With the year drawing to a close musically speaking, Drake runs down two of the most anticipated follow-up releases of 2009. -ed.

We’re quickly approaching the point of no return as far as significant releases go, before the tide turns to that of gift-oriented, so we have to savor what morsels are thrown our way. This week that means the latest from The Swell Season, Devendra Banhart, Tegan & Sara, Wolfmother, Gemma Ray, Broadcast And The Focus Group, Boat, a live release from R.E.M., a compilation from The Breakaways and deluxe reissues of U2’s The Unforgettable Fire and James Brown’s Live at the Garden: The Expanded Edition.

Playlist: New Releases 10.27.09

As wrong as it is, it’s hard not to think of this album as a sequel to Once, where Glenn Hansard and Marketa Irglova have broken up and are putting it to song. Of course The Swell Season existed before Once, with many of the songs from their debut ending up in the film, so this technically is a follow up to that release, but for the vast majority of the record buying public, Once is the starting point. I’m not sure what Hansard & Irglova are thinking putting their Van Morrison impersonations front and center (opening songs “Low Rising” and “Feeling The Pull”). The rest of the album has worked wonders as a sincerity tonic, cleansing my palate of all the irony and sarcasm in indie rock that are part of my usual diet, and for that I am grateful.

The transition from folk to minimalist new wave pop is almost complete for Tegan and Sara, with this their sixth album, Sainthood. Their past two releases both signaled the change, but the subject matter was a little dark on So Jealous and The Con. Here, there’s a lighter feel to go with the witty banter the sisters showcase during their live set, and it just feels a bit more relaxed, confident… and yes, fun. And when your opening single is titled “Hell,” that’s saying something.

More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Devendra Banhart – What Will Be
Wolfmother – Cosmic Egg
Gemma Ray – Lights Out Zoltar
R.E.M. – Live at the Olympia
Broadcast And The Focus Group – Broadcast And The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio Age
Yo Gabba Gabba: Music Is Awesome
Boat – Setting the Paces / “Lately (I’ve Been On My Back)” [mp3]
The Breakaways – Walking Out on Love: The Lost Sessions
Junk Culture – West Coast / “West Coast” [mp3]
Los Lobos – Los Lobos Goes Disney
Deleted Waveform Gatherings – Ghost, She Said
The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
Chet – Chelsea Silver, Please Come Home
Chuck Prophet – ¡Let Freedom Ring!
Del McCoury – Family Circle
Gov’t Mule – By a Thread
Awesome New Republic – Hearts
I Love You – Bell Ord Forrest / “The Colloquialism Is Simply ‘Gas’” [mp3]

REISSUES
U2 – The Unforgettable Fire (Deluxe
Reissue)
James Brown Live at the Garden: The Expanded Edition

John K. Samson (of The Weakerthans) at The Music Hall of Williamsburg (09/18/09)

Photo: Matt Fricovsky (more)
DOWNLOAD: “Cruise Night” – John K. Samson (mp3)

When a band takes 4 years between albums, a three song EP from the primary songwriter still counts as an “event” in my books. As is usually the case, John K. Samson takes on his (and my) hometown as the subject of his new short player, City Route 85, which came out digitally and on 7″ Tuesday (Nov 3) on ANTI- Records. According to the press materials, the new EP is the “first in a series of recordings exploring the atmospheric streets and highways surrounding Winnipeg, Manitoba”. After reading that, I have to wonder, could the first ever song about bumpershining be far behind?

The City Route 85 of the record’s title is the formal name for Portage Avenue, one of Winnipeg’s main thoroughfares. Samson begins his musical study of this storied street with the song “Heart of the Continent,” set at the corner of Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard, where a demolished building is resurrected by a narrator struggling to evoke the losses and despair that haunt the city and its people. “Grace General” travels west along Portage to Grace General Hospital, seen through eyes preparing to face the death of a loved one. The closing song, “Cruise Night” finds a young man desperate to join in the strange and innocent tradition of driving aimlessly up and down Portage Avenue, a social activity Winnipeggers have participated in on Sunday nights for as long as anyone can remember. [ANTI-]

Not one to rest on his laurels, John is taking his solo acoustic act to Germany (where The Weakerthans are huge) starting today (Nov 6). No NYC (or US) dates have been scheduled as of yet, but he’ll be opening for his pals The Constantines at three Ontario shows in December of 2009. All John K. Samson solo tour dates after the jump.

“New John K. Samson (of The Weakerthans) EP Out This Week, Solo Tour Dates” continued after the jump

Happy Friday everyone!

Click here to download your free Pixies Live EP. In case you forgot, the Pixies play the Hammerstein Ballroom on Nov 23, 24 and 25 (early/late) (Buy Tickets).

- Hat tip to Drake LeLane

The Bloodsugars CMJ Showcase at Spike Hill (10/23/09)

Photo: Jon Klemm
DOWNLOAD: “Light at the End of the Tunnel” – The Bloodsugars

I was about to call it a night on CMJ Friday (Oct 23), but on my way to the subway I decided to duck into Spike Hill and catch a midnight set by The Bloodsugars. I’m glad I did because the Brooklyn based quartet was previewing new material off of their forthcoming album I Can’t Go, I’ll Go On which comes out on November 17 on Engine Room Recordings. Fans of the BQEP won’t be disappointed, as The Bloodsugars debut LP delivers more of the same catchy and intelligent synth flavored pop that you’ve come to know and love from this band. Here’s a little additional info on the new album from their press release:

According to frontman Jason Rabinowitz, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On is “a modern prom playlist.” Of course, prom is not without its awkward, painful moments. Written during a time of personal difficulty for band members, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On is about remembering that there is always something to celebrate, even in the face of major adversity. With their combination of thoughtful lyricism and kinetic beats, the album’s ten new tracks reflect a refreshing optimism and sweetness. Imagine a house designed by Paul Simon, built by Prince, and decorated by The Flaming Lips and you’ll have some idea of where The Bloodsugars live.

The album features a host of indie luminaries, including trumpet player Kyle Resnick (The National), cellist Colette Alexander (Rilo Kiley, Jens Lekman, Rachel Yamagata) and indie darling Bell. Additionally, Philadelphia-based recording wiz Bill Moriarty—the man behind albums by Dr. Dog and Man Man—produced and engineered the record.

If you missed them live at CMJ, you can catch them on tour right now, or for those of you in NYC, they’ll be at The Studio @ Webster Hall on November 21 with Project Jenny, Project Jan and Savoir Adore (Buy Tickets). More of The Bloodsugars tour dates and CMJ pics after the jump.

“The Bloodsugars Played CMJ, Releasing A New Album, Going On Tour (The Studio @ Webster Hall)” continued after the jump

Craig Finn of The Hold Steady at Virgin Free Fest (08/30/09)

Photo: PJ Sykes (more)

This just in:

Radio Happy Hour
Craig Finn & Tad Kubler of The Hold Steady
and Chuck Klosterman
at (Le) Poisson Rouge

Nov. 14, 2009
1pm doors | 2pm show
Buy Tickets

Radio Happy Hour, a live variety show featuring a made-for-radio murder mystery sitcom and guest stars, is following up their hilarious summer series, which has previously featured Norah Jones, Andrew W.K., Tunde Adebimpe (of TV on the Radio) and Michael Showalter, with a November episode starring The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn & Tad Kubler as well as author Chuck Klosterman. The guest pairing comes on the heels of the announcement that Finn will be penning the big-screen adaptation of Klosterman’s book Fargo Rock City. On top of an interview with the band and Klosterman, The Hold Steady will give two intimate performances, and Finn and Kubler will star in the murder mystery radio-play as two bickering brothers on family vacation with their step-father Chuck Klosterman. When they make a pit stop for drinks at a small town bar along the way, they get fingered for a murder they may or may not have committed.

As with the show every month Radio Happy Hour will be punctuated with a happy hour in the Gallery at (le) Poisson Rouge with the stars, an audience quiz, and more than a few surprises.

Novels

Photo: Marshall Angus

Novels is a new side project from Tokyo Police Club’s Graham Wright, Will Currie of Will Currie and The Country French, Luke Lalonde of Born Ruffians, Dean Marino of Tin Star Orphans, and Jason Sadlowski of Chemical Sound. Novels initially came together for a marathon jam session in January of 2009 where they wrote, recorded, and arranged an 5 song EP in one day. Since then, the “band” has taken an unconventional approach to marketing their music, the songs aren’t posted anywhere and the EP isn’t for sale, but they recently screened a 35 minute documentary of their all night recording session (shot by film maker Wade Vroom) at this year’s Pop Montreal festival. Here’s a little bit of silliness from the band’s CBC Radio 3 web page.

Hello.

In January of 2009, five of us locked ourselves away in Chemical Sound Studios in Toronto with the goal of writing, arranging, and recording an EP from scratch in one marathon session. When we stumbled out the door in the wee hours of the next morning, we found ourselves with what we’re now calling NOVELS.

NOVELS won’t be sold in CD stores, on the internet, or anywhere else. Instead, we’ll give them away, or put them places. Maybe you’ll find a copy sitting on a park bench. Maybe a masked man will hand you one as he passes you on the street. Maybe none of these things will happen. But we’ll make sure that everyone gets a chance to listen if they want to.

We also had some friends come along to take pictures and video, which can be found on this website as well as in various other places on the internet. [Novels on CBC Radio 3]

View some video clips of their recording session after the jump.

“Members of Born Ruffians and Tokyo Police Club Form Novels, Make a Movie and Record an EP in 24 Hours” continued after the jump

Dan Zanes

Friends of BAM receive priority access (through November 8) to the upcoming Dan Zanes & Friends family concerts at the Howard Gilman Opera House on Feb 6, 2010 (Buy Tickets). I also just noticed that Dan is playing a posh gig on November 8, 2009 at the Tribeca Cinemas in NYC (54 Varick St). The Sunday show, a benefit for the Mario Batali Foundation, also includes a screening of Wes Anderson’s new film Fantastic Mr. Fox (Buy Tickets). Last but not least, Dan’s excellent new DVD entitled The Fine Friends Are Here (my review) is in stores now.

Dan Zanes and Friends
Part of BAMfamily and Sounds Like Brooklyn
Feb 6 at 2 & 5pm

Brooklyn’s very own Grammy Award-winners Dan Zanes and Friends bring their wild dance party concerts filled with surprising and eclectic special guests to BAM for a unique program. Rock star to the little people, Zanes, and his band will sing songs in English and Spanish in their own homespun style.

Special guests for these performances will include tap dancer extraordinaire Derick K Grant, an African drum and dance group from the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration’s Youth Arts Academy, and more. Everyone’s invited!

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
60min
Tickets: $15, 25

New York Comedy Festival

The 6th Annual New York Comedy Festival starts tonight (Nov 4) and they’ve got some big shows lined up for the next five days including: Stand Up For Heroes (with Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Colbert, Louis C.K., and special guests), Ricky Gervais, Patton Oswalt, Andy Samberg, Tracy Morgan, Mike Birbiglia, Bill Maher and many others. As far as comedy goes, by and large this is a pretty mainstream festival, but this year they have partnered with the Upright Citizens Brigade and 92Y Tribeca for a number of shows in an effort to give the fest an air of indie cred. You can obtain free tickets to all of the Comedy Central Presents shows at this year’s NY Comedy Festival by clicking on this link (most are already full though).

Check out the full New York Comedy Festival lineup after the jump.

“NY Comedy Festival Starts Tonight, Get Free Tickets to Comedy Central Presents Shows” continued after the jump

UPDATE: I just realized that I forgot to mention that The Boss will also be appearing tonight (Nov 4) at the Stand Up For Heroes benefit at Town Hall along with Brian Williams, Stephen Colbert, Louis CK, Lisa Lampanelli, John Ondrasik and other special guests..

In between his regular tour dates with the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen will be appearing (presumably solo) at a benefit concert for Autism Speaks on November 17, 2009 at Carnegie Hall. Tickets for that show are pretty pricey, but it’s a benefit, and it’s for a good cause.

Benefit Concert for Autism Speaks with Jerry Seinfeld
and a special appearance by Bruce Springsteen
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall
Seventh Avenue and 57th Street, New York City
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Pre-show Private Reception for Sponsors
Sponsored by KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation (Business Attire)
7:30 PM: Performance
Buy Tickets

In other Boss news, it has just been announced that Bruce will be reviving the classic album + greatest hits format for his two upcoming Madison Square Garden shows (Buy Tickets). New Yorker’s will be treated to the The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle and The River, each being performed in their entirety for the first time.

Special programs announced for this weekend’s Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band shows at Madison Square Garden

On Saturday, November 7, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle in its entirety for the first time.

On Sunday, November 8, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform The River in its entirety for the first time.

The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle was originally released in 1973 and The River was originally released in 1980. They now join Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and Born in the USA as albums that Bruce and the Band have performed in their entirety during their Fall tour. [BruceSpringsteen.net]

The Very Best

Photo: Abbey Braden

Though they just played the Flavorpill Halloween Party, The Very Best didn’t have a “proper” NYC gig scheduled until now. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the band will be playing Santos Party House on November 4, 2009 at 9PM (Buy Tickets).

For those of you unfamiliar with the band, here’s a little press blurbage:

The Very Best embodies a without-borders approach to music-making that could only happen in the 21st century.

The band came together when Mwamwaya first met Radioclit’s Etienne Tron in 2007 while haggling over a bicycle in the London second-hand furniture shop he ran near the duo’s studio. Following the exchange, Mwamwaya was invited to Tron’s house-warming party where he met the other half of Radioclit, Johan Karlberg. Esau was asked to come to Radioclit’s studio after he told Karlberg he was a drummer. It turned out Esau was a singer too and they decided to collaborate, combining Radioclit’s vast production experience and self-described “ghettopop” style—having produced and remixed tracks for the likes of M.I.A., Lily Allen, Justin Timberlake, Santigold, Britney Spears, TV On The Radio, David Banner, Buraka Som Sistema among others—with Mwamwaya’s emotive vocal approach. Karlberg dubbed Mwamwaya “the African Phil Collins,” and they have been recording songs together ever since.

More The Very Best tour dates over here.

Noah and the Whale at the Bowery Ballroom (05/01/09)

Photo: Winnie Cheung (more)

Noah and the Whale’s brilliant new album The First Days of Spring, just came out last month on Interscope/Cherrytree Records and the band begins a three night residency tonight (Nov 2) at the Mercury Lounge in support of it. The festivities actually kicked off on Sunday night (Nov. 1) with a Q&A and screening of Charlie Fink’s 45 minute companion film to The First Days of Spring at Pianos. The film was shot on location in London and Surrey with an ensemble cast including model Daisy Lowe and is included with the deluxe edition of the CD.

As some of you may know, I’m a sucker for chamber pop, and this album won me over right off the bat, it reminds me of The National, but with more melancholy and less rock posturing. It’s sweeping and cinematic and every time it ends and I just want to cue it up and all over again. Like I said, you can make comparisons to The National, but there’s so much more than that to this record, it starts off rooted in sort of a pop/rock chamber vibe and then veers off into instrumental, orchestral, and even choral territory for a few songs. Not until we hear the song “Stranger” and the electric guitar reappears, are we reminded again that we started out listening to a pop album. One thing I really love about The First Days of Spring is the fact that it works so well as a complete work of art, or a as a concept record, if you will. While I think there are a lot of great songs on this album, I honestly feel that just listening to one song as a single does this album a disservice, each track really needs to be enjoyed in the larger context. This has to be one of my favorite records of the year, and when you account for complete plays, probably the one I’ve listened to the most in 2009.

Tickets are still available for the Noah and the Whale shows at the Mercury Lounge, and I suggest you snap one up while you still can. Atlantic recording artist Robert Francis is set to play the middle slot for all three nights and the opening slots will be filled by Alex and Janel (11/2), Essie Jain (11/3) and Sharon Van Etten (11/4) respectively. Trailer for the First Days of Spring and more Noah and The Whale tour dates after the jump.

“Noah and The Whale Begin 3 Night Mercury Lounge Residency Tonight, New Album “The First Days of Spring” Out Now” continued after the jump

Sure, this stuff would have probably gone great with your kid’s Halloween costume, but I guess I’m a day late and a dollar short for that. (I’d imagine it could still be part of a pretty good Chanukah present, but I digress.) In any event, if we went to Walmart today*, some of this Where The Wild Things Are merch might be 50% off, but I’ll one up the evil empire of everyday low prices and give it all away to you, my loyal readers (and random people trolling the Internet for free stuff), for free. OK, enough suspense, here’s what’s up for grabs:

1 Copy of the Where The Wilds Things Are Original Soundtrack on Vinyl;
1 Carol Mask;
1 Carol Tote Bag, and
1 Where The Wilds Things Are Crown.

To enter the contest, fill out the entry form after the jump. A random winner will be notified and selected on November 9, 2009. Contest is only available to US residents.

Where The Wild Things Are is in theatres now, the original motion picture soundtrack featuring Karen O and the Kids is available now on Interscope Records, and you can still purchase the award winning Maurice Sendak book that started it all in fine bookstores everywhere.

* Who’s kidding who, you can’t get quality schwag like this at Walmart.

““Where The Wild Things Are” Day After Halloween Prize Pack Giveaway” continued after the jump

Looking to give U2 and The Boss a run for their money, New Jersey’s own Bon Jovi is set to inaugurate the New Meadowlands Stadium with a three night concert run in May of 2010 (Buy Tickets). Those newly announced shows are part of a huge stadium tour in support of their forthcoming album entitled The Circle, which is due to fly off the shelves at Walmart (and other fine places records are sold) on November 10, 2009. The Circle is available as a single audio CD or as a CD/DVD package with the accompanying documentary film entitled When We Were Beatiful, (which just premiered last week on Showtime). If that wasn’t enough, November is Bon Jovi month at NBC/Universal which means the band will appear exclusively across the various network platforms in musical appearances, interviews, and TV guest-starring roles. To that effect, Bon Jovi will appear live on the Today show on all four Wednesdays in November, including a final concert performance on the plaza on November 25th [NJ.com].

Tickets for Bon Jovi at the New Meadowlands stadium go on sale to the general public on October 31, 2009 at 10AM. More Bon Jovi tour dates after the jump.

“Bon Jovi Named First Act To Play New Meadowlands Stadium, Tickets On Sale Today” continued after the jump

Corinne Bailey Rae is coming to town in December to preview some tracks off of her forthcoming album, entitled The Sea. The first show will take place on December 7, 2009 at the smallish Hiro Ballroom and the second show is happening at Joe’s Pub on December 9, 2009. Tickets for both shows go on sale (see links below) today (Friday, Oct 30) at 2:00 PM. They both oughta sell out pretty quick, but all things being equal, I’d probably go for Joe’s Pub gig (even though I hate it there when it is crowded). She’s also playing one show in LA, and according to her MySpace blog she’ll be playing a couple of UK dates as well (the only announced show so far is on November 23 at The Tabernacle in London).

On February 2nd, 2010, EMI’s Capitol Records will release Corinne Bailey Rae’s new album, The Sea. The record was co-produced by Bailey Rae with Steve Brown, and Steve Chrisanthou, who produced many of the songs on her debut album, which has sold four million copies worldwide. Fans can check out behind-the-scenes footage of Corinne recording the album and hear a preview of music from The Sea at her website, www.corinnebaileyrae.net. [Corinne Bailey Rae's MySpace Blog]

Corinne Bailey Rae 2009 US Tour Dates
12/02/09 – Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Cafe (2 shows) (Buy Tickets 10/20 at 11AM PST)
12/07/09 – New York, NY – Hiro Ballroom (Buy Tickets 10/30 at 2PM EST)
12/0/909 – New York, NY – Joe’s Pub (Buy Tickets 10/30 at 2PM EST)

Islands at Siren Festival (07/19/2008)

Photo: Jon Klemm (more)
DOWNLOAD: Islands – “No You Don’t” (mp3)

Montreal’s Islands released a new record last month entitled Vapours, and in case you forgot, here’s what bumpershine critic-in-residence Drake had to say about it when it came out:

For those that found Islands‘ sophomore release Arm’s Way a bit too prog-y, I’ve got good news for you, Vapours is a return to the kitchen sink-pop that Nick Thorburn joyously captured on their debut, Return to the Sea. At times Vapours is a bit all over the map, and there a couple of tracks (including “Shining” and “The Drums”) that slip into Arm’s Way-like tendencies, but on the whole, the album sounds like the quirky pop-driven Islands you’ve come to know and love. Highlights include the title track, the soulful (and auto-tune utilized) “Heartbeat,” and the bright pop of “Tender Torture.”

Islands are on the road right now promoting Vapours and I’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to their show at the Bowery Ballroom on November 5 with Jemina Pearl (Buy Tickets). To enter, send an email to contests@bumpershine.com and tell me who Islands last opened for last time they played NYC (best guesses will be accepted to). One random winner will be chosen and notified on Monday, November 2.

More Islands tour dates after the jump.

“Islands Ticket Giveaway, New Album “Vapours” Is Here, Tour Dates (Bowery Ballroom)” continued after the jump