Empty Skeleton

Les Affaires Inachevés

2011-10-24T07:15:00.010-04:00

Kavinsky // Nightcall
M83 // Raconte-moi une histoire
Beirut // The Rip Tide
Kurt Vile // Baby's Arms
White Lies // Unfinished Business

Emmy The Great in Liverpool

2011-10-19T07:15:00.095-04:00

After the weird rap night, I wake up on my laptop with two new albums in iTunes, a ticket to a show and a train ticket to get to that show. The albums are from Emmy The Great and the ticket for the show is the same in Liverpool. Time to go, this train leaves in two hours and the departing station is across town. What have I done, who the hell poisoned me and why is there a fork in my hand?

Next things next, the great city of Liverpool, known for that one band, funny accents, and being cold and wet. It's an unusual place where speaking understandable English is optional, but I'm not noticing so much as I'm in a rush to get to the Liverpool Guild of Students where the gig has already started. In some hall half the size of a basketball court is a quiet group of young Brits watching the last song from the opening act, Stealing Sheep, who are gypsying around with their harmoniously hippie voices on an uncommonly large stage. There's an empty bar to the left (there's booze everywhere over here) and I'm relieved I didn't miss the main course. It's a three hour train, I missed the first one by ~~stupidness~~ mistake and I'm anxious.

Emma-Lee Moss is more of an emanating force from a far away magical planet than an actual real-life person. That sounds like a huge over-exaggeration for such a small-framed, half-Chinese, half-English twenty-something with a wispy voice and an affinity for 90s rock music, but as it pertains to a commanding presence on stage, turning mortals into drones with wide-open paralyzed mouths, then it's just something you'll have to experience for yourself to understand.

From the moment she floats on stage, alone with her big gold necklace and freshly-paid-for Iron Maiden t-shirt, the crowd is entranced. I stare at the muscles in her thighs (I think she's a runner) just under her black skorts ('cause I'm a perv, you know that) as she pulls up her customized acoustic guitar and begins to sing like an angel. She has an Irish folk singer feel to her, but it's less country and more something else.

In fact, her first album, First Love, plays almost entirely like a folk album aside from a few progressive electrons. That's when people started to notice her east of the states, but something tells me with the newly edged-up record, Virtue, all will change for the bigger and better. It's a more well-rounded and put-together taste of dark and magical flavors occasionally dipping into melodic drones and distant pulses that take my weird mind into Fantasyland. Not a far cry, really, with her lyrics singing of fairy tales and dinosaur sex. It's deeper than it sounds.

The rest of the band comes out in this mostly sold out gig and they jam with Grace in front of what is still a quiet crowd. For some reason, even in this small place and high stage, they've filled the floor with chairs. You can either sit in one or stand by the bar in the back. I sit to be close, but I hate the idea of all that energy being strapped to a seat. The crowds in England are reserved anyway and when I look around, I'm the only soul bobbing my head. They're not bored, they've just been zombified by her spell and into it. Their wooing cheers in the relenting breaks say so. I guess I'm supposed to stare into her eyes more and not so much at her legs to get the full effect.

She occasionally jingles what looks like a dream catcher with bells and crucifixes attached to it to ward off the demons. Song after another, this is hypnotic and blissful. Em to The G are an incredible live performance and while they can be mellow, there's plenty of opportunity for foot tapping. All is taking me to a distant place and I'm thinking about the empty seat next to me where someone I know should be. Then suddenly my buzz is jolted loose by a cover of Weezer's "Island In The Sun" (RIP Mikey Welsh) and I might as well be in a Sonic drive-thru. I don't figure out this decision until later when Google tells me Emma is a huge fan. Her choice, but it doesn't seem to suit her voice or sound and I'm left with curious eyes. She could've at least chosen "Crab," instead.

Luckily, she and the band don't end there and continue on with more velvet vocal volume and my space world starts to sneak back again. In between songs, Emma tests the crowd with some throw-away one-liners you have to be listening to to catch. She's a funny girl, gifted in voice, smart with her writing, and ain't too shabby in the looks department, neitha'. I'm thinking this is one of the best shows I've seen in a while and, later on, I confirm that with my sober memories. Will I see her/them live again? Yes. Liverpool? No.

Catch ETG's upcoming Christmas thing with Tim Wheeler from Ash (whom she's rumored to be dating. Pffffsssshhhhtt). It's called Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler present This Is Christmas and the first track sounds like, well, Ash.

Photo stolen from Facebook. LaZers added by ES out of necessity.

Emmy The Great // North
Emmy The Great // Sylvia
Weezer // Crab

DELS at XOYO

2011-10-12T07:00:00.007-04:00

Hip-hop show at the XOYO in the cool part of town? Sure. Islington is kind of like a cleaner Williamsburg with a more concentrated dose of beards and Nike high-tops than the rest of London. It's the North to Eastern part of the city and where you want to hang out if you're not trying to chat with dudes in ties. The only problem here for a hip-hop show is that your black contingent goes way down. Like all the way down.

The place has a cool artist's gallery upstairs and a music venue down the steps where large concrete pillars hold up an old ceiling and a decent stage slowly attracts the shy hipsters. As bad fortune would have it this time, I arrive early enough for the opening acts. The first band has an awesome chick drummer and a keyboard player front woman who does her best to pipe out high melodies with little success. Oh well, first band and it happens, we'll move to the next, bigger and better, right? No and I really can't put into words how much weight the word "no" has right now. One guy, black shirt buttoned to the top, gold necklace, swooped hair and a voice that only a (deaf) mother could love. He's pumping out decent loops from his keyboard, but his voice and songwriting resemble what Chis Martin's might had he been dropped from the top floor of the hospital at birth. So...

DELS. Dude, don't let me down after this seemingly never-ending and collective eye roll. Yeah, everyone's doing it. He quietly enters with a hot chick on the keyboards and another hot chick on the bass/keyboards. Drummer's good, music's cool, we're doing well. Kieren Dickins, as he was first called, is a normal and good looking guy from Ipswich who's carrying a wee bit of animation, but is relatively reserved for a rapper with a load of boring white kids on his hands. I always laugh at rappers with English accents (especially ones with tambourines). I don't why it's funny. What makes him unique is his electronic Atari music, his babes, and his bizarre and kind of nerdy lyrics. When he gets into the part about cloud eating, I start the eye roll again, but then realize that's just what this guy does. He watches Star Wars, eats Fruity Pebbles and rhymes about morphing into cars and grass. If you watch his videos, you'll realize he's just kind of a dork. And that's cool with me. On his first full-length album, Gobs, he has a few standout tracks worth a listen. If you're going to a live show, skip the openers.

He still pees on the sheets.

DELS // Trumpalump (feat. Joe Goddard)

Pete & The Pirates + Glass

2011-10-10T07:00:00.016-04:00

The thing about the UK is that you can watch a show in an underground cavern that's older than America and somehow the acoustics are still amazing. Such was the case at the Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh, Scotland where Pete & the Pirates rocked our goofy accents off. If you were to take The Cars and squeeze Franz Ferdinand in the trunk, you'd soon bear five of the cleanest looking geeks ever to lay rock into roll.

The place was half the size of a modest 5 car garage in Malibu, the crowd was tucked in tight but comfortably and the older barely discernible Scottish woman next to me was saying how much better the show would be in Glasgow. "They get really rowdy out there, you'd love it. Yelling at the band, throwing bottles on stage and the bit, it's a real riot." Yeah, that sounds really amaz...WHAT? Then P & The P came on with their tightly cut hair, their freshly pressed plaid button-ups and a properness that only an Ivy League dean could love and jammed out awesomely for a solid 90, giving the north their best. They liked to jump up and down a lot.

Having only their '08 album, Little Death, I abruptly downloaded their May '11 release, One Thousand Pictures, and was impressed at how far this band from Reading has grown and how little they've aged. It's possible they never will. If you're looking for a consistent and constant jam with tight spiraling guitars and a thick English accent, get the whole album. It's worth it.

Backing up to earlier in the evening, there was a fragile-looking frontman leading a band called Glass who was piping out melodies the way David Gray might. His name was Matthew Greener, formerly from a much less electronic Morning Runner and he and his band were putting it to the limit in front of nearly 15 people. In between songs, he'd quietly mumble something incomprehensible, check a hundred things, then start a new song. I bumped into him in the bathroom later and told him how much I liked what he was doing and he talked to me for what seemed like an hour about computers and timing and electricity and shit that apparently has something to do with music. I said "cool" and backed away until I was pretty sure I was out of his sight. Glass is so new, there's not an album, or much in the way to download on the websies so, for now, take this Morning Runner tune and check out Glass' My_____ page here.

Pete & The Pirates // Half Moon Street
Morning Runner // When Your Watch Stops

The Duke Spirit - Stop What You're Doing Right Now

2011-10-06T07:00:00.004-04:00

I saw these guys at Scala in London a few weeks back knowing only of the few songs I'd heard here and there. Little did I know they'd just set a record free here appropriately titled Bruiser. I'm not usually big on bands that lump in EP songs and singles from a year ago into their full-lengths, but at 11 solidly bruising tracks with simpatico totality, I can't complain. What I previously thought and what I expected to see of the Duke was a fashionably edgy British pop band squeezing out a few local fan favorites, but what I got was a blistering arsenal of thick rock 'n roll with guitars dropped to D in the way that makes them sound dark and totally badass. I was immediately reminded of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, but that didn't explain why my nipples were hard.

Then I quickly realized it was because of the hot-as-f--- front-woman Liela Moss with her favorite gold blazer and short leather shorts and the sex dripping from every pore of her body, climaxing out of her deeply sultry voice. Which, by the way, is one of the best live voices I've heard in a while and made her tightly practiced ensemble sound all that much better. Together, this was an action-packed, energy-laden music orgy and I recommend a live watch if you get the chance.

On Later with Jools Holland. She wore this same thing to the live show which I'm guessing was the same day. Or I hope it was, dirty.

I don't think these guys are doing anything all that original with obvious influences from late 90s post-grunge outfits and their minor-chorded droning counterparts like Failure and Mellowdrone, but sometimes when you're looking for rock 'n roll, you don't need original, you just want rock 'n roll. If you like the idea of BRMC with a high-note mistress, Bruiser is easily a sturdy A-. I don't know when the album hits the states, but if you're anywhere else in the world, go buy it.

The Duke Spirit // Procession
The Duke Spirit // De Lux

Trance It Out with I Break Horses & Austra & The Rapture

2011-09-19T12:00:00.001-04:00

I love this weird & moodiful psychedeliatoned Kevin Shieldsy, feel-goodington & rocket-ship-to-Mars type of shit. If the hour is right. And the hour is right. I'm referring first to the aptly named I Break Horses who openly admit their music is heavily ~~stolen~~ inspired by bands like My Bloody Valentine. This isn't trance music, but it'll put you in one.

I Break Horses // Hearts

Next, I'll take my psychotic beats with bare boobs and lingerie lesbians. Austra, led by Latvian-Canadian singer, Katie Stelmanis, and her droney voice, will have your feet moving one way and your brain another as I believe the goal of the band is to steal it. And maybe it eat. That's what I gather is happening right at this moment.

Don't forget the new single:
Austra // Spellwork

Finally, when I don't have to think anymore, just throw me some Nikes and toss me out into the middle of the farm dance floor to wait for The Rapture. While frontman Luke Jenner's voice can seem a tad whiney, it somehow manages to narrowly escape damaging the music. In fact, it works together rather nicely. Their new album, In The Grace Of Your Love, was apparently heavily influenced by gospel music. Growing up in southern churches, I'm struggling to find it here, but either way, I like what they're doing. Check out Luke's excellent gospel mix on these words right here.

The Rapture // Sail Away

Cults - Abducted

2011-09-14T12:38:00.001-04:00

Cults // Abducted

James Vincent McMorrow Part II - The Late Edition

2011-09-12T21:11:00.004-04:00

I don't know where to start. I haven't done this in a while and my last post was an effing advert for burritos. 'Twas misguided and I removed it and I'm starting over. I also don't know where to start with this guy who poetically snuck his way onto the blog last November and has been receiving plenty of praise since. So I'm way late to the game and I don't care. Because while I typically don't get man crushes, this thickly bearded Irishman kind of nudges these nips northbound if you're highin' what I'm fivin.'

I'd hate to compare him to Bon Iver, but I know you already have, so I'm going to mention it. Doesn't help that he wrote this debut album, Early In The Morning, in "an isolated house by the sea" and shares the Wisconsian's affinity for stripped down melodies, layered vocal harmonies and a heavy dose of falsetto. And of course it also conjures colorful transitions and life changes as all albums like this seem to do.

But he has something especially different that stands out here. That change behind the lyrically dense and sometimes haunting melancholy is immediately felt. The entire album is, from the first touch, full of enrichingly vibrant and life-changing stories that constantly whisper into your ear that you're not as whole as you want to be.

McMorrow, as I hear him, is the lost dog. The one who left his pack to go find the lady fox he saw drifting on the other side of the river. He made an entire journey out of sneaking away from his past and entering a land he knows nothing about. A land where rabbits and squirrels have wings made of dead boats and buildings and trees carry giant framed portraits of rifle-clenching deer. He's the first wolf with opposable thumbs and a paint brush crafted from melted ocean plastic. That fox, to him, is worth every stroke he'll brush.

At least that's what I'm getting, but I'm also on heavy tranqs right now. Maybe you'll hear something different. This is the best complete album I've heard in a long time.

And yes, I used "advert" on purpose.

James Vincent McMorrow // Ghosts
James Vincent McMorrow // This Old Dark Machine

Summer Dust

2011-08-24T13:46:00.001-04:00

Under the autumn leaves
I found to my surprise
The rings we worn summers since
The flowers were still alive

They say that our own bodies
Are made of bones and dust
And how we lie beneath the maple tree
And pray that the leaves don't cover us
Ohhhhh

Our hearts were beating
Like humming birds that night
A restless wind blew them open
As the birds were taking flight

Young hearts are bright
And just as light
And blowing in the air tonight

She said I want to believe
That we can laugh
But I know that it's tough when your lost in the leaves
And I'm in no rush
But if we try to unite then we might just turn back into dust
It's only natural for us

Walking through this old town
I'm reminded
Of all the trees that we tore down
To let the sun shine in

We buried our beating hearts
Under the rocks and dirt
And now mine is filled with the fallen leaves
And if you're not here it's going to burst
Ohhhhh

Our hearts were beating
Like humming birds that night
A restless wind blew them open
As the birds were taking flight

Young hearts are bright
And just as light
And blowing in the air tonight

The Love Language // Summer Dust

Light Vibes

2011-06-21T16:50:00.004-04:00

kunde vara solsken.

Light Vibes // Wish We Had

Under the Covers Monday: The Cure & Bat For Lashes

2011-06-20T10:45:00.010-04:00

Pounding steamy pavement this morning to the beat of "Daniel" made my tummy rumbly for the next release from Bat For Lashes {she's in the studio, until then you can gnaw on the Two Suns special edition}. And there's an excellent covers listing here, with Natasha Khan taking everything to a more mystically inky level. It was enough to make me sparkle-up my eyelids and jam on my feathered headdress for the rest of the day.

Bat For Lashes // A Forest
The Cure // A Forest

The Naked and Famous

2011-06-17T11:10:00.011-04:00

This has a similar initial affect I can {unashamedly} say Lisztomania had nearly a year ago. Call it the season, call it the humidity, call it a fervent belief that I'll always be 19.

I'm not even positive I LIKED 19 all that much at the time, but it seems pretty romantic from this side of 27.

New Zealand's The Naked and Famous have heavy hints of some of our American sweaty dance favorites - Passion Pit, M83, Yeasayer, Temper Trap. The kiwi's electro-pop single from late 2010's "Passive Me, Agressive You" gets a breathless remix from lacy muse White Sea.

The Week's Once Over

Sultry dirge from Circle Pit
Recent release from City and Colour
Illmatic reincarnation from Elzhi {Dustin Artz}
Under the Covers Tuesday. Just this once. Courtesy of Radiohead.

I'm slipping into this weekend on swift hourglass sands towards big change, and a massive adventure. More on that soon. Kiss on that ol' fox of a father; I'll be out with mine doing unpaid child labor in his "garden." The fact that he used to pay me a dime for each 5 gallon bucket of sticks I picked up on his canadian-natl.-park-maintained property simply endears him to me. Now.

xx,
chirgo

The Naked and Famous // Young Blood (White Sea remix)

Circle Pit

2011-06-16T10:19:00.004-04:00

Jack Mannix and Angela Bermuda are unconventional, unapologetic and Australian. In that order. After the tales of Sydney street life, drugs and casual sex on gritty Bruise Constellations, Circle Pit languidly slides into a new 7", Slave / Honey on Sub Pop. Synthy gospel on one side, druggy shoegaze on the other, you can stream both sides here.

Circle Pit // Honey

City and Colour

2011-06-15T09:33:00.010-04:00

Have I posted about Dallas Green before?

I should have. 2009's Bring Me Your Love was one of those albums I played in my car, at my desk, in my flat, for my friends, for my cats, tried to learn the chords, put some of the lyrics on the "about me" section on the Facebook. Even if it's emotive, heavy on the sentimentalness did bring down my street cred.
Don't judge, you've done it too wombat.

As the alias City (Dallas) and Colour (Green), the frontman of post-hardcore Alexisonfire plays melodic, largely acoustic folk music that airs this side of vulnerable. His third album Little Hell, released earlier this month, was both recorded and mixed on tape at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario. Canadian analog, I dig.

While a solid handful of tracks seem ripe for the One Tree Hill picking, the dusky brothel video shot for the first single, inspired by his wife's frequent night terrors, might say otherwise.

City and Colour // Fragile Bird
City and Colour // Hope For Now

Under the Covers...Tuesday. Go easy on me. : Radiohead & Portishead

2011-06-14T11:23:00.004-04:00

All right, ok, I know, I slacked, I'm sorry. I was a blasted waste of brainspace after a massive Sunday on-set for Mckay's lastest short-film. I'll update with a trailer in a week or so. If you like 50's rockabilly, a faceless keyboardist and femme on (zomb')femme makeouts, then you're going to absolutely despise "Johnny."

A favorite band playing a favorite song by another favorite band is an easy win while my bandwidth is still this compromised. I'll manage something far, far more introspective and monotheistically challenging later this week after a good nap and a butterscotch candy.

Sneak-peek from set of enigmatic performers in makeup by LeftwichFx - accomplished in cozy proximity to Empire's frydaddies.

Radiohead // The Rip
Portishead // The Rip

Elzhi

2011-06-14T10:08:00.004-04:00

Hot town, summer in the city, nothin like a hot summa mixtape!

It takes cojones to go and recreate arguably the best hip-hop album of all time, but that's what Detroit lyricist Elzhi has done with Elmatic, a mixtape of Nas's classic "Illmatic" from top to bottom. New vid here (shit is fire).

Elzhi sticks to the formula; the track names are the same, all beats are roughly the same yet nicely embellished with some rich instrumentation (the end of "One Love" has 3+ minutes of beautiful instrumental). The lyrics though are mostly new, spinning everything Detroit instead of Queensbridge. All in all it makes you excited to relive the album once more. Though personally I don't think I will ever tire of the OG.

I think I used that wrong....
better check urban dictionary.

i never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death

-da

Elzhi // One Love

Kreayshawn

2011-06-10T09:59:00.006-04:00

I don't know if I want to be her best friend, plead to run with her crew or punch in her the neck.

cinematographer
editor
rap beast
screw head
pot smoker
Oakland representer
Pixel Fantasy
bitch snatcher
White Girl Mob
"i got the swag, it's pumping out my ovaries"

What gives some white girl out of Oakland, a bubbly tattooed pixie, any amount of street cred for that kind of list?

Does it really effing matter? Really?

Because when gems like this pop up, IT DOESN'T.

I can only smiled bemusedly when a full scholarship to Berkeley Film School recipient has interview quotes such as:
Q: What are some Ratchet activities you enjoy?
A: Some Ratchet? Yeah, well, shout out to Team Ratchet! Me and Team Ratchet? We do everything ratchet. You know, like, shit, all-star weekend? In LA? We like, just ran around with guns and we like tried to rob Young Berg, and like, hella shit! {giggles sweetly}

love. LOVE. punch!

The Week's Once Over

Young and gingery with Zoo Kid {Becki Hohen}
Stoked to see the Bowerbirds again in Charlottesville
Emotionally in-touch with Eddie Vedder {Dustin Artz}
Under the Covers: starting the week off sweaty with "Lay Lady Lay"

Kreayshawn // Gucci Gucci

Zoo Kid

2011-06-09T09:34:00.005-04:00

Archy Marshal, better known by stage name Zoo Kid, definitely lives up to his name with his amazing ginger quiff.

It's a little difficult to comprehend that Archy, at a measley 16 years, and has already been compared to the likes of Morrissey and James Blake, but his sense of teendream angst comes through with brokenheart lyrics in his debut single "Out Getting Ribs." His vocals bring a sense of old character, livened up with a unique new sense of dub rock. The featured track takes it title from a piece created by American Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, {le swoon} the kid is talented and cultured. He makes you wish that instead of rebelling in your adolescence you were taking your sorrows and producing something this soulful.

-B

Zoo Kid // Out Getting Ribs

Bowerbirds

2011-06-08T09:31:00.008-04:00

I was first winsomely lead away by the Bowerbirds when they opened for Bon Iver at Black Cat in 2009. 2008? Though they played for a largely talkative and annoying crowd,

{taking a moment to just put it out there: i get weird juju from nearly every DC crowd I'm obliged to stand with. truly, what is with the apathetic posturing? shaves my buzz every time.}

{there. i feel better.}

the Raleigh, NC-natives Phil Moore {vocals, guitar}, Beth Tacular {vocals, accordion(!)} and Mark Paulson {vocals, violin} are, quite frankly, endearing. Critics toss around the "freak folk" genre, but I'd disagree. Feels more tempered; intimate story-telling over flowing instrumentation. An attentive beak to their glossy feathers. So tonight the four of us will have a bit of a reunion in Charlottesville when they open for Arcade Fire - followed by Régine and I ribbon dancing to Sprawl II.

Bowerbirds // Beneath Your Tree

Eddie Vedder

2011-06-07T09:30:00.013-04:00

Ach.
He beat me to EV AND got me choked up before 10a.
Trust me, if you have any semblance of a soul and were born before '91, it's going to happen to you, too.

"I seem to recogniiiiize your faaaaaace.

Hauunting, familiar yet, I can't seeeeem tooooo plaaaace itttt…" ahem

Sorry, nostalgia makes me sing-type.

Eddie Vedder has arrived with a stripped down collection of songs over ukelele. Which is pretty amazing in both concept and actuality. His voice is so emotive it's nice to peel all the extranea away and just hear some simple music, and/or limit the amount of frat boys belting out power-driven discordant harmonies in their Jeep Wranglers (self-diss).

While the album certainly has its brooding and introspective moments, there's just something about the bright and tinny ukulele that won't let Vedder's voice dip into the swamps of sadness.

Try not to be moved by that reference! You can't!

Oh god.

Artax.

-da

Eddie Vedder // Goodbye

Under the Covers Monday: Bob Dylan & Magnet f. Gemma Hayes

2011-06-06T13:34:00.007-04:00

Oh hay lil sweet sweets.

I have returned, relatively bronzed and properly drawly.
Or more so drawly than I was, which will thrill my best girlfriends who like to get me tipsy and encourage the use of "y'all" at any provided opportunity.

Hearing this over the loudspeaker at the Charleston airport, wedding-hungover and beach-depressed, was a petite saving grace of leaving Sullivan's Island. Doesn't hurt that it's one of the straightsultriest songs on the flockin' planet.

Magnet f. Gemma Hayes // Lay Lady Lay
Bob Dylan // Lay Lady Lay

Plants and Animals

2011-05-27T14:02:00.009-04:00

In honor of the upcoming national holiday, it's Ooooooo! CAAAA-na-daaaaa for this one.

They know I'm a patriot, ok? It's cool.

Plants and Animals play to one and many things, all stitched together with their record to tape sound, swirling up 1972 nostalgia and an appreciation for rum and cokes. Warren C. Spicer, Matthew "the Woodman" Woodley and Nicolas Basque recorded 2010's La La Land in both their hometown of Montreal, The Treatment Room and Paris, Studio La Frette.

Apparently we've been watching the same Jane Fonda tapes.

Making the second track my vacation anthem in the lowcountry. 'Cause I feel like it. And hey, about that, I'll be casting shrimp nets and swimming in salty South Carolinian seas all next week, so I think ES is taking some vacay-time.

Dunno though, I'll miss you guys too much to REALLY stay away.

The Week's Once Over

Looking awfully cute together, Mirah & Thao
Rolling tumbleweeds in Other Lives
Reviving the Wrens {Dustin Artz}
Under the Covers: coming down from my Bon Iver high

remember your baby oil-n-iodine this weekend. makes you look real sexylike in those wayfarers.

xx, chirgo

Plants and Animals // Kon Tiki
Plants and Animals // Jeans Jeans Jeans

Mirah & Thao

2011-05-26T12:43:00.004-04:00

Mirah {Yom Tov Zeitlyn} and Thao {Nyguen, of Thao with the Get Down Stay Downs} are push and pull. Oil and water. Cement and silk. Paula Abdul and that Cartoon Cat. Fried chicken and celery sticks. I like.

Mirah & Thao // Squareneck
Mirah & Thao // Little Cup

Other Lives

2011-05-25T10:36:00.010-04:00

Gut check.

I had a hard time deciding on a single to post for this band. I'd have to listen to the album in it's entirety every time and mull over "oh this one. eh, i don't know, maybe that one?" Not a bad thing. Tamer Animals, May 10 release by Other Lives on the White Iris record label {whattup Daron!}, was crafted to be an immersion experience. Fold your legs underneath you, relax into the grass, be swept away by prairie winds.

Originally collected under Kunek by founders frontman Jesse Tabish, cellist Jenny Hsu and drummer Colby Owens - Other Lives grew in the great West of Stillwater, OK. After the studio fare of their self-titled debut, the band returned to Stillwater and took things slowly {14mos., to be exact} before producer, and Beck longtime drummer, Joey Waronker tied it off with rough-hewn twine and bolts of dusty velvet. The end-result of 11 tracks are densely layered with horns, gypsy rags, ringing ivory keys and coyote guitars. There are oboes on this album. I f*cking love oboes. Seriously.

So. I went with the song that transported me the farthest and most completely.

Other Lives are playing Red Palace / DC 6.10.11. Tempting, awfully tempting.

Other Lives // Dust Bowl III

The Wrens

2011-05-24T09:33:00.005-04:00

In order to be the best blogger ever for you, reader, and to maybe one day earn one of these babies, I scour the internet for new music releases I'm interested in. The bad news this week is that there aren't any. The good news is that I found something even better.

There are rumors of a new Wrens album coming in 2011.

Da
Da
Daaaaaaaaaaa.

The Wrens last released an album 8 years ago, and the one before that was 7 years previous. Their website says it all: "Keeping folks waiting…since 1989."

They say anticipation is usually better than the real thing, and this may be the case here. Like Neutral Milk Hotel, the Wrens are firmly cemented as legendary indie stars and adding to their discography may only damage their legacy. But whatever. I'm stoked.

The song below isn't my favorite of theirs, because I shan't be reviewing "She Send Kisses" in a blog, but it's a close second. The way it flips a switch from delicate and sad to just plain mad is priceless. I'd rather let those three notes talk then expound profoundly about unrequited love (hopes of merit badge dashed).

-da

The Wrens // Happy

Under the Covers Monday: The Outfield & Bon Iver

2011-05-23T10:28:00.010-04:00

How can I NOT post this for Under the Covers?

We're done with Justin after this one. Swear. I'm starting to feel similar to how I do after my annual ration of one dozen Cadbury Eggs every spring. OD'd and crashed the fruc{tose} out.

Download Bon Iver's 10 best covers courtesy of Stereogum here. And one of the songs that defined your coming of age there.
As in a little lower.

loooower...

bingo.

Bon Iver // Your Love
The Outfield // Your Love

**5.24.11 update**

blast!
i can't stop!
get it together already, chirgotis.

Bonnie Rait // I Can't Make You Love Me

Bon Iver

2011-05-19T10:47:00.008-04:00

image compiled from zealous

someway, baby, it’s part of me, apart from me.
you’re laying waste to Halloween
you fucked it friend, it’s on it’s head, it struck the street
you’re in Milwaukee, off your feet

…and at once I knew I was not magnificent
strayed above the highway aisle
{jagged vacance, thick with ice}
I could see for miles, miles, miles

3rd and Lake it burnt away, the hallway
was where we learned to celebrate
automatic bought the years you’d talk for me
that night you played me ʻLip Paradeʼ
not the needle, nor the thread, the lost decree
saying nothing, that’s enough for me

and at once I knew I was not magnificent
hulled far from the highway aisle
{jagged, vacance, thick with ice}
I could see for miles, miles, miles

Christmas night, it clutched the light, the hallow bright
above my brother, I and tangled spines
we smoked the screen to make it what it was to be
now to know it in my memory:

and at once I knew I was not magnificent
high above the highway aisle
{jagged vacance, thick with ice}
I could see for miles, and miles and miles.

Bon Iver releases on Jagjaguwar on June 21. I'd like to request to be left alone and on the brink of tears at my desk with my headphones on until further notice.

Bon Iver // Holocene

wash. and watch.

2011-05-18T14:24:00.006-04:00

Bon Iver // Wash.

Tyler, the Creator

2011-05-18T09:24:00.010-04:00

Assumed posting the Rick Ross cover track this week made me look hard. 7minutes and 18seconds of Tyler, the Creator and I'm milquetoast.
All you, d.a.

Ahhhhh, a hip-hop album to review. Don't want to get all into the hype here, but this was an obvious must-listen of 2011. "Yonkers" and "Sandwitches" live on Fallon had us all heralding the Second Coming of Wu-Tang. The last legitimate hip-hop album in my collection is Madvillainy from 2004, so yeah, this was big.

Controversial lyrics aside (because too much has already been said, and by 2011 who really cares except those Fox News pettifoggers?), musically the album is largely forgettable. I love that Tyler is out there being him, "dropping xanies and dancing around in print panties to some Maaarvin." Moments like on "Her" when his twin guards of hyper-vigilant self-awareness and brash over-compensating bravado have been lowered, we get a glimpse of something intimately relatable. "… Her name is my password…(fuck) …" The album will have seminal importance because Tyler as a person feels real while the players of his industry do not.

But 'The Creator' needs to learn to edit, and that 'not giving a fuck' works in terms of lyrical content but not in terms of beat production. His argument, of course, would be that he's catering to HIS audience, not the mainstream, but leaving out hooks and innovating sonically doesn't necessitate sacrificing quality or, worse, sounding cheap. See Latyrx's "The Album." Tyler's only 20, so as long as fame doesn't crack his (presumably) fragile psyche, we'll be good. Glad you're here buddy. SWAG SWAG WOLF HALEY GOLF WANG OFWGKTA.

Been wanting to do that.

-da

Tyler, the Creator // Radicals

**Beef!**

My Morning Jacket

2011-05-17T09:48:00.007-04:00

One of my most-clicked articles this year from SPIN.com listing some of Yim Yames' influencer tracks fueled the soul-fire and got my hands rubbing evilly. Eagerly. For the next release from Kentucky-reared My Morning Jacket. Circuital, dropping May 31 with Sauron-reminiscent album art, {...I may have just Middle Earth dorked myself outta here} continues to carry the soul torch back to rock n' roll. Start growing your hair out, because you're gonna want to wetdog shake your head to the majority of this album. There's moments of Pentecostal revival, Navajo war bellows, 50's doo-wop, shimmering waters of reverb and maybe even a little bit of a middle school social. Boys on one side, girls on the other.

FIRST pre-order THEN get the free release of title track "Circuital" here. NOW you can dig into the brassy wa-womp and gospel kindergarten growl of "black metal."

My Morning Jacket // Holdin On To Black Metal

Under the Covers Monday: Rick Ross & Lykke Li

2011-05-16T11:09:00.012-04:00

In honor and homage of last night's show at 9:30 Club, a little bit more of Lykke Li - straight hustlin' in 2009.

Lykke Li @ NTBR Part 4 - "Hustlin'" on Vimeo.

setlist:
Jerome
I'm Good, I'm Gone
Sadness Is a Blessing
Paris Blue
I Follow Rivers
Dance Dance Dance
Made You Move
I Know Places
Little Bit
Love Out of Lust
Silent Shout {the Knife cover} - bonus tidbit for missing you Friday

Rich Kid Blues
Until We Bleed
Get Some
encore:
Youth Know No Pain
Possibility
Unrequited Love

Rick Ross // Hustlin'

Penny & the Quarters

2011-05-12T10:18:00.000-04:00

{we just got personal, people}

Penny & the Quarters are a lost soul band from the '70's, recently revived by Ryan Gosling's attention and inclusion on the Blue Valentine soundtrack. The group, assumed to be teens at the time, were invited to audition and record three demos at Columbus, OH's Harmonic Sounds Studio. The songs were discovered after label co-owner Chem Price's death in 2006.

A few years and change of hands later, "You and Me" was released by Numero Group. With the growing popularity of throwback insta-vintage, they're doing the honorable thing and actively looking for the vanished members to pay them their due. I almost don't want them to be found. I almost want to pretend this song just immaculately came into being; created for the singular purpose of weaving your fingers through somebody else's.

Penny & the Quarters // You and Me

Raphael Saadiq

2011-05-11T09:54:00.005-04:00

I've been dancing with abandon in socked feet across my hardwood floored hallway, and it's all because of this guy.

Raphael Saadiq is no stranger to the scene, with forays of touring with Prince in his teens and collaborating with some of the biggest R&B/soul names in the business {Lucy Pearl, Tony! Toni! Toné!, etc}. He's a producer, singer, songwriter, guitar thrasher and instant vintage. Did you watch the Grammys? Did you see Mick Jagger's performance? Did you wonder who the fresh-faced, bespectacled chap in the cardigan hot-heeling it across the stage was? Well, three guesses and the first two don't count.

Stone Rollin', released yesterday, is all late 60's soulful Stevie Wonder orchestration and retro-distressed lyrics. Reach out and The Four Tops will be there. Sashay your modern high-waisted flares while bobbing your old school head. The album is solid from top to bottom, taking you from the assured swagger of "Good Man" to wig-out twisting of "Radio." Sweet and favored "Go To Hell," with it's ghostly Greek Chorus and soaring strings, was track two and all it took to book two tix to see Saadiq at LGBG later this month. If you need a little more convincing, stream the whole album here.

Raphael Saadiq // Go To Hell
Raphael Saadiq // Heart Attack

The Antlers

2011-05-10T09:21:00.008-04:00

When I first listened to the album Hospice I was all, "Beautiful music!"

After I read the lyrics I was all, "Ohhh…oh dear god."

A concept album about letting go of a cancer patient at a hospital, the Antlers' last effort was a heartrending masterpiece, as desperate and personal as it gets. How could they follow something like that?

Frontman Peter Silberman has stated that Burst Apart begins "in a pretty negative, anxious place, at arm's length — and as it progresses, it becomes warmer and more trusting," which I feel is a nice bridge from the capable-of-inducing-an-emotional-shitshow predecessor.

Without the gravitas of morbidity wafting over the songs, there is a bit more levity and life here. "Burst Apart" is lush and intricate, full of piano chords and horns, soaring guitars and sweeping melodies. Silberman's falsetto is still present, but it's not wispy and fragile, it is full of conviction. Though the song matter deals with, let's see…avoiding intimacy, emotional disconnection, being broken, having no one, bursting apart, teeth falling out, bad people out to get you, being trapped in a room on fire, and dying alone, respectively, compared to "Hospice" it's a sunny spring walk in the park, folks!

The cohesion and craft calls to mind Grizzly Bear's Vecketamist from '09, sure to grant the Brooklyn trio a spot on many top 10 lists this year. Maybe the mainstream will catch on and we'll all be blasting it from our shiny new Jettas. Red one.

-da

The Antlers // No Widows

Under the Covers Monday: Leonard Cohen & Keren Ann

2011-05-09T12:12:00.004-04:00

le french accents always make it a little sweeter.

Keren Ann // Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen // Hallelujah

Lucinda Black Bear

2011-05-06T08:21:00.008-04:00

Lucinda Black Bear were gracious enough to come perform at the agency a few weeks back - not all places of work allow for lunchtime live performances. I know I'm lucky.
I know that till I'm here till 3:37am on a Friday night working on a deck to take with me to a consultant in Santa Monica.
And I now know to "save" said deck every five minutes so I don't lose the entire night's work before exporting that motherfather. goddamn server gremlins. Lucky indeed.

{performing in the Gallery space at The Martin Agency}

H'anyway - the plaintive, string-happy LBB {cello is mainstay with a frequenting violin} is fronted by curly-mopped Christian Gibbs, who's force of nature hair happened to be offset by a moustache at this particular setting. I appreciated it.
Surrounding himself with what initially appeared hypertrained studio musicians, the silo'd impression dropped off after they warmed into their set and Gibbs lobbed a joke or two. Opening with the featured track, any pessimism in the crowd dropped away as their intricately crafted, preternatural folk songs this side of rock established that they were the legit biz.

Lucinda Black Bear // Hand Bible

The Week's Once Over

Smack yo' mouth Ema
Bitterly soulicious Irma Thomas {Dustin Artz}
Oddbird Andrew Graham & Swarming Branch
Under the Covers: Rave on Buddy Holly tribute album

good luck and godspeed nursing your tequila hangovers.
xx, chirgo

Ema

2011-05-05T09:02:00.000-04:00

Oh shit.

Ema // Milkman

Irma Thomas

2011-05-04T10:29:00.005-04:00

imma dance this one out, real quick-like.

___________________________________________________

I was the best man at a wedding a couple weeks back, floating amidst the mixed emotions that weddings sometimes bring, and then this song happened. Though I am pretty well versed in New Orleans Funk music, I had never heard of the Sweet Soul Queen Irma Thomas.

This song uses a favorite device of mine: singing about something tragic with fun poppy music that completely clashes (I used to LOVE the Unicorns for this. … What the hell happened to the Unicorns?).

Needless to say there was a lot of kick-stompin' and finger waggin' on the dance floor when this came on. Pick up "Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans" if you'd like to smile at your latest worries.

-da

Irma Thomas // Breakaway

Andrew Graham & Swarming Branch

2011-05-03T10:59:00.005-04:00

I woke up this morning and said to myself, "I want some eccentric, left of center, randomized goodshizza up in my eardurms." So I perused the card catalogue for something to fit the bill, of which Andrew Graham & Swarming Branch does in spades. Graham, at the ripe age of 24,

{I'll take a moment here to mention I've reached the age where I have some difficulty accepting the talent and success of those I tutt-tutt and think "...ah to be [insert # here] again." blarf.},

had already flexed his musical biceps with bands like RTFO Bandwagon, Pink Reason and, my personal favorite, Psychedelic Horseshit. Now he's doing his own thing with a rotating cast, aka Swarming Branch, on the Mexican Summer label. Bluegrass infused with some punk and plenty room to breathe, don't be hating on Kathy. At least she can dance.

Andrew Graham & Swarming Branch // Take It Easy On Kathy At Least She Can Dance

Under the Covers Monday: Rave On Buddy Holly

2011-05-02T09:49:00.009-04:00

We've already posted a Buddy Holly cover earlier this year, but it's worthy of a second spinning. Plus I'd like to talk about something else other than the Osama Bin Laden breaking news for a bit; {though trust I very much&always appreciate your diligent coverage during my morning commute, NPR.}

Upcoming tribute album to the iconic Buddy Holly, Rave On A Buddy Holly, is gathering steam for it's June 28th release on the Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group label. A fitting celebration in what would've been his 75th birthday.

Caught up in the spirit, I even got some new specs to look just like Buddy Holly. UH OH and like Mary...all right I'll stop.

In case you haven't already seen the billiontimesposted tracklist:

01. The Black Keys - “Dearest”
02. Fiona Apple and Jon Brion - “Everyday”
03. Paul McCartney - “It’s So Easy”
04. Florence and the Machine - “Not Fade Away”
05. Cee-Lo - “(You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care”
06. Karen Elson (Produced by Jack White) - “Crying, Waiting, Hoping”
07. Julian Casablancas - “Rave On”
08. Jenny O. - “I’m Gonna Love You Too”
09. Justin Townes Earle - “Maybe Baby”
10. She & Him - “Oh Boy”
11. Nick Lowe - “Changing All Those Changes”
12. Patti Smith - “Words of Love”
13. My Morning Jacket - “True Love Ways”
14. Modest Mouse - “That’ll Be the Day”
15. Kid Rock - “Well… All Right”
16. Detroit Cobras - “Heartbeat”
17. Lou Reed - “Peggy Sue”
18. John Doe - “Peggy Sue Got Married”
19. Graham Nash - “Raining in My Heart”

And a few years old cover from Buddy Holly devotee, M.Ward.

M.Ward // Rave On
Buddy Holly // Rave On

The Head and The Heart

2011-04-29T09:56:00.006-04:00

{image from Sub-Pop Records}

Though I didn't get up before the sun to see the Royal Wedding, I'm making up for the day's enjoyment with a patio-sit-work-sesh in 70some and sunny RVA. Feels good. Calls for feel good, Americana music {though I suppose if I was more topical, we'd be featuring some post-punk Brit outfit. But we had The Beatles on Monday, so cut me a little slack?}.

As Seattle keeps cranking out the kids with the good stuff, The Head and The Heart recently signed to Sub Pop Records to release their self -titled debut. An easy six-piece ensemble, piano and guitars dominate with flourishes of Charity Rose Thielen's violin and topped off with ebullient handclaps and footstomps. Think Avett Bros., a little Jason Isbell and the harder edge of Augustana. Lyrics from core songwriting partners Josiah Johnson and {VA-native} Jonathan Russel have you either coming or going – looking for life-lessons and experience in a new land, or missing the loved ones in cities left behind.

The Head and The Heart // Down In The Valley

The Week's Once-Over

Bluegrass Bonanza - Brown Bird, Devil Makes Three {Becki Hoehn}
Perfume Genius
Explosions in the Sky {Dustin Artz}
Under the Covers Monday - The Beatles v. She&Him

cheerio, pip-pip!
xx, chirgo

bluegrass bonanza

2011-04-28T09:45:00.004-04:00

Across the amber waves of grain and purple mountains majesty, Becki Hoehn guests posts for us from the wilds of Auburn, CA. When not tromping about in cargo shorts and SmartWool socks, she's catching shows and schooling roadies on the finer points of soil chemistry.

xx, chirgo
___________________________________

Brown Bird

Devil Makes Three

Bluegrass - their roots can be traced back to the Appalachians, so why did it take me moving away from the Appalachians to start appreciating bands with banjos and upright bassists?

I recently went to a show where two bands just blew my mind with their talent. The opener, Brown Bird, is a duo from Rhode Island who plays more instruments than The Arcade Fire has band members. Their dark bluesy country music had me drop-jawed, and luckily for you RVA peoples they are going to be in town May 22nd, location to be determined.

The Devil Makes Three had me upon sighting an inked chick on upright bass,{Lucia Turino}...but seriously I think these guys just want you in your dancing Toms, uh...boots?
What's the typical fashion for bluegrass, I'm too new at this?
Regardless, everyone in the venue was bouncing around to their "badass backporch blues," me especially.

-B

Brown Bird // Danger and Dread

Devil Makes Three // Aces and Twos

Perfume Genius

2011-04-27T10:26:00.007-04:00

On occasion I'll come by an album that completely destroys me.

Upon realization I have 67.99GB of music in my iTunes {what?! gross.}, I've been pushing up my sleeves and giving the ol' heave ho to scores of mp3s I never want to hear again for the rest of my life. I'm not talking tracks I'd be a little embarrassed to come up on shuffle during a shared road trip. You just have to embrace "Mortal Kombat" popping up before working your air ninja blades. I mean my enjoyment of four Girl Talk albums is simply long past the expiration date.

Besides the point and get back on topic, would you? Sheezus.

In my "benefit of the doubt" modicum, I can't throw out anything I haven't given at least one listen. So when I came to Perfume Genius, I judged a book by it's cover and assumed "synthy, Animal Collective-wannabe, Garage Band application." wrong, Wrong, WRONG.

After years of self-destruction and persecution by the crawling, hushed demons that haunt the sorrowful few, Mike Hadreas took shelter in his mother's house in Washington state. The taking up of a hermetic life stirred long-suppressed creativity, and Hadreas started penning lyrics to lay open dark stories of addiction, suicide and abuse. Set against lo-fi, simple piano at times so quiet you can hear the whoosh of recording pick-up, Hadreas' vocals range from harsh whispers to tremulous demands. Rather than cheap and shallow, the results are lush, warm melodies cradling his words to your ears and making you pay attention. Forcing you to look.
look out, look out / there are murders about

Released on Matador Records in 2010, “the songs on the album are the ones I think are the most real. And they are about everybody, you know? Even though some of them are directly from my experience - I always had everybody in mind.” - mike hadreas

Perfume Genius // Learning
Perfume Genius // No Problem

Explosions In The Sky

2011-04-26T10:53:00.013-04:00

Happy to report that Dustin's back for another round, and stoked on the recent release from Explosions. Check back later this week for another ES special guest.

xx, chirgo
____________________________________

Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

Hate to admit it, but this is one of those bands it's pained me to see blow up. I've been devout since their album, "Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die," before Friday Night Lights brought them a bunch of cringeworthy boppy teens thinking they are having some divine revelation after sneaking weed into the audience and just letting go, man. THIS BAND IS LIKE….AHH MAN I CAN'T EVEN PUT IT INTO WORDS. sigh. (And I'm the guy who can't appreciate when good bands get their due. sigh again.)

Critics have been tired of post-rock since the mid 2000's, giving "All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone" pretty mediocre reviews, when it is in fact a stellar album all the way through. My top of 2007 actually, but that may be because I moved out West and did, ahem, miss everyone.

It's good to see Explosions sticking to what they know best with another solid effort. "Let Me Back In" is a step forward for the Texas group, with a voice sample (?!), and a groove beat instead of a march (!), which crescendos into some brilliance. "Trembling Hands" has an angular Interpol-type guitar (!), more voices (!), and is only three and a half minutes long (!). Some crazy firsts, for them. But this is still an Explosions album. 6 songs, each cryptically named. Massive energy built around lulls. Cohesive throughout. If you like Explosions, and can get over the need to hear something completely boundary-pushing from them, you won't be disappointed. This fits nicely into their catalogue.

-da

Explosions In The Sky // Let Me Back In

Under the Covers Monday: The Beatles & She&Him

2011-04-25T10:12:00.006-04:00

Suddenly summer RVA calls for TBs {total babes and The Beatles}.

She&Him // I Should've Known Better
The Beatles // I Should've Known Better

Elizabeth and the Catapult

2011-04-22T09:33:00.001-04:00

A little sexy push and pull for your dark-pop affinity. Don't you worry about it.

Elizabeth and The Catapult // Go Away My Lover

remembering Gerard Smith

2011-04-21T11:26:00.003-04:00

1977-2011

TV On The Radio // Killer Crane

Alexander

2011-04-20T10:04:00.002-04:00

Alex Ebert, better known as the messianic frontman of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, released his solo effort Alexander back in March. Scaling back from the 10+ piece enthusiasm of the Zeroes, Ebert still delivers on blissed out, 70's inspired psychedelia. "Truth," with it's Caribbean flavors, licks of Paul Simon and maybe even a little Citizen Cope for the more contemporary of our contemporaries? whistles and trips just enough to mask politically-minded lyrics. You don't get serious until you GET serious.

Alexander // Truth

Fleet Foxes

2011-04-19T12:54:00.006-04:00

{image from Spin.com}

Truth: I've had this album for a month, and only started listening last weekend.
Truth: I sold my May 15 tix for D.A.R.
Truth: It's gonna bruise after this amount of kicking myself.

I can't say why I didn't give Helplessness Blues a spin and "replay all" from the get-go. The sole, feeble explanation I can shrug my shoulders over was my head not being ready for the hippie. Because that's exactly the kind of record the Seattle natives created: a sweetly green musing on the esoteric and blue-collar. A life returned to reaping what you sow, "if i had an orchard / i'd work till i'm sore / you would wait tables / and soon run the store" from the sophmmore album's namesake first single. Is it laughable that it's one of the most romantic things I've heard all season?

Pretty sure a certain someone needs to spending more time out on the playground.

If you're not ready for posings of "why is the sky blue?" lyrics, or heavy blushings of The Moody Blues - don't force it. It'll come around when the cicadas start whirring and a caftan sounds like an excellent brunch outfit.

Fleet Foxes // The Shrine / An Argument

Under the Covers Monday: Ben Folds & Death Cab

2011-04-18T16:46:00.003-04:00

Using blankies to make syncopated electromatic sounds on an acoustic?

Ah. That's why Ben Folds always gets the girls.

Panda Bear {& the more the merrier}

2011-04-14T09:48:00.013-04:00

As you would assume, I've been hard-pressed to properly post as of late. As a genetic default, this puts me into a spiral of guilt that perpetuates delayed postings which equals no postings which equals more guilt which means I'm blaming my mother.

Isn't that what I'm supposed to do in my late-20s when I'm questioning inherent personal behaviors?

Since taking over for Mckay two years ago, I have a lot of heart for ES and being able to share music with the five or six of you that check back from time to time. To be sure we keep the ES closet full, I've decided to bring on guests writers - particular people particularly passionate about music. They're only requirements are to stoke the blog fires, exercise witty banter and be scorchingly good-looking. We've set a high-bar around here.

So without further ado - ladies and gentlemen: the reputable Dustin Artz!
{f*ck...i gotta step up my game}

xx, chirgo
___________________________________

I like lists.

Every year on my phone I make a list of all the new albums about to come out. Next to each sits a number denoting how many times I'll eventually listen to it.

Anyway.

For most of 2010 Panda Bear's name sat on that list with a big 0. His album "Tomboy" kept getting delayed and delayed, and that stubborn little zero brought me a pang of disappointment every time I glanced at it.

So I'd listen to "Person Pitch" one more time. Every track on it flawless, just as relevant today as it was four years ago; hazy, warm and dream-like, so simple yet so overwhelmingly grand and lush. Something sacred about it. Add to that the accessibility of "Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavillion," and my anticipation for "Tomboy" couldn't have been any greater.

So I might be a bad guest host critic for this one.

"Tomboy" is solid, don't get me wrong. The songs are shorter, but still contain the simple, repetitive melodies that put you in a trance. They just end sooner. Long, repeated choruses like "Know you can count on me," still make you feel somehow more pure just for listening to them. Percussion like that on "Slow Motion" still gets your head nodding, recalling the stutter stop of throwback Audio Two's "Top Billin." Interwined with all the reverb and repetition to come, Panda Bear still creates magic.

And yet while the formula is still mostly there, the biggest shift on this album seems to be an emotional one. While Panda Bear is always reflective, at his most impactful he dwells in the land of optimism and triumph. E.g. Noah yelling at his brother at the top of his lungs to open up his throat…"MATTTTT!!!!!!!" This album on the other hand is enveloped in a bit of darkness, the songs increasingly tinged with loneliness as "Tomboy" progresses. There is something uneasy lurking in the corner. And instead of leading us out, like the guitar that strains to be heard and eventually prevails on "Bros," Panda Bear lets doubt sit with us as the album stops spinning.

Which, of course, is not always a bad thing. If I threw away all the self-absorbed melancholy in my CD collection I wouldn't have much left. But when you look up to a musician like some sort of Holyman the way I do Noah Lennox, well, to be frank, it just kind of bums me out.

That said, I'm probably going to listen to it a hundred times and have it end up on my best of 2011 list.

Panda Bear // Slow Motion

The Weeknd

2011-04-08T10:00:00.007-04:00

My deep-rooted, nostalgic love for early-90's R&B is springing some new green. The genre's dark cascade towards growling sex cynicism and clenched maxillary muscles is just what I plan to keep ducking into.

The Weeknd, known up until now for those who can find them {him?} as XO, is 20 year-old Torontonian Abel Tesfaye. Doesn't take long to figure out the kind of night you're gonna have after listening to his sensuously violent, don't-let-mom-hear-this-on-your-mixtape lyrics. Sink your teeth into the shoulder of TW's House of Balloons download here. Don't miss Beach House samplings with How To Dress Well leanings, and previous release "What You Need."

The Weeknd // Wicked Games.

Mondial Creative Labs

2011-04-04T13:55:00.007-04:00

Nick Wurz and Kevin Bennett of the hugely talented shop, Mondial Creative Labs, took to the streets after VCU's loss to Butler two nights ago. They're like ghostwriters for the wild letdown and adrenaline detox experienced by students and fans as they swarmed, alighted and ultimately retreated from the scene on Broad. Surreal and sadly gorgeous, you could be on either side of the police line and still mourn the end of the cinderella story.

Fantastic stuff, gents. Check out an older ES interview with largely Mondial-populated band, Autocue, here.

VCU Riot after 2011 Final Four from MONDIAL on Vimeo.

R.E.M.

2011-04-01T14:57:00.008-04:00

Been spinning the new R.E.M., and fondly remembering Michael Stipe's and my moment at Dell'Anima. That moment being my eyes bugging out when he walked in with his bespectacled wonderfulness, oblivious to the fact Out of Time defined my childhood. A couple tracks from Collapse Into Now will likely make an appearance on my 5th Ukrop's Monument Ave 10K run playlist - not that you really need to lean on your playlist when nearly the entire Fan is out on Monument porches, howling.

And when you're not pounding pavement, you're bleeding Black & Gold this Saturday. Nobody's eatin' crow in RVA.

R.E.M. // ÜBerlin

The Cave Singers

2011-03-31T11:22:00.005-04:00

{front and center at red palace DC}

I bought tickets to see Lia Ices at the Red Palace DC the very day I posted about her. I knew she was the opener for The Cave Singers, who I wasn't familiar with but figured a.) I like caves, b.) I was gonna dig the overall aesthetic, c.) if I wasn't wild for them we had all the more reason to leave early and get back to RVA before the kind of hour I'd keep on the odd upper weekend.

Today I got bags under my eyes, 32oz of coffee and came in to work 30 min late. Whoopsies. F*ck yeah, Cave Singers.

Playing to a pretty packed house, this WA-based trio clearly already have an established fan base with the neo-hippie sect. Cuz they wuz dancin'. So I danced too, duh. Hard not to when the seated Derek Fudesco, {whom my bestmate Andi and I renamed Animal}, heavy picking the electric while playing a distortion pedal with such gusto that he nearly comes out of his chair with every sway into the bass line. Can't deny it when Pete Quirk is doing crazymanlegs dancing punctuated by occasional wild screams. You're a soulless robot if you can ignore Marty Lund's stomp-inspiring floor tom. They're deconstructed gritty folk rockers, and they'll be yowling into your town soon.

track1 off their new release on jagjaguwar, track2 because i spilled my beer when it was played due to enthused shimmying.

and p.s., Lia? Thrashing-lovely set. We're going to be seeing more of her, guar-on-teed.

The Cave Singers // No Prosecution If We Bail
The Cave Singers // At the Cut

lykke love

2011-03-29T15:01:00.004-04:00

Lykke Li // I Follow Rivers

O'Death

2011-03-29T09:46:00.008-04:00

{image from venuszine}

Nearly as tireless as their moniker, O'Death has toured much of it's existence since the formerly SUNY-enrolled gents banded in 2003. Gleefully filtering Americana through a warped and rusty sieve, the result is raw, minimalist bluegrass with a twist of goth and maybe a little punk. Gothic Americana, I can get behind that.

Newest release Outside is expected from Ernest Jenning Record Co. next month...as in three'ish days from now {april. already? jiminy}. You can plan ahead and preorder that freaknastiness here.

O'Death // Bugs

Under the Covers Monday - the Smiths & the Dum Dum Girls

2011-03-28T16:57:00.008-04:00

I considered somehow weaving the pride of RVA into the Monday post, but the day got away from me and this song continues to play on freakin' repeat within my inner-ear jukebox. I don't mind all that much...plus it's an admittedly easier subject to find an obscure cover for.

Throwaway Weezy track from the 500 Days of Summer spoof album thrown in for good measure, and because I missed you all last week. Really and truly.

The Dum Dum Girls // There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Lil Wayne // There Is A Fire That Never Goes Out
The Smiths // There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Windsor For The Derby

2011-03-18T09:24:00.002-04:00

{hollywood cemetery, rva}

Windsor For The Derby // Queen of the Sun

Sufjan Stevens

2011-03-17T09:42:00.007-04:00

Sufjan made the album I wished for Radiohead.

There I said it.

I got all jazzed and crowed about it, but even after a few listens and some pep talks - it just doesn't put me into the pupil-dilation, catatonic state I craved. I did some discombobulated jigging, sure, and that was fun. But the album that has had me looking off into the middle distance since October of last year is Age of Adz. Syncopated, psychopathic, melodramatic, swirling, electrocuted wildness. And goddamn bold, "Impossible Soul" is a hefty 25:35, nearly as long as The King of Limbs in it's entirety, and just as diverse.

The second half of this particular track makes me want to run screaming over the rotting boards of a frayed cable bridge. In the best way possible.

Sufjan Stevens // I Want To Be Well

Cast Spells {and a nibble on SXSW}

2011-03-16T09:29:00.018-04:00

{image by scot stewart}

I haven't said anything about SXSW. Doesn't mean I'm oblivious to it. I just might, MIGHT, be incrementally bitter I'm not there. It's been long enough since the slog-mess of ACL 2009 to have me forgetting sweaty, over-crowded discomfort and longing for festival attendance again. Looking at lineups always have me bemoaning my absence; and Dave Davison's of Maps & Atlases solo effort, Cast Spells, adds to the whining. I even annoy myself.

Sonically experimental with some drifty retro crafting, Davison finger-drums like a sonova and is one of those guys who just dribbles out excellent lyrics without huge effort. If you're there, check him out March 19. Take pics. MMS them to me. I'll reply back with onomatopoeias like "aaauuughh" and "grrrrr."

Maps & Atlases - The Ongoing Horrible (Live at Radio Radio)

Cast Spells // Pioneer Scalps

Tinie Tempah

2011-03-15T09:27:00.004-04:00

Found out about Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu, aka Tinie Tempah, whilst on the stairmaster 6'ish a.m. yesterday. Reading some deets about this 22-year-old Plumstead, South London native kept me from resting my forehead on the command panel and taking a quick snoozer. He probably saved my life, as had I done such a thing I would've inevitably leaned on the crank-up button and hot-stepped to catastrophe.
Likely a more entertaining visual in my mind than on paper.

Coming out of the U.K. Grime scene, Tempah is already pretty hot-sh*t over the Pond and on the Brit charts. He's making the pop-duo rounds, {Kelly Clarkson, eh? Please don't.}, and paired up with our girl Ellie Goulding on this posted March 7 release. AND, according to wikipedia, his single "Written in the Stars" was used for a WrestleMania XXVII countdown promo during the WWE PPV Royal Rumble on 30 January, who later confirmed that it will be the official theme for Wrestlemania XXVII. Big time, baby!

Here's hoping after these forays and getting a little older, little wiser - perhaps after his 25th birthday? He sticks to more tracks like "Gimme More Money." Until then we can waste billable hours on his social media savvy game, blog, ad infinitum.

Tinie Tempah // Pass Out

Tinie Tempah f. Ellie Goulding // Wonderman

Under the Covers Monday - Titus Andronicus & Weezer

2011-03-14T10:50:00.009-04:00

Titus Andronicus, with some help of Vivian Girls' sunglass-slipping Cassie Ramone, do a sloshy cover of Weezer's "Undone {the Sweater Song}." Can definitely remember yelling these lyrics in 5th grade and feeling nervous slash on-the-cutting-edge when we got to the collective's favorite line "I'll soon be naked!" Looks like everybody at this ridiculous, humid silliness had a similar sentiment.

Titus Andronicus f. Cassie Ramone // Undone {the Sweater Song} Cover

Weezer // Undone {the Sweater Song}

Robin Pecknold

2011-03-11T09:31:00.014-05:00

As I continue to fidget in anticipation of Fleet Foxes second album's release in May, frontman Robin Pecknold saw it fit to dole out a few tasty treats to satisfy. Recorded in LA a few weeks back, he released three tracks of acoustic guitar picking and lilt-along vocals. "I'm Losing Myself" featuring Grizzly Bear's Ed Droste, a cover of Chris Thompson's "Where Is My Wild Rose" and posted "Derwentwater Stones."

{sneak-attack pic of Pecknold unawares at Moxie, Le West spring road trip 2010. yeah i'm that creep. i mean, fan.}

Fleet Foxes begin their spring tour April 29 in Vancouver. Loads of dates are already sold out, but their stop in D.C. magically has tickets left. You can carpool with me if your first pushpin is RVA, but only if you bring snacks.

See you at Wye Oak tonight. Next week I'm posting some thrash-metal and rage sh*t, get some edge back in this blog, nah meen?

Robin Pecknold // Derwentwater Stones

Papercranes - growl & rawhide

2011-03-09T09:54:00.010-05:00

{image from rainphoneix.net}

When Rain Phoenix recorded the Papercranes' sophomore album, Let's Make Babies in the Woods, she aimed to push past the cushy production comfort zone. Without breaks or retakes, the writing and recording was an exercise in stream of consciousness. Non-linear, managed chaos production. Reminds me of the creative process I was encouraged to take in Hyper Island work sessions. {do you people not realize that if i don't cross things out in my silo'ed, structured, process-oriented list i will flippin lose my shit?!! all right fine, i'll do the boneless-boy dance while spouting social media ideas. be cool chirgotis. be cool.}

Anyways. Her efforts are largely successful, with whiskey-soaked vocals dragged over granite lyrics and dredged in shale instrumentation. To call up a neo-Janis comparison can't be too far a stone's throw.

Papercranes // Sea Red

FINALLY

2011-03-08T09:35:00.011-05:00

Pitchfork! You did it!

I've been searching for this goddamn Fever Ray track ever since I saw the vapid, yet annoyingly hot, Little Red Riding Hood trailer. Click here.

Under the Covers Monday {makeup} - Florence + the Machine & Cold War Kids

2011-03-08T09:27:00.003-05:00

get 'em, Florence.

Florence + the Machine // Hospital Beds
Cold War Kids // Hospital Beds

Peggy Sue - folk noir bandits

2011-03-04T09:27:00.004-05:00

If you're gonna name yourself after one of the most famous songs of the '50's by one of the most famous '50's boys, you're gonna have some guts.

And blues.
And grit.
And woozy laments that feel like being entangled in damp sheets, caught in the throes of remembered heartachey noir dreams.

Formerly Peggy Sue & the Pirates. Then Peggy Sue & the Pictures. Now Peggy Sue, comprised primarily of Rosa Slade and Katy Slade, songs on their Fossils & Other Phantoms have lots of sweet little beginnings that build to ferocious crescendos. Now recording a second album in Bristol, these Brighton, UK lassies have my attention.

i only came here to see you see me ?

flippin' story of my life.

Peggy Sue // Watchman

Wye Oak - the truth about being earnest

2011-03-03T09:31:00.004-05:00

If you're Andy Stack of Baltimore-based Wye Oak, and you can play drums with your right-hand and keyboards with your left, you are one badass motherfather. True & livin'. And if you're Jenn Warner, holding down guitars and vocals - you ain't lyin', either.

You'll hear some more earnest folk rock truths with the release of album, Civilian, March 8 - then check them out at Black Cat that Friday.

Oh and I just saw their free download card at Starbucks. People like some honesty with their latte.

**3.8.11 update**

chirgo, mcgaw and mckay will be in attendance at the Black Cat show. huzzah!

Wye Oak // Civilian

Reading Rainbow - take a look, it's in a book

2011-03-02T09:35:00.001-05:00

It's good, but a different kind of good. Not the kind of good stored on at least 9 VHS tapes in a familial basement. But it's close.

Philadelphia bf/gf songsters, Sarah Everton and Rob Garcia {green-leaning engineer by day}, throw their own sound of hollow garage psych into the beachcomber bucket. Their second release, Prism Eyes, has a couple rainbow glorious moments. With blastoff fast tracks and some catchy lyrics popped in, they make it easy. Granted - you're not going to do any soul-searching, and listening for too long might make you twist your finger in your ear. {read: caterwauling is not uncommon}. But if you're good with that, RR is full of reverb, skittles and sunshine - so you just feel good listening to it. And that's good. Bueno. Bien. Barf. Levar Burton.

Reading Rainbow // Wasting Time

Trentemøller - teddybear robot

2011-03-01T10:04:00.006-05:00

{image by Karen Rosetzky}

Moody March 1.

Anders Trentemøller, a Copenhagen-based Danish producer, was already lauded High Wizard of Electronica by the release of his 2006 Last Resort. Several years and numerous bad-ass remixes later, Trentemøller warmed up his minimal techno sound with 2010's Into The Great Wide Yonder. Go on and cuddle right up to guitar-twang, oxymoronic organic synth and melodic vocals. Admittedly I'd prefer stalking through rain-soaked alleys to this particular soundtrack, but it's all you sugarbear.

Trentemøller // Sycamore Feeling

Loch Lomond - lexicographers

2011-02-25T10:14:00.004-05:00

Ritchie Young started Loch Lomond in 2006 as a solo project, with players coming and going in accordance to requirement, summer vacation and what day Easter fell on that year. Currently a six-piece, the Portland, OR band of chamber-folk merrymakers released a fourth album under beloved Tender Loving Empire label. Mixed by Adam Selzer {M Ward}, Tucker Martine {The Decemberists, Laura Veirs}, and Kevin Robinson {Viva Voce} - Little Me Will Start A Storm is a menagerie of fantastic instruments, crafty rhythms and unconventional lyrics. All tied up with the Youngs' zigzagging vocals, zooming from high up in the register rafters down to an alto.

In truth, whenever any band incorporates a musical saw, they've got my vote. I'm a cheap date.

"Wax & Wire" from 2009 Fruit Bats lightly hearkens to the Scottish lochs of their namesake. "Elephant & Little Girls" is the first single off the Feb. 22 release, who's humid, ambient base track of crickets and hush makes me want to stretch out in a backyard. Under a tarp, wearing a down jacket - weather permitting.

Loch Lomond // Wax and Wire
Loch Lomond // Elephants & Little Girls

Lia Ices - the mystic

2011-02-24T11:07:00.024-05:00

{photo by Eric Ogden}

Girlcrush alert.

Lia Ices' second effort, Grown Unknown, has the ethereal-chamber pop enchantress in storybooks. Shorter-winded than Joanna Newsom, little tougher than Enya, less quirk than Sia - Ices keeps her lilting, avant vocals anchored with meaty guitar ruminations and fist-pounds of percussion.

"Daphne" takes inspiration from the Greek myth of a woman who ultimately transforms into a tree - played out in what starts as pastoral bliss before turning to darker energies. Whatever shall become of her? The tale features Justin Vernon, whom I've indirectly posted probably 17'ish times. It's fine, I'll probably change the blog name to "JV4life" by June.
Other standout tracks include "Ice Wine" and "Little Marriage."

Just bought my tickets to see Ices at The Red Palace 3.30.11. Lots of daisy crowns to weave to between now and then.

"Daphne" by Lia Ices from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.

Lia Ices // Daphne

Adele - chanteuse inferno

2011-02-23T05:01:00.003-05:00

Since calling for her "Hometown Glory" on 19, Adele has forged her own path amongst the teenyboppers and pill-poppers of the diva scene. With 21, she lunges like a steam locomotive back into the charts with tracks produced by hitmakers Rick Rubin and Paul Epworth. You can hear her resonating vibrato for miles through the fog of "sophomore slump," not a bit of which seems to apply.

Had she made a dance album? Bleached her hair platinum and lost the bouffant? Tried to fit the pop-princess cookiecutter? Chances are this searing album of hearts rippedraw&bleeding that's going to have the lot of us condemning our deserter for lovers and exclaiming I FEEL that wouldn't exist for exorcisms.

Goddamn do I love a breakup album.

A favored peachy track and her gospel affirming performance on the 2011 Brit Awards.

Adele // Set Fire to the Rain

Sea of Bees - ocean's a-buzz

2011-02-22T09:53:00.012-05:00

I had been eyeing the hull of the ES boat with thoughts of pulling myself back in for weeks. Stockpiling tracks and chuckling over self-amusing quips that I have, inevitably, all forgotten. Well-enough I did as they never really are as quippy as I'd like them to be once they're a day stale.

The King of Limbs put me up and over, but even before that I have been so entirely swept up in Julie Braenzinger's debut album that I knew I just HAD to start pulling the oars again. Just had to! Gorgeous vocals this side of Bjork over earnest lyrics with a folksy-sad edge. She plays all the instruments. It all sounds so confident. She's probably an alien.

The whole album goes down like a spoonful of lingonberry gelato. You'll probably hear tracks like "Willis" on Parenthood or used over a spot for nappies, but until then.
Until then, you and I can sail in the ES boat on this sea of bees.

Sea of Bees // Marmalade

Under the Covers Monday - curtsying before the Bowie altar

2011-02-21T09:46:00.011-05:00

Growing up I wasn't really exposed to the clutched rock legends of my parents' youth. Led Zepp was a high school revelation, I didn't hear a Grateful Dead song until I was in my 20's. Dad insisted upon "modern music," and discarded records as soon as he felt they were obsolete. Holds true with his overall-life mantra; I barely had my extra-long sheets packed for college before Dad tore down the adolescent collage of Abercrombie dudes on my wall {it's a shameful time, but I've moved past it and feel at peace}.

So no, I didn't jump on couch cushions to the chords of "Stairway to Heaven." But I did tell all my stuffed animals where I'd be located while spinning to R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" {the corner}. I perfected some odd, jerky fighting robot moves with my little brother to Talking Head's "Burning Down the House." But far, FAR and away my favorite dance routines was to the entire ChangesBowie album. The whole thing=sweaty kid head. I was completely convinced that when Mr. Bowie sang "China Girl," it was meant only for me. I was also convinced that i was asian at heart while growing up in rural, piedmont North Carolina. Can't say.

We Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie is a treasure chest of covers by independent artists to benefit UK War Child charity. You'll make Ziggy Stardust, now incarnated in my workbuddy betafish, very pleased.

Xu Xu Fang // China Girl
David Bowie // China Girl
Warpaint // Ashes to Ashes
David Bowie // Ashes to Ashes

Radiohead - the Kings of my Limbs

2011-02-18T11:04:00.010-05:00

At long last.
After much quiet.
Much anticipation and dreamings and hopefulness and mild disappointment after the elventhousandth time you looked them up since pledging your undying loyalty after you questioned your existence when you heard "How to Disappear Completely" for the first time while driving to Hardee's for a sweet tea. {gasp}

Radiohead's 2011 release, The King of Limbs. Blessed be, the lion flies and I can dance my way down a pulsing neon-aubergine thoroughfare of electronic transcendence right on up and across the brim of Thom Yorke's fedora. We're back in Kid A territory, somebody better drop the bread crumbs so we can find our way back.

Radiohead // Lotus Flower

Rafter

2010-12-14T15:58:00.009-05:00

Found this firey-flamey haired reggaetonite on my shuffle play, and started to do a little shuffle me'self. Rafter Roberts hails from a nontraditional upbringing in Sebastopol, CA - I mean, obviously. His name is Rafter. And for the record I think it's total crap that I come from equally hippie-dippie parents and ended up with KATHRYN. Why couldn't I be Luna Sailcloth or something?

Roberts did all kinds of musical things to lead to his 6th and most recent release, Animal Feelings, and win the tip of the hat as "Best Alternative Album" at the San Diego Music Awards. A few items of note; playing instruments in-utero. Partnering to start the successful commercial music house, Singing Serpent, with whom I have worked in my illustrious advertising career (weird!). And getting signed to Asthmatic Kitty Records. He has a far wittier blog than mine, which I will not share with you so you can cross-compare and stop reading ES. And I'm hedging my bets that his shows are as fun as a steamer chest of lemurs.

{disclaimer: this may or may not be our man, but those bun-bun ears are pretty slick}

Rafter // Paper

Under the Covers Monday - Freedom or Death & Nas

2010-12-13T09:18:00.004-05:00

An unsigned Toronto-based duality, Steve Fernandez and Sway are DIYers of production and songwriting. With classical training in piano, DJ creds, and band-fronting history, their self-titled debut takes them away from the major hitmaker machine so they can do whatever they like. Goddamn right, and as this 1820's Greek War for Independence war cry crows along for their namesake:

Its the way I want to live my life
Having the freedom to make my own decisions
and not adhere to the rules of others
To make art for my own well being, not for acceptance from the masses
To listen to what my heart beats to, not to slave for anothers
Give me the FREEDOM to make a life I choose - or hand me my DEATH

If you play the "sound-likes" game, you'll have a substantial list by the end of the album - Broken Bells, Radiohead, TVOTR, Massive Attack, maybe even a little Citizen Cope? But we're supposed to loathe the sound-likes game if we're one of those who knows the what-for, right? So we'll take that list, slice it into thirds and masticate it knowing it's not NEARLY as dirty as it reads on-screen.

After you've finished up, digest with some visual collaborations with Spike Jonze and a gorgeously synthed-out snowy lovestory. {warning: not everybody keeps their shearling loincloth on}

Freedom or Death // If I Ruled the World

the Daylights

2010-12-06T11:14:00.005-05:00

Long distance relationships, for the majority, suck. Granted. Time zones, awkwardly long pauses on the phone, furrowed brows over the alternate lives each other is living, cathartic growling at each other.

Walter C. May, a LA-based commercial director, pondered on how to reach across the flyover zone to his gal Lex, slogging away on her MBA at Duke University. When your in the business of visuals, and your boys with an indie-trio, use your talents and DIY, right? Some shared pencil scratches with The Daylights, $100, an afternoon and some dexterous hands and you do the damn thing.

Rather than pinging her inbox, posting on her wall, or over-nighting a playable DVD - May got all social-media on your ass and tweeted it out last Tuesday. In hopes the vastly small virtual world would deliver it to her, he waited patiently for it to arrive as the constantly-connected saw fit.

3 guesses as to how this story ends.

Thanks to Josh Reese for keeping me connected since I continue to abstain from joining Twitter. And to my own bi-coastal manfriend, I accept love letters by snailmail, carrier pigeon and the Pony Express.

The Daylights // I Hope This Gets To You

Under the Covers Monday - Cee-Lo & BOH

2010-11-29T11:55:00.004-05:00

allo allo. Hope everyone's thank-full celebrations were all you ever dreamed of. General overindulgence, drunken brawls with disconnected friends from high school and long, intensively uncomfortable silences over that second serving of squash pie as your mother looks on disapprovingly. Pilgrims might not be real, but it's the spirit of the season that counts.

I could be forcing my thoughts concerning My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy on you right now, but Mondays don't allow for it. Sorry. Get a lusty earful of Cee-Lo's class and soulful vibrato covering Band of Horses instead. While you're listening I'll be doing my best booty-drop this side of the laptop - considering limited materials.

Cee-Lo Green // No One's Gonna Love You

Young Marble Giants

2010-11-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

Macaron-light vocals (Allison Straton) peeping out from akimbo guitar and steel bass (Moxham brothers) were things of revolution back in '78. The post-punk act from Cardiff, Wales loosely hold hands whilst taking us on a voyeuristically eerie journey.
Helluva single-take crane shot to boot.

Young Marble Giants // Final Day

Weekend

2010-11-23T11:12:00.001-05:00

Post-punk outfit out of SF, and not to be confused with:

Weekend the Band hailing from Buffalo.
The Weekend waving from Ontario.
Vampire Weekend, obvious.

Shoegazers with exceptional hooks, Sports was released November 9 on the Slumberland label. If it's defined a lo-fi or noise, I'd like to think it's just that poured through some cheesecloth. Distilled to something a little more potent. Pupil dilation inevitable.

Weekend // End Times

Under the Covers Monday - AC Newman & A-Ha

2010-11-22T09:32:00.002-05:00

AC Newman // Take On Me

the Diamond Center

2010-11-19T10:01:00.007-05:00

Majorly stoked about these recent immigrants to the RVA scene. Brandi Price and Kyle Harris are the core to this psychedelically tribal thrum. Originating in Athens, GA, a rotating cast took them across state lines to Lubbock, TX where they recorded and released their second official LP, My Only Companion. Brief cameos of house pets and gatherings of friends to stomp, clap and holler make for a crafty album, full of voodoo percussion and Price's brass bell vocals.

Now calling RVA home, you'll see them this coming Sunday at Strange Matter. Feathered headdresses and peyote cactus chew will likely fit in fine.

The Diamond Center // Wtt {Live at Ipanema 19}

music vids all up in your eyeball this week

2010-11-18T08:56:00.004-05:00

I saw these and thought of you.

brothers from other mothers

2010-11-17T11:50:00.007-05:00

Speaking of mcKay, he bears a near-uncanny resemblance to Bryce Dessner {....or is it Aaron? shit} of the The National. Whom I lovelovelooooove. A lot. Both of them. mcKay and The National. And this chair dance. And eating dry cereal, preferably Shredded Spoonfuls. My heart nearly bursts with all this g-d terrible love.

Not like you haven't heard it a billion times this year, but for the sake of it.

The National // Terrible Love

The Man Who Would Live

2010-11-17T11:27:00.006-05:00

You'll notice my name isn't the sole listing as contributor to this 1-Trick Pony of a posting vessel. David Mckay, who posts about as often as I wash my hair on the weekends, has been a hard-working sonova this past year. He quit his safe and comfy job as an art director in the advertising world and proceeded to pour blood, sweat and tears into a black void known to a choice few as Endie Filmmahkin'. His own, and a number of poached liters from a number of cute & cuddly creatures.

Countless iterations of a script, sinkholes of WTF-am-I-doing, blistering moments of soul-sustaining creativity, several months worth of frustrated outbursts from his girl {cough.} and a spontaneously combusting credit card brings him to this precipice - the finish of the film is just within reach.

It took a group of fantastic people, true dedication and artistic vision to make it happen. If you have a few quarters in your pocket, help him see this through at his Kickstarter page. Maybe then I can stop carrying him piggyback on ES, and would get a datenight some place other than Arby's. If I have to eat any more curly fries, I will punch a baby.

Diamond Rings

2010-11-16T12:26:00.008-05:00

John O, you are fun with a capital R A I N B O W U N I C O R N I C I N G.

Glitter napalming you from Toronto, John O grew up this side of jock before ditching the athlete's foot to fully embrace a well-sequined pair of ballet slippers. A boy of many talents, at a young age he managed to pack in piano, football, guitar, basketball, saxophone, and dress-up seshes pulling from the Tickle Trunk all before he was legal. Makes for an understandably difficult search-for-self growing up. "Are my friends goths or goalies? Punks or pointguards?"

You could presume John O leaned hard in one direction, eventually leading to the October release of Special Affections. Sort of. The other direction isn't too terribly far behind him, which makes for an ecstatically-camp wtf outburst over the "Show Me Your Stuff" music video. Might need 9 more views before I decide if my teeth hurt from irritable grinding or cavity-inducing sugar rush.

Regardless, the grating baritone over excitable synth has me dancing all the way to the color copier.

Diamond Rings // You & Me

Under the Covers Monday - Peter Silberman & Holly Miranda

2010-11-15T21:56:00.001-05:00

Peter Silberman of The Antlers / Hospice recognition covered one of my all time favorite songs on this Earf, "Waves" by Holly Miranda. It kinda makes me want to die; in the most painless, cotton-soft, seagull swooning way possible.

Peter Silberman // Waves

Lydia Ooghe {& the Lux Vacancy}

2010-11-12T15:22:00.007-05:00

I don't flirt nearly enough with the local scene, with the exception of my dedicated groupie-attentions to Autocue. No longer! I'm completely diverting my eyes from the PacNW and Brooklyn scene, and lay gaze solely upon RVA.

That is total horseshit malarkey, but I do intend to love on my citymates more.

This coming Sunday, Nov. 14, let's meet up for some grenache at Ipanema and check out Lydia Ooghe. Her songs are stuff of sugar and batting, helium-balloon pop on acoustic guitar and occasional pedal steel. And she looks a-freaking-dorable. By my professional estimation, she's impressing the River City with her talents and gracefully sunny stage presence. We shall see, Lydia.

See you Sunday evening cheetahbabies.

Lydia Ooghe and Lux Vacancy // Baby Yay

Houses, down the street

2010-11-11T16:30:00.007-05:00

Some article mentioned Houses, the OTHER Houses (remember the opiate drifting I promised yesterday?), had some of the same hebetudinous haze of Washed Out. You know how I feel about Washed Out. Woof. So of course I'm down.

Chicago bliss-pop lovebirds Dexter Tortoriello and Megan Messina wrote nearly all of the October-released All Night in one week. Show-offs. I guess some time and inspiration living off the grid in Hawaii will do that to you.
Signed to Lefse, same label as Neon Indian and How to Dress Well, their chillwave sound is a natural fit. What is not a natural fit is implemented imperfections to emote vinyl. LBH Houses, you're on a Mac powerbook. I'm not expecting any 45s from you this Christmas. But thanks anyway. Very thoughtful.

Houses // Reds

Houses

2010-11-10T16:03:00.006-05:00

Houses the band is not the first of it's namesake, and not an easy one to hone in on. I'm still not sure if I'm writing about a chillwave husband/wife duo or eight merrymakers who got ripped a new one for joking about Switchfoot. {for seri, read the comments, it gives me second-hand embarrassment and adds to my monthly urge to disconnect, delete my FB account and never look at the Internets again}. To clarify for the group: merrymahkin today, opiate drift tomorrow.

Andy & Kinsey Hamilton, crunchy cuties, are the first two lego blocks of the Denver, CO ensemble. If you like We Are Magic and long for Crosby, Stills & Nash, you're pretty set. Over 2009 they recorded and released an album per season in it's evocation; an upbeat Spring, rock'n'roll Summer, etc use your context clues. People seem to dig their live shows, "will leave you covered in goosebumps and ready to f*cking wrestle a buffalo." Little did they know I already wrestle a f*cking buffalo, on Thursday nights in Chesterfield. And I listen to Switchfoot while I do it. Chew on that!

Houses // Red Feather

KiD CuDi ptII

2010-11-09T16:08:00.003-05:00

Man on the Moon, Vol. II: the Legend of Mr. Rager dropped today. Who is Cudder? Mr. DoLo Loner? Teeny bop heartthrob? Kanye protege? Maybe you need to chill the f*ck out, smoke some get some make straight A's and wait to see where on the moon this man will land.

KiD CuDi // Maybe

Under the Covers Monday - Rogue Wave & Buddy Holly

2010-11-08T12:06:00.007-05:00

By the decree of the Purple Falcon by the order of Lord Darcy, under the darkness of a new moon and Steak-Um on the cafeteria menu - every Monday from henceforth on this vessel shall be Under the Covers Monday. Heark, hear ye and open sesame.

Rogue Wave // Everyday (Buddy Holly Cover)

Tamaryn

2010-11-05T14:01:00.005-04:00

A little extry and easily related BECAUSE...
Dominant Legs is featured in the music video premiere from Tamaryn. And she's in there, too. I owed you one from earlier in the week, anyway, so now we're squares in circle chairs. Pardon me while I stab a #2 in to my cornea.

Tamaryn // Dawning

Dominant Legs

2010-11-05T13:33:00.004-04:00

A quickety-split trick to leave you with this Friday. SF native Ryan William Lynch leads with the right with his ramble-jangle reedy sound. Funky jazz with some carribean 80's flat-top, pop razor lines on the side over the ears. Slick it back with some melancholy LA Looks gel and head out the door. I could think of a handful of artists to relate him to, but the sound is oddly more of his own. How often does that happen? How often does a guy look far better with a flower over his ear than I do? Crap.

Dominant Legs // Just Silly Ones

To add fuel to my defeated flames, an old friend from ago turned me on to this bobo blog. It has stanky hepster written all over it. Maybe if I stop wearing babypowder fresh deodorant I can funk it up like them one day.

Twin Shadow

2010-11-04T16:32:00.004-04:00

yellow balloons are fancy

Slow // Twin Shadow

James Vincent Mcmorrow

2010-11-03T09:51:00.007-04:00

A young man wanders along salt roughened Irish cliffs, returning to a cabin teetering over the sea. Over a season's change, he writes lyrical prose of ghosts and loves, towering trees and keening winds. He recalls times of great change and scrawls their desertion in rushed strokes of ink, spatters bleeding through the paper's fiber.

He returns to Dublin and squints into the glare of a life lancing forward, rushing past him as water breaks around the rock. He holds in his hand a humble EP, nothing much but a man and his words playing instruments in a solitary room. It is February of this year.

once i had a dream
once i had a hope
that was yesterday
not so long ago
this is not the end
this is just the world
such a foolish thing
such an honest girl

James Vincent McMorrow // If I Had a Boat

A Taste for Flesh

2010-10-29T09:51:00.008-04:00

guess who's eating brains for dinner tonight?

happy howly, my little monsters.

Berrnard Herrman // Psycho Theme
Sufjan Stevens // They Are Night Zombies!!
Friendly Fires // Skeleton Boy
Cut Copy // So Haunted
The Eels // Fresh Blood
Ladytron // Ghosts
Lady Gaga // Monster
White Lies // Death {Crystal Castles Remix}
The Deadly Syndrome // Wolves in the Garden
The Castanets // You Are The Blood
North American Hallowe'en Prevention, Inc. // Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?