SUNDIALS Never Settle + New Album Pre-sale

Formed in Richmond, Va in 2010, Sundials is on the verge of releasing their second LP, When I Couldn’t Breath. The single New York Crunch has already dropped and I’m already obsessed. Right off the bat it reminded me a lot of Weezer, which I don’t think we get nearly enough of in powerpop these days. It’s a really catchy and promising song. I’m on the edge of my seat to hear the rest of Breath.

Sundials’ first album, Never Settle (Toxic Pop Records, 2011), is also catchy, but has it’s ups and downs. The production quality is sometimes iffy, some of the songs fall flat, and many lack originality. Don’t get me wrong, some of it is really fantastic, (see Carver Blues & Take You In My Coffee) but more than anything it promises that if the band keeps up and finds their direction they’ll hit hard with their second album. And the time has finally come! … Almost. You can Pre-order When I Couldn’t Breath from Asian Man Records here and Sundials has hinted that they might stream the whole album on their bandcamp closer to the actual release date. In the meantime you should just buy Never Settle, which might be a little generic but is definitely fun and smart. You can also hear one of their first releases on the first Sharp Corners mixtape!

Punknews.org Bought Out By Media Company

Who saw this coming?

Punknews.org bought out by media company.

Nocturne Released Today!

It’s finally August 28th and Wild Nothing’s new album is officially released on Captured Tracks!! Personally I’ve been listening to the album for weeks because Tatum allowed it to be streamed early on a few webpages. I don’t think album outshines Gemini or Golden Haze, but I’m still really into it. It stays true to the Wild Nothing sound, even if it lacks some of the earlier relatability and melancholy. Between Golden Haze and Nocturne Tatum moved from Blacksburg, VA to Brooklyn, NY so his new work is a little less heartfelt and a little overdone production-wise. I had prepared myself for much worse though after Cloud Nothings broke my heart by never releasing any shoegaze post Turning On. The point is: it’s a red letter day! Listen to Wild Nothing!

Right now!

Wild Nothing Tour also starts today!

8/28/2012 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada
8/29/2012 – Austin, TX – Red 7
8/31/2012 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
9/2/2012 – Los Angeles, CA – FYF Fest

GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD

Last week Spraynard broke up, but it was okay because Algernon Cadwallader released a mixtape to make us feel better. BUT IT WAS ALL A LIE! Today from Algernon’s blog:

“Algernon Cadwallader has officially been laid to rest. We were 7 years old. That’s 49 in dog years… I’ve (Tank) had an amazing past 5 years touring and writing music with my best friends Peter and Joe. So here’s the news: I’m having a kid and got a nursing job! I’m stoked about a little Tank running around with drum sticks. Unfortunately I’m unable to tour anymore.”

At least this is a happier farewell than Spraynard’s. CONGRATULATIONS TANK! … but … </3 this is all so sudden :(

Today’s News

I just woke up to a lot of “alt” news and I thought I’d update y’all. First of all Square of Opposition Records’ online store is set to be back up and running this morning after a long absence. They carry music from bands like Snowing, Nona, Peeple Watching, and Spraynard. If you don’t have Snowing’s I Could Do Whatever I Wanted If I Wanted now’s your chance! It’s so great! Especially the song It’s Just a Party as evidenced by the line: I spent my last 6 bucks on Whiskey and I sent a thousand texts that regret.

http://squareofopposition.bigcartel.com/

In related news, Spraynard announced on their tumblr last night that they broke up. RIP knowing the Troubling Kids were/are big fans <3

“Dear homies, spanning the globe.  As much as this hurts to say, it can’t wait any longer.Spraynard is no longer a band.  We started this band because all three of us were best friends.  Lately, that has not been the case. All three of us are moving in much different directions, and being in a full-time(ish) touring band just isn’t making sense anymore.  We apologize for the abruptness of this, but for now we won’t be playing a last show…”

To end this update on a happier note, (this is actually old news but I just found out about it) Algernon Cadwallader & Joyce Manor are on tour together and released a POP mixtape to promote the tour! Check it! They’re just like you and me! Except that we obviously hate Dr. Dog.

COLLEEN GREEN

Fall tour announced! And she’s covering all the bases so no excuses. Her first full album, Milo Goes to Compton (a spin on the Descendents’ Milo Goes to College) was released last February by Art Fag Recordings and includes covers of I Will Follow Him originally by Little Peggy March in 1963, the Descendents’ Good Good Things (one of my old favorites) and the Ramones’ I Wanna Be Sedated (sorta, it’s called I Wanna Be Degraded and it’s fuzzy and really only a half cover.) The rest of the songs are lo-fi garage pop about her weed and her crushes. The vocals are sweet and distant and the beats are a blast. Mostly she’s just so coool. She’s the indie grrrl of yr dreams if there ever was one. She even draws comics!!! <3

I can’t wait to see her live and hear tracks from Milo, wacky covers, and hopefully some EP B-sides (Y Do You Call Me especially!)

8/24 – San Diego, CA @ Tower Bar
8/25 – Tucson, AZ @ Plush
8/26 – Las Cruces, NM @ The Trainyard
8/27 – Lubbock, TX @ Glassy Alley
8/28 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk (inside)

Crabapple, so appeeling

With only a few more weeks of summer remaining we’ve all gotta listen to as many poppy summer jams as we can! With this in mind you should download Crabapple’s new demo, which was released last month from ex members of Sourpatch and Dear Marje. All five songs are dreamy pop tunes about being 21 and alone in the summertime. What more could you want?? Start Again and Never Summer are my favorites. Try ’em out on their bandcamp and name yr price.

sweaty summer days sitting by the riverside we’ll drink lemonade and tell each other lies

The Troubling Kids went to Omaha, and left before the dust had time to settle

This weekend was the Maha Music Festival in Omaha, Nebraska. Guess who was playing?

That’s right, Garbage! But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Somewhere in the suffocated Midwest

Welcome to Omaha! Where the landscape is grey and flat. The people are friendly or a little too friendly. And ignorance of Saddle Creek is creepily rampant.

We need more parking

Back to the music:

Shockingly, this isn’t a joke – Garbage was playing. They put on a decent show and their joy at touring was very evident. But the main event, of course, was Desparecidos!!

I’ll learn to pay attention to the blogosphere

Obviously they were amazing. They played every song from Read Music / Speak Spanish, their two new tracks, and, incredibly, a cover of Spanish Bombs. Conor Oberst was in typical spirits, sharing roughly zero words between songs, and storming off the stage at the end of the set. The crowd was awesome, although I think the two of us and the guy in front of us might have been the only people who knew “Spanish Bombs.” The people up front were super enthusiastic about the rest of the set though, and it was nice to see so many high schoolers appreciate Conor’s decade-old work. The Desparecidos’ reunion is clearly a godsend to all ages. They’ve got a few more dates lined up so try to see them if you can!

08/25/12	Seattle, WA	Showbox at The Market
	w/ Virgin Islands
08/26/12	Portland, OR	Crystal Ballroom
	w/ Virgin Islands
08/28/12	San Francisco, CA	Bottom of the Hill
	w/ The Vevet Teen
08/29/12	San Francisco, CA	Regency Ballroom
	w/ The Velvet Teen
09/02/12	Los Angeles, CA	FYF Fest