TwentyFourBit

24B's Feed

News for your muse.

Facebook

James Iha Solo Album, Look to the Sky, Detailed

It’s hard not to feel a bit of nostalgia when it comes to James Iha’s solo debut, Let It Come Down. Put to tape toward the end of the Smashing Pumpkins’ 1990s heyday, the decidedly un-SP set and intimate change of pace on Adore five months later seemed to foreshadow Iha’s imminent departure. So, for those of us raised on grunge and steeped in an angsty high school rock obsession, the end of an era felt nigh. Given that I’ll always have a soft spot for this unflinchingly saccharine collection of folk-pop, it comes as a welcome surprise to hear that Iha will return with a sophomore effort, his first solo outing in 14 years, this spring.

Our friends at Hipsters United report that an online listing and official Facebook page have gone live for Look to the Sky, the 12-track LP due out in March via EMI Japan. The label have also shared the album cover, tracklist, and a new promo photo (above), in which — perhaps purposefully — Iha seems to be channeling the cover shot on Let It Come Down. Looking forward to finally hearing what he has in store after all these years, but for now, here’s a look at the song titles:

Look to the Sky

01. “Make Believe”
02. “Summer Days”
03. “To Who Knows Where”
04. “Till Next Tuesday”
05. “Dream Tonight”
06. “Dark Star”
07. “Appetite”
08. “Gemini”
09. “Waves”
10. “Speed Of Love”
11. “4th Of July”
12. “A String Of Words”
13. “Diamond Eyes” (Bonus Track)
14. “Stay Lost” (Bonus Track)

The Shins – “It’s Only Life” (Solo Acoustic)

We weren’t quite sure what to expect from the Shins last fall, now that frontman James Mercer is the only remaining original member, but now that there’s a radio-ready single, its tender B-side, and that promising live preview in the mix, I must say things are shaping up nicely for a triumphant return from the beloved Portland outfit. This week, Mercer wore the mantle of Last Shin Standing with class for a string of solo acoustic performances on the radio, reminding us just how well his better known compositions have endured before sharing the bare bones of “Simple Song.” He’s also begun testing out tunes that have yet to be performed in public, including “It’s Only Life,” a brand new cut he debuted for San Diego’s 91X yesterday, sounding perfectly at home among the Shins’ back catalog. The way this guy can pluck out a melody that catches you off guard and hits you in the gut with such precision continues to impress.

Watch the full radio session, which includes takes Port of Morrow’s lead single, the aforementioned tune at the 4:00 mark, “Young Pilgrims,” and “New Slang” below:

Bowerbirds: “In The Yard”

Back in December, Bowerbirds picked up some long-overdue attention when they dropped the lead single off their forthcoming The Clearing LP. While some of the hype was perhaps mere drooling over the fact that the set was recorded at Bon Iver’s Wisconsin studio, the strength of the tune itself, “Tuck The Darkness In,” made all the praise well-deserved regardless. Now, with last year’s Justin Vernon endorsement fully digested, comes a second taste from their third full-length: “In The Yard,” in which Beth Tacular steps forward on lead vocals before more beautiful harmonies and nuanced progressive folk takes hold. Where the last cut shuffled humbly along prior to venturing outward into a lush sonic landscape, this one pulses forward at a hearbeat’s pace with a subtle energy that feels like it collapses inward.

In short, anyone who loved the last tune should enjoy this one, too. Not to mention now that we’ve heard the opening and second tracks in order, that March 6 release date is officially a day that promises the arrival of one of the most consistent records of the year. Get ready with “In The Yard” below: