Japandroids
Celebration Rock
(Polyvinyl)
Releasing: 5 June

Japanroids are back with their sophomore outing, Celebration Rock, following the critically acclaimed 2009 debut Post-Nothing. Guitarist Brian King recently told Pitchfork: “On a lot of this new record, we actually tried to simulate the sound of what we thought the crowd would do during the songs,” says King. “Dave (Prowse, drums) and I were in the studio just screaming out as if we were in the audience at our own show.”

You can check out the new tune “The House That Heaven Built” over at Soundcloud and catch the band live at one of the dates below.

Justice, the French electronic duo who brought us the electronic hit “D.A.N.C.E.” back in 2007 along with their album †, are launching a tour across North America beginning next week. The tour will see the band continuing support of their second album Audio, Video, Disco from October 2011.

The band began the year with a New Years Day show down under and have continued their world tour through Japan and Europe. Now, following a short break, Justice begins their North American run with two sold out nights in New York before continuing west then into Canada for one stop. Well, one stop for now.

Pitchfork has given a pretty good snapshot of how crazy the next few months of Bethany Cosentino’s life will be: a new Best Coast album, a North American tour, a UK tour.  Titled The Only Place, the new Best Coast Record is set to be released on May 15. Get prepared for lots of songs about “you”.

After a glorious reunion run in 2008, Swervedriver have reunited yet again for another victory lap. However, this time around the band is employing the skills of their original drummer, Graham Bonnar. The dates for the band’s spring 2012 U.S. tour are listed below. Full details are available on Swervedriver’s website. And if you need to brush up on all things Swervie, check out Jon Garrett’s excellent PopMatters piece on these inimitable space travel rock and rollers.

Within minutes of announcing their 12-date tour of the (mostly western) United States, Explosions in the Sky had to make it a 13-date tour. Their San Francisco date sold out almost instantly, making it more than necessary to play an extra night at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater.

Whether it’s the success of their most recent album, 2011’s Take Care, Take Care, Take Care or their apparently earth shattering live show, Explosions may have just turned their name into reality.

Check below for tour dates, and a weirdly hilarious (also hilariously weird) yet touching video, Be Comfortable, Creature.