Kids:
A few hours ago, I landed in Los Angeles, turned on my phone, and confirmed what you already know. Sony Pictures Television is replacing me as showrunner on Community, with two seasoned fellows that I’m sure are quite nice - actually, I have it on good authority they’re quite nice, because…
Uhhhh so it’s mother’s day and the weather is bangin’ and I’m stuck at work while the greek horde and the rest of my family party on at a cookout, roasting lamb and dancing naked, cause that’s the kinda shit we do.
It’s not quite halfway through the year yet but I figured I’d chronicle a list of albums that have come out so far that I really enjoyed. Maybe you will enjoy them to. They are in no order of appreciation other than alphabetical by artist.
Botch - An Anthology Of Dead Ends
So technically it came out in 2002 or something, but it got (repressed, or maybe pressed for the first time?) on vinyl for record store day, so I’m counting it as a re-issue. Hardcore for hardcore dudes. This album was released after the band broke up but it tears through you. It’s cool to trace not only the influence these guys had on other bands but to see where their members are now. Dave Knudson took his mathcore guitar skills over to Minus The Bear and Brian Cook is now playing Bass in Russian Circles, as well as having played in the late These Arms Are Snakes.
Chairlift - Something
Brooklyn pop duo’s second album bangs hard. Caroline Polacheck’s voice wisps over dream pop songs that could find a home in the heat of the 80’s. Seriously one of the best summer albums. I heard about Chairlift through different collaborations that Caroline Polacheck had been involved in (vox on a Washed Out track You and I, and the ultimate Das Racist track Fashion Party.)
Check out Chairlift and Kool A.D. from Das Racist cover Beyonce’s Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQdMxaCxV2U
Feist // Mastodon - Feistodon
This is another of this year’s record store day releases. This seven inch showcases each band covering each other. Which is pretty neat, since both bands are kinda on the opposite side of the spectrum. I’m not too into either of these bands but this was definitely a really awesome and fun release.
The Flaming Lips // Mastodon - WB Side By Side
On the subject of Mastodon covers, this was another fun record store day release with The Flaming Lips original version of A Spoonful Weighs A Ton on one side of a pretty pink 7 inch and Mastodon’s version of A Spoonful on the b-side.
The Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends
Segway now into The Flaming Lips ultimate collaboration album featuring a wide variety of artists from Bon Iver, Neon Indian, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Ke$ha, among others. All packaged in crazy psychedelic album covers with each individual record having it’s own crazy set of tye dye colors to go along with it. There’s some cool shit behind this record if you research it out. There are even copies that incorporate collaborators blood. But only if you’re willing to fork out $2,500. But what makes this album so great to me is the consistency throughout. It actually sounds like a cohesive piece of art despite the wide range of people working on it that have completely different sounds in their own respect. It’s loud, fuzzy, and for the lack of a better word, trippy.
Grimes - Visions
Grimes is kind of weird-o techno sort of like Aphex Twin with female vocals that hit high up there. The standout track to me is Genesis. The album is alright but I think Genesis almost carries the whole thing for me. Maybe I just need to really soak it in some more. I think that I would probably enjoy Grimes much more in a very intimate live setting like some of the youtube videos of her playing show where she’s sitting on the floor the whole time.
jj - no 4
jj drop their newest release the other day offering up two songs on 7 inches of plastic. dream pop hip hop all stars from Sweden. They’ve been killin it since 2009 with their first release and also have this dope mixtape out called Kills in which they remix a bunch of dirty rap songs your mother told you not to listen to. Get that here: http://www.gowherehiphop.com/2011/06/jj-kills-mixtape/
John Talabot - fIN
I picked up John Talabot’s Families EP last year while I was in London and was hella into it. So naturally when this came out I ordered it, and wow, what a great first full length from this Barcelona based producer. The songs on fIN are much more evolved from Families, while still sticking to his “house” ideals and earlier work of piling on pieces to form a song structure, almost like what Battles does with some of their stuff. Although on this album the songs seem darker. Well I don’t if darker is the right word, but I mean the opening track begins with the sound of night, and maybe that’s what I’m trying to convey. Anyway in a world where club music is dominated by dubstep, this album offers a break.
Jonquil - Point of Go
Jonquil have made an excellent pop album. This jaunt hits like a cool breeze on a hot balmy day. With a touch of guitar playing akin to Foals and some excellent vocal hooks that soar this is definitely an album you want in that summer tape deck of your moms mini van on your way to the beach.
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
I saw her perform Video Games on Letterman and I was smitten so I bought the album. She’s hot, I wish her songs were about me. But it’s an alright album I guess, a lot of hip hop influence and bad girl shit. Although the first line of the opening track really hits home as a prologue for a debut album: Feet don’t fail me now. As if maybe she is referring to her career……
Maps & Atlases - Beware and Be Grateful
This album is good but not great. It definitely ranks higher for me than their first album Perch Patchwork, but the two EP’s they initially did are definitely my favorite. That said this is still a solid release with some nice summer jams.
mewithoutYou - Ten Stories
Their 5th studio release proves to be a successful return to the old sound found on their first 3 releases after that strange but interesting departure to what seemed like acoustic religious nursery rhymes. The sound isn’t quite as aggressive as anything from A to B Life but still brandishes it’s teeth at times. The opening track, February 1878, is a classic mewithoutYou style reference to an earlier song in their catalogue, January 1979. I’m not sure if the album is physically out yet but I know that it comes out very very soon. You can stream the whole thing on Spotify though.
You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude
If you like dude bro punk rock with a hint of twinkle daddie influence then these are the boys for you. For real another solid release by Topshelf Records, this is a record you don’t wanna miss out on. Sing a long to songs about heartbreak and growing up because the American Dream is only dream nowadays, and dreams don’t get you shit.
THIS STUFF ISN’T OUT YET BUT IT COMES OUT SOON SO GET READY SHIT IS AGG
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - HONEYCOMB b/w GOTHAM
BEACH HOUSE - BLOOM
JOIE DE VIVRE - WE’RE ALL BETTER THAN THIS
LIARS - WIXIW
MY BLOODY VALENTINE - REMASTERS OF ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY
PRAWN - NEW EP
SIGUR ROS - VALTARI
SUIS LA LUNE - RIALA
THAT NEW SHINS VIDEO
Off the upcoming record “Port of Morrow”. Available March 20th. Preorder: theshins.com/music/port-morrow
Starring:
The Band: James Mercer, Richard Swift, Jessica Dobson, Joe Plummer, Yuuki Matthews
The Kids: Niko Jacobson, Natalie Shershaw, Anthony Chow, Lea Claire Zawada, Emma Smith
Mother: Tonetta Weaver
Jessica’s Husband: Nich Ealy-Elder
Girl Next Door: Emily MatthewsDir: DANIELS
Prod Co: PrettyBird
EP: Candice Ouaknine
Producer: Jonathan Wang
DP: Larkin Seiple
Production Designer: Jason KisvardayProperty of Columbia Records
DANIELS are seriously one of my favorite music video // shorts directing duo right now, racking up a bunch of amazing shit under their belt including The Shins, Battles, Chromeo, and Foster the People. You should check them out. They have a good sense of humor.
(Source: foxxypants)
Sundays Slumdays. I offer up an hour and a half long collection of songs to reflect the dead of winter, although the weather around here hasn’t really been that reflective of the dead of winter recently. Anyway most of these songs are pretty bummer and really pretty. I kinda just took some songs that I thought would sound good together off albums that I’ve had on heavy rotation recently. Stuff that you can put on and walk around a snow covered college town, curl up in a warm bed and go to sleep, or throw that shit on while you play Harvest Moon on GameCube.
1. Untitled 1 by Sigur Ros, from the album ( )
2. Wakingtowinter by Mineral, from the album EndSerenading
3. Earthquake by Deerhunter, from the album Halcyon Days
4. Prelude For Time Feelers by Eluvium, from the album Copia
5. The Only Moment We Were Alone by, Explosions in the Sky, from the album The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place
6. Ready, Able by Grizzly Bear, from the album Veckatimest
7. Still Life With Actress by Unlearn, from the album Places
8. Holocene by Bon Iver, from the album Bon Iver
9. That Finger on Your Temple Is The Barrel of My Raygun by Stars of the Lid, from the album And Their Refinement of the Decline
10. Leather Wings by This Will Destroy You, from the album This Will Destroy You
11. Video Games by Lana Del Rey, from the album Born To Die
12. The Last In A Line by The Appleseed Cast, from the album Low Level Owl Vol. II
13. Seventeen by Youth Lagoon, from the album The Year of Hibernation
14. City In The Dust On My Window by Hammock, from the album Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow
15. Halcyon (Beautiful Days) by Mono, from the album Walking Cloud And Deep Red Sky, Flag Fluttered And The Sun Shined
16. Honeymoon’s End (For Kim) by Kadman, from the album Sing To Me Slower
I found this on my hard drive. I think I drew it on paint during computer class a few years ago. I wish I had more.
