In 2011, I saw more than 500 bands perform live over 265-plus days of show-going, and still I feel as if I missed a lot. Plenty of what I did see remains etched in my memory, though, from festival adventures big and small (SXSW, Coachella and FYF to the Silverlake Jubilee, the substitute Sunset Junction soiree, Lobsterfest and more) to club shows that reminded me that up-close-and-personal is best. Below, my favorite 15 live moments of 2011 (with a previously unpublished photo gallery by Laurie Scavo from No. 8, Eastern Conference Champions' album-release show): [...]
Pickwick ::: photo by Christopher Nelson We had another incredible year here at Sound on the Sound and it was in large part thanks to the following MVPs and, of course, you guys reading this. These were the artists, albums, labels, festivals and well, your dancing, that inspired and impressed us most and these are the [...]
2011 wasn't just a great year for local full-lengths, awesome releases abounded in all formats: EPs, 72's and yes, even cassettes. In fact, Phil's favorite local release of all of 2011 was Mercy Ties and Grenades split 12". Here are 15 of our favorite local EPs, 72's and cassettes of the past year and our [...]
Kelli Schaefer ::: photo by Dylan Priest Having fallen deep down a used-vinyl sized hole this year, I managed to completely miss most of the national blog buzz bands and mp3s making the press release copy&paste rounds of 2011, those things that so often fill end of the year lists. But considering the immense output from [...]
photo: colm williamson (happy birthday, Colm) britt daniel (spoon) modern world (wolf parade cover) May 2008 damien jurado nothing is the news richard swift whitman gardens & villa black hills the berg sans nipple convert the measurement culture reject inside the cinema little scream the heron and the fox blackout beach beautiful burning desire john vanderslice sea salt
At this point, I won't even pretend I have any longtime readers, but about four years ago I would post occasionally about my love of the piano as used on pop music . There's just something about that sound that really grabs my ear. The instrument has an incredible range of harmonics. It has strings, but it's a percussion instrument. Essentially, it was invented as a combination the clavichord and harpsichord. Part of the sound comes from the force with which the keys are struck and part comes from how the strings are allowed to vibrate. [...]
Just an Animal's debut album "Lonely Hunter" (out Tuesday) marks a radical turn for the Los Angeles quartet formerly known as Red Cortez, and it's almost all for the better. Gone is the self-conscious, guitar-heavy rock 'n' soul of the foursome's early recordings, which (first under the name the Weather Underground) produced a series of EPs and some DIY releases but never a full-length album. In its place, Harley Prechtel-Cortez, Ryan Kirkpatrick, Diego Guerrero, and Calvin J. Love have found an organic, spacey take on soul-pop that broadens the quartet's sonic palette and injects some out-and-out fun into [...]
Watch The Rosebuds perform "Shake Our Tree" and "Go Ahead" for a Take Away Show on Pitchfork today. Filmed in Paris by the amazing La Blogothèque crew. Check out The Zombies on World Cafe . I can highly recommend the new album from Caveman . You can download/stream their song "Thankful" here or just go ahead and buy Coco Beware , it's that good. Check out this great video documentary of Generationals hitting some [...]
Richard Swift is slowly boring his way into Damien Jurado 's head, or at least that's the impression you get from Jurado's latest single, Nothing Is the News . It's the first track from his upcoming album, Maraqopa , which hits shelves Feb. 21. The song is a fuzzy journey through a jazzy world inhabited by Picasso caricatures wearing elf shoes. I don't know about the rest of the album, but Nothing Is the News continues further down the collaborative path blazed by Saint [...]
The awesome "Nothing is the News" is new from Damien Jurado's upcoming Maraqopa LP. Produced by Richard Swift, the record promises to be a sprawling, melodic expanse of the best sort of desert-infused blues. Do not miss. Damien Jurado - Nothing is the News Damien Jurado ( Facebook ) Rating 8.5
A new installment of experimental rock, avant garde pop, freak folk, and electronic music (all free & legal). If you like the music, please check out the artists. Click Here to download ZIP file with all tracks [mp3], track listing, and cover art. 01 Boats - T.V. Scientist [mp3] (from Cannonballs, Cannonballs ) 02 Richard Swift - Whitman [mp3] (from Walt Wolfman ) 03 Zun Zun Equi - Fandango Fresh [mp3] (from Katang ) [...]
Perhaps our favorite album of the week is the debut, self-titled release from Colorado duo, Gauntlet Hair. If you're a fan of Animal Collective, then it's likely you'll dig the sounds of Gauntlet Hair, especially the lead tracks below, "Top Bunk" and "Keep Time." Following right behind GH is the newest single, "Yellow Missing Signs," [...] Read more, get songs or stream the entire mix on Indie Rock Cafe
We gave you the heads up on the new Walt Wolfman EP from our favorite Richard Swift , which just came out a day or so ago via the good folks over at Secretly Canadian . Well, today, in case you weren't able to make it to your local store, the label (and SPIN) tossed up another groovy track from the record. This one's a bit different, using some ramshackle drumming to keep the beat while Swift sings atop it all. I highly encourage [...]
Richard Swift - Walt Wolfman Release Date: Oct 18, 2011 Label: Secretly Canadian
The Graboid is back this week and with so many great albums to choose from, it comes as a friendly reminder of why this can be such a useful resource for you week in and week out. The 10000-pound gorilla in the room has to be M832s Hurry Up, We're Dreaming - the ambitious double album from Anthony Gonzalez. While an excellent record, there is another release that should not be overlooked and might be just as worthy of your well-earned money - Real Estate's Days . As far as I'm concerned, [...]
The new Richard Swift 12-inch EP is golden, as are the records from M83 and My Brightest Diamond . Although worthy of your time this week: The Mommyheads , Rob Crow and Puscifer . I haven't explored much beyond that, but there might be a couple other worthwhile albums in this week's new releases.. :: Acid House Kings - Heaven Knows I Miss Him Now :: Balaclavas - Snake People [...]
I drove 30 miles to take pictures of Paul Simon last night from 2 miles away. This list of new releases is much much better than that. Gauntlet Hair, M83, Real Estate, Richard Swift! The list goes on and on... literally, it's a very long list! Acid House Kings: Heaven Knows I Miss Him Now Balaclavas: Snake People Body Language: Social Studies Brown Bird: Salt for Salt Brown [...]
Gardens & Villa ::: photo by Josh Lovseth The best dance parties I've been to this year haven't happened on Capitol Hill on a Friday night. Instead, they've been at Ballard venues on usually mellow Monday and Tuesday nights and they've both come courtesy of Santa Barbara's Gardens & Villa. Their show last Tuesday at The [...]
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![Niki & The Dove - The Fox [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/youtube/l2f6UbMnlq4_130.jpg)
Music Singles Chart #95
Whitney! ♥
FREENESS: Robot Orchestra – Beat The Odds (Germany)
The Twilight Sad cover The Smiths
