sonic slang

Labor Day Loungin'

Sonic Slang is taking a semi-siesta for the holiday weekend, but don't panic, we've got a parting gift filled with more than enough killer tunes and pelvic thrusts to get you through 'Til Tuesday.  Now follow this dude's lead, and bust a move on down to the beach...

AC/DC - "Rock 'N Roll Train"

AC/DC's new single, "Rock 'N Roll Train," is streaming on the band's official site.  Thankfully, they didn't throw us any curveballs after eight years on ice.  Those well-worn riffs might not pack the same punch they did in the Back in Black days, but my devil horn/air guitar reflex kicked in just the same.  Welcome back guys.

Metallica - "My Apocalypse"

While "The Day That Never Comes," Metallica's first leaked track off Death Magnetic, sounded like a re-heated (but actually pretty bad ass) page from the band's late-80s/early-90s heyday, latest leak "My Apocalypse" sounds like a late-80's/early-90's metal band that really really likes Metallica.  So much for buzz building.

Stream "My Apocalypse" at the official site

New Zeppelin Disc in the Works?

Just went we started to forget all about that whole Led Zeppelin reunion thing, Jason Bonham starts spouting off about jam sessions (Sans Robert Plant, so far) and a new album being "on the cards."  While I am not familiar with this particular expression, it sounds like a good thing.

[via NME]

The Stills - Oceans Will Rise

2008, Arts and Crafts
Verdict: B

After two huge steps back on Without Feathers, The Stills’ Oceans Will Rise makes admirable progress towards recapturing the band’s early promise. Though not quite worthy of the “return to form” tag (Logic Will Break Your Heart was just too darn good), there are at least three or four songs here that prove those heights haven’t fallen out of reach.

Stream The Verve, Matthew Sweet, more

Spinner's got a nice batch of album streams up this week, led by The Verve's comeback disc, Forth (left), as well as Matthew Sweet's Sunshine Lies, a return to the guitar-driven pop-rock sound that made him a 90's cult favorite.

Read up on the rest here, and streaming away here.

B-Sides

Taking it slow on a Monday morning...

• Mapping the songs of Springsteen
• The Hold Steady's Craig Finn to talk baseball with ESPN
• Coldplay: A Band that sews together...
• Fall releases to heat up sales?
• The Cure to call new LP 4:13 Dream
• U2 meets Shakespeare
• Vampire Weekend covers Fleetwood Mac

Preview Brian Wilson's That Lucky Old Sun

Summer may be on its last legs, but USA Today is streaming a preview of Brian Wilson's new LP, The Lucky Old Sun (due 9.02), so at least we have a good soundtrack to go out on.

Predictably, it's a little corny in parts, but after a couple spins we can definitely weed out a few highlights.  Sadly, this one won't make it in time for the Labor Day shindigs, but add the title track, "Midnight's Another Day" and the Beach Boys-esque "Can't Wait Too Long" to that Indian Summer playlist, STAT.

Springsteen to Close Out Yankee Stadium?

Rumor has it the Steinbrenners are mulling plans for a going-out-of-business blowout at Yankee Stadium, featuring a performance by either Bruce Springsteen or Paul McCartney.  Since it seems unlikely we'd say goodbye to an American landmark with a performance by a British artist, my money is on The Boss.  Following recent reports of a Super Bowl gig for the E Street Band, lets hope the Knicks don't get any ideas...

"How to Enjoy A Cardinals Gig" by Ryan Adams

Foggy (now in all new orange and black flavor) has offered up some tips for enjoying a Cardinals/Oasis gig.  Ryan, sounding totally cool with stroking the Gallaghers' egos ("It's their game, and we're their too...they got mad hits."), above all wants us on our best behavior:

"Be kind to your neighbors. They might really have to use the men’s/women’s room- maybe you could be polite and hold their place and stuff- It’s nice when you guy’s have your own seats though. It makes me feel like we are actually like showing you guy’s a movie of a concert we are editing as we play. Also, long shows are tiring and some people are older than others or maybe they have challenges and I think it’s okay for rock to happen where people can sit."

[via Foggy - The Cardinal Cave]