Rawk Releases
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Hockey at the Casbah 1/18/10
I really should title this “Why Bands Should Want Their Song Played on Commercial Radio” because without radio playing their single “Too Fake”, there is no way that Hockey would have sold out the Casbah on a rainy Monday night. They previously played The Loft at UCSD so selling out the Casbah was a little surprising to me. No knock on the band at all, just an observation about the people who usually come to Casbah shows. This crowd was full of first timers and it showed. Which is why we didn’t make it past the first few songs. Again, not a knock on the band, because they sounded great. So in lieu of a show review, you will get an album review since I’m sure some people are curious as to whether or not they are a band you want to get to know…
Artist: Hockey
Album: Mind Chaos
Recommended if you like: early Rapture (the single really reminds me of “House of Jealous Lovers")
From the press kit:
“Like MGMT? How about CSS or the Klaxons? Well meet your new favorite band...they’ll be around for a while"---Spin.com
Standout Tracks: “Song Away","Wanna Be Black”
Worth a second listen?:
The band comparisons from the Spin quote give you a starting point for their sound, though they are definitely not as trippy dippy as MGMT. If you’re inclined to like the dancy side of alt rock, then, yes, you will like this. The album does not deviate too far from the formula of “Too Fake”. BTW, the single has been hanging on the alt rock charts since October (first mentioned here in my weekly radio chart post on 10/7), but it’s never broken the top 20. The new single “Song Away” impacts radio on 2/9, so I’ll be keeping an eye on the charts for it.
More info: myspace/official
Listen: “Too Fake” on Jimmy Fallon (wvx file - windows media)
Sunday, November 15, 2009
New In Stores and on the Radio
A bit of a slow week but quality over quantity, yes?
In Stores 11/17:
Fall Out Boy Believers Never Die - Greatest Hits
I know right? Why do they have a greatest hits? Actually, the track list is pretty solid - the first three tracks are good representation of their early stuff that I love.
Norah Jones The Fall
I know, not usually my genre to cover, but did you know that there are collaborations with Ryan Adams and Okkervil River’s Will Sheff on it?
Them Crooked Vultures self-titled
I am a fan of anything that Josh “Swivel Hips” Homme is involved with.
Impacting on radio:
(alt rock)
Anberlin- True Faith
(yes, it’s a New Order cover)
Julian Casablancas - Out Of The Blue
Mudvayne - Scream With Me
Lissy Trullie - Ready For The Floor
(triple a)
Rich Pagano & The Sugarcane Cups w/Trey Anastasio - You Want To Stay High”
Sunday, November 08, 2009
This Week in New Tunes
In Stores 11/10:
Bad Lieutenant Never Cry Another Tear
Bernard Sumner from New Order’s project.
The Cribs Ignore the Ignorant
Johnny Marr anyone?
Caroline Herring Golden Apples Of The Sun
Dashboard Confessional Alter the Ending
Streaming now on their ms.
Lissie Why You Running (EP)
Switchfoot Hello Hurricane
Impacting on radio:
(alt rock)
The Big Pink - Dominos
Filter - Fades from a Photograph
Papa Roach - Had Enough
Paper Tongues - Ride To California
Sick Puppies - Odd One
(triple a)
Lissie - Little Lovin’
(dl it here)
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Not Gonna Cry
Monday, November 02, 2009
New In Stores and on the Radio
In Stores 11/3:
The Almost Monster Monster
Julian Casablancas Phrazes for the Young
Foo Fighters Greatest Hits
Glee The Music, Volume 1
Morrissey Swords
Moz gifts us with a B-Sides compilation right in time for the holidays. (Though you gotta wait until the 17th for the deluxe edition.)
Say Anything self-titled
Snow Patrol Late Night Tales
This is actually a compilation curated by Snow Patrol (though they contribute a cover of INXS’ “New Sentation"). More deets here.
Weezer Raditude
Impacting on radio:
(alt rock)
Dead Weather - I Cut Like A Buffalo
Five Finger Death Punch - Walk Away
Pearl Jam - Just Breathe
(triple a)
Fanfarlo - Harold T. Wilkins
JJ Grey - Tupelo Honey
Monday, October 26, 2009
Show Spotlight: Jupiter One at HOB
If you’re headed out to see Regina Spektor at HOB on Monday, make sure you show up early to see Jupiter One. The low-down....
Artist: Jupiter One
Album: Sunshower
Recommended if you like: “jazzy rock music” – New York Times
From the press kit:
“striking pure gold with melodic yet passionate indie rock” – Urb Magazine
“(J1) covers a lot of different styles while managing to maintain a funky, new wave-infused base… surprisingly dance-friendly.” – PopMatters
“tight new-wave rock, ranging from crisp up-tempo tunes to more eccentric, almost hip-hoppy tracks. Whatever the setting, the local quintet really slathers on the synths, giving its music a pervasive ’80s feel.” – TimeOut NY
Standout Tracks: “Lights Go Out","Simple Stones”
Worth a second listen?:
They’ve been getting airplay on Sirius/XM’s Alt nation (which is where I first heard them), but they also might be familiar to you because they’ve had songs placed in TV, video games and commercials. These tunes feel a new wave-y but they don’t sound outdated.
More info/listen: myspace/official
Sunday, October 25, 2009
This Week In New Tunes
Great week for new music. Of course, I’m gonna recommend getting the Tegan and Sara. Trying to get through Wolfmother and Awesome New Republic for reviews later this week.
In Stores 10/27:
Awesome New Republic Hearts
Metric Plug In, Plug Out
This is an acoustic EP that will be available via Amazon.
Pink Martini Splendor In The Grass
Tegan and Sara Sainthood
Train Save Me, San Francisco
Wolfmother Cosmic Egg
Impacting on radio:
(alt rock)
Them Crooked Vultures - New Fang
Puddle Of Mudd - Spaceship
Crash Kings - Mountain Man
(triple a)
Moby - Mistake
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Pearl Jam - Just Breathe
The Mother Hips - Pacific Dust
Friday, October 23, 2009
Show Spotlight: The Low Anthem at Casbah
When perusing the list of shows for tomorrow at SD Dialed In, you should really consider heading out to the Blind Pilot/Low Anthem show at the Casbah. I have heard nothing but good reviews of Blind Pilot’s live show. And you definitely should get there early to check out Low Anthem’s SD debut. I took their debut album for a few spins and I’m pretty excited to see them. The deets on the tunes.....
Artist: The Low Anthem
Album: Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
Recommended if you like: folk-y rock
From the press kit:
“Gorgeous chamber folk...Following the path cleared by Nick Drake and Tim Buckley, and now well trod by folks like Sufjan Stevens and Sam Beam, The Low Anthem is at its best composing songs fit for a hipster orchestra, with Knox’s delicate vocals backed by an assortment of quirky instrumentation.” - Paste
“One of the breakthrough albums of 2009… A highly eventful journey into American songcraft, variously echoing Dylan, Springsteen, The Band, and Tom Waits.” - MOJO
“Really beautiful… The great music, it’s not what you play; it’s what you don’t play.” - Billy Bragg (PROJO)
Standout Tracks: “To Ohio”, “To The Ghosts Who Write History Books”
Worth a second listen?:
This is normally not my speed, but I actually liked this. I do hear the Springsteen/Dylan/Waits comparisons. It will be good to see these songs in person to make a final assessment.
More info/listen: myspace
