For those of you who haven't seen it plastered all over the interwebs...WAKE UP! Just kidding...here is a new Yeasayer song available for download straight from the band. Their upcoming album is due out in 2010 via Secretly Canadian. I CANNOT WAIT! Their performance was the highlight of the Pitchfork Music Festival and I love them. Very much. Yeasayer Tags
When I saw that my favorite tastemaker started his own video blog session as well I was so happy it was like a little "indie rock christmas." Laundromatinee sessions are beautifully recorded and shot and are holding the empty place in my heart until I can finally start something like this on my own...that is CONSTANT in NYC. For now helping KEXP will have to do and my friend Louis does an amazing job, so please check out all of his work here.
Moving along I have been obsessed with the Scottish band the Twilight Sad for a few years now. I have seen them every time they come through the city, most recently opening for Mogwai at Williamsburg Music Hall. At home on Fat Cat Records along with We Were Promised Jetpacks (also love) and Frightened Rabbit they have received more blog coverage with their new album than ever before and for good measure. Their live shows are some of the most passionate and piercing performances that I have witnessed to date. Not much movement is happening but the delivery is hauntingly other-wordly. Lead singer, James Graham is a presence unto himself. I recommend checking them out as often as possible. Their talent it something people will be talking about more frequently as they grow with each song they record. For now, check out their Laundromatinee session from this summer's Monolith Festival at Red Rocks.
*The Twilight Sad's 2009 release, Forget The Night Ahead is out now and can be purchased here. *Twilight Sad Tags.
Switching from wanting to work towards preserving the environment into the evil music industry world was a tough thing for my parents to digest. My mother was a bit easier to convince. She likes to call me her little dreamer or her wild child, tossing around examples of how i am creative, moved to New York and always liked to dance and sing. She overlooked my unpaid internships, even longer unpaid volunteer positions, job hopping and financial instability and concentrates on my stubborn devotion of spirit and will. My father, always on the opposite side of the fighting line just sticks out his chin and goes silent. From time to time he will pipe up and tell me how he read about McCartney going on tour or the 200 trucks it takes to transport the latest U2 stage from city to city. Thank goodness being stubborn in our family gets you a long way and love carries me through the rest of it. All my happy memories of music tie themselves in one way or another to my parents or my sister. Maybe it is because there are only four of us that I feel loyal to my little nest. Most of it is because when my parents shared their music it was like a peep behind the magical wizard curtain. My dad would share stories from his Cornell days, my mom would share stories of her first time seeing Elvis on TV. It was like talking to them like I would my friends after a show. When I find bands I really love, my favorite sort of sound it always reminds me of my dad. Mostly because of their cover of one of my absolute favorite S&G songs, CeciliaThe Local Natives caught my attention and made me immediately want to email their video to my dad. Hailing from Silver Lake, California their music is drenched with desert depth and saturated with golden sunshine. This area is a hotbed of melodic folk rock as of late spawning some of my favorites like Robert Francis and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zones. Many of these artists have been overlooked by the blogging community (ROBERT FRANCIS--SERIOUSLY PEOPLE YOU WILL LOVE) but i have a feeling like their neighbors to the north (PORTLAND) this will not last long.
For those of you planning out your CMJ calendars they will be in town next week at the following showcases:
*******Local Natives at CMJ**********: Oct 22 - 3PM - Fontana’s (Aquarium Drunkard / Intelligent Noise Showcase) - NYC Oct 23 - 12AM - CMJ Showcase @ Mercury Lounge w/ Patrick Watson, Alec Ounsworth, Sean Bones and more (21+) - NYC Oct 23 - 8PM - Santo’s Party House (Neon Gold / Chess Club Showcase) - NYC Oct 24 - 2PM - TBD (Brooklyn Vegan Party) - NYC Oct 24 - 5PM - The Delancey (Deli Magazine Showcase) - NYC
From there they will be touring with TWO of my FAVORITE new artists, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Fool’s Gold. Fool's Gold are on my list to check out next week. From what I have heard they are going to be a band I can easily find myself loving to bits and pieces. Check out the rest of Local Natives' tour dates here:
Nov 1-The Clubhouse w/ White Rabbits-Phoenix, Arizona Nov 2-El Rey w/ White Rabbits-Los Angeles, California Nov 4-Slim’s w/ White Rabbits-San Francisco, California Nov 5-Wonder Ballroom w/ White Rabbits-Portland, Oregon Nov 6-Biltmore Cabaret w/ White Rabbits-Vancouver, British Columbia *Nov 10-3rd & Lindsley-Nashville, Tennessee *Nov 11-40 Watt Club-Athens, Georgia *Nov 15-First Unitarian Church-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania *Nov 16-Black Cat-Washington DC, Washington DC *Nov 17-Bowery Ballroom-New York, New York Nov 20-The Starving Artist-Keene, New Hampshire *Nov 21-Pearl Street Downstairs-Northampton, Massachusetts *Nov 22-Club Metronome-Burlington, Vermont *Nov 23-Petit Campus-Montreal, Quebec *Nov 24-El Mocambo -Toronto, Ontario *Nov 27-Lincoln Hall-Chicago, Illinois *Nov 28-High Noon Saloon-Madison, Wisconsin *Nov 29-Varsity Theater-Minneapolis, Minnesota *Dec 1-Boulder Theater-Boulder, Colorado *Dec 2-Velour-Provo, Utah *Dec 3-The Neurolux-Boise, Idaho *Dec 5-Neumo’s-Seattle, Washington *Dec 8-Biltmore Cabaret-Vancouver, British Columbia *Dec 9-Doug Fir Lounge-Portland, Oregon *Dec 10-W.O.W. Hall-Eugene, Oregon *Dates with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros AND Fool’s Gold
In the meantime check out their cover of Simon and Garfunkel's Cecilia....LOVELOVELOVE, if this does not make you happy then I don't know what will.
It is officially October. I never thought I was going to survive September, but I made it. Now it is a new month. My most favorite of all months of the year, all shiny and fresh. Forget December. October is the new December. Speaking of things being new Justin Vernon's latest project has finally hit the masses and is receiving (are we really surprised) so much lovins you would think it was a new Radiohead record. Which led me to make a statement so daring and bold, or so simple and obvious that I had to write about it. It is early in his career to make such comparisons but I think Justin Vernon could possibly have the potential of being such an brilliant and bold musician, songwriter, visionary, force field that he could be the next *Thom Yorke.* Maybe I have been listening to both of their new projects back to back too much. Or maybe I have watched the video for "Island, IS" one too many times. Either way, Unmap is something to let slowly dissolve into each distinct and divine level of resolution until it has completely molded into an overall form of succinct and disturbingly exquisite record. For that is exactly what it is.
*The video can be watched here and was directed by Michinori Saigo. Buy Unmaphere.
This video is hands down my favorite video to come out this year. While we watch the disappearance of record stores, magazines, record labels, radio stations, and actual physical cds, records and tapes there are things that come up and make you remember the first time you saw a music video and have hope that all is still ALIVE, CREATIVE and WELL within the music community. Thank you Middle East for this latest inspiration. Hailing all the way from Townsville, Queensland, Australia this band was a bit difficult to dig up information to report back. I did uncover that this stop-animated video for 'Blood' was directed by the Sydney Art Collective Greedy Hen. I will admit...this made me cry. Just a little bit. For reasons I don't even know or can explain. Simply, it is beautiful, the song is beautiful and it is always an amazing thing when something touches you on such a strong emotional level. I cannot wait to hear more from this band. *Middle East Myspace *They are currently touring Australia...you lucky Auzzzzies!
When it comes to music the sounds that I tend to listen to the most are those voices that flow effervescently out of their owners throats like the most natural of bodily reactions. Their are some singers whose voices sound like they are more one with their character than their own speaking voice. Shannon Stephens is one of those people. Having just released her second album, The Breadwinner I have much catching up to do when it comes to knowing her whole catalog of music. Based out of Seattle this record was ten years in the making and is a stunning collage of reeds, horn, cello and piano. Like the fresh salt water air of the west coast and the steamy deep forests her sound embodies all of the mysterious elements of water, air and land that make up the traditional North-Western sound many have loved throughout recent records (Cave Singers, Fleet Foxes, Horsefeathers, Lightning Dust). Formerly of the Michigan-based band Marzuki (with Matt Haseltine, Sufjan Stevens and Jamie Kempers) Shannon explains the writing and time spent behind this album as a testament to her love for her daughter, husband, garden and planet. A mother to all of these things her songs cuddle and cradle you within their depths making all ills melt into the void. Please check her out here. Shannon Stephens released Breadwinner last week via Asthmatic Kitty
There is a major reason why i do not read Pitchfork. I do not like the idea of one website making or breaking a band. All those months of hard work writing melodies let alone lyrics. When was the last time you tried to write a song P-fiddle...or try a letter to a friend- or even a thank you card for that matter. None of this can be researched and I am sure they are all incredibly lovely people at heart. They write their opinions about things just as I do. The MAIN reason I do not read Pitchfork is because they are snobs. SNOBS to the core. They ignore a lot of good bands until they are popular enough for their standards. This usually comes about only after the band has been written about a million times by the 'smaller blogs' and Pitchfork is forced to pay attention due to sold out shows or NYC buzz. This is true. This can be statistically proven. Take for instance my beloved Fanfarlo. They are going to be huge. They sold out Mercury Lounge and had their show moved to Bowery Ballroom before they even had their single released. (*check-sold out show). They have the interesting indie details: the little girl in the bird mask on the cover of the album is Jonsi from Sigur Ros' sister---which is how the band got it's name. (*check-hipster cred) They have attracted the attention of writers who I do read and highly respect such as Culture Bully and I Am Fuel, You Are Friends. (*check-blog buzz from people who do their own research) All of this could mean nothing except for the fact that their music is fiercely beautiful and their album, "Reservoir" will be one of the best of the year. It will beat Grizzly Bear's latest and Deer Tick on my list. Before the band had the official video for their first single, "The Walls" they had four or five home made videos from their backyards which were just as classy and blog worthy as any Vincent Moon story. Still Pitchfork has ignored them. They played showcase after showcase at SXSW and over the month of September have a session scheduled with KEXP. Still...not good enough for Pitchfork. But crap bands like the Drums are? Seriously people. This is why I do not read Pitchfork. Because if you hold your breath and wait for them to decide whether or not something will receive enough hits you----my dear reader----are the ones who miss out. You will be late to loving an album that you could have been excited about for weeks, or a show that will already be sold out by the time it is posted. Which is why baby blogs matter-because after all if no one else is reading this but myself--I will still feel satisfied that I at least loved Fanfarlo from the very beginning. Who needs a 9.2 review?
"I demand you get into Fanfarlo as soon as humanly possible, assuming you haven't already."-Personal Sauna Fanfarlo'sReservoir is due out October 6th.
FANFARLO TOUR DATES Sep 14*Chop Suey*Seattle Sep 15*Troubadour*West Hollywood Sep 17*Popscene*San Francisco Sep 20*Kungfu Necktie*Philadelphia Sep 21*Bowery Ballroom*New York Sep 22*The Bell House*New York
There is something to be said about musicians who happen upon a time and place where they are able to play with other gifted artists. It happens all across the medium of what we like to term art. Van Gogh and Gaughan. Ensor and Rousseau. Hepburn and Givenchy. Scorsese and DiCaprio. We see the same thing in music. For example Cory Chisel's latest album, Death Won't Send A Letter. The first single off of this blistering and caustic record is "Born Again." If you do not feel for the track from the first listen then I invite you to watch the video. It is all the delicious aspects of the opening credits to True Blood. That same gritty-dust-between the teeth-spine tingling blessing of images brings Cory's song to life in a visceral way that nothing else could besides a live performance. If you do not realize how talented Cory is by this point then for shame. In a day and age where the Kings of Leon have become the bread winners for everything that is gritty, soulful, southern rock in roll the rest of us remember those albums they started off with. Those honest yarns about sleasing around with girls and drinking too much booze. Cory graduates with each cord he caresses on his guitar. But back to my former argument because I think that the key element on this album that helped push our dear singer to his potential is the presence and friendship of Mr. Brendan Benson. Touring with Jack White really does teach you a thing or two. We are luckier for that. I can only wish on lucky white stars at night that this continues to grow onwards from this...for we could all use a lot more songs such as this one. Thank you Cory.
Cory's album Death Won't Send A Letter is due out September 29th via Black Seal Records.
******CORY CHISEL TOUR DATES****** Aug 22- Madison Roots Festival-Middleton, Wisconsin Aug 25- City Winery-New York, New York Aug 31- Media Club-Vancouver, British Columbia Sep 1- The Crocodile-Seattle, Washington Sep 2- Peter’s Room at Roseland-Portland, Oregon Sep 3- Strawberry Festival-Yosemite, California Sep 14- Troubadour-Los Angeles, California Sep 15- Downtown Brew-San Luis Obispo, California Sep 16- The Independent-San Francisco, California Sep 18- Casbah-San Diego, California Sep 19- Martini Ranch-Scottsdale, Arizona Sep 22- The Wiltern-Los Angles, California *Jack White Tags *Kings of Leon Tags
I got it all Yes it's true So why don't I get you Oh Simian Mobile Disco how I love you so. Only you could come up with lyrics that combine so many of my favorite things: grape kool aid, Peter Tosh, Bill Murray and James Joyce. Alright so maybe that doesn't sound so hard to do. Maybe you are doubting their cleverness. If so, then just listen for yourself. If it is does not tickle your funny bone or make you smile then you...are no friend of mine. But seriously, it is Friday and this song should make you happy. Just wait until you hear the rest of the album...can we say Beth Ditto you rock my world?! Simian Mobile Disco Tags
So next week my boyfriend is moving from Charleston, South Carolina back to New York so we can collectively move into an apartment that will be *ours* somewhere in Brooklyn. Hopefully. Which I thought was a perfect time to listen to one of my favorite songs by The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You. The first few lines of the song are as simple yet delicate. Sitting at my desk searching through endless Craiglist it resonated with me on a whole new level and made me...hopeful. Enjoy.
Load the car and write the note Grab your bag and grab your coat Tell the ones that need to know We are headed North One foot and one foot back But it don't pay to live like that So I cut the ties and I jumped the tracks For never to return
Oh Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in Are you aware the shape I'm in My hands they shake my head it spins Oh Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in
The Avett Brothers are currently touring and have played with one of my other loves, Jessica Lea Mayfield. She spoke incredibly highly of them which is reason enough for you to go check them out. **********TOUR DATES**************** 8.21-Boulder Theater- Boulder, CO 8.22-Ogden Theatre-Denver, CO 8.25-Red Butte Garden-Salt Lake City, UT 8.26-Knitting Factory Concert House-Boise, ID 8.28-Paramount Theatre-Seattle, WA 8.29-Britt Festival-Jacksonville, OR 8.30-Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival-San Francisco, CA 9.1-HSU Van Duzer Theater-Arcata, CA 9.3-Grand Sierra Theatre-Reno, NV **rescheduled for a 2010 date, TBA** 9.4-Strawberry Music Festival-Camp Mather, CA 9.5-Orpheum Theatre-Los Angeles, CA 9.17-North Charleston P.A.C-North Charleston, SC 9.18-Westobou Festival-Augusta, GA 9.19-The Moon-Tallahassee, FL 9.20-Bama Theatre-Tuscaloosa, AL 9.22-The Lyric Oxford-Oxford, MS 9.24-Minglewood Hall-Memphis, TN 9.25-Robinson Center Music Hall-Little Rock, AR 9.26-Cain's Ballroom-Tulsa, OK 9.27-Granada Theater-Dallas, TX 10.1-House of Blues-New Orleans, LA 10.2-Austin City Limits Festival-Austin, TX 10.3-Baton Rouge River Center Theatre-Baton Rouge, LA 10.3-Rose State PAC-Midwest City, OK ***rescheduled for a 2010 date, TBA*** 10.5-Lovett Auditorium-Murray, KY 10.15-Rams Head Live-Baltimore, MD 10.16-Electric Factory-Philadelphia, PA 10.17-Terminal 5-New York, NY 10.18-House of Blues-Boston, MA 10.20-Englert Theatre-Iowa City, IA 10.21-The Barrymore Theatre-Madison, WI 10.22-The Canopy Club-Urbana, IL 10.23-Turner Hall Ballroom-Milwaukee, WI 10.30-Louisville Palace-Louisville, KY 10.31-Ryman Auditorium-Nashville, TN
I have a confession to make. Pathetic as it may seem and self indulgent as well one of the reasons I have been so void on this little blog over the past year is because I got what I had always wanted-job wise-music industry wise-for the most part. Funny that it should work out that way and the result would be me not WANTING to write at all. Countless nights I would start drafts to share something i was listening to and loving and would walk away heartless and unfulfilled. This had never happened to me before. It was worse than writers block, worse than a broken heart it was like something had died. Now I know this sounds a bit over the edge and the worst part is it all became a realization to me this past Sunday...watching a movie. A girlie movie to be exact. I was happily enjoying Julie and Julia with the security of my best friend and avid supporter of all that I do and was teary eyed watching Julie blog her way through her idol's recipes. In the end all of her dreams come true. She becomes a paid writer for what she loves. All I ever wanted was to work for someone who when I recommended a band wouldn't make fun of me because there was a 'the' in the title, or challenge me for who they sounded like...or worst yet-just ignore me and then a year later be pissy when they couldn't get into a sold out Animal Collective show because all of the sudden they were popular and they felt they deserved to go even though they had hated on AC and Panda Bear for YEARS. (deep breath). But I digress. In the film Julie receives wind that Julia does not care for her blog. She is upset of course. It was at this point that I realized the same sort of heartbreak had befallen me and what upset me the most about the whole situation was something I could not even put my finger on. This past year I was able to help the one person I regarded as my music bible, my hero, my emblem of all the good in the music industry. At the same time mistakes were made, miscommunication and ultimately I was left out to dry all alone in the wind for these errors. This was all fine, it is a good lesson to learn and no one can support yourself but you. When it all comes down to it you either pick yourself up and move on and learn from it or you don't. The worst thing was that all of the sudden my joy of helping bands was lost in all of it. My ability to write a show review, to seamlessly blend into an audience and zone out, my confidence in discovering and recommending something new---all of these things that keep my job fresh and new for me and my feet happily skipping along to my ipod on the most depressing of summer days (if you lived in nyc this summer you would know what i mean) evaporated into thin air. I still do not like to buy into the generalization that everyone in my industry is a greedy, soulless carpetbagger and i never will. I believe that some of the most beautiful music i have ever heard came out last year in 2008 and we have many happy things to look forward to. I met my boyfriend working in an office where he was the only person who really took my recommendations seriously and talked to me about books. In this same office I met a girl who I admire beyond words and if I am ever able is one of the only people I would go to for starting a business with. Just this summer at Pitchfork I spent two hours with two bloggers I was meeting for the first time giggling and smiling with delight sharing music like we would have oreos in the first grade. This is why music makes my heart break. This is why it is heartbreaking to me when I cannot write about it. I am not sure where I will go from here but hopefully it will be a return to writing more often. For i miss it, more than my dream of working with that one person I had most admired. Which is what Julie realized in the movie in a way. Silly the things you realize when you aren't even looking for an answer.
And because if i could be a super hero, i would want to be Karen O.
One of my favorite new bands of 2009 are the Generationals. Hailing from one of the most magical cities, New Orleans this duo is a little bit of Simon and Garfunkel-talented-lyric-wise, a little bit of Dr. Dog-groove wise and a lot of youthful sunshine mixed all into one. You can stream half of their album, Con Law via their website. "The album was recorded and produced by Daniel Black at Bent Black in Washington, DC." I recommend watching the video detailing how the band met, how they met Chris from Park the Van and the fine dining of Red Lobster while on the road. Their album will see wide release in August.
*(Am fixing my music host-site so for now please visit websites and check out the videos! THANK YOU!)
This video is also very choice:
************Generationals Tour Dates:***************
Jul 16 Allways Lounge w Giant Cloud and Songbird - New Orleans, Louisiana Jul 17 Vollrath w/ Bowerbirds & Megafaun - Indianapolis, Indiana Jul 18 Schubas w/ Plants and Animals - Chicago, Illinois Jul 19 Daytrotter + a show @ Huckleberry’s Pizza. - Rock Island, Illinois Jul 20 Hi-Dive - Denver, Colorado Jul 21 Record Exchange in store @ 7pm + Hijinx House of Music - Boise, Idaho Jul 22 The Badlander w/ Floating Action - Missoula, Montana Jul 23 The Blvd - Spokane, Washington Jul 24 Someday Lounge w/ Floating Action - Portland, Oregon Jul 25 ToST w/ Floating Action - Seattle, Washington Jul 27 Cafe Du Nord w/ Floating Action and Golden Boots - San Francisco, California Jul 28 TBA - Santa Cruz, California Jul 29 TBA - Sacramento, California Jul 30 the Detroit Bar w/ Floating Action, Golden Boots, and Eagle Winged Palace - Costa Mesa, California Jul 31 Hotel Cafe w/ Floating Action and Golden Boots - Los Angeles, California Aug 1 The Partisan - Merced, California Aug 2 Bar Pink w/Floating Action, Golden Boots (free show!) - San Diego, California Aug 3 Trunk Space w/ Golden Boots and Floating Action - Phoenix, Arizona Aug 4 Club Congress w/ Golden Boots and Floating Action - Tucson Aug 6 Stubbs Jr. w/ Floating Action - Austin, TX Aug 7 Super Happy Fun Land w/ Floating Action - Houston, TX Aug 8 OFFICIAL RECORD RELEASE PARTY AT HI HO LOUNGE w/ Floating Action - New Orleans, Louisiana Aug 22 Spanish Moon w/ Brass Bed - Baton Rouge, Louisiana Sep 12 Monolith Festival-WOXY stage - Morrison, Colorado Sep 30 Howlin Wolf w/ Dr. Dog - New Orleans, Louisiana (***REALLY WISH I COULD BE THERE FOR THIS ONE!***)
To all of the dear bands whose music has been posted on my site if you are unhappy and would like your songs removed, simply email me and it shall be done. *shelvesofvinyl@gmail.com* If you would like me check something out for you email me! Cheers!
A little music lover with a lot left to learn and discover.
Don't forget about Katrina.
www.katrinaspianofund.org
www.tipitinasfoundation.org
"I am worried my kids won't know what it is like to open Vinyl." -Jack White
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