Rainy Day Rec: Ray LaMontagne

For the past week, I've been streaming Ray LaMontagne's latest album, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise, courtesy of NPR's wonderful First Listen. The album was officially released yesterday, and I finally got around to downloading it from eMusic tonight. The first song I played? "New York City's Killing Me," my current favorite -- and the perfect rainy Wednesday tune for winding down. Now, putting my feet up and pouring a glass of wine... Happy hump day, everyone!

New Music: Arcade Fire

Yesterday marked the release of Arcade Fire's third full-length album, The Suburbs. So far I've only given it a couple distracted listens, but it seems to be worth the attention/critical acclaim it's already received.

At 16 tracks, the album is a wee on the long side, but luckily, the music is much more Arcade Fire lite compared to their previous work, so it doesn't get as overwhelming as you might expect. The arrangements are less heavy-handed, not every song feels like it's trying to achieve epic status, and generally, it's a lot more poppy and fun -- very suitable as a summer release. The abundance of male/female harmonies and synthesizers add to the accessibility of this album. I'm not sure it's their best effort (though it would be tough to top or even compare it to Funeral), but still a great release from a band that's released some of the best music this decade.

Plus, Amazon is offering the full MP3 download at only $3.99, and eMusic is offering it as a "deal" (only 12 credits for the full 16-track album), so there's no reason not to give it a shot!

Happy listening and happy summer, all.

The New Pornographers love D.C.!

I was delighted to read in a recent Pitchfork interview that A.C. Newman of the New Pornographers considers our nation's capital his favorite city to play. Sometimes I feel like D.C. and the surrounding region gets a bad rap for its musical fanhood since well, our music scene is not New York's or various other cooler, hipper places. Plus, we have horrible venues with horrible names like Nissan Pavilion Jiffy Lube Live.

So the fact that our city got a special shout out definitely warmed my heart and made me love the New Pornographers a little more today.

I had the pleasure of seeing the band play at the 9:30 Club a couple years ago, with Okkervil River as the opening act. Not a bad lineup, if you ask me. I've never been a diehard NP fan and have actually always thought their members did better things as part of side or solo projects than as a band (for example, I love everything Dan Bejar/Destroyer has done far more than any New Pornographers album) . That said, they always have those handful of songs that stay stuck in my head. And, their power pop is a great soundtrack for summer. Ironically enough, one of my favorite New Pornographers song is not really power pop at all. It's a lovely ballad with a weird and quirky video. I know I should be probably be talking about their new album, "Together," but too bad, I'm plugging "Challengers" instead.

(Image courtesy of Glide Magazine)

Stream It: New Band of Horses

Great news! Band of Horses yesterday advertised via Twitter that their new album, Infinite Arms, is available to stream via the band's own streaming webpage before its official May 18 release.

Infinite Arms is the band's third full-length album, but their first major length debut (Columbia Records), so it should be interesting to see what they've come up with and whether they've lived up to the promise of their first two Sub Pop albums, both of which I loved almost equally. For anyone who loves the echoes and reverb of My Morning Jacket or the hooks and guitars of the Shins will enjoy these guys. Much of it is lush and dreamy, and even if hearing "Funeral" will always make me think of that Ford Edge commercial, I'll forgive these guys because I love their music. Enjoy!

Never Too Late: My Top Albums of '09

Though we're almost a third of the way through 2010, I've decided to write a quick post about the music of 2009 -- due in part to popular demand and also a personal need to document it.

2009 was a weird year for me. There was a lot of great music, though nothing jumped out and grabbed me the way it has in other years. Rather than getting super psyched and highly anticipating releases from bands I love, in '09 I was drawn more to debut albums from new bands, or new albums from bands I'd not previously gotten into.

In any case, below follows a loose compilation of what I loved most from 2009. Since this post is over four months overdue, I may have missed some things, but this should give you a pretty good idea of what I liked. Albums are listed in the order of their release dates.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion



For whatever reason, I'd never gotten into Animal Collective before this year. But I knew when it was only January and practically every music blog was already calling this the Album of the Year, I had to see what the hype was about (I'm a sucker for hype - so sue me!). Equally accessible while also staying "weird" (a word my brother would surely use to describe this music), the bass beats and electronic-pop sound made every song feel like an attempt at something epic. Also, hearing a song like "Summertime Clothes" in the middle of a January winter was a nice change of pace.


Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

 

Andrew Bird seems like one of those guys who flies under the radar. His albums get great critic reviews, but then they seem to be quickly forgotten or removed from the musical conversation. That said, he makes very creative but accessible music and this album was no exception. Finger-picked guitars, whimsical lyrics and great melodies make this an easy and enjoyable listen.


M. Ward - Hold Time



One of my favorite things about M. Ward is his ability to sound like he could be from many different eras, while still sounding current.  Though this isn't my favorite M. Ward album, it's still fantastic. Once I could accept the fact that he and Zooey Deschanel are obviously friends and will continue to make music together -- even on his solo albums, I really enjoyed it. I can't explain what I have against Zooey. I'm sure she's perfectly nice. But when people start talking about M. Ward only in the context of She & Him, and when Paste magazine names She & Him's album their best album of 2008, it bothers me a little bit because I know how brilliant M. Ward is on his own, and I just want everyone to recognize that. Wow - end rant. Just listen to this album!


Washed Out - Life of Leisure (EP)



I wouldn't usually include a 6-song EP in a Best Albums post, but I enjoyed this one so much that I couldn't bear to leave it out (listen to "New Theory"). Everything about this EP -- from the name of it, to the album cover, to the romantic synth-pop -- makes you want to pack your bags and take a vacation. At the same time, there's something slightly nostalgic about it. For another 6-song EP that is strangely similar to this one, check out Air France's No Way Down EP, which was released in 2008 (and which I often confuse with Washed Out's EP).


The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You


 
 
A very polished album with high production quality (what else to expect for a major-label debut?) from the bluegrass/folk outfit from North Carolina. While very different from their previous efforts -- less raw and rough around the edges -- it still showcases with the Avetts do best: catchy melodies, strong harmonies, and great storytelling. This is an album that I loved even more after seeing the guys put on an energetic and very memorable show at GW's Lisner Auditorium in June.


Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes



I can't remember how I stumbled across these guys, but I do remember having their album on repeat for the first week I got my hands on it. Put simply, this music sounds like it was fun to make, and you can't help but love songs with jangly guitars, a rousing horn section and choruses that sound like they're sung by the entire neighborhood.

Thanks for traveling back to 2009 with me. Hope you discovered something you liked!

Happy Friday!

I started off the week with pre-release streams of new albums from Broken Social Scene and Hold Steady, courtesy of NPR's Exclusive First Listen. And now, what better way to end the week than with another new stream of one of my favorite bands?  The National's new album, "High Violet," is available to stream 'til 4/27 (official release date is 5/11), courtesy of the NYTimes. Get psyched, folks! (As an aside, The National has the distinction of being probably the only band John and I completely disagree on. It's fine. Some people just don't "get it.")

Also, if you really want to nerd out, the Times has also offered up a five-page article on the band, their new record, and probably more than you ever wanted or cared to know about them.

Enjoy the weekend, folks.

My Top Songs of '08

10. He Doesn't Know Why - Fleet Foxes

9. Sarah - Ray Lamontagne

8. No One Does It Like You - Department of Eagles

7. I Stand Corrected - Vampire Weekend

6. Lost Coastlines - Okkervil River

5. Head Rolls Off - Frightened Rabbit

4. Flume - Bon Iver

3. Furr - Blitzen Trapper

2. Too Too Too Fast - Ra Ra Riot

1. Family Tree - TV on the Radio

My Top Albums of '08

Call this the blog that won't quit. Just when you think I've said my last piece, I keep coming back for more! Only about five posts ago I was writing about the music of 2006, and here we are fast approaching 2009.

Not too much has changed between now and then, but I like to think that my musical tastes have broadened and I'm continually discovering and enjoying new genres and styles all the time (Thanks to eMusic and other unnamed influences with good taste).

As for my current musical fixation... well, it's no longer The Shins' album from last year. Let's just say for the past couple months I've been rotating a lot from 2008 to prepare for this post. As always, there is plenty that I missed or albums I didn't have enough time to enjoy, so rather than a "Best" list, I prefer to consider this a "Favorites."

So without further delay, I present my top albums of 2008. A list of my top 10 songs is forthcoming...

10. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park
(4AD)


For full disclosure, I'd never heard Grizzly Bear prior to this, so I came in with fresh ears to this particular spin-off/side project. The first time I heard this album, I thought, "This is weird." When I say that it doesn't exactly mean I thought it was weird, but rather... let me explain. It's music that, in contrast to, say, Vampire Weekend, if I blasted on my iPod while in the car with my brother or sister, they'd say, "This is weird," rather than saying, "Hmm what's this? I like it!" (I'm not mocking my siblings -- this just happens to me more than you can imagine.) So I guess what I am saying is, this is not immediately accessible nor particularly "catchy." That said, I kept listening. I couldn't stop listening to "No One Does It Like You" in particular. And I really got into this "psych-pop" (is that what they call it?), in all of its fuzzy, lo-fi glory.

9. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
(Sub Pop)


I heard this album in bits and pieces before it was officially released. Based on the sampling of mp3s I had, I was convinced I would love the rest. While that was eventually true, I didn't love this album immediately. It seemed a little all over the place - funky disco songs like "Saturday Nite" sandwiched between other Dylan-esque acoustic numbers didn't quite work for me. But then that's why I started to like it. I never knew what to expect, and each time it would surprise me. Listening to this album is like a roller coaster ride, but the energy never stops and every song is solid. As a side note, I'd buy the whole thing again just for "Furr."

8. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
(Jagjaguwar)


After this album was released, all the critics jumped on it and adored it, but for some reason I didn't listen to it until way, way after it had come out. And I liked it. I wasn't like "OMG this is the best thing I've ever heard," but I did enjoy it. I'm starting to think of Okkervil River as a simply reliable band. When "Lost Coastlines" starts up with the delayed bass line, and Jonathan Meiburg, with his haunting tenor voice exchanges vocals with Will Sheff, I can't help but tap my feet.

7. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
(Sony)


To me, this album has one of the best Track 1-5 lineups of any listed here. Big bass beats, some synths, hand-clapping, and dramatic multiple-vocalist choruses make for a bunch of really epic and anthemic tunes. I find it to be great walking music. When I leave my house and start down the sidewalk with this on the iPod, it really gets me going, inspires me, and makes me feel like I'm setting out to change the world (even if I'm not - but at 7 am, everyone needs a pick-me-up).


6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
(XL)


What more is there to say about this album. It's not the best, but it may have been the most enjoyable. I never got fully on board with the Vampire Weekend hype, but listening to this album on any given Friday afternoon definitely got me excited for the weekend. It's the ultimate windows-down, catchy, sing-along summer album, written by a bunch of Ivy League 20-something prepsters. I'll take it.

5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
(Sub Pop)

Fleet Foxes deserve praise for having the best vocal harmonies of any album on this list. I saw these guys live and the vocals were impeccable, harmonies spot-on. The folksy album makes you feel like taking a hike, or enjoying the great outdoors. Tunes featuring reverb and rollicking guitars and piano are sandwiched between slower acoustic ballads with booming, echoey vocals. An all-around solid effort.

4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
(Jagjaguwar)


Bon Iver's album was one of those with a backstory; in short, Justin Vernon moved into a cabin in the woods for a few months and walked out with this masterpiece debut. With a story like that, you'd expect music that was isolating and lonely, but most importantly, moving. It's haunting, chill-inducing, folk-rock aided by Vernon's falsetto, steel-string guitars, horns, and dramatic crescendos throughout. Perfect for these cold winter nights!

3. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
(Interscope)


This blurb comes from someone who was never a TVOTR fan prior to this record. I'd heard a couple tracks, but never really gotten into them. Then came this release. Unlike some albums that take time to digest, this one hit me immediately and was the only thing playing on my iPod for a week straight. The music is layered with buzzy guitars and vocals upon vocals, the production is crisp and clean (just how I like it), and the songs are to me, a cohesive collection. They belong together and I love them.

2. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
(Fat Cat)


I downloaded this after browsing eMusic, and truth be told, I didn't love it right away. But I got into a couple tracks here and there, and slowly, it grew on me. And then I saw them live at the Backstage of the Black Cat in June, and that changed everything. The small room was filled to capacity, and I was close enough to the stage to see every drop of sweat pouring off the lead singer's face. They claimed it was the best/biggest crowd they'd ever played to, and their enthusiasm was reflected in every song. It was a high-energy, inspired performance that completely sold the band and the album to me.

1. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
(Barsuk)


Sure, this album got props as a good full-length debut, but my guess is that it didn't top many other year-end lists. I struggled with picking my #1 - swapping in other critical darlings and not able to commit to this one, but in the end, it was really no decision at all. This was the album that, from top to bottom, simply pleased me every time I listened. I first heard "Ghost Under Rocks" as part of a mix CD (yes! those still exist), and it had everything I loved in a song. It was, at once, dark and slightly depressing (credit to the cello), but also poppy and upbeat. And from the first time I heard "Too Too Too Fast" -- where did those synths come from!! -- I was hooked. Great melodies paired with wonderful string arrangements make for an easily-accessible and catchy album. And at the end of the day, that's what gets me going.

Listen Immediately: Amy Winehouse

I should have known that Amy Winehouse was worth listening to when I received two enthusiastic recommendations for her on the same day, then walked by a storefront emblazoned with posters of her on one of the few remaining record stores by my office.

My first thought was, a new female artist who is mainstream enough that she's being promoted front and center at a Kemp Mill Music while also being recommended to me by a couple serious indie music fans?

But as soon as I popped in her CD and heard the first track, I understood. This girl can sing, and not only does she sound well experienced beyond her 23 years, but she also sounds like she's living in the wrong decade. Her new album, Back to Black, is a soulful, jazzy, R&B masterpiece combining the old sounds reminiscent of Billie Holiday with the contemporary sound of someone like Lauryn Hill.

Winehouse, a native of England, has passion and attitude, and it comes through from the first note of her album. It's a bold feat to kick off an album singing, "They tried to make me go to rehab/I said no, no, no" as a defiant response to her previous management company's demands that she get help for her alcohol problems. Winehouse dropped them after that and released this record, which was the highest U.S. chart debut (#7) for any British female artist ever. She certainly proved that despite whatever personal issues she has to deal with, she has a firm grasp of her music career.

Visit MySpace for sample tracks. YouTube also has some excellent music videos. Like I said, listen immediately.

To Love Somebody

I came across a nice video during some musical websurfing today. Check out two of my favorite artists, Ray LaMontagne and Damien Rice, performing a duet of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" at a recent performance in France. Pretty sweet... Enjoy!

Music of 2006.

I'm long overdue on this post, but I figure it's better late than never. By now many of you music lovers have read countless Best of 2006 lists (Pitchfork, Harp, bloggers, etc.) so I'll spare you my own, especially since it's almost March now.

Rather than call this a true "Best of," or even my own personal Top 10, I'll just consider this post a wrap-up of the best of what I heard in 2006. The reason I say this is because I am well aware that for no good reason at all, there are many new releases that I failed to get my ears on or otherwise was not able to completely absorb (Ray LaMontagne, Damien Rice, and Lily Allen come immediately to mind). Actually, there are probably at least a dozen releases I am certain would qualify as fantastic music had I given myself the chance to hear all of it, and this is what is most frustrating to me.

On the other hand, I was able to hear many other wonderful things that I am happy to plug right now. In no particular order, here follows a quick list of my personal favorites that came out in 2006...

M. Ward :: Post-War



The man with the raspy old school radio-voice found a band to back him up on this album, and with rollicking guitars and some wonderful guest vocalists (Neko Case and My Morning Jacket's Jim James), the result is incredible and possibly my favorite M. Ward effort to date. He has a way of transporting the listener to a different time while keeping a fresh and current sound. Something about his music makes me feel nostalgic and thoughtful. On my first listen, the sense of familiarity and instant connection made me feel as if I'd heard the song years ago and the sound of Ward's voice was bringing me back to an old memory.

Band of Horses :: Everything All The Time



An amazing debut album from a new addition to the Sub Pop family. This one received tons of blogger press, but the hype was worth it in the end. They've got a kinda Shins-y sound with more reverb and big guitars.

The Decemberists :: The Crane Wife



The major label debut from one of my favorite bands was not a disappointment. Sure, it took me a few listens to get into it, and it's definitely not my favorite Decemberists album, but songs like "The Perfect Crime" are ridiculously addicting and I still heart Colin Meloy.

Cat Power :: The Greatest



This was one of the first new albums I heard in 2006, and I was hooked from the first note of the "The Greatest," which for me was hands-down one of the best songs of the year. After learning some background on Chan Marshall and the incredible journey she's been through -- and the state she was in while this album was being made -- I have an immense appreciation for her music and huge respect for her work.

Beirut :: Gulag Orkestar



Speaking of respect for musicians, Zach Condon is the man behind Beirut, and it's important to note that he's still a teenager (19) and he's set the bar high on his debut creation. He sounds like he's a musical veteran with the sounds and melodies he's created on this album, an indescribable blend of gypsy-folk, complete with accordians and horns and every instrument you can imagine except guitars. If you close your eyes you feel like you could be in a completely different time and place, maybe an intimate picnic somewhere in Eastern Europe.

Vetiver :: To Find Me Gone



When I first heard Vetiver's album, the lead vocals reminded me immediately of one of my favorite UK bands, Turin Brakes. This was another album I listened to based on blogger recommendations, and it was an instantly-catchy, no-nonsense folk/rock album with beautiful melodies.

Islands :: Return to the Sea



I played this for the first time with Auddie in the car, and her reaction was to say, "I feel like we're on a beach." Aside from the band name and album title, songs like "Jogging Gorgeous Summer" that feature Jamaican steel drums certainly invoke a beachy mood. It's rare that I'll blindly get an album based mostly on blogger hype, but after not hearing a single note until I first popped it into my CD player, I was pleasantly surprised with this album, which, I should note, is another debut effort (from former members of The Unicorns). It's poppy, fun, and immediately catchy.

Belle & Sebastian :: The Life Pursuit

I don't think I need to describe the B&S sound to anyone. I pretty much love everything they do, and this album was no exception. Sugary sweet as usual with uplifting melodies and bouncing beats, this is perfect summer driving music that is easily repeatable and instantly addicting.

JT in the hizzle

I'm a little delayed on this post, but I knew I couldn't go any longer without writing about my experience at the Justin Timberlake concert last Friday at the Verizon Center.

I thought my teenybopper days were behind me, but when the opportunity arose to see my favorite original boybander-turned-legitimate-and-respected-artist/musician in his solo element, I couldn't pass up the chance. After all, FutureSex / LoveSounds is a pretty great album that's ok for even the hipsters to love.

After making our way to our seats and taking in a couple mediocre Pink songs, Steph and I decided it was time for a drink and a tour of the good ol' merch table. Ah, my favorite part of any concert. The only difference was that instead of looking at artsy t-shirts and posters from one of my random indie bands, we were presented with tour programs, key chains, shirts emblazoned with Justin's face, and my personal favorite, a pair of gym shorts with SexyBack written across the behind. Let's just say that after a few early evening cocktails at Fado, Steph could not resist the urge. I, however, kept my credit card in my wallet as I flashed back to 1999 and the Backstreet Boys Millennium Tour when I dropped $40 on an oversized t-shirt that ended up collecting dust on my shelf until I gave it away to some unsuspecting recipient.

Anyway, back to the show. By the time JT came on we were pumped. Despite the fact that he appeared only 3 inches tall from our vantage point, we screamed like little girls when he took the stage in his fancy suit and white sneaks. The stage setup in the middle of the arena was a little awkward -- there was no jumbotron and some of the screens occasionally blocked the view of JT -- but he did a pretty good job of making his way around to the different sides of the arena and playing to the crowd.

After a couple tunes, Justin does the "What up, Washington, DC!?!" speech to make the crowd feel special and explain how happy he is to be there. Then he launches into his responsible celebrity lecture about his visit to Walter Reed hospital and the troops, which would be fine for "Inside the Actor's Studio," but c'mon Justin, it's Friday night and we're trying to relax and be shallow and have a good time. Buzzzzzkill.

Oddly and without warning, less than hour into the show Justin disappears down the nifty circle-stage into the ground, presumably for a quick outfit change between songs...

Then clips of music videos project on the screen as a DJ (ok, pretty sure it was Timbaland) plays a mix of some crowd favorites -- Nelly Furtado, The Fray, someotherpopsongIdon'tknow, more Nelly Furtado -- and suddenly I feel like I'm watching a 99.5 commercial. Where did you go, Justin? Needless to say, my $7 lite beer buzz is donezo after this unexpected intermission that seemed to last forever.

As expected, Justin saved fan favorites "Cry Me A River" and "SexyBack" for the second half or the show, and he even got all profesh and sat behind a piano and strummed a guitar for a few tracks. Not bad, JT, not bad at all. But if I were him, I'd stick to the dancing, cause that's what he does best. I'm such a sucker for those choreographed moves, especially after getting sucked in to MTV's latest J.Lo-produced reality, "Dancelife."

While I regret not catching JT when he played the 9:30 Club (yup, you heard me) last summer, there's something special about paying an exorbitant amount for the big stadium show. There's just a certain camaraderie you can't help but feel when you're standing in that long bathroom line next to the girl with the homemade, shoddily puffy-painted "I Heart Justin" t-shirt. While you would probably never be friends with this person in real life, for that brief time you are under the same roof as Justin, you could be best friends. And that, my friends, is priceless.

Pepper and Amex

My good friend Pepper recently scored a sweet gig writing the background music for an Amex commercial airing locally in Aspen, Colorado. The commercial itself was shot and directed by Pepper's friend Henry. Clearly, both are a couple of talented gents!

Anyway, this news is noteworthy for at least two reasons:

1. I love the My Life. My Card. campaign (which you may have gathered from a previous post);

and

2. Pepper is an awesome musician and I'm very happy and excited for him. In fact, to find out more about what he does and to hear more of his originals, hop on over to his website. Huge props, Pep!

New Shins Preview

The Shins today announced that their forthcoming album, Wincing The Night Away, due for a January 2007 release, is now available for pre-sale through Sub Pop records. This is a huge deal, as we haven't had a studio release from these guys since 2003's Chutes Too Narrow.

Sub Pop has one of the new tracks, "Phantom Limb," available as its download of the week. Get on it! I streamed it once tonight and already have it stuck in my head. So far so good, Shinsies! Hope the rest is worth the long wait!

Couple musical things

This week TIME magazine posted their list of All-TIME 100 albums, assorted by decade. Check it out here, discover something new, or debate with your friends. Props to Radiohead and R.E.M. for earning two shoutouts each.

In other links to musical discovery, Ryan Adams has once again updated his web page, this time including expanding the Cardinals Radio section, and it essentially allows you to stream 8 "albums" of some pretty unedited tracks and lots of random material under various pseudonyms. If it wasn't clear before, it's safe to say that Ryan loves to record and doesn't care how good or bad it is. On the other hand, for those of you who haven't heard him yet, all his previously released material -- the good stuff -- is streaming too.

Oops. I'm still here.

Hi, I'm back. Sorry readers, my waning usage of the Internet (shocked, aren't you?) combined with an utter lack of any decent or otherwise entertaining inspiration has led to the slowdown of my blog. (Or... The new fall season of TV has started, and well, we all know what that means.) I'll try harder.

For now, all you so-called indie fans can check out CNN's special report on the indie scene. It's an interesting read -- from which I gathered what I've already known for quite some time: that the term "indie" basically describes nothing concrete or meaningful now -- and the "How Indie are You?" quiz is even better. I scored a 3 out of 10 which officially made me a "poser." I guess I already knew this, though.

Speaking of "indie," I will now a quick tracks of what I've been enjoying in recent days. There have been a few new releases in the past few months that I'm trying to catch up with and take in; here is one of many.

The Decemberists made their big-label debut (not so "indie" by definition) with the release of The Crane Wife (Capitol, 2006) earlier this week. Upon first listen, I was not impressed nor excited. But I kept it on repeat during my daily commute, and it started to make more sense with each listen, and it's even beginning to grow on me. At this point, I definitely don't think it comes close to their best effort (though many bloggers and critics are giving it rave reviews!) , but I guess they have to be commended for going out of the box. This album is more poppy (read: "mainstream" accessible) with spurts of classic rock that will surprise any old Decemberists fan. Check out Podbop's review for the album's background story (based on an old Japanese folk tale) and an awesome Lego depiction of the band.

Posted here is the first track of the album, which is not necessarily my favorite, but one of the stronger tracks that is shorter than 10 minutes long. Give 'er a listen and see what you think.

The Decemberists :: The Crane Wife 3


P.S. If you have not noticed, I'm now using the new and improved blogger beta which has tons of crazy features that I haven't learned to use yet. I'm working on getting all the old things from my template back, while also hoping to make it more snazzy and organized, too. Stay tuned.

Bloody Ben Kweller

This post and link come courtesy of Meevs, who actually saw the memorable, but sad Ben Kweller performance live at Austin City Limits last week (so jealous!). Poor Ben had a bloody nose that just wouldn't stop. Watch a clip of his set. I'm going next year; who's coming with me!?

Please Do Not Let Me Go

Yesterday, at long last, I finally broke my concert drought with an awesome experience that combined two of my most favorite things: Charlottesville and Ryan Adams.

I drove down in the early afternoon with Huan, Molly and Auddie (her second concert experience -- what a lucky gal) to enjoy some of the sights and sounds of my favorite little town. Despite the fact that many of my desired stops were closed on Sunday, we were still able to enjoy some delicious waffle fries from Maarten's and dessert from Arch's before heading to the downtown mall for the show.

Let me start off by saying that the Charlottesville Pavilion was everything I wanted it to be and more. This venue was being constructed while I was at UVA, but finally finished and opened for concerts about a year ago. It's such an assuming venue; one just strolls down the quaint downtown mall and suddenly comes upon it, this large white tent snugly wedged into a little corner at the end of the promenade.

It was a perfect venue, in that every seat in the house was a good one. Whether you wanted to kick back and sit up on the small lawn in the back, get inches from the stage, or mingle anywhere in between, the pavilion setup allowed for a clear view of the stage from any vantage point. I, in particular, like any venue that is equal opportunity -- that is, even short people like me can see everything on stage without straining their neck or pushing their way up.

The venue, combined with a cold beer and lovely evening summer weather, set the stage for a great night of music.

The show opened with a performance by Neal Casal, who, aside from being Ryan Adams' guitarist in the Cardinals, is also an established solo act worth hearing. Check out this old post from one of my oft-read music blogs for a great sample track, "You Don't See Me Crying," which was actually performed by Neal during Ryan's set with the Cardinals.

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals took the stage just before 8:30, and instead of doing their usual 2-set performance, they wound up playing straight through for over two hours. In what was mostly a mix of Cold Roses and Jacksonville City Nights, highlighted by an inspired version of "The End," sprinkled with other standouts -- "Trains" --> "Dear Chicago" and "To Be Young" with a slow-tempo intro -- Ryan seemed to be in great spirits, engaging the crowd with goofy banter and moving performance. (See full setlist here.) Catherine Popper, the bassist, added to the great stage presence of the band, at one point remarking, "I think some guy up front here is looking for his friend -- Has anyone seen 'Rock and Roll'??" I gotta say, I'm a bit jealous of her... the awesome harmonies she sings, her ability to work the brunette-with-blonde-streaks look and get away with it, and the simple fact that she's a badass rocker chick.

Personally speaking, I think I'd give a slight edge to the 9:30 club show I attended last year, for its intimacy and killer setlist, even if it did play like a "greatest hits." But for overall experience, this show was pretty incredible. Great venue, great town, and Ryan and his band were simply solid. And I couldn't have asked for a better view.

More from C'ville on my Flickr.

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

Well, I'm only a few years late on this one, but better late than never, right?

Last night I finally had a chance to sit down and watch the Sam Jones film, "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," which is a fantastic documentary on Wilco and the making of their highly-acclaimed album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch Records, 2002).

This film was an incredibly powerful yet simplistic behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album, without any trite commentary or cheesy flashbacks. Jones was simply a witness to the process, which makes the grainy black and white film even more honest and intimate. As a non-serious fan myself, it was especially compelling to watch the story unfold and to learn of all the drama that was behind the album release. It chronicled turmoil within the band, as well as the classic label vs. artist debate -- Reprise records droppped Wilco from their label after they heard the album, only to have them resign and release with another Time Warner-owned label to critical acclaim -- all without being sensationalist or cliché.

Ultimately, however you feel about Wilco, you can't help but gain a much larger appreciation for the musical process as a whole-- especially when watching such good and serious musicians and how their creative processes unfold. It was also interesting to watch the movie knowing how the Wilco story would continue after the film stopped rolling: The way Yankee Hotel Foxtrot would be viewed and judged by the masses, and their subsequent album release coinciding with Jeff Tweedy's drug addiction (briefly foreshadowed by the mention of the terrible migraines he battled).

For fans and non fans alike, this is hands-down an excellent music documentary. I only wish I could watch something like this for all my favorite artists and albums. Sure beats VH1's Behind the Music!

Finally, below is a sample track from the album. By coincidence, the album's original release date was supposed to 9/11/01, and many people think this song -- along with a couple others, including "War on War," and "Ashes of American Flags" -- are tributes to that day. Eerily enough, the album had already been recorded and finished (complete with the album cover art, which could be said to resemble the Twin Towers) prior to 9/11.

Wilco :: Jesus, Etc.

Ray LaMontagne/Gnarls Barkley

This post comes courtesy of Stereogum (who posted via Village Indian's Amrit).

Now available for listening is a fantastic mp3 of Ray LaMontagne covering Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy." Gnarls Barkley (duo of Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse) are already making waves for their yet-to-be-released debut album St. Elsewhere (U.S. release date: May 9). Officially, "Crazy" is the first #1 single in the UK to make it to the top spot based on download sales only. And all that in just about a week. Pretty impressive.

Anyway, rather than post the link here, I'll refer you all to Stereogum's post for the mp3. And from there you can also visit Village Indian's original post which has the Gnarls Barkley version for comparison.