OK, we will. Let's call it Sunday Soundtracking, and disseminate it to the people on a day they can blast the tunes at their leisure. We will utilize handy playlist embeds, courtesy of the excellent gang at Imeem, and drop much-needed information on release and tour dates, and so on.
Why not get started?
Animal Collective, My Girls
Merriweather Post Pavilion, out Jan. 20 (Domino Records) This long-awaited collection of expansive, destabilizing synthetic sonics doesn't fail in its effort to utterly space and freak you out. My Girls sounds like Vangelis was shoved into a blender with Mercury Rev, with a dash of Gang Gang Dance thrown in for good measure. The Merriweather Post Pavilion, a Frank Gehry-designed outdoor venue in Maryland that the band, pictured above, grew up on, gave Animal Collective's latest album its title. I would not want to be hearing this music in that venue if I happened across the brown acid. Speaking of live shows, Animal Collective's tour begins in May. Plenty of time to hide your synths.
Sholi, “Dance for Hours"
Sholi, out Feb. 17 (Quarterstick Records)
This San Francisco outfit relocated after front man Payam Bavafa spent time studying theories of sleep and memory at University of California at Davis with a reputed mad scientist. We're checking into that as you read this, so look for the full story in a later interview. But for now, know that Sholi will probably draw comparisons to Radiohead, although their mathematical, frenetic pop is rougher around the edges. Check out “Dance for Hours" and keep score.
Goblin Cock, “We Got a Bleeder"
Come With Me If You Want to Live, out Feb. 27 (Robcore Records)
All hail San Diego's Rob Crow! What other dude sings metal tunes about the Sith? Well, ones that don't suck, that is. Everything he touches usually turns to indie cool, whether it is his angular pop team-up with bass phenom Zach Smith called Pinback or this perverted metal experiment. Goblin Cock manufactures thunderous riffage about Billy Jack, comics and more, including the fruits of George Lucas' labors. In fact, the riotous art gracing the cover of Come With Me If You Want to Live, right, was drafted by Mike Suftin, author of Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Characters. Nerd cred, check. Rock chops, check. We'll follow up on the rest in a future interview with the top Cock himself in February. Got esoteric questions for Crow? Drop them in the comment section below. Or ask them in person, starting Jan. 28 in Crow's hometown when the Cock Across America tour begins. And yes, that is its name.
Billy Cobham, “Stratus"
Protected: Massive Samples, out Feb. 17 (Rapster Records)
Sampling is a double-edged sword. The popularity of some borrowings can obscure the source materials, while other mashes only increase the thirst for research into the samples. Massive Attack's music falls into the latter category; the band's catalog has never lacked addictive beats. And the one produced by fusion drum legend Billy Cobham on “Stratus," which Massive Attack lifted for “Safe From Harm," is one sick groove. So sick, in fact, that it put Massive Attack on the map. Peek at Protected: Massive Samples for a historical dose of more fertile territory.
Marissa Nadler, “River of Dirt"
Little Hells, out March 3 (Kemado Records)
This Boston-based siren is a delicate comedown from the uproar that precedes her in this Sunday's playlist. But the ambient bounce on the winsome “River of Dirt" is hypnotic, an electronic intersection of Cowboy Junkies, Mazzy Star and Loretta Lynn. Hitch a ride and drift away. Or catch Nalder on the road, starting Feb. 6 in Connecticut.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
