July 17, 2008 // Omaha, NE - Saddle Creek have announced the signing of Montreal trio Land of Talk in the United States and are set to release their debut full-length, Some Are Lakes October 7. The album was recorded in Montreal with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and is the follow up to their acclaimed 2006 EP, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss.

Continue reading "Land of Talk sign to Saddle Creek, releasing new album "

I think Wintersleep are big in Canada? They're definitley not big here, but they ARE here - tonight (March 6) at Union Hall in Brooklyn, and Saturday night at Bowery Ballroom with the Stills. Then they head to Texas for SXSW. Listen to some Wintersleep at their MySpace, BUT FIRST listen to the Wintersleep cover Land of Talk did at Land of Talk's Myspace ("Weighty Ghost"). Video ("Weighty Ghost") and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Wintersleep are here from Canada, touring, NYC, SXSW "

Ellen Page film to open in New York on May 9

ThinkFilm has picked up the U.S. distribution rights to pre-"Juno" Ellen Page starrer "The Tracey Fragments," set to open May 9 in Gotham with a wider release to follow.

Canuck drama will debut in Gotham on March 14 at the Museum of Modern Art's fifth anniversary film series celebrating Canadian cinema. [Variety]

Listen to the BSS/Lizzie version of 'Horses' at this random MySpace. You'll also hear it in the background of the trailer. Watch that below....

Continue reading "The Tracey Fragments (movie) = Juno (Ellen Page) + Broken Social Scene + Land of Talk (Liz Powell) -- coming to NYC"

Miracle Fortress @ the 2007 Polaris Awards (CRED)

Miracle Fortress, Sunset Rubdown, Basia Bulat, Handsome Furs, The Acorn, The Besnard Lakes, Tokyo Police Club, Patrick Watson, The Weakerthans, Land of Talk and Neil Young are among the list of 33 hot Canadian bands this year. In related news, Jessie from Miracle Fortress recently left a message about their recent problem at the border....

Continue reading "2007's "Hottest Canadian Bands""

Land of Talk @ Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ - Oct 26, 2007 (CRED)

we were robbed at the Howard Johnson in Clifton N.J.
they stole my Cherry Red "faded" SG special with crescent moon inlays (pretty rare) and my Gibson Les Paul Studio "wine red" battered and beaten.
they also stole Chris' Bird's Eye Maple Samick SAB 650 with only one bridge pick-up and one volume knob. the Neck pick-up and and all other knobs are missing. His Peavey Milestone Bass (not worth ANY MONEY, but it fuckin worked just fine) was also stolen. it was midnight blue but we stripped most of the paint and the strap lock was a water bottle cap. [Elizabeth Powell of Land of Talk]

DOWNLOAD: Film School - Lectric (MP3)

Land of Talk are in town - Mercury Lounge tonight (Oct 23), Boston tomorrow, Mercury Lounge again Thursday, and Maxwell's on Friday. Some of the shows are with Eulogies, and all of the shows are with Film School. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Land of Talk & Film School - 2007 Tour Dates"

* oink got shut down
* Tunng is at Union Hall
* Dave Gahan is playing the Apple Store
* Dave Gahan's new album is streaming @ AOL
* Stars & New Buffalo are at Music Hall
* Yeasayer is NOT playing Glasslands
* Shooter Jennings is at Bowery Ballroom
* Morrissey is at Hammerstein Ballroom
* Film School and Land of Talk are at Mercury Lounge
* Land of Talk premiered a new song at Stereogum
* The Shins & Vetiver are playing Terminal 5
* Sinead O'Connor is at Beacon Theatre
* Benny Blanco (Spank Rock's Friend) & Anton Glam @ Knitting Factory (free)

picture of someone with a ton of mouth piercings below. What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Cloud Cult @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - Sep 8, 2007 (CRED)

Cloud Cult played their first-ever headlining show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC this past weekend - Land of Talk was also on the bill. Check Cloud Cult's always-changing tour page for more dates including a return to NYC for CMJ in October (or more specifically - to play a pre-CMJ show at Union Hall on October 15th w/ more TBA).

Land of Talk @ Citysol, NYC - July 14, 2007

Two bands with extremely-high BrooklynVegan post counts are playing some shows together - one being September 8th at Bowery Ballroom in NYC (which I already got excited about), and the other being at a venue I don't recall seeing in tour dates very often. On September 7th, Cloud Cult and Land of Talk are playing Blend Bar in Ridgewood, NJ. Have you been there? All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Land of Talk playing w/ Cloud Cult in NJ, NYC & other 2007 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: The Comas - Red Microphones (RAC remix) (MP3)

secret guest Land of Talk @ Union Hall - July 15, 2007 (CRED)

* Land of Talk, Grizzly Bear, Decemberists, Summerstage
* Aziz Ansari, Eugene Mirman, Michael Showalter, Demetri Martin, UCB
* Alice Smith, Joe's Pub
* NY Philharmonic in the Bronx
* Shout Out Louds, Spiegeltent
* Remy Ma Visits The Meatpacking District, Rikers Island, New Jersey...Respectively

Land of Talk is on at 6:30 sharp tonight! What else?

DOWNLOAD: The Decemberists - The Tain w/ LA Philharmonic (MP3) (more)

the Decemberists @ Hollywood Bowl - 7.7.7 (CRED)

Download the rest of the audio from The Decemberists' recent (7/7/7) LA Philarmonic show @ the Archive.

The Decemberists are playing a free MySpace secret show at the Mohawk in Austin tonight (July 11).

They play a not-free show at Central Park Summerstage with Grizzly Bear and Land of Talk (who are also playing Citysol) on Monday July 16th. It's sold out, but I have one pair of tickets to give away to one lucky winner. To win, e-mail BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Decemberists) and let me know what the last show you saw was. One winner will be picked at random. Contest ends July 12 @ 5pm EST.

Check out their recent appearance on Leno, tour dates, and other stuff, below....

Continue reading "the DECEMBERISTS on Leno & with the LA Philharmonic (audio & video), WIN tix to Summerstage, Tour Dates & stuff"

Land of Talk playing Canada Day in London - June 29, 2007 (CRED)

Catch Land of Talk @ Citysol & Summerstage....

Continue reading "VIDEO: Land of Talk - 'Speak to Me Bones' ++ Citysol soon"

DOWNLOAD: Les Savy Fav - The Sweat Descends (MP3)

I'm excited to finally get to announce the kick-ass FREE show I've been working on for months with the fine people at Solar One. Thanks also to everyone who got in touch and volunteered their band and/or time for this cause.

I told you to save the date, and here's why:

Brooklyn Vegan & Solar One present Citysol....
A FREE SHOW on SATURDAY JULY 14 (1pm-10pm) in NYC w/
* LES SAVY FAV (!!)
* Land Of Talk (previously announced)
* O'Death (yeah)
* The Besnard Lakes (previously announced)
* These Are Powers (ex-Liars)
* The Budos Band (funky)
* Frankpollis (starring Jackson)
* plus a very special performance from OCDJ (Dance Party until the solar goes out!)

@ Solar One at Stuyvesant Cove Park - located along the East River between 18th and 23rd Streets. Solar One sits in the north end of the park, near the 23rd Street entrance and the Gulf Gas station.

Some interesting facts about the show on the 14th:

• It is the same weekend as the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago - more reason to stay home.
• It is outside (please don't rain, please don't rain).
• It is one day before the free 'Ponderosa Stomp' show at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn
• The bands will be performing on a solar + biodiesel powered stage.
• It is one week before the free Siren Festival in Coney Island
• There will be art installations to look at, and a "green product marketplace" for you to buy stuff at.
• It will rock.

All festival details below.......

Continue reading "LES SAVY FAV to headline FREE Citysol show ++ all 4-DAY NYC FESTIVAL DETAILS"

DOWNLOAD: Land of Talk - Speak To Me Bones (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Memphis - I'll Do Whatever You Want (MP3)

Memphis @ Joe's Pub - May 30, 2007 (CRED)

While Bright Eyes and The National were doing their thing, Torquil from Stars' other band Memphis played Joe's Pub in NYC last night (May 30, 2007). Uberdrivel reports...

We managed to snag front-row seats, a first in what was my fourth trip to Joe's. After an ear-popping soundcheck and a brief introduction from someone from Upper North Side, seven member strong Memphis - the duo of Torquil Campbell and Chris DuMont, along with five supporting musicians - took the stage. Things began airily with "I Dreamed We Fell Apart," which highlighted Torq's smooth delivery and soaring vocalization. Things picked up with the great single "I'll Do Whatever You Want," or as Torq called it, "a big old pop song." The full band erupted, as the drummer, who was later revealed to be Bucky Wheaton, formerly of Land of Talk, switched from brushes to sticks. The only complaint I have is that the dense instrumentation buried Torq's vocals, but the energy compensated. [Uberdrivel]

ANNOUNCEMENT: Land of Talk (with their new drummer Eric) will be back in NYC this July - not just to open for Grizzly Bear and The Decemberists on July 16th, but also to play the free Citysol show I'm helping throw two days earlier at 23rd St & The East River (July 14). If you've been following along, then you know that Land of Talk's Montreal friends and European touring partners, The Besnard Lakes, are also on that bill. More exciting announcements to come - SAVE THE DATE.

BrooklynVegan and Solar One present Citysol 2007 (all free)
July 12 - opening night w/ one band TBA
July 13 - Citysol @ South Street Seaport w/ Menomena & band TBA
July 14 - Citysol @ 23rd & East River w/ The Besnard Lakes, Land of Talk & MORE TBA + a green marketplace
July 15 - Panels, games & workshops (environment stuff)

Land of Talk are currently on tour with the also-awesome Rosebuds. Exact dates below...

Continue reading "Memphis, Land of Talk, Land of Talk's drummer & Citysol"

Let's get up to date
* Grizzly Bear, The Decemberists & Land of Talk are playing Summerstage
* Grizzly Bear ARE (also) opening for Feist
* The Decemberists are playing with an orchestra, BUT NOT at Summerstage

Details & dates below.....

Continue reading "Decemberists, an orchestra, Grizzly Bear, Feist, Land of Talk"

DOWNLOAD: The Rosebuds - Get Up Get Out (MP3)

Land of Talk @ Mercury Lounge, NYC April 5, 2007 (CRED)

I couldn't be more excited for the July 16th Summerstage show now - Land of Talk have been added as opener. Grizzy Bear + the Decemberists + Land of Talk = awesome. Tickets are still on sale.

Land of Talk will also be going out on tour with The Rosebuds starting May 28th in Toronto. That means LOT are not playing the Bowery show which is on May 24th.

The Rosebuds have a new record out on Merge (Night of the Furies) - MP3 from that above. Land of Talk are coming out with a 7" in the UK on May 21st - they're also touring the UK. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Land of Talk opening for Grizzly Bear & Decemberists @ Summerstage, touring with the Rosebuds"

DOWNLOAD: Land of Talk live on WOXY (MP3) (pics)
DOWNLOAD: Land Of Talk - Speak To Me Bones (MP3)

One of my favorite albums of 2006, Land of Talk's 7-song EP Applause, Cheer, Boo, Hiss was recently reissued by The Rebel Group. The homemade version cost me $10 when I got it. Insound has the reissue for just $6.00. The reissue is also getting the band a little more coverage, Pitchfork review included:

Somehow Powell finds a way to balance early Cat Power fragility and PJ Harvey volatility; whether mumbling indecipherably or singing about "fuckin' around," girls who "still piss their pants," or the dangers of drinking when already tired, she's always in command.

No more excuses - Land of Talk are playing three NYC shows this week:

Land of Talk in NYC (and NJ)
Apr 3 - Union Hall, Brooklyn w/ The Muggabears (tix) (TONIGHT)
Apr 4 - Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ
Apr 5 - Mercury Lounge - 'Friction' w/ Mahogany, Vampire Weekend, & Balún & DJ David Bruno (Slap You in Public)

WIN TICKETS
E-mail BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: LOT), tell me your favorite album of the year, and let me know if you'd rather go to the Union Hall show or the Mercury Lounge show. I've got a pair for each. Winner will be notified via email and added to the guestlist. Your email won't be sold or shared or anything shady like that.

All LOT tour dates below....

Continue reading "LAND OF TALK - MP3s, SXSW, Tour Dates - 3 NYC SHOWS THIS WEEK - win tix, etc"

Here it is:

Continue reading "SXSW announces initial 2007 lineup!"

DOWNLOAD: Lordi - Hardrock Hallelujah (MP3)

* Pela signs with Great Society
* Gigantic Music Signs BiG A little a
* Domino Signs Animal Collective
* Land of Talk sign to The Rebel Group
* Call Me Lightning - signed to Frenchkiss
* Peter Bjorn and John sign to "Almost Gold Recordings
* Mystery Jets Sign to Dim Mak
* Willowz Sign to Dim Mak, Ready New Album
* The Chalets Check-In to U.S. Record Deal
* Warp Records Sign Nice Nice
* Kayo Dot signs to Hydra Head, members form side project
* The Phoenix Foundation sign to Young American Recordings
* I'm From Barcelona Sign to Mute
* THE CRIBS Sign to Warner Bros. Records in the U.S
* Bloodshot Records Signs Gore Gore Girls
* Liam and Me sign to Thrive Records
* Maserati signs to Temporary Residence
* Unsigned band make chart history
* Spike Lee Signs On to Direct James Brown Biopic
* Rough Trade Signs Licensing Deal With World's Fair
* AOL Signs Napster For Subscription Service
* Federline signed to do Super Bowl ad
* LORDI signs to THE END RECORDS

Land of Talk @ The Syrup Room, Brooklyn, NY | June 29, 2006 (more)

photo by Bao

LAND OF TALK NO LONGER AN UNSIGNED BAND
"Land Of Talk will release their acclaimed debut mini album Applause Cheer Boo Hiss in the U.S. on March 20th via The Rebel Group."

"The Rebel Group is pleased to announce the release of Land of Talk’s Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. Rebel Rebel Management’s Thaddeus Rudd founded The Rebel Group in 2006. They are distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) and are based in Brooklyn, New York. To date, The Rebel Group has released albums by The Ark, Say Hi To Your Mom, and Lady & Bird. Rebel Rebel Management was founded in 2001 and manages Lucero (Liberty & Lament), the Caesars (EMI/Astralwerks) and the Teddybears (Big Beat/Atlantic)."

Regular readers of this site know that I'm already a huge fan of the album since it came out in 2006 in Canada - so I'm definitely excited about this, but even more so hope they announce an even newer album some time soon.

Starting at SXSW on March 14th - Land of Talk are going on tour with Menomena and the UK's Field Music. They play Bowery Ballroom in NYC on March 28th. Tickets are on sale. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Land of Talk sign to The Rebel Group | 2007 Tour Dates w/ Menomena (SXSW)"

I hated making this list. Keep in mind that the below albums were my favorites - most of all because I liked listening to them - at least at some point in the year, and in one setting or another. I would never claim any album is the "best", and I respect all opinions. I think music is subjective, situational, right-time-right-place, etc.. One reason an album might not be on the list = I didn't hear it.

All albums on the list are split into equal groups of ten. Grizzly Bear=Destroyer=Scott Walker=Califone, etc... (I know that pisses some people off.) Here are my 40 favorite albums of 2006....

ONE THROUGH TEN
1-10) Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
1-10) Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
1-10) Peter, Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
1-10) Britta Persson - Top Quality Bones and a Little Terrorist
1-10) Scott Walker - The Drift
1-10) Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
1-10) Hot Chip - The Warning
1-10) Lily Allen - Alright Still
1-10) Califone - Roots and Crowns
1-10) Land of Talk - Applause Cheer Boo Hiss (EP?)

ELEVEN THROUGH TWENTY
11-20) Isolee - Western Store
11-20) J Dilla - Donuts
11-20) The Knife - Silent Shout
11-20) Mew - Mew and the glass handed kites
11-20) Arctic Monkeys - Whatever people say i am, that's what i'm not
11-20) Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
11-20) TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
11-20) Love is All - Nine Times That Same Song
11-20) The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
11-20) Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson in Crime EP

TWENTY-ONE THROUGH THIRTY
21-30) Professor Murder - Rides the Subway EP
21-30) Bob Dylan - Modern Times
21-30) Neil Young - Living With War
21-30) El Perro Del Mar - El Perro Del Mar
21-30) The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
21-30) Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
21-30) The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
21-30) Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I am Dreaming
21-30) Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
21-30) Cat Power - The Greatest

THIRTY-ONE THROUGH FORTY
31-40) M-Ward - Post War
31-40) Tapes N Tapes - The Loon
31-40) Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds
31-40) Malajube - Trompe L'oeil
31-40) Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
31-40) Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang
31-40) Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
31-40) Nellie McKay - Pretty Little Head
31-40) Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP
31-40) Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo

AND MUCH RESPECT TO...

Continue reading "My 40 favorite albums of 2006 & then some"

Malajube, Cadence Weapon, Shout Out Out Out Out, Tokyo Police Club, Born Ruffians, Think About Life, and Land of Talk are seven of the 33 hottest bands in Canada right now.

MP3s to DOWNLOAD
1) Sure Juror - Ex-Cuties
2) Loney Dear - I Fought The Battle of Trinidad & Tobago
3) Nicolai Dunger - Hunger
4) The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover
5) Land of Talk - Speak To Me Bones (more)
6) Thunderbirds are Now! - Eat This City
7) CSS - Alala

See all of them @ Pianos this Wednesday.

FIRST A QUICK REMINDER (AKA why I'm going out of my mind right now)
* Wednesday November 1st, noon-5pm
* also Wednesday November 1st, noon-5pm
* Friday November 3rd, noon-5:30pm
* Saturday November 4th, noon-5:00pm

ALSO HAPPENING FOR FREE IN THE DAY
I'm not the only one throwing free day parties during CMJ. Gothamist is throwing a few of their own at The White Rabbit -- all acoustic -- and within walking distance of The Annex, Pianos, and Fontana's - and they hardly even overlap. Here's what they've got...

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006 (I have no show this day)
2:15 - Pela
3:00 - Devastations
3:45 - Land of Talk
4:30 - Tall Hands
5:15 - Bound Stems
6:00 - Snowden
6:45 - Apples in Stereo
7:30 - TBA!

Continue reading "Gothamist acoustic CMJ house - more free shows"

NOVEMBER 1, 2006 @ PIANOS, NYC
So while Sure Juror, Loney Dear, Nicolai Dunger, The Little Ones, Land of Talk, Thunderbirds are Now!, and CSS are playing downstairs (noon-5pm), the following performers will be perorming upstairs (noon-5:30pm):

* Jaymay (info)
* David Deporis (pics)
* Willy Mason (pics)
* The Foundry Field Recordings (acoustic) (info)
* The Undisputed Heavyweights (acoustic) (info)
* Phonograph (acoustic) (info)
* Wynn Walent (info)

This is another FREE during-CMJ show brought to you by BrooklynVegan @ Pianos - no CMJ badge required. Still working out all the details - like free food and alcohol and if it makes sense to make you RSVP. (21+ - sorry)

The Undisputed Heavyweights feature BrooklynVegan contributor "Undisputed Wes" on guitar. Wes also runs the weekly Liberated Matter party upstairs at Pianos where this very party is being held.

This will be David Deporis's 2nd CMJ-related BrooklynVegan show appearance.

Jaymay is also playing Union Hall on October 29th and Pianos on October 30th.

You can listen to Phonograph at their MySpace.

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This show has partially been made possible by Guitar World magazine, Rounder Records, and of course the fine folks over at Pianos. Thanks also to Wes and the rest of the crew at Liberated Matter for helping out with this one.

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Stay tuned for the Friday November 3rd BrooklynVegan party lineup announcement.

Previously
during-CMJ Saturday day show @ The Annex - lineup
during-CMJ Wednesday day show (main stage) lineup
BrooklynVegan during-CMJ shows coming