Blog: Friends With Both Arms

Bowerbirds – Mini Doc

Feb 10, 2012, 3:50pm Friends With Both Arms

About "The Clearing" by Bowerbirds from Secretly Jag on Vimeo . Bowerbirds put together a mini documentary to take us into the making of The Clearing, a record that is deeply personal - and is a result of a year of exploration of themselves as a band, their relationship, and the world around them. It's really neat, and a super honest portrayal of two artists struggling to make it work and eventually find the ability to once again be creative together by, "letting the darkness in". Watch above, and purchase The Clearing here.

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Bahamas – Barchords

Feb 10, 2012, 1:24pm Friends With Both Arms

I'm going to be honest, I was watching Eagle Vs. Shark last night and I realized that Jemaine looks like Alfie from Bahamas which led me to streaming his new record and falling in love with "I Got You Babe". Funny how my train of thought unravels. Bahamas played for us last SXSW and he was one of my faves. His new record is superb, it's getting more Jack Johnson/John Mayer-ish but I don't mind at all. Find out more here. Bahamas- I Got You Babe

• Bahamas - I Got You Babe

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Artist:	Bahamas
Title:	I Got You Babe
Link Text:	Bahamas- I Got You Babe
File Name:	07-I-Got-You-Babe.mp3
Bitrate:	256 kbps
Genre:	Alternative
Year:	2012

I Love You And Stuff – A Valentines Compilation

Feb 10, 2012, 10:48am Friends With Both Arms

I was sent this Valentines-inspired compilation from Hi54lofi Records featuring a ton of really great artists, so I wanted to share them with you. I was especially excited to see Glass Cake with a new song up on there - I haven't heard much from here in a good while and I always really liked her. Other great tracks include: Coffee & Wine by Adan, along with Inspired and the Sleep's "What I Want and What I Need". If you're looking for some mood music, I suggest you grab this one. [...]

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Jordan Klassen – Kindness EP

Feb 9, 2012, 5:33pm Friends With Both Arms

Vancouver-based Jordan Klassen is the kind of artist that inspires whimsy. It's the accompanying music to slow motion running scenes through tall meadows. With elements of the Middle East and Freelance Whales, it's got a childlike quality to it. It's deeply calming, an effect best produced by strings and soft male falsetto. I haven't heard something with this kind of clarity in a while. Does that make sense? It sounds clean. It sounds good. Listen to it here. Jordan Klassen - Go To Me by killbeat music

• Jordan Klassen - Go To Me

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Artist:	Jordan Klassen
Title:	Go To Me
File Name:	SoundCloud

Father John Misty – Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings

Feb 8, 2012, 12:50pm Friends With Both Arms

Father John Misty - Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings from Bella Union on Vimeo . My friend Nathan sent this over to me and I'm so glad he did. I've been waiting a long while to hear something from J. Tillman (excuse me) Father John Misty and this video accompanying his new song is fantastic, maybe one of the best that I've seen in a long while. Now, I'm not too sure why the name change but according to his description via Bella Union it sounds like he's not [...]

• Father John Misty - Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings

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Artist:	Father John Misty
Title:	Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
File Name:	SoundCloud

Sucre – When We Were Young

Feb 8, 2012, 10:02am Friends With Both Arms

It'd be almost too easy to limit Sucre's sound to "sugary" we've gotten that far with the name. It's true, Sucre (made up of Stacy King and husband, Darren along with musician Jeremy Larson) reside in the cutesy territory of nice things with french names. But beyond that - there exists something far more satisfying than an immediate rush, it's a deep nostalgia courtesy of lush string arrangements that make me feel like in a 70s gameshow dream sequence. There's reason for the nostalgia, you might recognize Stacy's vocals from the band Eisley, of which I was once a fan [...]

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Sweet Lights – Endless Town

Feb 7, 2012, 8:03pm Friends With Both Arms

Sweet Lights - Endless Town from Albert Birney on Vimeo . It's been a while since I've heard anything from Sweet Lights - so I was stoked to get this video for his new track "Endless Town" it's a beautiful moving collage of bright patterns and old images. Directed by Albert Birney (Spinto Band, Dr. Dog, Ra Ra Riot) & Vanessa Lauria.

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Aaron Embry for Booooooom

Feb 6, 2012, 9:34pm Friends With Both Arms

I recently came across  Aaron Embry   an LA based songwriter that is really something special. I posted a video of his on Booooooom - read all about it here. Aaron Embry - No Go

• Aaron Embry - No Go

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Artist:	Aaron Embry
Title:	No Go
Link Text:	Aaron Embry - No Go
File Name:	Aaron-Embry-No-Go.mp3
Bitrate:	192 kbps

Feist – The Bad In Eachother

Feb 4, 2012, 1:41pm Friends With Both Arms

FEIST - The bad in each other from martin de thurah on Vimeo . ...And I'm back! Getting caught up this morning and I came across the new Feist video. Naturally, it's amazing. Loving the cinematic montage quality of it - leaves much to be interpreted!

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NYC (Be Right Back)

Feb 1, 2012, 10:15am Friends With Both Arms

Hey friends, I'll be in Brooklyn for the week. I've been moving into my new apartment in Toronto and never got the chance to queue up some posts so I won't be blogging for a few days. It's been a while since I've done this, but it might be good to take a break and recharge. I've got some news and goodies coming up - until then, listen to that new Spirit Family Reunion mixtape (below) because it is oh-so good. And if you signed up for the FWBA newsletter, you'll be getting a mix and [...]

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The Mixtape Series : Spirit Family Reunion

Jan 30, 2012, 6:20am Friends With Both Arms

Illustration by Jess Ruliffson Spirit Family Reunion was without question, one of the best bands I discovered last year.  I was completely blown away when they played for us at SXSW and have been listening to their record ever since they handed us a homemade cd. Since then I've taken every opportunity to sing their praises. Taking inspiration from the early folk, with that Southern foot stomping- hand clapping, whiskey drinking kind of vibe. Rather than emulating an era, they embody it superbly. You feel the authenticity in their full band instrumentation, [...]

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The Dø Cover Janelle Monaé

Jan 28, 2012, 9:56pm Friends With Both Arms

French/Finnish Duo - The Dø recently covered Janelle Monae's Tightrope and brought that unique primitive yelping sound to it. It moves to a slow groove, Olivia Merilahti sings with vocals that sometimes have a life of their own. This is a fantastic cover. Tightrope (Janelle Monáe Cover) by The Dø

• The Dø - Tightrope (Janelle Monáe Cover)

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Artist:	The Dø
Title:	Tightrope (Janelle Monáe Cover)
File Name:	SoundCloud
Genre:	Jazz

Grouper – Demona (Dead Moon Cover)

Jan 26, 2012, 10:15am Friends With Both Arms

Have you been noticing a trend? That I only seem to be posting about female artists these days? It's my subconscious telling me to pick up a guitar and fulfill my childhood girl band dreams. I know it. Anyway, Grouper isn't something I'd typically dig, but there's something spooky and muffled about her that really gets to me. She recently covered Dead Moon's "Demona" for the latest issue of Yeti Magazine which includes a 73 which you can grab here.  And listen, below. Grouper - Demona (Dead Moon) 

• GROUPER - GROUPER

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Artist:	GROUPER
Title:	GROUPER
Link Text:	Grouper - Demona (Dead Moon)
File Name:	03-GROUPER.mp3
Bitrate:	320 kbps

Little Scream for L Magazine

Jan 25, 2012, 12:59pm Friends With Both Arms

I fell in love with Little Scream after I saw her open for Sharon Van Etten in San Diego. The Golden Record affirmed that initial infatuation and I've grown to deeply love that record over the last year. So when I saw this interview with her for L Magazine I was excited to find that she's authentic and has overcome a lot. She's a powerful woman who works outside of the limitations of what a song could be and for that, I'm a fan. Check out some more videos here .

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Zoo Animal – Laying and Lying

Jan 25, 2012, 10:35am Friends With Both Arms

Zoo Animal - "Laying and Lying" Music Video from Northern Outpost on Vimeo . If I were to come up with a visual representation of this song, it would be this video. Holly Newsom of Zoo Animal has a way of making you feel uncomfortable. In the way that gazing into someone's eyes can feel uncomfortable, or revealing your true feelings - it's the moment when you admit you're human and wait to be accepted. And this dance of awkward movements between this couple feels like exactly that. Combined with Newsom's ability [...]

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Cate Le Bon – CYRK

Jan 24, 2012, 12:19pm Friends With Both Arms

Cate Le Bon 's sophomore CYRK is a brilliant follow-up to her whimsical Me Oh My . There are so many interesting moments in this record, Greta trails along to the final sounds of a trumpet and a marching band beat, Falcon Eyed is a punky up-beat jam, The Man I Wanted is a lazy rock lullaby, Ploughing Out 2 is the most removed - with a muffled vocal effect and jangly percussion - she's definitely grown in confidence with more of that full band sound. She's most certainly detached herself from any comparison to [...]

• Cate Le Bon - Falcon Eyed

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Artist:	Cate Le Bon
Title:	Falcon Eyed
Link Text:	Cate Le Bon - Falcon Eyed
File Name:	01-Falcon-Eyed.mp3
Year:	2012

DOZENS – FORGET ME

Jan 24, 2012, 10:40am Friends With Both Arms

"Forget Me" is the new single from Chicago’s Dozens . These synthpop scientists have acquired every ingredient to a romance song and masterfully concocted "Forget Me" for all of us belt aloud. If I had a girlfriend, I would break up with her just so I could live this song. - Brandon

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Tennis / Young & Old

Jan 23, 2012, 10:52am Friends With Both Arms

Tennis is set to drop their Young & Old LP on Vday through Fat Possum . It seems as though their sound has been steadily evolving since their days at sea - will be cool to see how much they've grown (or not). It also marks the one year anniversary? (for lack of a better word) of my work trip to Vegas. Yes, I spent last Valentine's Day in Vegas with my two bro co-worker friends, and received quite the spa treatment thanks to my boyfriend's sneaky schemes. This year, I'm going to stay [...]

• Tennis - Origins

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Artist:	Tennis
Title:	Origins
Link Text:	Tennis- Origins
File Name:	02-Origins.mp3
Bitrate:	288 kbps
Genre:	Indie Rock

Julianna Barwick – Never Change

Jan 20, 2012, 10:48am Friends With Both Arms

New track from the beautiful Julianna Barwick . She's the ultimate sleeping pill, and I mean that in the bath salts and candles kind of way. Totally divine. My friend Derrick (who you will be hearing quite a lot from very soon) will be travelling with her to Iceland, because that's a totally real scenario and not just a dream sequence. What a jerk! Julianna Barwick - Never Change

• Julianna Barwick - Never Change

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Artist:	Julianna Barwick
Title:	Never Change
Link Text:	Julianna Barwick - Never Change
File Name:	Julianna_Barwick_-_Never_Chang e.mp3
Bitrate:	160 kbps
Year:	2010

Interview with La Blogotheque’s Derrick Belcham

Jan 20, 2012, 10:17am Friends With Both Arms

Working in music the last few years, I've had the chance to collaborate with really incredible people behind the scenes: filmmakers, engineers, graphic designers, writers - those individual's whose art it is to facilitate art. I've often wondered how they got to where they were. I had the opportunity to sit down with La Blogotheque filmmaker Derrick Belcham before he sets off en route to make a La Blogotheque HQ in New York. We met in a Toronto diner to discuss how he got to be where he's at, what Jeff Tweedy smelled like up close [...]

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