This group is one of those things that you just have a feeling about. I’m telling you now, get in on this. My friend Frank, over on Windy City Rock posted on them already and beat me to the punch, haha. But that’s ok, because JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound simply cannot get enough exposure at this point, in my book! Just look at this video. Hot damn, these guys are good! I’m gonna see them Wednesday (tomorrow) night at the Tonic Room and as always, I’ll let you know how great it is! xoxo

They have an album out, Beat Of Our Own Drum… buy it from Rabbit Factory Records

Peter and David Brewis are at it again, joined by Kev Dosdale (guitar and keys) and Ian Black (bass), they have come together after soloing in 2008 with the release of two albums – David’s guitar heavy Sea From Shore album under the moniker School of Language and Peter’s The Week That Was. Measure, their new album as Field Music once again, features 20 tracks, and gives us a heady mix of orchestration, jazz beats and at times, an almost Steely Dan feeling smack to the modern indie scene. Measure has both authentically funky bass grooves, as witnessed on “Each Time Is a New Time” as well as the aesthetically pleasing acoustic guitar work that indie audiences will love, particularly prominent in “Precious Plans.” Without a doubt, the Brewis brothers have found in Dosdale and Black a true synergy of talent. This is not the music to drive to, to which you will aimlessly wash your dishes or dare I say, turn on to heat up your date. No, I can’t truthfully say it’s entirely sexy. But don’t take that as a non-endorsement of Field Music. What they bring you is heady stuff, … intellectually challenging, intriguing, with changes in tempo and style that is found in all good British, post-punk music. Chicago, come out to Lincoln Hall on March 17 and witness a preview of what Europe will see this summer from Field Music, xoxo

Tracklist
In The Mirror
Them That Do Nothing
Each Time is a New Time
Measure
Effortlessly
Clear Water
Lights Up
All You’d Ever Need to Say
Let’s Write a Book
You and I
The Rest is Noise
Curves of the Needle
Choosing Numbers
The Wheels are in Place
First Come the Wish
Precious Plans
See You Later
Something Familiar
Share the Words
It’s About Time

Tour Dates
Mar 15 2010 8:00P Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 16 2010 8:00P High Noon Saloon Madison, Wisconsin
Mar 17 2010 8:00P Lincoln Hall Chicago, Illinois
Mar 18 2010 8:00P The Blind Pig Ann Arbor, Michigan
Mar 19 2010 8:00P Horseshoe Tavern Toronto
Mar 20 2010 8:00P Motore Montreal, Quebec
Mar 21 2010 8:00P Great Scott Alston
Mar 23 2010 8:00P Bowery Ballroom New York, New York
Mar 26 2010 8:00P Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, California
Mar 27 2010 9:00P Bootleg Theatre Los Angeles, California
Mar 29 2010 8:00P The Casbah San Diego, California
Mar 30 2010 7:00P Amobea Hollywood Los Angeles, California
Apr 1 2010 9:00A KCRW – Morning Becomes Eclectic Session
Apr 20 2010 8:00P Point Ephemere Paris
Apr 22 2010 8:00P Manuscript Cafe Oostende
Apr 23 2010 8:00P Petrol Antwerpen
Apr 24 2010 8:00P Rotown Rotterdam
Apr 25 2010 9:30P Paradiso Amsterdam
Apr 28 2010 8:00P Comet Club Berlin, Berlin
Apr 29 2010 8:00P Luxor Koln
Apr 30 2010 8:00P Turmzimmer Hamburg
May 1 2010 8:00P Pop Revo Arhus
May 14 2010 8:00P Walk The Line Festival Den Haag
May 20 2010 8:00P The Maque Liverpool, Northwest
May 30 2010 8:00P Evolution Festival Newcastle, Northeast
Jun 5 2010 8:00P Wilde Theatre Bracknell, London and South East
Jul 31 2010 8:00P Camp Bestival Dorset, Southwest
Aug 22 2010 8:00P Green Man Festival Wales

I’ve been meaning to review this little lo-fi EP for months now and I’ve had this weirdo album art in my file for ages and I had no idea what it went with until today. I got an email from Jamie over at “Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide…and A New kind of Awesome” (which frankly, is an especially cool little phrase) today reminding me about Benjamin Shaw. And ok, I’ll say it here and instantly regret it, but yes… those reminder emails do actually work because my mail box is so totally overrun with stuff and if it were a physical thing it would look like a tarpaper shack with holes in the walls and vermin running out and in and piles of rusted out, twisted, once-useful things making the tin roof bulge at weird angles. Because I have almost abandoned it to that degree, shamefully, it’s true.

But, Benjamin Shaw, … he is anything but abandoned and rusty. He is gorgeously simple and lovely and makes these little songs that you can sing along to and well, I’m smitten with this EP. Because like anyone who makes lo-fi music, he makes it appear so simple, but you all know what I’m going to say next, it’s not, of course. It’s the addition of the vibrating hum on “The Carpeteer” that takes that little ditty and makes it all the more interesting. Other tracks like the title one, “I Got The Pox, The Pox Is What I Got” rely on “interesting” lyrics, set to more typical folk music to catch our attention: “Sunday night, 11 o’clock and I don’t want to think of tomorrow. Grinding of teeth and a bottle of red that I’m pushing down sick with each swallow. I’m tired, I”m sick, and I want to go home and throw up all night for good reasons. I’ll turn up at night and say that I’m fine while picturing  your limbs in the freezer.” Well then….

Benjamin Shaw is one of the contributors on Filthy Little Angels’ Pavement cover album, Show Me A Word That Rhymes With Pavement, I told  you about it here.  But it’s “Thanks For All The Biscuits” that catches my imagination. Perhaps it’s the dreamy, soundscapy intro. It might be the entrance of the kick drum at that perfect moment. I could be how the whole thing unwinds and unravels, gathering momentum until it picks up enough speed to simply collapse into itself: tambourine, guitar, drum, organ and back into that static/dreamscape again. You know me, I like the full-circle things of life, xoxo

Tuesday rapidly approaches and I’m wildly excited about Grand Atlantic coming to play for us here in Chicago. Their 2009 release, How We Survive has enjoyed a lot of blogger love. It will soon explode onto the U.S. music scene and begin to enjoy a whole lot more. Grand Atlantic have found their groove; they’ve crafted the perfect combination of hooks, riffs and at times, wistful vocals to woo audiences across this country. Their current tour is proving just that. And toward the end of this month thousands will hear it confirmed at SXSW. You will be convinced of what this blogger already knows: Grand Atlantic is on an unstoppable ride in one direction and that direction is most certainly UP.

How We Survive is rife with memorable melodies that hearken back to some of the great tunes of the Monkees or some of the early work of REM (“Last Train to Clarksville” is a song that I can easily see this band coming up with.) But far from being a cover band, Grand Atlantic weaves keen lyrics into musically complex songs that somehow retain a real accessibility. At just the right time, horns emerge in the title track, “How We Survive” and then quickly disappear. Twelve tracks give a good view of the wide talent this quartet holds. Backing harmonies are melodic and thoughtfully placed in songs that range in style from gritty garage rock to pure pop. Morgan Hann and Phil Usher handle some mean guitars on “Holding Pattern,”and “These Are The Times,” especially, taking short moments to show some flair. Throughout this record, Usher’s vocals range from pure good rock-n-roll cockiness to a more sensitive,  acoustic-style rasp; it’s just all good. And then, the last song, “Don’t Say Goodnight” brings it all down to a rather sweet, lullabye-like ending. As How We Survive finds a home with indie audiences in the US  Grand Atlantic is here to give it a face. Watch out for this up and coming band. You heard it here first. xoxo

Tracklist
Coast Is Clear
Tripwires
She’s A Dreamer
Freeway
How We Survive.
Used To Be the Sensitive Type
Just Another Ghost Town
Hit N Run / So Cold
Holding Pattern
These Are the Times
Don’t Say Goodnight

SXSW SHOWS
Thu Mar 18, 2010:
Sonny’s Vintage – 2928 Guadalupe St Austin, TX
Underground SXSW showcase
Show starts at 1:00pm
Free concert

Thu Mar 18, 2010:
Official SXSW Showcase
Red 7 – 611 E 7th St Austin, TX

Sat Mar 20, 2010:
Maggie Mae’s – 323 East 6th Street Austin, TX
Sounds Australia Day Party, SXSW
Show starts at 3:00pm
Free concert

Tripwires from Grand Atlantic on Vimeo.

Who else but the wonderfully naughty elves at Filthy Little Angels, (the preeminent label for unique compilations) could put together such a cool Pavement cover collection !?!
So, to be honest, I couldn’t tell you the name of a Pavement song if you held a gun to my head and played one for me. I doubt I could pick one out of a line up of songs even! But this is still a cool compilation of new music and it gives new, some of them unheard, bands a chance to spread their music. So hop over to the FLA site and pick this up for FREE! xoxo

Show Me A Word That Rhymes With Pavement

01 Cats and Cats and Cats – Cut Your Hair
02 Mascot Fight – Carrot Rope mp3
03 The International Karate Plus – Box Elder mp3
04 Vom Vorton – Zurich is Stained
05 Benjamin Shaw – Starlings of the Slipstream
06 Black Heart Generator – Serpentine Pad
07 Postcode – In the Mouth a Desert
08 Ace Bushy Striptease – Secret Knowledge of Backroads
09 Horowitz – I Love Perth
10 Captain Polaroid – Here
11 The Dead Cassettes – Gold Soundz
12 Jack Lewis and the Golden Indies – Stub Your Toe
13 Later – Trigger Cut
14 Rod Jones – Shady Lane
15 Olympic Swimmers – We Dance
16 Billy Ruffian – Stereo
17 Miss Halliwell – Silence Kid

JC says:
Last year, a fair few bloggers from all around the world agreed to be part of Paul Haig Day on 6th April 2009. This was in response to a plea that I put out over the internet after Paul and his manager had given great support to TVV and other bloggers in the face of determined efforts by folk posting dmca notices forcing not just mp3s but entire postings to be taken down.

Paul Haig Day was organised with just over a week’s notice, and just over 30 bloggers responded with some words and a Paul Haig related track of their own. I really would like to better that number this year, and that’s why I’m launching it with plenty of notice this time round.

Paul Haig Day II will take place on the corresponding date as last time – i.e. Tuesday 6th April 2010. I’ve already received the approval to proceed from Paul’s manager, and I hope that over the coming weeks I can sort something special out to mark the actual day.

In the meantime, for those of you who don’t know much or indeed anything about Paul, then let me rip-off something from his official website and give you a resume:-

Paul Haig is a Scottish indie composer, musician and singer. He was originally a member of a 1980s post-punk band called Josef K who were signed to the Postcard record label. Other bands with Postcard at the same time were Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and the Go-Betweens.

Josef K recorded five singles and an album ‘The Only Fun in Town’ with Paul on lead vocals, before splitting after touring in July and August 1981; their final Scottish date was in Glasgow.

He released two interim singles on Edinburgh independent Rational both singles appeared under the generic name Rhythm Of Life Organisation (ROL), an imprimatur Paul has retained ever since for everything from albums, labels and backing bands. Such anonymity also suited his avowed loathing of publicity – he has never once released a record with his own face on the front cover.

Paul then teamed up with a Belgian independent record label Les Disques du Crepuscule, and in January 1982 made solo live debuts, in Edinburgh and London. The following month RoL took part in Crepuscule’s first European tour, gaining plaudits for their versatile, snappy brand of funk minimalism. Building on this, Paul relocated to Brussels in March 1982 embarked on an intensive recording schedule that yielded two self-produced singles, Running Away (a cover of the Sly Stone classic) and Justice.

In July, almost a year after Josef K had split, yet with just one proper solo record to his name in Running Away, Paul Haig was labeled the face and sound of 1982 by Paul Morley in a lead feature for the NME. According to Morley, Haig was the enigmatic fourth man in a New Pop quartet which also included Billy Mackenzie, Jim Kerr and Martin Fry.

The media hype around Paul paved the way for a licensing deal with Island Records, and a substantial injection of cash, a deal which saw him record his first solo album ‘Rhythm Of Life’ in New York at the end of 1982. The result was a whole new direction – a brand of polished dance/electro – that seemed a million miles away from the abrasive edge of Josef K.

In 1984 Paul joined forces with several celebrated peers including Bernard Sumner and Donald Johnson (of New Order and A Certain Ratio respectively), and Cabaret Voltaire. November saw the completion of a new album, this time recorded in London with Alan Rankine (ex Associates) co-producing. Unfortunately the failure of lead single The Only Truth resulted in Island severing the Crepuscule connection, and so the untitled second album was shelved.

Rather than release the canceled set on Crepuscule, it was decided to combine half the album with new songs recorded throughout 1985 and the fightback was launched with a powerful single, Heaven Help You Now, and the excellent album The Warp Of Pure Fun.

Haig briefly returned to Crepuscule in September 1987 to record several tracks, though the only new record to emerge was the fine Torchomatic single, complete with spy theme and a home-recorded instrumental cycle on the flipside. The European Sun compilation album followed, including most of the shelved Island album not included on Warp plus several rare b-sides, and the unreleased Cabaret Voltaire collaboration.

Early in 1988 Haig financed the recording of a new album himself, once more produced with Alan Rankine and cut in just 18 days. Virgin offshoot Circa Records purchased the tapes in August, but chose not to release the album, titled Chain, until May 1989It included the brilliant lead single,”Something Good”.

Paul released an instrumental set of imaginary film themes through LTM, who had previously issued the Josef K back catalogue on CD. Cinematique appeared in September 1991 to glowing reviews. In 1993 Crepuscule released Coincidence Vs Fate.

Since 1993 Haig has released two further volumes of Cinematique on his own RoL imprint, as well as several archive releases by the late, and much lamented, Billy Mackenzie. Memory Palace (1999) compiled a number of tracks recorded as joint demos by the pair, as well as the tribute Listen to Me.

In 2003 LTM CD reissued The Warp Of Pure Fun and Coincidence Vs Fate, though a career-spanning Best Of on Crepuscule failed to materialise. LTM also released Then Again in 2004, a compilation of rare and previously unheard material.

There has been a resurgence of activity over the last couple of years from RoL. In 2007, Haig’s first single for 14 years, Reason (a BBC Radio 2 single of the week, no less), was released, available via download and 7″ vinyl. Followed soon after by Electronik Audience, an album that showcased many of Paul’s influences.

2007 also saw the first live appearance from Paul in many years when he appeared at the Billy Mackenzie tribute concert in London. Yet another new album, Go Out Tonight, a more organic album than Electronik Audience, was released in April 2008. Go Out Tonight saw Paul return to his roots and tracks such as Trouble Maker are very reminiscent of early solo recordings. He then embarked on his first tour since 1989 when he promoted both old and new tracks in Scotland and selected UK dates in April 2008.

In November 2009, Paul Haig released the LP Relive……..

Clocking in at a little over 33 minutes across 10 tracks, it is one of the best and most consistent record he has made in his entire career. A mixture of amazing new tunes that wouldn’t sound out of place on works by the likes of Franz Ferdinand, there are some greater-workings of a couple of songs from days of old and a cover thrown in for good measure as well. If it hadnt been for the astonishing React Or Die by Butcher Boy, then Relive would have topped my own poll of best records of 2009.

So yes, I am a big fan of Paul Haig and his work, but my admiration for the man grew by far more than I’m capable of expressing thanks to his support for bloggers at a time when many of us did feel under a sustained attack. A bit like it is in 2010 I suppose when you recall this….

All I’m asking is that you use the space on your blog on Tuesday 6th April to post a song by Paul Haig, and if you’re so inclined, add a few words of you own. Please let me know, either via the comments section, or via email, whether you’re up for it. I’ll provide a running total a week today. And add your name to the honour roll to the right hand side of this blog.

Thank You.

Relive mp3
Paul Haig product can be purchased from his own website, Rhythm Of Life Inc by following the link from here.

And here’s a specially made bit of film, for the Channel 4 programme ‘The Tube’ as part of a Scottish special which also featured Bourgie Bourgie, Billy Mackenzie and Hey! Elastica among others (I’ve got the various clips on a VHS tape under the stairs somewhere!).

I started playing this in the background while I wrote up another post, ranting about this and that. Something happened … I stopped ranting, right in my tracks, and just listened to this. If you’ve spent any time in my company, in person or even online, when I’m revved up about something or other you know this is a rare event. Yeah, this Jumpiter stuff is that good. I’m loving it, in fact. It’s got enough grungy goodness, enough of what academics call oppositional defiance to it, enough clashing cymbals and distortion to make me do what I like to do best… sit on the couch and nod my head (what were you thinking, you naughty readers?!?) There’s also a good helping of heartache in these songs. That always helps, ya know.

Jumpiter is Sean Schuyler and hailing from Brooklyn, where all good dirty, grungy, nod-your-head-to-it, good music comes from, he brings us this album for FREE on his facebook page. So what if he spam emailed a bunch of bloggers without bcc’ing us? I still give him credit for some noisy good shit here! xoxo

Perhaps you heard Twin Tigers last November when they toured with The Antlers and Minus The Bear? Well they’re ready to release their debut album, Gray Waves, tomorrow, buy it on their MySpace page!

Oh and if you go over to Old Flame Records and sign up for Twin Tigers’ mailing list, you can download their EP, Automatic, for free

::Twin Tigers Future Sounds Rumble Tour::
3/3–Cafe Du Nord–San Francisco, CA
3/4–3 of Clubs–Los Angeles, CA
3/6–Bar Pink–San Diego, CA
3/12–The Thunderbird Lounge @ The Aruba **Part of Neon Reverb Music Festival**–Las Vegas, NV
3/17–Wednesday–WOXY.Com Radio Session
3/18–Thursday–Sonic Itch Music Day Party @ the Independent
3/19–Friday–12:35 PM–Twin Tigers @ Sneak Attack Day Party @ Clive Bar w/Jukebox the Ghost, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Speak and more…
3/19–Friday—9 PM–Official SXSW Showcase @ Emos Annex WOXY.Com Showcase w/Bear in Heaven, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Crystal Antlers, French Miami, TV Torso
3/20–Saturday–1:30 PM–Old Flame/Obscure Magpie Day Party w/Born Ruffians, Black & White Years, Dead Confederate and more…
3/20–Saturday–5 PM–40 Watt Party with Futurebirds, Dead Confederate, James Husband, Gift Horse, American Cheeseburger and more…

Dark Horse mp3 Dark Horse mp3 by Bella Ruse, from the EP Bella Ruse…. buy it here! and I got this back in October (!) but I just stumbled on this juicy little song. It’s lovely. Their site says they are working on a full length LP so keep your ears open for it. Her voice is so pretty, I look forward to what’s coming next.

Tour Dates
Feb 26 2010 8:00P 501 Club – at The 501 w/Matt Curney Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 20 2010 10:00P Vaughn’s – at Vaughn’s Orange City, Iowa
Mar 25 2010 10:00P Barbette – at Barbette Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 26 2010 10:00P Station 4 – St. Paulopalooza Saint Paul, Minnesota

Khalela (unreleased acoustic version) mp3 from Light In August from Detroit, threw out this unreleased track last fall, and you can get their album over on Amie St The album is more polished and features some really dreamy pop, I will definitely be checking out their live show when they get here on the 11th.

Tour Dates
Feb 26 2010 9:00P Arbor Vitae with Extra Life (NYC) and Our Brother the Native Ann Arbor, Michigan
Feb 28 2010 10:00P Arlene’s Grocery New York, New York
Mar 2 2010 9:00P The National Underground New York, New York
Mar 4 2010 9:00P Wilbert’s Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 5 2010 10:00P The New Way Ferndale, Michigan
Mar 11 2010 10:00P Goose Island Brewery Chicago, Illinois
Mar 27 2010 10:00P Dino’s (benefit show) Ferndale, Michigan
Apr 8 2010 9:00P Wheaton College Norton, Massachusetts

Well, you know I’ve told you about the Communion Compilation before… now you can listen to the stream of it. Get out your wallets because you are so going to want this. It’s gorgeous! Out March 1, pre-order it here.
Communion // The Compilation by Stayloose

And another goodie, (this one allows you to download, click on the teensy arrow on the right hand side of the player) by Jim Croft who is currently based in Berlin by way of Scotland (the Highlands)
Jim Kroft – Guess That’s What The Gods Say by Cannonball_PR

Tour Dates
Mar 12 2010 9:00P Bang Bang Club Berlin
Apr 29 2010 9:00P Monto Waterrats London
Apr 30 2010 8:30P Hoxton Underbelly London
Sep 18 2010 9:00P WABE Berlin

I still owe you a post from a wonderful little interview I did with Kurt last Fall. Yes, m’dears, I’ll have it up before they come back to town! Until then, and until we get our ears on this new album, have a re-look at this video for Nautilus, from their debut, it’s even more eerie than I remember. Soooooo good! And you lucky bastards who are going to SXSW, make sure you catch their showcase on March 17th, xoxo

US Tour Dates

With Serena Maneesh

3.17 – 3.20 SXSW
3.22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
3.23 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
3.25 – Portland, OR @ Berbati’s Pan
3.26 – Seattle, WA @ Triple Door
3.27 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
3.30 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
3.31 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
4.1 – Detroit @ Majestic Theatre
4.2 – Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
4.3 – Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
4.4 – Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bears
4.5 – Milford, CT @ Daniel Street
4.6 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
4.7 – Washington, DC @ DC9
4.8 – New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge