I first saw The Long Winters live at the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle at the end of July, 2004. Along with IQU, they stood out as the event’s best performers. The second time was in Pullman this past spring [2006] for the university’s annual Spring Fest. And again, they left the other performers behind to become the main attraction of the day. Standing at what appears to be well over six feet tall, front-man John Roderick has a stage presence that is outstanding. I recall hearing “Pushover” and …

Erich said, You gotta check out this band; you gotta review their EP. End paraphrase. Having recently noted the band’s signing to Barsuk, it seemed the logical next step. In anticipation of that future record, slated for an early 2010 release, it just made sense. Besides, there’s substantial overlap between the self-titled EP and the pending full-length, Eyelid Movies. Of the five tracks on the EP, four find their way onto that album of eleven total songs. I’m here to say that the EP …

New York’s Phantogram — that’s Saratoga Springs, NY, not NYC — has signed to Barsuk Records and will release Eyelid Movies in February of 2010. Phantogram’s music is filled with synth lines fit for shoegaze, electronic beats that hint of a hip hop influence, and lovable pop vocals.