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

REAL ESTATE – “Green Aisles” – Days (Domino)

Track of the year candidate. Been waiting for quite some time now for the follow-up to Real Estate’s self-titled debut. Days is a superb record. I can’t put my finger on how they improved on the original. The formula hasn’t changed much – lazy (in a good way) vocal melodies, reverb-soaked guitars that literally every buzz band utilizes, and breezy guitars combine to create a sum worth way more than its parts…is that how that expression works? What I’m saying is this: I love the new Real Estate album.

The Playlist

YOUTH LAGOON The Year of Hibernation (Fat Possum)

Everyone’s talking about him. Guess what? It’s really damn good. Super fragile songs from a dorm room in Idaho. Thankfully, dude shoved his vocals all the way to the back of the mix to make room for his glorious keyboard and guitar arrangements.

PSYCHIC ILLS Hazed Dreams (Sacred Bones)

A great fit for one of the best labels in the world, the Ills hail from New York and play lots of dark spooky sexy halloweeny songs.

NEON INDIAN Era Extrana (Dine Alone)

Seems like the Indian was a step behind M83 this year in terms of hype power, but this—along with Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming—has gotten my hipster ass off the bar stool and onto the dance floor. Lots of fun!

COLDPLAY Mylo Xyloto (Parlophone)

The kings of pop music are back! Dudes, I don’t lie in the Zulu Report. The first song is soooooo good. They’re an indie rock band now. OK, fine. There’s still a lot of cheesy synth beds and strings and stuff but still, it’s not as boring as it was before. And I really do like the first song.

FUTURE ISLANDS On The Water (Thrill Jockey)

Slow building electro pop outfit from Baltimore. These guys are bros with Dan Deacon, right? I always thought it’d be cool to be part of that crew. This album makes me even more jealous. What a cool voice on the frontman, too!

NURSES Dracula (Dead Oceans)

Portland Oregon three-piece Nurses have returned to grace us with a slick and danceable indie rock record that is equal parts Dirty Projectors and Rapture.

The Gig

Tuesday NOVEMBER 8 – Real Estate @ Biltmore

You listened to The Track. Please go to The Gig. Real Estate are not breezy in real life. They rock. Hard. Tack on openers Big Troubles (who are also playing a Zulu instore the following evening) and you have an epic night of New Jersey lo-fi to mellow your harsh.

The Glance

Tue NOV 01 KATE VOEGELE – MEDIA CLUB
Wed Nov 02 LITTLE RED – Media
Wed Nov 02 THEE SATISFACTION – WALDORF
Wed Nov 02 CUFF THE DUKE – Electric Owl
Wed Nov 02 THE FUGITIVES, CR AVERY, WIL – VOGUE
Thu NOV 03 IMPIETY – RED ROOM
Fri NOV 4 WARBRINGER – FUNKY’S
Fri NOV 4 LEMONHEADS – BILTMORE – WE’RE SOLD OUT
NOV 05 SAT GENITORTURERS – RICKSHAW
Sat Nov 05 THE FIELD – Electric Owl
NOV 05 SAT RICHARD DINSDALE – GINGER 62
Sun NOV 06 AMANDA PALMER – VOGUE – WE’RE SOLD OUT<
Sun Nov 6 DEER TICK – RICKSHAW – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Mon NOV 7 SHONEN KNIFE – BILTMORE
Tue Nov 8 REAL ESTATE – BILTMORE
Tue NOV 8 THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS – VENUE
Tue Nov 08 HOLY GHOST! – Fortune
Tue Nov 08 RICH ROBINSON – Media
Tue Nov 08 LITTLE SCREAM – ELECTRIC OWL
Wed NOV 09 ELLIOTT BROOD – COMMODORE
THU NOV 10 APPLESEED CAST – MEDIA CLUB
Thu NOV 10 SWITCH (MAJOR LAZER) – REPUBLIC
Thu NOV 10 FIVE ALARM FUNK – VENUE
Thu Nov 10 YUKON BLONDE – Biltmore
Thu NOV 10 DAWES + BLITZEN TRAPPER – RICKSHAW
Thu NOV 10 BAR 9 – GOSSIP
NOV 11 FRI WOMBATS – VENUE – WE’RE SOLD OUT<
NOV 11 FRI Z TRIP – 560
NOV 11 FRI MICHAEL WOODS – CELEBRITIES
NOV 11 FRI KOAN SOUND – ELECTRIC OWL
NOV 12 SAT NORMAN DORAY – GINGER 62
NOV 12 SAT HEY ROSETTA! – WE’RE SOLD OUT-
NOV 12 SAT MICKEY AVALON – GOSSIP
NOV 12 SAT WILD FLAG – Biltmore
NOV 12 SAT FALTYDL – ELECTRIC OWL
Tue Nov 15 SCOTT H BIRAM – MEDIA
Wed Nov 16 AUSTRA – Electric Owl
Thu Nov 17 BLACK JOE LEWIS + THE HONEY BEARS – RICKSHAW – WE’RE SOLD OUT<
Thu Nov 17 GRIMES – ELECTRIC OWL
Thu NOV 17 DUBFIRE – GOSSIP
Fri NOV 18 AN21 + MAX VNGELI: STEREOTYPE FRIDAYS’ 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY – CELEBRITIES
Fri NOV 18 NOAH + THE WHALE – VENUE – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Fri NOV 18 BASSNECTAR – PNE FORUM WE ARE SOLD OUT
Fri Nov 18 WU LYF – Electric Owl
Fri NOV 18 TUNE-YARDS – BILTMORE – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Sat NOV 19 OHBIJOU – BILTMORE
SAT NOV 19 ARAABMUZIK – ELECTRIC OWL
SAT NOV 19 MARK FARINA – FORTUNE SOUND CLUB
NOV 20 SUN DEATH FROM BOVE – COMMODORE
Mon NOV 21 RACHAEL YAMAGATA – MEDIA – WE ARE SOLD OUT
Mon Nov 21 DEATH FROM ABOVE – COMMODORE
Mon Nov 21 PLAID – Biltmore
Tue NOV 22 THE SOUNDS – COMMODORE
Tue NOV 22 ONYX – FORTUNE SOUND CLUB
Wed NOV 23 KYUSS – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
Thu Nov 24 IMAGINARY CITIES – BILTMORE
Thu NOV 24 SIDNEY SAMSON – FORTUNE
NOV 25 FRI ALVIN RISK – CELEBRITIES
Sat Nov 26 DEEP DARK WOODS – BILTMORE
Tue NOV 29 BEADY EYE – COMMODORE
Tue Nov 29 NATIONAL – ORPHEUM – WE ARE SOLD OUT
Wed NOV 30 JANE BIRKIN – VOGUE