No Second Troy Release Colors on April 27th

Washington DC's No Second Troy teeters on the edge of anthemic-influenced indie rock, rich in explosive vocal melodies, driven by railing guitars, and balanced by subtle layers of piano and Hammond organ, when they release Colors on April 27th.

While many of the band’s songs touch on relationships, past and present, related and romantic, No Second Troy originated as the title of a William Butler Yeats poem. The song "The Black and White Movie" references parts of the poem and reveals a thematic overlap in its lyrics. Like the poem, the band's lyrics at times seek a release from past relationships, even to the extent of apologizing on behalf of the person who caused the emotional injury. Mike Beach explains, "'The Black and White Movie' is an acknowledgment that we overanalyze our relationships and foolishly seek the perfection we see in Hollywood movies, thereby having our relationships fall into one of two categories - bliss or something inadequate – in other words, viewing the world as a black and white movie and failing to see all the colors and nuances."
No Second Troy garnered praise from SPIN while charting on the CMJ Top 200 on their last record, Narcotic. On the upcoming release, Colors, the band was led to Inner Ear Studios where they worked with Chad Clark of Silver Sonya Studios (Fugazi, Q & Not U, Georgie James), TJ Lipple and Nick Anderson to produce and engineer the record. Lead singer Jeff Wharen notes, "We really liked Chad and TJ"s vision of capturing the band’s sound at its most authentic – moving away from digital editing and auto-tuning, while recording drums and bass on tape, and encouraging the band to just sound like itself, rather than trying to sound like something we think might be a critical success. We also liked Chad's commitment to mixing the songs based on what they were about – pairing the aesthetics of the musical and the lyrical."

Colors Track Listing
1) Colors
2) Grounded
3) The Black and White Movie
4) Leap of Faith
5) Casting Agent
6) Wake Up
7) This is the End of Me
8) Let it Go
9) Surfacing
10) The Argonaut
11) Golden Age
12) The Fountain

Download or post the free mp3 of "This is the End of Me" Click Here to Read More..

Vinca Minor is "Here" on Ball of Wax Compilation

Vinca Minor’s ethereal ambience will be featured with the unreleased song "Here" exclusive to the Ball of Wax Volume 19 Compilation. Vinca Minor will also appear at the release show on Wednesday March 17th at The Sunset Tavern. Show time 9:50 pm. Click Here to Read More..

Alan Cohen Experience Concept Album Inspired by Stephen Hawking

Featured on CNN and in the UK's The Guardian, Alan Cohen Experience plans to release the upcoming full-length album, Space & Time, this summer. The concept album based on Stephen Hawking's book, "A Brief History of Time", gives a chapter-by-chapter account through each song.
Focusing on topics such as gravity, black holes, and all the poetic aspects that tie these to our understanding of the world and universe, the album, co-produced by Cohen and Tony Goddess of Papas Fritas, constitutes a mixture of upbeat 70's influenced sing-a-long power-pop wrapped around quirky wit. Space & Time blends a number of genres including rock, funk and pop while solidly rooting itself in the anti-folk movement. Guitar, keys and bass flow together seamlessly mixing a splash of blues inside the rock element, all while keeping with the theme. Cohen's different approach to music, through the juxtaposition of smart subject matter and light-hearted catchy melodies appealing to the intellectual who dares to be different. Click Here to Read More..

Grand Atlantic on SXSW Watch

Austin Town Hall adds Australia's Grand Atlantic to their SXSW Watchlist. saying "Tripwires" "reminds me a lot of Dandy Warhols." Download the song here. Click Here to Read More..

Win tickets to see Rocky Votolato and Golden Bloom!

Time's running out to win tickets to see Golden Bloom with Rocky Votolato, Peasant and Thieving Irons at Mercury Lounge tomorrow night. Head on over to Living Free NYC and leave a comment for your chance to win! Click Here to Read More..

Largehearted Boy Offers Golden Bloom & The Motion Sick MP3s

Head on over to Largehearted Boy's Daily Downloads to grab Golden Bloom's cover of The Motion Sick's insanely infectious tune "30 Lives". Can't get enough? Check out The Motion Sick's original version while you are there as well. Click Here to Read More..

Read My Email

We often hear from bands who tell us, "I've tried emailing music bloggers, but I can't get them to respond." It's not uncommon to have that problem, even when you have the relationship with the writer or blogger. These guys are getting hundreds, even thousands of emails every day and it's difficult for them to read every one of them, let alone reply. There are a few ways you can cut through the clutter however.

First off, make sure the media contact you are approaching will indeed like your music. Have they covered other bands that you've been compared to by fans and other media?

Second, although it goes against all logic,take the focus off of selling your band and focus on what the blogger and writer is doing. Think about it like a conversation when you meet someone new. Wouldn't you much rather have them comment about what you are doing and ask you questions about yourself vs hearing them go on and on about themselves?

Use the title of the article they wrote or the band they covered in your email subject. This will greatly increase your chances of having the email opened in the first place. Then talk to them about what you really liked about their review or the artist they covered. These are music people so of course they'd love to talk about music.

Include a link to your music with a mp3 they can offer for download and make sure you let them know it's approved for posting. DO NOT SEND AN ATTACHMENT! I repeat, DO NOT SEND AS AN ATTACHMENT! Nothing is more aggravating then having to wait 15 minutes for all your other emails to go through because you have a 5MB file coming through your server.

I also recommend writing a brief blurb about your band that they can copy and paste to post with the music. Often times bloggers don't have time to write one of their own, so whatever you can do to help take the load off of them will help your cause. And at all costs, avoid hyping your band by saying you are unique, the best, stellar are any of the like. Use descriptive words that can really give the reader an idea of what you sound like. Some examples can be found here. Nine times out of ten a writer will post directly from those blurbs.

Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Building long term relations with the writers you'd like to cover you will only add longevity to your career. Click Here to Read More..

Golden Bloom and The Motion Sick Give Free MP3

When one band covers the other band's music, who is it really giving away the song? It's a bit confusing, especially when they do a mutual song swap. In this case we're giving it a 50/50 split with a free mp3 download of the Golden Bloom covering The Motion Sick's "30 Lives". It will be available for one week only so get it while you can!

Compare and contrast by checking out The Motion Sick's original version here. Click Here to Read More..

Alan Cohen Experience Joins Tom Waits, Devendra Banhart, Neil Young

Alan Cohen Experience joins the likes of Tom Waits, Devendra Banhart, and Neil Young on the Estacion Terrapin podcast. The best part is it's a first glimpse at "Einstein" off the upcoming Space & Time album due out later this year. Click Here to Read More..

SXSW Showcasing Artist, Grand Atlantic, Offers New MP3

In the vein of bands like My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver and Teenage Fanclub, Australia's Grand Atlantic offers a fresh mp3 off their upcoming album, How We Survive which is due out in the US on Tuesday, March 9th. Download "She's a Dreamer" here. Click Here to Read More..

Alan Cohen Gives the Experience

Alan Cohen Experience head to Philly on Saturday, February 27th to play Philly's Magic Gardens.

Download the free "Ranger Stranger" MP3 and sing along at the show! Click Here to Read More..

Leopold and His Fiction Play Neon Reverb

In preparation for the release of their upcoming album later this year, Leopold and His Fiction will head to Las Vegas for the second year in a row to play the Neon Reverb music festival next month where they will join Ruby Suns and Autumn Owls.

Want a sneak peak of what to expect? Head yourself on over to Las Vegas Weekly for a sneak peak of lead singer, Daniel James in a Native American headdress from last year's festival. Click Here to Read More..

Ryan's Smashing Life States Vinca Minor One of Best New Albums of 2010

Vinca Minor's Matt Menovcik wakes up every morning in his Seattle apartment to Brian Eno's Music For Films CD. Ryan's Smashing Life proclaims, "One listen to Vinca Minor's sparse but powerful new release Isolation, and we are completely won over. Menovcik is a master it seems at pulling on emotional strings. In the space of seven epic songs, we go from being prideful, soaring to empty, alone and confused. We at times feel whimsical and light, other times paralyzed by beauty our eyes can't see. Menovcik has lifted us out of our lives and into his. It would be the understatement of the year to see Vinca Minor has been influenced by epic movie scores. These are epic explorations of other worlds - reminding me a bit of the sonic landscapes rolled out by Gustav Holst."

Menovcik explains, "That's the thing I really like about film music – that building of a world. That is something I was definitely trying to achieve with this record. I really wanted to make a place where the listener could escape to and get lost in. Film is such a powerful medium with both the imagery and the sound, which is why I like scoring films."

While comparing Vinca Minor to other noteworthy minimalist instrumentalists like Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, Ghost of the Russian Empire, and The Photographic, Ryan says "To expound further on the material would likely lessen from its power - and it is powerful. Unpredictably, Vinca Minor has released one of the best new albums of 2010. Highly Recommended."

Hear for yourself by downloading the free "From Here to Eternity" mp3 at Ryan's Smashing Life. Click Here to Read More..

Grand Atlantic Joins 44 Aussie and New Zealand bands at SXSW

"Over 300 bands and artists from Australia and New Zealand applied for SxSW along with more then 10,000 others from 49 countries. Out of close to 75 OZ & NZ bands or solo artists were invited to showcase with a total of 44 confirmed." -SXSW

Heading to SXSW? Check out Grand Atlantic at the FREE Sounds Australia Day Party at Maggie Mae's on Saturday, March 20th. Click Here to Read More..

Two Amazing Bands You Should Already Know

Ryan's Smashing Life has it in for The Motion Sick and Golden Bloom proclaiming them "two amazing bands you should already know." Now we know Ryan is in the know, which is why we gave him a sneak peak, or listen if you will, of The Motion Sick vs Golden Bloom split release. Don't miss out, check out Golden Bloom covering The Motion Sick's "30 Lives" and The Motion Sick returning the favor on Golden Bloom's "Doomsday Devices."

In Boston? Get your tickets to the release show tonight at the Middle East before it sells out! Click Here to Read More..

Golden Bloom Joins Rocky Votolato at Mercury Lounge on February 24th

New York's own, Shawn Fogel of Golden Bloom will open for Rocky Votolato on at the Mercury Lounge on Wednesday, February 24th. With Thieving Irons (Nate Martinez formerly of Pela)and Peasant on the bill, this one's sure to sell out so be sure to get your tickets before it's too late! Click Here to Read More..

The Dumbing of America Jumps on Board with Grand Atlantic

The Dumbing of America knows Grand Atlantic ain't no dummies. Comparing them to Sub Pop's Love Battery and Creation's Swervedriver they claim, "Australia's Grand Atlantic make pure unabashed rock," while suggesting "you buckle up now and jump on this train before it becomes bandwagonesque."

So if these lads could have any superpower, what would it be? In no particular order, we've got:
- Time travelling
- Bulletproof Hair
- The ability to wear womens’ jeans which are 2 sizes to tight.
- Sick round house kicks

Y'know all the standards for a good rock band. To read the full interview and catch some snappy videos head on over to The Dumbing of America Click Here to Read More..

Golden Bloom vsThe Motion Sick Split Single Now Available on iTunes!

Golden Bloom Vs. The Motion Sick split single is now available on iTunes! Check out Golden Bloom's version of The Motion Sick's "30 Lives" and their take on Golden Bloom's "Doomsday Devices". Download it while it's HOT! Click Here to Read More..

Golden Bloom's front man, Shawn Fogel, asks "Who Do I Make the Check Out To?"

After Fan the Flames was rated one of the top ten albums of 2009 by The Red Alert, Golden Bloom's Shawn Fogel took the time to answer some questions from their writer, Kevan Peterson, allowing him to "pick his brain on music, politics and what makes a one-man band tick...[pulling] the curtain back on this mad wizard of the indie music world."

Peterson asked Fogel "What's one question you've never been asked in an interview, that you wish you had?" and he replied, "Who do I make out the check to? I’d like to hear that question more often."

Click here to read more of Fogel's witty banter and see what inspires his music. Click Here to Read More..

Leopold and his Fiction's Live Shows Steal the Spotlight with Their Music and Hair!

SF Weekly made it out to see Leopold and his Fiction play Bottom of the Hill and Jasmine Blocker had this to say about the experience: The talented Leopold and His Fiction stole the Blank Tapes' thunder. The local three-piece has more energy and soul on stage than I've seen in a long time. Working double-time, the members played at least two instruments each to create a fast-paced, full sound. Lead singer Daniel James has a soulful, powerful voice that keeps your attention. His songs tell stories about growing up, women, booze, and living in a small town. He forced the crowd to come closer to the stage at the beginning of the set, and by the end he had half the room dancing.

But please take note of the "Editor's Notebook" at the end of the review: "Between Leopold and His Fiction and The Lonely H, there was a lot of fabulous hair going on. I was a bit jealous." Click Here to Read More..

The Motion Sick Really Does Have "30 Lives"

We think The Motion Sick were on to something when they wrote the song, "30 Lives". Released over two years ago on the album,The truth will catch you, just wait... , the song featured the oh-so-secret (ok, not that secret) Konami Code. In the two years, there's been a video, an inclusion on Dance Dance Revolution, and of course the Konami Code interactive "dance" during the live show. It seemed inevitable a cover would follow.

So prepare yourself this week for the release of the split 7 inch featuring Golden Bloom covering The Motion Sick's "30 Lives" and The Motion Sick covering Golden Bloom's "Doomsday Devices".

Dying to hear it? Check out the streamed audio. Click Here to Read More..

Grand Atlantic offers free mp3 to Largehearted Boy

They may be Aussies, but Grand Atlantic appeal to the Anglophile set in pure Brit-pop pleasure. If you're a fan of bands like Redd Kross and My Bloody Valentine, head on over to Largehearted Boy to download the free "Coast is Clear" mp3! Click Here to Read More..

AUSTRALIA'S GRAND ATLANTIC RELEASES HOW WE SURVIVE ON MARCH 9TH, 2010 SUPPORTING WITH US TOUR IN MARCH INCLUDING OFFICIAL SXSW SHOWCASE

"…most of the songs recall the time when bands like Teenage Fanclub, the Posies, Redd Kross and Velvet Crush made power pop with enough sonic muscle to rival the grunge band…How We Survive is highly recommended…"(Underneathica, USA)

BRISBANE, Australia (February 9th, 2010) - Described by Ripple as molding the "psychedelic post-punk ethereal moods of their countrymen, The Church, with the shoegazing swirling madbeat of The Stone Roses", Brisbane Australia's Grand Atlantic will release How We Survive on March 9th, 2010 through Laughing Outlaw Records with SXSW showcases on March 18th and 20th.
A swaggering rhythm section in tow, Grand Atlantic combines crunchy riffs and chiming, Byrds-esque guitars, welded seamlessly to robust pop songs with instantly-memorable choruses. Lyrically, the new album attempts to reconcile lead singer Phil Usher's feelings on mortality and loss, self-belief vs. self-doubt, and the challenges of living in this modern world. If that all sounds too serious, don't be put off - these songs are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and Usher delivers an uplifting set of pop gems that can stand proudly beside the best in the genre. Usher says "The title of the album deals with how people particularly in our Western society get by from Sunday to Sunday and the differences and contrasts that people from diverse cultures experience. What someone in our city considers a tough time is completely different to what someone in a war zone would be experiencing daily. I think the title is particularly aimed at Westerners, as most of us have been handed so much opportunity, yet we often complain and think that we are hardly done by."

How We SurviveTrack Listing

US Tour Dates Click Here to Read More..