New Video: Tegan and Sara

The cute Quin sisters from Canada just released their new video for 'Alligator' off their recent release 'Sainthood'. They can both play every instrument involved in the music and often switch back and forth. Each sister writes as well and usually whoever wrote the song is the one who sings lead vocals on it. I still haven't made their live show yet, but I love revelling in their cuteness in their new vid.

Alligator from Tegan and Sara on Vimeo.

MP3: Hell

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New Album-Broken Bells

Broken Bells-Broken Bells

This new side project of James Mercer (of the Shins) and Danger Mouse (of Gnarls Barkley) is just too good to not talk about. I love Danger Mouse and I love the Shins. The two amazing musicians started working together after the failed David Lynch/Danger Mouse/Sparklehorse project. I say failed, only because Columbia would not let Danger Mouse produce anything with his name on it. I thought the album was amazing...perhaps #51 in my 'Best of' for last year. So, learning from his past mistakes, Broken Bells is released on Columbia. There is a strong possibility the two will continue to work together in the future. So, hopefully this is not a one shot side project like Ugly Casanova or The Postal Service. We want more!!! Here's a vid from their first concert ever just a few nights ago.



MP3: High Road

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A Musical Weekend in OKC and Norman

There are many great live shows this weekend and I will attempt to briefly clue you in, so maybe you can get out and enjoy some great live music. I enjoy weekends in which I get to attend four concerts of new music to me.

Friday Night

First up is Friday night. Opolis is hosting Magic Kids. Junebug Spade, a great little local band that I haven't had the pleasure of hearing yet, but have heard great things about, will be opening. You can read a great write-up of Magic Kids in the Gazette. They are on the Matador record label, which is responsible for many great bands you know and love (i.e. Belle and Sebastian, Yo La Tengo, The Cave Singers, Sonic Youth, The New Pornographers, A.C. Newman, God Help the Girl, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists to name a few).


Check them out, it should be a great show, well worth the drive to Norman.

MP3: Superball


Saturday Night

At the Conservatory on Saturday night is Bear Hands with Explore We opening. While I don't know anything about the first band (that's the fun of it, right?), Bear in Hand is a band out of the Brooklyn music scene. If you've been reading my blog at all, you know that I think that this scene is currently putting out some of the best acts in music today. They are a post/punk/pop/experimental band. If it's anything like this song, I'm excited, and you should be as well. Check it out!

MP3: Long Lean Queen


Sunday Night

Two great concerts tonight, both in Norman. The first is at the Santa Fe Depot around 7:00PM. It's a band called 'Elephant Revival'. Described as 'neo-acoustic electric transcendental folk', many of my friends have commented on how good this band is. I will be there on Sunday night, I would advise you to get your tickets in advance to this show, however. After this show concludes, there's another great concert over at Opolis, just a few blocks away. Breathe Owl Breathe with opener, Penny Hill. Penny Hill is a great indie folk-pop band from Norman that I have grown to love. Owl Breathe Owl I have never heard before, but they are a trio from Michigan who put forth dreamy, haunting folk music in the vein of Bowerbirds. I am really looking forward to this show being the climax for an amazing musical weekend. Hope I see you out there.

Elephant Revival


Breathe Owl Breathe

New Release-April Smith and The Great Picture Show

April Smith and The Great Picture Show-Songs for a Sinking Ship

April Smith and her band The Great Picture Show are, of course, from the Brooklyn music scene. Their new LP comes out in about ten days and I am so excited for it I just had to talk about it now. Folk, cabaret, gospel, rock with biting lyrics, a definite recipe for success. She has an amazingly powerful voice and the band plays traditional instruments as well as an accordion, a ukelele and even an old suitcase used for a bass drum. The song 'Colors' is all over the intraweb, but Daytrotter just released an in-studio live four song set. They are touring with Langhorne Slim right now and then tour with Fanfarlo through Spring. I am hoping to catch one of their shows in the near future as it sounds like a lot of fun. I'm buying this the day of release, I hope you are too.



MP3: Colors

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New Video-The Antlers

The Antlers, who you may remember made my top 50 and virtually everyone else's top anything list for 2009, just released a new video for their incredible single, 'Bear' today. This band has been in constant rotation on my iPod for the last several months and the more I listen to this album in particular (although the first album is really, really good as well) the more I am awed by its sheer genius. This is the perfect music for very long winter we're having. I liked the snow on the ground in the video, fits the mood of the song. I'm not sure why the oozing black ball had to be saved, though.



MP3: Two

Google Sucks Toasted

In an unprecedented move, Google decided to shut down some major music blogs today citing violation of copyright laws and therefore of blogger. I lost one of my favorite blogs...Pop Tarts Suck Toasted and Gorilla v. Bear was lost as well. It's a sad, sad day in the world of free speech and for music in general. For a supposedly progessive company, Google, you have sided with a failing, archaic business model, i.e. The mega-record company. To make matters worse, I now have to fear losing my hard work on my own blog because something I post (and you won't tell me what, even though I have asked repeatedly) is deemed illegal. Hopefully, I can figure out how to move my own blog service, which seems a task as daunting as moving my home. Why would an artist not want their music talked about and samples given to listen to? This practice has led to the buying of many albums for me and the promotion of many a new band. Bad form, Google, bad form.

Read more about it here

Album Review-Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes - Up From Below

A bunch of hippies from L.A. make up this band. There is actually no Edward Sharpe, only frontman Alex Ebert, former frontman for Ima Robot. Edward Sharpe is Alex's altar ego. After being disgruntled with big record companies, breaking up with his girlfriend and moving to LA and joining AA, Alex went back to his hippy roots and started writing a novel about Edward Sharpe. Edward Sharpe is a messianic figure who comes to save the earth, but keeps getting distracted by falling in love. This ten piece band is a good mix between some gospel folk and Arcade Fire's orchestrated pop, and since I like Arcade Fire so much, you can bet I am loving these guys right now. 'Home' is the release and probably my favorite song right now. However, I also hear some of that haunting Elvis Perkins style gospel noir in there as well. This music is the perfect music for this dreary winter weather that's been happening as of late. I am sorry I missed this last year.


Home - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros

EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS | Clips vidéo MySpace

MP3: 40 Day Dream

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New Video - St. Vincent

This was just released today by St. Vincent on her Myspace page with Fred Armisen from SNL and Carrie Brownstone from Sleater-Kinney. If you recall, she made my Top 50 for 2009 and for good reason, with songwriting like this, it is no wonder why. So, now she is not only beautiful, tragic, plays guitar, but she has a quirky sense of humor as well. Hmmmm. I may have to start spending more time in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. This is pretty funny. Enjoy.



St. Vincent - "Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood"

st. vincent | Clips vidéo MySpace

MP3: Laughing With a Mouth of Blood

Just Something For Fun

I found this video today while browsing the web and just had to share it. Perhaps you've seen it, but it highlights one of my favorite bands playing in an elevator and then a live song played through megaphones. Arcade Fire turned the music industry on its head with its orchestrated art rock. They were catapulted through the indie music scene probably faster than any band I've seen come along in a long time. One album and they're playing main stage at festivals by their second. That's serious selling power, and the whole time being a quirky art rock band. Their live performance is one of the most powerful I have ever witnessed and even in this video, you get a sense of their raw, naked quirkyness that washes over you in a tidal wave of good vibes. I don't see how anyone can not like this band. If you ever get the opportunitty to see them live, do it. Austin City Limits filmed them for their television show and it is a spectacular performance as well. They should have a new release coming out this year. I don't think they will ever top their first release, but I still am looking forward to it.

#41 - Arcade Fire - Neon Bible & Wake Up
by lablogotheque

MP3: Maps (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah's cover)

The Temper Trap

The Temper Trap-Conditions

The Temper Trap....is that anything like a Passion Pit? If I learned one thing from last year, it was to at least pay attention to the hype. This band has been getting a lot of hype, so I checked them out, and sure enough, after listening to this a few times, I am very impressed. These guys are from Melbourne, Australia and got produced by Jim Abiss, who produced Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian. Like all music I hear coming out of Australia right now, there is this ever so slight backdrop of 80's new wave, which I love. There's a little electronic edge to their big guitar sound, which helps balance out the music and pushes it close to the dance genre. Guess what I'm trying to say is, check these guys out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.



Sweet Disposition


Fader

MP3: Love Lost

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Top 10 Bands That Should Have Made The Top 50 But Didn't

I don't know...I wish I would have had time to listen to all the music I got in 2009, but there was just no way, so I think, looking back, these LP's would have made my top 50 if perhaps I had only had a little more time. These are in no particular order.

1. Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Light



Three beautiful ladies from Brooklyn, NY making mesmerizing, dreamy electronic pop. Their name comes from a character in Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure. One of my favorite bands of all time. I could listen to them for days. They did a video project with David Lynch earlier this year.



MP3: Knight of Wands - not available

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2. The xx - The xx


Debut album from London trio, their emotive 80's guitar rock mixed with samples and r&b provide a unique sound that is difficult to leave alone. I have really enjoyed this LP the few times I've heard it and am looking forward to listening to it more.



MP3: Islands - not available

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3. The Juan MacLean - The Future Will Come


The Juan MacLean is brainchild of one John MacLean from New Hampshire. Formed out of the ashes of Six Finger Satellite, The Juan Maclean fuses genres of post-punk, 70's experimental electronics, euro-disco, house and detroit techno. Great hooks, great lyrics and a funky beat to boot.



MP3: Accusations - not available

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4. God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl


God Help the Girl is a movie set to start filming in 2010 written by Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian. There was an open call to pick the vocalists and the winners are featured on this soundtrack. It includes two Belle and Sebastian songs, Funny Little Frog and Acts of the Apostle. Stuart said these songs weren't for Belle and Sebastian...I don't get it, but whatever he thinks, it's still good.



MP3: Come Monday Night - not available

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5. Headlights - Wildlife


A cute little indie pop band from Champaign, Illinois, Headlights last two LP's have been in constant rotation for the last few years. For whatever reason I haven't picked this up yet, I probably will get it from them when they play in Norman in March, which I am very much looking forward to.



MP3: Get Going

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6. The Hidden Cameras - Origin:Orphan


I just discovered this band this year quite by accident. It's fronted by Joel Gibb who describes their music as "gay church folk music". They have a revolving lineup much like their Canadian brethren Broken Social Scene. I was just watching one of their live shows and it looks like a lot of fun, with about twenty people on stage. Their videos, which I posted below, are certainly creative, I'll give them that. I picked up their last LP last year and have worn it out. I look forward to listening to their new one.





MP3: Walk On - not available

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7. Fool's Gold - Fool's Gold


Fool's Gold is an Afro-pop influenced band out of Los Angeles and has a revolving lineup as well. The central characters are Luke Top (real name Nativ Top) and Lewis Pesacov. Luke Top often sings in Hebrew and members of bands like Foreign Born and Glasser help fill in as well. No wonder I like this stuff.



MP3: Nadine - not available

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8. YACHT - See Mystery Lights
Former male half of The Blow, Jona Bechtolt is from Portland and produces electronic based music. He is also a highly visual person using lots of multimedia in his shows. He just recently signed Claire Evans to the 'band'. 'Psychic City is getting lots of airplay right now. I love the fact that this video has a disclaimer.




MP3: The Afterlife - not available

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9. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca


Another band from the Brooklyn music scene with ties to the Portland scene as well, this is some killer experimental indie pop. I love what I've heard from this so far and look forward to their show at the Norman Music Festival later this year.



MP3: No Intention - not available

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10. Hockey - Mind Chaos



Hockey is a band I don't know much about. They're from the Portland music scene and the few times I've listened to their stuff I like it...I am throwing this in rotation.


Too Fake Music Video

hockey | MySpace Music Videos

MP3 deleted because Hockey is on a major label

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No, I'm not back yet

I realized I said I wouldn't post anything until I got back, but I'm sitting here in my hotel room and just got sent this and am now really excited for the release. Laura Marling's first video for her upcoming album to be release on March 22. The video is just beautiful and so is her new song. As I've said before, I am completely in love with her and would marry her in a heartbeat. Such beauty, such darkness in so young a soul. Such power and grace in her voice and so completely, unabashedly real. I cannot wait to hear her new album and I just noticed that she might put out another one towards the end of the year. I so wish she would do a more complete tour of the US. I threw on a song from her last album in case you haven't had a chance to check her out before.




You're No God

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Break

I am taking a break from my blog for the next two weeks as I am in France...but look forward to a couple more '09 lists when I return. Thanks for the comments and for following.

1. Passion Pit

1. Passion Pit-
Manners

Luckily I got a hold of this before the hype started because I listened to their EP last year, therefore I was not biased and was able to enjoy this piece of musical magic since its inception. It has been a long time since a debut from an indie artist has reached this much acclaim this fast. Passion Pit is an electronic band that formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States in 2007. They consist of Michael Angelakos (vocals, keyboards), Ian Hultquist (keyboards, guitar), Ayad Al Adhamy (synth, samples), Jeff Apruzzese (bass, keyboard) and Nate Donmoyer (drums). Passion Pit was a vocab word used in a class Mike took in school. It’s a slang word for a drive-in movie theatre where kids used to go to make out. I have been touting this band all year and think they deserve high marks. Michael released an EP in '08 around his college intended as a valentine for his girlfriend and the rest is history.











Moth's Wings

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2. The Phenomenal Handclap Band

2. The Phenomenal Handclap Band-
The Phenomenal Handclap Band

The Phenomenal Handclap Band is a wonderful journey through disco, prog rock, psychedilia, funk, r&b and dance floor electronica. Residing mostly from Brooklyn, the band is at its core is Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand, two ex-underground club DJ's. Their vision is to cull the best in indie and underground talent to form a cohesive vision of electric dance awesomeness. The live show tours with an eight piece, but collaborates with the likes of Lady Tigra, Patrick Wolf, Jon Spencer, Carol C and Bart Davenport to name a few. This LP is a funky, funky good time, with a tremendous South American vibe to it. They have moved into my top ten must see live acts bucket list virtually over night.



All of the Above

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