These New Puritans, Hidden

There is a lot of hype surrounding the new These New Puritans album Hidden. Download a free track from the upcoming album (available only for 7 days), not due out in the states until March 3, 2010.

Download These New Puritans “Orion”

Here’s an AMAZING track and video from the upcoming album as well. “We Want War” Available now on iTunes.

Devendra Banhart’s new album What Will We Be is released today. This will be his first release on a major label (Warner Bros.), which sometimes results in major changes for artists. A musician with such a plethora of experience, talent and diversity, such as Devandra, should weather the evil storm well.

In & Out of Control, the new album from the Raveonettes, is out today. A follow up to the Danish rockers Lust Lust Lust, In & Out of Control dares to mix mid-sixties pop rock with the cold darkness of modern culture. Pushing in and out of topics such as drugs, rape, violence and love… though do not let that scare you. The Raves have skillfully crafted an album that takes you on a journey through happiness and misery, psychedelics and bubblegum, and will have you singing about suicide with a smile.

Released today: The Big Pink, A Brief History of Love. The first full length album from the London duo. Their music encompasses everything great: pop, rock, indie, electronic, soulful vocals and distinct production beats.

Just released today is Rain Machine, Rain Machine. A solo album from Kyp Malone, the guitarist/vocalist from TV on the Radio. TVOR is currently on a break for the next year or so, which gives this lead-man a chance to shine alone. TVOR is one of my favorite groups and it’s gonna be a task to surpass their innovative talent and success. Kyp’s vocals on Rain Machine drive further into the soulful dynamics he gracefully accomplished on TVOR’s last album Dear Science. A method that took him three records to perfect and execute. Rain Machine goes deeper into experimentation and peers into a bluesy, folk singer-songwriter’s afternoon by the lake… dropping the drum heavy tracks for simple shakers, backwoods pickin and vocal harmonics.

Download the new Phish Album Joy, Only $3.99 on Amazon Today.

The last remaining member of the Smashing Pumkins, Billy Corgan, has his eyes set on releasing new material by October. He has to find a replacement for the recently departed long-time drummer. Let’s hope whatever fans he has left are still interested by the time a new record drops.

Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains

Sebastien Grainger, better known as the singer and drummer for dance-punk duo Death From Above 1979, has moved on to a solo effort while ex-DFA 1979-partner, Jesse Keeler, forges ahead as 1/2 of MSTRKRFT.

Sebastien’s first solo release definitely takes a slightly different direction than the intense vocal effects and distorted bass-guitar riffs predominantly heard from DFA 1979. Some moves he made were for the better…and some not so much. He still dives into washed-out amplified vocals on “Niagara” and “Love Can Be So Mean” could have been and earlier DFA song, re-visited with added melodies. “Renegade Silence” is similar to DFA but with a lot more soul and funk. Tracks such as “Who do We Care For” show improved song structure and have definite potential for major alternative radio air play. “I Hate My Friends” pushes a little too close to early 80′s commercial rock and seems to nip at the toes of the likes of REO Speedwagon. Sebastien has dropped a lot of electronic elements found in DFA and has opted for slower ballot style tracks like “(Are There) Ways to Come Home” and “Love is Not a Contest.” All-in-all Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains is a solid release for a solo artist stepping away from his previous persona. It does lack the fun, electro-rock party anthems that hooked me on DFA 1979, but Sebastien has grown as an artist and forges into new territory with more complex vocal variations and smart, although somewhat commercial, song structure and melodies.

New video for Black Balloon, directed by Kenneth Capello. The track is planned to be released on an upcoming EP as well. Hopefully, we’ll see some new material or bonus tracks/remixes. Hands down, The Kills most recent studio album, Midnight Boom, is one of the best albums of 2008. Sometimes it’s the most simplistic music that is the most powerful and this takes the cake. Stand-out  guitar riffs, a drum machine, vocals and solid songwriting make Midnight Boom an extremely memorable album. Still enjoying it…but literally can’t wait for another release. The Kills are currently on tour in Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the States.