Jeff Mangum Archive

Cut Copy's "Zonoscope" is due Feb 8

• Cut Copy has us worried. Another track from the Australian power-synthpop act’s super-anticipated Zonoscope was released last week. And it’s pretty, um, weak. Our hopes for the album have been ratcheted down a few notches. Sucks.
• Coachella sells out in a week! For Southern Californians and festival-junkies across the country, the biggest news (and for some, unfortunately, the most shocking news) was that little ol’ Coachella sold out in less than a week. How does this happen? The Downcast investigates, welcomes you to the Age of Festivals here.
• In other Coachella news, the Washington Post actually suggests that fan backlash over the inclusion of Kanye West on the bill was racism. Stupid.
• Hopes for new material from indie-awesome, beloved Neutral Milk Hotel frontman Jeff Mangum were re-kindled last week with word that he’s scheduled another live performance. We’re also tossing some of that spark under our hopes for a new Neutral Milk Hotel album.
• Japanese all-of-the-above (metal, hard, stoner, doom, ambient, experimental) rockers Boris announced they have a bunch of new albums coming out this year. Austin epic-instrumental rock guys Explosions in the Sky also have a new LP on the way soon. And could there be a new Ladytron in November? The Downcast was the first to get wind of this.
• In one of our favorite interviews last week, the Best Coast chick (Bethany Cosentino) joined her boyfriend, the Wavves guy (Nathan Williams), for their first-ever joint-interview (the two bands are on tour together, too). This is actually the second go at their relationship. Best Coast chick dumped Wavves guy a while back because he was dancing on a table, acting like an idiot. More here.
• Is a 50s music revival on the way? By now you’re familiar with (if not, sick of) the 80s revival in the realm of indie music. But we’re seeing compelling signs that a 50s revival is now underway, with (free) new music from Sweet 17, Mister Heavenly and Hunx and His Punx.  Oh, and there’s the whole thing with Jack White stirring things up with 50s rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson.

Top-5 MP3′s of the week

"Wounded Rhymes" by Lykke Li is due Feb 28

• “Dark Allies” by Light Asylum: Stands out from the synth-pop crowd with swaggering vocals. Read more. [Song via Pitchfork]
• “I Follow Rivers (Dave Sitek Remix)” by Lykke Li: A once sleepy track is infused with some boogie and a fresh electro-candy sheen. Read more, download/listen to the song.
• “Do You Want $$?” by Sic Apls: A catchy, trance-inducing slice of lo-fi garage rock that sounds like a 60′s rock remake of Beck’s “Asshole”. Read more. [Song via Weekly Tape Deck]
• “Ungirthed” by Purity Ring: One step over the line that separates “experimental pop” from “culttered nonsense”, but a step in the right direction nonetheless. Read more. [Song via Pitchfork]
• “Time Won’t Tell (Nocando Remix) by El-P: Originally an instrumental track, Nocando serves a a rapid, freestyle flow that sounds right on point. Read more, download/listen to the song.

Get your tickets!
Tours announced (or extended last week):

• Sleigh Bells with CS, and occasionally Neon Indian
• Black Lips with Vivian Girls
• Royksopp expands their short US Tour

Top-10 Tweets
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• Haha. What? Lady Gaga perfume (possibly called “Monster”) to smell like “blood and semen”? I’d say that’s beyond foul. (http://bit.ly/dN1tam) (Jan 28)
• Crystal Castles‘ singer takes the stage on crutches. Hilarious writeup here: http://bit.ly/fVC64h (Jan 24)
• Is rock dead? Decemberists, Cake have #1 albums this year. I guess it depends on your definition of “rock”. (http://bit.ly/e1ciZP) (Jan 26)
• Kings of Leon drummer “homophobic” rant aimed at Glee creator? (http://huff.to/ftWcbo)(Jan 26)
• Rhianna drops the C-word in a tweet shortly after reaching 3 mil. followers. That’s pretty bad ass. (http://bit.ly/fXs0GQ) (Jan 29)
• On this day in 1984, Motley Crue drummer knocks out a fan with one punch. Clash stemmed from awkward Playboy news. (http://bit.ly/g6rAuH) (Jan 28)
• Lady earns first ever masters degree in The Beatles. The greatest, most useless degree ever! (http://bit.ly/hOEuq7) (Jan 28)
• Creed! Dave! Maroon 5. The funny/sad part is “Brochella” would actually sell out faster than the real festival (http://on.fb.me/i5oQpd) (Jan 27)
• New Kanye due in summer. “High end rap,” he calls it. Huh? A hint: “I just threw some bassoon on this mothafucka!” http://bit.ly/gZhoTX (Jan 24)
• Not as ridiculous as Gucci Mane‘s ice cream tat (http://bit.ly/h2C969), but T Pain‘s Facebook tat is pretty silly (http://bit.ly/ff2Kis (Jan 28)