M83
Graveyard Girl

M83 play Mod Club on May 30th. Tickets are available here.

CRYSTAL CASTLES
Courtship Dating

Crystal Castles are currently touring the UK. Please come home.

THE MARY ONETTES
Lost (Live on TV4 UK)



I have a soft spot in my heart for 80s bands such as Joy Division, The Cure, Depeche Mode and New Order. Sad lyrics make me happy. I stumbled upon The Mary Onettes via Under The Radar, a Swedish band that sound like the love child of Joy Divison's Ian Curtis and The Cure's Robert Smith (if two men could have a love child). Moody, dark and spectacular. Oh, and even their album art looks Joy Divison-esque. They are embarking on a North American tour, but no Canadian dates have been announced.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND
A-Punk

BRIGHT LIKE NEON LOVE

Melbourne's Cut Copy are my new favourite band. I realize that I make this statement a lot, but for the last week I've been obsessively listening to their latest album In Ghost Colours. IGC is the perfect marriage of bloghouse (yep, I'm using the term) and indie rock, this is the most danceable, positive, light and fun albums I've heard in a long time. It was co-produced by DFA mastermind Tim Goldsworthy who brings a touch of NYC new wave electro to the album. You need to hear this album now, it's going to be the soundtrack of summer 2008. Read Pitchfork's review here.

Cut Copy are about to embark on a North American tour with Black Kids. Their Toronto show was completely sold out, but its been moved to the Phoenix, tickets are available here.

THE GOSSIP
Standing in the Way of Control
Live on Letterman
04/16/08

HOT CHIP
April 16, 2008
Phoenix Concert Theatre

Last night's Hot Chip show was their first visit back to Toronto since the release of their latest disc Made In The Dark. I was a bit apprehensive, the album isn't as upbeat and fun as their last two efforts, and I was worried that the show would be a let down. I was very, very wrong.

They began their set at 10:15pm with Out At The Pictures from Made In The Dark. It sounded decent, no live drums, all programmed and drum machines. They then transitioned into Boys From School from The Warning, which was much more dense and full sounding live. Their set consisted of an equal mix of old/new material, including Over & Over (full audience sing along), Ready For The Floor, Bendable Poseable, Shake A Fist and a great version of Made In The Dark. I have to say that they are probably the best electronic act I have seen live, they transform their heavily bedroom studio-esque tunes to beat beat floor fillers. Who knew that their live show would be better than their recorded material? I sure as hell didn't. Oh, and the guys in the band really seem like they love what they do, especially the gent who plays bass and keyboards, last night in he shuffled around the stage like a true showman decked out in wicked white jeans. He was amazing. Check these guys out next time they roll through the city, they won't disappoint.

Photo Credit: Antoniele via Flickr.

Lightspeed Champion
Tell Me What It's Worth



Lightspeed Champion's show on June 11th at Lee's Palace is now on sale here. Tickets are $11.50.

WOLF PARADE
Call It A Ritual

Stereogum premiered a new Wolf Parade song today. Listen to it here. Tentatively titled "Kissing the Beehive", their new album is out June 17th on Subpop.

TOKYO POLICE CLUB
Tessellate




Tokyo Police Club's debut Elephant Shell is out on April 22nd on Saddle Creek. They play a two-night stint at the Opera House on May 2rd and 3rd, Smoosh and Winter Gloves support.

ROBYN feat. THE KNIFE
Who's That Girl



Robyn plays the Phoenix on May 5th. Tickets are on sale now via ticketmaster.

MIDNIGHT SURPRISE
A couple quick show updates.

Fresh from the Junos, five trophy winner Feist has announced a new set of Canadian dates including a stop in Toronto on November 3rd at the Theatre Bowl at Air Canada Centre. Pre-sale tickets on sale tomorrow at noon here, regular on sale is Saturday 4/12 at 10am.

Lightspeed Champion have confirmed a full-band show at Lee's Palace on June 11th. Ticket details to follow.

Radiohead's Toronto gig on August 15th at the Ampitheatre is now confirmed, Grizzly Bear supports and tickets are on sale Saturday.

MADONNA FEAT. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
4 Minutes

PORTISHEAD
Machine Gun




Portishead release the long, long.....long awaited album Third on April 29th.

MIRACLE FORTRESS
Have You Seen Your Dreams




Miracle Fortress play a double bill with Born Ruffians at Lee's Palace on April 26th. Tickets, $10, are on sale here.

Via Just Keep Bloggin'.

ACCELERATE


R.E.M's latest studio album Accelerate is out this week (yesterday), its been on my iPod for a couple weeks and I haven't gotten around to listening to it. For the reviews I've read here and here, it sounds promising, a return to form for the band. You can listen to the entire album via Facebook's application iLike, and watch their Le Blogotheque Take Away Show here. Tickets for their North American tour including their Toronto stop are available via a presale starting this morning at 10am (via BrooklynVegan). Regular on-sale occurs April 5th at 10am via LiveNation.

LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION
Galaxy Of The Lost