A year?

Its funny. Until looking at a friend's blog, I didn't realize that my own blog celebrated its one year anniversary about a week ago. It really doesn't seem like its been that long...

Well its here so we might as well put up at least a little something right? Right.

2/13/09

The Decemberists Down Under

I was scouring Facebook earlier when I stumbled across this little gem. A little gem that turned out to be a rather huge and dazzling diamond of a find. The Decemberists are finishing (or have finished, Im not sure) their tour in Australia. On January 20-something, they played in Sydney and the show was recorded. One could argue that its unfortunate they didn't record a concert in which they played the Hazards of Love. I say "its a Decemberists concert on video...what more do you want?!"

I shall now link it one of the songs here for your viewing pleasure. If you find you have some superfluous time, I would recommend clicking the link below and watching the full concert.

Watch The Decemberists and other great gigs on Moshcam.

New month, new band pt. IX

Colin Meloy

So this isn't exactly a "new band" per say. Colin Meloy is the lead singer of a little band (my personal favorite if we're being honest) called The Decemberists. Hes played several solo tours and released a few solo albums. Only one of his albums has been widely released, the others you had to get by actually going to one of his live shows (its the only place they were sold). Recently, however, Ive been able to get a hold of the other 3 of the 4. We have Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey, Shirley Collins, and Sam Cooke as well as Colin Meloy Sings Live (the album with the most wide of releases). Today I'm more focused on Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins. Apparently she was really big in England in the mid - late 60's playing a lot of old British folk tunes. Colin took a select few of those songs and re-did them yet again in his own unique style (and voice). Here are just a couple of the tracks off the album that I haven't been able to stop playing since it started.

New month, new band pt. VIII

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Here I am, posting our new band for the month at the end of said month. I dont mean to post these so late, but that just seems to be how things happen to work out.

This month we go across the pond yet again (see New month, new band pt. III), this time to Scotland, to meet a band called We Were Promised Jetpacks. I started hearing about this band not too long ago. Just about the time that I started to hear the name via word-of-mouth I started to hear their single (Quiet Little Voices) playing on the radio. I was a little nervous. I thought this was going to be another case of hearing a single on the radio and assuming the rest of the album is just as good only to find that it is, in fact, terrible. I took a risk, bit the bullet as it were, and decided to get the album based on a few YouTube videos and 30 second iTunes clips. I must say, the gamble paid off. These guys are fantastic. Ive found that Ive become less and less a fan of "loud" music. Im more of a Folk person, but I really dont mind that these guys play loud guitar riffs and yell at me from time to time.

So, for future reference, if you're Scottish you can yell at me any day of the week.

My top 10 of '09.

At the behest of a friend Ive decided to do my top 10 songs of 2009. This is, by no means, a definitive list. It is by no means a list that a took any large amount of time to construct. It is simply a list of some of the songs that Ive enjoyed listening to that happened to be released in the past year. They are in no particular order, whatever you may think. I'm not too good at putting into words why I like a song, so Ill simply link them for your listening enjoyment. There may or may not be a few words said about some of them, that remains to be seen. So, without any further delay, I give you my list.


The Beetle King on a Coconut Estate - MeWithoutYou



MeWithoutYou is a band that you'll either love or hate. Regardless of how you feel about them, the message of this song speaks for itself.


Broken Horse - Freelance Whales



These guys aren't even well enough known to have their songs stolen and put on YouTube so you're forced to find live footage. Never the less, they still amaze me every time I listen to them.


Waitin' for a Superman - Iron and Wine



I heard this song one day at work on my Iron and Wine Pandora station. It was soon after this that I was unable to use Pandora at work anymore. While this song was playing I couldn't help but wonder what album it was on and why I hadn't heard it before. Come to find out, it was on the album that I had bought mere days before. Ive listened to it too many times to count.


60 Feet Tall - The Dead Weather



I agree with Richard that there isn't much depth to this album. If you want stripped down, dirty rock then this is the band for you. And let me tell you, sometimes I just want some stripped down, dirty rock.


Ghosts - Fanfarlo



I don't even remember where I first heard of Fanfarlo. I think it may have been from a banner ad on Stereogum. It doesn't really matter anymore how I came to find them, but the fact that I did.


Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros



Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Of course you're going to be drawn to a band with a name like that. I first heard this song on the radio and immediately knew I had to have the album. It didn't disappoint.


Your Ghost - Greg Laswell



I think Greg Laswell is what you would call a 'guilty pleasure' of mine. With songs of his being played on Grey's Anatomy it would seem he would be too mainstream for ol Kurtis (I know I know, there are plenty of bands I listen to with songs on those shows). I saw him at the Ingrid Michaelson show and almost fainted. True story.


Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise - The Avett Brothers



Ah, The Avett Brothers. I do love these guys. I'm not a fan of country music and these guys are, arguably, teetering on the edge of that. The good thing for them is they don't want to play country music. Alt-country was the genre invented to classify this band, of that I have no doubt.


The Ghosts Who Write History Books - The Low Anthem



The Low Anthem is another bunch of merry music makers that aren't quite as widely known as others. That, however, is perfectly fine with me. I like having little gems for myself from time to time. This is one of those.


Sugalumps - Flight of the Conchords



To end the list of course I have to go with a little Flight of the Conchords. If there is anyone out there who doesn't at least crack a smile during this song then there is a serious problem with the world we live in.

New month, new band pt. VII

Freelance Whales

I thought I would get this in a little earlier in the month than my previous attempt. Like I said before, I have a few that Im sitting on so Im covered for at least a few more months as far as these recurring posts are concerned.

This month we look at my new buddies Freelance Whales. I discovered these guys in a way I havent discovered any other band before. Word of mouth is a big piece of my music-finding puzzle, followed by searching on my own for things I havent heard yet, followed further still by seeing a post of a youtube video of a band I havent yet heard of on a friend's Facebook page by the brother of said friend's wife. At least those are the top three ways, Im sure there are others... Regardless, I listened to the song that was posted and immediately fell in love with these guys. Theyre from New York which bumps them up several spaces in my book already. They tend to mix it up, which I like, from song to song. 'Starring' sounds to me like Owl City should. Electronic beats beating and happy sounding lyrics make me dream of The Postal Service (without stealing their sound directly *glare at Owl City*). Then, you find yourself listening to something like 'Broken Horse' which is more on the folky side. As with all the bands I throw up here, I think its better if you just listen so here you go:

New month, new band pt. VI

Bon Iver

I had to get this in before the end of the month. I have a lot to choose from when it comes to new bands that came my way this time, so much so I had a hard time choosing which one would grace this spot. The good news is, December isn't too far around the corner which means someone else will get some love relatively soon.

This month its Bon Iver. He came to me late in the month from a friend (yeah, you). I had heard of him before but never really bothered to take the time to listen to him for more than a few seconds at a time. I realize now what a mistake I had been making all along. His voice, at least to me, has that 'haunting' quality that I never really used to think existed. Its good music to relax (or fall asleep ;) ) to, without a doubt. I wouldn't recommend it for your hardcore work-out sessions or anything. Ill leave you with a few of my favorites so far as I plan on listening to a lot more of him in the near future...