NEW SONG: The Notwist "Good Lies"

The Notwist have a new album coming out!! It's been almost six years since their stellar "Neon Golden", and their latest "The Devil, You + Me" will drop sometime in late May via City Slang in Europe and on Domino in the US and Japan. They've released a new track ("Good Lies") from said album, and it's below for your listening pleasure. Enjoy.

[MP3] The Notwist - Good Lies from "The Devil, You + Me" (via Box.net)

The Notwist - website

CONTEST / GIVEAWAY: Great Northern - signed CD / 12-inch LP / t-shirt

Great Northern, whose full-length "Trading Twilight For Daylight" has gotten much love over on this here hillside, is set to release their new EP, "Sleepy Eepee" on March 18th via Eenie Meenie Records. To celebrate, I'm giving away a signed copy of the "Trading Twilight For Daylight" CD, an unsigned vinyl LP copy (also of "Trading Twilight For Daylight"), and a Great Northern t-shirt (pic above) to one lucky person. All you need to do is email me at itcoversthehillsides (at) gmail dot com, with your name and address & GREAT NORTHERN CONTEST as the subject and I'll pick a winner sometime next week.

Great Northern are also currently on tour with The Gutter Twins (also an ICTH fave!), dates below. Needless to say, I am pretty excited about checking this show out.

[MP3] Great Northern - Telling Lies from "Trading Twilight For Daylight" (via Box.net)

TOUR DATES:::: w/ The Gutter Twins
3/07 Chicago, IL @ Metro
3/08 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
3/09 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
3/11 Newport, KY @ Southgate House
3/12 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
3/14 Toronto, ONT @ Mod Club Theatre
3/15 Montreal, QUE @ Cabaret du Musse Juste Pour Rire
3/18 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
3/19 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
3/20 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
3/21 Atlanta, GA @ The Roxy Theatre
3/22 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
3/26 Austin, TX @ Antone's
3/27 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
3/29 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater
4/02 Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon

Great Northern - website | Myspace

NEW SONG: Shearwater "Rooks"

Shearwater's breath-taking album "Palo Santo" would have been high up on my 2007 Best Albums list had it not been a re-release (re-released in 2007 by Matador, it was originally released in 2006 by Misra Records). That being said, I am eagerly anticipating their latest release "Rook" which drops June 3rd. If this song, "Rooks", is any indication of what we can expect from this newest album then expect it to rank high on THIS year's list. Jonathan Meiburg's voice keeps getting better every album, and this song really showcases it. Recommended!

[MP3] Shearwater - Rooks from "Rook" (via Box.net)

Shearwater - website | Matador Records

MIND-BLOWING NEW MUSIC: Fleet Foxes "Sun Giant EP" & "Ragged Woods"

Both the new EP, "Sun Giant" and the forthcoming debut full-length "Ragged Wood" from Fleet Foxes are simply gorgeous. Wait, they're not SIMPLY gorgeous...they are UTTERLY gorgeous. The band describes their music as "baroque harmonic pop jams", and I can't think of a more accurate description than that. Soaring, reverb-drenched vocal harmonies melting beautifully into elements of front-porch southern folk, classic rock (ie. Fairport Convention, America) and baroque fantasy. These albums reflect such a confident and mature sense of accomplishment from such a relatively young group of musicians, and it's apparent that we have nothing but great things to expect from them in the future. Both EP & LP are highly recommended!!

The "Sun Giant" EP is available from the band on tour, or on April 8th via Sub Pop. Full-length debut, "Ragged Wood" due June 3rd via Sub Pop as well. They are currently on tour with Blitzen Trapper, and there's an Atlanta date...see ya' there!

For fans of the Band, Grizzly Bear, Joanna Newsom, Panda Bear & My Morning Jacket.

::::TOUR DATES:::::
03-05 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington *
03-07 Tallahassee, FL - The Beta Bar *
03-09 Jacksonville, FL - The Eclipse *
03-11 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree *
03-12 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon *#
03-13 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-14 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-15 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-16 Norman, OK - The Opolis *
03-17 Columbia, MO - Mojo's *
03-19 Nashville, TN - Exit/In *
03-20 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
03-21 Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern *
03-22 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle *
03-23 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 *
03-25 Washington, DC - Black Cat Backstage *
03-26 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
03-27 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs *
03-29 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
03-30 Worcester, MA - The Grind at Clark University
04-01 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa *
04-02 Toronto, Ontario - El Mocambo *
04-03 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place *
04-04 Cleveland Heights, OH - The Grog Shop *
04-05 Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick *
04-06 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
04-08 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon *
04-09 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry *
04-10 Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College *
04-11 Omaha, NE - Slowdown *
04-12 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot *
04-14 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive *
04-15 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge *
04-17 Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club *
04-18 Seattle, WA - Neumos *
04-19 Portland, OR - Holocene *

* with Blitzen Trapper
# with Man Man

[MP3] Fleet Foxes - Mykonos from "Sun Giant EP" (via Box.net)
[MP3] Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal from "Ragged Wood" (via Box.net)

Fleet Foxes - Myspace

VIDEO: Bon Iver "The Wolves (Act I and II)"

ATLANTA/ATHENS SHOWS (3/04 - 3/09)

Tue. 3/04/08 - Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause, Dan Sartain @ The Earl (highly rec'd!)

Wed. 3/05/08 - The Winter Sounds, Spy For Hire @ Caledonia Lounge (rec'd!)
Wed. 3/05/08 - Gentlemen Jesse and His Men, The Weight @ The Drunken Unicorn

Thu. 3/06/08 - FUCK YESSS DANCE PARTY (with Le Castle Vania, Treasure Fingers) @ The Drunken Unicorn (rec'd!)
Thu. 3/06/08 - Gringo Star @ The Earl (highly rec'd!)

Fri. 3/07/08 - The Hiss, Black Horse, The Big Sleep, The Howlies @ The Drunken Unicorn
Fri. 3/07/08 - Pattern is Movement, Cinemechanica, Ponytail, We Versus The Shark @ Caledonia Lounge (highly rec'd!)
Fri. 3/07/08 - The Death Set, Make a Rising, Red Rocket (Pattern is Movement After Show, 1am) @ Secret Squirrel
Fri. 3/07/08 - The Features, Say Hi, Explorer's Club @ The Earl

Sat. 3/08/08 - Beat Beat Beat, Blondsai, Hollywood @ The Drunken Unicorn
Sat. 3/08/08 - Born Ruffians, Cadence Weapon, The Death Set @ The Earl (rec'd!)
Sat. 3/08/08 - Man Man, The Extraordinaires, Mouser @ The 40 Watt Club (highly rec'd!)
Sat. 3/08/08 - Ponytail, Team Robespierre, White Mice (Man Man After Show, 1am) @ Secret Squirrel
Sat. 3/08/08 - Harvey Milk, Pride Parade, Scars @ Caledonia Lounge (highly rec'd!)

Sun. 3/09/08 - The Walkmen, Vampire Weekend @ The Earl (highly rec'd!) SOLD OUT!!
Sun. 3/09/08 - Ponytail, Mouser @ The Drunken Unicorn (rec'd!)

GREAT NEW MUSIC: Team Robespierre "Everything's Perfect"

Man, this week's theme must be "music that makes me wanna go ape-shit". I've really been diggin' the debut from Team Robespierre, "Everything's Perfect", in fact I've been goin' ape-shit over it. Electroclash with a metal overtone and drenched in a snotty, fuck-it-all attitude; reminiscent of one of my favorite bands, Le Tigre, only darker. There's no deep message here, but that's not the point; it's rapid-fire observations of modern society wrapped in ass-shakin' beats...the world's fucked so you might as well dance your ass off before the end. Alright, I'm in.

They're playing a Man Man after-show show in Athens, GA at Secret Squirrel (766 W. Broad St., underneath Park at the Point on the corner of Church St. & Broad St. at 1am.) with White Mice and Ponytail for $5 bucks. After seeing that pic above, I bet their live show is fucking insane.

"Everything's Perfect" is available now via Impose Records, or from eMusic.

[MP3] Team Robespierre - 88th Precinct from "Everything's Perfect" (via Box.net)

Tour dates:
March 5: NARA SUSHI, Richmond, VA
w/ RED ROCKET, BRAINWORMS
March 6: DOWNTOWN EVENTS CENTER, Raleigh, NC
w/ THE DEATHSET
March 7: GOURMET PERKS, Asheville, NC
March 8: SECRET SQUIRREL, Athens, GA
w/ WHITE MICE, PONYTAIL
March 9: SLUGGO’S, Pensacola, FL
w/ THE DEATHSET
MARCH 11: MRS BEAS, Austin, TX
TODD P’s pre-SxSW w/ TELEPATHE, VIDEO HIPPOS, JUICEBOXXX & MORE
March 13: SxSW NIGHT - WWW.MYOPENBAR.COM SHOW
w/ NO AGE & MIKA MIKO
March 14: SxSW DAY – IMPOSE PARTY
w/ VIDEO HIPPOS, ECSTATIC SUNSHINE, RED ROCKET, CSTNTS & MORE
March 14: SxSW NIGHT – SOLIDPR SHOWCASE
w/ MAN MAN, FUCKED UP, DAUGHTERS, AN ALBATROSS & MORE
March 15: SxSW NIGHT – TODD P SHOWCASE
w/ MATT & KIM, SILVER APPLES, HIGH PLACES & MORE
March 15: SxSW NIGHT – WWW.OHMYROCKNESS.COM SHOW
w/ VIDEO HIPPOS
March 16: HAPPY FUCKER HOUSE, Little Rock, AK
w/ THE DEATHSET, PONY TAIL, THESE ARE POWERS
March 26: MERCURY LOUNGE, New York, NY
w/ CRYSTAL CASTLES, HEALTH
April 4: SUNY PURCHASE, Purchase, NY
ZOMBIE PROM w/ MATT & KIM

Team Robespierre - website | Myspace

GREAT NEW MUSIC: The Billionaires "Really Real For Forever"

Sometimes I like to flail my arms above my head and jump around yelling funny sounds (at least they're funny to me). I like music that makes me want to to do this, a lot. Call it a natural high stress-reducer...it's way better than road rage, trust me. The Billionaires new album is exactly this kind of music. Fun and _______ (enter you're own "catchy as fuck" phrase here), and I've been flailing and singing quite a bit since I first started listening. A great album all the way through and highly recommended!

"Really Real For Forever" is available April 1st via Too Soon Records.

[MP3] The Billionaires - Cold Day from "Really Real For Forever" (via Box.net)
[MP3] The Billionaires - Eighties Movies from "Really Real For Forever" (via Box.net)

The Billionaires - Myspace

NEW SONG: Grizzly Bear "While You Wait For The Others"

Grizzly Bear recently performed on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Electic" (on my b-day 2/27!), and debuted a new song (presumably from their next album) called ""While You Wait For The Others". As with almost everything they do...it is really, really good.

VIDEO: Justice "DVNO"

As a motion graphics designer, I can say that this is indeed "retro heaven", thanks Pitchfork!