Tuesday, November 17, 2009

popwreckoning updates

popwreckoning updates

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One Republic’s Waking Up Released Today – Win a Signed Copy

Posted: 17 Nov 2009 10:55 AM PST

One Republic’s follow up to their popular debut, Dreaming Out Loud, is finally released today, Nov. 17. Waking Up continues combing the band’s brand of alternative pop rock with an R&B edge. It continues pushing the envelope further with even better lyrics and diverse sounds. It continues to show the world that this band is not a fluke and their success is well-earned. onerepublic

In honor of the album’s release date, we have a signed album and poster to give to one winner (limited to U.S. residents only).

To win: This album was recorded with the same children’s choir and orchestra used by a popular film composer, giving the album an epic and cinematic quality. The band has even consulted with this composer. To win the signed album and poster, correctly identify this composer and one of the movies he made a soundtrack for before Friday, Nov. 20 at 12 p.m. CDT. We’ll select a winner from the correct answers at that time.

And for those that don’t want to take their chances and want to be guaranteed the chance to hear this album that our reviewer loved, head to iTunes here or your local record store.

One Republic: website | myspace |Waking Up review

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MP3 Minute: Langhorne Slim “I Love You But Goodbye”

Posted: 17 Nov 2009 10:15 AM PST

langhorneslimContemporary Philadelphia folk hero has recently released his new album Be Set Free and has hit the road to bring his new music to the masses. Below you can check out his first single “I Love You But Goodbye.” It opens with an airy piano melody by keyboardist before Langhorne begins his melancholy tale of love lost, singing, “Why did you come if you can’t stay forever?” He continues his defeated words against a dynamic soundscape before ending the song a hopeful note, “I wanna thank you honey, / For all that you’ve given. / I wanna thank you for being my friend.”

Langhorne Slim – “I Love You But Goodbye”

CD Release Tour Dates:
Nov 17 – Rock N Roll Hotel / Washington DC
Nov 19 – Johnny Brenda's / Philadelphia
Nov 20 – Chameleon Club / Lancaster, PA
Nov 21 – Le Poisson Rouge / New York City
Nov 22 – Culture Center Theater / Charleston, WV

: website | myspace | @ acl 2008 | interview with

Photos: Doug Seymour

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This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Lightspeed Champion to release “Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You” in February

Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:30 AM PST

Domino Records is excited to announce that has returned with his second album, Life is Sweet! Nice To Meet You. The follow-up to 2008's Falling Off The Lavender Bridge is an epic collection of twelve pop songs, two instrumental intermissions and one piano étude, set for release on February 1st.

mastermind Devonte Hynes‘ early leaning towards American country dressings is traded here for a palette that draws on classical music and even musical theatre. Producer and mixer Ben Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley) assembles the eclectic grab-bag of influences: joltingly '70s guitar and synth sounds, classical piano, Greek choruses shouting reprisals, and at least one ukelele-driven moment. The first single from the new album is entitled “Marlene” and will be out January 25th (happy birthday to me!) with an exclusive double seven inch for sale at Domino Records’ online store. Watch the trailer for “Marlene” below.

Dev also has a new interactive website, where you can create a profile, upload images and videos and talk to fellow fans. The site also includes new track “Heavy Purple,” that Popwreckoning featured months ago by the way. You can download “Heavy Purple” by signing up at LightspeedChampion.com. On the site, Dev is uploading lots of stuff including short films, photos and exclusive music, as well as continuing his already popular blog. Currently you can enjoy Dev’s Wordplay orientated Three Sentence Movie reviews, as well as his pun of the day.

: website | myspace | @ world cafe live

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The xx with Jon Hopkins @ DC9, Washington DC

Posted: 17 Nov 2009 06:45 AM PST

thexx1Losing a band member for any reason during any point in a band’s history can be traumatic, even devastating. In the case of the xx, losing fourth member and guitarist/synth player happening at the exact same time while the band’s meteoric rise in profile and acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic appears seemingly unstoppable is probably even more traumatic. The first sign of trouble was when the band had to cancel a couple European dates last month, Qureshi citing “exhaustion”; this seemed reasonable, considering how much the band has been touring since they were tipped by various media outlets and people in the business for being the next “it band.” But then a few days ago, the band announced that Qureshi had left the band permanently, owing to “personal differences,” leaving those of us already devoted to the xx wondering, “are they going to soldier on with a replacement, or is this the end?”

But the band has decided to continue as a trio. Having seen the xx as a quartet three months ago in New York in a supporting slot and having enjoyed their set, I hoped that having one less member wouldn’t affect the sound – at least, too much. I am happy to report that the xx sound excellent in their current configuration and, if anything, I think the trifecta of Romy Madley-Croft (guitar/vocals), Oliver Sim (bass/vocals), and (percussion and electronics et al.) sounded even better to this night than they did previously.

Sunday night was a doubleheader with the opening act, electronica artist Jon Hopkins. Here in front of us was not your run-of-the-mill mixmaster DJ. The lanky Hopkins effectively threw his body into his performance, all the while a master of his machines, adding layer upon layer of sonic goodness by manipulating his synths full of buttons, switches, dials and knobs. He said nothing throughout the set, instead preferring to reach for and occasionally take a swig from a well-placed bottle of Budweiser between the seamlessly segueing tracks. “Vessel”, with its dramatic, haunting piano arpeggios, was especially intriguing to me (as I’d been trained in classical piano when I was younger), especially so because it was played among songs that could be regarded electro mini-symphonies to tracks that ring out like they’d feel at home in outer space, like “Insides”. The crowd was quiet but that was probably because everyone’s eyes were glued to Hopkins’s hands during his set. Interesting choice for an opener.

thexx2Okay, so I get that the xx band uniform is black clothing from head to toe. I suppose this is a nod to the minimalist approach to their music, as is their generally unshakeable, unemotional manner when performing. Singers Romy Madley-Croft and Oliver Sim sport metal chains with charms around their necks, though I wonder if these chains are to aid the audience in seeing the two of them onstage. For both Jon Hopkins’s set and the xx’s, the club was very dark, and both professional and any kind flash photography were not allowed. The only two bright lights on at all times on stage were the two “X”s carved out of the front of ’s desk of electronic wonder. At one point, Madley-Croft had to ask for the lights onstage to be raised slightly, probably because she couldn’t see the strings of her guitar. Funny. After their second song, “VCR,” Sim announced, “this is a special night. This is the first time we’ve played in Washington!” His comment was met with universal cheers from the crowd.

thexx3The set list featured two covers, “Do You Mind?” by Filipino R&B/soul singer Kyla and “Teardrops” by Womack and Womack, the latter causing Sim to admit bashfully (but with a grin as he fingered his black bass guitar) that he was embarrassed that they had to play another cover and that he wanted to run and hide himself in the crowd. Aww. To be honest, they played exactly what I expected for a band with only a debut album to their name, playing every song on xx with growing conviction. Each song combined the gorgeously emotional voices of Madley-Croft and Sim with the perfectly spare instrumentation from the three of them, so much that just hearing everything together might make you cry. So to me, the covers were just icing on the cake. Further along in the set, Madley-Croft’s usual steely demeanor gave way to a smile. I was glad – she and her band mates are talented folks and have a lot to be proud of.

For the lack of banter between the acts and the audience at DC9, this show might have been subtitled “The Quiet One.” But in the end, it was what we’d all shown up at the club for – great music – that triumphed over everything else. If you didn’t get the chance to catch them on their short headlining tour of America this fall, catch this band opening for Friendly Fires on the Winter Music Tour before the end of the year or supporting next April.

Set List:
Intro
VCR
Heart Skipped a Beat
Islands
Basic Space
Fantasy
Shelter
Do You Mind? (Kyla)
Crystalised
Teardrops (Womack and Womack)
Nighttime
Infinity

Tour Dates:
Nov 17 – 529 / Atlanta#
Nov 19 – Mohawk / Austin*
Nov 20 – Casbah / San Diego*
Nov 23 – Independent / San Francisco*
Nov 24 – Sacramento State University / Sacramento*
Nov 25 – Doug Fir / Portland*
Nov 26 – Commodore Ballroom / Vancouver*
Nov 27 – Neumo’s / Seattle*
Nov 30 – Triple Rock / Minneapolis*
Dec 01 – Bottom Lounge / Chicago*
Dec 03 – Les Saints / Montreal*
Dec 04 – Paradise / Boston*
Dec 05 – Webster Hall / New York City*
Apr 19 – Riviera Theatre / Chicago%
Apr 20 – Koolhaus / Toronto%
Apr 22 – Terminal 5 / New York City%
Apr 24 – 9:30 Club / Washington, DC%
# with Jon Hopkins
* supporting Friendly Fires on the Winter Music Tour
% supporting

The xx: website | myspace | @ music hall of williamsburg
Jon Hopkins: website | myspace

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at 5:53 PM