There are a few writers here at Synthesis who swear by Omaha noisy indie-rockers Cursive. Personally, I’m on the fence about them, having seen some hit-or-miss shows. But they’re at least worthy of a listen, and with their new album dropping this April, I plan on letting them have another shot at winning my heart.

Cursive - Mama, I’s Swollen - CD/Digital March 10, 2009, LP April 21, 2009

…Mama, I’m Swollen is an album brimming with the universal, questioning the human condition, social morality, and the ”Peter Pan Syndrome” of grown men. From the charging bass lines of album opener ”In The Now” to the quiet first chords of confessional closer ”What Have I Done?,” Mama, I’m Swollen is a natural progression that remains distinctively Cursive: a fluid amalgamation of the band’s sound past, present, and future – a band that both your punk kid sister and English lit grad student best friend can call their own.

They’re on tour this March, with a stop at SXSW. You can peep Cursive’s last tour video diary HERE. There’s a lot more Saddle Creek news. Sure, you can find all this info and more at http://www.saddle-creek.com/…but you could also just check out more after the jump…which is far more badass.

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Far off….in the distance….do you hear it? What is that? Is that a stampede of majestic buffalo coming our way? The galloping of the four horsemen of teh Apocalypse? A westward roaring ice storm? No. Nope. Just FUCKING IRON MAIDEN.

April 21st, 2009, the documentary titled “IRON MAIDEN: FLIGHT 666,” chronicling their ambitious 2008 tour, will own aging hessian the world over.

They played in 13 countries, also landing in Azerbaijan and Papua New Guinea en route for fuel stops, traveling 70,000km and performing to almost half a million fans – a schedule that was only made possible by having their own “magic carpet” enabling them to go where they wanted with all the key elements of band, crew and equipment on board one plane, which was christened Ed Force One. Even more remarkable was that lead singer and Airline Captain Bruce Dickinson was not only to perform 23 shows, but he was also the pilot flying the plane for much of the way.

Bruce Dickinson: Renaissance man. Full press release and tour dates after the jump. Afterward, call upon the gods and visit www.ironmaiden.com.

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My Dearest Friends,

It is with my greatest sadness to inform you that Indie 103.1 (Los Angeles’ Independent FM) has gone off the air–if you haven’t heard already. Here’s the statement from their website:

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option — to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative - simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

I am so shocked and appalled…I feel like someone just died. Indie 103.1 has made such a big impact on music in general helping to get the word out on amazing up-and-coming independent artists. I would also call them the backbone (if not the hope) of the Los Angeles local music scene. Working at the Troubadour, a prime independent music venue in LA, I worked very closely with Indie and I can honestly say there are some AMAZING people working behind that radio station who are working for the betterment of music & the music industry.

Indie 103.1 was a staple in my daily music listening and it will be sincerely missed. With Indie continuing to broadcast online, I plan to listen as much as possible–as I hope you will too.

RIP Indie 103.1

Los Angeles indie-pop has something new in the works. Army Navy is set to release their debut album in October on the band’s own label, The Fever Zone. Army Navy frontman Justin Kennedy co-fronted the band Pinwheel with Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard.

Army Navy will also be featured on the upcoming comedy film “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” starring Michael Cera. Check their MySpace and give a listen to “Saints” because I’m sure you’ll be hearing from them in the future!

Nate Dogg arrested for terrorism? .. and he wasn’t even in an airport. The hip-hop extraordinaire was arrested around 8:30 a.m. this morning on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California.

Nate Dogg’s ex wife called 911 going apeshit, freaking out and yelling while she was driving her car. She told 911 operators that Nate Dogg was dangerously tailgating her and following her down the road. She claims he was making death threats against her. The California Highway Patrol, CHP, finally stopped both Nate Dogg and his estranged wife. Both parties were interviewed and Nate Dogg was arrested on charges of making terrorist threats as well as driving with a suspended license. For some unknown reason rappers can’t figure out how to renew their licenses and registration. It’s not like they ain’t got the chedda.

George Carlin, comedic legend, died today of heart failure at St. John’s medical center in Santa Monica, CA.

Carlin was a pioneer in the realm stand-up comedy, pushing the limits of good taste before it was cool. His epitaph would be complete with the “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television”: Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, CockSucker, MotherFucker and Tits.

RIP