The Strokes

I’ve been feeling nostalgic lately.

It all started this weekend when Tech Nerd (Graham) started playing “Last Nite” by the Strokes to me on his guitar. Not only have I not listened to that band in years, but I completely forgot how much I loved Is This It?! Since then, I’ve decided to whip out my old, pink CD player (only because I haven’t charged my mp3 player…) and my old Strokes albums to listen to – and oh my, are they good! Why did I ever stop listening to them?! What adds to the nostalgia of this little story is that I have a tendency to keep concert tickets in the sleeves of my albums (a handy tip I got from a friend) and when I opened up First Impressions of Earth, I saw my first concert ticket for their show back in May of 2006 at Ricoh Coliseum! That’s right; my first show was a little over two years ago. That’s alarmingly strange because I’ve been to well over 50 shows since then and it’s weird because it feels like it’s been at least five years of shows by now! Oh, magical time.

Anyway, my whole point of the story is that it brought up a question that I’ve been pondering for quite some time now – where the hell is that new Strokes album? I swear, I remember reading about it somewhere; and as much as I like Albert Hammond Jr’s solo stuff, I would really like to hear some fresh Strokes material. If you know anything about this, please let me know! For now, I guess we’ll just have to settle with this lovely Converse tune by N.E.R.D., Santogold and the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas.

Another band that I’ve always loved has just released some exciting news today. Toronto darlings, Broken Social Scene, have just announced a second show at the Sound Academy on November 28th and Land of Talk are scheduled to open. So with any luck, those attending the first night will also be treated to some Land of Talk? Here’s to hoping… and logic. Excitingly enough, Montreal’s Land of Talk also has a new record out today, entitled Some Are Lakes. And from what I’ve heard of that album so far, it’s a good one. Run out and buy it -now!

And on completely un-related notes now..

Paper Bag Records just announced that they have signed Josh Reichmann and will be releasing his upcoming full-length. For now, you can enjoy a free download of his Life is Legend EP on his site. (Or by subscribing to his newsletter; I’m not entirely sure. You need the username and password in order to download the EP) Reichmann is slated to play this Thursday at Wrong Bar along with Anagram, Corpusse and $100 for the launch of Hunter & Cook Magazine.

Arts & Crafts Records’ Los Campesinos! will release their new album, We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed on November 25th. Is it just me, or are they always releasing something new? Deluxe packages of the album will include a bonus DVD documentary on the band, and a snazzy fanzine of lyrics and art from Xiu Xiu and Menomena, just to name a few. Tracklisting is as follows:

• 1. Ways To Make It Through The Wall
• 2. Miserabilia
• 3. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
• 4. Between An Erupting Earth And An Exploding Sky
• 5. You’ll Need Those Fingers For Crossing
• 6. It’s Never That Easy Though, Is It? (Song For The Other Kurt)
• 7. The End Of The Asterisk
• 8. Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown # 1
• 9. Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time
• 10. All Your Kayfabe Friends

And last but not least, this year’s North By Northeast Festival in Toronto will be a week late, stretching from June 18-21. Should be lots of fun! I’ll keep you posted as news and schedules won’t be announced for another 5 months or something like that.

Musically,
Melody