#avenew

MONDAY (12/10)

Our pick: Jack White on Conan [TBS; 11PMe]: His solo career has really exloded this year with Blunderbuss, Third Man Records is growing in popularity by the day, and his chemistry with Conan is unbeatable. Plus, he's a modern day musical legend. Don't miss out on this one!

The Hives on Last Call with Carson Daly [NBC; 1:35AMe]: 2012 hasn't quite proven to be the comeback year Swedish rockers The Hives were hoping for, since the release of their new album Lex Hives. Regardless, they always put on a top-notch, high energy performance.

Of Monsters and Men on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno [NBC; 11:35PMe]: Icelandic indie rockers Of Monsters and Men have had quite a breakout year after an amazing debut, and we have no doubt 2013 will be even bigger. Expect them as fixtures at all the festivals this summer.

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TUESDAY (12/11)

Our pick: FIDLAR on Last Call with Carson Daly [NBC; 1:35AMe]: FIDLAR (an acronym for Fuck It Dog, Life's a Risk) are a no-B.S., punk-tinged garage rock band who play music about being broke, drinking cheap beer, and partying. And they're so, so good at it. 

AWOLNATION on Late Show with David Letterman [CBS; 11:35PMe]: It was a shame that Aaron Bruno's old band, Under the Influence of Giants, never quite broke through. With a fantastic debut and already more critical and commercial attention, it's great to see the talented singer get another shot with AWOLNATION.

Graham Parker & The Rumour on Conan [TBS; 11PMe]: After over three decades of releasing music on his own, legendary British rocker Graham Parker has reunited with the original lineup of his classic late '70s band The Rumour. The band just released a great comeback record called Three Chords Good.

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WEDNESDAY (12/12)

Our pick: Atlas Genius on Jimmy Kimmel Live! [ABC; 12AMe]: If their debut EP (released this summer) is any indication, Atlas Genius are destined for great things. They're already gaining a ton of underground buzz and tons of touring and festival appearances are sure to make for a big 2013.

Grizzly Bear on Late Show with David Letterman [CBS; 11:35PMe]: Their latest record Shields is their strongest release yet, further cementing the fact that the indie rockers have more staying power than many of their peers. Plus, they always put on a great performance!

The Heavy on Last Call with Carson Daly [NBC; 1:35AMe]: English soul/funk rockers The Heavy made quite a splash in the U.S. in 2012 due to extensive touring and their great new album The Glorious Dead. Expect big things to come.

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THURSDAY (12/13)

Our pick: Ryan Adams on Conan [TBS; 11PMe]: By Ryan Adams standards, the dynamic singer has had a relatively quiet past couple of years. We can only assume the lack of new material in 2012 means we'll see at least two new releases in 2013.

Dan Deacon on Jimmy Kimmel Live! [ABC; 12AMe]: Known for his strong live shows, indie/electronic musician Dan Deacon's latest release America is the culmination of the unique, smart sound he's spent years refining. Don't miss him!

DIIV on Late Show with David Letterman [CBS; 11:35PMe]: Brooklyn's DIIV released their debut album Oshin this summer and have been an unstoppable force of buzz ever since. Expect the shoegaze, dreamy indie rockers to have a solid 2013 as well.

The Jezabels on Last Call with Carson Daly [NBC; 1:35AMe]: Hailing from Australia, indie rockers The Jezabels have been developing something of a cult following over the past few years. The band has finally begun slipping into the mainstream radar since last year's excellent Prisoner.

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FRIDAY (12/14)

Our pick: Martha Wainwright on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon [NBC; 12:35AMe]: Though she's been making ripples in the indie folk scene for years, Martha Wainwright's recent release Come Home to Mama is poised to catapult her career to the next level. She's also a seasoned and never anything but spectacular performer.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit on Late Show with David Letterman [CBS; 11:35PMe]: Former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell has had quite an impressive solo run over the the past few years. The Alabama alt-country rocker just put out a great new live album and is sure to bring a good time.

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SATURDAY (12/15)

Our pick: Paul McCartney on Saturday Night Live [NBC; 11:30PMe]: This one's a no-brainer. Sir Paul, a longtime fan, occasional cameo, and sometimes performer on Saturday Night Live (this will be the former Beatle's 4th time performing on the show) is a legend. It's been a fairly strong season so far, so come for the musical guest, stay for the sure-to-be-hilarious holiday episode hosted by SNL alum Martin Short. McCartney tends to pop up in sketches whenever he appears on the show, so keep your eyes glued to the whole thing!

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Big Dipper- Crashes on the Platinum Planet [Almost Ready]

Quick Take: If you were down with Big Dipper before the 2008 Merge Records anthology/reissue of the band's back catalogue, you're either much older than us, much cooler than us, or both. Hailing from Boston, Big Dipper belonged to the late '80s could-have-been should-have-been school of alt/indie bands that struggled to break into relevance in a pre-'90s alt rock explosion world. Though they received some moderate success and critical praise (especially in regards to their 1987 debut Heavens) at the time, the group disbanded in 1990 and were largely relegated to a mere footnote in musical history. Since 2008, however, the band has steadfastly been climbing back into musical consciousness; a journey which has culminated with Crashes on the Platinum Planet, their first album in 22 years. And my, what a wonderful album it is. Big Dipper still sounds like, well, Big Dipper. But a better, more distilled essence of their former selves. It's rare that we're inclined to look at an album released so many years after a group's relevance (especially when that group has been laying dormant all that time) through the same critical lens as their previous work. Times have changed, perspectives evolved, and recreating the youthful energy and spark that necessitated a bands' existence in the first place is often a battle of diminishing returns. However, Crashes on Platinum Planet somehow manages to defy all odds as the strongest release of Big Dipper's career while staying true to the group's core sound, thematic tendencies, and general aesthetic. Even without comparing it against their past work (which, as a fan more new than old we would rather do), it stands alone as a strong, smart, and tightly crafted piece of indie rock and a magnificent way to kick off December. It doesn't feel like a comeback, because it doesn't sound like a record from a band that ever left.

Check Out: "Robert Pollard," the nostalgic, youthful, and perfectly layered jam that exemplifies how an old sound can be reconstructed in a modern environment and still sound fresh and relevant.

Stream | Spotify | Rdio Download | iTunes | Amazon | Google Play Vinyl | Almost Ready Records CD | Almost Ready Records

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Junkie XL- Synthesized [Nettwerk]

Quick Take: The sixth album from Dutch DJ Junkie XL, Synthesized is the culmination of a long and varied career of a musician that has seen a huge range of trends come and go within his realm of influence, and learned how to deconstruct the best elements and essence of each of those trends and apply them to his own music. Collaborations have always been a staple of his solo releases, but Synthesized takes a turn to highlight mostly less prominent, less named guests than previous releases (save for Datarock). We don't claim to be especially EDM savvy and that's part of Junkie XL's appeal- his knack for making accessible, mass-appeal songs that genuinely feel like songs that anyone can enjoy, but songs that still exist solidly in the world of EDM and serve all functions of that accordingly. Though his music flexes an immense level of attention to detail and talent in layering samples and synth flourishes in appropriate measures, his obsession with providing a hook- often supplied by his collaborators- works to push the record in a forward-moving, very grounded manner. Whether it's the soundtrack to your party or a casual listen, Synthesized is an exploration in top-notch dance music from a man more than qualified to provide it

Check Out: "Synthesized," the hypnotic and lush title track with a hook that'll be stuck in your head all day.

Stream | Spotify | Rdio Download | iTunes | Amazon | Google Play CD | Amazon

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Departures- Teenage Haze [No Sleep]

Quick Take: What kind of band are Departures, exactly? It's definitely something you might ponder when giving their new album Teenage Haze a first listen. You might be inclined to call them hardcore, based on vocal delivery, but they're not a hardcore band. You might be inclined to call them indie rock or alt or emo throwback, based on their musical structure and production, but that's definitely not right either. A punk band? Too slow, too reflective, too sensitive for that. Pop punk? Getting colder- there's no pop here. Screamo? No way (does anyone even use that term anymore?). Let's just call them a good band. A band capable of harnessing a whole plethora of influences and sonically channeling them into a sound that is all at once familiar yet wholly unique. And a sincere and honest one. Teenage Haze is a really magnificent juxtaposition of punk-leaning alt rock music with decidedly emo (we mean it in the best possible way) and introspective lyrics delivered in a markedly punk style (another juxtaposition in of itself, as the abrasiveness of singer James McKean's delivery often clashes with the emotional theme he is conveying). Teenage Haze is a powerful, bombastic, and often vulnerable romp of raw emotion and musical energy and by the time it ends, your only complaint will likely be that the journey was a bit too brief.

Check Out: "21," a driving and agressive, yet fantastically earnest track channeling into perfect musical articulation the stages of coping with a broken down relationship.

Stream | Spotify | Rdio Download | iTunes | Amazon | Google Play Vinyl | No Sleep Records CD | No Sleep Records

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Dean Blunt- The Narcissist II [Hippos in Tanks]

Quick Take: Dean Blunt is a bit of a mystery. Both to us and, it seems, to the musical community as a whole. Little is known about the artist, his releases receive minor fanfare (though The Narcissist II is widely available for purchase) and Blunt receives little attention as a performer outside of blogs and underground-leaning music sites. It's that anonymity, perhaps, and the mystery that surrounds it that adds a extra layer of intangible appeal to his lo-fi art pop releases. There's something very admirable about creating something new and nice and putting an obviously high amount of effort into making it seem old and unpolished. There's also a fine line between tastefully done and disaster, however, not to mention the question as to whether or not a work of art needs that treatment in the first place. We can't imagine The Narcissist II sounding any other way. The record is not as narcissistic as the title might suggest, but thematically it's fairly self-involved and often outright seductive. It's a haunting, at times creepy melding of familiar samples, chopped and screwed to the point where they sound like lingering ghosts of songs past. The lo-fi treatment benefits this effect while seamlessly matching it with the soulful, yet reserved, vocal delivery of Blunt and lyrical forwardness. As a concept, a record like The Narcissist II could easily fall apart, but thanks to the production and the talent of Dean Blunt it soars. On so many levels, this album just works.

Check Out: "The Narcissist," the Hype Williams-produced haunting downtempo title track featuring frequent collaborator Inga Copeland.

Stream | Spotify | Rdio Download | iTunes | Amazon | Google Play Vinyl | Hippos in Tanks

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BONUS: The Winter Sounds- Runner [New Grenada]

Why: The Winder Sounds aren't aiming to reinvent the indie rock wheel, and they don't need to. Their new album Runner is a fun, balanced, energetic take on the genere that eclipses the band's previous work in production quality and songwriting. It's dancy and full of Killers-esque synth embellishments, but never wavers from being fully grounded in solid rock and roll. Our only gripe is it seems to be front-stacked with its strongest, most engaging songs. Check out the almost too good to open a record with "The Sun Also Rises" and stream the entire album on Spotify.

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BONUS: Lone Ninja- Rogue Agent [Holographic Pagoda]

Why: When writing about Lone Ninja, it's easy to draw comparisons to MF Doom, but still, they aren't unwarranted. The MC is even further planted in the underground scene, harkens an old school production and delivery style, and largely operates in anonymity. Spanning 27 tracks, Rogue Agent is the rapper's most ambitious, most thematically grandiose, and most technically sound album yet. It's a true gem and a testament to how thriving underground hip hop really is. Check out tough, sharp hitting old school jam "Maximum Penalty" streaming at Hip Hop DX.

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BONUS: Last Call- Dog Years [Broken Arrow Collective]

Why: Hailing from Las Vegas, Last Call belong to the new school of young pop punk bands seeking to once again legitimize the genre (The Wonder Years, Fireworks, etc). Dog Years is a solidly-crafted, energetic, and agressive yet outstandingly catchy entry that builds on the band's past work and allows itself to be guided by their strongest elements. The record doesn't particularly push any boundaries, instead planting itself firmly into and established stylistic realm and excelling at it. It's a thoroughly enjoyable, well-made, top notch pop punk album. Check out the hook-laden, melodically dense singalong "Bones" and stream the entire album on BandCamp.

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BONUS: Wu Block- Wu Block [E1]

Why: Wu Block is the collaboration of Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah and The LOX's (also known as D-Block, where the record derives it name) Sheek Louch. It's perhaps the connotations of that pedigree that add an extra dimension of pressure to to their self-titled debut, but ultimately Wu Block falls a bit short considering the sum of its parts. Mind you, it's still a quality, masterfully crafted hip hop record, it's just not a career high point for either rapper- it's solidly good and enjoyable, without transcending into greatness. The record feels slanted more in Ghostface's favor at its best moments (and in points for who brought the most associates in to collaborate), but when Sheek shines it's fantastic. The record might have been better served to have been trimmed down by a few tracks, and it terms of relevance or listenability isn't going to overtake the more underground hip hop releases we've already mentioned- but we're still crowning this by far the most gangsta record you're going to get this holiday season. Check out one of the few tracks devoid of a guest and also one of the record's strongest moments of straightforward technically prowess, "Been Robbed," and stream the entire album on Spotify.

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BONUS: 100dBs & Ryan-O'Neil- Tea & Spliffs [HiPNOTT]

Why: Fitting, it seems, that we should follow one of the most hyped hip hop releases (on a fairly hip hop heavy list- rappers apparently love the cold months) of the winter from two established MCs with an almost entirely underground release from two little known collaborators. 100dBs is a Brooklyn-based DJ and frequent collaborator with rapper Ryan-O'Neil. Their latest outing together, Tea & Spliffs, is a sharp, old school, impossibly well-refined and lyrically sharp-witted, intelligent, and honest romp in straightforward, unabashed, hip hop at its purest essence. With its confidence, never wavering flow, and top-notch production this is a no-gimmicks reminder of the power of the story at hip hip's core and a thoroughly enjoyable listen from beginning to end. Check out the infectious old school jam with a great food-for-thought message "Wait a Minute" and stream the entire album on Spotify.

<a href="http://brokenarrowcllctv.bandcamp.com/track/bones" data-mce-href="http://brokenarrowcllctv.bandcamp.com/track/bones">Bones by Last Call</a>

Don't forget to check out yesterday's New Music Recap: EP Edition.

You can also find this list at No Country for New Nashville.

MONDAY (12/3)

Our pick: Punch Brothers on Conan [TBS; 11PMe]: The Americana/bluegrass rockers released a great album earlier this year and they just recently released a new EP called Ahoy! They always put on a great show!

Led Zeppelin (not performing) on Late Show with David Letterman [CBS; 11:35PMe]: Though they won't be performing (that would be epic), the legendary rock band stops by Letterman tonight to plug their recently released Celebration Day DVD.

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TUESDAY (12/4)

Our pick: Ke$ha on Conan [TBS; 11PMe]: Ok, not only is Ke$ha a catchy, guilty pleasure of ours, but hear us out. On her new album Warrior (out tomorrow), the singer again enlists the help of superproducers Max Martin and Dr. Luke as well the likes of Wayne Coyne (of The Flaming Lips), The Strokes, Iggy Pop, Patrick Carney (of The Black Keys), and Nate Ruess of fun. That not enough to pique your interest? The record is a pretty astoundingly solid pop with a decidedly rock and roll throwback vibe, and Ke$ha's known for her weird, over the top performances. Don't miss out on this one! 

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WEDNESDAY (12/5)

Our pick: Delta Spirit on Conan [TBS; 11PMe]: Folk-tinged California indie rockers Delta Spirit put out an incredible self-titled album earlier this year. An immensely talented band known for their tight and energetic live performances, their stop at Conan is one not to miss. Man, Conan is killing it this week, huh?

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THURSDAY (12/6)

Our pick: The Gaslight Anthem on Conan [TBS; 11PMe]: The Gaslight Anthem have had an amazing few years. After basically shedding their solidly punk beginnings and embracing a heartland rock, anthemic sound with punk undertones, the band have become critical darlings. Their latest record Handwritten (the followup to 2010's universally revered American Slang) is fantastic and the band's performance style is never anything below top-notch.

Tanlines on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon [NBC; 12:35AMe]: Tanlines are a little bit poppy, a little bit progressive, a little bit synthy, and a lot nostalgic. Think Vampire Weekend unchained. The band's latest album is also really fantastic.

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FRIDAY (12/7)

Our pick: Big Boi on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon [NBC; 12:35AMe]: Though we'd be lying if we didn't admit we'd rather see the return of OutKast, a new solo outing from Big Boi is almost as good. Set to drop next week, if the rapper's new record is half as good as his last one, it'll make up for the wait!

Garbage on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno [NBC; 11:35PMe]: Alt-rock legends Garbage put out a pretty awesome new record earlier this year. Still riding the promotional trail for the release, you know 'em, you love 'em, and they're sure to be great.

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You, Me, and Everyone We Know- A Great Big Hole [self-released]

Quick Take: Everybody loves a good tale of redemption. To say You, Me, and Everyone We Know have had a tumultuous existence would be an understatement- in its 6 years of existence, the band has already gone through 11 members, leaving only singer Ben Liebsch standing by the beginning of 2011. Their/his latest EP A Great Big Hole is the band's 4th, in addition to full-length in 2010. It's also, perhaps, its most important. Bouncing back from a battle with alcoholism (the singer claims he's now 20 months sober) and controversy surrounding the financial dealings with his bandmates (the catalyst for their departure), A Great Big Hole represents an artist back on track, and one aware and remorseful of his past transgressions. Its briefest (and most classic YMAEWK sounding) middle track, "I'm Alright" is a straightforward and poignant declaration that the singer, though still not perfect, is, well, alright. The EP is intentionally reflective of the natural progression of the singer's feelings- its opener and title track "A Great Big Hole" dwelling on the damage and regret leading up to this point and its closing track "Coming Up Short" reflecting on the road ahead. "Coming Up Short" is also perhaps the most musically adventurous and a solid affirmation that Liebsch's new perspective and life choices have had no ill-effect on his offbeat and brillant knack for crafting slightly off-kilter rock songs firmly rooted in pop punk. The EP ends with an urgently shouted "there will be no more wasted time for me" that resounds in a way that could easily also be the singer's new life mantra. It's clear You, Me, and Everyone We Know are at a crossroads, but it's also clear, at least as far as Liebsch is concerned, that they're just warming up. 

Check Out: "A Great Big Hole," which explosively and confidently opens the record with both the assurance that You, Me, and Everyone We Know are back and the understanding that Ben Liebsch has found peace, regret, and growth from his mistakes. It's intimate and honest and a testament to the power of art over personal struggle.

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<a href="http://youmeandeveryoneweknow.bandcamp.com/track/a-great-big-hole" data-mce-href="http://youmeandeveryoneweknow.bandcamp.com/track/a-great-big-hole">A Great Big Hole by you, me, and everyone we know</a>

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Rivalries- Out of Town and Back Again [Household Name]

Quick Take: It's rare that we do this, but we're putting the new EP from UK band Rivalries, Out of Town and Back Again, on the list without having heard the entire thing yet. The record is currently only available on 7" from their London-based label (link below), but international shipping is incredibly reasonable so we plan to snag a proper copy soon! The band is currently streaming the song "Twelve Out of Ten" and we previously caught the track "Ten Things" (they're switching what's on their BandCamp each week), so our opinion reflects half of the record. Rivalries are a really unique band. We suppose you could call them pop punk, in the sense that they play punk rock with very melodic sensibilities but they definitely lean more on the punk than pop side of things. However, they're only punk in sound because their attitude is the furthest thing from pissed and angry, or even heartbroken; this is perhaps the most positive, happy punk band we've ever heard (even their social media is all under RivalriesAreFun). With chants like "surround yourself with the people that you love/ never give in and never give up" overtop of fast and agressive punk riffs, Rivalries will have you raging for the optimism in your own personal perspective and outlook in the face of any adversity that comes your way. And that's a refreshing take on punk rock we can get behind.

Check Out: "Twelve Out of Ten," an upbeat and uptempo old school pop punk jam that is not only inspiring, but also a downright solid punk song at its essence.

Vinyl | Household Name (UK)

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<a href="http://rivalriesarefun.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-town-and-back-again-2" data-mce-href="http://rivalriesarefun.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-town-and-back-again-2">Out of town and back again by Rivalries</a>

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Three Loco- ¡Three Loco! [Mad Decent]

Quick Take: Ok, yes, we're putting a rap record featuring Andy Milonakis (the perpetually adolescent-appearing due to a hormone condition, yet grown man, comedian and former MTV star-turned rapper) on the list. Yes, Three Loco also includes Dirt Nasty, a.k.a. Simon Rex, the former MTV VJ and mostly failed actor also turned rapper. Yes, the final member of Three Loco is Riff Raff- the bizarre commodity rapper who conjures early '90s nostalgia along with embellished style and off-kilter flow and subject matter, who rose to fame on MTV's From G's to Gents. And yes, Three Loco is technically a comedy group, their album cover even a parody of the film Three Amigos (and the group's name a spoof on alcoholic energy drink and college party favorite Four Loko). But hear us out: Three Loco are shockingly and undeniable good. Really, really good. With production help from the likes of Diplo and Sinden, the beats are fresh, embellished and simultaneously satirical of and relevant in the modern rap climate. Their style leans old school, but it doesn't sound dated- it's still a modern rap record for modern rap fans. You're not going to find huge flourishing beats and auto-tune here, it's definitely more minimalist in scope, but strong and cohesive nonetheless. The rhymes are just as satirical, an embellishment of typical hip hop lifestyle and boasting, but are so cleverly and confidently delivered that the lines between serious, boastful, and comedic are very much blurred. The history of its members and connotations of the group aside, ¡Three Loco! is a solid and enjoyable EP all the way through and so well-executed that we can't even call it a novelty or guilty pleasure; it's just good.

Check Out: "Neato," the infectiously catchy, off-kilter, and confident opening track that gives every member a really strong moment to shine and encapsulates the weirdness and skill that the unlikely group possesses, lyrically and in delivery. Production-wise it sounds like it could be a Beastie Boys b-side. 

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Fairbanks- Eat This Record [Urban Scandal]

Quick Take: Hailing from Texas, Fairbanks are the kind of pop punk we can never seem to get enough of. Everything about their new EP, Eat This Record, from the production, the the harmonies, the instrumentation, the attitude, and even the album cover, would suggest that the band spent the last two decades frozen in some kind of punk rock time capsule and were awoken with instructions to write the followup to Green Day's Kerplunk. It doesn't sound like an homage or period piece or modern embellishment of "classic" pop punk (I think it's been long enough that we can start calling it that)- it sounds like a record teleported forward from that era. Fairbanks are a band clearly passionate about the music they play and unswayed by the typical tendencies the genre has accumulated throughout its progression. They're not a commodity; they're a true blue pop punk band and a damn fun one at that. If you grew up on classic pop punk, Eat This Record will take you back and if you consider Blink-182 to be your classic pop punk, the EP will serve as a great genre study of a less complicated era. We're very curious to keep an eye on this band.

Check Out: "Distilled Manx," which is arguably the EP's strongest track. It's a near-flawless genre study and an excellently energetic, angsty, and catchy jam. Curious about what the Warped Tour sounded like in '94? Something like this.

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<a href="http://fairbanksmusic.bandcamp.com/track/distilled-manx-2" data-mce-href="http://fairbanksmusic.bandcamp.com/track/distilled-manx-2">Distilled Manx by Fairbanks</a>

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You can also find this list at No Country for New Nashville.