Longwave’s third album, There’s A Fire, will be seeing release on May 24. The band has undergone some lineup shifts over the last couple years and now features a new rhythm section, including Jeff Sheinkopf of the late, lamented Sea Ray on drums keys (though I believe the photo here has the old lineup, sorry guys). The bio on their website (which will hopefully get a do-over for the new record) has been updated as well.

When they first started gaining notice in mid-2002, Longwave were supposed to be the next Strokes but never quite managed to catch on with the general populace. RCA, who signed the band on the strength of their independtly-released Endsongs, was probably hoping to shoehorn them in with the great Garage Rock revival from a couple years ago, but their atmospheric style drew far more from shoegaze and space rock than their contemporaries at the time, and the sophomore album The Strangest Things didn’t manage to grab that elusive hipster cachet.

Maybe with the new album they’ll have more luck connecting with the teeming masses. Surely they’ve got as much appeal as fellow Noo-Yawkers Ambulance Ltd, who seem to be doing alright? I certainly hope so, these guys are good and I’d like to see them do well. I sort of lost track of them for a little while (and haven’t picked up last year’s Life Of The Party EP yet) but the new album comes along at just the right time for me, it’s just what I’m in the mood for. I posted this track from the new record a couple weeks ago, but I like it quite a bit, so I’ll post it again.

MP3: Longwave – “The River (Depot Song)”

See Longwave at Lee’s Palace tonight for me (tickets $10.50) – I’m sorry I have to miss this one, but I’ve got to be up for like 3:00AM tomorrow morning to catch a plane. Gads.

And speaking of bands MIA, something is afoot at Sparklehorse.com. It’s still under construction, but at least someone is tending to it. They’re supposed to have a new album this Spring.

Shearwater will be supporting The Mountain Goats on their upcoming tour, including the May 11 show at Lee’s Palace.

JAM! gets Kathleen Edwards to ruminate a bit on the current state of her career.

Chart talks to Emm Gryner about Songs Of Love And Death and her penchant for making covers albums. Emm plays a solo acoustic show at Hugh’s Room on March 29 with Matthew Barber.

The National Post wonders just why it is so many Canadian bands these days have rosters that look more like hockey teams (including the injured reserves) instead of good old-fashioned power trios like Rush.

np – Doves / Lost Souls

Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.