this was tough cause this is probably the best year, as a whole, that i have heard in quite a few years. i know im missing a record or two, so there may be an addendum later on, but im pretty sure that this is how this should look. with that said, i know as soon as i hit "publish" somethings going to pop in my head. either way, my top ten will be coming in the next day or so. i think i am going to 5 one day, 5 the next. does it really matter? nope... [...]
YOU could have penciled in indie rockers Grizzly Bear's Shields album as an Album of the Year for 2012 then and there back in June 2011, when the group first started working on it. This is the main is due to my deep, deep love for their previous release Veckatimest, a meticulously crafted, timeless classic of an album - if Shields only turned out a fraction as good as Veckatimest, it would be straight in. Luckily, it's more than a bit good. Although the songs' brilliance still shines as bright it's a slow-burner of an album, with [...]
Born in the Middle East to missionary parents, David Levesque was raised on a diet of dusty Disney VHS tapes stored in a vault – as they were the only sources of entertainment for a young boy overseas, they had a big impact. This deep-rooted infatuation has wormed its way throughout his life, making its mark most notably on his 'Mickey Mouse' tribal style, which is ingrained into the tropical electronica of his musical project, Levek . It wasn't a completely straightforward entry into the music biz however, as [...]
For the first time in three years, Ali ‘Dubfire’ Shirazinia returns to his own SCI+TEC label with "Slowburn." The lead offering on a two-track EP, "Slowburn" has tenacious rhythmic progression centered around a pungent bassline and gloomy melodies. From start to finish, this song’s construction is flawless and is something you’ll probably hear played out by the next techno heavyweight you see. Dubfire doesn't pump out records for the hell of it, and its apparent in all of his releases. He is a Grammy-winning artist and a musical genius to many - so when a release surfaces, you can expect it to be nothing short of [...]
We brought you a jamming electro pop hit from Birds & Batteries , but with their record, Stray Light , drawing nearer to its August 7th release date, more music is coming your way. Instead of hitting you over the head with dancy goodness, this tune really builds throughout its entirety. Electronic flourishes come in and out, and the vocals calmly float atop the entire mix. It's definitely an escapist sort of feel, if you're into that sort of thing. Pretty stoked on the band's diversity at this point, so [...]
This new tune "Bed of Lies" from songwriter Chase King is the perfect slow burner for those of you kicking off a road trip or perhaps enjoying some time under the Texas night sky. It's a song that mixes Mark Kozlek's sounds with a few parts of old school Elliot Smith and then leaves you wondering what you just heard. I dig that. A new album from Chase South Tropical Trail is due out July 24th on Wonderland Archive . Download: Chase King - Bed of Lies [MP3]
Sometimes you stumble upon music that moves you emotionally, though you can't exactly put your finger on it. That's precisely how I felt when I put on this record from Manchester's Easter titled Innocence Man . It's got a casual alternative rock feeling to it, like one would find with early Mark Kozelek works. Oddly, the vocal affectation that comes along with most UK bands isn't overwhelmingly present here, which makes it feel like it wasn't written here in the States during my [...]
from all the reports i had read re: sxsw, athens boys done good, the district attorneys , made a pretty big splash, or at least they made a nice little wave amongst the festivities attendants. rightfully so, their new record which was just released yesterday via this is american mausic, slowburner , is a record great listen, and can only imagine their live show to be something pretty damn awesome. the record, musically, is kinda hard to pin down. they kinda sound like a southern bred built [...]
After Coachella's horrendous Tupac hologram ( which now may lead to a faux-Tupac tour!? ) I started getting severely worried about the state of the music industry- and to be honest the state of music in general. Is this really where we are now? Has the ability to capture energy and emotion in unique and raw environment become a lost art? It's sad. But just as I started getting seriously bummed out about it (and trust me I did) a band like The District Attorneys come along. Their EP, Waiting On The Calm Down The Basement [...]
Is it me or did March seem to drag on and on? Maybe it was the endless barrage of communiques for SXSW or the parade of bands that used the Austin-based music festival as an excuse to head out on tour, but March just seemed to be stuffed with news, events and happenings for local music. We did our best to cover as much of it as we could, but all month it seemed like things kept falling through the cracks. Which is a little odd considering that weren't all that many ATL records released last month. I [...]
you wanna get people's collective mouths salivating for more? umm, make an ep as strong as athen's the district attorney's waiting on the calm down , give it away for free , then announce you got a full length coming out on 4.24. said record entitled, slowburner , is coming out on captains dead's bff's label, this is american music . oh, and theyre also playing the this is american music/captains dead sxsw tuesday kickoff party at hole in the wall. now, it may seem [...]
If you're a lover of David Bowie like I am, then you're probably bummed out by all those rumours that he's quitting music for good. But might there be another act to follow in his footsteps? Word has it that Mr. Stardust was so wowed by a new cover of his 2002 single 'Slow Burn', that he's decided to promote it on his official website , along with a free download of the track. Read more...
There's a certain genre of music that I would have discarded long ago, but as I have matured (barely) my tastes have as well. Slow songs with woodsy folk influences are now jewels, so when I got this new track from Little Silver I had to share it with you. They've just put out The Stolen Souvenir EP , and this little number is absolutely superb. The attention to detail, the inherent melody and vocal harmonies make for an incredible listen. You're gong to fall head over heels when [...]
Eric Bachmann wrote one of my favorite all-time songs, and I'm sorry to say that it wasn't while he was working with Archers of Loaf , though they have great tracks as well. The song was called "Man O' War," and you can watch the video (and realize why I love it) HERE . Ever since then, I've enjoyed everything he's done, especially his work with Crooked Fingers ; it's got everything to do with his powerful voice. The band has a new album, Breaks [...]
Today's Top Tune is a preview of what we'll hear when Henry Clay People play the final evening in the Hammer Museum's free music series Also I Like to Rock tonight...
The LA based group, RACES (formerly Black Jesus) have just signed on with Frenchkiss Records , who will be releasing the band's debut LP this fall. In preparation for the ride to their debut, the band have just released a single that should probably win you over pretty quickly. There's somewhat of a distance at the opening of the track, but as the vocals enter with the thick bass line, you find yourself being sucked into the dense sound of the "Big Broom." Accompaniment of female vocals add a [...]
What better way to introduce your weekend than with a brand new Umpire track. Sit back and open your ears as we present track 6 of Umpire 's forthcoming full length Now We're Active . 'On The Fringes" is the stunning centerpiece of the album with its lulling verse that leads you like a drugged candle in the intense slow burn chorus. Devastatingly beautiful! You can follow the link below to grab the track and embed it on your Facebook page, website, wherever. Tune in here tomorrow for track 7 and get ready for the Australian [...]
It was a perfect evening for patio sitting and beer drinking in Denton last night. Even better was, once the sun went down, it was time to get the music started. The Slow Burners, after having a bit of a hiatus, due to the fact that many of its members, as is the case with many Denton musicians, are involved in other projects (RTB2 and Hares On The Mountain, to name a few), got things started off strong for the night. Hiatus or no, The energy level of the band was through the roof. George Neal's [...]
Underwater beasts and oil slicks.
Echologist aka Brendon Moeller aka Beat Pharmacy. This is happy, dub-house. Brendon Moeller isn't a dreary dub fanatic a la Deepchord, his music attempts to uplift when most of his contemporaries' music is content to mirror the listeners' emotions. Raise up from under your laundry sack, ironing board or office cubicle. The weekend is here, lets go jackin'. Echologist - "Slow Burn"
Captain's Dead
Loughborough Echo - Sound Advice
The Line Of Best Fit
Dancing Astronaut
Austin Town Hall
Quit Mumbling
Latest Disgrace
The Daily Download
Today's Top Tune from KCRW
Hidden Shoal Recordings
Subservient Experiment
Sick of the Radio
Daft Punk: When anonymity goes wrong
Washed Out Announces New Album: Paracosm
Review: Body Language – Grammar [EP]
