A day late on the annual tradition of posting my favorite albums from the year on New Year's Day. This serves as the fifth anniversary of positing such a list (and also the fifth anniversary of this blog) and each one is a little different: sometimes my brother and I combine ours for a more comprehensive list, and on other occasions, I have allowed myself a list that includes albums, songs and
Maybe it's just because I'm getting older, but it seemed like the albums that I like have become much more sporadic then back in the day. When I was making this list I made a Top 50 because I love making lists. I even have a to do list on my phone with the category of lists. Narrowing it down to 20 wasn't so hard but its always the very last couple that are hard because you don't want to leave
As a music fan, there are plenty of times I wish I could have come of age in the mid-to-late nineteen sixties. Just plant me somewhere in 1965-1969 and I will survive on the greatest musical innovation ever known. It's rather mind-blowing to think of how many great albums were made in such a short period of time - and even more mind-blowing when you consider that the greatest innovators would
Shiloe - "By The Daggers in Your Eyes" (mp3)Shiloe have begun debuting some new material for a forthcoming full length. The first track, "By The Daggers in Your Eyes," is a self-proclaimed "three-minute love letter to anyone who's ever been proud to be different." It is reminiscent of what you have heard from the trio thus far, but also suggests an evolving sound. The song has received
My favorite mixtape DJ Mick Boogie has just curated another innovative, genre-mashing mixtape, taking tracks from Peter Bjorn and John's Living Thing and turning them into hip hop anthems. Unlike previous Boogie tapes, these are not mash-ups but new tracks with a host a hot verses from the likes of Bun B, Talib Kweli, U-N-I, GZA, Wale, and tons more. My personal favorites: Jazzy Jeff's "Stay
It always promises to be a good weekend when my favorite director has a movie opening. His latest promises to mix his trademark cinematic style with my new favorite subject matter of late - corporate criminals. The Informant tells the true story of Mark Whitacre, a top executive at the Archer Daniels Midland, who blows the whistle on his company's price-fixing only to turn around and committ
New and Used Records is pleased to announce our next release will be an EP from Tigers Can Bite You entitled Second Nature. "Second Nature," which first appeared on last year's Steve Ward Hears Voices, kicks off the 4-song EP, which also features new songs, "Sad Magicians" and "Ghosty" as well as Kid Mud's remix of "Opener." Second Nature hits digital retailers on September 8.
This Sunday, a fan-tabulous all-day concert event is happening in Los Angeles called Cage The Animals. You can find out more by reading our interview with the organizers, This is Tightrope. In anticipation of the event, we asked This is Tightrope to give us an introduction to each of the bands performing...+ Palm Yard are friends of ours from Santa Cruz. They were looking to play an LA show in
In a city full of amazing talent, thankfully it is also full of amazing individuals who seek to promote that talent. The Cage the Animals all day event happening this weekend is a showcase for great music, but it is also more than that. The event is presented by This Is Tightrope, a collective made up of Amanda Van Goethen, Alyssa Van Breene, Ilyse Kaplan, Patrick Presto and Zach Best. Patrick
Director Brett Gaylor outlines his intentions to attorney Lawrence Lessig about 20 minutes into RIP, declaring that he wants to make a "mash-up movie." Lessig watches what Gaylor has edited so far and tells him, "that's totally illegal." It's one of several self-referential moments in RIP: A Remix Manifesto, which screens at the Mezzanine tomorrow night, followed by performances from Eclectic
It seems Bay Area bands have been feeling especially generous lately...Why? - "This Blackest Purse" (mp3)The Dodos - "Fables" (mp3)Girls - "Hellhole Ratrace" (mp3)Girls - "Solitude" (mp3)
+ Have plans on Sunday? You might want to change them, so you can attend the very awesome looking Cage the Animals event with music and a whole lot more. We will have more on this event later this week.+ Last week, Pitchfork reported that 3/4 of the Mae Shi touring band would be splitting off into a new band called Signals, but that the lineup would make one final appearance at the Pitchfork
On Sunday, I partook in what has been a tradition three years running - attending a baseball game with a contingent of Bay Area music bloggers. The event has been organized each time by Adrian of ipickmynose who also has liveblogged each game.It was a nice mix of old faces and new ones, and while the A's did not make it much of a game, I did thoroughly enjoy my plate of nachos. Besides
+ A blogger who leaked tracks from Guns N' Roses Chinese Democracy has been "sentenced to two months of home confinement and a year of parole for breaking copyright law." [via Pitchfork] Ryan Dombal asks the question that must be on everyone's mind: If famed leaker Kevin Cogill knew that hardly anyone would care about Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy once it actually came out, would he have still
+ Our concert presenting partners Radio Free Silverlake have a review of Kissing Cousins' debut full length, Pillar of Salt: The first full length by this all female, Silver Lake quintet is full of driving rhythms and haunting melodies that lull you into a hypnotic state–like a snake charmer drawing out a cobra with his tune. An apt reference actually, as swirling around the haze of fuzzy guitars
+ On Friday, July 31st, The Bay Bridged present their biggest San Francisco event yet - a benefit for the site entitled Regional Bias: A Celebration of Bay Area Music and Culture.Taking place at the historic Verdi Club in Potrero Hill, Regional Bias is a celebration of the things that make living in the Bay Area a great, unique experience. As you might expect, we'll have four of the best San
On July 16, the Echo will play host to an exciting bill that includes LA's The Monolators, Flying Tourbillion Orchestra, Kissing Cousins, and special guests The Damselles. Representing San Francisco will be French Miami.MP3 - "The God Damn Best" - French Miami LA[Heart]SF is a collaboration between N&UR, Radio Free Silverlake, and Kill the Mic. with promotional help from Indie 103.1 and
[Photo cred: The Color Awesome]+ MTV Unplugged is back - and we think this is a good thing. Silversun Pickups recently taped a session. Check out this performance of "Growing Up is Getting Old" - it sounds lovely:+ I know everyone has already covered this, but it is certainly worth a mention from us. You know, when you've figured out how to live off you're art, there's two things you can do -
+ ipickmynose is presenting a great show at Bottom of the Hill tomorrow - the Rural Alberta Advantage with locals Okay and Half-handed Cloud. Reasons to go: this could be the last IPMN show ever (in SF, at least), and IPMN's Adrian has this to say: If you've been reading this blog, you know my love of Rural Alberta Advantage is nothing new. In fact, they released one of my favorite albums of
[Photo cred: mattbooy]+ Jack White has kind of a love/hate relationship with modern technology. Or, maybe, it's just hate. He tells Uncut: I would like to set the computers on fire. We are in an age that is the antithesis of what I am trying to do, artistically. It's a constant battle. The last five or six albums I've put out, no matter what the project or band, the internet has blown it.
New and Used Records - Blog
My Funny Valentines
Download: James Blake Live Album (Unofficial)
Lana Del Rey - Without You (Kill Paris Remix) [Dubstep]
Miike Snow - “Paddling Out” Jacques Lu Cont Remix (MP3 Stream)
Iron & Wine and Patty Griffin
