Project Rhythm Seed reviews Madeline's B-Sides!

Georgia native, folk pop singer, Madeline recently released B Sides, a collection of demos and rarities from her previous four albums. Madeline Adams has been singing and recording music since she was fifteen with her first album, Kissing & Dancing released in 2002 with modest success. Madeline is a talented chanteuse who produces likeable simple ballads reminiscent of old timer folk artists with whimsical flair. B Sides is another lovely collection of understated, pretty songs from Madeline.

“What Little Girls Do,” “Shame,” and “Beautiful Future” are all nostalgic ballads featuring Madeline’s beautiful voice backed by bare acoustic guitar strums. “Shame” is a gorgeous track filled with mournful lyrics as Madeline sings poignantly, “Well I pray to god you miss me, and I hate my every bone, either this town’s gotten smaller or I swear to god that you’ve grown.”

Read the rest HERE.

A few things that made 2011 a little bit brighter around the Riot Act offices!

As publicists, we spend all year sending you music and asking you to listen. For a change, we thought it might be nice to share wih you what we we had on constant rotation this year. First and foremost, all of us at Riot Act are massive music nerds and that's truly the reason we're in this business. Should there be any other reason? We also included a few other fun lists of neat, rad and / or goofy stuff that has helped to keep us sane throughout the year that was 2011. As always, thanks for listening!!!

Joan Hiller

MY TOP TEN RECORDS OF 2011:
1. Fleet Foxes -- Helplessness Blues
2. Wye Oak -- Civilian
3. TuNeYaRdS -- whokill
4. Wild Flag -- Wild Flag
5. St. Vincent -- Strange Mercy
6. James Blake -- James Blake
7. Kate Bush -- 50 Words For Snow
8. Destroyer -- Kaputt
9. Washed Out -- Within and Without
10. Mountain Goats -- All Eternals Deck

TOP EIGHT QUOTES RE: THINGS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT MOVING FORWARD IN 2012:
1. "Do it!" --Henry Rollins
2. "As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do." --Dale Carnegie
3. "The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them."--Maya Angelou
4. "I hold this to be the highest task between two people: that each protects the solitude of the other."--Rainer Maria Rilke
5. "Forgotten is forgiven."--F.Scott Fitzgerald
6. "Do not weep, do not wax indignant. Understand."--Baruch Spinoza
7. "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."--Bill Cosby
8. "No bullshit this year."--Me.

TOP FIVE THINGS OF 2011 I SAW ON A STAGE:
1. Playing shows with Dave Depper's Ram Project band (and hearing my voice on vinyl for the first time, which did not happen on a stage).
2. Being two feet away from Yoko Ono during her INSANELY AMAZING show (band: Sean Lennon, Charlotte Kemp-Muhl, Nels Cline, Yuka Honda, Yuko Araki, Hirotaka Shimizu, Merrill Garbus) at SXSW 2011.
3. Decemberists at Edgefield w/Rachel Blumberg guest-drumming alongside John Moen
4. Neko Case at Edgefield, killing it.
5. Brittain Ashford, Kurt Braunohler & Kristen Schaal at Hot Tub, Littlefield NYC.

Nathan Walker


Ten Records I Jammed Hard (that weren't my clients equally amazing albums):
1. Timber Timbre "Creep On Creepin' On"
Imagine Screamin' Jay Hawkins for the 21st Century... it's at once spooky and soulful and was on repeat at my house since the first time I listened.
2. Austra "Feel It Break"
A heartbreakingly beautiful voice set against music that even makes my stone legs dance.
3. Peaking Lights "936"
The sound of sun warming your limbs while you lay in the grass. It'll warm you on the darkest of days.
4. Dirtbombs "Party Store"
Mick Collins asked the universe "What would Nathan Walker's perfect party record be?" The answer came back and it was "Party Store".
5. Jacuzzi Boys "Glazin"
F.U.N. - pure and simple
6. Pure X "Pleasure"
Even though I don't do drugs anymore, I still like to listen to music that sounds like I do.
7. Noveller "Glacial Glow"
A calming, gentle record that when listened to with your eyes closed takes you airborne and allows you to travel through sparse, lush landscapes.
8. The Men "Leave Home"
Perfect for the times you need to hear pure anger from your speakers.
9. Little Wings "Black Grass"
Kyle Field is a national treasure and I doubt he'll ever make a record that won't make my top ten.
10. EMA "Past Life Martyred Saints"
Remember Hole before all the drama and lawsuits? Remember how good it felt to hear her sneers shivering through your stereo? Check out EMA.

Ten best things about my job in the past year:
1. For the first time in my life, I've earned enough miles to get a free flight.
2. Finally looking stubborn or old enough that when I say I'm supposed to on the list, door folks believe me.
3. My incredible intern, Anne Ostrowski, who's made my life far, far less stressful.
4. Getting introduced to the music of Sibylle Baier by the Lightman twins from Tasseomancy.
5. Hosting a CMJ party that was packed out to maximum capacity
6. Booking flights to SXSW the day before our sxsw party and making it into Austin with a spare two hours to sleep before the party kicked off.
7. Meeting our newest staff member, Kelly McClure, and promptly devouring pounds of bbq, pints of local ales and shots of nice bourbon.
8. Hanging out with some of my idols, the staff of NPR music in SXSW at 11 am on the final day of the festival. Nothing like pure exhaustion to take everyone's guards down a notch.
9. Jet Blue
10. Getting paid to work in music. AKA having my dream job.

Ten best things about 2011:
1. My wife.
2. 2011 was the year of BBQ brisket (and, unfortunately, gaining five pounds).
3. Fake twitter accounts make my tedious day of working alone from the home office that much better. Nothing helps you maintain your sanity like interacting with fake celebrities via the internet.
4. Brooklyn. In year's past I'd openly despised NYC but 2011 was the year that the city revealed its charms to me.
5. Eating sandwiches! Though, that's in close running for the best thing in the history of man.
6. Becoming friends with the members of Brass Bed and learning the meaning of "muh baw."
7. Purging boxes and boxes of things I'd hoarded through out the years. #freedom
8. #succombingtotheideathathashtaggingthingscanbefun
9. Getting accustomed to crying because of a song, a sentence, a movie, a tv show... just letting it fly when the emotion hits.
10. Embracing old age with an arsenal of eye cream and serums.

Kelly McClure

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2011 THAT MADE ME WANT TO BACKFLIP ONTO THE BACK OF A UNICORN
1) AUSTRA - FEEL IT BREAK
They say that if you've ever been goth, even for just a little bit, that it stays with you forever. Well this first release from Canadian based, Austra is so beautiful, and so perfect in every way, that not only will it for sure stay with me forever, but it makes me want to wear cloaks and capes again, and hang out in churches just because of the good lighting. I don't know. It's intense.
2) DAVID LYNCH - CRAZY CLOWN TIME
David Lynch scares the crap out of me, while also bringing me insane amounts of mental pleasure, all at the same time. On his first full-length album he sings about, well, who knows what he's singing about really ... but I stand behind it completely.
3) REIGNS - THE WIDOW BLADES
This album is an eerie and beautiful musical exploration into the disappearance of a woman named Millicent Blades. It was recorded at all of the last known locations visited by Millicent on what is assumed to be her last day on earth. DARK! AND GOOD!
4) WILD FLAG - S/T
I was excited about this album for about six months prior to it even coming out. Now that I've had it in my sweaty hands for awhile, it's safe to say that I still love it and play it in full about every other day. Carrie Brownstein can really do no wrong in my eyes.
5) CHRISTMAS - "Namiot" 7"
You know how sometimes you listen to a band and get that "they're gonna be huge" feeling? Well when I listen to Christmas, a punk band formerly from Olympia, Washington, and now from all sorts of different places, the feeling of hugeness is so intense that it would not be deemed healthy to listen to them with headphones on. These sounds need lots of space to rip shit up.
6) DUM DUM GIRLS - ONLY IN DREAMS
If you could take a spaceship back in time and make The Pretenders into a band consisting of a bunch of hot women, that's what the Dum Dum Girls would be. This was my go-to album I'd put on while showering and getting ready in the morning for months.
7) WILD BEASTS - SMOTHER
People have told me that Wild Beasts are an acquired taste. I personally think that anyone who doesn't like this band is just a poop head, although I'm sure taste does factor in there somewhere.
8) LYKKE LI - WOUNDED RHYMES
Lykke Li is a wolverine of vocals and emotional lyrics. I've listened to this album nothing short of 100 times and I pick up something new each time I listen to it. Complex and gorgeous. This is also a surprisingly good "romance album" if you can pick up what I'm putting down there.
9) OKKERVIL RIVER - I AM VERY FAR
I'm loyal to Okkervil River like I'm loyal to the brands of condiments and house cleaning supplies I fill my home with. Why give up on a good thing? And they're consistently good. Will Sheff just "gets me."
10) SANDRA BERNHARD - I LOVE BEING ME, DON'T YOU?
I don't know which is funnier, this comedy album by one of my favorite people on the planet, or the sounds of me listening to it with headphones on and filling an empty apartment with the sounds of insane laughter. The last time I listened to it I laughed so loud that I scared my cat.

TOP TEN BEST THINGS ABOUT LIFE IN 2011
1) Began the year by ending a cross-country drive from New York to Olympia, Washington in a snowstorm, and lived!
2) Moved back to New York
3) Learned about the Slow Loris
4) Joined the Riot Act team and get to work from home!!
5) Best co-workers ever at both Riot Act and Vice Magazine (duality is my thing).
6) Austra
7) Gays being officially allowed to marry in New York slash lesbians in general
8) Met some super attractive people
9) Flew on a plane with my cat for the first time, and neither of us had a nervous breakdown or hurt anyone!
10) Discovered Pies N Thighs (namely the chicken biscuit).

Anne Ostrowski

Favorites of 2011
1. Chad Van Gaalen - Diaper Island. Chad Van Gaalen has been self-recording his albums and animating his own videos for years, his latest is a subdued mixture of indie pop with subtle, electronic flourishes. The first single from the album, "Peace On The Rise" was probably the single most played track in my car all year.
2. Russian Circles - Empros. Oh man, this trio out of Chicago is absolutely incredible live. Their dynamic, instrumental rock is best represented on their debut full-length Enter, but this album is great too, and worth picking up.
3. Papercuts - Fading Parade. The project of multi-instrumentalist Jason Quever of San Francisco, Papercuts elicits the best kind of sleepy and nostalgic feelings with an abundance of vintage keyboards and reverb laden pop.
4. Pygmy Lush - Old Friends. You might be a little confused if you've ever listened to Pygmy Lush's early releases, since they split time between recording delicate folk and full-fledged hardcore, but the songs on this full-length are all slow building folk and somber acoustics.
5. Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On. I first really gave this album the attention it deserved when I had to write about Timber TImbre for a writing assignment, and I'm glad I did. This entire album sounds so effortless and natural, and in my opinion, they are one of the few bands that featured saxophone on their album this year and didn't overdo it on the cheese factor (hello Beth/Rest).
6. Mannequin Men - Self-Titled. It was pretty much their song "Hobby Girl" that did it for me, if you can play that song and not have it stuck in your head all day, I will be incredibly surprised, and probably not believe a word you say.
7. Dirty Beaches - Badlands. Retro dream pop from the one man band Dirty Beaches, complete with heavy handed reverb and an unmistakable Roy Orbison influence.
8. Red Fang - Murder The Mountains. Ah, local Portland garage metal at it's finest. Yeah, sometimes it's pretty cheesy and reminiscent of old school metal from decades past, but that doesn't make it any less fun to blast at full volume.
9. Blouse - Self-Titled. '80s era synth pop from local Portlander's Blouse, because sometimes you need some laid back beats to dance to, and these guys provide them in spades.
10. Woods - Sun and Shade. I've always had a soft spot for Woods since first hearing their "Make Time For Kitty" track, because really, there is a disproportionate number of bands singing about cats considering how many cat videos we are all watching on youtube.

Top reasons it rules to be a Riot Act intern.
1) Your work consists of promoting music, really enough said right there.
2) Nathan, Joan, and Kelly are all hilarious.
3) You never have to make coffee or do other boring things typically associated with being an intern. In fact, coffee has actually been bought for me on several occasions.
4) Access to great albums.
5) When you accidentally misspell names in blog posts you are very kindly made aware of it.
6) You get to learn the pr ropes first hand by doing mini campaigns for local bands and events.
7) You like your job so much you decide to stop bragging about being an intern here so no one gets any smart ideas about usurping your position.

SHELBY EARL'S GORGEOUS NEW CHRISTMAS SONG!

This Christmas Is For Us by shelbyearl1

Watch The Loom Play NPR's Roof Top For Their Deskless Concert Series

"When The Loom came to our office to film its Deskless Concert session, band members John Fanning, Lis Rubard, Sarah Renfro, Jon Alvarez, and Dan Desloover, expertly translated their noisy-soft, fuzzed out-yet-refined folk-rock numbers to our strange rooftop setting. We decided that the only way to properly depict such a classy bunch of people was to film them in black and white." Head on over to NPR to read their full review.

LOW TIMES/EETS FEATS SPLIT: LET ME KNOW IF I CAN SEND IT TO YOU.

We are psyched to be working with San Antonio, Texas' LOW TIMES. This trio of rockers cite any number of influences for their surf trash/garage bash sound (The Ramones, Tyvek, and the 13th Floor Elevators are the names that come up most often), but the core of their sound comes down to this: "It's all about fun for us."

Even without them saying so, it wouldn't take long for you to pick up on that when listening to the San Antonio, Texas band's music or seeing them play live. This is a group of young men that loves the hell out of being around each other and playing music together.

Watch Dana Falconberry's New Video For Her Single "Petosky Stone"

Petosky Stone from One Story Productions on Vimeo.

Sadie Magazine interviews Zoe Boekbinder!

Niina: What's the most disgusting food combination you can think of?

Zoe: I love food so much it's hard to even think of a disgusting food combination. Like I actually think bologna and Skittles would be really good.

Niina: It would make a kind of sweet gravy.

Zoe: But I really like sweet and savory together.

Now she’s dodged me completely gracefully, and we are both laughing.

Niina: OK, here’s the real beginning of this interview: how long have you been on this particular tour (with Mal Blum)?

Zoe: Three weeks.

Niina: What is your favorite city you've been in, this tour or ever?

Zoe: Every time I go to New Orleans, something about it just takes me in its arms and cradles me and pets my head. When I go there, something magical happens, and it never fails me, whether I'm there for twenty-four hours or a month.

Read the rest of the interview HERE.

ON APPROPRIATION: a film by artist and director Bon Jane

"After witnessing an idea she pitched to a major artist be used for a video resulting in a nomination to the MTV Video Music Awards, New York artist and director Bon Jane sets out to start a dialogue on artistic appropriation and ethical creative collaboration in the arts. The short documentary on the subject of artistic appropriation and ethical creativity and collaboration will feature interviews with artists, directors and musicians including Gilles Bensimon (photographer, former Creative Director Elle Magazine) and Derek Trucks (musician, guitarist for The Allman Brothers and Eric Clapton), among others. This preview of this film will be released on YouTube, Vimeo and the artist's site on December 6^th, 2011. The official short film will be released Friday, December 16th, 2011, also on YouTube, Vimeo, and the artist's site."

SSG Music premieres "Raining in the Philippines" off of Madeline's B-Sides album!

The four-piece rock band Madeline is led by Madeline Adams from Athens, GA who began her career when she moved to Bloomington, ID to work with punk label Plan-It-X Records and later toured with many punk acts such as Japanther and Against Me. Madeline Adams’ last name was consistently forgotten while she began playing her first shows in Indiana, and ultimately she decided to drop it in favor of the simplistic band name Madeline. Eventually, Madeline Adams returned to Athens to work with Orange Twin Records to collaborate withPhosphorescent, the Elephant 6 collective (including Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, Nana Grizol), Phil Elverum (Mt. Eerie), Karl Blau (The Microphones) and her ownBlack Velvet Band.

Madeline’s musical creations date back to as early as 2000, and along the way some quality songs didn’t make their way onto their studio albums. Madeline Adams plans to change that now, with the release of the Madeline B Sides which is scheduled for release on January 3^rd, 2012 and homes many rare and unreleased songs, including a live favorite “30 Days,” which has never been released until now and her wistful tune “Diving Boards” which was written in 2004 during Madeline’s White Flag session. Have a listen to “Raining in the Philippines,” another one of Madeline’s rare B-sides songs below as an exclusive SSG Music first listen!

LISTEN HERE!

The Pack a.d.'s "Unpersons" Named One of The Top Five Canadian Albums of 2011 On Pop Matters

"In the past, the Pack A.D. have generally been known as the kind of gutsy, ramshackle garage punk act that, while a guaranteed good time, still carry very little cerebral resonance. But on Unpersons, the band dives deep into the gutters of their psyche and tell the kind of harsh break-up story we’ve all experienced. Unpersons simply articulates that universal pain, anger and frustration." Read Pop Matters complete list right here.

Listen to Matt Bauer's Haunting Daytrotter Session Now

"Bauer, as a writer, focuses on those moments that fail to cease. They continue on and they make you worry about them for longer than you'd admit. You want to hear more about them. You'd like the other pieces, for their sparseness and their dances in the gloaming light is enchanting. He sings about those people, places and things passing in the night. It feels like most of what he's interested in occurs during these pitch-black nights, where we can sense that we're not alone, but we can never be sure. We want to know what's out there, what's more. We want to know what's brushing against us, cutting through the air unseen. It seems to be a part of us, so we yearn. He yearns." Visit Daytrotter now.

NEW VIDEO FROM THE JAMES LOW WESTERN FRONT; BAND RELEASES "WHISKEY FARMER" THIS FEBRUARY ON UNION MADE RECORDS

"The James Low Western Front’s new full-length, Whiskey Farmer, expertly and effortlessly delivers just that. The band may come from the lush climes of Portland, Oregon, but theirs is a sound that was born in towns like Nashville, Tennessee and Bakersfield, California. It shuffles, grooves, and sweats with the best of them, begging to be played through the in dash stereo of a pickup truck.
It's with that mood and setting in mind that Low wrote and the band (Tim Huggins, bass/vocals; Dave Camp, guitar/vocals; Joe Mengis, drums) arranged the album’s tracks.
The eight-song collection focuses on the plight of the titular character (portrayed on the front cover of the album by Low himself), someone that has, according to Low, "always done things kind of right- did OK in school, went to a generic college, racked up a shitload of debt, and got a job to pay off the debt. He drinks to forget. He alienates the ones who love him best, and just cannot believe that this is all there is to life." Watch the video here.

Listen To The Loom's Daytrotter Session Up Now

"This band, like it or not, makes us actually pain for and about the things that we try to brush off as the small stuff that's no big deal, that we choose to classify as insignificant." Take a listen for yourself over on Daytrotter.

Download Mannequin Men's Track "Van" on Brooklyn Vegan

"Chicago garage rock outfit Mannequin Men welcomed their fourth (and first self-titled) LP in the beginning of November via Addenda Records. The band just recently returned home from a month-long string of dates with Cheap Time, and we've fittingly got the album closer "Van" to share with you." Download the track now over on Brooklyn Vegan.

Brass Bed Stop By Daytrotter And Get Busy Recording

"Brass Bed music veers into the poppiest sides of neo psychedelic music, that of the Athens, Georgia scene of the late 90s and early 2000s. In fact, the plan on this day had been to team up with PCC and tape a handful of Olivia Tremor Control Center songs, but the idea didn't get far enough off the ground - great in theory and impossible in execution. Some of the oddness and spaciness of Olivia Tremor would have felt strange coming from Brass Bed as they tend to explore the sweetest aches of their hearts and not those bewildering and darker corridors of them." Listen to Brass Bed's Daytrotter Session now.

The Spinto Band's Film Score For "Biba! One Island, 879 Votes" Reviewed On The Owl Mag

"The Spinto Band‘s score to Benjamin Bloodwell‘s documentary is a true testament to their versatility and talent as musicians — it’s not every day you find an organ-heavy track that still manages to remind you of sipping a Pina Colada at the beach! This is an entirely different sound than we’re used to from them and sounds nothing like the band’s more popular tracks. Even in the absence of the familiar heartwarming indie vocals, The Spinto Band‘s instrumental composition delivers." Head on over to the Owl Mag to read the complete review of The Spinto Band's score.

Pop Matters Reviews Shelby Earl's "Burn the Boats"

"With songs that transcend trends and musical boundaries, Shelby Earl’s Burn the Boats is a fine example of a singer-songwriter who has honed her craft to a fine point and whose songs are both touching and inspiring." Read the complete review of Burn the Boats on Pop Matters.

Download The Loom's "In Your Doldrums" On Brooklyn Vegan

"The Loom released their debut LP, Teeth, on November 1 via Crossbill Records. You can stream and purchase the album at their bandcamp and download the second single, "In Your Doldrums," for free above." Download "In Your Doldrums" over on Brooklyn Vegan now, and check out The Loom's upcoming tour dates while you're at it!

Dirty Laundry Premieres The Spinto Band's Soundtrack for "Biba Democracy"

"Everyone's favorite off-kilter pop group from Delaware The Spinto Band are back with an original soundtrack to a new film called Biba Democracy (out on December 6th)." Download the complete soundtrack over on Dirty Laundry right here.

Brett Netson Speaks On The Importance Of Art In Protest

I believe that it is our job as artists and musicians to do the work of making this egalitarian self-organization understandable, strong and beautiful. In a visceral, instinctive and wild way. We are competing with the would-be artists of our time who have compromised their skill and talent to the fundamentalist religion of “brand management.” “Occupy” is what a movement looks like without “brand management.”

Read Brett Netson's full article on Occupy Musicians.

Watch Mannequin Men cover "Nuttin' For Christmas" On The AV Club

Mannequin Men cover "Nuttin' For Christmas"

Brett Netson's "Simple Work For The Dead" Reviewed On The Big Take Over

"One can tell that these songs were brewing inside of him for a while even though the each song was separately written and recorded within a day. You would think there would be some disconnect but it’s clear that Netson must have had a vision for the album. A vision that, for half of it, words had no place as four of the last six tracks are instrumentals.

SWFTD is something to absorbed. The listener can feel his anger against a culture that doesn’t act in its own best interests but feel powerless to instigate change." Listen to "God is Wrong" now on The Big Take Over.

Buried Beds Featured On NPR's Song Of The Day

"Buried Beds' sound has naturally evolved in the intervening years, fleshed out and spiked with a bit of anthemic urgency: "Steady Hand" opens Tremble the Sails on an auspicious note, building majestically as its strings, guitars and boy-girl harmonies combine to form a sweetly soaring roar. It's a lovely surprise to be reminded of this under-exposed sleeper, and to revel in the end of its self-imposed silence." Listen to "Steady Hand" over on NPR!

Check Out The Street Eaters New Video For "Livid Lizard"

Brooklyn Based Premieres The Loom's "The Devil You Know"

"The group has grown tremendously in the three years since: They’ve played hundreds of shows, gone through a few personnel changes (a new vocalist; going from six members to five), and recently released their full-length debut, Teeth, on Crossbill Records. “When we made the EP, we didn’t really know what we wanted to sound like,” says vocalist/guitarist John Fanning. “We were still very much figuring that out.” But by pushing themselves to learn one another’s styles and experiment with new ways to use their instruments, they’ve found a clearer direction that focuses on one of their greatest strengths as a group: balancing extremes." Listen to "The Devil You Know" and read their full review on Brooklyn Based.

NPR premieres Tunabunny's new "Cross Wire Technique" video!

Tunabunny's members have fun making music together. That much is unmistakable from watching the band's freewheeling video for "Cross Wire Technique."

The Georgia band makes scuzzy, effervescent basement pop, and was one of the bands we were most excited to see at CMJ earlier this year.

The group's latest video matches the energy and carefree power of its music. It depicts, in quick flashes and head-spinning camera twirls, band members and longtime friends Brigette Herron, Mary Jane Hassell, Chloe Tewksbury and Scott Creney goofing off in a local coffee-roasting warehouse. It's exactly the jubilant and lighthearted video you'd expect from four good friends. By the end, you'll likely want to be friends with them, too.

Read the rest and watch the video HERE.

Bust Magazine premiere's Zoe Boekbinder's new "Salt Water" video!

Singer and guitarist Zoe Boekbinder describes her personal style as "geek glam," but her music's been praised as old-school folk-y pop. A theater nerd in high school, she took up singing after her friends goaded her on. After school, Boekbinder and her sister formed a band called Vermillion Lies--an outfit that produced albums in 2006 and 2008. After the release of their second album, the two went their separate ways musically, but never stopped recording tunes. (Her sister still writes and performs as Kim Boekbinder.) In 2009, the beyond-charming Boekbinder recorded a solo album in Brooklyn, NY, and she's currently on tour, so don't miss her when she arrives in your hometown. (You can track her movements on Facebook or Twitter.)

Read the rest of the profile, and watch the video for "Salt Water" HERE.

The Loom's "Teeth" Gets High Marks On Consequence Of Sound

"Dixie, but Creedence came from San Fran, so who cares? Their brand of Americana, a healthy heaping of folk smattered with horns and male/female dual vocals, refreshingly cuts loose at times with hot, fuzzy guitar solos. A song like “The Middle Distance” barrels forward with crashing drumbeats, swirling brass, and frenetic vocals and gives way to guitarist John Fanning’s blissfully overdriven leads." Read the rest of this review on Consequence of Sound.

QRO Magazine Reviews Robin Bacior's "Rest Our Wings"

""I Hate The States" has an up-twang feel, yet Bacior's vocals are near-conversational - and there's some great strings, to boot. Single "Ohio"(click to download) drops the listener in the middle of Bacior's story about meeting a boy from the Buckeye State - again with strong strings. Meanwhile, the preceding "Jubilee" is some catchy alt-country/folk." Visit QRO Magazine for the complete review of Robin Bacior's new album.

Stereogum Explores Sacramento, CA With Songs From Appetite & Sea Of Bees!

Listen to Stereogum's Sacramento specific playlist featuring tracks from our very own Appetite and Sea Of Bees on their 916 area code run down here. Also, scroll down for Sea of Bees "Gnomes" video included on their local video playlist!

UK's DRUNKENWEREWOLF discovers TUNABUNNY

Until this point, alongside Britain I’ve been grossly and unjustifiably ignoringTunabunny. Nevertheless they’ve kicked up a stink in the United States, throwing their self-branded clanging spunk rock in the face of everyone who dares broach their parameter.

The band formed in Athens, Georgia in 2008 after a long-term friendship and not much inclination to play music. Despite not knowing how to turn on a PA or actually use their instruments, in the spirit of all things good and proper punk Tunabunny ploughed on, irritating their neighbours while still acquiring a decent local following. In 2010 they finally released their self-titled debut, and the devotion that unfurled had such fervour it even touched the infamous and holy Everett True. Unfortunately he’s not been quite so enthusiastic about their recent effort Minima Moralia, but what does he know? The monster thinks it’s ace.

Read the full article HERE.

Shelby Earl Talks To Spinner About Quitting Her Day Job and Recording Her Solo Debut

"Shelby Earl spent the better part of eight years promoting other people's music before she decided it was time to focus on her own. So the Seattle singer-songwriter took a leap. She quit her job as a record-label liaison at Amazon -- the latest in a series of music-related corporate gigs -- and waited tables while she worked on what became her solo debut, 'Burn the Boats,' which is out now on Local 638 Records." Read the complete interview and watch Earl perform her single "Burn the Boats" on Spinner.com.

Under The Radar Premieres The Spinto Band's New Track "The Sheriff"

"The tumbleweed-conjuring guitar work is reminiscent of Neil Young's improvisatory soundtrack for Dead Man. The one problem with the track is that it lasts only two minutes. Thankfully, the documentary's full score will remedy that situation. Its tropical grooves are worth your attention. "Listen to "The Sheriff" on Under The Radar.

Mannequin Men's "Why Do I Get?" Premieres On MTV Hive

“Why Do I Get?” a catchy gem of a song from the group’s new self-titled record, is a woozy, rambling slow burner that simply asks “Why do I get so tired?” And it almost didn’t make the final track listing.

“Originally we wrote the song hanging out at the practice space after the bar with just three of us,” says guitarist Kevin Richard. “We were gonna bail on it but decided to bring it to the band and Ethan [D’Ercole, guitar] came up with that little guitar lick and made all the difference.” LIsten to "Why Do I Get?" over on MTV Hive right now.

VISQUEEN ANNOUNCE HIATUS, FINAL SHOWS; FRONTWOMAN RACHEL FLOTARD'S LOCAL 638 RECORDS MARCHES INTO 2012

It is with both a heavy heart and high excitement for what's next that we at Riot Act are announcing that the legendary Visqueen, formed ten years ago by Rachel Flotard and Ben Hooker, has announced that they're going on hiatus. Seattle (lucky Seattle) has TWO chances to see Visqueen's final shows, which are both benefits:

11/19
The Paramount with Rainn Wilson (Charity Event for Mona Foundation).
In Rachel's words: "This night is full of hilarious stars. Check out the fucking POSTER, Jesus."
Mona Foundation Video.

OFFICIAL INFO: TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE.

11/26
Visqueen Fare Thee Well Performance at The Neptune
ALL PROCEEDS are donated to Youthcare and Northwest harvest.
OFFICIAL INFO HERE

What's more, on 11/13, Rachel & Ben will DJ Seattle's local show with Megan Selling on 107.7 The End, and on 11/18, Rachel and acclaimed author Sherman Alexie will read at The Hugo House's Hugo House Literary Series in Seattle. And that's not all: 2012 is going to be a BUSY year for Flotard's label, Local 638 Records (speaking of, the labe's new Facebook page is here). Look for lots of news re: activity from Cobirds Unite, Shelby Earl, Star Anna, and Visqueen bassist Cristina Bautista.

More on the hiatus and what's next for Local 638 Records:
City Arts Online
Seattle Weekly

Mannequin Men's Ethan D’Ercole Introduces The A.V. Club to Gideon The Chinchilla

"At The A.V. Club, we believe there’s always something more to know about a much-known and much-beloved band. In the process of digging up some musical dirt on these guys, we discovered that in addition to all of his other interests and hobbies, D’Ercole is also the proud papa to a very lovely chinchilla, Gideon. As the band’s new self-titled record hits stores today, The A.V. Club sat down with the guitarist to talk about just how soft his pet is. " Read on for the full interview with Mannequin Men guitarist Ethan D'Ercole, and a whole lot of cuteness.

Robin Bacior Talks About Her Latest Video And More With Portable TV

"One of the most exciting things about working with other artists is having a conversation through your art. The video is a dialogue between my song, the dance choreography and the camera work of Ellis and Alex. I saw the filming, and saw the final product while I was on tour in California and was blown away by what they had made." Read Robin Bacior's complete interview with Portable TV and watch her video for "Ohio" right here.

The Loom Featured On NPR's World Cafe

"Recorded in New York, the record is fast and full of folk rock crafted with all the weapons in The Loom's extensive arsenal: banjo, trumpet, ukulele, French horn and mandolin, to name a few. The result is an album that alternates between modern and retro, with a sensibility that's right for autumn." Listen to two songs off of The Loom's Debut now over on NPR.

The SFist Reviews "Beyond This Place"

"Beyond This Place is a poignant and heartrending documentary, but it's not without comic relief, drawn mostly from the earnestness of the colorful characters. When Cloud spouts on about how people that “eat crackers and read their little black books are full of shit” the theater erupted in laughter, just as when the narrator, at the end of a long and searching sequence, asks himself in disbelief, “What is this fucking love I feel for Cloud Rock?” In fact, it’s that love, surprising and ever-present as it turns out to be, which sums up the tone of the film. Cloud Rock may have been an absent father, but he lives the only way he knows how—by his own definition. And as a result, he is charming, affectionate, and even strangely inspiring." Visit The SFist to read the complete review of the "Beyond This Place" showing in San Francisco.

Tunabunny at the Ace Hotel NYC on 10/23

(Photo taken by Chris Tucci)

Tunabunny at the Ace Hotel NYC on 10/23

(Photo taken by Chris Tucci)

Consequence Of Sound Can't Resist Mannequin Men's New Album

"Their self-titled fourth LP covers a lot of territory in its 37 minutes. There’s 60’s garage rock, mod, Twin Cities power pop, spit wad punk, and yes, even some rambling country influence. A mishmash of genre-dipping aside, Mannequin Men have had eight years of Midwest dive bar gigs and dues-paying tours to sharpen their snark, and it’s widely apparent on their latest effort." Don't stop there, continue reading this review over on Consequence of Sound.

Verbicide Magazine Reviews "Beyond This Place" Complete With Live Score

"The film is accompanied by a hauntingly poignant score by Sufjan Stevens and Raymond Raposa. The screening I attended had Sufjan and Raymond at the foot of the stage performing the score live. It’s an interesting experience — when the film started, my attention was torn. I found myself paying mind to the performing artists there in person and not focusing on the film. Still, as the opening music ended and the film drew me in, the subtle Hawaiian twangs and folk pickings melted into one with the film. The sound was deep and rich, providing a definitive difference between the live sound and a mixed master." Check out Verbicide Magazine's entire review.

NME premieres Tunabunny's new video for "Natural World"

Watch the video right HERE.

The Owl Mag Reviews The Looms' New Album “Teeth”

"Sometimes you just need a break. A break from the standard pop and rock that permeates the music scene these days. If you’re in need of such a break, the debut album from Brooklyn’s The Loom, is a wonderful place to start. The Loom is a five-piece act that incorporates banjo, ukelele, horns, and keyboards to create a full chamber-folk sound." Check out The Owl Mag's review of "Teeth" and stream tracks on their site here.

SHELBY EARL: "BURN THE BOATS" OUT TODAY ON LOCAL 638 RECORDS!

Nylon Has A Band Crush On Robin Bacior And We Don't Blame Them

"Rest Our Wings, out tomorrow, is filled with a carefully woven folk sound and tender vocals, showing that sometimes a quiet power is all you really need. Case in point: her first single, "Ohio." The nostalgic track starts slowly with a cello solo but quickly transforms into a fluttery, beautifully drawn-out chaos with sweeping melodies and lyrics like "There are times I get uneasy in the lamplight." Download the track and read the whole thing on Nylon.

Zoe Boekbinder's "Make a Mess" is track of the week on KRUI

“Zoe was born somewhere, sometime, and there are some interesting things to say about her.” Or so her goes the curt biography on her Facebook fan page.

Whether or not there are any interesting things to say about Zoe Boekbinder, Zoe Boekbinder definitely has some interesting things to say.

This autumn, Boekbinder released her second full-length album, Darling Specimens. It’s a collection of doe-eyed songs that are full of heartbreak and the songstress’s glowing, old soul vocals. (Some of the songs are even backed by beats from Iowa native Philip Rabalais, who makes up one half of the electro-dance duo Utopia Park.)

Give “Make a Mess,” the first track on Darling Specimens, a spin, and don’t look back.

Listen to the track HERE.

Robin Bacior’s Video "Ohio" Premieres on CMJ

Watch Bacior's video below or head over to CMJ for all the details on how it was made.

ROBIN BACIOR | Ohio from Earth vs Space on Vimeo.

Download The Latest Mannequin Men Single "Flying Blind" On RCRD LBL

"Chicago rockers Mannequin Men are about to release their fourth album, a self-titled follow-up to 2009’s Lose Your Illusion, Too, via Addenda Records. The quartet recorded most of the set live – a fact that adds a raucous, spontaneous feeling to the tracks. “Flying Blind,” a bluesy rock number, brings a stomping barroom sensibility with grungy guitars and howling vocals. All you need to complete it is a beer." Listen to the track "Flying Blind" and download it now on RCRD LBL.

All Songs Considered Premieres The Pack a.d.'s New Video "Haunt You"

Read the full post over on NPR's All Songs Considered here.

Street Eaters Interviewed on Pop Matters!

"Our self-imposed equipment limitations, which have remained basically the same since we started, have always left a certain amount of sonic space open. To fill it, we use things like cascading vocal harmonies, open bass strings, layered distortion, and melodic tom tom-centered drum parts. I’ve only played bass in one band before [Harbinger], and that was a long time ago, so since I really wasn’t much of a bass player before this band, my entire style has been developed in response to our particular sonics." Read on for the full interview with Street Eaters on Pop Matters.

Brooklyn Paper Previews Sufjan Stevens and Ray Raposa's Live Score For Beyond This Place

"The perfectly paced score — which Stevens and Raposa wrote and recorded over the course of one week in Stevens’s waterfront recording studio last year — rests against “Beyond This Place” filmmaker Kaleo La Belle’s portrait of his own turbulent relationship with his father. The film, written, photographed and directed by La Belle, documents his attempt to reconnect with his estranged hippie dad — a lightly toasted free spirit who abandoned his family to ride bikes and make hallucinogenic drugs — by embarking on a 500-mile bicycle trip from Portland, Oregon to Mount St. Helens with him." Check out Brooklyn Paper's full write up on Beyond This Place.