Bon Iver, Bon Iver

I've been waiting for this for quite a while now, and NPR has it available through their First Listen. Bon Iver's second, self-titled, LP!

I think music can be appealing for many reasons, but you usually connect to something because it hits you in a personal way. For me, this album's fatefulness is almost too much. Justin Vernon, Bon Iver's main man, is Mr. Wisconsin, and this record, just like his last, has it literally written all over it. America's Dairyland isn't particularly known for it's production of musical prodigies (other than This Man), but JV does us proud!

I'll spare you the emotional sap that I can write here and just tell you to listen to the record, a couple times through for best results. But make sure you know the lyrics...Justin wants you to know what he's singing.

Weekend, Sports

This album would have landed squarely within the top 15 of my "Best Albums of '10" list had I been ambitious enough to follow through before the stroke of midnight on December 31st.

Instead, I'll just tell you about it now.

I'm still a bit confused about the title; Jock Jams this is not. The entire length of Sports is full of droney, space rock. Joy Division and Interpol are a couple bands I'd liken Weekend's sound to. Weekend's strongest components are its rhythm elements. Prominent and melodic bass lines and lots of drums. Vocals and guitars are used mostly as additional layers of sound.

I've listened to this album at different times, and I've found it to have an odd chameleonic effect. When I'm in a crappy mood, Sports echoes my sorrow, and when I'm feeling optimistic, the album has been uplifting (unlike the Antlers, whose music just depresses me no matter what).

Additional note: if you like to listen to music while bathing, this stuff is perfect...above- and below-water aural differences seem to be minimal, ha!

She's an Iconic Artist

And her name is Britney Spears. Those titular words were spoken by none other than the luckiest/most recognizable manager in recent pop music history: Larry Rudolph. To quote him fully, "She's an iconic artist...she's like Madonna. She's here to stay." While the first part of that statement is certainly true, I hope with all my heart that Brit is here to stay.

However, when I first read that bit, I found my emotions flickering between excitement and embarrassment. Why am I so sheepish about my love for Britney?...I mean, I'm not really; all of my best friends know that my iTunes contains a nearly complete archive of her musical catalogue. Yet, I am always initially hesitant to admit this.

Perhaps it's the pop-readiness/sell-out factor of her work...perhaps it's her 2007 head shaving incident...perhaps it's her cringe-inducing usage of the English language. But all of these things end up making her more likable, more relatable, and more human.

The woman is clearly business savvy, as she's been THE pop princess since 1998's "Baby One More Time." She has, albeit errantly, steered her career in the most lucrative of directions. Everyone wants to work with her, and we all want to be her too. She's one of the world's biggest celebrities, and she's been that way for over a decade. She's fought personal demons while the world watched, only to come back with another chart-topping record...and another.

It's easy to find celebrities otherworldly: they're incredibly beautiful, really rich, and driven by Texas-sized ambition. But, for some reason, Britney still seems kinda like the girlfriend who always has your back. Perhaps it's her very human missteps that make her seem real...I mean, who hasn't wanted to crack an umbrella through a windshield?...it's just that Britney CAN.

To drive home my point of Ms. Spears' appropriate place atop the pop-cultural mountain, here's what she's workin' with:

• 100 million album sales world-wide
• Estimated net worth of $150 million
• Production by the likes of Bloodshy & Avant, Max Martin, the Neptunes, Moby, and the Outsyders.
• Total concert performances entertaining more than 10 million spectators
• Really toned legs

Deerhunter, "Helicopter"

My fave song from Deerhunter's latest album Halcyon Digest is given the video treatment. Low-fi but nice.



http://pitchfork.com/tv/%23/musicvideo/8371-deerhunter-helicopter-4ad

Sufjan Stevens, All Delighted People

Last month, seemingly out of the blue, indie darling Sufjan Stevens released his All Delighted People EP. Almost simultaneous was the announcement that he would release a full-length record as well. Titled Age of Adz, the album will be released on October 12, 2010.

I have downloaded All Delighted People and was, indeed, delighted by it. A couple singles from Age of Adz have also hit the airwaves, and that project seems just as promisingly wonderful. Alternative radio stations are abuzz about Sufjan, and so it's made me wonder, "Who is this person, creating such a stir and so recklessly purging all this music out to the masses?"

Sufjan certainly is an intriguing figure. I've compiled some interesting facts, gathered from careful research (Wiki really). Read on to find a bit more about the man:

• Sufjan's label, Asthmatic Kitty, is a family affair. He and his stepfather founded the label in 1999, and named the business after their kitten Sara. Both the label and the kitty were based in Lander, Wyoming due to the latter's need to breath thin, dry air.
• Sufjan (SOOF-yahn) was not named by his parents. The founder of the spiritual community Subud gave him his name, meaning "comes with a sword." Sufjan's parents later gave him the option to change it, but he couldn't think of anything better.
• Sufjan seems to have a strong fascination with animals. Label name aside, his work was greatly effected by the sudden death of his childhood dog, and he's written a song about the supposedly extinct ivory-billed woodpecker.
• The title of his new LP is easy to mispronounce. The last word in the title "Age of Adz" should be pronounced like "odds," not what Don Draper does.
• "Age of Adz" was inspired by the schizophrenic artist Royal Robertson. Much of Royal's work depicts his vivid dreams of aliens & apocalypse and uses media like cardboard, markers, and glitter. Sufjan made a conscious decision not to create a Royal biography but, rather, focus on broad themes like love, anxiety, and death.
• Sufjan's older brother, Marzuki, is a nationally recognized marathoner.

Check here for news on Sufjan and other Asthmatic Kitty artists: http://www.asthmatickitty.com/

Download singles here and here:

http://sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/track/too-much

http://sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/track/i-walked

Owen Pallett a.k.a. Final Fantasy a.k.a. Arcade Fire Guy

Owen Pallett came onto my radar after watching his A.V. Undercover clip (see August 4 post). He was one of those artists I had read about a lot, due to buzz surrounding the release of his album Heartland early this year, but until that one-song performance I had never actually listened. I was an immediate convert. Turns out he's immensely gifted - one of those people who just opens his mouth or picks up a violin and, like magic, pretty sounds!

So his sound is certainly orchestral, with theatrical vocals, but he also throws in some electro elements. While listening to Owen, I'm reminded of the Magnetic Fields.

Owen has his hand in quite a few musical projects. He's released three solo albums, one under his real name and two under the name Final Fantasy. He's contributed string arrangements to Arcade Fire, including this summer's The Suburbs. And he's had numerous collaborations with artists like Grizzly Bear, Beirut, and Arctic Monkeys.

All these things are really great, but what actually made me purchase some of Owen's music was my discovery of the title of his second Final Fantasy album: HE POOS CLOUDS!!

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Kate Bush, Queen of the Universe

Kate Bush is quite possibly my favorite artist ever. I can't think of anyone more creative, risk-taking, or beautifully unusual. I understand how her music is an acquired taste for some (the woman's a huge quirkster), but I'm always struck by how much of an unknown she is here in the States.

She's epic in the UK, and has been since she was a 19-year-old chart-topper. Kate was signed to EMI records in 1976 after a little help from a family friend named, oh, Dave Gilmour. A few years later she released her first LP titled The Kick Inside, which is a surprisingly mature album, considering that Kate was just 13 when she penned some of the tunes.

She quickly rose to fame across the pond, in no small part due to her unusual voice and knack for taking really nice pictures (see above, she's lovely). But Kate's career was carried by her own determination and willingness to push the bounds. She took control of her music's direction by learning about production and sound engineering. The result was the creation of her landmark album, Hounds of Love (1985), a concepty double disk, the second half of which details a drowning victim's last night in the water.

Her last release was 2005's Aerial, another great double album. I'm not aware of any more current material, but I'm always in anticipation something new from Kate.

Here's "Wuthering Heights," Kate's debut single:
http://www.giantpanther.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Kate-Bush-Wuthering-Heights.mp3

Cover Love

Here are a couple covers to ponder. I'm putting up Cee-Lo's cover of "No One's Gonna Love You" by Band of Horses and Barbara playing Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness." I chose these two because they reflect a musical style negative-image of each other: an R&B star covering an alt-country tune and folk-rock upstarts taking on hip-hop. LOVE both of them!

Cee-Lo, "No One's Gonna Love You"

Barbara, "Pursuit of Happiness"

Instantly Loved Songs

Here is a series of songs I've recently heard, mostly through Sirius XMU, and instantly loved. Some bands (hello, Animal Collective!) have taken me dozens of listens to actually appreciate; then there are others that you instantly start bobbing your head to. Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Menomena, "TAOS"
http://barsukmusic.blaireau.net/Menomena_TAOS.mp3

Cloud Nothings, "Hey Cool Kid"
http://www.carparkrecords.com/heycoolkid.mp3

The Vaselines, "Sex With an X"
http://assets4.subpop.com/assets/audio/7308.mp3

Les Savy Fav, "Let's Get Out of Here"
http://fakepennycomics.com/blog/LSF_LetsGetOutOfHere.mp3

Last Nite...Every Bit as Good as I Remember It

Like some people remember the assassination of JFK, I recollect my introduction to the Stokes with vivid clarity. It was 2001, and I was working out on a stationary bike in my basement when those beautifully garage-y chords to "Last Nite" were first strummed through the tv speakers to my ears, courtesy of MTV. I knew that they were something new, and I liked it. And I've liked it ever since.

The Strokes were at Lollapalooza this weekend, and I was for sure in attendance. In classic cool kids fashion, their hour-and-half set began 15 minutes late and ended 15 minutes early (granted, they probably couldn't have filled that span of time even playing their entire catalogue). The band sounded great and acted just the right amount of drunk. Julian's voice was in fine form, sounding, more than ever, as if he were singing from the depths of a cardboard fridge box. Albert and Nick took turns taking Strokes-sized guitar solos (little, fast, and nicely articulated), while Fab and Nicolai kept good-looking time in the background. Red, white, and black LED-style back lighting kept the boys silhouetted in dramatic and impersonal Rock Star fashion.

The band has a new album slated for release in March of 2011..it's already been delayed, so don't hold your breath unless you've got Michael Phelps lungs.

Here's that earth-shattering video. It's just as good and instantly classic as I remember, complete with subliminal messages, burning cigarettes on fret boards, whiskey swigging, and mic throwing.

Gogol Bordello, Tiny Desk Concert

These days the indie music landscape is littered with chillwave and surf rock and dream pop and electro-lounge. How refreshing, then, is Gogol Bordello, a self-described band of "gypsy punks"? Leaving all pretense of cool behind, Gogol Bordello, led by Ukrainian-born singer/guitarist Eugene Hutz, imbues Russian folk tradition (lotsa fiddle and accordion) with a heavy dose of American rock. It's exactly what this country's "melting pot" notion was build upon, combining contradictory elements to create something that works well...and is incredibly fun.

Gogol Bordello's "Tiny Desk Concert," recorded in NPR's office space, clocks in at slightly under 23 minutes. I can liken watching this segment to hanging out with an emotionally tolling friend: small doses are the way to go.



These guys are playing Lollapalooza this Saturday, and I can't imagine their live show would be a disappointment.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128111544

A.V. Undercover

This summer the A.V. Club is holding a contest of sorts called "A.V. Undercover." The premise is 25 bands throughout the course of the stunt get to choose one song of 25 to cover. As the contest progresses, the pickings get slimmer. A couple real gems have been produced so far.

As a rule of thumb, I love cover tunes. I like hearing familiar songs being performed by unfamiliar or unexpected bands.

One of my favorite "A.V. Undercover" products is the Antlers covering Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here." The Antlers' ambient, ethereal sound quality and Peter Silberman's frail, sorrowful voice lend themselves perfectly to the song. "Wish You Were Here" has become one of those cliche classic rock songs, simply derivative of the fact that we've all heard it so much. But the song really is beautiful and wonderfully written, and the Antlers were able to give it a fresh reworking while maintaining the song's original integrity.


The Antlers cover Pink Floyd

Other great "A.V. Undercover" results are Wye Oak's stab at the Kinks and Owen Pallett doing Guided by Voices. See all performances here:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-wedding-present,38876/

Jack, Alison, & Co.

Last night's events cemented in my mind what I've been reluctant to admit for some time: my destiny is rock stardom. I'm not sure why I've been in denial; I guess admitting the truth and accepting your eminent fate are weighty issues that sometimes just stare you in the face like the occasional public transportation-riding goon sitting across the bus aisle.

Let me follow up with last evening's actual happenings. A dear friend and I attended the Dead Weather show at the Congress Theater. The opener was some surf rock three-piece, I think called Harlem...not bad.

Then Jack White, Alison Mosshart, Dean Fertita, and Jack Lawrence took the stage. Minds were blown. I'm hesitant to say this was my favorite show thus far in the year, as it's difficult to beat Ray Davies opening with "This is Where I Belong" while you listen with your dad, but the show was fantastic. The group plays live like they sound on record, and they do it for the crowd as well as themselves...hallmarks of a well-performed concert.

Tired from the week, sweaty, and wearing 5-inch wedges, I just wanted Alison, in all her stringy-haired glory, to keep singing. Her confidence and sex appeal are infectious, and I've contracted.

Gettin' Kinky Wid It

Great and lasting rock bands have certain things in common: talent, a knack for writing catchy hooks, and an affinity for drama. The Kinks have Ray Davies.

Watch below to see one of Rock 'n Roll's most gifted song-writers dedicating "Waterloo Sunset" and "Days" to recently departed Kinks band member Pete Quaife. Ray played this year at Glastonbury to a crowd of thousands; despite England's World Cup loss the crowd still gets into it.

Note: have tissues on deck.

Additional note: watch for the curly-haired choral singer at the 6:17 mark...epochal life moment for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6hMWM_zW70

Oh, How I've Missed Thee, Juve!

This song brings me back to the Cash Money Millionaires era, circa 1998:

http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/juvenile-drop-that-azz/

Juvenile's "Beast Mode" was released 07/06/2010, and I've linked "Drop That Azz." Listen for the sweet MCA "Drop!" sample throughout!

Rock Star Crushes

I look back on my days as a young woman and like to reminisce about my past loves. The majority of my significant relationships have been with Rock Stars. These boyfriends have caused happiness, admiration, frustration, heartbreak, and eventual resolution. I must also note that all of these relationships have occurred completely in my own mind. I've listed some of the more memorable ones below, chronologically:

MCA, the Beastie Boys:

I remember being quite young and seeing the video for "Sabotage." I didn't know why, but this guy made me feel strange. A decade and a half later, the Beastie Boys still make me rock out, in no small part due to MCA's great lyrical delivery and pure sexiness. This crush is hard to describe, as MCA doesn't posses that typical "Rock Star" look. He's actually fairly clean-cut in appearance, and I think that's the charm; he's normal but manages to spit some of the wittiest rhymes ever recorded.

Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin:
This one is predictable, Robert is the epitome of Rock Star. I'm not gonna go into details with this one because a) everything I'll say is already obvious, and b) it'll get me too worked up to get any work done after this lunch hour is up.

Dan Hawkins, the Darkness:

You may remember "I Believe In a Thing Called Love," one of the most memorable songs of 2004. If you do, Dan was the man behind the campy genius of the Darkness. He was not the flamboyant frontman, but, rather, the more obscure rhythm guitarist. This crush was long-lived and intense, mostly because Dan seemed like a normal guy just trying his hand at fame. It didn't work: the band broke up several years ago. Dan is no longer a Rock Star, and I no longer have a crush on him.

Dan Auerback, the Black Keys:

Dan is one half of the blues rock outfit the Black Keys; he also possesses the whole of my heart. This love has nothing to do with Dan's appearance. Again, not very physically Rock Star--Dan is slightly chubby, not outrageously good-looking, and hails from the decidedly normal state of Ohio. His voice and musical skill are mind-blowing, however. The Black Keys just released the full-length "Brothers" and I long to be Dan's "Next Girl," heck I'd die a happy woman just to be his ex-girl.

D1Y: Sample-based Music

My love of NPR was once again confirmed when I happened upon RJD2's World Cafe clip. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, National Public Radio has a segment which features a musically/socially relevant artist in the studio. Host, David Dye, will usually chat with the artist for a period of time about sound direction, inspiration, etc. and then ask to hear some live tune-age.

RJD2's World Cafe appearance was formatted slightly differently. Dye asked the electronic virtuoso to explain the creative and technical processes behind his songs. Over the span of 30 minutes, RJ talks about digging through piles of albums in record stores, scouring them for interesting and isolated sounds, queueing and tuning his found sounds, and layering them up to create, for lack of a better term, original un-original music. There is also a 15-minute video clip that shows RJ at the tables, exhibiting his craft.

I enjoyed this World Cafe segment so much for several reasons: A) RJ's electronic format can, with some practice and equipment, be replicated on a simple level by even the most musically talent-lacking individual. If you can find a series of interesting sounds, you can clip them together to make your own sample-based song. B) David Dye's interviewing style is really great. He always asks questions that a fan would ask, and this is because he really is a huge fan. His love and understanding of music always comes through, but in a way that connects with listeners. C) RJ is so darn cute. His earnestness is unmistakable; he wants his fans to understand where he comes from. After listening to him describe his technique, I was left with a new-found appreciation for his style...and a huge crush.

Listen/look here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126513428

Unapologetic Rock

The question is common, the answer is predictable:

"What's your favorite kind of music?"

"Oh, I'm down with everything."

Even if you believe you've got the most eclectic taste in tunes, you know there's something that just gets you going a bit more than everything else.

For me, it's always been rock, tinged with disobedience, machismo, and humor...and when I say tinged, I mean slathered.

This thought occurred to me a few days ago while listening to J Roddy Walston and the Business. You see, I immediately knew I would be all over their recently released EP "Don't Break the Needle". J Roddy sounds as if he were spitting his vocals into the mic after a weekend bender, possibly still inebriated and certainly in for a nasty hangover. On "Brave Man's Death," he sings about stealing his mother's hard-earned cash and being unable to love his kids. J Roddy, thank you for keeping this beautiful thing we call Rock 'n Roll alive.

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/06/J-Roddy-Walston-and-The-Business-Brave-Mans-Death.mp3

Sleigh Bells vs. Christianity

Track after track on Sleigh Bells' debut album "Treats" possesses the Holy Trinity of a great song: fat beats, dirty guitars, and saccharine vocals. I'm on a mission to spread the good news.

I was first introduced to Sleigh Bells via "Rill Rill," a low-key, Funkadelic-sampling, acoustic tune. I was pleased, but wrote the band off as one of those dream pop acts that seem to have infiltrated the music scene of late. Then I heard "Crown on the Ground"...

Guitar/beats man, Derek Miller lets it fly right from the beginning with a screaming little guitar riff, while singer Alexis Krauss joins in with a jittery, pep-rally vocal chant. The bass is heavy and the lyrics are singable. What's not to like?!

The album more or less follows suit, with 2- and 3-minute tracks that deliver infectious, danceable beats throughout. This album is perfect for my morning commute, and I plan on rocking out in my car well into the foreseeable future.

I also plan to see them perform live at Pitchfork on July 18. Will you follow?
http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com/index.php?d=sunday

Listen: "Crown on the Ground"
http://tympanogram.com/files/Sleigh-Bells-Crown-On-the-Ground.mp3

Blitzen Trapper: Wolves in Dylan's Clothing

From the poetic, emotive writing to the vocal delivery and phrasing, Blitzen Trapper's "Destroyer of the Void" has their influence plastered from floor-boards to crown moulding. I mean, the first line on the title track/album opener goes something like "Here's to the lone and wayward son, for to love is to live for to roll like a rolling stone." The album is cohesive and clear in a way that dear Bob may no longer have the the brain cells or vocal cords to pull off.

Blitzen Trapper hail from Portland, OR and are signed to Sub Pop, but Southern- and folk-rock are what these guys are all about on this album. Evoking the sounds of the Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, lots of vocal harmonizing and a healthy dose of guitar combine with tight production to create a decidedly retro-sounding album.

Standout tracks are found mid-album in "Love and Hate" and "Heaven and Earth." While the listener's brain gets lulled into a steady, twangy groove, "Love and Hate" opens with a heavy riff that commands the body's attention just like a nice guitar line should. And while they've got your ears, the band continues with the beautiful piano ballad "Heaven and Earth." Singer/songwriter/guitarist Eric Early's writing style is put on exhibition nicely here: all melancholy and oblique, the song begs a second listen as soon as it's over.

Consistency is king on "Destroyer of the Void;" the album is a smooth listen, the caveat being exactly that: tracks tend to pile together without much differentiation.

Listen below through NPR before the album's release June 8: