Sigur Ros: Live at Bass Performance Hall

This is going to be more of a photo-recap than a formal review, as I'm tired and I have to get to The Cavern to DJ (ie, plug in our laptop and click a bunch of stuff) to our adoring audience of 2: the bartender girl, and random old guy at the bar that would probably rather listen to the jukebox.



Last night's Sigur Ros show at Bass wasn't the life-altering experience I was sort of hoping for, nor was it the best show I've ever seen. But it was full of amazing, transcendant moments, and despite a few technical difficulties (which the ladies of Amina found hilarious), it was one of the most captivating concert experiences I've ever had. Much has been made of the visual set up, and for good reason.



The band employs a front-screen for the show opener, which creates a spell-bounding cinematic effect. From the opening note, the band had the entire audience entranced (except for Torr, he was sleeping), which created a unique atmosphere. The adoring crowd was completely silent, and even when a song ended, it seemed no one wanted to be the first to break the silence with their applause.




Musically, I can't really put into words how epic this band is live. They elicit an otherworldly feeling at times with their soaring, emotional soundscapes.





The show-closer ("Untitled #8", I believe) was the most spectacular ending to a concert I've ever seen, hands down. And it was actually the tour-closer, as this was the last stop on their current North American trip. A fitting end to what was, by all accounts, an amazing tour.





Bonus:

Check out this footage and the following description of an impromptu aftershow performance by Sigur Ros last night, outside of their tour bus.

"Then around 1am that night, coming back to our car after dinner, there they were - chipped teeth and kind of bug-eyed - standing outside their tour bus. With an acoustic guitar and a banjo. There were like three other people around. We stood there in absolute disbelief for a little while, then they started motioning for us to join in (I am not making this up). We went over there and started clapping, singing, and whooping along to this funny little country song they were playing"

Sorry I missed this. (via this guy's blog)

Best of February

This is the second installment of my monthly series in which I round up what I think were the best songs of the month, tailored specifically for people that don't have the time and/or desire to wade through my daily ramblings. It's an especially long list this time, and I even left off a bunch of stuff that deserves to be here, but I feel like I've posted enough about this month (Voxtrot, Marissa Nadler, Sunset Rubdown, and more). These will only be up for a few days, so enjoy:

edit: my file-host (Ezarchive) likes to fu** with me at the most inopportune times. It's apparently down now, so check back if you're unable to download.


The Raconteurs

• The Raconteurs Steady as She Goes mp3

I didn't think there was any way this could have lived up to my own expectations and anticipation level. But the more I listen to it, I don't think we'll be hearing a better power-pop song all year.

• Destroyer Painter in your Pocket mp3

Nothing to say about Destroyer's Rubies that hasn't already been said, really. But if you haven't given this entire album a proper chance, you're missing out.

• St. Vincent Lips are Red (stream at Myspace)

You know I think a song is good if I'm compelled to include an unfinished mix of it (I believe) on my list, and without an mp3.

• J Tillman Seven States Across mp3

The Sufjan Stevens comparison is played out, yes, but this song recalls something from Seven Swans crossed with Iron & Wine. Understated, and gorgeous.

• SOUND team Electric Stallion m4a

If you're unfamiliar with SOUND team, this might not be the best introduction to their music, and it's certainly not the best representation of their style. But it's damn good, and only begins to hint at the band's versatility.

• The Knife Heartbeats (OneMusic Session) mp3

This one was actually featured on Said the Gramophone, but it was too good to leave off the list.

• Danielson Did I Step on your Trumpet? mp3

Taken from the upcoming Ships LP, I can't decide if this song is more or less accessible than their previous stuff. Catchy (and bizarre) as hell.

• Dert The Light + Heartbeats mp3

I've been over mashups in general for a while now, but Dert's Sometimes I Rhyme Slow project sort of came out of nowhere and blew me away. Jose Gonzalez's gentle vocals and strumming meets hip-hop, and it surprisingly, it works.

Bonus:

• The Long Winters The Commander Thinks Aloud mp3

I realize this song is from 2005, but I posted it this month, and I've listened to it a lot lately. A heartbreaking account of the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle astronauts' tragic fate that never fails to give me chills.

You're damn right it's "best new music"

"Kneeling before Pavement, Wire, Beach Boys, and Pixies at rock's canonical altar, this scrappy Minneapolis four-piece proudly wear their influences on-sleeve, shunning hipster malaise and manic experimentation for hook after addictively anthemic hook"
--Pitchfork on The Loon



Look who made Pitchfork's vaunted "Best New Music" list. We already knew that, but it's nice to see them get the credit they deserve, garnering an 8.3 in today's review. Oh, did I mention they're playing the gorilla vs. bear showcase in less than two weeks (with Birdmonster, Seventeen Evergreen, and SOUND team's "Bill Bird")?

Check out this great flyer that Seventeen Evergreen made for the show:



related:



See you there?

i want you to hurry

A friend and I were discussing the other day the importance of singer-songwriters choosing a good moniker, and how that sort of sets the tone for the whole project. Example: Iron & Wine. It just wouldn't be the same if he recorded under Sam Beam. Same for Conor Oberst. Even when he performs solo, he's Bright Eyes. Well, I like this guy's moniker well enough: River Deep. I don't know his real name, or anything else about him for that matter. But here's a nice little ditty for your Monday evening:

edit: Never mind the above post, he's actually going by the name of Spuuner and he's from Brooklyn. The song's still good though.

Edit again: Actually, it's Spunner, not Spuuner. And it was River Deep, not Deep River. I should really look into this kind of thing before I post. I promise I'm not a complete moron, I just act like one on my blog. Anyway, you guys seem to like the song, that's all that matters.

River Deep Spuuner Spunner i want you to hurry mp3

Sigur Ros tonight

Photo by Matt Picasso

Anybody else going to see Sigur Ros tonight at Bass Performance Hall? My car is going to be a regular rolling blogger convention, with Torr, Garrison, Del, and myself making the trip to Fort Worth. It would be an understatement to say I'm pretty excited, especially after Matt called their Louisville performance last week the best show he's ever seen. Of course, he took that back a week later after seeing Of Montreal. Damn teenagers.

Sigur Ros Untitled #1 (live) mp3

princess superstar

I'm officially obsessed with eMusic. I spent much of the weekend using the rest of my 50 free downloads to download some albums I've lost over the years (Cat Power's Moon Pix and The Dirtbombs' Ultraglide in Black are reason enough to do the free trial).

So, I thought I'd start a new feature detailing how I think you should use up your 50 free songs. First up: Princess Superstar:



Princess Superstar will be at SXSW 2006, and I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find me at Elysium on Friday night (March 17), where she'll perform along with Asobi Seksu, The Boy Least Likely To, and Love Is All. I've seen her perform before (to a crowd of about 20), and she's witty, hilarious, and cute at the same time, all the while oozing sex appeal that's off-the-charts. So, I thought I'd re-familiarize myself with her recorded material.

• Princess Superstar Keith 'n Me (feat. Kool Keith) mp3

On this track, from Princess Superstar Is..., Princess Superstar recruited one of the few who can match her outrageously raunchy lyrics: one of my favorite rappers ever, the legendary Kool Keith. Featuring a sample from Princess Superstar's mom.

• Princess Superstar My Machine mp3

On this, the title track from 2005's My Machine, Superstar goes electro-hop. This change suits her well, and I'm interested to see how it translates live. Last time it was pretty much straight forward hip hop, but she did have the pre-programmed beats working.

Sign up here for your free 50 songs and start downloading. Again, to reiterate, there are no strings: if you want, you can cancel after your 50 songs are up. I personally opted for the $9.99/month plan (40 songs).

bonus mp3:

MC Paul Barman MTV Get Off the Air (feat. Princess Superstar)

The Black Arm Band

Wanz Dover of The Black Arm Band

I had the pleasure of meeting Mwanza Dover (of Mazinga Phaser II) recently, and our brief conversation about our shared love and respect for Detroit's Mick Collins (of Gories/Dirtbombs fame) led me to asking about Dover's new-ish project, The Black Arm Band. He described the band as something like "Nick Cave meets Sun Ra meets the MC5 or Iggy and The Stooges".

Now, one of my favorite records ever is The Dirtbombs' Ultraglide in Black, and this track by The Black Arm Band oozes that Detroit garage rhythm & blues-punk-"sonik soul" that I love, but don't listen to nearly enough. I can't wait to see this band live, and luckily for me, they live in my hometown:

The Black Arm Band Milk Cow mp3

(if link is down, download at the band's myspace page)

Bonus:

The Dirtbombs Chains of Love mp3 (Jimmy Hughes cover)

no midnight

Birdmonster has announced the title of their upcoming LP: No Midnight. Looks like they've got a (tenative?) release date of April 11. I've enjoyed reading all about the recording process over at their blog, and now you can pre-order here for only 10 bucks.

I'm super excited to have these guys playing the gorilla vs. bear showcase on March 10 @ The Cavern. If you're still undecided about attending, this live Birdmonster clip might help. The show-closer, "All the Holes in the Walls", especially kicks ass.

Birdmonster Resurrection Song mp3

also:



I love the fact that Matt's favorite band is releasing an EP every month in 2006. The January EP is great, and if this song is any indication, the February EP will be just as good.

Bishop Allen Vain mp3

buy the February EP for only 5 bucks here

sometimes I rhyme slow

It was only a matter of time, I suppose. I mean, it makes perfect sense, but I didn't think it would work as well as this. L.A. producer Dert has created somewhat of a hip hop masterpiece based on Jose Gonzalez's Veneer (one of my favorite records of last year). I know you probably need another mash-up like you need a heart attack, but before you dismiss it, listen to these tracks. Dert did a masterful job of utilizing Gonzalez's beats to match the tone of the lyrics. Highly recommended.

• Common feat. Erykah Badu The Light + Heartbeats mp3

• Kanye feat. Mos Def + Freeway Two Words + Slow Moves mp3

Dert's Sometimes I Rhyme Slow, which also features MF Doom, Talib Kweli, Nas, and more, comes out March 7. Listen to more snippets from the album at his myspace page

He Poos Clouds

Two things to do this morning:


Final Fantasy

1. Go to Final Fantasy's myspace page to listen to two amazing songs from his upcoming album, He Poos Clouds.

Final Fantasy Peach Plum Pear (Joanna Newsom cover) mp3
(taken from his Spell For a Weak Heart 7")

2. Head over to I Guess I'm Floating to download two (possibly unmastered) tracks from the as-yet-untitled TV On the Radio album. These first two live up to expectations, and then some.

myspace rules

poser

Not only do I regularly find cool new bands on Myspace, but I can also be friends with Kevin Federline, and get his hilariously idiotic bulletins that he sends out like every 5 minutes. Here's the latest K-Fed news:

"whats up everone. check out this little shit i did wit game.. come download the fu** outta this. --kevin federline. thats whats up"

Go be his boy here. Jesus I'm glad it's friday, I'm running out of ways to be bored.

edit: here's the song. Umm, download the fu** outta it:

The Game + K-Fed 360 mp3

Painter in your Pocket

Seems I've been gushing with praise over just about everything lately (even more so than usual), but there's just been so much great shit that has come to my ears lately. 2006 is already shaping up to be an amazing year for music overall: I've been obsessed with the Fiery Furnaces' Bitter Tea, the new Hot Chip record, Band of Horses' Everything All The Time, The Knife's Silent Shout, and about 5 other things right now.



And despite the greatness of all of the aforementioned albums, Destroyer's Rubies stands out as an early contender for album of the year.

I know everyone's been talking about this record, but I've been kind of ingoring that until I had a chance to fully digest it. I think it's the most complex, ambitious, and beautiful thing Dan Bejar has ever created. Give this track a few listens, as there's a lot going on:

Destroyer Painter in your Pocket mp3

buy Destroyer's Rubies from Merge

Dallas people: please vote for gorillavsbear.net for "Best Music Website/Blog" in the 2006 Dallas Observer Music Awards. It'll only take a second.

elsewhere:

Dodge has pics from last night's Voxtrot show in Bloomington.

How I Love You, Bitter Tea

So I was watching The Fiery Furnaces' performance on Pancake Mountain on DVD last night with some friends, and I was reminded why I fell in love with the band (and Eleanor) in the first place. She has an almost child-like wonder, which comes across in the imaginative, hyperactive, and at times frenetic quality of their music.

But try as I might, I could never get into Rehearsing My Choir. However, as of late, I have been obsessed with their new record, Bitter Tea. I hear the best bits of Blueberry Boat combined with the (relative) accessibility of EP. Highly recommended.

The Fiery Furnaces Black-hearted Boy mp3

Bitter Tea comes out April 18 on Fat Possum Records.

Let's Ride Bikes into the Sea

I've posted on Austin's Oh No! Oh My! a couple times, but I just cannot get enough of this record. I posted way back when that this was the best cd of all time that can be had for $1.50, and now I can pretty much guarantee that it will end up somewhere pretty high on my best of '06 list. My point is, you know how I feel about it, so I thought I'd let my boy (and your host) Garrison Reid from Indie Interviews.com share his thoughts. So here you go:

"Just the other day I was telling a friend that the most deluded and sterile comparison a modern music critic can make is comparing anything to Neutral Milk Hotel or namedropping Mangum in their review. This is something I learned working for a college radio station, which surely receives more mail recalling Jeff Mangum than Merge. So I write this post with caution and simultaneously, with overwhelming sincerity.

What everyone loves about Neutral Milk Hotel is this unsettling sense -- that there is hope in that which is ghastly. Oh No! Oh My! have recaptured that sense throughout their self-titled record and especially on the track "I Have No Sister". The discussion of relationships and death are processed in such an uplifting manner (full of handclaps and an addictive keyboard element) that the listener blissfully bypasses the point that they aren't in this traditional "letter-jacket exchange" relationship.

Mangum's following should skip the old demos and look ahead to bands like this."

--Garrison Reid

Oh No! Oh My! I Have No Sister mp3

bonus:

Someone tell me, why isn't this song already in like, a Volkswagen or a Toyota commercial or something?

Oh No! Oh My! Walk in the Park mp3

You can still buy the Oh No! Oh My! pre-release here for $1.50 Do it.

St. Vincent

"She's opened for Television and performed with Glenn Branca's 100-ax orchestra, and she has a Bjork-ian knack for transforming otherworldly chords and potentially crippling conceits into artful pop"
--The Boston Phoenix



I've been telling anyone that will listen (and even those who won't) about the inimitable Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent. Since I saw her perform with The Polyphonic Spree last summer, I've been smitten by her infectious energy and unique and prodigious guitar-style. And, after hearing a handful of rough mixes a couple months back, I was blown away by her ability to create lullabies that kicked my ass.

Annie has been playing guitar in some shape or form since she was 5, and she's developed a style of playing that's unlike any I've ever seen or heard. Her sound has been described as "an ethereal marriage of Jeff Buckley and Bjork", and if you threw in some PJ Harvey and maybe, umm...Buckethead, you'd be about half way there.

Annie's been insanely busy helping create the new Spree album, but luckily for us, she found time to record some brand new tracks, and they are gorgeous.

Listen to three songs ("Lips are Red" is my favorite; Edit: after a few listens, this is possibly the best song I've heard this year) at St. Vincent's myspace page, and while you're there, be Annie's friend

beirut

Thanks to commenter Andrea, there is yet another artist I HAVE to see at SXSW, and his name is Beirut. Beirut's unique sound has been compared to Neutral Milk Hotel, Magnetic Fields, Antony & The Johnsons, and Caetano Veloso, but I think he sounds like Owen from Final Fantasy (vocally, at least) backed by a band of Middle Eastern gypsies. If you're wondering if that's a good thing, yes, it is. And even better, the kid is 19.

Beirut Postcards from Italy mp3
Beirut The Canal mp3
Beirut The White Whale mp3

look for Beirut's debut album, Gulag Orkestar, to be released in April on Ba Da Bing.

Tonight in Texas

There are quite a few good shows tonight across my great state...here a few of them that are definitely worth your time and money:

Austin:
Tonight @ the Cactus Cafe (inside the UT student union)


Baby Dee

Baby Dee
Weird Weeds
Jonathan Meiburg (of Shearwater)

Show begins at 8:30pm. Only 5 bucks.

I was unfamiliar with Baby Dee, but Nick from Weird Weeds tells me she's "a transgender singer/songwriter originally from Cleveland who is--among other things--an original member of Antony & the Johnsons, a street/circus performer, former Bronx school choir director, and an amazing solo artist" that's not to be missed.

Baby Dee Lilacs mp3

*************************

Denton:
Tonight @ Hailey's



The Starlight Mints

Here's a track from the new Starlight Mints album, Drowaton:

Starlight Mints Inside of Me mp3

*************************

Dallas:
Tonight @ The Cavern



Japanther
Madeline Adams
Shapes & Sizes

Shapes & Sizes Island's Gone Bad mp3

Voxtrot on woxy.com: Part II

Here's the rest of Voxtrot's Lounge Act set onwoxy.com, recorded yesterday afternoon and converted to mp3 by magic. (Actually, it was Kevin). At any rate, here's a song from the band's first EP, Raised by Wolves, and a great new song from the soon-to-be-released Mothers Sisters Daughters & Wives EP:

Voxtrot The Start of Something (live on woxy.com) mp3
Voxtrot Soft and Warm (live on woxy.com) mp3

Please support woxy.com in any way that you can. Such an amazing station, and I'd hate to see them have to pack it up due to lack of support.

Pre-order the new Voxtrot EP here

also:

Phoenix people, check out iSpin, which debuts tomorrow night in your town. Don't miss it. (Be iSpin's friend)

Mushaboom: The Postal Service Remix

I wasn't even aware that this remix existed until a friend sent it to me a few hours ago, but it's a very nice re-working of one of my favorite songs of 2005. Ben Gibbard's vocals are a nice addition to an already nearly perfect pop song:

Feist Mushaboom (The Postal Service Remix) mp3

related:

Stereogum has Broken Social Scene's version of "Puff the Magic Dragon". Go get it.

Voxtrot on woxy.com!

Voxtrot

Here's an mp3 from Voxtrot's Lounge Act performance on the great woxy.com earlier this afternoon. I should have the rest of the set tomorrow morning, but here's my favorite one. The second part of the mp3 is a cover of Comet Gain's "You Can Hide Your Love Forever":

Voxtrot Raised by Wolves/You Can Hide Your Love Forever mp3

Thanks to Kevin for hooking these up, they sound really great.

indie bear

Not sure who came up with that above math equation, or what the correct answer is, but our new Indie Interviews/gorilla vs. bear Indie Bear podcast is up. Check it out, and hear tracks from Man Man, Band of Horses, Oh No! Oh My! and much more, including Garrison trying to be funny.

Marissa Nadler

I've posted on Marissa Nadler before, but as regular readers of this blog can attest, I have a penchant for posting numerous times on artists I'm especially fond of. Well you can add Marissa Nadler to the list of those who can do no wrong in my book.

I've been listening a lot lately to her 2005 album, The Saga of Mayflower May, but it's this live track that really gets me. She has the voice of an angel; or is it a ghost? Equally enchanting and haunting; I can't get enough, especially when it's cold and dark outside.

Marissa Nadler Flora Barone (live at the BBC) mp3

Luckily (for me), Marissa will perform in Austin on March 17 at the Central Presbyterian Church, which seems like the ideal venue for her.

be Marissa's friend, and see if she's coming to your town

bonus:

a track from The Saga of Mayflower May, which can be purchased here:

Marissa Nadler Turquoise mp3

elsewhere:


poster by Garrison Reid

Garrison Reid sits down w/ Josh from Tapes 'n Tapes on the latest Indie Interviews podcast. They discuss The Loon, touring, and how blogs have contributed to the band's success. Definitely worth a listen, and not just because Josh mentions the gorilla vs. bear showcase.

iowa soul

A friend of mine introduced me to A-Ko, and I was instantly struck by his Go! Team meets RJD2 meets James Brown brand of soulful production. And the kid is from Grimes, Iowa. For serious. All tracks highly recommended:

A-Ko Soul '69
A-Ko untitled mp3
A-Ko Fire mp3

go see A-Ko on myspace and be his friend

Austin on Blast

This is a long post, but there are a lot of happenings in Austin's flourishing music scene, so here we go:



Having just wrapped up a successful, and by some accounts, mind-blowing, tour of both coasts, SOUND team recently finished mastering their new album, and it's slated for a June release. And we finally have a title: Movie Monster. The artwork will consist of stills from bassist Bill Baird's short film, "Surfing".

Rumor has it Mr. Baird will also be playing a short solo acoustic set at The Cavern on March 10 to open the gorilla vs. bear showcase, but I will neither confirm nor deny at this time. I've had the privilege of hearing some of Bill's solo material, and I can assure you, it's in your best interest to show up early...see you at say, 8:30?

I continue to receive requests for older SOUND team tracks, so here are two gorgeously understated instrumental songs, recorded at the band's own Big Orange studio:

SOUND team Electric Stallion m4a
SOUND team Vermont m4a



In semi-related events, Austin indie-supergroup The Silver Age has a new track on their myspace page. The song, entitled "Fata Morgana", features Red Hunter, Bill from SOUND team, Jared from Voxtrot, Nathan from Tacks, and Dave from The Black. Highly recommended.

Another track featuring Red, Bill, and an assorted cast of Austin's finest has surfaced on Whiskey and Apples' myspace page. The song, "Strange Machines", can be heard here.

Bonus Austin greatness:

The Black Wasn't it a Good Year mp3


Nethers

Finally, Information Leafblower favorite Nethers (of Washingon D.C.) will play in Austin on Friday, Feb. 24 at Red Hunter's loft, and will return to Texas in mid-March for SXSW, where they'll play at Buffalo Billiards on Thursday night with gorilla vs. bear favorites SOUND team, Earlimart, and Mazarin.

Nethers Hung Herself in a Birdcage mp3

elsewhere:

Kevin introduced me to (Sm)all Ages, an absolutely wonderful new mp3 blog featuring music for kids (big and small). Excellent stuff, including kid-friendly songs by Bjork, The White Stripes, The Beach Boys, Wilco, and many more.

Sigur Ros: Live

As if I wasn't excited enough about seeing Sigur Ros next Sunday at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Good Weather For Airstrikes has piqued my anticipation even further with a 2-hour live performance (recorded on Feb. 9 at Madison Square Garden) in mp3 form. Here's a sample track from the performance:

Sigur Ros Saeglopur (Live) mp3

Go here to download the rest

Spider Songs

"...Unless Joanna Newsom drops another brilliant album this may well be
the very finest folk that New Weird America has to offer this year."
--Left Hip.com



I had a hectic day of driving in freezing rain around this expansive mass of urban sprawl known as the Dallas metroplex, wandering aimlessly through cavernous furniture stores, spending large percentages of my income on things to make my house look less empty, and then assembling it at home. Pretty exhausting. So I was extremely pleased to find in my inbox a note from Jane Herships, aka Spider.

On her new album, The Way to Bitter Lake, Spider gets help from members of Cass McCombs and The Polyphonic Spree, but the real star here is her voice. Think Sam Beam meets Vashti Bunyan; hushed, comforting, and ultimately, beautiful and calming. In other words, just what I needed.

Recommended for fans of Nick Drake, Iron & Wine, or Joanna Newsom.

spider Don't Be Afraid, I've Just Come to Say Goodbye mp3

buy Spider's The Way to Bitter Lake here

be Spider's friend (and download more songs)

Voxtrot Karaoke

Forgive me if I ramble and this post is somewhat poorly written, and at times, historically inaccurate. I'm a little hungover, and still half-asleep, but I had to share:


Voxtrot @ The Cavern (photo by Original Ninja)

Last night's Voxtrot show was one of the most spontaneous, memorable shows I've seen in quite some time, even if the boys from the band might disagree. Frontman Ramesh had a family emergency, which left him stranded at an airport in Chicago, and it didn't look like he was going to make it. But, Jared and the rest of the boys refused to let the Cavern-dwellers down.

After a brief disclaimer and apology from Jared, the band launched into a rock-star karaoke version of "Raised by Wolves", inviting anyone who knew the lyrics to come on up. Unfortunately, some kid totally butchered it. And while that killed the whole karaoke idea, it led to the formation of a "supergroup" consisting of members of The Happy Bullets, Tacks the Boy Disaster/The Polyphonic Spree, and Voxtrot.


The kid that ruined "Raised by Wolves" (the girl actually wasn't bad, though)

The supergroup then proceeded to tear through an impressively diverse array of covers, including classics from The Pixies, The Cure, James, Weezer, the Violent Femmes, and The Beatles. The highlight, though, was Jared's spot-on Lou Reed during his re-worked version of the Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting for the Man"; of course, the lyrics were changed to "I'm waiting for...Ramesh". You had to be there...it was great, trust me.

Meanwhile, Ramesh was racing to the venue in a cab, finally arriving at about 1:55 a.m. And, despite his 102 degree fever, he got up on stage and led the band through an impossibly awesome rendition of "The Start of Something". The band, obviously inspired by his valiant effort, refused to let "Raised by Wolves" be shamed by that damn karaoke kid, so they closed out the night by doing the song the justice it deserves.

The crowd pleaded for one more, but the house lights came on, signaling an end to an inspired, and most importantly, insanely fun, set. The crowd filed out totally fulfilled, and Ramesh probably went and collapsed somewhere from exhaustion.

The band averted disaster, and in the process, made a ton of new fans. And as our heroes leave Texas to take over the Midwest, hopefully this show will go down as the catalyst for a great tour.

completely unrelated:

A few new Guns 'n Roses tracks have leaked, and surprisingly, this one isn't terrible. Takes me back to 8th grade though.

Guns 'n Roses I.R.S. mp3

Seed of Wonder

Thanks for all the great SXSW recommendations, keep those coming. I've checked out a few of them, including Jesca Hoop:

"Jesca Hoop's music is like a 4 sided coin. She is an old soul, like a black pearl, a good witch, or a red moon. Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night"
--Tom Waits



Reader Das Energi mentioned in the comments that he adores Jesca Hoop, and that she will be playing SXSW. Ms. Hoop has received love from KCRW's Nic Harcourt, the New York Times, and NPR, who called her music "the soundtrack to a strange, imaginary world".

After hearing a couple songs, including this one, I'm convinced, she's definitely worth checking out.

Jesca Hoop Seed of Wonder mp3

also:

Dallas, don't forget about Voxtrot, The Happy Bullets, and Tacks tonight at The Cavern!

SXSW 2006: schedules + mp3s

As you are probably aware if you are attending SXSW 2006, the full schedules and artist bios/mp3s have been posted. The fact that they include mp3s from most of the artists really helps me out, because there are a ridiculous amount of bands that I've never heard of.

I'll be making it a point to see the usual suspects and "can't miss" acts (Jose Gonzalez, Love is All, Voxtrot, Tapes 'n Tapes, SOUND team, Peter & the Wolf, etc.), but I remember discovering quite a few acts via these free mp3s last year, and I plan on doing the same this year. Here's a list of a few bands that I've heard so far this morning that I'd like to check out, along w/ the link to the SXSW-approved mp3:

Office Dominoes mp3
The Bats Bells mp3
National Eye Halo mp3
JayMay Sea Green, See Blue mp3
Girls in Hawaii Flavor mp3
White Ghost Shivers Big and Easy mp3
Deadboy and The Elephant Man Ancient Man mp3

If you know some other lesser-known artists that we should check out at SXSW, leave them in the comments. And in the meantime, I highly recommend that you spend your day at work/school browsing and downloading at the SXSW site.

Videos, Good and Bad

Have you seen the Scott Stapp/Kid Rock sex tape? I implore you NOT to go over to Stereogum and watch it; i'm not kidding, it's 2 minutes of your life you'll never be able to get back. One good thing though: after seeing about 30 seconds of it, I elevated Scott Stapp to the number one slot on my "Biggest Douchebags of All Time" list. Congratulations, buddy.


J Tillman

I posted on J Tillman a couple weeks back, and now, you can check out this video by my friend Danny Greer for his stunning song "Seven States Across". The video was edited from two movies in the Prelinger Film Archives: Midwest Holiday (1952) and The Dynamic American City (1956). Nice work, D.

J Tillman Seven States Across .mov
J Tillman Seven States Across mp3

also:



Check out the Harmony Korine-directed video for Cat Power's "Living Proof"...I'm sort of only mentioning this so I can post the above picture of Chan to make my blog pretty, but the video is actually really cool too:

Cat Power Living Proof .mov

Finally:

Anyone up for Voxtrot + The Happy Bullets + Tacks, The Boy Disaster tonight in Dallas? I'll be there, come say hi.

Silent Shout

I think I've mentioned about 50 times that I'm becoming increasingly fond of The Knife's new record, Silent Shout, which comes out abroad later this month. Unfortunately, the album does not have a U.S. release date. However, if one is "web-savvy", as they say, one might be able to find just about the whole damn thing at various points on the internets.

when you wasn't famous

Get the new track from The Streets here. Mike Skinner is my boy...I love everything he does, including this new track. If anyone else has more from the new record, The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living, feel free to leave links in the comments.

(fre)emusic is good

So after a friend insisted that I try emusic's free 50 download trial thing, I finally gave in last night and checked it out. I'm of the belief that nothing is really free, that there are always strings attached, but in this case, I was wrong. You can register, legally download your 50 free songs, and get out, without paying a dime. I realize that this post is, in effect, an ad for emusic, but I wouldn't endorse something on my blog that I didn't think was great.

Here is a small sampling of some of the full albums I downloaded last night, for free:

• J Dilla Workinonit mp3

This track comes from Detroit's own late, great J Dilla. His final album, Donuts, was released only a week before his untimely death on February 10th. Pitchfork called the record "pure postmodern art", and this song illustrates the genius of Jay's production. Donuts will surely end up as one of the best hip hop records of '06.

• Memphis 3:15 on the Last Day of School mp3

A while back, a reader (thanks Alana) suggested I check out Stars frontman Torquil Campbell's other band, Memphis. I love Stars, so I immediately attempted to find an mp3, with no luck. Luckily emusic hooked me up. This song, built around a gentle rainstorm, could potentially induce a lucid dream-like state...Recommended for fans of The Postal Service and, um...Stars.

• Konono No. 1 Paradiso mp3

I kept seeing Konono No. 1's Congotronics on 2005 "Best of" lists, but I never got around to checking it out, until now. I'm not a huge "world music" fan, in general, so this record is not only unlike anything I usually listen to, this shit is altogether unlike anything I've ever heard. Recorded on "hand-made microphones built from magnets salvaged from old car parts, and plugged into amplifiers"...there's also "a rhythm section which uses traditional as well as makeshift percussion (pans, pots and car parts), three singers, three dancers and a sound system featuring megaphones." Just insane, and awesome.

Find it a Sound

I posted on Phil last year, and his record, Whatever Happened to Your Loving Heart, still gets quite a bit of play around the gorilla vs. bear household. Now, Phil's in a band called The 76 Trombones, and it suits him well. In fact, the collection of songs on the band's myspace page include some of the best I've heard so far this year.

These tracks, while unmastered (I think), display Phil's knack for melody, and his warm vocals and earnest lyrics suit the country-folk arrangements perfectly. Both highly recommended:

The 76 Trombones Find It a Sound mp3
The 76 Trombones The Truent Song mp3

The band will have an EP available on Achord Recordings some time in the very near future

be friends with the 76 Trombones

bonus:

Phil Left Coast mp3

elsewhere:

Subpop has made available the first single from Band of Horses upcoming LP, and it is amazing...I posted this song in my Best of January post, but just in case you missed it:

Band of Horses The Funeral mp3

Here's the new Madlib track, courtesy of Stones Throw:

Madlib/Beat Konducta Understanding (comprehension) mp3

your eyes are liars

SOUND team's Gabe Pearlman

A kind reader from Chicago (thanks, Shumate) sent me this early SOUND team track, and since I've received numerous requests to post some older material from the band (including a few requests for this song, specifically), here you go.

SOUND team Your Eyes are Liars mp3

from across the sea (sweden, to be exact)

"If you're a fan of big cauldrons of sleepwalking soundtracks to flickering movies from the majestic and fragile likes of Sigur Ros...this is for you"
--Drowned in Sound



I have a feeling I'm a latecomer to the Jeniferever bandwagon, but as a devoted, and somewhat obsessive Sigur Ros fan, their sweeping, epic soundscapes are right up my alley. Plus they're from Sweden, and I love everything from Sweden. Yes, even IKEA.

This, I do believe, is the band's new single. Highly recommended:

Jeniferever From Across the Sea mp3

be the band's friend

bonus Swedish music:



Here's a track from the now defunct Girlfrendo, which was Josephine Olausson's (Love Is All) former band. Let me know if you'd like more tracks from them.

Girlfrendo Girlfrendo Soundsystem mp3

like anything, it's small

"Shades of Iron & Wine, Cat Power, and the mid-70's heyday of Emmylou Harris fall on Short's warm, earnest voice and sparse, organic arrangements"
--Blue Mag



Shelley Short's new LP, Captain Wild Horse (Rides the Heart of Tomorrow), was released yesterday on Hush Records. Short makes hushed, melodic country-folk in the vein of gorilla vs. bear favorite Bosque Brown. And like Bosque Brown's Lara Lee Miller, she has an entirely disarming voice.

Shelley Short Like Anything, It's Small mp3

buy Captain Wild Horse here

The Fastest Band Alive

This post comes courtesy of my boy Rehemedy:


SOUND team (photo by Kirstiecat)

From what I hear, historic snowfall and altogether special circumstances afforded SOUND team a cozy stay in NYC this past weekend.

Narrowly beating the great storm of '06 in a race against traffic and time, SOUND team arrived in New York late Friday night with a heap of gear in tow and stories aplenty of a triumphant stay in Chicago the night before.

One thing lead to another that night, and before the flakes veiled the great city, SOUND team was camping out in every nook and cranny of an old SoHo brownstone, with the mounting snow outside blessedly affording them the right to park illegally on quaint Prince Street.

A tremendous run at the famed Mercury Lounge, attended by just about anyone (including SI.com's Luke Winn) was followed both Sunday and Monday night with semi-secret impromptu gigs in smaller, louder, slightly less-crowded haunts.

Now, with the city's snow-capped skyline but a distant blip in their rearview, SOUND team is traversing I-95 South to begin the end of their highly successful coast-to-coast mini tour.

SOUND team's remaining tour dates are as follows, and I highly
recommend you attend:

Feb. 15 Chapel Hill Local 506
Feb. 16 Nashville The Basement

SOUND team It's Obvious What's Happening Here mp3

Conceived

Astralwerks is running a pretty great Beth Orton contest in which you can win a trip to NYC or SF to meet Beth and stay in some fancy hotel. Runners-up get a free iPod or acoustic guitar. This is the only song I've heard from her new record, but her voice is as sublime as ever. I could listen to her all day.

Beth Orton Conceived mp3

go here for more info and tour dates

I Love You All the Time

A Valentine's Day song for you guys, from Texas' own Oh No! Oh My! (thanks Rachael for the mp3). An odd, yet completely charming, little dance-folk ditty about love:

Oh No! Oh My! I Love You All the Time mp3

If you're in Austin, and still don't have plans for tonight:



Voxtrot Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, & Wives mp3

also:

In a first for Pitchfork (i think?), they offer up an exclusive, free mp3 of Man Man's excellent Etta James cover along with their track review:

Man Man I'd Rather Be Blind (Etta James cover) mp3

Finally, if you're in Dallas and still don't have V-Day plans, come hang out with us at The Cavern:

The 1900s

The 1900s

I've been rocking Dodge's boys The 1900s' new EP, Plume Delivery (out May 30 on Parasol) all day today in an attempt to make my work day more pleasant, and it worked like a charm. I had trouble picking which of the six songs from the EP to feature, because they're all great, but I think this one is especially charming.

Ed. note: unknowingly, this is the third time I've posted on a band that features the beautiful and multi-talented Kristina Dutton (Smallwire and Andrew Morgan being the others). If you are in a band from Chicago, and want to make it awesome, give her a call.

The 1900's Bring the Good Boys Home mp3

be the 1900s' friend

elsewhere:

Def Jux offers an mp3 of the new El-P produced Mr. Lif track:

Mr. Lif Long Distance mp3

Still Light

Over the past year or so, The Knife has become one of my favorite, and no doubt most posted about, bands. Well, according to Pitchfork's 8.6 review of the duo's new LP Silent Shout, they have made their Kid A.

I continue to marvel at The Knife's ability to craft songs that are at the same time so robotic and emotional; so mechanical yet entirely warm. This track from the new record, in which Karin Dreijer Andersson is "singing feebly into a ceiling fan from a hospital bed" (Pitchfork), would almost be scary if it wasn't so sad.

The Knife Still Light mp3

I highly recommend picking up The Knife's previous two LPs (their self-titled debut and Deep Cuts), as well as any singles you can find.

also:

Mental Combat has the ultimate Jay Dee tribute post. I was a big fan of Slum Village and of Jay's production in general...he will be missed.

Cindy Hotpoint has another new Yeah Yeah Yeahs song...the b-side to "Gold Lion".

Finally, I'm not too familiar with Maximo Park's work, or Field Music's, but I really like this:

Maximo Park Stay (Field Music Remix) mp3

summer music

"Remember Beck before his career devolved into magazine-pleasing genre exercises? These guys have the same bent, rustic perspective on popcraft, and a heap of ambition"
--Pitchfork Media



This is really a song for summer, full of unicorns and dragonflies, but I just recently discovered Blitzen Trapper's wonderful brand of "bent and occasionally manic country/psych/pop music", so here it is. This track was taken from their 2005 LP Field Rexx, which was "recorded for $22 on a dank and androgynous 4-track". Slightly reminiscent of Grandaddy at their breeziest moments.

Blitzen Trapper Summer Twin mp3

also:

Visit Some Velvet Blog and I Guess I'm Floating for new tracks from Calexico.

Chromewaves has Isobel Campbell's perfect cover of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)".

Badminton Stamps has the new single from the Guillemots. Very nice.

Dreams of Horses has Cat Power covering Guns 'n Roses covering Bob Dylan.

Finally, check out the excellent Post Typography, who is the designer of that very awesome "monkey with record" logo you see in the top left corner of this site.

The Hissing of Summer Lawns

A friend sent me a copy of Joni Mitchell's The Hissing of Summer Lawns LP, along with the warning that it probably wouldn't leave my turntable for months. Well, so far, he's right.

Despite being critically panned when it was released, this album has aged well, to say the least. By far Mitchell's most experimental and daring work, I have become more fond of this record with each and every listen. The friend who sent me the album described it as having "screenplay-like detail and oftentimes disturbing views of American life in the 1970's", going on to add, "Joni Mitchell effectively gets a head start on Nas, Tupac and Biggie without even so much as a mic check".

If you don't already own The Hissing of Summer Lawns, I highly recommend you seek this out, you won't be disappointed.

Joni Mitchell Edith and the Kingpin mp3

let's try this again

I removed the previous post, it wasn't my intention to hurt anyone's feelings. And while I'm still not convinced I was wrong (I'm a stubborn one), in retrospect, it was a little overly scathing and harsh. What can I say, I had a shitty day at work. On with the music:



Check out this Belle & Sebastian contest from Matador. In one of the most inspired and fun contests I've ever seen, Matador challenges you to "film or record yourself singing 'Dress up In You'...dress as a member of the band, karaoke style, whatever you want."

The prize: a trip to Seattle, WA, on Saturday, March 25, 2006, where you will join Belle and Sebastian on stage at the Paramount Theatre to sing "Dress Up in You" with the band. They even provide an instrumental mp3, so get busy:

Belle & Sebastian Dress Up in You (inst.) mp3

Finally:

Check out Jesus' Valentine Day Mixtape. He really loves us all.

Breaking News

from egotastic: (thanks to dodge)



Jessica Alba is on the cover of the new Playboy. Okay, carry on.

also:

Check out this unreal Wu-Tang freesytle from 1993...featuring Method Man, Ghostface, Raekwon, etc. You might recognize some of these verses from Wu tracks that hadn't yet been released at that point. (via Spine Magazine)

Wu-Tang Freestyle mp3

Good Records

Good Records is having its 6th birthday party tomorrow, and in addition to a great lineup of bands, they'll also have free food and beer. This will be your last chance to shop the Deep Ellum Store, as they move into their new location on Lower Greenville next week.

9am Store Opens
11am Voot Cha Index
Noon Fishboy
1pm The Theater Fire
2pm The Deathray Davies
2:30pm Salim Nourallah
3pm Astronautilus
4pm Record Hop
5pm [DARYL]
6pm Jetscreamer
7pm Baboon
10pm Store closes on 617

I recommend catching Fishboy, The Theater Fire, The Deathray Davies, and Salim (at least). Of course, I can't even heed my own advice because I have a 3 year-old's birthday party to attend. Cinderella theme. I can't wait.

The Theater Fire People With Guns mp3
Salim Nourallah The World is Full of People mp3
Fishboy Tree Star mp3
Deathray Davies Plan To Stay Awake mp3

also:

For what it's worth, gorilla vs. bear has been selected as "Blog Most Likely to be Contacted" by Blog in Space. Check it out by clicking:

Calling Thermatico

Centro-matic's new record, Fort Recovery, is, in my humble opinion, the best thing the band has ever done. Misra has made two mp3s available from the upcoming LP, so hear for yourself:

Centro-matic Calling Thermatico mp3
Centro-matic Triggers and Trash Heaps mp3

buy Fort Recovery on CD or LP from Misra

Download several more Centro-matic tracks here

Centro-matic will be playing SXSW. Visit Done Waiting for info on their shows and the Misra showcases.

elsewhere:

Muzzle of Bees has mp3s from Devendra Banhart's KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic performance.

Finally:


Stella is terrified of the vacuum cleaner

Sunset Rubdown

I got my Sunset Rubdown EP in the mail yesterday (like 3 days after I orderd it), and while I realize I've already posted about it, I also realize that there are roughly 10 billion blogs at last count (that's almost two per person), so there's an outside chance you missed my post. In any case, I feel the need to reiterate this EP's greatness, so here are the important points about Sunset Rubdown:

• This is Spencer's (of Wolf Parade) side project, but I don't think you have to be a huge Wolf Parade fan to appreciate this. If you find Wolf Parade a little too abrasive, give this a chance. Spencer's phrasing is absolute genius.
• The track "A Day in the Graveyard Pt. II" contains my favorite lyric of the year so far: "If you could make another one of you/then you wouldn't give the other one to me"
• This track is probably my favorite on the EP; I've always thought Spencer's voice sounded a little like a menacing wind, and on this track, he actually becomes the wind at your window.

Sunset Rubdown Three Colours II mp3

order Sunset Rubdown's EP here for only $6

check out the band's Absolutely Kosher page

also:

If you're not reading The Polyphonic Spree's blog, you should be. Such a rare, unique, insider perspective on the recording process. I can't wait for their new album...I think it's going to surprise a lot of people.

...also known as a "buster"

Did y'all see the Grammys intro w/ Madonna and Gorillaz? At the risk of sounding super gay, that was pretty fu**ing awesome. I was fairly surprised they would roll De La Soul out there, but that was really cool, musically and visually. And now for another jam that might call my sexuality into question:


early contender for cover art of the year

DJ Copy has taken on the ambitious task of electro-fying some "diva" super-hits from the last 10 or so years, including songs by Janet Jackson, Destiny's Child, Mary J., and this surprisingly awesome rendition of TLC's classic:

DJ Copy No Scrubs mp3

visit Music For Robots for a more eloquent write-up about DJ Copy's Diva Mixtape than I am capable of, download another great track, and obtain info on how you can get a copy. for free, you cheap bastards.

also:

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so The Dallas Observer asked for "sexy song suggestions for V-Day", and as they put it, "who better to suggest hot tunes for hot times than local rockers and rappers?" Well, me, apparently. They asked your boy (me) to submit my love jams, and you can read my pick here.

Tour Dates Abound

SOUND team live at Cinespace (photo from Broken Calm)

Here is the latest batch of SOUND team tour dates. The band recently wrapped up a universally lauded West Coast swing, and it appears that their still untitled Capitol debut will now see the light of day in June.

February 9 Chicago Schuba's
February 11 NYC Mercury Lounge
February 15 Chapel Hill Local 506
February 16 Nashville The Basement
February 25 San Antonio Limelight
February 26 San Antonio Live From Studio 1A 1 P.M.
March 9 Houston Engine Room
March 10 Dallas Good Records In-Store 4 P.M.
March 10 Dallas Gypsy Ballroom
March 11 Austin Emo's

previously: SOUND team's iPod/iTunes ready short film

also:


Elvis Perkins in Dearland

This song has been on constant rotation in my cubicle the last couple of days, which has somehow made it an even more solemn, isolated place.

Elvis Perkins in Dearland Ash Wednesday mp3

check out Yeti's take on Elvis Perkins (and download more tracks) here

Dodge has a couple more tracks, as well as Elvis' intriguing backstory

listen to even more songs from Elvis Perkins in Dearland here

The Bowmans

The Bowmans are twin sisters from NYC via Iowa, whose new record, Far From Home, is a delightful blend of Americana and indie-folk that, according to the band, is "infused with the glee of little children".

The twins, who claim Cat Power, Gillian Welch, Nick Drake, and Neutral Milk Hotel (among others) as influences, have the uncanny chemistry that only comes from making music together since birth. I'm a total sucker for Eisley-esque harmonies, the kind where you can't tell where one voice ends and the other begins, and The Bowmans have the gift.

The Bowmans On the Road mp3

The Bowmans play tonight at Schuba's in Chicago. Check out more tour dates and a couple more songs at their myspace page.

SXSW: Tapes 'n Tapes + Midlake

Just got this e-mail from Team Clermont:

SXSW, WOXY, & Alternative present The Team Clermont/Echo Records

Official SXSW College Party '06:

Time: Thurs 3/16, 2-6 PM
Venue: Red 7 (611 East 7th St.)
Where: at Red River & 7th., 3 blocks from Convention Center
Ages: 18 + up

5:10 Midlake
4:30 The Capes
3:50 Field Music
3:10 Tapes 'n Tapes
2:35 Stephen Yerkey
2:00 King Of France

Red 7 is one of the newest clubs in town and is being renovated under new ownership (it used to be Mambo Kings).

See you there, bitches!

midlake roscoe mp3
tapes 'n tapes just drums mp3

Another Day

I don't know much about The Evangelicals, other than they are Misra's newest signee, they're going to open shows for Voxtrot and Zykos in the next few weeks, and they hail from Norman, OK.

This track, from their upcoming LP So Gone, is reminiscent at times of their fellow Oklahomans, The Flaming Lips, and it's enough to assure I will be checking them out at SXSW.

The Evangelicals Another Day mp3

also:

Here's a new Clinic track; it's the b-Side to their new single, "Tusk":

Clinic Jigsaw Man mp3

Finally, Badminton Stamps has the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs single, "Gold Lion" (the original, not the remix), and it is pretty fu**ing good.

Buttercup

Sorta

• Sorta Buttercup mp3

Dallas' Sorta is making their entire upcoming full-length, Sad and Strange but True, available for free download on their myspace page, 4 tracks at a time. This whiskey-soaked track is the album opener, and it's emotional and darkly melodic. Recommended for fans of Wilco, Ryan Adams, and Elliott Smith.

bonus:

Sorta Tell Me A Story mp3

also:



I found this song from Japan's Caroline at Salon Audiofile, who described it as being "somewhere between Bjork and a Disney ballad". Recommended for fans of Annie and Imogen Heap:

Caroline Where's My Love mp3

The Crew Compartment's Breaking Up

Since I failed to post anything of substance over the weekend, here's an extra long double-post for your evening listening pleasure:



The Long Winters' Ultimatum EP was one of my favorites of 2005, and the more I listen to this track, the more it gets to me. Songwriter John Roderick imagines the plight of the astronauts aboard the doomed Columbia space shuttle in 2003, as the optimism and joy of returning home quickly fades when they realize their fate. One of the most heartbreaking songs of last year (or any other):

The Long Winters The Commander Thinks Aloud mp3

buy the EP here for only $7...highly recommended

also:


el perro del mar

I distinctly remember Dodge posting on Sarah Assbring, aka El Perro Del Mar, a while back...his post resonated with me not so much because of the music, which I don't think I listened to, but because her last name was Assbring, and because I obviously have the maturity level of a 3rd grader. At any rate, it turns out that her music is actually very hypnotic and catchy and beautiful in that way the Swedes seemed to have cornered the market on. She is currently supporting Jose Gonzalez on the UK leg of his tour, if that tells you anything.

el perro del mar god knows mp3
el perro del mar party mp3

elsewhere:



Sounds Are Active presents the Create (!)- Six Dreams Divided Remix Contest! Submit your remix of this track by March 20:

• Create (!) Six Dreams Divided mp3

The winner gets $150 and every release Sounds Are Active puts out this year. Go here for all the details.

Anticipated

"(Celebration's Katrina Ford) sounds like the bastard child of Robert Smith and Karen O or P.J. Harvey, and lets loose frightening whoops and moans and other hysterical emissions that make you question her state of mind"
--Lost at Sea


Celebration's Katrina Ford

It's rare that I get excited about a show so far in advance, but I have a feeling this one will live up to my expectations. TV on the Radio, one of my very favorite bands to see live, will play the Gypsy Tearoom on April 23. Support will come from Baltimore's Celebration, whose live show is already legendary. Here's a track from Celebration's self-titled debut:

Celebration China mp3

bonus:

TV On The Radio Walking the Cow mp3 (Daniel Johnston cover)

also:

Head over to Out the Other for your chance to win tickets to Sigur Ros' sold-out Nashville show on Valentine's Day.

The Finches

Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs, frontwoman for The Finches, has one of those voices that tugs at the heartstrings, regardless of the subject matter of her lyrics. She has been compared to Cat Power, Vashti Bunyan, and Mirah, as one of those singer/songwriters that, according to midheaven, "manage to stay both sweet and poetically mature, warmly innocent but never crossing the line into sugary tweeness"

The Finches The Road mp3
The Finches Daniel's Song mp3

Buy The Finches' debut EP, Six Songs, here

Did I Step On Your...

Check out Danielson Famile's myspace page for a new track from the upcoming album, Ships (due out in May on Secretly Canadian). I've listened to this track a few times during the Super Bowl commercials, and I like it a lot.

Speaking of the Super Bowl commercials, I have to disagree with Matt, the commercials have been pretty terrible so far.

also:

I added a few new songs to gorilla vs. bear radio...check it out (just click "launch radio")

don't listen to me

Our latest podcast is up: listen to Garrison and me sound like morons. Special guest appearance by my kitty, Stella.

Mama, Don't You Think I Know

"Detrola is soul music for wounded spirits"
--Detroit Metro Times


His Name Is Alive

I've been listening quite a bit to Detrola, the new record from Detroit's His Name is Alive. The record deftly spans quite a few genres, but this piano-driven track, with it's familiar vocals and buttery horns, reminds me of '70's AM pop. Highly recommended:

His Name Is Alive Mama, Don't You Think I Know mp3

buy the album here

The band is currently on tour with Low...check them out if they come to your town.

Visit Mike Jonze for more tracks from Detrola.

We had a Promise Made

I had something completely different ready for this morning, but this deserves its own post:



If you download one song today, head over to Said the Gramophone to get The Knife's "Heartbeats" (BBC's One Music Session version). This song (both The Knife's original version, and Jose Gonzalez's cover) was by FAR my most played song of 2005, and this amazing version insures that it will be in '06 too.

when soul meets body

Let me preface this post by saying that I'm a fan of Death Cab For Cutie, and I actually liked the new record for the most part, but I was never really feeling the first single, "Soul Meets Body". But this cover, by Rose Polenzani, is a different story. Polenzani's vocals are perfectly suited for Ben Gibbard's words.

Rose Polenzani Soul Meets Body mp3

Pop Matters says of Polenzani, "Polenzani's voice, though strong and subtly ebullient, is frail and humble. It is often a mere whisper that captivates you." Download more tracks from Rose's website.

Tonight:



On the recommendation of Dodge, we will be checking out Margot and the Nuclear So and So's at The Cavern.

Splendid calls the band a "more focused" Arcade Fire or Broken Social Scene, so it should be interesting. Liz Durrett opens.

Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Vampires in Blue Dresses mp3
Liz Durrett The Mezzanine mp3

SXSW 2006 Resources

SXSW 2006 is fast approaching, and the influx of information has already begun (at last count, there were over 1100 bands confirmed). If you're attending the festival like us, it really helps to have someone do all the legwork for you. These are the sites we're going to use:

• Done Waiting SXSW

Done Waiting is the best place to find out about the various label and promo company showcases before they're "officially" announced. I don't know how they do it, but this site is essential if you're coming to Austin.

• See You in the Pit

See You in the Pit has taken on the daunting task of profiling and offering mp3s of all the bands that will be playing the festival. Acts covered so far: Voxtrot, Bosque Brown, Silversun Pickups, Man Man, and oh so many more.

• SXSW Baby

This site offers exhaustive news coverage about every aspect of the festival: film, interactive, and of course, music.

• Oh My Rockness

Oh My Rockness has started a listing of SXSW day parties, showcases, and after parties.

• SXSW Official

The official site is the place you'll be able to first get a complete rundown of venues, set times, and other various goings-on, probably sometime in the next couple weeks.

Finally:

If you're coming down to Austin for SXSW, would it really be that hard to stop by Dallas first for this?

Seven States Across

• J Tillman Seven States Across mp3

I rarely put the mp3 at the top of my post, but I don't feel like this song needs much of a description. Simple, sparse, and beautiful, the song can be found on J Tillman's Long May You Run. The CD, available on Keep Records, comes individually numbered, hand-signed by the artist, and is limited to only 150 copies, which are already nearly sold out. Buy it here for only $9. Highly recommended for fans of Sufjan or Iron & Wine.

While you're at the Keep Records site, browse around their excellent roster of artists, and listen to/download mp3s from each, including more from Mr. Tillman.

bonus:

J Tillman My Waking Days mp3

also:

Check out Cable & Tweed, a new mp3 blog that, after two posts, has already established itself as a must read.

I Won't Blame You if You Don't Blame Me

Sunset Rubdown

After finding this song at Popsheep, and then being completely mesmerized by it for most of the day, I just ordered the new Sunset Rubdown (Spencer of Wolf Parade's other band) EP for only 6 bucks. If you have the extra cash lying around, you should do the same. Excellent stuff.

Sunset Rubdown A Day in the Graveyard Part II mp3

According to Absolutely Kosher's Sunset Rubdown page, we can expect a full-length from the band on May 2, 2006.

also:

If you're in LA, tonight's your last chance to catch SOUND team on their current West Coast tour. The band has received unanimous praise for their week-long stint, which will come to an end tonight at Club Moscow. Tell them gorilla vs. bear sent you.

La Resistance

Editors

Despite the tremendous amount of blogger hype, I've somehow managed to avoid listening to the Editors until I received their "Munich" single in the mail yesterday. I've heard them called "the next coming of Joy Division", and "an Interpol rip-off", and while both of these may be true, that's not necessarily a bad thing in my book. I'm really enjoying the single, as well as the b-side, this Stereolab cover:

Editors French Disko mp3 (Stereolab cover)

Bonus:

Stereolab French Disko (live) mp3

New Voxtrot Mp3!

yay for myspace bulletins...



Here's the title track from Voxtrot's upcoming EP:

Voxtrot Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, & Wives mp3

pre-order the new EP here (only $6.99!)

Ten Silver Drops

I'm unusually busy at work this morning, so for now, I'm going to point you in the direction of my boy Justin's blog, where you can download a track from the new Secret Machines album, Ten Silver Drops (due out in April). I love these Dallas boys, and this track has me really anxious to hear the new LP.