Some are poetic, some are so simple that they are profound, and others aren't that great, but here is what Esquire mag says about the 50 best song lyrics of the year.
Quoting other works of art in song lyrics: so in right now
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
New Sufjan X-Mas Music
If you're like me and 5 discs of Sufjan Christmas isn't enough for you, here's some early Christmas cheer.
Thanks to the wonderfully-titled Between hipsters and God there is Sufjan Stevens blog, you can find download links to TWO MORE discs-worth of Christmas songs.
Songs for Christmas, Vol. 6 : Gloria!
Songs for Christmas, Vol. 8 : Astral Inter Planet Space Christmas
Where's Vol. 7?
No idea.
Thanks to the wonderfully-titled Between hipsters and God there is Sufjan Stevens blog, you can find download links to TWO MORE discs-worth of Christmas songs.
Songs for Christmas, Vol. 6 : Gloria!
Songs for Christmas, Vol. 8 : Astral Inter Planet Space Christmas
Where's Vol. 7?
No idea.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Top 10 Albums of 2010
1) Sufjan Stevens - Age of Adz
2) The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
3) S. Carey - All We Grow
4) Vampire Weekend - Contra
5) LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
6) Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
7) Owen Pallett - Heartland
8) Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
9) Yellow Ostrich - The Mistress
10) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Honorable Mention:
Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame
Land of Talk - Cloak and Cipher
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
2) The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
3) S. Carey - All We Grow
4) Vampire Weekend - Contra
5) LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
6) Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
7) Owen Pallett - Heartland
8) Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
9) Yellow Ostrich - The Mistress
10) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Honorable Mention:
Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame
Land of Talk - Cloak and Cipher
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
Songs that Blow Hard
At request of Nicole Silverberg, I made this mix of songs with badass trumpet parts. Though entirely unrelated to my year-end 2010 lists--it's a pretty fun collection.
Check It Out!
1) You Are The Light - Jens Lekman
2) Giant - Vampire Weekend
3) Scenic World - Beirut
4) Mr. Tough - Yo La Tengo
5) Love Is The Law - The Suburbs
6) The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders - Sufjan Stevens
7) The Fool - Neutral Milk Hotel
8) North By Northwest - Blue Scholars
9) The Underdog - Spoon
10) Oh My God - Mark Ronson
11) A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene - Okkervil River
12) Junior Kickstart - The Go! Team
13) Spottieottiedopalicious - Outkast
14) Fake Empire - The National (last 30 seconds...)
15) Did I Step On Your Trumpet - Danielson
Check It Out!
1) You Are The Light - Jens Lekman
2) Giant - Vampire Weekend
3) Scenic World - Beirut
4) Mr. Tough - Yo La Tengo
5) Love Is The Law - The Suburbs
6) The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders - Sufjan Stevens
7) The Fool - Neutral Milk Hotel
8) North By Northwest - Blue Scholars
9) The Underdog - Spoon
10) Oh My God - Mark Ronson
11) A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene - Okkervil River
12) Junior Kickstart - The Go! Team
13) Spottieottiedopalicious - Outkast
14) Fake Empire - The National (last 30 seconds...)
15) Did I Step On Your Trumpet - Danielson
Top 25 Jams of 2010
1) Impossible Soul - Sufjan Stevens
2) On Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz
3) In The Dirt - S. Carey
4) Boyfriend - Best Coast
5) Fuck You - Cee-Lo Green
6) All I Want - LCD Soundsystem
7) Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National
8) Quarry Hymns - Land of Talk
9) Crown on the Ground - Sleigh Bells
10) Shutterbugg - Big Boi
11) Horchata - Vampire Weekend
12) Burden of Tomorrow - The Tallest Man on Earth
13) Lewis Takes Off His Shirt - Owen Pallett
14) Hold On - Yellow Ostrich
15) Ready To Start - Arcade Fire
16) World Sick - Broken Social Scene
17) Norway - Beach House
18) O.N.E. - Yeasayer
19) What's In It For? - Avi Buffalo
20) Tighten Up - The Black Keys
21) Cry - Gayngs
22) Where'd All The Time Go? - Dr. Dog
23) Lady Daydream - Twin Sister
24) Brides Song - Yukon Blonde
25) Go - Jónsi
2) On Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz
3) In The Dirt - S. Carey
4) Boyfriend - Best Coast
5) Fuck You - Cee-Lo Green
6) All I Want - LCD Soundsystem
7) Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National
8) Quarry Hymns - Land of Talk
9) Crown on the Ground - Sleigh Bells
10) Shutterbugg - Big Boi
11) Horchata - Vampire Weekend
12) Burden of Tomorrow - The Tallest Man on Earth
13) Lewis Takes Off His Shirt - Owen Pallett
14) Hold On - Yellow Ostrich
15) Ready To Start - Arcade Fire
16) World Sick - Broken Social Scene
17) Norway - Beach House
18) O.N.E. - Yeasayer
19) What's In It For? - Avi Buffalo
20) Tighten Up - The Black Keys
21) Cry - Gayngs
22) Where'd All The Time Go? - Dr. Dog
23) Lady Daydream - Twin Sister
24) Brides Song - Yukon Blonde
25) Go - Jónsi
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (in brief)
The Suburbs has now played twice through consecutively on my laptop. The 16-track album has a lot of well-crafted rock tunes that seem like they will require many more listens before they can be fully appreciated. The majority of the album does not sound like too much of a departure from their previous two releases, but "Sprawl II (Mountains beyond Mountains)" takes the band into an 80s synth pop world (reference: Blondie "Heart of Glass)-a jarring contrast. Yet upon further exposure, it begins to seem fitting that a song about suburban sprawl and shopping malls is performed in such a gaudy, synthesized manner. As the album comes to a close with the haunting "The Suburbs (continued)" that follows, the sad reality of the previous song becomes apparent. Minimally accompanied by melancholy strings, the chorus that began the album echoes and echoes "sometimes I can't believe it, I'm moving past the feeling--again." The sprawl out of the city and into the gated community is shown as the sprawl from feeling to fake; from art to artifice-- A fantastic ending to a solid concept album.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Jam for Thought
Said The Gramophone put up an inspiring little post last week, worthy of spreading. Read it here
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Jam o' the Week - Big Boi
Big Boi - Turns Me On
Here's a deeper cut from Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty, and proof that Big Boi can fill out a consistently solid album even without his OutKast counterpart Andre 3000.
Here's a deeper cut from Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty, and proof that Big Boi can fill out a consistently solid album even without his OutKast counterpart Andre 3000.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
RECAP - Pitchfork Music Festival
Two weeks ago, I took a solo excursion to the Windy City for the buzzed-about Pitchfork Music Festival. In the hot and humid weather, I got quite an earful from 18 great bands, several of whom were high up on my concert bucket-list [Modest Mouse, Pavement, WHY?]. And the $100 weekend ticket satisfied my love for thrift--compared to the $250 folks are dishing out this weekend at Lollapalooza.
As opposed to years past, this year's Pitchfork lineup consisted largely of indie acts who have already experienced some success and received critical acclaim. There was, nonetheless, a good deal of young blood at the festival this year, including rockers Free Energy, the great summer band Best Coast, the heavy metal guitar / electronic dance act Sleigh Bells, and a few others. Also, in inviting Raekwon and Big Boi, Pitchfork reached out to all the hip-hoppin' hipsters out there. It was a fantastic chance to see members of 2 of hip-hop's most influential groups of all time (Wu-Tang Clan and Outkast) play their old-school classics, quite a rare treat.
As for genre, this year's lineup had a heavy serving of sunny, california-inspired indie acts (Surfer Blood, Beach House, Best Coast, Girls, Real Estate). The only critique I had with the mix of performers was the a lack of more experimental music (with the exception of Animal Collective member Panda Bear and the Rhode Island noise rock group Lightning Bolt). If Pitchfork is the standard for what's "in" right now in alternative music, then simple chord progressions and 4/4/ melodies are evidently the cat's pajamas at this moment. But I must admit, the music was pretty irresistible.
It was fantastic to see so many strong leading personalities control the crowds over the weekend. Swedish folk singer The Tallest Man on Earth charmed the crowd and left all wanting more, St. Vincent's Annie Clark brought the house down (she played almost the exact same set as when I saw her last year but I didn't care one bit), Yoni Wolf of WHY? danced and rapped his way through a charged performance (which I caught from the front row), and crazed hype man Skerrit Bwoy of Major Lazer helped throw the biggest party of the weekend--complete with poppin' bottles and plenty of dry humping. Amongst the sea of individually driven bands, however, Local Natives provided an excellent example of what a great ensemble performance can do, as all the members played and sang their hearts out in great form.
As for the headlining acts, LCD Soundsystem took the cake. The weather was absolutely perfect, a 350-lb disco ball lit up the sky, and the jams started off the biggest indie dance party I have ever been a part of. It was sublime. Only letdown: No "Dance Yrself Clean". Modest Mouse gave a very good, hard-working performance, but too many songs off their less-strong latest album were played (maybe I'm being to picky). However, the encore of "Black Cadillacs" and "Gravity Rides Everything" was one of the best I've seen.
And now, the big one: Pavement's reunion performance. I'll admit I had high expectations, but this had to be one of the biggest letdowns of the weekend. Yes, the sound mixing was terrible, but that had nothing to do with the fact that the group looked under-rehearsed and all-around pretty joyless (except for Bob Nastanovich who was having the time of his life). The set was essentially a greatest hits collection, though, making for a good time regardless.
No point in dwelling on the hype, Pitchfork 2010 featured some tasty jams over a beautiful summer weekend--and that is what it's all about folks.
Photos from the Fest
As opposed to years past, this year's Pitchfork lineup consisted largely of indie acts who have already experienced some success and received critical acclaim. There was, nonetheless, a good deal of young blood at the festival this year, including rockers Free Energy, the great summer band Best Coast, the heavy metal guitar / electronic dance act Sleigh Bells, and a few others. Also, in inviting Raekwon and Big Boi, Pitchfork reached out to all the hip-hoppin' hipsters out there. It was a fantastic chance to see members of 2 of hip-hop's most influential groups of all time (Wu-Tang Clan and Outkast) play their old-school classics, quite a rare treat.
As for genre, this year's lineup had a heavy serving of sunny, california-inspired indie acts (Surfer Blood, Beach House, Best Coast, Girls, Real Estate). The only critique I had with the mix of performers was the a lack of more experimental music (with the exception of Animal Collective member Panda Bear and the Rhode Island noise rock group Lightning Bolt). If Pitchfork is the standard for what's "in" right now in alternative music, then simple chord progressions and 4/4/ melodies are evidently the cat's pajamas at this moment. But I must admit, the music was pretty irresistible.
It was fantastic to see so many strong leading personalities control the crowds over the weekend. Swedish folk singer The Tallest Man on Earth charmed the crowd and left all wanting more, St. Vincent's Annie Clark brought the house down (she played almost the exact same set as when I saw her last year but I didn't care one bit), Yoni Wolf of WHY? danced and rapped his way through a charged performance (which I caught from the front row), and crazed hype man Skerrit Bwoy of Major Lazer helped throw the biggest party of the weekend--complete with poppin' bottles and plenty of dry humping. Amongst the sea of individually driven bands, however, Local Natives provided an excellent example of what a great ensemble performance can do, as all the members played and sang their hearts out in great form.
As for the headlining acts, LCD Soundsystem took the cake. The weather was absolutely perfect, a 350-lb disco ball lit up the sky, and the jams started off the biggest indie dance party I have ever been a part of. It was sublime. Only letdown: No "Dance Yrself Clean". Modest Mouse gave a very good, hard-working performance, but too many songs off their less-strong latest album were played (maybe I'm being to picky). However, the encore of "Black Cadillacs" and "Gravity Rides Everything" was one of the best I've seen.
And now, the big one: Pavement's reunion performance. I'll admit I had high expectations, but this had to be one of the biggest letdowns of the weekend. Yes, the sound mixing was terrible, but that had nothing to do with the fact that the group looked under-rehearsed and all-around pretty joyless (except for Bob Nastanovich who was having the time of his life). The set was essentially a greatest hits collection, though, making for a good time regardless.
No point in dwelling on the hype, Pitchfork 2010 featured some tasty jams over a beautiful summer weekend--and that is what it's all about folks.
Photos from the Fest
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Jam o' the Week - Of Montreal
Of Montreal - Hydra Fantasies
I was not a big fan of Of Montreal's last release, Skeletal Lamping, but this new single from the forthcoming False Priest album has made me a believer once again. This bouncy pop song mixes fun falsettos with a funky bass line straight out of a Motown-era tune (all the instrumentals are great). And considering the other single off the new album, its safe to say that this will be a deliciously diverse new release from a now-classic indie band.
I was not a big fan of Of Montreal's last release, Skeletal Lamping, but this new single from the forthcoming False Priest album has made me a believer once again. This bouncy pop song mixes fun falsettos with a funky bass line straight out of a Motown-era tune (all the instrumentals are great). And considering the other single off the new album, its safe to say that this will be a deliciously diverse new release from a now-classic indie band.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Jam o' the Week - Sleigh Bells
I am so jazzed by this band. All the energy of The Go! Team mixed with hip-hop beats and some crunchy distorted guitars. The go-out-and-do-something album of the summer.
Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground
Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground
Sunday, July 4, 2010
La Blogothéque - Land of Talk
Happy Fourth Everybody!
In honor of our great nation, here's a video clip from one of my favorite Canadian bands, Land of Talk. This new song "Quarry Hymns" will be on their upcoming "Cloak and Cipher" LP to be released August 24th. The song sounds surprisingly good in stripped-down acoustic fashion, contrasting with their heavier previous work.
Love to the USA. and Canada, too
In honor of our great nation, here's a video clip from one of my favorite Canadian bands, Land of Talk. This new song "Quarry Hymns" will be on their upcoming "Cloak and Cipher" LP to be released August 24th. The song sounds surprisingly good in stripped-down acoustic fashion, contrasting with their heavier previous work.
Love to the USA. and Canada, too
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Dear God This Song is Good
Best Coast- Boyfriend
Now I'm going to go spend hours coming up with a band name that flaunts the Midwest
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Jam o' the Week - Yukon Blonde
Do you ever find yourself in a musical rut? Do you keep on playing the same old jams that you know are great, but aren't quite as sweet as that first time you experienced them. Well, Spreading Tasty Jams can help you out. The "Jam o' the Week" graces your musical palate with fresh tunes each week, so that while you can still keep your old favorites, you can add some new flavors to your daily life.
This first Jam is brought to you by Yukon Blonde, a Vancouver group that delivers TASTY guitar licks and catchy hooks perfect for summer jamming. Their self-titled LP came out this year, and it is a great guitar album, well worth checking out.
bon appetit.
Yukon Blonde - Brides Song
This first Jam is brought to you by Yukon Blonde, a Vancouver group that delivers TASTY guitar licks and catchy hooks perfect for summer jamming. Their self-titled LP came out this year, and it is a great guitar album, well worth checking out.
bon appetit.
Yukon Blonde - Brides Song
Sunday, June 27, 2010
It's Back!
After a painfully long 2-month hiatus, Spreading Tasty Jams is back to help you schmear some delicious tunes all over your summer.
LOTS of notable music has been coming out since last post, but more regular entries on my part should take us up to speed. To kick off this new chapter in STJ history, where better to start than with Bon Iver and the Twin Cities. I'm talking about GAYNGS, the new hometown supergroup started by producer Mark Olson and featuring members of Doomtree, Solid Gold, The Rosebuds, and a few other local bands--getting some killer support from Justin Vernon, too. The album came out in May, so this may be old news for some, but if you do not have this album. Buy. It. Now. Sometimes haunting, other times just plain groovy, the record pushes each of its collaborators into a new musical direction (POS sings his song rather than rapping; Justin Vernon trades in sophisticated cryptic lyrics for cheesy love songs--and it works!) The Guardian has already called it possibly one of the best albums of the year, so don't let the Brits get ahead of you on this one.
Also on the Bon Iver front, the band's drummer, Sean Carey, is about to come out with a solo album. The single from the record gives Casey a marvelous opportunity to show off his musicality, featuring piano, electronics, solid drum beats (obviously) and a very pleasant voice. Hope the rest of the album is equally as delightful.
Until next time... Listen away
Gayngs - The Gaudy Side of Town
Sean Carey - In The Dirt
LOTS of notable music has been coming out since last post, but more regular entries on my part should take us up to speed. To kick off this new chapter in STJ history, where better to start than with Bon Iver and the Twin Cities. I'm talking about GAYNGS, the new hometown supergroup started by producer Mark Olson and featuring members of Doomtree, Solid Gold, The Rosebuds, and a few other local bands--getting some killer support from Justin Vernon, too. The album came out in May, so this may be old news for some, but if you do not have this album. Buy. It. Now. Sometimes haunting, other times just plain groovy, the record pushes each of its collaborators into a new musical direction (POS sings his song rather than rapping; Justin Vernon trades in sophisticated cryptic lyrics for cheesy love songs--and it works!) The Guardian has already called it possibly one of the best albums of the year, so don't let the Brits get ahead of you on this one.
Also on the Bon Iver front, the band's drummer, Sean Carey, is about to come out with a solo album. The single from the record gives Casey a marvelous opportunity to show off his musicality, featuring piano, electronics, solid drum beats (obviously) and a very pleasant voice. Hope the rest of the album is equally as delightful.
Until next time... Listen away
Gayngs - The Gaudy Side of Town
Sean Carey - In The Dirt
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Best New Band of 2010 (so far) ?
Some fantastic music is being released this spring, and there is not enough money to get it all...
New releases from Broken Social Scene, Dr. Dog, The National, The New Pornographers, and LCD Soundsystem all are safe bets for a rockin' good time, but I am most excited right now by the young, new, LA rockers, Avi Buffalo.
Avi Buffalo's self-titled debut LP came out today, and is going to stay in my rotation for a long, long time. The band is tightly in tune with one another, and their song craftmanship sounds like a band with years and years of experience. (Yet all of the band is under the legal drinking age!) And lead singer/guitarist Avigdor "Avi" Zahner-Isenberg can SHRED. His quick guitar licks are not overly showy, however. Avi's band support is very talented, and the backing harmonies all contribute to a smooth, summer sound.
So yes, while there are many albums to be bought at the moment, Avi Buffalo is well worth the investment.
Avi Buffalo - Remember Last Time (Check out the solo at the end... NUTS!)
New releases from Broken Social Scene, Dr. Dog, The National, The New Pornographers, and LCD Soundsystem all are safe bets for a rockin' good time, but I am most excited right now by the young, new, LA rockers, Avi Buffalo.
Avi Buffalo's self-titled debut LP came out today, and is going to stay in my rotation for a long, long time. The band is tightly in tune with one another, and their song craftmanship sounds like a band with years and years of experience. (Yet all of the band is under the legal drinking age!) And lead singer/guitarist Avigdor "Avi" Zahner-Isenberg can SHRED. His quick guitar licks are not overly showy, however. Avi's band support is very talented, and the backing harmonies all contribute to a smooth, summer sound.
So yes, while there are many albums to be bought at the moment, Avi Buffalo is well worth the investment.
Avi Buffalo - Remember Last Time (Check out the solo at the end... NUTS!)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Limited Time - Stream Broken Social Scene's New LP
NPR posted a link to stream the new Broken Social Scene album Forgiveness Rock, which will be released May 5th. The band will also be releasing a 10+ track EP that comes for free with the new album (but only if you buy from an independent record store.) Safe to say that I am very excited.
Download BSS's new single "World Sick"
Download BSS's new single "World Sick"
Friday, April 16, 2010
New Music from Antlers
The Antlers have just put up a free 2-song EP on their myspace page and a new music video, too. Both are available to download for free! The Antlers' last album Hospice is a beautiful concept album and is lyrically incredible. They will also be playing the Pitchfork Music Festival this summer, which I cannot wait to go to.
Here's the download
Here's the download
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Melancholy Pop Perfection
Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill
This song off of Gorillaz' latest (and supposedly last) album is much less complex than the rest of the CD. The same 80's synth chords pulse through the entire song, yet the contrast between the care-free music and the emotionally loaded lyrics stops me in my tracks. An inner battle between lonely feelings of sadness and a therapeutic love for another person takes place throughout the entire song. When Damon Albarn sings "If you can't get what you want / then you come with me" it manages to make feelings of melancholy sound not that bad--so long as you have someone to share your misery with, up on a hill.
This song off of Gorillaz' latest (and supposedly last) album is much less complex than the rest of the CD. The same 80's synth chords pulse through the entire song, yet the contrast between the care-free music and the emotionally loaded lyrics stops me in my tracks. An inner battle between lonely feelings of sadness and a therapeutic love for another person takes place throughout the entire song. When Damon Albarn sings "If you can't get what you want / then you come with me" it manages to make feelings of melancholy sound not that bad--so long as you have someone to share your misery with, up on a hill.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
SXSW Write Up - March 20th 2010
11 bands. 1 day.
Two days later, my ears have finally stopped ringing and I can stop to reminisce about my epic Saturday at SXSW
UNDER THE RADAR DAY PARTY
This completely-free (hard to find @ SXSW) day party went from 12-6PM and was always entertaining. At the beginning of the day, the place was very uncrowded, allowing me to have an extended conversation with Mark Redfern, the publisher of Under the Radar Mag-most excellent. As the day went on, the place became more crowded, but it still seemed like this party was a special event-one which not too many people knew about but featured bands that rivaled any of the other shows happening that day. The range of genres was low, but the level of quality was mostly pretty high. A good number of these bands were new to me, so here's a write-up of each of the sets in one or two sentences.
Vivian Girls (Brooklyn) - 6 hours of continuous standing influenced my opinion of this set, but I was still underwhelmed by the headlining act of this day party. This three-piece girl band rocked out with some attitude, but was not very receptive to the energy of the audience. Perhaps a better band in the studio, or maybe I just needed to mosh around more. 6/10
Sondre Lerche (Norway) - The young folk-rocker owned this set. Impressive guitar playing with infectious energy and honest charm. Only wish he could have played longer. 9/10
The Veils (UK) - Whining Rock (more grunge-sounding than pop) performed drunkenly, but with some decent hooks, nonetheless. 5/10
Plants and Animals (Montreal) - Indie-rock band (emphasis on rock) with some impressive singles. Landing in the very middle of the day, this performance sort of blurred in with some of the rest of the day (not a good sign) but I remember dancing about and having a very good time. 7/10
Avi Buffalo (L.A.) - 19 year-old's just signed on to Sub-Pop. Led by charming youngster with impressive guitar shops (shown in the live show). Clean sound and great pop sensibility. Catchiest band I heard all day. 9/10 [download "What's In it For?" by Avi Buffalo]
Everything Everything (UK) - Heart on sleeves dance-rock. Radiohead-like vocals & harmonies. Recommended. 8/10 [download "MY KZ UR BF by Everything Everything]
The Invisible (UK) - I got to see their last song of the set. Lots of looping and droning guitar made for a good live experience. The band did not perform out to the crowd, but rather stayed internal, a shame, but at least they had soul. 6/10
SXSW NIGHT PARTY THE MOHAWK
Once my friends Matt & Jackson got off work, the three of us roamed down Austin's 6th St. downtown looking for any show we could get into without a $900 SXSW badge. We window-shopped at a lot of venues, eventually landing at the outdoor patio stage of the mohawk, where an eclectic group of bands were playing that night. For $15 we got to see some funk, indie, punk, and rock. Here's a brief description of each act.
Dam-Funk (L.A.) - I was very excited to see this futuristic funk artist play live since his album is way groovy. Dam-Funk's set was not technically impressive, and he used a few too many pre-recorded tracks in the show, however this was one of the most fun sets of the night, mostly because it was so different from the majority of the SXSW bands. Funking good time. 8/10 [Download "Mirrors" by Dam-Funk]
Surfer Blood (Palm Beach, FL) - Another band of teenagers, Surfer Blood has been earning huge buzz these days. The band has a cleaned-up indie sound with some fuzzy freak-out moments, driven by its two guitar players (who played very well). However, as if often the case, the band had a hard time living up to its hype. They were a bit too subdued and not quite comfortable enough to put on a killer show. 7/10
Thee Oh Sees (San Francisco) - I didn't hear a word these guys sang, most likely because half of the time the lead singer, John Dwyer, had the microphone halfway down his throat. Dwyer drew all the focus during this set, with bizarre stage antics in typical punk-rock fashion. The music was loud but not especially memorable. 5/10
Turbo Fruits (Nashville) - Unapologetic Southern Rock n' Roll. The music was fast, loud, and fun as hell. I don't know whether I would buy their album or not, but after lead singer/guitarist Jonas Stein played a guitar solo hanging upside-down from the rafters of the stage, I was in love. Great performance. 9/10
Two days later, my ears have finally stopped ringing and I can stop to reminisce about my epic Saturday at SXSW
UNDER THE RADAR DAY PARTY
This completely-free (hard to find @ SXSW) day party went from 12-6PM and was always entertaining. At the beginning of the day, the place was very uncrowded, allowing me to have an extended conversation with Mark Redfern, the publisher of Under the Radar Mag-most excellent. As the day went on, the place became more crowded, but it still seemed like this party was a special event-one which not too many people knew about but featured bands that rivaled any of the other shows happening that day. The range of genres was low, but the level of quality was mostly pretty high. A good number of these bands were new to me, so here's a write-up of each of the sets in one or two sentences.
Vivian Girls (Brooklyn) - 6 hours of continuous standing influenced my opinion of this set, but I was still underwhelmed by the headlining act of this day party. This three-piece girl band rocked out with some attitude, but was not very receptive to the energy of the audience. Perhaps a better band in the studio, or maybe I just needed to mosh around more. 6/10
Sondre Lerche (Norway) - The young folk-rocker owned this set. Impressive guitar playing with infectious energy and honest charm. Only wish he could have played longer. 9/10
The Veils (UK) - Whining Rock (more grunge-sounding than pop) performed drunkenly, but with some decent hooks, nonetheless. 5/10
Plants and Animals (Montreal) - Indie-rock band (emphasis on rock) with some impressive singles. Landing in the very middle of the day, this performance sort of blurred in with some of the rest of the day (not a good sign) but I remember dancing about and having a very good time. 7/10
Avi Buffalo (L.A.) - 19 year-old's just signed on to Sub-Pop. Led by charming youngster with impressive guitar shops (shown in the live show). Clean sound and great pop sensibility. Catchiest band I heard all day. 9/10 [download "What's In it For?" by Avi Buffalo]
Everything Everything (UK) - Heart on sleeves dance-rock. Radiohead-like vocals & harmonies. Recommended. 8/10 [download "MY KZ UR BF by Everything Everything]
The Invisible (UK) - I got to see their last song of the set. Lots of looping and droning guitar made for a good live experience. The band did not perform out to the crowd, but rather stayed internal, a shame, but at least they had soul. 6/10
SXSW NIGHT PARTY THE MOHAWK
Once my friends Matt & Jackson got off work, the three of us roamed down Austin's 6th St. downtown looking for any show we could get into without a $900 SXSW badge. We window-shopped at a lot of venues, eventually landing at the outdoor patio stage of the mohawk, where an eclectic group of bands were playing that night. For $15 we got to see some funk, indie, punk, and rock. Here's a brief description of each act.
Dam-Funk (L.A.) - I was very excited to see this futuristic funk artist play live since his album is way groovy. Dam-Funk's set was not technically impressive, and he used a few too many pre-recorded tracks in the show, however this was one of the most fun sets of the night, mostly because it was so different from the majority of the SXSW bands. Funking good time. 8/10 [Download "Mirrors" by Dam-Funk]
Surfer Blood (Palm Beach, FL) - Another band of teenagers, Surfer Blood has been earning huge buzz these days. The band has a cleaned-up indie sound with some fuzzy freak-out moments, driven by its two guitar players (who played very well). However, as if often the case, the band had a hard time living up to its hype. They were a bit too subdued and not quite comfortable enough to put on a killer show. 7/10
Thee Oh Sees (San Francisco) - I didn't hear a word these guys sang, most likely because half of the time the lead singer, John Dwyer, had the microphone halfway down his throat. Dwyer drew all the focus during this set, with bizarre stage antics in typical punk-rock fashion. The music was loud but not especially memorable. 5/10
Turbo Fruits (Nashville) - Unapologetic Southern Rock n' Roll. The music was fast, loud, and fun as hell. I don't know whether I would buy their album or not, but after lead singer/guitarist Jonas Stein played a guitar solo hanging upside-down from the rafters of the stage, I was in love. Great performance. 9/10
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
On the Road
I am writing this post from the comfort(?) of a Megabus, heading back to Minneapolis for some badly-needed rejuvenation. On his awesome music blog, MFR, Ian Anderson posts a playlist of the songs that are carrying him through a road trip. I've decided to give it a shot.
I woke up at 5AM this morning so I'm tired and can't wait to get home. Therefore, most of these songs share a driving quality that, though they may not make the bus drive any faster, make the 612 seem just that much closer. This past week was strangely unsettling for me, but thinking of friends and home is a good remedy. All these thoughts come out in some form when I hear these songs.
Traveler or not, these tunes do the job.
Hauschka - Chicago Morning
Andrew Bird - Fiery Crash (Daytrotter Session)
Throw Me The Statue - Lolita
Brother Ali - Take Me Home
Dirty Projectors - Ascending Melody
Pavement - Range Life
Why? - Sky For Shoeing Horses Under
White Hinterland - Icarus
Matt & Kim - Lessons Learned
Dr. Dog - My Friend
The New Standards - Hey Ya
I woke up at 5AM this morning so I'm tired and can't wait to get home. Therefore, most of these songs share a driving quality that, though they may not make the bus drive any faster, make the 612 seem just that much closer. This past week was strangely unsettling for me, but thinking of friends and home is a good remedy. All these thoughts come out in some form when I hear these songs.
Traveler or not, these tunes do the job.
Hauschka - Chicago Morning
Andrew Bird - Fiery Crash (Daytrotter Session)
Throw Me The Statue - Lolita
Brother Ali - Take Me Home
Dirty Projectors - Ascending Melody
Pavement - Range Life
Why? - Sky For Shoeing Horses Under
White Hinterland - Icarus
Matt & Kim - Lessons Learned
Dr. Dog - My Friend
The New Standards - Hey Ya
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Who's Zombie Season?
With a band name that fits perfectly with the current media obsession with all things monster/gothic, Zombie Season initially appear to be estranged cousins (no pun intended) of Vampire Weekend. However, while VW provide warm hooks that can get any party started, Zombie Season provides songs that, while poppy, offer perhaps a relationship longer than simply a fun weekend--an entire season perhaps?
Enough of that metaphor, what shocks me is that this band is still unsigned and under the radar. Their post-punk, semi lo-fi pop sound reminds me a lot of bands like The Pains of Being Pure at Heart that are being gushed over currently. The members of the band are all in their 30s (or close to it), and they seem like they might be past the point of searching for fame. Instead, these subdued Minneapolis musicians may just enjoy making music and playing around with fun topics like Zombies and love.
Zombie Season - Film Students
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
New Feature - Shut up and listen
I'm trying something new here. Very exciting.
Once a week I'll post a song and i won't write about it.
I'll let you all make your own thoughts. So here we go. Enjoy.
Salem - It's Only You (Part II)
Once a week I'll post a song and i won't write about it.
I'll let you all make your own thoughts. So here we go. Enjoy.
Salem - It's Only You (Part II)
Friday, February 19, 2010
A Song Dominating My Life - These Days
I'm sure this has happened to you before. You have never heard of a song, totally unaware of its existence, and then the day you first hear it you begin to hear it EVERYWHERE.
For me, it all began last night. I was lucky enough to get to see St. Vincent play last night at the Metro, and at one point in her set, she gave a long introduction about the next song she was going to play, how it is one of her favorites of all-time--she then clarified that it was written by somebody else and she is not that ego maniacal. The song was "These Days" by Nico (originally by Jackson Browne, however) and it was the saddest, sweetest thing I have heard in I can't remember how long. The song tells the story of someone defeated by troubled times, completely unsure of what to do next, and St. Vincent brought the house down with it.
So tonight I am sitting and watching "The Royal Tenenbaums" for the first time in a while, and in this beautiful slow-motion scene where Margot (Gwenneth Paltrow's character) is getting off a bus, guess what song I hear? "These Days" is playing, and I just thought OF COURSE IT IS. The song perfectly fits so much of what that movie is about, especially in the final lines of the song.
"Don't confront me with my failures/I haven't forgotten them."
And the excitement only continues. The line "don't confront me with my failures." is also included in one my favorite songs from last year, "Two Doves" by the Dirty Projectors. The Dirty Projectors clearly pay homage to Nico with their song, which sounds similar in its finger-picking style as well.
Nico - These Days
Dirty Projectors - Two Doves
So I'm going to bed tonight feeling far more culturally knowledgeable. Always Nice
For me, it all began last night. I was lucky enough to get to see St. Vincent play last night at the Metro, and at one point in her set, she gave a long introduction about the next song she was going to play, how it is one of her favorites of all-time--she then clarified that it was written by somebody else and she is not that ego maniacal. The song was "These Days" by Nico (originally by Jackson Browne, however) and it was the saddest, sweetest thing I have heard in I can't remember how long. The song tells the story of someone defeated by troubled times, completely unsure of what to do next, and St. Vincent brought the house down with it.
So tonight I am sitting and watching "The Royal Tenenbaums" for the first time in a while, and in this beautiful slow-motion scene where Margot (Gwenneth Paltrow's character) is getting off a bus, guess what song I hear? "These Days" is playing, and I just thought OF COURSE IT IS. The song perfectly fits so much of what that movie is about, especially in the final lines of the song.
"Don't confront me with my failures/I haven't forgotten them."
And the excitement only continues. The line "don't confront me with my failures." is also included in one my favorite songs from last year, "Two Doves" by the Dirty Projectors. The Dirty Projectors clearly pay homage to Nico with their song, which sounds similar in its finger-picking style as well.
Nico - These Days
Dirty Projectors - Two Doves
So I'm going to bed tonight feeling far more culturally knowledgeable. Always Nice
Friday, February 12, 2010
Land of Talk - Fun and Laughter
This EP from Land of Talk came out in late 2009, but I only just got it. I LOVED their last release, Some are Lakes, but their new stuff sounds promising. It's hard for me to exactly explain what it is that I love so much about this band, but it is something about frontwoman Elizabeth Powell's demeanor that just melts me. She can rock on a guitar fantastically well, but her singing voice is this fragile thing that shows more depth than most things you hear nowadays. Having seen them play live before hearing the album, it was definitely the personality that drew me in, and the music that has kept me hooked.
News: Lizzie Powell has joined the Broken Social Scene collective. Makes sense, since Land of Talk just finished a tour with Broken Social Scene. She is going to be collaborating with them on their upcoming May release. Can't Wait.
Land of Talk - May You Never
I played this song on the radio show I apprentice for this afternoon. That's right, I have a radio show. Please Listen!!!
WNUR Chicago 89.3 FM
Friday's @ 2-4PM.
The Weekly BJ with Breanne and Josh
featuring Patrick and Ryan)
STREAM ONLINE AT WNUR.ORG
News: Lizzie Powell has joined the Broken Social Scene collective. Makes sense, since Land of Talk just finished a tour with Broken Social Scene. She is going to be collaborating with them on their upcoming May release. Can't Wait.
Land of Talk - May You Never
I played this song on the radio show I apprentice for this afternoon. That's right, I have a radio show. Please Listen!!!
WNUR Chicago 89.3 FM
Friday's @ 2-4PM.
The Weekly BJ with Breanne and Josh
featuring Patrick and Ryan)
STREAM ONLINE AT WNUR.ORG
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Feminist Bookstore
Just found this comedy show by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein (former guitarist from Sleater-Kinney). They call themselves "THUNDERANT." Pretty hilarious. And they featured St. Vincent on their latest episode, playing her excellent track "Laughing With a Mouth Full of Blood." Check it.
St. Vincent - "Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood"
st. vincent | MySpace Music Videos
St. Vincent Plays in Chicago Feb. 18th. I cannot wait
And here is an older Feminist Bookstore sketch that I found particularly great.
Feminist Bookstore - Flyers
St. Vincent - "Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood"
st. vincent | MySpace Music Videos
St. Vincent Plays in Chicago Feb. 18th. I cannot wait
And here is an older Feminist Bookstore sketch that I found particularly great.
Feminist Bookstore - Flyers
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Gourmet Jams From Vermont
Philippe Bronchtein is Bearplane, the one-man DJ-Dancemaster-Freakfest out of Middlebury, Vermont. For one man in a tiny little town, Bearplane sounds pretty damn huge. Easy to listen to, but never stale or repetitive, Bearplane's tracks are interesting and technically precise. And with only 2 albums out, I expect he will keep on making groovy music for quite a while--hopefully gaining some well-deserved popularity as well.
And yes. That is a bear. riding a shark. with a machine gun. radical
Bearplane - The Weekend (It's Got to be Phonkay)
The whole album can be found on his myspace.
http://www.myspace.com/bearplanebearplane
And yes. That is a bear. riding a shark. with a machine gun. radical
Bearplane - The Weekend (It's Got to be Phonkay)
The whole album can be found on his myspace.
http://www.myspace.com/bearplanebearplane
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
i'm going to brag
Today's post is a bit of a love letter to my Minneapolis home. After Chicago, there is no better city for music in the Midwest than in the 612. Omaha has Conor Oberst, Oklahoma City has the Flaming Lips, but the eclectic mix of bands that come out of Minneapolis is unmatched.
My favorite new discovery in Minneapolis is the up-and-coming band Total Babe. Discarding the fact that one of their members lives on my block, this band of 17 and 18 year-olds sounds fun and fresh (comparisons to Feist and Camera Obscura are inevitable.) It is not revolutionary, but it definitely isn't boring, and my jealousy meter is off the charts for these kids.
Total Babe - Bearbones
And below we have just a sampling of the all-star music Minneapolis has put out both in recent history and from way back when.
Atmosphere - Sunshine
Prince - When Doves Cry
The Replacements - I Will Dare
Semisonic - Closing Time
Tapes 'n' Tapes - Cowbell
Cloud Cult - Chemicals Collide
Mason Jennings - New York City
The Battle Royale - Oh Martha
My favorite new discovery in Minneapolis is the up-and-coming band Total Babe. Discarding the fact that one of their members lives on my block, this band of 17 and 18 year-olds sounds fun and fresh (comparisons to Feist and Camera Obscura are inevitable.) It is not revolutionary, but it definitely isn't boring, and my jealousy meter is off the charts for these kids.
Total Babe - Bearbones
And below we have just a sampling of the all-star music Minneapolis has put out both in recent history and from way back when.
Atmosphere - Sunshine
Prince - When Doves Cry
The Replacements - I Will Dare
Semisonic - Closing Time
Tapes 'n' Tapes - Cowbell
Cloud Cult - Chemicals Collide
Mason Jennings - New York City
The Battle Royale - Oh Martha
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
bring the illinoize
thanks to Carter Bellaimey / Evan Adams-Hanson for showing me this wonderful album of Sufjan Stevens rap mash-ups.
I don't even like a good deal of the mash-ups out there, but Tor does a very good job taking short samples from Sufjan tracks, adding better drums/bass, scratching things up a bit, and looping them over and over again just like a good hip-hop song should.
Here Tor pins Sufjan's "Star of Wonder" (from his Christmas album) with Aesop Rock's "None Shall Pass." On the album, Tor features Outkast, Brother Ali, & More.
Tor / Sufjan Stevens - Star of Wonder / None Shall Pass
check out the whole album here
I don't even like a good deal of the mash-ups out there, but Tor does a very good job taking short samples from Sufjan tracks, adding better drums/bass, scratching things up a bit, and looping them over and over again just like a good hip-hop song should.
Here Tor pins Sufjan's "Star of Wonder" (from his Christmas album) with Aesop Rock's "None Shall Pass." On the album, Tor features Outkast, Brother Ali, & More.
Tor / Sufjan Stevens - Star of Wonder / None Shall Pass
check out the whole album here
Monday, January 4, 2010
ego tripping on the dark side of the moon
Best Rock and Roll album of all time? Meet Wayne Coyne
Right before the decade came to a close, the Flaming Lips released their heavily-anticipated cover of the entirety of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (with help from Wayne's nephew's band, Stardeath and the White Dwarfs). Naturally, there will be a lot of pissed off classic rock purists writing off this album--but these are the same people who think that good music stopped being made twenty years ago. The Flips meet expectations and live up to the hype with this one, mainly because while some tracks are less strong than the originals (Speak to me / Breathe), and some sound fairly similar to the originals (Us and Them), there are some tracks that simultaneously manage to stay true to the original while adding a freakishly amazing edge. I would have given my appendix to have been there to see it played live on New Years last week in Oklahoma City.
Take the Great Gig In the Sky, for example. Thanks to the Flaming Lips, new generations can once again get blown away by a truly timeless album.
Right before the decade came to a close, the Flaming Lips released their heavily-anticipated cover of the entirety of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (with help from Wayne's nephew's band, Stardeath and the White Dwarfs). Naturally, there will be a lot of pissed off classic rock purists writing off this album--but these are the same people who think that good music stopped being made twenty years ago. The Flips meet expectations and live up to the hype with this one, mainly because while some tracks are less strong than the originals (Speak to me / Breathe), and some sound fairly similar to the originals (Us and Them), there are some tracks that simultaneously manage to stay true to the original while adding a freakishly amazing edge. I would have given my appendix to have been there to see it played live on New Years last week in Oklahoma City.
Take the Great Gig In the Sky, for example. Thanks to the Flaming Lips, new generations can once again get blown away by a truly timeless album.
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