Our friends over at Kitsilano’s Zulu Records once again present their weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, staff from the West 4th music store provide The Track, the song that is on heavy rotation that week; The Playlist, which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig, the must see show of the week; and The Glance, a view ahead to music on the horizon. From their ears to yours, enjoy…

The Track

“Heart In Your Heartbreak” from Pains Of Being Pure At Heart’s new album Belong (Slumberland)

The Pains’ self titled debut of 2009 had a surprising impact in both the underground and mainstream press, which is surprising because this is the kind of great band that all too often gets overlooked. Their debut was a charming ode to love, loss, and young adulthood, all submerged under layers of gauzy shoegaze guitar. The question in the wake of the release was could the band follow it up, or would they buckle under the hype? Well, The Pains have beautifully evolved on their new long player. Enlisting production legends Flood and Alan Moulder, The Pains have brightened their sound, no longer content to hide behind tape hiss or be constrained by the bogus pseudo-aesthetic of lo-fi. Belong is a far-reaching, graceful, anthemic album that reaches the heights of Smashing Pumpkins-style rock bombast as well as My Bloody Valentine levels of fiery guitar scorch. To be sure, this is an album designed for radio play which will initially turn some people off. But pay them no mind. This is the new soundtrack of modern romance.

The Playlist

BRAVE IRENE s/t (Slumberland)

Vancouver’s own Rose Melberg and Amanda Pezzutto (of Apollo Ghosts) kick up the dust on their debut album Brave Irene, released on the resuscitated and ultra hip L.A. label Slumberland. Perfect pop for the new season!

CRYSTAL STILTS In Love With Oblivion (Slumberland)

ALSO on Slumberland is the mighty return of Crystal Stilts, a band specializing in the kind of druggy, strung out, Velvets-pop that makes it feel good to feel kind of bad, if you know what I mean.

BOB DYLAN In Concert: Brandeis University 1963 (Sony)

Originally released only as a bonus disc in a Dylan boxset of last year, this collection is an absolute treasure! This is Dylan in his guise as the box car-traveling, wise beyond his years and already world-weary, second coming of Woody Guthrie. Awesome.

JONNY s/t (Merge)

Jonny is the coming together of two modern pop geniuses – Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Euros Child (Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci). Melding Child’s psychedelic wha?-factor with Blake’s tried and true economical hooks, Jonny is the sound of my favourite new pop band.

MOON DUO Mazes (Sacred Bones)

Moon Duo are Alan Vega as a San Franciscan instead of a New Yorker. They’re Neu! as beach bums instead of commune-squatters. They’re the vast blue skyline behind that surrounds a setting sun.

JOHN ROBERTS Glass Eights (Dial)

From Berlin by way of Ohio comes the deep, deep grooves of John Roberts debut full length. Following a series of limited 12”s, we’re pretty psyched to play these deep trance cuts in our store and watch the people sway along to the subliminal rhythms.

SOFT KILL An Open Door (Fast Weapon)

We’re so pleased to have copies of this new black, gothed-out project from members of L.A.’s Blessure Grave and Vancouver’s Mutators. Soft Kill is witching hour goth that fans of early Cold Cave and Zola Jesus will undoubtedly hold close to their black, black hearts.

SLEETMUTE/NIGHTMUTE s/t (Fast Weapon)

Sleepmute/Nightmute were an excellent early aughties no wave band with ties to Chromatics, The Gossip, and the Olympia d.i.y. scene. This is a lost full length from these ragged, jagged, spastic no-wavers, from the deep vaults of some West Coast basement punk house. Savage!

The Gig

Wed MAY 25 | GUITAR WOLF at the BILTMORE

Many, many times in recent weeks customers have approached Zulu’s ticket board and asked us, “Is Guitar Wolf seriously playing Vancouver? And at the Biltmore?!” The answer is: Yes. Don’t sleep on this folks. Seeing the original Wolf band attack their instruments with the savage grace of a Dick Dale on speed or a Link Wray back from the dead, this is going to be an absolute scorcher of a show. Do not miss out on a chance to see these black leather legends thrash and boogie into the darkest hours of the night. Don’t forget to style yourself a pompadour for this one!

The Glance

Tue APR 26
MIKE WATT – MEDIA CLUB
THE BOXER REBELLION – BILTMORE

Wed APR 27
LOST IN THE TREES – MEDIA CLUB

Fri APR 29
MENOMENA – BILTMORE
PIPETTES – VENUE

Sat APR 30
TUNE YARDS – BILTMORE
JAMAICA – FORTUNE
DANCING BEAR FESTIVAL – SQUAMISH

MAY

Sun MAY 1
CORIN TUCKER – MEDIA

Tue MAY 3
ZOLA JESUS + COSMETICS – BILTMORE
JUNIP – RIO

Wed MAY 4
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS – VENUE
JESSICA LEE MAYFIELD – MEDIA CLUB

Thu MAY 5
BIG JOHN BATES – JOE’S APRTMENT
THAO AND MIRAH – BILTMORE
THE GAME – GOSSIP – WE ARE SOLD OUT
THE GAME (EARLY SHOW) – FORTUNE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Fri MAY 6
MOGWAI – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
KT TUNSTALL – VENUE

Sat MAY 7
CASS McCOMBS – WALDORF
MEN WITHOUT HATS – VENUE
DELHI 2 DUBLIN – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
YUKON BLONDE – RED ROOM
JOE PURDY – RIO
SHAD – FORTUNE

Sun May 08
BEACH FOSSILS – MEDIA CLUB
THE KILLS – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Mon MAY 09
BLACK ANGELS – VENUEWE ARE SOLD OUT

Tue MAY 10
ATMOSPHERE – VOGUE – AT THE DOOR

Wed MAY 11
PETER BJORN AND JOHN – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Thu MAY 12
DOWNLINK – FORTUNE
ROCK RELIEF – VENUE
JOE PUG – MEDIA CLUB
ROBB G & B RICH – SHINE
A-TRACK – COMMODORE

Fri MAY 13
YACHT – RICKSHAW
LAKE – BILTMORE
YELLE – COMMODORE
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS – WALDORF

Sat MAY 14
CHRISTINA MARIA – BILTMORE
TRAMPLED BY TURTLES – MEDIA – WE ARE SOLD OUT
RAVONETTES – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
PACK A.D. – RED ROOM

Tue May 17
THE GREENHORNES – VENUE

Wed MAY 18
BLACK MOON – BAR NONE

Thu MAY 19
STEVE LAWLER – FORTUNE

Fri May 20
KATHRYNE CALDER – BILTMORE

Sat May 21
JIMMY EAT WORLD – COMMODORE
SAM BRADLEY – VENUE

Sun MAY 22
DAVID GUETTA – VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE

Mon MAY 23
AGENT ORANGE – RICKSHAW
FEDERICK SQUIRE – BILTMORE

Tue MAY 24
BAMBOOZLE ROADSHOW: Chiddy Bang – COMMODORE – CANCELLED
USS W/ MICHOU – MEDIA CLUB

Wed MAY 25
GUITAR WOLF – BILTMORE
SLEIGH BELLS, NEON INDIAN – THE VOGUE – MORE TIX!!!

Thu MAY 26
KJ SAWKA – FORTUNE
NOMEANSNO – COMMODORE

Fri MAY 27
SHARON JONES – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT
LYKKE LI – VOGUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Sat May 28
YEASAYER w/ SMITH WESTERNS – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
!!! ELECTRIC OWL (928 Main St.)

Sun May 29
JENNY & JOHNNY – VENUE
ALOE BLACC – FORTUNE

Mon May 30
BLACKFIELD – RICKSHAW

Tue MAY 31
SEPULTURA – VOGUE
ADELE – ORPHEUM – SOLD OUT – VENUE CHANGE!!! EXCHANGE YOUR TICKETS
FOSTER THE PEOPLE – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

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Carousel image “Bob Dylan “by Malcolm “Skip” Liepke