extrawack!

Sound journey: new downloads from Glasser, Beach House, JJ, Wax Tailor, Asobi Seksu, The Golden Filter

2009-11-19T21:34:00.015-05:00

Somehow travel and music make a perfect combination. When you're dozing through an endless plane ride, your favorite song can be a comfort; when you're riding the train through a new and startling country, listening to music can heighten your experience. And when you're daydreaming at your desk on a rainy afternoon, the right song can transport you wherever you need to go.

Here are six great new songs, all available as MP3 downloads, to take with you on your next journey:

Glasser - Glad (Delorean Remix)

JJ - From Africa to Malaga

Beach House - Norway

Wax Tailor - Dragon Chasers

Asobi Seksu - Suzanne (acoustic Hope Sandoval cover!)

The Golden Filter - Thunderbird (With Beauty Before Me, I Walk Mix)

-- Anna K

Video of the Week - Au Revoir Simone -"Shadows"

2009-11-15T17:24:00.003-05:00

From their excellent album Still Night, Still Light, here's the stunning video version of "Shadows" by Au Revoir Simone.

ARS play the Highline Ballroom on January 7. More info here.

Au Revoir Simone - "Through the Backyards" mp3

Download a free haunted autumn mix featuring Fever Ray, Hope Sandoval, ZaZa, and more

2009-10-30T20:46:00.009-04:00

I recently created a spooky mix for autumn, inspired not only by Halloween but by the whole atmopshere of the season: bright crumpled leaves, stone-gray skies, bare filaments of tree branches, and pumpkins collapsing in the chilly rain.

You can download the hour-long mix below, including new music from ZaZa, the Horrors, Warpaint, Fever Ray, and Hope Sandoval, among others. If you like what you hear, make sure to check out more from these amazing artists.

Cover image (above) by Noisette*.
And here's the track list:

1. Fever Ray - Here Before
2. Palms - Monte Alban
3. Dead Man's Bones - Lose Your Soul
4. Death in Vegas - Hands Around My Throat
5. The Big Pink - Velvet
6. The Raveonettes - Oh, I Buried You Today
7. Warpaint - Elephants
8. Chromatics - The Guest
9. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Blood White
10. SALEM - Water
11. ZaZa - The Call
12. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Rifles
13. The Horrors - Sea Within a Sea
14. Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions - For the Rest of Your Life

-Anna K

6-Pack Download from of Montreal, White Rabbits, Jemima Pearl, and Halloween Music From Shiny Toy Guns

2009-10-29T09:53:00.000-04:00

Here are six free tracks to add to your Halloween party mix. The of Montreal track kind of makes me want to dress up as Kevin Barnes this year.

Brontosaurus Chorus - "Louisiana" mp3

Shiny Toy Guns - “It’s Halloween At The House Of Spooks” mp3

of Montreal - “Brush Brush Brush” (from Yo Gabba Gabba Soundtrack) mp3

White Rabbits - "Percussion" mp3

Get Busy Committee - "My Little Razorblade" mp3

Jemima Pearl - "Looking For Trouble" mp3

Video of the Week - Fan Death -"Reunited"

2009-10-28T09:01:00.003-04:00

Fan Death have returned with another colorful fantasy based video, directed this time by vocalist Dandilion Wind Opaine. Watch the girls encounter scores of bizarre characters resembling certain influential personalities before riding off into the sunset with the big man himself.

Stay tuned for a special message from "Grandpa William" at the end of the presentation.

"Reunited" is taken from the forthcoming EP A Coin For the Well coming out on The Pharmacy Recording Co. early next year. This video features a special extended mix of the track.

Comsat Angels...Still Sounding Great.

2009-10-24T14:13:00.006-04:00

I was at the excellent SESAC CMJ showcase last night at Cake Shop, and got in a conversation about songs that "just sound great". Not because of brilliant songwriting, great production, or amazing playing...but because they just have that "magic". The woman I was talking to is a huge student of '80s pop & new wave, and used the example of Comsat Angels' "Stay Tonight" as such a song. As soon as she mentioned that song, which I hadn't heard or thought about in years, I knew exactly what she was talking about.

Check it here. The video is crazy boring, but the song "just sounds great"!

And a bonus great-sounder from Comsat Angels, "Independence Day":

Hey Pillow Fight Fans! The New Har Mar Superstar Video Is Here.

2009-10-22T19:34:00.003-04:00

Regular readers of extrawack! know that we are suckers for the amazingly perfect pop sounds of Har Mar Superstar, so it'll be no surprise that we are psyched about his new album Dark Touches.

To prove that we've got good taste, here's the video and mp3 for the album's first single, "Tall Boy". The track was produced and co-written by The Bird and the Bee’s Greg Kurstin (who has also produced tracks for Lily Allen, Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue), and the video stars Har Mar's pals Eva Mendes, Alia Shawkat (from "Arrested Development" and Whip It), and Eric Warheim (from "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!") . Check the tour dates at the bottom of the page.

Har Mar Superstar - "Tall Boy" Video:

Har Mar Superstar - "Tall Boy" mp3

Har Mar Superstar Tour Dates:
10/23: Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Club Stage
10/25: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
10/26: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/27: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
10/28: Boston, MA @ Great Scott
10/30: Montreal, QC @ Club Lambi
11/01: Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11/02: Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
11/03: Chicago, IL @ Darkroom
11/05: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock w/ Kool Keith
11/06: Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
11/08: Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
11/09: Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
11/11: Kansas City, MO @ The Brick

Concert review: The Raveonettes at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston, 10/20/09

2009-10-21T14:36:00.006-04:00

In an uncertain world, there’s something to be said for consistency. I’ve seen the Raveonettes at the Paradise three or four times over the last few years, and I always know exactly what I’m in for: noisy, gorgeously dark rock and roll, performed with energy and an irresistible coolness. Though a lot of songs from the brand-new In and Out of Control made it into the set list, last night the Raveonettes sounded basically unchanged from the last time I saw them, their sound as sleek and timelessly classic as a vintage black leather jacket.

It’s no coincidence, in fact, that the Danish band has always cultivated a distinct visual style. Last night, singer/guitarist Sharin Foo epitomized rock-star glamour with her sparkly black heels, one-shoulder dress, and chopped blond bangs; while singer/guitarist/songwriter Sune Rose Wagner radiated an elfin sexiness in tight black skinny jeans. Clearly, the Raveonettes are aware of the power of their personas as a selling point—at the merch table, you could find mugs, stickers, and bags emblazoned with a cartoon of the two band members, starkly drawn in perfect lines of black and white.

Which isn’t to say, though, that the band is all style and no substance. Accompanied by a drummer and bassist, they sounded great last night despite some early technical difficulties, drenching their trademark 50s-style girl-group hooks with fuzzed-out guitars and sweet yet affectless vocals. Many highlights came from 2008’s amazing Lust Lust Lust, with “Blush,” “Dead Sound,” and the eerie, Twin-Peaks-esque “The Beat Dies” sounding especially powerful. They slowed down for a spare, almost acapella take on new song “Oh I Buried You Today” and a hushed version of “Little Animal” that sounded almost like a lullabye—until you heard the lyrics.

The new song that probably left the biggest impression was “Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed).” With its addictive chorus and sweetly harmonious coda, I guarantee this is the catchiest song about sexual assault that you’ll hear this year (or maybe ever). Definitely worth a listen.

And in the meantime, here’s the Raveonettes’ video for “Black/White”—one that perfectly sums up their musical and visual style:

--Anna K

Blog Action Day for Climate Change, Take Action Here, And Grab A Track From Thao.

2009-10-15T08:30:00.004-04:00

Once a year, the initiative known as Blog Action Day calls on bloggers around the world to post something about a specific concern, all on the same day. This year's topic is climate change.

Since my day job involves campaigning and lobbying to convince lawmakers and world leaders to address the effects of climate change, and especially it's effect on the world's poorest people, this one's easy for me...

So I'll ask you to take this opportunity to tell President Obama to help poor communities at the Global Climate Summit in Copenhagen this December, by signing this petition from Oxfam America.

Poor people are hit first – and worst – by natural disasters and climate change. People are fighting back by deploying early warning systems, planting better crops, storing grain, building shelters, and replanting trees. But they need our help.

The world's poorest people need your help on this urgent issue at the upcoming global climate summit. Please take a moment to sign the petition.

And while I have your attention, I hope you'll take a moment to read the poignant Climate Change-related blog entry my friend Thao Nguyen (from Thao with the Get Down Stay Down) wrote today for the Oxfam America blog. In the post, Thao says, "If you keep turning a blind eye to climate change it will probably be injured in a surprise gale force wind." Ain't that the truth.

And to keep it lighter, please enjoy this download:
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - “Know Better Learn Faster” mp3
courtesy of The Fader

The Besnard Lakes debut new songs, reveal 2010 album details

2009-10-03T13:04:00.007-04:00

Those of us who turned out to see The Besnard Lakes last night at TT the Bear’s Place in Boston got some cool surprises: the debut of some new material, plus a few tantalizing details about the long-awaited follow-up to their 2007 stunner The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse.

Featuring a stripped-down four-person lineup—and, sadly, minus their usual smoke machine—the Besnards seemed a little tentative at first, with bassist/vocalist Olga Goreas confessing: “We haven’t done this in a while.” Even so, it didn’t take long for the band to showcase gorgeous blended vocals, shoegazing guitars, and cinematic, David Lynch-influenced atmosphere on live staples like “Disaster” and “And You Lied to Me.”

And they played new songs, too: four of them in all, two of which are so new, vocalist/guitarist Jace Lasek told me, that they don’t even have names yet. In general, the new material seemed more on the dense, noisy side, a la “Devastation,” though that could just have been the live setting; the nameless opening song featured gauzy, echoing feedback waves nearly burying overlapping vocals, while riffs from the more propulsive “Glass Printer” seemed to reverberate off the ceiling. My favorite new song, “Chicago Train,” had the epic feel of 2008’s excellent Casino Nanaimo, with Lasek gorgeously crooning “this is the last time I will follow,” while Goreas played the flute (!) along with some truly beautiful guitar melodies.

After the show, Lasek revealed that the band’s next album has a working title of Let the Night Roar—assuming he’s not joking around, it’s one of those titles that walks the fine line between awesome and completely over the top. After playing one more show in New York tonight, the band will go back to the studio and refine the songs for a tentative March 2010 release.

In the meantime, here’s my favorite song from Dark Horse and one of last night’s live standouts, the haunting, heartbreaking “For Agent 13”:

The Besnard Lakes - "And You Lied To Me" mp3

Phantogram on tour with School of Seven Bells

2009-09-15T12:00:00.016-04:00

I’ve been obsessed with Phantogram ever since I heard a KEXP podcast featuring “When I’m Small”—an unforgettable blend of silky vocals, aggressive beats, and spy-movie guitar. Phantogram’s self-titled debut EP, available on their Myspace page, reveals influences from artists like Portishead and the Knife, but still sounds urgent and new.

I mention Phantogram because I just read that they’re touring this month with School of Seven Bells, whose dreamy, epic “Half Asleep” was one of my favorite songs of ’08. Check out dates for this promising double bill below; now, if only they’d come to Boston…

Phantogram & School of Seven Bells

Sept. 26 – Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
Sept. 27 – Rock n Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
Sept. 28 – Local 506, Carrboro, NC
Sept. 29 – Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA
Oct. 1 – Emo’s Junior, Austin, TX
Oct. 4 – Casbah, San Diego, CA
Oct. 5 – Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 6 – Slim’s, San Francisco, CA

Learning to speak Ashes Grammar

2009-09-11T22:39:00.016-04:00

Everything about A Sunny Day in Glasgow—from their too-long name to artsy song titles like “Panic Attacks Are What Make Me ‘Me’”—seems designed to be a little bit inaccessible. Though they’re often compared to fellow shoegaze-influenced, female-fronted bands like Asobi Seksu and Mahogany, their music tends to push the experimental boundaries further than either one, veering away from dream-pop and more into noise and abstraction. I liked their 2007 album Scribble Mural Comic Journal, but I found it hard to listen to from beginning to end: The songs were just too claustrophobic, packed full of dense noise and buried female vocals that hovered right on the edge of breaking free.

On their brand-new release Ashes Grammar—which comes out September 15 on Mis Ojos Discos—A Sunny Day in Glasgow open up some space in their sound, allowing daylight to break through. As the album begins, the gentle choral wash of “Secrets at the Prom,” showcases Robin and Lauren Daniels’ gorgeous harmonies. This in turn segues into the slow-building “Slaughter Killing Carnage,” which crashes into the joyous climax of “Failure"--only to dissolve unexpectedly into soft, hazy bliss-pop in the song’s second half. In just a few minutes of music, it feels like you’ve crossed an entire landscape.

There’s something unpredictable about the best moments of Ashes Grammar, something ethereal yet catchy, that demands repeat listening. On standout tracks like “Close Chorus,” “Shy,” and “Passionate Introverts (Dinosaurs),” disparate elements—electro beats, handclaps, lovely vocal loops, shivery guitar chords—build off and contrast with one another in subtly unexpected ways.

Yes, last third of album loses a little of the momentum, and some of the more abstract moments--with the exception of the hypnotic “Canalfish”—start to blur together. But beginning to end, it’s still one of the most interesting albums I’ve heard this year, and one of the hardest to pin down. Over a week after my first listen, I’m still discovering something new.

Listen to “Failure,” courtesy of Stereogum.

Blondie Makes Tour Stop in Morristown Monday Night

2009-08-07T21:58:00.005-04:00

Whoa! How did we miss this one?

Blondie will be playing the beautiful Community Theatre of Morristown (biking distance from extrawack! HQ in Union County), this Monday night.

It's not only a rare opportunity to see Rock & Roll Hall of Famers out here in Suburban Jersey, but a chance to see real rock royalty with roots in NJ as well. Debbie Harry grew up in Hawthorne, and went to college at Centenary College in Hackettstown. Drummer Clem Burke was born in Bayonne, and was a staple in the Jersey '80s new wave rock scene even at the height of Blondie's career.

The Community Theatre is a treat, featuring great sound and sight-lines, and actually nice staff. It's a great change from NYC venues with none of those attributes, plus a commute and crazy parking fees. It's a great place to spend a hot August night.

For tickets, click here.

For more info on The Community Theatre, click here.

And for kicks, here's Blondie performing "Heart Of Glass" on The Midnight Special in 1979!:

The mysterious sound of Memory Cassette

2009-07-24T15:42:00.017-04:00

Listen to “Surfin’”—the opening track of Memory Cassette’s first EP, Rewind While Sleeping—and you'll hear Cocteau Twins-esque vocals skimming the surface of electro beats, chased by blissfully pretty keyboard melodies surging into a coda like a cresting wave. In less than three minutes, it’s simultaneously joyful and sad, energetic and serene.

I was hooked on first listen. I remember wondering, who are these people? Where can I find more? And—strangest of all—how is music this good being given away for free over the internet?

A rarity even in this era of web-based listening, for a year or more Memory Cassette pretty much only existed online. Though they won fans in bloggers like Gorilla vs. Bear, the band didn’t have a record deal, a physical release, tour dates, or even real-life identities. New tracks showed up on the blog of a mysterious New Jersey resident known as Weird Tapes, the mastermind of a musical holy trinity consisting of Memory Cassette, Weird Tapes (haunting sample-driven electronic music, great remixes), and the newly incarnated Memory Tapes (Memory Cassette’s dreamy atmospherics combined with New Wave-like male vocals and a dance-pop sensibility).

All three are excellent, but Memory Cassette is definitely my favorite. And this month they actually have a record out--Call and Response, their debut 7” on Acephale Records/Sincerely Yours. It includes “Surfin’,” as well as my other favorite, “Asleep at a Party”, with its woozy, gentle melody and background voices hovering at the edge of consciousness. Just like Rewind while Sleeping, Call and Response is only four songs—but these four songs are more beautiful, more carefully crafted, than most complete albums I’ve heard this year.

And in signature fashion, more music has just surfaced on Weird Tapes’ blog as well: a free remix EP, Calls and Responses, which features contributions by Sail a Whale, Friend, CfCf, and more.

Who are Memory Cassette? I’m still not sure. But I recommend you just download it, listen, and enjoy the mystery.

-Anna K

Holy Ghost remakes New Order...sort of.

2009-07-10T08:50:00.003-04:00

Holy Ghost have just released their single, "I Will Come Back" for free download at Green Label Sound, and have created a video for the track that more or less recreates the iconic video for New Order's "Confusion". In fact, they've even included legendary producer Arthur Baker to reprise his role as "head-bobbing DJ", just as he appeared in the original. It's great.

Check it:

Discovery "LP" - Get It Early And Help Oxfam America

2009-07-01T20:59:00.002-04:00

Last night we had a ball at a party to celebrate the release of the new Discovery album, "LP" at Le Poisson Rouge. After the album was played, the guys from Discovery, Wes from Ra Ra Riot & Rostam from Vampire Weekend took over the turntables to DJ a set heavy on poppy summertime jams. Too much fun.

By the way, the album is fantastic, fun, and perfect for playing in the backyard with friends over for beers. Even cooler is the fact that if you but the album at Amie Street this week (which is actually the only way to get it before it's "official" release date next week), Oxfam America will get $2 of the purchase price. Get it here: http://amiestreet.com/music/discovery/lp/

Enjoy a couple tracks here:

The extrawack! six-pack with Polvo, Budos Band, & More.

2009-06-19T08:54:00.006-04:00

OK, so based on letters we've received here, you guys have actually missed our monthy Bakers Dozen Downloads...so apologies for not posting them up the last few months!

To make things more managable, instead we'll try to put together more frequent posts of six awesome, legal, and free downloads. Here's the first bunch. Take 'em to the beach with you and tell us what you think.

All Tiny Creatures - "Stockhauxen" mp3

Polvo - "Beggar's Bowl" mp3

A Brief Smile - "Motorcycle" mp3

Azari & III - "Hungry For The Power" mp3

Céu - "Bubuia" mp3

Budos Band - "The Proposition" mp3

Weird Al's Homage To The Doors - "Craigslist"

2009-06-16T08:58:00.003-04:00

Seriously...If there is a Comedy Hall Of Fame, Weird Al Yankovic deserves a spot there. And if there's a Musical Comedy Hall Of Fame, Al deserves a statue at the entrance.

Here's his newest, "Craigslist", featuring Ray Manzarek of The Doors:

Concert review: Grizzly Bear at Berklee, Boston 6/3

2009-06-05T08:23:00.006-04:00

Concert review: Grizzly Bear at Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA June 3, 2009

The first time I saw Grizzly Bear live—at a crowded, stiflingly hot club in Northampton, Massachusetts—was the moment I went from being a casual fan to a mildly obsessed one. These four sweaty, slightly goofy guys put on a dazzling, energetic, virtuosic show, one that transformed the cramped space into a collective religious experience.

Nearly two years later at the Berklee Performance Center, I realized Grizzly Bear are on their way up in the world. Last night’s venue was five times bigger, the audience was sitting down, and the band members were cool and collected under a light show in shifting tones of red, blue, and green.

Other than that, though, you’d never know that Veckatimest, one of the most (deservedly) hyped albums of the year, just made #8 on the US Billboard charts. Grizzly Bear’s unclassifiable live sound—a blend of four-part harmonies and folky strumming, fifties-style pop hooks and dramatic climaxes—remains as astonishing as ever.

At last night’s show, the band turned much of their older material inside out, giving “Colorado” and the rhythmic “Fix It” an added depth and expansiveness. They’ve probably played “Knife” a billion times by now (as shown by the loud applause that flared up on the first notes) but somehow they made it new.

The band played actual newer stuff, too, including the pretty, piano-driven “Two Weeks,” and my favorites “Ready, Able” and “While You Wait for the Others.” The new material was a bit more faithful to the album versions, but I’m sure that eventually these songs, too, will sound completely different in a live setting. The only letdown was the relative lack of lead vocals by guitarist Dan Rossen, whose rough-edged voice provides the perfect counterpart to singer Ed Droste’s sweeter, more soaring tones.

That’s a minor disappointment, though, from what was a truly stellar live show. If you’re a fan, try to catch Grizzly Bear in concert as soon as you can; at the rate they’re going, two years from now they’ll be headlining their first world stadium tour. -Anna Kramer

photo of Ed & Dan by Kate Vacanti

Hear Grizzly Bear's recent full set performed in-studio for NPR at WNYC here.

Spank Rock, Japandroids, Bear Hands, Future Of The Left Added To Siren Festival

2009-05-19T14:13:00.002-04:00

More good news coming from the Siren Festival camp...

Spank Rock, Japandroids, Bear Hands, and Future Of The Left have been added to Siren's bill. Already announced are Built To Spill, The Raveonettes, Frightened Rabbit, Grand Duchy, Monotonix, Micachu, and The Shapes.

Sounds like there's still a few more acts to be announced...we'll let you know when we find out, natch.

In case you missed the original announcement, Siren will be held again on Coney Island on Saturday, July 18. More info on the Village Voice Siren Festival at: http://www.villagevoice.com/siren.

Photo above of Ra Ra Riot at last year's Siren by Stefano Giovannini

Concert review: Animal Collective at House of Blues, Boston, May 14, 2009

2009-05-16T11:17:00.004-04:00

Maybe it was the giant white ball hovering moonlike above the stage, its surface swarming with abstract film projections. Maybe it was the colored lights mounted under the white-draped tables where the three band members bent over their instruments. Or maybe it was the music itself: layered, percussive, hypnotic, and building moment by moment to a joyous climax.

Whatever the reason, Animal Collective definitely brought a ‘90s rave vibe to Boston’s House of Blues last night—even though most of the kids in the audience were probably way too young to recall the era of baggy pants and glowsticks. From the moment the first beats of new song “What Would I Want Sky,” exploded out of a delicate, looping guitar sample, the sold-out crowd started jumping and dancing frenetically—much like we did back in the day during an especially awesome DJ set.

Of course, though trance-influenced, Animal Collective’s music is anything but nostalgic; their set list drew heavily from the innovative sounds of the 2009 stunner Merriweather Post Pavilion, including a raucous version of “Summertime Clothes” and climaxing with the dizzy, ecstatic “Brother Sport.” Other highlights were an extended version of “Fireworks,” one of my favorite tracks from Strawberry Jam, featuring Panda Bear flailing out an energetic drum rhythm; and a mass sing-along to “Comfy in Nautica” from Panda ’s 2007 solo effort, Person Pitch. (“That’s not even an Animal Collective song!” the guy next to us grumbled, though I’m pretty sure he was the only one complaining.)

In an encore to the nearly two-hour-long show, the slow-building melodies of “Chocolate Girl”—featuring gorgeous Avey Tare vocals—merged triumphantly into the recent crowd-pleaser “My Girls.” And as the audience shrieked and flailed in approval, I glimpsed yet another sign of the new combining with the old: A young girl dancing a few feet away, twirling with a lit-up iPhone in one hand and a green glowstick in the other. --Anna Kramer

Animal Collective also played Letterman last week...

Matthew Barber Playing NYC 2X Next Week...Download & Tix Contest Here

2009-05-06T22:32:00.007-04:00

I'm a sucker for a good pop song.

Seriously, as long as the hooks are huge and the lyrics dance off the singer's tongue, I'm in.

And show me an album loaded with good pop songs? There's a good chance it'll stay in my player for weeks. Case in point is the new album from Toronto's Matthew Barber, "Ghost Notes".

Barber's a pretty great lyricist, but the music really shines as well on this album, which is split between rock stompers, folky pop, and piano-driven slower songs, all of which are catchy as hell.

Must musicians can't pull off the rock/folk split-personality thing well. Many have tried and failed, but the few who do it well are legendary...Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Bob Dylan come quickly to mind. Not to say that Matthew Barber belongs to that lofty group just yet, but "Ghost Notes" would certainly not be out of place in a stack of that gang's CD's, next to the backyard boombox, waiting to be spun on a lazy weekend afternoon.

Having said that, I'm very interested in hearing Barber play these songs live. Thankfully, he's out on the road for a few dates, and is giving New Yorkers a couple chances to check him out:

Matthew Barber Live:
May 12 Living Room - NYC
May 13 Union Hall - NYC (with Jill Sobule)
May 14 Milltown - Carrboro, NC
May 15 Farm 255 - Athens, GA
May 16 Criminal Records - Atlanta, GA

extrawack! wants to give one lucky reader a pair of tickets to Barber's show at Union Hall in Brooklyn on Wednesday night. The third email to extrawack@gmail.com with "Matthew Barber" in the subject line gets them.

Matthew Barber - "Easily Bruised" mp3

Matthew Barber MySpace

Matthew Barber - "And You Give" video:

Hey Gamers! Play Online with Silversun Pickups Next Week...Win SSPU & Xbox Swag Here Now!

2009-05-04T16:47:00.005-04:00

It's no surprise to regular reders of extrawack! that we're cookoo for Silversun Pickups. So when we were given the oportunity to giveaway some SSPU and Xbox swag, we jumped on it.

The contest is in conjunction with the announcement that Silversun Pickups will play Guitar Hero® World Tour with Xbox LIVE® Gold Members on May 14.

If you're an Xbox LIVE Gold Member and you want a chance to play with Silversun Pickups, send a friend request to the Gamertag "Silversun GwF"and be online half an hour before (9:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Thursday, May 14, 10:00 P.M. ET.

More info on the event can be found here.

Silversun Pickups on Guitar Hero here.

Silversun Pickups videos on the Xbox Marketplace here.

And the contest? We're giving away the following to one lucky extrawack! reader:

A copy of Swoon on 180 Gram Double Vinyl, includes download card for MP3 version of album
An Xbox belt buckle
An Xbox bag

You know you want it. Just be the sender of the 10th email to extrawack@gmail.com with "SSPU/Xbox" as the subject, and we'll have it sent out to you. Contest only open to US Residents. Sorry, Lichtenstein!

Silversun Pickups - "Panic Switch":

Bothering The Neighborhood With The Bronx

2009-04-29T16:47:00.006-04:00

As the weather gets nicer, I love rolling down the windows of my Scion and cranking big-riff jams in the CD player. This past weekend I took the opportunity to enjoy the recent album from The Bronx, The Bronx (III), in a way I'm sure my neighbors didn't appreciate. Tough luck. It's awesome.

Imagine my surprise, when after one of these neighborhood musical education trips, I found a note in my email letting me know that there's not one, but two dope new videos from the album!

For your pleasure, here they both are. I'm partial to the video for "Past Lives", which features some truly extra-wack dance moves.

The Bronx - "Knifeman" mp3

Now here's a tour...Dears, Great Northern, & Eulogies

2009-04-28T12:00:00.004-04:00

For a music fan in this jacked-up economy, there is nothing worse than shelling out big bucks for what turns out to be a lame show. If you are obsessed with making sure every one of your hard-earned pennies is well spent, have we got a triple-bill of goodness for you...

The Dears (pictured left), Great Northern, and Eulogies are heading out next week on tour, and as I look around at all the other shows listed for May & June, this package seems to pack the most punch.

The Dears' "Missiles" was one of last year's best, Eulogies "Here Anonymous" is one of our fave new releases of April, and Great Northern's excellent "Remind Me Where The Light Is" is out today.

Seriously...why pay more?

The Dears, Great Northern and Eulogies Tour:

5/1/2009 - Bell House - Park Slope, NY

5/2/2009 - Valentines - Albany, NY

5/4/2009 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY

5/5/2009 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA

5/7/2009 - Black Cat - Washington, DC

5/8/2009 - Diesel - Pittsburgh, PA

5/9/2009 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH

5/10/2009 - Skully's - Columbus, OH

5/11/2009 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI

5/13/2009 - Lakeshore Theatre - Chicago, IL

5/14/2009 - Mojo's - Columbia, MO

5/16/2009 - Hailey's - Denton, TX

5/17/2009 - Warehouse - Houston, TX

5/18/2009 - The Parish - Austin, TX

5/21/2009 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ

5/22/2009 - Casbah - San Diego, CA

5/23/2009 - Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA

5/24/2009 - Independent - San Francisco, CA

5/26/2009 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR

5/27/2009 - Crocodile Cafe - Seattle, WA

The Dears - "Crisis 1&2 (boy/boy version) mp3

Great Northern - "House" mp3