In a short time, Ann Arbor’s Quite Scientific established itself as the go-to label for Michigan’s blossoming orchestral, indie-folk scene. With releases from Canada and Chris Bathgate and upcoming salvos from Frontier Ruckus, Maryland’s Cotton Jones Basket Ride and Philadelphia’s Hezekiah Jones, Qui Sci continues to spread the gospel while broadening its reach. Run by affable brothers Brian and Jeremy Peters and Justin Spindler, the Qui Sci boys not only CONTINUE READING

Headed up by Detour faves like Maps & Atlases, Anathallo, Child Bite, Deastro, and Great Lakes Myth Society, Midwest Fest 2008 starts tonight! Think of it as a little like Rock City, except in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and at one solitary place (Rubble’s Bar, where Black Flag and R.E.M. both played; no, not together). It’s still really close to a casino, though. But we’re willing to bet you’re going for all the sweet bands, right? Right. Peep the full line-up and schedule here. Oh, and while you’re up there, stay far away from the Wayside Bar. Trust us. — Ryan Allen

Javelins, Heavy Meadows (Suburban Sprawl Music/Quack! Media, 2008)

MP3: “Heavy Meadows”

Heavy Meadows is a record soaked with sound. Yeah, the kinetic rhythms of singer/drummer Matt Rickle and bassist Julian Wettlin that made Javelins‘ first LP No Plants, Just Animals so dynamic are still there. But they take a backseat to guitarist Matt Howard’s jangly, tremelo-laden guitars and subtle variations on a theme of New Wave. Upon first listen, the album seems like a euphoric musical jaunt through soft summer evenings and cool pastures of sonic bliss. But appearances are deceiving. There are flowers, but they’re always wilting. There’s summer, but it’s always ending. It’s easy to become transfixed on the CONTINUE READING

When we got word that a new Von Bondies song would be featured on the upcoming soundtrack to the upcoming Lost Boys flick (subtitled The Tribe, as it were), we got more excited than Corey Feldman did when he heard that he would actually be cast in the movie (sorry Haim; maybe next time). With Jason VB sounding more like Glen Danzig than ever before, click here and listen to their new “Only To Haunt You,” along with other tracks by the Hold Steady and, well…nobody else worth mentioning. Oh, and don’t be alarmed when you click the link and the new Miley Cryus starts blasting from the speakers — just scroll through the top and click on the Lost Boys image. We know how that shit can haunt you. — Ryan Allen

Talk about class. Cut Copy, who you may or may not have read us trying to make out with after they blew our minds at South by Southwest, was late to their Sunday evening time slot at the 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival. Travel issues involving Australia and O’Hare Airport. Sudden darling King Kahn tried to rally the disappointed crowd with an impromptu set of covers , but Bradford Cox didn’t seem into it, and Jay Reatard appeared on stage only to moon the crowd. We made our way toward the exits as the strains of Spoon’s sophisti-pop oomph’d and ahh’d from across the field. (It was “I Turn My Camera On.”) A line of porta-johns blocked our view of where Copy was to have played, so we didn’t see them when they first replaced their replacements on stage. But we heard half of “Future” and all of “Hearts on Fire,” and then those dudes thanked us for listening, as if we were the ones who’d CONTINUE READING

Motherfucking Watchmen. The Dark Knight got us moist but this flick is going to stick it in sideways.

While this guy was busy jacking off to the trailer, we scooped up this exclusive image of the new Entertainment Weekly cover due out this week. And if you were busy hitchhiking your way to Comic Con and missed the trailer, here it is in all its Quicktime splendor…

- Brandon W.

Nomo, Ghost Rock (Ubiquity Records, 2008)

MP3: “My Dear”

There is a certain musical thrill in hearing a record perfectly blend the elements of uncharted adventure, influential props and unbridled creativity. Enter Nomo, a power house music collective based in Ann Arbor and led by mastermind Elliot Bergman. It’s easy to hear the influence of Afro-beat, the drive of 1970s funk and the sonic squiggles of Krautrock, but at its core, it is damn fine dance music. The band’s live shows attest to their ability to throw down and get folks moving. That’s why Ghost Rock shouldn’t be as good as it is — a band this big and with such lofty ideals can fall flat in the studio. But Nomo CONTINUE READING

Faunts, “M4 (Part II)” (Friendly Fire Recordings, 2007)

Go to the beach, and you get crabs. At least that what Canadian shoegaze quintet Faunts want us to believe. But how could you not want to take the chance, given that Faunts’ new-wavy goth rock simultaneously brings to mind Slowdive and the “Nightrider” theme song? Plus, there’s a battle going on of seismic proportions, American Crab Gladiators-style. Also, props to the keyboardist for sporting a trench coat, despite the still prevalent Columbine connotations. Ballsy, dude. — Ryan Allen

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