Wilco (The Album)

Kevin posted the album.

Phantom Buffalo

A local band from Portland, Maine, but they are starting to make it fairly big.. I know the guitar player, Tim, we drink beers together on Fridays. They played at my buddy's Michael's wedding last summer in Tenants Harbor, and Michael gave out their CD's as a gift. This is what I uploaded.

Les Cowboys Fringants

I found this band when I went to Quebec City a couple times last year.. They are like the Beatles of French Canada.. the people love them up there. I saw them in a packed venue.. everyone in there was going nuts to the music and Labatt's beer.. great atmosphere, so I always think of that when I listen to the album... They definitely don't have an American sound, kind of hokey, but it really grew on me.

State Radio - "Us Against The Crown"

These guys can easily be described as reggae-rock, but don't write them off as a one note act. There's a lot of variety and strong song-writing on this album. I bought this kind of on a whim, and I'm glad I did. It doesn't sound like most of the indie rock I've been into lately, and it's nice to break out of the mold once in a while.

Here's a sample of one of the stronger tracks:

Del The Funky Homosapien

Del's new album "Funk Man (the stimulus package)" is a free download, just go here:

http://delthefunkyhomosapien.bandcamp.com/

Great Lake Swimmers--Lost Channels

The fourth album from the Toronto band is much like the earlier albums: acoustic guitars, solid vocals, and folksy scenes. It won't get you up to dance, but it's great background music (or music to calm that crabby child). Check out "Pulling on a Line," "Still," and "Unison Falling into Harmony," though they're all solid. And check them out on April 22nd with me at The Entry.

The National--Cherry Tree (2004)

This is the National's second release, from 2004. All of the songs are great (if you like The National) though I am not a big fan of "Reasonable Man".

THE BLACK KEYS--Thickfreakness

A sweet little rock and roll blues album from an Akron, Ohio duo recorded in thier basement and released in 2003. Perhaps almost a White Stripes with less hype and more clear blues connection.

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

Just posted the latest from the Portland crew, The Decemberists. I haven't yet had a chance to give The Hazards of Love a proper listen other than the single, The Rake's Song, which was released a few weeks ago. Always melodramatic, often pretentious; if you are a fan, The Hazards of Love will not likely disappoint. I picked this up for a mere $3.99 over at lala.com. Enjoy and report back with your findings.

Brother Ali - The Truth is Here

I just got back from a Brother Ali in-store at Fifth Element. It's been 2 years since Ali's last album, The Undisputed Truth. This 9 song EP and DVD is meant to be the bridge between that and his next full length, Street Preacher, which is set to be released this Fall.

Nine tracks featuring two highly sought after b-sides and seven new and previously unreleased songs including “Philistine David”, which was featured in the Jonathan Demme directed documentary, Jimmy Carter Man From Plains and “The Believer” a collaboration with Slug of Atmosphere...

...The Truth Is Here captures a key period in the career of what many have called one of the most promising voices to emerge from the underground this century and will be a must have for any and every Brother Ali fan.

The in-store performance was great. Minnesota hip-hop is alive and well. Between this and the recent P.O.S. release, I'm glad I live in the Twin Cities. Ali was late, so Slug grabbed the mic to kill a couple minutes. He told some stories about being on the road with Brother Ali and got the crowd laughing. The store was packed by the time Ali made his way to the front. He played four or five songs off the new EP including "The Believers" featuring Slug. He told a few stories, did a great freestyle and a few songs by request. Then he stuck around to sign CDs for anyone who wanted an autograph. The great thing was how appreciative Ali was to everyone that was there. You can tell he's humbled to be in the position that he's in. It's refreshing to see such heart and gratitude towards fans.

Enjoy this record and support local music.

P.O.S. - Never Better

"P.O.S returns with Never Better, the follow up to 2006's critically acclaimed Audition. Written mostly in a moving car, P.O.S raps at full clip to ride rolling drums and revving distortion. There's an urgency that he keeps in careful check, and then unleashes for spring-loaded verses that represent his best work. Never Better enters a room like bombshell with a black eye, badass, noisy, and impossible to ignore. With an unlikely punk rock past and an ever growing loyal hip hop fan base, P.O.S proves he is a rapper with range, a real musician and an unstoppable performer."

Stef's third full-length album, Never Better, hits harder than anything else you're likely to hear this year. I'm a big fan of his first two albums and most of what I've heard from the Doomtree collective, but this album takes it all up a notch. To be honest, it took me a couple of listens to warm up to Never Better. It's more abrasive than most of the hip-hop I'm used to. But now that I'm hooked, I can't stop listening. There are so many layers to discover in this DIY hip-hop/punk genre blending album. Best listened to live, but a close second is while driving your car 50 MPH at night down Lyndale with your lights off. So, check out the album and be sure to check out the artwork. Amazing.

New Justin, Arcade Fire, Etc.!!!

"Dark Was The Night" is a 2-disc collection of indie rock stars donating new material for a charity CD release raising funds for HIV/AIDS awareness and research.  I had only 4 downloads left on my recent Emusic account and picked new Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Justin Vernon with a guest, and Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew. The complete list is here.  I like that Justin is releasing solo material and the idea that Bon Iver is turning into a band. The Bon Iver track sounds like a 5th soung from the recent E.P. while the Justin song is more solo. The Arcade Fire is solid, but not great and the Kevin Drew song is disappointing.  Enjoy the 4 tracks. I plan to add more downloads from the album once my Emusic account rests. 

M Ward - Hold Time

ask, and you shall receive.

Bon Iver- Blood Bank

Go Blugolds! 

Track 1 is great. Track 2 & 3 are solid (I like 3 a little more) and track 4 sounds like Lil' Wayne (& not in a good way)

Down with Lollipop. 

Nathaniel Merriweather presents... Lovage: Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

Fresh off the heals of one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, Deltron 3030, producer Dan The Automator formed another supergroup in 2001 and released this instant classic, Lovage: Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By.

Producer Dan the Automator, DJ Kid Koala, singers Mike Patton and Jennifer Charles and a slew of special guests ranging from Prince Paul to Damon Albarn make up LOVAGE.

The album is not a gimmick or a brush off concept album, rather an amazing collection of songs to not only make love by, but to chill or relax or lounge around.

The wikipedia entry for Loavage boasts all about the Serge Gainsbourg album cover reference and song titles that sample and take from Hitchcock.

Patton's raspy vocals and Charles sultry voice on top of solid beats and instruments from The Automator and Kid Koala perfectly coexist.

Check out Pit Stop (Take Me Home), Sex (I Am) and To Catch A Thief, but do yourself a favor and listen from beginning to end. (Even the skits are worth checking out)

Unfortunately, this album is out of print and Automator sort of fell off the face of the earth, but in a cold February night at First Avenue in 2001 (or was it 2002 by that point??), the live incarnation of this album is one of my favorite concerts of all time. Patton had a 17 year old kid wearing a Korn shirt jump on stage and lick Jennifer Charles' shoe soul just to get a dance with her. Complete with Cigar and bathrobe, Automator walked around on stage and got drunk off Alize while all the soon to be hipsters in the crowd just dreamed of what they could be doing while this music was playing.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Okay, long time reader, been a while poster.

I have some time this week at work, so I decided I will post 2 albums each day, one being a new indie rock hype band and the other a random classic album to me.

The first posting happens to be what many bloggers are claiming the album of the year. Now, I never quite jumped on the noise bandwagon that is Animal Collective. Their album a few years ago, Sung Tongs, is a fun listen but never stuck with me. In the last 2 years I feel you couldn't get away from them, with each new track being dissected by the likes of Pitchfork or Gorrilla Vs. Bear.

Well, Animal Collective release their most accessible album to date with Merriweather Post Pavilion and it happens to be good. I am not going to freak out and claim them the next Purple Jesus or this album the best of 2009 no matter what else comes out, but I will say this album certainly deserves a listen.

Their first single off the album is called My Girls.

Oh, and the album covers moves! Optical Illusions a must!

2009

Admittedly, it's been a little quiet around here. That may be because there hasn't been a lot of new music lately or Kevin isn't sharing everything he's stealing from the interwebs. Whatever the reason, there is a lot to be excited about in 2009. Below is a list of some of the albums I am most excited about in the first 3 months alone.

01/20/09 Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
01/20/09 Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
01/27/09 RZA – Afro Samurai: The Resurrection
02/03/09 P.O.S. - Never Better
02/17/09 M. Ward – Hold Time
03/01/09 The Decemberists – Hazards of Love
03/03/09 Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
03/03/09 The Boy Least Likely To – The Law of the Playground
03/17/09 Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Beware

Anything else?

Coldplay: Viva la Vida

It's up; it's what you expect. But it got good reviews and I happened into it, so drag it down and listen to the definitive pop rock of our time.

Jake One - White Van Music

Another Rhymesayers release, White Van Music is a collection of beats and collaborations from Jake One, a producer and DJ from Seattle, and some of the best MCs in the business. At 22 tracks, the album is a little long and hit-and-miss in some places. But there are some instant classics from MCs such as Freeway, Brother Ali, MF DOOM, and Blueprint. My favorite track is Trap Door (MF DOOM) for the bass line alone. Enjoy.

Murs - Murs for President

Not so much a political concept album as the title might suggest. It's more of a relationship/break-up album. Produced by 9th Wonder, it's not the best album Murs has put out but it's got some killer tracks. My favorite by far is track 4, The Science. If you only listen to one song from this album, listen to that one. Enjoy.

The Killers - Day & Age

I haven't listened to this enough to give you guys any fully thought-out opinions. I'll just say that I like The Killers first two albums, and so far, I like this one too. It seems to be a bit more of a departure for them, throwing in some new elements you haven't heard from them before (jazz?) while retaining their signature sound. Tommy likey.

New Jay Bennett! For Free!

Got this from Jay Bennett, the other day:

That's the big news; now here's the story:

As anyone keeping a watchful eye on me has noticed, October came and went without the release of "Kicking at the Perfumed Air." The reason for this: In the final stages of completing "Kicking at the Perfumed Air," at Pieholden Suite Sound (http://www.myspace.com/pieholdenstudios), I was simultaneously working on a very personal and concise 10-song album called "Whatever Happened I Apologize." After debating back and forth, I have decided to release "Apologize" first. I am somewhat at a loss for words as to explain why I arrived at this decision, save to say it's just one of those lonely and private choices one sometimes has to make in other words, it just felt more like the right album for the time.

It is stark, stripped down, and acoustic based more so than any other record I have made. I really wanted to capture the simpler and more emotional nature of the songwriting, and I knew that the only way I could do this was to put it together quickly, with no second-guessing, and no heavy deliberating about minor details. Consequently I would have to learn to embrace the resultant imperfections and I have. All of the vocals are done live to my own acoustic guitar accompaniment, so it has some warts, but, in my effort to not forsake integrity for technical perfection, the album ended up feeling more honest, immediate, naked, and cohesive to me. I am very proud of presenting myself without my typical voluminous bells and whistles. I am left wondering why I haven't done this more often in the past.

As I've really wanted to help out my studio partner, Matt DeWine, and his partner Casey Meehan, with their new download record label, rockproper, that's just where you can find this new album: http://www.rockproper.com. Again, it's called "Whatever Happened I Apologize," and did I mention it's free? I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think. I would also like to encourage you all to check out some of the other free downloads, by some of the great artists, available on the site.

Love,
Jay
http://www.myspace.com/jaybennett

I haven't really listened to it yet, but thought you all would interested in it.

Albums I been meaning to Post

I have been thinking about things to post for awhile now, but haven't yet, so here a down and dirty post o'rama. Following are the album covers and thought in Haiku form.

Blitzen Trapper - Furr

Blitzen Trapper Rock
Best Album of year, suckers
more focused then last

Aimee Mann - @#%&*! Smilers

Mann returns to form
Elvis Costello on one track
songs 'bout middle age

Ben Folds Five - The Complete Sessions at West 54th

Ben Folds looks so young
DVD of cool PBS show
Before Jesse got fat

Ryan Adams - Cardinology

Adams likes The Dead
Cardinals best band today
Song Writing o.k.

Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue

Expecting more, please
Songs leave me flat, where is Twins
Will give another shot

Mr. President (You're The Man)

Brother Ali's congratulations message to Barack Hussein Obama. The title of the song really says it all.

Her Space Holiday - XOXO, Panda And The New Kid Revival

I don't know a lot about Her Space Holiday other than I like their previous record, The Past Presents The Future. So, I bought their newest album. It's great. I hope you like it too. Enjoy.

Obama video

Here is a link to a cool Obama video.

Bob Dylan: Tell Tale Signs (Boogleg Series Vol. 8)

It's been only in the last 6 or so years that I've really enjoyed my Bob Dylan. I remember when Peterson showed up to Governors praising him. I'm in now, and I think the last three albums have been some of his best work. So I was excited to hear about this double album, a series of outtakes, live performances, and b-sides spanning the last fifteen years. To me, it's worth it just for the two alternate versions of "Mississippi." Enjoy. I'll be seeing him on Nov. 4th at Northrop Auditorium, and I'm expecting it to be a worthy distraction from a day of politics.

Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Signs Preview

NPR offers a full listen to Dylan's new bootleg album. I'll be snagging when it goes live, for the alternate takes of Mississippi alone. Enjoy.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95047293

Good News (if its true)

A New album will feature the music of Ben Folds and the lyrics of Nick Hornby 

This could be fun. 

Nada Surf - Let Go

Until recently, if someone asked me about Nada Surf, I would've replied, "you mean that one-hit-wonder? Didn't they do that song Popular? Yeah, I remember when that song was big, I was in high school. Wait...they're still making music?"
Why yes, yes they are. And it's good music too...imagine that! This album from 2003 is a wonderful little slice of indie-pop pie. Take a sec to read the Rolling Stone review, which encapsulates it nicely:

Nada Surf enjoyed a buzz-bin moment in 1996 with the high school satire "Popular," and while the extremely groovy guitar ripples stuck in your head long after the joke was over, it wasn't the kind of hit that suggests a long-term career, as Harvey Danger or the Primitive Radio Gods would be happy to explain to you. So the New York guitar-rock trio hit the indie trail to earn its cred the hard way, and after the Weezer-like introspection of 2000's startlingly great The Proximity Effect, Nada Surf get it all together on Let Go, the band's best by a mile. Let Go is an excellent rainy-afternoon album, full of gentle and melancholic beauty, with echoes of Love and the Beach Boys. In "Blizzard of '77," "Blonde on Blonde" and "The Way You Wear Your Head," Nada Surf show enough smarts and panache to leave most of their Nineties-rock peers eating hot dust.

Faith No More - King For A Day (1995)

posting because Kevin told me to. 

RIP - Jerry "The Guitar Man" Reed

so Jerry "The Guitar Man" Reed recently kicked it.   

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/arts/music/03reed.html

i had a short term fascination with Jerry a few years back... so this news got to me a bit.  and since my record player is temporarily out of service, i found myself trying to dig up digital versions of the songs i've only ever heard on scratched and poppy vinyl.  although i'll admit that  stylistically JR laid down more than his fair share of questionable material, as a guitar man his chops are bordering on unbelievable.  and when you combine his fretwork with his down-home Southern boy persona and that voice, he is in rare company.   but still few seem to know of him beyond a few hit songs from the early 70s or his cameo roles in the Smoky and the Bandit movies.  so i thought i'd take this opportunity to honor the memory of JR by sharing five tracks that I feel well represent him and his guitar.  

Ra Ra Riot "The Rhumb Line"

I often run at the YMCA and read Rolling Stone and Spin magazines looking for reviews of new, unfound records. Last week, I read about a Syracuse, NY band called Ra Ra Riot.  The review really got my attention with this paraphrased quote, "Ra Ra Riot combine Arcade Fire's Orch Pop sound  with Vampire Weekend's pop sensibilities creating an album that is both effervescent and heartbreaking." That was enough for me to download it. Check out tracks 1, 5, & 6. 

Doomtree

After numerous solo releases and pseudo-official compilations, the Doomtree collective has released their first official full length album. Self titled, this album features the best of the Twin Cities underground punk and hip-hop scene. If you are a fan of Atmosphere or P.O.S., then check this out.

Pretty Things - Parachute

Here is another album from the late 60's early 70's. The Pretty Things, Parachute was named "Album of the Year" in 1970 by Rolling Stone Magazine. It beat out: Let it Be by the Beatles, Layla by Derek and the Dominoes, Morrison Hotel by the Doors, Pearl by Janis Joplin, After the Gold Rush by Neil Young, Moondance by Van Morrison, and Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel. The melodies and guitar work are excellent. Give it a listen and tell me what you think.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow was an underrated '60s psych-pop band that was a cross between Barrett-era Floyd and the Beatles Revolver period. With quirky English characters, backwards tapes, Eastern modalities, baroque keyboard touches, and trippy british lyrics, it is vintage psychedelia. Tomorrow had some well known musicians: John Adler (The Pretty Things), Steve Howe (Yes), and Keith West. Tomorrow never really made it big. This is their one and only album.

David Byrne and Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

The new album is now posted. There is a good review on the TIMESONLINE site.

Ben Folds Way to Normal

Ben's forthcoming album is set to be released on 9/30/08. He has been playing songs off his new album for the couple of months during his live shows. A few weeks ago a member of BenFolds.org. Said he had 9 tracks off the studio album, and was very down on the album. This is what Combing the internets this is what I have found out:

New Ben songs leaked, by somebody, maybe Ben himself. There are songs with the same names of the new songs that he played live this year, but they are different songs. There are other new songs. There are songs that aren't on the album. There are possibly real songs.

That's it. Everybody is speculating. The only truth right now is that 9 songs that are definitely Ben were leaked.

So there you have it. Other things I know is the cover art with these tracks are is not the cover art that was listed in Stereogum's recent article.

Unfortunatly the concenus between the internets fans is that the 9 songs are blotted self referential pop music that is more akin to Weezer then anything else. I have to disagree,the songs are good, not great, but very very catchy. Are these the real tracks? Are these fake tracks? Are they a mix of both? I guess we will have to wait until 9/30 to find out.

Also for you is the video for Hiroshima


On a side note Stereogum is a great place for all kinds of music news, and free mp3s. Check it out.

That is all


***************Update***********************************************

Ben admits the album is fake. He leaked it himself. Totally Awesome

Read it here in Rolling Stone

*****************end of update*************************************

Yes Fragile

In the pantheon of 70's prog rock Yes has stood the test of time. Their albums still have the great hooks of a well crafted pop song still remaining true to the essence of prog.

The band's breakthrough album, dominated by science-fiction and fantasy elements and new member Rick Wakeman, whose organ, synthesizers, Mellotrons, and other keyboard exotica added a larger-than-life element to the procedings. Ironically, the album was a patchwork job, hastily assembled in order to cover the cost of Wakeman's array of instruments. But the group built effectively on the groundwork left by The Yes Album, and the group had an AM-radio sucker-punch, aimed at all of those other progressive bands who eschewed the notion of hit singles, in the form of "Roundabout," the edited version (sort of "highlights" of the album version) of which pulled in millions of young kids who'd never heard them before. The single clicked, most album-buyers liked the long version and all of the rest of what they found, and the band was made.

That is all.

Hold Steady-Stay Positive

Brooklyn's super cool Minnesota band The Hold Steady just released their 4th album entitled "Stay Positive."  Here in the cities the Hold Steady are praised as rock royalty; what I can't figure out is why.  I have three theories: 1) they are a good band, 2) some of the members of the band are from the Twin Cities (and Minnesota LOVES to celebrate its own) or 3) its cool for hipsters outside Minnesota to listen to music about another town.* 

Nevertheless, the Hold Steady's 4th record is much like their previous three. Its Bruce Springsteen's E-Street band playing blue-collar rock n roll while a guy in a Twins jersey talks about the relationships of made-up people.  The Current is playing tracks 1, 2, & 8 as the singles. Enjoy because I like the Hold Steady.

Final thought: The Twin's catcher Joe Mauer (from MN) should be nicknamed Hold Steady. He, like the band, is from Minnesota,  catcher's help to "hold" runners on base, and finally, Joe takes pitches and is a very consistent or "steady" presence in the middle of Gardy's line-up. 

*Steal.this.song founder Kyle came up with this theory. 

Sigur Ros: Part Deux

Reuploaded the Sigur Ros file. Sorry for any frustration. It's worth the wait.

If the .Mac file isn't working, give this link a try:

Sigur Ros

Happy Listening.

Dengue Fever-Venus on Earth

Here are some reviews for this album.
http://www.realworldrecords.com/catalogue/venus-on-earth

Beck teams up with Danger Mouse to create an interesting record that has rich electronic texturing, subdued baselines, funky beats, 1960s sound, and happy/sad lyrics. Turn it up and give it a listen.

Sigur Ros: Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust

These guys never disappoint. Paul was talking up track one, but I love me some track two. It's much less their typical speed and I dig it. There are themes that run through their music, and I'd like to see them rock out a bit more on this album, but the vocals are great and I love that I can't understand the lyrics. This means these guys get heavy play while I slay the dissertation monster. Enjoy.

Listening Party, Pat Boone, Scarlett Waits?

Okay , first I think it is awesome that my Itunes library classifies Listening Party as "folk". I mean I guess. But they are not James Taylor or Iron and Wine. Anyhow cool band from Canada that is touring with Wolf Parade and that Paul, Greg, and myself took a shining to. This album is called "Who are we missing?"

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=74527025


The second album I posted is an oldie but goodie, prolly all but forgotten Pat Boone album of 80's metal covers, "In a Metal Kind of Mood." It rocks.

Third, at first I thought to myself: "How long have I been sleeping to not know that there is an album on which Scarlett Johannson does Tom Waits covers?" And then I heard it. Two rights do not make another right in this case. It's awful. Luckily I heard before I bought it on some strange combination of impulse and amorousness. Here is a link:

http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/04/scarlett-johann.html

Arthur Brown The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

Weird late 60's British Psychedelia. Drop a tab and sit back and listen. I am the god of hell fire and I bring you FIRE!

For your pleasure there is this:

the heavy - great vengeance & furious fire

the Brits have done it again.  the Coleen single got my attention with it's 70s soul funk throwback sound (curtis mayfield mostly comes to mind)... and dare i say it, the infectious grooves wouldn't leave me alone (ok said it).  I was pleasantly surprised to find the album didn't disappoint.  i give you... the heavy.

Wolf Parade-At Mount Zoomer

As much as I, a Minnesotan, enjoys make fun of Canada (our maple leafed friends to the north rank slightly lower then Wisconsinites) their brand of indie rock is currently the best in the world. Next year when the best of the decade lists start to show up many Canadian bands will be ranked near the top. Think about this list of currently great bands: Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, and the New Pornographers. 

Wolf Parade must be placed on this list. 

Their debut "Apologies to Queen Mary" should be on constant rotation in everyone's iTunes. Trying to avoid a Vs. or In Utero (yes, a throwback to grunge rock) Wolf Parade's sophomore record will, inevitably & unfairly, be labeled as a sophomore slump record. Its not as good as their first, but still a very good record. I am excited to see them at First Ave. on July 9. As for recommended tracks...after one list try 1, 2,3, & 7 to start. 

The Swell Season - Live in Madison, WI at Overture Hall 6/16/08

A year ago, I took Kristen to see the movie Once on it's opening weekend, because it starred Glen Hansard, lead singer of The Frames, a band that she unequivocally worships. It was a wonderful little movie that contained some wonderful music, and it did really well for a tiny little independent Irish movie. Later that year, it started gaining steam as an award contender, getting nominated for a couple Grammys, winning Best Foreign Film at The Independent Spirit Awards, and culminated with a Best Music Oscar win for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Truly, an "out of nowhere" movie if there ever was one.

Soon after their Oscar win, they announced a tour in support of the film and the music within it, and lo & behold they had a Madison date. Of course Kristen and I went, and it was a spectacular show.

This upload is that concert. Highlights for me were "Seven Day Mile", Glen's completely unplugged version of "Say It To Me Now", and their beautifully layered climax "Fitzcarraldo." Enjoy.

P.S. If anyone wants the actual soundtrack to Once, just leave a comment. Also, I uploaded the original .zip file I got, instead of archiving it myself. Let me know if there's any problems with downloading it.

P.P.S. I noticed some of you are uploading stuff but not blogging about it. C'mon, let us know it's out there! I don't open the drive unless I see something on the blog about it.

Tapes N Tapes "Walk It Off"

New Tapes N Tapes.

Its an OK record. 

Cloud Cult-Feel Good Lost

This is the new Cloud Cult record "Feel Good Ghosts." I am excited to see them at the Walker in on the 21st. The first 2 tracks are a great example of the busy, yet, genuine Twin Cities Rock n Roll. On the way to a Hulk screening, Greg and discussed if they are Christian rock band. If anyone knows or has a theory-please share.  

Finally, if people want I can post their previous release "The Meaning of the 8" I will post that. 

Jonathan Coulton

Geek rock is not a term that really gets thrown around much anymore. With They Might Be Giants moving into the realm of Children's music, Ween falling to their own excesses, Barenaked Ladies being too Canadian for anyone to notice anymore, Mike Doughty's recent stuff having too much bacon for the pan to handle, and Ben Folds next album seemingly years away, it appears geek rock has gone the way of Disco, prog rock and Elvis. We can't leave the geek rock mantel to Weezer, even though Pork and Beans has a hilarious video, they suck.

Is there no place for well crafted songs with humor, that are about over educated, undersexed, video game loving males between the ages of 25-40? Riding his guitar like a white steed to the rescue the geeks rescue is Jonathan Coulton. You may remember Johnathan from this post, about John Hodgman's 700 Hobo names. Jonathan actually comes from the world he writes about. A former computer programmer his songs seem like Office Space or an episode of the Office put to music. Songs like Code Monkey, RE: Your Brains, and Pizza Day are songs about office life that could only been written by some one who has actually lived it. RE: Your Brains, by the way points out my fear of an office being taken over by Zombies, but that is another story.

Jonathan has the required songs about historical events, presidents, and NPR morning hosts. But where Jonathan really shins are his songs about unrequited love. They are painfully funny and heartbreaking. Songs like Soft Rocked by Me, Madeline, and I'm Your Moon, one wish he would get laid and one wishes he wouldn't so he will continue to write songs just like those.

Jonathan also has the odd ball songs that are about every day life, but with an odd geek twist. And for some reason a song about people having sex outside. Jonathan also has a strange obession with Monkeys.

As with geek rock pioneers, They Might Be Giants, Coulton has used the internet and other ways of licensing his music to get it to the geeks. Jonathan uses Creative Commons licenses, which allows the artist to choose how they want to control their work. For example an artist can have all rights reserved to have an open free source type stuff. Jonathan's stuff is closer to the later. So basiclly you don't have to feel bad about stealing it. Though f you like it you can donate to Johnathan here (I did).

He also has a song about curling. So that is cool.

For your listening pleasure I have uploaded his four songs a week thing. Number two is prolly the best. Enjoy.

daniel johnston - selections & why me?

the semi-legendary 47 yr old reclusive genius singer songwriter artist who still lives with his parents.

if you haven't seen the documentary entitled The Devil and Daniel Johnston, it should be on your short list.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/devilanddaniel/aboutthefilm.html

there's a lot of recording material to sift thru, but with many diamonds buried in the rough... so i've posted a collection of my favorites along with a live album entitled Why Me? love or hate it.

Andrew Bird Soldiers On

I give you the newest Andrew Bird release, Soldier On, an eight-track EP. If you are familiar with Bird's Fingerlings series, this release will fit right into the same mold. Full of experiments, sketches, things that got crowded off of albums, and remarkable live performances.
Pitchfork Review

Also, the cover artwork is done by the ever-talented Jay Ryan (if you have ever been to my house, you may recognize a few of his pieces). Brilliant in his own right.
The Bird Machine

She and Him Volume One

Now I don't like M. Ward. Why? I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it is the love he get from almost everyone I talk to; maybe it is his pretenious name of M. (there is only one dude who should ever be called M and that is this guy and he had the sense to realize M was a dick way of saying I am better then you); maybe it is because I got into an on-line argument about M Ward being the next Bob Dylan. Mainly I would say it is voice, it is too annoying. It is the point of this whispery smoked addled sound that breaks into this false falsetto at the end and beginning of lines. You can hear him straining to be cool. It is not.

You know I don't know who I hate more that I should love M. Ward, Colin Meloy, Sufan Stevens, or Ben Gibbard.

With that being said, he is a hell of a producer. His collaboration with actress Zooey Deschanel is down right amazing. Going by the moniker of She and Him, the record Volume One is a collection of more She then Him. Zooey writes most of the songs on the album (less a view covers and a collaboration with Max Fischer) and does a majority of the singing. M. Ward's vocal input is thankfully limited, though his voice does not grate on my nerves in his short harmonies with Zooey.

The album in a nut shell is short, beautiful, with a antique feel. This may unfortunately have a limiting effect on the shelf life of the album, but right now it is one of my favs. There isn't a bad song on the album. The single "Why Do Let Me Stay Here," is the standout. Though the Beatles cover works well too.


Well enjoy suckers.