Call it selling out or call it making a living, but I mentioned a while ago that California lo-fi buddies Best Coast and Wavves recorded a song to be part of Target's holiday album . Well, now the compilation of holiday music, which also features indie darlings Coconut Records (Jason Schwartzman, anyone?) and Jenny O. , is up for free download ! Listen to these peppy tracks while studying for finals, working long hours at the office, or decorating the tree. [...]
Myspace | Website | Facebook | Twitter I have no idea how I've just now discovered Brooklyn-based School of Seven Bells , formerly a trio consisting of Benjamin Curtis and identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza. (Claudia announced her departure from the band on Oct. 12 via SVIIB's facebook.) It's okay, though. Sometimes I like being a little late to the game, because it means I have their entire back-catalogue to check out. In their case, it's 2 LPs ( Alpinisms and Disconnect From Desire , respectively) [...]
Myspace | Website | Facebook | Twitter I interviewed Jason Collett recently and have already posted the article I wrote afterward . However, for those of you that are interested, I've decided to post the transcript of the interview. We talked about the state of the music industry in Canada, the importance of musical community, drinking and writing up at Feist's ranch, and the artist Collett deems "a national treasure" and "the best songwriter of [his] generation." It was a really insightful 30 minutes, and [...]
Myspace | Website | Facebook I had the chance to have a quick Q&A session over email with the lovely Lourdes Hernández , better known under the moniker Russian Red . Hailing from Madrid, Spain, she caused quite a stir on the blogosphere in 2008 with the release of her debut album, I Love Your Glasses . With an unforgettable voice that holds even those with the shortest attention spans and quirky songs rooted in real life experiences, Russian Red should definitely be on your radar. [...]
Lo-fi sunny wall-of-sound duo from the Sunshine Coast, Best Coast and Wavves , have teamed up and recorded a brand new track that will be featured on Target's holiday album. "Got Something for You" is everything you'd expect from these two L.A.-based bands-simple and cheery and a whole lot of reverb make this song a hallmark for mistletoe season. You can listen to this track and a bunch of other new holiday songs written especially for Target over here . Their cat, Snacks, also recently announced via his twitter [...]
Seemingly out of nowhere, Gregg Gillis-better known as Girl Talk -is back with a whole new album of mashups this Monday to ease us into the daily grind (whether it be work or school). So even thought it's not party season for all us University kids, we can now take a little study break and have a little dance party in our rooms. Gillis announced All Day was up for free download via his Twitter this morning, and the website has this to say about the record: [...]
Jack White + Laura Marling = true musicianship at its finest. These 2 covers of Jackson C. Frank's "Blues Run The Game" and Neil Young's "The Needle And The Damage Done" are the products of Marling's 25-minute recording session over at Jack White's Third Man Records studio. Produced by White, yet still raw and untouched, Marling's incredibly mature voice is center-stage with just her and her guitar. I've always been a sucker for close-miking, and being able to hear the fingers plucking and dragging on the strings give the recordings a really warm tone. Both tracks clock in [...]
Myspace | Website | Facebook | Twitter With Jason Collett’s musical repertoire, it’s hard to believe he’s a carpenter by trade. A veteran to the Canadian music scene, Collett’s toured with powerhouse collective Broken Social Scene, collaborated with artists like Feist, Emily Haines, and Hawksley Workman, and garnered critical acclaim in Canada as well as across the border. But Collett isn’t quick to forget his humble roots. Collett says he was skeptical of having the luxury of time to write [...]
![[MP3]: Jason Collett – “Love Is A Dirty Word”](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/2965256_lg.jpg)
Myspace | Website | Twitter [MP3]: Jason Collett - "Love Is A Dirty Word" (right-click, save as) Talk about a bass line. I had a lovely interview with this Canadian rocker and part-time Broken Social Scenester yesterday. What a charming ramblin' man. We talked about how his transition from musical hobbyist (he was a carpenter by trade) to full-time musician has affected his writing, his process [...]
Myspace | Facebook | Website | Twitter **[A Mindful Earful] EXCLUSIVE (download available until Nov. 18)** [MP3]: B rooke Fraser - Ice on Her Las hes (right-click, save as) You lucky Torontonians are in for a treat! Kiwi songstress Brooke Fraser will be making a pit stop at Toronto 's Opera House [...]
![[MP3] I’M OBSESSED: Twin Sister](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/2951973_lg.jpg)
Myspace | Website | Twitter HOMETOWN: Long Island, New York LINEUP: Eric Cardona (guitar/vox), Gabel D'Amico (bass), Andrea Estella (vox), Dev Gupta (keyboard), Bryan Ujueta (drums) SOUNDS LIKE: Rhythmic rolling body waves captured in a bottle of glass shards Without a doubt, Long Island quintet Twin Sister has stolen my heart (and my ears) today. And now as the sun is beginning to set, this band's music is just what I need to ease me into the still and [...]
Myspace | Website | Twitter And we've got a live one for ya! A lot of my readers seem to love Russian Red (aka Lourdes Hernandez ), so here's a treat! The Madrid-based songbird has just released a cover/collaboration of Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender" via her Facebook for Sony's commemorative 75th anniversary album for the King of Rock, Viva Elvis . While performing with holograms of deceased music legends borders on distasteful (seriously, who does that?!), is recording a track [...]
LISA MITCHELL Indie/Pop/Folk Myspace | Website | Twitter While television shows like American Idol rarely ever find musicians who can translate successfully into popular music sphere, it seems as if a shy Aussie beat the slim odds. Lisa Mitchell , an Australian Idol alum, stood out on the talent show for her coy, singer-songwriter demeanor. Released in 2009, Mitchell recorded her debut full-length Wonder in the UK, which has now reached Platinum in Australia. Canadians who do not know her might have [...]
I don't know what it is about Australia that draws me to it. And I don't know why the great Down Under calls my name, so. It could be the accent (which I'm constantly attempting to perfect), the Sydney Opera House, the kangaroos, or the fuzzy koala bears. Or perhaps it's because the first time I actually paid any attention to the Olympics, they were held in Sydney, and right then I decided that it was #1 on my list of must-visit destinations. I want to go to there. Regardless of the reason behind my fascination [...]
The Gertrudes Dawn Time Riot Folk/Country Release Date: October 16, 2010 Dawn Time Riot is the full-length debut for Kingston, ON the Gertrudes, following their critically acclaimed 2009 EP, Hard Water. A little bit of bluegrass, a dash of folk-infused country, a dribble of ambience and a lot of passion make up Dawn Time Riot . A homegrown ensemble, their latest effort features over 100 Kingston guest musicians. While the traditional folk sounds of banjo, mandolin and harmonica are the glue that [...]
Hailing from the Western coastline of the United Sates that is Los Angeles, my latest obsession Warpaint have released a full-album stream of their debut The Fool a week early thank to Hype Machine ! Check it out, and if you like what you hear, go to your local record store (or wherever you purchase your vinyl/cds) and pick the album up October 25 (via Rough Trade). Filed under: Ear Candy Tagged: album preview , Album Stream , [...]
Brooklyn-based Sharon Van Etten describes her music as pure folk. Simple and stripped back, her strength lies firmly in that emotive voice of hers. Etten is one of the rare artists that has possesses ability to grab a listener based solely on the heartbreak factor of her wispy croon. It draws you in by your heartstrings, tugging until you have no choice but to get drawn in. "Love More" comes by way of her sophomore full-length Epic , that was released earlier in September [...]
The Queen is back! Here's a little clip of Fiona going on about the importance of music and writing in her childhood and how playing live is an almost euphoric experience. Just 'cause, you know, everyone can always use a little bit of Fiona Apple in their lives. She's all over the place, but I could listen to this woman talk for days, with her engaging rambling and all (even the leopard print gloves); her excitement and intensity is incredibly endearing. She's still got a little crazy in her, but I wouldn't have [...]
WHO: Joy Williams and John Paul White WHERE: Nashville, Tennessee / Florence, Alabama SOUNDS LIKE: Curling up by a warm fire with a glass of red wine CONNECT THE DOTS: Ten out of Tenn (collective), Madi Diaz, Erin McCarley CLAIM TO FAME: Free digital album: Live @ Eddie's Attic (download below!) FOR FANS OF: The Swell Season, The Honey Trees http://www.myspace.com/thecivi lwars You may know [...]
A Mindful Earful
Fauve ≠ - Blizzard [EP en écoute]
Listen: Smith Westerns – “3am Spiritual”
