. Consequence (USA) said: “The new album’s emotional backdrop is heavy, sure,
but there are dozens of little joys swimming through I Built You a Tower.”
The band will travel around in the US next year to build towers.
Band: WEEZER Who: The indestructible nerd
rockers from Los Angeles.
New track: WE MIGHT AS WELL BE STRANGERS
The lead single from their new, forthcoming 20th full-length,
another self-titled one (their 4th actually), decorated with
symbols, think Led Zeppelin‘s 4th LP.
The song features indie team Wednesday on co-vocals.
TUTV: Hurray! Weezer drops, finally, another
titanic tune, as they used to deliver a million
times before.
Band: BELLE & SEBASTIAN Who: The Scottish dream pop vets, fronted by singer/songwriter Stuart Murdoch. They’re in the middle of their extensive
30th anniversary tour.
For the first time in 28 years, Scotland’s national football team is gearing
up for a World Cup run. The tournament, from June 11th to July 19th, will
be held for the first time across 3 nations. United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The song is, of course, an encouragement footie tune for
their country. Yes, the kid in the photo is Stuart Murdoch.
TUTV: Vintage B&S pop bliss, the Scottish team can
dance too before, halfway, and after the game.
Band: SWIM DEEP Who: English indie pop
stars from Birmingham.
Track: YOU, ME AND MARY
New song from their upcoming 5th LP,
baptized Hum. Out June 19th.
Austin Williams (vocalist/songwriter): “It’s about my incredible wife and daughter.
During a family holiday, my wife suffered a miscarriage, which was deeply traumatic
for us in many ways.”
“It made us reflect on whether ‘you, me, and Mary’ was the family we had been blessed with, and we found a great deal of comfort and gratitude in that. Just a week ago, we welcomed our second child into the world, so with the song coming out now, it feels like a real full-circle moment.
TUTV: Deep-felt family emotions wrapped in a majestic synth-pop melody, with
velvety vocals accentuating the romantic radiation of this bittersweet symphony.
American rock luminaries DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE have been playing around since 1997. They just announced details of their upcoming 11th album. It’s named I BUILT YOU A TOWER and will see the day of light on June 5th. Tracklist right here.
Ben Gibbard: “‘Riptides’ is about the challenge of dealing with personal struggles as
the world around us experiences tragedy and loss on an unfathomable scale. And how
when these two elements intertwine themselves in our psyches, it feels utterly paralyzing.”
American singer-songwriter-guitarist BEN GIBBARD
has two anniversary albums to celebrate next year.
GIVE UP, the only LP he recorded with producer Jimmy Tamborello,
and singer Jenny Lewis under the name THE POSTAL SERVICE and TRANSATLANTICISM, the 4th one with his longtime dream pop
combo DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE. Both longplayers turn 20 in 2023.
And? Well, both bands just announced that they both
hit the road together to play both albums in full on North American dates in 2023.
Band: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Who: Veteran indie pop/rock team from Bellingham, Washington Active: 1997- present / 10 studio LPs (incl. new one)
New LP: ASPHALT MEADOWS Released: 16 September 2022 via Atlantic – order info here
(Artwork new album)
NME says: “Asphalt Meadows’ is as assured and stately as you’d expect and hope
for from indie veterans now 10 albums and 25 years into their career, but this beaut
is as consistent and satisfying as their early-mid ‘00s career peak.” Score: 4/5.
TUTV: Even after 25 years the veterans from Bellingham, Washington sound sprigtly,
sparky and peppy. They’re bona fide songsmiths who know all about fabricating affecting tunes. My fav tracks: I Don’t Know How To Survive / Roman Candles / Foxglove / Here Forever / I Never Gave Up On You
Singles/clips: Foxglove To The Ckearcut / Roman Candles / Here To Forever
This is a new dream pop diamond that I’ll have on repeat a couple of times
today. It’s mostly a spoken word doozy that strengthens the moony ambiance
even more and Interpol-like guitar dazzle causes an electrifying climax.
American veteran rockers DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE just spread the message
that a new – their 10th – longplayer, baptized Asphalt Meadowslands in
September.
The first single ROMAN CANDLES is “about the existential dread that goes hand
in hand with living in a nervous city on a dying planet. And that the only way to be
in the moment is to let it all go.”
Not really a happy song as such but sonically
it’s an edged thwack with burning guitars.
Band: STARSAILOR (Warrington, England) Who: Guitar pop quartet Active: 2000–2009, 2014-present / 5 studio albums
Anniversary album: LOVE IS HERE – debut LP Released: 8 October 2001 – 20 years ago Score: #2 in the UK
AllMusic said: They didn’t go for a grand bombast of crashing guitars
and angst-ridden stories similar to Oasis and Manic Street Preachers.
They go for something more positive as well — each song soars with
intricate musicianship and melodic lushness. Score: 4/5.
Band: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Who: Indie rockers from Bellingham, Washington Active: 1997–present / 9 studio albums
Anniversary album: THE PHOTO ALBUM 3rd LP Released: 9 October 2001 – 20 years ago
AllMusic said: “For once, a band’s popularity grew commensurate
with its maturation… The world needs more superb pop with brains
and heart and emotional complexity.” Score 3/5.
