Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eskimo Joe Back with “Love is a Drug”

Eskimo Joe Love is a DrugEskimo Joe’s new single “Love is a Drug” hit radio today, and the album to match is hot on its heels. We’ll see Ghosts of the Past, the fifth studio album from the Western Australian powerhouse, in stores on August 12.

Rather than keeping your ear glued to the radio you can check it out at the Eskimo Joe website. It’s also available for digital download if you’re so inclined. Personally I’m digging this song. It starts out with the sort of broodiness we heard on “Black Fingernails, Red Wine” but then turns into this soaring, melodic rock song. I’m predicting it’s going to be all over radio by week’s end.

We should hear more hooky songs on Ghosts of the Past, as it was recorded with the same team who worked on the brilliant Inshalla album. Fans will get a bit of a taste of it at next month’s Splendour in the Grass festival. If you’ve missed out on tickets for that, don’t worry. Eskimo Joe will tour the album all around the country before year’s end.

Image source: Eskimo Joe website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eagle and the Worm Tour “Goodtimes”

Melbourne’s Eagle and the Worm are celebrating the vinyl release of their critically acclaimed debut album Goodtimes with their only headlining tour of 2011.

You can get the 12-incher at the shows, along with a very limited edition 7-inch copy of the big single “Too Young.” It’s enough to get vinylphiles like myself pretty excited!

There’s something special about seeing a big eight-piece band like Eagle and the Worm doing their thing live. Tickets for the following shows are available at the venues.

13 August 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart
18 August 2011 – The Nash, Geelong
19 August 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
20 August 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
24 August 2011 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
25 August 2011 – The Bakery, Perth
26 August 2011 – Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle
27 August 2011 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
8 September 2011 – BigSound, Brisbane
9 September 2011 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
10 September 2011 – The Junkyard, Maitland

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

See The Snowdroppers’ Peepshow

The Snowdroppers will debut their new video for “Run You Down” on Thursday, but it’s for fans’ eyes only. The clip will play as part of an online Peepshow, accessible only to members of The Snowdroppers mailing list.

On the night of the premiere, members will get e-mail instructions about how to access the show. They’ll also score a free mp3 download of the “Run You Down,” which is the third to come from The Snowdroppers’ debut album Too Late to Pray. It’s a classic tale of boy meets girl, with a dash of madness and murder thrown in.

Click here to put your e-mail address on the list, and enjoy The Snowdropper’s Peepshow!

Image used with permission from Reckoning Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Indigo and the Bear Make Beautiful Music

Making contact with some of this country’s best up and coming bands is one of my favourite parts of writing this blog. I love hearing from people passionate about having their music heard, and discovering something wonderful that’s not already all over radio. The latest wonderful came in the form of Indigo and the Bear, a Melbourne trio preparing to release their EP, Sorrow Down.

The recording doesn’t officially drop until July 22, although it’s currently available for digital download. Indigo and the Bear is creating some really beautiful stuff. It’s the sort of music that proves you don’t have to scream the loudest to command attention. Their tunes are gentle and subtle, but they wash over you as they slowly unfold. As the last one ended I was ready to start the first again. I just wasn’t ready to leave this peaceful, lush musical world they’d created.

So please give the title track, Sorrow Down, a listen and if you like what you hear, you can download the three-tracker by clicking here. The band is requesting donations from anyone who enjoys what they’ve heard, which for some might be an excuse to just enjoy free music. However just think about what you’d spend on iTunes on the big name acts. Surely throwing a few dollars the way of some new Aussie talent is a more worthy endeavour, right?

Image source: Indigo and the Bear website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Bring Surf Rock Back

Who said that surf rock was dead? The ingeniously named King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are bringing the style back, albeit with some rough edges, with their new single “Black Tooth.”

The tune comes from the band’s sophomore EP Willoughby’s Beach. It’s the sort of thing I can imagine Iggy Pop or Lou Reed tapping their hat too. It’s got that classic rock influence, but the end result is much dirtier and more rebellious with fuzzy vocals and wailing guitars.

While the recording sounds brilliant, something tells me this is a band that does their best work on the stage. You can see King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard do just that as they tour the east coast next month.

1 July 2011 – Deniliquin Club, Deniliquin
2 July 2011 – Castlemusic Festival, Castlemaine
8 July 2011 – Mum, World Bar, Sydney
9 July 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
15 July 2011 – The Nash, Geelong
16 July 2011 – Plus One, Adelaide
23 July 2011 – Old Bar, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Tiger & Me Impress with Double A-Side Single

As I race towards the weekend I’m always dragging my feet. It takes something special to get me exciting, but The Tiger & Me have done it with their double A-side single “So Let It Go/The Little and Lost.”

The songs have got a melodic pop center but they’re wrapped up in something much darker and more interesting. “So Let it Go” is epic and anthemic, while “The Little and Lost” shows a much quieter and more reflective side of the band. The songs come from The Howling Fire, the first of an ambitious series of three EPs for the band. The recordings will chart one person’s journey into madness and back out to sanity again. It sounds fascinating, and when a concept so interesting is backed up with great music I’m all ears.

If you are too you can catch the band at the following shows in the near future, including their EP launch at The Toff and a string of dates for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival.

9 July 2011 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne (with Sal Kimber and the Rolling Wheel)
22-24 July 2011 – Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Melbourne (with The Nymphs)
30 July 2011 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide (with Cheer Advisory Council)
5 August 2011 – The Wrong Crowd, Geelong
20 August 2011 – The Basement, Sydney (with Peregrine and Evan & The Brave)

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tim Wheatley is Crooked Saint

Melbourne muso Tim Wheatley has just released his debut EP Every Angry Inch under the moniker Crooked Saint.

The former member of Rushcutter and The Sparrows has worked without a band for the first time on this release. After hearing “The Big Easy,” it doesn’t sound like he’s missing them. This is such a lush alt-country number, brooding and dark but with a gorgeous melodic core.

Tim’s not working entirely alone though. The EP sees him reuniting with his Sparrows bandmate Michael Badger. Together the pair set about rerecording Tim’s demos and making them the rich tunes we hear on the disc.

You can hear “The Big Easy” above, and further EP tracks at the Crooked Saint MySpace page. Crooked Saint will travel around the country soon to promote Every Angry Inch, so if you like what you hear make sure you get out and support him!

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Busby Marou Tour “Biding My Time”

Chilled out Rockhampton natives Busby Marou are preparing to release their debut album Biding My Time on June 24, and they’re wasting no time getting out to tour it.

The run of shows will kick off in their home state on July 1 and take in capital cities and major regional centers before coming to a close in Sydney later that month.

Just as we see on the album, Busby Marou’s live music is really back to basics, with its focus on story telling, organic instrumentation, and harmonies. If that sounds like your kind of thing you won’t want to miss these shows.

1 July 2011 – The Old Museum, Brisbane
8 July 2011 – The SoundLounge, Currumbin
10 July 2011 – The Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
14 July 2011 – Jive, Adelaide
15 July 2011 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
16 July 2011 – The National Hotel, Geelong
21 July 2011 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
22 July 2011 – CBD Hotel, Newcastle
23 July 2011 – Spectrum, Darlinghurst

Image used with permission from Frogstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Calling All Cars Touring Again

It’s only been a matter of days since Calling All Cars wrapped up their Reptile tour, and they’re already preparing to get back out on the road again.

Proving they’re one of the hardest working bands in the country, Calling All Cars will rock Australia in August to promote their sophomore album. We don’t have a title yet, but we know it’ll hit stores on August 5. We also know the band teamed up again with producer and sometimes Shihad member Tom Larkin to create some really tight rock sounds.

Fans of the monster debut Hold, Hold, Fire, prepare to get excited and pencil the following dates into your social calendar.

11 August 2011 – Kay Street, Traralgon
12 August 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart
13 August 2011 – Fowler’s Live, Adelaide
18 August 2011 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
19 August 2011 – Tempo Hotel, Brisbane
20 August 2011 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
24 August 2011 – The Loft, Warrnambool
25 August 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
26 August 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
27 August 2011 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully
1 September 2011 – Transit Bar, Canberra
2 September 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
3 September 2011 – Waves, Wollongong
8 September 2011 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
9 September 2011 – Studio 146, Albany
10 September 2011 – Amplifier, Perth
11 September 2011 – Indi Bar, Scarborough

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Timothy Nelson and the Infidels Release Long Awaited Album

After wowing us with the singles “You Don’t Know What You’re Waiting For” and “Nothing’s in Tune,” Timothy Nelson and the Infidels have finally released their debut album.

It’s called I Know This Now, a title which might just refer to the self confidence that comes from 18 months of near relentless gigging, both as headliners and the support act for Eskimo Joe, Birds of Tokyo, Hoodoo Gurus, and more.

The album was recorded in various studios around Perth over the last two years. How refreshing to see an act taking their time with a release rather than just cranking it out. Given the time it’s had to marinate, and the quality of those acoustic folk singles, I’m expecting something pretty special from I Know This Now.

Timothy Nelson and the Infidels will launch the album for their home state at The Rosemount Hotel on June 25. I hear that interstate dates are on their way too, which is pretty exciting for the rest of the country!

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash