[New]Death Cab For Cutie - Grapevine Fires [Video]

I wouldn't normally post about this, but I really think this video is a real work of art... and Death Cab, though they have come a long way from 'Something About Airplanes' and some will say its been a downward spiral... I still thing they are doing good for themselves.



Here is a much better quality MOV.

[New] Beach House - Play The Game (Queen) : the missing link to the Dark Was the Night Comp.

Still we are hearing the echos of the Dessner brothers Dark Was the Night compilation. When the album leaked, I'm sure someone somewhere sold their soul to the itunes gods and gave them the Beach House Queen cover to try to convince people that they had to buy the whole album to get this jewel in the mists of an already great compilation.

Anyway, here is where you can get it... Beach House myspace: if someone knows where else to download it email me and I will post it... or post the link in the comments.

[New] Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh

Some how I missed this in my comatose state between Wednesday and today, but for those of you who haven't already heard this album via leak... check out one of the songs off of it.

Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh


The album comes out next week (3/3)... check it out at, Barsuk. I'm sure there will be more to come about this album.

Introducing: You, You're Awesome or a cure for the Octopus Project blues

I've found the cure for the common Octopus Project crave. You, You're Awesome (myspace) hale from Ohio, Cincinnati non the less. And while I am sure they are sick of hearing themselves compared to The Octopus Project, they have a lot of similarity... most prominently that they are really good, like Octopus Project.

To be honest, it is nice to see another band take this kind of approach on making music. The beats and sounds are really refreshing and up beat. I am surprised there have not been other bands adopt this type of sound and run with it... but I guess that is what makes, The Octopus Project so unique.

So while the verdict is still out on, You, You're Awesome, there is plenty of room out there in the electronic/pop realm. Their EP debut, You’re A Fun Drunk is a nice little work... and shows promise. Look for these guys out on the road... They just booked their first gig out side of Cincinnati ("just booked our first out of town show... Louisville, KY: Tue, Mar 24: The Pink Door w/ Hearts of Darknesses (nyc)" via twitter)

Bonus track from their EP - Two Muffins
MP3

A couple of Videos:


You, You're Awesome - Out Come Crazy (Live) from You, You're Awesome on Vimeo.


You, You're Awesome - For the Queen (Live) from You, You're Awesome on Vimeo.

New Wilco in June

I'm sitting in class right now, and I really should be listening to this lecture (I have a test in this class Monday), but this news seemed far more important and interesting than being able to tel the difference between Mafic and Ultramafic rocks. Rolling Stone announced today that an as yet untitled Wilco album is due out in June. They have been touring a few of these songs around including "Wilco, The song" which they played on Colbert Report not too long ago. Other songs include "Deeper Down", "My Country Has disappeared", "Sunny Feeling", and "One Wing". See a very low quality video of "Wilco, The Song" below.

The Avett Brothers Cover the Boss

It seems like just about everyone has been covering the boss in some way or another. (see here) It makes since i guess, The Boss is a leagued and maybe a lot of people just think they can do the boss better then he can do himself. If I'm not making much since right now, its because i woke up this morning sicker then a dog and have been sleeping all day and barely crawled out of bed to watch The Avett Brothers cover the boss on My Old Kentucky. So it might not have even happened?

Here is the video, before i say something silly.

MONOtONIX @ The Modified / March 24th

MONOtONIX @ The Modified
March 24th 2009 / 7p
Black Dogs

To be honest with you, this Israel freak rock groups music is not always the most appealing... but their live shows have become notorious. Everything from lighting drums on fire, fighting with audience members... to drums crowd surfing.

check it out:

Release of the Week: Laura Gibson - Beasts of Season (2009)

I mentioned the release come out at the beginning of the month. Since then I have become more acquainted with the album and have really found it to be dynamite. Over the last couple of weeks she has slowly send a couple of the songs out into the cosmos... via her myspace. She reminds me a lot of Julie Doiron... with out the Eric's Trip edge. So grab this album at the various locations...

Here is a little sampler mix of the album:


Hush Records - buy it

AND

Once you have bought the album get ready for Laura to come to town. Our local friends over at So Much Silence posted last week about this show: here

The show sounds like it is going to be great!

Laura Gibson @ St. Augustine’s Episcopal Parish (1735 S. College Ave., Tempe)
March 5th, 2009, 8p... 4$ & 8$ if you bring a non-perishable food or clothing item for humanitarian efforts.

The Hold Steady - Positive Rage Trailer

As previously mentioned, The Hold steady are planning to release a live CD/documentary set called A Positive Rage on April 7th via Vagrant Records. Today, via the band's Twitter, they announced the release of the trailer. If you can't tell from the preview, this 2 disc set will be a must have.

Handsome Furs - Face Control (2009)

Confession time! As of a couple of weeks ago I had become infatuated with the two sexiest boys on this planet who, unfortunately, don't love me back, and who, unfortunately, keeps me waiting and waiting. I get sucked into an obsession that isn't quite healthy.

Here's what: Handsome Furs own me. "Own" as in, total pwn-age. I listen to Handsome Furs day and night. I listen to Handsome Furs in my sleep. And I listen to Handsome Furs in the shower. And so, I waited, I waited, and I waited. For a date. A date to talk about this sexy beast, duh.


Handsome Furs - Face Control (2009)
Release Date: March 10, 2009
Sub Pop

Scary? Yeah, I think so, too. So, I am going to break the rules here.

The release date for Face Control is delayed by a month or so. Track 4 from the album, "All We Want, Baby, Is Everything" is facing legal complications that holds the album from being officially released. Blame it to New Order. It is quite possible that the delay is caused by New Order threatening the boys to blow them before the album gets an "OK-go, party on." Or something like that.

Such unfairness in life. It would have been the perfect Valentine's album of 2009. Next year maybe. Not.

So. Let's talk about Face Control. Other than the scary album art, all the of insides are meat and deliciousness. Once again, Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Alexei Perry combined their making out skills and music-making skills, took it to Mount Zoomer and then to Hotel2Tango toward perfection. And what do you get? Handsome Furs in its pure perfection, and pure sexiness this year in the form on an album which cover art had successfully got me scared pantless first time. After one round of listen, I am in love. After two rounds, I am fleeting. After the third and fourth and the nth, I am sold. I daresay it is either equally awesome or even better than the awesome that I rate for Plague Park of 2007. Because this is the case, I must vote Face Control as my top album of 2009.

Here's a sneak of "Nyet Spasiba" from the album. It means "No, thank you" in Russian.


Handsome Furs - Nyet Spasiba

Blair @ The Trunk Space, February 24th

Blair @ The Trunk Space
February 24th 2009 / 7p D / 8p S / $5
Hell Kite
: Stellaluna

um... yeah. Great show.

Delta Spirit : New Music / Daytrotter

Last year I places a seemingless nothing album at the 5 spot on my top 25 list. That album was the debut for the San Diego band Delta Spirit. I always felt their gospel, indie conglomerate was WAY miss understood... particularly after they toured with Dr. Dog last year. I think they had a better place on tour with Cold War Kids satirical gospel preacher ton. I really felt this when I saw them with Dr. Dog. I still can't get Matt Vasquez, crazed look out of my mind as he sang. This is not happy pop music folks this is religiously/spiritually-themed indie music that is sung with a raspy voice that seems to be on the end of destruction.

Delta Spirit stopped off at Daytrotter for the second time (first time) on Friday. AND gave us all a little treat by playing four previously unreleased songs. Can you say, new album... possible 2009? maybe, especially since Ode to Sunshine was simple a reissue of their original independently released album for the end of 2008.

The new material is nice. You can tell some of the songs are still a work in progress (Peace In The Valley)... but as we have seen from these guys in the past, they have the ability to adapt music and songs into different sounds and versions.

Keep your eyes out for these guys though, they have been touring like crazy. Selling out some pretty prestigious locations (Bowery Ballroom, Middle East).

Not Wasting Time
MP3

Lovers Waltz
MP3

Peace In The Valley
MP3

Yesmen and Bumsuckers
MP3

Introducing: Stg Dunbar and the Hobo Banned

I wonder if 30 years from now a great deal of people will look back on this era of music and talk about the many bands that were inspired in some way by Neutral Milk Hotel. The great thing is that no on is afraid to admit it... I mean there are indeed a large number of groups inspired by Fall Out Boy, but for some reason no one wants to list them on their influences category on their myspace page.

So to be honest with you, had I come across Stg Dunbar and the Hobo Banned and the speakers of my computer were broken, I would probably still be writing about them simple because they list as their influences: Neutral Milk Hotel, The Microphones (Mt Eerie). Peak your interest... yeah me too.

Then you listen to them and realize there is something great happening up in Albany New York. Their Neutral Milk Hotel meets Tom Wait fusion is a beautiful Folk Indie fusion. It will satisfy the most scrupulous skeptic or Jeff Mangum followers.

Give them a listen...

Move Your Memories, Part II
MP3

Watch them...

Sgt Dunbar and the Hobo Banned - Goin' Nowhere HD from All Over Albany on Vimeo.

Phosphorescent @ The Modified, March 15th

Phosphorescent @ The Modified
March 15th, 2009 8p : $8
The Donkeys


This one that you will really regret missing. Although the For Willie album is a little bit of a between album for Matthew Houck... there are still plenty of reasons to go to this show.

Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?

No, this is not a flash back post about the 1993 debut release of The Cranberries... although that is a great album.

It is simply us (Jeffrey, Addy and myself) announcing that we Twitter. That's right... we have joined the club. AND are proud of it.

Rather then creating one twitter for the blog, I'm posting out individual twitters ... because in fact we are individuals. So if you like one of us more then the others... you can just follow that person.

So here are our Twitter addresses

Addy
http://twitter.com/myliverandlungs
My favorite tweet (is that the right word?) of hers:
Why I listen to Sufjan a lot. He never disappointed me. Music in my boyfriend

Jeffrey
http://twitter.com/jdbenson
My favorite tweet of his:
Andrew Jackson Jihad is the best band out of Arizona. Hands down. And yet Jimmy Eats World remains the famous one.

Preston
http://twitter.com/prestoniscrazy
Personal favorite tweet:
is absolutely certain that picklization is cucumber genocide, and should be punish in a court of law.

So follow us, slash stock us... .

New St. Vincent - Actor

My favorite guitar babe (Don't worry Marnie Stern, you can be my alternate) has given up the album art, track list, and release date for her follow up to Marry Me. The album will be called Actor and it will be released May 5th via 4AD. The track list is below. Get pumped.

01 "The Strangers"
02 "Save Me From What I Want"
03 "Neighbors"
04 "Actor Out of Work"
05 "Black Rainbow"
06 "Laughing With a Mouth of Blood"
07 "Marrow"
08 "The Bed"
09 "The Party"
10 "Just the Same But Brand New"
11 "The Sequel"

New Conor Oberst - Outer South

I don't know if Conor Oberst shed the Bright Eyes moniker because of label issues or what, but it seems that he is really concentrating on his new Mystic Valley Band. Merge Records (who also released his last album which was self titled) will be releasing Conor's next effort on May 5th, called Outer South, less than a year from his last release. It seems that Conor is making a way to get away from his Saddle Creek, which he co-founded. This appears to be a good thing, as his last album on Saddle-Creek with the Bright Eyes name was less than stellar (Cassadaga). Last year, on Conan, Conor debuted the first Outer South track, "Nikorette," last year.

Stephen Steinbrink : Live @ Nux Fest 2 [2007]

I came across this live recording of Stephen Steinbrink, the date on the recording is 2007, it would have been when Stephen was still touring as French Quarter. I don't know much about the Nux Festival besides that it was at DIYSLO in San Luis Obispo... they most often go by the address, 578 Buchon st.

The recording is just under 20 minutes, and has 6 songs. There are a couple of Stephen Steinbrink songs and there is a Soft Shoulder cover off French Quarter's S/T. And a Foot OX song that I don't know the name of, and then a song that I have heard him do, but don't know the name of.

Track List:
Before the Sun
In June
Bold With Fire
Snake Fantastic (Soft Shoulder)
Foot Ox Cover
Song off Weddings

Stephen Steinbrink / French Quarter @ Nux Festival (MP3)

Morrissey - Years of Refusal

Through the years, Morrissey and/or his music has been described as:
A)Sad Sack Music
B)The Pope of Mope
C)Depressing/Depressed
D)All of the above
If you answered D, you are correct. Yet, in conversation I have always come to Moz’s defense claiming it was all just really funny and ironic. In his early years, this was true. Then something happened…Morrissey started making albums that only people who dressed like him cared about. He became an 80’s novelty. Not content with this, he hired some great musicians, signed on some great producers, and mounted one of the greatest comebacks in recent musical history. His albums, since 2004’s You Are the Quarry, have been getting consistently better. When discussing this years’ Years Of Refusal, he stated it was his most cohesive work yet. This is true, but somehow his idea of sad music/funny lyrics has switched since his comeback. On Years Of Refusal The guitars are muscular – Moz as a jock-rocker (don’t worry, it’s a good thing); but his lyrics are some of his saddest yet, detailing what his years of refusal, to steal a phrase, has done to him. The album starts out with “Something is Squeezing my Skull,” a song about the effects of mood-altering medication. The album moves through his depression to anger (the hilarious “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore”), to acceptance. This is easily Morrissey’s finest work since 1994’s Vauxhall and I, and up there among his finest solo work in general. Having a back like this has re-legitimized his mostly excellent career.

Video: The Boy Least Likely to... - Every Goliath Has It's David

I think these guys have spent way too long as school teachers. Not in a creepy way, I just don't think they can process adult emotions. It's not necessarily a bad thing their 2005 album, The Best Party Ever, was full of carefully crafted, adorable twee-pop. Finally, 4 years later, they are on the verge of releasing their follow-up titled Law of the Playground. Today, via Stereogum, they released the first video: Every Goliath Has It's David. It's a very simple video; 2 guys playing to a white background with a slightly creepy/slightly adorable old man playing the violin. Enjoy!

More Decemberists : The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid

I ran across another new Decemberist song today. It is a radio rip, but a pretty good one. I don't know much about the radio station that it came from, but I can follow the song back to Ghost Grind (new friends from Harlem) who assumable got it from, Tsururadio... and that is where it ends. So props to them form posting the latest Decemberists song.

I find this song reminds me a lot of The Island from Crane Wife. It starts with minstrel opening and moves into a steady jam mid song. Goes back to the minstrel jam and ends with the response of the female vocalist. I am not sure who the female vocal is, anyone with the information would be appreciated.

The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid (radio rip)

SASQUATCH : Best Festival Line Up To Date : May 23rd - 25th 2009

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the best Festival Line up thus far is Sasquatch over Memorial weekend at the Gorge in Quincy Washington.

AND MORE TO COME... ? This is already looking like an amazing show. I don't go to many festivals... slash really any, I like going and seeing groups at the Modified or Trunk Space where I can see just them. The best groups are the ones who put on the same show at the Modified that they would at Coachella.

Check out the line up below. If I could add anything to this line up it would be; Dan Deacon, The Black Keys and maybe My Morning Jacket.

Music line-up includes Jane’s Addiction (feat. all four original members), Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, Silversun Pickups, Bon Iver, Santigold, Of Montreal, Explosions In The Sky, Devotchka, Peter Bjorn amd John, Gogol Bordello, M. Ward, The Avett Brothers, Doves, Calexico, Grizzly Bear, M83, Girl Talk, The Gaslight Anthem, The Walkmen, Chromeo (dj set), Deadmau5, Mugison, Sun Kil Moon, Airborne Toxic Event, Blitzen Trapper, Shearwater, BLK JKS, The Wrens, Tobacco, Monotonix, King Khan and The Shrines, St. Vincent, Passion Pit, John Vanderslice, Bishop Allen, Blind Pilot, AA Bondy, Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Knux, Ra Ra Riot, The Dodos, Beach House, Arthur and Yu, The Submarines, Owl City, Viva Voce, James Pants, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, The Builders and The Butchers, The Dutchess and The Duke, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele, Fences, School of Seven Bells, Death Vessel, Horse Feathers, Hockey, Point Juncture, WA, The Pica Beats, Loch Lomond, Vince Mira and more to come.

Comedy line up includes Zach Galifiankas, Demetri Martin, Tim & Eric Awesome Show Great Job, Todd Barry, Jon Benjamin, God’s Pottery, People’s Republic of Komedy and more.

Ticket InformationBeginning February 28th (on sale weekend only):
A discounted 3 DAY FESTIVAL PASS is available for a very limited time /  $154.50
Offer ends Sunday, March 1st at midnight.
Single tickets, per day / $56.50 Beginning March 2nd:
3 day pass / $199.50
Single tickets, per day / $66.50 Beginning May 11:
3 day pass / $229.50
Single tickets, per day / $76.50
Check out: sasquatchfestival.com

Release of the Week: Vetiver - Tight Knit (2009)

Vetiver - Tight Knit (2009)

Making the move from one indie record company, to another more prominent (yet still indie)record company is a significant more even for a band like Vetiver who have put out 3 wonderful records under the wings of Bella Union. Now introducing Vetiver's fourth album, this one coming to us from Subpop (yes, still indie), Tight Knit.

Pulling from last years covers LP and EP (Thinks of the Past, More or the Past) Andy Cabic has only added to his already matchless ability to craft tight little folk songs and marry them all onto the same album. Pulling from influences like; Townes Van Zandt and Norman Greenbaum Tight Knit is, just as the title refers and tight knit group of songs that flow and rap around each other.

Vetiver - Everyday


Buy Album : Sub Pop

The Decemberists - Hazards of Love 1

Let's all be honest here, The Decemberists' upcoming album is a hype album. Their last effort, The Crane Wife, was by leaps and bounds, Colin Meloy & crew's strongest effort to date. It struck a perfect balance between the charming songwriting of their past and their showmanship that sometimes drowned themselves out. The Crane Wife even hinted at a prog band underneath their charming folky exterior. Well, what The Rake's Song made us suspect, Hazards of Love 1 has confirmed: The Decemberists are becoming a full on prog rock band. Whether this is a good thing is yet to be seen. The Decemberists are now hosting 2 songs off their new album on their myspace. Check it out. Also, if you didn't notice above, the album art has recently become much more gothic, or at very least more legible.

Dan Auerbach : Hacienda : Conan O'Brien

Last week I posted about Dan Auerbach's latest solo release; I might have been a little harsh of the blues and soul master... though I will stand by the silliness of him putting out a solo album. At any rate, I saw Dan was schedule to perform on Conan the other night so I tuned in to Hulu to check it out... and Dan did great, BUT what I thought was most interesting was his accompanying band. Last fall I posted about the the Dr. Dog / Delta Spirit / Hacienda tour that was freckling the country. Well low and behold, there was Hacienda accompanying Dan Auerbach! And doing a very nice job I might add.

It's great to see these guy in the stage with Dan, even if it is accompanying him!

Hacienda - myspace

Hacienda "She's Got a Hold on Me" from REVELATOR on Vimeo.

Dark Was the Night : Complete Track List Steam

This hits the stores today... you can get it most places. Try itunes. But if you want a listen before buying it... here it is.

Woodpigeon - Treasury Library Canada C/W Houndstooth Europa

Dear internets. Does it matter if the music you listen to started to sound a lot like the things you've heard before? Here's my defense. I think music-making business is like an incestuous family. I figured, in due time they will start to sound like each other anyway. And I can deal with that.

I suppose I am going to get dispelled from the Sufjan camp for saying this. So, I like Woodpigeon. Like, a lot. Who cares if Woodpigeon is a quirky Sufjan-wannabe.

Example:

A Hymn For 2 Walks In Different Cities

They are too good to be discounted of their talents. The trick to enjoy Woodpigeon is to go easy on the "originality"-snobbery. Seriously. Woodpigeon is not as bad as you think. Their music is pretty (proof: Songbook). They write cleverly cute lyrics that make you giggle and go, "he did not just say that!!"

Example:

Death By Ninja (A Love Song)
"I went to ninja school
to learn how to murder you
with just one little punch."

Sure, you will hear some splashes of Sufjan, Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, Elliot Smith, and [insert name of your favorite lo-fi, folksy, pretty music, whatever; anything but that five-letter word that begins with the letter-"i" here]. But I believe Woodpigeon, like every experimental music, is looking for an identity what the band ought to sound like. And I get the hint that Woodpigeon, in secret corners of their heart, is pursuing a spinoff of Sufjan's 50-states project (13-provinces*, anyone?). Or maybe they just love the geography and cultural significances of Canada in their sticker book.

Either way, they are wonderful. And what is there not to like about a band that comes up with an album art that looks like this:


Treasury Library Canada C/W Houndstooth Europa
Released: February 3, 2009

It is cute. Regardless what they call it, Treasury Library Canada C/W Houndstooth Europa, TL;DR/TL;DL, is a super LP. OK, so I am kidding about the TL;DL part... but not about the super LP. A word of warning: this release is long. Long as in, Longcat. Fortunately for Woodpigeon, that is as far as I can complain about. The experience of going through this release for the first time was exhaustingly worth it. It takes you to places, cities, weathers, villages, cultures, and experiences that lighten and poke the wanderlust in you. Like how Sufjan took us to witness Michigan and Illinois from his shoes, Woodpigeon is to Canada. Like how My Little Pony took us to the depths of Norwegian romance blues, Woodpigeon gives us a Canadian one. There is a good story in every song. The songs come in a mixbag of- I will quote what the band describes it, "group whistling, tambourine, handclapping, fey longing, winged eyeliner, and corduroy blazers conspire to create music as glittery and piquantly morose as fresh snow on sidewalks under a full moon." No contest.

Here's a sneak of the album. Knock knock yourself out.


Knock Knock


...A Given

*Yes, I am ignorant, and therefore am teh FAIL at geography. I still think Canada is cool, though. (read: don't hate).

[New] The National : New Music

We don't get to hear much from The National, every now and then a little news, but no quirky Crash Test Dummies covers (although that might be really cool)... they choose their projects wisely and for good reason. Why prostitute such musical talent all over the musical cosmos? The Dessner Brother have put their name on a couple things, most notable the, Dark Was the Night compilation but basically stayed quiet since Boxer. Most recently, the word on the streets of Brooklyn is that the follow up for Boxer will be out in 2010. Does that seem like miles away for anyone else besides me? At any rate, here are a couple of horrible recordings... but they are NEW stuff. Also, So Far Around the Bend, from Dark Was the Night.



Karamazov
MP3

Wake Up Your Saints
MP3

Thanks - We All Want Someone To Shout For for leading me over to Onethirtybpm.

Introducing: Adventure : the ultimate nintendo pop

I have been referring to a certain genre of music as Nintendo Pop for a while now (Jukebox the Ghost). You know the groups that I'm talking about, Toyko Police Club, The Octopus Project, Dan Deacon... and on and on. Their synth riffs sound like something straight off of early Sega, Nintendo ect...

Well, I found Adventure (ie Benny Boeldt) and what would you know but he attributes much of his composition to Sega Genesis. Carpark Records:

Adventure is 24 year-old North Carolina native and recent Baltimore transplant Benny Boeldt. His ultra-melodic synth compositions pull from his earliest exposure to the 8-bit soundtracks of the Sega Genesis video game catalog. But it's not just retro video game music. Mix in the kitschy Moogy sound of Hot Butter's "Popcorn", the saturated disco-theatrics of late seventies electro-pop acts like Sparks and Yellow Magic Orchestra, and a penchant for Eastern European diminished scales and you've come pretty close to Adventure's accelerated baroque sound.

Adventure is an advanced, dance-floor friendly take on the music of early video gaming. Let the epic quest for the master sword begin!

I feel like I am playing some roided up version of Zelda (the only Nintendo game I ever loved) when I listen to this music. Like Carpark mentioned, Benny just moved to Baltimore, no doubt in some way following Dan Deacon.

In fact, Dan and Benny (Dan Deacon and Adventure) just released a 12" split that includes a song from Dan's forthcoming LP, Bromst.

Check out his myspace to listen to some tunage.
and buy his record at carpark

Feel the Flove : Mesa : Feb 13th @ The Funk Shack

So I have these friends; Tyler and Zac Bues and Tim Heywood. They are huge into soul and funk slash alt country. Its a groovy mix of music. At any rate, now and they they all get together and through a big house party where they have a jam. Kind of a collective thing where they have a pile of instruments and everyone picks something and plays... oh and there is always a theme. So this Friday 13th, they are doing a 'Feel the Flove' party at their place. So bring your dancing shoes and an instrument of your choice... something red, and probably your friends and or love interest.

Feel the Flove @ The Funk Shack
8p - 1a
620 E 1st Ave
Mesa, AZ 85204

On a Scale of 1 to 10 how upset am I that The Avett Brothers are touring with Dave Matthews Band?

10.

I caught The Avett Brothers at the Rhythm Room last year, we packed about 600 people in there. Someone split beer all over me, I didn't care. The moment was so magical, beautiful women were kissing homeless men in the parking lot after... the bar was handing out free beer to underage drinkers. It was beautiful.

Now I have to go see The Avett Brothers at Cricket Pavilion with 10 thousand Dave Matthews Band fans, who's musical scope extends no further then Dave and Hootie and the Blowfish. Its going to be hotter then hell outside, if you haven't been paying your $49.95 yearly fan club fee to Dave for the last 10 years your not going to get seats with in 300 yards of the stage... AND there will be some 2000 yuppie jerks who don't even care who is playing walking back and forth in front of you the entire night. ALL that after you have forked up $50 to bring your own blanket and sit on the lawn.

Not that I'm not exited for Scott and Seth, but damn... I just wish I could have had one more small venue show with just them. BUT I should have seen this coming when they signed with Columbia Records last July.

Murdered In the City


Talk on Indolence


The Ballet of Love and Hate

Andrew Bird : The Giant of Illinois : Dark Was the Night

There are few things in this world that make me happier then Andrew Bird... and honestly I can't think of anything right now. Dark Was the Night offers another nice little number in Andrew Bird covering, The Handsome Family, The Giant of Illinois. The story inspired by Robert Wadlow, the Alton Giant. The song is a forelorn tune, sung the way only Andrew could.

I also included Cat Powers version of Amazing Grace, which was mediocre at best.



The Handsome Family - The Giant of Illinois

Music Tapes @ Chyro Art (Scottsdale) : February 14th

The Music Tapes @ Chyro Art  
February 14th, $10
Nana Grizol
: Brian DeMarco

Its not everyday one of the old Neutral Milk Hotel members crawls onto the stage in Phoenix. This Valentines day, Julian Koster brings his see-saw ambient music to Chyro Art. So take a date slash might want to go if your lonely, I doubt it will help.

War Child Heroes Compilation Streaming Now!

I mentioned last month, there is a new War Child compilation album coming out February 24th. If you're entirely too impatient like me, you can stream the whole thing at War Child's MySpace page now, and expect a full review coming soon. For now, suffice it to say that there are some pretty epic tracks.

Dan Auerbach [The Black Keys] - Keep It Hid : Feb 10th 2009

This weeks release of the week is a bit of a comical one. Dan Auerbach of duo blues fusion group The Black Keys has released a solo album. So Dan, the one of two musicians in The Black Keys has released a solo album? Do I need to say this one more time? I hope not. Hopefully it is obvious that virtually every album The Black Keys releases almost nearly a solo album, at least minus the percussion of Patrick Carney... who is a brilliant drummer and adds a great deal to The Black Keys sound. BUT it just struck me as comical that Dan Auerbach put out this album.

From the sounds of it, Dan has kept pretty close to the formula that has brought The Black Keys to where they are. He might have slowed it down a little with, Trouble Weighs a Ton, but for the most part this is true Black Keys. The only difference is the thundering drums that are missing...

Dan is playing a couple of shows around, make sure to catch him, if anything to see him include playing, lead, rhythm, bass, keys and now adding drums to the instruments he commands on stage!

The whole album is streaming on his myspace.

The Little Ones : Daytrotter : The Modified - Wed, Feb 11

The Little Ones are one of the more misunderstood groups out there... often over looked for their ability to create happy music. Their EP, Terry Tales & Fallen Gates from last year came out the same time as Fleet Foxes EP Sun Giant, and received as much play as the latter on my ipod, if not more.

I guess I was a little disappointed with their follow up LP, Morning Tide... mostly because they had a couple of songs from Terry Tales & Fallen Gates. BUT even then the LP was a tight mix of well crafted pop tunes. I caught them at the Modified last May with Ra Ra Riot, who released an album at the same time Morning Tide came out... Rhumb Line ended up on Rolling Stones end of year list? The Little Ones have a large following in England. It just doesn't make since that these guys haven't received more credit... Ah, wait... it just came to me, they aren't from Brooklyn... or from Brooklyn via [insert obscure location]. Problem solved.

Anyway, The Little Ones did session at Daytrotter last week. AND will be at The Modified on the 11th, that's this Wednesday.

Here are the Daytrotter songs:

Gregory's Chant (via Daytrotter) mp3

Ordinary Song (via Daytrotter) mp3

Tangerine Visions (via Daytrotter) mp3

Morning Tide (via Daytrotter) mp3
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The Little Ones @ The Modified

Wednesday Feb 11th 8pm $8
Step Cousin
: Really Big Birds

The Thermals - Now We Can See

As previously mentioned, The Thermals have been hard at work on their follow up to 2006's The Body, The Blood, The Machine. The album new album will be titles Now We Can See Due April 7th on Kill Rock Stars.
The Thermals have been pop-punk's King Midas. Everything they do has been golden. From their inception they have slowly made the transition from lo-fi to (at least comparably) studio experts; from their longest tracks just breaking the 2 and a half minute mark, to songs breaking past 5 minutes; always full of piss and vinegar, yet somehow hopeful. Today they leaked the title track from the new album. It's pace is slower than in past efforts. The production is cleaner. It may be one of the strongest tracks in their catalog. It still combines their incredible pop constructions ("Oh-Way-Oh-Oh") with their seething politics ("We existed to kill/Our history is damaged/At least it was a thrill/But now we can see!") Check out the track below, and stay tuned to this station for a full review of the album.

The Thermals - Now We Can See (MP3)

Thanks to Pitchfork for the track,

Beirut : Letterman : "A Sunday Smile"

That's a flugelhorn he is holding there. There are two people Zachary Francis Condon remind me of, one Jeff Mangum for his vaudevillian antics and style. Two, Paul McCartney for his hair and head swagger on stage... now if it is true you can combine those two individuals into one person and they can make music today... wouldn't that be something worth listening too?

The more and more I listen to Beirut the more and more I fall in love with it. And to think Zach is only 22. I'm almost disappointed to see Beirut on Letterman, but in guess it is the way of things and truly this is a brilliant musician that should have all the recognition of the world.

Yo La Tengo : Stuart Murdock : Riceboy Sleeps : Dark Was the Night

If you missed some of these over the weekend... here you go.

I have never been a huge fan of Yo La Tengo... I thought they were and are good, but I must have missed something in their indie/Americana/latin style. And anyway, I always had Calexico when I needed that type of fix. However, I do really enjoy this song.

Stuart Murdock also puts out a great number here too... that is Belle & Sebastian for those of you who don't know.

Today's release is a nice ambient work by Riceboy Sleeps...

It is surprising to me that this compilation really has no dead spots on it... from older artists to newer ones...

The New Pornographers : Hey, Snow White : Dark Was the Night

I'm a little behind on this one... well at least 12 hours, but in the blog world I guess this is only news. However, it doesn't distract from the fact this this song is beautiful. This is a song from The New Pornographers colleague and collaborator Daniel Bejar's always lovely project, Destroyer...

Only a week and a half until this hits the stores!

Anni Rossi : Rockwell [March 10th 2009] : Anni Rossi @ The Modified, Feb 9th

If you have been paying very close attention to the blog for the last 6 months, you might remember me posting about Anni Rossi, in my The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, last September. Well, now after an EP release in October, beings signed to a label and now I want to highlight Anni:

Much like her Chicago counter part, Andrew Bird; Anni Rossi comes from a long history of classically trained Viola starting back to 3 years old. Also, like the Bird man Rossi is a multi-instrument musician. She put out an EP last October that caught little attention... but apparently enough to catch 4AD records based out of London. These guys have worked with a pretty extensive group of musicians, check out the list form Wikipedia.

At any rate, Anni has been in the studio and has finished her debut LP, Rockwell. It comes out on March 10th in the states, along with some extensive touring.

Here is one of the songs off Rockwell: (thanks Fluxblog)

Ecology


MOSTLY though, Anni will be in town this coming Monday with a whole slew of local musicians: Here is the post I did about it a month ago.

Anni Rossi
: Whitman
:: Stephen Steinbrink
::: Stellalune

LASTLY,

Anni and Whitman have a 10" split coming out on Folktales, that will more then likely be as brilliant if not more then Rockwell.

K, I know this is a lot to say, so thanks for reading the whole thing.