Festivals

Sooo not sure what happened to my 'Psychedelic Pop' post - it mysteriously disappeared - but maybe if I ever get around to re-doing it I will...but anyway in addition to getting stoked about spring and warm weather...it is time for festivals season!!

The 8th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will be June 11-14 on the same 700-acrs farm in Manchester, Tennessee this year. This four-day camping and music festival will total over 120 bands and over 20 comedians performing on 13 stages. The initial 2009 Lineup has been posted on the festival's website.

Some bands that I felt compelled to highlight are:
The Knux - Bang! Bang!
The Knux - Cappuccino
David Byrne - Strange Overtones
Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You
The Decemberists - July, July!
The Decemberists - The Legionnaire's Lament
Béla Fleck - Poindexter
Béla Fleck - The Fjords of Oslo
Béla Fleck - The Last Jam
Gomez - See the World
Santogold - Lights Out
Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
Okkervil River - Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe
Brett Dennen - Ain't No Reason
Brett Dennen - The One Who Loves You the Most
Crystal Castles - Air War
Crystal Castles - Magic Spells
Chairlift - Bruises
Alberta Cross - Low Man
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue


Also some other artists playing whom I have mentioned in previous posts are: Animal Collective, of Montreal, Andrew Bird, MGMT, and Bon Iver

What a Sweetheart

So I must finally acknowledge Starbuck's for their music selection. They are coming out with a new CD on Valentine's Day that has an array of artists covering love classics from the likes of Elvis, The Cure, Bruce Springsteen, Buddy Holly, and Frank Sinatra. My advice - go be all cliched and purchase this for your hunny bunny so the coffee colossal can cease closing stores and once again dominate the consumer world. duh...

Death Cab For Cutie - "Love Song"
Katy Perry - "Black And Gold"
DeVotchKa - "Hot Burrito #1"
Department Of Eagles - "Love Me"
Jessica Lea Mayfield - "Words Of Love"
Ben Bridwell - "Your Love Is Forever"
Kate Tucker - "I'm On Fire"
Rogue Wave - "Maps"
A.C. Newman - "Take On Me"
Jem - "Yellow"
Richard Hawley - "Early Morning Rain"
Daniel Martin Moore - "I Hear Music"
She & Him - "I Put A Spell On You"
Lila Downs - "My One And Only Love"

This Cd is available for purchase on Jan. 30th.




Also...in the matter of love...this was a cool article I came across that puts indie musicians together as hypothetical couples: Potential Mates

Name + Name

1. Matt and Kim, aka Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino, hail from the electrified punk scene in Brooklyn. Matt handles most of the vocals, synthesized beats, and (if we are lucky) tamborine, while Kim hammers away on the drums creating all-around feel good, frenzied convulsions running through one's body.

They just released their 2nd album, Grand, on Jan 20th...Their music has appeared on the show Chuck and they have been hosts for MTV2 programs. They will be bringing their tour to the east coast at the end of February and also have a spot lined up at this year's Lollapalooza.

If you like them then you should also check out Mates of State, aka Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel (another quirky, energetic duo from the Golden Gate city)...

Matt and Kim - Yeah Yeah
Matt and Kim - Daylight
Matt and Kim - Ready. Ok
Matt and Kim - Someday



2. She and Him, aka M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, are such a dynamic pair. Having first met on Zooey's home ground - a movie set - they were asked to record a song for that movie's credits and hit it off ever since then. They released their first album last year, went on a mini-festival tour, and are now effortlessly working on their second album.

Matt Ward's evolvution into a well-known one-man band has released 4albums with a 5th coming out February 17th titled Hold Time. Here is a preview of that song as well as a couple of this kool kat's other jams:

M. Ward - Never had Nobody Like You
M. Ward - To Go Home
M. Ward - Helicopter

Zooey, known for her actress status, has been in films such as Mumford, Almost Famous, Elf, Failure to Launch, The Happening, and Yes Man. She also appeared on many tv series including Frasier, Weeds, and the Simpsons. The Top Secret Scoop on her: she is starring in the upcoming movie about the untamed Janis Joplin and this past Christmas she became engaged to Death Cab's lead singer, Benjamin Gibbard...Congrats!

She & Him - Change is Hard
She & Him - Sentimental Heart
She & Him - Sweet Darling
She & Him - You Really Got a Hold on Me



3. Tegan and Sara, aka Tegan Quin and Sara Quin, are not only identical twins but they are also a cute, peppy indie punk/rock duo from Canada. They have toured around the world with names like Neil Young, Rufus Wainwright, The Killers, Hot Hot Heat, and Ben Folds and worked on albums with members of Weezer, AFI, and Death Cab. They have also recently designed 2 pairs of hipster-esque, PETA-friendly sneaks for the shoe company Macbeth - Sara's are white, Tegan's black each with their respective initals...What's next for these chic chicks?

Tegan & Sara - Call It Off
Tegan & Sara - The Con
Tegan & Sara - Back in Your Head
Tegan & Sara - Where Does The Good Go

January 20th Albums

Today is obviously a big day, but it is also one for the music world too. Here are some noteworthy albums that were released today:

1.

Having played at Bonnaroo, Andrew Bird, a musician from Chicago, released his 11th album, Noble Beast. This 14 track self-produced compilation with the first single 'Oh No' is true to Bird's roots vocally with his popular whistling and also instrumentally with his voilin, guitar and mandolin. He will be playing in Richmond, Va February 2nd at The National with a show at the 9:30 club in DC the following night.

Here is an exclusive interview with ABC on Bird's talent.

Andrew Bird - Oh No




2. Probably my most anticipated release is Bon Iver's Blood Bank. Currently on tour in Australia, Bon Iver has quickly become one of my favorite artists starting with Skinny Love . This Wisconsin native's new EP only contains 4 songs, but they don't disappoint. His folky, passionate vocals and guitar-stricken beats instigate an amazing mix of powerful yet mellow songs, of which 3 of the 4 are below:

Bon Iver - Woods

Bon Iver - Babys

Bon Iver - Beach Baby



3. Solo album from Radiohead's lead singer, Thom Yorke, titled The Eraser: The Remixes changes up 8 of the 9 songs from his previously released album, Erasers, in 2006. This new album features Cristian Vogel and Four Tet...usually can't go wrong with Yorke material :)



4. DJ Signify from Brooklyn released his album Of Cities featuring songs with Aesop Rock and Blockhead with whom he is currently doing shows...Along the underground hip-hop scene, some of his songs are vocally scarce and they all have a great chill vibe to them, so you should check him out!



5. So I randomly came across the group Cash Cash whose debut album, Take It To The Floor, is being christened in New York City tonight. Their hit single, There's a Party in Your Bedroom, (everytime I hear this I can't help but laugh) has circulated clubs in NY and is growing popularity across the states, so be on the lookout for this pop-techno boy band from New Jersey.

They have the sound of a Disney-esque, pre-teen pool party, but they still manage to get your head boppin while you reminiscence on those days that you danced around in front of the mirror in your room in a pink tutu, pearl necklace and a makeup-covered clown face blaring music...or was that just me?

OOOOR kids these days just use 'noodles' - here was the winner of their YouTube Contest
but I'm not sure what the prize is - maybe a chaperoned date w/ the band...oooooh kids

Cash Cash - Party in Your Bedroom




Other releases include ska-punk band Reel Big Fish - Fame, Fortune, and Fornication...hit ballads from Babyface - From the Heart...and Detroit-based hip-hop duo, Platinum Pied Pipers (PPP) - Abundance (check out Pigeon Hole by them too)

GG

So the Golden Globes were on last night, or as I learned "the GG's" in Britain...and Slumdog Millionaire went away with best musical score by A.R. Rahman. The soundtrack to that movie includes 3 songs by M.I.A. - the Paper Planes chick. So...Congrats.

But the real "GG" that I wanted to share is Guggenheim Grotto . This is a band from Dublin, Ireland and they recently played in Charlottesville's coziest joint to listen to good music, The Gravity Lounge. Their newest album, Happy the Man, will be released to the public January 27th but you can already buy it exclusively on iTunes (if you still actually pay for your music). I really like this band's mixture of folk and simple, melodious beats to create a sound that definitely resonates as European.

They will continue to tour in the US with free shows at the World Cafe in Philly (1/13) and The Living Room in NYC (1/14) and then onto The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA. So if you're in that area you should definitely check them out - Nothing like free shows!

I leave you with 2 songs from their previous album, Waltzing Alone:
Philosophia
Told You So (live)



MySpace page - check out "Fee Da Da Dee"

Local Look-outs

So every week or so I'm going to try to post a relatively local artist to get them a little more exposure (gotta represent every once and awhile)

This week's local look-out band goes by the name of Virginia Coalition . This group hails from Arlington, Va and has been together since high school. They have been known for their anything-goes mentality at live performances, including a stint at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC...Upon releasing their 5th album they have toned it down and released more subdued beats with introspective lyrics. VACO (as coined by fans) are finishing up their fall tour with O.A.R. and recently played in Vienna, Va at Jammin' Java on New Year's Eve . Sing Along, one of their singles off their newest album Home This Year, features the Prom Night and Hairspray actress, Brittany Snow, in the video:

Virginia Coalition - Sing Along

Drop of Animal Collective's LSD

So everyone knows that Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion album is about to drop - big hype about that.

I first heard about them about 4 years ago on Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale - met a lone ranger at our hotel with whom we ended up exchanging a bunch of music. Got the Feels album from him and I will leave you with a couple old school jams from that:

Animal Collective - Banshee Beat

Animal Collective - Daffy Duck

Animal Collective - Two Corvettes

My End of the Year Jams

I figured I should do some closing out post about 2008, so I've posted some of my recent jams that cranked me through the holidays. Most of them are from the Season One Soundtrack for NBC's Chuck

These are my top 5 from that season (ok maybe 6):
Frightened Rabbit - Keep Yourself Warm
The New Pornographers - Challengers
The National - Slow Show
Finley Quaye featuring Beth Orton - Dice
Teddy Bears featuring Mad Cobra - Cobrastyle
Editors - Weight of the World

Recent Concert

This is a band that I saw most recently with my friend Brooke...I was introduced to them by another friend and definitely want to follow them in the coming years...they are an indie welsh group formed under the name People in Planes in 2003 and they are currently on tour after releasing their second album, Beyond the Horizon

The concert was awesome and I would recommend seeing them to anyone...They know when to rock out and when to bring it down but still keep the momentum.

Here are two of my favorites:


Last Man Standing (live)

People in Planes - Pretty Buildings

NY Post 2009 Tracks

So this is an article from the NY Post that talks about 5 new bands/artists to look out for in the coming year

Who to Know in 2009

...I think they are all worth checking out but I posted a couple of my favs from these artists!

Foals - Red Socks Pugie

Motel Motel - River

Passion Pit - I've Got Your Number

This is a Musical Revolution

Ok so I am pretty new at this so you might have to bare with me until I get things figured out. I will hopefully have pics, clips, links, and other random jazz coming soon. But basically I decided it's a new year and I'd give blogging a try since I've never done it before. I just wanted to share the music that I am currently digging with everyone else so they can enjoy some great jams too...

Cheers!