... and music will set you free

Record Review: Laarks - An Exaltation of Laarks

2010-02-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

Every review I've read (should I be reading reviews?) of An Exaltation of Laarks compared them to Postal Service, so I was in no rush listen to the album. And then I got the album in the mail. And I listened to it. Thank the heavens, the album sounded nothing like that oft-made comparison. In fact, I'd say it has more in common with Gibbard's other project Death Cab, than The Postal Service. But Laarks differentiate themselves from any Gibbard project in the best way possible: They don't have Gibbard's whiny voice. Instead, they trade up for Ian Jacoby's sweet vocals and witty lyrics. The album is rocking where it needs to be rocking, mellow when it needs to be mellow, poppy when it needs to be poppy, and sweet when it needs to be sweet. It's a real gem that is probably hampered by it's oft made comparisons.

Catch them on their current tour, especially those of you in Phoenix, Laarks will be playing at The Trunk Space this Tuesday, the 2nd at 8pm. $8

Laarks - All the Words You Can't Say Right mp3

New Hold Steady - Heaven is Whenever

2010-02-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

I know all the other even semi-hip music blogs have covered this, and better than I will, but I still think it's important to share. The Hold Steady have a new album due out May 4th called "Heaven is Whenever" In the press release, it is stated that "Piano and keys take a backseat to guitar on the new record" and we're left to wonder why, because it couldn't have anything to do with the departure of the fantastically-mustached piano man Franz Nicolay. There are no dates in Arizona in support of the album yet, but be assured they'll be here, and when they are, be prepared, this is not a band to be missed. Track list below, along with a live video of title track "Heaven is Whenever" (Which may have a different name now, as it's not on the track list).

1 The Sweet Part of the City
2 Soft in the Center
3 The Weekenders
4 The Smidge
5 Rock Problems
6 We Can Get Together
7 Hurricane J
8 Barely Breathing
9 Our Whole Lives
10 A Slight Discomfort

Upcoming Show: We Were Promised Jetpacks

2010-02-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

That's right all, everyone's favorite Scottish emo act will be in town tomorrow night. If you haven't seen them yet, these kids have a lot of energy and a real love for their craft. It'll definitely be a worthwhile use of your time.

Rhythm Room
2-23-09
8:00 PM $10

We Were Promised Jetpacks - Quiet Little Voices ">mp3

Upcoming Show: Cheese on Bread

2010-02-20T14:02:00.001-08:00

Dearest Cheese on Bread,
I am a terrible friend. I'd understand if you'd never want to talk to me again. I have neglected to write about your upcoming show until mere hours before it was set to start. Better late than never right? RIGHT?

Seriously though, readers this show will be nothing short of magical. I've been listening to Cheese on Bread's album "The Search for Colonel Mustard" solidly for about a month and it is way more fun than music this good should be. Cancel your plans and bring your date to the show, you wont be disappointed. All the info for the show is to the left. Check out the band's website and buy an album! Really! Totally worth it. Check out a song below.

Cheese On Bread - Dreamail

Upcoming Show: Harlem

2010-02-16T13:10:00.000-08:00

Don't miss the chance to see these guys in such an intimate venue. I guarantee this will be your last chance to see them in such a small place. This band is going to blow up. They're touring in support of their upcoming album "Hippies". The album is stellar. The band is an asset to the garage rock genre.
Thursday February 18th
Trunk Space
7:30PM
$8.00
1506 NW Grand Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85007
Check them out below!

Harlem - Gay Human Bones

New Thermals - Canada

2010-02-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

Did The Thermals get contracted to do some music for the upcoming Olympics? Or is this just our first listen to the new album due in December? Either way, more pop-punk gold from the genre's King Midas. It may not be the lyrically strongest, in fact I have a sneaking suspicion that the Canadian board of tourism contracted the band for this song, but I'll be darned if I did not find myself singing along by the end.
The Thermals - Canada by killrockstars

YACHT covers Weezer... What?!

2010-02-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

In the world of unlikely pairings, this ranks among the top in my book. Weezer was one of my first truly grown up musical loves. In fact, Blue Album was the first album I ever bought myself. Last year, YACHT made my list of the best album of '09. In my head, those two things never really seemed to intermingle. Well, today my mind was blown. On YACHT's blog today, they posted a cover of Weezer's Blue Album classic "Holiday" off of a new iTunes session the band did. The only real similarity is the lyrics, but it's still fun to check out. Check it out here.

Special Odd Blood pre-sale on Amazon

2010-02-08T06:44:00.001-08:00

It sure feels like it was a long time ago when Yeasayer's 2010 album, Odd Blood leaked. The official US release date is tomorrow (Feb. 9) and today for Europe. I am already taking advantage of this opportunity to legally listen to the album today on Spotify ;)

For those who cannot wait, Amazon is having a pre-sale today which you can get the album for only $3.99.

Grab it while it's hot.

Upcoming Show: Huge Bicycle Tour

2010-01-31T17:52:00.000-08:00

This Tuesday there's a show at Trunk Space that will definitely be worth checking out.
First of all, Joe Jack Talcum from The Dead Milkmen. When I first started discovering music for myself, I was in love with "Punk Rock Girl" from the Milkmen. Joe Jack isn't quite as punk rock as he used to be, but he does lay down a great folky vibe with the same witty lyrics that made his previous band great. He promises to play new solo work along with older Milkman material.
Beyond that, there are a handful of musicians that I haven't got a chance to really give much time to yet, but I've heard great things about pretty much every band on the line-up.
Finally, my local faves, Andrew Jackson Jihad will be doing a set. If you haven't had a chance to see these guys yet. DO IT!
If you didn't get it from the flier, the show is at 7 at the Trunk Space on Tuesday Feb. 2nd. Entrance is $8 at the door.

Grizzly Bear cover Hot Chip

2010-01-21T22:02:00.000-08:00

Check this out, Grizzly Bear are down in Australia right now touring. They did a radio performance while down there, and among the other gems, they played a cover of Hot Chip's "Boy From School". It's really quite good, but I guess that's the nature of the beast! (Get it? it's a pun!)

Grizzly Bear - Boy from School(mp3)

Via You Ain't No Picasso

The xx and jj Tour / jj - no. 3

2010-01-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

Two agendas in this post.

The xx and jj Tour
London-based band, The xx and Swedish jj have been the sweethearts of the indie-music scene in 2009. I cannot say which I like better but I love them both a lot ~~despite the unenthusiastic/crowd-sobering performance by The xx witnessed in Stockholm two nights ago~~. (ahem). Anyway, I am happy that they are doing so well and I am especially happy that they are returning the love for their fans in the US this year. Check out their tour dates here.

Here are my favorite tracks from these two bands:

The xx - VCR

jj - my hopes and dreams

---

jj - n° 3 (2010)
jj this. jj that. I know, I know. Everyone is blogging about jj this week. I cannot help it, though. jj is just that good--they/she(?) totally deserve(s) it, I swear. Even Last.fm has corrected the name to its proper lowercase, which I am very pleased about this week. Now, onto the important news...

jj - n° 3
Due out: March 9, 2010
Secretly Canadian

Track list:
1. my life
2. and now
3. let go
4. into the light
5. light
6. voi parlate, io gioco
7. golden virginia
8. you know
9. i know
10. no escapin' this

In continuation of the 2009 debut album, n° 2, jj is expected to release the next album this year called n° 3, featuring a track from the n° 1 single, Let Go. The new album will be released by Secretly Canadian on March 9.

jj - let go (mp3)

Scandinavian Gold

2010-01-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

Scandinavian Gold (2009)

Track list:
1. El Perro Del Mar - Change Of Heart
2. Figurines - The Air We Breathe
3. Wildbirds And Peacedrums - There Is No Light
4. I Was a King - Norman Bleik
5. Johnossi - Execution Song
6. El Perro Del Mar - God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get)

Amazon is offering a free album sampler from the great Scandinavia, featuring El Perro Del Mar, Figurines, et al. If you ever wished you'd discovered more music from Scandinavia, go download this album. It is a good start. You would not say no to free music, right?

[Video] Death Cab For Cutie | Don't Your (forget about me)

2010-01-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

As Jeffrey mentioned earlier... Death Cab for Cutie was on Critics Choice Movie Awards tonight and they did a great version of Simple Minds, Don't You (Forget About Me), as a tribute to John Hughes.

Death Cab for Cutie to cover Simple Minds

2010-01-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

Alright Death Cab fans, it's time to turn on your TV. Tonight on the Critic's Choice Movie Awards, they will be covering Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from the movie The Breakfast Club as a tribute to John Hughes. John Hughes was somewhat of a movie legend and is responsible for some of the most memorable movies (along with their soundtracks) of the 80's and 90's. Tune into VH1 at 9PM to catch the performance. Also stay tuned here and we'll ty to dig up a video to post (provided "The Man" doesn't vanquish all of them from the internet).

R.I.P. Jay Reatard

2010-01-13T13:47:00.000-08:00

The news is spreading fast, but it's official: Jar Reatard was discovered dead in his apartment at 3:30 this morning, He was 29 years old. As you may or may not remember, I am a huge fan of Reatard. This is very sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with Jay's family, friends and fans through this hard time.

New MIA - There's Space For Ol Dat I See

2010-01-12T21:58:00.000-08:00

The interwebs have been all atwitter with rumors of a new MIA video, possibly from her new album due out later this year. Well, just a few minutes ago, via her twitter, she posted it. Here it is:

*Update: Word comes that the song is officially called "Space Odyssey" Just FYI

galax54 (lo-fi/post-rock from Croatia)

2010-01-09T03:49:00.000-08:00

As I have very limited Internet access these days, I apologize in advance that you will not hear from me as much this year...

galax54 is quite the gem of the past decade that I had shamefully missed. Of course, good music is easy to miss when it comes from obscure places to look for music at such as Croatia. My recent discovery of this very pretty and gentle experimental/lo-fi/post-rock/quiet music is currently doing a lot of good to me lately as I deal with the transition of dramatic changes this week/this year--culture, climate, and all.

galax54 - marbles and tourette's (mp3)

The notable releases of galax54, Sleepers vs. Satellites and The Thursday Machine stand out so much in my collection of quiet music that rank among my favorites such as mum, Dntel, Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Ros, and so on. It is diffucult to compare this band to any sound that I am ever familiar with as it delivers nothing quite like any of the said bands. The elements employed in these releases are rich in creativity, style, variety of intrumentations that range from electronics, synths, gentle vocals, and samples of real-life settings from public spaces. Even though that sounds like a lot is going on in their music, galax54 still manages to prove a legitimate sense of post-rock/lo-fi environment throughout the experience of listening these wonderful albums.

If you're looking for a good new music that you do not want it to pull many stunts in the album, but you do not want it to put you to sleep either, this is it.

galax54 - the idiot (mp3)
from the album, The Thursday Machine (2005)

Vampire Weekend - Contra

2010-01-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

Vampire Weekend had a huge task in front of them in creating a follow-up to their much beloved debut. They were enormously hyped from the time their first CD-R was released. The album was loved by every type indie hipster under the sun. And that hipster's mom. and all that hipster's friends. and probably that hipster's teacher too.

When a band is hyped that much from before their first album is released, it's often hard for them to do anything but try to recreate that album over and over again. Luckily (and very surprisingly) that's not the case for Vampire Weekend.

Contra is not nearly as immediate as the self-titled debut was, but it still has it's fair share of hooks. For the most part, the band has mellowed a bit more. They retain the cheesy prep school lyrics, but hey, write what you know. The afro-pop influence is still present, but not nearly as prevalent.

The first half of the album plays like a slightly more mellowed revision of the first album. Mostly, it's quite good. I could do without the auto-tune on "California English" but it's also not so obnoxious that it completely ruins the song. After that is where the band starts playing a bit more. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Taxi Cab is probably the most mellow VW song to date. It's carried by the vocals, a distorted string line, a piano and a small background beat. It works extremely well. "Giving Up The Gun" doesn't work nearly as well. It sounds like average top 40 radio pop. A rather boring song. The song "Cousins" is a highly energetic almost pop-punk sounding take on Vampire Weekend. It also proves to be one of the best songs on the album. Ezra Koenig has declared his love for Punk Rock and Hardcore in multiple interviews, and here that love really shines through. The album finishes up the almost interesting but ultimately too long and disconnected "Diplomat's Son." A song that samples an MIA song that isn't "Paper Planes." The closer is "I Think UR a Contra". It's a very ethereal song with the only real definable rhythm to the song not coming in til about halfway through and fading out just as quickly. It's an interesting song, but it feels like it is just missing something.

Ultimately, Contra is not a bad album. It's definitely not as bad as pretty much everyone expected it to be. Instead of trying to recreate their stellar debut, credit has to be given to the band for attempting to grow while retaining elements that made them great. They may not have done a perfect job of that, but this sounds more like a transition album than that of a band resting on it's haunches and trying to relive it's glory days.

Fionn Regan - The Shadow of an Empire

2010-01-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

One of the best concerts i have been to in my life was, Fionn Regan in Limerick Ireland. His debut album, The End of History is still top 10 on my ipod play list.

Fionn himself announced on his twitter account that he had a blog, which has one post: Here, announcing his up coming album: The Shadow of an Empire. The track list is blow and the cover art is above... the album hits the stories in the UK on Feb 8th... no date in the states yet.

Protection Racket
Catacombs
Coat Hook
Genocide Matinee
Violent Demeanor
Lines written in Winter
House Detective
Little Nancy
Lord Help My Poor Soul
The Shadow of an Empire

His myspace account describes this album as "sound of towns and dimly lit streets; heartfelt and with a ragged edge."

Lots of Cool Bands are Covering Bowie for Charity

2010-01-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

Warchild has announced it's new charity compilation, and yet again it sounds pretty great. True, there aren't as many big names on this one, but there are enough to excite just about any indie fan. Plus, they're all covering Bowie tunes! Track list:

01 – Exitmusic – Space Oddity
02 – Vivian Girls – John, I’m Only Dancing
03 – Megapuss (Devendra Banhart) – Sound + Vision (en espanol)
04 – Carla Bruni – Absolute Beginners
05 – Lights – World Falls Down
06 – VOICEsVOICEs – Heroes
07 – Duran Duran – Boys Keep Swinging
08 – MGMT – TBA
09 – Charlift – Always Crashing in the Same Car
10 – Aska w/ Moon & Moon – African Night Flight
11 – A Place to Bury Strangers – Suffragette City
12 – The Polyamorous Affair – Theme From Cat People
13 – Keren Ann – Life on Mars
14 – Swahili Blonde (feat. John Frusciante) – Red Money
15 – Marco Benevento – Art Decade
16 – Corridor – Be My Wife
17 – Aquaserge – The Superman
18 – Warpaint – Ashes to Ashes
19 – Rainbow Arabia – Quicksand
20 – We Are The World – Afraid of Americans
21 – Laco$te – Within You
22 – Ariana Delawari – Ziggy Stardust
23 – Pizza! – Modern Love
24 – St Clair Board – Secret Life of Arabia
25 – Caroline Weeks – Starman
26 – Amanda Jo Williams – The Man Who Sold the World
27 – Mick Karn – Ashes to Ashes
28 – Soulwax – TBA

Via You Aint No Picasso

Stream Vampire Weekend's new album Contra

2010-01-03T22:08:00.000-08:00

Head over to Vampire Weekend's myspace NOW to listen to the new album IN FULL! This must be some kind of preemptive strike as the album hasn't leaked yet!

Best Of '09

2009-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

I know, I know... It's been quite some time. Life and all that, I suppose. I have decided to do my yearly duty at the very least and share with you what, in my opinion, are the most noteworthy albums in this year of incredible albums. Try these on for size:

50. Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring
A great, but ultimately inconsistent album. This still marks an enormous leap forward for this London band. They have grown from a very average twee-pop band to this (sometimes overly) emotional folk troupe. The album includes choirs and orchestras that move it along nicely (except for the ridiculously out of place "Love of An Orchestra") Charlie Fink delivers his words in a melancholy that would make Dean Wareham jealous, especially in standout, "My Broken Heart."

49. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Vs. Children
Owen Ashworth's solo output has gotten progressively more hi-fi in his recent albums. Well still often recording instruments under a fog of fuzz, Vs. Children is definitely a full studio album. In this case, it's helpful Ashworth's vocals and lyrics now have room to shine over drums, pianos, organs, and yes, occasionally the thrift store Casiotone synthesizer.

48. Delorean - Ayrton Senna EP
Yet another great bit of french electro. This is the kind of music that Summers are made of. All in all Delorean write songs; full, rich songs with lyrics and a great voice. It's fun music that feels like sunlight and blue skies.

47. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
A great, but ultimately over-hyped album. Still, Phoenix knows how to write some great pop music. Just try not singing along to the chorus of "Lisztomania" or avoid shouting "Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey" in the chorus of "1901"

46. Deerhunter - Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP
It's been a prolific year for Bradford Cox...Ok, let's be honest, it's been a prolific decade. What's amazing is how good all of it is. On this new EP, Deerhunter introduces some new sounds into it's repertoire. It's still lo-fi, the vocals are still mixed very low, but they really explore the studio on this EP and if this is a sign of things to come, we should all be very excited.

45. Micachu and the Shapes - Jewellery
Let's be honest here: Mica Levi is an odd one. Fortunately for us, it's the odd ones that are often the most creative. This is definitely true of the new Micachu album. This is an album full of zany and smashing, but ultimately poppy tunes.

44. N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo
This long-rumored album finally saw the light of day this year. N.A.S.A. is a collective of LA DJs. The beats they make on the album are ultimately disappointing, what really shines through on this album are the guest spots. Where else can you find MIA, Santogold, Nick Zinner, and Spank Rock on a single track? Or better yet, Tom Waits with Kool Keith? What's better, is most of the time they actually make it work together.

43. Real Estate - S/T
In full disclosure, I didn't really care much for this band until I saw them open for Love Is All whilst in New Jersey this past Summer. What love sparked this Summer at their concert grew into a flame with the release of their first full-length album. Equal parts lo-fi, psychadelia and pop, this album is another great album of Summer time jams.

42. We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four walls
My roommate continually gets mad at me for saying this, but at heart, We Were Promised Jetpacks are an emo band. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Adam Thompson sings with the conviction of a pre-pubescent high school kid, and there's no question he means it. They do seem to be in a bit of a rush to get through all the songs on the album, but learning to slow down comes with age.

41. Doves - Kingdom Of Rust
It took them almost 10 years and 4 albums, but Doves have finally released their masterwork. It's the right mix of studio shine, musical experimentation, and Doves own brand of deadpan delivery. The albums title track is a solid rockabilly send-up that really sets up the tone for the album, and the rest of the album does not disappoint.

40. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
Bill Callahan has his Smog moniker, but luckily he hasn't lost his wry wit or wisdom. His voice is still second to none. He still knows how to deliver a hilariously dry and surprising swear. This may be his strongest work since 'Dongs Of Sevotion'. It includes lush string arrangements that only add to his beautiful music.

39. St. Vincent - Actor
Annie Clark, in the past few years, has become somewhat of an indie rock heart throb. It seems in Actor, she knows this. Sonically, Actor is a far more dense and developed album than Marry me. More often than not, this is a good thing. She really uses the studio to support her a lot more. Lyrically, she has grown enormously. Actor is not nearly as autobiographical as her previous work. It deals a lot in metaphors and it works well. The themes would work great as a companion piece to Okkervil River's Stage Names/Stand-Ins albums.

38. Elvis Perkins in Dearland - S/T
This is Elvis Perkins second solo album, but his first with his backing band, or at least the first where he lists them on the CD sleeve. It is an important distinction to make. It seems Dearland keeps Elvis's eccentricities in check and bring out his songwriting and voice so much better than with just his acoustic guitar. "Doomsday" was the lead single but it's "Shampoo" that really shows Elvis at his finest songwriting. The album as a whole is a gorgeous work shows a singer/songwriter at his peak.

37. Passion Pit - Manners
Passion Pit is an American band who bravely play a style of music that has been long dominated by French Musicians. They are a very divisive band; and what makes them so divisive is what makes them truly American and also truly great: they're obnoxious. No bones about it, they are. But, in the case of Passion Pit, that obnoxiousness makes for some fun party music. There is no pretense at all coming from lead singer Michael Angelakos. It makes for great dance party music. To steal an offensive phrase, "F*** art, let's dance!"

36. The Love Language - S/T
I'll be honest, when I first saw the cover of The Love Language's album, I was really hoping for a great girl-fronted band. While I was let down to find that the lead singer was, in fact, male; I was not let down by the album. In a year of lo-fi pop music, mostly out of New York, North Carolina's Love Language really stands out.

35. Atlas Sound - Logos
Remember me previously raving about Bradford Cox's prolific year? Here he is again, this time in his solo, Atlas Sound form. The cover of this album is what really makes this album great. Not the cover itself, but what it represents. The cover is a picture of cox's own caved-in chest, and the album really lays into his own frailties. The album contains one of my favorite pairings of the year: Bradford Cox with Panda Bear. But I wouldn't call that track a standout, the album as a whole is just that great.

34. Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
I was going to make a bad pun about Jarvis' last name, and the themes of this album, but I'll let it slide. There's no way I can compete with the puns on the song "Leftovers" (He says he loves you like a sister, well I guess that's relative). Suffice it to say that Further Complications is an album about sex. Now, I never would have guessed that this king of brittpop would have worked well with producer Steve Albini, but given the themes of this album, the raw production just works...all too well.

33. Mos Def - The Ecstatic
It seems that no matter what Mos Def is doing, he's either really up, or really down. In his acting career, he followed up "Be Kind Rewind" with "Next Day Air". Now, I didn't see "Next Day Air" but I feel I can make a fair judgment on it's lack of quality based on previews. After his excellent Black On Both Sides album, he came out with two less than stellar albums and most people, myself included, wrote him off. I was wrong. The Ecstatic is a work that at very least matches the genius of BOBS. It is one of the finest hip hop albums of the year.

32. The xx - xx
The xx is a rare case where a blog band lives up to its hype. They seemed to spring out of nowhere. The album is really about sex, but it's about sex intellectually. It broaches the topic with a maturity far beyond what the age of the band would indicate. The music matches the lyrics, with slinky bass lines and hushed beats. The real key to the music though, is the back and forth male/female vocals. The band has already lost a member, but let's hope this band won't follow the pattern of hype bands and self-implode.

31. Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today...
Okay, so that's not the full title of the album, but what do you expect when the full title of the album is an 8 line poem? The album marks a step in a different direction for Mew. The album is much more of a pop record than previous outings. Not to say that this isn't distinctly a Mew record. The first song, "New Terrain" has vocals played in reverse whilst the music is forwards, and the rhythm is dead on. Elsewhere, on tracks like "Hawaii" and "Sometimes Life Isn't Easy", are where the pop sensibilities really shine through. It is a distinctly Mew album that old fans will love, and will probably garner some new ones.

30. Tinariwen - Imidiwan: Companions
Tinariwen, and Tuareg music in generally, has seen a drastic rise in popularity in the past few years. It's no secret as to why; catchy hooks, great beats, and amazing guitar work. Tinariwen encompasses all those things perfectly. On their newest album, they've really upped the ante with higher production values while maintaining the lower fi charm that makes this band what they are. Ibrahim's voice really shines through, especially on tracks like "Imidiwan Afrik Tendam" Just try not locking yourself into the groove of this album.

29. Wale - Attention Deficit
It's not an easy feat to land a spot on the MTV VMAs and rope in Lady Gaga for a guest spot all before your first proper album, but Wale has achieved it. One reason why: he's that good. Wale is a smart, socially conscious rapper, but he also has a great mind for pop music. The producers chosen for the album are surprising and great. 2 tracks were produced by TV on the Radio's Andrew Sitek and they prove to be some of the best on the album. Also be sure to check out Lady Gaga's hook on "Chillin."

28. Fool's Gold - S/T
Fool's Gold plays the kind of music that inspired bands like Vampire Weekend. What's funny about it is that yes, it is afropop, but most of the album is sung in Luke Top's native Hebrew. It's an album who's hooks create a demand for multiple repeat listens, and possibly even a late night dance party or two.

27. Karen O & The Kids - Where The Wild Things Are OST
Unfortunately for Spike Jonez, the soundtrack is the best part about his adaptation of the beloved childrens book. The mood of the album, much like the movie, is mostly melancholy, but unlike in the movie, it really works. Karen O assembles an indie rock super group for this soundtrack including members of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Deerhunter, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. The album front to back does not feel like a soundtrack, more like a cohesive album. The real standout however, is not an original, its the cover of Daniel Johnston's "Worried Shoes".

26. Jay-Z - The Blueprint III
Considering this album part of Jay-Z's stellar Blueprint series may be a bit of a stretch, but it doesn't mean it's not a great album. It's interesting to note that this is the first Jay album that does not feature Jay-Z on the cover. Lyrically, the album contains some of his weakest themes. The point I want to make is, since when did lyrical content have anything to do with great pop? If Jay-Z wants to keep up the black Sinatra vibe, making pop records is not a bad way to do it.

25. The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World to Come
The Life of the World To Come may be John Darnielle's heaviest album to date. An impressive feat considering having written albums about inconsolable loneliness and abusive stepfathers. Darnielle describes this album as "Lessons I learned from the Bible." But don't be fooled, it's not a religious album by any means. In "Matthew 25:21," The verse is about entering into the rest of the Lord, and the song is a heart-wrenching take on losing a loved one. The final song may also be the best on the album, and the most heartbreaking. Do yourself a favor and read the verses along with the song.

24. Future of the Left - Travels With Myself and Another
Andy Falkous just seems to get angrier and angrier. From the opening shouts "C'mon Rick, I'm not a prize!" to the last "Lapsed Catholics are the worst!", the album is all piss and vinegar. The music matches the lyrics, it is pure, angry rock and roll, and that is a beautiful thing. Sometimes the best music is the music that strips everything back and just goes for it.

23. Morrissey - Years of Refusal
Will someone please explain to me what exactly is happening on the cover of this album? It's beside the point, I just don't understand it. Morrissey's recent love of boxing culture has finally found it's way into his music. In all honesty, this is a pop-rock album, power chords and all. But don't worry, Morrissey is still the pope of mope. The entire album is about his many, many break-ups, his loneliness, and his depression medication.

22. Various Artists - Dark Was The Night
It's a rare occasion that a charity compilation works this well. One of the best parts about this compilation is the artists it brings together. Grizzly Bear with Feist, Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch, and especially Dirty Projectors with David Byrne. These two discs of indie rock all-stars contain mostly great, mostly new tracks. Where Dark Was The Night really shines through, however, is in its sequencing. Where so many compilations fall flat like a prepubescent mixtape, Dark Was The Night shows actual care and thought, and flows extremely well.

21. Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light
It hardly seems possible, but Antony Hegarty just keeps getting better. The themes on Crying Light may not be as difficult as on I Am A Bird Now, but they are far more relate-able. Front to back, the album deals with the transitions from birth to death and how those to events relate to other worlds beyond ours. This theme is no better encapsulated than on "Kiss My Name". "I'm only a child, Born upon a grave, Dancing through the stations". Musically Antony and his Johnsons have grown enormously as well. The orchestration is rich without being overbearing. Antony has created an absolutely gorgeous work of music, one that should be counted among the classics.

20. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below
I will admit it, I bought the Ima Robot album when it came out. I even enjoyed it for about a month. I now consider that a dirty little skid mark on the generally impeccably white underwear of my music tastes. That's why I was shocked to find out long after I decided I loved Edward Sharpe, that he was the lead singer of Ima Robot. Fortunately, there are no similarities between the two bands. Instead, they've made an album of jangly folk-pop that would fit just as well in the 60's as it would in today's indie landscape.

19. Franz Nicolay - Major General
I've said it before, but it bears repeating; bands are usually better than the sum of there parts. That's why I'm generally leery about solo albums. Especially when the solo album is not even that of the lead singer, but the piano player for the band. Here though is a happy exception to a rule. Sure, the album is inconsistent, but just try not to fall victim to the pull of songs like "Note on a Subway Wall" Or rock out to the extremely Springsteen-esque "This World is an Open Door"

18. The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa
Everyone at this point knows the story of Esau Mwamawaya meeting Radioclit, so I'll leave it out. What's important here, is that they make really good music together. Esau strongly holds to his African roots while making more accessible to the indie pop generation. He even works with indie pop's most recent poster boy, Ezra Koenig (of Vampire Weekend). The Architecture in Helsinki sampling mixtape favorite, Kamphopo re-emerges here as well, with a choir of African children to sweeten the deal.

17. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
This is one of those follow-up albums that make the bands previous efforts irrelevant. Now that's not to say the previous album was not amazing, but this one is absurdly good. They still play the same compressed, mean electronic music, but this time the album somehow has a more accessible feel. Just listen to the 10 plus minute opus "Surf Solar" and try not to be a fan.

16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
In a surprising move, Yeah Yeah Yeahs have dropped the guitars and picked up synths. While odd, it's proven a good move for a maturing band. Sure, we all miss Zinner's guitar noodling, but when it's traded for the sounds on rave-ups like "Heads Will Roll" or the lush balladry of "Little Shadow" it's a fair trade. Karen O has calmed her vocal acrobatics and what's left behind is a gorgeous but still uniquely Karen O voice.

15. The Thermals - Now We Can See
The Thermals seem to hold the Midas Touch of pop-punk. Every album is just absolute gold. Here on their fourth studio album, they continue to build on their great formula. Hi-fi enough to be listenable, but lo-fi enough to still hold on to some grit. Politically charged but not heavy handed. The Thermals dig a little deeper on this outing spending a lot of time on the topic of mortality. But it's still packed with enough hooks to keep you singing along for weeks...and weeks.

14. Fever Ray - S/T
Fever Ray is one half of the musical maestros The Knife. Karin, here, has decided to branch out on her own. Luckily, she is the voice half of The Knife, so what we have here sounds nearly like a new Knife album. Nearly because, who knew this was possible, it's more dark and brooding than any previous Knife ventures. The synths are still there. As are the beats. and Karin's voice is as shape-shifting as ever. The slowed tempos really allow for Karin to shine through the music and it's created an album of beautiful darkness.

13. Girls - Album
San Franciso's Girls album starts out with lead singer Christopher Owens shouting "Oh how I wish I had a boyfriend" in a strange falsetto. This however, is not any reflection on the singer or the band. It's sung from the point of view of an ex-lover of his. His voice is very evocative, and it reminds you of every geek that ever recorded music, all at once.As a whole the album is equal rambunctious and precocious, probably due to Christopher's cult upbringing (not a joke). Still, the album feels like the city it was recorded in; sunny but somehow dirty and grimy at the same time.

12. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - S/T
2 years from the time they released their EP, The Pains finally put out their debut album (and another EP in the same year). Someone asked me to describe their sound the other day and I told them it was The Jesus and Mary Chain with more of a pop sensibility. And really, there is no better description than that. They have the shoegaze down with their amped up and over-loaded guitars and the hushed vocals they'd fit right in among the best of the early 90's gazers. But with song titles like "A Teenager in Love" and "This Love is Fucking Right" any twee label would be happy to have them. What it really comes down to though, is that it just works...well.

11. YACHT - See Mystery Lights
In a previous post about "what your favorite indie band says about you" it mentioned something to the effect of being likely to join a cult. If you've ever watched an interview with Jonah and Claire, you'll realize that's absolutely true. Nonetheless, the album is nothing I'd consider cultish. It's fun pop and dance music. This is Yacht's first work with Claire Evans doing vocals, and its proved to be a wise pick-up. Just listen to the joy that's transmitted from her voice in "Psychic City (Voodoo City)" A track who's lyrics came from a poem on an old K Record.

10. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Where did this one come from?! I'll admit to never being a huge fan of The Flaming Lips. That's why, when this album came out, I had no intention of getting it. And then I saw that now legendary performance of "Watching the Planets" on Conan. This album is a dense work of fuzz and haze. A psychedelic rock masterpiece with contributions from both MGMT and Karen O (all of Karen O's parts were recorded over the phone). All in all, front to back this is one stellar piece of work that Wayne Coyne has called "unfocused." Wayne, I respectfully disagree, it's your finest work to date.

9. The Antlers - Hospice
It's hard to recommend this album. Not because it's bad, it's not, it's phenomenal. No, it's hard to recommend because the album is so emotionally draining. This is a concept album about love, grief, abuse, pain, and sorrow. And the stories within the album are so relatable and so well written that it's hard not to get wrapped up and brought down with them. Still, the album is beautifully orchestrated and though it's difficult to listen to, it's also extremely rewarding.

8. Suckers - EP
It's rare to see an EP this high on a list. Only four tracks. There's one reason: It's really that good. To steal a title from the EP's strongest track, "It Gets Your Body Movin'." This is a psychedelic pop album that borrows equal parts from David Byrne, and Yeasayer but sounds somehow completely unique and original. If this EP, and the few tracks that have spilled out since, are any indicator, this is a band we can expect great things from in the coming years.

7. Dan Deacon - Bromst
It seems odd to use words like "darker" to describe a Dan Deacon album. Because yes, Bromst is a "darker" album than Spiderman of the Rings, but when Deacon's previous effort was such a sunny album as Spiderman, it's hard to be anything but "darker." Still, Bromst is a joyful fun album. But more important than the brightness of the album is the fact that Deacon's training as a classical composer really shines through on this album. Yes, there are a lot of electronic squeaks and skronks on this album, it's the live instrumentation that really make the show. Most impressively, a hacked player piano that plays impossibly fast melodies, all composed by Deacon himself. On first listen this is another fun album by a king of fun, but on deeper listens, the orchestration comes out on full, and it is hard to feel anything but awe.

6. Japandroids - Post-Nothing
Guitarist, drummer, and a wind machine. That's Japandroids. If there's one band that has truly embodied all that punk rock has ever been this year, it's these guys. The album is simple, angry, crunchy, loud, and all too short. Still, there is not one bad track on the entire album. From the rocking opener "The Boys Are Leaving Town" to the love song "Sovereignty" to the emo closer "I Quit Girls" it's hard to find fault with this album, and it's hard to not rock out.

5. Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do
After hearing them collaborate with both Santogold and MIA ("Paper Planes" ring any bells?), when Diplo and Switch announced a collabo album, it was hard not to be excited. Major Lazer plays out like a recent history of Jamaican music. From dancehall to rocksteady to sleng teng, it's all covered here. each track with a different group of collaborators. This is an album that will be played in dancehalls in Jamaica and the states for years. The only low point on the album is Amanda Blank's oversexed verses on "What U Like." However, the next two track more than make up for it with the Summertime dance track (and least Jamaican) "Keep it Goin Louder" and the minimalist Vybz Kartel dancehall track "Pon De Floor". For not being Jamaican, Diplo and Switch somehow have a great grasp on the countries best music.

4. Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
The first, and most obvious thing to notice about Wild Beasts is Hayden Thorpe's effeminate and emotionally evocative falsetto. But once past that, what's left is an enormously powerful art-rock troupe from England. On Two Dancers, Thorpe shares more of the vocal duties with bassist Tom Flemming. Flemming's Falsetto is somehow even more impressive than Thorpe's. Just listen to the vocals on "Hooting & Howling". The album is a phenomenal piece of art rock mixed with pop with a blast of emotional intensity.

3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong. At the beginning of the year I predicted MPP to be the album of the year. Who could have predicted a year like this though?! That's not to say MPP is not absurdly good. This album combines the previous three Animal Collective albums. The pop of Strawberry Jam, the avant-guarde of Feels, and the folk of Sung Tongs. They've created the perfect mix. The music is at once densely layered and surprisingly simple. Just listen to the 2009 hipster anthem "My Girls" for a prime example. Centered around a simple vocal theme and a building beat. The album is stunning and fun, simple and complex and a classic for years to come.

2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
It's clear listening to Veckatimest that the three years following Yellow House have been spent meticulously laboring over every note that would end up on the album. All that work really paid off, and created an insanely gorgeous and perfect album. So perfect, in fact, that my mom likes it, not to mention Jay-Z and Michael McDonald. I challenge you to find one more album that has that list of fans. The album is hard to put into words other than amazing. Anything else I can say would be gushing, and this album would deserve it, but for now let's just suffice it to say amazing.

1. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
In one of the best years for indie rock since the mid-90's, it was hard to reach a number one album. However, the decision was made easy by this album. Dirty Projectors have always been a band with more potential than listenable music. This is the album that changes all that. Dave Longstreth has written this album more for a band than himself and it makes a big difference. He switches lead singing duties between himself and 2 amazing female vocalists. On lead single, "Stillness is the Move" Amber Coffman shows off her amazingly powerful voice in the most R&B inluenced son on the album. On "Two Doves", its Angel Deradoorian's turn to show off her beautiful and delicate pipes. Elsewhere in the album, Dave performs his vocal acrobatics better than he ever has before. This is an album that rewards it's listeners with each and every listen with new discoveries and familiar harmonies.

It's Christmas So We'll Stop

2009-12-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite Christmas themed songs is "It's Christmas So We'll Stop" by Frightened Rabbit, both 2007 and 2008 versions. This may not be news to some of you, but I just discovered this morning that there is a choir version of this song. It is beautifully sung and I daresay it is quite the winter hymn for me this year. Check it out.

Frightened Rabbit - It's Christmas So We'll Stop Choir (mp3)

Here's the 2008 version for those who are unfamiliar:

Frightened Rabbit - It's Christmas So We'll Stop 2008 (mp3)

OH and Merry Christmas all! It is snowing here at ...and music will set your free, but not in Arizona apparently!

What Your Favorite Indie Band Says About You

2009-12-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

My friend turned me on to this article from the Flavorwire blog. It's hilariously (and sometimes unfortunately) true.

Stereotyping People by Their Favorite Indie Bands

The XX
Blog enthusiasts who thought wearing a keffiyeha was awesome.

Passion Pit
Bros vaguely interested in listening to music and very interested in having sex with their girlfriend.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Girls who bought checkered sneakers in the 8th grade.

Fleet Foxes
Hopelessly patchy beard growers.

TV On The Radio
Politically-correct hipsters.

Grizzly Bear
People who think that world hunger could be assuaged with four part harmonies.

Micachu and the Shapes
Chicks with bad teeth.

Wavves
Dudes who think low production value is “authentic” and would go down on Todd P.

Steve Aoki
Alts who don’t “get” Hipster Runoff.

Joanna Newsom
People who have considered befriending a squirrel.

Devendra Banhart
People who have considered becoming a squirrel.

Animal Collective
Guys who make “Best of the Year” lists in January based predominantly on “feeling.”

The Antlers
Boys who enjoy crying more than their girlfriend.

Vivian Girls
Girls who purchase a guitar, buy flannel from the Salvation Army, wear glasses that they don’t actually need, and still can’t get the guy.

Vampire Weekend
Bros who try to make out with girls at concerts by relating to them via old Nickelodeon shows. “Remember Pete & Pete??”

Death Cab for Cutie
Girls who quote lyrics as their Facebook status.

Neon Indian
Gorilla Vs. Bear readers.

She & Him
People who hate Ben Gibbard.

Bon Iver
People with self-esteem issues and probably hate Ben Gibbard.

Washed Out
Those who comfortably accept chillwave as a genre.

Memory Tapes
Those who comfortably accept chillwave as a lifestyle.

The Shins
Premature alts who considered Garden State a life-altering viewing experience.

Radiohead
Everyone.

Tegan & Sara
Lesbians and guys who firmly believe that when there are two girls on stage together, there is a 63% chance of them making out.

St. Vincent
Feminists.

Drake
Indie rap fans who thought Tha Carter III was too mainstream.

Ra Ra Riot
Girls who got their boyfriends to watch Me and You and Everyone We Know.

Bat for Lashes
Girls who wear leggings outside of ’80s-themed parties.

Japandroids
Guys who only read Pitchfork for the ratings and haven’t showered in at least two days.

Kimya Dawson
Chicks who are described by their girlfriends as “sweet” and “really nice” when guys ask if their friend is hot.

Girls
Anyone who thinks The Catcher in Rye is the greatest book of all time.

Kid Cudi
Blipsters who still wear neon shoes and smoke pot.

The Flaming Lips
Self-actualized bros who grow pot.

Antony and the Johnsons
Guys who still cry every time they watch Bambi.

Matt and Kim
Closeted Blink-182 enthusiasts.

Here We Go Magic
Guys who are ‘over’ Gizzly Bear.

Phoenix
People who don’t listen to enough music.

Sufjan Stevens
People who believe in two things: Jesus and Juno.

M.I.A.
Girls who don’t understand politics.

Regina Spektor
Girls who don’t understand boys.

Justice
Bros who, at one point in their lives, have tried to grow a mustache.

Arcade Fire
Frequent transcendental experience havers.

Deerhunter
Avid doodlers.

Wilco
Guys who go to concerts to relax.

YACHT
Someone who, if presented with the opportunity to join a cult, would most definitely join that cult.

Ratatat
Boys who think Ocarina of Time is the greatest game ever made.

Patrick Wolf
Gay guys.

CSS
Girls who throw up at every party.

Woods
Indie dudes who wear beanies and you can see the front of their hair pulled back beneath it.

Spoon
Bros who drink shitty beer without ironic intentions.

Dirty Projectors
People who like way too many toppings on their pizza.

Moonface - Dreamland EP (2010) Preview

2009-12-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

You know what I love? I love it when an artist that I am becoming newly acquainted with comes out with a very good and a very long track as a debut. It totally makes up for the kind of dissatisfaction from that "want more" discovery-mode, if you know what I mean.

Even though Spencer Krug is no new acquaintance of mine, this man, I believe, can never get enough praise from his listeners. I must be honest: everything Spencer Krug touches turns to gold. You may think that a ten-minute track is long. But try twenty minutes instead. Spencer Krug, under the moniker Sunset Rubdown, and also the name that many of you may be familiar with, in bands such as Wolf Parade, Frog Eyes, Swan Lake, Fifths of Seven--this man has now ventured into another, yet again, brilliant project called Moonface. He has recently released a track preview of a new EP, Dreamland that is due out in January 26th next year, currently available for free at the Moonface website.

Listening to the song for me was like being transported in Spencer Krug's brilliant mind, swimming into an ocean of rapture. This track definitely rewards a headphone listening. There is so much going on in this track: great musical components and just great lyrics. Here's a 5-minute preview:

Moonface - Marimba and S-Drums (mp3)

Check out moonface.ca; get your free download, do consider donating; and find out more great stuff about this upcoming EP. Oh, and mark January 26th on your calendars too.

Welcoming Chris Nielsen

2009-12-16T21:10:00.000-08:00

In an ever progressing effort to improve this blog we have recently added a writer that we are all very exited about! You might say he has put his "hand down [our] throat you held on to [our] heart and pumped blood through".

He is currently living in Utah... attending Brigham Young University, studying Media Art or film making. He also speaks Russian so that is in the mix with his education as well. I have spend the last several days cyberspace stalking him and find him quiet enjoyable to stalk... and I think you will too!

I will let his writing style and music interest speak for themselves... as if little words on a page had vocal cords and could say things. We say the funniest stuff sometimes.

So Welcom to Chris everyone!

Sean Hayes | Honey Bee Falling EP

2009-12-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

Finally after what seems like a decade Sean Hayes is at work again... (okay so it has only been 2 years).

He has a EP that is available right now called Honey Bee Falling, it has three all new songs, nice stuff marrying Sean's classic funky folk style.

Second, he has a new LP out March 10 2010 called Run Wolves run.

As a very special was to get people to pre-order the LP Sean is offering the EP for FREE if you pre-order the Run Wolves Run.

Here is where you can find all that stuff. Buy it from the website because why not support the artist directly, right?

At any rate, he also has a nice video with a taste from Run Wolves Run: Check it out:

Sean Hayes - Garden from cleanwhitelines on Vimeo.

Final Fantasy - Lewis Takes Action (Heartland preview)

2009-12-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy has a new album due out in January. This time it is for real and this man is not kidding. Heartland has an album art ready:

And one track has been floating around the Internet for preview:

Final Fantasy - Lewis Takes Action (mp3)

I believe that Final Fantasy is taking a step forward in Heartland. The theme of this track has the similar feel of the previous EP release, Spectrum, 14th Century, which I initially suspected that Heartland might be a continuation of this EP. However, there is no word of it other than the fact that Heartland is going to be something liken to a "one-sided dialogues with Lewis, a young, ultra-violent farmer, speaking to his creator." (Pallett, source).

As a die-hard Final Fantasy fan, I am excited. This track has been spinning on repeat for me now, and is likely going to remain that way until January 12th.

John Lennon | Instant Karma and some other stuff

2009-12-08T18:01:00.000-08:00

I have been to that lovely little mosaic that they have build across the street from where John Lennon was shot... it is nice. For some reason though, I don't feel like it catches the magic... or even that the word magic catches the just want John Lennon did for music.
I told someone once that if John Lennon were a live today and making music it would sound a lot like Modest Mouse did on Good News For People Who Love Bad news... (that was a great album) but i since then i think i have realized that if John Lennon were a live today and making music, it would sound much like the music that is around today... because in his time he made music like today's music.

That was a ramble, this is a video of John Lennon doing Instant Karma:

This is a lovely video:

Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP (2009)

2009-12-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

Before you judge me for this review, I must make it clear to you, readers, if anyone is still reading this(?), three of the following about me:

Not a Secret: I listen to Animal Collective
Secret: I dislike Animal Collective
Big Secret: I am an Animal Collective fangirl

Now that we get that out of the way, on to the review.

Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP (Due out: December 15, 2009)

I have been listening to this EP for a while now. If this record is not called Fall Be Kind, then I think, it would be called The Return of the Merriweather Post Pavillion--featuring tracks that Animal Collective had had no heart to finish before the epic album leak in 2008, leaked by Animal Collective themselves. I still cannot tell if this is a win or a fail.

Fall Be Kind features five decent tracks, one of which I recognized from an encore track in the live album leak, called "Graze" (not "Grace" if you, like me, acquired it from a bad leak). Graze is sunny and it sounds like an opening to a fairy tale movie. Try: Once upon a time there were flowers, and flowers are pretty. So, one day flowers are not pretty anymore... dark, dark clouds are rolling and that is when track number two, "What Would I Want? Sky", kicks in. After the sky, the clouds thicken, your universe changes. Welcome to the bloody future, er, I mean, high-voltage room, that is track number three. Track #3, "Bleeding", digitally transitions you to a different reality--a high-speed reality, which according to me, is possibly the transition to the best track in the EP, that is "On a Highway." Switching gears from the bleeding, Track #4 is fun, loaded with strange yet interesting sounds, and is zooming back into confidence with the trademark Animal Collective vocals we are all familiar with. This EP closes with the most confusing track ever, "I Think I Can", which contains a range of moods that begins with a spooky twilight zone, climaxes with various experimental drums and clapping, ends with vocal overlays and chants (IthinkIcanIthinkIcanIthinkIcanI...), and finally cuts it with another twilight zone.

After perhaps 10-15 rounds of listen to this record (yes, I am obsessive) I still do not know what to feel about this EP. It is not bad but it is not excellent either. I liked Merriweather Post Pavillion. However, I think it would be possible that I would have liked this EP better if I had not been ~~listening to~~ acquainted with Panda Bear at all.

Here is "On a Highway." Give it a try. Maybe you like it.

Owl City

2009-09-28T04:02:00.000-07:00

I live again!

Don't know if I should make an explanation of the disappearance but that dastardly real life business was in the way. In short, I was living by itinerary after itinerary in the summer. Crossed the Pacific Ocean. Crossed the American continent. Crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Coughed out trails of carbon monoxides behind my deep, gray carbon footprints. And now, I am back in the good old lowland/flatland desert of Arizona again.

Hello!

While I have a couple of good music to review down my belt, I feel like I must kick start the season with a detour from what I originally planned. You ought to bear this with with me--none of this (this return) would have happened if I had not partied so hard this weekend.

Apparently the entire Mormon community is now a fan of Owl City. I kid you not. I worked so hard this weekend to become a party girl and here I am. Figuring out what is the deal with Owl City. If it weren't for one of the parties I would not have been prompted to return (ha) with this review.

In one of the electro indie communities that I belong to, I heard Owl City and the hype of here and there but never bothered to give 'em a chance. Fortunately for Owl City, one such chance was given tonight. It turns out, Owl City is the same guy from Swimming With Dolphins. If you remember Ambient Blue--yes that happy electropop clubby type of deal--Owl City is of the same vein, that is Adam Young.

Owl City fortunately got lucky and managed to get hyped up and exploded at the right time this year. With the release of Ocean Eyes in July 2009, album sales skyrocketed at a respectable rank. Furthermore, the scrobble rate for Owl City on Last.FM is accelerating for competency with larger names like Coldplay, MGMT, Decemberists, and so on and so forth.

Here's a breakdown of what I think about Owl City after going through every material released by Owl City tonight.

First Off, Ocean Eyes. My first Owl City album. Ocean Eyes run for nearly one hour long. It opens with the first track called Cave In--the chorus of this song concludes this album, this noble project of Adam Young, and its entirety for me: get me out of this cavern before I cave in. Don't believe me? Try this:

Cave In (Ocean Eyes)

And this:

Panda Bear (Of June)

And this:

Hello Seattle (remix, Of June)

And this:

Super Honeymoon (Maybe I'm Dreaming)

And this:

Hot Air Balloon (Myspace Monthly Release?)

And this:

Strawberry Avalanche (single)

And this:

Christmas song (single)

If you went through these seven tracks, you get a taste of the entirety of Owl City and what Adam Young will offer you throughout the years--the past, the present, the future.

After tonight, I admit to like and dislike Owl City all at the same time. But after tonight, I do not think I can handle anymore of Owl City for the next 90 days at least. Seriously? I decided that Owl City is just a big hype, lures you in with its candy-flavored melody and beats, but recycles the same deal of music because hey, recycling is green and sexy these days.

Yes, this is just one of those big hypes with no sense of variety, no evolution of style. There is no way--in this world and in this age--that I can place Owl City in my memorable list of 2009.

Not convinced? Buy the albums. Really. Worth checking out, not worth keeping. That's Owl City.

Unreliable Narrator : MP3 : Phoenix

2009-08-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

Got an email back from Sean of Unreliable Narrator with a couple of MP3s and a couple of Arizona dates...

here are the MP3:

Tails and Fins (MP3)

Out With the Scissors (MP3)

Arizona Dates:
Prescott on the 9th of August at the Catalyst Infoshop
Tucson on the 10th of August at the Hangart with Really Big Birds
Phoenix on the 11th of August at The Trunk Space with Really Big Birds + Hell Kite + Hello, My Name is Jack

Unreliable Narrator : North American Tour : Phoenix

2009-07-29T21:49:00.000-07:00

Unreliable Narrator in Phoenix

Many claim that phoenix is dead to indie music... i am one of those. However, if you are watching close enough there is plenty to see and in much more intimate settings they you might normally get.

Take for example, Unreliable Narrator out of, Vancouver, British Columbia. They aren't spoken of on Stereogum or Pitchfork, but they will be in Phoenix August 11th... and at The Trunk Space (Barely 1000 square feet). This is a brilliant opportunity to see one of the up and coming Folk acts touring this summer.

The mix of female and male vocals on this work is great. Marry that with beautiful melodies and instrumentation and you have a great group with a solid future.

I have emailed them for some MP3 and if i get them i will post... buy for now check out their myspace.

The Avett Brothers : Daytrotter

2009-07-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

More and More from the Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers did a little set for Daytrotter around SXSW... and finally we get a taste of it.

It is a nice taste too... one song from there upcoming, I and Love and You LP... one previously unreleased. And a couple oldies but goodies.

All the new stuff i hear from this upcoming album sounds great. I am little worried about the mix on some of the stuff they have released off the record... seemed a little more capital records they i thought they would be... but only time will tell on that.

Laundry Room (mp3)

A Lover Like You (mp3)

More of You (mp3)

Paranoid in b Major (mp3)

related links:
... and music will set you free: Listen: i'm back
... and music will set you free: The Avett Brothers Cover the Boss

Dr. Dog to Anti-Records

2009-07-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

DR. Dog on the Move

After about 10 years with Park Records, Dr. Dog is making a move over to Anti-Records. This is happy move for us (the fans), the band... but not for Park Records, but lets be honest... were they really giving Dr. Dog the attention the reserved or were they more concerned with Dan Deacon and other Nintendo Pop pioneers? I'm pretty sure Dr. Dog stuck with Park Records 2 or 3 albums longer then they should have... Lets hope Anti-Records gives them the attention they deserve.

Here are some cool Dr. Dog songs:

The Beach (mp3)

The Old Days (mp3)

The Ark (mp3)

Heart It Races (mp3) - Architecture in Helsinki cover

All these lovelies above come form MOKB, whom i love and admire.

[new] The Mountain Goats - Genesis 3:23 [mp3]

2009-07-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

The Mountain Goats have done about everything within the spectrum of musical experience. Tapes, Autobiographical albums, Spy albums (heretic) and so on...

So it is really no surprise that they would release an album bases on bible scriptures.

Here is what John Darnielle had to say about it:

"I guess the obvious question is going to be: 'John, have you had some sort of religious awakening?' and while I guess lots of people might want to be coy about answering that, that's never really been my style, so: no. It's not like that. It's not some heavy-narrative-distance deal either, though, and it's not a screed. It's twelve new songs: twelve hard lessons the Bible taught me, kind of. More than that I'd want to wait to say until some people have heard it, which won't be long. Will there be more news soon, quite soon? Like, next week, even? Oh yes there will!"

here is a song from the album... i like it, you might too.

Genesis 3:23 (mp3)

tUnE-yArDs - from Hooves on the Turf

2009-07-24T01:23:00.000-07:00

tUnE-yArDs both Tune and Yard!

Alright its late and i am still writing... this is why i stopped writing.

If ever i aspire to be like a blog it is Hooves on The Turf. She has both brilliant way for writing and presenting her material. The videos show puts out are extra ordinary and deserve wide spread viewing.

here is a video from Hooves on The Turf's Northside Festival showcase.

just so i get all the credit to the right places:

Ray Concepcion filmed the whole festival and put together this video. Not only is the music brilliant but the creative work of Ray is too...

tUne-YaRds // FIYA from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

You might remember Hooves on the Turfs Tallest Man on Earth videos from SXSW.

Similar tUnE-yArDs post: Here

Roadside Graves : Work Its Way Out [mp3]

2009-07-24T01:03:00.000-07:00

The Roadside Graves: both a road and a grave but not a side

::picture of roadside graves::

I can't remember an album since the wide use of the mp3 and Napster that wasn't longer then 13 songs... and those where the REAL LP (long plays).

Then The Roadside Graves put out a 18 song album after a couple of EP, a song about Jesus making damn good pancakes and a stint in Salinas Utah (having been there several times, i can see the change this might have on someone).

Don't be too shocked when you see that these guys are from New Jersey, you might think somewhere in the southwest where the deep rooted southers sounds of Calexico might be heard. But no... New Jersey.

they have new album out, i wrote about it here and you can buy it here. They have a couple of EP's I wrote about one of them here.

Here are a bunch of new songs... I am barrowing them from Stereogum, I don't think they will mind. AND i am done using capital i's... they are annoying.

Work Itself Out (mp3)

Take A Train (mp3)

Ruby (mp3)

I Carried Myself (mp3)

I really like Roadside Graves... I'm not going to beat around the bush about that. i hope my honesty is okay. These guys are great... like homemade pancakes.

Mason Proper Remix

2009-07-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

Here is the Mason Proper remix... this is really good. I liked the originally and usually have a hard time with remixes but this one does it for me.

It seems like these guys have taken the same type of approach Born Ruffian took on their Little Garçon remix.

here are the sounds: enjoy

Safe For The Time Being (The Paronomasiac Remix)(mp3)

Safe For The Time Being (Wallpaper Remix) (mp3)

Lock & Key (Ocelot Remix) (mp3)

[MP3] Kite Party - Indiana Pete

2009-07-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

Kite Party the Philadelphia 4 piece that are the remnants of The Mother/Daughter Team have brought us a little EP that has the potential to be a solid album included in honorable mentions and all the what not. I'm not going to give you the groups history... you can get it here if you'd like, its cozy. I've got a little MP3 for everyone of one of the four songs on the EP... it is nice or I like it.

I see a little bit of Wolf Parade in these guys oddly enough... but not quite as yelpie (y).

Indiana Pete MP3

[new] Mason Proper - Remix EP

2009-07-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

Mason Proper - Safe for the time Being mp3

And we finally get a remix of Mason Proper 2008 Olly Oxen Free. It took a while for this record to get going but now with the remix and the video for Safe For The Time Being... it seems the album has got the momentum it deserves.

here is the original mp3 for Safe for the time Being, I will send the remix as soon as it comes:

Safe For The Time Being (mp3)

and the video:

Release of the Week: Trevor Giuliani - Subcontrario (In Stereo)

2009-07-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a nice little album that comes out this week. While it isn't realty ground breaking it does provide some nice sounds and songs. Trevor is one of the many musicians that are leaving Brooklyn for Portland. It is solid stuff and worth a listen and purchase. I get quite a few emails from different indie labels and very few actually take the time to make the message personal... or at least make me think they have read the blog. Goldest Egg was one of those companies that actually made an effort to reach out to me.

He reminds me a lot of: Bon Iver's latest stuff and maybe a little bit of Andrew Bird's earlier stuff.

Trevor's music as a kind of soul that is missing in some of the folk that we see around the Portland area...

Myspace
Twitter
Buy
Stream

Listen: i'm back

2009-07-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. I got married. Am having baby... well my wife is having a baby for all you sarcastic SOB's out there that would say I am not the one actually having the baby.

That is where I have been... this is where i am now. I am going to start writing again. That is all.

Here is what I am exited about in the next couple of months.

The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

I saw these guys in Tucson about a month ago... won free tickets because I had a heart transplant 10 years earlier. They opened with I and Love and You, the title track from the album and I might have left at that point and been happy! The album releases date is: 9/29 - buy it

title track: I and Love and You - mp3
Listen:

and the new Kings of Convenience which i will upload later.

Zombie Escape: Live from New York

2009-04-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

65daydofstatic is clever. They use words like post-rock (try: Explosions in the Sky), electronic (try: Ratatat), and New York (try: Aa) to switch on the power of a super magnet for hipster appeal. Which cool post-rock slash electronic band is from New York these days? Take a guess. Ah, close, but everything cool these days is from Iceland (try: Sigur Ros) or Baltimore (try: Animal Collective). And everything cool these days is trying to live up to coolness meter of Animal Collective hipsterfully brought to you by Pitchfork Media.

65daysofstatic
Live from New York
Due out: April 20, 2009
Monotreme

If you are looking for delicious post-rock or electronic music, stop reading. Live from New York is not one of them. But if you, like me, enjoy the versatility of flavors in music, I invite you to continue. If I were 65daysofstatic I would be honest and name the album something else (read: title of this post).

Live from New York is chaotic, messy, and is like a zombie outbreak in New York City. It sounds like cars crashing into walls, an army of digital locusts attacking a cornfield, robots gone crazy, and a hail of bullets dropping on your gasoline coated skin. After listening to this album at one in the morning, I feel like taking a bath with Explosions in the Sky playing in the background. And I did.

A Failsafe

The Tallest Man on Earth - SXSW Video from Hooves on the Turf

2009-04-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

Last year one of the new albums I listened to the most was The Tallest Man on Earth's Shallow Grave LP. It made # 6 on my top 10 list. So it is nice to see The Tallest Man on Earth aka Kristian Matsson get more and more notoriety as he goes. Several of the big name blogs (Stereogum, Pitchfork, Gorilla vs Bear) made twitter comments about how significant his performance at SXSW was. Now Hooves on the Turf brings us two videos from Kristian at SXSW.

Link:
Part 1
Part 2

Here are the Videos:

Part 1

Part 2

Dirty Projectors - Stillness it Moves [Single] - Free Download

2009-04-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Dirty Projectors new single, Stillness it Moves is available for a limited time and all you have to do it exploit your email address. Go here to get it, enter your email and like magic you can download the song.

The album is due out 5/5 on Domino Records.

Listen here:

Snuffaluffagus - Animals LP [Free]

2009-04-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

I got an email a couple of weeks back from a rep. at Gnome Records (portland) telling me i could pick up Snuffaluffagus new LP Animals for free... so I did. HA! and it is really a great freak folk fusion album, following in the vain of Fleet Foxes and other folk bands closely associated with strong harmonies and vocals.

Anyway, you can pick up the album here - through April 21st!

Here are a couple of songs that are worth listening to:

Sry Snuffy (download)

Abrogation to English of Birdsong (download)

Since You've Been Gone...

2009-03-31T15:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the break folks. I've had a hectic couple of weeks between midterms, the hiring push at work for the Summer, and trying to manage some level of personal life, but the good news is, I'm back. Instead of giving my reviews the full attention they deserve, I'm going to introduce a new feature to the blog: 1 minute reviews. Review blurbs on all the albums that I think you should now about from the last few weeks, so without further adieu...
Doom - Born Like This
The man with one too many AKAs has a new one. After MF Doom, Dangerdoom, Supervillain, Madvillain, Viktor Vaughn, Etc. Etc. he is now known only as Doom (at least for this album). Doom brings back his signature flow along with his usual cast of producers (Madlib, J Dilla, and Himself). The album is excellent. Especially worth noting is the Dilla produced "Gazillion Ear".
Doom - Gazillion Ear

Peter, Bjorn & John - Living Thing
For their proper follow up (No, Seaside Rock doesn't count) to their whistle-along break-through album Writer's Block, they try something completely different. Instead of poppy folk, they run through...poppy everything...They play with a lot of electronics, they get boisterous, they get a bit glammy...Sometimes it works, mostly it doesn't. Not that it's bad, it's just not good.
PB&J - Nothing To Worry About

Elvis Perkins in Dearland - S/T
On his 2nd Full Length, Elvis Perkins (Real name, by the way) gives credit to his In Dearland touring band. It's not just a classy move, it also signifies the shift from singer/songwriter to a full band operation. This turns out to be a great move for Elvis. His debut, Ash Wednesday, was great yet inconsistent. Having the band working full time with him has focused him in and shows him as a great all around artist. Let's hope he keeps on this vein, this is a great direction for him.
Elvis Perkins In Dearland - Shampoo

Alright...Business calls, more to come later!

Those Darlins - Day Trotter (New Music from upcoming album )

2009-03-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

Those Darlins are probably one of the groups that got a fair amount of press out of SXSW (THE DALLAS OBSERVER, NY Press, Melophobe, and of of course Paste). And this is just to name a few... the list goes on and on... not to mention that they have been on the road with Dan Auerbach and Hacienda. At any rate, they a Daytrotter session that they recorded last January just came out last week. 3 of the 4 songs are new from the upcoming album and the 4ths is an upbeat Carter Family number (nice!).

I really love the old timey feel of this group. They have an amazing ability to mold that into modern indie music.

Here they are:

Red Light Love
MP3

Who's That Knocking
MP3

Hung Up On Me
MP3

A Glass of You
MP3

Release of the Week: You, You're Awesome - You're My Superhero EP

2009-03-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

I got an email this morning form Kevin from You, You're Awesome giving me a sneak peak at their EP that is coming out tomorrow. AND let me tell you it is a great album. Kevin gave me permission to post, "I'm Deaf and You're Boring"... so here it is... but get the whole album tomorrow on their site: here

I'm Deaf and You're Boring
Download

The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha (2009)

2009-03-12T22:51:00.000-07:00

The Appleseed Cast never cease to amaze me with surprises each time they release an album. Once known as the "that emo band," The Appleseed Cast has matured as they experiment with different styles of music. I can't think of a specific category to place this band on my music scale anymore. To take a hazardous shot, post-rock and chillout music is as far as I can go on my musical tag (I don't want to get yelled at by fans).

The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha (2009)
Released: February 17, 2009
Vagrant Records

Whatever Sagarmatha means, I think this is one of their strongest albums to date. As I take it to bus/train rides to school, I cannot help but feel that the experience of this album gives room for humility, hope, warmth, and light as you observe the little things in life. Not to mention, that track 4 invokes the ghost of familiar things that I can relate to for living in Arizona. Excellent album with a breath of sweet summer air to it. A+.

The Summer Before

Introducing: Here we go Magic : On Tour with Grizzly Bear

2009-03-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

Just in, one of the more popular groups that might come out of SXSW this year, Here We Go Magic, are going to be out with Grizzly Bear on their up coming tour.

These Brooklyn brothers to Grizzly Bear recently released released their self-titled debut and have been getting quiet a bit of mention on the blogosphere (gorillavsbear, Pitchfork, MOKB).

Tunnelvision

myspace, show schedule

Keep your eyes on MOKB's Laundromatinee, supposedly Here we go Magic just did a session with them.

Tour Dates

03/14 Rock Island, IL Daytrotter Session

03/14 Rock Island, IL Daytrotter Presents @ Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor*

03/17 Dallas, TX Mountain House*
03/17 Dallas, TX 6 PM INSTORE AT GOOD RECORDS
03/18 Austin, TX Austinist/Gothamist SXSW party @ Mohawk--- 3 PM
03/18 Austin, TX NY Noise SXSW Party @ TODD P's FREE OUTDOOR PATIO PARTIES @ Ms. Beas-- 8:30 PM
03/19 Austin, TX Gorilla vs. Bear day party @ The Peacock-- 1:45 PM slot
03/19 Austin, TX Western Vinyl Official Showcase @ Club 115-- 1AM slot
03/20 Austin, TX Other Music show @ French Legation Museum-- 1 PM slot
03/20 Austin, TX Park The Van Records / Partisan Records / indie outlaw / The Knitting Factory Day Party @ Side Bar-- 3:00 PM slot
03/22 New Orleans, LA Marigny Theatre*
03/23 Atlanta, GA 529 Club**
03/24 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506**
03/25 Baltimore, MD Ottobar**
05/28 New York, NY Town Hall***
05/29 New York, NY Town Hall***
06/01 Washington, DC 9:30 Club***
06/02 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre***
06/03 Boston, MA Berklee Performance Center***
06/04 Montreal, QC Le National***
06/05 Toronto, ON Phoenix***
06/07 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center***
06/08 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre***
06/09 Bloomington, IN Buskirk - Chumley Theater***
06/11 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle***
06/15 Dallas, TX Granada Theater***
06/16 Austin, TX The Parish***
06/19 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern***
06/21 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore***
* w/ Callers
** w/ Titus Andronicus
*** w/ Grizzly Bear

[new] Phoenix - Lisztomania

2009-03-11T22:53:00.000-07:00

Phoenix's new album is still over two months from coming out but already they are getting tones of buzz on the web... Ed Droste (Grizzly Bear) said, via twitter that it was his favorite album this year; "Ok, for me...the new Phoenix is my favorite album of the year thus far...they just do everything right for me." Edward Droste

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix's follow up to 2006 It's Never Been Like That is probably up their with Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear's releases.

Lisztomania (via: We All Want Someone To Shout For)

1901

Release of the Week: Julie Doiron - I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day

2009-03-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

Julie Doiron - I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (myspace)

How do you quantify a career that started with indie for runner's Eric's Trip... involves nearly a dozen lo-fi indie LP's, EP's and cassettes, a 2008 compilation album that surprised the HELL out of EVERYONE (Lost Wisdom) and one of the sweetest female indie voices around? Well you just might with, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day. Julie Doiron has made a career out of indie and it is finally paying off. Here latest album, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, is a perfect combo of all that she represents, from the fuzz indie or the early 90's Eric's Trip to the soft voices of echo from Lost Wisdom.

There is plenty of meat on this album, Rick White (Eric's Trip) helped produce the album, Fred Squire (Calm Down, It's Sunday) plays drums and some lead guitar... and Phil Elverum (Mt Eerie) also helped out. All together the album is a wonderful work of art and music.

Consolation Prize

MP3 - Download

You, You're Awesome : Radiohead's Reckoner Remix

2009-03-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

I posted about these guys last week and already I have some more information on them. Here is a remix of Radiohead's Reckoner that they just put together, it is a well done job in my opinion. Fun stuff.

Reckoner remix (Radiohead)

They also have a tentative release for their next album, not sure if it's and EP or LP... but, You're my Super Hero is tentatively set to be available on March 24th. Here is the album cover:

Lot of fun stuff here.

Various Artists - War Child: Heroes

2009-03-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

War Child has a history of great compilations. Their last effort, Help!: A Day In The Life. It was recorded and released in a record-breaking 30 hours featuring prominent acts such as Radiohead, Coldplay, and Bloc Party. Heroes is is a conceptually great album as well. Well respected, established musicians pick their favorite new act to cover their tracks. Unfortunately, this album is plagued by many of the same problems most compilations face. Far too many half-assed covers and bad B-sides.
Now, I understand the cover song is a tricky proposition. How does one pay respects to a great track without copying directly, or transversely mutating it in to something it was never meant to be?
Lily Allen was smart enough to have an original Clash member to help her out on her cover of their mournfully beautiful (and overly sampled) "Straight to Hell". It turns out to be one of the album's strongest tracks. Duffy pulls the ace out of her sleeve for her take on Paul McCartney/Wings "Live and Let Die". She turns it from amped-up Bond song to smokey, sultry barroom blues. Rufus Wainwright's take on an excerpt from Brian Wilson's master work SMiLE is fairly straightforward, but his voice fits so perfectly that he could claim the music as his own. Of course, The Hold Steady's take on Springsteen is excellent. It really cements the comparison between the two groups.
Elsewhere on the album are some epic fails. The Scissor Sistors turn Roxy Music's pop noire masterpiece "Do The Strand" into a very boring disco rave-up. The Kooks take on The Kinks' "Victoria" is wholly uneccesary, as it ports the song straight across, only adding a bit more studio shine. Peaches take on The Stooges "Search and Destroy" is probably the biggest disappointment on the album. Not that it wasn't expected to be an awful song (What Peaches song isn't?), no, what is disappointing is the fact that Iggy Pop chose Peaches in the first place.
Still, this is an album worth having, the good covers are that good, and the decent covers are worth having. Just do yourself a favor and actually buy this album. It's for a good cause. War Child sends money to children in war ravished countries.

The Hold Steady - Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen Cover)

Rufus Wainwright - SMiLE (Brian Wilson Cover)

Lily Allen Ft. Mick Jones - Straight To Hell (The Clash Cover)

[leak]The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

2009-03-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

Its been a bad week for groups trying to keep albums off the street or web... at least for Grizzly Bear it was. Now it might be a rough weekend for The Decemberists. It looks as though The Hazards of Love has crawled out onto the web...

I read an article a while back that quoted Colin Meloy as say that the new album would not be the production that Crane Wife was, that they would be going back to the fuzz folk days of Picaresque. I was a little disappointing because I was possible one of the few Decemberist fans that actually LOVED The Crane Wife.

So here I am listening to the new album that appears to be nothing less then a rock opera/prog rock album. Each song meshes into the next one like it was writing as one vase rock epitaph. At first glance it also seems to be a lot heavier they The Crane Wife and any of their previous work. Maybe closer to the work they did with The Tain. Each song alone doesn't quite give the credit the whole album deserves...

Anyway, happy looking. The site I got it from was concerned to might be a fake... but I am pretty sure it isn't AND it seems to be High Quality, unlike Grizzly Bears Veckatimest.

The album comes out 3/24... get it here and there and everywhere. (not leak links)

tUnE-YaRdS - BiRd-BrAiNs

2009-03-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

tUnE-YaRdS aka Merrill Garbus from Merrillville Indiana... (that's just south of Gary) has been getting a minimal amount of buzz around the blog-o-sphere, for good reason in my opinion. She recently opened for Beirut (Music Hall of Williamsburge) and is currently on tour with Sister Suvi right now.

Tune-Yard's debut album Bird-Brains is a DIY masterpiece... comprising of a collection of recording for the last couple of years all collected and cut & pasted into one records. The nearly avante-garde drum style looped over much of this record gives it a very choppy/weird feel. Add, the spotty bass and acoustic and you'll really wonder what the hell your listening to. But give it just a few minuets and Merrill will capture you.

Merrill has two defining styles of singing on this record, one is a falsetto style that reminds me of St Vincent, but that might be because I have been listening to her a lot lately. The second is a sing-song style of yell-singing in the back. The mix of both styles gives Merrill and wide variety of musical range.

There is a wild mix of world music on this record, more prominently Jamaican; with Jamaican looped type vocals at the beginning of Hatari, and drum short choppy drum rhythms through out the record.

In short, I am really enjoying this record right now. At first appearance it seems a bit abrasive, but Merrill's voice is able to bring it all back to the experimental - world - pop that I love. Surprise is a great song, but I really like, When You Tell the Lions, and Jumping Jack. They both catch you off guard.

Secrets

Little Tiger (live at the secret garden) Via - Hooves On The Turf

You can buy Bird Brains via donation on tUnE-YaRdS website... ~~last time I check the site got a 404 failure notice~~, but I assume they will get it up and running again soon. Vinyl come out next week 3/10.

[new] Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Statue

2009-03-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry I am a day behind on posting this, but I got in a weird posting mood yesterday and just didn't post. But here is my review of the song.

Nothing ground breaking. might prompt a new album and tour, but probably shouldn't.

It's really to bad because there was a time or an album that prompted a sort of movement, or at least thrust a movement into the main steam.

Download the album at website for the price of an email address: CYHSY

[New] St. Vincent - Stranger

2009-03-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

I still have my autographed vinyl of St. Vincent with a little AC in the corner of the album indicating that is was actually signed by Annie Clark. One of the best shows of 2007, at the Modified. Annie went on to tour with The National, and I'm pretty sure we will never catch her at the Modified again... well, in phoenix... yes, probably.

Anyway, Jeffrey posted about her upcoming LP, Actor. Annie, just released one of the songs via her (ilovestvincent.com) site. You can also download the wiget as I have done.

St Vincent - Stranger

MP3 - Download

Stephen Steinbrink : Ghost to Falco : James Fella @ Trunk Space / TONIGHT

2009-03-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Ghost to Falco @ Trunk Space, TONIGHT
7pm
: Stephen Steinbrink
:: James Fella
::: Hell-Kite

Sorry I am so late with this one... I have been neglecting the local stuff... I promise to make amens. This is going to be a great show at Trunk Space night...

Thermals - Now We Can See : Contest on WAWSTSF

2009-03-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Will over at We All Want Someone To Shout For (WAWSTSF) just announced a contest that he is doing in conjunction with Insound for the Thermals new LP, Now We Can See, and an exclusive t-shirt designed by Bwana Spoons. It is a great contest and easy to register (i already did)... only takes about 10 seconds. Props to Will for doing great stuff like this, the did a similar contest for Handsome Furs a couple weeks back... great blog with a lot going for it.

Here is the shirt:

Jeffrey has posted about this album a number of times; 1/9 / 2/10. So you can say we are all exited about this album... It's released on 4/9.

I just realized there are about 20 links on this post... so here are the ones for the contest again just to be sure:

Contest
WAWSTSF

[new]Clap Your Hands Say Yeah : Late Night Jimmy Fallon

2009-03-04T10:08:00.000-08:00

CYHSY will be playing a new song tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (march 4th). This is a bit of a surprise seeing that CYHSY announced earlier this year that they were working on their own individual projects stereogum, NME. The new song, Statues, will also be available on their website right after the show.

CYHSY's debut was one of the more influential albums this decade, if not for its innovative musicianship, its innovative DIY style of release, selling over 700k on its website alone.

It will be interesting to see how this effects the future plans of the band... last time a band debuted a song like this on a show was Grizzly Bear's Two Weeks. Obviously they had a lot of confidence in the song, and for good reason. CYHSY must have something up their sleeve worth putting out their, or maybe NBC is just trying to drum up some publicity for the new Jimmy Fallon... in either case, it will be a show work watching, or at least worth Huluing the next day.

Dan Deacon : Bromst : Streaming on NPR

2009-03-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

Dan Deacon's upcoming release, Bromst, is streaming on NPR right now.

Jeffrey Twitter; "First Listen: Dan Deacon - Bromst. Bigger, darker than Spiderman. Darker is all relative. Still tons of fun, dance-party music."

Dan definitely brought out the big boys for this one... I was blown away by his performance at the masonic temple for P4K. It is great to see musicians get a little experience under them an be able to apply it to the production of their music, rather then just the ambiguous gestation of pop music.

Blitzen Trapper : The Laundromatinee Session : MOKB

2009-03-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

My Old Kentucky Blog's friend and affiliate The Laundromatinee just posted their Blitzen Trapper session. There are some great videos from the Portland group. I honestly could listen to Blitzen Trapper all the time... but I don't so not to ruin them to me.

They have a curious blend of indie and Americana that you don't see very often. This along with the protest blend of lyrics with modern theme makes them very alluring to me. Enjoy.

Head over The Laundromatinee, they have plenty to see and hear!

Blitzen Trapper - Furr

Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer

Blitzen Trapper - The Last Thing On My Mind (Tom Paxton cover)

Release of the Week: Say Hi - Oohs and Aahs

2009-03-03T07:56:00.000-08:00

Say Hi - Oohs and Aahs (2009)

Say Hi, the band formally known as Say Hi To Your Mom or more exactly, Eric Ellbogen. Comes to us here with their or his 6th record, Oohs & Aahs. The 2nd under the name, Say Hi. I find this album a refreshing turn for Say Hi, I know there will be plenty who will claim that Eric is departing from his lo-fi ways... don't worry, there will be some new more lo-fi group replace them, that no one knows about.

Eric has a great ability to write nice little songs with catchy riffs... and coy lyrics that make you want to take a second look.

Merry Christmas

Franz Nicolay - Major General

2009-03-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

Well, my fever is starting to break, school is starting to coast into Spring Break, and the end of the month recruiting push is over for work. It's time for me to get to these reviews that I have been putting off for too long. First up: Franz Nicolay's Major General.
Now, I'm sure we all know that I am a Hold Steady fanboy, They are a band of huge talents. However, I generally think solo albums are useless exercises. Generally bands are greater than the sum of there parts. I wasn't expecting to much out of Franz as a solo act. His side-project, World Inferno/Friendship Society definitely lacks a lot.
Not expecting much, it was easy to be impressed by the opening lines of "Jeff Penalty". It recounts the story of seeing a Jello Biafra-less Dead Kennedys, "the greatest karaoke show ever".
The album cycles through about 13 different musical styles in just as many songs. There are a few other standouts. "Do We Not Live In Dreams?" is a vaudevillian jazz number that slows along through perfection. "Note on a Subway Wall" is nearly showtune-esque, but it suits Franz's somewhat heavy. The Hold Steady have often got Springsteen comparisons; well if The Hold Steady sound like Springsteen, then Franz might be Bruce's twin in "This World is an Open Door". The best song on the album comes second to last with "Cease Fire, Or, Mrs. Norman Maine". It is a beautiful banjo led break-up song.
I look forward to Franz's next solo outing. Hopefully he can hold the reigns in a bit tighter and focus his sound. Right now he has a lot of potential.

"World/Inferno Vs. The End Of The Evening"

Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen (2009)

2009-03-02T22:07:00.000-08:00

If you think Cursive is rolling downhill ever since Happy Hollow, you are not alone. If you think Cursive is better off dead after the epic 2005 release of the best Cursive album ever (read: The Ugly Organ), put on your heels and jump on the boat! Fortunately this year, Tim Kasher has stopped playing favorites in his two-timing job (Cursive/The Good Life) and has therefore taken Cursive a step forward. Note: I say step forward, not leap forward (better than Happy Hollow, way behind The Ugly Organ).

Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen
Release Date: March 10, 2009
Saddle Creek

Mama, I'm Swollen will be available on March 10 for you CD/vinyl junkies, in its physical best, to fit your record player. If you pre-order the album from Saddle Creek, you are allowed an instant access to have a sneak of the album through a broken link or a corrupted file (or both...). The album download from Saddle Creek is currently on sale for $1 and will go up a dollar a day until the official release date.

Here's some Cursive history.

Cursive in 2005.

Some Red Handed Sleight Of Hand

Cursive in 2007.

Opening the Hymnal/Babies.

Cursive in 2009.

In the Now.

[Leak] Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (5/26)

2009-03-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

Well, we all knew it wouldn't last long but I'm not sure anyone thought it would leak this early. BUT its floating around. First glance of the album, seems it be as brilliant as predicted. As to the question of if it will surpass Merriweather Post Pavilion at the top of the year end chart, I will only say this... it will take a lot to pass MPP.

The flow of the album is nice and relaxing... Southern Point has a spacey feel with structured strumming over the top. But gets more involved about a min in. Two Weeks, is a brilliant number, as great as the Letterman performance. All We Ask builds slowly, adding layer after layer as the song goes on. Fine for Now, is a great song with some impressive acoustic guitar in it. I'm not going to ruin the rest of it... but good luck finding it. I will say that this it my favorite album cover this year.

Track list:

Veckatimest:

01 Southern Point
02 Two Weeks
03 All We Ask
04 Fine for Now
05 Cheerleader
06 Dory
07 Ready, Able
08 About Face
09 Hold Still
10 While You Wait for the Others
11 I Live With You
12 Foreground

ps... you might want to check the facebook group : )

The Boy Least Likely To - The Law of the Playground : early release via itunes

2009-03-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if this is only in England or not... but + 1 Records just announced that The Boy Least Likely To's album, The Law of the Playground will be released 3/3 exclusively on itunes for the time being. The official release on + 1 records for North American is still 4/14. Check out the link to + 1 Records here.

Here is a link to The Boy Least Likely To itunes: here

Any more information on this would be appreciated... and welcome.

Other Lives - Other Lives [April 7]

2009-03-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

I am always interested in groups that have a jazz back ground, particularly groups that have been playing advant-garde jazz... not because I like advant- garde jazz but because usually its a sign of great musicianship, and superior technical skill. It's one of the reasons I have learned to love Midlake and also one of the reason I hold a tight grip on early jazz musicians.

That being said, I have found Other Lives to be a really enjoyable group. Based out of Stillwater Oklahoma, this collection of 5 musicians have been playing for 5 years together, but just recently took on the names of Other Lives. They released a self-titled EP last October under ATO Records (My Morning Jacket, David Gray, The Whigs). And like a lot of groups recently, they are following the EP up with a self-titled LP. It will include a number of songs that are on the EP, more then likely not remastered since they were recorded around the same time.

Other Lives music is a melodic symphony of emotion pulling from brilliant musical arrangements of piano and cello. However, the album is arranged so well that it captures your mind and heart with the first few songs. Also, I can't stress enough the song writing of this album... so consciously driven and divulged in such a soft and melodic fashion.

There are some obvious associations to groups like Radiohead, Midlake and other seasoned bands. But this group still stands on their own...

Other Lives - How Could This Be - Luxury Wafers Sessions from Luxury Wafers on Vimeo.

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

2009-02-27T20:01:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-02-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-27T17:51:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-25T15:32:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-24T13:25:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-02-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-02-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-22T18:33:00.000-08:00

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

um... yeah. Great show.

Delta Spirit : New Music / Daytrotter

2009-02-22T07:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-22T00:06:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-21T22:34:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-02-20T16:17:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-19T15:10:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

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]

2009-02-19T11:35:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-18T19:21:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-18T18:45:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-18T14:03:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-02-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-17T08:21:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-16T18:19:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-16T02:27:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-12T15:10:00.000-08:00

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