Friday, April 30, 2010

Miles Kurosky - The Desert of Shallow Effects

From 1996 to 2004 Beulah released some of the finest pop albums of that period, including the staggering opus When Your Heartstrings Break. When the band packed in and performed their final show in August of 2004 I was understandably distraught. So when it was announced last year that the bands chief architect, Miles Kurosky was set to return after a six year absence I was as giddy as a teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert.

The Desert of Shallow Effects was issued by Majordomo last month and finds Miles Kurosky picking up where his former band left off. However, the record is hardly a solo affair, the album was recorded in San Francisco with over 30 contributors including many of Kurosky's former band mates.

With the quiet guitar strums of Notes From The Polish Underground Kurosky hits the ground running, unveiling a classic pop record that only gets better with each subsequent listen. It's fairly obvious that Miles labored over every single note on the record, however the album never feels calculated or over produced, quite the opposite actually. The everything but the kitchen sinks instrumentation is executed with great effect on almost every track. The only misstep is the sleepy, Housewives and Their Knives a track that feels like it could have been a b-side for Beulah's swan song Yoko. If that's the only issue I have with this close flawless collection, I think Kurosky has shown he hasn't lost a step in crafting some of the most undeniably catchy impressive songs of his career. With songs like I Can't Swim and the epic closer West Memphis Skyline, The Desert of Shallow Effects succeeds as grandiose pop statement and a welcome return for a genuine popsmith.

Buy The Desert of Shallow Effects here.

[MP3/Stream] Miles Kurosky- I can't Swim

[MP3] Miles Kurosky: The Aquarium Drunkard Session

Friday, April 23, 2010

Today's Short Bursts
In this the inagural editon of Short Bursts we feature The Lodger, The Figgs, and The Underground Summit II.

On April 27th the fine folks at Slumberland Records will release Flashback, the third long player from the UK pureveyors of intelligent pop,The Lodger. The album was recorded in Leeds with analog enthusiast Richard Formbly (Spacemen 3/Wild Beasts)and features some familiar reference points, The Jam, Aztec Camera, and Orange Juice and covers some new ground as well. With the track The Back Of My Mind the band took a new approach by layering the track over guitar drones and feedback while still maintaining their pristine pop and propelling their sound forward.

[MP3] The Lodger - The Back Of My Mind

Local favorites The Figgs are back in town supporting Graham Parker this weekend. The Figgs will serve as Parkers backing band as well as his opener. The band is set to release their 10th record with,The Man Who Fights Himself on May 11th. The 10 track album will be available at the bands site and the vinyl version will be available later this year at Gern Blandsten.

Graham Parker and The Figgs play Johnny D's on Saturday April 24th. Buy tickets here.


Some of our city's finest albeit lesser known bands will gather tonight in JP for The Underground Summit II, presented by Bodies of Water Arts And Crafts. The Underground summit is a round robin event featuring 10 or so bands setting up all at once and taking turns playing songs one after another and that continues til I assume the bands run out of songs. This should be a great event and features a great line up including Allston's lo-fi pop kids Young Adults as well as the self described art sex death sounds of Viva Viva. The show starts at 7PM and tickets are a meager $10 bucks.

The Underground Summit II line up:
Prince Rama of Ayodhya
Viva Viva
Quilt
Truman Peyote
The Scamps
Big Big Bucks
Theory Engine
Young Adults
Lord Jeff

Location:
The Temple
670 Centre Street
Jamaica Plain
Orange line to Green St.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

It's my hope on this, the third annual Record Store Day that you'll go out and support your favorite local record store. God knows there's plenty of reasons and excuses to drop your hard earned money.

Instead of listing every single release, I'd like to point you in the direction of MBV's list of exclusive 2010 RSD releases, found here.

Over the past couple of months we've been teasing you with news of RSD releases, including The Thermals/The Cribs split and Superchunk's rare Misfits and Mistakes single, being issued on picture disc.

The fact that Blur will issue their first single since 2003 is worth celebrating, let alone the countless vinyl re-issues and limited 7" from some the most important artist from yesterday and tomorrow is well worth your trip to your local retailer.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Lightning Bolt To Play Noise Day + Summer Dates

The pummeling force of Brian Gibson and Brian Chippendale, collectively known as Providence's Lightning Bolt have announced a slew of upcoming live dates including a headlining gig at this years Noise Day on the campus of Clark University on April 24th in Worcester. Presented by Radio of Clark University, the one day long event will celebrate the areas finest in noise rock and will feature art installations by area artisans and musicians, not to mention free BBQ! The event is inspired by the poem Noise Day by Shel Silverstein.

Noise Day Line Up:
2:30: Dark and Stormy (Boston, MA)
3:15: Britney's Spear (Worcester, MA)
4:00: The Awesome Something (Worcester, MA)
4:45: Gila Monster (R.I.)
5:45: Golden Girls (Worcester, MA)
6:30: ISA Christ / Kyle Clyde (Brooklyn, NY)
7:15: Tinsel Teeth (Providence, RI)
8:15: LIGHTNING BOLT (Providence, RI)

Lightning Bolt will head out on the road on June 30 to smash the shit out of the rest of U.S. The duo are touring in support Earthly Delights, released last year on Load.

LB Summer Dates:
06/20 Washington D.C. - DC9
07/01 Charlotte, NC - The Milestone
07/02 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
07/03 Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light
07/04 Atlanta, GA - Eyedrum
07/05 Orlando, FL - Will's Pub
07/06 Miami, FL - Churchill's Pub
07/07 Tallahassee, FL - Farside Collective
07/08 New Orleans, LA - Zeitgeist Multi Disciplinary Arts
07/09 Houston, TX - Kohn's
07/10 Austin, TX - The Mohawk
07/11 Dallas, TX - Trees
07/12 Little Rock, AR - Arkansas Community Arts
07/13 Lawrence, KS - The Jackpot Saloon
07/14 Iowa City, IA - The Picador
07/15 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
07/18 Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival
07/19 Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art!
07/20 Bloomington, IN - Rhinos Youth Center
07/22 Newport, KY - Southgate House
07/22 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
07/23 Pittsburgh, PA - Belvedere's

[MP3] Lightning Bolt - Colossus

Lightning Bolt Official

Friday, April 9, 2010

Titus Andronicus, Hallelujah The Hills,+ Babies Ticket Giveaway



Ever since first hearing The Monitor, I've been chomping at the bit to hear the new opus from Titus Andronicus in a live setting. Well ,my wait is nearly over because New Jersey's finest are set to play Great Scott on Monday night with our homeys Hallelujah The Hills and NYC's The Babies, featuring members of Woods and Vivian Girls. I'm pleased to announce I have a pair of tickets to give away to one of our loyal readers, or whoever wants in.

Just send an e-mail to ashgrayprolamation@yahoo.com with Titus Andronicus in the subject line and you'll be entered to win. I will notify the winner by Sunday afternoon. Godspeed and good luck.

If you would like to assure your attendance to what is sure to be one of this springs must see shows, grab tickets here.

Update Sunday 3:07PM:
Congratulations to Andrew from Brighton for winning the tickets to tomorrow nights show. Thanks to everyone who entered and stay tuned because we'll be doing it again... very soon.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Travelers of Space and Time

Elephant 6 vets, The Apples in Stereo will release their seventh LP, Travelers of Space and Time via Elephant 6,Yep Roc and Elijah Wood's Simian label on April 20th. The follow up to 2007 New Magnetic Wonder will feature new Apples drummer John Dufilho of Dallas Tx's The Deathray Davies and frequent collaborator Bill Doss(Olivia Tremor Control). Robert Scheider describes his bands new record as "retro futuristic super pop" and the bands most hi-fi and hook laden offering. Just check out the MP3 of Dance Floor below for further explanation.

The Apples in Stereo will play the Middle East on April 23rd.


Pre-order Travelers of Space and Time

[MP3] The Apples in Stereo - Dance Floor
[Video] The Apples in Stereo - Dance Floor

Live Dates:
FR 04.16.10 - Lexington, KY
SA 04.17.10 - Morgantown, WV
SU 04.18.10 - Washington , DC
TU 04.20.10 - Philadelphia, PA
WE 04.21.10 - New York, NY
FR 04.23.10 - Cambridge, MA
SA 04.24.10 - Ithaca, NY
SU 04.25.10 - Rochester, NY
TU 04.27.10 - Cleveland, OH
WE 04.28.10 - Pontiac, MI
FR 04.30.10 - Chicago, IL
SA 05.01.10 - St. Paul, MN
MO 05.03.10 - Milwaukee, WI
TU 05.04.10 - St. Louis, MO

Monday, April 5, 2010

A New Track From The Thermals

[MP3/Stream] The Thermals - Seperate

While The Thermals finish mixing thier fifth long player with Chris Walla, they've posted a new track to thier myspace page. Seperate is The Thermals contribution to their Record Store Day split single with The Cribs. The bands next record, tenatively titled Personal Lives is due on on September 7th.

Pre-order the split single at Kill Rock Stars

The Thermals play the Middle East (down stairs) on April 18th with Past Lives, and The Coathangers.

Friday, April 2, 2010

While We Were Out- The Week In Review

Due to a hectic schedule as of late, I haven't had the chance to write half as much as I'd like. So I've decided to take full advantage of this opportunity and to get caught up on the slew of activity in indiedom as well as the normal ranting for the first installment of While Were Out.

On April 20th Chicago's garage punks, The Pony's will release their their first batch of new songs since releasing 2007's Turn Out The Lights. Matador will issue Deathbed + 4 (EP)digitally and on 12" vinyl. The band has made the track Check The Door available over at the Matablog. The track is a departure from the previous output with Jared Gummere leading the band through a slow down, Ian Curtisesque tune, that The Pony's have been headed for since adding guitarist Brian Case.

[MP3] The Pony's - Check The Door

Live Dates:
Apr 27 The Tractor Tavern w/ Disappears Seattle, Washington
Apr 28 Doug Fir Lounge w/ Disappears & Meth Teeth Portland, Oregon
Apr 30 Bottom of the HIll w/ Disappears & Spencey Dude & the Doodles San Francisco
May 1 Spaceland w/ Disappears & Static Static Los Angeles, California
May 2 2010 Casbah w/ Disappears & Christmas Island San Diego, California
May 24 Pritzker Pavilion, in MIllennium Park w/ Besnard Lakes Chicago, Illinois
May 28 Chaos in Tejas Austin, Texas
Jun 18 Mercury Lounge W/ Disappears, Woven Bones New York, New York
Jun 19 Union Pool w/ Disappears, Woven Bones Brooklyn, New York

The Pony's/Myspace

The announcement came down this week that The Libertines would reunite and play this years Reading Festival as well as handful of other UK shows with original members Pete Doherty, Carl Barat,Gary Powell, and John Hassel in tow. The band took over Boogaloo Pub in North London yesterday to hold a press conference and play a short acoustic set. The evidence of the event can be seen via the 2 youtube video below. Let the spectacle begin!





Set List:
Georgia On My Mind
The Good Old Days
Music When the Lights Go Out
France
Death on the Stairs
Sally Brown
Can’t Stand Me Now
Time For Heroes

I'm especially excited about the Boston area debut of England's Lets Wrestle. With the release of their debut album, In The Court of The Wrestling Lets on Merge they're a front runner for our favorite new act. Ever since the first track was posted to the Merge site a few months ago I've been hooked. The London trio will be in town later this month to support Quasi at The Middle East on April 20th.

Live Dates:
Apr 15 Turf Club w/ Quasi St. Paul, Minnesota
Apr 16 Annex w/ Quasi Madison, Wisconsin
Apr 17 Magic Stick w/ Quasi Detroit, Michigan
Apr 18 Horseshoe Tavern w/ Quasi Toronto, Ontario
Apr 19 Il Motore w/ Quasi Montreal, Quebec
Apr 20 Middle East Downstairs w/ Quasi
Apr 22 Bowery Ballroom w/ Quasi New York
Apr 23 JohnnyBrenda’s w/ Quasi Philadelphia
Apr 24 Back Cat w/ Quasi Washington DC
Apr 26 Cat’s Cradle w/ Quasi Carrboro, North Carolina
Apr 27 529 w/ Quasi Atlanta, Georgia
Apr 28 The Bottletree w/ Quasi Birmingham, Alabama
Apr 29 Mercy Lounge w/ Quasi Nashville, Tennessee
Apr 30 The Southgate House w/ Quasi Newport, Kentucky
May 1 Lincoln Hall w/ Quasi Chicago, Illinois


[MP3] Let's Wrestle - We Are The Men You'll Grow To Love Soon



Lets Wrestle/Myspace