worms vs birds

South by Southwest 2010

2010-03-29T16:47:00.002-04:00

So, seeing as how I haven't posted on here in many months, I feel an explanation is in order.

First, I realized that since there are other blogs that are better written, news sites that provide more news, etc. , I needed a new direction here (ideally one with realistic goals). Thus, I've decided to periodically add a streaming mix up here that is either of a category, or random, depending on the month. I figure if people are bored of listening to Pandora/Last.fm and are searching for new music, hopefully you'll stop here and find something new to check out.

And so, here is mix #1: SXSW 2010. All songs relating to bands I saw at, discovered because of, or was lucky enough to rediscover at South by Southwest this year. I saw many, but I tried to include a lot. Thoughts/suggestions/etc. are always welcome below:

More From the Fruit Bats! Wineries! Seattle! Live Videos! Etc!

2009-10-06T19:25:00.001-04:00

DRINK MORE WINE FRUIT BATS!!! from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Ray Davies is NOT Going to Be Happy

2009-08-30T14:56:00.003-04:00

So. Today I heard a song on the radio that would have been filed under your basic alt-rock aggression fest, but something was off; the song's verses sounded different, and almost recognizably catchy, as though I had heard it before. Then it hit me. Check out the comparison below. Do the verses sound almost entirely lifted? Am I imagining this? Are the Kinks uncredited long-time influences on modern aggro-rock? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here.

Canadian Songs/Videos from the Golden Era of MuchMusic

2009-08-26T17:49:00.002-04:00

I had MuchMusic (from Toronto, CA) as part of my cable package growing up, so from the ages of 11 through 18 or so I had a strong education on a genre that was pretty much left untouched by MTV and US Radio. Due to a trip down memory lane, I ended up watching many of my favorites on YouTube today, and here are some of my old favorites. Warning: this list is so '90s. Any additions?

Tragically Hip - Ahead By A Century

And, of course, the band that made it big (unfortunately they left the best of it up in Canada):

Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band

2009-07-21T13:41:00.004-04:00

Eric Johnson, also known as the newest full-time member of The Shins, is back working with his other Sub Pop act, Fruit Bats. The band is nearing the release of their fourth full-length album, which so far is shaping up to be their most fully-formed, confident sounding disc yet. Fruit Bats have always maintained a strong grassroots folk angle in their songs, but recently, they've embraced more of a polished sound, which is a decision that could see them breaking a bit further into the mainstream, or at least gaining a bit more notoriety. Check it out, both new tracks below are highly recommended.

Mp3: Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band (via Subpop)
Mp3: Fruit Bats - My Unusual Friend (via Subpop)

For the uninitiated, here's another past great one from the band:

When U Love Somebody - Fruit Bats

Fruit Bats: Blog

Beirut - Live Session

2009-06-29T16:21:00.001-04:00

Yet another great live Beirut video for sharing courtesy of the good people of La Blogotheque.

Beck - Sunday Morning (Velvet Underground Cover)

2009-06-25T10:35:00.002-04:00

Record Club: Velvet Underground & Nico 'Sunday Morning' from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

You may have heard about Beck's latest project (re-recording The Velvet Underground & Nico in full in a 24-hour period), which is off to a strong start. His first release from the album is his cover of "Sunday Morning," and it sounds pretty great, if a bit straightforward. Check it (above) and the original (below).

And...the original:

Titus Andronicus - Upon Viewing Brueghel's "Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus"

2009-06-17T17:37:00.002-04:00

My new favorite band of 2009: Titus Andronicus. We hosted them at CDU back in January, opening for Los Campesinos!, and their set was fantastic. It wasn't until a few months later, though, that I gave their album a proper listen. Glad I finally got around to it, though, as it is a great straight-ahead rock album and was enough to knock the precious indie-pop rut I was in right out (it'll be back though, it always is). Check out the video above and the Mp3 below, both tracks from the Seinfeld-referencing album "The Airing of Grievances."

Mp3: Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus

Suckers - Easy Chairs

2009-06-01T17:05:00.002-04:00

If you like Akron/Family, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, and/or Yeasayer, I've got some high hopes that the song above, in video form, and below, in Mp3 form, will become your new favorite track of the moment. It's one fourth of the band's self-titled April EP (all of which is very good, I might add), currently available for under four dollars over at Amie St. The video, as you can see, is a bit odd but somehow fits the song. So far, 2009 has been a strong year for new releases by established bands, so it's great to see a new band emerge as an act to get excited about.

Mp3: Suckers - Easy Chairs

Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh

2009-05-11T11:12:00.003-04:00

Annual summer mix underway, track #1 below. I'll post a full mix up here sometime soon. Listen, and bask in the musical glory.

Mp3: Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh (via Say Hi's site)

Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes (Live on Letterman)

2009-05-08T15:55:00.002-04:00

I enjoyed this video way too much to not re-post. Thanks to IGIF.

John Vanderslice - Fetal Horses

2009-04-28T16:40:00.002-04:00

John Vanderslice is the latest artist to offer up a unique incentive for those looking to purchase his album (Not -quite- as involved as of Montreal's last album, but hey). If you're one of the first 100 to pre-order his upcoming release, Romanian Names, included with your order will be a portion of analog tape from the cutting room floor from the album's sessions. Once its yours, you then own it and can go all Girl Talk with it and turn it into a mashup with a Three 6 Mafia song or whatever. Details here, first Romanian Names single below.

Mp3: John Vanderslice - Fetal Horses (via JohnVanderslice.com)

Black Lips - Short Fuse

2009-04-18T13:37:00.002-04:00

I couldn't completely get into Black Lips until finally seeing them live a few weeks back. Their music is pretty much unabashed Garage Rock (with some elements of Punk), with continuous hooks throughout. Give it a listen below, that's really the best introduction. This'll probably be one of my favorite tracks of the year.

Mp3: Black Lips - Short Fuse

Outside Lands Festival Announcement

2009-04-13T16:49:00.002-04:00

Just caught this excellent promo video for San Francisco's Outside Lands Festival. Creative, funny, and a pretty gigantic lineup:

Dead Man's Bones - Name In Stone

2009-04-07T10:14:00.003-04:00

It's not too often that an actor or actress can successfully transition from working in films to making interesting music. If you're thinking Bruce Willis or Jennifer Love Hewitt bucked the trend, you should stop reading, because you're not going to like this. Ryan Gosling, however, who is probably best known for starring in "Lars and the Real Girl" and "The Notebook," is apparently a pretty good musician. His new project, Dead Man's Bones, is most noticeably reminiscent of Arcade Fire, if for nothing else than that press photo above. Seriously, though, check out the two live singles the band has released below. You'll probably like them both.

DEAD MAN'S BONES - "NAME IN STONE" from biz3 publicity on Vimeo.

Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You

2009-04-03T16:20:00.004-04:00

After the large undertaking of working on the Sasquatch! 2009 mixes, I had some trouble deciding what artist/track to feature next up here. Just as I had resigned myself to waiting for the next one to strike me, the weather went crazy in Tallahassee, with tornado/flood/hail warnings all over (including a jarring siren & "Seek Shelter!, Seek Shelter!" speaker announcement on campus yesterday evening). This led me to have a pretty vivid dream that I was at home in NY and looked out the window to see a giant Tornado spinning overhead. When combined with seeing the poster above (for sale here) in Austin, and reading a great article about Neko Case (who incorporates the weather/nature as a theme throughout her latest album) in this month's Paste (abbreviated version here), I decided to take the sum of events as a sign. Neko has probably my favorite voice of any female vocalist today, and she has made a number of great records already. Her latest, Middle Cyclone, takes yet another step forward, pairing her vocal range with songwriting that builds upon past efforts. Check out album standout "This Tornado Loves You" below.

Stream: Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You

This Tornado Loves You - Neko ...

Video: Middle Cyclone Album Preview
Buy: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Sasquatch! 2009 Mix: Day 3 - Monday

2009-03-25T19:43:00.006-04:00

Now that the Sasquatch! 2009 lineup is official and many weeks old, it's time to start getting excited. Enter this mix, which I'll do in 3 parts, sorted by day of performance. Check out some bands that you may not be that familiar with, and get pumped for some acts that you know you're looking forward to. And so, I give you part III, Sasquatch! 2009: Monday.

1) Girl Talk - Play Your Part (Pt. 1) (Wookie! Stage)
2) Gogol Bordello - Start Wearing Purple (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
3) Grizzly Bear - On A Neck, On A Spit (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
4) Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer (Wookie! Stage)
5) Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
6) Ben Harper - Burn One Down (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
7) Horse Feathers - Working Poor (Yeti Stage)
8) Bishop Allen - Middle Management (Wookie! Stage)
9) Beach House - Used To Be (Yeti Stage)
10) Black Moth Super Rainbow - Sun Lips (Wookie! Stage)
11) School Of Seven Bells - Connjur (Yeti Stage)
12) Tobacco - Truck Sweat (Dance Tent)
13) Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
14) Santigold - Lights Out (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
15) BLK JKS - Lakeside (Yeti Stage)
16) The Dutchess And The Duke - Reservoir Park (Yeti Stage)
17) Loch Lomond - Northern, Knees, Trees, and Lights (Yeti Stage)
18) Explosions In The Sky - Your Hand In Mine (Wookie! Stage)
19) Demetri Martin - The Wisdom Song (Feat. Demetri's Mom) (Comedy Tent)

Mp3s(via SendSpace): Sasquatch! 2009: Monday
Lineup: Monday

Sasquatch! 2009 Mix: Day 1 - Saturday

2009-02-18T17:37:00.004-05:00

Now that the Sasquatch! 2009 lineup is official and one whole day old, it's time to start getting excited. Enter this mix, which I'll do in 3 parts, sorted by day of performance. Check out some bands that you may not be that familiar with, and get pumped for some acts that you know you're looking forward to. And so, I give you, Sasquatch! 2009: Saturday.

1) Doves - Words (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
2) Shearwater - Red Sea, Black Sea (Wookie! Stage)
3) Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele - Meet Me In The Garden (Yeti Stage)
4) Kings of Leon - The Bucket (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
5) Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
6) M. Ward - Never Had Nobody Like You (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
7) Passion Pit - I've Got Your Number (Wookie! Stage)
8) Arthur & Yu - There Are Too Many Birds (Yeti Stage)
9) Bon Iver - For Emma (Wookie! Stage)
10) DeVotchKa - The Clockwise Witness (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
11) The Decemberists - O Valencia (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
12) Blind Pilot - Go On, Say It (Wookie! Stage)
13) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Down Boy (Sasquatch! Main Stage)
14) King Khan & The Shrines - Torture (Wookie! Stage)
15) Owl City - The Saltwater Room (Wookie! Stage)
16) Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band - Anchors Dropped (Yeti Stage)
17) Ra Ra Riot - Each Year (Yeti Stage)
18) Death Vessel - Deep In The Horchada (Yeti Stage)

Mp3s(via SendSpace): Sasquatch! 2009: Saturday
Lineup: Saturday

Take Away Show That Was Not (But Could Be If): Thao w/ the Get Down, Stay Down - Beat

2009-02-16T22:31:00.004-05:00

Direct from the Take Away show archives, Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down, performing "Beat," live in Montreal, QC. Unsure if this one will ever make it up to La Blogoteque's main site, but here it is in all it's hi-def glory.

THAO AND THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN :::: BEAT (HEALTH, FIRE & LIFE) from Philippe Tremblay-Berberi on Vimeo.

Beirut - A Sunday Smile (Live on Letterman)

2009-02-09T17:29:00.002-05:00

Beirut's return + Letterman's approval + Great Sound (hard to say for one of the late shows, but they accomplished it here) = Greatness.

You can pick up Beirut's new EPs tomorrow at this fine retailer.

(Sort of) New Ryan Adams EP

2009-02-03T21:16:00.004-05:00

From the Ryan Adams Myspace Blarg:

Ryan Adams Valentine’s Day EP available on Itunes on 2/10. Ryan’s best love songs.

Extra Cheese
Two
Blossom
Answering Bell
Evergreen
My Love For You is Real
Desire
Unreleased bonus track Hey There, Mrs. Lovely

In other Ryan Adams news, he apparently quit smoking and learned about the downside of 20 years of smoking from his dentist. True story.

Mp3: Ryan Adams - My Love For You is Real (Live)

The Ghosts of Pitchfork Past

2009-01-27T17:31:00.010-05:00

Let me first state before writing this that for all the flack Pitchfork takes for being snobby, dismissive, or overly fickle, it is more of a good music source than bad. They deserve a good deal of credit for leading the charge of support behind the rise of acts like Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, or even Andrew Bird. I know I read it every day, and I bet most people that mock the site do the same. But I digress...

In recent years, it has become apparent that while the credibility and traffic (estimate) of the website seem to be riding a high, acts with less indie cred seem to have effectively disappeared off the site. To put it more concisely, you won't be seeing any Blues Traveler album reviews on Pitchfork anytime soon. A look back, though, shows that Pitchfork had a bit different perspective on things just a few short years ago. This could be indicative of the changing musical landscape, the evolution of particular acts, or of the writers' shifting tastes. It could, though, be a result of the music site's more stringent attempts to be seen as cutting-edge, and ultimately, an insight into their self-consciousness. It's hard to say, especially because their constantly-changing "search" feature rarely yields a full set of results from their massive archive of content.

However, the good people (computer?) over at www.archive.org have a great feature in which you can look back at the history of a website. It lets you read news from historic days, view old site designs, and so forth. Enter Pitchfork, and a world of interesting finds emerges. Check it:

Item A: Canada's Top 25 Albums of All Time

I'm not arguing that this feature is not meant to be funny, or even that it is inaccurate, but I would argue that Pitchfork just wouldn't put themselves out there by posting something like this today. Then again, maybe this is just foreshadowing of the site's current tendency to have reviews that are incongruent with their major lists. They did give this album a 4.2, after all.

Item B: Acknowledgment of Ben Harper, Days of the New, and Dropkick Murphys Via Reviews

There are some acts that Pitchfork likes to feature by giving them a scathing review, which are usually comical (see: Jet). Most musicians, however, are given what is effectively the silent treatment. Too college-y? No review. Too Nickelback-y? No review. We can mainly be thankful for this, as it saves time scrolling. However, Pitchfork used to actually cover a wider spread of performers for better or for worse. The acts listed above could probably be compared to, say...Jack Johnson, 3 Doors Down, and, well, Dropkick Murphys. All of which haven't gotten the acknowledgment of a review in years, if ever. Would it destroy Pitchfork's credibility if they posted a Jack Johnson album review? Probably not. Does it help their credibility by not posting a Jack Johnson album review? Maybe.

It's hard to answer either way, but basically, I just find the changing climate interesting. Since I've never seen a real discussion of the site, which doesn't allow readers to comment (which I presume is because it views itself as a music site, and not as an interactive blog), I think it's worth a look.

Bonus Item: The Rating System Explanation

10.0: Essential
9.5-9.9: Spectacular
9.0-9.4: Amazing
8.5-8.9: Exceptional; will likely rank among writer's top ten albums of the year
8.0-8.4: Very good
7.5-7.9: Above average; enjoyable
7.0-7.4: Not brilliant, but nice enough
6.0-6.9: Has its moments, but isn't strong
5.0-5.9: Mediocre; not good, but not awful
4.0-4.9: Just below average; bad outweighs good by just a little bit
3.0-3.9: Definitely below average, but a few redeeming qualities
2.0-2.9: Heard worse, but still pretty bad
1.0-1.9: Awful; not a single pleasant track
0.0-0.9: Breaks new ground for terrible

For those readers who may have stumbled upon Pitchfork in more recent times, the reviews can seem oddly specific in their rating. What distinguishes a 7.3 from a 7.6, after all? With a number of different reviewers, how can they have a credible review process that precise? It seems that for a time, although brief, the site did have some sort of explanation as to the meaning of review ratings. Now, however, the process is more cryptic (although the system above is hardly scientific).

You can check out the archive of Pitchforks of yore below.

Wayback Machine: www.pitchforkmedia.com

My Three Favorite Songs of 2009 (...so far)

2009-01-26T14:46:00.011-05:00

[photo by Sarah Cass, prob. the best band photo-taker around]

Predictable, perhaps. But at least I'm honest about it. Here you go...a half-song sample of one, a high-quality video of the next, and an Mp3 courtesy of Jagjaguar records for the 3rd. Enjoy.

Handsome Furs - Evangeline

Animal Collective - My Girls

Mp3: Bon Iver - Blood Bank
Buy: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Buy: Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
Pre-Order: Handsome Furs - Face Control

The Bran Flakes - What It's All About

2009-01-16T13:12:00.003-05:00

Please watch this video. Think Yatta meets Kid Koala.

From the forthcoming album I Have Hands, out on Illegal Art on Feb. 24, 2009.

Video: The Bran Flakes - What It's All About
Mp3: The Bran Flakes - Various Tracks

Albums of the Year, 2008 Edition

2009-01-06T21:12:00.015-05:00

Ok, so it's not a top 10. Not even a top 11. I aimed for 10, ended up with 12. But here they are, my favorite albums of 2009.

One of my favorite developments of 2008 was the continued progress of live performances on the internets. As such, with the top 12 below are some of the best performances from the albums listed.

12) Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

It's hard to deny that Wolf Parade have their own distinctive sound. It seems that on this album, though, some started wondering if that sound had grown tiresome. To me, At Mount Zoomer, while perhaps lacking the immediate impact of the group's debut album, is a great second album. The single "Language City" remains one of my favorites of the year. You can check the track out over at Sub Pop Records' site.

Mp3: Wolf Parade - Language City

11) Why? - Alopecia

I thought I had essentially written off the marriage of hip-hop and rock to irreconcilable differences after the late 90s brought us some of the most awful music ever. This album makes the case that they may be able to co-exist peacefully after all, if done correctly. Why?'s sound is that of a couple of guys who benefited from growing up in a world where they were exposed to Public Enemy, Pavement, and The Beach Boys. And also probably went to the psychiatrist a lot. Anyway.

Video: Why? - The Vowels pt. 2 (Live)

10) Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

I think young music fans sometimes associate loudness with intensity of performance. I know that personally, I've learned to appreciate that sometimes softer performances can be just as impactful, if not more so, than ones that try and make your ears ring for days. Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago is an album that is very soft, and rather subtle, but is one of the more powerful records of the year. Check out the video below for a sample.
Bon Iver - "For Emma" from MySpace Transmissions

9) The Walkmen - You & Me

One expectation I didn't have for this album before it came out was for it to sort of creep me out. But it does. Oddly, this is a good thing. After you get a track or two in, you get the feeling that you've wandered into an early 20th-century smoky lounge. This world of sound that The Walkmen created for this new album works to great effect, as it draws upon some of the best moments of their earlier work, but puts it into this unique context. If you give the concert below a listen, try "Canadian Girl," a song that exemplifies the album's sound.

Video: The Walkmen - Live in Concert

8) Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane

Prior to 2008, I knew Chad VanGaalen primarily through YouTube, where his work had been featured several times (he has animated a number of music videos for past releases). He also stood out because of his unique vocal style. For Soft Airplane's release, VanGaalen animated several short promo videos, each with about a minute long preview of a song from the album. My favorite is the first one, which uses the song "Willow Tree," one of the best songs on the album. Rather than going overboard in terms of production on the track, it is largely focused on the singer's voice and a steady banjo line. You can check out the preview below.

Video: Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane Promo 1 (feat. "Willow Tree")

7) Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs

Narrow Stairs starts off with what I think may be Death Cab's best written song to date, "Bixby Canyon Bridge." I'm not entirely sure if I would have thought that before reading this great article in Paste Magazine; it made me interested in the track before I had ever heard it. Essentially, Ben Gibbard took a Jack Keroac-inspired trip in hopes of having a life-changing experience, and to put it simply, ended up disapointed. That trip led to the aforementioned lead-off track, which chronicled Gibbard's emotional let-down. I suppose it's a simple concept for a song, but for such a specific experience, it manages to lend itself as relatable.

Bixby Canyon Bridge

6) Blitzen Trapper - Furr

Folk-influenced music had a great year in '08, and front and center is this release by Blitzen Trapper. The band got a lot of critical buzz in 2007 after releasing Wild Mountain Nation (which incidentally only had a few songs that I really enjoyed), but have started to reach a wider audience after months of touring (including a stretch with Fleet Foxes opening for them in the Spring). Furr is an album that ranges between rock and acoustic folk, but remains consistantly enjoyable throughout. One of the album's standouts is below.

Mp3: Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer

5) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology

Although Ryan Adams has been playing with The Cardinals for awhile now, Cardinology seems to mark a turning point; Adams now is just as much the lead singer for the band as he is a singer with a backing band. The music benefits from this shift, as the moving parts all work together well. Check out an acoustic performance from the band from "Coffee and Cardinals":

4) Islands - Arm's Way

Often times it seems like when a band has a great debut, the sophomore album ends up with better singles, but less overall continuity on the whole (Band of Horses, for instance). With Islands, it almost seems like the reverse. Arm's Way felt like more of a complete album to me than did Return to the Sea (though it did lack a truly great single like RttS's "Rough Gem," which is probably why it didn't quite get the same amount of critical acclaim). Either way, this album was on repeat all year long for me. Second single "Creeper" is below in video form.

Video: Islands - Creeper

3) Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All

I've gone on quite a bit this year already about these guys and gal, but I would say it's well deserved. Their album is great, their live show is great, and Fall '09 will (likely) be the release of their next full-length. Lots to look forward to with this group.

Mp3: Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down - Yes, So On And So On

2) David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

Please go into this album with no expectations, but please do listen.

Full Album Stream - David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

1) Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

On their MySpace page, under Tour Dates, Fleet Foxes have this entry for next Saturday (seriously):

Upcoming Shows

( view all )

Jan 17 2009

11:30P

Saturday Night Live - scared out of brain

Don Pardo’s House, NY

It's hard to imagine a band coming so far in just a year - Exactly 364 days before this upcoming SNL performance, the band was signed to Sub Pop Records to release their first full-length album. That's a scary-fast rise for a folksy band with no real radio-ready singles, but still, a well-deserved trip to the top. Listen below for evidence of pure musical excellence.

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

(Everything But) Top 10 Albums of 2008

2008-12-15T22:05:00.014-05:00

So in neurotically compiling my favorite albums of the year, I came to realize just how many songs/albums/artists I was going to be leaving off my list in order to make the list a bit manageable. Therefore...I present to you, many other far less manageable lists. Top 10 albums to follow in a few days.

Top 5 songs of 2008 that are not represented in my top 10 albums:

Wale - The Opening Title Sequence (youtube)
Any hip-hop song that is built upon the premise of sampling the theme from Seinfeld is off to a good start in my book. When that's added to the ultra-skilled style of Wale, mentioned here earlier this year, you get an attention-grabbing song that hopefully is just the start for this dude.

BOAT - Topps (Mp3)
Love documented for this song back in July. Hopefully at this time in 2009, I'll be posting the next BOAT full-length as one of the year's best.

M83 - Graveyard Girl (youtube)
Although their last album, Before the Dawn Heals Us, was a favorite of mine several years back, I was somewhat skeptical that M83 would ever produce a song that I enjoyed as much as "Don't Save Us From the Flames;" not necessarily because I thought the act wasn't capable or talented enough, but rather because I liked the song so much. Roy over at Odd Lyric did a great write-up that looks a bit at M83's evolution that I highly recommend if you're interested in checking out more of their music.

Delta Spirit - Trashcan (youtube, live @ Club Downunder 10/18/08)
Last year at Club Downunder, we had Delta Spirit here opening for Dr. Dog, and I only caught a portion of their set, as I was unfamiliar with the majority of their music. After being impressed seeing them again this summer, I was pretty excited when we booked them again, this time for a headlining show, in the fall. This tune in particular is a great, upbeat example of the band's soulful live rock show. The video above (from the aforementioned fall show) is not great quality, but the sound comes across pretty well.

Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines
If you read my best of 2007 post way back last January, you saw that Okkervil River's last album, The Stage Names, was my favorite release of last year. Although I did enjoy this year's follow-up, The Stand-Ins, "Lost Coastlines" clearly stood out to me as a cut above the rest of the album. You can check it out, in video form, below.

Top 5 shows of 2008:

1) Beirut – Sasquatch! Festival, George, Washington (How come?)
2) M.I.A. – Sasquatch! Festival, George, Washington (How come?)
3) Alejandro Escovedo – Stubb’s, Austin, TX (How come?)
4) Of Montreal – The Moon, Tallahassee, FL (How come?)
5) Mittens on Strings – The Hideout, Austin, TX (How come?)

Album That Would Have Battled it Out for My #1 Had I Been Able to Justify it's 2008 Re-Release as an Actual Release Date:

Bowerbirds - Hymns for a Dark Horse
I've already gone on a bit about this album already, so I'll just present to you one of my favorite Take-Away Shows of 2008.

#90.4 - BOWERBIRDS - In our talons
by lablogotheque

Best Random Live Video Featured on the Internets That Was Not on the Take-Away Shows:
Yeasayer - 2080 (On Pitchfork.tv's Don't Look Down)

And finally, the albums that just missed my top 10 of 2008 (aka Honorable Mentions):

Noah and the Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down
Hand claps, intricate instrumental arrangements, whistling, and hooks everywhere. They even use a ukulele. I mean, how could you not like this band? More to come in 2009.

Dr. Dog - Fate
With a darker feel than it's predecessor, 2007's We All Belong, Fate was Dr. Dog continuing along it's harmonic path but taking a sidestep in a slightly new direction. Their music has always sounded rich and full, but this newest effort is even moreso, and placing it outside the top 10 was difficult.

Lambchop - OH (Ohio)
Few bands have a more pleasant sound than Lambchop. If I had to make them the middle point between two bands, they would fit halfway between Silver Jews and Iron & Wine. Sounds ridiculous, but check them out and it may make sense.

Missed Posts of '08: The Little Ones - Boracay

2008-12-09T16:37:00.003-05:00

If asked to name the band best at writing pop hooks today, I'd probably have to say The Little Ones. I can't even attempt to surpass the eloquence of the following statement regarding their debut album, Morning Tide, by Funky Cold Sabrina, who says "Makes me want to eat skittles..."

Anyway, the song "Boracay" was first featured on the Terry Tales & Fallen Gates EP, which was released in April. The track is also included on Morning Tide, which was released later in the year. The song is a great example of the act's instant appeal. I'm going to pretty much leave it at that and encourage you to check out an interesting interview with the band over at STLMTM.

Mp3: The Little Ones - Boracay
Buy: The Little Ones - Morning Tide

The Light Footwork - The Art of Everyday Communication, Part 1

2008-11-24T15:11:00.003-05:00

This video/song should've been huge.

Big hopes for the next album.

Also, please buy their Split EP with Tereu Tereu, it's completely great & worth it.

Missed Posts of '08: R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious

2008-11-21T20:00:00.003-05:00

[photo credit: kk+]

Between a busy schedule and wanting each post to stay up for at least a few days at the top, there's been a lot of songs this year that I've wanted to feature but haven't had the chance. Since we're nearing the end of 2008, I figured I'd try and highlight a few of my favorite tracks of the year that I previously missed. First up: R.E.M., whose lead single "Supernatural Superserious," off 2008's Accelerate took me a bit off guard (and emerged as my favorite since "Imitation of Life"). I've always considered myself a big fan of the band (who are now nearing the 30 year mark together), but I think I had instinctively lowered my expectations after 2004's disappointing Around the Sun. Accelerate is an overall return to form for the band, and this single was a great example of the fun, reinvigorated sound of their live show that I was lucky enough to catch twice over the course of just a few months.

Mp3: R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious
Video: R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious (features just about every version online)

Clues - Perfect Fit

2008-11-10T17:05:00.003-05:00

What happens when you mix a member of The Unicorns with a member of Arcade Fire with several Montrealites that I don't know? Well, based on the first song from the mysterious new band Clues, the answer is that it sounds like about 70% Unicorns, 10% Arcade Fire, and 20% non-identified. Which is to say, big thumbs up so far. The band has their debut album coming out at some point in 2009, and it is being released on Constellation. Please listen ASAP thx.

Mp3: Clues - Perfect Fit (link courtesy of spin.com)

Interview - The Octopus Project

2008-10-27T16:06:00.010-04:00

Texas-based band The Octopus Project create the sort of music that intensifies and reveals more layers the more times you listen through. Their sound is heavy on the electronics but avoids the common pitfall of too much repetition. Currently known as one of Austin's best local bands, it seems to be a matter of time before they become a national fixture. They recently took the time to answer some questions from the road, which you can check out below.

What is the best description of your music that you’ve read (in a review/feature/etc)?

There’s a (now defunct) magazine called Resonance that wrote a pretty amazing article about us. It was literally the dream article that said all the things I’ve always wanted someone to say about us. They even put us on the cover. Unfortunately, the issue that featured us was the first issue to not be printed, and didn’t come out on newsstands. It was an amazing article though!

One of the things that The Octopus project is known for is as being a big part of the Austin music scene – How has the area affected your music, and would you say that there is an “Austin sound?”

I think living in Austin is amazing. It’s my favorite town in the world. The general vibe around town is pretty relaxed, and incredibly friendly, so it’s possible that sneaks into our music somehow. I think we’re happy folks, and living in Austin makes us happy, so I suppose that might have something to do with the way we approach making music.

I don’t think there is one particular “Austin sound,” but I do think we have a pretty amazing scene going on. There are a million bands in town, and the community is incredibly supportive of musicians. That environment seems to foster creativity and a general excitement about doing your own thing.

How do your songs begin? Do they start out from an electronic place, or does the songwriting process begin with a more stripped-down instrument and then evolve?

Every song we write is different, but most of them come from a sound or idea from one person, then things get passed around a bit between the rest of us for a while before we consider something to be complete. We tend to like to work on things by ourselves – sitting in front of the computer, or at the practice space. Also, if one person has specific ideas for a song, sometimes they’ll just write the majority of the song, and the rest of us will figure out how to play the parts/change things around a little bit to make them our own. Almost every song touches all of our hands at one point or another.

However, it’s pretty rare that we’ll write a song while we’re all in the room together. We tend not to jam a whole lot. It’s really fun, but I feel like most things we make up at practice have a tendency to sound like Stereolab – long and droney. Which is great, but I think we're going for a different thing. It often takes us a while to write new songs by passing them back and forth, but I feel like we work really well together that way.

What is your current favorite new or lesser-known band at the moment?

We’re all pretty into diverse things, so it’s hard to pinpoint one band. But, to name some: Ananda Shankar, Satyajit Ray, Alice Coltrane, Dead Science, Diagonals.

Are there any albums that are indispensable in the tour van rotation?

We tend to listen to a lot of quiet, minimal stuff in the van. Things that are really repetitive are pretty awesome to drive to. Right now, we play a bunch of stuff by Steve Reich, Johann Johannsen, Keith Fullerton Whitman, Popol Vuh.

If you could play a show alongside any artist or band, ala the Beck tour that had The Flaming Lips as his backing band, who would it be?

If I had to pick any band in history, the Beatles would be a pretty easy choice. But, as far as current bands go, I think Deerhoof, Sonic Youth or Flaming Lips would be pretty high up there.

What has been your proudest achievement as a band to date?

Hmm…. I’m pretty proud of the fact that we’ve been a band for a while now, and are still really excited about the things we do. I don’t feel like we’ve gotten burned out, and still feel like there’s so much we have left to explore.

What artists that you listened to growing up most influence the music you’re now making?

I was pretty obsessed with bands like Sonic Youth, Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, and Velvet Underground when I was in high school, and I know their musical ideas definitely creep into our music every once in a while. One of the things I liked most about those bands is that they were always more than just rock bands. All of those bands was/are first and foremost, excited about experimenting with sounds, but at the same time they know how to write amazingly beautiful songs. That’s a balance that we strive for as well.

How would you define success as a band?

I think bands are successful when they are making music that they are happy about. We were talking with a friend the other day, and he told us about a band that he knew who had been together for 20 years. They barely ever tour, and don’t really put out too many records, but have practiced every Tuesday night for the last 20 years. They just love what they’re doing, and love being together, and that’s really what it all boils down to. Making money and being recognized by your peers are great, but at the end of the day you have to be happy with what you are doing and whom you are doing it with. Those are the measures of success to me.

So, a tour ends, and you all head back to Austin. What’s the first place you go? And, if it’s different, what is your favorite spot in Austin?

There are so many great things about Austin. We all love swimming at Barton Springs, watching movies at the Alamo Drafthouse, and eating at our favorite restaurant, Uchi. Just being home is pretty amazing though!

If budget wasn’t an issue, what kinds of things (if anything at all) would you like to incorporate into your live show?

I don’t know what we’d do. We’ve always had an enormously tiny budget, so we’ve had to work around that. I think there’s so much more you can do when you have no money versus a huge budget. It forces you to think more creatively.

Mp3: The Octopus Project - I Saw the Bright Shinies
Video: The Octopus Project - I Saw the Bright Shinies

Passion Pit - I've Got Your Number

2008-10-16T11:49:00.003-04:00

Some of you may have read about Passion Pit lately due to the release of their new video for "Sleepyhead," off of their EP Chunk of Change. That track is promising, but to me it doesn't stand up terribly well over repeated listenings. Thankfully, Passion Pit brings the real jams elsewhere on their EP. One of my favorites is "I've Got Your Number," which you can find below. For those of you that think you might like your MGMT with a bit of a Postal Service filter, give this one a shot.

Myspace: Passion Pit
Stream: Passion Pit - I've Got Your Number
Ive Got Your Number - Passion Pit

Deerhoof - Offend Maggie

2008-10-14T11:10:00.003-04:00

I was trying to decide if I should post this song for the past few weeks, but as I can't get it out of my head, I think that's a sign that it's time. Maybe if I pass it along to others, we can share the "Ring ring, I hang up"'s. Try to think of it in a sharing candy kind of way, not in a videotape in The Ring kind of way.

Be sure to check out the 1:22-1:33 instrumental break in the song - it's a great little example of the attention to detail that the band shows at their best moments.

Mp3: Deerhoof - Offend Maggie

Abrahamson & The Façade - Julie

2008-10-09T16:20:00.002-04:00

I know nearly nothing about this artist, except that it is a solo project by Tyler Futrell, and that he's made a track worth sharing. The song starts off with a slow tempo and a guitar accompaniment, but takes a number of interesting turns as the full five minutes or so play out. Check it out for yourself below.

Mp3: Abrahamson & The Façade - Julie

Wale - W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.

2008-09-29T18:28:00.006-04:00

It's been awhile since I heard a hip-hop artist that stuck out as being head and shoulders above anything else out at the moment*. DC rapper Wale sounds like an artist that desperately wants to be the best at what he does, and after hearing just two of his albums, I'm convinced that he's already there. I'll just leave it at that, but please do yourself a favor and download both The Mixtape About Nothing (an entire album that uses Seinfeld clips/samples, oh yeah) and 100 Miles and Running for free at Wale's myspace. Also, below is Wale rapping over Justice's D.A.N.C.E. Re-adjust your favorite artist lists accordingly.

Mp3: Wale - W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.
Video: Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

*Credit to the music master Willis for the heads-up on this one.

Matt and Kim - Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare

2008-09-24T10:45:00.007-04:00

Matt and Kim, the Mates of State in reverse (or at least on reverse instruments), are on the verge of releasing a new album, Grand. The first single from the album, "Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare," features a decidedly less lo-fi sound for the duo, which works great on this track. When you just have a drum set and keyboard to work with, the sound is going to be pretty minimalistic, but the higher level of production here though fills out the sound in a positive way. You can find the track at the Matt & Kim-friendly site below.

Matt and Kim - Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare

R.I.P. Paperthinwalls.com

2008-08-30T17:51:00.005-04:00

Sad day, as one of my favorite non-blog, sort-of music blog roundup websites, Paper Thin Walls, announced it is ending its run. Check out their "PTW's Almanack: The Greatest Hits" feature to see some of the best featured on the site over the years.

mr. Gnome - Night of the Crickets

2008-08-29T23:16:00.001-04:00

So I just recently came across this band/song/video and though a bit odd, all are worth a look. The band's sound reminds me off the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, perhaps with a bit more of a mid-90s-alternative-nation-appeal to it. Keeping with that theme, the video is reminiscent of the kind of videos that you would stumble upon while watching late night MTV back when it was good and did things like play music videos. Oh, 120 Minutes, where have you gone?

"Night of the Crickets" by mr. Gnome

Bowerbirds - Olive Hearts

2008-08-20T10:17:00.003-04:00

A track that I was mildly obsessed with last year was Bowerbirds' "In Our Talons," which led me to check out their great set at SXSW '08. This week I finally picked up the band's full length debut, Hymns for a Dark Horse, and now wish I had done so months ago.

Lead single "In Our Talons" is immediately catchy, due in part to a main refrain sung as a group effort, and an accordian hook (just go with it). The song on the album that took me off guard in terms of how much I liked it, though, was "Olive Hearts," which starts out a bit slower but builds as the song develops. As I was listening to the album through (particularly "Olive Hearts"), I realized that I really enjoyed how the vocals and instrumentation interact in Bowerbirds. The two entities are almost like an owner walking their dog, with the dog happily walking off the trail here and there, but never straying too far. It's a style that could go dramatically wrong (see: Dirty Projectors), but works perfectly for Bowerbirds. Streaming and video links below.

Stream: Bowerbirds - Olive Hearts
Video: Bowerbirds - In Our Talons

Meeting (& Exceeding) the Hype: Fleet Foxes

2008-08-12T17:40:00.004-04:00

White Winter Hymnal from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

Nowadays, so many bands are overhyped to the point of unattainable expectations. With blogs and media sites posting music recommendations that they get from one another, a band can be over saturated in the matter of a week or two. This new fishbowl environment makes it so much more gratifying to find a few notable bands that emerge as worthy of all that praise (Grizzly Bear & Arcade Fire to name a few that I'd put in this category, disagree as you see fit). The debut Fleet Foxes album has had all kinds of people heaping praise all over it (that dude over at Stereogum, for one, should probably take it down a notch), but the honest truth is that their album really is that good (and as someone who was lucky enough to see them live twice this year, the music translates great in concert). I mean damn, they even made their myspace page funny.

Folksy but not sleepy and spacey but focused, Fleet Foxes really is one of the best albums of 2008. Video above, Mp3 below. Enjoy.

Mp3: Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why

The Donkeys - Walk Through a Cloud

2008-08-01T12:07:00.002-04:00

From the moment you hear the great opening guitar hook in The Donkeys' "Walk Through a Cloud," it's hard not to be won over immediately. It's a light, likable song from the San Diego band that serves as a fun preview of some new music headed our way this fall. Their next album, Living on the Other Side, is due out on September 9th, and I'd recommend staying posted here for more info. Until then, this song is destined to be on my next mixtape. Check it:

Mp3: The Donkeys - Walk Through a Cloud

White Hassle - Life is Still Sweet

2008-07-23T20:04:00.002-04:00

I once read this quote from a musician in which they said that their favorite songs had upbeat music but dismal lyrics. While that pretty much defines a large part of indie rock these days, sometimes it's good to just listen to a song that's positive all around. New Yorkers White Hassle crafted one such song a few years back (which later inspired Isaac Brock to write "Float On," incidentally), "Life is Still Sweet." Although the band is now on hiatus, this track should live on in peoples' iPhones or whatever the kids have these days.

Mp3: White Hassle - Life is Still Sweet

BOAT - Topps

2008-07-19T11:59:00.003-04:00

Well, I said I'd post about them at some point, and with the arrival of a new EP, the day has arrived. BOAT's new song, "Topps," combines the worlds of baseball and indie pop as a select few have done before. If you've never heard BOAT before, their sound is both catchy and jumpy, and features a vocal style that evolves depending on what is called for by the backing music (Good examples of other songs to check out include "Elephant Ears" and "I'm a Donkey for Your Love," both on the band's myspace). Anyway, new track for your loving:

Mp3: BOAT - Topps
Buy: BOAT - Topps EP

Take Away Shows in Tallahassee

2008-07-19T11:34:00.003-04:00

My new apartment has stairs. Therefore, this is how my mornings will be as I walk down them on my way to work. Happy Saturday,
Adam

She & Him - Why do you Let Me Stay Here?

2008-07-12T22:14:00.003-04:00

I hope to not make a habit of posting videos linking to MTV, since they barely even play music themselves anymore, but so be it for today. This one's for a favorite song of mine on She & Him's debut album, Volume One. After watching it, I felt like it came close to being half creepy and half endearing. However, I think the Zooey Deschanel presence tips it over into the endearing side. As they used to say at the end of "Making the Video" episodes, "AND NOW, THE WORLD PREMIERE (pause for effect) OF SHE & HIM'S "WHY DO YOU LET ME STAY HERE" ("whoosh" noise):

New Beck - Modern Guilt

2008-07-05T12:01:00.003-04:00

Beck Hanson, the Scientology-raised-part-time-semi-sensical-rapping-part-time-heartfelt-singing artist is back for 2008 with a brand new Danger Mouse-produced album, Modern Guilt.Though Guero may be looked at as a slight lull in Beck's career, his last album, The Information, was clearly underrated in my book. It tipped Beck's sound back into the likeable, lighter sounding side of his frenetic music that became almost directionless on Guero. From the sounds of the released tracks of Modern Guilt, it seems as though this go round will feature a sound that is genre-bending but clearly wears the imprint of both Beck and Danger Mouse. You can pick up a copy for yourself on 7/8/08.

Stream: Beck - Orphans/Gamma Ray/Chemtrails

Greetings from...Sasquatch! 2008 (a little late, but still)

2008-06-17T16:58:00.014-04:00

Oh, Sasquatch. Going in, this festival had a whole lot to live up to for me. I had previously only been to two festivals, but both had extremely impressive lineups. Add that to the fact that I was literally flying as far across the lower 48 states as is possible to get there and that I was passing up Bonnaroo in favor of this Pacific Northwestern alternative, and, well...let's just say it was going to take a lot.

Three days, dozens of bands, and one shower later, I can say with ease that this festival was not only worth going, but that I am already planning out my '09 trip. Much like my SXSW post, I'll try my best to sum it all up with a few highlights and mp3s from some of my favorite acts. Special bonus: grainy pictures from a disposable camera. Makes it more old-timey, I'd say.

Saturday Highlights:

Beirut

If you've never listened to Beirut before, my suggestion is to listen to the Mp3 below and just imagine hearing it live in front of an expansive canyon. I can't think of anyone else that would have truly kicked off the festival any better. Beirut's international sound was the perfect soundtrack to our first glimpse of the Gorge Amphitheatre. I'm rather glad that I had never seen the act before, as it allows me to now have this perfect association in my head: the pairing of venue and sound.

Mp3: Beirut - Scenic World (Second Version)

M.I.A.

I'm not sure how I could possibly do M.I.A.'s performance justice through words, but I will say that it was as good, if not better, than any other large-stage performance of the entire weekend. My friend Roy and I were saying that it felt as though we were at Glastonbury Festival, as the show had the entire crowd moving in unison, a surreal, video-game-esque stop motion video playing in time with her music, and featured several songs with a few hundred fans dancing up on stage. The entire set just blew me away. If you have the chance to check her out, do so.

[photo credit: jerkalertproductions]
Modest Mouse

Sasquatch! has presented some of my favorite performers throughout the festivals history, including Bjork, Arcade Fire, and Beck. This year, Modest Mouse was one such act, and although I had seen them twice already, they were one of my most anticipated sets of the weekend. The set started off a bit slow, and something seemed off. Probably about 1/4 of the way through their time on stage, though, things suddenly turned upwards, right around the time they absolutely ripped through "Trucker's Atlas." From that point forward, the band was 100% phenomenal. It was easily the tightest I have ever seen the band, and it was also the most dynamic performance I've ever seen them give (the addition of Johnny Marr was great to see for the first time, as well). "King Rat" was great to see, and the night's version of "Doin' the Cockroach" was one of the best single songs I've seen from any band of any song in recent memory.

Video - Modest Mouse - Doin' the Cockroach (Unofficial)

Sunday Highlights:

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks

The photo above: uneven, bad lighting, and perfectly depicts the fact that I was standing at the side of the stage for the Jicks' set. It helps to know powerful performers with extra backstage wristbands, it is true. Malkmus was one of the few acts that I consider to be absolutely an all-time favorite that I had never seen live before. Not only was I able to cross this one off the list, but I was able to watch from a distance of about 10 feet away. The set was a bit jam-heavy, but fulfilling nonetheless. Highlight: Malkmus' pavement joke: "This is the best weather I've ever seen at Sasquatch! I wasn't here yesterday, though. I hear yesterday it was raining sideways...Crooked. Crooked rain."

Flaming Lips Movie Premiere: Christmas on Mars

It was loud, very loud. It also reminded me of a really long nightmare. However, it was really about more than just the movie - it was an experience. Wayne Coyne came out to introduce the film, saying, in his usual quirky-endearing-fast-speak, something to the effect of, "Well, this isn't the first screening, the first screening was two hours ago. But this is the second ever screening of this film. And there will only be one second screening, ever." Good enough for me. We also got free popcorn in a limited edition "Eat Your Own Spaceship" container, and the drummer held the tent curtain open for the crowd as we exited.

Trailer - Flaming Lips' Christmas on Mars (frighteningly enough, very representative of the film)

Monday Highlights:

Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down

This was probably the 50th or so time that I've seen Thao play live, but I think it was also only the 3rd time that I've seen the band playing under their current moniker. As charming and clearly gifted a performer as Thao has always been as a solo performer, her music has never sounded better than it does now, within the confines of a full band. Whereas I used to describe the band as having a clear sound of a group of talented musicians, they now sound like a band that has been playing together for years. Their time spent recently on the road has clearly paid off, as their performance was easily the best, most cohesive second stage performance that I saw all weekend. The rest of the crowd seemed to agree, and the energy that went back and forth between the stage and audience was noteworthy.

Mp3: Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down - Yes, So On and So On

[photo credit: rfc]

Flight of the Conchords

Let me start off by saying that I've seen a total of 5 minutes of the HBO show that these guys star in, and I did not find it all that funny. In the lead-up to the festival, though, I heard a few of their songs, and actually did start to enjoy them more ("that's why they call them business socks?" I mean, come on, how can you deny that?). I ended up deciding on staying for their set to give them a shot and see how they were live. Despite the fact that they were playing to a crowd of probably around 8,000, the duo really held their own and were actually very funny. They were slotted at a great part of the day, as they played an early evening set that followed the guitar work of Rodrigo y Gabriela and was not right up against the Flaming Lips' UFO show. This led to a laid back and receptive crowd, which helped the guys to do a great job of interacting and involving the audience. All in all, it was a smart change of pace for the festival organizers to slip into the lineup.

See you next year, Sasquatch. You too, guitar-rocking-out bear sculpture.

New Video - Thao w/ The Get Down, Stay Down - Swimming Pools

2008-06-02T20:56:00.003-04:00

I'm in the midst of playing catch-up at work these days, but I've got a full Sasquatch! 2008 wrap-up post on the way. In the mean time, I'd like to check in with my good friends in Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down. Currently in the midst of their tour in which Rilo Kiley is closing for them, the band has found time to release the third video from We Brave Bee Stings and All, "Swimming Pools." Check it out below, it is definitely my favorite of their videos thus far.

In Appreciation of the Cover Song

2008-05-16T16:58:00.005-04:00

Arguments can be made for what makes a great cover song, but I would suggest that the best kind of cover is one in which a band steps outside of their comfort zone in the selection of the song and they subsequently make it their own. It really speaks to both the quality of the song and the versatility of the band taking on the challenge. Submitted for your approval in this category is "Heart it Races," originally by Australian band Architecture in Helsinki, and covered here by Dr. Dog.

The Architecture version is everything that you might expect from them: upbeat, full of dense instrumentation, and very poppy. Somehow, Dr. Dog, who are typically known for a 60's-ish, harmony-heavy, throwback sound, add their own elements to the song (while keeping most of the endearing qualities of the original record). I was lucky enough to catch both bands live last year, and I'd highly recommend checking them both out, and catching each unique take on this song. You can buy both versions and more on Architecture in Helsinki's Heart it Races EP, available right here.

Mp3: Dr. Dog - Heart it Races
Mp3: Architecture in Helsinki - Heart it Races
Video: Architecture in Helsinki - Heart it Races (you really must check this out)

A Mini Road Trip Mix

2008-05-01T20:19:00.003-04:00

So this weekend I'm out of town at a graduation and then at the Tampa Radiohead show, and it got me thinking that I'm in need of a new mix cd for traveling. Although I can't fit everything on my server, I can fit a mini version. While certainly not a full mix cd, I'm willing to go ahead and call it a mix EP. Below, four tracks from the "May 08: Dear Volvo, Please Do Not Break Down. Your Friend, Adam" mix EP, assembled by me.

Cross your fingers for me that I am able to gather myself enough to drive back after seeing my favorite band of all time from a mere 15 rows back.

...and since I'll be gone for about a week:
Mp3: George Costanza - Believe it or Not

Mix EP:

Mp3: Stephen Malkmus - Phantasies
Mp3: Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover
Mp3: The White Stripes - I Think I Smell a Rat
Mp3: Pixies - Dig for Fire

New Mates of State on the Way

2008-04-25T18:22:00.005-04:00

The two happiest live performers that I've ever seen, Jason and Kori of Mates of State, have a new album coming out on May 20, and the early signs are very positive. The first single, "Get Better," features the husband and wife duo sharing vocals as usual, and it has all the hallmarks of the best MoS songs: gradually building tempo, complementary keyboards and drums, and overall, it is as catchy as ever. The video features all of that plus scooters and animal masks. Check it below, along with the Mates of State song that sold me 100% on these guys, and solidified them as one of my favorite bands, "Fluke."

As a sidenote, the band also has an entertaining blog in which they document their experiences as both parents and a band. Also, it's called "Band on the Diaper Run," which I think is very funny. You probably should too, I mean really.

Mp3: Mates of State - Fluke
Stream: Mates of State - Get Better
Video: Mates of State - Get Better

1/2 of Mates of State + 1/2 of Mates of State's Kids + all of Mates of State's demeanor:

New Weezer - Pork and Beans

2008-04-17T12:11:00.004-04:00

Yes, it's that time again. Time for all the longtime Weezer fans to evaluate a new single and decide how it stacks up against the two classics, Weezer (Blue) and Pinkerton. The past 3 albums have been seen overall as disappointments, especially when compared with those first two, but we may finally have a winner. There was some hope shown in the Rivers Cuomo solo album, but here we see the band back again. The lyrics may be a bit nonsensical, but the instrumental sound (particularly the guitarwork) is undeniably reminiscent of classic Blue Album tracks like "My Name is "Jonas" and "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here." Agree? Disagree?

Stream: Weezer - Pork and Beans

Ryan Adams has gone a little bit crazy: stuffed animals & new music

2008-04-06T12:41:00.006-04:00

[VIDEO REMOVED]

...but he remains more talented than everone else.

Summer Music: Belle & Sebastian

2008-03-27T23:45:00.005-04:00

It's pretty easy to develop associations, both good and bad, with your favorite music. For myself, Belle & Sebastian is a band that I've long associated with summer. It was a summer in high school when I heard my first B&S album and a summer in college that I first saw the group play live. When it starts getting warm out and I can feel the season changing, I seem to revisit all their albums without fail. Below, two of my favorite B&S songs that I'll surely be listening to soon (or now, considering we've already hit 80 degree weather...).

Mp3: Belle & Sebastian - Seeing Other People
Mp3: Belle & Sebastian - Dirty Dream Number Two

SXSW 2008

2008-03-17T13:38:00.017-04:00

[photo credit: Staciaann Photography]

The South by Southwest Music Conference/Festival truly is exactly as it sounds: Over 60 venues, over 1400 artists, all packed into downtown Austin, TX over one week. In reality, though, it is hard to imagine until you see it all first-hand. It is overwhelming, thrilling, and exhausting all at once. The mere task of trying to select which bands to see at any given moment is a huge undertaking, mainly because there are very few easy choices (with the notable exception of skipping a party hosted by Perez Hilton, sorry dude.). In the end, though, having to choose among so many great shows really is half the fun, and I quickly realized that it is important to take chances on a new band, rather than always going with the more established acts. Below, personal highlights from SXSW and some Mp3s from the bands that put on my favorite shows.

[photo credit: dontdothisathome]

Favorite Large Venue Show: Alejandro Escovedo @ Stubb's
The perfect example of stumbling upon a great, great artist. The reason that I even made the trek over to Stubb's to check out this set is that I heard a rumor that Lou Reed was going to be a surprise guest at this set, which made me immediately leave the show I was at and head right over. Midway through the first song of the set, I had already forgotten why I came over, because Escovedo and his band tore through their own music with passion and incredible skill. I have no idea why Escovedo isn't playing huge venues, or even why his music isn't all over the radio. It is catchy, accessible, and laced with pure high-level musicianship. In the end, the entire set went by without any guest appearances, but it didn't matter. As a big R.E.M. fan who saw said band perform a terrific set the night before on the same stage, I can say that Escovedo put on the superior performance. Next year, I only hope that the crowd doubles if he makes another appearance.

Mp3: Alejandro Escovedo - Castanets

Runner-Up for Favorite Large Venue Show: R.E.M. @ Stubb's

[photo credit: chasingfun]

Favorite Mid-Sized Venue Show: Bodies of Water @ Mohawk Patio
Bodies of Water was one of the bands I was most looking forward to heading into SXSW. They also were one of the acts that had a handful of scheduled performances throughout the week. I'd like to think that I picked the best show of the bunch, because they put on a terrific performance. Bodies of Water's songs have a wonderful tendency to include changes of tempo throughout as well as vocals from all members. This can lead to a sound that is Polyphonic Spree-esque with some jumpy Mates of State or Architecture in Helsinki-type twists. The high point of the show had to be towards the end of the performance, when the group played one of my favorite singles of 2007, "These Are the Eyes." The fullness of the song completely came through in the live show, and the group's charisma only added to the performance.

Mp3: Bodies of Water - These Are the Eyes

Runner-Up for Favorite Mid-Sized Venue Show: The Most Serene Republic @ The Parish

Favorite Small Venue Show: Mittens on Strings @ The Hideout
In many ways, this was my favorite overall show in terms of a true South by Southwest experience. Mittens on Strings is a band that I first read about after last year's SXSW, and I've since grown to be a big fan. Unfortunately, they only had one show scheduled this year, so I was forced to skip both Aloha and Land of Talk to see this show. Verdict: glad I took the chance. The Hideout was one of the stranger locations for a show, because after a week of seeing bands in bars, you quickly realize that this venue is actually located within a coffee shop. It isn't until you walk to the back of the shop that you see a side entrance that leads to a small theatre extension where bands performed. The journey was worth it, because everyone in the audience got to be a part of a special performance. While there are many bands nowadays that are producing contrived versions of mid-90s low-fi indie rock, there are significantly less acts that take the music of their predecessors and actually push it in a new and interesting direction. Mittens on Strings fall well within the latter category. After a 40 minute set, I left with the strong feeling that I had gotten the chance to see an act on their way up, which to me is the most exciting of all the opportunities at South by Southwest.

Mp3: Mittens on Strings - G.I. Dirt Races

Runner-Up for Favorite Small Venue Show: Bowerbirds @ Mohawk (inside)

Final tally of acts seen: 30
[In alphabetical order...Alejandro Escovedo, Basia Bulat, Bear in Heaven, Blitzen Trapper, Bodies of Water, Bon Iver, Bowerbirds, Dead Confederate, Destroyer, Evangelicals, Fleet Foxes, Islands, Jens Lekman, Johnathan Rice, Langhorne Slim, Le Loup, Mittens on Strings, N.E.R.D., Ola Podrida, Papercranes, Phosphorescent, R.E.M., Ra Ra Riot, Summerbirds in the Cellar, Tapes 'n Tapes, The Cribs, The Most Serene Republic, Tokyo Police Club, White Denim, White Rabbits]

Daytrotter Highlight: Basia Bulat

2008-03-11T11:45:00.003-04:00

I once again have the good folks over at Daytrotter to thank for introducing me to a great new artist (who will also be performing at South by Southwest this weekend to boot). Basia Bulat hails from Canada, home to all kinds of musical wonders, from MuchMusic to Neil Young. Her voice demands attention, and when combined with her band's very full instrumental sound, makes for some great music. Her originals are just as strong as her covers, but the two tracks that I most highly recommend are "Untitled," and the Sam Cooke cover, "The Hem of His Garment." You can check out the full set at the link below.

Basia Bulat - Daytrotter Session

Past Daytrotter Session Recommendations:
Thao Nguyen
Andrew Bird
Bishop Allen

Full Daytrotter Session Archive

Modest Mouse - Worms vs. Birds

2008-03-07T19:22:00.005-05:00

As you may have guessed, the song below is where this site's name came from. I suppose the main reason I selected it is that Modest Mouse has long been a favorite band of mine, and this song is simple, short, and a great example of why I love the band. The guitar work in particular on this track is pure Modest Mouse. The song is off the 1994 album Sad Sappy Sucker, which can be had right here. I've actually seen it listed as both "Birds vs. Worms" and "Worms vs. Birds," but what the heck. Here it is:

Mp3: Modest Mouse - Worms vs. Birds

Matt Pond PA - Fairlee

2008-03-04T18:27:00.003-05:00

There are times when I'd describe rediscovering a band as being just as satisfying as hearing a band for the first time. I've recently gotten back into a band that I hadn't listened to much in the past few years, and haven't had the chance to even check out their new album. Thanks to an old mix cd on a road trip, however, I ran across a song that I used to love by Matt Pond PA and am welcoming it back into my life. It's off their 2002 Polyvinyl-released album, The Nature of Maps, available here. The bonus factor is that I'll be seeing them live in a matter of hours. Here's hoping they bust out this old one at the CDU.

Mp3: Matt Pond PA - Fairlee

Into the Wild

2008-02-26T19:05:00.008-05:00

Every year during January and February, I end up playing catch up on most of the best-of movies from the year before, and 2007/2008 has been no different. Recently I caught Into the Wild, a film I had meant to see when it was first released but never quite made it. Rather than going into specifics of the film, I'll just say that I thought it was one of my favorites from last year and that it is worth seeing. There are some great themes throughout and the ending is striking.

I will say that I wish I had seen the film earlier for one other reason- the soundtrack, which features Eddie Vedder, would most likely have been in my top 10 albums of 2007 had I heard it a few months back. It is terrific, and below is one of the highlights (which features Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney) - a cover of the song "Hard Sun." Although the album is only a bit over a half-hour long, it is worth the price of purchase. Check out the movie first, though, and the soundtrack will only sound better.

Mp3: Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun

and as a bonus, here is another Into the Wild track, in demo version [courtesy Gremmie.net]:

Mp3: Eddie Vedder - No Ceiling (Demo)

RickoLus - Dear Projectionist

2008-02-23T16:58:00.003-05:00

Myspace Music: An Evaluation

Positives:
-Introductions to great new artists that you've never heard of before. Immediate access to some of their music.

Negatives:
-Incessant friend requests from terrible bands. Pop-punk garbage piles have a tangible recording of their number of friends that can serve as a reminder of the unfairness of the music world.

--------------
With the way that information travels these days, it can be difficult to truly discover new music on your own - it seems much easier to be sick of hearing a band's name before you've even heard one of their songs. A little while back, I was looking for something new to listen to, and came across RickoLus' site through a local band's myspace page. It's great stuff, and most of it is available for free download on his website. If you like it, there is an area where you can donate to the cause of more music. Enjoy-

Mp3: RickoLus - Dear Projectionist

Tapes 'n Tapes - Hang Them All

2008-02-18T09:20:00.003-05:00

Very excited to share this one. After 2005's great "The Loon," Tapes 'n Tapes had a lot to live up to for their next release. All things point towards awesome with this new single, which toes the ever-difficult line of pushing things forward while keeping a good thing together. Below is a high-quality Mp3 of the song, but for a super-high quality file, head over to the band's site. While you're at it, send the Minnesota-ens some dollars. "Walk it Off," the forthcoming record, is due April 8.

Mp3: Tapes 'n Tapes - Hang Them All

songs for puppies

2008-02-11T22:08:00.000-05:00

So several of my friends (mainly just you, Jacqueline) have reminded me of their pumped-ness for the 2008 Westminster Dog Show (now underway). As such, I have selected two songs that I claim to be at least as cute as the puppy above, in a good way. Sorry for anyone looking for a nu-metal track. Not today.

Mp3: Simone White - Beep Beep Song

Mp3: Rosie Thomas ft. Sufjan Stevens - Say Hello

sxsw band to look forward to: Mittens on Strings

2008-01-31T21:38:00.000-05:00

As March gets closer, it's exciting to see the lineup that is gradually released for Austin's South by Southwest Festival (especially since it'll be my first). One band that I just noticed is set to play SXSW is a group that I actually heard about after last year's festival. I've liked them ever since, and haven't had a chance to check them out live just yet. If their shows are half as awesome as their band-designed one-of-a-kind shirts for sale on their website, then it should be a great time. If you've never heard them, I'd recommend starting with the song below.

Mp3: Mittens on Strings - La Cartel

still good, one year later: Andrew Bird as Dr. Stringz

2008-01-27T21:16:00.000-05:00

Just about one year ago to the date, Andrew Bird had a fantastic appearance on the children's show Jack's Big Music Show as stringed-instrument-fixer Dr. Stringz. Some songs fade with time, but how can this song (and guest spot as a whole) not be an instant classic? Let's take a trip back in history, all the way to January 2007.

Here is the video, in all its glory:

Thanks go out to CSVMIAD for the stellar Mp3 from the show. You can check that out below as well.

Mp3: Andrew Bird/Dr. Stringz - Dr. Stringz

live vs. studio: Ryan Adams - My Love for You is Real

2008-01-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

I've heard the argument that Ryan Adams' problem is that he produces too much music, and as a result, he ends up having some sub-par releases. While I'd disagree with that assessment, my problem is that it is easy to miss a really high-quality song or two in the shuffle of all of Adams' albums. One of my favorite new discoveries is the song "My Love for You is Real," off of his latest EP, Follow the Lights. The song's first official studio release can be found there, although earlier live versions exist. The version below is actually from a show back in 2001, and it rivals the studio track in terms of likability. I think this song is a perfect example of a track for which a case can be made as being better live or better in-studio. The studio version has a much fuller, produced sound (with the aid of Adams' backing band The Cardinals), while the live version is bare bones but lets you have a truly authentic, sincere performance.

All said, the Follow the Lights EP is definitely worth picking up, which you can do right here.

Mp3: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - My Love for You is Real
Mp3: Ryan Adams - My Love for You is Real (live)

Metric - The Twist

2008-01-16T17:02:00.000-05:00

With the release of Metric's new live dvd imminent (pre-order on their website here), I've been revisiting the group's older albums, and rediscovered one of my favorite older tracks. For fans that have never heard Grow Up and Blow Away, the band's first full-length album, "The Twist" will probably seem to be a departure from their guitar-driven recent work. The track, though, is fairly representative of their early sound, with a slight bit of added edge.

Mp3: Metric - The Twist

a worthy remix: The Shins - Australia (Peter Bjorn & John Remix)

2008-01-15T16:44:00.000-05:00

Pretty sure I'm a bit behind on this one, but hey, It's new to me. The marriage of The Shins and Peter Bjorn & John in some form seems fairly inevitable in hindsight, as both have risen to the top of indie pop bands in terms of critical acclaim and public recognition. You can hear Peter Bjorn & John's distinctive quality in this track; gone are the "la, la, la's" of the original, and the vocals are more isolated (along with more prominent echoing) in the remixed version. Thoughts?

Mp3: The Shins - Australia (Peter Bjorn & John Remix)

New Stephen Malkmus(!) - Gardenia

2008-01-13T17:41:00.000-05:00

Stephen Malkmus is my hero. There really is no other way to say it. From Pavement through Real Emotional Trash, the forthcoming SM & the Jicks album, the man can not miss. To paraphrase the "Bobs" from Office Space (when they were discussing their love for Michael Bolton), it doesn't get much better for me than when he sings "Jenny and the Ess-Dog." "Gardenia" should please most Malkmus-followers, as it falls within the more accessible end of his classic work.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Gardenia [link removed]

perfect soundtrack piece: The Chemical Brothers - Where Do I Begin

2008-01-10T22:46:00.000-05:00

Regardless of your opinion of the movie Vanilla Sky, it's hard to deny the accompanying soundtrack. The entire film, in fact, is tied closely to its music. Many scenes focus heavily on a backing song, and there are even several direct music-related references, such as the shot above, which emulates one of Bob Dylan's classic album covers. Perhaps the most fitting song in Vanilla Sky is the song "Where Do I Begin" by The Chemical Brothers (featuring Beth Orton on vocals). It has a terrific, dream-like opening, and it devolves into a strange amalgam of criss-crossing beats and noises. If you've seen the movie, you may agree that for better or worse, the film parallels the song's strange path. Check it out and see for yourself:

Mp3: The Chemical Brothers - Where Do I Begin

worth repeating: Lambchop/David Byrne - The Man Who Loved Beer

2008-01-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

Back when it was released, I remember David Byrne's 2004 album Grown Backwards getting a decent amount of press, but it seemed that most reviewers were concerned primarily with its operatic moments and for the track, "Glass, Concrete, and Stone," which was featured in several films that year. While both aspects of the album are worth noting, it seems that it may have been easy for the general public to overlook a great cover song within the 15 tracks. "The Man Who Loved Beer," which was originally written and performed by the band Lambchop, has a great deal of added production along with Byrne's unmistakable vocal style. Both great versions in their own right; both worth checking out.

Mp3 - Lambchop - The Man Who Loved Beer
Mp3 - David Byrne - The Man Who Loved Beer

song addiction: The Elephants - Humans Extinct

2008-01-08T10:23:00.000-05:00

Over at YANP, a great ongoing feature is the annual "12 Days of Mixmas," in which artists put together endearingly-specific mixes for the listening public. David Crane of one of my favorite new bands, BOAT (who I'll no doubt post about in the near future), has a mix that is catchy, upbeat, and unconventional (three traits I'd say BOAT themselves share).

One of my favorite tracks from the mix is "Humans Extinct," by Pacific Northwesterners The Elephants. It comes from a subgenre of music that I won't begin to try and come up with a name for, but in which I would put other favorites like Islands/The Unicorns, Danielson, and YACHT. Either way, it should be stuck in your head the rest of today.

Myspace: The Elephants
Mp3: The Elephants - Humans Extinct

song & music video perfection: Blur - Coffee & TV

2008-01-07T12:53:00.000-05:00

"Do you feel like a chain-store, practically floored"

When a song starts with that perfect of an opening line, I know I'm going to like it. When it has a video featuring the milk carton pictured above, well...then I know I've hit upon something ingenious. Blur has made a lot of great music over the years, and I think it's pretty unfortunate that they often get dismissed as the British band that feuded with Oasis in the late 90's (which, I suppose, they were). This song is a highlight, if not their peak.

"Coffee & TV" combines four elements that I hold dear to my heart:
1) witty lyrics
2) simple, yet unique instrumentation
3) insane, creative music video
4) an ampersand in the song title

Hammer & Tongs, the credited directors of this video, have actually made a few of my favorite videos (R.E.M.'s "Imitation of Life," Supergrass' "Pumping on Your Stereo," to name a few) and directed the film adaptation of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (which I still have yet to see)." Definitely head over to their site and check out some of their work (http://www.tongsville.com).

Video: Blur - Coffee & TV
Mp3: Blur - Coffee & TV

favorites, 2007 edition

2008-01-04T11:57:00.000-05:00

what better way to kick off 2008 than by rehashing 2007? I certainly can't think of any alternative. so. here you go:

Favorite albums of the year:

10) Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara

Full of sweeping melodies, great instrumentation, and a sound that wouldn't feel out of place in an earlier generation of music. A great band that I'm excited to hear more from in the future.

Video: Great Lake Swimmers - Your Rocky Spine

Mp3: Great Lake Swimmers - I am Part of a Large Family

9) Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha

Andrew Bird is, in my opinion, simply one of the most talented musicians today. We're lucky that he's also a productive guy. ...& the Mysterious Production of Eggs was a fantastic album, and one that surely was going to be a feat to follow up, but Bird came pretty close with this record.

Take Away Show Video: Andrew Bird - Spare-Ohs

Mp3: Andrew Bird - Heretics

8) M.I.A. - Kala

Even as a fan of M.I.A.'s previous work, this album caught me off-guard, mainly because it is much more consistent than I would have expected. Basic breakdown: love 60%, really like 30%, 10% not my thing. Pretty solid, and my favorite hip-hop album of the year.

Mp3: M.I.A. - Bamboo Banga

7) Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

Forget the whole Outback thing, the real news is that Of Montreal put out their best album to date this year. Hissing Fauna... combines the best elements of its predecessors, and you could make a strong case that this album has more lyrical depth than any album prior. Here's hoping that the 2008 follow-up is just as strong.

Mp3: Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse

6) Le Loup – The Throne Of…

Every year, it seems that there are a handful of terrific surprise albums that pop up. Le Loup's debut was one such record, and is a pretty remarkable work considering that it was recorded by just one person. I've yet to see how the record translates live, but they are one of my most anticipated acts to see at SXSW 2008.

Mp3: Le Loup - We Are Gods! We Are Wolves!

5) Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

So, alright, Funeral was better. Neon Bible is still a fantastic album, and certainly one of the best of this year. Each song that was released in the lead-up to this album surpassed my expectations, and I think it works great as a whole. It's hard to believe that this band has only been around five years or so. Another act I can't wait to see live some day.

Mp3: Arcade Fire - Intervention (Live)

4) Peter Bjorn & John – Writer’s Block

Sometimes when the first song I hear from a band is some great single, I'm a little weary of listening to the rest of the record, since it's hard to live up to that first impression. "Young Folks" definitely grabbed me right off the bat, but once you place that song within the context of the full album, you see that it is only one part of the whole. I'm glad to say I can't decide on a favorite track.

Myspace: Peter Bjorn & John

3) Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

When I first got a hold of this album, the tracks were actually in the reverse order from their final listing. That is the order that I got used to listening to them in, and I actually think the album goes in a better direction this way. Rather than starting on somewhat of a low note and ending on a high note, it goes the opposite direction, which made the songs resonate more with me, since many do have dark themes. This also pushed some of the singles to the back half of the album, and brought some of the dense tracks to the forefront. Give it a shot if you never got fully into this record.

Mp3: Modest Mouse - Spitting Venom

2) Radiohead – In Rainbows

On first listen, I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about this album. A few songs stood out, but it wasn't until I got through the album four or five times before it really started to grow on me. Dozens of listens later, I would say that this is Radiohead's prettiest sounding record. Tracks like "Nude" and "Faust Arp" are just plain brilliant. The bonus disc also includes several outstanding songs, including "Down is the New Up" and "Bangers & Mash." There isn't a single band that I hold to a higher standard than Radiohead, and they managed to put out an album that not only met every expectation, but also did so while taking their sound in a new and interesting direction.

Mp3 - Radiohead - Down is the New Up

1) Okkervil River – The Stage Names

Black Sheep Boy was my first introduction to Okkervil River in 2005, and while I enjoyed the album, it wasn't the clear-cut best album of that year that many of my friends claimed. I thought it was very good, but I also thought that it drifted too much for it to be a truly great record. The Stage Names manages to perfectly place catchy and meaningful songs into a 9-track, truly accessibly, near-perfect album from opening song to ending note. In an interview a short while back, Lou Reed named Okkervil River as one of the best bands around today, and it is hard to argue with him when you hear a record as complete as this one.

Mp3: Okkervil River - Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe

Video: Okkervil River - Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe

also....

Favorite concerts of the year:

5) John Vanderslice/Bishop Allen – Club Downunder, Tallahassee, FL

4) TV on the Radio – Rion Ballroom, Gainesville, FL

3) Okkervil River – Club Downunder, Tallahassee, FL

2) Cat Power – The Moon, Tallahassee, FL

1) The Flaming Lips – Flavet Field, Gainesville, FL

Changing it Up

2008-01-04T10:41:00.000-05:00

wormsvsbirds is hereby changing directions. less musings, more mixes. mp3 blog, yada yada. ok see ya.