Blog: S K A T T E R B R A I N

as a result of my last post on here some of you thought that Skatterbrain was perhaps over. As I clarified in the comments, it is not. BUT, it is changing. Skattebrain is being "relaunched" on a new platform. That platform, as you may have guessed, is tumblr! I made this decision based upon the ease and efficiency of tumblr and its interactive capabilities. Having the blog at its new home will hopefully leading to more regular posting as it used to be around here. You can still read Skatterbrain on tumblr without having a tumblr account. However, [...]

Hey! So, I think that the fact that the last four posts on here are the past four months' mixes is as a clear an indication as any that regular posting, as it were, will probably never be happening here again. That being said, I still post and talk about a lot of the same stuff as here on TUMBLR! There is a lot of other stuff mixed in, too, but if you're interested, you can follow me over there. The link is below! matthewedwards.tumblr.com

Looks a bit more like Spring, but what can you do? Hey folks! It's Monthly Mix time again! This is actually a special monthly mix in that it is the first one ever to be 100% comprised of new songs. Since I haven’t actually been posting on the blog too much these days, I figured I’d use this months mix to share some of my most favorite new bands, new records, and new songs from the past month or two. I hope you like it! If you want to know any more about any of the [...]

This month's cover art features Koloman Moser's "Profilbildnis eines Mädchens". Did you guys know that October is the best month ever? Because IT IS. I hope you like this mix. As with all Fall season mixes, I highly recommend pairing it with a nice crisp evening stroll. Bye! GO TO THERE Tracklist: 01. Archers of Loaf "Toast" 02. Beat Happening "Gravedigging Blues" 03. Eggplant "Often I Lie" 04. Rose Melberg "Spin" 05. Princess Niko "The Broken Paper-Heart Club" 06. Sea [...]

Yes, yes, I know Fall is not really here yet, but I simply REFUSE to endure one more minute of that hot and sticky Summer mindset. I've put my foot down and made a September mix with the exclusive purpose of tricking myself into believing my favorite season of the year is already upon us. All of my old Autumn standbys are here (Rose Melberg, Velocity Girl, Slumber Party, Clock Strikes Thirteen, etc), but there's also a few new songs from Widowspeak and Dum Dum Girls fitting the bill rather perfectly. I hope you enjoy it and I [...]

Here's a little last hurrah of Summer! I love the Summer, but not as much as what's coming up next, and these hotter than hot days are getting very old. Put this on and go out for a walk melt. Literature, Tunabunny, and Catnaps are a few of my favorite bands being bands right now! If you're not on it, get on it! Everything else is, well, you probably know it. If you don't then I can assure it's all a blast. Now grab it go have a blast. [...]

Philly's Catnaps Catnaps are a very lovely new-ish pop band from Philadelphia! You may remember them as When I Was 12, but they've since changed their name to Catnaps and now here we are. They just self-released their new record Why Don't You Whisper? on July 1st and you can grab now it via the Catnaps Bandcamp ! Personally, I think the record sounds somewhere between Pipas and The Deirdres—and maybe also a little bit of Sparky's Magic Piano—which is just perfect! Listen to "Lullaby"! [MP3]: [...]

• Catnaps "Lullaby" » 10 Lullaby.mp3

This new Vivian Girls video is the most wonderful, adorable thing! "Take It As It Comes" is one of my favorites from Share The Joy and I'm so excited they made a video for it. I can't wait to see them in Philly in September! I'm gonna go watch this for the tenth time now.

Tiny Fireflies Tiny Fireflies is the relatively new collaboration between Lisle and Kristine of Very Truly Yours, or Fireflies and Tiny Microphone, respectively. If you, like me, were able to catch them at this year's NYC Popfest then you already know how utterly fantastic they are. Delicate could aptly describe both members' previous outings and it still fits like a glove here. Their four-song debut EP Change feels as much like the soundtrack to squinty Summer afternoon as it does a winter spent inside, gazing out a frosted window. The guitar [...]

• Tiny Fireflies - So Sad to Say Goodbye

Pocketbooks have just released a brand new single from their upcoming sophomore album 'Carousel'. "Promises, Promises" is a blast of summer with it's shimmering strings, lush harmonies, and just a touch of sadness. It makes me feel the way I do on those days where I keep Belle and Sebastian's "Dirty Dream Number Two" on repeat. It's a good feeling and since I first heard them, Pocketbooks have always found a way to bring it out! Have a listen! If you're in love then head over to Odd Box Records and preorder your copy of the new record! [...]

• Pocketbooks - Promises, Promises

It's 100 degrees outside today. Yuck. Hey pals! It's July and I have a new mix to share with you! This month's mix is pretty JUMBO compared to the typical length of previous mixes, but I could couldn't bring myself to cut it down any further. Personal new favorites here include a new track from Bleached (Ex-Mika Miko sisters), Dear Marje (A+ Tiger Trap worship; my new favorite band and yours, too), and a new one off of the new Veronica Falls LP (Sure to be one of the best of the year). Some old gems, [...]

After a putting very good demo tape and a fantastic 7" last year, Swimsuit's debut LP is finally here! The self-titled record is being released by Speakertree Records on June 28th, but you can go stream the whole thing at bandcamp RIGHT NOW! I've been listening to it all morning and I can already not recommend it enough! The songs are super-infectious and the band-wide vocal melodies are so much fun. I can't even imagine how much of a blast this band must be having. So yeah, go listen to it! Now!

Featuring Rita Tushingham! Hi! Things are back in order and on time this month. Hopefully I will not be missing another whole month anytime soon! This month's mix is a 100% SUNNY SUMMER FUZZY JANGLE FEEDBACK FEST split almost 50/50 between old Summery favorites and brand new, soon-to-be Summer mix staples. The mix ends just as excitingly as it opens and it doesn't slow down much from point A to point B. Make sure you've got plenty of room to move around because this mix definitely requires some light dancing at the very least. LISTEN TO [...]

In anticipation of the seriously STUNNING new Burning Hearts EP, Into The Wilderness , here is a look at the equally beautiful video for the title track. If this is not the precise visual realization of Burning Hearts' melodically colorful dreampop than I just don't know what is. There's enough color and film grain here to feed a small country. Go big: Into The Wilderness will be out mid-June-ish on Shelflife Records!

BRB GONNA GO LISTEN TO THIS RECORD FOREVER.

Good morning! Here's a relatively new video for Street Chant's "Less Chat More Sewing". Street Chant, as you might recall, were included on the March mix—this song, actually. They're awesome and I love them and their new record, 'Means' has been getting loads of plays around these parts lately. Watch!

It's late! Really late! I hope you don't mind too much, again. This month's mix ended up being almost exactly half and half, old and new. It ended up working out quite well and hopefully there are a few discoveries to be made here! Not really sure what else to say about it, I guess. Oh, except for that I like to listen to that Swell Maps song with headphones on while walking around the city because it makes me feel really cool like I'm just punching everyone in the face as they walk by and they don't even know [...]

I'm back! Mostly! Since I have been away lots of things have happened. The largest and most important of those things being that I have (very, very recently) moved to Philadelphia!!! After 24+ solid, fantastic years in Maryland, I decided to pack up and move a bit north with two wonderful friends. Now that I'm feeling a bit settled in my new locale I decided it was about time I get back to Skatterbrain and make a March mix before I miss my chance like I did last month. So here it is — composed mostly of songs that I've [...]

From Liechtenstein's new 'Meantime' CDR released March 5th on Drill Building! Go get it!

Though my mantra for 2011 is "back that ass up", this, the flagship monthly mix of 2011, is a bit more of a languid affair. Perhaps it's a last goodbye to a year I don't altogether regret, but that I cannot say I loved . The meaning I put into/get out of this means little in the end though. All I really hope is that maybe you'll find some enjoyment in it. If you find something new to love within these fifteen tracks, well then that's even better! Happy 2011, everyone—and happy listening! [...]