Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Dirty P's, on yer knees.


Re-releases are stupid, honestly. They're usually only worthwhile if an album has gone out of print or grown to seminal status over the years. I bet you're expecting me to defend the October re-release of Dirty Projectors' brilliant "Bitte Orca", but I won't because it's fucking stupid.

The good thing to come from this is that the great Other Music pressed a white label vinyl release of all the live tracks recorded at their shop so now you don't have to spend your money on something you've bought before. Mine hasn't arrived in the post yet, but I await it anxiously every single day.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Listen to Lower Dens


I don't know if you know this, but Lower Dens put out one of the best records this year. I can only hope that people are listening to "Twin-Hand Movement", but it kind of feels like people aren't listening to "Twin-Hand Movement": LISTEN TO "TWIN-HAND MOVEMENT"!!!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Throwing Up



I've now found myself a bit ashamed to say that I enjoyed the single "Throwing Shade" when it was released. I enjoyed Skeleton and Reviver, even the amateurish Kid City. Sadly, one track cannot save the new Abe Vigoda album, even if the heights of that "November" reaches prevents the vomit from exiting my mouth for two minutes and fifty-one seconds.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The gloriousness of realized brilliance.


MP3: Starfucker - Julius

Guess what? Starfucker are back after an incredible full length, an okay ep and a clusterfuck of a name change, and they sound better than ever/they sound like they give a shit again!!

"Julius" delivers on the promise of that first LP plus their mesmerizing live show, and is the A-Side to the single that bears it's name. It will appear on an upcoming full length coming in the far away lands of 2011 on Polyvinyl. Hey Polyvinyl, you know you've been killing it lately right? I hope you know that from all the money I've been sending you.

Anyway, this single is great and can be pre ordered now on blue or black wax with an instant download of the whole thing. It's in stores October 12th, don't miss it!

Monday, September 20, 2010

GIRLS, LIVE.


Yo. Here is Girls' entire set from All Tomorrow's Parties that they recently played. It rules / enjoy.
MP3: Girls - Live at ATP 2010

Yo. Here is Girls' entire set from this year's All Tomorrow's Parties

Thursday, September 16, 2010

GO TEAM: Children of the Light


MP3:
White Flight - Children of the Light

Roll your windows down over and over friends: White Flight's "Children of the Light" may only be one song, but it warrants multiple rides around the neighbourhood, with your speakers bursting with an energy not felt since WF's "Panther".

Another track taken from the so-anticipated-it-hurts "White Ark", COTL is available as a digital single with b-side "Thunder Over Thunder" giving you a chance to cool off before diving right back into the jacuzzi water.

Thanks Range Life! Cop this single on iTunes, yo.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Knockouts


MP3: Sharon Van Etten - Don't Do It
MP3: Sharon Van Etten - Love More

Dude. I'm not gonna pretend like I had heard Sharon Van Etten before yesterday: that's not how I roll. But I'm also not gonna pretend that I haven't been listening to her new record "Epic" nonstop since then. It's fucking brilliant. I picked up her first record too, and it's way radical but this one is a total rocket ship to the moon. Check out these jams, and get yourself a copy of "Epic" from Ba Da Bing! Records asap, it is released October 5th.

Also, the on fire Polyvinyl is releasing a 7 inch single with 2 exclusive tracks come November. Snag a copy of "I'm Giving Up On You b/w You Didn't Really Do That" now and get an instant download. I did and I'm your friend so do it too.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Hot goddamn


Some things always meet expectations, some exceed. We've long come to expect Nick Cave and any of his Bad Seeds cohorts to give us a great record, but since Nocturama the game has changed. At the time, it felt odd; in retrospect, it was the band's farewell to it's moribund lounge-blues. Then his double disc opus Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, it was called amongst his best... then Grinderman, it was again praised... then Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!, again, rightfully praised. His soundtrack works were also heralded and provided further experimentation. Now we have Grinderman 2.

It could very well be euphoria from my own listening experience, but this might just be his/their best album to date.

Consistency post.


MP3: Japandroids - Heavenward Grand Prix

While these "chill" bands can be fun sometimes, in the end it lacks any kind of talent or passion. That's just a fact and I think why I like Japandroids so much is because they bring quality every single fucking time. They really get what they're doing and what's great about music in general: they never sound like they're not feeling it.

So I didn't even notice it until the single for "Heavenward Grand Prix" went up for sale online, but I always drop everything in order to get any new output from these dudes. That makes them my favourite band, or pretty fucking close. Download the a-side to this single, the 3rd in a series of 5. All passion. The PJ Harvey cover on the flip side is a curve ball, but a damn fine one at that.

Friday, September 10, 2010

FUCK YEAH: Ride, mother fuckers, ride.


MP3: Black Mountain - Let Spirits Ride

Black Mountain deliver their best album yet in "Wilderness Heart" and shine all over, but it's "Let Spirits Ride" that they reign supreme. Fuck yeah Friday!!

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Hot shit in a champaign glass.



The brilliance of "Slow" didn't hit me at first, but it was good enough for me to download and listen to a few times. Then it got better, and in the context of an album, it became great: it's just got those parts and harmonies that give me chills like music used to.

Twin Shadow's shockingly great "Forget" is well worth your time, and out September 28th from Terrible Records. Peep the video below.

Twin Shadow 'Slow' (NSFW) from Twin Shadow on Vimeo.

Sainthood


All Saints Day (feat. Katy from Vivian Girls) finally have a physical release coming out! Art Fag has created a 7 inch for the band, limited to 500 copies on black. Order yours now, mine shipped out asap which is rad if you're as impatient about waiting for mail as I am. While you're waiting, enjoy the b-side from the single dudes.

FUCK YEAH: Journey into mystery


MP3: Marnie Stern - Transparency Is the New Mystery

New Marnie Stern from her forthcoming self-titled LP3 coming out October 5th from Kill Rock Stars. Duh face duh, it fucking shreds, but I read in this interview that she wants to be more than a token baller guitar player, so lets try to appreciate her feelings too on top of how bad ass this shit is.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Deerhunter's Helicopter motion picture

DOPE


MP3: Curren$y - Breakfast

Curren$y's new LP "Pilot Talk" fully capitalizes on the popularity of weed in music this year, but it comes across as less gimmicky and more honest, probably because of all the video game references that are sprinkled throughout. This shit is way laid back, so much so that the guests on the record take note and tone it down some. Even the beats are chill, which is a breath of fresh air in the wafting smog of thick bass and over the top samples. Download this shit.

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

The greatest song ever



I haven't listened to Archers Of Loaf in ages.

If I had (and needed) a car I would blast this on a warm day like this one, windows down, for all to hear.

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Blah blah Arcade Fire.


MP3: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
MP3: Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

I didn't think I'd ever write this post. Arcade Fire are so well known and covered on the internet that who would really want or care for another blog post praising their latest long player "The Suburbs"? I know I wouldn't. The thing about Arcade Fire is that there is something so oft-putting about them, and it's not their fault or anything but it's just they're so over-hyped. That kind of shit is a real turn off. When their second record "Neon Bible" came out, I remember Matthew telling me how surprisingly good it was and I soon found myself agreeing with him. Did we post about it? No, because who gives a fuck.

But here we are, LP3 is upon us and I'm writing this post. "The Suburbs" is really really fucking great. Yeah, it's long but there is not one song on this sucker that feels like it's filler. Yes, it plays heavily on nostalgia which is typically annoying and an easy get, but it never feels insincere and is backed by sticky-as-glue songs that is a great example of musicianship at it's finest and most creative.

Check this out if you haven't already. I posted my 2 favourite songs from the album today and they're totally 5 star worthy on your iPod. Plus scope out the internet famous thewildernessdowntown.com for their google chrome music video.

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Hindsight high


The new video for Built to Spill's "Hindsight" from the still great There Is No Enemy. Very nostalgic, hoping to feel that way when I see these dudes play in Northampton at the end of the month!!