
As I've mentioned on many occasions, I keep a running playlist throughout the year. You've seen bits and pieces of it here but as 2012 comes to a close, here is the final product. Full of the singles that I listened to on repeat to the tracks I put on every mixtape this year and now with the added bonus of being influenced by the year end lists of my friends and contemporaries. It's all over the place genre-wise, but I think it is a pretty solid collection. Amanda Palmer - [...]
Every day, Daily Downloads offers 10 free and legal mp3 downloads, plus free and legal live sets from around the internet. Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Belle Adair : 2012-11-02, Sheffield [mp3,ogg,flac] Belle Adair: "Not for the Season (Wilco cover)" [mp3] search for more Belle Adair posts at Largehearted Boy Godspeed You! Black Emperor : 2012-11-03, Roubaix [mp3,ogg,flac] [...]
The Park by These United States is one of my favorite songs of the year. The line that I've chosen to title the post after is one of the many reasons why. The Park just slowly builds to something. It's a rock song with a little bit of alt country influences, something perhaps that is influenced by the Drive-By Trucks. I'm just spitballing at this point, but suffice to say, I've listened to it about three dozen times during this past weekend. It's such a mellowing song or at least it has a mellowing effect [...]
Folk rockers These United States have released a new animated video for “Maps” off their recent self-titled LP. The video’s geographic theme comes from These United States’ own experience of performing in 47 US sates. Watch the video after the jump. These United States is the quintet's fifth studio album [...]
Wayfaring Americana outfit These United States has released a colorfully animated new video for 'Maps' by Maxwell Sorensen. Swirling through a solar system of landscapes and sometimes frightening destinations, the traveling clip stays true to the song's theme and a band that has performed in 47 US states. 'Maps' is taken from These United States' eponymous album, out now on United Interests. After touring the West Coast this summer, the band will work its way back East including dates with Trampled By Turtles.
These United States present the new video for "Maps" animated by Maxwell Sorensen and off their latest album. also, for your potential pleasure: "Born Young" & "Dead & Gone" http://www.theseunitedstates.n et/

Wayfaring Americana outfit These United States has released a colorfully animated new video for "Maps" by Maxwell Sorensen . Swirling through a solar system of landscapes and sometimes frightening destinations, the traveling clip stays true to the song's theme and a band that has performed in 47 US states. "Maps" is taken from These United States' eponymous album, out now on United Interests. After touring the West Coast this summer, the band will work its way back East including dates with Trampled By Turtles . [...]
Cool animated music video, directed by Maxwell Sørensen , for "Maps" by These United States .
Cool animated music video, directed by Maxwell Sørensen , for "Maps" by These United States .
Typically when a band decides to release a self-titled album they are usually tyring to distance themselves from their past work, but with the case of These United States , who did just that back in June, it's more akin to reconnecting with their roots as a jangly, country-infused Americana band. For their latest release the Lousiville, KY-based act recruited a who's who of their like-minded peers - Deer Tick, Cotton Jones, Phosphorescent, The Mynabirds, Ben Sollee, Langhorne Slim and Revival - to lend a hand, walking away with their best work since 20082s Crimes [...]
A Friday night kickoff to a long weekend: ► Desaparecidos , back after a decade, warms up for its FYF Fest appearance with a sold-out show at the Troubadour. Have you heard the new song "MariKKKopa"? ► Old 97’s roll in to headline the El Rey Thatre, supported by Those Darlins. ► Sweden's Niki & the Dove visit the Echo, with Devin (also slated to play FYF Fest) opening. [ See our post on Niki & the Dove .] ► Yes, it's that [...]

Our San Diego picks for the week* // Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.

Throughout the year, I keep a running playlist on my iPod with my favorite songs. Back in June we did a half way list , but lately I've been making amendments to my choices. And, since we just happened to have passed the 3/4 mark of 2012, it was a good excuse for a post. Apologies, I Have None - 60 Miles Apologies, I Have None - 60 Miles This one came to me from Barlow, who I immediately messaged to get the name of the band [...]
Our San Diego picks for the week* // Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.

Yes, they did it again. These United States are back with a self-titled album, and we wouldn't ignore the fact. Five on count. It’s a concept album that acts as a panoramic snapshot of numerous American musical styles over the past century, but still looks forward to the weird new world at the completion of the Mayan calendar. (press-release) Previous posts with These United States can be found here and here . Download Dead & Gone [...]

This weekend is the historic Newport Folk Festival , sure to be a great time with great music. Here I highlight albums by 3 artists that will NOT be at Newport this year, but they’d fit right in there and with any luck one day they’ll play the harbor. The Pines: Dark So Gold A look at the album cover (neglected scarecrow against silhouette of a bleak horizon) and the title of the album (Dark So Gold) tells you almost all [...]
Photo by Shervin LainezAs good-humored as he might come across in the following interview, there's something unmistakably studied and serious in These United States frontman Jesse Elliott. When liste

I've been keeping tabs on Bailiff for quite a while. In fact, the band were subject of this site's first long-form feature story . But a lot has passed since the piece originally went up in 1999. The Chicago rockers have been through a couple of lineup changes and last summer finally released their debut LP. Their sound has changed considerably as well as they began as a fierce blue-rock trio, Bailiff's sound has evolved into incorporate bouncy indie-pop grooves and soulful melodies, which have made their sound even larger. On their latest, [...]
Words // Adam Sharp 'Venice'- The Lighthouse and The Whaler You need a song for a summer mix? Here it is. Website: http://thelighthouseandthewhal er.com/ 'The Park'- These United States People should really be talking about this song more- it's one of the finest I've heard this year. Website: http://www.theseunitedstates.n et/ [...]