The much underrated Superdrag is back with its first album in 7 years, Industry Giants, and a new video for the song “Aspertame”. The album is officially out on the 17th of March but you can hear new tunes at MySpace and check out the video below. Can’t wait to hear the whole album!
From NME.com:
Billie Joe Armstrong has hinted that their forthcoming new Butch Vig-produced album could take a “power pop” direction.
The frontman did not reveal song titles or details of the songs they are currently working on in the studio, but name-checked The Creation, The Who, The Beatles, Cheap Trick and The Jam as possible influences.
“I really like fucking with arrangements,” Armstrong told Altpress.com. “I always try to look at the possibilities of how you write power-pop music.
“How do you take something - and it could be anything from The Creation and The Who to The Beatles to Cheap Trick to The Jam - and try to expand on the idea of what is supposed to be three-chord mayhem?
“How do you do it in a way where the arrangements are just unpredictable? So I’m pushing myself to be progressive in songwriting and being a songwriter.”
The frontman went on to discuss working with Vig, who produced Nirvana’s seminal grunge album ‘Nevermind’ in 1991. “He doesn’t take for granted what we have here [in the studio],” he said, “but he uses everything to the best of his knowledge and the best of his ability.
“I mean, he gets psyched on a fucking microphone! That’s inspiring. That’s amazing. He’s not a cheerleader type of producer; he’s just a very hard-working, straightforward guy.
“He’s very Midwestern, too. For example, he’ll turn around when you’re working on something and just go, ‘That’s badass.’ And you’re like, ‘What do you mean, ‘badass?’ Is that more bad, or is it, like, ass?’”
Superdrag is in my opinion one of the most underrated bands of the last 10-15 years. Their first 2 albums are my favorites and this newly reunited version of Superdrag features all the original band members who contributed to those albums. The band has recorded a new album titled Industry Giants and it will be available in March 2009. Here’s a few words from the band:
The Superdrag reunion was the talk of 2007, their performances at Bonnaroo and Monolith were the talk of 2008, and 2009 will be the year of Industry Giants, the new album from Knoxville’s favorite sons Superdrag. Industry Giants will be the first studio album by the reunited line-up of Coffey, Davis, Fisher, and Pappas since ‘98’s Head Trip In Every Key.
Industry Giants finds Superdrag’s music moving forward, and nullifies the unwritten law which dictates that all reunion albums must be bitter disappointments. The songs say something meaningful about the world that speaks to everyone, and at times they rock harder than Superdrag has ever been known to rock before.
John Davis’ statement says it all: ‘I can’t wait to get the record out. I can’t wait for people to hear it. I wish it could come out tomorrow.’
Produced by John Davis and recorded and mixed in Nashville, Knoxville, and Los Angeles, Industry Giants will be released on Superdrag Sound Labratories / Thirty Tigers, March 17th 2009.
Check out the bands MySpace page for some of the new tracks(Filthy and Afraid, Cheap Poltergeists) and be on the lookout for Industry Giants next year!
As Pitchfork recently reported, New Zealand new wavers Cut Off Your Hands are set to release their debut LP, You And I, in the US on January 20th. The record will be delivered via Frenchkiss Records, the home to Les Savy Fav, The Dodos and Passion Pit. Like the band’s sophomore EP, Blue on Blue, You and I was produced by Suede’s Bernard Butler, and features the bouncey, razor-sharp rock that’s been winning over fans since the 2006 release of the band’s self-titled debut EP. Check out the frantic video for “Expectations,” and the audio for the first single from the album, “Happy As Can Be,” below. Fresh off a string of successful CMJ shows, the band is currently touring Europe and Australia, before they’re slated to return to the US in 2009.
Watch And Share Cut Off Your Hands’ “Expectations” From You & I [Frenchkiss Records; January 20th]:
Download and Share Cut Off Your Hands’ “Happy As Can Be” From You & I [Frenchkiss Records; January 20th]
What The Press Is Saying About Cut Off Your Hands:
“Power-pop ooh-lahs, hip-rocking post-punk backbeats, and sleek guitar fingerings.” - Spin Magazine
“Swirling, elegiac punk.” - Dazed & Confused Magazine UK
“Honestly, what’s not to love? ” - NME
“Swooooon” - Vice Magazine
You and I Tracklisting:
01 Happy as Can Be (MP3)
02 Expectations (VIDEO)
03 Oh Girl
04 Turn Cold
05 It Doesn’t Matter
06 Heartbreak
07 In the Name of Jesus Christ
08 Let’s Get Out of Here
09 Still Fond
10 Closed Eyes
11 Nostalgia
12 Someone Like Daniel
On August 26, Matthew Sweet will release his 10th studio album, Sunshine Lies, in a new alliance with Shout! Factory. Fans who have eagerly awaited the album’s arrival (and have been tracking its progress under the working title Rock Bottom) will not be disappointed. Call it what you wish–Sweet terms it “power-pop-folk-rock-psychedelic-melodic-singer-songwriter-type stuff”–listeners will marvel at the depth and clarity of vision here. The album will also be released as a 2 LP set including four previously unreleased bonus tracks not available on the CD. For customer convenience, a CD will be included with purchases of the LP. The album features beautiful original photography by Brian Valentine.
Listen to first single “Daisychain”
By turns achingly melodic and startlingly visceral, Sunshine Lies swirls with poetic emotion and stark attitude, bringing neatly into play the entire gamut of Sweet’s stylistic experience. Flowing with masterful ease, Sweet’s uniquely personal songwriting never fails to delight, and he has described the album as “very direct, but seen through the eyes of nature, or rather modeled on its beauty, chaos and freedom, something like a stab at sonic art nouveau.”
Sunshine Lies was recorded at Lolina Green Studios in Los Angeles, CA, and produced and mixed by Matthew Sweet. Susanna Hoffs appears on the album, providing backup vocals on the title track. While familiars Ric Menck (drums), Ivan Julian (guitar), Greg Leisz (guitar/pedal steel guitar) and Richard Lloyd (guitar) are all here as well, Sweet let chance lead the way during the recording. He managed to teleport his songs into a surprisingly more abstract and psychedelic space, finding a “sure and natural realm in words, melody and performance, like a carousel mindflower.” Indeed. The vibrant Sunshine Lies will certainly revolve in your mind long after each listening.
Watch the video stream of the Acoustic version of “Byrd Girl”
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Sweet was part of the developing music scene in Athens, Georgia in the 1980s. Sweet came to fame in 1991 with his Top Five Modern Rock hit “Girlfriend,” off his certified gold album of the same name, followed by the critically acclaimed albums Altered Beast and the platinum follow up 100% Fun. After releasing a number of other excellent solo albums, Sweet formed The Thorns with fellow singer-songwriters Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge, and they released one self-titled album to positive reviews. Sweet then returned to his solo efforts, releasing Living Things and Kimi Ga Suki. In 2006 Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs collaborated on the Shout! Factory release Under The Covers Vol. 1, featuring 15 of the duo’s favorite pop tunes from the 1960s.
Tour Dates
8/25 Solana Beach, CA – The Belly Up
8/26 Los Angeles, CA - Amoeba in-store
8/27 San Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
8/28 Silver Lake, CA – The Echo
10/20 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
10/22 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
10/23 Chicago, IL – Park West
10/24 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls
10/25 Cleveland, OH - Beachland
10/27 Boston, MA – Paradise
10/28 NY, NY – Webster Hall
10/29 Falls Church, VA – State Theatre
10/30 Atlanta, GA – Variety
Matthew Sweet’s Official Site:
www.matthewsweet.com
Matthew Sweet’s Official MySpace:
Rooney’s new release Calling the World is now available to preview in its entirety on Myspace -
Calling the World hits stores on Tuesday, July 17th.
PLAY
