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TEEN DAZE
The Inner Mansions

While the definition of the popular subgenre “chillwave” has become more and more convoluted, with nearly every almost-unknown band’s website showcasing serene graphics and with song titles and descriptions that bring about allusions of carefree summer afternoons, it’s hard to take any of it too seriously, queuing nonbelievers to write it off as nothing more than behind on the times. It’s here that Teen Daze seems to flourish under the category, striving for a broader sound. Jamison, the man behind this British-Canadian outfit, instead of relying heavily on sampled drum machine loops, with his second full-length The Inner Mansions, has been able to curate a more thoughtful approach, refining the disco-esque samples of his recent debut All of Us, Together. Features an exclusive Brian Eno‘s cover as the bonus track.

ARTIST: Teen Daze
TITLE: The Inner Mansions
LABEL: Lefse
RELEASE DATE: November 6, 2012
TIME: 49:47 min.
WEB: http://asilentplanet.com/
PURCHASE: http://www.amazon.com/

01. New Life [03:51]
02. Divided Loyalties [04:27]
03. Garden 1 [03:19]
04. Discipleship [07:14]
05. By Love [04:46]
06. Union [03:49]
07. Garden 2 [06:44]
08. Spirit [06:05]
09. The Heart of God [05:06]

10. Always Returning (bonus track) [06:05]

Teen Daze – Spirit

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ANDREW BIRD
Hands of Glory

Coming on the heels of Andrew Bird‘s critically acclaimed full-length Break It Yourself, Hands of Glory features a brand new original track, a pair of re-worked tracks from the above-mentioned latest album and covers of songs by The Carter Family, The Handsome Family, Alpha Consumer and others. Hands of Glory was inspired by the great fan reaction to Bird’s “old-time” sets on tour in which his full band plays to a single microphone with an entirely acoustic setup.

ARTIST: Andrew Bird
TITLE: Hands of Glory
LABEL: Mom & Pop
RELEASE DATE: October 30, 2012
TIME: 35:09 min.
WEB: http://www.andrewbird.net/
PURCHASE: http://www.amazon.com/

01. Three White Horses [03:14]
02. When That Helicopter Comes [02:54]
03. Spirograph [04:07]
04. Railroad Bill [03:27]
05. Something Biblical [04:34]
06. If I Needed You [03:09]
07. Orpheo [04:29]
08. Beyond the Valley of the Three White Horses [09:15]

Andrew Bird – Three White Horses

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COUNTING CROWS
Underwater Sunshine (or what we did on our summer vacation)

Underwater Sunshine is a testament of a band geek-obsessed with music. Produced by Counting Crows and Shawn Dealey, it features tracks written by artists such as Big Star, Gram Parsons, Tender Mercies, Kasey Anderson, Teenage Fanclub and The Faces: each rendition offers an entire spectrum of human emotion, delivered with the conviction and intense honesty the band is known for. As their first independent release, it was the right time for the Crows to make this album: they wanted to do it, and they have the creative freedom to do it.

ARTIST: Counting Crows
TITLE: Underwater Sunshine (or what we did on our summer vacation)
LABEL: Collective Sounds
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2012
TIME: 61:30 min.
WEB: http://www.countingcrows.com/

01. Untitled (love song) [05:06]
02. Start Again [03:33]
03. Hospital [03:09]
04. Mercy [03:31]
05. Meet on the Ledge [03:36]
06. Like Teenage Gravity [05:11]
07. Amie [04:34]
08. Coming Around [02:59]
09. Ooh La La [04:37]
10. All My Failures [04:38]
11. Return of the Grievous Angel [04:23]
12. Four White Stallions [04:01]
13. Jumping Jesus [03:04]
14. You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere [04:19]
15. The Ballad of El Godo [04:49]

Counting Crows – Mercy

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THE FUTURHEADS
Rant

Long gone are the days when record labels would bow to their artistes’ every whim. At a time when, more than ever, music=sales=money, artistic egos are worth zilch, and concept albums are worth even less. So who on earth agreed to let The Futureheads release an a cappella album? An idea that sprang from a Radio 1 Live Lounge session, which saw them attempt, with schoolboy clever dick humour, an instrument-free version of Kelis‘s Acapella, was somehow allowed to flourish into an entire album. A silly, novelty album that no one’s going to listen to, right? Not quite. Those who are gunning to dismiss Rant as a novelty record will, at first glance, have plenty of ammunition: the covers, the boring re-workings of their own songs, and the fact that at times it sounds part barbershop quartet and part football crowd. But it’s far from self-indulgent: their song choices and clever arrangements make Rant a real, if unexpected, delight.

ARTIST: The Futurheads
TITLE: Rant
LABEL: Nul
RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2012
TIME: 34:04 min.
WEB: http://www.thefutureheads.co.uk/

01. Meantime [03:17]
02. Meet Me Halfway [03:05]
03. Robot [02:01]
04. Beeswing [04:16]
05. Thursday [04:11]
06. Summer Is Icumen In [01:52]
07. The Keeper [01:40]
08. The No.1 Song in Heaven [04:26]
09. The Old Dun Cow [02:53]
10. Acapella [02:28]
11. Man Ray [04:02]

The Futurheads – Meet Me Halfway

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK – #97
as seen on radioSpin

ARTIST: Planet Funk
TITLE: These Boots Are Made For Walking
ALBUM: La Kriptonite nella Borsa O.S.T.
WEB: YouTube

directed by Ivan Cotroneo

AA.VV.
Please, Please, Please (a tribute to The Smiths)

Please, Please, Please is not the nth collection to glorify The Smiths. 20 covers and not a dud in the bunch: that’s a rare thing, especially with a tribute compilation. If you’re a Smiths fan, this is a great way to keep the music alive. If you are not a Smiths fan, well, you’re still in time to change your mind.

ARTIST: AA.VV.
TITLE: Please, Please, Please (a tribute to The Smiths)
LABEL: American Laundromat
RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011
TIME: 80:14 min.
WEB: http://www.alr-music.com/

01. KITTEN – Panic [04:03]
02. THE REST – Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before [04:07]
03. JOY ZIPPER – What Difference Does It Make? [04:40]
04. TANYA DONELLY & DYLAN IN THE MOVIES – Shoplifters of the World Unite [03:42]
05. WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS – Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want [01:53]
06. SIX PENCE NONE THE RICHER – I Won’t Share You [03:29]
07. SARA LOV – Well I Wonder [03:49]
08. GREG LASWELL – Half A Person [03:48]
09. DALA – Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me [03:09]
10. CHIKITA VIOLENTA – Som Girls Are Bigger Than Others [04:46]

01. TELEKINESIS – Sheila Take A Bow [02:23]
02. SOLVENTS – Is It Really So Strange? [03:35]
03. THE WEDDING PRESENT – Hand in Glove [03:05]
04. MIKE VIOLA & THE SECTION QUARTET – How Soon Is Now? [05:44]
05. TRESPASSERS WILLIAM – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out [05:51]
06. GIRL IN A COMA – Rubber Ring [04:47]
07. ELK CITY – I Know It’s Over [06:00]
08. KATY GOODMAN – What She Said [03:25]
09. CINERAMA – London [03:59]
10. DOUGH MARTSCH – Reel Around the Fountain [04:02]

Greg Laswell – Half A Person
Dough Martsch – Reel Around the Fountain

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TOKYO POLICE CLUB
10x10x10

It’s no question that Tokyo Police Club is one of the hardest working bands today. Since the release of their second full-length studio album Champ they’ve been turning it out fast, first with the re-release of Champ which included remixes and new tracks and now with their newest album 10x10x10 (10 Songs | 10 Years | 10 Days): a cover album with which Tokyo Police Club takes the listener back in time through the 2000s, exploring a number of different genres in the process.

ARTIST: Tokyo Police Club
TITLE: 10x10x10 (10 Songs | 10 Years | 10 Days)
LABEL: Mom & Pop
RELEASE DATE: October 10, 2011
TIME: 39:16 min.
WEB: http://tokyopoliceclub.com/

01. South Side [03:24]
02. Sweetness [03:44]
03. Under Control [03:57]
04. Since U Been Gone [03:12]
05. Little Sister [03:05]
06. Long Distance Call [02:52]
07. All My Friends [05:31]
08. Kim & Jessie [04:05]
09. Strictly Game [03:44]
10. Party in the U.S.A. [05:42]

Tokyo Police Club – Long Distance Call

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FREEDOM OR DEATH
With My Own Hands

Freedom Or Death don’t seem to want to stop growing. The Canandian collective has been incredibly prolific during this year and (this is the point) without losing a bit of quality: on the contrary, every new release signs a step forward towards the perfect songwriting. As for the last news: they released a new video (shot on the Phantom camera ar 1200 frames per second – stunning slow-motion, check it out) premiered by Rolling Stone, decided to start their own label, called Liars+Thieves (inspired by Q-Tip lyric Record Company People Are Shady) and now, in honour of their first European and cross Canada tour, present this EP, featuring both old and new songs plus a great cover of the 80s classic Don’t Stop the Dance by Bryan Ferry.

ARTIST: Freedom Or Death
TITLE: With My Own Hands Tour EP
LABEL: Liars + Thieves
RELEASE DATE: July 27, 2011
TIME: 21:45 min.
WEB: http://www.liarsandthieves.tumblr.com/

01. Don’t Stop the Dance [05:06]
02. Inside [04:04]
03. Lost in Dances [04:46]
04. Meter Maid [03:56]
05. This Crowded Room [03:53]

Freedom Or Death – Don’t Stop the Dance

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AA.VV.
Newermind (a tribute to nevermind)

Although Nirvana has been over for fifteen years, their popularity is about to get another jolt. Spin Magazine has released Newermind, a free covers album to Nirvana’s breakthrough album, Nevermind, released in September of 1991, already 20 years ago. The album features performances by Charles Bradley, Telekinesis, JEFF the Brotherhood, Titus Andronicus, Foxy Shazam, Surfer Blood, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Midnight Juggernauts and also Meat Puppets and the The Vaselines: a real short circuit this one, being Nirvana the first band to cover them. Don’t be afraid of your tears.

ARTIST: AA.VV.
TITLE: Newermind (a tribute to nevermind)
LABEL: Spin Magazine
RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2011
TIME: 48:01 min.
WEB: http://www.spin.com/

01. MEAT PUPPETS – Smells Like Teen Spirits [04:54]
02. BUTCH WALKER & THE BLACK WIDOWS – In Bloom [03:25]
03. MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS – Come As You Are [03:48]
04. TITUS ANDRONICUS – Breed [02:59]
05. THE VASELINES – Lithium [03:59]
06. AMANDA PALMER – Polly [03:05]
07. SURFER BLOOD – Territorial Pissing [02:18]
08. FOXY SHAZMAN – Drain You (live) [04:04]
09. JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD – Loung Act [03:05]
10. CHARLES BRADLEY & THE MENAHAN STREET BAND – Stay Away [03:14]
11. TELEKINESIS – On A Plain [03:07]
12. JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD – Something in the Way [04:12]
13. EMA – Endless Nameless [05:24]

Titus Andronicus – Breed

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DEFTONES
Covers

Special release from Deftones for Record Store Day 2011: an entire album of covers, featuring tracks originally performed by The Smiths, The Cure, Duran Duran, The Cardigans and many more.

ARTIST: Deftones
TITLE: Covers
LABEL: Warner Bros.
RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2011
TIME: 47:52 min.
WEB: http://www.deftones.com/

01. Drive [04:49]
02. Caress [03:35]
03. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want [02:03]
04. No Ordinary Love [05:30]
05. Savory [04:36]
06. Do You Believe [03:29]
07. Simple Man [06:20]
08. Ghosts [04:27]
09. The Chauffeur [05:25]
10. If Only Tonight We Could Sleep (live) [05:08]
11. Sleep Walk [02:30]

Deftones - Simple Man

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SARA LOV
I Already Love You

It’s about time that Sara Lov recorded a proper covers album. The former Devics singer has already lent her voice to reinterpretations of Arcade Fire’s My Body Is A Cage and Beck’s Timebomb on her Young Eyes EP. For I Already Love You, her second full solo album and first on her own label Splinter Records, she and producer Zac Rae (Fiona Apple, Gnarls Barkley) tackle ten more artists, from Magnetic Fields to Elvis Costello: everyone in the service of her beautiful sweet voice.

ARTIST: Sara Lov
TITLE: I Already Love You
LABEL: Splinter
RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2011
TIME: 36:20 min.
WEB: http://www.saralov.com/

01. Square Heart [03:06]
02. Papa Was A Rodeo [05:01]
03. Hold Me Now [04:25]
04. Just My Heart Talkin’ [02:24]
05. There Was a Light That Never Goes Out [04:36]
06. The World We Knew [03:09]
07. Winter Is Blue [02:52]
08. La Bambola [03:56]
09. Cape Canaveral [04:02]
10. I Want to Vanish [02:49]

Sara Lov - There Was A Light That Never Goes Out

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MINIATURE TIGERS
Truffles

Miniature Tigers is giving away an album of cover versions (following the tracklist we can find T.Rex, Madonna, Leonard Cohen, Todd Rundgren, ABBA, Everly Brothers, Animal Collective, The Rolling Stones, Ray Noble), called Truffles to celebrate Thanksgiving: this tiny joke is recorded in a bedroom over the last two years and it sounds terribly (and wonderfully) lo-fi.

ARTIST: Miniature Tigers
TITLE: Truffles
LABEL: Modern Art
RELEASE DATE: November 24, 2010
TIME: 28:03 min.
WEB: http://www.miniaturetigers.com/

01. Life’s a Gas [02:10]
02. Take a Bow [04:52]
03. Fingerprints [02:08]
04. I Saw the Light [03:22]
05. I’ll Be Your Mirror [02:13]
06. Mamma Mia [03:15]
07. All I Have to Do Is Dream [02:29]
08. Kids On Holiday [02:54]
09. Ruby Tuesday [03:10]
10. The Very Thought of You [01:30]

Miniature Tigers – I Saw the Light

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AA.VV.
Germs of Perfection (a tribute to bad religion)

November 2010 celebrates 30 years of the iconic label Epitaph Records, tracing its rise from a DIY imprint founded by Brett Gurewitz to a powerhouse label that sent punk to the top of the charts. Bad Religion (which included Gurewitz on guitar) were Epitaph’s marquee band, so to commemorate the label’s history, SPIN magazine rounded up top indie artists, including Tegan and Sara, Switchfoot, Ted Leo and New Politics, to record exclusive covers for a compilation album, Germs of Perfection: A Tribute to Bad Religion.

ARTIST: AA.VV.
TITLE: Germs of Perfection (a tribute to bad religion)
LABEL: Spin Magazine
RELEASE DATE: October 22, 2010
TIME: 33:36 min.
WEB: http://www.spin.com/

01. WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE – Don’t Pray On Me [03:08]
02. FRANK TURNER – My Poor Friend Me [02:52]
03. THE WEAKERTHANS – Sanity [03:16]
04. SWITCHFOOT – Sorrow [02:54]
05. TED LEO – Against the Grain [03:41]
06. CHEAP GIRLS – Kerosene [03:05]
07. NEW POLITICS – Generator [03:04]
08. COBRA SKULLS – Give You Nothing [02:09]
09. POLAR BEAR CLUB – Better Off Dead [02:40]
10. GUTTERMOUTH – Pity [02:41]
11. RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS – Heaven Is Falling [02:10]
12. TEGAN & SARA – Suffer [01:56]

Polar Bear Club – Better Off Dead

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