My love of Olafur Arnalds is starting to border on the obsessive. I've been listening to his forthcoming album for a few weeks now and its nothing short of majestic. I was so happy to see "Hægt, kemur ljósið" (one of the strongest tracks from ...and they have escaped the weight of darkness) get the video treatment. ...and they have escaped the weight of darkness will be released June 8th (the same day I turn in the paper that is currently making [...]
Ok I'm apologizing in advance. Even though I've got SO MUCH I want to write about, my posting is going to be few and far between for the next two weeks or so (Finals. Ugh.) But even with everything I should be doing right now, I couldn't NOT post this video. Because I think Janelle Monae might just be my new favorite person. I've heard great things about her record (it's apparently a concept album about a messianic android in some dystopian future - awesome), but I can't vouch for it myself [...]
This is one of those pages you somehow stumble across and can't for the life of you remember the myriad of links you clicked to discover it. (Like how you start reading on Wikipedia about Reaganomics and end up on a page about notable bow tie wearers .) However I found it, I'm glad I did cause I needed a laugh. The Mountain Goats Will Cure Your Bieber Fever mp3: The Mountain Goats - No Children from the album [...]
Jose Gonzales' long-time band Junip is going to release their first ever full-length album in September. The album is called Fields , and is being preceded by an EP, called Rope & Summit . The EP is free (see link below), and it's pretty darn good. If you already know and like Gonzales, then you'll know exactly what to expect - lots of gorgeous nylon-stringed guitar and shadowy vocals, wrapped up in complex and beautiful compositions. The main difference here is that his normally spare production gets turned up a notch with a full band [...]
I wrote the following bit for a contest on Fuel/Friends (I didn't win) and I kind of liked how it turned out - so I'm sharing it here! The question was "What's you're favorite Wilco __________ (live moment/lyric/etc.)." Here's mine: It's kind of a silly story actually, but back in college when money was tight (some things haven't changed), I had just been getting into YHF and wanted to explore Wilco's back catalogue. I'd read great things about Summerteeth and I loved "Via Chicago", so I went down to the [...]
It's no secret that I love Lissie . Her five song EP Why You Runnin' (out now on Fat Possum ) is stunning, and her live show is stunning-er . But just as striking as her incredible talent, to me, is her down-to-earth approach to her music and how genuinely humble she appears to be. These two interviews (from Baeble Music and Plays Well With Others , respectively) showcase that pretty well. [...]
Arcade Fire recently posted the above postcard on their website . Here is our response: Dear Arcade Fire, Thank you for wishing us luck on our finals. We will need it. Oh! And the news about a new song is super awesome too! You guys are so great. Love always, WiAC PS - YES we will be seeing you this summer. At Lollapalooza! Hopefully! *crosses fingers* mp3: Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running [...]
There is a lot of back-story behind this album. A lot of press about Roky Erickson , his past , and now his triumphant return to music with True Love Cast Out All Evil . However, if we were to ignore everything that went before this album, not allow Roky's story to skew our thoughts, this album would still be sensational. There is no denying the beauty of the music and Roky's voice sparkles with sincerity. But when you know the history, the dark and heartbreaking history, this album becomes something else entirely. A simple [...]
I actually haven't heard any of Band of Horses' new record until now (I've been trying to abstain from too much pre-exposure to releases I'm really excited about - you know, to preserve the magic). But now the record's streaming online, and it's time to dive in. This is actually one of the coolest streaming music players I can think of - it's set up like an old Viewmaster toy (love that) and features more art from Christopher Wilson , who did the cover for Infinite Arms . Stream: [...]
Portland's A Weather earned a lot of respect with their hushed and intimate 2008 debut, The Cove . On their follow-up album, Everyday Balloons , they've expanded their sound a little bit - giving themselves some room to breath, but not too much. The songs still play like secrets whispered after midnight, but this time there's a little more texture surrounding them. Their music is dreamy, but in a nuts and bolts sort of way - there's no mystery in the production and you can hear everything here: every chord on the keyboard, every [...]
For awhile now, a buddy of mine has been pretty insistent about me checking out Mumford & Sons , the folk outfit out of London who're making waves in some indie folk circles. I finally broke down and gave them a listen, and wow. These guys are fun. They're folk music, yes, but mostly because of the instruments they're using – these guys actually rock more than anything, in the kind of percussion-driven way that a lot of celtic music does – to my ears they have more in common with The Pogues than with Woody Guthrie. They come [...]
A good friend sent this to me the other day - it's a behind-the-scenes video of MOS's stop at Yo Gabba Gabba (you know, the kid's show with incredible music taste ). Below it is a link to their actual performance in the episode. Below THAT is another link to a news story on the Mates, focusing on what it's like to be a parent/rock-star on the road. Consider this entry just another submission to the "Mates of State Are Ridiculously Cute" file. That file is getting rather large, [...]
I was introduced to John Prine several years ago when I heard Mason Jennings cover "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" in San Diego. Since then I've become well acquainted with the man's music and come to love his wry and often cutting take on the American experience. So I was pretty excited to get an email about his upcoming live album, In Person & On Stage , to be released on May 25th on Oh Boy Records . Here's a taste: mp3: John Prine - Long [...]
One thing's for sure: Josh Ritter knows how to kick off a record. In 2006 he opened his fourth album, The Animal Years, with "Girl In The War" - the perfect introduction to the sepia-toned world of quiet desperation the characters of that album inhabited. A little over a year later the romping and ultra-literate "To The Dogs Or Whoever" set the pace for the beefier but equally affecting The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter . Both "Girl" and "Dogs" stand strong by themselves ("Girl In The War" remains one of my all-time favorite songs), [...]
I've been studying all week for a test that I finally took this morning and I feel amazing. I hope everyone's weekend is as relieving as mine is going to be! This should kick it off nicely: Happy Friday everyone!
Jeremy Messersmith , the incredibly talented troubadour from Minneapolis, will be releasing a new album next month, called The Reluctant Graveyard . It's the third and final installment in his three-album trilogy, which includes The Alcatraz Kid and The Silver City (both are fantastic - you can read our review of The Silver City here ). In addition to whimsical water-colored cover-art, you'll find on each of Messersmith's records humble pop songs with a penchant for blips and boops, ranging from Zombies/Beatles-style chamber pop to quieter, acoustically rooted ballads [...]
This song really needs no introduction. It's been in constant rotation for the past week, and I still haven't gotten enough. And since I'm in the middle of studying for a pretty big test, that's all I'll say today! Enjoy! mp3: Bon Iver - Come Talk To Me (Peter Gabriel cover) from the Peter Gabriel/Bon Iver Split 73
My friend Alison sent me this and it is seriously the greatest thing. I love MGMT, but I think I love this more. There, I said it and I'll never take it back.
That's right, High Violet is streaming for free right now over at the New York Times website . It will be streaming there until next Tuesday (April 27), so don't wait too long. High Violet hits shelves May 11. Enjoy! mp3: The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio from the album High Violet ( pre-order )
I suppose you could think of this as an unofficial continuation or addendum to Niels' 'Studious' mix. 'Þú ert sólin' showcases everything I love about neo-classical artist Ólafur Arnalds' music (and reminds me how woefully inadequate I am in the ability to express what makes it so moving.) I'll always be amazed at musicians (and Ólafur in particular) in their ability to create so much with what seems to be so little sound. 'Þú ert sólin' is a lone piano and a set of strings, but what Ólafur does with them is simply beyond [...]
Whale in a Cubicle
Avicii – Two Million
Yellow Magic Orchestra edit from Chrome Canyon
Beck – I Just Started Hating Some People Today
H&M Lookbook Mujer y Hombre Otoño 2012.
