department of eagles give us more

The wonderful Department of Eagles have another new song up on Pitchfork Media, the long-gestating (and well-worth-the-wait) "No One Does It Like You." Check that future-retro indie-pop stomp.

For those who have just caught the Department of Eagles wave, did you know that five years ago the band recorded an innovative, genre-defying album full of beautiful songs and electronic pastiches? It's called The Cold Nose, and in the build-up to their excellent October 4AD release, In Ear Park, it might be just the time to get to know that modest mini-masterpiece...

bye bye blackbirds blog

Our boys The Bye Bye Blackbirds have a handy blog running, For As Many As Will, so we thought we'd take the opportunity to spread the word.

The current post, subject to change, is a fine tribute to BBB collaborator/Beulah band lynchpin Bill Swan. Nice tip o' the hat, boys.

Bye Bye Blackbirds' Apology Accepted EP is available now for free download, and the band's striking September full-length release Houses and Homes is available for pre-order. Check 'em both here.

Anatomy of a Song: The Solo

Here's the second installment of Anatomy of a Song, our tribute to the art of songcraft. This series of posts is celebrating American Dust's September release of the debut Bye Bye Blackbirds album, Houses and Homes. The Blackbirds excel like no other when it comes to stirring up the dark magic of perfect pop song creation and we love them for it. You should too!

Every week we're introducing a different song element and requesting that you, the readers, write comments that include your favorite examples of that particular element from the history of "popular" song.

This week: The Solo

Let us know your favorite all-time solos. Don't restrict yourself to the guitar solo. Feel free to include a solo performed on any instrument you want.

Examples of my favorites are:

Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock (Guitar)
Mott The Hoople - The Golden Age of Rock 'N' Roll (Guitar)
Starbuck - Moonlight Feels Right (Marimba)
The Eagles - Hotel California* (Guitar)
Television - Marquee Moon* (Guitar)

*duh.

Don't forget to download the free Apology Accepted EP by The Bye Bye Blackbirds from the American Dust website. While you're there, you might as well pre-order the album!

www.americandust.net

gigs gigs gigs

A couple of our favorite people have gigs coming up, so check 'em if you can.

The fiery Miller Carr & the Shalants (pictured) have a free show August 21 at the Mollusk Surf Shop in Brooklyn, NY @ 8pm. You got no excuses, and, frankly, they're gonna tear the roof off the mother. More info on Miller and the band available here.

On the other side of America guitar superstar Matt Baldwin will be leading The Matt Baldwin Electric Band September 26 as part of the awesome Folk Yeah Festival in Big Sur, CA, opening for The Silver Jews, Entrance and American Dust alumni Port O'Brien, among others. The next day, as part of the same festival, Matt will also be playing lead guitar in the Sam Flax Keener Band, so you might need to set aside the weekend.

Anatomy of a Song : The Bridge

In anticipation of American Dust's release of superior song craftsmen The Bye Bye Blackbirds debut album, House and Homes, we're going to introduce a new feature to the AD blog called Anatomy of a Song.

Every week we'll introduce a different song element and request that you, the readers, write comments that include your favorite examples of that particular element from the history of "popular" song.

This week: The Bridge

Writing a great bridge is a lost art in songwriting and it's sorely missed.

Let us know your favorite all-time song bridges.

For example, my favorites are:

Carole King/Aretha Franklin/et.al. - You Make Me Feel Like
A Natural Woman
Bob Dylan - Just Like A Woman
Justin Timberlake - Rock Your Body
Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland 1945
The Beatles - She Said She Said

Don't forget to download the free Apology Accepted EP by The Bye Bye Blackbirds from the American Dust website. While you're there, you might as well pre-order the album!

www.americandust.net

miller carr reviewed right

The excellent and comprehensive Popmatters just published a great review of Miller Carr & the Shalants' Passage Through Wilderness, Vol. II. Among other kind words, writer Aarik Danielson says, "The record’s sound approximates a sonic marriage between straight-ahead ‘60s pop and Mutations-era Beck, executed to psychedelic perfection." Nice!

Check the review here.

Passage Through Wilderness, Vol. II is available now.