The RAA's Departing gets a February Release

The Rural Alberta Advantage sophomore effort Departing is one of Blue Sloth's most anticipated albums for 2011, which was suppose to be released March 1st via Paper Bag Records. However, it was released this week! So there is your head's up and you can listen to some of Departing's tracks below. Go out and buy this one and keep an eye out for Departing on February edition of Is's and Ought to be's!



The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing

- Spence

New TV On The Radio - Will Do

TV On The Radio returns with a new album called Nine Types Of Light which comes out April 12th. Check out the first single "Will do", it's got a pretty cool sound so have a listen below.



TV On The Radio - Will Do

- Spence

New Lykke Li - Love Out of Lust

New Lykke Li, it's awesome. So check it out. New album drops on the first of next month and it is shaping up to be a good one.

Lykke Li - Love Out Of Lust by LykkeLi

- Spence

When I'm Small Remix - Feat. Intuition

When I was looking at some blogs this morning I rolled across this nice little remix of Phantograms, When I'm Small on Pigeons & Planes. I thought I would take the chance to show you what Phantogram is all about and see the twist that Intuition has put on it.
Phantogram is an electronic-rock duo from the state of New York which consists of guitarist Josh Carter and keyboardist Sarah Barthel. They released their first full length entitled Eyelid Movies on February 9, 2010 and although the record was not full of great songs I thought it definitely showed that the band had some major potential. The two songs on the record that I liked the most were When I'm Small which you can catch the remix of below and Mouthfull of Diamonds which is also posted below.
As for Intuition he released an EP a while ago called I Ruined These Songs For You where he would take indie songs and rap over them. He has just released the first track off of the 2nd version of that EP that will be called I Ruined These Songs For You Too. The EP is expected to be released in full in early April.

When-Im-Small-Remix-feat.-Intuition by blue.sloth

Phantogram - Mouthful Of Diamonds

-Bryce

Katy Perry - E.T. (Feat. Kanye West)

Check out this cool remix of Katy Perrys E.T. off of her latest album "Teenage Dream" which features Kanye West. This track offers some more substance than the main singles off her newest album and the beat gives listeners a peek at a darker side of Katy Perry. I'm not personally huge on her stuff but shes good for a listen every once and a while... This is one of those times. Check out the soundcloud track below!

Katy Perry - "E.T." (Feat. Kanye West) by MFR

-Bryce

Small Black - Photojournalist (Video)

I discovered Small Black about a year ago when I heard their track Despicable Dogs and I was sucked in right away. I have come to really like their sound so I thought I would give you all a listen of what they sound like (if you haven't hear em yet) as well a look at a new video they have just recently released called Photojournalist. Check it all out below.


Photojournalist

Small Black: Photojournalist from Yoonha Park on Vimeo.

Small Black - Despicable Dogs

-Bryce

Sufjan Stevens - Performing at the Sydney Opera House

There has been some great footage of Sufjan Stevens posted on the Opera House webpage. I suggest you go check it out and see for yourself the kind of show he puts on. Head right HERE to see parts of his live performance in Sydney.

-Bryce

The Black Keys- Howlin' for You

In the latest video by The Black Keys, it looks almost as if Quentin Tarantino directed it, although it features the works of Chris Marrs Piliero. The video plays a trailer for what would be the best worst action movie ever called "Howlin' for You". "Alexa Wolff, a sexy assassin with a troubled past, unknowingly falls in love with the man who killed her father. He is not her first love, though. Two other men came before (Auerbach and Carney). But they would not have her. Now, all grown up with an appetite for revenge, Alexa’s leaving a trail of bloody corpses and broken hearts in her wake." It's pretty fantastic so head over to IMDb to check it out HERE.

- Spence

The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness (Full Song)

Check it out. Full song released. Its a good one.


The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness

-Bryce

Josh Ritter - To The Yet Unknowing World

Josh Ritter has just released a tour EP entitled To The Yet Unknowing World which features b-sides, demos, and remixes from his latest LP So Runs The World Away. You can stream the whole album below and also download a track HERE.

-Bryce

January: Is's and Ought to be's

Hello everyone, I thought I would try something new today with the blog. A segment tentatively called "Is's and Ought to be's". In this segment I will talk about the most anticipated albums of the month and what is the albums that lived up to the hype and what was ought to be a great album, but yet, did not live up to the hype for me at least. This is not a ranking of albums or telling you what you should or shouldn't listen to you, simply what I have enjoyed in the past month and what let me down. Enjoy and please feel free to provide feedback.

The Is's:

The Decemberists - The King is Dead



After the last two albums I was left questioning the progressive style The Decemberists were taking, it didn't feel natural to me. However, with the January release of the The King is Dead they return to what they do best. Album highlights include "Don't Carry It All", "January Hymn", "June Hymn" and "This Is Why We Fight". This is my most listened to album of new year and my "Is of the Month" and something I would definitely recommend giving a listen to.

The Decemberists - This Is Why We Fight

Matt Mays - iTunes Session



As Bryce mentioned a must have for any hardcore fan of Matt Mays. This iTunes Session has Matt Mays, a guitar and piano playing a stripped down versions some of his best written song such as "Chase the Light", "Terminal Romance", "City of Lakes" and "Cocaine Cowgirl".

Matt Mays - City Of Lakes

Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours



Cold War Kids' latest effort Mine Is Yours may not be as critical well received as albums in their past. Nonetheless, working with the producer that brought us Kings of Leon's Only By The Night has taken CWK in a different direction that resulted in a very enjoyable album. Highlights: "Mine is Yours", "Out of the Wilderness", and "Skip the Charades".

Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours

The Ought to Be's:

Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean



Don't Get Me Wrong, I am a huge fan of I&W and did enjoyed parts of this album. However the album as whole did not live up to my expectations. I appreciate that Sam Bean has ventured away from the whispering style on this album but the songs on this album did not make the same impact that Iron & Wine have done in the past. Overall, this is not a bad album by any means and I recommend that you check it out or at least listen to "Walking Far From Home", "Tree By The River" and "Half Moon".

Iron & Wine - Walking Far From Home

Amos Lee - Mission Bell



In the case of Mission Bell, I think Amos Lee is a victim of his own songwriting. His self titled album features some of the most amazing songwriting I have ever heard, such as "Arms of a Woman", "Colors", and "Seen It All Before". Mission Bell was a strong effort and decent album but just couldn't match his efforts of past. However "El Camino", "Violin", and "Learned A Lot" are worth a good listen.

Amos Lee - El Camino

Say Hi - Um, Uh Oh



Admittedly I didn't have high expectation for Um, Uh Oh in the first place but I was hoping this could be the underdog of the month and Say Hi would really surprise me with an interesting album. Didn't happen, anyway a couple decent tracks of the album include "Dots on Maps" and "Devils".

Say Hi - Devils

So I hope this helped you with sifting through the vast amount of music that is released each month and maybe gave you something new to listen to. Remember this just my opinion, and if I didn't like an album you did or miss one you thought was great then let me know because here at Blue Sloth we are simply just trying to spread the word.

- Spence

Sasquatch! 2011 Lineup

Happy Monday Everyone!

The lineup for the Sasquatch music festival has just been announced and it looks like it will not be one to disappoint. Just take a peek the poster below and you will see what I mean. There's even gonna be another reunion show of the dance-metal duo Death From Above 1979. There are also lots of bands playing that have been mentioned here on BlueSloth such as Cold War Kids, Bright Eyes, Iron and Wine, Matt and Kim, Sleigh Bells, Best Coast, City and Colour, Gayngs, Basia Bulat and many more which we hope to cover in the future. The festival is happening as usual on the Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-30). Head over to their website to grab your 4 days tickets HERE. Single day tickets go on sale soon.

Check out this years poster:



!!!
Against Me!
Alberta Cross
Aloe Blacc
The Antlers
Archers of Loaf
Axis of Awesome
Basia Bulat
Bassnectar
Beach House
Best Coast
Black Mountain
Bonobo (DJ Set)
Bright Eyes
The Bronx
CSS
Chromeo
City and Colour
Cold War Kids
Cotton Jones
Dan Mangan
Das Racist
Death Cab For Cutie
The Decemberists
Deerhunter
The Drums
Fitz & The Tantrums
The Flaming Lips
Flogging Molly
Flying Lotus
Foo Fighters
Foster the People
Gayngs
The Globes
Gold Panda
Guided By Voices
Iron & Wine
Jaill
Jenny & Johnny
K-Os
Local Natives
Major Lazer
Matt & Kim
Modest Mouse
MSTRKRFT
Noah & The Whale
Old 97’s
Other Lives
Pepper Rabbit
Pink Martini
The Radio Dept.
Ratatat
Rebecca Gates and The Consortium
Reggie Watts
Rival Schools
Robyn
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
S. Carey
Sam Roberts Band
Secret Sisters
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Sharon Van Etten
Skrillex
Sleigh Bells
Smith Westerns
Stornoway
Surfer Blood
Talkdemonic
The Thermals
Tig Notaro
Tim Minchin
Tokyo Police Club
Trailer Park Boys
Twin Shadow
Villagers
Washed Out
White Arrows
White Denim
Wilco
Wolf Parade
Wye Oak
Yeasayer
The Young Evils
Young the Giant

-Bryce

LCD Soundsystem - Final Show

James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem has announced that the band will be doing their final performance on Saturday, April 2, at NYC's Madison Square Garden. We all knew that this time would come after the announcement that 2010's This Is Happening would be the groups last record.

LCD Soundsystem will be greatly missed. But they did leave us with some of the best music that has ever reached our ears over the past 6 years. Here is the statement from the bands website so you can read it for yourself.



"good people of earth:
lcd soundsystem are playing madison square garden on april 2nd, and it will be our last show ever. we are retiring from the game. gettin’ out. movin’
on. but for just one more night, we will be playing with friends and family for nearly 3 hours–playing stuff we’ve never played before and going out with a bang. and we’d like you to be there.

if you would, we’d love it if people all came in white. or black. or black and white. and come ready to have fun, please. and come early, as the festivities will be opened by our favorites, liquid liquid. yes: liquid
liquid.

if it’s a funeral, let’s have the best funeral ever!!!"

-Bryce

The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness Preview

On Amazon you can preview the single to be released by The Strokes newest upcoming album Angles. You can check that out HERE.

Its sounding good so far.

-Bryce

Hey Rosetta! New Single, Album and Tour!

At Blue Sloth we take pride in supporting up and coming Canadian bands and Hey Rosetta! is definitely one of them. They released their debut album Into Your Lungs in the summer of 2008 to great reception, including winning XM Radio Verge Music Awards: Album of The Year. They are back with a new album entitled Seeds with the fist single released today called "Welcome". They are going on a Canada wide tour with dates in Alberta including March 3rd in Calgary at The Legion, tickets are available through Sloth Records in downtown Calgary. Anyway, have listen to "Welcome" from the new album as well as some of their great tracks from Into Your Lungs.



Hey Rosetta - Welcome

Hey Rosetta!

- Spence