Monday are for revelations.

Daniel Zero – “So step up”

Sandman Viper Command – “The Metal I’ve Spent”

Damn Vandals – “Hey Little Bunny”

ZAKEE – “Dope Girl”

St. Louis identical-twin folk duo Dubb Nubb already had a string of charming releases, a Daytrotter session, national touring, and had landed on the roster of amazing DIY label Special Passenger Records, all before ever graduating from High School.

The bizarre thing about Dubb Nubb (and the factor that makes them truly, truly special) is that they manage to display the rough-edged charm of their youth and simultaneously flex extreme depth and experience as musicians and songwriters, writing sweeping, beautiful, emotionally complex songs with more fresh substance than most songwriters far older than these girls ever manage to tap into.
(Read the article)

Mondays are for questioning reality.

Spacecamp – ‘Miko D.T.B.’

The Birthday Suit (Rod Jones of Idlewild) – ‘Do You Ever?’

Speech Debelle – ‘Studio Backpack Rap’

Parenthetical Girls – ‘A Note to Self’

Marvelous Darlings – ‘I Don’t Wanna Go To The Party’

Mondays are for being serenaded.

Serenades – Oceans (via widget)

Oh my. After “Fool’s Day”, recorded for Record Store Day 2010, this could have been amazing – especially in light of last year’s revelation that they have material, even if there are no plans for an album. Blur: the band that only records because things are fucked up:

Blur have shelved a new single, recorded this summer with poet Michael Horovitz. The unnamed spoken-word track, intended as part of a campaign to save the Notting Hill carnival, was set aside after officials agreed that the 2011 event could go ahead.

“[The track] was relevant for about 12 hours,” Damon Albarn explained to the NME. Following the riots in London in August, there were briefly fears that this year’s carnival would be called off; it eventually went ahead, with police doubling their presence in the streets. “[The song] had its moment,” Albarn said. “It was a perfect plea to reinstate the carnival … If they’d have cancelled the carnival – and thank God they didn’t – maybe we’d have put it out.”

While I’m very happy the Notting Hill Carnival didn’t get cancelled, oh! What might have been! I’m sure it would have been glorious.

Maybe we could confect some things to see if we can get a song out of Blur? In fact, I almost demand it!

Allegedly Blur are also thinking of touring the US next year, which would undoubtedly be neat, though Albarn seems to be plenty busy with his manifold sideprojects.  Is Dave still a politician?

MP3: Blur, “Fools Day”

NME: Damon Albarn: ‘Blur have been meeting up regularly and recording again’

The Guardian: Damon Albarn reveals Blur recorded single to save Notting Hill carnival

You say Bananarama! We say Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat!

Yes, Chemikal’s dynamic duo are back with a subdued take on Bananarama’s 1983 hit (and not a wrench or Mack truck in sight). The track’s taken from the pair’s latest EP (also entitled Cruel Summer, and also features the tracks “Box it Up”, “Man of the Cloth” and “Lonely Weekend”. Sounds like the usual cheery fare, then…

Click through for some tour dates, and SPECIAL BONUS VIDEO.

(Read the article)

Krafty Kuts – Radio 1 with Annie Nightingale – Halloween Mini Mix (a mix of 23 different songs)

Grimlins album by Garbage Days (10 songs)

Let us know if you have anything we should add and we’ll update throughout the day!

St Vincent, looking incredibly glam, is the latest performer in 4AD’s video sessions; following on from other TMS faves Stornoway, Broken Records and Gang Gang Dance. This session, recorded at Shangri-La in Brooklyn features Annie Clark plus new band and songs from latest LP Strange Mercy. Did I say she’s totes glammed up in this session?

Tracklisting:

1. Chloe In The Afternoon
2. Surgeon
3. Strange Mercy
4. Year Of The Tiger

Click through for final US and super-duper exciting European tour dates.

(Read the article)

Monitoring pre-CMJ tweets, people were apprehensive about the lack of big buzz bands on the roster. I had low-grade concerns that the talent would be as flimsy as this year’s badge lanyard, but fully believe that CMJ doesn’t need bands already anointed with big label approval. Two years ago The xx played seemingly a hundred shows when they didn’t really need to, since they were already branded stars. Not exactly underground.

And while bands don’t remain undiscovered in New York all that long, CMJ is by far the best opportunity to find diamonds in the rough. It’s all so concentrated. Talking with publisher Jen last week, we decided that if you just parked your ass at Pianos all week, you’d probably hear everything you needed to and more.
(Read the article)

Mondays are for failing to see the woods for the trees

Le Butcherettes – Henry Don’t Got Love (stream debut LP Sin Sin Sin at bandcamp)

the nocturnes – the road (via bandcamp)

Mandolin Orange – Haste Make

Koko and the Sweetmeats – will we ever make it to the ocean? (via bandcamp)

Glass Fingers – Lose your Mind (via bandcamp)

Built Like Alaska – Antique Love

M+A – Liko Lene Lisa (signup required via widget)