The Octopus Project

MP3: The Octopus Project - Upmann

MP3: The Octopus Project - Ghost Moves

NOTE: HAPPY 100 MP3 POSTS (or is it happy halloween?)! Be one of the first 2 or 3 people (depending on the amount of requests, if there's any) to send your full name, email and mailing addresses to unicorntastic@gmail.com and I will send you cd-rs containing every track we're ever posted thus far, plus other goodies! Insane! Expires this weekend, so get on it sucka!

Usually when I get cd packages for promotional reasons, I am not aware of the band. Receiving the Octopus Project's newest effort caused me to be giddy and I didn't know why. I threw it on immediately and it wasn't until I was reading their bio that it hit me: these dudes did that killer collaboration disc with the amazing Black Moth Super Rainbow! Duh! From there, this already fantastic disc got only more enjoyable.

"Hello, Avalanche" opens with a dream before the actual avalanche starts. From there, it's audible snow falling on top of your ears the whole way through, until the closing "Queen" sings you to safety, shocking you at first before realizing it's the only way out.

A 90% intrumentaltastic effort, The Octopus Project deliver a 13 song heap of goodness, keeping you moving but making sure you stop to enjoy the scenery, largely in part to gentle guitars and the world's greatest instrument: the fucking theremin. This was another post where I could've put up the entire lp, as it was REALLY hard to choose a favourite. Luckily, if you look below, I've posted a link so you can stream the entire thing, thanks to the sweethearts at Fantatic.

Finally, for your viewing pleasure, here is the video for avalanche starter "Truck". Hope you like awesomeness!


"Hello, Avalanche" is out now on Peek-A-Boo Records.

THE OCTOPUS PROJECT GIGS:

10/31 Oklahoma City, OK Opolis
11/01 Lawrence, KS Replay lounge
11/02 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
11/03 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
11/05 Seattle, WA Chop Suey
11/06 Vancouver, BC Media Club
11/07 Portland, OR Holocene %
11/08 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill
11/08 Visalia, CA Howie's
11/10 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy
11/11 San Diego, CA Casbah %
11/12 Tucson, AZ Plush
11/13 Phoenix, AZ Modified
11/14 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
11/15 Lubbock, TX Jake's
11/17 Austin, TX Emo's

% = w/ Enon

{stream "hello, avalanche" from fanatic promotion}
{purchase the octopus project recordings from the band}

Marissa Nadler in the sand.

MP3: Marissa Nadler - Cowgirl In the Sand

Dear Marissa Nadler,

I think you should know something: your record, "Songs III: Bird On the Water" is 99.9% going to be my #1 album of 2007.

Releasing it in the states with 4 bonus downloadable tracks, demos and covers on Stereogum, the new Daytrotter session and now another Neil Young cover, is all very wonderful. Not that you needed it, but I'm pretty sure doing all of that created the .1% needed to allow you to bring home the gold. Congratulations!

I love "Cowgirl In the Sand", and you covering it (with assistance from Black Hole Infinity) keeps my heart pumping.

Your fan,

Joey.

Welcome

MP3: Welcome - Natural Frost

MP3: Welcome - Bunky

I fucking love Welcome and their 2007 release of "Sirs". As I wanted to hold off on what I was intending to post today (and have been for oh so long), I decided to finally get on top of one of those "meaning to post for too many goddamn months" entries, so here we are...

It is autumn. No really, it is; look outside (hopefully you're in New England, like me, enjoying the world's sexiest possible fall season), breathe in the brisk air, rake your leaves, drink your apple cider and then turn off the fucking folk records. I am guilty of this too, so who am I to judge? But every now and then, you sort of wake up from a haze and want to get your life on the right track, not with a hop but a karate kick and the best way you can do that is with rock and roll.

Welcome put out a record called "Sirs" back in March here in the states (you lucky bastards overseas got it in November 06, you suck/rule) on the wonderful Fat Cat (No Age, Tom Brosseau, all your favourite bands) and when I was working at the record shop back then, my co-worker discovered and fell in love with this record. Being a complete wanker, it took me a couple of tries before fully realizing that this band had done it: they released a complete melting pot lp filled with everything upbeat and wonderful about rock music. It's so dirty yet cohesive, cluttered and catchy with vocals from the best of both genders, begging to be turned up at the highest volume on endless speakers, kicking your enemy's teeth in and laughing about it over a pint.

I could really post the whole record and I think half the reason it took me so long to put this up was because I didn't know what songs to put up, but here are 2 that I think are a great starting point. If you like what you hear, it only gets better: track this down. Fuck yeah.

PS! To the band in Connecticut called Welcome, change your fucking name! I'm sick of the let down I get every time I see you dudes on a flier and find out it's you.

{purchase welcome recordings from insound}

Loney, Dear: "I thought it was a word."

MP3: Loney, Dear - A Band
MP3: Loney, Dear - I Love You (In With the Arms)


NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the Swede that never was: Matt Giordano. Last time we hung out, we were wasted and got delicious fries at like 4 in the morning. Fuck yeah.

ALSO: This is round 2 of our 2007 Loney, Dear coverage. Enjoy round 1.

This (re)release has gone somewhat under the radar, but Loney, Dear's fantastic Sologne finally hit retailers stateside. Seeing as how it's the time of year for sweaters, and about a year since I first saw him/them live (both shows in which I dragged the proprietor of this site to). I was smitten initially with the music, but it took Joey a few months to reach that level. The music is just so pretty, and like an old friend, recalls sweaters, tea and just the overall warm one gets from being around great people as the darkness and cold weather begins to surround us.

Three tickets to Acapulco

MP3: Bob Dylan and the Band- Goin' to Acapulco

MP3: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Goin' to Acapulco

MP3: Jim James and Calexico - Goin' to Acapulco

"Goin' to Acapulco" is a song I never paid attention to that much. Sure, "The Basement Tapes" from Bob Dylan and the Band is an enjoyable affair, but it's not exactly a stand out track by any means.

So why have Will Oldham and Jim James, some of my favourite songwriters and two of the greatest living American artists currently recording and performing, covered this song? Perhaps it is the general challenge behind it: it is not short and the instrumentation chosen to illustrate it are only semi-conventional. It must be the lyrics. After all, who cannot relate to wanting to escape somewhere far to a sweet woman's home, who puts it to you "as plain as day" and gives it to you "for a song"?

Taking a song away from it's lp is and making it create a completely different mini concept is hard, and backing that song's single with 2 songs you didn't write is damn near impossible. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy did just that when he released his single for "Lay and Love" earlier this year, adding 2 Bob Dylan covers to follow the title track, and (along with the artwork) created a 3 track ep of love. I believe Will Oldham covered "Goin' to Acapulco" because of the song's character "Rose Marie", keeping the song sparse other than a commanding trumpet and a rhythm section, slowing down to make sure all the feelings and emotions conveyed have their time to be taken in fully.

Jim James' contribution to the soundtrack of the upcoming "I'm Not There" Dylan biopic finds himself being backed by the mighty Calexico (who does multiple duties all over the album), almost leading the song with strong horns and wonderful drums but as we all know, it's impossible to trump the stellar vocals of James. The wonderful thing about these mp3s are that they're all led by unique and fantastic vocalists, and if anything what makes this special is completely all Jim James. As a whole it works, but without him, it is just any other cover, destined to get lost in the shuffle of obscure Dylan covers.

So while I passed over "Goin' to Acapulco" initially, hearing these 2 great interpretations from the people I trust made me want to go back and take the song in fully. I don't know if I understand it any better, but the covers help make the song a lot more fulfilling.

FUCK YEAH: Bangers & Cash

MP3: Bangers & Cash - Loose (featuring Amanda Blank)


NOTE: Today's contribution comes from our own banger Matt Giordano, who I'm going twirl with all next week for CMJ during his off-work hours. Will we prevail over music evil? Fuck yeah.

This shit kills. Spank Rock and Benny Blanco have teamed up to create some of the best party jams of the year, and this track is one of the best of the lot (actually they're all pretty great). Harkening as much 2 Live Crew as humanly possible, they're (along with the debut Spank Rock album) making hip-hop fun again, and that's all music should be about. It's stuff like this that should be number one on the Billboard charts instead of wankers like 50 Cent. Enjoy.

(joey says: here is the art for loose, as it is too genius not to include. go nuts.)

Wyclef Jean: Bringing the Carnival back to town

MP3: Wyclef Jean - Apocalypse

MP3: Wyclef Jean - Yele

I have to question Wyclef Jean's decision to release his newest album as "The Carnival II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant". I only just last night found out about it thanks to Stereogum and I wonder something: did he go into the studio with songs in mind as a proper sequel to 1997's brilliant "Wyclef Jean Presents: The Carnival Featuring Refugee All Stars" or did he come out with a record that he thought was so good, it was worthy of "Carnival" billing? I mean, of course I suspect this is a way for him to bring fans back, after years of lackluster material, but I also hope it can come through.

The passion behind the Carnival is odd: Wyclef really didn't need to put his all in, as he was a famed producer and member of the Fugees. So why the effort? I suppose it could have been because he wanted to make a name for himself; for his songwriting/producing talents, his Haitian background, his guitar playing and his varied tastes. The Carnival was all over the place musically: it was hip hop, it was folk, it was salsa and it was orchestral. Of course, you can't mention genres without mentioning one of the lp's biggest hits "We Trying to Stay Alive", featuring a sample of the Bee Gee's hit "Stayin' Alive". In a time when it was a race to sample a hit song of yesteryear, no one was more fit to helm the challenge of putting a beat to the disco anthem like Wyclef. At the top of his game, he turned in a faithful track full of that party attitude, drunk on whiskey-stoned out of my gourd-head bobbing-where are the fine looking ladies flavour the 90's mainstream hip hop audience had come to love and crave. "We Trying to Stay Alive" was his debut solo track to the world, introducing us to a capable solo performer and a classic album.

Another key theme throughout "The Carnival" is the skits centering a courtroom trial. Skits are nothing new in rap albums, but rarely are they funny to anyone but the artist. Wyclef's delivered nothing but gold (I've asked around, to confirm that I wasn't the only one in on the joke), a highlight being the closing argument with it's "bishop/bullshit" quip; a shining example of genreless wit.

My final note would be the amount of beauty and honesty with the declarations of love throughout the songs. This can be found on "Mona Lisa" and most would cite the famously popular, Bob Dylan video cameo laden, string fueled "Gone Till November", but not I. What hit me early on, listening to a cd-r version of the record given to me by a friend in high school was the should-be-closer "Yele". I did not understand the words one bit, but the guitar and previously mentioned passion spoke to me more than lyrics could. I would sit in my room, listening to the track on repeat, marveling at the world out there I did not understand but hoped to one day fully experience in my adult years (I'm still working on it for the record).

So I leave you with that track and the second song/real opener "Apocalypse", a true representation of an instant classic. Can Wyclef ignore years of past failures to recapture his initial spark and happen on lightning striking twice? Of course I like others have my doubts, but that doesn't mean I'm crossing my fingers extra hard not just for him, but for my listening pleasure. The prospect of bookending my early years and my current exploits with another Carnival is admittedly exciting. Good luck 'Clef. Knock em dead, for me.

The Je Ne Sais Quoi

MP3: The Je Ne Sais Quoi - I See It Faint Tonight

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from Macy's own Matt Giordano, who by sending this in is saving my ass while I finish my vacation this week. Fuck yeah.

Wow, I didn't see the this one coming. The new album by The Je Ne Sais Quoi entitled "Rhythm" is one of the best of the year. This track, "I See It Faint Tonight", is flat-out proof on how they have expanded their sound, and is a danceable song with a gorgeous melody and a ridiculously tight hook. In fact, that statement could be made for the entire album, and it wouldn't be exaggerating. Of all the bands thrown under the "dance-punk" umbrella, this year belongs to The Je Ne Sais Quoi, as they are unabashedly doing it the best.

FUCK YEAH: Danava

MP3: Danava - Quiet Babies Astray In A Manger

I honestly have no idea how I missed out on Danava for so long. I saw promos of it lying around all the time when I was working at a record store, they're on the wonderful/near flawless Kemado Records and they're from Portland. But they went over my head, until recently when my friend was bumping their self titled record on red wax. It was described to me as Black Sabbath meets Led Zeppelin, which I can totally agree with, though I'd suggest you add drugs into that.

The songs are long (I don't think any of them are under six minutes) but they fucking rule beyond all belief. It's an album that will have you pressing play over and over again, as it flows into itself. 5 songs never sounded so good.

{purchase danava recordings from kemado}

Akron/Family

MP3: Akron/Family - Crickets
MP3: Akron/Family - Phenomena

While on my adventurous train ride to Salt Lake City, Utah (which also explains my absence from the blog world) I was able to stop in Chicago to grab the new Akron/Family masterpiece "Love Is Simple". I had a long walk back to the train station and while sitting I opened up the cd to find I was given 2 dvds instead of the expected cd/dvd package. So I walked back, exchanged it, and again walked back. I almost collapsed. Then my train got delayed for almost 10 hours.

So thank you to Akron/Family for making it all worth it and giving my sanity a soundtrack. I was excited for "Love Is Simple" and it did not disappoint. The boys seem to put out records yearly and (as of last year) will yearly end up on my best of list. Fuck yeah.

{purchase akron/family recordings from insound}

The Owls

MP3: The Owls - Air

In my relationship history, I find that I never learn of any new music from my ladyfriend. I don't know if that is because I date girls with shitty taste or that I'm stubborn (probably a cocktail of the two), but at the end they walk away with new favourite bands and I've got nothing.

Luckily, once upon a time, I did get a band out of it. That bands is the Owls, a band with feather light vocals and butterfly kisses of instruments. My first song was "Air", a gentle pop gem that was like a seed, and before I knew it I loved the Owls so much, they were as a big as a tree in my heart.

They've been low key for many years (the "Our Hopes and Dreams" ep came out in 2004), but researching for this post brought me great news: They will release the 14 song "Daughters and Suns" this October (I think once again on the great Portland label Magic Marker). The first pressing even comes with a dvd! I have no idea what to expect, but if they expand on the potential brought on by "Air" and the rest of their ep, it will be a contender for your best of 2007 list. Bring it on Owls.

{purchase the owls recordings from magic marker records}

Juvelen

MP3: Juvelen - Watch Your Step

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the original gangsta Matt Giordano, who hopes to get the band back together in December. Fuck yeah.

Juvelen is currently making some of the best flat-out pop music these days, and that's quite an accomplishment. He released his debut EP, which this track is from, this past January with an LP proper due later this fall. Resurrecting all that is great about pop music—and coincidentally what has been missing from it for almost two decades—Juvelen has actually brought sexy back, as opposed to those who have claimed to.

{purchase juvelen recordings from it's a trap}

Wooden Shjips

MP3: Wooden Shjips - We Ask You to Ride

The 5 song, half hour plus self titled lp from Wooden Shjips is simply put a maze. You enter through "We Ask You to Ride", which starts off innocently enough and then before you know it, you're lost. Every time you get somewhere new, you realize you're still getting deeper longer and longer each time. By the time you've exited after the 10:18 "Shine Like Suns", you feel an emptiness and get ready to enter the maze again.

Seriously, this is a wonderful effort of psychedelic drone, spilling over your body and near perfectly hypnotizes you through it's currents, rocking your fucking skull apart. Recommended with some fresh air and a thick coat.

{purchase wooden shjips recordings from insound}

Black Lips

MP3: Black Lips - Navajo
MP3: Black Lips - Bad Kids

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the beloved Matt Giordano, whom I'll hopefully be having a serious bro down with this weekend. High fives and a couple of pints? Fuck yeah.

Sometimes it may better to wait for an album to actually be released to it give a listen, and such was the case for me with the new Black Lips album "Good Bad Not Evil". I wish this album was released in June, as its rather sunny, and could easily have been one of the feel-good hits of said just past summer (although technically speaking we'll have to wait a few more days). Anyway, the two tracks I'm giving you here are just great pop songs filtered through that lo-fi jangle of the Black Lips.

{purchase black lips recordings from insound}

Scout Niblett

MP3: Scout Niblett - Kiss

"Kiss" hit the blogs hard. You might be over it, but I certainly am not. It is a track good enough to tease you and get you beyond amped for the upcoming "This Fool Can Die Now" from Scout Niblett. How do you start the hype? A duet with Will Oldham of course, a man who 87% never does wrong. Niblett provides audible glue, sticking with you and sprinkling glee all over your heart.

"This Fool Can Die Now" is released in the cd/lp formats October 15th from Too Pure.

{purchase scout niblett recordings from insound}

No Age

MP3: No Age - I Wanna Sleep

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from Matt Giordano, who actually wrote this a couple of weeks ago, before the album came out here in the states. So he had crazy cred, except I took forever to post it, thus robbing him of all possible kudos. Sorry? Fuck yeah.

It's slightly humourous that I found out about this band whilst in London two months ago, seeing as how they're from L.A. and all, but it just seems appropriate due to the fact I was surrounded by a couple of great up-and-coming designers and noise enthusiasts. To put it bluntly, No Age fucking rips, but not in the typical sense. Their songs mirror angst and drip punk ethos, yet are so well written and arranged that the listener empathises with the subject and recognises the beauty in what's being lost. Their debut compilation "Weirdo Rippers" is available on 28 August in North America (it's already been out in the UK for two months). Not only does this disc come highly recommended, but it is one of the years most fully-realized debut outputs, and that's quite an accomplishment.

{buy no age recordings from insound}

Jens Lekman

MP3: Jens Lekman - And I Remember Every Kiss

MP3: Jens Lekman - Friday Night At the Drive-In Bingo

Yes friends. Today is the day. I was thinking "Wednesday, a good day to continue neglecting the blog" but no. I was wrong. So here you are, the first and last track from Jens Lekman's "Night Falls Over Kortedala". It's big, it's sweet, it's pop gold.

This album is sure to make a fan out of anyone (do people still not like Jens? Are they in prison, where you cannot hear his songs?) and it's by far his most consistent to date.

"Night Falls Over Kortedala", out October 9th in the states from Secretly Canadian.

Health

MP3: Health - Crimewave

MP3: Health - Perfect Skin

The best thing about about the upcoming self titled cd from Los Angeles foursome Health? It sounds fucking good. Recorded at the Smell, an all ages venue with vintage equipment (such as ribbon microphones used for 1930 radio broadcasts), this 11 song album will sound like pure gold through your speakers during it's near 29 minute run. While it's short and sweet, it manages to cut through the bullshit and deliver something so grand that it requires countless repeat listens.

The album tends to challenge the listener with droning beats before bursting into absolute brilliance, best seen in the dreaminess found in the middle of "// M \\" which is bookended by pounding drums before coming to it's center of goodness. Speaking of the drums, they sound beyond huge. The band, giving off hints of Lightning Bolt and Liars at times, make use of their creativity and push into noises so interesting and catchy it becomes a new form of infectious.

Rarely will you find an album that is different but flows completely throughout it's run in your cd player. This is that album, and it is highly recommended. With many high profile remixes and a tour coming to (most likely) your city this month and next, now is the time to hop on the Health bandwagon. I will bet this band will make plenty of waves soon enough.

{pre-order health's self titled cd from insound and get a free 7 inch}

FUCK YEAH: Huey Lewis & the News

MP3: Huey Lewis & the News - You Crack Me Up

NOTE: Today's contribution, in his first FUCK YEAH! post, comes from Matt Giordano, who clearly is enjoying his weekend off. Are you? Fuck yeah.

For my latest post I'd like to revisit one of the most influential bands of the past twenty-five years, Huey Lewis & the News. Huey and the lads are still touring these days, and what better way to move into the Labour Day week than hearing an anthem you'll be more than likely to play at that weekend's cookout most of you will be having. The News provided a generation of people with songs perfect for blasting outdoors at any type of celebration, and you'd be rocking to it with a Budweiser in hand and your Wayfarers on. Pure, classic rock'n'roll about not drunk driving, which is even more appropriate for the upcoming Labour Day weekend. Booyah.

FUCK YEAH: Big Business

MP3: Big Business - Grounds For Divorce
MP3: Big Business - Start Your Digging

What you may have missed {week} nears it's end!

Big Business. Big FUCKING Business. Sure, you can look at the dudes' past bands (uhhh Karp?! Murder City Devils?!) or the fact that they're in the Melvins. That's all killer on it's own but what really counts is that Big Business are a band. An awesome band.

"Here Come the Waterworks" came out earlier this year and I fear that some people may have missed it. It's a solid effort and a fantastic follow up to their debut "Head For the Shallow". Working with producer Phil Ek (Built to Spill, most everything awesome), the dudes crafted 8 songs, all brutal and catchy (tell me "Start Your Digging" doesn't have one of the best riffs you've heard in like forever).

Part of the appeal of Big Business is their attitude. The liners are full of trophy's and giant foam number one fingers. It's nice to see people who love what they do, and you get the feeling that they would listen to themselves if someone else was making these records.

But luckily, no one else is. Thank god for Big Business. Fuck yeah!

{buy big business recordings from hydra head/blue collar distro}