Ting Tings and Jay-Z?

By Contributing Writer TIM EMMERICK

The Ting Tings probably would not call themselves an indie band (considering they're signed with Columbia and had a No. 1 hit in the UK) but they do most of the same things that our beloved indie rockers do. For example, they make records, go on tour and dress like something that someone once ate at a street fair in Williamsburg. Now rumor has it the London based dance-pop duo has signed with Jay-Z's filthy LiveNation/Rocafella hybrid label RocNation. Not only would that make them the first non-urban act to sign with Hova but also another twisted pawn in LiveNation's plot to make money off of all live music anywhere in the entire world. We've never had much of a problem with the commercialization of "indie" culture but this shit is, in a word, whack. Listen to us, Ting Tings. Please. DO NOT TAKE THE BLUE PILL.

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The Dig New mp3 - Tonight at Mercury Lounge

[mp3] The Dig: "Two Sisters"

We've been following this excellent group for almost a year now, and we're glad to offer a brand new mp3 from The Dig's upcoming LP that they just finished recording with Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Sean Lennon, Apples in Stereo, Sebadoh). The new song "Two Sisters" shows the promise of the band's upcoming recorded output, which had been a question mark, as the band had been steadily touring behind only a three song EP. Yet, their live show and quality of their music on stage is what sold everyone on this group and lead to dates with The Walkmen, White Rabbits, The XX, Here We Go Magic, Rural Alberta Advantage, Girl Talk and others. The Dig play a highly-melodic brand of brit-influenced power-pop, layered with keys and guitars with singer David Baldwin's resonant voice sitting high in the mix. Trust us, see this band now, as we're pretty sure they're going to have a big 2010. The Dig play tonight at the Mercury Lounge.

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Old Stark Friends Meet on the Road

[mp3] Xylos "In The Bedroom"

Long-time friends of Stark, Xylos and Lissy Trullie will hit the road together for several East Coast dates this December. Xylos just finished recording their debut LP with Britt Myers (Chairlift, Yeasayer) with the single "Not Enough" due out in early December.

Lissy Trullie is touring behind her excellent LP Self-Taught Learner which came out in October on Downtown Records. See you at the Mercury Lounge ya'lls.

MON December 14 - Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
TUE, December 15 - TT the Bear's, Cambridge, MA
WED, December 16 - DC9, Washington, DC
THU, December 17 - Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA
FRI, December 18 - Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ (NOT with Lissy Trullie)

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Queen of Rockabilly Chirps the Coal Miner's Daughter?

Wanda "The Queen of Rockabilly" Jackson made headlines this week with the announcement that Jack White will produce her upcoming album. This is great news for all us country addicts out there, as pretty much everyone in the entire solar system loved White's 2004 collab with Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose. I say "pretty much" everyone loved Van Lear Rose because Jackson herself has gone on record with some lukewarm commentary about the double Grammy winning LP. In an interview will NewsOk's Gene Triplett, The Queen made it clear that Van Lear Rose was cool and all, but HER Jack White record is gonna be, like, waaaaaay cooler.

“They had a super album, but he didn’t have her do anything different, you know,” Jackson said of Van Lear Rose. “She just did her little Loretta Lynn songs. But he told me he’s gonna stretch me some, so we’ll see. We’ll talk later.”

I can't speak for the rest of you but I certainly think country needs some more 50/Jay-Z shit slinging. C'mon Loretta, you gonna take that?

Tim Emmerick Stark Contributing Writer

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Deer Tick Announces iTunes Exclusive EP

Deer Tick - "Baltimore Blues No. 1 (Live)"

December 1 marks the release of Deer Tick's iTunes-exclusive EP, More Fuel for the Fire -- it also marks my, Vince's, birthday. Well how about that. This aptly-titled release from DT comes as his fall tour with Neko Case ends. More Fuel for the Fire is the icing on the cake that is 2009 for Deer Tick -- a year that felt more like a setup for 2010, than a major release year. We know Born on Flag Day came out back in June, but it tasted like mild Newman's Own salsa, not a Cemita Milanesa -- we wanted a Cemita.

Check out end of November tour dates w/ Neko Case and tracklist after the jump.

11/18 - Charlotte, NC Knight Theatre *
11/19 - Orlando, FL The Plaza Theatre *
11/20 - Tallahassee, FL The Moon *
11/21 - New Orleans, LA The Republic *
11/22 - Houston, TX Warehouse Live *

* = w/ Neko Case
Deer Tick
More Fuel For The Fire EP
(Partisan)
iTunes Exclusive
Dec. 1, 2009

1. La La La
2. Dance of Love
3. Axe Is Forever
4. Straight Into A Storm (Live from the Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC)

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New Beach House mp3: "Norway"

[mp3] Beach House: "Norway"

Today we get the first mp3 from the unbelievably gorgeous new Beach House album Teen Dream (1/26 Sub Pop). Here is "Norway." Enjoy. We are.

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How To Make Ambient Sadcake

[mp3] The Sandwitches: "Back to the Sea"
[mp3] The Sandwitches: "Idiot Savant"

Thanks to the great folks at Turn Up we've been rocking the new record from San Francisco's The Sandwitches. From their tongue-in-cheek album name How to Make Ambient Sadcake to that creepy-ass cat, The Sandwitches come at you from many different places on their new album. There are elements of throwback doo-wop alongside of catchy west-coast Fleetwood Mac-tinged indie-pop. Whatever you call it, Heidi Alexander and Grace Cooper make music that is fresh and bound to put this band on the map in 2010. How to Make Ambient Sadcake is available here - that is until more people realize how great this band is, and it finds a wider release.

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Justin Townes Earle: 2010 Headling Tour Dates

Hey, we saw Justin Townes Earle (name must be written in full) a few months ago parading around the East Village with Jason Isbell (formerly of the Drive By Truckers.) He looked like the above song "Mama's Eyes" sounds -- dark and raw. One of our many motos here at Stark is "that's what we expect out of our artists --" not to be too sadistic, but we want our favorites to be drunks, disturbed, do drugs, have promiscuous sex, over extend their welcomes (insert Wild Yaks' drummer at After The Jump here) -- it just makes things more interesting and real. Regardless, we know it's not "healthy," but neither are our lives. So it goes. Justin Townes Earle's most recent release, Midnight at the Movies, continues to impress and back in September won him "Emerging Artist to Watch" at September's Americana Music Awards. Go forth Justin.

Check out his 2010 tour dates w/ Dawn Landes and Joe Pug after the jump.

Justin Townes Earle on tour 2010

1/26 - 2/6 with support from Dawn Landes. 2/8 - 3/7 with support from Joe Pug

Tuesday January 26 - Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio
Thursday January 28 - Knoxville, TN - Barley's
Thursday February 4 - Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ
Friday February 5 - Houston, TX - The Mucky Duck
Saturday February 6 - Dallas, TX - The Granada Theatre
Tuesday February 9 - San Diego, CA - The Loft at UCSD
Thursday February 11 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
Friday February 12 - Santa Cruz, CA - Crepe Place
Saturday February 13 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
Saturday February 14 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
Monday February 15 - Seattle, WA - The Tractor Tavern
Tuesday February 16 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore
Thursday February 18 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
Friday February 19 - Denver, CO - The Bluebird
Saturday February 20 - Telluride, CO - Sheridan Opera House
Tuesday February 23 - Iowa City, IA - The Mill
Thursday February 25 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
Friday February 26 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
Saturday February 27 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
Sunday February 28 - Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick
Monday March 1 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
Tuesday March 2 - Buffalo, NY - The Mohawk
Sunday March 7 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere

After the jump.

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One Scoop, or Two? Beck, Santigold and Beastie Boys Remix Norah Jones

VH1 TV Shows Music Videos Celebrity Photos News & Gossip

Genius. Norah Jones' newest effort, The Fall, which drops tomorrow (Blue Note), is already chock full o' tracks (and nuts?) more suitable to the mature and musically-inclined Norah fan. Now, Blue Note records and Jones team up to take down (new Thao bandname?) the indie-blogosphere in one fell swoop. These goddamn name droppers. "Chasing Pirates" the clear standout and now ready-made video track (above) from this album, has had the floor opened on it -- a call to arms for all remix-friendly artists. Who answered the call? Beck, Santigold and The Beastie Boys (who actually chose a different track.) Booyah! The best just got better -- albeit more ambient, indie and, cool? They put skinny jeans on Norah songs. But you be the judge... in two or three weeks when these bad boys are clear to post. We have them. We just aren't leakers. Regardless, these remixes, three in number, are going to spread like wildfire across the blog world, major publications, your parents, you name it. Again, genius. Santi and Beck chose to lend their hands to the aforementioned keynote track, "Chasing Pirates," while the Beasties chose "That's What I Said" which was on an NCIS soundtrack? What the fuck? OK.

Stream, in-full, Norah Jones' The Fall HERE and be happy.

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Old Voice, New Post for the Weekend

[mp3] Dirty Projectors/David Byrne: "Knotty Pine"
[mp3] Wild Yaks: "River May Come"

Hello. I’m back. Probably not for long (let’s face facts), but just wanted to pop my head up here and weigh in on a few choice topics that are not buzzworthy. Or current. Now you see why I’m this blog’s most highly valued writer. Also, I love beating dead horses.

A few things.

1. Maybe pick up the Wild Yaks album, 10 Ships (Don’t Die Yet). It’s pretty fetch, and you should experience it in as many ways as possible. For example, grind it up and sprinkle it on your morning oatmeal. Knit a sweater out of it and wear it around town. Do yoga on it. Liquefy it and inject it into your eyeballs. I don’t know what you like to do with your albums…it’s a personal choice, whatever.

2. Make a mix CD for one of your friends sometime soon. I just did this. What seems like a relatively simple endeavor evolves into a massive journey of musical self-exploration. Also, don’t make the classic mix mistake of putting all YOUR favorite songs on it, you selfish B. Most of your friends don’t want to hear that weird shit. Try to come up with a rough estimate of what they might like…way more challenging. Fine, sneak in a few of your own gems too. I find I like to “book end” my mixes…first song is an original, last song is a cover or a song that samples the original. For example, The Dovers’ “What Am I Going To Do”, and Atlas Sound’s “Walkabout.” Sick mix bookends.

3. David Byrne’s song “And She Was” is about a girl on an acid trip. I’ve been listening to that song for years, and I just figured that out. What a satisfying musical revelation THAT was. I practically jumped out of my pants! Then I looked it up, and apparently everyone knows that. Aw man.

4. If you go out tonight you should try to drink a few Old Fashioneds because it’s kind of cold out and it seems appropriate. Also, they are delicious! If you’re one of those people that tries to be trendy by eschewing trendy things, don’t order any Old Fashioneds because I think they’re trendy.

Bye for now!
-Tara McCarthy

Stark (Minimally) Contributing Writer

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