A New Addition

We would like to welcome a new member & our Chicago Corospondant to The American Underground: Her name is Heather, & She will be posting some great new topics on here so keep your eyes out.

The Black Jesuses

"The first time I heard The Black Jesuses, I literally started sweating. I got that worked up. The first song I heard, “Roll Call”, was stuck in my head for weeks. Actually, it still is.I can’t really think of the last time I heard a band, let alone a two-piece, that pumped out the blues as hard hitting and raunchy as the ol’ jesuses do. The great thing about this duo is that they clearly are in tune with the stripped down, bones bare essence of the blues. They don’t fuck around trying to be fancy. It’s obvious that they’re fantastic musicians, but it sounds like they’re barely lifting their fingers when they play, and any effort being made to try and impress anyone is either non-existent or masterfully hidden. It also doesn’t hurt that they have plenty of experience writing and performing great rock songs, as I am inclined to inform you that they are also members of The Parlor Mob. If the guitar is truly an extension of a man’s penis when he plays, then guitarist/singer Dave Rosen is blowing his load all over your face and he doesn’t care if you love it or not. It’s just fun The only music currently available is a batch of live recordings posted on their myspace page, including a fucking fantastic version of The Beatles’ “Yer Blues”, driving that catchy little riff into your skull and/or groin as if you’ve just heard it for the first time. And if you need to quench your thirst for a good old-fashioned heart-wrenching ballad, they have that too in “Closer”. It’s an acoustic diddy that can make any little girl wish they were the muse and any guy wish he was bad ass enough to write a song that comes with a guaranteed lay, whether he’d ever admit to it or not. Please, do yourself a favor and listen to this band. I command you.
Source: Heather


www.myspace.com/theblackjesuses

The Kills: Announce New Single

'U.R.A Fever' to be released in January.

The Kills are set to release new single 'U.R.A Fever' on January 7.

It is their first release since their 2005 album 'No Wow', and will be released on a one-sided seven-inch vinyl with etchings on the b-side.

The track is taken from their new album, which is expected in March 2008.

No title has been announced.
Source: nme.com

Bob Dylan Joins Jack White In Hank Williams Tribute

The White Stripes rocker Jack White has teamed up with American singer-songwriter, author, musician, poet and, of late, disc jockey Bob Dylan to complete a series of as yet "unfinished" Hank Williams songs.

The lead vocalist of the rock duo star is one of a selection of musicians asked by Dylan to work on completing the "lost" songs - some of the final tunes and lyrics written by the late legend.

White recorded the unfinished Williams song You Know That I Know at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee with engineer Joe Chiccarelli. Dominic Suchtya, the bassist who guested on the White tracks, says, "Dylan had contacted him (White) to see if he'd like to finish some of these tunes.

"No one has heard it as it was a Hank Williams lyric sheet that Jack put to music and edited a bit. Jack was sent most of or all of the unfinished tunes and picked this one to finish.
Source: music_news.com

Tapes N Tapes: Complete New Album

Minneapolis four-piece Tapes 'N Tapes have completed work on their new record.

The sessions, with The Flaming Lips and Sleater-Kinney producer Dave Fridmann at the helm, have yielded 15 tracks. Guitarist Josh Grier suggests the material bears less of Fridmann's trademark hugeness than the producer's credit might suggest.

"It was nice to be able to work with someone who has a real studio," Grier told Billboard. "Having a budget was awesome, but there weren't any over-indulgences. There's no orchestral arrangements or anything."
In a separate interview with the Twin Cities Pioneer Press, however, Grier does concede that a few Fridmann-esque moments have crept into the songs.

He admitted: "There's a few random sounds in there - Dave has a lot of toys in his studio. But we tried not to be too self-indulgent. There are no Freddie Mercury arrangements."

The new record is not yet titled, and no specific date for its release has been revealed beyond a target of "late spring".

Though the band expects to tour behind the new material, as yet Tapes 'N Tapes's only scheduled date is November 30 in Minneapolis.
Source: nme.com

My Bloody Valentine: To Play First Shows In 16 Years

Indie legends My Bloody Valentine have announced details of their first live dates since 1992.

The band, who have not released an album since 1991's 'Loveless', will play three shows in summer 2008.

They will play:

London Roundhouse (June 20)
Manchester Apollo (28)
Glasgow Barrowland (July 2)
Source: nme.com

The 12 Essential Gram Parsons Songs

1. She
2. Hot Burrito #1
3. A Song For You
4. Return Of The Grievous Angel
5. $1000 Wedding
6. In My Hour Of Darkness
7. Hickory Wind
8. Love Hurts
9. Dark End Of The Street
10. Do You Know How It Feels To Be Lonesome
11. Hot Burrito #2
12. Christine's Tune (Devil in Disguise)

Brian Jonestown Massacre: Infinite Wisdom Tooth