By Arye Dworken
It’s hard to approach Empire of the Sun’s debut album (Walking On a Dream, out now on Astralwerks) seriously. For one, there’s the ridiculous record cover. Yet Luke Steele of the criminally underrated Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore—one-half of Teenager (with Ladyhawke) and Australia’s other love-or-hate electro-pop duo, Pnau—have crafted a rather serious pop masterpiece…one that seems destined to fail in North America.
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[Text/Photos by Andrew Parks; slideshow available here]
There’s something about The Twilight Sad; something that makes us root for them more than any other up-and-coming band these days. Come to think of it, the reason is simple: more than two years after the release of their full-length debut, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, we still listen to the damn thing. At least once a month. Repeatedly. Being based in Brooklyn, the band’s bombastic approach suits our daily subway rides well, making self-titled feel like we’re the lead in an melodramatic music video, shot on the L line with lots of quick cuts and sepia-toned mood lighting.
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Dominic Aitchison of Mogwai bows down before the one he serves.
[Photos/Text by Andrew Parks; slideshow available here]
“Can you turn it up? I’m not deaf yet!”
Funny you should say that, sir, because our ears aren’t ringing yet, either. In fact, we’re able to actually formulate concrete thoughts in the midst of Mogwai’s second night at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. For the moment, at least, as the godfathers of mostly-instrumental madness explore another exercise in peaks and valleys, raw power and restraint.
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By Arye Dworken
Contrary to all the blog buzz over their seemingly sudden new song (“Heavy Cross,” which we’ll share in a second), it feels like the Gossip never went away. First there was the head-over-heels New York Times profile about how Columbia’s bearded rock/rap guru, Rick Rubin, was saving the sinking label by signing acts like Portland’s most promising power trio. Or maybe it was the multiple nude/scantily clad magazine covers that Beth Ditto posed for during the band’s down time. (What happened to Publicity 101: when there’s nothing to promote, don’t promote?)
And so now, more than three years after Standing In The Way of Control made the band tabloid-baiting stars overseas (the album went gold and conquered the indie charts in the UK), the Gossip premiere their first Rubin production…
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Interview by Michael Tedder / Photos by Travis Huggett
So much has happened with Black Lips since self-titled last talked to our Issue No. 1 covers stars. The guys recently released their latest album, 200 Million Thousand, and though it shows the quartet throwing some beer-soaked curveballs here and there, the reckless abandon for which fans love them remains intact. In fact, if anything the group has used its rising profile to make trouble on an even larger scale (much to their tour promoter’s chagrin, no doubt). Bassist Jared Swilley talked with self-titled about the group’s struggle to keep things exciting as they graduate to bigger stages, what really went down during their trip to India and what’s up with that film they were supposed to make. And, this being Black Lips, we also got to hear about dudes making out and flying meat.
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Photos by Lloyd Bishop
Interview moderated by Alan Licht
Before we get into the next chapter of our rather epic Black Dice/Genesis P-Orridge interview, here’s a reminder of who’s who here:
GPO: Genesis P-Orridge
BC: Bjorn Copeland
EC: Eric Copeland
AW: Aaron Warren
AL: Alan Licht
A taste of what’s discussed this time around: Lightning Bolt, Auto-Tune, lepers, Arctic Monkeys, borrowed equipment from a certain Beatle, William S. Burroughs, holophonic sound, Winona Ryder’s dad, Steve Winwood’s brother, getting “psychedelicized,” TG’s breakup, “Discipline,” and getting paid in cigarettes.
And now, we resume our feature presentation, which was previously in-progress here…
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[Video editing by Johnny Le]
Adidas‘ roaming South by Southwest van recently kidnapped self-titled’s managing editor, Arye Dworken, and forced him to interview as many buzz bands as possible. On camera with cliche-free questions in hand. No pressure, right?
This particular post focuses on Fol Chen, a group of From the Stacks alums who happen to enjoy costumes and Mariah Carey…
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[Photos/Video/Text by Andrew Parks]
We couldn’t believe it either, although we should have known, given that self-titled saw a stellar “live Simian Mobile Disco set” at Studio B last year. But yeah; the boys were seriously back in town last night, delivering crowd favorites (“Hustler,” “I Believe,” “It’s the Beat”) right alongside wobbly waves of acidic techno—the sort of sounds that suggest an electro-free second album. In fact, something tells us Interscope just might regret dropping this UK duo very soon. See what we mean in the four videos below, including official promo clips for a pair of new tracks…
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Well, it’s not quite summer yet. But if your local Internet weather widget is to be trusted, temperatures are supposed to hit 85 degrees this weekend in New York. Which can only mean two things: self-titled Associate Editor Aaron Richter needs to shave his winter beard before he gets a repulsive half-face tan, and it’s time for another installment in the Six + Six Mix Series. This mix is inspired by warmer temperatures, blinding sunlight and memories of summers past. Play it louder.
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Download Six + Six (April 24, 2009)
Check the Six + Six Mix tracklist after the jump.
By Cassie Marketos
We get a lot of crap CDs at the self-titled offices. But once in a while, a pleasant surprise slips into our promo stack. Here’s a recent delivery that knocked the S/T staff on its collective ass.
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