New John Vanderslice Video: "Too Much Time"

We were psyched to stumble upon this awesome new video from John Vanderslice and the Magik*Magik Orchestra. The video is an awesome one, (filmed at San Francisco's Conservatory of Music by local videonistas Yours Truly) and we're psyched to see JV continue to get recognition for his awesome new record.

What's more, the arrangement (presumably culled from Vanderslice's show with the Orchestra) is fantastic. Sometimes killer orchestration is more than a little moving, and this is definitely one such case. JV: can we see a record with Magik*Magik in your future? Please?

video: John Vanderslice - Too Much Time

BLK JKS To Drop First Full Length In September

Probably the most difficult thing about being a BLK JKS fan thus far is that they've only had one EP of material available, and it's frankly nowhere near enough. Well, as of this fall, that problem will be remedied: the band is set to drop their first full length, entitled After Robots, on September 8th. Much like on Mystery, Secret Machines' Brandon Curtis is producing the record, and if the first track is any indication, it's gonna be killer.

"Molalatladi" (which apparently means rainbow in Zulu) is a prime example of the band's totally unique mashed up vibe. Combining a major brass section, shredding guitar lines, and multipart vocals, the track plays like a sonic melting pot. For now, we're satisfied to snag just one new track, but we'd be lying if we didn't say that we're more than a little anxious to get our hands on the full disc. Tasty.

mp3: BLK JKS - Molalatladi

New Phoenix Vids From The Cutting Room Studios

As Phoenix make their way about the good old US of A, it's nice to know that they're not just bringing their live show to the fans, but also making a few solid stops at some of our nation's finer radio establishments. Case in point: the band stopped by The Cutting Room Studios in New York last month and filmed some acoustic tracks for the venerable KEXP.

While the vibe is similar to the tracks done for Stereogum last month, but we have to say: the video and the audio production is a notch above (props to Electric Tweed on that one). What's more, the band play two more tracks, and we get treated to acoustic versions of "1901" (above) and "Armistice" in addition to "Lisztomania" and "Playground Love".

Given our obsession with the lovely Frenchmen, it should come as no surprise that we were pretty damn psyched to stumble upon these vids. We think you'll agree.

Video: Phoenix - Armistice Live On KEXP
Video: Phoenix - Playground Love Live On KEXP
Video: Phoenix - Lisztomania Live On KEXP

Spoon Drops New Bonus, "Japanese Cigarette Case (Oceanside Demo)"

Spoon at The Fillmore, from the HAD Archive

We really don't know of any other band that's quite so giving with their archival material: Spoon manages to somehow let their demos and b-sides to trickle forth via their website's "bonus" feature. This month is no different, and the band's just posted a new track. We couldn't be more pleased.

This month the track is the "Oceanside Demo" of the Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga track "My Japanese Cigarette Case". While the track is a bit more stripped down than the original, it's so close to the actual album track that we're not sure the word demo even is necessarily apt. Either way, it's great to hear another take on such a killer tune. Check it out for yourself!

mp3: Spoon - My Japanese Cigarette Case (Oceanside Demo)

Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca

For the past seven years, Dave Longstreth has been releasing amazing, difficult, challenging, and inventive records under the moniker of Dirty Projectors. They have run the gamut of musical styles and influences, with arrangements that have varied from complex to simplistic, and recording techniques that have gone from tape deck to crystal clarity. As Longstreth has experimented, his band's sound and identity have slowly taken shape, and seem to have emerged in earnest with 2007's Rise Above.

If Rise Above was the sound of Longstreth emerging from the woods with a band that suited his vision, then the ensuing tour was the result of that band hitting their stride and becoming comfortable as a tightly knit unit. The kudos for their live set have justifiably grown and grown, and so have expectations of the band's next full length. The record is the first real in-studio test of this newly hewn musical unit, and what's more it had the potential to be the realization of Longstreth's toils, both in the studio and on the road, to find his own sound.

Thankfully, the wait is over, and the band's latest fulfills all of this promise, and more. Bitte Orca manages to combine all of Longstreth's quirky melodic and arragement tendencies and wrap them in an oddly accessible package that borders on being avant garde dance music. After hearing this record it should really come as no surprise that the band worked with David Byrne on the Dark Was The Night compilation. While Longstreth in no way apes Byrne's sound, he does do the same thing that Byrne managed with the Talking Heads all through the 80's. Specifically, he takes difficult and edgy musical instincts and pushes them forward in such a way that they're inviting and accessible.

The number of elements that have come together to yield Bitte Orca is remarkable. Longstreth's guitar has taken on new and interesting character and tones, and is a highlight of many of the tracks. The band members, specifically Amber Coffman, have come forth from backing roles to take time in the spotlight. This works marvelously, as they provide a bullet proof contrast to Longstreth's own lilting and often eccentric vocal style. However, more than that, it's also clear that the band has become ridiculously well acquainted musically. The arrangements are (unbelievably) even tighter than those on Rise Above, and manage to take dischord and unify it into intricate instrumental interplay.

All of this being said, it's still worth noting that Bitte Orca is not a simplification of the band's sound. To the contrary: even though it is masterfully deployed and considerably more accessible, it also represents the band's ability to refine their sound and clarify their vision. All of the elements that had previously been present in Dirty Projectors records are present and accounted for. The melodies are as original as any Longstreth has written, and the arrangements make for a record that is as unique as it is brilliant.

So, if you haven't gotten the picture yet, we really love this record. In a world where even the most amazing musicians seem to tip their hats to their predecessors, Dirty Projectors couldn't be more original. They've simply created a sound that is opens up new possibilities, and makes you glad that there's still more music to be made. There's no doubt that this record will encourage its share of copycats, and also bring the band even further into the spotlight. But all that aside, the repercussions of Dirty Projectors' work isn't really what's on our mind. We're far more excited about the new plateau they've found themselves on, and hearing where they go next.

Bitte Orca is out tomorrow, Dirty Projectors are at The Independent July 7th

mp3: Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move

Grand Lake Van, Gear Stolen

We hate to write a post like this, but the world is full of lameness, and sometimes it lands in your lap. From Grand Lake's web site:

Today while I was at work, our beloved van, Lucy, was stolen from a spot on Regent and Parker in Berkeley. In the back of the van was Erika's yamaha stage piano. So this double-sucks.

If you see some punk kids riding around in a 1989 Baby-Blue Toyota Van with an Amoeba Music sticker on the back, please let us know when and where by emailing us.

The police said that there is an OK chance that Lucy will be found sometime in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, we will be dedicating our set on Thursday to her. We will wear black, funeral style.

The plates on the car were California 2PSC424, so if you're in the East Bay (or anywhere, for that matter), be on the lookout. We wish the band the best in tracking 'er down.

Blur's Press Machine Shifts Into Gear

We wouldn't normally be excited to so blatantly regurgitate press material for you, but the fact of the matter is that we're inside of one month of the Blur reunion, and that's got us more than a little stoked. In fact, it's got us completely stoked.

So, for the time being, we'll put aside the obvious commercial crassness of Midlife, and instead point out the band's big media push that started today. Specifically, the band's aged website has been given a massive overhaul to match the reunion, and the widget above has been published so that you can check out "exclusive studio footage". Sure, it's low res, and not terribly compelling beyond that, but frankly: we're so excited we'll take whatever we can get!

Andy Summers: I'll Be Watching You - Inside The Police 1980-83

So much of our visual perception of The Police is based in guitarist Andy Summers' photographs. They're the source of many of the band's most candid photo moments, and they also adorn the sleeves of both Zenyatta Mondatta and Synchronicity. That being said, we were psyched to stumble upon a massive tome of Summers' work entitled I'll Be Watching You.

The book, which is takes on the vibe of a journal, is actually in a large coffee table format. All of the narratives appear in English, German, and French, and they very literally narrate three years in the life of the band, from Summers' perspective. In it, the band travels the entire world, makes their way through recording sessions, and spends more than a little time dawdling in hotels. It seems all the assumptions one could make about the rock star lifestyle are, largely, correct.

Looking over the photos is a voyeuristic adventure, as the reader gets to delve into private moments for both the band and Summers. What's more, it's nice to see the band living it up before tensions ran high and everything fell apart. The Police are a band that became so big, so quickly, and then fell apart, that having this intense documentation of that rapid period is really a treat and a rarity. Imagine, if you will, George Harrison religiously documenting the Beatles from 1965-1969. Awesome, right? Well, with The Police, that's not a fantasy, and this book is the proof.

Perhaps the best part about stumbling upon the book was that we did so in the sale rack of our local book shop, and in doing so managed to snag it for the pretty price of $15. For a massive, beautiful, heavy stock book like this? We couldn't be happier. If you have a vested interest in Police history, we'd definitely encourage you to pick it up when you see it. And, frankly, at $15, it's really a solid buy for anyone even remotely interested in rock and roll.

Doves Played Jimmy Fallon - Video

We're still reeling from Doves' show at The Fillmore, so we were psyched to be able to catch them the other night on Jimmy Fallon performing "The Outsiders". The performance is surprisingly awesome for a TV spot, and we have to say, the band just continues to deliver in spades. Click above to check out the vid.

Jarvis Cocker: Live In Chicago (Video, With New Songs)

We've been digging on Jarvis Cocker's latest, Further Complications, quite a bit over the past few weeks. As such we were psyched to stumble upon video of his full set at last year's Pitchfork music festival in Chicago.

This video definitely qualifies as "must see". The performance is spectacular, the audio and video are great, and best of all it features tons of tunes of the new record. There's a lot of awesomeness to be had, so get watching!