Great new tune from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have a new album called Belong coming out on March 15 or March 29, depending on who you believe, and they have released a stream of the song "Belong".

Check it out. I think it sounds really good. Loud churning guitars, pounding drums and soothing vocals. Quite a combination and overall a more polished, produced sound for the band. I'll be watching for the album's release.

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart "Belong" by Slumberland Records

If you're not familiar with their first, self-titled album, check out "Come Saturday" and "The Tenure Itch" below.

Guitar Great Gary Moore Passes Away at 58

I was saddened to hear that Gary Moore passed away yesterday at age 58. I found guitar inspiration from Gary both as a solo performer and as a member of Thin Lizzy. The Guardian has a detailed obituary.

Here are two great tunes from Thin Lizzy - "The Boys are Back in Town" and "Jailbreak"





and a solo cover of The Yardbirds' "Shapes of Things".



Rest in peace, Gary.

Hold Steady, I say, Hold Steady

Classic rock is alive and well in the land of The Hold Steady. They've been crankin' out great rock songs in the tradition of blah, blah, blah, and well they're from Brooklyn, which is close enough to New Jersey so Bruce Whateverthefuck. Just like The Gaslight Anthem. Only less Green Day.

They put out a new album in 2010 called Heaven Is Whenever. And it's good. Let's hear it for consistency. In a time when so many bands can't deliver a second good album, they've delivered five great ones. And a killer live album. And then there's Lifter Puller.

Here's "Our Whole Lives". At first I couldn't get past the singers slur-shouting. Now I can't get enough of it.

She said, "It's good to see you back in a bar band, baby."

I said, "It's great to see you're still in the bars."

She said, "It's good to see you back in a bar band, baby."

I said, "It's great to see you're still in the bars."

And some more...

Nothing's better than Frosting on the Beater

I really, really love The Posies' Frosting on the Beater album. And then I got to see them at Lee's Palace when they played pretty much the whole album.

They've got a new one out. Called Blood/Candy. I suffered the annoyance of buying the album from iTunes only to find it on emusic a few weeks later. At least a bunch of cool guys got paid a little extra. ;-)

Here's a great track, called "Glitter Prize".

Mumford & Sons. Really?

Did you catch the Wedge with Pink Eyes from Fucked Up? I haven't seen it yet. (i love you pvr) But I am glad that the Wedge is back. I found lots of good bands on Wedge. I missed it.

Here's one that I didn't like the sound of when I first heard it on the Wedge. I think I gave it about 23 seconds and then moved on. And then one lazy morning, I was waking up to The Edge (cfny to us old guys) on my clock radio and I couldn't turn it off. Some songs need to germinate. Or hit you at the right moment. Or whatever.

"Little Lion Man". Bad language and all. Cover up the kids' ears.



And as much as so many comments on YouTube can be just stupid, this one caught my eye.

"No autotune?! Where's the fake singing and dancing whores? Wow, are they actually playing instruments? Holy. Shit. Finally good MUSIC. Yes, actual music-- the way it should be. Real"

Nice!