MP3: Pierced Arrows – “Paranoia”

From the ashes of Dead Moon rises Pierced Arrows. They have a new album, Descending Shadows, coming out on Vice on Feb. 2. It ain’t pretty, no. It’s gritty r’n'r based on minimal, thumping bass and drums, ragged guitars, and too-much-whiskey vocals. Listen to “Paranoia” here.

MP3: Trinity – “Roc Raida Tribute”

Trinity is a new super-group consisting of hip-hop legends AG, Sadat X, and not-really-a-legend DJ Jab. They’ve got a new album coming out next year, but they recorded a nice tribute to the recently departed DJ Roc Raida. Listen here.

MP3: Jokers of the Scene and Acid Girls – Bright Black Magick Mix

Jokers of the Scene have teamed up with Acid Girls for a tour and a mix. Download here. And tourdates on the flyer:

MP3: Xiu Xiu – “Volcana! (I Hope Your Train Crashes Remix) (The 6ths)”

Cut and paste experimentalism from Xiu Xiu for you today. This song appears on SCORE! 20 Years of Merge Records: The Remixes!, out November 20th. Listen here.

MP3: Senor Kaos – “20 Years High & Rising (Homage To De La Soul) Feat. Von Pea & Homeboy Sandman (Produced By Dave West)”

The title says it all. Senor Kaos likes to pay homage while those he’s paying homage to are still alive. Not a bad concept. Listen to it here, off his new Walk Softly & Carry A Big Brick album, which you can download here.

MP3: New Jackson Five Songs

Can’t get enough MJ, especially now that he’s dead and gone (or so he would have you believe…)? Then check out this preview of some unreleased Jackson 5 songs, from the new album, I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters, out November 10.

The conspiracy deepens:

MP3: Mates of State – “You Are Free” (The Mae Shi Remix)

Is this the real Mae Shi or the splinter cell that called themselves The Mae Shi? Hm….

Either way, here’s a song off the recent Mates of State remix album, Re-Arranged: Remixes Volume 1, now available digitally.

MP3: Holopaw – “The Art Teacher and the Little Stallion”

Isaac Brock’s BFF band, Holopaw, will return this November with a new album, Oh, Glory. Oh, Wilderness, on a new label, Bakery Outlet. Listen to “The Art Teacher and the Little Stallion” here.

The band sounds like they’ve been energized and rejuvenated over the past few years, still keeping things pretty but rocking every so slightly harder. Singer John Orth’s vocals still trill about horse and nature imagery, especially when it comes to the Little Stallion character which is supposed to be the subject of much of the record.

The tracklist:

1. The Art Teacher and the Little Stallion
2. Black Lacquered Shame
3. Boys on Motorbikes
4. Cherry Glow
5. The Conductor and the Hobbyist (Avalanche)
6. The Last Transmission (Honeybee)
7. The Lazy Matador
8. Little Stallion with a Glass Jaw
9. Oh, Glory
10. P-a-l-o-m-i-n-e
11. Snow-packed Hush

MP3: Real Estate – “Beach Comber”

Real Estate have a new album coming out on Woodsist this November, and you can hear a track off of the record, “Beach Comber,” here. The song is shimmery, pretty, and does not go at all with the WWII action movie, Kelly’s Heroes, that I’m watching right now.

MP3: Dappled Cities – “My Girls” (Animal Collective cover)

Another band covers Animal Collective’s “My Girls,” and only sort of does it justice. Here Dappled Cities take. Is it just me or are these vocals kind of off-key…?

MP3: Royce Da 5′9″ – “Part of Me”

Royce Da 5′9″ releases his new album, Street Hop (One Records), on 10/20. Get an idea of what he’s up to with “Part of Me,” available for download here. Sounds kinda sensitive and introspective. Maybe DJ Premier’s executive production helped him get in touch with himself, or maybe it was that year in prison. Either way, it’s a welcome change.

MP3: The Toxic Avenger – “Toxic is Dead”

Gritty French techno provocateur The Toxic Avenger will release a new remix album on 9/29, part of the Scion CD Sampler series. In addition to his own work, the mix will feature Designer Drugs, The Juan Maclean, Ladytron, Switch, Acid Girls, Ocelot, Jakwob, Harvard Bass and Burns. Listen to “Toxic is Dead” here.

The Toxic Avenger will also be embarking upon a short tour next month, joined by IHEARTCOMIX’s Franki Chan. The dates:

OCTOBER 4, 2009 – AUSTIN, TX
OCTOBER 6, 2009 – NEW YORK, NY
OCTOBER 7, 2009 – CLEVELAND, OH
OCTOBER 8, 2009 – PHILADELPIA, PA

MP3: Joakim – Milky Mix

You just can’t wait till Joakim releases his new album, Milky Ways (K7), next week, can you? Calm down and download this mix to tide you over.

The Milky Mix tracklist:

1. O.M.D. – Electricity (Micronauts remix)
2. E.A.R. – Submarine
3. Dragons of Zynth – Anna Mae
4. John Foxx – Metal Beat
5. Joakim – Fly Like An Apple
6. James Pants – Rhythm Track 9
7. Pom Pom – Untitled
8. Soft Rocks – Black Magic
9. Vanessa Paradis – Des Que J’te vois (Joakim unreleased remix)
10. Red Dragon Band – Let Me Be Your Radio pt 1
11. The Rolling Stones – Undercover Of the Night
12. SPK – Dance Du Metal (I:Cube Edit)
13. Joakim – Watermelon Bubblicious
14. Sweet Exorcist – Mad Jack
15. Yura Yura Teikoky – Hollow Me (Alternate Version)
16. Dj Deeon – Exctacy
17. The Beatles – Helter Skelter (demo)
18. Goslings – Croatan
19. Acid Mothers Temple – Electric Love Machine
20. Dennis Wilson – Farewell My Friend

MP3: Salvador Santana feat. GZA – “Keyboard City (Hood Internet Remix)”

I don’t know who Salvador Santana is, but he got GZA to rhymes on the Zapp-influenced title track for his new album, Keyboard City.

Listen here.

MP3: Neon Indian – “Terminally Chill”

Neon Indian makes music that sounds like soft ’70s rock performed by Kraftwerk. It warbles and bleeps along, but never pummels you in the face – which is cool, unless you’re into face pummeling. Don’t be ashamed if you are.

Take a listen here.

Psychic Chasms comes out 10/13 on Lefse.

Tour dates:

09-09 Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves
09-11 Springfield, MO – The Outland Ballroom
09-13 Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheater (Monolith Festival)
10-02 Austin, TX – Emo’s (Austin City Limits afterparty)
10-16 Tallahassee, FL – Club Down Under
10-17 Jacksonville, FL – TSI
10-18 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
10-17 Washington, DC – Rock N Roll Hotel
10-20 Philadelphia, PA – The Barbery
10-24 New York, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
10-25 Hartford, CT – La Paloma Sabanera
10-27 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
10-28 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
10-29 Bloomington, IN – The Bishop
10-30 Madison, WI – University of Wisconsin (Der Rathskeller)
10-31 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
11-07 Austin, TX – Fun Fun Fun Festival
11-08 Lubbock, TX – Bash Riprock’s
11-11 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
11-12 Boise, ID – Neurolux
11-13 Guadalajara, Mexico – Lemon Beat
11-14 Mexico City, Mexico – Pasaje América
11-15 Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge
11-16 Vancouver, British Columbia – Shine Nightclub
11-19 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
11-20 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
11-21 Tuscon, AZ – Club Congress

Face pummeling: