Tell Me I'm Your National Anthem

Listen to the sound of steak sizzling on the grill as you wait, chomping at the bit in anticipation. Or if you want, strike up a match/flick a lighter on and countdown until lift-off for that gross of bottle rockets you just bought and can't wait to try out. Plop yourself down in a central air-conditioned heaven and watch your favorite team take the mound. There's no right or wrong way to celebrate freedom and independence, so go crazy (just try not to blow-off any fingers), and enjoy this playlist. Some of the songs are obvious inclusions, and others just sound particularly great on a day like today. Happy 4th!

"America"- Allen Ginsberg

"The Weight"- The Band

"Sister Golden Hair"- America

"This Land Is Your Land"- Woody Guthrie

"Truckin"- Grateful Dead

"Fortunate Son"- Creedence Clearwater Revial

"Star Spangled Banner"- Jimi Hendrix

"Summertime"- Big Brother & The Holding Company

"Salt of the Earth"- The Rolling Stones

"Jack & Diane"- John Mellencamp

"Born in the U.S.A."- Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band

"In The Street"- Big Star

"The Official Ironmen Rally Song"- Guided By Voices

"The Ashes of American Flags"- Wilco

"State of the Union"- Destroyer

"A More Perfect Union"- Titus Andronicus

"Surf Wax America"- Weezer

"Sloop John B"- The Beach Boys

"Fireworks"- Animal Collective

"Fireworks" ft. Alicia Keys- Drake

"The National Anthem"- Radiohead

"National Anthem"- Lana Del Rey

"American Boy"- Estelle

"American Dreamin"- Jay-Z

"Who Will Survive in America?"- Kanye West

"Fourth of July"- Sufjan Stevens

What's New(s)?

Panda Bear gets high on new release

Anyone that's heard Panda Bear's monolithic 2007 release Person Pitch has undoubtedly felt like they're on drugs. Echoed vocals and sampled chatter would loop endlessly like a perpetually cresting wave. Getting caught up in the pure auditory spectacle of it all was as simple as letting go. 

"Marijuana Makes My Day" is a logical continuance of that detached, druggy feeling. Soft humming and chants that wouldn't be out of place on the savannas of Africa fill the background. Bubbles of water can be heard floating to the surface and immediately popping. For his part, Panda Bear repeatedly mutters the titular phrase to the point of it becoming a mantra. The first time I heard it unfurl, I pictured Paul Simon's Graceland fed acid and thrown to the bottom of a crystal-blue lake. Whatever vision it generates, it's a powerful one.

The Animal Collective drummer is working on a new album to be released this year, entitled Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper.

 

Bikini Kill reissues continue

Last year to honor their 25th anniversary, Bikini Kill, the most well-known band of the riot grrrl movement announced a series of reissues through the recently established Bikini Kill Records. In addition to releasing their discography through Bandcamp, the Kathleen Hanna fronted group reissued their debut self-titled EP in November to warm-reception.

Next up in the series is, Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, the group's 1993 split effort with British riot grrl act Huggy Bear. The expanded edition of the LP will feature seven new live tracks, in addition to unearthed photos and liner notes from the band members themselves. You can find the tracklist below along with a clip for 1993's "Rebel Girl" from the Pussywhipped LP.

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah:
1. "White Boy"
2. "This Is Not A Test"
3. "Don’t Need You"
4. "Jigsaw Youth"
5. "Resist Psychic Death"
6. "Rebel Girl"
7. "Outta Me" 8. "George Bush Is A Pig

9. "I Busted In Your Chevy Window
10. "Get Out
11. "Why"
12. "Fuck Twin Peaks"
13. "Girl Soldier"
14. "Not Right Now"

Rick Ross, Kanye West, & Big Sean get "Sanctified" on Arsenio

Regardless of the middling album it comes from, Mastermind centerpiece "Sanctified" is an absolute embarrassment of riches. DJ Mustard's 'Ye-inspired soul beat, Rick Ross' beautifully restrained bark, Kanye's rabid Quavo-aping flow, and Big Sean's pinging paper-chase chorus all blend together so well you can't help but wonder how much editing time was committed to this effort.

Last night any studio-tinkering was forgone for an absolute showstopping performance on Arsenio. After a long absence from late-night, Kanye has seemingly been everywhere in the last few weeks and months, and that is firmly felt in the clip. The entire crowd goes next-level crazy when West comes giddily running out on-stage. From that point forward, everything becomes icing on an extremely rich cake.

 

Check back in Monday for more of the newest in new(s) and follow AllFreshSounds on Twitter for updates throughout the day.

What's New(s)?

Conor Oberst announces new album

Conor Oberst's latest solo album Upside Down Mountain was recorded in Nashville and hearing first cut "Hundreds of Ways", the locale is palpable. Pedal-steel wriggles into the scene, acoustic guitars come chugging through, and rustic harmonizing. "I used to think time was of the essence" Oberst declares in his now iconic warble, but hearing the lazy pace of "Hundreds of Ways" we all know better.

Upside Down Mountain, produced by Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty/First Aid Kit), is out May 20 via Nonesuch Records. The aforementioned "Hundreds of Ways" will be appearing on a limited-release 7'' out on Record Store Day (April 19) with backing by outtake "Fast Friends". In addition, Oberst will be embarking on a U.S. tour in support of the record starting in early-May.

Tour Dates:

5/8 Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom
5/9 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
5/10 Atlanta, GA - Shaky Knees Festival
5/11 Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall
5/13 Ponte Vedra, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
5/14 Orlando, FL - The Beacham
5/16 Gulf Shores, AL - The Hangout Festival
5/17 Chattanooga, TN - Track 29
5/22 Westbury, NY - The Space at Westbury
5/23-24 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
5/25 Munhall, PA - Carnegie Library Music Hall of Homestead
5/27 Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre
5/29-30 Chicago, IL - Metro
5/31 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
6/1 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
6/2 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
6/4 Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
6/5 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
6/6 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
6/7 Lexington, KY - Buster's
7/29 New York, NY - Central Park SummerStage at Rumsey Playfield

Animal Collective share Spotify live session

Anyone waiting for Bonnaroo to announce their lineups next week now have something to pass the time with. Animal Collective have released a new live EP recorded at 2013's incarnation of the festival. Appropriately entitled Spotify Sessions, the record collects five cuts from their performance including the infectious Merriweather Post Pavilion cut "Brother Sport" and Feels' explosive "The Purple Bottle". 

Also included on the release, which Spotify users can hear below are Strawberry Jam take "Peacebone" and the assaultive "Moonjock". Sadly Michael Winslow's performance during their set wasn't 't included as a separate track.

Bonnaroo's official lineup announcement comes February 19th and will be broadcast on the XBox network and the official Bonnaroo site. To ring in the announcement, a "Superjam" featuring the Flaming Lips, Ben Folds, and more will be performing.

For news updates throughout the day, follow @AllFreshSounds on Twitter and check back in Monday for more of the newest in new(s).

What's New(s)?

To fulfill the promise of bringing you the newest in the new, a daily segment is going to be introduced to the blog, starting with the flagship post today. Every day at around 5PM, when most of the dust has settled on any major music announcements, I'll be giving a tiny compendium of anything you might've missed throughout out the day. No scouring for countless links only to be disappointed, it's all here (hopefully) under one umbrella. So enjoy the newest in the new.

Pearl Jam announces new album

After a recently concluded website-countdown, alt-rock veterans Pearl Jam have announced a new album entitled Lightning Bolt scheduled to be released October 15th. Their 10th studio album and first since 2009's Backspacer was produced by frequent collaborator Brendan O'Brein and is preceded by lead single "Mind Your Manners" which you can listen to below. Finally, the band will be touring the album starting in Buffalo on October 10 and will go through December.

"Mind Your Manners"

In Utero reissue planned

In other grunge-related news, following the massive 20th anniversary reissue of Nevermind we saw two years ago, Slicing Up Eyeballs  is reporting that a similar reissue for the bristly, Steve Albini produced follow-up In Utero is in the works and scheduled for a September release. No word yet for what bonus material appear on the album, so for now click here to enjoy an unearthed promo clip for the album featuring comedian Bobcat Goldthwait and Kurt Cobain in childbirth.


Wavves side-project drops new album

Cali surf-punk Nathan Williams, de facto leader of the band Wavves has a beat-making side-project called Sweet Valley with his brother Kynan and today the duo has released a follow-up to last year's Eternal Champ, Stay Calm, and Jenova albums. The almost 40-minute album is currently available on their Soundcloud page.


Animal Collective cancel more dates

In a sad continuation of events from March, Animal Collective is nixing the rest of their July tour appearances due to an apparent illness in the group. Writing on their Facebook page, the group says, "Due to illness, we will unfortunately not be able to perform our upcoming July tour dates, including the Camp Bisco and Forecastle festivals. We deeply apologize and tried our best to make it work with an alternate set, but ultimately we didn't feel like we were giving fans what they deserved from an Animal Collective show. We are working on rescheduling the non-festival dates as soon as possible. Again we send our sincerest apologies to fans anticipating these shows, especially considering the cancellations earlier this year." The tour will presumably start up again in the fall, the dates for which are posted below, along with a great clip of the band performing at the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival.

09-06 Portland, OR - MusicFest NW *
09-07 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory *
09-08 Salt Lake City, UT - Depot *
09-09 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre *
09-11 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
09-14 Mexico City, Mexico - Ceremonia Festival
10-16 Madison, WI - Orpheum Theatre *
10-17 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre *
10-20 San Francisco, CA - Treasure Island Festival
10-21 Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern *
10-22 Phoenix, AZ - Marquee *
10-24 Kansas City, MO - Midland Theater *
10-25: St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
10-25-27: Asheville, NC - Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit

Today's Supernatural

Check back tomorrow, same time same place for more of the newest in new(s). 

Animal Collective Back to Work

 

In an interview with Madison.com, Animal Collective member Avey Tare revealed that the experimental-psychedelic band is back to work on their new LP. The album will be the first LP the band has released since 2009's Merriweather Post Pavilion and the first to feature on-again, off-again guitarist Deakin since Strawberry Jam in 2007.

In the interview, Tare revealed the group has finished a two-week writing session in Baltimore, which yielded five new tracks. Recording for the album will begin in January and the group will be bringing in approximately 15 new tracks according to a July piece with Tare.

Considering the universal acclaim Merriweather Post Pavilion received, I personally have high hopes for this new AC release. Given that the band has had two years to prepare for the record, it should continue their creative streak, which is seemingly endless.

"My Girls"- Animal Collective