tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701856797364992032024-03-14T11:44:30.349-07:00Ear To The SoundA regular/irregular post on new-ish music that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Vague description? Yes.
Great music? Indubitably.Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-36212931828490985902013-01-25T15:09:00.001-08:002013-01-25T15:09:25.324-08:00This should be on your RADARWinnipeggers, mark your calendar for February 22nd. That's when Calvin Love brings his latest record, <i>New Radar</i>, to town and plays the revitalized and Sam Smith-ified <a href="http://www.songkick.com/concerts/15210234-calvin-love-at-windsor-hotel">Windsor Hotel</a>.
And yes, this is the first post in hella-long. My apologies. I've been plugging away at <a href="http://reductive-reviews.blogspot.ca/">Reductive Reviews</a> where I can bang out posts at a steady & quick clip, but finding some time to write longer, more considered pieces has eluded me what with the raising of children and operating of radio.
That said, I will be making an attempt to post about albums here and singles <a href="http://reductive-reviews.blogspot.ca/">there</a> with a little less meat on the bone here at ETTS than in the past so that I can strike a balance and keep this concern going.
I'm leading off my radio show (<a href="http://www.umfm.com/programming/programgrid/117/">Thank God It's Free Range</a>) tonight with "Treasure Hunters" from Love's record and while it's my favourite track, there are enough quality tracks on New Radar that it's not head-and-shoulders above the rest, just a couple inches.
That's all I've got to say for now as I've got some more stuff to prep for radio, but thanks for coming back to ETTS and excusing me my hiatus. It's over.
<iframe width="400" height="100" style="position: relative; display: block; width: 400px; height: 100px;" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=406043451/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"><a href="http://calvinlove.bandcamp.com/album/new-radar">NEW RADAR by CALVIN LOVE</a></iframe>
Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-21432386393206891242012-08-21T15:26:00.004-07:002012-08-22T09:33:13.391-07:00One man's loss is the world's gain.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5UAzn9ghVmAzubkiZQ7F9bJSRAj5DNUZowMlNsmKVlC0-MMQd2dkAAx1SbO0gjsnIvZJ2dpfXRZZnLIHLRWCR3yPNLOnAeXt1s48F5xbUyNkpXwtGzHUph37P3lY3ZheYE9FGnEdb3w/s1600/spectral+dusk+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5UAzn9ghVmAzubkiZQ7F9bJSRAj5DNUZowMlNsmKVlC0-MMQd2dkAAx1SbO0gjsnIvZJ2dpfXRZZnLIHLRWCR3yPNLOnAeXt1s48F5xbUyNkpXwtGzHUph37P3lY3ZheYE9FGnEdb3w/s200/spectral+dusk+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/eveninghymns">Evening Hymns</a> are no strangers to <b>Ear To The Sound</b> readers. Back when I started this blog (over 4 years ago, yikes!) with the whole "A is for.../ B is for..." conceit and didn't know what this blog would become, the <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.ca/2008/02/e-is-for-evening-hymns.html">E was for Evening Hymns</a>. Though it never got its own blog entry, <i>Spirit Guides</i> - the debut album under the Evening Hymns moniker - was #15 on my <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.ca/2010/01/finally-best-of-2009.html">Top 20 of 2009 post</a>.<br />
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"<a href="http://soundcloud.com/eveninghymns/7evening-hymnscedars">Cedars</a>" from <i>Spirit Guides</i> served as a primer to what the sophomore record, <i>Spectral Dusk</i>, would be like and how heartbreaking and heartbreakingly beautiful it would prove to be. The new album - like that song from the first record - was written in the wake of the death of Jonas Bonnetta's father, and serves as a meditation on grief, loss, and memory.<br />
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On <a href="http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/track-by-track-features/evening-hymns-spectral-dusk-102162">The Line Of Best Fit</a>, Bonnetta went through a track-by-track examination of the roots of this album and explains how even the wordless field recordings that open and close <i>Spectral Dusk</i> are connected to his late father [they were recorded at The Burn where his dad shot his first deer]. Some of the songwriting is explicit in its attempt to address Bonnetta's loss ["<a href="http://soundcloud.com/eveninghymns/evening-hymns-arrows-spectral">Arrows</a>,""You and Jake," "Spectral Dusk"], while other songs are more elliptical and metaphoric (though no less affecting) ["Moon River," "Family Tree"].<br />
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Midway through the album the explicit and the elliptical become enmeshed on "Cabin In The Burn." I don't think it's a coincidence that the cabin in the wilderness is central to the landscape Bonnetta and co. have created, and that the song finds a place at the heart of the album. The lyrics describe the spirit of Bonnetta's father inhabiting the cabin ("you are the four walls / you are the bear-claw door / you are the wood stove") while the rocking chair he used to rest in sits empty, looking out onto the wilderness. Pere Bonnetta can no longer sit in the chair so his son <i>lets him</i> <i>lie down in his mind</i> ("and there you can be anything") - it is a deeply touching gesture and the point at which the son truly seems to come to terms with the loss of his father. It's only after this acceptance that Jonas is able to find rest ("Asleep In The Pews"); though even that rest is fitful and leaves him "waiting for some strength."<br />
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When he sings that "those nights in the woods / they were dark / and they were deep," on "Asleep In The Pews" Bonnetta could be describing the recording of <i>Spectral Dusk</i> as well as his memories - he and bandmate Sylvie Smith were joined by a group of friends / musicians at a cabin near Perth, Ontario where the group hunkered down in the winter of 2010. The album seems as remote and self-contained as the cabin must have been, and while you can <i>actually</i> hear the ice in a drink crack on the title track, you can <i>practically</i> hear the floor-beams creak underneath the weight of the emotional load that these friends help Bonnetta carry. Everyone does their very best in contributing to this beautiful tribute - particularly Mika Posen's expressive, evocative violin work on "Irving Lake Access Road, February 12th 2011" which conveys both the loss and the hope of the lyrics elsewhere on the record as it soars and dives wordlessly.<br />
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I hesitate to say that I have a "favourite" track on this album because it's not the kind of album you can pull apart and reduce to individual elements (and each listen reveals new elements and sounds that make one song or another stick out at different times), but from the very first time I listened to <i>Spectral Dusk</i>, "You and Jake" was the song that hit me the hardest. In it, Bonnetta reflects on the special relationship that his brother Jake shared with their father, "smoking smokes and just dreaming big." But rather than begrudging that relationship (as some of us would), he instead chooses to draw on the lessons his father taught him to help overcome the grief associated with his death. When Bonnetta sings "you taught me how to be a working man / now I'm gonna work on you" (a line he echoes on "Spirit in the Sky" later on the record), my heart breaks each and every time I hear it. The resolve he displays in that line makes me want to be a better man and a better son - I didn't have the relationship with my father growing up that Bonnetta clearly did with his, but I still have the chance to get over myself and get past my youthful jealousies around my dad and brother's relationship. We're all set to take our first-ever trip together this fall and I find myself wanting to play this song for him and explain what it draws up in me. It's not often that an album has that effect, but it's not often that an album like this gets made. For Bonnetta's sake, I wish that circumstances meant he never had reason to make it, but I'm grateful that he was able to channel his pain into something this beautiful.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u20inA6rsgg" width="560"></iframe><br />
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You can buy a digital copy of the album at the Evening Hymns <a href="http://eveninghymns.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp page</a>, where the album stream below comes from.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=810863785/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400"><a href="http://eveninghymns.bandcamp.com/album/spectral-dusk">Spectral Dusk by Evening Hymns</a></iframe><br />Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-58709061782575320952012-08-15T11:25:00.001-07:002012-08-15T11:25:16.991-07:00Brothers already worked it out...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurMcm-qw-pglzq_Otf0HfAmu7xbUwMcdMrZtmu-0UKwzwq8Fe6An4kg9wHs-oVn57kn4SM_zBWQVxYiWVshHO6wZDpbrbu887lWXddHOhUvzjF9rvaZ2In8N1X0O8u-o1R2u2J8kGj24/s1600/colman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurMcm-qw-pglzq_Otf0HfAmu7xbUwMcdMrZtmu-0UKwzwq8Fe6An4kg9wHs-oVn57kn4SM_zBWQVxYiWVshHO6wZDpbrbu887lWXddHOhUvzjF9rvaZ2In8N1X0O8u-o1R2u2J8kGj24/s1600/colman.jpg" /></a></div>
Released this past May, the self-titled effort from the <a href="http://www.colmanbrothers.co.uk/">Colman Brothers</a> seriously could have been released in 1965 on <a href="http://www.fania.com/">Fania</a> and I wouldn't have been surprised; it sounds that timeless. It also sounds alive, as the energy of the percussion pulses through it.<br />
"<a href="http://colmanbrothers.bandcamp.com/track/mr-dg">Mr. DG</a>" shuffles into the frame first, a laid-back stroll through the neighbourhood before "<a href="http://colmanbrothers.bandcamp.com/track/another-brother-album-version">Another Brother</a>" dashes down the street with a muted cornet in hot pursuit. I'm not sure if it's brother Andrew or brother Mat on the horn, but kudos to whichever brother is responsible (my guess from <a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/334189_423771954331643_2137254060_o.jpg">this picture</a> is it's Andrew...). While the horn line is the call, the organ line is the response, giving a real point/counterpoint interplay between the instruments on this number - kind of like sparring partners in the ring, roped in by the drums.<br />
Organ is traded for piano at the beginning of "<a href="http://colmanbrothers.bandcamp.com/track/momo">MOMO</a>" and a Grant Green-esque guitar joins the brass section (now augmented by trombone) before the organ reappears. There's a lot going on within this track and it really starts to show just how talented at spinning plates the brothers Colman are (and leaves me to wonder just how many musicians they employ to take this show on the road).<br />
"<a href="http://colmanbrothers.bandcamp.com/track/sem-amor">Sem Amor</a>" is credited to Sara Colman as well so this family affair isn't just a bro-mance. The song is also the first to feature vocals, <i>with</i> Sister Sara and <i>without love</i>.<br />
"<a href="http://colmanbrothers.bandcamp.com/track/the-chief">The Chief</a>" (a personal favourite) feels like it could have come off a mid-period Jimmy Smith Blue Note record - particularly a record like <i>Home Cookin'</i> where the dynamic between Smith's organ and Kenny Burrell on guitar vacillates between partnership and duel with each showing up and showing off while the rhythm section just underpins and undersells - it's a dynamic "The Chief" has in spades.<br />
"She Who Dares (Remix)" is a bit of a departure from what has come before it on the album, but still walks with the funky strut "Mr. DG" first displayed.<br />
Speaking of remixes, it's actually because of Detroit producer <a href="http://tallblackguyproductions.com/">Tall Black Guy</a> that I got hip to this UK act in the first place. After connecting with him on <a href="https://twitter.com/sirtallblackguy">Twitter </a>and checking out his great <i>Hollyweird</i> records and his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2vl6JfP7tc">remix of Maylee Todd</a>, I happened upon his "On A Better Day I'm Dreamin'" remix and decided to burrow deeper into the source material. <br />
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I'm so glad I did, and I'm pretty sure that after listening to <i>Colman Brothers</i>, you'll be glad for serendipitous journeys and discoveries as well.<br />
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You can listen to the Bandcamp stream of the album below, and a special edition vinyl is <a href="http://colmanbrothers.bandcamp.com/track/on-a-better-day-im-dreamin-tall-black-guy-remix">available for order</a> that features the Tall Black Guy remix that got this post started.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=2300473907/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400"><a href="http://colmanbrothers.bandcamp.com/album/colman-brothers">Colman Brothers by Colman Brothers</a></iframe><br />
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Thanks for reading, now start listening...Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-58662102276647924492012-07-20T11:31:00.000-07:002012-07-20T12:26:28.917-07:00The summer lives foreverListening to the latest effort from Winnipeg hip-hop duo The Happy Unfortunate, I can't help but think of A Tribe Called Quest's <i><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/midnight-marauders-mw0000621393">Midnight Marauders</a></i>. I know that comparing THU to one of the giants of the rap game in ATCQ may seem overblown or like a reach, but bear with me.<br />
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When ATCQ debuted with <i>People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm</i> in 1990, they came out of the gate swinging and between Ali Shaheed Muhammad's inventive, crisp production and some tight rhymes on cuts like "Bonita Applebum" and "Can I Kick It?" helped birth the daisy age. At it's root, <i>Instinctive Travels...</i> was just a fun record.
They quickly followed their debut with 1991's darker <i>The Low End Theory</i>, an album that mined some of the same jazzy production but which also found the group exploring darker themes (date rape, the ills of the music industry) lyrically. Two years down the line, <i>Midnight Marauders</i> found ATCQ striking a deft balance between 'fun' songs and lyrical complexity - in other words, fully-realized maturity.<br />
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The Happy Unfortunate are now three albums into creating their own catalog (I'm not counting the beat-tapes they've released sporadically) and they appear to be following the same trajectory, just reversing the gaps between albums. 2009 saw their debut <i>Stand Up Or Fall Down</i> and two years later came No Time To Sleep.<br />
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Now with <i>July Never Dies</i>, the talented pair demonstrate a similar maturity in both their content (failed relationships, patience and perseverance, long-distance love) and their production. Soulful vocal and horn samples float around for the first few seconds before the boom-bap snap of the hi-hat and snare kick in on "Yesterday's Fool."<br />
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I don't think the yesterday they're talking about in the lead-off track is '89 (particularly considering the ages of The Happy Unfortunate), but a lot of the beats will take you back to the daisy age with the jazzy, gentle beats found on this baker's dozen of cuts. A harmonica that feels like a Stevie Wonder sample on "Mistakes To Be Made," the floating synths on "Long Shot," and the rolling piano line on "Through The Day" all have that old-school vibe without sounding copycat and in service of laid-back beats, they're perfectly paired with Wilson & Caneda's relaxed delivery.<br />
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The title is also perfectly paired with the collection of tracks - it feels like summer has been caught on record in a way that few albums or songs have since DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince dropped "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr0tTbTbmVA">Summertime</a>" back in '91.
The Happy Unfortunate will officially drop <i>July Never Dies</i> next Friday at <span itemprop="description"><span class="text_exposed_show">the Urban Forest in the Exchange (just across from Market Square on 93 Albert St.)</span></span> with a party that features <a href="http://reductive-reviews.blogspot.ca/2012/07/saint-kris-pretty-face.html">Saint Kris</a>, M-Kaps and Len Bowen. Don't sleep on the record (which you can preview below) or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/411684742211311/">the show</a>. Pre-order <i>July Never Dies</i> on their <a href="http://thehappyunfortunate.bandcamp.com/album/july-never-dies">Bandcamp page</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=885988241/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thehappyunfortunate.bandcamp.com/album/july-never-dies"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;July Never Dies by The Happy Unfortunate&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe>Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-34775431911386045032012-07-06T14:23:00.001-07:002012-07-06T14:26:36.551-07:00Beats me to my next post...I'm going to be dropping a new <b>ETTS</b> post about <a href="http://thehappyunfortunate.bandcamp.com/album/july-never-dies">the forthcoming record</a> from Winnipeg rap duo <a href="http://thehappyunfortunate.tumblr.com/">The Happy Unfortunate</a> in the next few days, but I just got the link to this beattape from Envoy - who is one-half of the group - and figured I'd share it here and promote the fact that (a) there will be a new post shortly, and (b) it will be about The Happy Unfortunate... who I am happy to say will be playing a free <a href="http://www.icelandicfestival.com/main.asp?cat_ID=2#">Friday night show </a>on August long as part of Islendingadagurinn (aka <a href="http://www.icelandicfestival.com/">Icelandic Fest</a>) in Gimli. This is the first summer I'm in charge of booking that night and I couldn't be happier to include this act in the line-up. <br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=3127065739/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://envoybeats.bandcamp.com/album/enstrumentals-vol-2"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Enstrumentals Vol. 2 by Envoy of The Happy Unfortunate&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe>Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-9727222263670100852012-06-14T11:31:00.001-07:002012-06-14T11:31:31.997-07:00Hell yes, Way Yes.From the folks that brought you past ETTS act <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.ca/2011/09/dont-understand-name-but-i-love-music.html">Dominant Legs</a>, Lefse Records is back and starting the summer off right with a little EP from Columbus, Ohio trio Way Yes called - appropriately enough - <i>Walkability</i>. As the title suggests, this is perfect for adding to your mp3 player, slipping on a pair of ear-buds and taking a stroll through your neighbourhood. The tropical vibes propelling off-kilter indie-pop songs remind me of past favourites Secret Cities' <i>Strange Hearts </i>album, their <a href="http://westernvinyl.com/news/">Western Vinyl</a> label-mates Callers, and even Victoria, B.C. act Chet - whose <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/chetaaargh"><i>Kauai</i></a> is a criminally overlooked record.<br />
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At a brief 5 songs and seconds shy of 20 minutes, striding to the pace of <i>Walkability</i> will get you two-thirds of the way to your daily <a href="http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/exercise/howmuchisenough.aspx">recommended 30 minutes</a> of exercise, and you'll likely want to hit repeat at least once and give 133% effort.<br />
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The title track (below) shimmers into view like heat rising from the hood of a car on a sun-baked stretch of highway and then the band intones its 'go it alone' lyrics: "don't need no breakups / don't need no friends at all / they'll just bring heartache ... it's walkability / it doesn't matter to me." The subtly reverb-ed and ringing guitar line surfs above the waves of percussion before washing ashore on a beach of electronic noise that bends itself into the beat that pushes "Important" forward.<br />
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Walkability</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/yvynyl">yvynyl</a></span> <br />
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I believe I've made mention in the past of having a bit of a dark fascination with composing the playlist for my own funeral, and I may just have to include "Singing" with its optimist outlook on going out on a positive note: "I get older every day / I get closer to my death / and I hope / that when I go / I'll be singing." Maybe that'll leave the crowd in a positive place as they scatter my ashes in the South Saskatchewan River valley.<br />
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I may be writing about Lefse label-mate Teen Daze and his great new record <i>All Of Us, Together</i> in the next few days (he plays the LO Pub here in Winnipeg next Wednesday, June 20th), but in the meantime, you can pre-order <i>Walkability</i> at <a href="http://lefserecords.bigcartel.com/product/way-yes-walkability-cd-ep-pre-order">Lefse Records web store</a>.Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-79225199193263419702012-06-13T12:17:00.001-07:002012-06-13T12:17:52.638-07:00Poised for the Polaris?Last week - June 7th to be exact - the polls closed in one of the biggest votes of my life (I would count voting in the last federal election, only that <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/canada-is-back-on-the-world-stage-hardly/article4254018/">didn't go so well</a> - seriously Canada, WTF?!). For the first time ever, I submitted a ballot for the <a href="http://polarismusicprize.ca/">Polaris Prize</a>. The Long List will be <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/polarisprize">announced tomorrow</a> in Vancouver, and when the world learns about which 40 albums made the cut, I will learn which (if any) of the 5 records I voted for are included for consideration in the winnowing down to a shortlist of 10 and eventually a winner for the 2012 award. <br />
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I was super-excited to be included in a batch of new jurors for the prize, and both witness and participate in the discussion that goes on among jurors about which albums are being and should be considered for the Polaris. As someone who has tried to predict the award-winner on an annual basis and once tried to guess the shortlist a year in advance based on release dates for albums from established Canadian acts that were due to be released during the following Polaris 'calendar' of June-to-May (I did pretty well considering I had the <a href="http://polarismusicprize.ca/2011/">eventual winner</a> and a few other albums make my 'cut'), it's exciting to be an active participant in determining what album will snag the prize. But it's also become clear that I'm no more likely to know what exactly will be on the list tomorrow despite being privy to the discussion among jurors than I was on the outside looking in. And that's because ultimately my ballot is MY ballot and I'm not voting as part of some hive-mind. The five records I put on my list were the ones I believed were the best of the bunch and I am certain that these specific picks, in this specific order, were not replicated by any other juror - and it's quite likely a fact that holds true for every juror. There are just far too many albums to be considered, jurors' perspectives to account for (and likely some other variables I'm not even thinking of) to say with certainty that the Long List will reflect my opinion.<br />
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**Speaking of how many albums were under consideration, please know that I listened to every album my fellow jurors recommended (at least once) as well as a great number of records that were never mentioned. My job at UMFM allows me the luxury of having a huge number of albums cross my desk and so a good eighty-to-ninety percent of the 'nominated' titles were already familiar to me, but for those I hadn't heard previously, I took the time to familiarize myself with the argument for the album and the contents of the album itself. This will likely make voting for the shortlist a bit easier as I fully expect to have a few of my personal picks not make the cut and require me to 'fill out my five' from among the Long List titles.<br />
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Without further ado, here's what I voted for:<br />
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<b>Number 5: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - <i>Yt // St</i> [Psychic Handshake]</b><br />
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This is an act that made <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.ca/2012/01/so-many-great-records-part-4.html">my own long list</a> when it came time to select my Top 20 albums for 2011 (which is, I should point out, not Can-Con exclusive like the Polaris), and one for which my fondness has only grown since the calendar turned to 2012. <i>Yt // St</i> is a captivating listen with a lot of disparate elements working in a weird harmony. The band describes themselves as: <br />
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<i>a psychedelic noh-wave opera group fusing noise, metal, pop and folk
music into a multidisciplinary hyper-orientalist cesspool of 'east'
meets 'west' culture clash in giant monochrome paper sets.</i> <br />
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It bears up to repeated listens, revealing layers with each new play - the band has packed a lot into these seven songs. <br />
You can listen to the album on the bands' <a href="http://yamantakasonictitan.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp page</a>.<br />
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<b>Number 4: Kathryn Calder - <i>Bright and Vivid</i> [File Under: Music]</b><br />
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I wasn't too big on Kathryn Calder's first solo effort, <i>Are You My Mother?</i> While I understood her attempt to deal with the period in which she took care of her terminally ill mother, and put a voice to the feelings and experiences, the songs themselves were a bit flat. A little more time and distance gave the former Immaculate Machine member and sometime New Pornographer the opportunity to develop her songs more fully and the results are exactly as the title suggests.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="177" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s5ijtdj4EdQ" width="315"></iframe><br />
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<b>Number 3: Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays -<i> Introducing... Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays</i> [Marlow Records]</b><br />
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When I'm not writing here or on Reductive Reviews, I try to contribute to Airtimes, UMFM's online culture zine. In fact, when we were building the site, I <a href="http://www.umfm.com/events/airtimes/2/20/">wrote a review</a> of the Slim Moore record to test the back-end because I wanted more people to know about this album. With Light In The Attic and Numero Group reissues and brand new release from Daptone Records, the past few years has seen a renaissance in the soul music realm and <i>Introducing..</i>. is a really fine addition to the canon. Moore's got a supple baritone that moves from croon to growl, while his band shifts from smooth shuffle to funky hustle, all with aplomb.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ntqAzdCwGdc" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<b>Number 2: Cannon Bros. - <i>Firecracker / Cloudglow</i> [Disintegration Records]</b><br />
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I'm really hoping that the full-length debut from Winnipeg duo Cannon Bros. isn't just a "Peg City pick" and their Pavement-era guitar rock appeals to jurors from across the country. Certainly the album will appeal to those who came of age in the early nineties (i.e. me) and look fondly back at the music coming out of Chapel Hill, Athens GA, and other college towns. Hard to believe that Cole and Alannah (aka the "Bros.") were just toddlers at the time. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="177" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Bj11VNp4hBw" width="315"></iframe><br />
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<b>Number 1: Jos. Fortin - <i>Typewriter</i> [Shuffling Feet] </b><br />
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Had this album come out last year, it would likely have unseated <i>Cookie Dough</i> by Freddie Cruger and Anthony Mills (aka Wildcookie), as my top album of 2011. I actually had the good fortune to hear a rough version of <i>Typewriter</i> last August and heard the mastered copy before the calendar turned to 2012, but the album wasn't released until this March. I've had a long time to fall in love with this record - and unlike some crushes, this one hasn't worn off; it's only gotten deeper. I feel that Fortin decided on the title of the album because when people wrote on typewriters, words carried more weight and had more permanence than they do in an era when a "Delete" key can make a thought disappear in an click. People can revise their thoughts in an instant and leave no trace of the original. In contrast to that, Fortin's lyrics (and songs) demonstrate an understanding of how finely-crafted words can stick with a reader/listener. I have listened to this record dozens of times and find new elements to appreciate each time. You can hear the record for yourself below via Bandcamp.<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=4207386492/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400"><a href="http://josfortin.bandcamp.com/album/typewriter">typewriter by Jos. Fortin</a></iframe><br /><br />
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**One last thing - winnowing this list down was arduous and I certainly left several albums I really, really like off . I just want to give shout-outs to (in alphabetical order):<br />
Apollo Ghosts - <i>Landmark</i> [You've Changed Records] - really strong rock record, classic and catchy.<br />
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BADBADNOTGOOD - <i>BBNG2</i> [Independent] - how disappointed am I that these guys cancelled their Winnipeg Jazz Fest appearance...<br />
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Cold Specks - <i>I Predict A Graceful Expulsion</i> [Arts & Crafts] - Al Spx voice is incredible and these songs are simple, unadorned vehicles for that voice.<br />
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Fraction & Fresh Kils - <i>Extra Science</i> [KilZone] - I thought this was a very strong year for Canadian hip-hop and this is one of two records that really grabbed my attention this year. Plus Fresh Kils production on numerous other records / singles was seriously on point.<br />
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Japandroids - <i>Celebration Rock</i> [Polyvinyl] - I honestly didn't get enough time with this one. I got my first full listen about a week before the ballots were due. It's very strong.<br />
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Moonface - <i>With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery</i> [Jagjaguwar] - pretty much everything Spencer Krug (Sunset Rubdown, Frog Eyes, ...) puts to tape is of interest to me, but his Moonface gig is poised to be my favourite. After the very solid <i>Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped</i> was released last summer, he followed up with this stunner which may be his best work under any name.<br />
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Teenburger - <i>Burgertime</i> [Droppin' Science] - a collaboration amongst Timbuktu, DJ Jorun Bombay and one of my favourite rappers, Ghettosocks that took me back to the days when thematic hip-hop didn't mean a masters thesis set to beats, just a whole lotta fun songs that play well together.<br />
<br />Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-79663430038875395942012-05-10T15:03:00.001-07:002012-05-10T15:03:39.587-07:00Something about you...I meant to write about this album in <b>FEBRUARY</b> [seriously, that's when I started the draft that included an embed of the album - sorry for abandoning <i>ETTS</i>, but I'm making a concerted effort to get back on the long(er) form posts going forward, including a forthcoming breakdown of my votes for the <a href="http://www.polarismusicprize.ca/">Polaris</a> longlist].<br />
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<a href="http://soundcloud.com/wax-poetics/sets/venice-dawn-something-about"><i>Something About April</i></a> kinda feels like it was tailor-made for me. The retro-soul vibe that dips into electronics, guest artists that include Dennis Coffey, <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.ca/2010/04/far-east-meets-west-coast-sort-of.html">Shawn Lee</a> and <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.ca/2010/07/is-it-new-is-it-old-does-it-matter.html">Calibro 35</a>, album artwork that looks like a Leroy Hutson record, released on the imprint of the only magazine I still read religiously (apart from <i>Sports Illustrated </i>in the can of course), <a href="http://www.waxpoetics.com/"><i>Wax Poetics</i></a>. <a href="http://www.waste.uk.com/Store/waste-radiohead-dii-12-44-meeting+people+is+easy+visual.html">Radiohead called this ages ago</a>. <br />
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Things get off to an auspicious start with "Turn Down The Sound" (reverse psychology?) - eerie vocals and an ominous bass-line before the vamping organ drops into the mix; a simple snare and hi-hat provide the forward momentum. It's clear from the get-go that, like <a href="http://www.waxpoetics.com/wax-poetics-artists/adrian-younge">his bio says</a>, Adrian Younge"has dedicated his life to the study of classic soul music" - this and so many of the other tracks on the album sound like something <a href="http://www.numerogroup.com/">Numero Group</a> or <a href="http://lightintheattic.net/">Light In The Attic</a> might have unearthed. "Anna May" even dips further back in time to doo-wop and those lovely "ooo-oooh baby" refrains. "Lovely Lady" even pulls out the "she-bop-she-bop" stop before Dennis Coffey dazzles with his legendary licks.<br />
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Even with out the doo-wop callbacks and the vocal acrobatics from guest vocalist Rebecca Jordan, <i>Something About April</i> would still engage listeners, as the instrumental tracks that Younge intersperses throughout are fascinating little soundscapes in and of themselves. No wonder one of the tags on Soundcloud is <i>Dark Soul & Psychedelia</i> ("Mourning Melodies," I'm looking at you.).<br />
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You can pick up the wax <a href="http://store.waxpoetics.com/products/adrian-younge-presents-venice-dawn-something-about-april-lp">here</a>, but if you don't take me at my word that this is an album you should pick up, the lead-off track is below and clicking on the album title in the second paragraph will take you to a Soundcloud set of the entire record.<br />
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F43510698">
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F43510698" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/ghettoblastic/adrian-younge-sound-orchestra">Adrian Younge Sound Orchestra • Turn Down the Sound</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/ghettoblastic">Ghetto Blastic</a></span> <br />
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<br />Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-85890124382331191632012-05-09T15:05:00.001-07:002012-05-09T15:05:59.825-07:00Spring for a copy of this autumn act.Not that Winnipeg doesn't have it's own <a href="http://www.keithprice.ca/">great</a> jazz scene, but Vancouver seems to be giving us here in Peg City a run for our money as a happenin' hot bed. From the more straight-ahead <a href="http://cellarlive.com/index.php?section=Index&page=Index">Cellar Live</a> stuff to the avant-jazz of <a href="http://www.fondoftigers.com/">Fond Of Tigers</a> and other <a href="http://www.dripaudio.com/">Drip Audio</a> artists, there's a lot going on in lotus-land.<br />
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It's actually through Fond Of Tigers that I became aware of <a href="http://theoctobertrio.tumblr.com/">The October Trio</a> as both acts share a drummer in Dan Gaucher. The trio is rounded out by Josh Cole on double bass and <a href="http://www.evanarntzen.com/#home">Evan Arntzen</a> on tenor and soprano saxophone as well as clarinet. While the three work best as a group, the strength of this act is Arntzen, who can really open up on his soprano saxophone ("Wide," which recalls some of Yusef Lateef's work) or pull back on tenor and let the rhythm section propel matters (the title track "New Dream"). Arntzen is versatile and talented without being showy, and he never loses sight of the melody. It's melody that lies at the heart of all eight songs on <i>New Dream</i> (I won't even call them "tracks" because they are really <i>songs</i> - you'll be hearing them in your head for days after listening to this record).<br />
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Apart from the aforementioned "Wide" and "New Dream," for me the album standout is the album's longest, "The Park," which features an ambling, bouncy line from Cole and a more meandering delivery from Arntzen that strikes a deft balance between purposeful forward motion and a relaxed, open approach to delivering the melody.<br />
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It may be spring going on summer, but I strongly encourage you to buy stocks in this autumn act (i.e. go pick up <i>New Dream</i> at <a href="http://theoctobertrio.bandcamp.com/album/new-dream">Bandcamp</a>).<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=4099313126/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400"><a href="http://theoctobertrio.bandcamp.com/album/new-dream">New Dream by The October Trio</a></iframe><br />Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-25276937233792930212012-02-07T14:58:00.001-08:002012-02-16T11:01:43.802-08:00Beauty beats all.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5vUomZxz54_va5z3PW1XRMoZyO9bYnov_Xp5hUfKYApcWgn9xGJ19HYCksOzulHT4Yb31sjyAznegOdWa-4ZTYMB7v-e1a8zWJXLsgnGJAEBbwVoji-al4QQ9yuNooay4SZ5hyphenhyphenv3B4U/s1600/paper+beat+cover.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5vUomZxz54_va5z3PW1XRMoZyO9bYnov_Xp5hUfKYApcWgn9xGJ19HYCksOzulHT4Yb31sjyAznegOdWa-4ZTYMB7v-e1a8zWJXLsgnGJAEBbwVoji-al4QQ9yuNooay4SZ5hyphenhyphenv3B4U/s320/paper+beat+cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709805194293758690" /></a> I've had the distinct pleasure of recording Tim Crabtree - aka Paper Beat Scissors - twice at the UMFM studio. Once in our old space and again in our new band room [you can hear the latter session <a href="http://www.umfm.com/events/livesessions/18/">here</a>] as well as seeing him perform live. <br /><br />To say I was excited to hear that Crabtree had enlisted past <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ear To The Sound</span> <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2008/08/posting-at-snails-pace.html">fave Mike Feuerstack of Snailhouse</a> to co-produce his debut full-length is an understatement - considering what I'd managed, the thought of a talent like Feuerstack drawing out the best in Crabtree seemed like a forgone conclusion. Having listened to the self-titled record that is the result of their collaboration several times over now, I can comfortably say my expectations were met. And then some.<br /><br />In addition to getting Feuerstack to lend his instrumental talents, Crabtree enlisted the help of Islands' Sebastian Chow (violin), Bell Orchestre/The Luyas' Pietro Amato (French horn!), Tanya Davis and Rose Cousins (vocals). The album credits read like the line-up card for the '27 Yankees - this is a murderers' row of Canadian indie-folk artists.<br /><br />As great as the help is, this is still Crabtree's show and his statement. All the ornamentation in the world couldn't prop things up if the songs are incapable of standing on their own and it's clear in listening to <span style="font-style:italic;">Paper Beat Scissors</span> that these songs have been born out of a man alone with his thoughts and his guitar; "Folds" is beautiful without the ghostly ringing guitar tones and backing vocals, and gorgeous with them layered in.<br /><br />Do yourself a favour and download the haunting first single, "<a href="http://pigeonrow.com/PaperBeatScissorsRestYourBones.mp3">Rest Your Bones</a>" courtesy of <a href="http://pigeonrow.com/paper-beat-scissors">Pigeon Row</a>. The album is out March 6, 2012 and you can pre-order it on vinyl or CD via <a href="http://www.forwardmusicgroup.com/?page_id=4&album_id=67">Forward Music Group</a>.<br /><br />Crabtree will be heading out on a national tour to coincide with the album's release and a complete list of dates can be found <a href="http://www.paperbeatscissors.com/march-national-tour-dates#more-405">here</a>. For local readers, there will be a stop in Winnipeg on March 27th and UMFM will be presenting the show so keep it tuned to 101.5 FM for further details, and be sure to visit the official <a href="http://www.paperbeatscissors.com/">Paper Beat Scissors site</a> for all PBS news.<br /><br />I'll leave you with this beautiful video by Mitch Fillion of <a href="http://www.southernsouls.ca/">Southern Souls</a>, which should convince you to check out those live dates...<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36360402?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/36360402">PAPER BEAT SCISSORS - Live at the Shivering Songs Festival</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mitchfillion">Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca)</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-73634186407024587842012-01-12T14:40:00.000-08:002012-02-16T10:01:31.517-08:00Slippery as a (Swedish) fish.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeGEEyqhNKQvk5SZ-GxXHVxe8KX8NoCMj4BIcyjeC5zPNzHYfeh78NlASeBN8wUIgH-AKvNVtFfcu2DiZVdHkV1uMJVFVWGokzkpKVikMJ9DrTbv0ICb15fmkYehKR1t1FKbJSTc38KA/s1600/larsson.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeGEEyqhNKQvk5SZ-GxXHVxe8KX8NoCMj4BIcyjeC5zPNzHYfeh78NlASeBN8wUIgH-AKvNVtFfcu2DiZVdHkV1uMJVFVWGokzkpKVikMJ9DrTbv0ICb15fmkYehKR1t1FKbJSTc38KA/s320/larsson.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709794758909850962" /></a> Over just seven songs, Halina Larsson crafts a captivating little album. <span style="font-style:italic;">Fires and French Horns</span> begins with the title track [a stream of which is below], a song that hews a fine line between folk-singer and pop-songwriter. Her voice is precious and breathy, and when a xylophone augments the chorus the song risks a turn to the cloying but Larsson manages to sell a line like "I've got the right way / to tell you now / I've got the right words," and with it, the song as a whole. Though sadly, there are no French Horns to be heard. <br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F23847832"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F23847832" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/halinalarsson/fires-and-french-horns">Fires and French Horns- Halina Larsson</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/halinalarsson">HalinaLarsson</a></span> <br /><br /><br />Larsson's voice takes on a dusky tone on "Puget Sounds;" the record's quiet standout. The snare provides a lolloping beat that matches the efforts of the song's protagonist to pull her lover onward in their relationship. While it's not as out-and-out country as <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Barton-Hollow-Civil-Wars/dp/B004GY6DTS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329414430&sr=8-1">Barton Hollow</a></span>, "Puget Sounds" reminds me of some of The Civil Wars' work, especially "I've Got This Friend," and "Falling."<br /><br />More so than The Civil Wars, Larsson's music reminds me of Sophie Zelmani and her <a href="http://allmusic.com/album/sophie-zelmani-r233266">self-titled debut</a>. That's a name that might ring a distant bell for some, but is likely a stranger to most (this despite having released eight albums since her debut in 1996 and an appearance on the <span style="font-style:italic;">My Best Friend's Wedding</span> soundtrack). A fellow Swede, AllMusic described Zelmani's music as "tender singer/songwriter country" and that's likely a descriptor that will be attached to Larsson at some point if it hasn't been already.<br /><br />You can purchase <span style="font-style:italic;">Fires and French Horns</span> at Larsson' <a href="http://halinalarsson.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp page</a>, and be sure to visit her <a href="http://halinalarsson.com">website</a> for more info.Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-35695402409812523682012-01-10T15:07:00.000-08:002012-01-11T10:48:46.983-08:00I narrowed it down to these...So here it is – the crème de la crème of my 2011 listening. Now that this is out of the way, I can focus on 2012 – which is already shaping up to be pretty good from the numerous records I’ve received so far.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">20 Gem Club - <span style="font-style:italic;">Breakers</span> [Hardly Art]</span><br /><br />I wrote about this <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2011/10/gem-clubs-breakers-really-is-jewel.html">one</a> – <a href="http://reductive-reviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/gem-club-twins.html">twice</a>; once on each of my blogs. Which should be a strong sign that it would end up here.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21808244"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21808244" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/gemclub/twins">Twins</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/gemclub">Gem Club</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">19 Herajika Tracks - <span style="font-style:italic;">Love Universal</span> [Introducing Production]</span><br /><br />Yup, same thing with this album (though just here on <a href=" http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2011/02/aka-awesome.html">Ear To The Sound</a>).<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F22965541"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F22965541" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/aresistencia/herajika-tracks-shigure">Herajika tracks - Shigure</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/aresistencia">aresistencia</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">18 The Middle East - <span style="font-style:italic;">I Want That You Are Always Happy</span> [Missing Pieces]<br /></span><br /><br />They may want that you are always happy, but it's clear that The Middle East aren't always in a positive frame of mind. My wife referred to #20-18 as my 'mope-y' section of the Top 20. It gets more upbeat at the top!<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F16806106"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F16806106" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/gaga-digi/the-middle-east-very-many">The Middle East: Very Many</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/gaga-digi">-gaga</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">17 Kathryn Calder - <span style="font-style:italic;">Bright and Vivid</span> [File Under: Music]<br /></span><br />I thought 2010’s <span style="font-style:italic;">Are You My Mother?</span> was pretty strong, but it didn’t prepare me for how amazing <span style="font-style:italic;">Bright and Vivid</span> is. Strong songwriting, strong voice, strong, strong, strong.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F23872713"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F23872713" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/fileundermusic/kathryn-calder-who-are-you">Kathryn Calder - Who Are You</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/fileundermusic">File Under Music</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">16 Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays - <span style="font-style:italic;">Introducing Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays</span> [Marlow Records]</span><br /><br />Phe-nom-en-al. Fans of the Daptone label, Lee Fields, Syl Johnston, etc. should be all over this one. Moore’s got a rich baritone, and the band supporting him is stellar (it includes members of the Souljazz Orchestra – who you also need to check out).<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F31802145"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F31802145" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/sofa-records-shop/slim-moore-and-the-mar-kays">Slim Moore and the Mar-Kays - steppin' all over me (Cosmic Groove)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/sofa-records-shop">SOFA RECORDS SHOP</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">15 Beirut - <span style="font-style:italic;">The Rip Tide</span> [Pompeii Records]</span><br /><br />This is Zach Condon finding his own sound after borrowing heavily from the Eastern European gypsy sound for <span style="font-style:italic;">Gulag Orkestar</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">The Flying Club Cup</span>. It took a while to get into it after loving those first two records, but <span style="font-style:italic;">The Rip Tide</span> is a great step forward.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F20716116"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F20716116" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/revolver-usa/beirut-santa-fe">Beirut - Santa Fe</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/revolver-usa">Revolver USA</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">14 Dum Dum Girls - <span style="font-style:italic;">Only In Dreams</span> [Sub Pop]</span><br /><br />This is the Runaways produced by Phil Spector.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21830514"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21830514" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/subpop/dum-dum-girls-bedroom-eyes">Dum Dum Girls - Bedroom Eyes</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/subpop">subpop</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">13 Wild Beasts - <span style="font-style:italic;">Smother</span> [Warp]</span><br /><br />My wife calls this “Gandalf rock” since she thinks Hayden Thorpe’s vocals are reminiscent of a certain Lord of the Rings wizard (for the record, she puts Future Islands and vocalist Samuel T. Herring in the same category). Yes, Thorpe’s vocals are peculiar, but they are perfectly married to the music.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25515033"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25515033" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/weareconstellations/wild-beasts-reach-a-bit">Wild Beasts / Reach A Bit Further</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/weareconstellations">Constellations Festival</a></span> <br /><br />Here's a bonus version of "Reach A Bit Further" live on the BBC. A bit different but no less lovely.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18513636"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18513636" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/mysteryfallsdown/wild-beasts-reach-a-bit">Wild beasts - Reach a bit further (BBC session)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mysteryfallsdown">mysteryfallsdown</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">12 Cannon Bros. - <span style="font-style:italic;">Firecracker/Cloudglow</span> [Disintegration Records]</span><br /><br />Alannah & Cole are twenty-years-old. This would make me sick with jealousy if I didn’t know them and know what great people they are. Look for them to blow up big in 2012.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F23593685"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F23593685" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/anecha/left-in-a-hurry-cannon-bros">Left in a Hurry - Cannon Bros</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/anecha">anecha</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">11 Thundercat - <span style="font-style:italic;">The Golden Age Of Apocalypse</span> [Brainfeeder]</span><br /><br />This is the 2011 answer to my <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2010/12/tops-for-this-particular-pops.html">#6 of 2010</a>. Thundercat picks up where Flying Lotus left off.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F26022469"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F26022469" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/madison-house/thundercat-is-it-love">Thundercat - Is It Love</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/madison-house">Madison House</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10 Bon Iver - <span style="font-style:italic;">Bon Iver</span> [Jagjaguwar]</span><br /><br />This ended up being one of the most divisive choices on year-end lists. Which kinda surprises me. <br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21402226"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21402226" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/boniver/calgary">Calgary</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/boniver">boniver</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">09 Secret Cities - <span style="font-style:italic;">Strange Heart</span> [Western Vinyl]</span><br /><br />Fargo rock city represent! <br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13054128"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13054128" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/fadermedia/secret-cities-the-park">Secret Cities, "The Park"</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/fadermedia">The FADER</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">08 Washed Out - <span style="font-style:italic;">Within And Without</span> [Sub Pop]</span><br /><br />Could’ve likely made the list on the back of “Amor Fati” alone, but the rest of the album is pretty brilliant as well.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17580109"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17580109" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/subpop/washed-out-amor-fati">Washed Out - Amor Fati</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/subpop">subpop</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">07 Wye Oak - <span style="font-style:italic;">Civilian</span> [Merge]</span><br /><br />I saw this band in Windsor several years ago when their Merge debut was about to drop. They played to a crowd that was smaller than the number of magazines that declared <span style="font-style:italic;">Civilian</span> one of the best records of the year. Glad to see they got big.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11729484"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11729484" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/spunkrecords/wye-oak-holy-holy">Wye Oak - 'Holy Holy'</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/spunkrecords">SpunkRecords</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">06 Louise Burns - <span style="font-style:italic;">Mellow Drama</span> [Light Organ Records]</span><br /><br />Reviewed this for Stylus, and as I said in that piece, this would’ve been my pick if I had a Polaris vote. But I don’t. Hmmmm.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29828480"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29828480" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/light-organ/louise-burns-drop-names-not">Louise Burns - Drop Names Not Bombs</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/light-organ">Light Organ</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">05 Destroyer - <span style="font-style:italic;">Kaputt</span> [Merge]</span><br /><br />Dan Bejar is one of those “love him or leave him” artists. I love him.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7368648"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7368648" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/mouxlaloulouda/destroyer-chinatown">Destroyer - Chinatown</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mouxlaloulouda">mouxlaloulouda</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">04 tUnE-yArDs - <span style="font-style:italic;">whokill</span> [4AD]</span><br /><br />Merrill Garbus played the West End this fall – <span style="font-style:italic;">whokill</span> was primed to make the Top 10 anyway, but that live show pushed it a few spots higher.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18873617"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18873617" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/tracks_arte/my-country-tune-yards">My Country - Tune Yards</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/tracks_arte">tracks_arte</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">03 James Blake - <span style="font-style:italic;">James Blake</span> [Polydor]</span><br /><br />One of the earliest releases of 2011, this one was unrelenting in how good it was. Probably the record I listened to most in the past year.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14738349"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14738349" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/umpg/james-blake-the-wilhelm-scream">James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/umpg">UMPG</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">02 Austra - <span style="font-style:italic;">Feel It Break</span> [Paper Bag Records]</span><br /><br />My toddler can sing along to “Lose It,” which speaks volumes to the number of times this album was played in my home. Katie Stelmanis’ performance at the West End was another jaw-dropper.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12670179"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12670179" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/annie-mac-presents/austra-lose-it">Austra - Lose It</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/annie-mac-presents">Annie Mac Presents</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">01 Freddie Cruger and Anthony Mills are Wildcookie - <span style="font-style:italic;">Cookie Dough</span> [Tru Thoughts]</span><br /><br />I may be the only person with this album at the top of my list – I honestly haven’t seen it on any others. But I am happy to be out on my own on this one. I wrote a <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2011/05/to-paraphrase-certain-monster-me-wild.html ">glowing entry</a> about it ages ago, and still feel exactly the same about Cookie Dough.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F16204967"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F16204967" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/ravensupreme/wildcookie-serious-drug">WildCookie "Serious Drug"</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/ravensupreme">Raven Supreme-Green</a></span>Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-17467018123321851092012-01-06T11:17:00.000-08:002012-01-06T14:47:13.500-08:00So Many Great Records, Part 4Okay. So this is the last of the longlist entries. Once I recap my Top 20 of 2011, it's on to new things. I've actually already heard a couple albums this week I'm itching to write about, so expect the new stuff to be posted next week. Enjoy your weekend.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sandro Perri - <span style="font-style:italic;">Impossible Spaces</span> [Constellation]</span><br /><br />Here’s another one I owe to Jeff Friesen. He’s been a longtime Perri-person and it was thanks to his championing of prior works that I was primed for <span style="font-style:italic;">Impossible Spaces</span>.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F22836732"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F22836732" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/sandro/love-light">Love & Light</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/sandro">Sandro Perri</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Shimmering Stars - <span style="font-style:italic;">Violent Hearts</span> [Hardly Art]<br /></span><br />I owe Stylus a review of this one. I’m not going to blow the awesome analogy I’ve come up with for it here, but needless to say, the review will be a favourable one.<br /><br />Listen to one of the best tracks, "I'm Gonna Try" <a href="http://soundcloud.com/hardlyartrecords/shimmering-stars-im-gonna-try">here</a>. [Embed not available]<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sister Crayon – <span style="font-style:italic;">Bellow</span> [Manimal]</span><br /><br />I could’ve sworn I wrote about this record on this blog or Reductive Reviews, but a search reveals I did not – which is a shame, because this is a really solid record. Sister Crayon has a pretty distinct sound that captivated me.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25554758"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25554758" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/terroreyes-1/sister-crayon-im-still-the">Sister Crayon "I'm Still The Same Person" (The Album Leaf remix)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/terroreyes-1">terroreyes</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sleep Over – <span style="font-style:italic;">Forever</span> [Hippos In Tanks]</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Smith Westerns - <span style="font-style:italic;">Dye It Blonde</span> [Fat Possum]</span><br /><br />I didn’t see these guys when they opened for Arctic Monkeys in Winnipeg so I can’t confirm rumours I’ve heard about their live performances not matching up to the record, but maybe that’s a good thing.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18894833"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18894833" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/joshuadj/weekend-smith-westerns">Weekend - Smith Westerns</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/joshuadj">joshuadj</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Snailhouse - <span style="font-style:italic;">Sentimental Gentlemen</span> [White Whale/Forward Music]</span><br /><br />Me and loving Snailhouse go <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2008/08/posting-at-snails-pace.html">way back</a>. Feuerstack was one of my favourite interviews of the year on <a href="http://tgifr.blogspot.com/">TGIFR</a> because we talked while he was scouting locations to play handball while on tour.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9048176"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9048176" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/snailhouse/great-storytellers">Great Storytellers</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/snailhouse">snailhouse</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">St. Vincent - <span style="font-style:italic;">Strange Mercy</span> [4AD]</span><br /><br />On a list of “just missed its” in my life, being a day late to see St. Vincent at a small club in Phoenix a few years back ranks up there.<br /><br />Listen to "Surgeon" <a href="http://soundcloud.com/premierguitar/04-surgeon">here</a>. [Embed not available]<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Stepkids - <span style="font-style:italic;">The Stepkids</span> [Stones Throw]</span><br /><br />WAAAAAY back when, I <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2008/01/d-is-for-dragons.html">wrote about</a> a band called The Dragons. That was an old album rediscovered. <span style="font-style:italic;">The Stepkids</span> is just an album that sounds like it was rediscovered, but was actually created by guys who have supported the likes of Alicia Keys and decided to do their own thing.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F10234958"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F10234958" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/stonesthrow/the-stepkids-shadows-on-behalf">The Stepkids - Shadows On Behalf</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/stonesthrow">Stones Throw Records</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sun Wizard - <span style="font-style:italic;">Positively 4th Avenue</span> [Light Organ Records]<br /></span><br />Not quite sure what it is about B.C. right now, but there’s a lot of classic-sounding rock coming out of that province. Yukon Blonde is the breezier AM Gold to Sun Wizard’s more muscular sound. I had the good fortune of having these guys in to play live on TGIFR this year.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29826935"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29826935" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/light-organ/sun-wizard-worlds-got-a-handle">Sun Wizard - World's Got A Handle</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/light-organ">Light Organ</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">This Hisses - <span style="font-style:italic;">Surf Noir</span> [Transistor 66]</span><br /><br />Here’s one of those rare instances where the album’s title perfectly describes the sound of the music contained therein. <span style="font-style:italic;">Surf Noir</span> didn’t exist until this Winnipeg three-piece created / coined it.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17666887"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17666887" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/this-hisses/01-lycanthrope">01 Lycanthrope</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/this-hisses">This Hisses</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">This Will Destroy You - <span style="font-style:italic;">Tunnel Blanket</span> [Suicide Squeeze]</span><br /><br />I actually liked this record so much I wrote about it twice. Once in Stylus and once on <a href="http://reductive-reviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/this-will-destroy-you-tunnel-blanket.html">Reductive Reviews</a>.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9984629"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9984629" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/this-will-destroy-you/communal-blood">Communal Blood</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/this-will-destroy-you">This Will Destroy You</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Timber Timbre - <span style="font-style:italic;">Creep On Creepin' On</span> [Arts & Crafts]</span><br /><br />Listen to this on vinyl. You deserve it.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14203283"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14203283" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/flavoredtrash/timber-timbre-lonesome-hunter">Timber Timbre: "Lonesome Hunter"</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/flavoredtrash">flavoredtrash</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tom Waits - <span style="font-style:italic;">Bad As Me</span> [Anti-]</span><br /><br />Everyone’s favourite creepy uncle returns.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F26469925"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F26469925" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/throw_your_head/tom-waits-chicago">Tom Waits - Chicago</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/throw_your_head">throw_your_head</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Toro Y Moi - <span style="font-style:italic;">Underneath The Pine</span> [Carpark]</span><br /><br />My countdown co-host, Jared McKetiak nailed it when he talked about this record on air. Toro Y Moi was one of the people who set the benchmark for chillwave with his first record and proceeded to jump well over it with <span style="font-style:italic;">Underneath The Pine</span>.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9967140"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9967140" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/raphaelassaraf/toro-y-moi-new-beat-1">Toro y Moi - New Beat</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/raphaelassaraf">raphaelassaraf</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Unknown Mortal Orchestra - <span style="font-style:italic;">Unknown Mortal Orchestra</span> [Fat Possum]</span><br /><br />This came out of leftfield and grabbed my attention.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F32134199"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F32134199" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/modestmodus/unknown-mortal-orchestra">Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Ffunny Ffrends</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/modestmodus">MODESTMODUS</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">War On Drugs - <span style="font-style:italic;">Slave Ambient</span> [Secretly Canadian]</span><br /><br />Much preferred this to Kurt Vile’s record.\<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17220909"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17220909" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/edin2sun/the-war-on-drugs-baby-missiles">The War on Drugs - Baby Missiles</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/edin2sun">edin2sun</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Weather Station - <span style="font-style:italic;">All Of It Was Mine</span> [You’ve Changed Records]</span><br /><br />Delicate, beautiful, personal. Tamara Lindeman’s sophomore effort as The Weather Station slayed me from the first listen.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19760836"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19760836" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/thebrokenspeaker/the-weather-station-everything">The Weather Station - Everything I Saw</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/thebrokenspeaker">thebrokenspeaker</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Weird Owl - <span style="font-style:italic;">Build Your Beast A Fire</span> [Tee Pee Records]</span><br /><br />Here’s another one I’ve yet to review for Stylus (Taylor, I promise, I’ll be submitting these soon!), but have been listening to for a while. Tee Pee is a fascinating label that hews its own line rather than following what others are doing sonically. Weird Owl is – in its own way – the perfect fit for them.<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bbbQgYnBpB8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wilco - <span style="font-style:italic;">The Whole Love</span> [Anti-]</span><br /><br />These guys have earned a place in my year-end wrap-up pretty much any year they release a record. And the title track earned a spot in my Top 20 songs of the year.<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28487755?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/28487755">Whole Love</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/spooncer">Spencer Tweedy</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wires Under Tension - <span style="font-style:italic;">Light Science</span> [Western Vinyl]</span><br /><br />I wrote about these guys <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2011/04/tension-isnt-always-bad-thing.html">here on Ear To The Sound</a>, so it shouldn’t be a surprise they made this list.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12475603"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12475603" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/western_vinyl/electricity-turns-them-on-by">Electricity Turns Them On by Wires Under Tension</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/western_vinyl">western.vinyl</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Yamantaka/Sonic Titan - <span style="font-style:italic;">Yt//St</span> [Psychic Handshake]</span><br /><br />Another blind find courtesy of the postal service. This album came into the station unannounced and I slipped it into my computer based solely on the fact that the band’s name piqued my interest. So glad I played it.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19432869"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19432869" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/psychic-handshake/yamantaka-sonic-titan-reverse">Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - Reverse Crystal // Murder of a Spider</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/psychic-handshake">Psychic Handshake</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Zola Jesus – <span style="font-style:italic;">Conatus</span> [Sacred Bones]</span><br /><br />I resisted this one at first because it felt like everybody was raving about it. But my resistance was futile.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11529906"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11529906" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/zolajesus/night">Night</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/zolajesus">ZolaJesus</a></span>Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-32906302466792563052012-01-03T14:04:00.000-08:002012-01-03T14:38:22.733-08:00So Many Great Records, Part 3Well, I had hoped to have my entire longlist recapped before the New Years' Eve <a href="http://www.umfm.com/programming/shows/episode/19209/">countdown</a> aired, but unfortunately I developed a sinus infection over the holidays and between that and familial obligations, I didn't write a single word. So over the next couple days, I'm going to finish up the recap and get to my Top 20 (of which the word is <a href="http://www.umfm.com/programming/yearbest/progfav/2011">already</a> <a href="http://www.uptownmag.com/music/features/Top-10s-of-2011-136335038.html">out</a> on. <br /><br />Happy New Year and all the best in 2012.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Les Jupes - <span style="font-style:italic;">Modern Myths</span> [Head In The Sand]</span><br /><br />Now that my Top 20 songs have been revealed, the cat’s out of the bag on this one. Released early in 2011, <span style="font-style:italic;">Modern Myths</span> held strong throughout the marathon and “One Solemn Oath” never lost its resonance.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21940262"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21940262" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/frankyka/02-one-solemn-oath">One Solemn Oath by LES JUPES</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/frankyka">The Instrument Village</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lia Ices - <span style="font-style:italic;">Grown Unknown</span> [Jagjaguwar]</span><br /><br />This is a spooky record that gets under your skin.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9950229"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9950229" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/hoodlem/lia-ices-ice-wine">Lia Ices - Ice Wine</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/hoodlem">hoodlem</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Little Dragon - <span style="font-style:italic;">Ritual Union</span> [Peacefrog]</span><br /><br />The title track is amazing. How disappointed am I that Little Dragon had to cancel their Fargo show last February? That may have been the closest the Swedish act would get to Winnipeg.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18585018"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F18585018" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/littledragon/ritual-union">Ritual Union</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/littledragon">Little Dragon</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Liturgy – <span style="font-style:italic;">Aesthetica</span> [Thrill Jockey]</span><br /><br />Black Metal. Thrill Jockey. Yes, please.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13255954"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13255954" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/muntersinger/liturgy-generation">Liturgy - Generation</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/muntersinger">muntersinger</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Low - <span style="font-style:italic;">C'mon</span> [Sub Pop]</span><br /><br />This may be the Minnesota band’s happiest record in a long string of epic sadness.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14353423"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F14353423" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/ciaciod/low-nothing-but-heart">Low - Nothing but heart</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/ciaciod">ciaciod</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">M83 - <span style="font-style:italic;">Hurry Up We're Dreaming</span> [Mute]</span><br /><br />While I think <span style="font-style:italic;">Saturdays=Youth</span> is a better record, this double-disc from the prolific Frenchman is still a very strong release.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19087066"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19087066" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/m83/midnight-city">Midnight City</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/m83">M83</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mastodon - <span style="font-style:italic;">The Hunter</span> [Reprise]</span><br /><br />Here’s a record that Cretin Rob and I can absolutely agree on.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F22884093"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F22884093" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/roadrunnerrecords/mastodon-curl-of-the-burl">Mastodon - Curl of the Burl</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/roadrunnerrecords">Roadrunner Records</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Matthew Maaskant - <span style="font-style:italic;">Believe It Or Not, This Is The Place</span> [Draft Tattoo]</span><br /><br /><a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2011/04/matthew-maaskant-should-be-matthew-maas.html">I wrote about</a> being taken with this record, so it shouldn’t come as a shock to be on here.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F1689531"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F1689531" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/matthewmaaskant/12-fireflies">Fireflies</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/matthewmaaskant">M.Maaskant</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Memory Tapes - <span style="font-style:italic;">Player Piano</span> [Carpark]</span><br /><br />Carpark always seems to be releasing interesting records, and <span style="font-style:italic;">Player Piano</span> is a fitting album for their roster.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F24902952"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F24902952" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/job_smit/memory-tapes-unknown">Memory Tapes - Unknown</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/job_smit">jobsmit</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Modeselektor – <span style="font-style:italic;">Monkeytown</span> [BPitch Control]</span><br /><br />According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modeselektor">Wikipedia</a>, Modeselektor describe their music thusly: “Happy metal, hard rap, country-ambient, Russian crunk.”<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F20315459"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F20315459" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/modeselektor/modeselektor-blue-clouds">Modeselektor - Blue Clouds</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/modeselektor">Modeselektor</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Nat Baldwin - <span style="font-style:italic;">People Changes</span> [Western Vinyl]</span><br /><br />Chances are, if your album got a rave review from me <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2011/07/one-of-dirty-projectors-not-one-of.html">earlier in the year</a>, you can expect to see it find a place on the longlist at the very least.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12903210"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12903210" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/western_vinyl/weights-by-nat-baldwin">Weights by Nat Baldwin</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/western_vinyl">western.vinyl</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ocote Soul Sounds – <span style="font-style:italic;">Taurus</span> [ESL]</span><br /><br />Antibalas + Adrian Quesada + Thievery Corporation’s label (ESL) = one of my wheelhouses.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F15881456"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F15881456" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/ingroovesmarketing/ocote-soul-sounds-primavera-1">Ocote Soul Sounds - Primavera</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/ingroovesmarketing">INgroovesmarketing</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ohbijou - <span style="font-style:italic;">Metal Meets</span> [Last Gang Records]</span><br /><br />Known for Casey Mecijia’s wispy vocals, this record is surprisingly muscular.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21362859"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21362859" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/indiemusicfilter/ohbijou-niagara">Ohbijou - "Niagara"</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/indiemusicfilter">indiemusicfilter</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Owiny Sigoma Band - <span style="font-style:italic;">Owiny Sigoma Band</span> [Brownswood Recordings]</span><br /><br />More credit to Gilles Peterson for “discovering” this act and releasing it on his Brownswood Recordings label. <br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9917474"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9917474" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/brownswood/owiny-sigoma-band-wires">Owiny Sigoma Band - 'Wires'</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/brownswood">Brownswood</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ox – <span style="font-style:italic;">Tuco</span> [Cosmic Dave's Record Factory]</span><br /><br />Mark Browning’s first full-length since 2007 (not counting his Christmas album), finds him further mining the dusty roots of American music. Great stuff.<br /><br />Listen to "Indie Rock Radio Nation" <a href="http://www.oxmusic.ws/albums/IndieRockRadioNation.mp3">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Peter Wolf Crier - <span style="font-style:italic;">Garden Of Arms</span> [Jagjaguwar]</span><br /><br />For some reason I used to get this band confused with Peter and the Wolf. After <span style="font-style:italic;">Garden Of Arms</span>, I will not be making that mistake again.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F20784130"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F20784130" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/rippleent/settling-it-off-by-peter-wolf">Settling It Off by Peter Wolf Crier</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/rippleent">rippleent</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Quasimode - <span style="font-style:italic;">Magic Ensemble</span> [AIS]</span><br /><br />Classic club-jazz from Japan. <br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17596156"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F17596156" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/starslicer/quasimode-giant-black-shadow">Quasimode - Giant Black Shadow</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/starslicer">Starslicer</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Raphael Saadiq - <span style="font-style:italic;">Stone Rollin'</span> [Columbia]</span><br /><br />As I mentioned in my Stylus review of this record, Saadiq is like a musical Dorian Gray moving back through rock history.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19155984"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19155984" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/stantonallyson/heart-attack-raphael-saadiq">"Heart Attack" Raphael Saadiq</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/stantonallyson">stantonallyson</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ringo Deathstarr - <span style="font-style:italic;">Colour Trip</span> [Sonic Unyon]</span><br /><br />Comparisons to My Bloody Valentine are warranted (although nothing will ever touch <span style="font-style:italic;">Loveless</span>) and earned this Lone Star act a spot on the longlist.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F5795484"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F5795484" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/club-ac30/ringo-deathstarr-imagine-hearts">Ringo Deathstarr - Imagine Hearts</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/club-ac30">Club AC30</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Roots – <span style="font-style:italic;">Undun</span> [Def Jam]</span><br /><br />Pretty much the same boat as the Black Keys’ <span style="font-style:italic;">El Camino</span> – released too late in the game for me to fully digest.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F30215866"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F30215866" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/dorego/the-roots-tip-of-the-scale">The Roots - Tip Of The Scale</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/dorego">dorego</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Russian Circles - <span style="font-style:italic;">Empros</span> [Sargent House]</span><br /><br />Not as mind-blowing as <span style="font-style:italic;">Geneva</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Station</span>, a solid record from Russian Circles is always a welcome addition to my library.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25842549"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25842549" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/russiancircles/schiphol">Schiphol</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/russiancircles">RussianCircles</a></span>Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-45526884798057890402011-12-21T12:28:00.000-08:002011-12-21T13:14:29.496-08:00So Many Great Records, Part 2<span style="font-weight:bold;">Ensemble – <span style="font-style:italic;">Excerpts</span> [FatCat]</span><br /><br />I <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2011/03/affecting-single-effect.html">wrote about this one</a> on <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ear To The Sound</span> previously. My feelings for it haven’t changed.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DURwbXUif8s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Eternal Tapestry - <span style="font-style:italic;">Beyond The 4th Door</span> [Thrill Jockey]</span><br /><br />Superdrag had an album called <span style="font-style:italic;">Head Trip In Every Key</span>. Eternal Tapestry took that title and ran with it.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11422400"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11422400" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/experimedia/eternal-tapestry-beyond-the">eternal tapestry - beyond the 4th door (album preview)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/experimedia">experimedia</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Explosions In The Sky - <span style="font-style:italic;">Take Care Take Care Take Care</span> [Temporary Residence]</span><br /><br />These guys always slay me. <br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11477346"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11477346" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/explosionsinthesky/tremblinghands">Trembling Hands</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/explosionsinthesky">Explosions in the Sky</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fatoumata Diawara – <span style="font-style:italic;">Fatou</span> [World Circuit]</span><br /><br />This one got <a href="http://reductive-reviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/fatoumata-diawara-son-conlo.html">on my radar</a> thanks to Gilles Peterson. I STILL can’t believe BBC isn’t keeping him on as a host next year. If it weren’t for a whole bunch of bullshit with the cops dealing with Occupy folks (like pepper-spraying that grandma), it might have been the shittiest move of 2011.<br /><br />Listen to "Bakonoba" <a href="http://soundcloud.com/world-circuit-records/fatoumata-diawara-bakonoba">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Feist – <span style="font-style:italic;">Metals</span> [Arts & Crafts]</span><br /><br />What can I say? This is a great follow-up to <span style="font-style:italic;">The Reminder</span> because it is absolutely NOT a follow-up to <span style="font-style:italic;">The Reminder</span>. She took her time and she did something new – credit to Feist for the confidence to do so.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25250468"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25250468" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/arts-crafts/feist-how-come-you-never-go">Feist - How Come You Never Go There</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/arts-crafts">Arts & Crafts</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Field Assembly – <span style="font-style:italic;">Curtains</span> [Independent]</span><br /><br />I’m not entirely sure if this qualifies, because <span style="font-style:italic;">Curtains</span> has yet to be released, but my buddy The Fantastic Mr. Fox sent it my way ages ago and I was blown away by it. So much so that it might make a repeat appearance in 2012 if it finds a home for release. FYI, "Daylight" is not from <span style="font-style:italic;">Curtains</span>.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F8999754"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F8999754" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/field-assembly/daylight">daylight</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/field-assembly">Field Assembly</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">First Nations - <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Beach</span> [Independent]</span><br /><br />Every now and then, an album comes into the station with artwork that just screams ‘you will like what I have inside.’ <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Beach</span> was one of those.<br /><iframe width="400" height="100" style="position: relative; display: block; width: 400px; height: 100px;" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=9084710/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"><a href="http://firstnations.bandcamp.com/album/black-beach">Black Beach by First Nations</a></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fleet Foxes - <span style="font-style:italic;">Helplessness Blues</span> [Sub Pop]</span><br /><br />Shit. How is this not on my Top 20?<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F15359022"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F15359022" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/gypsysphere/fleet-foxes-montezuma">Fleet Foxes - Montezuma</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/gypsysphere">gypsysphere</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Florence & The Machine – <span style="font-style:italic;">Ceremonials</span> [Universal Republic]</span><br /><br />Epic, if occasionally overblown. Plus the whole racist video business kinda bummed me out.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29390694"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29390694" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/talenthouse/florence-the-machine-only-if">Florence + the Machine - Only If For A Night</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/talenthouse">Talenthouse</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ghostpoet - <span style="font-style:italic;">Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jams</span> [Brownswood]</span><br /><br />More greatness courtesy of Gilles Peterson, this time it’s some thoughtful hip-hop via his Brownswood imprint.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F22207921"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F22207921" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/ghostpoet/untitled">Ghostpoet - Survive It</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/ghostpoet">ghostpoet</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Girls - <span style="font-style:italic;">Father, Son, Holy Ghost</span> [True Panther Sounds]</span><br /><br />Is this <span style="font-style:italic;">NOT</span> on anyone’s list this year. <br /><object height="305" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F1355482"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="305" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F1355482" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/rodrigoffonseca/sets/girls-father-son-holy-ghost">Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/rodrigoffonseca">Rodrigo Fonseca</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Greg MacPherson - <span style="font-style:italic;">Disintegration Blues</span> [Disintegration Records]</span><br /><br />Greg is one of those people who are so quiet and self-abashed that you’re constantly shocked at how loud they rock and how well they command a stage and an audience.<br /><br />Check out the awesome live session Greg did for my radio show, <a href="http://www.umfm.com/events/livesessions/15/">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Happy Unfortunate - <span style="font-style:italic;">No Time To Sleep</span> [Spaceship Audio]</span><br /><br />These two local rappers were actually born in the era of hip-hop they hearken back to. Must’ve been listening to Tribe in the womb or something. <br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/09w0yjY_sfs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">High Places - <span style="font-style:italic;">Original Colors</span> [Thrill Jockey]</span><br /><br />I kinda wanted to like this one more than I actually did. It was great, but it didn’t blow my mind like their self-titled record did.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25959018"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25959018" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/mysticalsoleil/high-places-sophia">High Places - Sophia</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mysticalsoleil">MysticalLunar</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Himalayan Bear - <span style="font-style:italic;">Hard Times</span> [Absolutely Kosher]</span><br /><br />At times the Bear reminds me of Timber Timbre (with the haunting voice) but his music is warmer. It’s like a sad hug instead of a cold tingle in your spine.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F16832453"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F16832453" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/absolutelykosherrecords/himalayan-bear-the-caballo">Himalayan Bear "The Caballo"</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/absolutelykosherrecords">AbsolutelyKosherRecords</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ikebe Shakedown - <span style="font-style:italic;">Ikebe Shakedown</span> [Ubiquity]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ear To The Sound</span> readers will know my love for Nomo – this is from the same label and helps fill the afro-beat space they occupy in my year-enders.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13113709"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13113709" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/ubiquityrecords/ikebe-shakedown-tujunga">Ikebe Shakedown - "Tujunga"</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/ubiquityrecords">Ubiquity Records</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Implodes - <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Earth</span> [Kranky]</span><br /><br />If the Mayans were right and the tectonic plates go haywire and the earth drops from beneath us, I want this to be the soundtrack to the end.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13914367"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13914367" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/kranky/implodes-oxblood">implodes 'oxblood'</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/kranky">kranky</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Iron & Wine - <span style="font-style:italic;">Kiss Each Other Clean</span> [Sub Pop]</span><br /><br />It’s not as good as <span style="font-style:italic;">The Shepherd’s Dog</span>, but an alright album from Mr. Beam is better than most things out there.<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/06vA3Z42Vz8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Isolee - <span style="font-style:italic;">Well Spent Youth</span> [Pampa]</span><br /><br />This was the very first record I put on the longlist this year when I heard an advance copy last Christmas. It stuck around.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9213938"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9213938" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/pamparecords/isolee-transmission">Isolée - Transmission</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/pamparecords">Pampa Records</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jamie Woon - <span style="font-style:italic;">Mirror Writing</span> [Polydor]</span><br /><br />I know this dude gets a little lost in the James Blake shuffle, but his record stands on its own. Plus he got the Burial remix treatment.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7339478"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7339478" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/cameelah/jamie-woon-night-air">Jamie Woon - Night Air</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/cameelah">cameelah</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jennifer Castle – <span style="font-style:italic;">Castlemusic</span> [Flemish Eye]</span><br /><br />After previously recording under the name Castlemusic, Jennifer Castle put her own imprint on this, her most personal album to date.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29206960"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29206960" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/popmontreal/jennifer-castle-powers">Jennifer Castle - Powers (courtesy of Flemish Eye Records)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/popmontreal">Pop Montreal</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - <span style="font-style:italic;">From The Stairwell</span> [Denovali]</span><br /><br />Credit to my good friend Jeff Friesen for putting me on to this one. If you're not tuning into his great show, <a href="http://www.umfm.com/programming/programgrid/238/">Scene and Not Seen</a>, you're missing out.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19599123"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F19599123" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/experimedia/the-kilimanjaro-darkjazz">the kilimanjaro darkjazz ensemble - from the stairwell (album preview)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/experimedia">experimedia</a></span>Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-7153325796337921362011-12-20T14:09:00.000-08:002011-12-20T15:12:14.708-08:00So Many Great Records, Part 1Here we are once again. At the end of the year, reflecting on all that we’ve been through. Scrolling through the longlist I’ve been keeping on Notepad in my iPod, 2011 has been an especially good year for new music – in fact, this is the longest longlist I’ve had since I started keeping track this way about 5 years ago.<br /><br />Once again, my Top 20 (albums and songs) will be recapped on a countdown show on <a href="http://www.umfm.com">UMFM</a> beginning at 4pm CST on December 31, 2011. Until then, I've got four posts of about twenty albums I'm going to list alphabetically, starting with A-D. Maybe you should fix and drink before you settle in...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A.M. Overcast - <span style="font-style:italic;">Shepherd Moon</span> [Independent]</span><br /><br />The best Pinback album Rob Crow had nothing to do with. Still hoping to get the band in for a live session at UMFM.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F24205715"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F24205715" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/firstlight_lastlight/a-m-overcast-haystacks">A.M. Overcast - Haystacks Northbound</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/firstlight_lastlight">A.M. Overcast</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Acid House Kings - <span style="font-style:italic;">Music Sounds Better With You</span> [Labrador]</span><br /><br />Their last album was my #1 record of 2005. This was solid, just not as mind-blowing ear-worm packed as <span style="font-style:italic;">Sing Along With…</span> You're going to see several past Top 20 artists amongst the longlisters as the 20-of-11 features a lot of the newness.<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KN2oCtb5aKA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Akron/Family – <span style="font-style:italic;">Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey on Shinju TNT</span> [Dead Oceans]</span><br /><br />Sometimes albums are able to overcome the ludicrous nature of their title. This was one instance.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yAqm-i8kGUc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AM & Shawn Lee - <span style="font-style:italic;">Celestial Electric</span> [ESL]</span><br /><br />Shawn Lee is the friggin’ king of collab. After fantastic results working with Clutchy Hopkins and Bei Bei, he teams up with AM (no relation to A.M. Overcast) and drops another funk-bomb.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29893817"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F29893817" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/amsounds/am-shawn-lee-city-boy">AM & Shawn Lee - City Boy</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/amsounds">AMSOUNDS</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Antlers - <span style="font-style:italic;">Burst Apart</span> [Frenchkiss/Transgressive]</span><br /><br />“Putting The Dog To Sleep” gives “Bear” a run for its money as the most heartbreaking song Antlers have recorded so far.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xg8Ckamh8Gw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Arbouretum - <span style="font-style:italic;">The Gathering</span> [Thrill Jockey]</span><br /><br />This may be the first time a Thrill Jockey artist didn’t make my Top 20, but there are a few more from the label on the longlist. First up is this big, ballsy rock record.<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9eUZfzJPSAA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Atlas Sound – <span style="font-style:italic;">Parallax</span> [4AD]</span><br /><br />Bradford Cox just got a “Gummy” as one of the <a href="http://stereogum.com/908652/the-gummy-awards-your-top-20-indie-rock-crushes-of-2011/the-gummy-awards/">Top 10 Indie Rock Crushes of 2011</a>. I didn’t submit his name (*cough, cough Feist cough*), but maybe I should have. Though based on prior appearances by Atlas Sound and Deerhunter on my year-end lists, I should probably just name the award after him.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27563591"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27563591" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/calexa/atlas-sound-parallax-03-te-amo">Atlas Sound - Parallax - 03 - Te Amo</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/calexa">Moonpixel</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Balam Acab - <span style="font-style:italic;">Wander/Wonder</span> [Tri Angle]</span><br /><br />Maybe it’s because I’ve gotten older and expend energy keeping up with a toddler, but I just can’t keep up with all the micro-genre distinctions we seem to be making these days. Could I tell you what ‘witch house’ actually is? No. But apparently Balam Acab makes witch house and I know that <span style="font-style:italic;">Wander/Wonder</span> is really good. So I guess I like witch house.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F16690104"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F16690104" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/balamacab/oh-why">Oh, Why</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/balamacab">BALAM ACAB</a></span> <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Baseball Project - <span style="font-style:italic;">Vol. 2 High and Inside</span> [Yep Roc]</span><br /><br />I play in a fantasy baseball league with a bunch of other folks involved in the music ‘business’ (I use that figure loosely since I’m including myself) so I can tell you that an album of indie-rock songs about baseball is most definitely target-marketed.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25934322"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F25934322" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/the-baseball-project/cmon-prince-stay-in-milwaukee">C'mon Prince (Stay In Milwaukee)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/the-baseball-project">The Baseball Project</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Battles - <span style="font-style:italic;">Gloss Drop</span> [Warp]</span><br /><br />While <span style="font-style:italic;">Mirrored</span> ranked at <a href="http://www.umfm.com/programming/yearbest/progfav/2007">#8 in 2007</a> <span style="font-style:italic;">Gloss Drop</span> didn’t really blow me away like the debut. It’s solid, but it left me wondering what they were up to beside touring during those four years.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12313171"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F12313171" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/battles/ice-cream">Ice Cream (Featuring Matias Aguayo)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/battles">BATTLES</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben Westbeech - <span style="font-style:italic;">There's More To Life Than This</span> [Strictly Rhythm]</span><br /><br />Listening to this album is dangerous. End-up-with-a-baby-in-10-months dangerous.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F23193338"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F23193338" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/frauhirsch/ben-westbeech-inflections">ben westbeech - inflections (produced by henrik schwarz)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/frauhirsch">frau.hirsch</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Black Keys - <span style="font-style:italic;">El Camino</span> [Nonesuch]</span><br /><br />It used to be you knew that December was a waste-land of Best Of compilations and Christmas albums so you didn’t have to worry about any last-minute entries on your list and could spend the month whittling it down. But the Black Keys had to go and make me question my Top 20.<br /><object height="225" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F1377076"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="225" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F1377076" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/gaga-digi/sets/the-black-keys-el-camino">The Black Keys: El Camino</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/gaga-digi">-gaga</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bog River - <span style="font-style:italic;">Hands In The Ground</span> [Independent]</span><br /><br />I reviewed the record from this local roots trio for <a href="http://www.umfm.com/events/airtimes/2/21/">Airtimes</a>, and I’d encourage you to give it a read.<br /><br />"Before I Let You Go" can be heard <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bogriver/music/songs/before-i-let-you-go-84343245">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Braids - <span style="font-style:italic;">Native Speaker</span> [Flemish Eye]</span><br /><br />I had the great pleasure of recording Raphaelle Standell-Preston at UMFM years ago in a late-night session after a show. I knew then that she (and her band) were bound for greatness. Native Speaker is that greatness.<br /><object height="225" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F504645"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="225" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F504645" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/braids/sets/braids-native-speaker-1">BRAIDS - Native Speaker</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/braids">BRAIDS</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Charles Bradley - <span style="font-style:italic;">No Time For Dreaming</span> [Dunham/Daptone]</span><br /><br />The <a href="http://thecharlesbradley.com/bio">story</a> behind Bradley and this album is almost as good as the music itself. Almost.<br /><object height="145" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F351204"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="145" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F351204" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/dunham-records/sets/charles-bradley">Charles Bradley</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/dunham-records">Dunham Records</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Christine Fellows - <span style="font-style:italic;">Femme De Chez Nous</span> [Six Shooter Records]</span><br /><br />Fellows always releases sleepers. And by that I don’t mean albums that put you to sleep (although she does write some lovely lullabies). I mean the great albums that fly under the radar.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OqoOdEQfR6c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Cut Copy – <span style="font-style:italic;">Zonoscope</span> [Modular]</span><br /><br />This album nearly made it on the strength of one amazing song, but there’s some other really solid stuff if you can get past hitting repeat endlessly on the best Talking Heads song David Byrne didn’t write.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9789552"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9789552" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/modularpeople/cut-copy-blink-and-youll-miss-a-revolution">Cut Copy - Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/modularpeople">modularpeople</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dawes - <span style="font-style:italic;">Nothing Is Wrong</span> [ATO Records]</span><br /><br />This seems to be one of those bands that are finding their way onto a lot of disparate year-end-lists. Folkies and roots rockers love it as much as the indie set. Not sure which camp I belong to though.<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qZJWeFU9gA4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Deer Tick - <span style="font-style:italic;">Divine Providence</span> [Partisan/Dine Alone]</span><br /><br />One of those records that feels like it should have a layer of dust on it - like you found it in your cool uncle’s old collection. These are songs that have been lived in, and still have life in them.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27181388"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27181388" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/flamgirlant/deer-tick-chevy-express">Deer Tick - Chevy Express</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/flamgirlant">flamgirlant</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Devotchka - <span style="font-style:italic;">100 Lovers</span> [Epitaph]</span><br /><br />This was the great leap forward for Devotchka. They eased off on the straight-up gypsy sounds and found their own, distinct sound that incorporated their past but pointed to an exciting future.<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21900313"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2Fhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21900313" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/mad-guru/all-the-sand-in-all-the-sea">All the Sand In All the Sea</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mad-guru">Mad Guru</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dominant Legs – <span style="font-style:italic;">Invitation</span> [Lefse]</span><br /><br />I wrote pretty glowingly about this record <a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2011/09/dont-understand-name-but-i-love-music.html">back in September</a>, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see it make the longlist…<br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21323600"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F21323600" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/wepromised/8-dominant-legs-hoop-of-love">8. Dominant Legs - Hoop Of Love</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/wepromised">wepromised</a></span>Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-51555057550389986692011-11-18T12:32:00.000-08:002011-11-18T15:12:38.810-08:00Dive Into This AlbumYeah, I know. The title for this entry is a pretty awful pun. But if you can look beyond that, you should really and truly check out Tycho's second full-length, <span style="font-style:italic;">Dive</span>. Five years on since Past Is Prologue (released on Merck), Scott Hansen has finally delivered the goods. Actually the greats. Tracks like opener "A Walk" and "Daydream" have some of the same whip-crack percussive pulses and atmospheric keys that Ulrich Schnauss has perfected - at once insistent and forward-moving while still ethereally light. <br /><br />Check out "Hours" below (or visit <a href="http://ghostly.com/releases/dive">Ghostly International's page</a> where you can download the mp3 for free).<br /><iframe width="315" height="177" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IuGO6WHcruU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />A vast majority of the tracks clock in at over five minutes in length, giving Hansen an opportunity to stretch out and build his sonic ideas slowly rather than forcing them at a rushed clip. Languidness isn’t usually a virtue, but he manages to make it so. The shorter tracks (“Melanie,” “Epigram”) come across as sketches in contrast to the longer works – half-formed ideas that hint at what they could become, given time. In a way they remind me of the difference between <a href="http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/LRG/7/724/PVSA000Z/posters/picasso-pablo-femme.jpg">this</a> and <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/74/PicassoGuernica.jpg/350px-PicassoGuernica.jpg">this</a>.<br /><br />Normally I associate music like this with sun-dappled summer days, but looking out the window and seeing the snow fall, <span style="font-style:italic;">Dive</span> still seems like the perfect accompaniment.Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-39469299896638876712011-11-02T12:23:00.000-07:002011-11-04T11:11:34.436-07:00Rocking the BlocksGoddam. <br />This album came in the station's mail today, and like I always do when I get something from <a href="http://www.blocksblocksblocks.com/">Blocks Recording Club</a>, I gave it a spin.<br />And another spin.<br />And then another spin.<br />And then yet another spin.<br /><br />Of course at only 17 minutes long, <span style="font-style:italic;">Close To The Bone</span>, is easy to play over and over - it would fit snugly on one side of a 12-inch. But length isn't the reason I keep hitting repeat on this record - quality is. Carmen Elle and Andy Smith have crafted five electrifying, electrified rock songs with an insistence and a bravado that challenges listeners to face them head on. Elle's raw voice practically grabs you by the ears, looks you in the face and sings "listen to me."<br /><br />So, you know, listen to them:<br /><iframe width="300" height="100" style="position: relative; display: block; width: 300px; height: 100px;" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=2036118052/size=grande/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"><a href="http://armygirls.bandcamp.com/album/close-to-the-bone">CLOSE TO THE BONE by Army Girls</a></iframe><br /><br />Great stuff, right?<br /><br />From the looks of the video below, Army Girls live is no less electric an act. I can't wait to hear more from this duo, but for the time being I'm content to keep listening to what I've got.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/29756816?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/29756816">ARMY GIRLS - THE POWER</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/untoldcity">untold city</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />You can grab the album on their <a href="http://armygirls.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp page</a>, and for more info on Army Girls, check out their <a href="http://armygirls.bandcamp.com/">Tumblr</a>.Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-88697767529003832352011-10-13T10:11:00.000-07:002011-10-27T20:10:17.412-07:00Gem Club's Breakers Really Is A JewelI've already <a href="http://reductive-reviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/gem-club-twins.html">posted a blurb</a> about Gem Club on my "other" blog, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Reductive Reviews</span> . But that one's just where I post quick hits (and that one didn't have the video for "Twins") - I save the commentary for here on <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ear To The Sound</span>, so it's time I tackled <span style="font-style:italic;">Breakers</span> and posted a new entry here.<br /><br />I can't get over how heart-breakingly beautiful <span style="font-style:italic;">Breakers</span> is. On the surface, it seems so simple - haunting voices + strings + piano interweave on each of the album's nine songs. There is minimal (and subtle) percussion that serves to embellish without overwhelming (the bells on the title track, the plodding bass drum on "Lands") the piano and voice at the center of every song. The pace the group establish on opener "Twins" [below] isn't quite plodding, but deliberate and the rest of <span style="font-style:italic;">Breakers</span> never attempts to run. Yet even with the heaviness of the pace, the music feels weightless; floating with only the strings and piano to tether it to earth.<br /><br />Not an album you'll want to put on to have a good time, but oddly enjoyable in its sadness and heartbreak.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/29613578?title=0&byline=0&http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifamp;portrait=0" width="400" height="220" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/29613578">Gem Club - Twins</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/gemclub">Gem Club</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <br />You can <a href="http://hardlyart.com/mp3/GC_Twins.mp3">download the song</a> for free after you've watched the video.<br /><br />Check them out on <a href="http://hardlyart.com/gemclub.html">Hardly Art</a> and <a href=" http://iamgemclub.com/#4e2/tumblr">their own site</a>, and maybe even "Like" them on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/gemclub">Facebook</a>.Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-891197705007236892011-09-20T12:39:00.000-07:002011-09-27T12:11:34.578-07:00Don't Understand The Name, But I Love The MusicCan't say I fully understand what 'dominant legs' are (is it supposed to be like a <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Determine-Your-Dominant-Hand">dominant hand</a>?) but I know that <span style="font-style:italic;">Invitation</span>, the latest record from San Francisco band <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dominantlegs">Dominant Legs</a> is a keeper. <br /><br />Playing it in my car this past weekend, with the fall sun providing more warmth than usual it was the perfect soundtrack to holding onto summer. The guitar lines are shimmery, the synths are spiky and the boy/girl harmonies are note-perfect. Just listen to lead-off single "Hoop Of Love" below:<br /><br /><iframe width="400" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HuipyoE3ep4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />That song along should convince you to check out <span style="font-style:italic;">Invitation</span> (and it won my discerning two-year-old over), but if you need further evidence this record is for you, listen to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY3F6I25ZGE">this</a> as well.<br /><br />Much as I love "Hoop Of Love," I think my personal favourite has to be "Lady Is Sleek and So Petite," a track that channels the new jack swing sound of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZUq6N7Gx1c">New Edition</a> but features Ryan Lynch's breathy, high-pitched lyrics instead of Ralph Tresvant's. It may be the only time I recommend a contemporary, white indie-rock band for their take on an historic, black r&b form. I'd also recommend the record to anyone who liked Chairlift's last record, <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://eartothesound.blogspot.com/2009/12/2009-longlist-pt-2-in-no-particular.html">Does You Inspire You</a></span>.<br /><br />Be sure to visit the <a href="http://lefserecords.com/?page_id=612">Dominant Legs page</a> on Lefse Records and their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dominantlegs">Facebook page</a>.Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-12465429406705662512011-09-13T15:05:00.000-07:002011-09-14T10:31:26.431-07:00This specter is pretty spectacular.I've been a little behind on <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ear To The Sound</span> with a surprise trip to Toronto at the end of August to see some friends and baseball (courtesy of my wonderful wife), September long, and the craziness that is Orientation Week at the university had me running around and sweating my ass off. But the UMFM stage is in the history books for another year and I'm back at my desk listening to all sorts of new stuff and catching up. <br /><br />The album I'm featuring with this post actually comes out September 27th so I'm even a little ahead...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOYeqlHlTkD5KhI_1kmJrFR1q8G3y0BD9Fh0oqKs689lv37momKl-6fJKSFpoSObxecg6QC_73i10P3obnYEHddEVioZRcvnbHZGr7Nlg6Ql3IoMbnS4u2R8_OkWil7en8PUkpVNziUI/s1600/Warm-Ghost.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOYeqlHlTkD5KhI_1kmJrFR1q8G3y0BD9Fh0oqKs689lv37momKl-6fJKSFpoSObxecg6QC_73i10P3obnYEHddEVioZRcvnbHZGr7Nlg6Ql3IoMbnS4u2R8_OkWil7en8PUkpVNziUI/s320/Warm-Ghost.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651973293091783874" /></a> My familiarity with <a href="http://www.partisanrecords.com/">Partisan Records</a> has been centered around their roots and rock acts (i.e. <a href="http://www.partisanrecords.com/artists/dolorean">Dolorean</a>, <a href="http://www.partisanrecords.com/artists/mountain-man">Mountain Man</a>, <a href="http://www.partisanrecords.com/artists/deer-tick">Deer Tick</a> and <a href="http://www.partisanrecords.com/artists/paleo">Paleo</a>) but damned if they haven't diversified with <span style="font-style:italic;">Narrows</span>, the new album from Warm Ghost. The Brooklyn duo are a departure for the label and have crafted a strong synth-pop album that manages to evoke chillwave without the airiness and recalls the ominous tones of Depeche Mode without the angst.<br /><br />Opener "G.W.T.S." has a plodding bass-line and a snare beat that falls somewhere between martial-crisp and broken-beat, and sets a brisk pace for the first four numbers. But at the midway point, "Ply 7" acts as a bit of a sonic sorbet, cleansing the palate for the more introspective, restrained material that ultimately leads to album highlight and closer "An Absolute Light," a song that seems to evaporate as it ends.<br /><br />It's interesting to see where electronic music is being taken these days as acts like Neon Indian go dance/noise and M83 blends gauzy soundscapes with pop songs. Warm Ghost add to the list of possibilities and directions for the genre by opening things up with <span style="font-style:italic;">Narrows</span>.<br /><br />Check out Warm Ghost's <a href="http://warmghost.tumblr.com/">website</a> and download lead-off track "G.W.T.S." <a href="http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/mp3/Warm%20Ghost%20-%20GTWS.mp3">courtesy of Stereogum</a>.Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-77900256677461488662011-08-16T22:13:00.000-07:002011-08-16T22:13:02.269-07:00It's lots of things, but mostly Solla Solla is something else.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://imovies4you.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/ilayaraja.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://imovies4you.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/ilayaraja.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> Most people are familiar with the <span style="font-style:italic;">idea</span> of Bollywood, even if they've never <span style="font-style:italic;">seen</span> an actually Bollywood film, but I doubt too many know about <span style="font-weight:bold;">Kollywood</span>. Apparently it's the epicenter of the Tamil language film industry located in the Kodambakkam neighborhood in the city of Chennai. I only learned about this alt-Bollywood while looking up the history of its most storihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifed composer, Ilaiyaraaja. And I was only researching him because of the fine http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giffolks at <a href="http://www.finderskeepersrecords.com/">B-Music/Finders Keepers</a> who sent the station a fantastic two volume collection of his compositions.
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<br />Wow.
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<br />This stuff puts the same-same nature of Bollywood soundtracks to shame. Ilaiyaraaja is too old to have been diagnosed as having ADHD as a child (he was born in 1943), but he clearly found the right outlet for his temperament as he traverses the sonic globe drawing influences from its farthest reaches and synthesizes them into something distinctly his own. Take a look at the "Impact and musical style" section on his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilaiyaraaja">Wikipedia page</a> for the double-digit list of sounds he's drawn on. Of course when you've done 900+ film scores over a 34 year career, you're going to need a bigger palette to paint from than the James Newton Howard's of the world.
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<br />Or just check out this clip of "Solla Solla," the song from which this thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifwo-volume compilation takes its title and hear how Ilaiyaraaja melds psych-guitar with tabla and funk inside of the first thirty seconds.
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<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NWpABztwc3s" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>
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<br />Then go check out the official pages for <a href="http://www.finderskeepersrecords.com/discog_fkr042.html"><span style="font-style:italic;">Solla Solla Volume 1</span></a> and <a href="http://www.finderskeepersrecords.com/discog_fkr043.html"><span style="font-style:italic;">Solla Solla Volume 2</span></a> and pick these records up (and check out some of the other amazing stuff those fine Finders are releasing).
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<br />Thanks for reading, now start listening...
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<br />Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-22025994941226892952011-07-19T11:40:00.000-07:002011-07-20T14:46:39.143-07:00One of the Dirty Projectors, Not one of the Baldwin Brothers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglESH_wk_EoHit8FQXyMSqKYnfMw2jShWHXv5A2MHtBzKVZO9uQHMwB8KLvIFVVbYdsPEjoGQvNoFUIDPj3iSPc92PcWUVg-aJqI9zlHJVaYMr0Phq1MNRWrCnIAZCgGe47DY6DMmkdcc/s1600/nat_baldwin.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglESH_wk_EoHit8FQXyMSqKYnfMw2jShWHXv5A2MHtBzKVZO9uQHMwB8KLvIFVVbYdsPEjoGQvNoFUIDPj3iSPc92PcWUVg-aJqI9zlHJVaYMr0Phq1MNRWrCnIAZCgGe47DY6DMmkdcc/s320/nat_baldwin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631176187495705826" /></a> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Nat Baldwin</span> is probably better known for his day job (<span style="font-style:italic;">if you can call it that</span>) as double bassist and singer-songwriter for the high-flying lo-fi act <span style="font-weight:bold;">Dirty Projectors</span>. Taking a step away from that band's output, Baldwin has a wonderful - and wonderfully quirky - solo record out on <a href="http://westernvinyl.com/">Western Vinyl</a> entitled <span style="font-style:italic;">People Changes</span>.<br /><br />It's not a complete departure from stuff you'd find on <span style="font-style:italic;">Bitte Orca</span> (we're not talking about a grime record or death metal here) but thankfully it stands on its own. Baldwin's voice - literally and figuratively - is different than DP's main man Dave Longstreth, though he shares an affinity for peculiar phrasing that rises and falls in seeming opposition to where you think the tune is going (as evidenced on opener "A Little Lost").<br /><br />Baldwin plays to his strengths on <span style="font-style:italic;">People Changes</span> - he clearly knows his instrument inside and out and he wrings every possible sound out of it in service of the music. Consider "Real Fakes" where he works the bow down below the bridge to mirror the skronking horns at the four-minute mark after overdubbing ominous bowed notes with pizzicato strikes at the lower register until that point. The song begs to be listened to at least once paying attention only to Baldwin doubling down on his double-bass. It's outstanding stuff.<br /><br />"Weights" is the first single from the album <span style="font-style:italic;">People Changes</span> and is available as a <a href="http://westernvinyl.com/audio/WV88.WEI6HTS.mp3">free mp3</a>. The video for "Weights" was, in true Brooklyn fashion, recorded live on a local basketball court. Lovely stuff.<br /><iframe width="349" height="217" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e68FjMz7ue8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />Be sure to visit Baldwin's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nat-Baldwin/202492336440321?sk=wall">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://westernvinyl.com/artists/natbaldwin.html">Western Vinyl profile page</a>.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, now start listening...Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-82624724752223295802011-06-28T10:07:00.000-07:002011-06-28T10:42:00.989-07:00Not so dark, definitely not mean.<span style="font-style:italic;">An album four years in the making!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">A band recording in seclusion in the woods!</span><br /><br />Insert other cryptic pull-quotes that merit exclamation points (<span style="font-weight:bold;">!!!!</span>) and <span style="font-style:italic;">italics</span>.<br /><br />Ultimately, Dark Mean's debut LP is just really good. Period.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SRA7enWhH2g5qetNrWLT9vvEx0KKHR5y4qliYIL4ms0QnhZ64TWTihMIR0Z0XOfTshYL2eO2mSV8LRYnqQu5flM5n59cZ5rQhE_e_JlIX2EKOV1MquQBTLls3TYOZl8wBouE7NioNxQ/s1600/darkmean.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SRA7enWhH2g5qetNrWLT9vvEx0KKHR5y4qliYIL4ms0QnhZ64TWTihMIR0Z0XOfTshYL2eO2mSV8LRYnqQu5flM5n59cZ5rQhE_e_JlIX2EKOV1MquQBTLls3TYOZl8wBouE7NioNxQ/s320/darkmean.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623323180694485778" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A trio from Steel Town, Canada (aka Hamilton, Ontario), Dark Mean began work on a full-length in 2007 and released two EPs in the interim (<span style="font-style:italic;">Frankencottage</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Music Box</span>) which built steam, and interest in this, their self-titled debut. And just like it took a while to make, it takes a while to digest. It's a slow-burner, but ultimately those are the fires that provide the most warmth and last the longest. Dark Mean play a brand of indie-folk that bands like The Wilderness of Manitoba and The Deep Dark Woods also perform (though not as symphonic as the former nor as 70's AM radio as the latter). It's a music where you can hear the notes breathe on the quiet parts, but isn't afraid to shout like it's lost in the woods now and then (see: "Lullaby"). The song that ultimately won me over was "Finland," with its gorgeous trumpet line - I'm a sucker for horns and handclaps - but there are many entry points and reasons to love this little album.<br /><br />The video for "<a href="http://www.directcurrentmusic.com/storage/mp3s-14/Dark%20Mean%20-%20Happy%20Banjo.mp3">Happy Banjo</a>" is below, and is available as a free MP3 if you provide your email address over at the <a href="http://darkmean.com/fr_news.cfm">band's website</a>.<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/22896330?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/22896330">Happy Banjo</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6870728">Dark Mean</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />You can purchase <span style="font-style:italic;">Dark Mean</span> via <a href="http://darkmean.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a>. <br /><br />Thanks for reading, now start listening...Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-570185679736499203.post-40040722078057761122011-06-17T11:48:00.001-07:002011-06-17T21:34:02.456-07:00Sunny future for A.M. Overcast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/17/19/1719177345-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 350px;" src="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/17/19/1719177345-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that Alexander Litinsky is a genius. Or at least a musical savant. <br /><br />In a little over half a year, he's recorded two phenomenal albums of angular pop that hearken back to Pinback and run their course so quickly you're left exhausted and eager for more. December of last year saw the release of <span style="font-style:italic;">Eyes Up</span>, and one week ago <span style="font-style:italic;">Shepherd Moon</span> dropped onto an unsuspecting public, unprepared to be pummeled like Sugar Ray Leonard working the ring; quickly and efficiently. There are no wasted moments and no slackening of the pace from opening salvo "Valentine's Night Out on the Town" (59 seconds!) to the "Cannonball" that leaves no survivors in its wake (at 2:26 it's 9 seconds shy of being the longest track on the album).<br /><br />One unexpected benefit of an album this brief is that wanting to listen to it over and over doesn't require a giant time commitment. My bus-ride to the <a href="http://www.umfm.com">station</a> takes less time than <span style="font-style:italic;">Shepherd Moon</span> - I nearly made it twice through thanks to traffic.<br /><br /><iframe width="400" height="100" style="position: relative; display: block; width: 400px; height: 100px;" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=2690777534/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"><a href="http://am-overcast.bandcamp.com/album/shepherd-moon">Shepherd Moon by A.M. Overcast</a></iframe><br /><br />Check A.M. Overcast out on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AM-Overcast/162947237082859">Facebook</a>, and grab the album via <a href="http://am-overcast.bandcamp.com/album/shepherd-moon">Bandcamp</a>. And keep an eye on <a href="http://tgifr.blogspot.com">my show blog</a> since I'm trying to get A.M. Overcast to come appear on my show (and I'm definitely hoping Alex will rope in the Catherine, Kevin, and Andrew he mentions on Facebook contributed to this album to play with him as they sound like a very tight unit on highlight "Haystacks Northbound").<br /><br />Thanks for reading, now start listening...Michael Elveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222122823502485056noreply@blogger.com0