by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well Aimed Arrows, Adult Entertainment (2012, self released)

Clayton Petersen of post-rock band Well Aimed Arrows dropped me a line this week to let me know that the band’s debut recording, Adult Entertainment, is finally available, at least digitally. “The first track is free to wet your appetite or the whole album (8 songs) is only five bucks,” Petersen said. You can access the recording from their bandcamp page.

Recorded by Steve Micek at The Robot Factory and mastered by the venerable Doug Van Sloun, I reviewed the album way back in July, figuring that it would never get “released.” Back then I described it as “Intelligent punk with big-shoulder swing, dissonant male/female harmonies, jangling ringing electric guitars, sing-along choruses and a straight-four beat. Best lyrics of any band going, period.” I stand by those words. Check it out.

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Speaking of new releases, Jake Bellows tweeted yesterday that he’s just placed a new track online called “Blackest Heart (acoustic).” You can buy the song for $1.29 at jakebellows.com, where Jake also provides an update on the new record he’s making with Ben Brodin, Ryan Fox, Todd Fink and Heath Koontz. “We are currently in the mixing phase of this record and expect to have it mostly finished by spring at the latest!” No doubt a tour will follow.

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And finally, the first interesting concert announcement of 2012: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks are returning to Slowdown Feb. 17. $15 tix go on sale Saturday. More info at the show page on the Slowdown website.

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Tomorrow: Future Tense: 2012 Music Predictions, Pt. 2 (the Lightning Round) — the conclusion of my annual predictions columns, and boy, this one’s a doozy.

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Read Tim McMahan’s blog daily at Lazy-i.com — an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. Copyright © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.