5.21.2009

The Covers Mixtape XVIII



SIDE A
1. Fort King - Loretta (Townes Van Zandt Cover)
2. Spoon - Set Me Free (Kinks Cover)
3. Damien Jurado - Pink Moon (Nick Drake Cover)
4. Oldham Brothers - Wouldn't It Be Nice (Beach Boys Cover)
5. Scout Niblett feat. Will Oldham - Comfort You (Van Morrison Cover)
6. Bat For Lashes - Use Somebody (Kings Of Leon Cover)
7. Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) - It Ain't Me Babe (Bob Dylan Cover)


SIDE B
1. Ellie Goulding - Wolves (Bon Iver Cover)
2. Rogue Wave - On A Plain (Nirvana Cover)
3. Marissa Nadler - Trouble (Cat Stevens Cover)
4. Coltrane Motion - I'm On Fire (Bruce Springsteen Cover)
5. The National feat. St. Vincent - Sleep All Summer (Crooked Fingers Cover)
6. Laura Marling - The Needle And The Damage Done (Neil Young Cover)
7. My Latest Novel - Two Headed Boy (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)

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at 8:29 PM 6 comments

5.20.2009

MewithoutYou: It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream! It's Alright (2009)


New Wax


If you pop in mewithoutYou's new album It's All Crazy, It's All False, It's All A Dream, It's Alright and expect the same old mewithoutYou, prepare to be initially disappointed. I say intially because you're not going to find what you more than likely know to be the same band that wrote Catch For Us The Foxesor Brother, Sister. Sporadic ranting, dual electric guitar, lyrics not about animals or fruit... these are all things of the past and the future is full of classical compositions, Aesop's Fables, beetles, lettuce, and plenty of spirituality (something mewithoutYou have never lacked). However, once you get past the fact that the band has moved past where they had previously been, you will discover that this new musical direction is a very strong one and that the band thrives in it's new skin. I wasn't terribly surprised to see that the album was co-produced and guided by Daniel Smith, the voice of Danielson and The Danielson Familie. Some of the songs scream his influence ("Fig With A Bellyache," "A Stick A Carrot And String"), while other songs clearly show Aaron Weiss trying to find his own way as a songwriter ("The Angel Of Death Came To David's Room"). Personally, I really loved the inclusion of Aaron's take on one of Aesop's Fables, The Fox And The Crow. Only keeping the basic outline of the story and the two main characters, he really brings a whole new story to life involving sweet baked goods and an awful man who sells them. If you haven't already, go pick up this album, it's the strongest contender so far for my album of the year. -- The Magician

at 2:30 PM 0 comments

5.18.2009

A.A. Bondy: Killed Myself When I Was Young


COTV



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at 10:16 AM 0 comments

5.16.2009

Jonni Greth


You Should Know


Jonni Greth's music is important. You just don't know it yet. Having played various festivals and coffee shops in Alabama, Florida, and Chicago, Greth's cited influences run the gamut of songwriting titans from Leonard Cohen to Lou Reed to Bill Mallonee. I've been fortunate enough to be a fly on the wall at a few of Greth's local coffee-shop shows, and his words and music carry a spiritual weight that always leaves me transfixed (and my good friend Jason on the verge of tears). I know Jonni through a mutual friend and last night he somehow ended up in my bedroom (insert obligatory homoerotic joke here) armed merely with his guitar and a previously unrecorded song entitled "I Found Jihad." With a handful of friends serving as his small makeshift audience and a lone Shure SM58 microphone aimed in his direction, Jonni belted out a one-take gem wrought with both imperfection and undeniable beauty. It's the kind of song that makes the hair on your arm stand up. The kind of song that operates on a seldom accessed wavelength of unspoken truths. The kind of song I can't do justice with words and will cease in any attempts to do so. I just implore you to listen with an open heart. -- Capt. Obvious

at 4:14 AM 1 comments

5.13.2009

Great Bloomers


You Should Know


Combining rootsy instrumentation with Beach Boys-esque harmonies, Toronto quintet Great Bloomers follows up the success of their EP with their debut full-length Speak Of Trouble. With production help from fellow Canadian Gavin Gardiner, who also serves as frontman for The Wooden Sky, Great Bloomers cover the gamut from country-tinged to the doo-wop aesthetic of the album's title track. The young band manages to keep the listener guessing stylistically without ever sounding too indulgent. The Wooden Sky connection serves as a good touchstone in describing the band's sound. They manage to not only create music of substance but they succeed in actually making it sound fun. -- Capt. Obvious

at 1:55 PM 0 comments

5.08.2009

Blog Roundup 5.8.09


Props


Photo by Royce Wagner


Songs:Illinois has news on a new project involving Felice Brother Simon Felice entitled The Duke & The King. Check out the mp3 for the track "If You Ever Get Famous."

The 405 got a spiffy makeover yet retains all the same great content.

MFR got a makeover too and they've posted a great track from The National called "Vanderlylle Cry Baby" that features Bon Iver.

When You Awake has a great video of Akron/Family performing "River," my favorite track off their new album Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free.

Aquarium Drunkard has posted some quality videos of a live performance from Bonnie 'Prince' Billy in L.A. Speaking of Will Oldham, he had a bit part in a nice little film I watched last night entitled Wendy And Lucy. You should check it out.

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at 12:33 PM 4 comments

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