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

Middle Of My Heart from Sun Wizard’s new album “Positively 4th Ave” (Light Organ).

Sun Wizard’s debut full length Positively 4th Ave has just dropped and it appears poised to carry these hometown boys beyond the borders of just Vancouver. Sun Wizard give us a ten song muscled-mix of catchy 80s American jangly pop, catchy radio chorus’ and anthemic power chord crunch a la prime era Oasis. These combined elements make for a modern and yet classic album, a collection that looks back as much as it looks forward. And in James Younger and Malcolm Jack the band has not one but two very capable frontmen fully capable of chronicling the travails of modern rock ‘n roll living. These local guys have keyed in their sound and are ready to take over your radio. The question is, are you ready?

The Playlist

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS All Eternal Decks (Merge)

This is the latest release from one of the most consistently great poet/lyricists of the last fifteen years, a new set of cryptic, spare, wordy folk. Main Goat John Darnielle is a treasure and his reflections on life and mortality on All Eternal Decks make for a revelatory listen.

SHACKLETON Fireworks 2 X 12” (Honest Jons)

Two new twelve inches from one of the leading lights of the murky, dark, dank world of dubstep.

BONNIE PRINCE BILLY AND THE CAIRO GANG Island Brothers 10” (Drag City)

Brand new 10” offering from beloved Kentucky songsmith Will Oldham, backed up by the Cairo Gang, with two new songs. Proceeds from this release go towards benefiting Haiti.

THE STROKES Angles (RCA)

The long awaited fourth Strokes album has finally arrived on CD and LP. Dig the ultra retro 80s album cover! Much hyped, and even somewhat slagged, this just sounds like a nice solid Strokes album to me. What more do you want from these guys anyway?

TIM COHEN Magic Trick (Captured Tracks)

Tim Cohen continues to amaze and delight us with Magic Trick, his third solo in less than three years (which is to say nothing of his incredibly prolific full time band, The Fresh and Onlys). A charming, inventive set of off-beat pop tunes.

THE CYRILLIC TYPEWRITER s/t LP (JAZ Records)

Local popsmith Jason Zumpano issues a new vinyl full length of the kind of catchy pop that made us love Sparrow and Zumpano back in the day!

CHAIN AND THE GANG Music’s Not For Everyone (K)

Ian Svenonious leads his Gang through a short history of capitalism and youth culture and in the process highlights the musician’s most important role (keeping everybody high) as well as the greatness of Detroit’s musical heritage. Its like a first year Social Studies course with a steady back beat.

JAMES BLAKE s/t (Atlas)

A leading star of 2011, James Blake’s mix of soulful crooning and dubstep production is an unlikely revelation. His self titled debut is a kind of minimalist soul music, uncluttered, haunting and quite beautiful.

The Gig

Thu Apr 21 | TAME IMPALA w/ YUCK at the COMMODORE

This is a real double-banger of a bill: Australia’s neo-psych shaman Tame Impala with support from up and coming UK indie-guitar wranglers Yuck. Both bands successfully mine the past as a way to look to the future. And both bands are rising starts of the 2011. This looks to be the kind of show that will be talked about long after the fact. Don’t miss out on this!

The Glance

Mon Apr 11
DEATH ANGEL – BILTMORE
TWO DOOR CINEMA – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Tue Apr 12
RAPHAEL SAADIQ – COMMODORE
DEEP DARK ROBOT – BILTMORE
MATT EPP – ST.JAMES

Wed Apr 13
SUBMARINES – BILTMORE
TRENTMOLLER – VENUE

Thu Apr 14
WIRE – RICKSHAW
SEX WITH STANGERS – BILTMORE

Fri Apr 15
BRUTALFEST 2011 – RICKSHAW

Tue Apr 19
CHASE AND STATUS – GOSSIP

Wed Apr 20
JOHN VANDERSLICE – MEDIA
JACK BEATS – VENUE

Thu APR 21
HAUSCHKA – MEDIA CLUB
CLASSIFIED – VENUE
THE CAVE SINGERS – BILTMORE
TAME IMPALA w/ YUCK – COMMODORE

Fri APR 22
STARFUCKER – BILTMORE
CHILDISH GAMBINO – COMMODORE
FIVE ALARM FUNK – 560 SEYMOUR
BOMBA ESTERO – WALDORF
SEASONS FEST: CALVIN HARRIS & LAIDBACK LUKE – VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE

Sat APR 23
DENGUE FEVER – BILTMORE
THE SALTEENS – RED ROOM
TOKYO POLICE CLUB – COMMODORE

Sun APR 24
PAUL DI’ANNO – RICKSHAW – CANCELLED
PHOSPHORESCENT – MEDIA
NERO – CELEBRITIES

Mon APR 25
ROYAL BANGS – MEDIA CLUB
KURT VILE – WALDORF

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