After At War With the Mystics came out, I was concerned that maybe The Flaming Lips were running out of ideas, as that album was merely a shadow of the greatness produced with The Soft Bulletin and, shit, even Clouds Taste Metallic. These two songs from the forthcoming double album Embryonic, due September 29, prove that that’s not the case. “Silver Trembling Hands” is a very tasty technicolor psychedelic excursion, half krautrock and half Ariel Pink. “Convinced of the Hex” sounds like mid-career Flaming Lips, as reinterpreted by the band’s current prowess and tunefulness. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Matty J at YANP.

MP3 :::
The Flaming Lips – Silver Trembling Hands
The Flaming Lips – Convinced of the Hex

Nothing says instant cred like a leaked album and Jay Reatard’s forthcoming release, Watch Me Fall, is out there on the bit torrents.  The album was scheduled for an August 18th release on Matador but the self-proclaimed “young Meatloaf” announced the leak on his Twitter feed late last week.  As a sidenote, the dude is seriously spell-check challenged so I’m rethinking whether or not the spelling of his last name was accidental or intentional…

Of course the leak really shouldn’t be all that shocking given that Reatard was selling copies of the new release at his live shows.  But let’s face it, this ain’t exactly Chinese Democracy and I don’t see anyone going to jail anytime soon over this.  The tracks “Wounded” and “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” are already available for free download and point to a poppy, polished effort and a departure from the amphetamine-driven garage punk of prior releases.

Jay’s been touring in advance – er, in support – of the album and Brooklyn Vegan has some photos of the band in all its sweaty glory.  They make Tenacious D look svelte.  By the way, note the Grifters stencil on some of the road equipment.  I was just dusting off my copy of Full Blown Possession and wondering what’s happened to those guys.

MP3 :::
Jay Reatard – Wounded
Jay Reatard – It Ain’t Gonna Save Me