Beware!

MP3: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I Don't Belong to Anyone

Holy shit, here it is: mp3 post #250:

We love Will Oldham and his Bonnie 'Prince' Billy records, so much so that I bought his newest record "Beware" on all 3 formats. Jeeeeez. Completely worth it though, and what an album it is. It certainly is his most accessible which would explain the massive press push Drag City is doing behind it, but accessible doesn't mean terrible. It's interesting to hear Oldham's definition of pop music and he shines all throughout "Beware", with his passion on it almost as strong as all of the pedal steel playing.

On a related note, I've got tickets to see him here in Lawrence on April 7th and am quite excited. The Granada is no Apollo Theater, but it'll do.

The Best Song Ever: Cunts Are Still Running the World

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Cunts Are Still Running the World

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the Matt Giordano, whom I just saw in the flesh about 2 weeks back. He exists? Fuck yeah!

Some people are always ahead of the mass trend, and such has always been the case with Jarvis Cocker. Nary three years after he released his debut single, which you can download above, it's come to be much more relevant than it was when authored, which is quite a feet by the world indeed. As faith is losing in the current world structure at a faster rate than the economic slide, it's this impressive and witty retort to them all that's becoming truer by the day. Indeed, Jarvis, cunts are still running the world. And if you (or your publicist or manager) happen to be reading this, next time you're in New York, send an email and let's get a drink.

Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak...

MP3: Susanna - Jailbreak

I've been sitting on this song forever. Seriously, I've moved it down on my uploaded mp3s list on the server countless times, hoping to one day write a post to do it justice. I uploaded it on October 29th of last year... jeez.

So I don't know if I can finally fulfill my self impossed obligation to "Jailbreak", but it's time to dust it off. Here is what you need to know: Susanna has a beautiful voice and put out a beautiful record of covers from all the best bands. She opens with this song, which is by Thin Lizzy who is honestly one of my favourite bands ever. Finally (and here's where it gets perfect) she gets Bonnie 'Prince' Billy to sing on it with her. Fuck yeah. You can't beat it.

Have a great weekend everybody, it felt really fucking good to do a full week of posts again. It's been... who knows how long. Hope to keep up the momentum even a little bit. See you soon!

The hottest boyz.

MP3: Casiotone For the Painfully Alone w/ Dear Nora - Hot Boyz

A collection of b-sides and singles from Casiotone For the Painfully Alone is a dream come true for any fan, and the recently released "Advance Base Battery Life" is everything you could hope for.

The biggest gem that had gone over my head in my collecting days was "Hot Boyz", a Missy Elliot cover that showed up on a States Rights Records comp way back when. It's a collaboration with the criminally underrated Dear Nora, who takes on lead vocals for one of the most awkwardly charming and completely sincere genre bending takes I've ever heard. It's a sore thumb and has been on heavy repeat for as long as I've had it.

Don't forget to be on the lookout for "Vs. Children", the next great Casiotone masterpiece coming next month. I already like it a whole bunch myself.

Wives b-sides for you & yours.

MP3: Wives - Facelift
MP3: Wives - Wives Hate Police
MP3: Wives - Fun Fun Fun

I bought the Wives' record "Erect the Youth Problem" from a seller on Amazon and ended up getting the import version. Radical. It came with 3 b-sides from 7 inches. Wives are ex-No Age, eat it up.

Brilliant Colors with no u.

MP3: Brilliant Colors - Should I Tell You
MP3: Brilliant Colors - Not This One

Here's a quick one: I went to the record store the other day and the owner told me to check this 7 inch out by Brilliant Colors as it was up my alley. Intrigued by what it could sound like, I took the chance and that man was right: this is great. I'd say it reminds me of lo-fi punk pop riot grrrl fun smile garage greatness. Can't wait for more.

A frightening journey through Little Hells.

MP3: Marissa Nadler - Mary Come Alive

"Little Hells" is not a title to be taken lightly: this album is fucking scary. Sure, you can be allow yourself to be fooled by Marissa Nadler's familiar reverb soaked vocals or the sense of hope found in new instrumentation, but BE WARNED! You will die here if you go in seeking light.

Yes, this record is wonderful. We knew that. Nadler's last one, "Songs III: Bird On the Water" was my #1 album of 2007 and this will more likely than not be #1 this year. It's just a breathtaking piece of art, dark and brooding and something new and different, which is tough to do. I'm so attatched to the last one that I thought it impossible to fully take this one in, but it's a testament to her as a songwriter of how timeless and perfect these songs are. I continue to be in your debt MN. Don't miss this!

St. Vincent walking on a street, looking at the strangers.

MP3: St. Vincent - The Strangers

It took me a long time (probably too long) to really absorb and love St. Vincent's last record "Marry Me". Since I've heard this song "The Strangers" from her upcoming "Actor" lp, I think I am fully on board. I especially like the dirty guitar action at the end. Very excited to hear the rest.

"Actor" sees release May 5th from 4AD. Pre-order right here and get a free limited 7 inch while you can. I did!

Sorta like a dream? No, better.

MP3: Air France - Collapsing At Your Doorstep

It's interesting how an iPod can change the way I take in records. I've had one for years, but over Christmas I got one of the newer, fancier models which has caused me to put anything on it I can find. Imported are cds from the library, promo cds I'd normally never touch, zip files in the email or digital vinyl downloads. I've found I need it all, in order to have an impressive and proper music library.

Doing this causes a lot of albums to get over looked. I am a compulsive music shuffler when it comes to iPods, getting off on the thrill of hearing 2 songs that don't normally go together yet somehow they work or having some music I loved in high school or something that I hadn't appreciated in quite sometime pop up. The biggest joy of all is hearing a song you've never heard before come on and change your life completely.

I bet you can see where this is going now. It was Wednesday night and I was driving to the grocery store to buy some feel better food for my girlfriend who had been sick all day long. I'm feeling a little lonely yet concerned and paying hardly any attention to anything except the road ahead of me. Then it happens: "Collapsing At Your Doorstep" by Air France comes on and it is total game changer. It's hard to believe that something so perfect has been lying dormant on this machine for so long now. Of course, with the song being so good, I had to listen to the record from the start in hopes that the entire opus is up to that caliber. Good news: it is.

Air France is a group I've been aware of for some time and I remember hearing a song from them on a blog once and liking it, which is why I grabbed the record when I saw it, but I never got to listening to it. Shame on me. Besides the fact that they're from Sweden and on the phenomenally radical Sincerely Yours label, the reason to pay attention to them is that they're fucking great. It's everything bands try to be nowadays: sparse and artificial while sounding completely full and organic all the while making use of killer samples. Who knows if they're trying very hard or not, but it comes off so natural that it requires a deep breath and your full attention. So give it, completely.

Can't wait for the next one guys, though I am happy to take "No Way Down" in for the year ahead.

Shoegaze in the soil with Dead Mellotron

MP3: Dead Mellotron - Nothing I Ever Imagined
MP3: Dead Mellotron - Saltwater (Beach House cover)

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from Matt Giordano, who is wearing his shoegaze on his feet. Or something. Fuck yeah!

I was sent this today by my friend Paul, and damn, it's a pretty good shoegazey-pop confection. Dead Mellotron mix the perfect amount of fuzz and ambiance in there, and it's just the work of one dude. It harks back to the glory days of the JAMC and My Bloody Valentine (and new-gazers The Legends), yet with a slight more preciousness that eases the tension. There's a link to download the EP, but click fast: http://www.mediafire.com/?gnjhczofjtm. Enjoy!