Wednesday 19 December 2012

Winter Music Mix


Final post of the year.....

Last October The Aural Report made an Autumn Music mix that was so popular that we just had to do it again. With winter starting today and Christmas around the corner it is a good time to throw up a bunch of songs on the blog that celebrate this time of year. Listen below:

Aztec Camera- Walk Out To Winter

Belle & Sebastian- Winter Wooskie

Holly Golightly-Hear My Call, Here

Au Revoir Simone- Fallen Snow

Broadcast- Winter Now
(R.I.P. Trish Keenan)

Bruce Springsteen- Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

Ohbijou- Black Ice

The Head and The Heart- Winter Song

Galaxie 500- Listen The Snow is Falling

Fleet Foxes- White Winter Hymnal

Efterklang- Cutting Ice To Snow

Joni Mitchell- River

Beach House- I Don't Care For The Winter Sun

Tamaryn- Choirs of Winter

Yeasayer- Wait For The Wintertime

Steve Miller Band- Wintertime

The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl- Fairytale of New York

Real Estate- Snow Days

Neil Young- Winterlong

The Raveonettes- The Christmas Song

Sufjan Stevens- Sister Winter

The Walkmen- While I Shovel The Snow

Mazzy Star- Flowers in December

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- 15 Feet of Pure White Snow

Greg Lake- I Believe in Father Christmas

Feist- The Water 
(Full Music Video directed by Kevin Drew and featuring Cillian Murphy)

SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!!!


New Music: Saint Lucia- September + Music Video


Last new music post of the year so we might as well finish off the year dancing to up and coming Brooklyn act Jean-Philip Grobler, aka Saint Lucia. I missed this song when it was released last September, so luckily the artist just put out a new video for the track. Watch and listen below:

September is the title track from Saint Lucia's September EP which is out now. Saint Lucia is also working on a new album that is being produced by former Pumpkin James Iha. Watch for it sometime early in 2013.

For fans of Cut Copy, Tanlines, Penguin Prison.



Tuesday 18 December 2012

Metz Visit BTR Live Studio






Watch: Toronto noise punk trio Metz recently dropped by BTR Live Studio show "Serious Business" for an interview and a featured performance of the track Headache from their recently released self titled LP.

The new self titled album from Metz is available through iTunes, Amazon or check your local record store.


Sunday 16 December 2012

Five Star Songs: The House of Love- Destroy The Heart


The great British 80's post punk band The House of Love announced via their Facebook page on Thursday that are reuniting and releasing a new album titled She Paints Words in Red in either in March or April. If you don't this band, they came out with four genius records in the late eighties and early nineties before infighting tore the group apart in 1993. The House of Love were a John Peel favourite and in 1988 their single Destroy The Heart was voted single of the year in the iconic BBC DJ's Festive Fifty. The single was originally put out on 12" and was not part of any album.

The House of Love recently re-issued their self titled debut album in November on Cherry Red Records. The deluxe super edition is a 3CD set and you can find both the original and a live version of the track Destroy The Heart on the second disc. Check your local record store for the album, or if your lucky the original 12" of the single, or buy from Amazon.

Listen: House of Love-Destroy The Heart

Looking forward to the new album.......

Watch: Kate Bush Christmas Special


It's that time of year again. The networks bring out all of the cheesy festive television specials, from people like Michael Buble´ and Russell Peters, that have enough schmaltz to make you want to puke up your egg nog. Luckily over the years there have been rare holiday specials for people with more refined tastes, such as Johnny Cash, and in Britain the one and only Kate Bush.

The Kate Bush Christmas Special originally aired in 1979 right after the singer first made it big with her hit Wuthering Heights. The weird thing about the show is that it rarely mentions Christmas and instead features Bush singing a lot of her album tracks, dancing with freaky characters plus one special guest, her really good friend Peter Gabriel who sings Here Comes The Flood. Click on the link to watch on YouTube:

Kate Bush Christmas Special

Bonus: Kate Bush singing The Man With the Child in his Eyes on a 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live.



Friday 14 December 2012

New Music: Parquet Courts- Stoned and Starving


Brooklyn band Parquet Courts are odds on favourite to be one of the big buzz bands of 2013. The other day they re-released a fun little song titled Stoned and Starving that has some of the best post punk guitar work of recent memory. The track is reminiscent of the great post punk bands of the late 70's including Television and Wire. An extra bonus from me for name dropping the yummy candy Swedish Fish into the lyrics of the song. Listen below:

The track is taken from the album Light Up Gold which is out now on Dull Tools.





New Music: Cemeteries- Young Blood


Cool new dream pop from Buffalo New York artist Kyle J. Reigle, who goes by the name of Cemeteries. The goth sounding song Young Blood is accompanied by a similarly gothic music video which finds an addled young person walking around a forest near a house seemingly lost in the world around him. Watch and listen below:

The track is taken from Cemeteries The Wilderness EP which is available now via Lefse Records.

For fans of Besnard Lakes, Wild Nothing.


Cemeteries - Young Blood from Alessandra Hoshor on Vimeo.


Thursday 13 December 2012

New Music: Foals- My Number


I was going to post Foals latest song, My Number, last night in one of the many, many lulls of last night's somewhat boring 12/12/12 concert , but when I went to stream the song the bastards had reset the YouTube clip to private. Does 24 hours make a difference? Apparently so, since every other music website and blog have already posted the song during the day, which now makes me late to the game. (Some people...like me.... have real jobs during the day). The groovy, funky break up song is less grungy than Inhaler, the first single from the new album, but it is definitely more danceable.

My Number will appear on Foals new album Holy Fire which will be released on February 12th via Warner.






Wednesday 12 December 2012

New Music: Majical Cloudz- What That Was


Nice electropop single from Montreal artist and Grimes collaborator Majical Cloudz, aka Devon Walsh. Listen to What That Was below:

From the Turns, Turns, Turns EP out now via Merok/Arbutus

For fans of Grimes, Diamond Rings.

Tuesday 11 December 2012

New Music: Ra Ra Riot- When I Dream


Ra Ra Riot have released a second track from their forthcoming new LP Beta Love. A couple of weeks ago we introduced you to the band's new sound in the form of the title track from the new LP. When I Dream follows the same formula as the first single, in that Ra Ra Riot have progressed into more of a dance-y synth pop band. Listen to the track below:

Beta Love will be released on January 22nd via Arts & Crafts/Barsuk Records.

Ra Ra Riot are currently touring North America and you can find all of their upcoming concerts here.

For fans of Passion Pit, Yeasayer

New Music: Cayucas- Cayucos + Swimsuit


California indie band Cayucas are offering up a couple of tracks that make us forget that winter is upon us. The band hails from Santa Monica which is a city that is not affected too much by cold temperatures, so they probably don't care about the weather and can get away with releasing warm sunshine-y songs at this time of year. The group recently signed to Secretly Canadian and they have just released a new 7" single that features Cayucos on the A side and Swimsuit on the B Side.  Swimsuit apparently is a reworking of a track they did when they were known as Oregon Bike Trails. Listen to Swimsuit and watch the video for Cayucos below:

For fans of the Beach Boys, Real Estate









Music Video: Twin Shadow- The Ones (Live at KCRW)


Enjoy an acoustic version of the Confess track The Ones plus an accompanying video. The track was recorded during a recent KCRW session.

Twin Shadow's new LP Confess is out now on 4AD or download from iTunes.


Monday 10 December 2012

New Music: Beliefs- Catch My Breath + Music Video


Great to see that local Toronto shoegaze band Beliefs are starting to get some buzz. The band is getting some serious blog love including being featured on Gorilla vs Bear and Consequence of Sound.

Catch My Breath is the first single off their debut self titled album. The video for the song shows the band sloshing around in water while they play their waterlogged instruments. It looks like the band have been ship wrecked, but it might just be Toronto's Woodbine Beach, in which case they won't have to go very far before finding civilization. Watch and listen to the grainy video and fuzzy guitar song below:

Beliefs debut album will be out some time in March via Hand Drawn Dracula/Manimal Vinyl/No Pain in Pop.

For fans of The Darcys, Toy, Kestrels.



Live Clip: Guards- Silver Lining


Here is a live clip of Guards playing their new single Silver Linings. The song was recorded back in September at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Guards new album, In Guards We Trust, will be released February 5th via Black Bell.





New Music: City Reign- Retaliate


We introduced you to new UK band City Reign and their single Ahead of Ideas back in October and now the band has released another track from their forthcoming new album Another Step. The beautiful acoustic Retaliate is a poignant song that differs from their earlier 90's American indie inspired Ahead of Ideas. Watch the video below which features scenes of ballroom dancers from old movies, and when you're done download the song for free courtesy of Soundcloud.

Another Step will be available on February via Car Boot Records.

For fans of Oasis, Dinosaur Jr., Yuck




Sunday 9 December 2012

New Music: Dot Dash- Shouting In The Rain



Rainy night here in Toronto. Figured it would be a good time to post the latest song from Washington post punk band Dot Dash which is titled appropriately enough Shouting in the Rain. We first told you about Dot Dash back in October when they released the song and video for The Past is Another Country.

Both songs are available on their new album Winter Garden Light. The CD is available at the band's Canadian record label, The Beautiful Music, or you can download from iTunes.

If you want to learn more about the band there is a great interview with them over at The Vinyl District blog.

For fans of Wire, The dB's


Five Star Songs: Phoenix- Long Distance Call


Looks like French indie pop band Phoenix will be releasing a follow up to the award winning Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix LP next year. I guess lead singer Thomas Mars has got that whole marriage to Sophia Coppola thing out of the way and has gotten back together with the band to record the new album. Daniel Glass, head of the band's record label Glassnote, made the announcement at a Spotify event on Thursday that Phoenix had just finished making the LP.

There is a hint at what the new album might be called on the band's website. TPC might be an abbreviation or an acronym for the title of the new LP, but I doubt it relates to a golf tournament with the same name.

Although WAP had some excellent songs and was probably a good pick to win Grammys and other awards, but in my opinion the single Long Distance Call from the band's previous album It's Never Been Like That is the band's best song....so far.  Looking forward to the new album!!!!  Listen below:





Favourite Songs of 2012: Part 5 (Songs 14-1)


This list is probably not much different than the umpteen other best of lists out there. However, there are a couple of songs I have included that probably won't appear anywhere else.

If you want to listen to or re-visit the other 60 songs on the list here are the links:

Tracks 75-60
Tracks 59-45
Tracks 44-30
Tracks 29-15

Here we go.....

Top Songs of 2012

14. Prince Rama- Those Who Live For Love Will Live Forever



13. Chromatics- Kill For Love



12. Jack White- Sixteen Saltines

11. Frankie Rose- Know Me



10. Father John Misty- Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings

9. Japandroids- The House That Heaven Built

8. DIIV- How Long Have You Known

7. Echo Lake- Another Day

6. Bat For Lashes- Laura

5. Passion Pit- Constant Conversations

4. The Walkmen- Heaven

3. Grimes- Oblivion

2. M.I.A- Bad Girls

1. Beach House- Myth


Friday 7 December 2012

Favourite Songs of 2012: Part 4 (Songs 29 to 15)

More than half way there and almost in the home stretch......

Part 4: (Songs 29 to 15)

29. Spiritualized- Hey Jane

28. Chairlift- I Belong in Your Arms



27. Grizzly Bear- Yet Again

26. Cloud Nothings- Stay Useless

25. DIANA- Born Again



24. Wild Nothing- Paradise

23. Saint Etienne- Tonight

22. Frank Ocean- Sweet Life



21. Tame Impala- Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

20. Killer Mike- Reagan 

19. Purity Ring- Obedear



18. The Shins- Simple Song

17. Alabama Shakes- Hold On

16. Cat Power- Sun

15. Grimes- Genesis


Stay tuned.....on Sunday December 9th the Top 15 will be revealed.

New Music: Shout Out Louds- Blue Ice + Music Video


Not to be outdone by their fellow countrymen and similar sounding band The Mary Onettes, The Shout Out Louds have also announced a new album to be released early next year. The LP will be titled Optica and the first single, Blue Ice, with accompanying music video was put out last week. As a promotion The SOL actually gave away 10 free 7" singles which were made of real ice....not sure how that works.

The heartwarming song's video features faces drifting across the cosmos until they end up in Saturn's icy blue rings while diamond asteroids are drifting by through the continuum of space. Watch and listen below:

Optica will be out on February 26th through Merge Records.

The Shout Out Louds will embark on a spring tour which will hit Toronto's Opera House on May 14th. Check your local listings for all dates.

For fans of The Mary Onettes, The Cure, The National.




Thursday 6 December 2012

Favourite Songs of 2012: Part 3 (Songs 44 to 30)

We're starting to get to the good stuff......

Part 3 : (Songs 44 to 30)





40. Divine Fits- My Love is Real



39. Tamaryn- Heavenly Body

38. Santigold- Disparate Youth

37. Lower Dens- Brains

36. Jack White- Love Interruption

35. Cat Power- Cherokee 


34. DIIV- Doused

33. First Aid Kit- Emmy Lou

32. The New Division- Night Escape



31. Fidlar- Cheap Beer

30. Sharon Van Etten- Serpents

New Music: Haunted Hearts- Something That Feels Bad Is Something That Feels Good


Indie rock super couple Dee Dee Dum Dum of the Dum Dum Girls and Brandon Welchez of Crocodiles are already figuratively making sweet music together as husband/wife and now they have  literally recorded new songs together under the guise of Haunted Hearts. Their new single Something that Feels Bad is Something That Feels Good has all of the same elements that make their regular bands sound so good, i.e. a great mix of garage pop and shoegaze. Listen below:

Something That Feels Bad Is Something That Feels Good" b/w "House of Lords" single is out February 5th via Zoo Music.

For fans of Dum Dum Girls, Crocodiles

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Favourite Songs of 2012: Part 2 (Songs 59 to 45)

Here is Part 2 of my favourite songs from 2012.

Part 2: (songs 59 to 45)

59. Allo Darlin'- Capricornia

58. Melody's Echo Chamber- Endless Shore




57. Bleeding Rainbow- Drift Away

56. Cold Cave- A Little Death To Laugh

55. Daughter- Smother

54. Peace- Your Hand in Mine

53. Django Django- Default




52. Chromatics- Lady



51. Death Grips- Get Gone

50. Still Corners- Fireflies 

49. Vinyl Williams- Harmonious Change

48. Savages- Flying To Berlin



47. Cvrches- The Mother We Share



46. Beach House- Lazuli

45. Widowspeak- Ballad of the Golden Year

New Music: Girls Names- Hypnotic Regression


Northern Ireland post punk band Girls Names have just released a second track off of their hotly anticipated new LP The New Life. Hypnotic Regression is a little more jumpier than the earlier released album title track which was over seven minutes of doom and gloom. Listen to the new track below:

The New Life will be out on February 26th via Slumberland Records.

For fans of Beach Fossils, Peace, Echo & the Bunnymen




Bleeding Rainbow Visit BTR Live Studio


BreakThru Radio (BTR) is a website devoted to spotlighting new up and coming talent and empowering DJs to pick and play their own music. One of the great programs they have on BTR Radio is a show called BTR Live Studio. The show is hosted by Maia McDonalds, a successful musician and DJ, and each week she invites a new band into the studio for and interview and a jam session. This week's episode features Philadelphia indie fuzz rock band Bleeding Rainbow. Watch the episode below:


Tuesday 4 December 2012

Favourite Songs of 2012: Part 1 (Songs 75 to 60)

It's that time of the year again....time for year end best of lists. Aural Report is proud to present a five part series featuring my Favourite Songs from 2012. This was a great year for music and this inaugural list of 75 great tracks reflects what I feel is the best of the best.



Part 1-Songs 75 to 60

75. Tashaki Miyaki- Tonight

74. Hot Chip- Night & Day

73. Richard Hawley- Down in the Woods

72. Eternal Summers- You Kill

71. Magnetic Fields- Andrew in Drag

70. King Krule- Rock Bottom

69. Crystal Castles- Plague

68. Ringo Deathstarr- Rip

67. Woods- Size Meets The Sound



66. School of Seven Bells- Secret Days


65. Ariel Pink- Only in My Dreams 

64. Toy- Lose My Way

63. Charli XCX- You're The One

62. Bear in Heaven- Sinful Nature

61. Trailer Trash Tracys- Candy Girl

60. Electric Youth- The Best Thing



New Music: Beach Fossils- Careless


No rest for the wicked.......I am assuming that Zachary Cole Smith is just about to wrap up his first stint with side project DIIV so he and Beach Fossils leader Dustin Payseur can fully concentrate on promoting their just announced new album.

Brooklyn dream pop act Beach Fossils have just announced a new album, which will be titled Clash The Truth and to prepare us for the release the band just put out the first single, Careless. Totally psyched about one of the tracks on the album, In Vertigo, which has a cameo by Blonde Redhead singer Kazu Makino. The album is produced by Brian Greenberg of the Men and will be released via Captured Tracks on February 19th.You can hear Greenberg's influence on the new track as it has a little bit more muscle than their previous work. Download the song below:

Meanwhile, DIIV will be playing The Phoenix in Toronto on Tuesday December 11th with Japandroids. This is sure to be the end of year drunken blow out concert that this city deserves.

For fans of DIIV, Cloud Nothings


Music Video: Her Vanished Grace- Fade Away


Here is a new music video from Aural Report dream pop favourites Her Vanished Grace. We told you about this band way back in September when we featured their excellent album Star Crossed.  The U2-like album track Fade Away, now has a music video that features the band hanging around downtown New York as the daily rat race speeds around them. Listen and watch below:

For fans of U2, Ummagma.








Monday 3 December 2012

New Music: Scott & Charlene's Wedding- Epping Line


New lo-fi indie rock courtesy of Australian Craig Dermody, who musically goes by the name of Scott & Charlene's Wedding. The simple heart-felt guitar song, Epping Line, was recorded with the help of fellow down under musicians Twerps . The track is featured on the album Para Vista Social Club which is out now via Critical Heights Records. Listen to the song below:

For fans of Christopher Owens, Stephen Malkmus

Sunday 2 December 2012

Goodbye Rob Ford (Five Star Songs: Girls- Big Bad Mean Motherfucker)

It was a great week in Toronto for people who like accountability in politics. Our incompetent mayor was finally ousted from office over a conflict of issue where he voted on a matter that concerned him paying back money he improperly solicited on city letterhead. That was just the latest in a series of fuck ups and stupid ideas that this man has concocted over the two years he has been in office. The list of idiocracy is quite long and includes things like scrapping bike lanes, shunning gay pride festivities, and missing council meetings to coach high school football. I won't even go in to the things he said and did before he became mayor. You can read a funny sarcastic piece in Vice Magazine regarding Ford's political career.



He does have a small chance to get reinstated on appeal, but lets hope the Divisional Court does the right thing and deny his chance to get back in office. Other then that he will probably run again in the next election (or by-election) and hopefully he will lose by a landslide. Even if Ford does lose the election, unfortunately it will probably not be the last time we here from this idiot.

Here is a song with a title that best describes the man.

Girls- Big Bad Mean Motherfucker


Friday 30 November 2012

New Music: Bleeding Rainbow- Waking Dream


Hot on the heels of Pink Ruff and Drift Away, Philly fuzz rock band Reading Rainbow have just released another track from their forthcoming LP Yeah Right. Waking Dream is less fuzzy than their other songs and might be considered sunshine pop. In fact the chorus of the song is "Sunshine is all I see, light flooding over me,". If you suffer from the winter doldrums and hate that their is little sunlight at this time of year then this is a great track to pick you up. Listen below:

Yeah Right will be released on January 29th via Kanine Records.


Thursday 29 November 2012

New Music: Modern Superstitions- Bad Habit


Some nice garage pop emanating from right here in Toronto Ontario. Bad Habit is taken from Modern Superstitions self titled debut album which was released back in October. The album is co-produced by two Toronto fucks....that is Brian Borcherdt of Holy Fuck and Ben Cook of Fucked Up. Download Bad Habits below courtesy of Soundcloud.

Modern Superstitions debut self titled album is available through Last Gang Records or download on iTunes.


Wednesday 28 November 2012

New Music: Cineplexx- Cosas De La Vida Normal


No, this post is not about the money grubbing movie chain that has a monopoly here in Toronto. Cineplexx are a Barcelona band who specialize in laid back indie pop. I don't understand a word that these guys are singing, but I do know that this is some pretty good Balearic dreamy goodness. Listen below:

The band's new album Perfume is available now and you can get it here.


Tuesday 27 November 2012

New Music: Mac DeMarco- Ode To Viceroy + Music Video


It's about time I wrote a post on this guy. I've been ignoring Mac DeMarco all year, even though he has released some excellent singles and two great albums in the last 12 months. I've also been kicking myself for missing his performance(s) at this years NXNE festival. I was at The Drake Hotel the night of his gig watching Eternal Summers and left before his performance to watch some punk band, who I can't remember the name of, at another venue up the street. I'm sure I will catch him live some time in the future.

Meanwhile, Mr. DeMarco has just come out with a video for the track Ode To Viceroy off his fine 2012 LP 2.  The song and video has DeMarco displaying his love for Viceroy cigarettes, a discount brand of cancer sticks I have never heard of. But then again I don't smoke and Canada has strict rules where you cannot have cigarettes on display in stores. Watch and listen below:

2 is out now and is available through Captured Tracks or iTunes.

For fans of Naomi Punk, Jonathan Richman, Daughn Gibson.





Monday 26 November 2012

New Music: Ra Ra Riot- Beta Love


Upstate New York indie pop band Ra Ra Riot have just announced their long awaited follow up to Orchard and Beta Love (which also the name of the album) is the first single from the new LP. The band have been pared down to a four piece but that hasn't slowed them down. The first single is a danceable synth pop jam that is quite different than the Arcade Fire like indie pop sound the group has employed in the past. Download the single courtesy of Soundcloud.

Ra Ra Riot release their third album, Beta Love, on January 22nd via Arts & Crafts/Barsuk Records.

Ra Ra Riot are touring North America next year and plan to make a stop on March 3rd in Toronto at Lee's Palace. For all tour dates check your local listings.

For fans of Passion Pit, Discovery, Arcade Fire.

Friday 23 November 2012

New Music: Nothing- Downward Years To Come


Nothing are actually quite something. Nothing are a really good band hailing from Philadelphia who make expansive reverb happy shoegaze music. Quite a nice find...thanks to the guys over at Stereogum.

The track will be featured on an upcoming EP of the same name via a389 records.

For fans of Slowdive, Whirr, Swervedriver, Young Prisms.


Nothing - "Downward Years To Come" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

New Music: Holobody- Ninnyhammer + Music Video


Some sweet new synth pop from Montreal duo Holobody. Ninnyhammer is defined in the dictionary as a fool or a ninny. This track is anything but foolish, as it features sugary falsetto vocals and off kilter synths that make this song a pop favourite. Watch the video for the track below and if you like it, snag the song from Soundcloud courtesy of Bad Panda Records.

For fans of Grimes, and Purity Ring.



Tuesday 20 November 2012

New Music: Veronica Falls- Teenage


Some great new jangle pop from London's Veronica Falls.  Their new track, Teenage, sounds a little more upbeat than the songs on their previous self titled album. The song is taken from their upcoming new LP, Waiting for Something to Happen, which will be released February 12th via Slumberland.



New Music: Big Deal- Teradactol


New dreamy indie rock from across the pond by London's Big Deal. Teradactol is the band's new single that will be part of their second full length LP, out sometime next year. This one is on the heavy side of the dream pop spectrum, listen below:


Monday 19 November 2012

New Music: The Mary Onettes- Evil Coast


Sweden's The Mary Onettes are back with a new album, Hit the Waves, slated for March of next year. The Mary Onettes are one of favourite indie pop bands and their two previous LPs are a couple of my most treasured albums that I own from the great musical country of Sweden.

The first single from the album is titled Evil Coast. The sweeping melodies of the song combined with singer Philip Ekstrom's beautiful voice makes this new track an almost pop masterpiece. The single will be out on November 27th. Listen below:

Hit The Waves will be out on March 12th via Labrador Records.

For fans of The Shout Out Louds, The Radio Dept., Peter, Bjorn & John.





Sunday 18 November 2012

New Music: Yo La Tengo- Before We Run + Music Video


Beautiful new song from Yo La Tengo.....

Before We Run is taken from the band's new album, Fade, which will be released in the new year. The track is not too different from the tunes on Popular Songs and will be the ending song on the album. Listen below as singer Georgia Hubley coos over a emotional mix of strings, horns and intricate guitar. The colourful video was made by Georgia's sister Emily.

The new album is produced by John McIntire of the Chicago band Tortoise who has also worked with Spoon and Broken Social Scene. There will also be a deluxe vinyl addition of Fade that will include a bonus 7" featuring covers of Todd Rundgren's I Saw The Light and Times New Viking's Move to California. Fade will be out January 15th via Matador.

For fans of Broken Social Scene, Guided by Voices.

Five Star Songs: The Long Blondes- Giddy Stratospheres


I really miss The Long Blondes.....they broke up way too early in their career. I hear that lead singer Kate Jackson is now using the name Madame Ray and that she is working with Bernard Butler on new material. Looking forward to hearing her new stuff.

The sweet dance oriented post punk song Giddy Stratospheres was released on 7" back in 2004 and then re-released as the third single from the group's excellent 2007 debut album Someone to Drive You Home. Check it out below:

Someone to Drive You Home is available on iTunes, Amazon or check your local record store.







Friday 16 November 2012

New Music: Kate Boy- Northern Lights


Nice electronic pop from Sweden's Kate Boy and their debut single Northern Lights. Everybody is comparing this track to The Knife, but for me it also sounds a lot like 80's pop group Nu Shooz. Listen and watch the video below:

For fans of The Knife, Robyn, Nu Shooz.


Thursday 15 November 2012

New Music: Widowspeak- Ballad Of The Golden Hour


Sweet new song from Brooklyn folky psychedelic dream pop band Widowspeak.  Ballad of the Golden Hour is a contradiction that features a syrupy mix of acoustic guitar combined with lead singer Molly Hamilton's sugar sweet voice that eventually fades into a thunderous conclusion. Download the song below:

Widowspeak will release their second album, Almanac, January 22nd via Captured Tracks.

For fans of Stars, Mazzy Starr and Built To Spill.

Wednesday 14 November 2012

New Music: Johnny Marr- The Messenger + Music Video


Twenty five years after the break up of The Smiths, Johnny Marr has finally released a solo LP. His list of credits is very long since 1987. The busy man has formed bands (Electronic, The Healers), has joined bands (The The, The Pretenders, Modest Mouse, The Cribs), and even helped score a movie (Inception) but he has never done anything for himself, until now. After living in Portland for several years, Marr grew homesick for Manchester and his new album, The Messenger, was born out of his return to his native city. The new LP will be available February 26th via Sire/ADA.

Meanwhile, Marr has just come out with the title track for the album and accompanying music video. Nice song that showcases the guitar work of the legendary axeman. The music video is a simple black and white scene of Marr walking through the woods and on to a beach. Watch and listen below:

For fans of The Smiths, Edwyn Collins and Richard Hawley.

New Music: Pat Jordache- steps (Damaged Goods)


Is it me or does this Pat Jordache sound like Stephen Merritt and his 80's synth pop act Japan......

Of course, this is not the 80's and this song is not Stephen Merritt, rather Pat Jordache is another modern artist who likes to take us back in time to when new wave ruled the airwaves. Jordache is a Montreal based artist who used to be in the band Sister Suvi with Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs fame and now makes his own solo material.

Jordache is working on his follow up to his excellent 2011 LP Future Songs and to tide us over he just came out with saxy new single steps (Damaged Goods). Listen below:

For fans of Japan, Talking Heads, Ice Choir

Tuesday 13 November 2012

New Music: Guards- Coming True


Guards have just come off of a highly acclaimed set at New York's CMJ festival and now they are almost set to release their debut album, In Guards We Trust, to the world. But first, the band have come out with Coming True, the follow up to the excellent single Silver Lining which we featured on the Aural Report back in September.

The track sees singer Richie Follin showcasing his vocal talents on the tracks shimmering choruses which proves to the world that sister Madeline of Cults isn't the only one in the family with a soaring voice. Listen below:

In Guards We Trust will be released on February 5th via Black Bell.

For fans of Bleeding Rainbow, Cults and Willowz.

New Music: Doldrums- She Is The Wave + Music Video


Toronto Experimental pop artist Doldrums, aka Alrick Woodhead, has released a second single, She is the Wave, from his forthcoming new album titled Lesser Evil . The skittish blippy track contains chaotic experimental beats which is appropriate considering the content of the accompanying weird music video. The video shows a ski boot wearing Woodhead desperately pushing a shopping cart through a barren wasteland and almost dying of exhaustion. All is not lost as a man in a kitty cat car, that looks like it was stolen from a Santa Claus parade, comes to the rescue. Watch and listen below:

Lesser Evil, which was recorded on a borrowed laptop from Grimes, will be released on February 26th via Arbutus Records.

For fans of Grimes, Animal Collective and DD/MM/YYYY

Monday 12 November 2012

New Music: Asobi Seksu- Farewell


This is probably going to be the first single I will look for on Record Store Day, assuming it will be available in Canada........

Just in time for Black Friday/Record Store Day, Asobi Seksu along with their friends in the Japanese sludge metal/shoegaze band Boris have announced they will be releasing a split 7", and even better, the two bands will be covering each other's songs on the limited edition release. On the A side Asobi Seksul cover Farewell, a song from Boris' shoegaze LP  Pink and on the B side Boris cover the Brooklyn shoegazer's Citrus track New Years, which has been cooly renamed Neu Years. Listen to the Asobi Seksu song below:

Make sure you visit your local record store on November 23rd for this 7" and plenty of other great releases.


New Music: Evil Eyes- Keep Your Mind On Me


Free download from San Francisco post punk band Evil Eyes. Keep Your Mind on Me is a dark, twangy, beautiful dream pop song.

Evil Eyes plan to release their debut album sometime in 2013.


For fans of Cold Showers and Lower Dens.

Sunday 11 November 2012

Five Star Songs: Kevin Shields- City Girl


Last week it was reported, in an NME interview, that Kevin Shields will finally release the long awaited follow up to the classic My Bloody Valentine classic album Loveless. You should take his word cautiously, as Shields has been promising a new MBV LP for almost 20 years now, and we are still waiting. He has a great excuse for not putting out the new record; he has stated in earlier interviews that he cannot bear to put out anything inferior to Loveless. That is a tall order because it it one of the greatest records of the last thirty years.

Even though we are still waiting for the next MBV album, Shields has been busy contributing to other musical endeavours, with great success. Not only has he worked with or produced some great bands including Placebo, Yo La Tengo and Dinosaur Jr., he became a full time member of Primal Scream and worked on the albums XTRMNTR and Evil Heat.

One of the other cool things Shields did in the last few years was to contribute four songs to Lost In Translation movie soundtrack. When the soundtrack came out in 2003, it was Shields first original work he had done in ten years. The then reclusive Shields was coaxed to contribute to the LP by Brian Reitzell , the drummer for Air, who was the Music Supervisor for the soundtrack.

The Lost in Translation LP is one of the best soundtracks from the last twenty years. Not only does it have Shields work, but it also includes songs from  Phoenix, Air, and the song Just Like Honey from the Jesus & Mary Chain which is featured just after the wonderful climatic scene where Scarlett Johansson whispers in Bill Murray's ear.

Of the four songs Shields contributed to the album, three were instrumentals and only one, City Girl, featured Shields vocals.  City Girl is a pretty dream pop song that makes you wonder why Shields has not put out any other new material in the last ten years. The track features simple garage guitar work and is reminiscent of the pre-Loveless MBV era.

Buy the soundtrack to Lost in Translation on iTunes, Amazon or check your local record store.

Watch the video for the track and see Scarlett Johansson do a bit of sight seeing in Japan.







Saturday 10 November 2012

New Music: CSS- I've Seen You Drunk Gurl


I've Seen You Drunk Gurl is a fun new song from Brazilian electro group Cansei De Ser Sexy. The song is produced by Dave Sitek and also will be the first song to be released from Sitek's new Federal Prism record label.

Listen to the funky number which has cutie singer Lovefoxx singing/chiding a friend about her state of drunkenness.

For fans of Diamond Rings,Kreayshawn, New Young Pony Club.

Friday 9 November 2012

New Music: Vex Ruffin- Same Thing Tomorrow


Last September the Aural Report featured lo-fi psychedelic artist Vex Ruffin and his new single Take It. Now he is back with a more sedated track titled Same Thing Tomorrow which is part of a cassette only compilation of 10 songs taken from the almost 300 songs he submitted to Peter Butter Wolf at Stones Throw Records.

If you are like me and don't have a cassette player anymore, you can grab the digital mp3 for free below:

For fans of Dirty Beaches and Ty Segall.

Psych Pop From Toronto


Great compilation put out by Toronto indie label Optical Sounds featuring many of the diverse bands that make up the local psych rock scene.

The compilation is curated by Will Carruthers, former bass player for Spacemen 3, Spiritualized and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, who spent a year living in Toronto where he got to know many of the groups in Toronto's indie scene. The music of these bands covers a broad range and is not strictly psychedelic rock. The diversity makes this a great album, as there is something for everyone including shoegaze (Volcano Playground), post punk (The Disraelis), lo-fi girl group like the Vivian Girls (The BB Guns), garage psych (Action Makes) and 60's psych pop (the Hoa Hoa's).

Best of all it is free!!!! Download the album below.