Since Maraqopa came out yesterday, I thought this would be a good opportunity to plug the interviews I did with Damien Jurado and Richard Swift for my “day job.” (That’s in quotes because it’s actually a nighttime gig…irony, right?)

During the FPK After Dark conversations, a number of topics were discussed. We talked about everything from Swift’s time in Starflyer 59 to Jurado’s love for the Grateful Dead. And no, that’s not a typo.

We also talked at length about Maraqopa and the nuances of their relationship in the studio. Plus Swift used the term “grown ass woman” while discussing Captain Beefheart. That counts for something.

Slices have offered up a handful of cuts from their upcoming LP Still Cruising. The record will be released March 1 on Iron Lung Records. There are a lot of superlatives that could be used to describe the noise rock quartet, but why waste your reading when you can hear for yourself? All you should know is to expect something raw, but catchy.

Torche isn’t a metal band. There, I said it. That’s a thought I’ve entertained in the back of my head for a while now — but I couldn’t bring myself to broach the topic for fear of ridicule. “Torche…not a metal band? How dare you, dirty brigand. Have you ever listened to music?” Or at least that’s the reaction I imagine.

But seriously, after the Guided By Voices songs they covered, the general trajectory of Songs for Singles, and now with Kicking — the first track from Harmonicraft — it’s become apparent that Torche is no longer a “metal band.”

Sure, the riffs are present and there’s just enough peripheral sludge these days to fool you. That’s a given. Plus Meanderthal was flush with metal signposts. Then, when you take into account the band’s collective musical heritage (Floor, Shitstorm) and former label home (Hydra Head), I can see why you’d use the M word.

Really though, if you strip away the exoteric correlations and listen to Kicking, U.F.O or even Fat Waves — you can’t say, “This is obviously a metal band.” I’m not saying you’ll find no trace of metal in Torche these days. Far from it. Far, far from it. But calling them “metal” is no different than calling Fucked Up “hardcore” or Ted Leo “pop punk.”

Those assessments would be technically correct if you’re using a particular rubric. However, I think we all know that contrary to Central Bureaucrat No. 1′s opinion, being technically correct isn’t always the best kind of correct. At the very most, you could say that Torche is an aggressive, metal-informed rock band with pop tendencies. That’s definitely not the same as “metal band.”

Now that I’ve wasted your time with my inane conjectures, listen to Kicking. It’s a badass jam.

Morgan Lander of Kittie talks about the business of maintaining a working band, and keeping a relationship with their fans:

We certainly pride ourselves on the level of personal interaction that we have with our fans and listeners. Since our inception, we have made sure that we are the ones in control of our careers, image, music and presence, be that online or in print. We update our website, control our Twitter and Facebook page, own our publishing and merchandise rights, run the company and manage ourselves.

The band will be touring North America starting in April. More »

I’ve never been to Bonnaroo, and I was hoping to keep it that way in 2012. Nothing against AC Entertainment (the promoters of the fest) or the thousands of stinky hippies that populate Manchester, Tenn. a few days each year; massive outdoor festivals just aren’t conducive to a great live music experience most of the time.

Sadly though, it looks like my streak will end here, thanks to three words: The Beach Boys (even though it’s with John Stamos). You can also throw in these two words: Bad Brains. Sure, there are some good undercard acts as well, but I’ve either seen them or could see them without the gentle waft of patchouli.

Oh yeah, and Radiohead is headlining. Yawn.

See the Bonnaroo 2012 lineup.

Narrows recently introduced a new song from the forthcoming album Painted, which is out Feb. 28 on Deathwish. TB Positive comes to us in the form of a video comprised of stock footage. Narrows frontman — and former Botch vocalist, mind you — Dave Verrellen introduced the video:

I’m happy that we get the opportunity to create and release music, and I’m also grateful that folks are interested in the origin, content, lyrics, feelings and so forth. But I generally let the songs speak for themselves. To be honest I enjoy thinking that someone might adapt a song to their own experiences and feelings and love it for that reason. So I’m leaving my soap box out of it.

See the video for TB Positive.

While I haven’t had time to work my way through Some Nights, it’s obvious (even from the first single, We Are Young) that Fun has embraced the slick production offered by bigger budgets and notable producers. And again, I’ve only skimmed through about half the tracks, but the arena-sized hooks that populated Aim and Ignite seem present here and there.

Chris Evans, keyboardist for The Sleeping, recently posted his take on Converge’s Jane Doe. “This was all played in a few live takes,” Evans said. “No midi programming at all just me and my fat little fingers.”

I’m glad I stumbled upon the music of Emily Jane White, who has a new album coming out May 22 titled Ode to Sentience on Antenna Farm Records. The entire album is streaming on her website, where you’ll find 11 tracks of breathy, haunting melodies and minimalist instrumentation.

[via Paul M. Davis]

Did Get Up Kids singer Matt Pryor know that Something to Write Home About would go on to be such an important album?

Anybody who says that they were making an “important” album is either an idiot or an asshole. You’re just trying to make a good record. How it’s interpreted throughout history is not up to you at all. It’s completely up to everyone else. I don’t know that what we did is important. I’ve been told by lots of people that they like it and some of those people are in successful bands but most of them aren’t.