THE RETURN OF DANCE PUNK: DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 ARE BACK

THE RETURN OF DANCE PUNK: DEATHFROM ABOVE 1979 ARE BACK 

BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE “ONE + ONE” — WATCH

NEW ALBUM IS 4 LOVERS SET FOR RELEASE ON MARCH 26
PRE-ORDER HERE

Death From Above 1979 (DFA), the boundary-pushing musical alliance of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler, have released their new single, “One + One.”

Watch the video here.

“One + One” arrives as an unmistakably DFA-esque track and is the first taste of new music since their 2017 release Outrage! Is Now.

“‘One + One’ is a love song,” says Grainger. “It’s the karmic sequel to ‘Romantic Rights.’ My wife, Eva, became pregnant not long after we started working on the song, and after hearing an early version she said, ‘I wish this song was dancier.’ So I went back into the studio and re-worked the drums. As the record was taking shape, every time I would come home from the studio, the baby would start dancing in Eva’s belly. Even before I walked in the room, the party would start. One plus one is three — that’s magic!”

The music video, created as a collage of disparate frames and moments inspired by the photography of artist David Hockney, was shot in Marmora, Ontario, and directed by Eva Michon, who also helmed the band’s documentary Life After Death from Above 1979 (2014). 

“Since we started playing, people would come up to the stage and after and say, ‘I can’t believe there’s just two of you,'” explains Grainger. “The video for ‘One + One’ is Eva’s way of showing that our band is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s Death From Above 1979 in multitudes.” 

Along with the first single, the band dropped a surprise announcement of their fourth LP, Is 4 Lovers, out March 26. It is available for pre-order here.

The new album, which Grainger and Keeler wrote, produced, mastered, and recorded entirely by themselves, captures the creation of a totally new sound and a reimagining of the format they created more than 20 years ago.  With the band leaving subtle hints at what was to come across social platforms over the past few months, fan response at launch, and in anticipation of new music, has been ferocious. Adding to the hype, on January 18, fans were invited to call a hotline, where the lyrics of “One + One” were recited in a dramatic reading by Keeler. With calls flooding in leading up to the single’s official announcement on January 25, the news of a forthcoming album leaves fans, fondly referred to as “Lovers,” counting down the days to the album’s release.

An exclusive line of DFA merch, including a limited edition autographed vinyl that is exclusively available only on the DFA store launched today, is available here

DFA has never sounded more assuredly like itself than it does on Is 4 Lovers

IS 4 LOVERS TRACK LISTING:

“Modern Guy”

“One + One”

“Free Animal”

“N.Y.C. Power Elite Part I”

“N.Y.C. Power Elite Part II”

“Totally Wiped Out”

“Glass Homes”

“Love Letter”

“Mean Streets”

“No War”

ABOUT DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 (DFA):

Death From Above 1979 (DFA), the boundary-pushing musical alliance created by Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler, roared out of Toronto with the uncompromising one-two punch of 2002[s fuzz-bomb EP Heads Up and 2004’s epochal debut album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, complete with a North American arena tour with Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age, before deciding mid-tour to part ways due to the strain of constantly touring. 

Almost a decade later, the rekindled DFA fireworks lit stages around the world ablaze — amassing a posse of fans so passionate they incited a genuine, barricade-smashing riot at Austin’s Beauty Bar at the 2011 SXSW festival. Playing Lollapalooza, Coachella, Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, Osheaga, Lowlands, and more, DFA continued to take the world by storm. Their second album, The Physical World (2014), took a No. 3 spot on the Canadian Billboard album chart and peaked at No. 28 on the U.S. Hot 200 — not to mention No. 3 and No. 7 shots on Billboard’s Top Alternative and Top Rock registries, respectively. TV appearances around their first two albums on iconic late-night shows including David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Fallon showed a whole new audience the DFA live goods.  

Arriving at No. 20 on the Canadian Billboard album chart, DFA‘s scorching 2017 outing, Outrage! Is Now prompted Pitchfork to remark that “Death From Above now sounds more vital than ever.” With three smashing albums to their name, the duo drummed up an easy 10 million views before going silent once more, to the dismay of fans. 

Now, DFA is back with the return of their new album, Is 4 Lovers — once again creating a new sound and reimagining the format they created more than 20 years ago. 

PEARL JAM RELEASE FIRST SINGLE “DANCE OF THE CLAIRVOYANTS”

INCLUDING MYSTERIOUSLY TITLED VIDEO “DANCE OF THE CLAIRVOYANTS” MACH I

“Dance of the Clairvoyants”, the first single from Pearl Jam’s forthcoming album, Gigaton, is now officially available. Listen to “Dance of the Clairvoyants” HERE

“I can’t tell you how proud I am about this group of songs, ” explains Jeff Ament. “As you know, we took our time and that benefited us taking more chances. ‘Dance’ was a perfect storm of experimentation and real collaboration, mixing up the instrumentation and building a great song, and Ed writing some of my favorite words yet, around Matt’s killer drum pattern. Did I mention Mike’s insane guitar part and that Stone is playing bass on this one?  We’ve opened some new doors creatively and that’s exciting.”

To accompany the single, Pearl Jam have released mysteriously titled video “Dance of the Clairvoyants” Mach I. Watch the video HERE.

As previously announced, Pearl Jam will release their much-anticipated eleventh studio album, Gigaton, on Monkeywrench Records/Republic Records on March 27, 2020 in the US. Internationally, the album will be released and distributed by Universal Music Group. Produced by Josh Evans and Pearl Jam, Gigaton marks the band’s first studio album since GRAMMY award-winning, Lightning Bolt, which was released on October 15, 2013.

Gigaton is available for pre-order now at http://PearlJam.lnk.to/GigatonPR.

CD Review: CJ Ramone “Last Chance to Dance”

CJ Ramone
“Last Chance to Dance”
Fat Wreck Chords
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Last Chance to Dance” is the latest solo effort by former Ramones bassist CJ Ramone. The album is the follow up release to Ramones 2012 album “Reconquistain” and his first release via Fat Wreck Chords. The album consists of 12 brand new tracks by Ramone and company that will surely unchain your inner pinhead.

Both catchy and to the point “Last Chance to Dance” is done and over in just under 30 minutes but don’t let the albums brief run time fool you. Each of its 12 tracks pack enough punch to keep you coming back for more as CJ continues to carry the flag of his former band. Fun, upbeat rhythms combined with tongue and cheek lyrics make this a must listen not just for Ramones fans but for fans of music in general. Songs like “Understand Me” and “One More Chance” will induce instant head bobbing while tracks like ‘Til The End” and “You Owe Me” tug at your emotions with their tales of love and loss.

Though CJ’s time in the Ramones is often overlooked by casual fans, true Ramones fans know just how impactful his joining the group was. CJ brought the group a breath of fresh air not only with his energy during live shows but also with his vocals and song writing abilities. These same abilities are present on “Last Chance to Dance” and are certainly responsible for the albums shine and appeal. 1,2,3,4, Get this album!

Track Listing:
1.) Understand Me
2.) Won’t Stop Swinging
3.) One More Chance
4.) Carry Me Away
5.) ‘Til The End
6.) Long Way to Go
7.) Mr. Kalashnikov
8.) Pitstop
9.) Grunt
10.) You Own Me
11.) Last Chance to Dance
12.) Cluster Fuck

DVD Review “Freak Dance”

Directed by: Matt Besser, Neil Mahoney
Starring: Michael Cassady, Megan Heyn, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Amy Poehler
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 97 minutes

Film: 1 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I am big fan of Comedy Central TV series “Upright Citizens Brigade”, it was the best sketch show since MTV’s “The State”. This film though is completely un-watchable and extremely painful. I know this film originated on the stage and I have a feeling that it should have stayed on the stage. I give credit to the film’s choreography as it is decent.  The music though, feels like high school theater quality and is so ridiculously over-the-top. I really didn’t dig it at all, not one song.

The film follows, rich girl, Cocolonia (Megan Heyn) who hits the streets to join a dance crew and follow her dream of dancing.  In order to compete in a huge dance underground dance-off, she must team up with partner Funky Bunch (Cassady), she has to prove she has what it takes. Notable supporting cast is not even able to help this film succeed, like Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, Horatio Sanz and Tim Meadows. Though for a film that runs only 97 minutes, it feels well over 2.5 hours.

The special features are nothing special and forgettable. There is a commentary with writer/co-director, Matt Besser and co-director, Neil Mahoney, which is quite lame. There are a two deleted scenes and one extended scene, but I thought the film was long enough. “The Dangers of Freak Dancing” is a multi-part featurette on the dance choreography in the film and the effects of its moves.  It is just as stupid as the film is and worth skipping. Lastly there is a trailer included.