The Wheel's Still In Spin

Bay Area Concerts 10/31/08-11/6/08

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 10/31:

Mount Eerie | Barn Owl – Woulds

Sat 11/1:

Mount Eerie | Thanksgiving | White Fang | Common Eider Kind Eider – Million Fishes Arts Collective

Roky Erickson | The Black Angels – Great American Music Hall

Parts & Labor | Gowns | Cause Of The Birthmark – Hemlock Tavern

The Spinto Band | Frightened Rabbit | Half-handed Cloud – Bottom Of The Hill

Scissors For Left | White Lies | Japanese Motors | DJ Aaron Axelsen – Popscene

Lykke Li | Friendly Fires | Vin Sol – The Independent

Tom Morrello: The Nightwatchman | Boots Riley – The Fillmore

Axton Kincaid | Misispi Rider – Make-Out Room

Sun 11/2:

Bart Davenport – Amoeba Records Berkeley – FREE

The Spinto Band – Amoeba Records San Francisco – FREE

She & Him | Lavender Diamond – Bimbo’s 365 Club

Roky Erickson | The Black Angels – Great American Music Hall

The Spinto Band | Frightened Rabbit | The Chop – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

Magnetic Morning | Drew Andrews – The Independent

Mon 11/3:

She & Him | Lavender Diamond – Bimbo’s 365 Club

Secret Machines | The Dears – The Independent

Diplo | Abe Vigoda | Telepathe | Boy 8 Bit – Great American Music Hall

Tues 11/4:

Crystal Stilts | caUSE co-MOTION | Zach Hill | Brilliant Colord – Bottom Of The Hill

Wed 11/5:

Greg Laswell | Jenny Owen Youngs – Café Du Nord

Toumani Diabate – Herbst Theatre

Mother Mother | The Henry Clay People | Rifle – Hotel Utah Saloon

Thu 11/6:

The Dodos | Kelly Stoltz – Bimbo’s 365 Club

Electric Six | Local H | Your Vegas – Great American Music Hall

Jeans Team | French Disco | The Whispertown 2000 | DJ PAM – Bottom Of The Hill

Brett Dennen – The Independent

Back to The Wheel's Still In Spin Mainpage.

New Releases - 28 October 2008

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cardinology | CD, Vinyl, or MP3
It’s been a while since Ryan Adams released an album as strong as his first two solo efforts, Heartbreaker or Gold, or the Whiskeytown records. While this album is not as enduring, at least the first four songs get close to that earlier magic. The Cardinals, his backing band, poignantly accompany these songs. And Adams has focused the 12 songs as 3-minute pop rock pieces.

Deerhunter – Microcastle | CD, Vinyl, or MP3
This release moves past the art-punk and droned sounds of the earlier Deerhunter albums. Microcastle is an indie rock album that balances jangly and ambient tones to create a noisy and catchy album. For a man that keeps reinventing himself (on Deerhunter and Atlas Sound releases), Bradford Cox has made one of his most cohesive albums to date.

It’s A Musical – The Music Makes Me Sick | CD, Vinyl, or MP3
Download “Bad Day” (mp3)
As a two-piece indie pop band with organ, drums, and two sets of vocals, the connection to Mates Of State is natural. But on their debut album It’s A Musical creates a more accessible pop sound than the past two Mates Of State albums. Despite the title of the downloadable song, “Bad Day,” this music is upbeat and blithe.

O’Death – Broken Hymns, Limbs And Skin | CD, Vinyl, or MP3
Download “Lowtide” (mp3)
O’Death plays a blend of folk and punk that borders on an Americana version of the gypsy punk genre. For this, the band’s third album, the band captured a raucous energy. Sticking with their lineup of guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, and drums, O’ Death mixes multiple influences (country, punk, folk, even metal) into their own brand of music.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Best Albums Of August 2008

Here’s The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s favorites new releases for the month of August:

1. Caesars – Strawberry Weed | Amazon CD 2 CDs[Import] MP3 MP3[Expanded Version] | Insound CD
   The Caesars are a retro sounding garage band from Sweden. Strawberry Weed was originally released as a double album in their country in May. Astralwerks slimmed it down to 12 tracks from the U.S. release. The songs are ubercatchy rock and roll, including “Jerk It Out,” which appeared in an iPod commercial. The extended download version is even better with songs like “She’s Getting High.”


2. Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line | Amazon CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl MP3
   Download “Dying Is Fine” (mp3)
   After releasing their first EP last year, Ra Ra Riot released their debut full length album on Barsuk. With instrumentation that includes guitar, bass, and drums, with cello and violin, Ra Ra Riot mixes the high energy of a punk band with the subtleties of chamber pop.


3. The Uglysuit – The Uglysuit | Amazon CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl MP3
   Download “Chicago” (mp3)
   This Oklahoma band’s debut album is full of upbeat, happy indie rock. There are layers of lusciously lively rock music – keyboards, organs, guitars, bass, drums, and more guitars. But this isn’t a guitar driven rock album. It mixes indie rock and dream pop into cheerful rock and roll.


4. Human Highway – Moody Motorcycle | Amazon CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl MP3
   Somewhere between the solo folk music of Jim Guthrie and the fleshed out layers of Jim Thorburn’s Islands is Human Highway. The band, a duo of Guthrie and Thorburn, made catchy folk-based songs that sound both retro and endearingly idiosyncratic.


5. Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim | Amazon CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl
   This album was released in the UK, Marling’s home country, in February of this year and made the shortlist for the Mercury Prize. In August, this album was finally releases Stateside. Produced by Charlie Fink of Noah And The Whale, it is loaded with accessible and folky pop songs based on acoustic guitar and Marling’s effective vocals.


6. The Walkmen – You & Me | Amazon CD MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl MP3
   This album, like previous Walkmen albums, has grandiose musical depths. The songs are guitar driven but punctuated by coatings of reverb and Hamilton Leithauser’s swooping vocals. The songs on You & Me do not have the same bombastic style of their previous albums, but sound more selective and crafted.


7. Lindstrøm – Where You Go I Go Too | Amazon CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl
   Download “The Long Way Home (Prins Thomas Edit)” (mp3)
   Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, best known for his production and remix work, has finally released his first official full length album. It’s only three tracks, but nearly an hour of music. Lindstrøm succeeds in creating well crafted “space disco,” taking the disco tones and modulations and making them more trippy or surreal than dance. This album has a solid progression and never appears monotonous, which is a feat for the genre.


8. The Silent Years – The Globe | Amazon CD MP3 | Insound CD MP3
   Download “On Our Way Home” (mp3) [from RCRDLBL]
   Download “Black Hole” (mp3) [from RCRDLBL]
   This DIY indie outfit makes refreshing power pop. The lyrics and themes of the songs are intelligent. The music is unpredictably catchy throughout the 45 minutes of the album.


9. Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst | Amazon CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl
   After numerous albums as Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst makes a direct folk album for this “solo” release. The pinnacle of his career was I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. While this album comes closest to Wide Awake’s prowess, it’s not as strong. However, with songs like “Moab,” and “NYC-Gone, Gone,” the album definitely has its bright spots.


10. Muy Cansado – Stars And Garters | Amazon CD MP3
    Download “Telemundo” (mp3)
    Download “Stockholm Syndrome” (mp3)
    This takes Pixies-esque melodies and matches them with straightforward rock and roll. This band doesn’t have as much dynamics or as sharp of a sound as The Pixies, but this is a strong indie rock release.

Back to The Wheel's Still In Spin Mainpage

Submit this story to:

Bay Area Concerts 10/24/08-10/30/08

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 10/24: Mountain Goats | Kaki King – The Fillmore
Fri 10/24: Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band – The Warfield

Sat 10/25: Lake – Amoeba Records Berkeley – FREE
Sat 10/25: 22nd Annual Bridge School Benefit – Neil Young | Jack Johnson | Norah Jones | Sarah McLachlan | Death Cab for Cutie | Wilco | Band of Horses | Cat Power – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sat 10/25: Everest | Le Switch | Winter's Fall – Hotel Utah Saloon
Sat 10/25: The Kooks – The Warfield
Sat 10/25: Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band | Corey Harris – The Fillmore

Sun 10/26: Taj Mahal – Amoeba Records San Francisco – FREE
Sun 10/26: 22nd Annual Bridge School Benefit – Neil Young | Jack Johnson | Josh Groban | Norah Jones | Smashing Pumpkins | Wilco | Death Cab for Cutie | Cat Power – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sun 10/26: Jeffrey Lewis | Sonny & The Sunsets – Hotel Utah Saloon
Sun 10/26: Maceo Parker – Herbst Theater

Mon 10/27: Sir Richard Bishop | Oaxacan | Barn Own – Café Du Nord
Mon 10/27: Girl Talk | Grand Buffet | Hearts Of Darkness – The Fillmore
Mon 10/27: The Notwist | Jel | Odd Nosdam – Bimbo's 365 Club

Tue 10/28: Jenny Lewis | Beachwood Sparks | Pierre De Reeder – Herbst Theater
Tue 10/28: Fujiya & Miyagi | Beehive – The Independent
Tue 10/28: Girl Talk | The Deathset | CX Kidtronic – The Fillmore
Tue 10/28 Ane Brun | Tobias Froberg – Café Du Nord

Wed 10/29: Jenny Lewis | Beachwood Sparks | Pierre De Reeder – Herbst Theater
Wed 10/29: Crystle Castles | Lymbyc Systym – The Independent

Thu 10/30: The Black Keys | Dr. Dog – The Fillmore
Thu 10/30: Crystle Castles | Lymbyc Systym – The Independent – SOLD OUT

Back to The Wheel's Still In Spin Mainpage.

New Releases - 21 October 2008

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

+/- {Plus Minus} – Xs On Your Eyes | CD or MP3
Download “Snowblind” (mp3)
Xs On Your Eyes does not use as much of the electronic tones as previous +/- albums. Instead it showcases layers of more traditional rock music with horns and strings. The result is a catchy indie rock album with danceable influences.

Sebastien Grainger – Sebastien Grainger And The Mountains | CD, Vinyl, or MP3
Download “American Names” (mp3)
One half of the dance-punk duo Death From Above 1979, Grainger steps out his own on this release. This album has the energy that DFA 1979 is known for, but swooping layers and power chords dominate this album.

Hospital Ships – Oh, Ramona | CD or MP3
Download “Bitter Radio Single” (mp3)
Download “I Want It To Get Out” (mp3)
Jordan Geiger is the songwriter of Minus Story, a touring member of Shearwater, and he named this solo “band” after a Flaming Lips song. Hospital Ships’ songs are keyboard driven and infectiously melodic.

The Whispertown 2000 – Swim | CD or MP3
Download “Down With Love” (mp3)
The Whispertown 2000 is the first band Gillian Welch has signed to her Acony Records label. With that connection, the folk aspects of the band’s new album, Swim, should come as no surprise. The band has a full indie rock sound, similar to some of the bands they have toured with, such as The Elected, Jenny Lewis, or Margot And The Nuclear So And So’s.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Bay Area Concerts 10/17/08-10/23/08

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 10/17: Dengue Fever | Lord Loves A Working Man – Bimbo's 365 Club
Fri 10/17: Kings Of Leon – The Warfield
Fri 10/17: Grupo Fantasma | Boca Do Rio – The Independent
Fri 10/17: Johnette Napolitano | Flametal – Café Du Nord

Sat 10/18: The Parties (CD Release) | The High Dials | Parson Red Heads – Hotel Utah Saloon
Sat 10/18: Hayes Carll | The Dedringers | Elliot Randall – Café Du Nord
Sat 10/18: Say Hi | Jukebox The Ghost | The Ian Fays | Princeton – Bottom Of The Hill
Sat 10/18: Kings Of Leon – The Warfield
Sat 10/18: Bye Bye Blackbirds – Amoeba Records Berkeley – FREE

Sun 10/19: Bob Schneider | Amie Miriello – The Independent
Sun 10/19: Pinback | Mr. Tube And The Flying Objects – Bimbo's 365 Club
Sun 10/19: Bayside | The Matches | Valencia | The Status – Slim’s

Mon 10/20: Patti Smith – The Warfield
Mon 10/20: Band Of Annuals | Hang Jones – Hotel Utah Saloon
Mon 10/20: Bayside | The Matches | Valencia | The Status – Bottom Of The Hill

Tue 10/21: The Acorn | The Shaky Hands | Ohbijou – Hemlock Tavern
Tue 10/21: The Killers – The Warfield
Tue 10/21: Stereolab – The Fillmore
Tue 10/21: Blind Melon | Aidan Hawken | Tracy Lyons – The Independent
Tue 10/21: Justin Nozuka | Gabe Dixon Band | Jay Nash – Great American Music Hall

Wed 10/22: Stereolab – The Fillmore
Wed 10/22: Dar Williams | Shawn Mullins – Great American Music Hall

Thu 10/23: The Mountain Goats | Kaki King – The Independent
Thu 10/23: The Felice Brother | Deer Tick – Great American Music Hall
Thu 10/23: Martin Sexton – The Fillmore

Back to The Wheel's Still In Spin Mainpage.

New Releases - 14 October 2008

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

The Decemberists – Always The Bridesmaid, Volume I | Vinyl, Volumes I-III Vinyl, or at indie record stores
This is the first of three 7” vinyl singles released by The Decemberists. The band describes the tracks on the “Always The Bridesmaid” series are “songs that the Decemberists really loved but presciently felt they would not fit on the band’s forthcoming LP.” This first installment includes the tracks “Valerie Plame” and “O New England,” which highlight the bands descriptive folk rock.

The High Dials – Moon Country | CD
Download “Killer Of Dragons” (mp3)
This album is released in Canada this week, but it is worth hunting down here in the States. The Quebec band is touring the US right now, but does not have an official American release date set. This is psychedelic rock. The band utilizes tones similar to Luna, but with less of a drone.

Lotus – Hammerstrike | CD
Upon first listening, this album sounds familiar. The melodies and guitar riffs have a recognizable quality to them. With layers of sounds, including melodic bass, synths, and even cowbell, these guitar driven songs have a modern rock sound that is heavily drenched in the essence of the 70’s.

The Mighty Underdogs – Droppin’ Science Fiction | CD or MP3
Download “War Walk” (mp3)
This is full-length debut from the hip hop supergroup comprised of Lateef the Truth Speaker (Latryx), Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), and producer Headnodic. Overtop of the tight and diverse beats, the MCs lay down some of the most creative and intelligent raps.

Frank Turner – Love Ire & Song | CD
Frank Turner used to be the singer for the hardcore punk band Million Dead. Now he’s singing folk music. He still has his punk attitude with his singer-songwriter style songs. The best part of this album, however, is the passion he gives to each track. It’s folk rock music, but sung with the conviction of an anarchist.

Frank Turner – “Long Live The Queen” from Love Ire & Song:

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Audrye Sessions and Wild Sweet Orange - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - Oct 14th, 2008

Audrye Sessions and Wild Sweet Orange have spent the month of October sharing shows. With a few more shows left on the schedule, their tour will be capped of a showcase at CMJ with both bands, Margot And The Nuclear So And So’s, Love As Laughter, and Cory Chisel.

Tuesday, October 14, brought Audrey Sessions back to their home in the San Francisco Bay Area for a show at Great American Music Hall with Wild Sweet Orange and Poor Bailey. The Oakland band was celebrating the release of their self-titled EP.

CONTEST - WIN FREE TICKETS TO AUDRYE SESSIONS EP RELEASE

We're giving away 2 pairs of tickets to Audrye Sessions' EP Release Party on Tuesday, October 14th at Great American Music Hall.

The first 2 people to leave a comment on this post will win the tickets. The winners will be notified by email.

Currently touring with Wild Sweet Orange, Oakland's Audrye Sessions is returning to San Francisco on Tuesday, October 14th. The two bands will be criss-crossing across the country and meet up again at CMJ to play with Margot And The Nuclear So And So's.

Audrye Sessions recently completed their self-titled debut, which will be released in early 2009. The album was recorded with Andrew Scheps (U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash) and Matt Radosevich (The Hives, Taking Back Sunday). As a special treat, the band is released an EP this Tuesday.

Audrye Sessions' EP Release show on Tuesday at Great American Music Hall will include tourmates Wild Sweet Orange and fellow Oaklanders Poor Bailey. The first two people to leave a comment on this post will win FREE tickets to the show.

Download “Turn Me Off” (mp3) by Audrye Sessions
Download “Either Or” (mp3) by Wild Sweet Orange

Back to The Wheel's Still In Spin Mainpage.

Bay Area Concerts 10/10-10/16

Here are this week's concerts.

Fri 10/10: The Sword | Black Cobra | BISON b.c. – Slim’s
Fri 10/10: Chris Isaak – The Fillmore

Sat 10/11: Frisco Freakout – Earthless | Crystal Antlers | Wooden Ships | and more – Thee Parkside
Sat 10/11: Excuses For Skipping | The Dazzling Strangers | Leopold & His Fiction – Hemlock Tavern
Sat 10/11: Killdozer | Hank IV | Turks – Bottom Of The Hill
Sat 10/11: Chris Isaak – The Fillmore

Mon 10/13: Black Kids | The Virgins – Great American Music Hall

Tue 10/14: Audrye Sessions | Wild Sweet Orange | Poor Bailey – Great American Music Hall
Tue 10/14: Brightblack Morning Light | Iasos | Avocet – Café Du Nord
Tue 10/14: Obamamania – Chuck Prophet | Touched By A Janitor | Virgil Shaw – Hemlock Tavern

Wed 10/15: Born Ruffians | Plants And Animals | Nurses – Bottom Of The Hill
Wed 10/15: Brightblack Morning Light | Iasos | Avocet – Café Du Nord
Wed 10/15: Matt Hales of Aqualung | Kaisercartel – Swedish American Hall
Wed 10/15: Barack ‘n Roll – Big Light | These United States | and special headliners – The Independent
Wed 10/15: Jolie Holland | Herman Dune – Bimbo's 365 Club
Wed 10/15: Polar Bear Club | Crime In Stereo | Broadway Calls | The Kegels – Thee Parkside
Wed 10/15: Joe Jackson – The Warfield

Thu 10/16: The Rumble Strips | Birdmonster – Popscene
Thu 10/16: The Dead C | Six Organs Of Admittance – Great American Music Hall
Thu 10/16: Obama Fundraiser – Elephone | The Hundred Days | Parker Street Cinema – Bottom Of The Hill
Thu 10/16: Jackopierce – Café Du Nord

Back to The Wheel's Still In Spin Mainpage.