Just heard the news regarding the rad, rad, rad soundtrack for the movie I am most anticipating this summer, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. Previously, we knew that the music for Scott’s band, SEX BOB-OMB, was written and performed by Beck. For the movie’s soundtrack, the actors from the movie perform the vocals – neat touch. So, this piece of awesome is released on August 10 from ABKCO. I hope I can get my hands on a copy ahead of time.

Like I said, I can’t wait.

The film opens August 13th and will feature a score from Radiohead/Beck collaborator Nigel Godrich, which will eventually see digital release. So “full of win”.

Check out more info “after the jump” …read full article…

Just wanted to throw up a link from friend-of-the-site Alex Schaaf (The Chairs, Yellow Ostrich). He just covered Radiohead’s Kid A in its entirety for school using only non-electronic instruments. He claims its not that special but I disagree; it’s absolutely worth a listen. Check it out on his Bandcamp page.

The album art above is my own doing, not his, but posts with no pictures make Shawn cry and I don’t want to do that to him again.

Photo Credit: Amoeblog

A Jeff Mangum live review. Did I really just write those words? To review a live show generally implies you SAW said show, which means I SAW Jeff Mangum play live. Wow.

I’m not going to lie – I’m a Jeff Mangum fanboy. I’m the sort of person who, when you think of the worst of the overly passionate Neutral Milk Hotel lovers, you picture me. I have my reasons. I think that Neutral Milk Hotel is one of the most important and influential bands of the past twenty years. I’ve also found their most well known album, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, to be the soundtrack of some of the most important times of my life, a friend that was always there for me, and one of the most fascinating and endearing documents of passion that I’ve ever come across. So keep all this in mind as you read my review. …read full article…

Having seen Dinosaur Jr this past Winter, I have been on a serious ’90s indie/post-hardcore. The band’s influence can surely be heard on The Echo & The Light, the newest eight-song LP from Chicago’s Castevet. The LP, which will be released on 12″ vinyl and digital formats on June 29, 2010, is now up for pre-order from the label.

The band is streaming several of the new tracks on their MySpace page. Check out tour dates and more info on the release “after the jump” …read full article…

One thing that you will never find the staff at RE discriminating against: sweet, sweet laser-pop. In the last year, Boston’s Mystery Roar [MySpace] has popped onto our radar twice and it is only fitting that today, we manage to put something out there as I was desperately in the mood for a “pick-me-up”. The band has “managed to perfect a brand of elaborate, deep-space disco that’s already convinced The Boston Herald and The Phoenix to call the synth-laden laser-pop troupe “the number one band to watch in 2010!”

You’ll hear exactly what they mean (and what I am digging) on their upcoming self-titled EP, out on Dopamine Records April 13th. In the mean time check out more “after the jump” …read full article…

Photo: Orenda Fink

From our friends at Saddle Creek Records:

“Following the events of last week, Orenda Fink has written a little about her experiences in Haiti. She’s traveled there multiple times, and has formed a special relationship with the country. Please read her thoughts on her website. We’ll be offering a free download of Orenda’s debut album, Invisible Ones for the rest of the month. We hope it will inspire people to donate to the relief effort.” …read full article…

Obviously, once something awesome hits my mailbox, I really like to share those piece that I like a bunch. One such bunch caught my eye a few minutes ago as I waded through the muck: Deep Elm Records is working with Lexington-based Cari Clara‘s [MySpace] (I know that MySpace says they’re from Cincy, but I read the whole press release, yo) on the release of a brand new full length album title It’s Our Hearts They’re After. The LP is now available now on most digital music services including iTunes, eMusic, Amazon and from the glimpse I have gotten thus far, it’s incredibly promising. Deep Elm will also be simultaneously re-releasing the band’s Miniature American Model Society and will release an EP entitled You Better Run in Spring 2010 so if you’re digging this, make sure to keep an eye out for those as well.

Check out a sample of the new album “after the jump” …read full article…

Photo by Jason Maris

Happy New Year, everybody. It’s been a strong start to 2010 (save for whatever-the-hell is going on in my stomach today). To kick off my first post of the new decade, we’ve got a performance from Atlanta-based avant-rockers, Untied States [MySpace]. The group, who have drawn favorable comparisons to Liars, Sonic Youth and Barret-era Pink Floyd, play live in the studios of the Digital Arts Entertainment Lab for the WRAS | indieATL music series.

Their new record Instant Everything, Constant Nothing is available on now on Distile Records.

Check out the performance and more “after the jump” …read full article…

“11th Dimension” is the first video from Julian Casablancas‘ solo album, Phrazes For The Young and it is pretty great in a fun, throwback, synthy sort of way. The neon highlights in his clothing remind me of Strokes single “12:51″ for some reason which, in turn, made me think of Tron (because, well, it was full of Tron references).

Like I always say, the more keytar, the better.

Check out the video and more “after the jump” …read full article…

The wife and I are still here in Florida. Great weather so far and we are really enjoying ourselves. Today, we do have a band worth talking about, one that even Mrs. Smith agreed “had” to go up on RE.

According to everything I have read and seen about them, I really like CLAPS [MySpace]. They’re a “minimal synth pop three-piece from Saint Paul, MN”. Before today, I only thought of St. Paul as a terribly cold place, but there is one obvious benefit to being indoors so much: lots of playing time. “Fold” is their first single and debut EP “New Science” will be out out January 23rd via Guilt Ridden Pop.

Check out “Fold” after the jump …read full article…

Today is Christmas Eve (yay!) and tomorrow the Christmas-celebrating children of the world will wake to a home full of merriment and glee, will tear open presents and break out some brand new toys. In the spirit of giving (a little too bit information), I wanted to get a list of the songs that really piss me off the most this time of year. There’s some classic holiday standards and a few recent “reinterpretations,” but on the whole, there’s something here that should pretty much piss off just about anyone.

Young and old alike, prepare to check out the “Bah Humbug: The Holiday Songs I Hate”

Check out “Bah Humbug: The Holiday Songs I Hate” “after the jump” …read full article…

Here is the “Eraser-fied” music video for Thom Yorke‘s cover of Miracle Legion‘s “All For The Best.” The song is from the 2009 compilation Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs Of Mark Mulcahy, available now from Shout! Factory. I have been listening to the track all day today and thought I would share. Hooray.

The first time Yo Gabba Gabba’s album finds its way through your speakers, you are more creeped out than if you had encountered a grinning clown in a dark alley. It doesn’t seem right to listen to it without a tot in tow. Never having seen the Nick, Jr. show, the music on the album is fun and catchy enough, but the lyrics are a true test in how quickly the adult mind registers suggestiveness.

From zero to sixty in… yeah. …read full article…

Dreamin’ Man Live ’92 is part of the archival live series that Neil Young uses to illustrate just how damn good this guy was when he was younger and this selection in particular is the most modern, featuring songs from Harvest Moon. All ten tracks come are from album albeit in differing orders than their appearance on the LP and come from solo acoustic shows Young did as a build-up to the album’s release.

Dreaming Man Live ’92 is out tomorrow (12/8), with a vinyl version to follow Jan. 12, 2010.

Or, it just means that we have a cool widget with a stream on our site. Man, I hope Neil Young fans show up in droves.

Listen to Dreamin’ Man Live ’92 “after the jump” …read full article…

Land of Talk’s Fun and Laughter is a compact set of four tracks following the rich vein of their 2008 album, Some Are Lakes. Elizabeth Powell chants her way through the band’s off-kilter pop waves. Where most front women sound like they’re threading a needle, Powell steers the ship, owning each song with nuanced gravitas. …read full article…

Four years ago, AMC and BBC America took a selection of songs from a little-known band and used them heavily throughout a strong summer campaign to tout their programming. The band, The ColourSound [MySpace], sounded more English than a Thomas’ English Muffin commercial and, as it just so happened, created really good Brit-pop/rock. Actually, their sound was more like an approximation of a Western-influenced Starsailor, but since I have an intense affair with that band, that is a good thing. …read full article…

Oh man, oh man, oh man! This is awesome. Making good on their Twitter promise, Radio Exile fave, Beach House [MySpace], are giving away a brand new track from their forthcoming album Teen Dream, out January 26th via Sub Pop. We’ve always been a fan of their previous singles [Beach House Announce Tour, Plan 7″], but there is something really special about this latest one.

The song is called “Norway”.

…

That’s one of my favorite countries! Coincidence? I think not!

[mp3] Beach House – “Norway”

With their recent Doolittle 20th anniversary tour underway, now is as good a chance as any to check out The Pixies playing some of their finest material. The clip included here is part of a promotional appearance on The Tonight Show to talk about the tour (on which the only material play shall be from the aforementioned album) and also for the behemoth collection, Minotaur, which Conan displays before the performance. It’s 25-26 lbs. of awesome, people!

Thanks to Prefix Mag for the tip!

Check out the performance by the band “after the jump” …read full article…

There are a few great film/album mashups. Two of the more obvious ones are Wizard of Oz/Dark Side of the Moon and Toy Story/OK Computer synchronizations. But rare is the instance of finding a film inspired by and created completely in an album’s image – an album that stands alone, but also perfectly scores said film. Noah and the Whale accomplish this with their second album release and film debut, The First Days of Spring. At the recent screening of the film (by the same name) at Piano’s in NYC, the man who would prefer to remain behind the curtain (if he had his way) and front man of Noah, Charlie Fink, answered the eternal chicken/egg conundrum for fans, confirming that the album actually came first. …read full article…

“…Spanking Finn with My Microphone Hairbrush”

Glee: The Music, Volume 1 is a bundle of musical entertainment that will leave you giddy…if you’re a fan of Glee. The popularity of the show has created millions of self-proclaimed “Gleeks,” all who will find this soundtrack charming and exactly what they’ve been waiting for from the McKinley High School troupe. …read full article…