[Listen] The Strokes - "All The Time"

This past weekend, The Strokes teased fans with a 30 second preview of "All The Time", the lead single from their upcoming album Comedown Machine. That changed earlier today when they let loose the full three-minute track. It's classic Is This It/Room On Fire-era Strokes, with an upbeat, grungy sound and no falsetto from Mr. Casablancas (if you haven't yet heard "One Way Trigger", check it out here). Stream "All The Time" below.

The Strokes' fifth album, Comedown Machine, is out on March 26th.

[News] Final headliners for End of the Road Festival announced

Well isn't this a delightful turn up for the books. End of the Road Festival have just announced their final headliners and it's a bit of a good'un. Gracing the stage with the likes of the already announced Sigur Ros and Belle and Sebastian at the Dorset festival, which takes place from the 30th of August until the 1st of September, will be the spell-binding St. Vincent and David Byrne. Watch the video above for the announcement from organisers and for more info on who else will be playing the fest, head to the official website.

End of the Road won Best Small Festival at the 2011 UK Festival Awards, and rightly so, I've never heard a bad word spoken about it. So why not join in the fun and go see what all the fuss is about by jumping over here for some tickets which are available right now. 

[Album Review] Toro Y Moi - 'Anything In Return'

Behind the veil of Toro Y Moi is Chazwick Bundick, a twenty-something who many associate with the rise of chillwave. Perhaps it is this chillwave affiliation that does Bundick a disservice, as his progression as an artist reveals someone with unique inspiration and defined goals. His latest work, Anything In Return, expands beyond chillwave, beyond his first two albums, as Chaz takes off the veil and lets his personality seep through.

Before Anything In Return was released, Bundick stated that it was his intention to make a more straightforward pop album. He aimed to steer away from his usual laid back, experimental style and more towards catchy Top 40 hits. To his credit, he has in a sense achieved this, with an album where not a single terrible track can be found. While thankfully not venturing into cliché, the album is Toro Y Moi’s most straightforward work yet. It is in this that Anything In Return finds an honest yet nostalgic identity.

Anything In Return starts on a remarkably high note, with “Harm In Change”, “Say That”, “So Many Details” and “Rose Quartz” leading the charge. Each of the songs bring hypnotizing vibrancy to the album, instilling an urge to really listen and embrace the soundscapes that Bundick creates. “Harm In Change” has a charming mystery about it, a jazzy aural landscape with finesse. It demands attention, deservedly so. The three tracks that follow it achieve something similar, injecting a personality into the album through distinctive instrumentation. Anything In Return arouses personality with its jazz nostalgia, its disco-pop influences and its catchy melodies. Every minute brings you deeper into the music itself.

“Rose Quartz” is the key to this personality, exuding a beautiful atmosphere. Swaths of synthesizers wrap around a driven groovy beat, pacing along wonderfully. It charms in its simplicity, in its honesty, as Bundick calmly delivers: “Don’t let me go / Because I feel weak”. Hate on the lyrics all you want, but they fit perfectly well into the Toro Y Moi style and approach. While laughable lyrics can often ruin a song, the gushy mainstream words voiced by Bundick are never cause for concern. He keeps himself under control and allows for the instruments to be the voice of his album.

With such importance placed on the instruments, many of the songs on Anything In Return fall flat. For instance, “Touch” comes across as lacking direction, not really aware of what it wants to be. It’s good, but it plays like ambient filler, more welcome on a Nicolas Jaar LP than Toro Y Moi. “Cake” is one case where Bundick knew what he wanted it to be, that being a mainstream pop track. Bordering on radio friendliness Bundick sings, “Imma be her boy forever”, while glittering synthesizers guide the beat along.  It’s poppy, it’s cheesy, and, save for the redeeming beat, it seems disingenuous.

Much of the middle portion of Toro Y Moi’s third effort plays this way, exhibiting weak direction amidst interesting instrumental concepts. None of the songs are downright terrible, but there is nothing outwardly special or captivating about “Studies” or “Day One” or “High Living”. It’s not until the final two songs on the album, “Never Matter” and “How’s It Wrong”, that the pace quickens again and Anything In Return revitalizes itself. “Never Matter” bounds along with energetic, distorted bass and crisp piano chords, swirling through your eardrums with moments of spacey grandeur. “How’s It Wrong” plays the piano chords even better, immediately boasting a soulful atmosphere and swagger met with abstract synthesizers sweeping throughout.

“How It’s Wrong” is sexy, well paced, and it has charm, something that many songs on this album achieve. Unfortunately, Anything In Return’s stellar sounds are slightly marred by inconsistent ones. But, these inconsistencies can be overlooked, and are overshadowed by the personality roused over the course of its thirteen songs. Some of the songs fall short of evoking a worthwhile presence, but many, such as “Rose Quartz” or “Harm In Change”, bring Toro Y Moi’s hardships and experiences and love and loss to the forefront.

Anything In Return is our descent into Bundick’s mind and, for the most part, it’s an enjoyable and diverse musical journey. One thing that is definitely clear, Toro Y Moi has moved beyond chillwave. He now inhabits a musical space where jazz can fuse with electropop or pop can accentuate a hip-hop vibe. Chazwick Bundick has found his personality.

Words by Adrian McCavour, originally published on LYFSTYL Music Blog.

SCORE: 4.0

[Watch] The Family Rain - "Carnival" (Official Video)

How about some fuzzy goodness from three brothers that we've introduced you to previously in the form of a track called "Trust Me... I'm A Genius". Will, Tim and Ollie Walter make up The Family Rain and today you can watch and enjoy a track from them called "Carnival" fuzzy guitars and a simple yet effective video should start your day off just right. Hey, it's Humpday, how about we give you a free download of the track as well? Jump over here to pick up the download and enjoy your Wednesday you lovely bunch.

Marking the release, the band will also be playing their first London headline show March 18th at the Sebright Arms as well as supporting The Courteeners and Willy Moon on tour, full dates here. 

[Album Stream] Starfucker - 'Miracle Mile'

Starfucker has a name that begs a response along the lines of "What the fuck?", but in my experience those confused naysayers are nothing but impressed when hearing the band's shimmering, hook-laden songs. For anyone not sold on the Portland outfit, here's your chance to decide whether or not their groovy electropop sound is for you. Rdio is streaming all 15 tracks from Starfucker's upcoming third LP Miracle Mile, so do yourself a favor and give it a chance below.

Miracle Mile is out on February 19th on Polyvinyl. Starfucker is also heading out on tour later this month, so check out their full schedule after the jump.

Starfucker 2013 Tour Dates:

Feb. 26—Neptune—Seattle, Washington
Feb. 27—Roseland Theater—Portland, Oregon
March 1—Regency Ballroom—San Francisco, California
March 2—Fonda Theatre—Los Angeles, California
March 3—Porters Pub—San Diego, California
March 7—The Mohawk—Austin, Texas
March 8—2700 Canal Street—Houston, Texas
March 9—Buku Music And Arts Project—New Orleans, Louisiana
March 10—Vinyl Music Hall—Pensacola, Florida
March 11—Terminal West—Atlanta, Georgia
March 12—Orange Peel—Asheville, North Carolina
March 13—9:30 Club—Washington, D.C.
March 14—Union Transfer—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 15—Webster Hall—New York, New York
March 16—Paradise Rock Club—Boston, Massachusetts
March 18—Beachland Ballroom—Cleveland, Ohio
March 19—Metro—Chicago, Illinois
March 20—Turner Hall Ballroom—Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 21—Majestic Theatre—Madison, Wisconsin
March 22—Varsity Theater—Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 23—Boonies—Sioux Falls, South Dakota
March 24—Waiting Room—Omaha, Nebraska

[Watch] Local Natives - "Heavy Feet" (Official Video)

Part documentary, wholly heartwarming, Local Natives' new video for Hummingbird single "Heavy Feet" focuses on a trio of blind men who build and fly model airplanes. Adding a dash of humor, though, is a plate of sandwiches who sing the lyrics to the song, all of which adds up to a fully entertaining video experience. Bravo to Local Natives for bringing some charm and humanity to the day.

[News] Phoenix Reveals Release Date, Artwork, and Tracklist for 'Bankrupt!'

Phoenix have once again altered their official website to show off the artwork for the forthcoming fifth album Bankrupt!, which is apparently commenting on the economic struggle of the peach industry. More than that, the updated website revealed that the album will be released on April 23rd and will include ten tracks (see the tracklist below). Now all that's left is for the French outfit to release some new music.

Bankrupt! Tracklist:
01. Entertainment
02. The Real Thing
03. S.O.S. In Bel Air
04. Trying To Be Cool
05. Bankrupt!
06. Drakkar Noir
07. Chloroform
08. Don’t
09. Bourgeois
10. Oblique City

[Listen] Justin Timberlake - "Mirrors"

Justin Timberlake is doing a good job of building momentum for his upcoming album The 20/20 Experience, streaming new songs, performing new material live, and swaggin' out at the Grammys. "Mirrors" is his latest offering, a full eight minutes of heartfelt Timberlake crooning. Stream it below, or grab it on iTunes.

The 20/20 Experience is out on March 19th.

In even more JT news, reports have been surfacing that the crooner and his cohort Jay-Z might hit the road together later this year. Both the New York Post and Showbiz 411 hinted at the two announcing a joint tour, while Rolling Stone reports that "while talks are still ongoing, the tour as currently planned would include 11 to 13 stadium dates."

Timberlake himself suggested the possibility of a tour with Jay-Z, saying, "[w]e’re definitely going to go on tour. I don’t know how much I should say… It’s going to be a lot of fun, I know that." Stay tuned, and meanwhile you can replay JT and Jay-Z's performance of "Suit & Tie" at the Grammys.