New Neil Young Video - 'Walk With Me'

Young and Lanois' first collaboration is a muddy, gritty, stripped-down affair that blazes with impassioned intensity. Check out the very cool footage from the studio during the actual recording. If you want to hear the whole record head over to NPR's First Listen. Thanks Spinner for the heads-up...

New Deerhunter

Okay, I've been slacking. But pretty much the only thing you need to know right now is that Deerhunter's new record 'Halcyon Digest' is eating my brain and it is fantastic. Go to NPR's First Listen to stream the whole thing right now. Do it! This record will definitely be in my top 10 of the year.

Grinderman 2

Oh yes Lord!  So excited about this record!  Head over to Spinner's Listening Party to check it out...

Junip & Black Prairie In Studio

If you're looking for a refreshing podcast/radio station to help you discover new music I highly recommend KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic.  I fell in love with this show back when Nic Harcourt was hosting and they continue to showcase and support really talented musicians.  In fact, today Jose Gonzalez's band Junip will be doing an in-studio performance.  The new record is amazing.  Don't miss it.  Then tomorrow Portland's Black Prairie will be in.

Kurt Vile Live @ ATP Festival 2010 (via NPR)

Man... I'm not sure how I've never listened to him before but I have found a new favorite thanks to NPR who is streaming Kurt Vile's ATP set right here. "Freak Train" is blowing my mind!

The Black Angels on Letterman

Oh man... Soooo good. Shaffer thought so too.

What Do The Pixies, Clipse, & Toto Have In Common?

This ridiculous mash-up by Floor Plan...

Surfer Blood On Daytrotter

Head over to Daytrotter to download the 4-song session including: Floating Vibes, Harmonix, Anchorage, and Twin Peaks.  Perfect close-out-the-summer jams...

A Short Thesis

A moment to discuss just what it is I'm doing here.  Music is subjective.  On every level.  What may register as noisy garbage to one may touch the deepest part of another's subconscious.  What one may deem "cheesy, corporately manufactured tripe" may be the music that kept a socially outcast teenager from jumping off into the proverbial deep end.

I will never rate music here.  I don't even know how to begin to think of music in terms of a scientifically arrived at numerical score.  Not that there is anything wrong with music critics who do such.  Admittedly, often times I will not even read a review if it's been given a bad score.  Shame on me.

All I know is the music that reaches me.  Sometimes it is dissonant.  Crawling under my skin and irritating me until it actually scratches that itch that I did not even know existed.  Sometimes it transports me instantaneously to a realm where everything is absolutely perfect and I would be willing to convert immediately to whatever sonic religion birthed it deep in the psyche of the artist.

There is no universal reason for you, the reader/listener to give my ramblings and personal tastes here any credence; except for those of you who know me personally and (im?)possibly trust my judgment (I hesistate to use the word).  After all, music subtracted from relationship is a sad place.  Potentially beautiful yes, but lonely nonetheless.  (Sidenote: This is why people say things like, "You have to listen to this part, it's amazing!"  Even though you, the listener have no choice in the matter and are only (usually) annoyed at their evangelical zeal over the chorus/verse/etc. in question.  We enjoy best that which we share with others.  See: laughter, sex, food, film, vacations, etc.)

What am I saying here? What am I saying? 

Essentially that the music I enjoy and that touches me on a deep, visceral, and even spiritual level is that which I cover here.  Think of me as the person who says, "Oh my God, you have to listen to this!  It will blow you away."  Except that I won't be sitting there with you in you living room or office or car offering the inevitable, "This is the best part!"  The music offered up here is nothing if not that which I find to be compelling on the deepest level of myself that is easily/daily accessed.  And I cannot help but share it.

If you find something of what I find in it.  If it reaches some inner part of you that transforms you into a child or a zealot or a time traveler or a sage.  If the joy we share reveals a deeper truth we share as humans.  Then it has been worth it. 

As some of my favorite musicians Over the Rhine have said, "Quiet music should be played loud...still waters run deep."

Baths Video: Lovely Bloodflow

Great song. Amazing video. [via pitchfork.tv]

New Sufjan Stevens EP Streaming and Available for Download

The new EP is "built around two different versions of Sufjan’s long-form epic ballad All Delighted People, a dramatic homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui, and Paul Simon’s Sounds of Silence."  Uh, yes, that sounds amazing...

Free Download from Chapel Club

Oh man, this is soooo good.  Get it here.

Bieber Rós

Question: What would Justin Bieber sound like slowed down by 800%?

Answer: A lot like Sigur Rós.  And pretty cool actually.

Hear for yourself...
J. BIEBZ - U SMILE 800% SLOWER by Shamantis

Toby Martin of Youth Group Goes Solo, Covers The Jesus & Mary Chain's "Sometimes Always"

I love Youth Group but they are on hiatus for all of 2010 according to their website.  Good news is Toby Martin is doing some solo stuff!  Not sure if this material will be released and really bummed I don't live in Australia and am thus unable to check out his free September residency.  All is not lost however!  You can head over to his Myspace and check out the two new songs streaming there entitled, "Albion Park Safety Ramp" and "Paris Song."

You can also enjoy this amazing cover of The JAMC song, "Sometimes Always," performed by Martin and Sarah Kelly of The Red Sun Band.

Ryan Bingham Bootleg Videos Preview New Album - Junky Star

The T Bone Burnett-produced Junky Star (out August 31 via Lost Highway) is the latest LP from Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses. To whet fans’ appetites, the Oscar-winning singer/songwriter (Crazy Heart) is previewing all 12 of the LP’s songs through the “Bingham Bootleg Video Series.” Each video will feature an unreleased, acoustic version of a Junky Star track, starting with “Depression.” Says Bingham, “All these songs are about the past couple years, traveling around the country, the people I’ve met, and the state the country is in. ‘Depression’ is actually a love story that takes place during the time of the Great Depression, yet the irony is in the idea that we can still somehow find ourselves identifying with it today.” - from Magnet

Ghostly Essentials: Rarities One

I have become a total slut for this record label.  All you have to do is sign up for their email address here and they'll send you some tasty rarities and a discount code for 10% off your next order at The Ghostly Store. Speaking of "rarities," remember this?  It was a good one...

Colour Revolt Streaming New Album In Full

It's epic and dirty.  Just the way we like it.  Stream 'The Cradle' via Spinner.

Adult Swim Offers Free Albums

Ever wonder where all that rad "bumper" music on Adult Swim comes from?  Guess what?  They offer tons of it.  For free!  Right HERE.  Some of my favorite selections are "Adult Swim Singles Program" and "Ghostly Swim", the former offering tracks from the likes of Washed Out and LCD Soundsystem and the latter being 19 tracks all from one of my favorite record labels - home to School of Seven Bells, Tycho, and tons of other great artists - Ghostly International.

What are you waiting for??  Go discover some free music!

Pale Sketcher - "Can I Go Now (Gone Version)"

"As the first single released in advance of Jesu: Pale Sketches DeMixed, Justin K. Broadrick’s Ghostly debut as Pale Sketcher, “Can I Go Now (Gone Version)” is more than a fine introduction. The track contains everything Pale Sketcher does best: trash-compactor beats, gently swelling synth pads, and an air of beautiful, post-apocalyptic decay. Broadrick’s vocals float above it all, vocoded and reverbed, lending a touch of humanity to the song’s mechanized melancholy.

Danish duo Syntaks’ remix of “Can I Go Now” employs a double-time rhythm and a cloud of shoegazey guitars to bring the track to ethereal new heights; while Donnacha Costello’s take tosses Broadrick’s vocal into a pool of sky-blue synthesizers, recalling Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works while adding a romantic tilt to the song’s downcast melody." - from Ghostly International

Release date is August 10...check it out HERE.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs - On NPR's First Listen

If you haven't already illegally downloaded it, NPR's First Listen is offering up a chance to preview the entire record by streaming it right here.  Enjoy!

Miami Horror - "Moon Theory"

Moon Theory from Miami Horror on Vimeo.

Think The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly on drugs. Vision quest to the future! Miami Horror album out August 2010.

Teen Daze

Okay, I am in love with this band.  Check out their remix of Fol Chen's "The Holograms" over at Stereogum or just go here and listen.  This is the kind of stuff that covers all the bases; gorgeous, pristine, wonderful...  Favorite track: Four More Years.  You can buy their record of the same name on iTunes.  Highly recommend it...

Field Rotation On Fluid Radio

Field Rotation Sampler by hibernate

New Neon Indian Video - 6669 (i don't know if you know)

"6669 (i don't know if you know)"

NEON INDIAN | MySpace Music Videos
Check out the awesomely weird new stop-motion video created by João Machado for Neon Indian.

Pale Sketcher presents Jesu: Pale Sketches Demixed

"If Justin K. Broadrick’s Jesu project is the sound of the UK artist exorcising his demons, pummeling them into submission with tsunamis of guitar noise, Pale Sketcher is the sound that echoes through his head in the aftermath—a haunting, lonely sound-world of distressed beats and hazy melancholia. Broadrick’s electronic-music projects have historically taken a bit of a back seat to his more well-known metal excursions (his founding roles in Godflesh and Napalm Death, his long-running shoegaze-metal project Jesu), but with Jesu: Pale Sketches Demixed Broadrick brings Pale Sketcher into the spotlight, adding a new layer to the prolific artist’s already-dense body of work." - from Ghostly International

If you want to give it a listen head over to Ghostly and check it out.  This is a great record label with tons of other artists worth listening to like Tycho and School of Seven Bells.

New Sun Kil Moon Streaming

Head to the ol' Myspace to stream the new record, Admiral Fell Promises...

Evenings Offers Free North Dorm EP

Homemade, chilled-out instrumental grooves ala Palmyra, Virginia...

"Babe" from Evenings on Vimeo.

Check out Transparent for an Evenings' remix of RxRy's Thunder / Language...

Grinderman 2

Cannot wait for this! Check out Spinner for more details...

Mimicking Birds

Slow-burning indie folk in the vein of Mark Kozelek, Idaho, Jose Gonzalez, or The Middle East.  Nevermind the Modest Mouse connection, this is just really damn good...  Head to their website to stream the entire record or sign up for the email list and download a free song.  Happy hump day!

22-20's Daytrotter Session

These guys are just plain ol' bad-ass.  Go download some free tracks @ Daytrotter.

Teen Daze - Shine On, You Crazy White Cap

Teen Daze - Shine On, You Crazy White Cap from zeeeeej on Vimeo.

Thanks GorrillaVsBear, for introducing me to Teen Daze. Love it...

Regenzeit I & II by Field Rotation

Told you I would...
Regenzeit by Field Rotation

Regenzeit II by Field Rotation

Abendrot by Field Rotation

New favorite. This stuff is gorgeous!

Abendrot | Field Rotation from Field Rotation on Vimeo.

Head to Field Rotation's Soundcloud page for tons more greatness.

Oh, and I'll probably be posting about this guy ALOT...

Blackbird Blackbird Cover 'Float On' by Modest Mouse

Splendid!

Sparkle from maya+nadia on Vimeo.

Props to big thunder mountain for the heads up.

New Blue Giant Record

I just won a copy of it from Crappy Indie Music! And it is uh-mazing!

You can stream the whole thing HERE.

Enjoy your weekend!

August Releases - Eels, Colour Revolt, Warpaint

If you're wondering what Eels have been up to lately, they have a new record due out on August 24 called Tomorrow Morning. You can download the first single for free above or catch them on tour this coming fall.

Mississippi's Colour Revolt will be releasing their second full-length, entitled The Cradle on August 10. Meanwhile head over to their myspace and check out the new song 8 Years. You can also pre-order the record here via Dualtone.

And finally, Warpaint's debut record will also be released this August on Rough Trade. Head over to NME for the rundown and a video interview. They officially blew me away opening for Akron/Family at The Granada Theater this past February.

New Stars, Black Mountain, Sun Kil Moon Tracks

I haven't posted in a while so here are a few recent things I found noteworthy...

New Stars song via Pitchfork: 
Stars - 'Wasted Daylight'

New Black Mountain song via Stereogum:
Black Mountain - 'Old Fangs'

New Sun Kil Moon songs via  Caldo Verde Records

Enjoy!

Colour Revolt Offers Download of New Song

One of my favorite bands ever has a new record on the way this August. Head over to Paste to download a free song from the forthcoming release The Cradle. Pre-order it here.

This Will Destroy You - New Song

It's called Communal Blood and it could be the soundtrack to the most epic/apocalyptic battle scene ever. Think Old Testament prophets and plagues, dinosaurs, Lovecraft-esque monstrosities from outer dark, wizards, Hindu deities, vikings, aliens, Aztec warriors...you get the idea. Head over to their myspace for a listen.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart Video

Higher Than The Stars - I like this song alot.  But tell me if you don't hear the keyboard line from The Cure's Just Like Heaven...

Ariel Pink 4AD Video Sessions

Ahead of their debut release for 4AD (worldwide from June 8), Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti appear in session with a number of tracks from the forthcoming Before Today.

Check it out HERE.

The Tallest Man On Earth Videos

[Courtesy of Pitchfork.tv]

Even more video over at Paste!

New Track from The Acorn!

The Acorn's Glory Hope Mountain may have been the best thing to hit my ears in 2007.  Ready yourself for the June release of No Ghost with this little gem of a song provided by their record label Bella Union...
The Acorn - No Ghost by Bella Union

*UPDATE: Stereogum Premieres Restoration.

Doug Burr

Promotional video for "O Ye Devastator", the new album from Doug Burr from Jon Todd Collins on Vimeo.

Y'all ain't ready for this!

Painted Hills

New favorite!  Check out the new project led by Josh Schwartz (Beachwood Sparks).  It's psychedelic, cosmic Americana at it's best.  You can stream the new record over at Parasol.

RIYL: Gram Parsons, Neil Young, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield

22-20s Re-formed AND Touring

So apparently I had no clue 22-20s were back together AND touring.  How did I not know about this?!  Download their FREE EP HERE.  Tour dates posted ala tbd Records (Radiohead, White Rabbits, Port O'Brien).  Jeeze.  Made my Tuesday...


22-20s - Bitter Pills from tbd records on Vimeo.

Sun Kil Moon Announce New Album

YES!!!!!!!  Head over to Pitchfork for the low-down...

TOR and Sufjan Stevens Remixes

This is SO GOOD!  Download it here.

Gram Parsons vs. The Eagles

I now feel vindicated.  Maybe it was all those guitar lessons in junior high...  My teacher Chuck, a Vietnam vet prone to flash-backs, made me learn one too many Eagles songs.  And to get around copyright issues he made his own tabs and renamed the song titles things like "Western Auto" instead of "Desperado."  At any rate, I despise The Eagles.  I also just found out one of my all time favorites, Gram Parsons did too.  In the biography Twenty Thousand Roads which my friend just let me borrow (which is awesome), Parsons refers to The Eagles as a "plastic dry fuck."  Gram you potty mouth!  But so right on.  Don't be surprised if you see an essay here one day soon about how terrible The Eagles are/were.  It's science...

Dubh

Just downloaded the super chilled out Insurrection EP from Jonny McEwen AKA dubh.  This is what I want to wake up and fall asleep hearing. You can grab it here for a donation.  Highly suggest it...

RIYL: Boards of Canada, Hammock, Fur

The Tallest Man On Earth

Ok, new favorite.  Head over to Pitchfork for a review of the Dead Oceans release, The Wild Hunt.

RIYL: Dylan, Deer Tick, A.A. Bondy

PS - Don't miss The Tallest Man play Hailey's in Denton on May 1st!

Merle Haggard

Head over to NPR's First Listen to check out the Okie From Muskogee's new album I Am What I Am...

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Are Back...

YES.  One time I fell asleep listening to Lift Yr Skinny Fists and woke up scared I was dying.  It doesn't get and more epic/dirty than Godspeed.  Head over to Pitchfork for the run-down...

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Return

Deer Tick – “20 Miles”

On June 8, Deer Tick release their third album, entitled The Black Dirt Sessions.  Get a preview courtesy of Stereogum:

Deer Tick – “20 Miles”

Surfer Blood Remix

Surfer Blood - Twin Peaks (Golden Ages Remix) - For more head over to Stereogum.

Blue Giant

...reason #342 I wish I lived in Portland.  This is the best band I've heard in a long time.  Go here and listen to the song Blue Sunshine.  Psychedelic country that conjures up Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers. You can order their Target Heart EP at BuyOlympia.com on vinyl or CD and get a free instant download of it.

The Golden Age Full Length

If you liked the Calla Lily EP from The Golden Age head back over to Mr. Furious Records and download the entire full length record for FREE via zip.  I can't believe Rob is just giving this away.  It's so good it feels like stealing...  

1. Dirty Fighter
2. Endgame
3. Folks Who Know
4. Jealous Love
5. Lucky You
6. Home Is A Hotel
7. The Plants You Forgot To Water
8. Behind Your Knees
9. Claremont
10. I Did Not Die Well Back Then
11. Where Are You Now?

Black Prairie Daytrotter Session

Head over toDaytrotter and download a wonderful session with Black Prairie.

What a Death Metal World

This rules. I couldn't help myself.

The Golden Age

Head over to Mr. Furious Records and check out The Golden Age, my friend Rob Hawkins' project.  The new self-titled record will be out this Saturday.  In the meantime you can download the Calla Lily EP for free.  It's glorious.

Upcoming Releases

4/6
Black Prairie: Feast of the Hunters' Moon [Sugar Hill]
Jónsi: Go [XL]

4/13
Freelance Whales: Weathervanes [Frenchkiss/Mom + Pop]
MGMT: Congratulations [Columbia]

4/17 - Record Store Day
The Album Leaf: There Is a Wind [Sub Pop]
Beach House: Zebra 12" [Sub Pop]
Bon Iver/Peter Gabriel: Split 7" [Jagjaguwar]
The Flaming Lips/Stardeath and White Dwarfs: The Dark Side of the Moon [limited edition vinyl release]

4/20
Merle Haggard: I Am What I Am [Vanguard]
Willie Nelson: Country Music [Rounder]
Roky Erickson With Okkervil River: True Love Cast Out All Evil [Anti-] [U.S. release]

4/26
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: "Round and Round" b/w "Mistaken Wedding" [4AD]

4/27
Acid Mothers Temple: From 0 to Infinity [Important]
Avi Buffalo: Avi Buffalo [Sub Pop]
Mono: Holy Ground: NYC Live With the Wordless Music Orchestra [Wordless/Temporary Residence]

5/4
The Flaming Lips/Stardeath and White Dwarfs: The Dark Side of the Moon [Warner Bros.] [CD release]
The Hold Steady: Heaven Is Whenever [Vagrant] [U.S. release]

5/11
The National: High Violet [4AD] [U.S. release]
Phosphorescent: Here's to Taking It Easy [Dead Oceans]

5/18
Band of Horses: Infinite Arms [Brown Records/Fat Possum/Columbia]
Woven Bones: In and Out and Back Again [Hozac]

5/25
The Cure: Disintegration [Three-disc reissue] [Polydor/Universal] [U.S. release]
Damien Jurado: Saint Bartlett [Secretly Canadian]

Head over to Pitchfork for a full run-down through summer...

Snowden

Go to Noise Trade and download Snowden's new EP, Slow Soft Syrup for free or a small donation... your choice. It's real damn good.

Black Prairie

Head over to NPR's First Listen and stream Feast of the Hunters' Moon, Black Prairie's haunting and heartbreaking debut.

Phenomenal.

Dr. Dog

Want to hear Dr. Dog’s new record, Shame Shame? Head over to NPR and stream it before the official release date on April 6th.

Austin Psych Fest 3

April 23-25, The Mohawk will host The Black Angels, The Raveonettes, Spindrift, Warpaint and a ton of other psychedelic, droney, stoney rock and roll.

3-day passes are $45, but today at noon they will be announcing the full lineup and offering day tickets at the official website.

Sleepy Sun

One of the best bands I saw @ SXSW last week.



New Record 'Fever' out June 1st...

Frightened Rabbit

I'm sure everyone ever is already in love with this band but if you haven't heard them yet DO IT!

Jonsi and Nico Muhly Video for 'Kolnidur'

Check out the new video for Jonsi Birgisson's 'Kolnidur', featuring composer Nico Muhly (Grizzly Bear, Antony and the Johnsons)...



Release date for the album Go is April 6th. I suggest you go buy it here.

BONUS: Jonsi covers 'Time To Pretend' by MGMT here.

New Broken Social Scene...

...duh

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Can't believe I just now heard about this band. Mindblowing.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "Desert Song" from benjamin kutsko on Vimeo.

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros "KISSES OVER BABYLON" from Edward Sharpe on Vimeo.

Free download here: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, 'Home' (RAC Mix) -- Free MP3 Download - Spinner