I may be wearing a ski cap and five layers as I write this, but it does seem as though winter’s dreariness is waning. If nothing else, there’s a boatload of new music to brighten the coming weeks, and we’ll happily crank all of it at full volume to shut out the sound of the non-stop rain.
New She & Him material surfaced today, and it doesn’t get much warmer and sunnier than M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel’s brand of feel-good pop. A new track, “Thieves” is up and streaming at Stereogum right now. It’s off the duo’s forthcoming Volume Two album, which Merge will release on March 23.
Tom “Tobacco” Fec, meanwhile, doesn’t have what you’d call a cheery disposition, but his 2008 album, Fucked Up Friends, was one of the year’s most solid releases, and the Black Moth Super Rainbow frontman has announced a follow-up. This time around, he’s reeled in the talents of Beck, who’s a reported fan of Fucked Up Friends and collaborated on two songs for the forthcoming Maniac Meat. A couple of guys who share a love for trippy, hyper-experimental music and titles like “Fresh Hex” and “Grape Aerosmith” are bound to create a winning album. Maniac Meat is out May 25 via Anticon.
Also back for another full-length is Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Drag City will release the album, titled The Wonder Show of the World, on March 23 (it’s technically being billed under Bonnie “Prince” Billy & the Cairo Gang). A new song, “Play, Guitar, Play” is not slated to appear on the album, but is up and streaming at the label’s site.
Now, it wouldn’t be a news roundup without a tidbit or two regarding rock’s resident workaholic, Jack White. The one and only has a new video on the way, for his Dead Weather band’s “Die By the Drop.” There’s no actual clip yet, but Floria Sigismondi, who directed the White Stripes’ “Blue Orchid” video, is on board again. The song is off the Dead Weather’s forthcoming new album, which will drop in April.
Speaking of workaholics, Madlib’s back. The Beat Konducta himself has another album out, under the guise The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble—which is reportedly an offshoot of Yesterdays Universe, which arose after the demise of Yesterdays New Quintet. Hopelessly confusing monikers aside, Miles Away is 10 tracks produced and arranged by Madlib, and it’s out today. Go to the Stones Throw site to order a copy, and to download a free track, “Tones for Larry Young.”
Image of Tobacco by The Seven Fields of Aphelion.
