Archive | June, 2011

That’s all I meant by “relationship.” You want me to grab a dictionary?

21 Jun

let’s get into this thing

.

.

Ringo Deathstarr- So High

.

.

.

.

.

I’ve been ecstatically kicking Colour Trip around since Ringo Deathstarr put it out (Finally!) in february. Shoegaze with energy and they’re from Austin…enough said.

.

.

Miniature Tigers- Cannibal Queen

Summer always makes me reshuffle through songs that encapsulated summers of the past (last year it was Foals Total Life Forever, The Head and the heart (self-titled), and The Love Language’s Libraries), about all i can remember from 2008 is Bishop Allen and Miniature tigers. I take that back that’s what good i can remember from 2008. I also remember M.I.A. being played at every damn party i went to and hating my life evertime fly like papers came on and everyone feeling the need to tell me how “talented” she is. whatever between M.I.A. and kanye west you are wasting your breath. I see the for sale sign and i’m not buying.

.

.

Winter Gloves- Dancing My Heart Out

.

.

.

.

.

.

My last two posts had Beverlay and honheehonhee on them, it just wouldn’t be right if i left out the third part of this holy Montreal trinity. This is where the pop aspect of Beverly comes from and i”m not talking britney spears pop, i’m talking the good pop. The best way i can describe the difference is that when someone tells me they like Death Cab For Cutie i tell them they will probably love Winter Gloves …that kind of pop.

.

.

Courtesy Tier- Rescue

Everyday i’m thankful for taking the time to add bands i dig on facebook. Courtesy Tier’s yet to be released The Resolution is a perfect example of why. Today they posted it before it’s actually release, For Free,  and sent the link out on FB. The album is a little less energetic than what i’d already picked up from them (my favorite so far has been “Buddy Casey”) but that’s not a bad thing. The instrumentation is not only solid but well placed. Each song has it’s own touch so the album never feels monotonous. The strongest song is probably the closing track “Home” but “Rescue” mixes much better along with the other tracks i’ve picked out for this playlist. here’s a link to there FB page so next time you don’t have to take second hand gifts when you can get them for yourself  : Courtesy Tier’s facebook page .

Here’s a solid video of Buddy Casey

.

.

Young Buffalo- Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl (broken social scene cover)

.

.

.

.

.

.

Broken Social Scene are another band (like wilco) that i never have been able to fully  get into, and believe my i have tried(hard) but i just can’t. There’s something that immediately turns me off about the majority of their songs (although lovers spit makes my top 50 of all time). It may be brilliant and leagues above everyone else, it might even be ground breaking and have opened doors for so many other (better) bands, but they just don’t connect with me the way  i feel  they are hyped up to. This is why Young Buffalo impress me. Not only do they have a sound that’s SO DAMN ADDICTING they somehow have found a way to take a song i don’t already  like and make me LOVE IT. And how often do we get to hear a cover that’s better than the original?  This version will be getting played on my headphones for a long time to come. It even makes me appreciate BSS for once, who knows it may, by some miracle, make me end up being a fan of them someday.

.

.

Harlan Pepper- Great Lakes

.

.

.

.

.

I’m not sure what makes this my favorite song on this weeks post but it is.  Catchy bluegrass folk. I can’t describe many songs that way. I think what i like so much about this song is that i’ve seen so many unsigned bands try to write songs like this and not even realize they’d failed at creating something other than an annoying background song to what would have been a decent conversation at the bar. The lyrics may not be perfect but they work…really really well.

.

.

Hey Hey Melodica- Birds In Cages

This is one my favorite songs ever to be created in Indy.  It’s also from a band that’s relatively inactive in the local scene.Hopefully they’ll start playing shows frequently around town because they’ve got as good, if not a better, chance of being able to accomplish something with their music as similar bands in the local genre like Jascha and The Accordians who play shows every week in Indy. There’s a couple of free songs posted up on musical family tree from them and if you want to hear some strong solo stuff check in onAnthoney Scroggins myspace page. Before hey hey melodica I was already a fan of his and am really impressed with what the bands been able to do with what he brings to the table.

.

.

Secret Knives- Wicker Park

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

New Animal- When They Come

.

.

.

.

.

.

Atlanta newcomers are already making an impression and it seems like they came out of nowhere.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they swell into one of this falls hype bands and since they actually deliver the goods i’m alright with that.

.

.

Holy Ghost!- Do It Again

.

.

.

.

.

Even though parts are a throwback to the eighties,something i rarely get into, holy ghost! pull it off successfully and have created a perfect addition to any party playlist be it club, house, or basement.

.

.

A lull- Weapons For War

.

.

.

.

.

Hopefully they won’t skip over us on their next tour as has been there usual m.o. on recent tours, i’d really like to see them work their magic live.

The field and woods shots in the video were done in Chesterton,IN.

.

.

.

Arron Dean- The Extraordinary Things We Fear

.

.

.

.

.

.

Moneybrother- Born Under A Bad Sign

.

.

.

.

.

I’ve read mixed reviews on Real Control and anyone who says this album is anything short of solid has no idea what they are talking about, especially the guy who wanted to hound on Anders Wendin for having been influenced by the clash…it’s hard to find a band out there without some influence from the clash. That’s like all the critics who hated Brand New for there similarities to the smiths. Good music is good  music let’s leave it at that.

.

.

The Speed Of Sound In Seawater- The Huge Wheel

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

In Tall Buildings- The Way To A Monster’s Lair

.

.

.

.

.

American Babies- Dance All Night

This songs great to put on late night when you’re not yet tired and not yet ready for the night to be over.  Great lyrics. This is my first taste of American Babies (not literally), i’m looking forward to seeing what else they have to offer.

.

.

David Wax Museum- Born With A Broken Heart

I’d read a few articles and album reviews on David Wax Museum, i even went as far as downloading a couple songs but for some reason nothing sank in, then I heard them on npr last week and decided to give  them another chance. I’m glad i did. I’m not sure what kept me from committing before but i’m definitely into them now.

.

.

King Of Spain- Animals (part one)

.

.

.

.

Another great band in the tampa based New Granada family(Sleepy Vikings, New Times Roman, sunbears). I’m having trouble finding anything out about them yet and googling “king of spain” is an obvious waste of time. I’ll let you know more as soon as i do.

.

.

Rah Rah- Salty Cities

.

.

.

.

.

.

Another Canadian band rubbing it in our face about how much better they are at creating music than their neighbors to the south.

.

.

Wild Flag- Future Crimes

Nice little combination of talent and energy, i can’t wait to sweat with these girls in some stuffy indy venue (the smaller the better!!)

.

.

.

Suckers- Save Your Love For Me

.

.

.

.

.

.

This is the opening track off of wild smiles and for how good “save your love for me” is the album just keeps getting better which doesn’t seem possible.  I’m seeing that stupid baboon in my dreams, that’s how often i’ve been pulling the album up on my ipod.

..

.

Black Light Dinner Party- Older Together

This song is crafted flawlessly all the way down to the closed high hat they use coming out of the chorus and back into the main piano track…perfection. Even better Alexander Jorgensen has created a video for Older Together that is just as great as the song itself. I’m equally in love with both

.

.

.

Darren Hanlon- I wish that i was beautiful for you

I hadn’t heard anything about Hanlon before seeing him open for David Dondero. Darren took the stage and completely stole the show with his amazing songs and magnetic stage presence. Seriously, people were laughing before one song, crying during another, and then he sold out of hard copies of his cd’s afterwards. Take all that and reverse it and that’s what watching David Dondero play was like. I saw DD  open for bright eyes years earlier for a crowd that couldn’t have cared less about the opening act, i  always thought that it was the crowds fault and not dondero’s that i wasn’t impressed…  now that i’ve seen him as a headliner my main opinion is that for one of the great songwriters of all-time David Dondero is a dick. He stumbled onstage half-drunk and fumbled through half his songs then went into a four minute rant about daytrotter and how they’re stealing money from him and then went back into a lackluster set of his worst songs. I’ll never pay to see dondero again or buy another album but i’ll be more than happy to drive an hour to see Hanlon play and you can believe that i try to promote his songs as often as possible.

.

.

League- Golden Maps

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Shenandoah and the night- These Arms

.

.

.

.

.

.

Right now in Austin my girlfriend is interviewing for jobs . I was going through songs to send her while she’s gone and of all the ones i put together this one stood out more than any other. Ableman sells the sentiment and, like hallmark, says things better than i ever could.

So that’s it. If you represent an artist whose songs are on this page and would like it removed i’ll be more than happy to both oblige and never recommend their music in a positive light again, that’s the agreement. I completely understand the need for bands to make money so they continue creating art but spreading some free love from time to time is really the most humble and appreciated thing i can find in music right now. If you need the money that bad you can have it, but i have no reason to promote you anymore.

Also if there’s any music i’m missing or missing the point on here’s the comments section… i’m listening:)

I’ve Never Heard Someone Say Love Was Not Enough

2 Jun

—-Hey hipsters  this isn’t 2008 there’s nothing “Ironic” about your mustache anymore. This includes pulling your hair over your lip/drawing a mustache on your finger it’s been done… the  novelties worn off—-

.

.

.

After finishing up with the night cruise posts I’m in the mood for some songs where the instrumentation carries the songs a little more than the lyrics. I’m sure as I piece this one together I’ll stray a little from that format  but that’s basically where my heads at. Plus I’m coming off of 8 straight stressful days at work (this is rare) so I’m wanting something that gets my head moving a little bit…hopefully my feet will follow.

.

.

YesYou- Half of it

 

.

.Australian newcomers sounding like they have been planning this for a while.

.

.

Beat Connection- Same Damn Time

.

.

.

.

..

.

Honheehonhee- A Is For Animal

.

.

.

.

.

My new found love for Beverlay sparked my interest in honheehonhee to a more than passive level. I’ve listened to this song four times today…to say it’s growing on me is probably an understatement.

.

Bon Iver- Perth

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

So here it is! The first leaked track from Bon Iver’s upcoming album due out on the 26th of this month!!! This track is PERFECT… God i hope the rest of the album jumps off like this song does 2:00 minutes in:) Get the first single off Bon Iver, Bon Iver  for free and Pre-Order the album here : JagJaguwar

.

Purity Ring- Ungirthed

Corin Roddick is just as impressive on his own as  he is in Gobble Gobble which is kind of surprising seeing how solid Gobble Gobble are. The fact that Meghan James’ voice is perfect definitely helps. If you don’t know who gobble gobble are here’s a great example of why should:

.

.

Nils Frahm- Said And done

The problem that i run into with most instrumental bands is they try too hard. Nils Frahm does not. Everything he does comes across natural and without any pretentious force behind it with a sound that comes across layered just enough to keep your attention without feeling cluttered which is hard to find amongst piano players.

.

.

.

Eric & Magill- Gentle, Polite

.

.

.

.

.

.

Tim Showalter turned me onto Eric & Magill last winter through his Strand of Oaks page. All Those I know is an album worth paying for and fortunately E&M care more about letting us experience their art than making money off of it so it’s free over at there bandcamp page: Eric and Magill- All those I know album

.
Digits- Rachel Marie

.

.

.

.

.

.

Alt Altman continues to show what he’s capable of.  Does anyone know if he’s still playing with The Ghost Is Dancing?  He definitely impresses me more using the digits moniker but The Ghost Is Dancing made really good music. Get the entire digits album for free at www.digitsmusic.com

.

Impure Jazz-Biting the Lan  That Seedz

.

.

.

.

.

Another instrumental band that does it right. Impure Jazz are  three  Bloomington/Columbus natives that put on one of the best live shows Indiana has to offer. A collective of sweat, attitude, energy, and above all  talent with a tone and undercurrent to match. All three members are currently working on other projects that are equally as good but for me they’ll always be Impure Jazz the band that was too good to conquer the world. I’m sure we haven’t seen them play their last show or at least that’s what i keep telling myself.

.

Long Walks on the Beach- MetaPhysical

.

.

.

.

.

One For The Team- Best Supporting Actor

.

.

The Limousines- Very Busy People

.

.

.

.

.

.

Holiday Shores- Phones Don’t Feud

Holiday shores have kind of taken that best coast low-fi  sound and tweaked it enough to make me thoroughly enjoy something that’s different from the typical sound in the genre.  Holiday shores are honestly the first band to make me forget how burnt out i am on that overall sound in a while. Coherent lyrics help.

.

Kowalski- Take Care, Take Flight

.

.

.

.

.

.

Pheramones- Punching Hours

.

.

.

.

.

.

It’s a tie between this track and Paul Baribeau on which song is my favorite from this mix. I think of Punching Hours as what would happen if you could force Jukebox the Ghost and Tim Kasher to make a song together… hence why it may be my favorite song from this post.

Night Driving In Small Towns- February

.

.

Lost In The Trees- Love on my side

.

.

.

.

.

Love on my side is the most sing-along-able mug-swinging song to enter my ears this year (yeah i know it came out last August, i’m a little behind on this one) ….Also how is this song not in a commercial yet? Someone better start writing out the check cause this song sells happiness.

.

Port O’brien- Oslo Campfire

.

.

Wentworth Kersey- Oxbow

It’s no secret by now how i am completely in love with the overall sound of Wentworth Kersey. The texture is so good you can taste it. It’s vintage without being hipster “vintage” (Translation- The finished sound is worth the means it took to create it if you know what i mean).

.

The Tillers- Ludlow Street Rag

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

“if I could run a little faster i would catch that train” I had that line stuck in my head for almost four months before i found out who sang it. I caught it on the backwoods radio show last fall and missed who the band was. I tried finding it online but to no avail. It’s been a process but now i’m in possession of this amazing song from a band that’s doing something bluegrass based worth listening to.

.

Paul Baribeau- Falling In Love With Your Best Friend

It’s hard to find a baribeau song that’s not amazing. As a matter of fact looking through my library i can’t see a single song of his that i wouldn’t recommend to a friend. I’ve been looking for a reason to bring his stuff into light and since i just put “ten Things” up on the night cruise post i thought that today would be a good day to share something else from him.

.

.

Hightide Hotel- She Dreams of Melting Rocks

.

.

.

..

.

.

If I had heard Hightide Hotel in high school i’m pretty sure my mind would have been blown. These guys are everything that was right in 2001 without everything that went wrong by 2003.

.

Stereodojo- Tapple Tree

.

.

.

.

.

.

Active Child- When Your Love Is Safe

.

.

.

.

.

Last summer i couldn’t get enough Active Child…doesn’t look like this summer will be any different. Pat Grossi may call them albums but what he really creates are soundtracks to a good time.

.

Dave Armstrong- Tambourine

.

..

.

This is the third Dave Armstrong song i’ve listened to and it’s the third consecutive time i’ve been glad that i randomly downloaded the guys album off of bandcamp. His songs are like putting a Sufjan touch to a broken heart.  Name your price on the album over at his bandcamp page (I took the free route and hope that by spreading some  positive words about his art it makes up for my being cheap . Throw him a couple bucks if ya got it though, i want to see bigger things from this guy in the near future)

.

Ed Askew- April Song

.

.

.

.

It’s hard to find a mix where askew fits well into. I think it’s better just to listen to his stuff on it’s own which is desperately missing from nearly a hundred percent of music out now. That’s what makes askew’s music consistently mentioned in  any music related conversation.

.

.

.

As usual if you or a band you represent would like some content removed from the page I’ll be more than happy to do it. I’ll also never recommend the music again in a positive light. If you want someone to get into your music don’t ask for their money first ask for their time. If there’s any music i’m missing or missing the point on here’s the comments section let me know about it.

*Also i’ll be getting the actual website up in a week or so as well as finally start having the downloads come straight from the heycoolkid page as well as having zip files for the entire playlists

“Trapped in time. Surrounded by Evil. Low on gas”….or the art of making a perfect mix for cruising at night (part 3)

1 Jun

Now for the third and finally aspect of a great night cruise mix. This is the part i love the most. These are the songs i basically have planned out a year in advance. The songs for the quite ride home. When you’ve decided it’s time to head back in and call it a night. Any conversations at this point will have meaning and depth…real. Never underestimate the importance of songs that you internalize immediately (see big red marbles’ “make that call” from my This playlist is better than most relationships i\’ve been in  post i put up back in march). There’s a reason for late night mixes and this is one of them. Most times mixes miss the mark at this part only from a conscious effort to avoid sad songs or to attempt to not hit touchy subjects ( ie cheating girlfriends/boyfriends, bad relationships, the feeling of being trapped in some no name town in the sorrowful midwest for the rest of your life etc…). This is not the time to avoid feelings! This is one of the few chances to embrace them as a collective. It amazes me how many songs have made it onto nearly every night mix i’ve ever made (konstantine, seven years, and on your porch) and which songs will most likely never be on another playlist that once meant everything to me (Fly By Night- This Cold Can’t Last and good charlotte’s emotionless are two good examples) sure some songs could be compared to wine but then again some age like cigarrettes.     That being said…

Part 3

The ride home:

 

Noah and the Whale- Blue Skies

Romany Rye- All The Boys

Megafaun- Worried Mind

put worried mind on a mix and tell me that the entire car doesn’t completely settle into an almost famous moment

.

.

Deer Tick- Twenty Miles

Whiskeytown- Jacksonville Skyline

Bird Call- Lost Cause (beck Cover)

The Format- On Your Porch

Counting Crows- Holiday in Spain

The Head and the Heart- Down In The Valley

The head and the heart are by far my favorite band to come around in the last few years so you know i’m excited to see them at the vogue next week. I’ve been hearing them come up on our satellite radio channel at work so it may not be long until they are nolonger just my band any more (sad). If your in town make sure to check them opening for Iron and Wine.

.

The Wooden Sky- The wooden sky

Dave Armstrong- Violin

i just found Dave Armstrong randomly on bandcamp last week and so far i have really enjoyed what i’ve  listened to. This song oddly reminds me of a mixture between glen hansard and the dracula song from forgetting sarah marshall (just me?) and that’s to be taken as a compliment.

.

John Nolan- Peach Plum Pear ( joanna newsom cover)

Death Cab For Cutie- Lack Of Color

Bon Iver- Blood Bank

He’ll be here in July!!!

.

Denison Witmer- Little Flowers

Ha Ha Tonka- Close every valve to your bleeding heart (acoustic)

Red House Painters- Have you Forgotten

There aren’t many songs better than this one

.

Death Cab For Cutie- Passanger seat

I’m breaking one of the golden rules of mix making….never put two songs by the same band on a playlist. Death Cabs worth the exception when it comes to road trips at night

Rocky Votolato- Mixtapes/cellmates

Shawn Mullens- Twin Rocks, Oregon

Jesse Lacey- Upward Over The Mountain (iron and wine cover)

Ryan Adams- Memory Lane

Saosin- Seven Years (acoustic)

Something Corporate- Konstantine (live)

Despite what anyone might think konstantine remains to this day my favorite song of all time. I listened to this song at least once a day for three years straight. One day i listened to it on repeat for an entire day just to try and get sick of it and couldn’t. Everytime it comes on i take a completely different meaning from it. It always seems relevant to my life and my own personal experiences. Ten minutes of perfection. And the odd thing is that i one-hundred percent understand what those friends of mine are saying when they tell me how much they do not like this song, I don’t expect them to get it and i’m kind of glad they don’t.

 

I’m really interested to know which songs you would put on a mix like this instead of these songs…..

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 339 other followers

%d bloggers like this: