Well, it’s Tuesday and you know what that means. There are some new album releases. As if you couldn’t tell by the post title, we’re going to be focusing on the latest from The Winter Sounds, Porcelain Empire. Those of you that listen to the podcast got a taste of the album in the form of the track “Windy City Nights” on episode #89 and the rest of the album follows in the same, excellent form, managing to blend energized rhythms and melodies with a crisp atmospheric feel. To hear additional tracks, be sure to check out The Winter Sounds MySpace page and also check out the Livewire Recordings site to view the video for “Windy City Nights”.

The band is in the midst of what appears to be eternal touring in support of Porcelain Empire so be sure to check them out when they come to your town. Full list of dates below.

Porcelain Empire Track Listing
01. Windy City Nights (MP3)
02. Gone To Save Mankind
03. Static in the Whole (Stream on MySpace)
04. Sound Forged Like Spine (Stream on MySpace)
05. A Call To Arms
06. Minnesota
07. Poor Sailors (Stream on MySpace)
08. You Can’t Give Up
09. The Great Forgotten
10. Oblivion
11. Sad Reminders
12. Earthworm Song
13. The Tournament of Getting Older

Tour Dates
06/29: Columbus, OH @ Cafe Bourbon St. w/ Church of the Red Museum
06/30: Hamilton, OH @ ClassX Radio
06/30: Dayton, OH @ Oregon Express w/ Garrison Year, The Sailing

07/03: Knoxville, TN @ World Grotto w/ Cold Hands, Royal Bangs
07/05: Greenville, SC @ Downtown Alive
07/06: Greenville, SC @ The Handlebar
07/09: Jacksonville, FL @ Jackrabbits
07/10: Savannah, GA @ Guitar Bar
07/11: Augusta, GA @ The Misson Live w/ Warm in the Wake
07/12: Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge w/ Mouser, Misfortune 500, LEGM
07/13: Auburn, AL @ Roosters
07/14: Atlanta, GA @ Lenny’s
07/15: Lafayette, LA @ Artmosphere
07/16: Houston, TX @ Super Happy Fun Land w/ Stephen Chavez
07/17: San Antonio, TX @ Limelight w/ The Lemurs
07/18: Austin, TX @ The Mohawk w/ The Noise Revival, Fiction
07/19: Dallas, TX @ Camp Jam Masterclass
07/19: Dallas, TX @ The Cavern w/ The Lemurs, The Sky Above Us
07/20: Ft. Worth, TX @ Bronco’s w/ The Lemurs
07/21: Springfield, MO @ The Outland Ballroom w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, The Lemurs
07/23: Lawrence, KS @ The Replay Lounge
07/25: Omaha, NE @ Saddle Creek Bar
07/26: Cedar Falls, IA @ The Reverb
07/27: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
07/28: Fargo, ND @ The Nestor Tavern
07/30: Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
07/31: Iowa City, IA @ The Picador

08/01: Urbana, IL @ The Canopy Club
08/03: Chicago, IL @ Ronny’s w/ NURSES, Pyrenees in Plains
08/04: Dekalb, IL @ Otto’s
08/06: Kalamazoo, MI @ Kraftbrau Brewery
08/07: Detroit, MI @ Lager House
08/08: Bowling Green, OH @ Howards Club
08/09: Grand Rapids, MI @ The Breakroom
08/10: Lansing, MI @ Macs Bar
08/17: Toronto, ON @ Tiger Bar
08/18: Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theatre
08/20: Columbus, OH @ Skully’s
08/21: Cincinnati, OH @ Stanley’s Pub
08/22: Indianapolis, IN @ Laze Daze Coffee House
08/30: Athens, GA @ Tasty World w/ Love in October
08/31: Greenville, SC @ Gypsy G’s

09/06: Savannah, GA @ Guitar Bar
09/08: Charleston, SC @ Cumberland’s w/ Slow Runner
09/11: Washington DC @ DC9
09/14: New York, NY @ Piano’s
09/17: Boston, MA @ Bulfinch Yacht Club
09/22: Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox
09/26: Wilmington, DE @ Mojo 13
09/27: Fredericksburg, VA @ The Loft w/ Jukebox the Ghost
09/30: Chapel Hill, NC @ Reservoir Bar w/ Jukebox the Ghost

10/02: Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern w/ Jukebox the Ghost, Brother Sister
10/03: Athens, GA @ Caledonia, Lounge w/ Jukebox the Ghost
10/05: Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn w/ Jukebox the Ghost, Continue and Save

11/16: Athens, GA @ 40 Watt

12/04: Winter Park, FL @ FULL SAIL
12/05: Winter Park, FL @ FULL SAIL
12/06: Winter Park, FL @ FULL SAIL
12/07: Winter Park, FL @ FULL SAIL
12/08: Winter Park, FL @ FULL SAIL

Subscription Feed

1. The Thermals – “Here’s Your Future”

   The Body, The Blood, The Machine
   Sub Pop Records
   
   Buy It: Amazon | Insound | iTunes
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

2. Enon – “Natural Disasters”

   High Society
   Touch & Go Records
   
   Buy It: Amazon | Insound | iTunes
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

3. Deerhoof – “+81″

   Friend Opportunity
   Kill Rock Stars
   
   Buy It: Amazon | Insound | iTunes
   Links: MP3 | Interview on TSOYA | MySpace

4. Pinback – “Prog”

   Blue Screen Life
   Ace Fu Records
   
   Buy It: Amazon | Insound | iTunes
   Links: MySpace

5. The Aquarium – “Can’t Afford To Live Here”

   The Aquarium
   Dischord Records
   
   Buy It: Insound | iTunes
   Links: MySpace

6. So Many Dynamos – “Heat/Humidity”

   When I Explode
   Skrocki Records
   
   Buy It: Amazon | iTunes
   Links: Review | MySpace

7. Matt & Kim – “Yea Yeah”

   Self Titled
   iheartcomix
   
   Buy It: Amazon | Insound | iTunes
   Links: MP3 | Concert Photos | MySpace

8. Maps & Atlases – “Every Place Is a House”

   Tree, Swallows, Houses
   Sargent House
   
   
   Links: Mp3 | MySpace

Subscription Feed

1. Minus the Bear – “Dr. L’Ling”

   Planet of Ice
   Suicide Squeeze Records
   
   Pre-Order: Amazon (Release Date: August 21, 2007)
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

2. The American Analog Set – “Born on the Cusp”

   Set Free
   Arts & Crafts
   
   Buy It: Amazon | iTunes | eMusic | Insound
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

3. Bottom of the Hudson – “Handwriting”

   Fantastic Hawk
   Absolutely Kosher
   
   Pre-Order: Amazon (Release Date: July 17, 2007)
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

4. Yo La Tengo – “Detouring America With Horns”

   May I Sing With Me
   Alias
   
   Buy It: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

5. Hallelujah the Hills – “Wave Backwards to Massachusetts”

   Collective Psychosis Begone
   Misra Records
   
   Buy It: Amazon | Insound
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

6. The Gris Gris – “Year Zero”

   For The Season
   Birdman Records
   
   Buy It: Amazon | iTunes | Insound
   Links: MP3 | Myspace

7. Midnite Snake – “Bigfoot ’69″

   Shaving the Angel
   Birdman Records
   
   Buy It: Amazon
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

8. Harrisons – “Dear Constable”

   No Fighting in the War Room
   Melodic
   
   Buy It: iTunes | eMusic
   Links: MP3 | MySpace

Live albums can be tricky things and live albums released after a band has already broken up can be even trickier. Release one of poor quality and the last bit of work the public has to remember you by is a poor live recording; release one that’s great and any new fans generated by the album will just have to cry themselves to sleep at night knowing that they missed out on something special.

After a few listens to a few of Life Without Buildings‘ tracks that will be included on their Live at the Annandale Hotel album (coming August 14, 2007 via Absolutely Kosher) I may head to bed in tears wishing that I had known about the band during their three-year existence between 1999 and 2002. Head over to their MySpace page to stream three of the album’s tracks (“PS Exclusive”, “Juno”, and “The Leanover”).

Live at the Annandale Hotel Track Listing
01. Liberty Feelup
02. Let’s Get Out
03. PS Exclusive
04. Philip
05. Juno
06. Love Trinity
07. Young Offenders
08. The Leanover (MP3)
09. 14 Days
10. Is Is & The IRS
11. Sorrow
12. New Town

I have to admit that I’ve never really considered myself a Minus the Bear fan, but upon hearing a few tracks from their new album, I have a feeling that Planet of Ice may be the album that turns me around. Some are calling the album one of the most anticipated releases this year and everyone has a couple more months of anticipating to do as it’s scheduled for release on August 21, 2007 on Suicide Squeeze Records. See below for a track listing and links providing a sampling of the album via Stereogum, Chickens Don’t Clap, and Suicide Squeeze Records.

Planet of Ice Track Listing
1. Burying Luck (MP3 @ Chicken Don’t Clap!)
2. Ice Monster
3. Knights
4. White Mystery
5. Dr. L’Ling (MP3 – from Suicide Squeeze)
6. Part 2
7. Throwin’ Shapes (MP3 @ Stereogum)
8. When We Escape
9. Double Vision Quest (MP3 @ Chicken Don’t Clap!)
10. Lotus