Video: Damien Jurado – Nothing Is The News

Here is a clip (directed by Nathan Vollmar) for “Nothing Is The News” from Damien Jurado’s Maraqopa, out February 21st on Secretly Candian. Maraqopa is Jurado’s second album produced by fellow songwriter Richard Swift, following 2010′s overlooked Saint Bartlett. Jurado will be on tour this spring and will stop by D.C. on May 21st at the Black Cat. I saw him open for John Vanderslice last year and can assure you that he puts on an excellent live performance.

1. Nothing Is The News
2. Life Away From The Garden
3. Maraqopa
4. This Time Next Year
5. Reel To Reel
6. Working Titles
7. Everyone A Star
8. So On, Nevada
9. Museum Of Flight
10. Mountains Still Asleep

Spiritualized to Release Sweet Heart in March

“I’m obsessed with music and the way you put it together and I don’t believe there are any rules.” ~Jason Pierce, Spiritualized

A new album from Spiritualized album is an event. After a delay or two, it looks as if the next Spiritualized album is set for release on March 19th. Fat Possum will handle the U.S. release of Sweet Heart Sweet Light, Jason Pierce’s 7th album as Spiritualized and first since 2008′s underrated Songs In A&E.

1. Hey Jane
2. Little Girl
3. Get What You Want
4. Too Late
5. Heading For The Top
6. Freedom
7. I Am What I Am
8. Mary
9. Life Is A Problem
10. So Long You Pretty Things

Photo by Steve Gullick

Dischord Revives Fugazi Live Series

The quest for Fugazi news is like a dog begging for scraps. We’ll take anything we can get. That’s why Dischord’s revival of the Fugazi Live Series is gaining a lot of attention. Dischord previously released 30 Fugazi live shows on CD back in 2004 and 2005, but that was just a small endeavor compared to what they have now undertaken. The legendary D.C. label has posted 130 shows (29 are from the previous series) for download with plans to post additional shows monthly. If you are keeping score at home, Fugazi played more than 1,000 shows from 1987 to 2003 and recorded over 800 of them. There is no guarantee that all of those will be posted, but the band is going to give it their best attempt. Individual shows can be downloaded for $5.00, but a pay-what-you-want model is also available. If you have a lot of disposable income, $500 will allow you access to all current shows as well as any posted in the future. Be sure to head over to The New York Times web site for a new interview with members Ian Mackaye and Guy Picciotto that offers insight on this massive project.

Photo by Glen E. Friedman

Archers Of Loaf Reissue Series Continues

Archers Of Loaf reissued their debut album Icky Mettle to rave reviews in August. In late February, Merge will reissue the group’s sophomore effort, Vee Vee. The Archers sent out a preview of the album’s artwork (as seen above) to their mailing list today. I miss the old artwork! More details on the reissue are expected later in the week.

Edit: Tracklisting has been posted over at Merge. Release date is February 21.

Constantines Frontman Goes Solo

There are always bands you wish you could have seen live. The Constantines are one of those bands for me. After ten years together, the band ominously announced in 2010 that, at the very least, they were taking a break. Frontman Bry Webb has managed to stay busy over the last year though. Webb makes a cameo on the latest album from fellow Canadian darling Feist, whom he will be opening for on a brief set of dates that begin later this month. This Tuesday, November 15th, marks the release of Webb’s debut solo album, Provider.  The nine-song effort will be released by Canadian label Idée Fixe Records. Sample “Rivers Of Gold” below and then head over to Exclaim! to view two live performances of new songs.

Tour (Opening for Feist)

11/20/11 – Northern Alberta – Jubilee Auditorium

11/21/11 – Calgary – Jack Singer Concert Hall

12/1/11 – Toronto – Massey Hall

12/3/11 – Montreal – Metropolis

12/5/11 – Ottawa – National Arts Centre

12/6/11 – Quebec City – GrandTheatre du Quebec

Fall 1991

If you were an avid music fan coming of age in the late 80′s or early 90′s, you experienced Nevermind, but if you looked deeper, you also experienced two classic albums that were released within two weeks of each other in the fall of 1991. Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend was released on October 22nd, 1991 and My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless dropped on November 4th, 1991. One redefined power-pop, the other flipped guitar-rock on its head completely. It is no surprise that neither artist has come close to topping these feats, with the latter failing to release another record at all. I wouldn’t hear these albums until years later (I was five in ’91), but they remain as potent as ever. I can only imagine how amazing it must have felt to experience this music as it was being released for the first time.

Ideal Halloween Soundtrack

I hold the belief that “Alison” by Slowdive is the ideal Halloween soundtrack, especially if it is being blasted out of a speeding car with the windows down at night. You can’t go wrong with Souvlaki, an album meant for Fall if there ever was one.