2011 started a new decade with a bang. The year saw tragedies strike major populations, dictators overthrown, "occupy" redefined, and the casually pepper spray everything cop . As far as music goes, a lot happened too - pop became even more influenced by electronic, helping Adele sound that much better than her Top 40 contemporaries. Dubstep found itself at a heavy fork in the road, one side running all the obnoxious frat parties and the other (perhaps humorously) aiming straight for your heart. Hip-hop became overrun by Tumblr and Twitter personalities pushing "SWAG" into the vocabulary. Indie rock still [...]
Girls ::: photo by Josh Lovseth End of year lists give me the cold sweats. Much like when I was in college and finals were looming, I suddenly forget about everything that sparked in my mind, and all I'm left with is, "I don't know…when did River Deep, Mountain High come out? THAT COUNTS, RIGHT?" 2011 was [...]
I was introduced to A.A. Bondy by a regular reader of mine, who goes by the name of Campfires and Battlefields, some years ago now when he wrote a guest post and included the awesome Vice Rag to illustrate his point. Since then I have gone on to become a firm A.A. Bondy fan, although never in that outspoken, evangelical way I can be about music. And three gorgeous albums into his career I find myself wondering why. A little like Kurt Vile, perhaps his music just doesn't deliver a slap around the chops [...]
A. A. Bondy (born Auguste Arthur Bondy, also known as Scott Bondy) is an American folk/alternative artist from Birmingham, Alabama, and the former lead singer and guitarist in the rock band Verbena, which he founded in the early 1990s. After the band broke up in 2003, Bondy recorded his debut solo album American Hearts in a barn near his home in the Catskill mountains in Palenville, upstate New York. The album, released in 2007, marked a shift in musical direction towards a more traditional and minimalist folk sound, with Bondy playing mostly acoustic guitar and harmonica. His second album When [...]
AA Bondy has made a new album, and the good news is it's not completely built from old, re-hashed styles. This time round the singer/songwriter digs deeper, letting his soul guide the music rather than his overt influences. His days of emulating Dylan and the great American folk textbook, which were admittedly still pretty good, are left on the roadside. Much here is like a late-night stroll through nostalgia, unwinding with a warm production and wayward delivery that somehow finds its way home. Opening with the almost hypnotic The Heart is Willing is a statement of intent, the [...]
There's something eerily hypnotic about walking through a deserted landscape at night. Crowds have dispersed, traffic has slowed down to an infrequent trickle and fluorescent lights cast a spooky yellow glow that renders familiar surroundings strange and unsettling. It's easy to slip into a sort of a contemplative trance as you battle against the body clock's urgent call to get some shuteye. If the twilit, restless mood of Believers is anything to go by, A. A. Bondy must be intimately familiar with the mind-set of a sleep-deprived late night traveller. Written and recorded [...]
Ah Black Friday... the day when the 1% tells the 99% to go save the economy. But if you're not in the mood to stab a bitch for a flatscreen today, why not browse around ViolentSuccess to see what sort of music is new and awesome lately... A.A. Bondy: Believers - Although I'm not familiar with his earlier work, hearing an album like this certainly warrants a closer examination. After being the frontman for Verbena [...]
DOWNLOAD: Gold Leaves - The Ornament (MP3) DOWNLOAD: Gold Leaves - Cruel/Kind (MP3) AA Bondy @ Highline Ballroom in 2008 ( more by Lori Baily ) Gold Leaves , aka Grant Olsen of Seattle band Arthur & Yu , released "The Ornament" on 8/16 via Hardly Art (which is also home to Arthur & Yu). You can download the title track and "Cruel/Kind" from that album above. Gold [...]
A four-year whirlwind of solo success has uprooted AA Bondy 's life, but he has stayed true to his bluesy, folk foundation. After his band, Verbena, split in 2003, Bondy started writing songs that would ultimately construct the framework for his 2007 debut album, American Hearts . This album set a folk revival precedent evocative of Bob Dylan (but with much more agreeable vocals). His sweeping, acoustic finger-picking and nature-centric lyrics set a scenic stage that would be best illustrated by creeks, leaves, and mountains. It is easy for any listener to envision a rugged, tormented mountain man with [...]
Caveman shares what they're reading with Fader . Watch Feist's new video for "How Come You Never Go There" at Pitchfork . The track is easily one of my favorite songs of the year. All Things Considered interviews AA Bondy . Real Estate perform a Take Away Show on Paris train tracks.
Auguste Arthur, aka A.A. Bondy , has been performing and writing songs for over 20 years now. First as one of the founding members of Alabamian rockers Verbena, and since their split, a solo singer-songwriter to much critical acclaim. This experience shows on Bondy's third solo effort Believers , a collection of sparsely populated, but beautifully constructed songs, that create the best night-time soundtrack since Burial's Untrue . Opener 'The Heart Is Willing' sets a deceptive marching pace for the album reminiscent of Arcade Fire before 'Down In The Fire (Lost Sea)' - letting you [...]
A non-smoking show. $12. A.A. Bondy - Surfer King
Austin was fortunate enough to have AA Bondy and Gold Leaves playing their folk-influenced crafts over the speakers at the Parish on Sunday night. Let's face it, the venue has the best sound, and was perfectly fitting for each band's sound. Read on for more, including pics. Opening act Gold Leaves probably came out of the show with the most impact on the Austin audience. I've absolutely fallen in love with The Ornament since it landed over here [...]
L.A. is dominated by electronic music, just ask Thom Yorke. We are a force to be reckoned with. The...
I caught AA Bondy last night at the Parish in Austin. Bondy and his band played their new album, Believers in full and followed that with a handful of selections from American Hearts and When The Devil's Loose . Openers Gold Leaves were a nice surprise and would be a welcomed listen to fans of Fleet Foxes and My Morning Jacket. Spin interviews Bradford Cox. Check out the Wild Beasts Take Away Show filmed [...]
THIS WEEK'S BEST BET: The Real Criminal Records Benefit w/ Reptar, Qurious, Nomen Novum, Small Reactions, Places, New Animal, more... Saturday, November 19 The Cottage - 1300 Skyhaven Road in Atlanta 30316 Doors at 5pm / Admission $5 In the wake of the announcement that Criminal Records might be forced to close their doors due to financial troubles, it's not surprising that the local music community has rallied around what is one of the city's most revered local businesses. In the effort to [...]
Date Sunday, Nov. 13th Location The Parish Doors 800 pm Tickets $15 from Frontgate One of the shows I've been anticipating since it was announced is this show featuring two of my favorite bands, AA Bondy and Gold Leaves . AA Bondy is touring behind his new record [...]
Thank you to all of the current and past veterans out there today. It's a remarkable sacrifice you've made, and your efforts to protect and support the U.S. are appreciated. Across the world, we celebrate Armistice Day as well. Hopefully, we can move toward a global society that relies on diplomacy and not war to settle its disputes. As today is the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the eleventh year of this new millenium, we're re-posting Blogophilia 11. So, if you havent already, download it and crank it to 11. Look for Friday's Free [...]
AA Bondy is on the road supporting his fantastic new release, Believers . It's one of the year's best for sure. Bondy and his band tore through the High Noon Saloon last night in Madison and Dan brought back some great looking and sounding video. Above is "Surfer King," my favorite track from the aforementioned new record. Check out all the videos from last night including opening band and new discovery, Gold Leaves . Buy: AA Bondy - Believers
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