Charles Bradley: Fanning the 'Flames'

Photo by Kisha Bari

Charles Bradley has soul; in fact, at 62 years old, the soul that spills from his pours and echoes with each vocal run hasn't come easy. The singer grew up in the streets, and spent much of his life as a chef before committing himself to music at the age of 51.

After a string of 45s, Dunham Records will release Bradley's debut long-player, No Time for Dreaming, on January 25, but you can check out the first single, “The World (Is Going Up In Flames),” below.

Learn:
The Charles Bradley

Listen:
1 - The World (Is Going Up In Flames)

Buy:

Charles Bradley Store

Toro Y Moi Revels in 'Still Sound'

When Columbia, South Carolina's Chaz Budnick steps onto the stage as Toro Y Moi, he spins sunburned grooves slicked back with dreamy falsetto. Causers of This, the musician's 2009 debut, drew approval from critics and fans for its fresh, summer vibe, making him the stand-out among his chillwave peers.

And the hazy days continue, promising warmth in the depths of February's chill when Toro Y Moi will release Underneath the Pine which replaces the electronic artistry of his debut with live instrumentation that is equally engaging. Check out "Still Sound" from the new album, set for release on February 22 via Carpark Records.

Learn:
Toro Y Moi Online

Listen:
1 - Still Sound

Buy:
Carpark Records

Drive-By Truckers: All Dressed Up in Their 'Go-Go Boots'

Photo by Danny Clinch

The Drive-By Truckers have been able to harness momentum like few others, and just under a year after The Big To-Do, these rock-and-roll saviors return with Go-Go Boots.

The band claims their ninth studio release is influenced by the the R&B and soul that pulses through the Truckers whiskey-cured veins, but even so, the rock remains. The first single, "Used to Be a Cop," is pure songwriting brilliance; a pained recollection of a lifetime of struggle that bristles with the energy of a rolling bass line. Check it out below.

Go-Go Boots will be released on February 15 on ATO Records, but the Drive-By Truckers rock show is already gassing up. The band will cap off 2010 in New York City, before launching into nationwide tour through March.

Drive-By Truckers on Tour

Thu Dec 30 Brooklyn, NY BROOKLYN BOWL SOLD OUT
Fri Dec 31 New York, NY TERMINAL 5 w/special guests including acts from the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, David Hood, Kelly Hogan, horns and more!
Sat Jan 01 Philadelphia, PA TLA
Thu Jan 13 Athens, GA 40 WATT w/2ND Sons Fri
Jan 14 Athens, GA 40 WATT w/Don Chambers and Goat and Henry Barbe
Sat Jan 15 Athens, GA 40 WATT w/David Barbe and The Quick Hooks and The Camp Amped Band

Thu Jan 20 Ft Lauderdale, FL CULTURE ROOM

Fri Jan 21 Tampa, FL THE RITZ YBOR

Sat Jan 22 Orlando, FL HOUSE OF BLUES w/John Bell & Friends, Nickel and the Polar Bears

Sun Jan 23 Jacksonville, FL FREEBIRD LIVE w/Futurebirds

Wed Jan 26 Pensacola, FL VINYL MUSIC HALL w/Futurebirds

Thu Jan 27 Huntsville, AL CROSSROADS w/Futurebirds

Fri Jan 28 Oxford, MS THE LYRIC w/Futurebirds

Sat Jan 29 Nashville, TN CANNERY BALLROOM w/Futurebirds

Wed Feb 16 York, PA PULLO CENTER @ PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

Thu Feb 17 Peekskill, NY PARAMOUNT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Fri Feb 18 Washington, DC 9:30 CLUB

Sat Feb 19 Washington, DC 9:30 CLUB

Fri Feb 25 Chicago, IL VIC THEATER w/Heartless Bastards

Sat Feb 26 Chicago, IL VIC THEATER w/Heartless Bastards

Sun Feb 27 Omaha, NE SLOW DOWN w/Heartless Bastards

Wed Mar 02 Reno, NV KNITTING FACTORY w/Heartless Bastards

Thu Mar 03 Las Vegas, NV SILVERTON CASINO w/Heartless Bastards

Fri Mar 04 San Francisco, CA FILLMORE AUDITORIUM w/Heartless Bastards

Sat Mar 05 San Francisco, CA FILLMORE AUDITORIUM w/Heartless Bastards

Wed Mar 09 Eugene, OR MCDONALD THEATER w/Heartless Bastards

Thu Mar 10 Portland, OR WONDER BALLROOM w/Heartless Bastards

Fri Mar 11 Vancouver, BC COMMODORE BALLROOM w/Heartless Bastards

Sat Mar 12 Seattle, WA SHOWBOX AT THE MARKET w/Heartless Bastards

Tue Mar 15 Missoula, MO WILMA THEATER w/Heartless Bastards

Wed Mar 16 Boise, ID KNITTING FACTORY w/Heartless Bastards

Fri Mar 18 Denver, CO OGDEN THEATER w/Heartless Bastards

Sat Mar 19 Denver, CO OGDEN THEATER w/TBA

Learn:
Drive-By Truckers Online

Listen:
1 - Used to Be A Cop

Buy:
Go-Go Boots Pre-Order

Asobi Seksu see 'Trails'

The verse to Asobi Seksu's "Trails" gives credence to silver linings; the distorted spume of James Hanna's guitar is tempered by the endearing vocal range of Yuki Chikudate and a multi-textured hook that emerges like the sun through the eye of a hurricane.

"Trails" is the first single from the forthcoming Fluorescence, Asobi Seksu's fourth album, out February 15 on Polyvinyl Records. Check it out below.

Asobi Seksu is on tour this winter.

1/27/2011 - Highline Ballroom - New York, NY*

2/17/2011 - Album Release Show at Mercury Lounge - New York, NY

2/25/2011 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA**

2/26/2011 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal, QC**

2/27/2011 - Legendary Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON**

2/28/2011 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL**

3/01/2011 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN**

3/03/2011 - The Badlander - Missoula, MT**

3/04/2011 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA**

3/05/2011 - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC**

3/06/2011 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR**

3/08/2011 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA**

3/09/2011 - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA**

3/10/2011 - Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA***

3/11/2011 - Casbah - San Diego, CA***

3/12/2011 - Neon Reverb Festival - Las Vegas, NV***

3/13/2011 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ***

3/14/2011 - Corazon - Santa Fe, NM***

3/22/2011 - The End - Nashville, TN****

3/23/2011 - Pilot Light - Knoxville, TN****

3/24/2011 - Strange Matter - Richmond, VA****

3/25/2011 - Rock and Roll Hotel - Washington, D.C.****

3/26/2011 - Johnny Brendas - Philadelphia, PA****

*w/ White Lies

**w/ BRAHMS

***w/ BRAIDS

w/ Cults

Learn:
Asobi Seksu on MySpace

Listen:
1 - Trails

Buy:
Polyvinyl Records

Hard Nips: Ready to 'Release It'

Japanese import Hard Nips are more than just a crass name. The all-girl quartet, which now calls Brooklyn home, is redefining post-punk with raucous energy and a sly sneer.

Hard Nips will release their eponymous 10" EP today on Mixpak records, and they will play a show tonight, 10 p.m., at New York City's Cake Shop (152 Ludlow Street).

Check out "Release It" from the EP.

Learn:
Hard Nips on MySpace

Listen:
1 - Release It

Buy:
Mixpak Records

Review: The Big 4 - Live from Sofia, Bulgaria

It would’ve been damn near impossible to come of age as a male in the mid ‘80s without The Big 4. But few would have imagined a tour in 2010 during which those four – Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and Metallica – would share the stage, as they did during this summer’s Sonisphere Festivals in Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Turkey. It was a landmark tour, capped by the live broadcast, and now the DVD/CD release of The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria which captures the four thrash monsters’ sets from June 22 show, in their entirety.

Before a rabid crowd who brave sunshine and rain with little concern for anything but the music, these titans don’t disappoint. From the celebratory set by Anthrax's original line-up to the road-polished headlining set of Metallica, each act delves deep into their expansive catalogs, with plenty of nods to their mid-80s origins.

Surprisingly, the standout sets are from Megadeth, highlighted by the amazing fretwork of Chris Broderick, and Slayer, who spew evil from a massive wall of Marshall amps. Metallica’s set is impressive, due to the polish of these veteran road dogs, but the danger that once epitomized the quartet has been softened, in contrast to Megadeth and Slayer, who still incite fear with maniacal riffing and full-throttle attack.

Twenty years ago, The Big 4 would have been unthinkable. But The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria is not only a reality, it is a visual, sonic treat that exceeds the hype that surrounded its inception and initial broadcast.

Buy:
Metallica Store

Review : Kylesa's Spiral Shadow

Kylesa continues to bend and flex, expanding beyond the metal genre that has rightfully claimed them to this point. The post-hardcore of To Walk A Middle Course and the Southern sludge of Static Tensions remain embedded in the group’s psyche, but are enhanced by frontman Phillip Cope and guitarist Laura Pleasants thirst for texture and sonic complexity.

Patience and control are at Kylesa’s disposal on this outing, and the album-opening “Tired Climb” begins a trend of inspired flashes with its tension-building introduction and growling release. The twists and turns grow broader with each subsequent composition; from the fire and ice of “Cheating Synergy," to the heartening refrain of “Don’t Look Back,” the overdriven arc of “To Forget,” and the fertile palpitations of “Dust,” the instrumentation grows richer with each track. Fueled by an extensive, albeit appropriately utilized, collection of effects, along with broader vocal approach by both Cope and Pleasants, the songs bloom willingly and naturally.

It would be easy to say that Spiral Shadow is a true representation of Kylesa’s sound, but given the band’s perpetual evolution, this wouldn’t be a safe bet. Evanescence is this band’s modus operandi, and Spiral Shadow is a classic payoff for Kylesa’s willingness cast itself into the unknown.

Spiral Shadow is out now on Seasons of the Mist.

Listen:
1 - Tired Climb

Buy:
Seasons of the Mist