Ancient Astronauts - “We Are to Answer”

This is just one of those albums that you want to take with you everywhere. The tracks I immediately locked on were ‘I Came Running’, ‘Classic’ (w/ the Pharcyde) and ‘Everybody’. There’s something for everybody on this release.  If you like DJ Shadow, DJ Krush or are just a break beat fanatic then the Ancient Astronauts are what you’ve been looking for. The cuts are deep, the guest appearances are rich  - a crowd pleaser for sure. The hooks are tight, and the layered environment keeps you wandering around listening over and over again.

http://www.myspace.com/ancientastronautsswitch

Asobi Seksu - “Hush”

I first learned about Asobi Seksu from one of our readers. Intrigued, I looked up their music and was immediately enthralled.  I’m a huge fan of etherial, shoegazer music and Asobi Seksu have filled an empty hole in my heart left by the likes of LUSH and The Cocteau Twins. I received their latest release, “Hush” and have not had a day go by that I’ve not listened to the album.  Another thing to note is that I also tracked down their previous releases and purchased them all!  Their sound is inventive and reminds me of the innovations that Jimi Hendrix was always pushing.  This is one of those groups where you wonder what they sound like live. I can’t wait for them to come to the Detroit area! Asobi Seksu is what is missing from your music catalog~!!

http://www.asobiseksu.com

Colin Healy & the Jetskis - “Or Just Don’t Go”

 At first glance, you would think these cats were seasoned musicians. Hard to believe they are under 25~! Their sound is very radio-friendly and you can almost hear their music being played on prime time tv shows.  A polished, upbeat style. You can tell these guys are absolutely enjoying themselves. It’s almost like the pressures of being in a working band have not affected them - yet. I’d expect to see their sound maturing and the next album to encompass stories from the road, challenges of the business and hearts that have mended. This group would appeal to those who like Blink 182 and the Gin Blossoms.

http://www.colinhealyandthejetskis.com

Astronauts of Antiquity - “Rocket Science for Dummies”

 Another great group from NYC~! You’ll love Astronauts of Antiquity if you’re a fan of RES, Zero 7, Portishead and Esthero. A thick, hearty, lush sound with the soothing vocals courtesy of India make this album a perfect match to the rest of your chill-out collection. This album is versatile in a sense that it goes well with everything. The Astronauts of Antiquity are on to something here. The stand out tracks on this album are ‘Everywhere’ and ‘Supa Soul’. You’ll be surprised to learn that their sound sorted of happened by accident. They were playing a gig in Poland and their last track had some dub influences. Apparently, the crowd when berserk and they knew that they were onto something.

http://www.astronautsofantiquity.com

Justin Trawick - “Starting Over”

 First of all, you gotta respect a man who turns the loss of a job into a reason to focus on his passion of music. Justin’s debut is honest, full of fresh piano and full of acoustic charm. Great coffee house music. A little mix of blues combined with hipster shapes. You’ll dig this if you like The Flaming Lips, Ben Folds, John Denver or Better Than Ezra.

http://www.justintrawick.com

These are the picks for summer. Such an interesting mix of genres and musical stylings.

What’s your summer hit list? Leave a comment and let us know. Know of someone we should be listening to? Tell us!

Asobi Seksu is releasing a limited edition 10″ with four songs on August 25th. Two of the songs are unreleased tracks from the Hush recording sessions. The lead track “Transparence” is taken from Hush - but is given a new introduction, and there’s also a remix of the song by the hypnotic percussive band Aa (aka BIG A little a).

The 10” comes in clear vinyl and is limited to 1,000 copies. You can pre-order it now and it will ship August 14 from Polyvinyl Record Co. Also included is a code for a free digital download of all songs in MP3 format. Pre-order here: http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/store/index.php?id=897

http://amiestreet.com/music/asobi-seksu/hush

Asobi Seksu LIVE On KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” : http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb090504asobi_seksu

LAist : “Do not let her small stature fool you, Yuki Chikudate will tear you apart. She has the voice of an angel (and not the namby pamby naked cherub kind either. The old testement kind with fiery swords that descend upon you and blast your head off with the word of God.)”

SPIN **** (4 Stars) : “This Brooklyn group’s previous albums established them as shoegaze confectioners, molding candy swirls out of Yuki Chikudate’s soaring, translucent voice and guitarist James Hanna’s Kevin Shields–worshiping production. But here, Asobi Seksu do something My Bloody Valentine can’t — leave Shields behind. “Sing Tomorrow’s Praise” and “Me & Mary” evoke iciness over icing, with more expansive cool than insidious sweetness. And the duo’s seasick guitars (”Layers”), ethereal synths (”Gliss”), and Japanese lyricism (”Meh No Mae”) still provide plenty of geeky studio epiphanies.”

NYLON : “…the band makes music that sounds like daybreak. Think twinkling, shimmering, echoing, murmuring tracks. Even when the New York-based band was playing fuzzy shoegaze rock, they managed to a find a way to inject a bit of beauty into the simplest of pop songs.”

DCist : “Tiny vocalist Yuki Chikudate has a big voice, and her high notes soared over the band’s fuzzy guitar and bass and pounding drums.”

UNCUT **** (4 Stars) :  “Sumptuous slices of bliss-pop with an art-punk edge”

PLAN B : “After a period as America’s finest shoegaze revivalists, Asobi Seksu now leave genres behind and document the night sky”

CLASH : “‘Contenders for being one of the most inventive bands out there”

US TOUR DATES
Sep 16 - Joe’s Pub (special acoustic performance) - New York, NY
Sep 23 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC
Sep 24 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
Sep 26 - The Mohawk - Austin, TX
Sep 27 - Hailey’s - Denton, TX
Sep 29 - Plush - Tucson, AZ
Sep 30 - Casbah - San Diego, CA*
Oct 1 - Troubador - Los Angeles, CA*
Oct 2 - Slims - San Francisco, CA*
Oct 3 - Doug Fir Lounge -  Portland, OR*
Oct 4 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA*
Oct 6 - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver BC*
Oct 9 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN*
Oct 10 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL*
Oct 11 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH*
Oct 12 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto ON*
Oct 13 - Il Motore - Montreal QC*
Oct 14 - Great Scott - Boston, MA*
Oct 15 - Maxwells - Hoboken, NJ*
Oct 16 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY*
Oct 17 - Johnny Brendas - Philadelphia, PA*

*w/Loney Dear

www.asobiseksu.com

www.myspace.com/asobiseksu

Armed to demolish NxNE festival, ATHFEST, and open for Polvo on their 16 date tour!

Grab the New video for “Conductor” and New single “Pendulum” below!

“Austin TX’s Ume newest EP, ‘Sunshower’ is an impressive banger realized in a taunt 20 minutes… confidently executed in a sweetly dirty little package.” -RCRD LBL

“And it’s pronounced “ooo-may”, which you’ll need to know when people ask you what was the best new thing you saw at NxNE…” Chromewaves

“Snarling guitars, catchy melodies, and a sense of NYC cool — straight from Texas!” -SPIN

In the few months that have passed since the Austin,TX based Ume dropped their incredibly tight ‘Sunshower’ EP, one question is asked more than any other, “When the hell are these guys coming through my town to hand me my ass?” Well on June 13th, the trio of Lauren and Eric Larson, and Jeff Barrera are setting out on a 16 date tour, spotlighted with stop offs at the WOXY studios, Toronto’s NXNE festival, ATHFEST, and a support slot with the legendary Polvo…so get your hands ready for an ass full.

Ume has built their reputation as one of indie rock’s most vigorous live bands, packing melody and intricacy into a densely layered wall of noise. Their EP ‘Sunshower’ was praised by many for capturing and surpassing their well known live energy. Its 5 songs delivering a unique combination of catchy pop sweetness, delay-drenched noise, and jaw-dropping intensity, finding the band inventing a new style we like to call kraut-pop, and marking the band as one of SXSW ’09’s break-out acts.

As we hit the half way mark of 2009 Ume is poised to finish out the year on a busy, but memorable note. With plans to re-release ‘Sunshower’ on vinyl with bonus content, along with the band heading back into the studio to finish up their full length, and plans in the works for a massive Fall tour expect to be seeing the band on your radar in the coming months. First things first however, you people in the Midwest and East Coast need to prepare yourselves for the wreckoning that is about to fall upon you! DON’T MISS THEM LIVE!

Watch their video for “Conductor” here!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mfB0X0-E-c

Grab their new single “Pendulum” here!
http://umemusic.com/sunshower/songs/Ume-EP-Pendulum.mp3

UME TOUR DATES
6/12 - Austin, TX @ Emo’s
6/13 - Hot Springs, AR @ Maxine’s
6/14 - St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird
6/15 - Chicago, IL @ Ronny’s Bar
6/16 - WOXY radio early session.
6/16 - Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class
6/17 - Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar w/ The Strange Boys
6/18 - Toronto, ON NXNE Festival @ Neutral Lounge
6/19 - Toronto, ON - La Blogotheque early session
6/19 - Jamestown, NY @ Mojo’s
6/20 - Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands Gallery (early show 7:30-10:00)
6/21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Danger Danger Gallery
6/22 - Richmond, VA @ The Camel
6/23 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Fuse
6/24 - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
6/25 - Asheville, NC - Emerald Lounge
6/26 - ATHFEST @ Go Bar, Athens, GA
6/27 - Wilmington, NC @ Soapbox w/ Polvo

Websites:
http://www.umemusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/umemusic
http://www.twitter.com/umemusic

Other tracks available for Download/Stream:
The Conductor:
http://umemusic.com/epk/songs/Ume-EP-The_Conductor.mp3
Sunshower:
http://umemusic.com/epk/songs/Ume-EP-Sunshower.mp3

HOLY MOLY, wow! This has been in the works for a minute, and we are SO THRILLED to announce that Screaming Females are mega-officially the main support on The Dead Weather’s upcoming July tour.

Tour Dates are below:

From listening to this EP, you’ll learn 4 things about Ms. Finch from her lyrics:

1. She’s confident

2. She’s the baddest Bitch (she tells you herself)

3. She’s all about designer gear name dropping (even her bed sheets!)

4. She shouldn’t write her own material

OK - Let me clarify each of those points above.
Ms. Finch exudes confidence - In her emails, twitter posts and in her lyrics.  She also makes no bones about telling you she is the baddest bitch on the scene. Musically, these tracks are tight. The opening cut’s backing track was definitely influenced by Benni Benassi’s “Satisfaction”.  That’s about the only reason I endured that song. The lyrics were weak at best. A Few good one-liners that were just layered one on top of the other. Then those one liners just repeated. This was pretty much the entire EP. 

If Ms. Finch would let someone help her write the lyrics based on her ideas, I believe she would do well. Vocal’s were a bit pitchy and you could tell someone behind the scenes was altering the pitch so she remained close to being on key.  I was disappointed that every song had her vocals over-processed. I’m dying to just hear her voice in the raw so that I can really guage her ability.  While the songs are not radio friendly, they would do well in Miami at the clubs (Space, for example). I just don’t see anyone wanting to rush out and buy this.

You can visit FF’s homepage here: http://www.frankiefinch.com/

Lost and Found

I wanted to start this review off by drawing attention to the opening song Adeline. It’s important to understand that Noush has substance in her creative vision. She’s a confident singer who doesn’t need to over do it with ridiculous runs flexing her vocal muscle. The song leaves enough open to interpretation so the listener can allow it to become personal to them.

Her vocal style has a little Joan Jett and Mick Jagger influence. She must write lyrics constantly, because her songs always have a specific theme and don’t stray from the topic. I would love to know the story behind these songs. One can’t help but wonder after listening to Goodbye or See Clearly if these songs weren’t written from past experience. Musically, I get the feeling that studio musicians were too involved in that process. It sounds over polished and rigid. Don’t get me wrong, I love Adeline and Wake Up. Those were my two fave tracks from this album. However, I’ve heard Noush playing on her couch - just her and an acoustic guitar and you get so much more feeling from that couch session than you do on this studio recording. That is the reason why I must encourage you to not judge Noush solely on the studio record, but go and see her live.

I do want to challenge Noush to rock out more. Wake up was a great departure from the rest of the tracks and you seem like you’re holding back on the rest. Flex your muscles!! You’ve got a powerful voice!

I’ll post tour dates once I know them from time to time.

In the meantime, check out her homepage: http://noushskaugen.com/

The video for Adeline can be seen here: http://www.muzu.tv/noushskaugen/adeline-music-video/156463

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, APRIL 1, 2009: Seattle-based non profit Noise For The Needy, an organization whose raises money for charitable causes through the production of live music shows, is holding a Festival Season Kickoff Party and Fundraiser on Saturday, April 18th at Woodshed Studios (located on the corner of Fairview and East Thomas in Seattle; www.woodshedstudios.com) between 6 PM and 2 AM.

The party, which features Seattle’s own Truckasaurus and Exohxo (a Speaker Speaker side project band), will commence with a happy hour and live DJ sets between 6 PM and 9 PM, after which the bands will start. The event is 21+, and tickets are $6 in advance, and $9 at the door. All proceeds from the event will go directly towards Noise For The Needy’s operating budget.

This year’s Noise For The Needy festival will feature over 40 bands, and will benefit Transitional Resources, a Seattle licensed mental health center and residential program that offers a full spectrum of optimistic and respectful mental health services to adults with major mental illnesses. The agency was founded in l976 as a residential treatment facility for young adults diagnosed with mental illness. The program has grown to include six different programs serving over 200 individuals each year.

Services include:
•    Crisis/Hospital Diversion
•    Residential Treatment
•    Intensive Case Management
•    Case Management
•    Housing
•    Psychiatric Services
•    Vocational Services
•    Growing Solutions

More information about this year’s NFTN festival will be announced in the coming weeks and months. www.noisefortheneedy.org

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves, but this has got to be one of the more creative press kits we’ve received at Tuned-Out in the past 8 years!

The raven colored enveloped with silver hand-written address caught my attention.  Upon opening the envelope, I noticed two things immediately: the smell of burnt paper and red feathers.  It was clear to me this was going to be an attack on all my senses - not just my hearing!  Even the paper was thicker, with a nice earthy texture.

The band put a lot of effort here.  This is confirmed upon finding a personalized, hand signed letter at the end of the press kit.  Well done Ms. Mullaly.

The attention to detail doesn’t stop there.  The EP artwork was clever. Reminded me of something Edgar Allen Poe might have done had he ever put artwork with his dark stories.  This credit is owed to Philippa (drummer/artist).  Most indie bands don’t put this much effort into a 3-song EP.  But I guess we’ve already figured out Bird Eats Baby are different.

I have to tell you, when I first dropped this EP in I really had no idea what to expect.  My first thought was “This is a throwback to the times of Cabaret. Vaudeville aligned with some dark, suspense inspiring lyrics.”  As song one (China Doll) ended and track two (I Always Hang Myself with the Same Rope) began, I felt like I was listening to a razor sharp off-broadway play.  Don’t get me wrong, but I hate musicals.  That being said, if Bird Eats Baby were to put one on, I would break necks to make certain I was there for opening night.  I would love to see Bird Eats Baby touring with the Jim Rose Circus.  That would truly be a match made in heaven. (Are you reading this Jim?)

Bird Eats Baby is not for the mainstream listener.  Will this hurt them down the road?  I don’t believe so.  They’ve got their niche and it’s really hard to compare them to any other act you have heard before.  I’m curious to hear their full-length album to see where the story goes from here. 

As I was listening, I kept wanting to hear some guitar. It felt like there was a layer missing to their sound, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.  Again, this was all intentional. Listen carefully to everything that’s going on with the Keys and Drums. Ragtime never had it so good (Philippa is my new secret crush!) I would love to hear reader comments on their live show and how it differs from the studio recordings.

You can learn more about Bird Eats Baby here:

http://www.birdeatsbaby.co.uk

For those attending, be sure to check out UME - You won’t be disappointed~!

Tuesday, March 17th:
South by South Death @ Elysium (705 Red River)
with The Vandelles, Ringo Deathstarr, The Upsidedown

Wednesday, March 18th:
BMI / Girls Rock Camp Official SXSW Showcase @ Maggie Mae’s (6th and Trinity)
Set-time: 7:30pm
with Girl in a Coma, The Besties

Thursday, March 19th:
Bull Moose and Covert Curiosity Party @ Ace’s Lounge (6th and San Jacinto)
Set-time: 2:15pm
RSVP here.
with Health, The Strange Boys, Hacienda, free drinks

14 Hour Party @ The Compound (1300 E 4th St) (about six blocks east of Emo’s)
Set-time: 9:45
RSVP here.
with Dead Confederate, free drinks

Friday, March 20th:
Type by Typewriter @ The Typewriter Museum (1306 E 6th) (five block walk east of Emo’s)
Set-time: 2:00pm
with Peelander-Z, free drinks

Totally Badical Learning Secrets Party @ Club Primo’s (1700 E 6th)
Set-time: 6:00PM
RSVP here.
with The Antlers, Loney Dear, free drinks

Saturday, March 21st:
Side One Track OneDay Party @ Club Primo’s (1700 E 6th)
Set-time: 2:00pm
with Follow That Bird, Midnight Masses, Eastern Sea

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