SONG: New A.A. Bondy

Hey all! I'm back from my trek across Europe and all I can say is I'm tired, happy, and enjoying the ability to make bacon and eggs in the morning if I want to. Ah America.

On the music side of things, I am utterly and completely out of the loop. And that's a good thing. It's refreshing to step back every now and then, re-focus a bit, get outside the hype. I listened to almost no music over the past month, and when I did it was mostly old favorites - a lot of Bob Dylan and Mason Jennings. Well I guess that's a lie - I listened to tons of music on the trip, it just wasn't on my ipod. I heard everything from an Alleluia Band from Malawi to a Wagnerian opera in Vienna, to street performers playing Ave Maria in Munich. All of it was either free or cheap, and all of it was tremendous.

Well now I'm back and I'm not even going to worry about what I missed (my Google Reader was pretty overwhelming, so I just clicked "Mark all as read"). Two great bits of news though - I was so excited to learn that Grand Archives are set to release their follow-up to our favorite record of 2008 (Logan's got that covered HERE). I was also so excited to find that one of my most favorite artists of late, Mr. A.A. Bondy, also has a new record coming out at the end of summer, called When The Devil's Loose. I've got the title track below to get you all excited.

It's good to be back.

mp3: A.A. Bondy - When The Devil's Loose
from the album When The Devil's Loose (out Sept. 1st)

NEWS: Sub Pop Sampler

This post is dedicated to anyone pursuing my internet search history who notice my recent visitation to a site titled "Sub-Pop/Cybersex."

Its not what you think (I ran into the same problem with 'Best of Bootie'), unless you're first thought was, "Wow. I bet that's an exceptional sampler of artists who appear on Seattle-based Sub Pop records."
If that's the case you're dead on my extremely perceptive friend, dead on.

I have a bit of a brand name allegiance. And I think its pretty well-founded.
An unknown album emblazoned with the Sub Pop logo will get my immediate undivided attention. They've very rarely led me astray.

Tracks:

Vetiver – Strictly Rule
Handsome Furs – I’m Confused
Mark Sultan – Hold On
Red Red Meat – Gauze
Obits – Pine On
The Vaselines – Son of a Gun
Fleet Foxes – Mykonos
Iron and Wine – Belated Promise Ring
Tiny Vipers - Dreamer
Fruit Bats – My Unusual Friend
Zak Sally – Why We Hide
Pissed Jeans – False Jesii Part 2
Grand Archives – Silver Among the Gold
Flight of the Conchords – Hurt Feeling

Download ZIP: Sub Pop Sampler (Provided so you don't have to awkwardly google 'cyber sex')

SONG: Silver Among the Gold

Quite deservedly Grand Archives's self-titled release resided at the top of our 'favorites list' last year.
And with the news that we can expect their second release September 13th, we may ourselves another contender. (Could we see Grand Archives grab the coveted top-spot two years in a row? They'll be up againsts some pretty stiff competition.)
Well either way, enjoy their first single off their upcoming Keep In Mind Frankenstein. Pretty beautiful.

And a tearful goodbye to Mr. Ron Lewis (the gentleman in the stripped shirt) we hope the best for you with The Shins.

mp3: Grand Archives - Silver Among the Gold
from the album Keep In Mind Frankenstein (Amazon/iTunes)

ARTIST: Fanfarlo

I feel a duty to inform you of one of the greatest and most one-sided deals in music right now.
For $1, you can be the proud owner of the latest from the beautiful British band Fanfarlo.
Worth every penny. (Which is only 100! I can scrounge that out of the couch cushions right now.)
Seriously, no excuses.
Fanfarlo has recently been seeing some well-deserved buzz around the blogs. Although they are being touted as the "British Arcade Fire" (and yes, you can hear it) at times their swirling and swooning melodies and instrumentation feels more akin to Beirut (or the soundtrack of my most recent daydream).

mp3: Fanfarlo - I'm A Pilot
from the album Reservior (download for $1)

SONG: People Say

Not even a full-year after Censored Colors (seriously incredible) our favorite Wasilla, AK progressive rockers, Portugal. The Man, are set to release a new album titled The Satanic Satanist on July 21st.

Having the littlest bit of a sample of this forthcoming album increases my excitement nearly ten-fold. (That little guitar riff at the beginning accounts for nearly four of the ten folds. Wow.)

And lets not overlook that besides making exciting and captivating music, Portugal. The Man really shines in the album name department. We've got The Satanic Satanist, Censored Colors, Church Mouth, and, my personal favorite, It's Complicated Being a Wizard.


mp3: Portugal. The Man - People Say
from the album The Satanic Satanist (Amazon)

NEWS: Free Coldplay

If you all weren't aware already Coldplay is offering up a nifty little collection of their songs for free download as a thank you to their fans.
You're welcome Coldplay. We are pretty great.

mp3: Coldplay - Fix You
from the album LeftRightLeftRight (download)

ARTIST: Japandroids

Speaking of Sasquatch.
With the Gorge really only a few hours away from our neighbors to the north there was quite the Canadian population (judging purely on how many times I heard 'out' pronounced 'oot')
And a common complaint from the Canadians next to us during the festival (besides having to drive home in the scary dark) was the disappearance of Vancouver rockers Japandroids from the festival lineup.
And having checked them out, they're something else. Something else entirely.

I've always thought I had a pretty wide taste in music, but I've come to realize that there is a lot of music out in this wide world of ours and there's a lot I don't like.
And when I first heard Japandroids' chaotic garage rock/punk style I said, "Ya, I like it, but its not really my stlye." So I immediately dismissed them. But I kept coming back and had to finally admit...I really like them. They're not my usual fare, but that doesn't stop them from being really really great.
And now having heard their whole album Post-Nothing, its pretty great. So even if "chaotic garage rock/punk" doesn't sound like you...give a go anyway. You never know.

mp3: Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire
from the album Post-Nothing (Amazon/iTunes)

CONCERT: Sasquatch '09

I don't even know where to begin. (And by the length of this post, I don't know when to stop either.)
Except maybe to say, "Never forget your camera."
Followed by, "Don't stand too close to the guy with no pants."

Two adages I learned the hard way this year at the Sasquatch Music Festival.

Right now I'm in some pretty dire financial straits and in the weeks leading up to Sasquatch the $60 some odd dollars I spent on my one-day Saturday ticket months before seemed ill-advised. ($60 can purchase a fair number of Hot and Ready pizzas. 12 before taxes.)

Then the prospect of driving from Provo to the Gorge was pretty daunting. We've had a lot of good memories Idaho, but driving through your southern portion...not one of them. I only stopped to go to the bathroom there. Seemed like a fitting tribute...

At the Gorge I started thinking of the full day I was about to endure in the hot sun, craning my neck for a better view, all the while avoiding having the drunk co-eds who sneaked alcohol in plastic baggies stuffed into their bikini tops (point for creativity) from vomiting on me. I became prematurely exhausted and muttered to myself, "Maybe I'm getting too old for this stuff." (For the record, I'm 25)

So that was my attitude going into this. Pretty crappy. (And $10 for a personal pizza didn't help my already cash-strapped self)

Then the music started and 800 miles suddenly seemed like nothing. A paltry distance to travel for what I was suddenly seeing and hearing.

I forgot about the sun, I forgot about the heat, and I forgot that I really didn't have the money to be there, but I was reminded why I love music.
I was entranced. I simply could not believe that there were people not fixed 100% on the stage. Were they not hearing what I was hearing or did they simply want pleasant background music to enjoy their $9 beer?

Why I love music and who reminded me of that love...playlist style.

How much crazy fun can music be? Whatever the answer is to that question Animal Collective is pushing that. They turned it up to '11'
mp3: Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes

The Hazards of Love from beginning to end. Simply astounding. The Rake Song blew me away. Heck, the whole thing blew me away. (And as though you need any other reason to see them, they're touring with Blind Pilot. Another festival fave.)
mp3: The Decemberists - The Rake Song
mp3: Blind Pilot - Oviedo

The Kings of Leon were always meant to play the Gorge. Their huge arena rock sound deserves to be played at such venues. This song has been played in the back of my mind since. ("...given the chance I'm gonna be somebody. If for one dance I'm gonna be somebody.")
mp3: Kings of Leon - Be Somebody

And at the top of everything. The King of Whisper Rock and the Queen of the Taiga. Breathtakingly beautiful.
mp3: Bon Iver - Flume



Thanks for reading.

ALBUM: Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear

Basically, this record really is as good as everyone says it is. There you go. That's it.

I'm not a die-hard Grizzly Bear fan, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anticipating this album. Yellow House didn't floor me like it did others, though it did have some profoundly beautiful moments. No, Grizzly Bear didn't floor me until a year ago when they performed their then-new song, "While You Wait For The Others" on Morning Becomes Eclectic. That song grabbed me by the collar and refused to let go. I listened to it almost incessantly, and began waiting for a cleaner studio version. Then came "Two Weeks" earlier this year, and my interest was more than just piqued. Well, the rest of the album has arrived, and it's exactly what I'd hoped. Right from the first orchestral swells of "Southern Point" to end of the angelic "Foreground", it's just beautifully conceived and pristinely produced chamber pop. Like I said, it actually is as good as everyone says it is.

Here's the track that converted me, now in it's finalized glory.

mp3: Grizzly Bear - While You Wait For The Others
from the album Veckatimest (Amazon/iTunes)

ARTIST: Cymbals Eat Guitars

Cymbals Eat Guitars are making some waves right now, and rightly so. This threesome is making some considerable wave-making music.

I used a song of theirs yesterday in our Indiana post, and it's just one of several great tracks off their independently released debut, Why There Are Mountains. In the album's first few minutes, their propensity for making noise might remind you of some early Modest Mouse, and their sheer intensity might call to mind At The Drive In (remember them?!). But this group is all about surprises, and they won't stay cornered for long. As the record's nine tracks unfold, elements of shoegaze, jazz, and even pop color the jagged sound-scape, with lots and lots of sonic surprises (think YHF and A Ghost is Born-era Wilco, but with more muscle). It would be easy for these guys to come off as a bit esoteric if it weren't for the un-adulterated hooks and melodies that weave in and out of all their songs. Every single one has what I call a "perk-up" moment, the kind that makes me stop what I'm doing and just listen. This is good stuff.

And by the way, their sound is just half of Cymbal Eats Guitars' talent. I was actually the most impressed with them after reading some of their lyrics. Basically, there's a lot to love here, above and below the surface. Enjoy.

mp3: Cymbals Eat Guitars - Wind Phoenix (Proper Name)
from the album Why There Are Mountains (Amazon/iTunes)

SONG: River by Akron/Family

This song by Akron/Family is really really good. The record is called Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free and it's also really really good. I'm planning on writing more, but I may not be able to get to it before the move. So here's the basics: the record's good. You should check it out. More to follow.

mp3: Akron/Family - River
from the album Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free (Amazon/iTunes)

VIDEO: Patrick Wolf "Hard Times"

I've delved a little bit into glam rock as of late.
My interest was spurned by Okkervil River's fantastic ode to Bruce Wayne Campbell (better known as Jobriath) and continued onto other acts like David Bowie, The New York Dolls, and even Twisted Sister.
I don't know what hooked me. The larger than life characters these musicians create or their often times larger than life music?
And its fun to see that the spirit of those artists are still alive, most notably embodied within Patrick Wolf.
Want a crash course in glam rock? This is glam rock. Enjoy.

mp3: Patrick Wolf - Accident & Emergency
from the album The Magic Position (Amazon/iTunes)