Stream The New Frightened Rabbit

We'll admit it: after our heavy-duty adoration of Frightened Rabbit's second record, The Midnight Organ Fight, we were a bit let down by the band's third effort, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks. Not that there was anything "wrong" with it per se, but it just simply didn't have the passion or balls-to-the-walls aplomb that we had grown to love. Instead, it felt more like a go-through-the-motions effort that rehashed the most obvious parts of the band's sound.

As such, it was with great hesitation that we sampled the band's new single "Woodpile" (video above) when it dropped last December. We need not have been worried. The track brings the band back to their awesome, impassioned vigor of old, and creates a haunting soundscape that culminates in a screeching guitar avalanche that encourages you to sing along at full volume

Fast forward to this week, and there's even more good news: the whole album is fantastic. Whatever steps they took to ensure this, they were the right ones. Pedestrian Verse drops in February, but it's streaming now over at the Guardian UK, and you should most certainly go have a listen. Everything about the record is on-point, and we couldn't be happier to have a new musical addiction

Stream: Frightened Rabbit — Pedestrian Verse

John Cale Live On KEXP

Around these parts, our affection for John Cale knows no bounds. And, despite the fact that we have undying love for his classic records(like Paris 1919 which was recently so well revived at BAM), we have been equally smitten with his latest record, Shifty Aventures In Nookie Wood. The record finds Cale in a true return-to-pop-form, deviating from his more recent noisy work, and instead embracing the art-pop he has always delivered so well. It's truly a fantastic listen.

So, you can imagine our delight when we recently stumbled across the knowledge that Cale had made a mid-December stop at KEXP, and recorded a killer set. Not only does he deliver the seventies classics "GUTS" and "You Know More Than I Know", but also stripped-down takes on the new tunes "I Wanna Talk To You" and "December Rains". It's all there in glorious HD, with the 70-year-old Cale sounding fantastic. Check it out above!

The Flaming Lips - "Sun Blows Up Today" (Video)

It's been a good long while since we've heard a new jam from The Flaming Lips, so we were stoked to learn that their new record The Terror is due April 2nd, and the lead single just droped on the interwebs! "Sun Blows Up Today" is a synth laden psychedelic trek that recalls a hybridization of some of their more recent fuzzy guitar work, and the subtle melodies of The Soft Bulletin in short — it's killer, and we're loving it. Stream the vid (complete with lyrics!) above...

[Gossip] Will A New My Bloody Valentine Record Drop Tomorrow?

My Bloody Valentine at San Francisco's Concourse in 2008

People have been clamoring for a new record from My Bloody Valentine ever since the band reunited to overwhelming success over five years ago — and you can't really blame them. Not only is the band in top-form, but Kevin Shields has been continually dropping nuggets to the press indicating that such a record was just around the corner.

Well, last night at Brixton's Electric, apparently the news became notably more specific. Apparently, when Shields was asked by an audience member when the new record drop, the reply was "in the next two or three days". Whoa. Normally we'd think it was a joke, but in the age of streaming audio and digital releases, there's really no telling.

Apparently there was a video of the whole event, which has since received a takedown notice on youtube. Rest assured, we're keeping our ears close the ground in the hope of more news. Fingers crossed!!!

The Strokes — "One Way Trigger" (NEW TRACK)

Happy late Friday afternoon. Thought we were gone for the weekend, eh? Well, so did we, but guess what? The Strokes just dropped a new tune via their official website. It's in the vein of a lot of Angles material, but also a bit more classic than anything on that full-length. Including a quirky little synth line, some acoustic guitars, and Julian's killer falsetto, it's definitely worth a spin, or 100. Yum. Stream or grab the mp3 over at the band's official site.

UPDATE: MP3 Below!

mp3: The Strokes - One Way Trigger

Menomena - "Toomer"

This January, a fair number of tracks have been cropping up from bands that are on the HAD favorites list, not the least of which is the latest from Menomena, "Toomer". The track is culled from the sessions for last year's Moms, and is certainly true-to-form for the band. Built around a  lilting percussion track, hypnotic vocals, and smooth analog synths, it somehow manages to be even more engaging than anything on that full length. It's a mystery why it didn't make it on the record, but we're certainly glad that it's seen the light of day! Stream the track below...

Phoenix Return With Bankrupt!

There's not much news to report yet, but suffice it to say that we are jump-out-of-your-chair excited about the return of Phoenix. After being off the radar for the better part of the last year or two, the band has update their web-site with a flashing logo and a hypnotic synth line. Both point to the release of the band's new record, apparently entitled Bankrupt!, which is scheduled to drop in April. That's all the news we have for now, but suffice it to say, we are very, very, excited.

EELS - "Peach Blossom" (Video)

The latest album from EELS is still two weeks away, but that hasn't kept us from salivating over the sneak peeks that are out there. Case in point: the above video for "Peach Blossom". It finds Mr. E back in his Souljacker-era bass-driven, fuzz guitar, take-no-prisoners mode. After two records in 2010 that both hooked into his more sensitive side, we couldn't be happier to hear a little rock and roll back in teh mix.

Wonderful, Glorious, Eels drops on February 5th, and will be accompanied by an internatonal tour, including the US dates listed below. It's being billed as a "Natural, Spectacular Event", make of that what you will. What's more, in addition to "Peach Blossom", you can further whet your appetite with "New Alphabet", an equally fuzzed-out accompaniment to this killer new material. Yum.

EELS US Tour Dates 2013 February 14 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
February 15 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre
February 16 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
February 18 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
February 19 Seattle, WA Showbox Theater
February 22 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
February 23 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
February 24 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
February 25 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
February 26 Montreal, QC Theatre Corona
February 27 Boston, MA Paradise
March 1 New York, NY Webster Hall
March 2 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
March 3 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
March 4 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle
March 5 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
March 7 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
March 8 Houston, TX Warehouse Live Ballroom

New Bowie Record Gets Cover Art, Album Tracklist

Following today's news regarding the new record from David Bowie, The Next Day, we are stoked to have stumbled upon (what could be) the cover art for the record, as well as a definite tracklist. Culled from the iTunes pre-order screen, the monster 17-count tracklist seems all-but-certain, whereas the cover art, a white overlay on the cover of Bowie's 1977 record 'heroes' (see above), could possibly be a placeholder. Either way: excitement!!!!

David Bowie — The Next Day
Tentative Tracklist via iTunes pre-order

1. The Next Day
2. Dirty Boys
3. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) 
4. Love Is Lost
5. Where Are We Now?
6. Valentine's Day
7. If You Can See Me
8. I'd Rather Be High
9. Boss of Me
10. Dancing Out In Space
11. How Does the Grass Grow?
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire
14. Heat
15. So She (Bonus Track)
16. I'll Take You There (Bonus Track)
17. Plan (Bonus Track)

David Bowie Drops New Single, Album In March

If you're a long-time reader of HAD, you'll no doubt recall that one of our undying obsessions is that of the Thin White Duke, David Bowie himself. Given that he's been a bit of a recluse in recent years, there hasn't been much news to speak of, and we've had to satisfy ourselves with perusing the archives, and enjoying memories of live shows gone by.

Well, starting now, that's all going to change: on this, his 66th birthday, Bowie has released a new track entitled "Where Are We Now?" (video above), and announced a full-length record The Next Day, due to drop March 12th. To state it lightly, for any fans of Bowie this is huge, huge news!

So what does it all mean? Thus far details are sketchy, but the track (which is currently available on iTunes) and record are apparently produced by long-time cohort Tony Visconti, which is a good way to get things started. Bucking the trends of Bowie's last few records, the lead single is decisively a ballad, and it's a good one at that.

With a strikingly simple studio arrangement, "Where Are We Now?" is loaded with nostalgic lyrics about Bowie's time in Berlin, and recalls the instrumentation of his mid-seventies work, notably "Wild Is The Wind", off of Station To Station. The songs conclusion breaks from the ballad structure, with a march-influenced drum beat, and a sense of general rebirth. A good thing, indeed.

Suffice it to say, we are ridiculously excited about this development, and will keep you posted. In the meantime, check the video above and enjoy it!!!