TV On The Radio

TV On The RADIO realeased "Dear Science" on Touch and Go records September 16th. The critics are all over this one. Spin gave it 4.5 our of 5 stars, Rolling Stone 4 out of 5 and NME 8 out of 10. Pitchfork who gave the album a 9.2 rating out of 10 says: "Dear Science, TV on the Radio's follow-up to 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain-- a dense and textural album with an optimistic core-- is catchier, but thornier than its predecessor." I have not instantly latched on to any of the songs, I think it may take a few listens for me to catch up to what the critics are seeing in this album. I was a big fan of Cookie Mountain and have concerns I am not going to enjoy this album as much as the last. Here are a few tracks for your ears:



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Wikipedia:

TV on the Radio (often abbreviated to TVOTR) is a New York City experimental rock band formed in 2001 whose music spans genres as diverse as post-punk, free jazz, a cappella, doo-wop, soul, shoegaze and electro.[citation needed] The group has released several EPs including their debut Young Liars (2003), and three acclaimed albums, 2004's Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, Return to Cookie Mountain (2006), which received wider notice and appeared near the top of several end-of-year lists, and Dear Science (2008). Rolling Stone magazine voted Return to Cookie Mountain the fourth best album of 2006, and Spin voted the band as 2006 Artist of the Year.
TV on the Radio is comprised of Tunde Adebimpe (vocals/loops), David Andrew Sitek (guitars/keyboards/loops), Kyp Malone (vocals/guitars/loops) along with Jaleel Bunton (drums) and Gerard Smith (bass). Other contributors include Katrina Ford of the band Celebration (vocals), Kazu Makino of the band Blonde Redhead (vocals), Martin Perna of Antibalas (saxophones, flute), David Bowie (vocals) and Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs (guitar).


History

The first album from TV on the Radio (initially just founding members Adebimpe and Sitek) was the self-released OK Calculator (the title being a reference to Radiohead's album OK Computer), the majority of which is wildly different from their later sound, with elements of electronica, hip hop and turntablism. They were later joined by Kyp Malone, and released the Young Liars EP in 2003 to critical acclaim. This was followed by the full-length debut, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes which earned the band the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize. They released a second EP, New Health Rock, later that year.
Their second album, Return to Cookie Mountain, leaked in early 2006 and garnered pre-release praise from such outlets as Pitchfork Media[1] before its official release in July overseas. U.S. and Canadian release was in September on Interscope. The album received critical acclaim after its release from many sources, including Spin Magazine which named Return to Cookie Mountain its Album of the Year for 2006.[2] The album features guest appearances from Celebration, Dragons of Zynth, Martin Perna and Stuart Bogie of Antibalas, Blonde Redhead, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner, and David Bowie.
Founding member David Andrew Sitek has produced records for the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Celebration, Liars and Scarlett Johansson. After founding his own studio (named StayGold), Sitek co-produced the first LP for Dragons of Zynth, and worked with them on a collaboration with Massive Attack for their upcoming Weather Underground album. He has also recently mixed the debut album by The Longcut.
Tunde Adebimpe has also worked with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, producing and animating their "Pin" video.[3]
It was announced that their newest album, Dear Science, will be released September 23, 2008 on Interscope. The album was made available for streaming on their myspace page and subsequently leaked onto the internet on September 6, 2008.

Discography

Studio albums

Release date
Title
Label
2002
OK Calculator
Self-Released demo
March 9, 2004
Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
Touch and Go Records
July 6, 2006 - Worldwide
September 12, 2006 - United States & Canada
Return to Cookie Mountain
Interscope Records / 4AD
September 23, 2008
Dear Science
Interscope / 4AD

EPs

Release date
Title
Label
July 8, 2003
Young Liars
Touch and Go Records
June 25, 2004
"Staring At The Sun"
4AD
2007 - iTunes
Live Sessions
Touch And Go Records
March 27, 2007
Live at Amoeba Music
Interscope

Singles

"Staring at the Sun" [CD & 7"] (2004), 4AD
"New Health Rock" [CD & 7"] (2004), Touch and Go
"Dry Drunk Emperor" (2005) (Free Download)
"Wolf Like Me" [CD & 7"] (2006), 4AD, #37 Hot Modern Rock Tracks) [4]
"Province" [7"] (2007), 4AD
"Golden Age" (2008)

Remixes

Beck "Dark Star (TV on the Radio Remix)" (2007), Interscope Records
Bumblebeez 81 "Pony Ride (TV on the Radio Remix)"
Fischerspooner "Never Win (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2005), FS Studios
The Knife "Marble House (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2007), Brille Records
Nine Inch Nails "Survivalism (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2007), Interscope Records
Lee "Scratch" Perry "Fire In Babylon (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2006), Narnack Records

Videography

Staring at the Sun (March 2004, directed by Elliot Jokelson)
Dreams (May 2004, directed by Elliot Jokelson & UVPhactory)
Wolf Like Me (August 2006, directed by Lee Lennox)
Wolf Like Me (September 2006, directed by Jon Watts)
Province (January 2007, directed by Jeff Scheven)
Me-I (May 2007, directed by Daniel Garcia & Mixtape Club=Chris Smith, Jesse Casey & Michelle Higa, semi-official as it was done to promote a compilation album put together by Adult Swim called "Warm & Scratchy")
Golden Age (September 2008, directed by Petro Papahadjopoulos)

References

^ Dahlen, Chris. "Return to Cookie Mountain". Pitchfork Media, July 5, 2007. Retrieved on June 24, 2007.
^ "The 40 Best Albums of 2006". Spin, December 14, 2006. Retrieved on November 02, 2007.
^ Ashare, Matt. "Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio". The Phoenix , August 11, 2006. Retrieved on November 02, 2007.
^ Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - TV on the Radio

External links

Official Website
TV on the Radio at MySpace
Mesh Interview with Kyp Malone (2006)
Mass Appeal Interview (2006)
Prefix Interview with Dave Sitek (2006)
Interscope Records Profile
TV on the Radio Artist Commentary - Tunde minutely describes the Wolf like Me video (2006) (Flash)
Amoeba Music Instore Performance/Interview Live In store @ Amoeba Music in Hollywood September 22, 2006


TV on the radio

Fujiya & Miyagi

Fujiya & Miyagi released "Lightbulbs" September 9th on Deaf Dumb & Blind Recordings. Pitchfork is giving the album a 6.6. They were up big on the CMJ radio 200 jumping from 86 to 19. Basically a lot of there stuff sounds the same so if you here one song and you like it you probably will like the rest. I have 3 songs from the album listed below and an older song "Collarbone" which you may know from a few advertising campaigns which got some play.

CMJ has a nice feature when you click on the band you can stream the tracks from the album. If you get a chance visit their site and check it out.


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Wikipedia:


Fujiya & Miyagi are an English band formed in Brighton in 2000. They are currently signed to Tirk Records in the United Kingdom. They are self-described as being heavily influenced by 70's Krautrock bands such as Can and Neu! as well as early-90's electronic music artists like Aphex Twin. The origins of the band's name come from a character in the movie The Karate Kid as well as the brand of a record player [1].
The first several years after the band's formation were spent in relative obscurity; however, they began to see a drastic spike in popularity between 2003 and 2006 thanks in large part to very favorable reviews from prominent music publications such as NME and Pitchfork Media. They were also the subject of an episode of the MTV2 documentary series This Is Our Music in 2006. The song "Collarbone" has been featured in ads for both Jaguar's 2007 "Gorgeous" campaign as well as Miller Lite's "Bar Stool" directed by Tarsem Singh.
The current members of the band are:
Steve Lewis (Fujiya): 2000–present (synths, beats, programming and backing vocals)
David Best (Miyagi): 2000–present (vocals and guitar)
Matt Hainsby (Ampersand): 2005–present (bass guitar and backing vocals)
Lee Adams: 2008–present (drums)[2]
The story of how they met and formed the band variously reports a mutual hero-worship of world heavyweight wrestler Kendo Nagasaki, and a shared interest in krautrock and early-nineties electronica discovered while warming the subs bench during Sunday league football.

Discography
Electro Karaoke in the Negative Style · 2003
Transparent Things · 2006
Lightbulbs · 2008[3] - UK #187[4]

References
^ "Fujiya & Miyagi - Artists Listing" (html). Retrieved on 2007-05-17.
^ "Fujiya & Miyagi Add Member, Play Shows, Work Up LP" (html). Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
^ "Fujiya & Miyagi Turn on Lightbulbs on New Album" (html). Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
^ "The Official Album Chart for the week ending 13 September 2008" . ChartsPlus (368): 5-8. Milton Keynes: IQ Ware Ltd. Retrieved on 2008-09-10.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Fujiya & Miyagi
Official Website
Fujiya & Miyagi at MySpace
Fujiya & Miyagi on Tirk Records
Interview with David Best by Greg Szeto of Bmore Live
Interview with Fujiya & Miyagi on Brightest Young Things
Live from SXSW 2007 on 89.3 The Current


Fujiya & Miyagi

Darker My Love

Darker My Love released "2" on Dangerbird Record August 5th. They are at number 17 on the CMJ radio chart, up from 21 last week. Pitchfork gave them a 4.4 rating. That's out 10 so they are way down on the record. The review states "Sadly though, most of 2 relies on slow burners and underwhelming soundscapes intended to overwhelm." I've enjoyed the songs I've heard off the record a lot more than Pitchfork. It's getting a thumbs up from the pants. The song to download is "Two Ways Out."




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Wikipedia:

Darker My Love is an indie psychedelic rock band based in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of 5 members. Tim Presley, a former member of the band The Nerve Agents and also a visual artist responsible for much of the band's imagery, contributes vocals and guitar. Andy Granelli, formerly a member of both The Nerve Agents and The Distillers, plays drums. They are accompanied by Rob Barbato, who plays bass and shares lead vocal duties with Presley, and Jared "The Sandwich" Everett on rhythm guitar. Will Canzoneri joined the band on organ and clavinet in the latter half of 2006. The group's style is often compared to bands such as Can and My Bloody Valentine.
The band has released two EP's and one LP. Recorded in 2005, their debut LP was released on 22 August 2006 on Dangerbird Records. On 28 August 2007, the band released a 12" 45 rpm split record with Denver-based rock group Moccasin. Darker My Love's contribution is a song called "Hair Decisions," which was recorded at San Francisco's Hyde Street Studios in October 2006. The record was the first release on L.A.-based label IHATEROCKNROLL. In Spring 2006, Presley and Barbato became members of the prolific British post-punk group The Fall, and are both featured prominently on The Fall's 2007 album Reformation Post TLC. Their sophomore album, entitled 2, was released on 5 August 2008 on Dangerbird Records.
The band name was derived from a TSOL song of the same name.


Members
Tim Presley - Guitar/Vocals
Rob Barbato - Bass/Vocals
Jared Everett - Guitar
Will Canzoneri - Organ/Clavinet
Andy Granelli - Drums

Discography
(2004) - Darker My Love (EP, Tarantulas Records)
(2005) - Summer Is Here (EP, Tarantulas Records)
(2006) - Darker My Love (Dangerbird Records)
(2007) - Darker My Love/Moccassin (12" Split) (IHATEROCKNROLL)
(2008) - 2 (Dangerbird Records)

See also
The Distillers
The Nerve Agents
The Fall (band)

External Links
August 2008 Interview with L.A. Record

Darker My Love

The Faint

The Faint released Fasciinatiion on the "blank.wav." label on August 5th of this year. They are a new wave/punk band from Nebraska. I have never been to Nebraska but it seems like an odd place for a new wave/punk band to come from. They jumped from 70 to 18 on the CMJ Independent Only Radio Select Album chart. "The Geeks Were Right" seems to be the the most down loaded song right now on I-tunes. The Pants gives it a thumbs up. While putzing around seeqpod I ran across the bands cover of Sonic Youths "Mote." It was this cover that won me over as a fan.



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Wikipedia:

The Faint is a dance-punk/new wave band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, the band consists of Todd Fink, Jacob Thiele, Dapose, Joel Petersen and Clark Baechle. The Faint was originally known as Norman Bailer and included Conor Oberst, of Bright Eyes, with whom the Faint toured in 2005. He quit shortly after the band was formed[1], though the Faint continued to share a spot with Bright Eyes on Saddle Creek Records.
Growing up, Fink, Petersen, and Baechle skateboarded in their free-time until Fink developed knee problems, which shifted their hobbies towards making music[2]. The band originally consisted of Clark Baechle, Todd Fink (formerly Todd Baechle), and Joel Petersen. They signed to Saddle Creek Records and released a few singles, but were unable to establish widespread sales. After adding Matt Bowen, the Faint released Media. While touring, Bowen left and was replaced by Jacob Thiele. The next album, Blank-Wave Arcade, had a more dance and techno influenced sound. The album was an underground hit[3]. Partway through the creation of the Danse Macabre, the Faint added Dapose, a death metal guitarist formerly of LEAD. Their next album, released in 2004, is called Wet from Birth.
In May 2008 The Faint announced that they had split from Saddle Creek and that their fifth studio album would be self released under their own blank.wav imprint. The album, entitled Fasciinatiion was released on August 5th 2008 in the U.S. The first single from the album is The Geeks Were Right.

Band members
Todd Fink — vocals, keyboards (1995 - present)
Jacob Thiele — keyboards, backup vocals (1999 - present)
Dapose (Michael Dappen) — guitars (2001 - present)
Joel Petersen — bass (1995 - present)
Clark Baechle — drums, percussion (1995 - present)

Former members
Conor Oberst - guitars (1995)
Matt Bowen - keyboards (1995 - 1998)

Discography

[edit] Albums
Sine Sierra (Norman Bailer) (1995 · Lumberjack)
Media (1998 · Saddle Creek)
Blank-Wave Arcade (1999 · Saddle Creek)
Blank-Wave Arcade Remixes (2000)
Danse Macabre (2001 · Saddle Creek)
Danse Macabre Remixes (2003 · Astralwerks)
Wet from Birth (2004 · Saddle Creek) #99 US
Fasciinatiion (2008 · blank.wav) #46 US

Singles and EPs
Mote EP (2001 · Gold Standard Laboratories)
Agenda Suicide (2002 · City Slang)
I Disappear (2004 · Saddle Creek)
Desperate Guys (2004 · Saddle Creek)
The Geeks Were Right (2008 · blank.wav)

Splits
Music Me All Over (Split 7") (Norman Bailer) (Rolling Hill Records and Lumberjack Records)
The Faint/Ex-Action Figures (Split 7") (1999 · Saddle Creek)

Remixes
Radio 4 - Dance to the Underground (2002 · City Slang)
Joy Electric - We Are Rock (2002 · BEC Recordings)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control (2004 · Interscope Records / Polydor Records)
Nine Inch Nails - Meet Your Master (2007)

Compilations
Nothing Left Fanzine #8 CD Sampler (1998) (features "Acting; On-Campus TV")
Saddle Creek 50 (2002 · Saddle Creek)
Songs: "Worked Up So Sexual", "Take Me to the Hospital"
Liberation: Songs to Benefit PETA (2003 · Fat Wreck Chords)
Song: "Agenda Suicide"
Lagniappe: A Saddle Creek Benefit for Hurricane Katrina (2005 · Saddle Creek)
Song: "Hypnotised"

See also
Broken Spindles
Vverevvolf Grehv

References
^ The Faint // Profile, The Faint, (2005-01-27). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
^ The Faint // Youtube Interview, BeatLawrence Interviews the Faint, (2007-10-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
^ Lazy-i // Interview, The Faint: men in black, (2001-08-15). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.

External links
The Faint Official Website
The Faint at MySpace
The Faint on FreeIndie

Interviews
Interview at wenn's rockt! WebTV
Lazy-i Interview: November 1999
Lazy-i Interview: August 2001
Lazy-i Interview: April 2003
Lazy-i.com Column on American Recordings
The Faint beatLawrence.com video interview
Interview with The Faint at Short and Sweet NYC on 8/12/08

Delta Spirit

Delta Spirit released "Ode To Sunshine" on Rounder Records on August 26th this year. This week they moved from 28 to 17 on the CMJ Radio 200 chart. Spin Magazine has reviewed the new album and given the band 4 out of 5 stars. They are from San Diego and they do the blues thing a little bit. Not full on rock blues like the Black Keys. Bit of a Pavement feel. "Trashcan" is the first single and I heard it on the radio this weekend while I was driving down south this weekend. Here's a few songs from the album so listen up:



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Delta Spirit