My Bloody Valentine is going to pass out free earplugs to fans during its upcoming European tour. This idea is about two decades too late for many who have already witnessed the eardrum shattering noise this band emits live. Several friends of mine who have had the good/bad fortune of seeing My Bloody Valentine in concert swear unequivocally that it was the loudest thing they have ever experienced. Bar none. The ringing lasts for days. Both Kevin Shields and Belinda Butcher have ear problems, which will be no surprise to anyone familiar with the band’s swirling shoegaze wall of noise. I learned my lesson a long time ago never to attend a show without earplugs. I don’t care if it’s acoustic night in someone’s basement. I wear earplugs 100% of the time. I still know lunatics who practice with bands in metal shacks with amps turned up to 11, who don’t wear them or even care, and they are insane. I do not want to spend my days listening to the relentless buzzing sounds of my own dying cells.

Arctic Monkeys performed its brooding builder “Crying Lightning” last night on Jimmy Fallon, complete with stoner rock hairdos. Solid. The single is available on vinyl through Oxfam. Can’t wait for the new full-length on the 25th. Very annoyed, though, that there’s no love for the South on the current tour:

08/05 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
08/07 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
08/08 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
09/14 – San Diego, CA @ Soma
09/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
09/16 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
09/18 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
09/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox at The Market
09/20 – Vancouver, BC @ Malkin Bowl
09/22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
09/23 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
09/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
09/26 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
09/28 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
09/29 – Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
09/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
10/02 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
10/03 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
10/04 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
10/05 – Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom

It’s sort of disheartening to hear one of my favorite songs of all time in a vodka ad. I’m 99% certain that this is a cover, though. It doesn’t sound like New Order’s version, and I know it’s not Joy Division’s version. So, either it’s some crazy remaster or a cover. That’s not much consolation, even if it is.

I haven’t listened to The Raveonettes since 2002 when Eric reviewed Whip It On, featuring the following bit of hype deflation: “I’d probably be a lot more excited about this band were it not for so many untrustworthy people telling me how excited I should be.” Apparently, the hype is back.

Here’s their newest single from their forthcoming 4th album, In And Out Of Control.

Via Tug

Some promo company sent me a crappy cover of Kristin Hersh’s Your Ghost which reminded me of this utter magnificence by µ Ziq. Sure, it’s a sample, not a cover, but whatever.

I’m late to this, but wow. just WOW.