Check. It. Out.

_CMJ_’s Rebecca Nathanson deconstructs the new *Stuyvesant* CD, _Fret Sounds_, and arrives at the same conclusion as we: it’s a great album.

Read on:

“Stuyvesant, the high-energy indie rock band from New Jersey, is unabashedly, and refreshingly, forward with its intention to lose all pretenses and just play good rock music. From its solid rhythm section to its catchy melodies, Stuyvesant throws everything it has on the table for Fret Sounds, the band’s second full-length album. It ends up with 10 songs that are most effective when the guitars are upfront, the drums are heavy and the lyrics are clever.

Opening track “Clyde” epitomizes the simple and effective formula that the band uses so well: steady rhythms, blazing guitar work, tempo variations, sing-along choruses and vocals that somehow maintain their musicality even when inching toward screaming. When Stuyvesant sings, “Selfish. Hellish/It’s been duly noted that you are ego-centric./Gutless. Clueless,” on “Duly Noted,” the phrasing is so fitting with the instrumentals that the words don’t feel overly harsh, just accurate.

Fret Sounds, a play on the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, emphasizes the four band members’ strengths as musicians, from Sean Adams and Ralph Malanga’s guitar riffs and harmonies on “Let’s Talk Topography” to the smart lyrics of “Bullfrog.” All the while, Pete Martinez and B. Musikoff are anchoring the music with a rhythm section that is capable both of providing a solid foundation and of taking the lead. All of these parts come together on “Neato,” an inescapably joyful track that is set apart by its pop hook and that succeeds in the mission it sets forth in the first verse when it vows to do “anything to brighten up your day.” By the time the too-brief a cappella section at the end arrives, there really isn’t anything left to do but succumb to Stuyvesant’s charm and do as it says.

For an album that starts out so crazed and remains that way for much of its duration, it goes out not with a bang but with a gradual fading until there is nothing left on serene closing track “Cimarron, NM” but the vibrations of the sound that was once overwhelming. It’s a kind way to end: After spending nine tracks riling you up, Stuyvesant brings you down gently.”

Yeah, that. Link: http://www.cmj.com/reviews/2011/06/stuyvesant-–-fret-sounds/

Check out *Penguins Kill Polar Bears* as they tour the UK in support of the dynamite _Sapling_ single. Here’s the dates:

May 22: Llandudno – Cross Keys
May 23: Guilford – The Boiler Room
May 24: London – Dublin Castle
May 26: Leeds – Milo
May 27: Aberdeen – Tunnels
May 28: Edinburgh – Cabaret Voltaire
May 29: Glasgow – Captain’s Rest

And if you’re in London, be sure to welcome Footstone bassist Mark Abney, who’s visiting PKPB from the US!

Indie rock has a very rich history in New Jersey. Few bands have been as much a part of that history as Speed the Plough. From their early days as The Trypes to their 2010 reincarnation, Speed the Plough’s brand of rustic songwriting brings in elements of folk, rock, psychedelia and jazz to create a comfortable, friendly musical quilt.

Check out what Jim Testa of the _Star-Ledger_ had to say about Speed the Plough recently:

“In the early years, Speed the Plough boasted an ever-changing lineup, sometimes playing with as many as nine members; band alumni include Brenda Sauter and Stan Demeski of the Feelies, rock journalist Jim DeRogatis, and musician John Neilson (whose credits include work with Rhys Chatham and Glenn Branca).

“There’s less Jethro Tull and more Van Morrison to the band’s feel now, the overall sound more electric and acoustic; although – especially on the album – [Toni] Baumgartner’s delicate contributions on flute and woodwinds keep everything in the gossamer sphere of psychedlic folk.”

It is a complete thrill for us to bring you new music from New Jersey indie rock royalty. Look for a brand-new, full-length album from Speed the Plough this August!

Check out this haunting version of the forthcoming *Penguins Kill Polar Bears* track, “Sapling.”

The full-band version of “Sapling,” along with the digital flipside, “Geiger,” is due on a download-only single on Dromedary Records on May 23.

To download the track for free, just click the little down arrow on the right side of the SoundCloud player below.

Penguins Kill Polar Bears • “Sapling” (Acoustic) by dromedary

_The Deli Magazine_ debuted “St. Cloud,” the first single from Stuyvesant’s upcoming CD _Fret Sounds_, this afternoon. Here’s what they had to say:

“Husker Du was one of the most influential bands of the 80s, but it doesn’t happen very often to hear a rock band inspired by their sound these days. NJ based Stuyvesant re-elaborates the power trio sonics of the Saint Paul based band with a modern approach, it’s power pop as it should be, without whining melodies nor over-produced recordings. The band will be releasing their sophomore CD “Fret Sounds” in June 2011 on Dromedary Records.”

Check out the “link”:http://national.thedelimagazine.com/5202/nj-artists-on-rise-stuyvesant-sophomore-album-drops-june and listen to the track, or check it out on our “Soundcloud”:http://soundcloud.com/dromedary/05-st-cloud page!

We hope you love it as much as we do!

“Sweeping soundscapes, reverb-laden guitars, searing hooks and vocals that pull at the heart strings. This is the sound of Penguins Kill Polar Bears, a post-rock four-piece band hailing from Linlithgow in Scotland. Featuring Ben Proudlock on guitars and vocals; Fraser Sanaghan on guitars; Gavin Cormack on bass; and Kieran McGuickan on drums, Penguins Kill Polar Bears have been together since 2008 and are renowned for their explosive and unmissable live performances. Their experimental sound puts them right up there amongst post-rock masters such as Mogwai and Sigur Rós but leader singer Ben’s distinctive vocals set them apart. Well, apart from having the best band name I have ever heard.

Penguins Kill Polar Bears’ first EP Dawn was released in June 2010 to critical acclaim and the follow up release Vessels and Veins was release on March 22nd, 2011. This is powerful, emotional and dramatic music and is the type of EP that makes you want to play it over and over again until the band release a full-length album. Luckily, the band are planning a full album release later in the year but in the meantime, they are offering two free downloads to promote the release of the EP Vessels and Veins:

The entire EP is up for a limited time on Spinner’s Listening Party but I would honestly say that this one is a keeper and well worth the purchase.”

Thanks for a great review! Read it “here”:http://emm-media.blogspot.com/2011/03/penguins-kill-polar-bears-offer-free.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EmmMedia+%28Addicted+to+Media%29&utm_content=Twitter