Forest Feeling

Hey guys, just putting up some of my own newly completed stuff. Any feedback/criticism is appreciated. I've been swapping files with my friend Travis Siegfried. Check out some of his other bands if you have a sec.

To and Fro
Sweat Sweat

The end result was completely unexpected. Let me know what you guys think! =] Myspace murdered the quality so I put a link to a 320 kbps mp3 below.


Myspace
"wowbagger" mp3 download


-Tyler

Chris Jordan

This is non music related, but I just watched this and was compelled to share it. It is the "TED" talk of a photographic artist who took number figures such as the paper cup consumption and the number of prisoners in the u.s. and photoshopped duplications of actual paper cups and stacked prison uniforms to give a visual picture of numbers that our minds are unable to really comprehend and feel.

He is an excellent speaker as well.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force on Daytrotter

Feel how you will about the whole Adult Swim line of shows, but Meatwad's voice will forever make me giggle. Can't say I'm a huge fan of comedy songs, but these are pretty awesome. "Frosty the Red-Nosed Snowman" is my fav. Enjoy.

Merry Christmas from Every Bunny Nestle!!

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/aqua-teen-hunger-force-concert/20031007-26.html

memories

This song reminds me of being a little kid riding around in my mom's car listening to the radio. They don't make pop songs like this anymore. Never fails to put a smile on my face.

Rainbow Tornado- Fancy Cookies

Genre: indie, math rock



Imagine if Algernon Cadwallader slowed down and chilled out. This is what you'd get. Simple, sometimes clever lyrics work well into the riffy guitar work. Pretty nice for those blustery winter days.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ogg0ndmnnwv

P.S. The tiny picture is hilarious, so i'm keeping it.

Toe Vids

MyX Exclusive Movie：toe未公開ライヴ

MyX | MySpace Video

Toki Asako - Touch

Ok so a lot of this is pretty cheesy, but there's lots of sweet jazzy shit, and she pretty much has the sexiest voice ever. idk. fuck you guys I like it :P.


<------------>

Steve Reich - 6 marimbas

A beautiful, rhythmic piece for one of my favorite instruments, the marimba. If you are not a fan of repetition in music you may be initially turned off, but at least give it a try. There are subtle, lovely changes throughout.

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Fang Island- "Daisy"

Genre: math pop, rock

So I've thought of Fang Island as pretty mediocre up until this new song, which pretty much rules. They can also reproduce it pretty flawlessly live.




Listen to the studio version here:
http://sargenthouse.bandcamp.com/track/fang-island-daisy

Dirty Projectors: Live at Bowery, November 22, 2009

Genre: experimental pop, math pop

Dirty Projectors play all their hits, accompanied by The Roots on "Stillness is the Move" and "No Intention," and David Byrne on "Knotty Pine."

http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=2108

Vids:
"Stillness is the Move"


"No Intention"

Low- Christmas

Genre: slowcore, indie



Feeling a little too happy this Christmas? Low will fix that. Pretty beautiful though. I really love "Long Way Around the Sea."

http://hotfile.com/dl/19786160/caa2f17/LowChstms.zip.html

the Ocarina of Rhyme

Ocarina of Time rap remix mashups. You probably want this.



8^D

toe Muisc Video- "After Image"

【MyX 09.12】toe / After Image feat.原田郁子（クラムボン）

MyX | MySpace Video

sooooooooooooo excited. Super groovy and well thought out song, but a little more straightforward than I was hoping. But I guess the music video is probably expected to be the most straightforward song.

Chon

Tech Jazz Metal Prog Fusion? Fuck I don't know. This is amazing though. Absolutely fantastic guitar playing. Superb recording. Flawless execution. Oh and all of these guys are under 20. If you where looking for something special to keep your eye on, you've just found it.

<-------------------->
Myspace

Pre-order "For Long Tomorrow"

If anyone wants to pre-order the new toe CD (you all do), you can at the below address:

http://www.whitenoiserecords.org/

It comes out to be about $23 US. I'm so unbelievably pumped.

-Sam

Twothirtyeight- Regulate the Chemicals

Genre: indie rock



One of my favorite albums of all time. Really unique and inspiring indie rock that's just super riffy and twangy. One of the best CD's to come out of Birmingham, hands down.

http://www.mediafire.com/?wnnzjqitnv3

-sam

Fennesz - "Venice"

So this is droney, ambient music and if that sort of thing incites you to shriek and flee for the hills, than this album is probably not going to change your mind. I implore you, however, to give it a chance because it is one of my favorite records to relax to. I love Christian Fennesz for his ability to create beautifully dense textures using all sorts of different sources instead of simply layering a few oscillators and twittling knobs. This music is not that at all. There is so much sonic variety going on here. I go back and forth between his albums because I love them all, but I just sat down and put this on and felt like it needed to posted, so here you go.

-tyler

Phosphorescent- "Los Angeles"

The vocals are a little rough on everyone's part, but I am REALLY excited for this new album. Notice my head at 1:44.

-sam

LoOmis- A Temporary Reaction

Genre: math pop?, post rock



Pretty awesome solo album from our friend Patrick from Smiley With a Knife. This album has some very nice pop sensibilities, but also grooves with some twinkly, slightly mathy guitar work. Vocals have some cool layering going on and the drums are sparse but effective. Wordless post-rock kinda tracks go throughout and make good use of loops and builds. Great job man!

Download for free here:
http://loomis.bandcamp.com/

The Rainy Day Playlists

So Tyler told me to make a playlist just based on rainy days. Or at least that what I did. I tried to get in some happy summer rain songs and then some cold winter rain songs too. I listened to half of it and fell asleep, so I guess it's pretty down-temp. It also got kind of international, which is interesting.

Enjoy.

-Sam


and here's mine!

-tyler

V/A- Joan of Arc Presents: Don't Mind Control

Genre: Everything



New collection of songs from anyone that's ever been in Joan of Arc. Yes, this will probably be as awesome as it sounds. New songs by Ghosts and Vodka (!!!), Birthmark, Tim Kinsella, Owen, etc. I have it preordered, you should too.

http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/store/index.php?id=948

1. Uwar (Litesalive)
2. Guider (Disappears)
3. Privacy (Birdshow)
4. The Doug McComb Over (A Tundra)
5. No More No Where (Owen)
6. Kickstart (White/Light)
7. Friend in Common (w/ Tim Kinsella) (Euphone)
8. Spit in Layers (Slick Conditions)
9. Long Looks (Cale Parks)
10. Blanes echo Blirds, Bless echo Blouds (Joshua Abrams)
11. Oh Solo (The Cairo Gang)
12. Roots Dug into Dunes = Landslide (Tim Kinsella)
13. Second Door From the Left (Jeremy Boyle)
14. Flicker (The Zoo Wheel)
15. Friday the 13th Part 2 (Vacations)
16. Oakey (Pillars and Tongues)
17. Gameshow Buzzer (Ghosts and Vodka)
18. Drivin' me Crazy (Birthmark)

toe "So Long Tomorrow" tracklisting

1 ここには何もかもがあるし、何もかもがない
2 ショウシツ点よ笛
3 After Image feat. Harada Ikuko (Clammbon)
4 エソテリック
5 Say It Ain’t So feat. Hoshikawa Yuzuru (Dry River String, ex upandcoming)
6 Two Moons
7 モスキートンはもう聞こえない#1
8 モスキートンはもう聞こえない#2
9 ラストナイト　Album Version
10 グッドバイ Goodbye　Album Version feat. Toki Asako 土岐麻子
11 You Go
12 Our Next Movement
13 Long Tomorrow

So yeah, this may seem pointless to post, especially since half the titles are Japanese, but I'm way too excited to not post it. I very much hope that track 5 is a Weezer cover, and I'm super pumped that they re-did "Goodbye" with Toki Asako. The album art is this like industrial factory picture, but it's too small to really tell. More details to come, including preorder sites!!

Frodus "And We Washed Our Weapons in the Sea"

I definitely don't like every song on this album, but I come back to it for the ones I really like such as "the earth isn't humming" "chiriaco summit" "6/99" and "out circuit the ending". The vocals are mostly sung in clear, moderate register that matches well with the more down tempo, groovier style of (I guess?) post hardcore churning with it. He also occasionally employs one of my favorite scream/yells ever. Give it a shot.

Flying Lotus

reset ep




1983




Los Angeles




Quirky, modulated, filtered, layered sound under hip hop beats is not exactly a new idea, but if those adjectives get you excited, then look no further than beat master FlyLo. "tea leaf dancers" off of the reset ep is one of my favorite chill out tracks ever. Los Angeles is the more experimental of the bunch. 1983 is super groovtastic. Listen to them in that order if you have never heard any of them. Album covers are linked.


So the weather has changed drastically in Germany since me and sam made our fall playlists, and i'm kinda feelin' a new one. Sam?

New Rooftops songs!

Genre: math rock

Slower, more thoughtful math rock from Washington that makes we want to dance my ass off. Can't wait for this CD.

http://www.myspace.com/rftps



-sam

Solange covers Dirty Projectors

Uh... yeah. Beyonce's sister covering "Stillness is the Move" from the newest Dirty Projector's album. It's kind of awesome, although I think is is the sort of song the original version was kinda mocking. But maybe not, still pretty neat. At least Solange knows how to play the tambourine on beat.

http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/Solange%20-%20Stillness%20Is%20the%20Move.mp3

My favorite Pele album. My favorite Pele album is also "Elephant". Don't ask me how that works.

<------------------------>

Jim White- Transnormal Skipperoo

Genre: folk, folk rock



"Long one day there I lay
under the big windy sky I prayed:
Dear Lord, make the flickering hands of fate
finally flip the page to the yellow sun
of my coming age."

Some of Jim White's albums were a little hard for me to get into because he would indulge in his stranger side, but this is definitely his most straightforward. While I loved the back story and concept of "Wrong Eyed Jesus!" I think this is my favorite of his albums. The lyrics are great, every song is haunting and beautiful, and there's great production. If you enjoy folk music, you should take a listen.

http://www.mediafire.com/?y1ngmmnzqwy

Cheval de Frise - Fresques Sur Les Parois Secretes Du Crane

Nobody has ever really done the guitar/drum duo thing better than they did. There is such wonderful subtlety, nuance, and dynamics in composition presented on this album, and none of it sounds forced. I really didn't like this band at all several years ago when I first came across them because they didn't have that omglookatmeplayingmyinstrumentsofast shit going on, but they have since become one of my favorites. So give it a shot and if you can't get into it, keep it on your hard drive and give it another random listen sometime.






(updated link. better quality)

stage kids - s/t ep

Someone requested this a while ago and I apologize for forgetting.

<-------------->

the best bands always break up

goddamnit

A Question.

I read on a forum today that math rock is "music for musicians," and in essence, that someone who doesn't know about notes and time signatures can't appreciate math rock, or even enjoy it, to the same degree as a musician. What are thoughts on this? I must admit that most of Shapes Like Dinosaur's friends on MySpace are other bands or members of bands. Like probably 85% of them. So it could be true, I'm not sure. I have musical friends who hate even the tamest math rock, and also ones who play no instruments that love Hella and Dilute.

Just something interesting to think about. I would say it's a lot like jazz in that there's a lot going on musically, but you can certainly enjoy it without knowing about it, even if you can't appreciate it in the same way.

Thoughts? Love.

-Sam

Dirty Projectors b-side stream rip

sooooo gooooooooooooood

Lockerz.com

Shameless plug. This is a cool new site that's just getting started up. You sign up for free and just answer polls and stuff to get points you can spend on iPods, Playstations, Macbooks, etc. I did some research, and it all seems legit, as strange as that sounds. People actually get the things they send off for.

It's invite only, so if you'd like to give it a shot with me, shoot me an e-mail at goodwins@pop.belmont.edu. It's all free, like I said, so I figure if we all give it a try and it's fake, we haven't lost anything. But we might get Demon's Souls for free, and that game looks badass. Cool? Cool.

End plug.

-Sam

PS. The staff is a bunch of ski cap guys that listen to Battles, so, yeah. This is awesome.

Joe Purdy- StompinGrounds

Genre: singer/songwriter, folk



Probably the most "commercial" sounding album I've put up. The lyrics aren't super deep, Purdy can actually sing worth a flip, and your parents will probably like it. HOWEVER, the guitar playing is top notch and it's not overproduced, which I've heard ruin some similar albums. If you enjoy Gary Jules, Jeremy Enigk, or Josh Ritter, you should give this a shot. The slower songs are highlights for me, as some are really beautiful like "this morning blue" and "he said she said."

http://www.mediafire.com/?jyzqtwnjraz

-Sam

P.S. If anyone has his album "Julie Blue," I'd love to get it from you.

Damiera - M(US)IC

I would not like to think that the unfortunately dumb title of this album contributed to the lukewarm reception and recognition it seems to have recieved, because I have always really liked it. I bought it randomly when I worked at an electronics store a few years ago, and it has proved to be the most pleasing random album buy experience of all time for me. Their most recent album I wasn't super into, but this one I listened to so much that I will always check out whatever their newest stuff is.


<-------------->

Boy Problems, The Reptillian, Lautrec, Osceola- 4-Way Split

Genre: new wave screamo?

Great split from some great bands. Not one song I didn't enjoy, although some are a little sloppier than others. All eight songs could really be by the same band, although I'm sure some would disagree. I guess that makes the split more enjoyable though, not being shoved from one style to another. All four bands sound like if Native kicked it up a notch, Emeril style.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mi0o2fln4be

-sam

This Town Needs Guns - New Song

Yes, another this town needs guns video.....but don't act like you don't want to watch this 3 times in a row like I just did. ;)

if you overlooked this...

Bear Vs. Shark - "Terrorhawk"


For some reason this album has gotten unduly hated on and I thought it deserved a post. If you always looked at this one as the "disappointing" followup to "Right Now,...." then I implore to give it another listen. I love the crisp and beautiful way it was recorded as well. Best guitar sound ever. It is one I have definitely found myself returning to over the last few years.

<-------------->

Julian Casablancas- Phrazes for the Young

Genre: pop



Ever wondered what The Strokes would sound like if they stopped smoking and drinking and stepped into the sun every once and a while? Well here you go. Pretty finely crafted electro-pop tunes along the lines of Phoenix or Passion Pit or something. I'm not totally sold on the vocals matching the music, but that's probably because I'm used to hearing The Strokes behind them. Pretty summery sounding for an autumn release, but I'm feelin pretty good about it, at least the first half. Gets a little stale by the end, but EHHHHHHH

http://www.mediafire.com/?axdydwwvtjz

-sam

Sharks Keep Moving- Discography

Genre: jazz, math rock, indie



If you've never heard of Seattle's Sharks Keep Moving, you probably have heard of the bands that sprung from its ashes: Minus the Bear, Pretty Girls Make Graves, and The Blood Brothers to name a few. I've discussed with Daniel that I'd probably give up any Minus the Bear album for another SKM album, and I'd definitely give up any Blood Brothers or Pretty Girls Make Graves album. With a jazzy edge that I've never really heard since, these guys made some pretty amazing music that has stood the test of time. I'd start with the full length and then move onto the EP's ("Pause and Clause" is my favorite) and singles. My favorite tracks are probably "Jet's Jets," "Sailor," and "Like a River."

http://www.mediafire.com/?gyjnkdx3djj

Tim Collis

Aspiring fingerpickers break out the wide rule and pencils, because class is in session.

-Tyler

New Tera Melos drummer/direction

Genre: less crazy than before

Not sure how much I like this new drummer... thoughts?


Compare with the terror this guy unleashes with just kick, snare, hats, and ride.


-Sam

The Hood Internet- All About the Islands (Puff Daddy vs. Volcano Choir)

Genre: mash-up

I mean obviously this is amazing.

http://thehood.raptorhideout.com/puff_daddy_volcano_choir.mp3

-Sam

new toe

dec 9th.


get stoked.






-Tyler AND Sam :D =]

Brian Wilson - Smile

1. "Our Prayer/Gee" - 2:09
2. "Heroes and Villains" - 4:53
3. "Roll Plymouth Rock" - 3:48
4. "Barnyard" - 0:58
5. "Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine" - 1:04
6. "Cabin Essence" - 3:27
7. "Wonderful" - 2:07
8. "Song for Children" - 2:16
9. "Child Is Father of the Man" - 2:18
10. "Surf's Up" - 4:07
11. "I'm in Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Workshop" - 1:56
12. "Vega-Tables" - 2:19
13. "On a Holiday" - 2:36
14. "Wind Chimes" - 2:54
15. "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" - 2:27
16. "In Blue Hawaii" - 3:00
17. "Good Vibrations" - 4:36

This is some of the craziest and most brilliant vocal pop music basically ever, along with some other sounds that are not quite human voices, but certainly add spice to the carefree happy-go-lucky music........with the exception of the occasionally dark, and sometimes wacky moods evoked on the album. If you like vocal music at all you should find something to enjoy or at least some what appreciate here.


<---------------->




-Tyler

Bruce Lee quotes

No music this time, just some of my favorite Bruce Lee quotes because I feel like it=]


* “The “moment” has no yesterday or tomorrow. It is not the result of thought and therefore has no time.”

* “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough: we must do.”

* “Learning is never cumulative, it is a movement of knowing which has no beginning and no end.”

* “The measure of the moral worth of a man is his happiness. The better the man, the more happiness. Happiness is the synonym of well-being”

* ” Real living is living for others.”

* “Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality.”

* “Never waste energy on worries or negative thoughts, all problems are brought into existence -drop them.”

* “A goal is not always meant to be reached. It often serves simply as something to aim at.”

* “Because one does not want to be disturbed, to be made uncertain, he establishes a pattern of conduct, of thought, a pattern of relationship to man etc. Then he becomes a slave to the pattern and takes the pattern to be the real thing.”

* “Zen is not “attained” by mirror-wiping mediation, but by “self-..forgetfulness in the existential ‘present’ of life here and now.” We do not “come”, we “are.” Don’t strive to become, but be.”

* “Those who are unaware they are walking in darkness will never seek the light.”

* “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”

* “To grow, to discover, we need involvement which is something I experience everyday, sometimes good, sometimes frustrating.”




-Tyler

Red Dog Alley- Dear and Absurd

Genre: folk rock



1. A.G.E.*
2. Dear and Absurd
3. The Lions
4. Arteries
5. New Year's Song
6. Holy Water*
7. Jacksonville
8. She's Lookin On*
9. Lord Pt. II
10. North Carolina*
11. City of Sidewalks
12. Lethe

This is again some shameless self-promotion. My band (i.e. mostly me) worked on this album for a very long time, and even though we don't play much anymore, I wanted to get this CD out. It's headed for iTunes and Amazon, but I'd much rather people just enjoy it for free. I starred the tracks that people seem to enjoy or that I thought ended up sounding the best. I played drums and mixed all the songs about a year ago, so feedback is appreciated!

http://www.mediafire.com/?ynyyig30zac

-Sam

White Denim- Exposion

Genre: all rock

1. Don't Look That Way at It**
2. Transparency
3. IEIEI
4. WDA
5. Heart from Us All
6. You Can't Say
7. Shake Shake Shake
8. All You Really Have to Do
9. All Truckers Roll
10. Migration Wind*
11. Sitting*

I downloaded this CD after hearing the first track, which is amazing. The rest isn't quite as good, but still worth a listen or three. The last couple tracks rule almost as much as the first. It gets mathy sometimes, really rockin at others, folky, and even a little jazzy. Very unique. Reminds me a little of the newest Akron/Family CD.

<-------------->

-Sam

Tyondai Braxton - Central Market

1. Opening Bell
2. Uffe's Woodshop
3. The Duck and the Butcher
4. Platinum Rows
5. Unfurling
6. J. City
7. Dead Strings


Amazing. Breathtaking. Jaw dropping. Extraordinary. Dense orchestral instrumentation (scored entirely by Braxton) provided by the Wordless Music Orchestra (the same that brought Johnny Greenwood's "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" to life). This album was practically plucked from my dreams and you should acquire it immediately.

<-------------->


-Tyler

Art Blakey - Free for All

Sorry for all the jazz posts, but so often the sound of lively, swinging improvisation is the only music sound I care to have my ears filled with. It always cheers me up when I am down. Blakey was such a powerful and expressive drummer on every record he ever appeared on, but this one really stands out. He is an absolute beast here, doing cartwheels around the meter while keeping it all groovy, swinging and centered.


<----------------->




-Tyler

Natsumen - Never Wear Out Your Summer

1. Newsummerboy*
2. Atami Free Zone*
3. Pills to Kill ma August
4. Nine Buddhas' Things
5. Whole Lotta Summer*
6. Natsu No Mujina



Intense, chaotic, noisy jazz/rock from Japan, but with with actual composition nestled in between the improvisational freakouts. A bit over the top at times but I certainly don't mind.


<----------->



-Tyler

PS22

Regular elementary school kids can do beautiful things too.



-Tyler

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out

1. "Blue Rondo à la Turk" – 6:44
2. "Strange Meadow Lark" – 7:22
3. "Take Five" – 5:24
4. "Three to Get Ready" – 5:24
5. "Kathy's Waltz" – 4:48
6. "Everybody's Jumpin' " – 4:23
7. "Pick Up Sticks" – 4:16

I knew I would love this album immediately when I heard the crazy 9/8 piano figure that opens "Blue Rondo A La Turk". The use of classically influenced meters in a jazz context is pretty much the main theme of the album. Brubeck's sophisticated arrangements are rounded out by the smooth-but-not-showy alto sax playing of Paul Desmond. Highly recommended.



<----------------->


-Tyler

Braid- Frame and Canvas

Genre: old skool emo, indie

So I'm probably real late on the boat for this one, but 90's emo rules. This is the defining Braid album and one of the defining albums of the genre along with The Promise Ring, Sunny Day Real Estate, Cap'n Jazz, etc.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ehfzko4tniq

-sam

Gespenst der mouse

i accidently deleted this post. my bad.
- Sam

Great Mouse on the Keys remix

http://www.myspace.com/jasondjsus

Sufjan Stevens & Osso - Run Rabbit Run (2009)

Version of Stevens' 2001 album Enjoy Your Rabbit, reimagined for the New York string quartet Osso.

Here and there some not-as-enjoyable dissonance and scraping sounds pop up, but otherwise the composition and performance is pretty amazing. If you liked the strings on the Illinois album, this is the same quartet that did those. I am enjoying this a lot.

<------------------>


-Tyler

Sargent House Promotion

Sargent House is quickly becoming one of the best indie labels out there, and they are having a great promotion right now- 4 CDs for $20. I went with This Town Needs Guns, Good Old War, Bygones, and Cast Spells. Support good music, especially when it's only $5 an album.

http://hellomerch.com/sh/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1018&category_id=48&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=2

-Sam

New Old Canes???

Genre: folk, indie

I really have no idea how I missed this, but here's three new Old Canes songs from Chris Crisci, lead singer of The Appleseed Cast. The new album, Feral Harmonic, comes out October 20th on Saddle Creek. If it's as good as Early Morning Hymns (it will be), it will rule.

http://www.mediafire.com/?210qiyn2men

-Sam

Mew Music Videos

Genre: neo-prog rock

Two videos from Mew off their really good new CD, "No More Stories..." Repeaterbeater is kinda like an Alfred Hitchcock film, and Introducing the Palace Players is about laser rocks or something.





-Sam

Pavement- Crooked Rain Crooked Rain

Genre: indie rock

This is probably my favorite Pavement album. Fall has really brought out the indie kid in me, and he loves Pavement. In fact, I just pulled out my Pavement live DVD. If you've never gotten into Pavement, this is a great album to start with.

Download

-Sam

Leo Kottke Compilation

I will always have a profound respect for practitioners of solo fingerstyle guitar, and Leo Kottke is one of my favorites. Whenever I feel down, I can always take a stroll through the woods and imagine my log cabin I will build someday, solely for the purpose of sitting on its porch and plucking away at guitar whilst gazing at the trees. This is a comp of some of his more upbeat songs.

*link fixed*

-Tyler

New BTBAM song

Sign up here and listen to a new Between the Buried and Me song. It is 9 minutes and 15 seconds long, but feels a little too familiar for my taste.

www.victorymetal.com

New Owen video

The new Owen video for "Good Friends, Bad Habits." Pretty neat video made even neater by our friends Sarah and Matt who are featured at 0:59! You guys are cute as ever, although I can't say I've ever seen Matt naked in public.



-Sam

Fall Playlists!

Autumn is almost upon us, which leads to a change in mood and music. You aren't quite in the melancholy of winter, but are chillin out from summer. This leads to some interesting mixes of music, most of which for me involve piano, evidently. It ended up having a pretty good flow just being alphabetical, so.

Aloha- All the Wars
Animal Collective- Did You See the Words?
Bon Iver- For Emma (Piano version)
Built to Spill- Car
David Karsten Daniels- Martha Ann
Little Joy- Next Time Around
Mt. Eerie- Wooly Mammoth's Absense (full band)
Owen- Too Scared to Move
Tenebre- A Call From Jane
Texas is the Reason- Johnny on the Spot
The Appleseed Cast- Reaction
The Bad Plus- Thriftstore Jewelry
The Strokes- Under Control
Thelonious Monk- Ruby, My Dear

gander.

-Sam (Let us know what yours are! or better yet, upload them in the comments!)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm in Germany right now so this has already been the coldest autumn i've ever experienced, and I suspect that it will get much colder very quickly. For my playlist I just took a bike ride and made an "on the go" ipod playlist. So I suppose I am free to say that this 100% certified, autumn influenced list.

hope you like.

-tyler

pretend live

pretty fucking outstanding.



-Tyler

múm- Finally We Are No One

Genre: experimental, post rock

I've never listened to múm, but they have a really cool feel to them. This is an older album I think, maybe 2002, so they're probably pretty different no, but this album has just the right balance of chill and groove. Very The Books-esque at points. I'm too lazy to type out the tracklist right now, but there are 11 songs. Enjoy.

dl

Prism Riot s/t

One the many projects of my friend, drummer Travis Siegfried. There are a lot of interesting things going on in this cataclysmic mash-up of ripping drums, experimental sound collage, and chaotic, noisy guitar. This is definitely worth a free (and speedy!) bandcamp download.

bandcamp

Myspace

-Tyler

Bonnie "Prince" Billy commerical

I thought this was just pretty obscure and hilarious. Directed by Tim and Eric.

Atlas Sound- Logos

1. The Light that Failed
2. An Orchid
3. Walkabout (w/ Panda Bear)
4. Criminals
5. Attic Lights*
6. Sheila*
7. Quick Canal (w/ Laetita Sadier)*
8. My Halo
9. Kid Klimax
10. Washington School
11. Logos*

The second album from the solo project of Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox turns out to be a varied and overall enjoyable romp through glitchy, experimental indie pop. This album really reminded me of Bibio's "Ambivalence Avenue," just because the songs vary so much from track to track. The 8 minute Euro-dance of "Quick Canal" seems strange next to the straightforward indie of "Walkabout" or "Criminals," but it all works. Each track flows into the next, which works for the second half of the album but gets tiresome on the first. Having tracks 2, 3, and 4 sound like one track just wasn't a good choice. Great production and vocal effects abound. Give it a shot, it's pretty good, if not all that memorable.

7.6/10

dl

-Sam

Volcano Choir- Unmap

1. Husks and Shells*
2. Seeplymouth*
3. Island, IS*
4. Dote
5. And Gather
6. Mbira in the Morass
7. Cool Knowledge
8. Still*
9. Youlogy


http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/islandis.mp3

(Sam)
- Volcano Choir was formed way back in 2005, before anyone had heard of Justin Vernon or Bon Iver. It was said to be a project that was inspired by music itself. That may seem stupid or pretentious, but it is really true. This album breathes and flows in a way that seems to be forgotten in current popular music. Every song has layers of percussion, keys, twinkly guitars, and vocals that all weave together and never feel out of place. But more importantly, there is time to reflect and take it all in. Never do you feel overwhelmed or dizzy, even though there are some complex things going on, and some songs like "Mbira in the Morass" get a little strange. Take the best vocals from a Bon Iver song, the acoustic lines from Pele's "Elephant," and the loops and ambiance of Collections of Colonies of Bees, and you've got Volcano Choir. There is some very interesting production and effects as well, and every song is unique. I just wish it was a little longer.

9.5/10



(Tyler) -
There is something about Justin Vernon's voice that really lends itself to bare and fragile music and as disjointed and it sometimes gets here, a detectable, cohesive beauty remains. There are definitely a few tracks that I found pretty obnoxious, but it doesn't matter because the experimental energy of the whole thing is so positive and great. "Island, Is" stands out as the most obviously accessible track on the album and is fantastic, while "Husks and Shells" and "Seeplymouth" are delicately plucked fragments of ambient guitar goodness. "Still" was a nice little surprise as it is "Woods" from the last Bon Iver e.p. with some added ambient orchestration in the beginning, swelling into epic drums, mangled fiddle diddle guitar lines, and beautiful supporting drones, and is a lot better. Most of the rest of the album consists of meandering ambient experiments, which are enjoyable, but I don't see myself revisiting them as much as the aforementioned songs. In conclusion, this album is super good and I highly recommend you listen to it.

Dirty Projectors on Letterman

The rest of the show pretty much sucked ("Diving Dogs"? really?) but this performance was worth the wait. The Dirty Projectors continue to amaze with their network TV debut (although I could have used some more Amber close-ups :P)



-Sam

Takehiko Honda - "I Love You [1969]"

1. I Love You
2. Here's That Rainy Day
3. Sunny
4. Willow Weep For Me
5. Autumn Leaves

Amazing Japanese jazz pianist. He has a vibrant, expressive style of playing and never runs out of improvisational ideas. One of my favorite piano trio albums.


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-Tyler

Lucero- 1372 Overton Park

Genre: Country alt. bluesy punk rock

My friend Suzanne gave me Lucero's "Tennessee" a couple weeks ago, and it got me interested in the band. This CD proved to me that they know what they're doing. The addition of a horns section really sets this album apart as more than just a bar-rock band, although the singer's voice could fool you. If you can get past that, this is a very enjoyable album.

http://www.mediafire.com/?lmtlm0dihzf

-Sam

P.S. I wanna be cool like Tyler and post album art, but this album isn't out yet so I can't find it :(

P.P.S. I don't know about tracks 5 and 6...

Helios - "Eingya"

Shimmering, delicate indie electronic/ambient music from Portland, Oregon. This entire album is such a pleasantly soothing experience. Painstaking care is taken to create a dense, organic texture, rather than just piling on droning synths and glitch noises. Field recordings are cleverly placed within smooth drum rhythms to construct an unconventional framework, like a quirky house that looks as if it could crumble at any second, but is actually exquisitely designed on a solid foundation. The production is fantastic as well. Every plucked string and pressed piano key proclaims its message brightly and beautifully inside your headphone space.

Myspace


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-Tyler

Andrew Bird Cemetary Gates session

Genre: indie, folk, neo-classical

Do you know how good Andrew Bird is? These videos might give you a clue. I maybe like these stripped down versions of tracks from "Noble Beast" better than the album versions.

http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/episode/1999-andrew-bird/1

-Sam

New Volcano Choir song- "Youlogy"

Second released track off "Unmap," my highlyest anticipated album of September. This song is definitely way weirder than the first one, like some kind of alien "Amazing Grace" or somethin. I don't really know why they chose to release this particular song, but it certainly shows that this album will be unique.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112178240&ft=1&f=4703895

-Sam

Mock Orange "Nines and Sixes"

1. Growing Crooked
2. We Work
3. Does It Show
4. Window Shopping
5. Paper
6. All You Have
7. Poster Child
8. Dictionary
9. Drinking Song
10. Goodnight Raddick


I have listened to this album so many times that I can pretty much consider it an actual physical shard of my late youth. I still remember when my friend Garrett first showed it to me, and I listened to the first track 5 times before I moved on to the rest of it. It is an incendiary blend of youthful passion and driving intensity that just really meant something to me when I was 18 years old. The best "other band" comparison I can make would be sort of a cross between between Sunny Day Real Estate and Drive Like Jehu, but I say that just for the sake of reference. Anyway, this a fantastic album by a very under appreciated band that I can't recommend enough.

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-tyler

Hi. My name is Tyler

I am going to be helping my buddy Sam keep this guy updated and add a bit of extra variety. I like to put little stars by tracks I think are extra neat. Dig? kword.


The John Scofield Trio "EnRoute"


1. Wee*
2. Toogs*
3. Name That Tune
4. Hammock Soliloquy
5. Bag
6. It Is Written
7. Alfie
8. Travel John*
9. Over Big Top

I sort of consider EnRoute a jazz record for people who don't really like jazz. Why? Because of Bill Stewart's utter beastlyness at drums. Even if you don't particularly care for the pile of spaghetti that Scofield and Steve Swallow (a fantastic bassist) dole out, anyone can appreciate a dude who is sick as fuck at drums, and this guy is. Check out the drum solo in Hammock Soliloquy where he is all like squiddle diddle biddle on the snare and shpliga boom bop on the toms and shit. yea.


Prt. 1
Prt. 2






Cowboys Aren't Indians - Demo



1. I Found It
2. Thunder
3. Jr. Jazz*
4. Bob the Builder


I am not going to necessarily say that this band sounds kinda like American Football, because most bands to which you would apply this comparison sound like, you, know, shitty, amateurish, uninspired rehashes of what Mike Kinsella was doing 10 years ago. Nope. This music is much more tasteful and well constructed than that. Jr. Jazz is by far their best song.

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Colditz Gilder - "Properties of Light"


1. Who Blew up the Brill Building?
2. Properties of Light
3. Moment in the Sun
4. Halfmoon Bay
5. Up Past Midnight
6. Audrey

Don't even read this first. Just click the download button. Done? K now by the time you get to the bottom of this paragraph you will be that much closer to having in your possession one of the most breathtaking instrumental rock records you'll ever hear. The closest thing I can compare this album to would be the first two Don Caballero albums, except 10 times more epic and without all the unnecessary dissonance. Its not really "math rock" or whatever either. Its not wanky. Its not pretentious. Its just a good solid, emotionally intriguing, instrumental ass beating. The only negative things I will say are that some of the parts are a bit too drawn out and and one of the songs sounds kind of like Carlos Santana (you get to guess which one;). But you know, no recording of music is ever going to be perfect for everyone. There. The progress bar should be at least, like, 20% done right now. Get stoked.

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Jason Dejesus - "West Coast Blues



1. Harmonica
2. Wes
3. Subtlewarmer
4. Da da durr*
5. Ums
6. Makebelieve
7 hxc***********
8. Pop*

This guy plays in a band called Stage Kids, but also makes guitar oriented computer music. If you tab click bands before you read blog posts like I do, then you should already be hearing why this album is worth your attention. This is aboslutely not jazz, but there is definitely jazz influenced guitar technique. There are lots and lots and lots of instrumental guitar bands on popular labels with widespread recognition that claim to be jazz influenced, and this album is 10 times better than all of them. This guy is really talented, so go do the myspace friendage thang, share this record, go here and buy his bands ep (its real cheap) and just do whatever you think is appropriate to support a deserving musician.

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