Random Sonic Bursts

things have been a little slow as of late, but i managed to scrape a little from the bottom of the plastic bin.

Low’s new album The Great Destroyer was released late last month and they are touring to support it. i’m not sure how i feel about it. they have definitely moved to a heavier sound, which makes sense considering the last album. but i’m not sure it works. i’ll reserve my opinion until i’ve given it a proper listen.

and the really, real Coachella Festival lineup has been announced and it looks promising. after a decade, the much loved Cocteau Twins have announced they are reuniting for the show. since i most likely won’t be making it to Coachella, let’s hope they tour this year. if i manage to see them and Dead Can Dance this year, it really will be the 90s. New Order, Coldplay, NIN, Chemical Brothers, Weezer, Bauhaus (doesn’t seem to suit sunny California does it?), Gang Of Four, M83, Arcade Fire, Matmos, British Sea Power, The Fiery Furnaces, The Kills, The Raveonettes and many more are all on the bill. i’ll be looking forward to the yearly Coachella report from my resident Kermit The Frog Reporter, Heather.

M83 gave us the long awaited Before The Dawn Heals Us which continued with the broad landscape of sound brought with the first(?) album. it seems as though Anthony Gonzalez has a knack for creating an environment to immerse yourself in what seems a signature synth sound (less about the sound itself and more how they are juxtaposed against everything else). but that’s just me using the word juxtaposed. i didn’t think it was quite as emotional as the first album, but an excellent album nonetheless. and from the longest band name ever, comes Worlds Apart. i haven’t heard any of the tracks but Pitchfork gives And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead a mere 4.0. in other news, i’m hitting KEXP this coming Friday to sit in on the in-studio performance of The Hidden Cameras because, well, music is MY boyfriend too. oh, and one more thing. my beloved Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds are due to release their 3 disc B-Sides & Rarities on March 22 (at least that’s what i’ve heard). i’ve never been a big fan of Nick’s b-sides but let’s face it … i’ll buy anything the man puts out. and that includes The Proposition, a film starring Guy Pearce written by Nick Cave.

lastly, do you ever have those bands that just rub you the wrong way? there are several bands that just bug me for no good reason (after all, many of them are really talented). so let me just get this off my chest: The Futureheads, The Secret Machines, Citizen Cope and Dogs Die In Hot Cars. whew! thanks, you’re the best.