Wednesday Music News

02/26/2014

Janice Headley

Sharon Van Etten has revealed more details about her forthcoming third album, Are We There, coming out May 27th on Jagjaguwar. A press release declares, "It is clear from Are We There's opening chords, we are witnessing a new awareness, a sign of Van Etten in full stride, writing, producing and performing from a place that seems almost mythical, were it not so touchable and real." Watch a trailer for the upcoming release below, and catch her at the Sasquatch Music Festival on Saturday, July 5th. [Consequence of Sound]

Brooklyn dreampop band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have also announced a new album, Days of Abandon, out April 22nd on Yebo Records (their first for this new label). Frontman Kip Berman told Brooklyn Vegan, "This album was a chance to step back from that universal style of songwriting to something that was far more personal, more in keeping with my original ideals. I wanted the music to be joyful and full of light, even if the subjects were often dark." The band have also announced their 2014 tour dates, including a May 3rd stop at The Vera Project with Fear of Men. Watch a teaser for opening track, "Art Smock", below. [Under the Radar]

Late last year, we shared that LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy had concocted his own brand of espresso. Named "House of Good," it is now available online here. They describe it as "akin to the second movement of Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 3 – or, perhaps, to that buzzing, syncopated synth line from 'Dance Yrself Clean.'" [Pitchfork]

Last night, St. Vincent made an appearance on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report in support of her new self-titled album. (And, remember: you can keep up with all the late-night TV musical appearances with our column "TV Eye"!) She performed the track "Digital Witness" (which you can watch below) and chatted with Colbert about her hair. [Stereogum]

Meanwhile, St. Vincent's Love This Giant-collaborator David Byrne performed last night at a benefit show for Content Creators Coalition-NYC, a group currently petitioning congress for pay-for-play radio royalties for artists. To illustrate the importance of the cause, Byrne took the stage to perform the Biz Markie classic "Just a Friend," which you can watch fan footage of below. He explained in an e-newsletter: "Mr. Markie didn’t write that tune (although he did probably write the rap). The drum and keyboard loop was lifted from a Freddie Scott recording, but the song was written by Gamble and Huff, the great songwriting team that wrote for The O’Jays and The Spinners. So chances are Biz Markie didn’t see any royalties from all the radio play that song got." [Consequence of Sound]

Local musician/producer Scot Porter (a.k.a. Vox Mod) has teamed up with RA Scion for this new track, "Fixed." Watch the blissed-out spacey track below, and stay tuned for a full-length collaboration from the two. [The Stranger]

Related News & Reviews

Daily Roundups

Yesterday, we shared that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart will be releasing their third album, Days of Abandon, on April 22nd, and today we've got the first single to share with you. The band are playing The Vera Project on May 3rd with Fear of Men. [Spin]

Daily Roundups

Tuesday Music News

iTunes Radio is now streaming Real Estate's brand new album Atlas a full week before its official release. This is the New Jersey outfit's first new collection in three years. Listen HERE. And don't forget: Real Estate will be the next band featured on KEXP's Live Video Stream on Thursday, March 6…