Monday 31 March 2008

Sun Kil Moon - April

Sun Kil Moon is the musical project by singer/songwriter Mark Kozelek, best known for his previous work with Red House Painters, and also his solo materials.

April is the third studio album by Sun Kil Moon, and will be released on April 1 under Caldo Verde Records. The new album will feature guest artists including Will Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy), and Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard.

Definitely must check this out if you like downbeat tempo folk and melancholic 'slowcore'.

Sunday 30 March 2008

The Black Keys - Attack & Release

The Black Keys is a blues rock group from Ohio. On April 1, the duo will release their fifth album Attack & Release.

The band is known for their choice of recording techniques using equipments such as tape recorders and analog effects. They often experiments with odd recording and production techniques.

Strange Times is their first single and the music video can be found at their MySpace page.

If you like bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, White Stripes, Kings Of Leon, The Greenhornes and Death From Above 1979, you be sure falling in love with Black Keys. They are highly compared with White Stripes, since both are duo-in-a-band and plays rather similar genre.

R.E.M - Accelerate

The American rock pioneers R.E.M return with a brand new album, Accelerate, also their fourteenth release since formation.

R.E.M made a very strong comeback since their 2004 album Around The Sun, a commercial failure album and was poorly-received by the media.

Accelerate have proofed and made a strong statement that they can still write good music and perform it well.

Their current single from the album is Supernatural Superserious.

The album will officially hit stores tomorrow.



Friday 28 March 2008

Jason Collett - Here's To Being Here

Another solo effort by one of the band members of supergroup Broken Social Scene, Jason Collett released his fourth album entitled Here's To Being Here on February 5 on Arts&Crafts.

Featuring guest musicians like Apostle of Hustle's frontman Andrew Whiteman, jazz bassist Tony Scherr, The Stills' Liam O'Neil.

Before he joined BSS and started his own solo effort, he collaborated with Andrew Cash and Hawksley Workman a release entitled Chrome Reflection in 2000.

See what Collett has gotta say about his new release.



Young Galaxy's Come and See Music Video

Young Galaxy is a Canadian indie pop band. They released a self-titled debut album on April 24, 2007 under Arts&Crafts. Just a week ago, the band introduced the music video for their song Come And See. They are labelmates with other Canadian bands like Broken Social Scene, Apostle of Hustle, Feist, The Stills and Valley Of The Giants. Check them out.



Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew - Lucky Ones

This is the latest video from Kevin Drew and Broken Social Scene with the song Lucky Ones, taken from Spirit If. Great participation from the audiences after passing out shots of tequilas, plus, some wild rocking tunes to drink with. Simply awesome. Via Arts&Crafts.



Just a quick note. The band is preparing to record their next Broken Social Scene Presents... record, this time with Brendan Canning running the show instead of Drew. Expect to see it in June. Stay tuned!

More Converse 1HUND(RED) Shoes

We continue to update on the artist line up who contributed to the Converse 1HUND(RED) campaign that we reported about earlier on. Previously, we highlighted designs from Dr. Romanelli (#12), Jeremyville (#30), Scott Patt (#38) and Umbereen Kureshi (#4). Take a look below on a few that we found at Converse and several other independent sites.

Artist #42 - Timothy Liles

Artist #42 - Timothy Liles

Artist #58 - Steve Monti

Artist #58 - Steve Monti

Artist #77 - Holly Curtis

Artist #77 - Holly Curtis

Artist #9 - Kenji Nakayama

Artist #9 - Kenji Nakayama

Artist #11 - Emil Corsillo

Artist #32 - Noemi Riebesell

Artist #72 - Meghan Berckes

Artist #1 - Dondi White

Artist #3 - Camilla Engman

Artist #3 - Camilla Engman

Artist #4 - Umbereen Qureshi
(this is the other side of the shoe we previewed in our previous post)

Artist #5 - Lena Corwin

That's all for now. However, we are still in the midst of searching for more 1HUND(RED) products to share with you. Check in again. Cheers.

Attic Lights - God

Glasgow-based alternative rock band Attic Lights is back with a brand new single God. Not too long ago, the Scottish group released their first single in 2008, Never Get Sick Of The Sea which we talked about in our previous entry.

One of the finest band in Scotland I ever heard, these guys are potentially growing to become the best of the best in the music industry.

Their new single is set to release on April 21. The band has just completed recording their debut album Friday Night Lights under Island Records, and will probably release sometime in August. The debut album will include singles like God and Never Get Sick Of The Sea. Check in again for more updates!



Thursday 27 March 2008

Kid Dakota - A Winner's Shadow

Kid Dakota is a two-piece band from Minneapolis consisting of Darren Jackson on vocals and guitars, and Ian Prince on drums. The drums position was previously held by Christopher Mcguire, who now plays for Puppies. Before the formation of Kid Dakota, Jackson appeared as solo during the mid 90s.

The band have released three albums, including the latest one A Winner's Shadow which was released on March 11.

"Inspired by the raw beauty of songwriter Darren Jackson's native Black Hills, Kid Dakota has always managed to musically conjure a sacred space where beauty and tragedy overlap. With their 2008 release, A Winner's Shadow, Jackson and drummer Ian Prince leave behind that dusty, windswept panorama and trade it for an urban landscape that crackles and pulses with electric life. Against this backdrop, we experience the awe and terror of the songs' narrators as they navigate loneliness, loss and love." - to find out more, please visit Fanatic.

Here's their video performing Stars.



Mystery Jets - Twenty One

Mystery Jets is an English indie rock band from London. The quintet's second album Twenty One was released on March 24.

Another band with good looking members with funky hairdos. Woo!

Don't get me wrong. The band is a fantastic one to check out, but, is it just me or does their single Young Love featuring Laura Marling sound like one of the tracks in the Music & Lyrics movie, composed by Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger? As Young Love's chorus drops right in, I thought the media player was acting faulty or something, but it kept running and running and running and I thought it really sounds like Way Back Into Love!! But, what the hell?! It's good music anyway. Just fucking enjoy it and feel the rhythm.

Released by Warner Music Group owned record label 679 Recordings. This is Young Love....



Boy Kill Boy - Stars And The Sea

Boy Kill Boy is an indie rock band from London. Stars And The Sea is their follow up album of their first Civilian released in May 2006 which clinched on number 13 in the UK charts. The second album is due to release on March 31. The album was produced by Dave Sardy, the man behind Oasis materials.

Football gamers who loved Fifa 2007, you might recall a song from the boys, Civil Sin.

Their current single is Promises. Sample more BKB's music over here.



Freak's Store x Mita x Admiral Watford

The last round, Admiral and Freak's Store came up with an Oxford Hi sneaker. We just got some info that both will be working on something new, this time, using Watford as the base laying simple touché of designs - perforated leather and polka dots on patent leather. Mita laid assistance to it as well. Simply elegant.



The truth, the Admiral we have here totally suck ass. Tried searching a couple of stores around town, not even a single pair of Watford. Do something about it, will ya? You're losing out!

No worries, to those interested on this sneaker, you can pre-order it at Mita.

Undefeated x Converse All Star Chuck Taylor

Here is another pair of PRODUCT(RED) edition from Converse. No Raw Dogs is the latest collaboration project by Undefeated, and this pair of Chuck Taylor is one of the three products made for this pack. A sharp statement 'Wear A Sock' is sharply highlighted on the shoe - a strong one indeed.

The rest of the products consist of a Bearbrick boxset containing a 100% and 400% vinyl, and a matching t-shirt. April 4 has been announced as the release date. Hit their online stores then.



Wednesday 26 March 2008

Converse x Lupe Fiasco

This year will be a broke year for Converse freaks. There are just too many (but not enough, keep it comin' mofos!) releases from Converse. Since it's their 100th anniversary, they gonna make it grand and big!

Here's one PRODUCT(RED) Chuck Taylor by hip hop entertainer Lupe Fiasco. According to Complex, Lupe Fiasco gave a little mention on his upcoming pair of its own at Dr Romanelli's 1HUND(RED) Artist launch in LA.

Covering with black patent leather, it sure looks like one that can sell really well. Unfortunately, heard it's not for release, yet. Til then, let's bug the Converse team to release it!

Eiffel Tower



What an ugly design!! What is this? Reconstruct the Eiffel tower for it's 120th birthday?
Hell NO!! Let it be what it's suppose to be. Do not change or reconstruct the tower. Because it's huge and historic. I wouldn't want to go to this new tower, it looks horrible, like transforming it into a radio tower!!

By the way, the platform purpose is to solve the problem of visitors waiting for the long Q to get up to the tower. Urg!!! Soooo business minded!!!

Leave Gustave Eiffel design alone. Do not touch nor think about it!!

"Leave the tower alone! Do not touch!"

Admiral SS08 - Conventry

This is especially for those who loves to keep it simple on what they put on them. The beauty in simplistic. One of Admiral's collection of footwear for their Spring/Summer 2008, the Conventry casual sneaker comes in three colorways. Just a simple slip on and adjust the tightness using the strap. Put your hands on it at Flauge.




Triumvir S/S 08 Lookbook Out!!

We talked about Triumvir's SS08 denims earlier. And if you're loving what you saw, specifically those exquisite terrific-looking denims from the independent label from Orange County, I recommend you to take a look at their recently-launched SS08 lookbook. Consisting a large line up of products, ranging from the mentioned denims, tops and accessories. You can purchase them at their online store.

Nike x Hiroshi Fujiwara - Air Force 1 'HTM'

To all collectors of Air Force 1s, you ought to check this one out. Nike is reviving the AF1 HTM collaboration project with Hiroshi Fujiwara in 2004 later this year. This round, they will release the croc-skinned sneaker in brown and black, with the Fragment logo on the side. Check out Denim & Sole for more detailing. $880.

DangerBomb Clock by Banpresto

We found this really awesome product by Japanese game development firm Banpresto around the corner of the web. DangerBomb is an alarm clock which was made to look like an explosive charge ready to explode your bedroom into tiny ashes. It features three different colors of cords and you have to disconnect either one of them to shut it off.

Unplug the wrong one, it creates a loud-explosion alike noise shake you. An alarm clock that requires a quick decision to diffuse this gadget to stop it from alarming the neighbors. Via AudioCubes.


Check out this video on how this gadget works.



Tuesday 25 March 2008

Steinski - What Does It All Mean? 1983 - 2006 Retrospective

Steve Stein, better known by his moniker Steinski is a renowned producer back in the 80's. He's considered as one of the most influential producers in the hip hop community, being cited as definitive influences by today's top guns including DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist and Fatboy Slim.

On May 27, Illegal Art will release the first, also the one and only official release (despite those illegal releases by the pirates), featuring Steinski's collection of materials made from 1983 to 2006, entitled What Does It All Mean? 1983 - 2006 Retrospective.

The comprehensive 2-CD album features 14 tracks on CD1 and 28 tracks on CD2. The packaging includes a 20-page booklet featuring notes by music critic Hua Hsu and Steinski himself.

You can listen to Steinski's materials at his MySpace site.

via Fanatic.

Death Cab For Cutie Unveils Narrow Stairs

The American indie pop quartet Death Cab For Cutie (DCFC in short) is back with a brand new album entitled Narrow Stairs, slapping fans with a release full of wonderful surprises. DCFC's sixth album is set to hit record stores on May 13.

The first single from this new release has been announced - 8 1/2 minutes worth I Will Possess Your Heart feature the first 4 minutes 30 seconds pure melodic instrumental tunes before lead singer Ben Gibbard drop his super killer vocals.

The album is released by Atlantic Records and produced by their very own Chris Walla.

DCFC is currently shooting the video for their single. In the meantime, if you wanna check out the band live on stage, check out their latest announcement on their gigs.

Do check in again to get more news on DCFC!

Via SYN.

Surface To Air S/S 2008 Collection - Footwear Line Ups

Surface To Air previewed their latest Spring/Summer 2008 collection recently. We found the footwear for this collection pretty quite interesting and we ought to share it to you. Featuring seven different types of models, uniquely design in their respective ways. These are now available at their online store. Go check it out now.








Monday 24 March 2008

Elf Power - In A Cave

Elf Power is an psychedelic pop band originally from Athens. The band is part of the Elephant Six collective which have spawned notable independent musicians including Apples In The Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, Of Montreal and The Olivia Tremor Control.

In A Cave is their eighth album and is set to hit stores on March 25, released under Rykodisc.

"In A Cave" is a lushly orchestrated mix of eclectic songwriting that is sure to conjure up memories of 1997's "When the Red King Comes", but with a more mature approach to arrangements, lyrics, and instrumentation."

If any of the mentioned bands above you're a fan of, Elf Power is a recommendation to be added to your all-time favorites. Catchy riffs, stimulating beats, sing-a-long choruses - it's fun and entertaining.

The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

The Raconteurs is an American rock supergroup consisting band members from famous rock groups like The White Stripes' Jack White, The Greenhornes' Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler, and Brendan Benson.

On March 25, the band set the official release date of their second full length album, Consolers of the Lonely.

Their first single from the album is Salute Your Solution. The music video for this single will be released on the same day as the album.

Can't wait to listen to their new materials since the first one was such 'irresistible temptations'. For the mean time, warm up with their previous tracks first over here.