Parlour Steps are a self-described electro-pop/motown band hailing from Vancouver. The group’s engaging sound would fit nicely between The Decemberists and The New Pornographers in your record collection.
In 2009, Parlour Steps released a catchy gem of an album, The Hidden Names!, and have been touring in support of it ever since. In a rare offstage moment, front man Caleb Stull recently compiled a list of his favorite music-related movies for us. His Poetic Memory is below. Continue reading…
When The New Pornographers put out an album, it’s always an event. Continue reading…
Owl and Bear writers’ favorite albums of 2009. Continue reading
The marriage of indie rock and corporate advertising can be a strange coupling. Of Montreal, Modest Mouse, and The New Pornographers are just a few bands that have had their tunes co-opted to hock steaks, cars, and beer. If you watched any television last year, chances are you caught the commercial for the Saturn Outlook, which prominently featured a bubbly little tune called “5 Years Timeâ€. Catchy as it was, the advertisement gave little indication that the band behind the jingle, London folk rock act Noah & The Whale, had created one of 2008’s best albums: Peaceful,The World Lays Me Down.
Sounding like a poppier version of Scottish soul mates—and Owl&Bear album of the year winner—Frightened Rabbit, Noah & The Whale use acoustic guitars and mournful vocals to craft aching confessionals that would break your heart if you weren’t so busy tapping your foot. The band is set to release its sophomore album, entitled The First Days of Spring, on August 31st in the UK and October 6th in the US.
As a companion piece for the album, the band has created a film version of The First Days of Spring, which will be screened at select locations in August and September, and will also be available as part of the album’s deluxe edition. You can watch a trailer for the Wes Anderson-inspired film, as well as download a Twelves remix of the song “Blue Skiesâ€, after the jump. No Saturns were harmed during the making of the film. Continue reading
Sure, everybody who has heard Neko Case knows she’s talented, and everybody who has seen her knows she’s beautiful. But did you know she’s also a good person? Turns out Ms. Case is unveiling the first single off her forthcoming Middle Cyclone album in a very classy way: by making a $5 donation to charity every time a blog reposts the song.
The donations will benefit the Best Friends Animal Society, which is kind of like PETA, except not scary. Middle Cyclone, the follow-up to Case’s incredible Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, is due out March 3rd and the smart money says it’ll be more fun than a poke in the eye.
So help us help Neko help animals by clicking here and downloading her song.