The Best Song Ever: Beachwood Sparks - Forget the Song [VIDEO/MP3]

MP3: Beachwood Sparks - Forget the Song

Beachwood Sparks

"Forget the Song"

The Tarnished Gold

Sub Pop 2012

How great is the new album?? BWS 4EVER!

The Best Song Ever: All Night Radio - Sad K [MP3]

MP3: All Night Radio - Sad K

With a new Beachwood Sparks album on the way, and our ever devotion to the them over here, I've been listening to a lot of All Night Radio. There's just something inherently gorgeous about the layers upon layers of psychedelia following in and out of one another. And the clarity! Each instrument is giving it's own space, coming and going in soft entrances. Our love of this album especially has led it to possibly being posted in full before The Slider, even. Enjoy.

Beachwood Sparks - Sparks Fly Again [MP3]

MP3: Beachwood Sparks - Sparks Fly Again

More new BWS! Sparks Fly Again? FUCK YEAH THEY DO!

Pre-order The Tarnished Gold, because who knows how long it'll be till we can get a shirt and tote from these dudes ever again?!

HOT TRAXXX: Beachwood Sparks - Forget the Song [MP3]

MP3: Beachwood Sparks - Forget the Song

Rejoice: The Sparks are back with a new record with the classic lineup! The Tarnished Gold comes out June 26th from their old pals Sub Pop and of course it's going to be good and of course the first song from it, "Forget the Song", is amazing. This is all obvious, why are we even talking about it?

FUCK YEAH: New BWS

We can't wait to hear the new album after this gem has emerged. Enjoy.

Close the Door Lightly When You Go

MP3: Beachwood Sparks - Close the Door Lightly When You Go

Speaking of Mascis, remember when the Beachwood Sparks recorded "Once We Were Trees" in his studio? And he played on it? That was cool.

Here's a song from those sessions, which appeared on the Rough Trade single for "By Your Side". Essential listening/have a great weekend everyone!

(PS: The Calming Seas has video of the Sparks live on Spanish television from back in the day! Check it: http://www.thecalmingseas.com/archives/671)

The Best Albums Of The Decade: #21 - Once We Were Trees

MP3: Beachwood Sparks - Yer Selfish Ways (Matt's pick)
MP3: Beachwood Sparks - The Hustler (Joey's pick)

#21 - Beachwood Sparks - Once We Were Trees
Sub Pop Records 2001

Oh shit we both like this record and put it at the same spot. You get a double dose in one post.

Matt On Once We Were Trees:

It was tough decision as to which Beachwood Sparks album to include, but ultimately, it's their last full-length that perfectly summates the band as the last purveyors of Gram Parsons' "Cosmic American Music".

Joey On Once We Were Trees:

We used to be bummed there was going to be no more Byrds or Gram Parsons music. Now we're bummed that their is no Beachwood Sparks music. Well, they are "back together" so we'll see... could be what the new decade needs. But this decade did just find with the Sparks and all related projects. Pitch perfect shit right here.

FARMER DAVE SCHER everybody!!

MP3: Farmer Dave Scher - Bab'lone Nights

This blog has and always will love anything Beachwood Sparks related, as the past can prove. So it doesn't take much to get me excited about a Farmer Dave Scher (BWS, All Night Radio, all your favourite bands) solo record.

It's coming real soon! "Flash Forward to the Good Times" comes out August 18th on Kemado Records, which isn't a surprise because they are the best record label ever. It's going to be great, and I will gladly accept a promotional copy and will buy the vinyl edition for sure.

To tide us over, Kemado subscription off-shoot Mexican Summer released an already sold out single in the form of "Bab'lone Nights b/w You Pick Me Up"; both hits and both appearing on the full length as well. You can track one of these down on Insound, but hurry up, because as stated they're all sold out otherwise.

So download today's mp3 as it's our post of the week/month/year/whatever. It might be the best song this blog ever posts; in fact I'm sure of it. Just in time for Summer too!

Beachwood Sparks: getting the band back together!

MP3: Beachwood Sparks - Surfing Saints

Now that I've found a gap in the essential postings, let's take a step back from some of the best news announced as of late. Sure, Sub Pop is turning 20 and to celebrate they are holding a festival in the summer, but playing are BEACHWOOD SPARKS!

You can't beat news like that. I say for those of us on the opposite coast we should set up a bus or something and hightail it over to Washington. We'll figure it out, but tickets are on sale now on the Sub Pop site and thanks to The Calming Seas (the most important site for BWS fans) they have a mini interview with drummer Aaron Sperske which can be found here. Keep an eye out for the mention of MORE GIGS! But sadly, it is looking like no Farmer Dave (fucking Interpol).

To celebrate this epic news, please enjoy this b-side from the Japanese release of the self-titled lp.

Beachwood Sparks

IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM!

Here it is, the end of the week and we finally made it to what it's all about, Beachwood Sparks. Myself and Matt chose some choice jams for you to enjoy, either for a new listener or someone who was sick of seeing A) nothing or B) "By Your Side" on the mp3 blogs. Enjoy!

JOEY:
MP3: Beachwood Sparks - Canyon Ride
MP3: Beachwood Sparks - The Hustler

What really did it for me with the band was their strong melodies and harmonies. Their songs are just perfect bits of pop and hooks that it was impossible for me not to get addicted. I couldn't choose one song, so I chose one from each of the full lengths. The high points of both songs are the chorus', infectious and addicting and full of passion and adventure. It makes sense, I swear it!

MATT:
MP3: Beachwood Sparks - You Take the Gold

Beachwood Sparks may just be the finest band of the decade. I know every time I listen to them I think just that. They did what they did so well, and "You Take The Gold" is an up tempo country number that rolls along with the ease of condensation down that glass of iced tea you're drinking on your porch right now. And seeing as how it's about the inadequacies of modern life and how the natural world should be appreciated more; and that's the sweetener.

---

So there you have it. What a fun week it has been and I hope we can pull together something like this soon in the future. Thanks for checking it out! For all your Beachwood Sparks needs, feel free to order some cds and vinyl from the folks at Sub Pop and to get super detailed check out the Calming Seas. They've got it all.

As a bonus, here is a video of the band playing one of my picks, "Canyon Ride", in a backyard in Los Angeles. Damn!

Mystic Chords of Memory

MP3: Mystic Chords of Memory - Golden Dome

IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM!

The sticker to the Mystic Chords of Memory's self titled lp states "the voice of the Beachwood Sparks". While everyone in that band chimed in, you will definitely hear that familiar voice of Chris Gunst when putting on their lp. The band, named after a Lincoln quote on Mount Rushmore, offers a sparse look at a talented songwriter. Their last effort, working with the DJ Nobody, added many layers and Gunst has appeared on the last 2 Dntel records. He seems to be trying many things but I do hope that if there is another MCOM lp, it will return to the roots of the first album, a near perfect effort from a near perfect songwriter.

{buy mystic chords of memory records from insound}

Frausdots

MP3: Frausdots - Broken Arrows
MP3: Frausdots - Soft Light

IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM!

The coolest thing about Frausdots was that bassist Brent Rademaker proved that he could be a frontman. Frausdots stray the most from post-BWS in my opinion (very dark in contrast to the Sparks), but keep the same ear for melody and catchy hooks that drew us into their songwriting.

The gems are many on their debut lp "Couture, Couture, Couture", standout tracks include opener "Dead Wrong" and "The Man Who Dreaded Sundown", but the 6 minute 23 second "Broken Arrows" is the perfect example on how great this band is. Rademaker of course is a highlight, but the vocals of co-dot Michelle Loiselle really bring it on home. Her contributions sprinkled over the songs combine to make a completely cohesive lp that stands on it's own, apart from the "ashes" of a band that never ended, and was dear to many. I do love All Night Radio, but I must take Matt's statement from yesterday's post and apply it here: "I consider this record to be one of the best Sub Pop releases ever."

I think another fine showcase of the interplay between Rademaker and Loiselle is "Soft Lights", with that perfect chorus and lyrics that stick in your mind. You'll be singing "I don't want to live forever baby" to yourself and your friends for weeks on end. Maybe that's just me, but the point is it's fucking catchy.

Other than an ep and some 7 inches, the band's output has been sparse (a running theme with all of these projects), but there is always word that Frausdots will create again soon. I know I am anxiously awaiting whatever they deliver.

{buy frausdots releases from insound}

All Night Radio

MP3: All Night Radio - Fall Down 7

IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM!

NOTE: Today's contribution to Beachwood Sparks week comes from Matt Giordano, who knows his Sparks. He once saw Farmer Dave on a subway, but said nothing because he wasn't sure if it was him or not. It was. Fuck yeah.

Choices can be tough. This one, for example was one of those. Although All Night Radio only released one full-length and a single, it's just one of those albums that's flat-out great. I consider this record to be one of the best Sub Pop releases ever, which is no surprise as it was the brainchild of two Beachwood Sparks' members. It must be fulfilling to some extent to know
one can just constantly be a part of genius.

{buy all night radio releases from insound}

Further

MP3: Further - Overrated
MP3: Further - Bazooka

Okay, so by "Sunday", I meant "Monday night". Oh well. Here is the big news:

IT'S BEACHWOOD SPARKS WEEK HERE AT FUCK YEAH! GO TEAM!

That's right, all week long we'll be posting about Beachwood Sparks side projects/related bands until Saturday, where myself and some contributors will be posting and writing about our favourite BWS jams. Why? Because it's summer, and they're one of the greatest bands we've ever known. Not good enough? Here's the proof in the Beachwood pudding...

Without Further, there would be no BWS. They held so many qualities of the "slacker" early 90's band, but did it while reminding us why that style was so loved. Catchy music to clever lyrics fueled several (sadly) out of print Further releases. Here are 2 of my favourites from the "Griptape lp", the opener "Overrated" to one of the highlights "Bazooka". Included in this post is the video for said track, which looks to be boring but really isn't. It's fueled by a great music track and fantastic musicians.

Tear apart your used bins at your local indie record store. I found 2 Further discs for 1.99 at my job. Amazing.