The DIY Rockstar

2006-07-16T22:50:00.000-04:00

IT HAS BEGUN

2006-07-16T15:35:00.000-04:00

I am currently in the process of switching The DIY Rockstar to Word Press, and on to thediyrockstar.com. Let me apologize in advance for any inconveniences caused as I make this transition.

As of tomorrow, please update all links to thediyrockstar.com

Thanks,
Jeff

UPDATE:
Installing Wordpress is a little more time consuming than I though, so please don't try to access thediyrockstar.com until I give the go-ahead that everything is up and running.

Rosemont Family Reunion

2006-07-16T10:08:00.000-04:00

The Rosemont Family Reunion reminds me of a book I read a few years ago, the name of which I can't remember right now. I was on a road trip and bored out of my mind, so I bought this book at a gas station along the way. It wasn't exactly Shakespeare, but it did the job of keeping me occupied.

If I remember correctly, it was about two brothers in the old West who after years of separation came together for the most honorable purpose of being train robbers. They followed the rails, and at every stop would rob another train for whatever "valuables" it had onboard (mainly food and whatever personal possessions they could get from the passengers).

In between stops, these two cowboy-types would sleep underneath the stars, and sit before a campfire and sing and play guitar (one of the aforementioned "valuables" they collected). The main theme of the book was that no matter what kind of hardships they experienced whilst robbing trains or trying to survive in the elements, they would perform the ritual of the singing and playing guitar. It was a pretty cheesy book, but it was about as good a piece of literature you can expect from a roadside convenience store.

So, when I was first reading about The Rosemont Family Reunion, and found out that they are really family, that coupled with the "reunion" in their name, really brought to mind this book. I don't know what the situation is between the Rosemonts, but I envision the two of them starting this band after a time of being out of touch, and traveling from town to town, uniting under the banner of their music during each show. It, like the book, is kind of a cheesy idea, but in my mind, it is all quite swell.

Another thing that is "swell", (Man, I really need to work on my segues, huh?) is The Rosemont Family's music. It is simple, folkish sounding with a spot of country, but maintains a lot of class. On top of this, Kyle and Lissy Rosemont layer spot-on and haunting vocals, which give the whole shebang that special "something". I highly recommend it.

Here are some mp3's for you to sample:

ROSEMONT FAMILY REUNION

Ho Ho Ho

Leaving Here Tomorrow

ANIMUSIC!

2006-07-16T04:54:00.000-04:00

Hey, guys. Ever wonder what is on PBS at 4 am? It is this:

It is mesmorizing. I can't go to sleep!

2:30 am Music

2006-07-16T03:46:00.000-04:00

I can't really call this midnight music if it is two hours after the fact, now can I?

Ani DiFranco- 78% H2O

What Made Milwaukee Famous- idecide

The Long Winters- Carparts

Calexico- Close Behind (Vocal Mix)

DIY ROCKSTAR VS. THE POSTAL SERVICE

2006-07-15T15:26:00.000-04:00

I attempted a remix of the Postal Service song We Will Become Silhouettes today. I didn't really do much to it, but I like how it turned out.

Thus far, only two people have heard it (not including myself) and one said it was better than the original song, and one said it was awful, so I guess you guys can decide.

We Will Become Silhouettes (From Space Remix)

If you like it, comment. If not, comment. Or don't, whatever.

Gravity Won't Get You High

2006-07-15T12:44:00.000-04:00

This has been kind of a tough listen for me.

I first became aware of The Grates back about a month ago when someone sent me an Australian copy of Gravity Won't Get You High. I gave it a quick run through, and honestly, I couldn't stand it. The singer's voice just rubbed me in all the wrong ways. I liked every other aspect of the band, but I couldn't get past that. So, I put it in the stack of CD's on my desk, and didn't think about it again for a couple of weeks.

Then, this week, I got two copies of this CD on two consecutive days, Monday and Tuesday. Someone really wants me to like this!, I thought, half-jokingly. Nonetheless, I figured that if somebody went to the trouble of sending me three copies of a CD, it deserved a second chance. So, I gave one of those copies a listen, and to my disbelief, I really really liked it.

The singers voice no longer hurts my ears or seems shrill. Instead, it fits perfectly with the rest of the music. Then I got to reading the lyrics, and they're great, and at times quite humorous. This newfound love of The Grates really caught me off guard, so I listened to it again the next day to make sure it wasn't some kind of fluke. Sure enough, I liked it even better the third time around. Since then, it has become one of my favorite new CD's.

Anyway, here are a couple songs for you to try out. If you think you don't like The Grates, listen to these songs anyway. If you still don't like them, listen to these songs until you do. Then, once you do like them, buy the CD. Believe me, once you get used to them, The Grates are, well... Great.

The Grates- 19 20 20

The Grates- I Won't Survive

NIG[music]HT

2006-07-15T02:36:00.000-04:00

Get it? Anyway, here you go.

Bright Eyes- Falling Out of Love at This Volume

Bob Dylan- I Want You

Death Cab for Cutie- Crooked Teeth

New Cursive (!)

2006-07-14T08:29:00.000-04:00

I talked about it the other day, and now it is so close I can taste it.

Saddle Creek has made available two brand new tracks from the upcoming Cursive release Happy Hollow (out August 22) via their website. The songs are Bad Sects and the single Dorothy at 40.

The first song, Dorothy at 40, features very Curisve-esque charging guitars and a simple bass line. It is a more mature guitar sound, but is still unbelievably addictive.

The most obvious difference between this new Cursive and that of The Ugly Organ is of course the lack of cello and presence of horns. I was pretty weary of the idea of having horns this time around, but they aren't obtrusive and actually compliment the music very well. After a couple of listens, you don't even really notice them anymore. They fit perfectly into the song.

Lyrically, as the title suggests, the narrative focuses around a middle-aged Dorothy (presumably of OZ). Kasher suggests that "dreamers never live" as he calls Dorothy to get something of a reality check and also get up for work. Kasher's writing is nothing but perfect on this new song, and makes it all fit together flawlessly.

Cursive- Dorothy at 40

While Dorothy at 40 is an abraisive, rocking track, Bad Sects is a lot more mellow. It revvs up a little bit here and there, but for the most part it is a smooth, more lyrically-oriented song.

I honestly have only listened to this one once, because I really want Happy Hollow to feel fresh when I hear it for the first time all the way through, so I can't really say much more about this one. From what I got out of the first listen, though, it is great.

Cursive- Bad Sects

Music........... OF THE NIGHT.

2006-07-14T01:57:00.000-04:00

David Bowie- Space Oddity

Belle and Sebastian- If You're Feeling Sinister

Here are a couple tracks from Feist's Open Season that I couldn't post yesterday:

Feist- Mushaboom (Postal Service Mix)

Feist- One Evening (Gonzales Piano Solo)

4 STORES.

2006-07-13T19:37:00.000-04:00

Four stores.

That's how many stores I went to today trying to hunt down Cursive's Dorothy at 40 CD single today.

I went to: CD Warehouse, Borders, Best Buy, and Circuit City, all to no avail.
I know you are probably saying that I should go to better stores, but those are honestly the best places to buy CD's in my corner of the Midwest. Finally, I just ordered it off of the Saddle Creek website. It may take 6 days, but at least it will be here. Yeesh.

Feist's Open Season.

2006-07-13T02:20:00.000-04:00

(Sorry this is so late. I explain down by the songs.)

I feel like I say this everyday, but: Everything is cooler in Canada.

I mean, sure, America has its perks, but in many ways the Canadians are a giant step ahead of us. One of those ways is with the release of Feist's new remix record Open Season. While it came out several months ago in Canada, we south of the northern border have to wait until next Tuesday for it to hit stores. This is a gross injustice.

It may seem a little extreme for me to say that, but then again this is not your average remix CD.

As a whole, the remix album genre is not incredibly memorable. Of course, there are many exceptions to this rule, but generally speaking, they tend to be a bland rehash of an album that probably wasn't that great anyway.

But in this case, the remixes are most likely great because the source material is even greater. Feist's 2005 solo effort "Let it Die" was a favorite of mine, and garnered fantastic reviews. The Broken Social Scener crafts simply beautiful songs that not at all simplistic, and yet stick with you from the start. Like I said, it is a great album.

Now it is 2006, and many of the songs from Let it Die are having a second coming, this time with a new often electronic-inspired sound and snazzy new beats. Obviously, to have a great remix, you have to have a great remixer. Open Season has that too, most namely the Postal Service, and their remix of Mushaboom. While it is admittedly very typical sounding Postal Service fare, it is still addictive and probably my favorite on this disc. There are, however, lots of other treats to be had from other lesser-known remixers.

Unfortunately, EZArchive is down (one more reason to look forward to WP and Dreamhost), and I don't have my Open Season CD with me, so I will have to post something else by Feist until I get home. Here are a couple tracks from her out-of-print album "Monarch". Enjoy.

Feist- It's Cool To Love Your Family

Feist- Monarch

:)

Music of the Night

2006-07-13T02:05:00.000-04:00

HEAR YE, HEAR YE: I have grown very very tired of Blogger and EZArchive as of late, so I will be switching to Dreamhost and Wordpress as of sometime next week. I will be getting a Blogads payout then, so it seems like a good time to do it. Thank you in advance for your patience as I try to make the transition smooth.

The Flaming Lips- Free Radicals

Thom Yorke- Black Swan (FILE REMOVED)

Eels- Saturday Morning

The Thrills- Big Sur

Why no interviews?

2006-07-12T18:16:00.000-04:00

Because I thought I lost them, that's why. I thought I had lost the audio recordings of my interviews with Calexico, the Essex Green, and Jason Collett, but I found them earlier today. So, that means there will me more interviews up on this site very very soon. :)

Post War with M. Ward

2006-07-12T14:05:00.000-04:00

Most anyone who knows me knows this: I love me some M. Ward.

Matt Ward can do anything from producing to collaborating and do it well and without seeming as though he has left his comfort zone. He is just amazing.

But, for me at least, his solo albums have always been his best, and out of those his upcoming album Post War is my favorite.

His old soul is in full bloom on this record, and he brings his A-game with some of his greatest songs to date.

My early favorites are To Go Home and Requiem, but I am only on my second listen so these things can obviously change. He draws you into a world all his own with hushed and timeless vocals, and keeps you there with a great backing band offering up enough musical bliss to make even the most un-experienced M. Ward listener a fan.

Of the two favorites mentioned above, Requiem probably takes the top spot. It is about, as you may have guessed, a requiem. He speaks of a man now dead, but there is enough of a swagger in the song to keep it from being a song in mourning.

I also really like To Go Home. I believe it is a Daniel Johnston cover, and features Neko Case on backing vocals. It is one you just need to listen to.

M. Ward- To Go Home

M. Ward- Requiem

I really hope you will buy this album when it comes out, because these two songs don't really do the whole thing justice.

The Biggest Lie

2006-07-12T12:37:00.000-04:00

Today I have two versions of a fantastic song. The song is The Biggest Lie by Elliott Smith.

The first version is the original version from Elliott's self-titled album. His cool vocals almost cut out several times through the song, but this only adds to its haunting lo-fi nature. It is probably my favorite of his songs.

Elliott Smith- The Biggest Lie

The second version is a live Bright Eyes cover of the Elliott Smith song from the Motion Sickness album. Conor Oberst's trembling voice puts a more grim spin on the song, but it maintains everything that makes the first one so great. I think I might like the guitar on this one better.

Bright Eyes- The Biggest Lie

Midnight Muzak

2006-07-12T02:45:00.000-04:00

Not really muzak, but you know.

Belle and Sebastian- I'm a Cuckoo

Hurra Torpedo- Total Eclipse of the Heart

Pavement- All My Friends

Midnight

2006-07-11T03:03:00.000-04:00

Cursive- Dorothy at 40

Brookville- Nothing's Meant to Last

Maybe Sufjan isn't that bad after all.

2006-07-10T14:05:00.000-04:00

I have never been a big Sufjan fan.

I have always thought of his "50 albums, 50 states" thing as self-indulgent, ridiculous, and above all: impossible. It has been almost exactly three years since he released the first installment, Michigan, and in that time he has completed only one other album, Illinois. At this rate, it will take him seventy-five years to finish this project; seventy-two if he only does the continental 48. Sufjan is currently age 31, so he will have to live to the age of 106 to achieve this lofty goal.

To me, it seems a little pretentious and ego-driven to even attempt such a thing, especially the way he is doing it; with sprawling twenty-track albums that leave enough room for a B-sides album with an equal amount of songs.

And on top of this (and probably because of it) I could never get into his music.

Michigan was okay, but not quite my cup of tea. Illinois, though, just got on my nerves. I'm not sure why I didn't like it, but for the longest time it annoyed me to no end how much praise it received. In fact, if you look at Meta Critic, you will see that Illinois was the most acclaimed album of 2005. I just didn't get it.

But, I may have finally found a Sufjan I can appreciate.

Even though I don't really care for Sufjan, I went ahead and gave The Avalanche a quick run through when it showed up in the mail. It all seemed like the same old Sufjan I had learned to loathe, until the Multiple Personality Disorder version of Chicago. That is a fantastic song. So, after listening to that for a while, I listened to the original version of Chicago, and then to the other two versions of it on Avalanche. I thought those were pretty great too.

I decided it was probably a fluke, but I re-listened to Illinois nonetheless. This time through, it all sounded pretty great. Maybe not "Best of 2005" great, but definitely great. In the time since, I have grown to appreciate Illinois and Sufjan Stevens on a level I never thought I would.

He may not be the savior of music phenom some people make him out to be (to me at least), but he is very good at what he does. Maybe Sufjan isnt that bad after all.

Sufjan Stevens- Chicago
The original.

Sufjan Stevens- Chicago (Multiple Personality Disorder version)
The original's electro-pop cousin.

Midnight Music

2006-07-10T02:20:00.000-04:00

Beck- High 5 (Rock The Catskills)

Bloc Party- Two More Years

Tally Hall- Good Day

The Shins- Caring is Creepy

Tags:

Sunday Linkage

2006-07-09T16:04:00.000-04:00

Gorilla Vs. Bear- Offers the last installment in his always interesting World Cup coverage with a prediction giving Italy a 2-1 win today (which looks very possible at the moment).

Great Body of Water- Wraps up their Bands A-Z feature.

Good Hodgkins- Explains what he aptly calls the Garden State Effect.

The Bubble Death- A host of bloggers will be filling in (including myself) while Laura is in China.

Morning Music

2006-07-09T11:12:00.000-04:00

Modest Mouse- One Chance

The Decemberists- The Engine Driver

Midnight Music

2006-07-09T01:48:00.000-04:00

The Futureheads- Yes/No

The Thrills- Big Sur

The Raconteurs- Hands

If I were a Carpenter.

2006-07-08T13:29:00.000-04:00

I was going through my CD's trying to find something when I stumbled upon this disc: the compilation If I Were a Carpenter. If you don't know, it is a CD of Carpenters covers by some of the day's best artists (this came out in 1994, so that would mean the Cranberries, Dishwalla, and so forth).

Anyway, here are some of my favorite Carpenters songs covered by some great bands.

Sonic Youth- Superstar

the Cranberries- (They Long to Be) Close to You

Bettie Serveet- For All We Know

Midnight Music

2006-07-08T02:10:00.003-04:00

I have gotten out of the habit of doing Midnight/Morning lately, but I am going to start up again. There is too much music to write about, and everybody needs some great tunes to begin and end their day with. Anyway, here you go:

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- I Am Warm And Powerful

Tilly and the Wall- Rainbows in the Dark

Regina Spektor- Fidelity

Belle and Sebastian- I'm a Cuckoo

Midnight Music

2006-07-08T02:10:00.002-04:00

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- I Am Warm And Powerful

Tilly and the Wall- Rainbows in the Dark

Regina Spektor- Fidelity

Belle and Sebastian- I'm a Cuckoo

Midnight Music

2006-07-08T02:10:00.001-04:00

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- I Am Warm And Powerful

Tilly and the Wall- Rainbows in the Dark

Regina Spektor- Fidelity

Belle and Sebastian- I'm a Cuckoo

Midnight Music

2006-07-08T02:10:00.000-04:00

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- I Am Warm And Powerful

Tilly and the Wall- Rainbows in the Dark

Regina Spektor- Fidelity

Belle and Sebastian- I'm a Cuckoo

The Spores don't want you to kill yourself.

2006-07-07T17:27:00.000-04:00

I got the Spores' new CD Imagine the Future a few weeks ago, and it has been slowly growing on me ever since. At first, I was a little iffy on it, but now I really like it. Here's a song from it called (Don't) Kill Yourself.

The Spores- (Don't) Kill Yourself Web

Suicide Anniversary, Knifes, and Spanish dawn

2006-07-07T11:32:00.000-04:00

The Knife
The Knife is one of Sweden’s biggest mysteries. The brother and sister duo hardly ever plays live and hide their faces behind strange masks. Despite – or because of - all that they are enjoying big success in Sweden and abroad. And despite them being an electronic band, I quite like some of their songs, probably because they stick to traditional songwriting. And here it gets a bit academic: compare their song Heartbeats and Jose González acoustic take to see what I mean. (the later is a really awesome cover!!!)

The Knife – Heartbeats
Jose González – Heartbeats

Madrugada
Norway’s Madrugada is without a doubt one of the best bands ever. Unfortunately, not many people know about that fact simply because they don’t know the band. With a very atmospheric song, they have created their very own sound, which they develop from album to album. If forced to compare them to other bands, I would place them somewhere in between Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Mazzy Star. But as I said before, they have their own thing going on.

Madrugada – Hands up – I Love you (M4A)

Rambling on about the R'n R past Joy Division - happy 26th Suicide Anniversary
The NME Hype stuff is on hold for a while. I am having too much fun rambling about bands from the past. Yesterday, I finished the book ‘Touching from a Distance’ by Deborah Curtis. Her very personal description of her life with Ian Curtis, singer of Joy Division, gives you an interesting insight into this torn soul. I always found Joy Division hard to get into. But once you start to like them a whole new world opens up. Despite being clearly influenced by UK punk, they were able to create something new on top of it, which had a huge impact on all 80s music, including pop.
Take a few minutes and listen to my favorite song.
Oh, and last week was the 26th anniversary of Ian’s suicide.

Joy Division – Shadowplay

Mart from Scandinavian Sounds

Tags:The Knife, Madrugada, Joy Division

Sonic Youth

2006-07-06T20:29:00.000-04:00

I know there's not much more I can say about this band that hasn't already been said, and I know I can't really do anything to make them any more popular- but the don't need it. I mean, they're Sonic Youth for God's sake.

Still, I can't resist posting on them, however redundant and unnecessary it may be. I got the newest of their sixteen releases, Rather Ripped, about a month and a half ago, and I have been in love with it ever since. Here are a couple tracks for your sampling:

Reena

Incinerate

BTW:

Be sure to check out the latest issue of Filter Magazine. There is a great cover story about Sonic Youth and also an interesting double-interview with Barry of The Futureheads and Colin from Wire.

All Night with Saturna

2006-07-06T09:35:00.000-04:00

On a typical day, I get about 5-6 emails from bands, publicists, etc. on each of my two email addresses. While I like a good portion of it, a lot of the time it can blur into dime-a-dozen indie rock bland-ness. This is not the case with Saturna.

The Portland band has a very strong and well-developed sound to be just now coming out with a debut. It is shoegaze-y while being accessible to the average listener, and is addictive.

Like I said, Saturna has a debut out now. The six-song CD is available at CDBaby.

Website

MP3's:
Blanket of Stars
Pop Rocks

THE LOST LOVABLE LABEL: Greyday Records

2006-07-05T12:42:00.000-04:00

I knew I had missed one! Here is a throwback to the Lovable Label days with Greyday Records.

Where is Greyday Records based?

Portland, OR.

How long has it been in existance?

Four and a half years.

It seems like a lot of labels started out with the goal of
releasing a specific album or specific band. Was this the case with
your label, and if not, how did it begin?

Somewhat, yes. We started to pick up where the Sunflower Tribe label
left off, to release a new Still Life record (the SFT label, while
never really "going under" as such, ceased releasing records and CDs).
But we had always planned to grow, pick up new bands, and work with a
larger group of our friends.

How did you come up with the label's name?

It's a reference to the majority of weather in the two best places that
I've lived (Scotland and Portland).

How many people does the label employ? (Not including bands)

We have varying contract employees and unpaid interns, so at any given
time there are usually 8-10 people working for Greyday, and another 1
or 2 working on Greydawn projects.

Have you ever signed someone you discovered through a demo you received?

Actually, yes, we just did, but that was the first person we'd ever
signed that we didn't at least physically know first. We usually
don't, this was a pretty rare/exceptional case.

How many copies has your top-selling release sold? What is it?

Head of Femur's Ringodom or Proctor would be our top seller currently
(though we don't know how the last couple records are doing overall
yet). I don't have exact numbers on hand, but I'd estimate in the
neighborhood of 4000, not counting digital sales.

How has the label changed from its beginning to now?

It's progressed beyond being a small, friends only label into an actual
business. It's still very small, friend oriented, and communal, but
the pressures of making back costs have overcome us over the years so
we don't have the freedom to simply release records solely because we
want to anymore; we have to be a bit more selective, and we now have
minimum tour requirements for bands in a release year, which we never
had before. Essentially we have to schedule releases based on touring,
but we don't kick people off the label, the bands either have to meet
the tour requirements or wait until periods when we are doing well
enough to afford to take a risk on a release.

What is the ultimate goal of the label?

Mostly to be able to continue releasing quality records at affordable
prices, and to see the bands making enough money to continue touring
and make a living at playing. Eventually we'd like to branch out into
other areas of media, and we've already put some projects into motion
for that, but currently all our time and efforts are focused on the
artists and their music.

Happy Independence Day!

2006-07-04T11:12:00.000-04:00

I wanna be your dog.

2006-07-03T12:28:00.000-04:00

The Coachella DVD was good for me in many ways. It introduced me to several new bands and got me back into some old favorites. Chief among the latter was Iggy and the Stooges. Their performance in that film is amazing. Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal summed it up best: "He looks like a piece of chewed up wire".

My favorite Stooges song is Now I Wanna Be Your Dog. I hope you guys like it too:

Iggy and the Stooges- Now I Wanna Be Your Dog

Am I becoming Daily Kos?

2006-07-02T20:45:00.000-04:00

Here is an audio-only version of that George Bush cover of U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday.

George Bush- Sunday Bloody Sunday

Plant a tree, vote for McCaskill.

2006-07-02T18:34:00.000-04:00

I just watched this movie earlier today, and it is very very good. Basically, it is a slideshow on the growing climate crisis, with a few sidebars on Al Gore's life that tie in. It all comes together very well, brings to light some startling and frightening realities, and really makes me want to do something. So, to that end, I will ask you all to go see it. It sounds kind of lame, but "together we can make a difference". And be sure to ride your bicycle there and plant a few trees along the way. Find a theater here.

ClimateCrisis.net

I don't think an overwhelming number of you live in the Missouri, but any of you who do really need to vote for Claire McCaskill for US Senate in November. She ran for Governer in 2004, but lost to Matt Blunt, (son of US Representative Roy Blunt), and we can't let that happen again. She has good judgement and experience, and she also happens to agree with me on a lot of key issues. Plus, her opponent, the incumbent Jim Talent, is kind of a jerk.

July, July!

2006-07-02T10:21:00.000-04:00

I know I've posted this song before, but it is my favorite song and the perfect way to ring in the month of July. I will be back this afternoon with a public service announcement of sorts.

Decemberists- July July!

Summer Time at the Gun Club

2006-07-01T10:06:00.000-04:00

I am from Barcelona
Think Postal Service, without the electronic stuff, plus horns, loads of clapping, trumpets and at least five times more band members. That’s the latest Swedish pop sensation I am from Barcelona. The band – consisting of some 22 members – have provided this years summer hit called, surprise, We are from Barcelona. Really catchy tune.

I am from Barcelona – We are from Barcelona

Mugison
Mugison knows how to play the guitar and how to operate his laptop. This is all the Icelandic needs to write brilliant songs. He has the same ‘feed the song some weird noises approach’ as Tom Waits. Floating water, burping, engines and creepy children’s voices can be heard every now and then. And songs like ‘What I would say at your funeral’ – a duet with his wife (man what a voice she has) – demonstrates his sense for luring melodies. It’s a lot of fun to listen to Mugi.

Mugison - What I would say at your funeral

The Gun Club
No hype this week either. This gives me another opportunity to back in time and praise one of the bands that shaped today’s music but never really got the credits they deserve. Last year I came across The Gun Club and just can’t get enough of them (well, singer Jeffrey Lee Pierce is dead, so there won’t be much more). In the early 80s The Gun Club took what was left of punk and combined it with good old Delta Blues. Sounds like and odd combination, but it works (The Son House cover Preaching The Blues is killer). The influence that the Gun Club had on later bands becomes apparent when listening to Fire Spirit. It sounds like the ultimate Pixies song. If you are looking for a Gun Club album, go for Fire of Love. Absolutely brilliant.

The Gun Club – Fire Spirit

The Gun Club – She’s like Heroine to me

By Mart from Scandinavian Sounds.

Tags:I am from Barcelona, Mugison, The Gun Club

Sing Song Along

2006-06-30T06:50:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I said Canada is a major hotspot for indie music, and today I will say the same about Omaha, Nebraska. You have Bright Eyes, Cursive, and The Faint as the real face of that scene, but if you dig a little deeper you will find equally impressive gems; such as Tilly and the Wall. Tilly released their sophomore disc entitled Bottoms of Barrels on Team Love Records earlier this year, and it has become one of my favorites as of late. (You can download the whole darn thing here.)

As I said, the band comes to us from Omaha, and as you may or may not know, has close ties to the very beginning of the scene. Two of the members of Tilly and the Wall were in Park Ave. with the Faint's Clark Baechle, and Mr. Bright Eyes Conor Oberst. But, they were young, still finding out what they wanted to do in life, one of them moved to London, and yada-yada-yada... they broke up. So, anyway...

This song is called Sing Song Along, and it is my favorite off of Bottoms on Barrels. It should speak for itself, so here it is. I highly highly recommend it.

Tilly and the Wall- Sing Song Along

tillyandthewall.com | team-love.com

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Tags:Tilly and the Wall

We Come from the Wilderness.

2006-06-29T06:49:00.000-04:00

Shapes and Sizes seem destined for success. For one, they hail from Canada, which is proving to be the hottest source of new indie rock, and in addition to that they are labelmates with indie phenom Sufjan Stevens. That is a pretty tough combination to beat, and the band meets any expectations that may be associated with it.

Their self-titled CD comes out on Asthmatic Kitty Records on July 11th, and it is very impressive. Shapes and Sizes creates beautifully melodic music, that is accessible and familiar without just being a rehash of every indie pop record you have ever heard. It is unique, with a hint of nostalgia, and is a very rewarding and memorable listen.

One song in particular called Wilderness (it also happens to be the promo track-- yay!) is stuck in my head. Here it is:

Shapes and Sizes- Wilderness

shapesandsizes.ca (Web)

Also, I will be on a blogger judging panel for a Shapes and Sizes contest (via Asthmatic Kitty), where people get to mash up, remix, or cover Wilderness and enter to win one of several great prizes. Here is the contest page.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

2006-06-28T07:12:00.000-04:00

Hi folks. Miss me? I found this on the internet earlier today, and I thought it was pretty cool. I hope you like it:

Via Break.com

//UPDATE// I went ahead and recorded an audio-only version of this most rousing of performances. Download it below in mp3 form.

George W. Bush- Sunday Bloody Sunday

New Cursive. Old Cursive.

2006-06-25T09:17:00.000-04:00

If you are like me, you have probably gone through several phases of happiness and despair between the release of Cursive's last full-length The Ugly Organ and now.

First, there was the excitement of a brand new Cursive album. There was the joy of listening to it from start to finish, and then beginning to learn the words.

Next, came the period where I couldn't put it down. It was a familar listen, but still amazing.

Then what followed was three years of wait and anticipation and worry. Did Cursive break up? Is Tim Kasher going to become a screenwriter full-time? Was that going to be my last Cursive record?! These were trying times.

Finally, in early 2006 there was some light at the end of the Cursive tunnel. They were working on a new disc, which would come out later in 2006. Yay!

Now, it is close enough to taste. Cursive's new single Dorothy at Forty will be released on July 11th. Pre-orders have been made, and hopes are up.

Now for the old Cursive. This song is from the Difference Between Houses and Homes disc, which was full of unreleased songs and obscure 7" versions. It is called A Disruption in the Swing of Things, and it is really great. It features a much younger sounding Kasher and Cursive as a whole sounds a lot less mature. Still, it's a great song.

Cursive- A Disruption in the Normal Swing of Things

My Weekly Listening

2006-06-24T11:52:00.000-04:00

I haven't done this for a while, but I will do so in the future.

The Flaming Lips- At War with the Mystics
I have a Flaming Lips wallpaper on my laptop, I have the Flaming Lips DVD in my DVD player, I am contemplating a four-hour-drive to see them live, and I have their CD in my CD player. I love this album, I love this band.

The Flaming Lips- Enthusiasm for Life

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- Broom
I have had this CD since shortly after it came out, but I don't think I ever fully appreciated it until a few weeks ago. I was looking at my CD's trying to find something good (my iPod speakers were dead), and this one caught my eye. There really is not a bad song on there, and there are quite a few great ones.

SSLYBY- House Fire

The Futureheads- News & Tributes
I have already told you guys how much I like this CD. I especially like the two UK bonus tracks that are on my promo copy. The first one, We Cannot Lose, is the one that I shared with you in my first post on this album, and the second one is a great remix of the Futureheads best known track, Decent Days and Decent Nights.

The Futureheads- We Cannot Lose

Midnight Music

2006-06-24T01:01:00.000-04:00

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I will be back to 100% next Friday. 'Til then, I believe I have some music to share with you guys.

The You- I'm Going to Kill Myself

The Strokes- Ize of the World

Coldplay- Square One

Some Swedes and the New York Dolls

2006-06-23T07:18:00.000-04:00

The Tidy Ups

Yesterday the almighty Jeff talked about his passion for Belle and Sebastian. So I went out and tried to find a Swedish band that has some Bell-and-Sebastian-esk quality to it. And I found the Tidy Ups. Great garage pop, covered in cotton candy. The song below is of their EP Dizzy Heights. Perfect for those warm summer days. Hope you will enjoy it, Jeff.

[Note from Jeff: Haha! Yeah, I like it a lot :) ]

The Tidy Ups – Dizzy Heights

Timo Räisänen

And here is a song that I fell in love with a few weeks ago. It was one of those moments when you hear a song on the radio for the first time and you just can’t get it out of your head: Fear no Darkness promised Child, by Timo Räisänen. Don’t spend too much time trying to pronounce this Swede’s name. Listen to this somewhat cold, but passionate rock tune.

Timo Räisänen – Fear no Darkness promised Child

No NME Hype this week

Well, if there is no hype, I have to start one on my own. Sort of. I picked a band that many have heard of, but only a few actually really know (yeah, I might be generalizing): The New York Dolls. Their influence on the punk scene was tremendous. Their only fault was, that they were almost nine years ahead of their time. Everyone, from the Ramones, to the Sex Pistols and the Clash named them their No 1 source of inspiration. The remaining band members are currently on a reunion tour. Here is my favorite of their early songs.

New York Dolls - Pills

by Mart from scandinaviansounds.com

Tags:The Tidy Ups,
Timo Räisänen, New York Dolls

Does Mars No Longer Need Guitars?

2006-06-22T22:14:00.000-04:00

Today, when I made my daily stop at Mars Needs Guitars, what I saw was a blank white screen with THE END written in large letters at the top. Also, his myspace profile has been deleted.

I can only guess that Merz has called it quits, which is a real loss to the mp3 blogging community. He runs (ran?) a great blog, and is a good pal.

The huge THE END at the top links to a great song called No Suprises, by the way, so check that out.

So, Merz, if you are reading this, we'll miss ya.

Just a Modern Rock Story...

2006-06-22T07:13:00.000-04:00

I have been reading this book kind of on-and-off over the last few weeks. It is about one of my favorite bands lately, the wonderful Belle and Sebastian. In this book, Paul Whitelaw chronicles the band, from its beginnings to present day.

Whitelaw also does a very good job of detailing the lives of each of the band members pre-Belle & Sebastian, including what got them interested in music in the first place. For instance, I never knew that the whole idea for the band came out of Stewart Murdoch being bored out of his mind during an illness that rendered him a near shut-in.

I always have liked to read books about my favorite bands; it gives you an in-depth look into the band that can't be obtained through listening to their music or reading a short bio. Of course, even the best band can have the worst book written about them. In this case, however, Paul Whitelaw writes a great book about a great band. I would highly recommend it.

A couple of mp3's-

Danger Doom- Mince Meat

Decemberists- Shiny

The Essex Green- Our Lady in Havana

Tell me what you want...

2006-06-20T07:08:00.000-04:00

As a blogger, I get emails from bands and labels all the time telling me what I should listen to, but today I want to get your opinion. Dearest readers, is there a band I should know about?? I would really like to know.

Please either drop me email at diyrockstar@gmail.com or leave a comment telling me what to ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-check out.

(This is what I mean by blogging-lite.)

More soon.

Devendra Banhart- Quedate Luna

Find A Way,

2006-06-19T07:08:00.000-04:00

I will admit I was more than a bit skeptical when I first heard about Smoosh. A 14 year old and a 12 year old signed to Barsuk Records as serious recording artists? I don't mean to sound age-ist, but a lot of what makes a good song and a good songwriter is the experiences of the songwriter, and I didn't envision a middle schooler having anything to say that would resonate with a large audience. I was wrong. They obviously sound young, but it is suprisingly refined and well made, while still maintaining childlike innocence. It takes a listen or two to fully get into it, but once you do, you will be glad you did.

Smoosh- Find a Way

Morning Music

2006-06-19T07:05:00.000-04:00

Banner Pilot- Portland Lights (Web)

Jenny Lewis- Born Secular (Web)

The Elected- San Fransisco Via Chicago Blues (Web)

Bobby McFerrin- Don't Worry Be Happy

Midnight Music

2006-06-19T01:30:00.000-04:00

I am going to be blogging lite these next few days. I will keep up Morning and Midnight, but I have too much going on at school to guarentee a big written post everyday. I apologize.

Bright Eyes- The Invisible Gardener (Web)

Walkmen- The North Pole (Web)

Bob Dylan- The Times They Are A'Changin (Web)

Team America World Police- America, F--k Yeah

Morning Music

2006-06-18T06:59:00.000-04:00

I will include songs for Midnight too since I fell asleep before I could post.

Stars- Set Yourself On Fire (Web)

Simon and Garfunkle- I am a Rock

The Postal Service- Clark Gable (Web)

The Perishers- Trouble Sleeping (Web)

Interpol- Public Pervert (Web)

Kaiser Chiefs- Time Honoured Tradition

Spoon- Small Stakes (Web)

Of Montreal- Requiem For OMM 2 (Web)

Paul McCartney is 64

2006-06-17T11:41:00.000-04:00

It's the weekend, so you've got to allow me a bit of a novelty post.

As I am sure a lot of you already know, beloved Beatle Paul McCartney turns the big 6-4 on Sunday. This will bring to life the lyrics to the Beatles song "When I'm 64", and is being viewed by fans as something of a big deal.

Especially Bruce Baert. Bruce has recorded a tribute/parody of the song, with fun new lyrics. With vocals provided by Tony Barron, this track is on the mild side of novel, but is very well done, and worth listening to.

Bruce Baert- Paul is 64

Will we still need him?
Will we still be sending him a Valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

I guess we will find out.

Tags:Paul McCartney, The Beatles

Morning Music

2006-06-17T10:29:00.000-04:00

Happy weekend. I hope you all have a good one.

Rilo Kiley- Accidental Deth (Web)

Sufjan Stevens- Jacksonville (Web)

Nirvana- In Bloom (Web)

Weezer- Pardon Me (Web)

Midnight Music

2006-06-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Some songs for your late-night web cruising.

Death Cab for Cutie- Photobooth

Dios Malos- You've Got Me All Wrong

Broken Social Scene- Canada Vs. America

Desaparecidos- What's New for Fall

No, you aren't seeing things.

2006-06-16T22:03:00.000-04:00

If you have keen eyes, you may notice some minor changes in how this site looks and feels.

Bigger things are a'comin, including a new header, later this weekend or next week. I am going to stop short of a total redesign, however, since this one took a long time to craft and tweak, and for the most part I like it.

If you notice any glitches over the next few days, I apologize, and am working to get everything back to better-than-normal soon.

JR Ewing, The Devil, and a dead Queen

2006-06-16T07:05:00.000-04:00

Beta Satan
What happens if you are a successful musician who gets a bit too much obsessed with the occult? As the leadsinger and drummer of Danish Tiger Tunes. They started a new band called Beta Satan, which is utterly dedicated to the Beta Satan. Their weird drumbeats and eerie melodies make you want to join their little cult immediately.

Q’s Wasted Dreams – Beta Satan

JR Ewing
JR Ewing, one of Norway’s finest hardcore bands, has decided to quit. Only a couple of more shows this summer before they will put down their instruments. Their screeching guitars will be missed. But never say never. Their fellow Norwegians Turbonegro become really famous when they were long gone, and soon reunited again. Let’s hope the same will happen to JR Ewing.

The Perfect Drama - JR Ewing

NME Hype Band of the Week
This weeks NME Hype Band might come as a surprise. But the NME makes the rules. It’s….The Smiths. The 20th anniversary of their classic “The Queen is Dead” is upon us, which is the perfect opportunity to dig out your old Smiths records and become nostalgic. I have always loved the Smiths and I think that there can never be too much hype around this band. Listen to my favorite from The Queen is Dead, Bigmouth Strikes again.

Bigmouth Strikes Again – The Smiths

Mart from Scandinavian Sounds

Tags:Beta Satan, JR Ewing, The Smiths

Morning Music

2006-06-16T07:01:00.000-04:00

News- Springfield, Missouri, band Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin have signed to Poly Vinyl. Here is a song: Oregon Girl.

Broken Social Scene- Ibi Dreams of Pavement (Web)

Cursive- Sucker and Dry (Web)

Rilo Kiley- The Execution of All Tshing (Web)

Midnight Music

2006-06-16T01:03:00.000-04:00

The Good Life- Album of the Year (Web)

Spoon- My Mathematical Mind (Web)

Ok Go- You're So Damn Hot (Web)

Franz Ferdinand- Fade Together (Web)

Bi-Post: Elevator Action, The Eighteenth Day of May

2006-06-15T07:06:00.000-04:00

[Why just a bi-post, you ask? Because I'm tired, that's why.]

ARTIST: Elevator Action
ALBUM: Society, Secret
MP3: Surely You Know

When you think of a hotbed for indie culture, you probably tend to think of New York, and LA, but there is really a lot of great stuff going on in North Carolina. The home to Merge and Yep Roc records, there is quite a scene in that area. One of the lesser known components of this scene is Morisen Records. Recently, they sent me a couple of CD's and I really like them both. One of them is called Society, Secret by Elevator Action. It is a great CD of great guitar rock, and is another fun and easy listen. It is one of the better CD's in that sub-genre that I have heard lately. (Web)

ARTIST: The Eighteenth Day of May
ALBUM: S/T
MP3: Hide + Seek

This is a very new-sounding take on very traditional style. It is "neo-folk" at its finest, and is very refreshing to a listener used to more of the same. And while this CD isn't typical indie fare, it is stil very accessible and enjoyable. If you look at the cover-art of this album and take into consideration the fact that they hail from the UK, you won't be suprised to hear a slight celtic twist on a lot of these songs. Like I said, though, this is purely a good thing and doesn't make it a novelty album of any sort. After hearing this release, I think I will investigate this whole "neo-folk" thing some more.

Morning Music

2006-06-15T06:54:00.000-04:00

Gnarls Barkley- Just a Thought (Web)

Youth Group- Forever Young (Web)

Cat Power- Could We (Web)

White Stripes- We're Going to be Friends (Web)

Midnight Music

2006-06-15T00:01:00.000-04:00

Bright Eyes- I Must Belong Somewhere (Live) (Web)

Muse- City of Delusion (Web)

Bloc Party- Price of Gas (Web)

Tilly and the Wall- Shake it Out (Web)

Good, Evenin' Evening Music!

2006-06-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome back, Evening Music! It's been a while. And how is your brother Mid-Day doing?? He and I must do lunch sometime!

Destroyer- Painter in Your Pocket

David Dondero- Analysis of a 1970's Divorce

Tri-Post: Leaving Rogue, Judah Johnson, Russian Spy Camera

2006-06-14T07:04:00.000-04:00

Artist: Leaving Rogue
Album: Elsewhere
MP3: Arrow

I got this CD a while back, and thought it was okay, but after another listen a few days ago, I really like it. Leaving Rogue's music is in that sweet spot between rock and pop, without being cliched pop-rock. By that I mean, it is poppy but inspired sounding and not at all radio rock. It is an easy listen, and is very enjoyable. (Web)

Artist: Judah Johnson
Album: Be Where I Be
MP3: The Ruse

This is a band, not a singer-songwriter. I was kind of suprised when I put on this CD expecting a lo-fi bedroom-pop type sound and was confronted with the sound of a full band. It is very good though. I highly recommend it! (Web)

Artist: Russian Spy Camera
Album: You Are a Vulture
MP3: Svengali What's the Caper

I just got this CD in the mail yesterday, along with 7 others. You wanna know why I listened to this one first? Because the cover art looks cool. But, sometimes, it is okay to judge a CD by it's jewel case. This is one of those times. It is a very refreshing mix of indie rock with more dance inspired vocal distortion. I recommend it universally, but especially if you are looking for a little deviation from the norm.

Morning Music

2006-06-14T07:01:00.000-04:00

Neva Dinova- Jesus Choir (Web)

Azure Ray- November (Web)

Aqueduct- Heart Design (Web)

Midnight Music

2006-06-14T00:52:00.000-04:00

Bright Eyes- Road to Joy (Web)

The Good Life- I am an Island (Web)

Kasabian- Reason is Treason (Web)

Phantom Planet- California (Web)

We Cannot Lose

2006-06-13T11:17:00.000-04:00

I liked the Futureheads' self-titled debut a lot. I really don't have anything bad to say about it. But, with their new album News & Tributes, which comes out today, they build on that great first impression with the maturity a year or two on tour can give a band. I have not stopped listening to it since I got it early last week. There is not a bad song on there, and they have gotten longer. On the first record, a track averaged about 2:15 minutes, but in the new one, the average has grown to somewhere around 3 minutes. I especially recommend the songs Thursday, Skip to the End, and Help Us Out, but like I said, I enjoy them all.

This is one of those albums where I can't put it away. I just realized 6 of the 14 songs on the CD are in my iTunes Top 25 Most Played, and 3 of those are in the top 10.

I very much want to share a song with you guys, but I don't want people to be able to download the whole album off of the Hype Machine, so I will post one of the UK bonus tracks that were on my promo CD. If you like this song, buy this CD.

The Futureheads- We Cannot Lose

Tags:The Futureheads

Morning Music

2006-06-13T07:10:00.000-04:00

Joseph Arthur- Honey and the Moon (Web)

Fresh Cherries from Yakima- Eli, the Barrow Boy (Decemberists Cover) (Web)

Gorillaz- Feel Good Inc. (Web)

Le Tigre- TKO (Web)

Midnight Music

2006-06-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Nada Surf- If You Leave (Web)

Park Ave- Invitation to a Closet (Web)

Iron & Wine- Such Great Heights (Postal Service Cover) (Web)

The M's- Light I Love (Web)

Tri-post: Drew Danburry, Kaada, Amber Suite

2006-06-12T06:40:00.000-04:00

A lot of great new music has found its way into my mailbox lately. In fact, so much that I had become quite backed up and had about 10 CD's in line to be listened to. I took care of that this weekend, and now I have a ton of stuff to post about! Since I want to get it all out there asap, I will be doing Tri-Posts almost everyday this week.
Drew Danburry

It Starts with Indigo, Orange, And Green [MP3]
Drew Danburry.com

Drew Danburry makes delightful indie pop with an occasional electronic touch. This song is my favorite off of his latest disc, "Besides...". It is a pleasant listen, and catches your ear right off the bat. This song has potential to be one of those songs you have on repeat for several days in a row.

Kaada

Mainstreaming [MP3]
Kaada.no

You don't just sit down and write the kind of music Kaada specializes in. It is a true work of art, expertly composed and arranged. It is very dramatic and near cinematic, and a pleasure to listen to. This song is my favorite from their new album, Moviebikers.

Amber Suite

Why (Don't Know) [MP3]
Amber Suie.co.uk

I like good bands. It is no secret. Amber Suite is a perfect example of such a band. Their music is melodic and their singer's piercing voice leaves a real impression. It is indie pop/rock at its best. I am suprised that they haven't gotten more blog-hype. These english indie rockers are also friends of blogger Tim Young's.

Morning Music

2006-06-12T06:33:00.000-04:00

Got a music blog? Write for a newspaper, magazine, etc and want to write about music blogs? Want to check out a bunch of music blogs in a short period of time? If so, check out the Music Bloggers United, spearheaded by Craig from Songs: Illinois.

Finley Quaye & William Orbit- Dice (Web)

Dandy Warhols- We Used to Be Friends (Web)

Criteria- Me on Her Front Porch (Web)

Starlight Mints- Sidewalk (Web)

Midnight

2006-06-12T01:34:00.000-04:00

Bloc Party- Two More Years (Web)

Death Cab- 405 (Web)

Bob Dylan- Just Like a Woman (Web)

Beck- Earthquake Weather (Web)

Perhaps vampires is a bit strong, but...

2006-06-11T09:33:00.000-04:00

I realize that you have all proably heard all you want to hear about Arctic Monkeys, and I realize that I have always been a bit skeptical of their music and popularity, but I think I figured out why. You see, I bought both the Arctic Monkey's CD and Destroyer's on the same day, and being the type that listens and listens to a disc for a while before moving on to another, Destroyer's got all the attention, and Arctic Monkeys slipped through the cracks.

But the other day, I was listening to my iPod on shuffle (a good way to find stuff you have overlooked or forgotten) and "Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong, But..." came on, and I was very impressed.

It is perfectly raw, catchy, and well produced. Plus, having Vampires in the title makes it a little
more interesting. It is probably my favorite Monkeys song now, and set me on a path to find more. After hearing this song and liking it a lot, I listened to the whole album over the course of the day, and repeated this every day from then until yesterday. Even though it is a pretty simple rock album, it took a while to grow on me. Now that it has, however, I am very glad it did.

Arctic Monkeys- Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong, But...

Morning Music

2006-06-11T09:29:00.000-04:00

The Shins- Those To Come (Web)

Franz Ferdinand- You're the Reason I'm Leaving (Web)

Belle and Sebastian- The Stars of Track and Field (Web)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Dudley (Web)

Midnight Music

2006-06-11T01:30:00.000-04:00

Bright Eyes- Light Pollution (Web)

Jem- Just a Ride (Web)

The Killers- All These Things I've Done (Web)

The Futureheads- Meantime (Web)

Evening Music

2006-06-10T20:38:00.000-04:00

Belle & Sebastian- Funny Little Frog (Web)

Bloc Party- Banquet (Phones Disco Edit) (Web)

Folk Metal and Reggae Punk

2006-06-10T12:47:00.000-04:00

Division of Laura Lee
I want to use this opportunity to apologies to the Division of Laura Lee. The first time I saw them live, they were opening for Turbonegro. I didn’t pay any attention at all to them, as I was so heavily into those glam punks from Norway. But as I grew older I learned to appreciate Division of Laura Lee. They are one of Sweden’s finest and hardest working bands. If you listen to them and get hit by heavy guitar bricks, you’ll know what I mean.

Dirty Love - Division of Laura Lee

Hellsongs
And now to some good old metal from Hellsongs. Hellsongs sound a lot like Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Twisted Sister and Sator and they do not try to hide this fact at all. There is a simple explanation for this. Hellsongs is a coverband. Yet not your typical, greasy hear, greasy skin, spandex cliché coverband. The three-piece doesn’t even have an electric guitar or a drummer. An acoustic guitar, a Hammond organ and the sweet voice of singer Harrriet Ohlsson is all the band needs to take on those old rock classics.

Breaking the Law - Hellsongs

NME Hype (Band) of the Week

This week’s hype is not a band, but a singer songwriter named Jamie T. According to the artist his music is a mix of Rap, Reggae and Punk. Sounds promising, doesn’t it? Lyric-wise he is often compared to The Streets, his music however is points rather in the direction of a funkier version of Artic Monkeys, Libertines and such.
Decide for yourself: Hype band/singer songwriter, or a man with a future?

Salvador – Jamie T

Mart from Scandinavian Sounds

Tags:Hellsongs, Division of Laura Lee,
Jamie T

Morning Music

2006-06-10T12:20:00.000-04:00

Frou Frou- Let Go (Website)

Coldplay- Kingdom Come (Website)

Cocoon- She's A Ghost (Website)

The Perishers- Trouble Sleeping (Website)

Midnight Music

2006-06-10T02:23:00.001-04:00

Spoon- My Mathematical Mind (Website)

The Fiery Furnaces- Crystal Clear (Website)

Architecture in Helsinki- Do the Whirlwind (Website)

Death Cab for Cutie- Marching Bands of Manhattan (Website)

Midnight Music

2006-06-10T02:23:00.000-04:00

Spoon- My Mathematical Mind (Website)

The Fiery Furnaces- Crystal Clear (Website)

Architecture in Helsinki- Do the Whirlwind (Website)

Death Cab for Cutie- Marching Bands of Manhattan (Website)

2006-06-09T08:23:00.000-04:00

Summer. As a student, it is a magical time. You get to stay up late at night, sleep in late in the day, and do whatever you like. You aren’t bound by class times, assignments, or tests. This, of course, means you have more time to do what you love: listen to music. So, before you set your iPods to shuffle and rock the day away, I wanted to get you set up with some of my favorite summer-themed songs.

Death Cab for Cutie- Summer Skin
This first song paints a picture of your typical childhood summer: playing outside with your friends, and getting a sunburn. All of this over what I would say is the best melody on Plans. It is a great song.

The Decemberists- July, July!
This is my favorite song. I would love to do a remix and take down the organ levels and bring the guitar part into the spotlight, but it ain’t too shabby as-is.

Two Gallants- Long Summer Day
The first two songs are about a childhood summer of fun, but this track looks at a summer day in a totally different light. It takes you back to the days of public racism, and does it well. Who better: two white guys.

David Dondero- Summertime Suicide Pt. 1
Dondero has never been known for his happy songs, and this is not one. He is much more Elliott Smith than Flaming Lips. But, he has his niche, and he is the master of it.

Pavement- Summer Babe (Winter Version)
Pavement is one of the great indie rock bands of all time and this is one of the great indie rock songs of all time. It was the first song by Pavement I heard, and set me on a path to many favorites.

Alexi Murdoch- Orange Sky
Have you ever seen that scene in the Royal Tennenbaums where all of the kids are living back home and the narrator says “And how pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in the same home.”? Well, this song is that sentiment put to music.

Belle & Sebastian- Song for Sunshine
I have said several times before on this blog that I think The Life Pursuit is the best album of 2006. This is one of the main reasons I say that. It is one of my favorite songs by Belle and Sebastian, or any band for that matter.

I've got what you want.

2006-06-08T07:03:00.000-04:00

I can't get enough of the Chemical Brothers lately. Their electronic masterpieces are inspiring and unlike any others I have heard. How do you even begin to make such intricate music? I think it is this complexity and their unique sound that makes their music so appealing.

The Chemical Brothers- Music Response

This is the song that really got me into them. It is the number one best electronica song I have ever heard, and features some really unique sounds. It has a great beat, and is insanely danceable.

The Chemical Brothers- Galvanize

This is a newer track from their latest CD, Push the Button. I am pretty sure it has been on a car commercial or two. It is also a very good song.

Morning Music

2006-06-08T06:45:00.000-04:00

The Starlight Mints- The Bee (Website)

Two Gallants- Steady Rollin' (Website)

Phoenix- Everything is Everything (Lie) (Website)

Midnight Music

2006-06-08T01:58:00.000-04:00

Cursive- Ten Percent to the Ten Percent (Website)

Tally Hall- Good Day (Website)

Franz Ferdinand- Walk Away (Website)

Thievery Corporation- Lebanese Blonde (Website)

Let's impeach the president.

2006-06-07T07:35:00.000-04:00

I was born a Neil Young fan. Being my father's son ensured that. I have always been into his earlier works, and Keep on Rocking in the Free World has long been a favorite song of his and mantra of mine. He has such a huge catalogue that it is hard to chose an absolute favorite, but I have been surprised at the greatness of some of his latest works. Unlike a lot of musicians, he has experienced no slip in quality over the years, with records like Prarie Wind and Living With War among his best ever. These songs are from Prarie Wind and Living With War, respectively.

Neil Young- When God Made Me
When God Made Me is a great, uplifting song, complete with a backing choir. It is a very minimalist, piano-accompanied track that contains some of the best lyrics I have heard recently. Young makes far more sense than any politician or pundit I am familiar with. Some have said that the song is a good case against the existence or God, but I would say that they are more about changing your view of your God, whatever he/she/it is (this coming from a not-religious person). Why would God create these things that he supposedly hates, if he did indeed hate them? It is an interesting look at some of life's most basic questions.

Neil Young- Let's Impeach the President
The first song was a heartfelt masterpiece, but this one is a politically-charged rallying cry. This song does also feature a choir of sorts, but this one is a lot more pissed off and into chanting than the previous one. Lyrically, it is pretty straightforward: Let's Impeach the President. Young lists his reasons: lying to take the nation to war with Iraq, poor response to Katrina, corrupt government, hiring criminals, dividing the country into colors, etc, etc. The whole song is played over Taps, and the second half showcases some of Dubya's inconsistencies; in his own words. In the last part of the song, Young goes from listing dozens of offences to "At least the President is clean. Thank God!" That really puts things into perspective; with everything he's done, being a cokehead is probably the least inappropriate.

Though Neil Young originally hit it big in the seventies, with his two latest releases, he proves that he is as relevant and brilliant as ever.

NeilYoung.com

Morning Music

2006-06-07T06:30:00.000-04:00

The band Sure Juror has started a blog and is giving their album away, one song at a time. You should head over there and check it out: Here.

The Futureheads- Le Garage (Website)

Rooney- Blue Side (Website)

Modest Mouse- the World At Large (Website)

The Killers- Everything Will Be Alright (Website)

Midnight Music

2006-06-07T01:08:00.000-04:00

Bloc Party- Helicopter (Whitey Version) (Website)

Pixies- Where is My Mind? (Website)
Amazing.

Nick Drake- One of these Things First (Website)

Bettie Serveert- Lover I Don't Have to Love (Bright Eyes Cover) (Website)

Two WUV

2006-06-06T07:17:00.000-04:00

Some people obsess over celebrities by stalking them, calling them, and collecting celeb-related memorabilia. Tally Hall, on the other hand, writes songs about them. This color-coded tie wearing five-piece expresses their love for the Olsen Twins in their song "Two WUV". And it isn't as superficial as it sounds. In fact, it is charming, witty, and delightfully simple. Tally Hall knows how to write a perfect pop song, and they stick to it. Why struggle with complexity when you could bask in simplicity?

Tally Hall- Two HUV

tallyhall.com

Morning Music

2006-06-06T07:12:00.000-04:00

The Elected- Not Going Home (Website)

Frank Ferguson- You're the Reason I'm Leaving (Website)

The Decemberists- On The Bus Mall (Website)

Two Gallants- Steady Rollin' (Website)

Midnight Music

2006-06-06T02:09:00.000-04:00

Weezer- Perfect Situation (Website)

LCD Soundsystem- Daft Punk is Playing At My House (Website)

Pavement- Summer Babe [Winter Version] (Website)

Camera Obscura Interview

2006-06-05T06:33:00.000-04:00

The blogosphere has been buzzing for the past few weeks with the release of Camera Obscura's new CD "Let's Get Out of this Country", which comes out today. I got a chance to talk to Gavin, the band's bassist.
How did Camera Obscura start?

We started back in early 1996, Tracyanne, John and I met up and started rehearsing in my shop when it was quiet and in my parent’s cellar. We started working on songs and we were joined by David Skirving on guitar. We made our first record without a drummer, using homemade percussion and it came out in March 1998. By the second single, Richard Colburn from Belle and Sebastian had joined us on drums. He played with us for a couple of years and then we decided we should really find a drummer of our own and we got Lee in. By the time we started making the first album in 2000, David had left and Kenny had joined on Guitar, Lindsay Boyd from our then label andmoresound was playing keyboards, and Nigel came in to play trumpet for us then joined after the first album was out. Shortly after that Carey replaced Lindsay. Our final change came in 2004 when John left and that’s how we got to the current line up

What made you want to make music in the first place?

We're all big music fans, and we found likeminded people who were into the same music us we were individually and we just got on musically and as people, so we've just kept plying together.

There are a lot of fantastic bands (including you guys) who call Glasgow, Scotland, home, including Franz Ferdinand, Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai, and more. Did you know any of these bands when you were starting out?

With Richard from the Belles playing with us we knew some of them. We used to rehearse in Stuart’s church hall which was great fun. We even played a benefit show there once to raise money for a new fence. We didn’t really know anyone else, although Alex from Frank Ferguson used to work in the 13th Note venue booking bands and doing the sound, so we used to always see him in there, although we didn’t know him.

What are some of your favorite bands and influences?

Everyone in the band likes lot of the same bands, people like The Pastels, Yo La Tengo, Lee and Nancy, Stereolab, and lots of old 60's bands, but we all like lots of different bands and music as well, which is good, cause different members can bring in something fresh sometimes that you wouldn't normally think of.

You have a new album coming out on June 5th. How was making it different than making your previous records?

It was a very different experience. It was the first time that we used an outside producer, previously we'd made all our records ourselves along with Geoff Allen engineering. This time we worked with Jari Haapalainen the Swedish producer who really pushed us musically in a way that we couldn't have done ourselves. We recorded in Sweden as well, in one session rather than doing it over series of weekends in Glasgow, so that was really liberating, we were absolutely immersed in making the record for the time we were there.

How would you say the finished product is different?

It’s a very bold record, we really pushed our sound on it, and i think its a far more confident sounding record than we've ever made before. You can tell its a camera obscura record, but it just sounds so much more full on.
What kind of things inspire the music you write?

Tracyanne wrote all the songs on the new album. She comes in with the songs, and then as a band, we build the songs into camera obscura songs by working on our parts and the way the songs are arranged.

How did you guys go from being a nationally known band in the UK to being internationally known in North America?

To be honest, i think our profile has always been higher outside of the UK than it is here. We can’t get arrested In Britain, although some of the band have tried.
What is your favorite thing about touring? Your least favorite?

Being able to play shows is fantastic. We really enjoy getting out and playing music and meeting people. The downside is you have to spend far more time than is advisable crammed into a minibus.

Do you prefer touring in Europe or in North America?

Both have their plus points. Our first North American tour was the longest time we'd spent on the road in one go, so it was quite an experience. It was also the first time some of us had been, so we had a few tourist moments.
If you could either only tour or only record music, which would you prefer? Why?

Probably recording music. I really love the process of making a record. as you get into it and you can hear everything taking shape. It’s a great experience.

What do you see in the future for Camera Obscura?

To try and make another record as good as this one, and hopefully even better than it.

Camera Obscura- Tears for Affairs

Morning Music

2006-06-05T06:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday.

Raconteurs-Broken Boy Soldiers

Starlight Mints- The Killer

The Shins- Fighting In A Sack

Midnight Music

2006-06-05T01:35:00.000-04:00

Kaiser Chiefs- Everyday I Love You Less and Less

Postal Service- We Will Become Silhouettes

Modest Mouse- Black Cadilacs

Rooney- Blue Side

Welcome to Space School

2006-06-04T09:38:00.000-04:00

Depending on your mood, adding the word "Space" to a phrase can give it an indistinguishable quality that makes it utterly hilarious. A great example of this is Wayne Coyne's infamous "Space Ball" at Coachella. If it had simply been referred to as a huge bubble, it probably wouldn't be as cool. The Boston band Clawjob certainly agrees with me on this, if the name of their CD "Space Crackers" is any indication. In addition, the rock opera is made out of 14 tracks, 6 of which reference outer space in the titles, and nearly all of which mention it in the lyrics. (This is the kind of thing I notice when I am examining the CD case).

So naturally, with this much Space, Space Crackers must be an amazing album, right? Actually, yes. While I doubt there is a direct correlation between space and quality, Clawjob is heavy on both. Space Crackers is a very ambitious album, with over twenty credited vocalists, and yet the pull it off. If you just read about the record, it sounds very out-there and abstract, but when you press play, what you hear is suprisingly listenable. And if you look at the lyrics, they are also suprisingly readable. They read like a play or opera and are very well written. This record came out of nowhere and made quite an impression on me.

Clawjob- Welcome to Space School
Clawjob- I Got My Space Pass

(I just read that for the first time, and while all of that space stuff makes me sound stoned, I assure you it was just a late night.)

Morning Music

2006-06-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Warrior (Website)

Kaiser Chiefs- I Predict A Riot (Website)

Nirvana- In Bloom (Website)

The Futureheads- Alms (Website)

Midnight Music

2006-06-04T02:33:00.000-04:00

The Killers- Smile Like You Mean It (Website)

Belle & Sebastian- The Stars of Track and Field (Website)

Jet- Move On (Website)

Interpol- Specialist (Website)

I've Got You, and You've Got Me

2006-06-03T16:02:00.000-04:00

As everyone knows by now, Canada has a real good thing going as far as music is concerned. You really can't argue with a scene with a claim to such bands as Broken Social Scene, Stars, and the New Pornographers. One of the pillars of this community is the Arts & Crafts label. Apparently, their knack for signing great bands isn't restricted to Canadian bands. This is made evident with the Australian band New Buffalo. They have a new self-titled EP comprised of unreleased material from their last full-length, The Last Beautiful Day. This six-song release on Arts & Crafts is as good as anything I have heard from the label, and that is saying a whole lot. It is a little Feist-ish with a splash of Stars, a formula that makes for a wonderful band.

This song is an alternate version of the song I've Got You And You've Got Me, which appeared on their above mentioned album The Last Beautiful Day.

New Buffalo- I've Got You And You've Got Me (Version Two)

NewBuffalo.net

Mega Morning Music

2006-06-03T11:25:00.000-04:00

Since I made you wait, here is a mega edition of Morning Music:

Holy Fuck- Korg Rhythm Afro (Website)

Pretty Girls Make Graves- Pyrite Pedastal (Website)

The White Stripes- I'm Finding It Harder to be a Gentlemen Every Day (Website)

Arctic Monkeys- Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong (Website)

Iron & Wine- Such Great Heights (Postal Service Cover) (Website)

The Shins- Caring is Creepy (Website)

Beck- E-Pro (Website)

Bright Eyes- Arc of Time (Website)

Morning Music (Pt. 1)

2006-06-03T11:03:00.000-04:00

I'm away from my laptop right now, so I will be back with a proper morning music and a regular post shortly. To tide you over:

Against Me!- Don't Lose Touch

Belle and Sebastian- Another Sunny Day