Silversun Pickups’ latest album, Neck of the Woods, was released last week, and it’s stellar.

If you’re looking for a Panic Switch or Lazy Eye, you might end up disappointed – but if you’re interested in SSPU’s experimental side, this might turn out to be your cup of musical tea.

For one, this is a long album. There aren’t any short songs here; in fact they’re all pretty spread-out. The length of this record allows the band to really go down new avenues. Skin Graph, the album’s 6-minute opener, sets the tone amicably. A slow intro gives way to shimmery guitars and a blast of drums, and it isn’t until nearly the 3-minute mark that the song has its “chorus”.

People have always tended to point out the band’s not-so-hidden love for the shoegaze-y, distorted, moody alternative rock that early Smashing Pumpkins turned out. Taking into consideration their sonic love for the Pumpkins, it isn’t far-fetched to call Neck of the Woods their Siamese Dream.

This isn’t to say, however, that this will turn off ALL fans of Swoon and Carnavas – this album might prove divisive to some (as ballsy albums usually do), since it’s much more of a “let’s try something new” affair, but those that “get it” will love it.

Make Believe sounds a bit Swoon-ish, although it takes a while to get going since it’s another lengthy song.

In terms of a “radio hit”, look for Mean Spirits to end up dominating the airwaves soon. It has that Silversun single sound – fuzzy, electronic-tinged guitars and Brian Aubert’s unmistakable vocal delivery. And it’s damn catchy, too.

Simmer is another key point on the album, an extended exploration into the emotive aspects of their sound as a unit. I can imagine a pretty sweet light show going along with this song live, another tune that dabbles in electronica with its synth blasts and urgent tones.  The same can be said for The Pit, which starts out sounding like a song on the Drive soundtrack.

It would be great to see Silversun give Neck of the Woods the full album treatment live, as this is a solid “album experience” more than it is a collection of individual songs. Further, it might actually be a better experience to listen to it all the way through rather than track-by-track, which is a rare thing to say in today’s iTunes-singles dominated music world.

Dots and Dashes (Enough Already) even reminds me a bit of Kasabian, those delightful U.K. electro-rockers who are a personal favorite of mine. It’s weird to say Silversun sounds like Kasabian, but the song’s groove-laden rhythm and melody remind me of something Sergio & the gang would come up with.

If you haven’t gotten the hint yet, Neck of the Woods is a “different” type of album from Silversun Pickups. With this album, they really spread their wings, so to speak, and it results in one of the most solid albums of the year so far.

Personally, I can’t wait to hear where they go from here, because this is one damn good record.

One of our favorite albums of 2010 was Fang Island‘s self-titled debut, and this morning the band finally detailed its follow up, Major, which will be released on July 24th via Sargent House (BtH faves, if you weren’t aware).

If they’ve expanded upon the blissful, guitar-driven harmony that characterized the first album, you’re going to be doing a bit more high-fiving once summer fully arrives.

From the band’s press release:

Like the painstakingly chiseled marble of the album artwork, Major is hefty, solid, monolithic and regal. Whereas Fang Island described their celebrated 2010 self-titled Sargent House debut as, “everyone high-fiving everyone,” Major is evermore confident, triumphant and brimming with infectious enthusiasm. Its warm harmonies are given proper berth with more expansive dynamics and focused pop song craft.

Among the reasons why they named the album Major, and why its album cover looks the way it does:

- Major key (the first song is minor though!)
- Valley girl colloquialism
- Because we are on an independent label
- Because the rank under Sargent (House) is major
- It sounds like a constellation
- Steely Dan’s “Any Major Dude” was in rotation a lot during the sessions
- The record is packaged to look like stone because it’s ROCK. I really wanted people to hold a piece of rock when they picked up the record.”

Get amped with the teaser video below, and stay tuned for more Fang Island goodness in the months to come.

Major track listing:

1. Kindergarten
2. Sisterly
3. Seek it Out
4. Make Me
5. Never Understand
6. Asunder
7. Dooney Rock
8. Regalia
9. Chompers
10. Chime Out
11. Victorinian

The world probably doesn’t NEED a new Marilyn Manson record, but when it’s this good it just might be worth it.

Last week, he (and his band of the same name) dropped his eighth studio album, Born Villain, and to put it bluntly: it boasts some of the best MM music in at least a decade. Granted, that isn’t really saying much, considering how uneven Eat Me, Drink Me and The High End of Low were, but this should please even the most disillusioned of fans.

If you dug albums like Holywood and Mechanical Animals, you might want to give this one a try.

The lead single, No Reflection, is pretty solid even if it’s nothing new stylistically, but its video is pretty badass:

Thematically, Born Villain is also a return to form: songs like Pistol Whipped, Overneath the Path of Misery, and The Flowers of Evil let Manson revisit the sinister approaches that made his best albums so memorable.

Slo-Mo-Tion sounds like a b-side from the late 1990s, which in this context is a compliment – it’s throwback Manson, from the fuzzy electro-guitars to the creeping rhythmic approach.

Of course, no Manson record is complete without his signature snarling, moaning and wailing, and on more than one occasion here his voice calls to mind David Bowie, who arguably was the original Manson, at least in terms of musical eccentricity.

Children of Cain, with ominous electric drums and a deliberate, chain-gang pace, provides the foundation for Manson to say things like don’t assume that I’m always with you/It’s just where my mortal body happens to be.

The best (or perhaps most surprising) moment on the album has got to be Lay Down Your Goddamn Arms. Have you ever wondered what it’d sound like if Marilyn Manson did a grunge song? Odds are you haven’t, but you get to hear one anyway. It’s sublime – an off-time, Soundgarden-like tempo drives the song, which also features some Kim Thayil-esque guitars. If it sounds weird, it isn’t – it’s just awesome:

If you hadn’t ever expected Marilyn Manson to release anything impressive again, you ought to check out Born Villain. At 43, he probably could (and should, depending on your perspective) have hung up the black eyeliner and weird S&M bondage outfits, but if the result is this solid it might be worth sticking around a bit longer.

Oh, and there’s also bonus track featuring Manson and guest drummer Johnny Depp running through Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain…

Adam Yauch - 1947-2012

MCA of the Beastie Boys died today at the age of 47.

Needless to say, this sucks. Reports said he had beaten his 2009 cancer diagnosis, although he did miss the Beastie’s induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April, so maybe his situation was worsening quietly…at any rate, this is a sad day for fans of the Beastie Boys.

We extend our sympathies to his family, friends, fans, and Ad-Rock & Mike D.

Wherever you are, blast some Beastie Boys today to honor the memory of Adam Yauch – gone much, much too soon.

On Monday night, Eve 6 played a triumphant sold-out show at the Troubadour in support of their recently-released Fearless Records debut Speak in Code.

That album, if you haven’t heard it, is pretty solid – it’s a bit more pop-oriented than 2003′s It’s All in Your Head or the band’s self-titled debut, but if you dug 2000′s Horrorscope you might want to pick it up. It’s been a long time since they’ve released new music – 9 years, in fact – and they sound fresh and rejuvenated with the new record. Here’s the official video for the song Victoria, as a preview:

Those fresh vibes translated well at the Troubadour, too – their 20-song set was highlighted with some new material (Situation Infatuation, B.F.G.F., Pick up the Pieces, Lost & Found, Curtain and Victoria), as well as a dip into their back catalog (Nightmare, Open Road Song, Amphetamines, Think Twice, Superhero Girl, Tongue Tied, Leech, and so on).

The show’s openers were solid too – Kenan Bell, a L.A. resident with a keen sense of wordplay and a solid backing band got the crowd amped, while The Colourist delivered a fantastic 30-minute set of very infectious indie/pop. They have a residency at the Bootleg Theater in L.A. each Monday in June, and you should check them out if you’re into that scene – they’re great.

Below, enjoy some photos and videos from the Troubadour gig.

The tireless Chino Moreno, known mainly as the Deftones‘ vocalist, has formed yet ANOTHER band, this time joining forces with Aaron Harris, Clifford Meyer & Jeff Caxide, all formerly of post-metal/experimental band Isis.

The band’s name is Palms, and they will release their debut album on Ipecac Recordings sometime this year.

Said Harris:

“Clifford, Jeff and I started Palms a little over a year ago out of a desire to continue making music together after ISIS ended,” explained Harris.  “Chino joined shortly after and our sound took shape from there.  We’ve worked really hard on this first release and are excited for people to hear it.  It’s nice to be back behind the drum kit, and with this line up.”

Chino himself had great things to say about isis, and how the project began:

“Being a huge ISIS fan I’ve always dug the moods these dudes convey with their sound,” added Moreno.   “I am excited to combine my sense of creativity with theirs, and to have fun doing so.”

It’s not as if things are slow in Moreno’s main band – the Deftones are working on a newa lbum for a summer release, and he’s been busy with his OTHER side project, ††† (Crosses)(who obliterated the Glasshouse a few months back). The dude’s just hungry for more musical projects, and there’s no doubt that Palms will be pretty mind-bending.

Stay tuned.

On Tuesday night, I was able to catch a headlining Kasabian gig. To put this in perspective, this was a show I’ve been aching for ever since I saw them open for Oasis at a half-full Shoreline Amphitheater in 2005.

It’s been a long wait, and while their set at Coachella last Saturday was a great warm-up, the show at The Fonda (ex – Music Box) was everything I could possibly have wanted.

Opening the gig were The Dear Hunter, an eclectic indie/rock band that delivered a great set at Coachella last weekend as well. I’ve seen them play before, and each time they impress me more and more.

After a short break, it was time for Kasabian.

Tom flashing gang signs

There’s a reason this band plays stadiums and headlines entire nights of U.K. festivals. They’re flawless live.

Vocalist Tom Meighan is endlessly engaging, sashaying around the stage, clad in a denim jacket and sunglasses that he’d repeatedly pull off his face, dramatically.

Guitarist Sergio Pizzorno is perhaps even more of a beast onstage, alternating between backup and lead vocals, precise guitar work and amping up the crowd – something the band did exceptionally well. After tossing us white t-shirts with words written on them (for some kind of taping, presumably the Last Call with Carson Daly program which was advertised all night), they charged through a 16-song set featuring some of my favorite tracks of theirs, like Shoot the Runner, Re-Wired, Club Foot, L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever), I.D., Vlad the Impaler (complete with a few bars from The Prodigy‘s Smack My Bitch Up), and Switchblade Smiles.

I was hoping for Processed Beats, but oh well.

Crowd-wise, this was one of the best, most liveliest ones that I’ve witnessed since moving to L.A. in 2008. Normally, people stand around with comp tickets and $13 Jack & Cokes, disinterested in what’s going on while a smattering of true fans bop around excitedly.

Not the case at this show – the crowd was electric. Feeding off the energy put forth by the dudes on stage, the near-capacity crowd went apeshit for the entirety of their set, and it was great to see.

Kasabian have been overlooked for years in the United States – this was their first U.S. tour that I’ve noticed since the gig opening for Oasis, 7 years and 3 albums ago.

This was one of my most anticipated concerts of recent memory, given that it’s been so long, and it couldn’t have been more satisfying.

Kasabian, thank you. PLEASE don’t take 7 years to come back, we need more shows here.

Setlist:
Days Are Forgotten
Shoot the Runner
Velociraptor!
Underdog
Let’s Roll Just Like We Used To
I.D.
Thick as Thieves
Take Aim
Club Foot
Re‐Wired
Goodbye Kiss
Fast Fuse
L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)
Encore:
Switchblade Smiles
Vlad the Impaler
Fire  

Below, enjoy some photos I snapped of the gig. For more insight (and a handful of sexy videos) from a fellow Kasabian enthusiast, hit up ConcertConfessions.

On May 15, the Expendables will release Gone Soft, a collection of acoustic songs.

The 12-track album is their first acoustic record, and will include new, stripped-down versions of Expendies classics like Bowl for Two, Positive Mind, and Trying to Focus, along with other choice cuts.

From the press release:

“After years of fans asking for an acoustic album, we finally delivered.  While the album is almost entirely acoustic instruments, it is just as stylistically diverse and quirky as the rest of our discography.  We wanted this to feel like a new album which is why we experimented with different tempos, melodies, and instrumentation while recording music that spans our entire career to date,” says Raul of The Expendables.

To promote the record, the band will hit the road for a short tour in May alongside Unwritten Law and Josh Fischel, formerly of Bargain Music.

The dates:

May 18^th ~ Anaheim, CA  – House of Blues w/ Unwritten Law
May 19^th ~ Tempe, AZ – The Marquee w/ Unwritten Law
May 24^th ~ Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern  w/ Unwritten Law
May 25^th ~ Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern w/ Unwritten Law
May 26^th ~ Ventura, CA – Majestic Ventura Theater w/ Unwritten Law

And as an added delight, fans can download a free MP3 of Trying to Focus, from Gone Soft, for free by clicking this link.

We here at BtH are big fans of the Expendables, as you probably learned with this interview we conducted with lead singer/guitarist Geoff Weers back in 2010.

Listen to Trying to Focus below.

On Monday night, I managed to do something I hadn’t previously thought possible: see Garbage in concert.

I wasn’t a huge fan while they were around, but I’d learned to appreciate their music more in the years since they disbanded following 2005′s Bleed Like Me.  Last night was my first shot to see them, and it also happened to be their 2nd show in 7 years – the first being Friday night at the Bootleg Theater.

As such, I was really excited, and the show couldn’t possibly have been better. Everything sounded amazing - Shirley Manson is a wispy, seductive force on stage, and her voice was pitch-perfect. Butch Vig, even though I could barely see him behind the smoke that billowed around the stage, was as awesome as you’d expect, slamming the drums and being an all-around beast.

Duke Erikson and Steve Marker provided the rest of the music, Duke’s bass, keyboards and percussive touches creating a whirlwind of noise.

The El Rey was packed with fans, and I knew I was lucky to be there, considering scalpers bought up many of the tickets that were available for the show (and tonight’s show as well).

The 20-song set list started with Supervixen, which was really an excellent choice. From the band’s upcoming album Not Your Kind of People (which I am anticipating with much jubilation), they played the single Blood for Poppies and two other gems - Battle in Me (a personal favorite) and Man on a Wire.

They also dove into the back catalog a bit, picking out The World is Not Enough (which marked the first time I’ve seen a James Bond theme played live), Cherry Lips, Bad Boyfriend & The Trick is to Keep Breathing.

In all, it was as great as I could possibly have expected, and was honestly one of the most memorable gigs I’ve seen since moving to L.A. in 2008.

Garbage are back, and signs indicate that they haven’t lost a step whatsoever.

Set List:

Supervixen
Temptation Waits
Not My Idea
Metal Heart
Queer
Stupid Girl
Why Do You Love Me
#1 Crush
The Trick is to Keep Breathing
Vow
Blood for Poppies
Battle In Me
Man On a Wire
Milk
Bad Boyfriend
Only Happy When It Rains
Push It
Encore:
Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)
The World Is Not Enough
I Think I’m Paranoid

Enjoy some photos & videos from my new camera (which I’m thrilled to have) below.

Stupid Girl

I Think I’m Paranoid

Battle in Me (new song)

Metal Heart

Man on a Wire (new song)

Vow

Last night, Club Nokia was filled with kids in black t-shirts, as the official Warped Tour 2012 Kick-Off Party took place in the middle of L.A. Live.

On-hand for the festivities were Kevin Lyman, Warped Tour’s founder, and some of the most notable acts set to play this summer’s outing: Forever Came Calling, Matt Toka, L.A.’s own Dead Sara, and Falling in Reverse each played energetic sets, sandwiched in between surprise appearances by Warped legends Yellowcard (2 songs, acoustic) and The Used (4 songs, electric).

It was a fun night, and was a great introduction to what looks to be a pretty eventful summer – Warped assembled a solid lineup for 2012, headlined by bands such as New Found Glory, Every Time I Die, Anti-Flag, The Used, Four Year Strong, Taking Back Sunday, and so on.

I was lucky enough to have a Press Pass last night, and took some pretty cool photos of the bands. Enjoy a huge photo gallery below, as well as this video of Dead Sara playing their new hit Weatherman – it’ll be great to see them bringing some rock ‘n’ roll fury to Warped’s parking lot stages this summer.

Enjoy the photos below, and go snag your Warped tickets now, as the pre-sale began today. Don’t sleep on this, as this first pre-sale is a bargain:

To keep the festival at a great value, pre-sale package prices are $21.99 and include commemorative 3D ticket–which also serves as a jump-the-line early entry pass–a Vans Warped Tour 2012 compilation CD and a 25-cent donation to the Unite the United charity and all service fees. Only a limited number of pre-sale tickets are available per city and once they sell-out, they’re gone. The general on-sale will begin April 7.