Hanson The Walk [3CG Records]

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About once every two or three years a record comes along that is so captivating, it ends up in residence in your cd player for about one month straight. Finally, after myriad bland new releases this year, many of them tepid and uninspiring, we have been offered up some form of musical redemption, and the saviors responsible for our salvation are three chaps from Oklahoma, brothers in fact, who are simply known by their last name, Hanson. Their new recording is called The Walk, and all I can say is that you better walk, but don’t saunter, and certainly do not run, on over to your local record store to pick up this masterpiece. I have also heard that Walmart has it in stock for those of you who reside in the Midwest.

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Cake Giveaway

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CAKE is proud to announce their upcoming release, B-Sides and Rarities, which features covers of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and Barry White’s “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up” plus other covers and CAKE originals. You could actually win this rarities album along with a CAKE prize pack! Whoa!

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To win, be the 50th person to email- usounds AT gmail DOT com with “CAKE” in the subject line. Sorry, US and Canada only.

Never, Never Gonna Give You Up mp3

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News Highlights

NME reports today that The Jesus and Mary Chain want to hear from you! Post any question to the band about their spilt or the current reunion tour. We asked them if they think a person’s metabolic rate has a direct connection to how many d’s they take per day. More information can be found here.

And while you’re at it, why not give Les Savy Fav a call? According to their website, the guys are looking for people to sing along with their new songs (posted on the website) into an answering machine. I’d rather sing to the big sweaty guy in person, but this is cool too. You will find a phone number and instructions to sing your ass off HERE.

 

Mando Diao Ode to Ochrasy [Mute]

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Rating: 6.8

Mando Diao is the second Swedish band I’ve reviewed in the past month. It appears as though the twenty-first century is upending the unspoken rule that in order to be European and play rock, you have to be from Britain. In the past year alone, indie bands like Mew or Peter Bjorn and John have demonstrated crossover success in the States and solid chops to boot. Mando Diao’s third full-length album, Ode to Ochrasy shows a talented band exploring facets beyond the 2002 garage-rock revival. Although the diversity on the album is sometimes a liability, these Swedes know what they’re doing and know how to deliver something solid.

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