It's time once again for Weekly Roundup where we recap some interesting music-related news items and share some of our favorite songs and videos of the past week.
Some of the week's interesting news
-Pretty slow week for news. I guess there's this little event called South by Southwest coming up. If you happen to be going, we'd love to hear about it in the comments sections below. TWD will be there someday, mark our words.
-If you've been reading this feature with any regularity since I started it a few weeks ago, you may have noticed I frequently share items from the AVClub. It is one of my favorite, go-to Internet sites because it constantly has great content on all topics of pop culture. Last year, they started an awesome feature called "Undercover," where bands would play a cover song from a list pre-determined by AVClub staff. This coming Tuesday, March 15, year 2 of the feature begins and it should be awesome. Even includes reader votes. Here are two of my favorites from last year to get you excited. (And here's a list of all of them. And here's the holiday edition.)
Wye Oak (who just released a new album this week) with Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg covering "Strangers" by the Kinks:
The Swell Season covering "Two-Headed Boy" by Neutral Milk Hotel (and a little more):
The Swell Season covers Neutral Milk Hotel
Some music sent our way this week we found quite diggable:
-I dug this track "Invitation" by Randi Russo. She has a compelling voice and I love the fuzzy guitar tone – reminds me of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which is always a good thing. And the horns at the end are great too. It feels very much of the classic rock tradition but without being stale in any way. This is from her upcoming album Fragile Animal. More info here.
-Speaking of classic rock, Dirty Names has captured peak era Rolling Stones quite well on their debut EP Rock and Roll Mind Control. They seriously have the blues rock thing down and it sounds so good. Check out this track, "Don't Try Making A Move." Anytime I think "Rip This Joint" within the first five seconds of hearing a song, I want to keep listening. If you do, the great EP is available here.
Don't Try (Making A Move) by dirtynames
-Here's a song that burst out of the gate and only let up to indulge a fantastic groove in the second half. I dig it, baby. I don't doubt Heypenny will have you thirsting for some more of their uniquely funky, energetic rock. The album A Jillion Kicks is available here.
-The London by way of Lima Francois Peglau oozes vintage-pop cool. He released his debut album The Imminent Failure of Francois Peglau, but based on a song like "One Minute to Midnight Dream," he was either being slyly humorous or completely oblivious to his talents when naming that album. Check it out, you'll see what I mean. The album is available here.
-I don't think I heard a catchier song this week than "When Will They Learn?" by Alejandra O'Leary. She's got a new album coming out and I believe this track lives up her to description of it as "popalicous." A tasty tune indeed. You can find out more about Alejandra here.
-I'm going to resist the use of any cliches to describe where this next band comes from and just say they are from Australia. They're called Lime Cordiale and I really like this song, "Say It." It's laid back and has some neat little moments to it, like the humor and harmonies. Here's their website.