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Tue: 06-03-08: 04:55 PM CDT
The Raconteurs Extend Tour Into Fall

Tue: 06-03-08: 04:25 PM CDT
Franz, Jarvis, Coxon Craft Edwyn Collins 7" Artwork

Tue: 06-03-08: 03:30 PM CDT
Calexico Plan New LP, Tour, Send Tune to Outer Space

Tue: 06-03-08: 02:25 PM CDT
Deerhoof Reveal LP Info, Invite Fans to Interpret Song

Tue: 06-03-08: 01:35 PM CDT
QOTSA, Black Mountain Members on New UNKLE LP

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Go To Best New Music Section

Spiritualized:
Songs in A&E

After a five-year absence-- in part due to being hospitalized with double pneumonia-- Jason Pierce returns with another LP of love songs, drug songs, and God songs, producing his best record in a decade. Pierce has never seemed so in control of his aesthetic, rather than controlled by it, and these songs are great vessels for his best contrasting ideas: la-la melodies vs. wah-wah guitar, strings vs. brass, country licks vs. baroque vocal harmonies, and simple structures vs. lush arrangements. [Mike McGonigal]

Bonnie "Prince" Billy:
Lie Down in the Light

One of Will Oldham's best records in a career dotted with successes, Lie Down in the Light could be the evil twin of the singer/songwriter's career peak, 1999's I See a Darkness: If that record plumbed the bleakness of life, Light finds peace in the modest pleasures of friends, family, and music. These meticulously crafted songs-- heavy with old gospel, country, folk, and other Americana sounds, and produced by Mark Nevers of Lambchop-- sound familiar but often yield surprises. The overall feel gives the impression of front-porch spontaneity, the songs' purposefulness made to sound like serendipity. [Stephen M. Deusner]
Go To Record Reviews Section
Record-icon Tue: 06-03-08:
Spiritualized
Songs in A&E
After a five-year absence-- in part due to being hospitalized with double pneumonia-- Jason Pierce returns with another LP of love songs, drug songs, and God songs, producing his best record in a decade.
[Best New Music] | [Mike McGonigal]
Record-icon Tue: 06-03-08:
Lykke Li
Youth Novels
The latest in a line of fine Swedish pop exports, Lykke Li's debut album-- which, although it seems like it's been around forever, is only just now out in the UK with a U.S. release to finally come this summer-- was produced and co-written by Björn Yttling of Peter Björn and John. [Tom Ewing]

The Black Angels: Directions to See a Ghost
Austin's Black Angels create a sprawling, psychedelic record dotted by gloomy invocations of warfare, betrayal, paranoia, and self-obsession. [Nate Patrin]

Helvetia: The Acrobats
Second album from two members of defunct slowcore outfit Duster contains a wider range of emotions than its predecessor, showcasing surprisingly sharp (but sedated) pop chops carefully preserved in amber.  [Adam Moerder]

The Pinker Tones: Wild Animals
The Spanish band's pan-genre versatility and fearless pursuit of fun is reminiscent of Super Furry Animals or the 1990s' internationalist indie pop of groups like Pizzicato Five and Cibo Matto. [Marc Hogan]

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Tue: 06-03-08:
Interview: James Blackshaw
We talked to London-based guitarist James Blackshaw about songs versus album-length compositions, why he doesn't listen to his own music, and the collaborative songwriting process on his new record, Litany of Echoes.  [Grayson Currin]

Mon: 06-02-08:
Interview: Why?
We spoke to Why?'s Yoni Wolf and he wondered out loud about his sound, the origin of his words, and whether or not making music is making it more difficult to forget the past.  [Grayson Currin]
Fri: 05-30-08:
Interview: The Ex
The Ex formed in the furor and fervor of punk, but the Dutch band wasted little time evolving. Numerous singles, EP, LPs, and collaborations later, the Ex remain as vital, unique, and outspoken as ever, as we discovered speaking (via e-mail) with vocalist G.W. Sok.  [Joshua Klein]
Thu: 05-29-08:
Guest List: Free Kitten
Free Kitten's Kim Gordon (of Sonic Youth) and Julie Cafritz (Pussy Galore) engage in a little retail therapy, find an alternative to violent video games, and call me out on the lousiest Guest List question of all. [Interview: Tyler Grisham]  [Kim Gordon and Julie Cafritz]
Wed: 05-28-08:
Sasquatch!
With veteran headliners-- R.E.M., the Cure, the Flaming Lips [above]-- and a distinct Pacific Northwest flavor to the lineup (Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, and Fleet Foxes among others), this year's three-day Sasquatch! festival was full of top acts but the star attraction is still the setting itself.  [Douglas Wolk]
Tue: 05-27-08:
Interview: Bon Iver
Justin Vernon talks to us about the origin of his name and his stunning folk-pop album For Emma, Forever Ago, as well as Fleetwood Mac, TV on the Radio, rent, day jobs, and navigating the music industry.  [Nilina Mason-Campbell]