Among the honorable mentions for our highly anticipated 2011 local records list was ambitious garage rockers Vee Dee. Citing a post from label Boulevard Records, we said they'd drop their new record at the end of February. Well, February has come and gone, and there's no Vee Dee. (So to speak.) What gives? more ›

Over the course of two albums—the self-released Live Over The Rainbo, and its glossier studio twin Lux—the micro-scene supergroup has mixed garage-rock swagger and a ferociously disciplined sense of songwriting. Disappears combine sing-shouting, Krautrock’s hypnotically repetitive rhythms, and proto-punk’s snarling guitar tones to create tunes so packed with jams it’s easy to forget they often barely cross the three-minute mark. Indeed, if brevity is the soul of wit, then Disappears must be some smart motherfuckers. Guider, the band’s third effort overall and second album for Kranky Records, is only half-an-hour long. But Disappears’ creative leap forward on Guider accomplishes so much in so little time that anything else longer would be needless self-indulgence. more ›

Given their penchant for minimalism, it shouldn't be surprising that local quartet Disappears can unpack lots of new information in a small amount of space. But even strident fans of the band's simple, devastatingly effective blend of garage-rock swagger and Teutonic rhythmic precision were likely surprised by the rapid-fire delivery of big intel on a recent blog post. The bad news first: Disappears’ drummer, local super-musician/producer Graeme Gibson, is leaving the group. The good news, according to said post? The split is “totally amicable,” as Gibson is moving to a new town where he’ll have “some awesome opportunities ahead.” The even better news? The guy filling in for Gibson on the kit “for as long as he is able or wants to” is Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, a dude who has played the drums on one of the best records of all time. more ›

If you missed today’s stellar installment of Audible Architecture with The Ex at Millennium Park’s Great Lawn, never fear! You can get your fill of electronic music in the open air when the park puts on their Audio Picnic tonight, where you can witness firsthand the intense battle for local label dominance as employees of Thrill Jockey Records, Bloodshot Records, Kranky Records, and Drag City throw down their finest tunes at this musical free-for-all; rare recordings and as-yet unreleased tracks from the labels’ upcoming albums are definitely part of the evening’s playlist. more ›