W♥M

Dog Day Afternoon

Read more When Animals Attack!.

Read More El Perro Del Mar I have to admit, I was really there for opener, El Perro del Mar. I’ve become obsessed with her latest LP, Love is Not Pop, as it is the perfect soundtrack for long nights of procrastination. ...

EL PERRO DEL MAR
elperrodelmar.com

I used to collect autographs from bands that I love in the 90s, but ultimately gave that up when I got older... mostly because I would leave for home right after a show or it was too much of a hassle trying to meet the artist (some musicians don't make it easy!).

Vu's El Perro Del Mar 12" (Autographed)

Anyway, I caught El Perro Del Mar (real name Sarah Assbring) at the Cedar Cultural Center on 07 March 2007 and I loved her self-titled debut album that I had her sign my copy of her 12" record (see photo of the autograph). I was also moved by her live performance and noted that she even had tears in her eyes during "I Can't Talk About It" (which I speculated was because the song was so emotional or personal to her).

So... her debut album is now officially ten years old, originally released in 2005. The record is being reissued as a special 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, and I'm pretty excited about this (even though I already own the original album). For those fans in the same boat, you can also look forward to ten bonus tracks, demos, b-sides, and acoustic cuts... which you might already have since many of the early B-Sides were given away for free via her record label.

The 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of El Perro Del Mar comes out next week, February 17th via the Control Group. Before you get too excited, I tried looking it online for USA store (Amazon), the Deluxe Album is not listed... so this may be an import-only record.

As a preview, the new Deluxe Edition, the label released "Do The Dog" for streaming, which El Perro Del Mar commented was the genesis of writing her debut album, “I was obsessed with old school reggae and dancehall around this time and after having recorded those first songs I wanted to do something that kind of took the edge off, or almost ridiculed that serious mood that I'd found myself in while writing the album.”

Also as a special 'dog' bonus, El Perro Del Mar translate from Spanish to 'The Dog of Sea'.

H HAWKLINE
hhawkline.com

In The Pink Of Condition is the new album from H Hawkline (aka Huw Gwynfryn Evans). If you live in the USA, you've probably never heard of this musician and TV presenter, but he seems to be quite popular in Wales. In the Pink of Condition came out February 3rd on Heavenly Recordings and featured his new single "Spooky Dog" - which the video was officially made available for viewing yesterday, February 9th, over at the youtube.

H Hawkline is currently in a middle of his UK tour:

02/12/15 - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
02/13/15 - Nottingham, Chameleon

02/14/15 - Glasgow, Nice & Sleazys

02/15/15 - Leeds, Brudenell Games Room
02/16/15 - Wakefield, Unity Works

02/17/15 - Hull, Adelphi

02/18/15 - York, Basement

02/19/15 - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

02/20/15 - Chester, The Compass

02/21/15 - Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge

02/23/15 - Brighton, The Hope

02/24/15 - Manchester, Gullivers

02/26/15 - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

DOGHEART
dogheartband.com

Speaking of next week, February 17th will see the release of What Burns The Best from Dogheart. The record was a result of a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise over $7k to record and press the album.... pretty impressive considering that the band is only slightly about a year old (having only formed in early 2014.)

I believe the band is a trio Matt Jenkins (guitar, vocals), Cameron Hering (drums), and Gray Hildreth (bass), but I've seen some photos of four people in the band.

As for the Dogheart name, this was from singer Jenkins, who suggested that the name can be a selfish creature... or a loving being.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

El Perro del Mar, Peter Bjorn & John at Webster Hall, New York (11/9/09)

Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks Peter Bjorn & John Tour Dates 11/11/09 Phoenix Theatre* Toronto 11/12/09 Metro* Chicago, IL 11/13/09 Gargoyle Club* St. Louis, MO 11/14/09 House of Blues* Dallas, TX 11/15/09 La Zona Rosa* Austin, TX 11/17/09 Rialto Theater* Tucson, AZ 11/18/09 House of Blues* San Diego, CA 11/19/09 Great American Music Hall* SF, CA 11/20/09 Great American Music Hall* SF, CA 11/21/09 Club Nokia* LA, CA with El Perro Del Mar Read More Peter, Bjorn and John http://weheartmus... Speaking of solo album, Peter Morén (you know him as Peter from Peter, Bjorn and John) will also...

PB&J and El Perro del Mar ♥ photograph by Michelle

At Webster Hall, the perils of sitting in the VIP balcony often outweigh the perks. True, it’s the ideal place for a certified midget like me, and there’s a private bar and quasi-comfortable seating – but one must also put up with being asphyxiated by the many fog machines, the not-so-subtle orgies taking place on the couches, and that one skeezy guy who keeps trying to offer you a flask full of absinthe. (“It’s the nectar of Satan!”)

But last night the VIP balcony was the place to be since it was the location of a historic fist bump between me and Andrew W.K.

I already knew he was set to make a cameo during PB&J’s set, along with a slew of others, but I did not expect our paths to cross. I don’t know what compelled me to lamely offer him my fist the moment I saw him, but all that matters is that he returned it and all was right in the world. Then he left, and I immediately texted my 13 year-old brother, who soon lapsed into an envy-induced coma.

El Perro Del Mar - Gotta Get Smart

Anyway: PB&J. I have to admit, I was really there for opener, El Perro del Mar. I’ve become obsessed with her latest LP, Love is Not Pop, as it is the perfect soundtrack for long nights of procrastination. Although the crowd didn’t seem too familiar with her work, she won them over with her peculiar brand of melancholy dream pop. She stuck to songs mostly from her new album, including her mind-numbingly lovely version of Lou Reed’s “Heavenly Arms.” The absinthe guy next to us dismissed her as “vagina music,” but I was too distracted by my estrogen-fueled state of euphoria to care.

Swede-fest ’09 continued with PB&J, who announced that this was their 10^th anniversary tour. It was easy to distinguish who was who, as Peter was the one in the pink shirt, Bjorn was the one not in the pink shirt, and John was the drummer. It only got slightly confusing during the smorgasbord of cameos that took place throughout their set. Some made perfect sense (El Perro del Mar on “Young Folks,”), some not so much (an L.A. rap duo who remixed an unrecognizable song off of Living Thing). The final cameo was Spank Rock, who seemed like a solid addition to “Nothing to Worry About” but his appearance was much too brief and almost abrupt.

Obviously the most dramatic cameo of the night was Andrew W.K.’s “interpretive” dancing during “It Don’t Move Me.” He didn’t utter a single word the whole time, yet he left the audience virtually speechless. It was spastic and random but ultimately the best moment of the night.

As for the band themselves, they were in top form as usual. Since the last time I saw them in March, people have warmed up considerably towards their newer material and seemed to enjoy it equally as much as anything off Writer’s Block. The band eschewed slower stand-bys for faster, upbeat songs from their first two albums, and they ended the night with the infectious “Objects of My Affection.” I was kind of hoping they’d play the slow burning track, “Up Against the Wall,” but my friend told me not to be greedy. After all, one paradigm-shifting fist bump was good enough for one night.

PB&J ♥ photograph by Michelle

Peter ♥ photograph by Michelle

Andrew W.K. ♥ photograph by Michelle

PB&J ♥ photograph by Michelle

 11/10/2009 02:13:56 ♥ kateg () ♥ peterbjornandjohn.com ♥ myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn 

El Perro del Mar – Love Is Not Pop

El Perro Del Mar - Gotta Get Smart El Perro Del Mar Tour Dates 11/07/09 9:30 Club* Washington DC 11/08/09 Theater of Living Art* Phila, PA 11/09/09 Webster Hall* New York City 11/10/09 Terminal 5* New York City, NY 11/11/09 Phoenix Theatre* Toronto, ON 11/12/09 Metro* Chicago, IL 11/13/09 Gargoyle Club* St. Louis, MO 11/14/09 House of Blues* Dallas, TX 11/15/09 La Zona Rosa* Austin, TX 11/17/09 Rialto Theater* Tucson, AZ 11/18/09 House of Blues* San Diego, CA 11/19/09 Great American Music Hall* SF, CA 11/20/09 Great American Music Hall* SF, CA 11/21/09 Nokia Club* Los Angeles, CA 11/23/09 Hotel Café Los Angeles with Peter, Bjorn & John Discography [2005] Look! It's El Perro del Mar! (compl) [2006] El Perro del Mar [2008] From the Valley to the Stars [2009] Love Is Not Pop Read More El Perro del Mar http://weheartmus... Anyroad, between all the songs I've downloaded from her record company, www.hybrism.com (check ou...

El Perro del Mar – Love Is Not Pop

It’s easy to become infatuated with certain songs and albums, thinking of them as “ours” after repeated listening. That’s why people’s knickers get in such a twist when they hear their favorite songs in tampon commercials and One Tree Hill episodes. While this may be nothing more than snobbery, one could argue that it’s also some form of twisted, shallow love. It may not be the healthiest kind of love, but what do you expect? It is only pop music, after all.

On El Perro del Mar’s third (“mini”) album, Love is Not Pop, Sarah Assbring sings indifferently but sweetly about heartbreak, farewells, and prolonged bouts of weeping – all of which are well-worn topics in pop songs. Despite this, there’s a somber, mature tone to the songs that give the somewhat trite lyrics an edge. Besides, the love described in pop songs is often trite and cliché, but it’s usually the singer’s intent and level of sincerity that elevates it to something more. El Perro del Mar’s brand of honesty is simple and clear, and when she morosely sings about lying in someone’s “heavenly arms,” you can’t help but suspend your cynicism and just go with it.

Letting go of any immediate pessimism seems to be a key factor in enjoying Swedish indie pop, and once you do, the world is suddenly a beautiful (albeit still imperfect) place. Opening track, “Gotta Get Smart,” is a prime example of this. Through shimmering melodies and a bird-like “doot doot doot” chorus, El Perro del Mar decides to leave a steady relationship behind for good. As always, the contrast between the cutesy tunes and miserable lyrics is effortlessly done. This disparity is a running theme throughout the album, seen on songs like “Let Me In” and “Heavenly Arms.” She never shies away from slightly formulaic expressions and words, but the melancholy tone implies something deeper hidden among such stock phrases. These are pop songs, and yes, they are about love – but they’re not the kind of fluff you’d find on the local soft rock station.

The love El Perro del Mar sings about is not the kind of love often seen in commercials or One Tree Hill. It’s depressing and ends in soul-crushing despair. In other words, it’s probably too realistic for TV. On the forlorn track, “It Is Something,” she cheers herself up with a good cry when suddenly, the song blooms into a quietly cheerful, synth-infused celebration of the perks of heartbreak. It’s one of the few hopeful outbursts in the album, and a nice reminder of what kind of love with which we’re dealing. It’s not pop. It’s not happy. But it’s something.

 10/15/2009 10:41:32 ♥ kateg () ♥ elperrodelmar.com ♥ myspace.com/elperrodelmar 

News: Kid Koala Presents The Slew and El Perro Del Mar's "Love Is Not Pop"

Slew - You Turn Me Cold

Kid Koala - p.102-112

Here's some music news that's come across news.weheartmusic.com.

I got word that one of my favorite DJ, Kid Koala (read more on W♥M) is back with a band called The Slew and a "tour only album" 100%.

The story behind The Slew, was Eric Sans (Kid Koala) and Dylan Frombach (Dynomite D) were approached to work on a film soundtrack. The film was never released, but their collaboration lives on as they take perform that soundtrack live on their "The Slew Tour":

WED 9/23 VANCOUVER, BC Commodore

THUR 9/24 SEATTLE, WA Nectar

FRI 9/25 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Independent

SUN 9/27 LOS ANGELES, CA Key Club

WED 9/30 BROOKLYN, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg

THUR 10/1 BOSTON, MA Great Scott

FRI 10/2 MONTREAL, QC La Tulipe

SAT 10/3 TORONTO, ON Lee's Palace

SUN 10/4 CHICAGO, IL Abbey

El Perro del Mar - Somebody's Baby

El Perro Del Mar

The dog of Mar, I mean, El Perro Del Mar is set to release a new record, out on October 20^th, called Love is Not Pop. The announcement comes with a mention that she will be supporting Peter Bjorn and John on their tour in November.

More dates will follow, but the two confirmed headline dates I am given are:

November 9th Joe's Pub, New York City

November 23rd Hotel Café, Los Angeles

Sarah Assbring describes the new record as:

Shortly after having finished touring with my second album 'From the Valley to the Stars' I started writing new songs. For some reason all the songs were about love and in particular that of the doomed kind. Unconsciously I think I knew what I was trying to tell myself. I'd spent some bad times in New York and some good times in Paris and both these cities have made a great imprint on this album and my current outlook on love. I've decided to call it 'Love Is Not Pop' - the songs on the album are all pop songs and they are all about love. But naturally, it is not all as simple as that. As much as pop can be love and vice versa - I'd like to believe that love goes so much deeper than a pop song. The title is of course also a play with words as well as a play with my persona up until this point. This album is also very much a way for me to look further into ways of writing and expressing myself - it definitely is a conscious step away from what I did on my last album. The mindset is darker and the soundscape mysteriously groovy thus it is not by chance I've chosen to work together with Rasmus Hägg, the other half of the acclaimed Swedish duo Studio, as a co-producer. His input and source of inspiration has been no other than apure revelation to me. Working so closely together with someone has been a new experience for me and I feel excited about having come to the point where I've been wanting to let someone into the very much abstract and intimate process of song writing. I'm glad it was Rasmus I let in.

Since we don't have new songs to listen to, here's a song from her previous album, From the Valley to the Stars.

 07/29/2009 10:52:16 ♥ vu () ♥weheartmusic.com♥twitter.com/weheartmusic♥news.weheartmusic.com

Birds fly into my windshield, thoughts fall from my thoughts

Birds, what is up with that? It seems lately that we're getting album artwork that features birds on the cover artwork (especially owls). Can someone explain this to me? Seriously.

Below are a ton of bird-album artwork.

AVIARY GHOST aviaryghost.com ♥ myspace.com Aviary Ghost - Somewhere Else From Illinois is Aviary Ghost, a band that seems to be headed by Charlie Crimando and Stephen Kemsley. Reading their biography, it would seem that they spent a lot of time recording music in a one-room apartment in Michigan. One of my favorite song on their album, Memory Is A Hallway (featuring cut-out birds over a scenic location), is the most fast-moving song is "Windowlight", which seems to be about the light through the window - sung in an old-fashion cabaret-style song, which I will say works very well for the song. I thought "Somewhere Else" was also pretty good. The song is described as "catchy Swedish pop", which I'll have to agree with. The lyrics are pretty detailed too, I especially liked the chorus: "we're laughing, 'cause laughing is much better than a scream". You can get their album, Memory Is A Hallway (recently released July 15th), on iTunes or CD Baby. Aviary Ghost	MORE TEETH more-teeth.com ♥ myspace.com More Teeth - Electricity (Remix) I think someone in the W♥M group have this album, One Bird a Day, for review, so I won't go into too much details about it. Surfice to say that it's a compilation of three or four bands in the electro-genre. Based on what I've heard, I really dig Sparkydog (sounds like new wave) and More Teeth (which sounds like very experimental noise art). I've decided to go with More Teeth because of their snazzy drums and electroclashesque vocals of Mindy Abovitz. JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD jessicaleamayfield.com ♥ myspace.com Jessica Lea Mayfield-Kiss Me Again We're not really promoting Jessica Lea Mayfield (I don't think her PR company knows my address, which I will confess is fine as I have too much music to handle), but I couldn't resist the owl-art on her soon-to-be release album With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt out on September 16th on Polymer Sounds on her press release. What's there to say based on this one song, "Kiss Me Again"? She has a very nice voice, and sounds like Thao Nguyen.
PUTOIS citizensofcontraryknowledge.com ♥ myspace.com Putois-No More Dancing Yet another Chicago, Illinois band - man, they really love their animals! I believe "putois" is actually a ferret or something. Anyway, on their second album, Problem Is Not a Problem Anymore, we see a crane with some ducks (while their debut album, The Thinking Fireplace features a cartoon bird dressed as a gentleman). It would seem that these introspective songs are written and sung by its creator, one Bob Mason since 1995. Most of this album is acoustic, mostly folky and the song "No More Dancing" would best represent what currently Putois sounds like. There are a few highlights on the record. For instance, I liked what he was trying to do with "Cta". This had a weird bass and quirky noises and beeps. Even his singing style is different here (although I think this might be a guest-vocalist? It just sounds very different). The other song that isn't so acoustic is "The Lonely Traveler" with its arrangement of piano and harmonica. If you like bands like Minnesota's Low, Putois might be right up your alley. Problem Is Not a Problem Anymore is out now, you can get it from CD Baby.	PLUSHGUN plushgun.com ♥ myspace.com Plushgun-Just Impolite I love Tommy Boy Records. One of my first CD was a Tommy Boy and I just remember how big they were in the early 90s, especially with the b-boys and girls. Well, I guess the record label is still around and I have one of their latest release by one-man-band, Plushgun. Daniel Ingala's vocals sounds like he has a British accent, reminiscent of early 80s new wave pop bands. His latest self-titled EP has a cute drawing of a bird with an old SNES controller in a cassette-tape-style mess in the sky. All the songs were available for download on August 19th (iTunes). The four songs on the EP is a very easy listen. I love all the songs actually, with the exception of the semi-sappy "14 Candles". Although it was nice to hear a woman singing backup on this song, but I didn't think this song belong on the EP. Maybe I just don't like love songs. His other songs are more upbeat and sounds more like obsessive/stalker feel to them. There are some great lyrics on "Just Impolite" ("I walk the line, like Johnny Cash" and "I'm not upset, just impolite"). A physical copy of Plushgun will be available on September 9th via Amazon and other retailers for $9.99, but if you can't wait the download is sold now for 60% cheaper ($3.98)
BRICE WOODALL AND THE POSITRONS bricewoodall.com ♥ myspace.com Brice Woodall-This, There, Where Check out Brice Woodall and the Positrons with their album, Sine Wave Sea. The artwork on the cover is a flying bird block with a hole in its stomach. I know it's a bird because if you visit the artist's website (trevorbittinger.com), his all-flash website features these same block birds flying around. Brice Woodall is currently based out of Chicago, Illinois, according to his myspace. Woodall's vocals has a woman quality to them, but not in a falsetto way (and not as a put down). His voice is very interesting, it definitely pulls you in. I think my favorite songs off this album is easily "This, There, Where", a pop song with some interesting mix. I also dug the experiment on "Winter/Break/Down/Away". Well, it looks like they are currently on tour, be sure to check them out. 08/29/08 Quenchers Chicago, Illinois 09/12/08 Double Door- Kittypalooza Chicago, IL 09/24/08 Rapture Charlottesville, Virginia 09/25/08 Lucky Buddha Richmond, Virginia 09/26/08 Trash Bar Brooklyn, New York 09/27/08 Murky (upstairs) Arlington/DC area, VA 11/08/08 Art*Bar Riverwest Milwaukee, Wisconsin 11/19/08 Madison, Wisconsin 11/20/08 Chicago, Illinois 11/21/08 Detroit, Michigan 11/22/08 Indianapolis, Indiana You can pick up Sine Wave Sea from InSound.	CITIZENS OF CONTRARY KNOWLEDGE citizensofcontraryknowledge.com ♥ myspace.com Citizens of Contrary Knowledge-Complicated Featuring a drawing of a chicken on the cover of Citizens of Contrary Knowledge's You're What You Wish You Are. Upon closer inspection, is that a cock? They do sound a bit southern cock rock... Reading their biography, it would seem most of the band members are residing in Harlem, New York. Their singer/frontsman, Chris Barczynski, sounds like he doesn't take his biography too seriously (he writes that he was in the Witness Protection Program, etc). This is also a problem when he lists that he's appeared on stage with Green Day, Sugar Ray and Hootie - should you believe him? I'm leaning to 'no'. I was drawn to the faster/rock song and my favorite is "Complicated" and "Lonely Hearts Society", which is driven by a muscular guitar playing (with some neat tricks). Despite as I have said about their music being rock, they do lean to the sensitive/slow side with "House of Cards", "Unless You Do", "Real Love", and "Wrong Side of the World". I think listening to them that they might fare better as a live act, perhaps jamming their songs at a longer length at a dive bar. You're What You Wish You Are is out now, available on CD Baby. They just finished playing Arlene's Grocery, which is apparently a bar?

Here is the bonus segment, some bird-bands we've previously covered: Tinkture, Birdflu, Story of the Year, The Alarmists, The Notwist, Loquat, El Perro Del Mar, Ben Sollee, Peter Bradley Adams (Owl), Death Valley Sleepers, Death Cab For Cutie, Patrick Wolf, Deadbird, Jeff Hanson (Owl), They Might be Giants (Owl), Eels, Biography Of Ferns, Computer Vs. Banjo (Owl), Ash, Susan Krebs

Bands we haven't covered, but I'm sure we'll get around to them. These features birds on the cover: The Great Northwest (Experimental Folk), Nebraska (Folk), Foals (British Rock), The Black Keys (Southern Rock), KYTE (Ambient Pop), and the talented Graeme K (Experimental/Old-time/Dance). Honorable worth mention is Abigail Washburn with her tiny birds on the cover.

Graeme K-And Rattle	They Might Be Giants-Number Two	Jeff Hanson - The Hills	Peter Bradley Adams-So Are You to Me	Computer Vs Banjo - Give Up On Ghosts
Tristan	Susan Krebs & The Soaring Sextet-Medley- I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry-Dink's Blues-Three Little Birds	Birdflu - Bird Flu	Eels - Dog Faced Boy [Alternate Version][#]	Death Valley Sleepers - In The Valley
Story of the Year - Wake Up	Biography Of Ferns - Not a Magician	Tinkture - Pyrotechnics	It's Not Impossible	The Notwist - Hands On Us
Feral Flame	The Lucksmiths - Frisbee	Nebraska-The Great Divide (Radio Edit)	Loquat - Swingset Chain	El Perro Del Mar-Dog
Death Cab For Cutie - The New Year	Haste the Day-Pressure the Hinges	Nostalgia 77-Knee Deep (Nostalgia 77 Remix)	The Great Northwest-Know What I Mean	Foals - Mathletics
The Black Keys-Your Touch	KYTE - Home	Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet - Sugar & Pie	Ash - Teenage Kicks	Collections of Colonies of Bees - Flocks I (excerpt)

Links: weheartmusic.com myspace.com/weheartmusik

CD Releases (4/22/2008)

This is just a quick note because I wanted to mention some of the great CDs that's being released today, Tuesday, April 22nd. We've covered a few of these bands, so I've included links to our articles below. I'm quite curious about the Whitesnake album. Cristina, please review this one!

Story of the Year - Wake Up	El Perro del Mar - Somebody's Baby
Billy Bragg - The Johnny Carcinogenic Show	Flight of the Conchords - Hiphopopotamus Vs. Rhymenocerous

Story Of The Year

- The Black Swan

 

Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid

 

Whitesnake - Good To Be Bad

 

Blind Melon - For My Friends

 

Goldfinger - Hello Destiny

El Perro Del Mar

- From the Valley to the Stars

 

Billy Bragg - Mr. Love & Justice

Flight Of The Conchords

- Flight of the Conchords

The Young Knives

- Superabundance

Elvis Costello

- Momofuku (vinyl only)

Neil Hamburger

- Sings Country Winners

Apparently Elvis Costello got a whole lot of people talking about his latest album, Momofuku because he's releasing it vinyl-only. What people didn't know is that a CD version of the album will eventually be made available, two weeks after today.

I got a note last week about Billy Bragg's Mr Love & Justice (regular and deluxe version of his album) will be available today. The story behind this album is that they had finished recording the album with a full backing band (The Blokes), but for some reason, Bragg decided to go back into the studio with his electric guitar to re-record the whole album by himself.

You can see the videos for all 15 tracks on www.mrloveandjustice.net.

New Zealander's Flight of the Conchords is back with a self-titled album (their fourth!) on Sup Pop Records.

Also, be sure to get W♥M's favorite El Perro Del Mar today too.

 04/22/2008 11:19:42  vu my♥posts weheartmusic.com

News for the Week of 3/2/2008

The Wombats - Backfire @ the Disco Halou - It Will All Make Sense El Perro Del Mar - Glory To The World Devices

Here's your weekly news, all stories based on press.weheartmusic.com.

The Wombats announces US EP and US Tour, see press release for more details.

They've only announced five dates, and the New York one is already sold out:

3/11/08 Los Angeles @ Spaceland
3/14/08 SXSW Great Escape Showcase, Maggie Maes Rooftop, 1am ST.
3/14/08 Filter Mag Party, Cedar Street Courtyard, 3pm ST.
3/15/08 Liverpool Sound City Showcase, Latitude, 5pm ST.
3/17/08 New York, NY @ The Annex – SOLD OUT

The EP looks interesting, but if you've already gotten the songs on import, it might be a waste of your money.

Halou announces tour with Bob Mould. We've already covered Mould, so naturally, you guys might want to check out Halou. The tracks I've heard from them, it's quite good.

It Will All Make Sense has a slow buildup, but it really does pick up.

Their music's recently included on two lifey-movies: "This Girl's Life" and "Quality of Life". See press release for full tour dates.

What else is new? More tour dates, this time from El Perro Del Mar.

What's important is that she'll be bringing two Swedish artists for support for these short dates, so I'm looking forward to checking out Lykke Li and Anna Ternheim.

Sad to say, they'll be nowhere near Minneapolis.

For full tour dates, head over to El Perro Del Mar, Lykke Li, & Anna Ternheim To Tour Together This Spring.

W♥M favorites, The Terrordactyls are also going on tour (notably the SXSW show, where every band on Earth will be there.) I think with the recent Juno film, there's been an interest in antifolk.

Also a few quick mentionings, since we haven't covered these bands before: the best band name, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. has a second album called Searching For The Hows And Whys and Wicked Jezabel wins a Wammie.

Interested in being mentioned in my weekly news summary?  Send your press releases to [email protected]

Not all stories will be picked up, I'm interested in mostly bands we've covered on W♥M.

 03/02/2008 01:08:04  vu my♥posts press.weheartmusic.com

New El Perro del Mar: From the Valley to the Stars

 

El Perro del Mar

El Perro del Mar is the stage moniker of victim-of-unfortunate-surname Sarah Assbring, whose somber lo-fi pop channels 1960s girl group harmonization by way of a chilly winter wonderland.  Assbring’s curriculum vitae includes a full-length album, a limited-release compilation album, a handful of MP3 tracks and EPs, 13,000+ Myspace followers, and a coveted friendship with fellow Swede and 2007 It Boy, Jens Lekman.  Not bad for an “under-the-radar” artist.

 

El Perro del Mar - Jubilee

 

El Perro del Mar’s second full-length album, From the Valley to the Stars, is set for U.S. release on April 22.  Although she strays slightly from previous ventures in terms of palpable instrumentation (less jingly, more synth-y), Assbring retains the sweet melancholy that made her self-titled debut so deliciously infectious.  At first listen, From the Valley plays like the musical backdrop to a picturesque snow-topped village, the kind of whimsical setting where ponies pull sleighs and little girls in tam hats carry oversized lollipops.  Except there’s something slightly off about this otherwise storybook scene, something just below the surface—a moodiness or an impish patter.  Consider the opening track “Jubilee,” which is essentially a one-word song, a celebratory tune if the title is any indication; perhaps it’s the pulsating organs or Assbring’s choirgirl

El Perro del Mar - Somebody's Baby

harmonization, or the combination of the two that creates a spooky sound effect.  For whatever reason, the result is less festive than it is peculiar (in a positive way).  Other highlights include “You Can’t Steal a Gift,” one of the few tracks that calls to mind “old-school” El Perro del Mar for its retro Spector-esque melody, and “Somebody’s Baby,” a swishy, swing-your-skirt number with sunny results.

 

As Vu mentioned previously, Assbring is kicking off a selective Swedish tour beginning in April, for those of you lucky duckies overseas.  For more information about El Perro del Mar, follow these links:

 

Official website:  www.elperrodelmar.com

Myspace:  http://myspace.com/elperrodelmar

Blog:  http://elpd/blogspot.com

 

- Lara

W♥M Updates (February 2008)

El Perro del Mar http://weheartmus... Anyroad, between all the songs I've downloaded from her record company, www.hybrism.com (check ou... I hope things are good with you boys & girls, because it's freeeezing here in Minneapolis the last few days. It was so bad, my car battery wouldn't start up so I had to buy a new one. Anyway, here's my monthly W♥M Update for February 2008. (I hope you like the notepad template!) First of all, I've been fortunate enough to get the new El Perro Del Mar album, set to be released April 22nd. The album review is assigned to Lara, but based on what I've heard, it sounds very ... like it's a children soundtrack. Sarah Assbring's haunting and delicate voice is still there on her second album. El Perro Del Mar - Glory To The World El Perro Del Mar It looks like "How Did We Forget?" is her single for this album, and I can't say that I like it as much as some of her other songs. I think it's too slow, but the line "it's easy, babe" is pretty catchy. It looks like she's doing a selective few dates in her country, Sweden: 04/03/08 Samfundet Trondheim 04/04/08 Hulen Bergen 04/05/08 Parkteatern Oslo 04/06/08 Samfundet Ås 04/08/08 Vega Copenhagen Be sure to check out "Glory To The World" and read about her first album and concert on W♥M: El Perro Del Mar. Keep your eyes here for Lara's review. WHITECHAPEL butchering audiences, repeatedly http://weheartmus... Whitechapel will join up with The Black Dahlia Murder, Kataklysm, Vader, Cryptopsy and 5 others ... I also wanted to welcome Soup to the republic of W♥M! It looks like he'll be doing some metal/harder/cookie-monster music coverage, because frankly between myself and a few other staffers: we have the folk-thing covered. Speaking of which, it seems Whitechapel are on tour. See the press release for exciting tour announcements. I don't have any music samples to show you what they sound like, but they seem pretty hardcore/death metal. Even their name, I suspect they got it from Jack the Ripper[W♥M] - who as you may know, I'm mildy obsessed about.   The Sapiens - Void The Sapiens There's actually a ton of music news (including all that is the Grammys). Basically The White Stripes and a slew of people won. And of course that Amy Winehouse is denied entry to the USA, which I'm sure you have all read so I'll just skip all that. Instead, I want to mention The Sapiens who sent me a few tunes to check out. I did like their sample songs enough to check out their myspace and see that they're doing a few dates: 02/22/08 Mickey Finn’s (18+) Toledo, Ohio 02/23/08 Lager House (21+) Detroit, Michigan 03/07/08 Beat Kitchen (18+) Chicago, Illinois Based on these states, I would have to say that they have a whole lot of driving to do... Maybe they get around in a 1930s Hornet car?  02/12/2008 00:09:19  vu my♥posts www.weheartmusic

News: Win Aimee Mann, El Perro Del Mar, and SFA on Letterman

Aimee Mann - The Scientist (Live) Aimee Mann View site

I will try to keep the news-thing down and get back to some overdue reviews... but I've recently gotten some really good news to report.

The Artists Den have announced an opportunity to win a special private Aimee Mann performance:

Opportunity to Attend Private LA Show
The Artists Den is pleased to offer the chance to attend an intimate, invitation-only performance by Aimee Mann at a secret location in Los Angeles February 7. If selected, details will be emailed a week before the show, and you and a friend will be added to the guest list for the special acoustic concert. Tune in to the innovative new music series, “Live from the Artists Den,” Thursday nights at 8 pm ET/PT on Ovation TV, presented by Grey Goose Entertainment.

Click here to enter:
www.theartistsden.com/rsvp/mannfan/

El Perro Del Mar - Party El Perro del Mar View site

El Perro Del Mar has a second album called From the Valley to the Stars coming out on April 22, 2008. The album is described as "a 16-track opus, chock-full of non-traditional folk songs". I can't wait for this!

"I wanted to make something as unfashionable as an album in the classic sense of the word - in terms of its composition and the idea of a theme. The theme itself was initially something as simple yet complex as heaven and it led me into a wide and seemingly endless search for a means, a language in which to express myself. Although during this time I was, even though I mostly didn't realize it, following a certain train of thought - that of love, grief and loss, solace and hope, deepest despair and wildest childish euphoria - to the lowest and the highest of heights."

- Sarah Assbring, aka El Perro Del Mar

Please refer back to my coverage of El Perro Del Mar on W♥M and if you want more details, please follow the press release link.

Super Furry Animals - Ohio Heat

Catch SFA on Letterman

http://weheartmus...

Take a disco nap when you get home from work, because this is one you won’t want to miss: Welsh ...

Finally, it looks like Super Furry Animals are going to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman - TONIGHT.

I haven't been keeping up, but isn't there some sort of writer's strike or something ?

Anyway, the press release also mentioned that their album Hey Venus! was released this week on Rough Trade Records.

Follow the link for details on their tour details.

 01/24/2008 20:09:11  vu my♥posts www.weheartmusic.com