A Random Mp3 Trilogy (Crystal Antlers, School Of Seven Bells, Cut Copy)

It seems “Crystal” has become the new “Wolf” as far as band names go, but the one band of that namesake that you can’t afford to miss is Crystal Antlers. I have been simply blown away by their recent release, EP. The album is produced by The Mars Volta keyboardist Ikey Owens, and he does a stellar job making this total psych-freakout rock record sound amazing. This is one of the best short-length albums to come out all year, so do not miss it:

Crystal Antlers : A Thousand Eyes

Buy EP: [MP3] [CD] [LP]


The M83 show tonight is bolstered by a great opener in School Of Seven Bells. Their debut album, Alpinisms, presents a soft, accessible, dance-groove brand of shoegaze that I think anyone can enjoy. You might remember that Ben Curtis left the Secret Machines last year to concentrate fully on this project, and considering that I listened to the new SM album last night and was not impressed, I think he made the right decision.

School Of Seven Bells : Half Asleep

Buy Alpinism: [MP3] [CD]


Finally, Cut Copy have announced a spring tour and will be at The Maquerade here in Atlanta March 26 with Matt & Kim. I have sort of overlooked these guys this year, but they’re newest album In Ghost Colours is really good, so if you haven’t taken a look into these Australian dance-punkers, it is time:

Cut Copy : Feel The Love

Buy In Ghost Colours: [MP3] [CD]

Memorial Day Mash-Up

Athens Popfest, going down August 12th-16th, dropped their line-up over the weekend, as Athens, Ga superbloggers, Cable And Tweed, was all on top of it:

Roky Erickson & The Explosives, The Music Tapes, Elf Power, Dark Meat, Boyracer, The Apes, Bunnygrunt, Thee American Revolution, Circulatory System, My Teenage
Stride, The Faintest Ideas, We Versus the Shark, Casper & the Cookies,
Cryptacize, Ruby Isle, The Great Lakes, Fishboy, Cars Can Be Blue, Love
Letter Band, Andy From Denver, The Buddy System, The Smittens,
Supercluster, The Coathangers, The Selmanaires, Spring Tigers, Dead Confederate, Violet Vector & the Lovely Lovelies, Velcro Stars, Red Pony
Clock, Big Fresh, the Lolligags, Secret History, Judi Chicago, Hot Pants
Romance, Nana Grizol, The Sterns, Thrushes, Laminated Cat, Fat Planet, The
Ocelots, The Besties, Twin Tigers, The Afternoon Naps, Boy Genius, the Hotwalls, Amo Joy!, Oh Sanders, That’s My Daughter, Little Birds, A Faulty Chromosome, Panda Riot, Patience Please, Railcars, Tendaberry, One Happy Island, The Hat Company, The Young Untold, Bad Animal, Oh Fortuna, Good Graces, Night Driving in Small Towns, Umbrella Tree, Noisycrane, Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Allison Weiss, Whistling School for Boys

Very nice. They are still planning on adding 16 more bands and a $60 festival pass will get you into all day and night shows. I plan to be there.

Bonnaroo is going to be nationally televised for the first time ever this year on Cable’s Fuse TV.

Daniel Johnston will be at The Variety Playhouse June 26th.

Brian Wilson has a new album dropping September 2nd.

Carla Bozulich‘s Evangelista and Xiu Xiu will be at The Drunken Unicorn August 23rd.

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