Oops.

Hey friends. Our server is down for the week, which means all mp3s are temporarily unavailable until then. Also, you may have seen some posts appear this week with inactive mp3s: I will repost them next week when the server returns and we can pretend this never happened. Deal?

Thanks for your patience!

Bill Callahan and the enveloping gloom.

MP3: Bill Callahan - Faith/Void

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the Matt Giordano, who sent in this post in perfect conjunction with my recent Smog/BC kick. Extremely enjoyable? Fuck yeah!

It's been a while since I've gotten an album that I am initially floored by. Perhaps it's the gloom that envelops New York for nine months of the year, but this album fits perfectly with it all. Perhaps, though, it's the album itself—dare I say it...perfect? With Bill Callahan one expects quality, but this record exceeds that highly set bar. Beautifully arranged and calm, with his voice as steady as ever. This is the best album I've heard in the first few months of this year—and it could also be Bill Callahan's best work.

Get Loney.

MP3: Loney Dear - Airport Surroundings
MP3: Loney Dear - I Got Lost

Frequent contributor Matt Giordano pointed out a little while back that it was insane how this blog hasn't posted anything about Loney Dear's newest record "Dear John", which came out this past January. It's true: it's insane. I think that he's our most posted artist (or close to) and we've gushed over this music so many times. We haven't been sitting on it: I know that I've had the vinyl at my home since it's release and am really into it. Let us forgive the mistakes of the past and make nice on internal promises: here it is, at long last, the "Dear John" post.

Every review I've read has pointed out how sad this one is, and yes that's true. Your mood will drop at least 10% when giving this a spin, but hopefully your taste will be sharpened and you will notice how precious this record is. It's Loney Dear's most everything: sad, focus, cohesive and fully realized music. That doesn't matter: it's every bit as exciting and infectous as this was when you first discovered it. Don't give up on this just yet, as is the curse with early year release dates, give it a listen with fresh ears. It'll work wonders.

The mighty return of Montt Mardié.

MP3: Montt Mardié - Bang, Bang (Echo In Warsaw)

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the Matt Giordano, who might like fine carpeting. Do you? Fuck yeah!

After an excessively unneeded "Best of" compilation (the three new songs are killer and serve as a segue to this) which took from two albums, Montt Mardié's proper label delivers us his third album. Out on the 9th April via Hybris, Skaizerkite finds Montt bidding adieu to the big band leanings of his first two albums in favor of a more refined, yet still luchly arranged, sound. The pop is turned up a few notches, and if you could call this anything it would be his arena-rock album. I expect the shows in support of this to be equally triumphant and huge.

The Best Song Ever: Give Him A Great Big Kiss

MP3: The Shangri-Las - Give Him A Great Big Kiss

Golly, I wish I was on top of great music in my high school years, because "Give Him A Great Big Kiss" by the Shangri-Las has all of the instructions of landing a bad ass woman: shades, be tall and be good bad, not evil. Then you can dance close all night long and make her wanna shout "L U V!".

If you dig this (and why wouldn't you), seek out anything by one of the best girl groups of all time.

Bonus:

Pow! Pow! Ow! (A closer look at Gun Outfit)

MP3: Gun Outfit - Troubles Like Mine
MP3: Gun Outfit - The Valley

Holy shit, I wanna party with Gun Outfit! I posted on their 7 inch last year and loved it a ton, and now they're back with "Dim Light", 8 songs that rip through and rule just as much as the 7 inch if not a little more. Real relaxed and gnar, just how everybody loves it.

Don't miss this one from PPM, cd comes with the 7 inch songs for your digital obsessions and materials. Fuck yeah!

Nite Jewel, you burned my eye.

MP3: Nite Jewel - What Did He Say

Man, how I wish Nite Jewel's "Good Morning" lp was better than it is. Still, it's pretty okay and there's a couple of rippers like "What Did He Say" (mp3 above) and "Artificial Intellegence" (radical video below). Maybe I'll plant it and hope it grows...

Women Women Women

MP3: Women - Shaking Hand

I was certainly a casual observer of Women before I saw them live last week with Abe Vigoda, now I am a convert. Digging the album, but REALLY digging "Shaking Hand". What a fucking ripper eh?

FUCK YEAH: Children round 2.

MP3: Children - Power Spirit

What the fuck: We haven't done a 'FUCK YEAH' post since October. That is weak, though it isn't my fault as music has been particularly vagina-like for a good bunch of months now. In fact, 2009 hasn't really delivered anything worth jamming hard at all... until now.

Children are the most exciting new band ever. I wanked off about their "Death Tribe" one track lp back in July of last year and had been anticipating anything and everything from them since. Here it is: Kemado delivers "Hard Times Hanging At The End Of The World" on May 12th and we are frothing at the mouth until our hands can grasp it.

In the meantime, "Power Spirit", the first teaser from the lp will be rocked as loud as technology will allow repeatedly until ears bleed and minds burst wide fucking open. It is on.

Hard Times Hanging At The End Of The World (Kemado Records)

Release Date: May 12, 2009

Tracklisting
1. Advanced Mind Control
2. Nuclear Bummer
3. Power Spirit
4. Hard Times Hangin . . .
5. Subterranean Cities

Beware!

MP3: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I Don't Belong to Anyone

Holy shit, here it is: mp3 post #250:

We love Will Oldham and his Bonnie 'Prince' Billy records, so much so that I bought his newest record "Beware" on all 3 formats. Jeeeeez. Completely worth it though, and what an album it is. It certainly is his most accessible which would explain the massive press push Drag City is doing behind it, but accessible doesn't mean terrible. It's interesting to hear Oldham's definition of pop music and he shines all throughout "Beware", with his passion on it almost as strong as all of the pedal steel playing.

On a related note, I've got tickets to see him here in Lawrence on April 7th and am quite excited. The Granada is no Apollo Theater, but it'll do.

The Best Song Ever: Cunts Are Still Running the World

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Cunts Are Still Running the World

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from the Matt Giordano, whom I just saw in the flesh about 2 weeks back. He exists? Fuck yeah!

Some people are always ahead of the mass trend, and such has always been the case with Jarvis Cocker. Nary three years after he released his debut single, which you can download above, it's come to be much more relevant than it was when authored, which is quite a feet by the world indeed. As faith is losing in the current world structure at a faster rate than the economic slide, it's this impressive and witty retort to them all that's becoming truer by the day. Indeed, Jarvis, cunts are still running the world. And if you (or your publicist or manager) happen to be reading this, next time you're in New York, send an email and let's get a drink.

Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak...

MP3: Susanna - Jailbreak

I've been sitting on this song forever. Seriously, I've moved it down on my uploaded mp3s list on the server countless times, hoping to one day write a post to do it justice. I uploaded it on October 29th of last year... jeez.

So I don't know if I can finally fulfill my self impossed obligation to "Jailbreak", but it's time to dust it off. Here is what you need to know: Susanna has a beautiful voice and put out a beautiful record of covers from all the best bands. She opens with this song, which is by Thin Lizzy who is honestly one of my favourite bands ever. Finally (and here's where it gets perfect) she gets Bonnie 'Prince' Billy to sing on it with her. Fuck yeah. You can't beat it.

Have a great weekend everybody, it felt really fucking good to do a full week of posts again. It's been... who knows how long. Hope to keep up the momentum even a little bit. See you soon!

The hottest boyz.

MP3: Casiotone For the Painfully Alone w/ Dear Nora - Hot Boyz

A collection of b-sides and singles from Casiotone For the Painfully Alone is a dream come true for any fan, and the recently released "Advance Base Battery Life" is everything you could hope for.

The biggest gem that had gone over my head in my collecting days was "Hot Boyz", a Missy Elliot cover that showed up on a States Rights Records comp way back when. It's a collaboration with the criminally underrated Dear Nora, who takes on lead vocals for one of the most awkwardly charming and completely sincere genre bending takes I've ever heard. It's a sore thumb and has been on heavy repeat for as long as I've had it.

Don't forget to be on the lookout for "Vs. Children", the next great Casiotone masterpiece coming next month. I already like it a whole bunch myself.

Wives b-sides for you & yours.

MP3: Wives - Facelift
MP3: Wives - Wives Hate Police
MP3: Wives - Fun Fun Fun

I bought the Wives' record "Erect the Youth Problem" from a seller on Amazon and ended up getting the import version. Radical. It came with 3 b-sides from 7 inches. Wives are ex-No Age, eat it up.

Brilliant Colors with no u.

MP3: Brilliant Colors - Should I Tell You
MP3: Brilliant Colors - Not This One

Here's a quick one: I went to the record store the other day and the owner told me to check this 7 inch out by Brilliant Colors as it was up my alley. Intrigued by what it could sound like, I took the chance and that man was right: this is great. I'd say it reminds me of lo-fi punk pop riot grrrl fun smile garage greatness. Can't wait for more.

A frightening journey through Little Hells.

MP3: Marissa Nadler - Mary Come Alive

"Little Hells" is not a title to be taken lightly: this album is fucking scary. Sure, you can be allow yourself to be fooled by Marissa Nadler's familiar reverb soaked vocals or the sense of hope found in new instrumentation, but BE WARNED! You will die here if you go in seeking light.

Yes, this record is wonderful. We knew that. Nadler's last one, "Songs III: Bird On the Water" was my #1 album of 2007 and this will more likely than not be #1 this year. It's just a breathtaking piece of art, dark and brooding and something new and different, which is tough to do. I'm so attatched to the last one that I thought it impossible to fully take this one in, but it's a testament to her as a songwriter of how timeless and perfect these songs are. I continue to be in your debt MN. Don't miss this!

St. Vincent walking on a street, looking at the strangers.

MP3: St. Vincent - The Strangers

It took me a long time (probably too long) to really absorb and love St. Vincent's last record "Marry Me". Since I've heard this song "The Strangers" from her upcoming "Actor" lp, I think I am fully on board. I especially like the dirty guitar action at the end. Very excited to hear the rest.

"Actor" sees release May 5th from 4AD. Pre-order right here and get a free limited 7 inch while you can. I did!

Sorta like a dream? No, better.

MP3: Air France - Collapsing At Your Doorstep

It's interesting how an iPod can change the way I take in records. I've had one for years, but over Christmas I got one of the newer, fancier models which has caused me to put anything on it I can find. Imported are cds from the library, promo cds I'd normally never touch, zip files in the email or digital vinyl downloads. I've found I need it all, in order to have an impressive and proper music library.

Doing this causes a lot of albums to get over looked. I am a compulsive music shuffler when it comes to iPods, getting off on the thrill of hearing 2 songs that don't normally go together yet somehow they work or having some music I loved in high school or something that I hadn't appreciated in quite sometime pop up. The biggest joy of all is hearing a song you've never heard before come on and change your life completely.

I bet you can see where this is going now. It was Wednesday night and I was driving to the grocery store to buy some feel better food for my girlfriend who had been sick all day long. I'm feeling a little lonely yet concerned and paying hardly any attention to anything except the road ahead of me. Then it happens: "Collapsing At Your Doorstep" by Air France comes on and it is total game changer. It's hard to believe that something so perfect has been lying dormant on this machine for so long now. Of course, with the song being so good, I had to listen to the record from the start in hopes that the entire opus is up to that caliber. Good news: it is.

Air France is a group I've been aware of for some time and I remember hearing a song from them on a blog once and liking it, which is why I grabbed the record when I saw it, but I never got to listening to it. Shame on me. Besides the fact that they're from Sweden and on the phenomenally radical Sincerely Yours label, the reason to pay attention to them is that they're fucking great. It's everything bands try to be nowadays: sparse and artificial while sounding completely full and organic all the while making use of killer samples. Who knows if they're trying very hard or not, but it comes off so natural that it requires a deep breath and your full attention. So give it, completely.

Can't wait for the next one guys, though I am happy to take "No Way Down" in for the year ahead.

Shoegaze in the soil with Dead Mellotron

MP3: Dead Mellotron - Nothing I Ever Imagined
MP3: Dead Mellotron - Saltwater (Beach House cover)

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from Matt Giordano, who is wearing his shoegaze on his feet. Or something. Fuck yeah!

I was sent this today by my friend Paul, and damn, it's a pretty good shoegazey-pop confection. Dead Mellotron mix the perfect amount of fuzz and ambiance in there, and it's just the work of one dude. It harks back to the glory days of the JAMC and My Bloody Valentine (and new-gazers The Legends), yet with a slight more preciousness that eases the tension. There's a link to download the EP, but click fast: http://www.mediafire.com/?gnjhczofjtm. Enjoy!

Nar Wavves

MP3: Wavves - Gun In the Sun
MP3: Wavves - No Hope Kids

NOTE: Today's contribution comes from Matt Giordano, who is riding high on the hype wavve. Surfs up? Fuck yeah!

Wavvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvves is the new hot shit. Blogs are saying that==========THEY ARE MORE VALID THAN THE GUARDIAN. Seriously though, the fickle "flogosbere" as we'll now call it, has found its new band for 2009. Wavves slay much gash though, and their second, oh so soon second album is going to be one of the year's best recieved, and aptly so. Neo-punk in the vain of No Age, Abe Vigoda. et all. Tie your shoes and grease your elbows for the mosh pit.

"Wavves" is out on March 17th from Fat Possum.