Kind of Bleu

Redd Kross – “Researching the Blues”

Peter Cauvel — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:41:16 +0000

Redd Kross recently signed with Merge Records to release their first new album in 15 years. The new LP’s title track, “Researching the Blues,” is a fantastic return from the band.

Singer/guitarist Jeff McDonald wrote the ten tracks on Researching the Blues, and his brother, Steve McDonald (who also plays bass in OFF!), produced it.

Listen to “Researching the Blues” and check out the tracklist after the jump.

Researching the Blues tracklist:
1. Researching the Blues
2. Stay Away From Downtown
3. Uglier
4. Dracula’s Daughters
5. Meet Frankenstein
6. One of the Good Ones
7. The Nu Temptations
8. Choose to Play
9. Winter Blues
10. Hazel Eyes

Metric – “Speed the Collapse”

Peter Cauvel — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:56:24 +0000

Metric released another new track from their upcoming album, Synthetica. “Speed the Collapse” has layered textures and soaring hooks, which give it a completely different feel than the album’s dark first single, “Youth Without Youth.”

Synthetica is out June 12.

Yeasayer – “Henrietta”

Peter Cauvel — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:42:27 +0000

Yeasayer made a surprise return this week. According to We All Want Someone To Shout For, the band sent fans on their mailing list physical CDs with a brand new track.

The new song, “Henrietta,” is thick with psychedelic echoes and noises, but has one of the best grooves Yeasayer’s ever made. It definitely fulfills their promise of a “demented R&B record.”

HEALTH – “Tears”

Peter Cauvel — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:33:29 +0000

You’ve probably heard the newest HEALTH song in the commercials for the video game Max Payne 3. The noise-rock band composed the soundtrack to the game, and “Tears” is the first song that’s surfaced from it.

It’s an eerie, droning jam that seems to fit the cinematic and violent scenes from the game. It worked beautifully in the trailer, and the full-length song is even better.

You can listen to HEALTH’s full score on the game, and the soundtrack comes out next week, if video games aren’t your thing.

The Walkmen – “The House You Made”

Peter Cauvel — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:27:08 +0000

I feel like the only band I’ve been writing about lately is The Walkmen. Quite a few tracks have surfaced from their upcoming seventh album, Heaven – ”We Can’t Be Beat,” “Heartbreaker,” “Heaven” and “Southern Heart.”

The latest song to to come up, “The House You Made,” isn’t on the album, though. It’s the b-side on the title track’s limited edition 7″. Even though it didn’t make the album, “The House You Made” is still a gem.

Heaven is out May 29 on Fat Possum.

The Tallest Man on Earth – “1904″

Peter Cauvel — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:45:31 +0000

Rolling Stone premiered the first single from the Tallest Man on Earth‘s upcoming record, There’s No Leaving Now. “1904″ is the first single from the follow up to 2010′s incredible The Wild Hunt.

It sounds fuller than the stark recordings of The Wild Hunt, but every bit as beautiful. Kristian Matsson, aka the Tallest Man on Earth, gently plucks the mandolin over the rich acoustic strums.

“1904″ will leave you wanting more. So until There’s No Leaving Now comes out on June 12, I’ll be spinning The Wild Hunt a ton.

Gold Panda – “Mountain” and “Financial District”

Peter Cauvel — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:24:49 +0000

British producer Derwin Panda, aka Gold Panda, is releasing a new single, his first new music since his fantastic debut album, Lucky Shiner.

The two sides of the “Mountain”/”Financial District” single show both sides of its producer. Gold Panda’s Eastern influence comes through in the vast sprawl of “Mountain.” The a-side’s flutter of synths and flutes, combined with Asian folk instruments, draw out deep spirituality even over the 808 hip-hop beat.

“Financial District” is its opposite. The b-side’s ticking rhythm, humming bass and soft drones create imagery that’s distinctly urban, like its name. Panda calls it “crowded, synthetic and shiny … repetitive” — exactly like a city.

The single is a welcome return from one of the most exciting electronic artists. Stream both sides below. “Mountain”/”Financial District” is out now digitally, and Ghostly will release the vinyl on June 12.

“Mountain”:

“Financial District”:

The Walkmen – “We Can’t Be Beat”

Peter Cauvel — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:11:33 +0000

The tracks from Heaven keep rolling in. “We Can’t Be Beat” is the latest cut from The Walkmen‘s seventh album, from which we’ve already heard “Heartbreaker,” “Heaven” and “Southern Heart.”

“We Can’t Be Beat” is another slower song. It’s heavy on acoustic guitars and rich harmonies, showing the band’s folkier side. It actually might have the least amount of reverb I’ve ever heard in a Walkmen song.

Heaven comes out May 29 on Fat Possum.

Sam Means – NONA

Peter Cauvel — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:07:23 +0000

Since the Format broke up in 2008, the duo’s musical differences have become glaringly obvious. Nate Ruess recorded a few leftover Format tracks before diving headfirst into the mainstream with fun., while Sam Means maintained the quiet classic-rock-influenced indie pop that had driven Dog Problems.

Means finally released his first physical output, NONA, on Record Store Day this year. The white 7″ vinyl contains two songs and comes with a download card for two bonus tracks.

The a-side, “I Will Follow (That’s All),” was co-written by his former bandmate Mark Buzard and features three other Format players: Mike Schey, John O’Reilly and Don Raymond. With basically the old band back together, it’s hard not to hear him picking up where Dog Problems left off. Means and ROAR’s Owen Evans harmonize like the Beach Boys over syncopated Kinks rhythms.

“Something in the Air,” the single’s b-side, bops along like some of Wilco’s catchiest tunes, with Limbeck’s Patrick Carrie adding guitar and vocals.

The two digital tracks, “Long Way Down” and “Will You Hang Around?,” round out the EP. “Long Way Down” floats along with big guitar hooks and buoyant keys. “Will You Hang Around?” starts out as echoing lo-fi before opening up into the sleepy ballad to Means’ daughter.

The deluxe version, for sale on his Bandcamp, also includes a cover of the Hollies’ brilliant pop song “Carrie Ann.” I really wish it came with the 7″, but NONA is still exactly what I had hoped for. Its 12 (or 15) minutes are over way too soon, but that only makes you want to play it again.

Stream NONA below. There are still a few vinyl copies left at Hello Merch, or on his Bandcamp.

The Walkmen – “Southern Heart”

Peter Cauvel — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:48:09 +0000

Another new song from The Walkmen‘s upcoming album, Heaven, has surfaced. “Southern Heart” debuted on Radio Scorpio, and We All Want Someone to Shout For offers a radio rip of the new track.

“Southern Heart” is a somber, acoustic ballad, with singer Hamilton Leithauser’s vocals echoing heavily. The radio rip isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely worth a listen.

Heaven is out May 29 on Fat Possum.