Besides: Hello Saferide

photo captured by Sandra Löv

MP3: Hello Saferide - I Fold

Let's have a killer weekend. Here is a b-side from last year's really great "More Modern Short Stories From..." by Hello Saferide. It totally wouldn't have fit on that record, clearly, but it's still completely awesome as it's own thing. This one showed up in October on Razzia's "There's A Razzia Going On Volume 2".

Take it easy everyone. See you Monday, I'm sure we'll be posting a best of at some point so watch out.

Quail Lungs Operation

MP3: Quail Lungs - Dumb Dadadum

Stereogum dropped this joint last night and I just gave 'er a listen. I like it! Quail Lungs is pretty DIY Americana which I miss and still holds weight I think. Why did we give up on this so soon? I think Quail Lungs will bring it back. PPM is putting this out and I guess PPM and Quail Lungs are homies since schooling and it's way different from the rest of their catalogue but that's great and awesome and we should support this!

The Dum Dadadum b/w You Can't Believe in Anything 7 inch comes out next month. 500 copies/all radical.

New Scout Niblett: The Calcination of Scout Niblett

MP3: Scout Niblett - The Calcination of Scout Niblett

More from Drag City today! Come January 19th, 2010, there will be a new Scout Niblett record! It's called "The Calcination of Scout Niblett". That's the album cover above and the title track is available for download. Spoiler: it fucking rules!

Bonny Billy & The Picket Line

MP3: Bonny Billy & The Picket Line - The Glory Goes/Wolf Among Wolves

Just released yesterday, "Funtown Comedown" is a bluegrass look at the grand catalogue of Will Oldham with 2 covers thrown in to boot. He totally pulls this off and the whole thing is a blast to listen to. Today's mp3 gives you a double shot peek of what you're in for as it starts as a song from "Lie Down In the Light" and segways into a song from my #1 album of the decade "Master and Everyone".

New Moon Duo: Stumbling 22nd St.

MP3: Moon Duo - Stumbling 22nd St.

The Moon Duo stuff has been pretty rad so far and this peek at the upcoming "Escape" lp coming in February 2010 from Woodsist is shown them to be even more radical. It's pretty obvious that it's going to rule.

Montymontymontymontymonty

MP3: Monty - En Till Himmel (featuring Lorentz)

This is the new Monty (nee Montt Mardié på Svensk for those who don't know) single. David Pagmar's songcraft has improved immensely over the past few years, and this is another step forward, but more in the direction of straight-forward pop. I cannot wait to hear this album, which is out in February via the mighty Hybris.

BLAKROC

MP3: Blakroc - Stay Off The Fuckin' Flowers (featuring Raekwon)

The concept of Blakroc was enough to rope me in: The Black Keys play live hip hop/bluesy psychedelia beats over verses by some of the best rappers alive and the more I listen to this LP, the more I dig it. Here is an mp3 from it featuring the great Raekwon and below are some Youtubes of the dudes and friends killing it on late night television.

N I T E F U N K

MP3: Nite Funk - Am I Gonna Make It

Dam Funk + Nite Jewel = Nite Funk = RADICAL. Don't miss this hit.

BIRTHDAY SONGS/FUCK YEAH: Karp

MP3: Karp - Bacon Industry

Karp is the greatest ever probably. This is afternoon snow music when you're just over it/afternoon birthday music when you're having a good time. Get Karp "Self Titled LP" asap and you'd feel like it was your very own birthday today too.

BIRTHDAY SONGS: Roy Orbison

MP3: Roy Orbison - In Dreams

What a goofy fucking album cover. It'll fool you, but inside that sleeve is a fucking legend. They don't make em like Roy Orbison these days: no one sings anymore. Singing used to be cool. Bummer, but singing and I will always be together in dreams.

BIRTHDAY SONGS: Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter

MP3: Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter - Don't Let Me Go

It's my birthday and it's snowing like a mother fucker here, so I'm going to post a ton of songs today, mostly some slow burners that are perfect birthday/snow songs (I don't know what the fuck that is, really these are just songs I like a lot).

So I'm kicking things off with Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter. "Reckless Burning" is a great album that's been in my arsenal for some time now and I feel like this band and I progressed at the same time because I really liked folksy music and then I too got into Sunn O))) a lot. Kismet.

New Liars: Scissor

MP3: Liars - Scissor

Thanks Liars, I needed this. First glimpse from 2010's "Sisterworld" is here in the form of "Scissor", the opening jam. It's bad ass, so don't miss it.

Sisterworld is out March 9th from Mute.

The Best Song Ever: I Could Drive Forever

MP3: Smog - I Could Drive Forever

I could probably do a Smog week or month of all of the best songs ever Bill Callahan gave us. But "I Could Drive Forever" from 1999's "Knock Knock" was one of the first songs I heard from him that really stopped me in my tracks and made me sit down & shut up. It's a common emotion with his material, but the first is always the deepest and lately for me this one has sang true.

New Best Coast split with Jeans Wilder

MP3: Best Coast - Up All Night

Best Coast have yet another 7 inch coming out, this one is a split with Jeans Wilder and it sees release in January 2010. Here is her track from it, which according to her "is a demo I recorded when I first started the band, but I never got to re record it..so it's a super simple/bed-roomy jam...."

It sounds demo-ish, but pretty killer. The 7 inch is limited to 350 copies and comes out on Atelier Ciseaux. Order yours now.

FUCK YEAH: New Saviours

MP3: Saviours - Livin' In The Void

It's been way too fucking long since we did a FUCK YEAH post. I missed them too, don't worry. It hasn't been much of a fuck yeah year, but when it was, it went big. I saw Saviours live for the first time back in October with Red Fang and they may have stolen the whole show. A great live band for sure and their new record "Accelerated Living" is still fresh. Get this shit instantly, you need it to breathe.

Mean fucking Jeans.

MP3: Mean Jeans - 2 Much Cocaine

Holy damn, I posted about Mean Jeans back in Oct and said their 7 inches were sweet but their recently released full length "Are You Serious?" already kicks way more dick. They're still partying and writing about drugs, sticking in your head like that bubblegum found on the sidewalk. Dirtnap is still killing it as a label, but that's expected. Thanks for releasing this and thanks for making this dudes. You're cool with me.

New Shout Out Louds: Walls

MP3: Shout Out Louds - Walls

Here we are with a taste from a brand new Shout Out Louds record called "Work", out next Feb from Merge. I hated their first lp but "Our Ill Wills" was quite enjoyable, though admittedly it had no replay value for me and now only exists merely on a computer's shuffle function.

"Work" boasts production from the great Phil Ek and it shows: this song SOUNDS great. It's some fine production, seriously. The song itself is another story. I do enjoy the calming of the vocals but overall it's missing some umpf. Or zazz. Something. I am still curious enough to check to check this sucker out, but now I am dipping my feet in first, as this does not seem to be worthy a cannonball.

Best Coast is the BEST

MP3: Best Coast - When I'm With You

Sorry for the week off, I'd moved and been without internet for like a month. So you may get a few posts of shit I loved but couldn't express it through my blog at the time and that you're probably over already. Like today!

Best Coast released a 7 inch (which looks to be only digital) single for "When I'm With You". If you read the comments to our coverage of BC in the past, everyone seemed to be over the lo-fi recording sound. At first I disagreed, because some songs really seemed charming like that, but eventually I caved. It wasn't just Best Coast, it was everyone. But I think this single is an answer to that and shows that this music only gets better with a little sprucing up on the recording end.

And holy shit, is "When I'm With You" the most perfect fucking song ever! The lyrics kick ass and it is a catchy number, embedded in my head since I'd first heard it and even right up to this minute. Highly recommended!