FUCK YEAH/HOT TRAXXX: Black Bananas - Physical Emotions [MP3]

MP3: Black Bananas - Physical Emotions

The last Black Bananas record, Rad Times Express IV, still gets a lot of play in my tape deck. This first single, "Physical Emotions" (from June 24th's album of the same name), is less guitar-ish and way more electronic, but no fear - it is still coming from a rockin' place.

What I'm trying to tell you is that this rules and is a rare/worthy case of qualifying for our FUCK YEAH/HOT TRAXXX stamp of approval. Quit sleeping and jam this fucking loud.

FUCK YEAH: Purling Hiss - Mercury Retrograde [MP3]

MP3: Purling Hiss - Mercury Retrograde

My biggest regret of my year living in Philadelphia was never seeing Purling Hiss live, despite many opportunities. I hope 2013 will bring them on a tour that hits PDX, but in the meantime I'm gonna jam the fuck out of Water on Mars. This record is A+++: what it lost in fuzz it gained in rock 'n roll. Download "Mercury Retrograde" asap and begin to truly enjoy your life.

Also I want to give a handshake to Drag City, who have been making cassette editions for most (or maybe all, I'm not sure) of their new releases. Way cool, this is gonna go great with my other 3 Hiss tapes.

Ty Segall - The Hill [STREAM]

Ty Segall delivers Twins in October, yet another effort from his very productive 2012. "The Hill" is the first single, which will also exist as a 7 inch with a b-side come September 4th from Drag City. Life is too good.

HOT TRAXXX: Black Bananas - Rad Times [MP3]

MP3: Black Bananas - Rad Times

Hot Zapp-g-funk-tastic Batman! Jennifer Herrema sure brings the party—and what better way to kick off 2012? Enjoy!

Ty Segall - Goodbye Bread [VIDEO/MP3]

MP3: Ty Segall - Goodbye Bread

Ty Segall
"Goodbye Bread"
Goodbye Bread
Drag City 2011
Director: Matt Yoka

New Meg Baird: The Finder

MP3: Meg Baird - The Finder

Some people release too much music, some just enough and too many not much at all - it's the Goldilocks theory. Meg Baird totally falls into the latter category, though now we're all lucky enough to anticipate a new album called Seasons on Earth, coming out on Drag City next month.

Everyone is older and wiser in the world and I guess this LP's is gonna reflect that - "The Finder" certainly makes me believe it. While her Philadelphia peers like Purling Hiss and Kurt Vile are painting the USA the color Philly one city at a time, 2011 seems prime for a lovely overtaking. All hail Queen Baird, mother fuckers.

Bun B Raw

MP3: Sun Araw - Trireme

Drag City's been getting younger by the minute, perhaps because the old guard is getting close to retirement. The Joos have already hung it hope (although a shove out of eternity would be much welcomed). Sun Araw, though, is quite prolific, and in the past year or two has really jumped to the forefront. I hear his next album is going to have a duet with Andre Benjamin on it. Enjoy.

FUCK YEAH: You Make the Sun Fry

MP3: Ty Segall - You Make the Sun Fry

Drag City premiered the first single from Ty Segall's forthcoming "Goodbye Bread" and woof: it rips hard (well, it's actually a bit more mellow but dude can't not approach things from a level of general badassery). June 21st can't come soon enough.

Mission Complete

MP3: Bill Callahan - Honeymoon Child

Since Daytrotter now have a session with the almighty Bill Callahan up for download, you may say that they've fulfilled their duty. Enjoy.

Nice Vadge Cover

MP3: Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Live In Muscle

Here's a track from the new Bonnie 'Price' Billy and Matt Sweeney collaboration. We're as stoked as you are for the return of the Superwolfsmen. Enjoy.

New Bill Callahan: Baby's Breath

MP3: Bill Callahan - Baby's Breath

We were pretty much dying to get any kind of audible glimpse into Bill Callahan's forthcoming "Apocalypse" album, and today the Drag City gods were kind enough to it's worshipers to deliver the goods.

"Baby's Breath" is the 2nd song on Callahan's coming April 19th LP, and of course: it's amazing. Was there any doubt of that? BC has been getting better with every album and 2009's "Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle" more than cemented his status of perfect songwriters.

So yeah, I know this song was going to be awesome and no shocker it's better than that. Awesome isn't even a good enough word for this, and I can't wait to hear more from this opus of the American badlands.

HOT TRAXXX: Fire Night

MP3: Cliffie Swan - Fire Night

Welcome to a new feature! Everyone loves new features right? Well, I think they're pretty cool at least. HOT TRAXXX is essentially kin to "The Best Song Ever", except it features more current music (re: under 5 years old? I don't know yet, you know we like to keep shit loose here) and are digested further by us in our personal lives, maybe we've been listening to a song a lot? We should check our iTunes play count? Whatever, before it gets nuts: just party on!

Cliffie Swan used to be called Lights until that got crazy confusing. During that time, back in 2009, they put out a record called "Rites" on Drag City. It always feels weird re-tagging already released music with a new band name, but seeing as I got into them post-Lights, I figured I'd give it a shot. Anyway, this song (and video) rule a whole fucking ton.

PLUS! Relevant news: member Sophia Knapp released a new 7 inch single today for "Nothing to Lose", also on DC. Get that here: http://www.dragcity.com/products/nothing-to-lose. I bet it's awesome. Anyone have a download?

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse - 4/19/11

It was a good day today because this image was in my inbox this morning with the following information:

4/19/11 BILL CALLAHAN APOCALYPSE LP/CD/DIGITAL

Count me in. Gonna be great!

The Best Song Ever: Punks in the Beerlight

MP3: Silver Jews - Punks in the Beerlight

I do miss the Silver Jews, but it never did get stale and the output left behind is genius. One of my favourite standouts is "Tanglewood Numbers" opener "Punks in the Beerlight". It's just perfect...

...As is it's music video, a mindfuck collage of clips from 1970's seminal sequel Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

The Best Song Ever: Vangelis Again

MP3: The Fucking Champs - Vangelis Again

Sorry I didn't post yesterday (APRIL FOOLS! I'm not sorry!), but today I am issuing a response to my friend Matthew Giordano's March 22nd entry. I see your Chorale Motherfucker and raise you Vangelis Again. Your move.

E pluribus Callahan

MP3: Bill Callahan - Diamond Dancer

MP3: Bill Callahan - Say Valley Maker

While we're all still enjoying "Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle", Bill Callahan drops us "Rough Travel For A Rare Thing", a live album full of solo and Smog classics. The recording quality is fucking awesome, so don't miss out on this. I know live albums mostly suck but this one doesn't, and is available now on double LP from Drag City.

The Best Song Ever: Chorale Motherfucker

MP3: The Fucking Champs - Chorale Motherfucker

While the world awaits a new Fucking Champs album, how does a little "Chorale Motherfucker" sound? For some reason I thought I had heard they broke up, but Wikipedia described them in the present tense, so that gives the world hope of Fucking VII. Who knows, perhaps it'll even have a L'Inferno referenced title...

Joanna Newsom murdered Jimmy Fallon

Joanna Newsom was on Fallon last night and killed it (duh). Check out her performance of "Soft As Chalk" above.

Have One On Me

(click for full size)

Drag City posted this on their website. If it's a new Joanna Newsom album or art or whatever, that's cool but mainly that is a fucking bad ass comic strip.

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!