old black circles we used to play in our bedrooms as kids. Wait a minute I better be careful not show my age like that. One of the things I really like about this album is that it's the perfect blend of the bands strengths. On the first half of the album The High Dials deliver jubilant power pop and the latter half they let there psych tendencies run wild. The results are psych pop perfection.

Moon Country was released by The High Dials in Canada last September with assistance from Fontana Distribution. Although there are no plans for an official US release I highly recommend you seek this album out at one of the several digital shops currently offering it.

I am pleased to be able to offer the Moon Country full album stream. I'll keep this up as long as I can, and as long it's OK with the band and there management.




Buy this album:
Zunior.com
Mapple Music
Apollo Audio

The High Dials/myspace

Free Grizzly Bear Download
Veckatimest has already become one of the years most talked about albums and we're still two months away from it's official release, May 24 via Warp. Luckily the band has decided to offer up a free download of the album track Cheerleader at grizzly-bear.net. I just listened to it for the 5th time in a row and I have to say it's pretty great!



Listen Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader

Grizzly Bear will play the Berkley Performance Center on June 3rd.

Set Guitars to Kill

I thought I'd dedicate some time this St. Patrick's Day to one of Northern Ireland's finest bands. And So I Watch From A Far formed in Antrim in 2006 and have since relocated to Belfast in order to be closer to the Belfast music scene. Since that move the band has received well deserved critical praise and have been dropping jaws with there Live gigs throughout Ireland and the UK.

Hot on the heels of there superb debut EP This is Our Machine and Nothing Can Stop It, ASIWFAF are preparing to release there 1st proper full length. On April 14 the bands label Smalltown America will release And So I Watch From A Far. I can only hope a trip stateside is in the cards for the boys from Antrim.


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And So I Watch From A Far myspace Page

Love is a Wave
According to Slumberland Records Crystal Stilts will release new music on March 31st in the form of The Love is a Wave 7" single. The release will also feature the b-side Sugar Baby. Considering how I've made public my love for the bands excellent debut Alight of Night, new music from Brooklyn's Crystal Stilts is a welcome find. Not to mention that the A side is a fuzzed out dream pop gem.

Listen: Crystal Stilts - Love is a Wave

Live Dates
Mar 14 2009 8:00P Music Hall w/ Blank Dogs+ Brooklyn
Mar 15 2009 8:00P DC9 District of Columbia
Mar 16 2009 8:00P Al’s Lexington, Kentucky
Mar 17 2009 8:00P Milsap’s Jackson, Mississippi
Mar 18 2009 8:00P Rudyard’s Houston, Texas
Mar 19 2009 8:00P SXSW Buns

Crystal Stilts Myspace

Regurgitation
Welcome to the 1st installment of a new feature here at The AGP that features content found elsewhere. In other words I may not have broken the story, but It's too good not to share. In this inaugural edition I am pleased to be able to share some performances from last weeks Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco.

Just a quick note:
The Deerhunter set is missing the encore, however you get to hear four new songs! Stephen Malkmus' solo performance of Pink India ends abruptly, but that does not detract from it's awesomeness.









For more performances from Noise Pop 2009 check outWolfgangsvault

Deerhunter Official Site/Blog
Port O'Brien
Ra Ra Riot
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks