Songs of the Day: Relax

Posted on November 7, 2009 by Akhil

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Hey everyone. Here’s a short, relaxing mini-mix for the stressful winter season. Doty and I put this one together, enjoy!

1. Sexy. From their new album, Up Here. We got a chance to see ’em in Vermont a few weeks ago, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. This track is a sultry, soulful ballad that’s more like a warm blanket than a jam. Enjoy

MP3: Soulive – “PJ’s”

2. Two world famous UK DJ’s making awesome music. From 1999’s Epv, I really think this track was destined to find me. I’m not really sure I can vouch for the rest of their music, but this song is pretty much as cool as they come. Ambient lounge grooves, with vocals from Yvonne Webbley.

MP3: Amalagamation of Soundz – “Enchant Me”

3. This album is still shrouded in mystery to me. Although these guys have come out into the public eye, relatively speaking, their music is both personal and universal. There’s something about a pounding beat and dreamy guitar tones that really does it for me. Perfect for early in the morning, or late, late at night. Their debut album came out quite recently, but if you are keen enough, you can track down all sorts of demos, b-sides and side-projects from these guys. Start at We’re Tapes.

MP3: Memory Tapes – “Swimming Field”

4. Her first album in 8 years, Hope Sandoval’s Through The Devil Softly breaks new ground as well as staying true to the idea that was born in Mazzy Star and was realized on Hope’s album Bavarian Fruit Bread. This song, the third track, winds its way into the listeners subconscious and finds a dark place to hide. I’m always haunted by Hope Sandoval’s angelic voice and amazingly intimate lyrics.

MP3: Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions – “For the Rest of Your Life”

5. If you haven’t taken the time to put on your headphones and listen to The Flaming Lips new record Embryonic, do it. It’s an amazing journey from start to finish. In my opinion, this album is not meant to be split up into “singles” and stand-alone tracks, but for the sake of relaxation, here’s a track that features the percussion of a lit match and the psychedelic awesomeness of vocoders, mellotrons and harps. I love The Flaming Lips.

MP3: The Flaming Lips – “The Impulse”

6. I used to listen to Tarika’s album, Son Egal, as a kid. It came out in 1997, and I rediscovered it almost 10 years later. Apparently, in 2001, TIME magazine listed Tarika (Along with Radiohead, U2, Portishead, Sigur Ros and Ziggy Marley, among others) as one of the “10 Best Bands on Planet Earth.” Yeah. Pick up Son Egal or any of their other work if you can.

MP3: Tarika – Sonegaly

7. This 10 minute 20 second masterpiece comes from The Cinematic Orchestra’s unbelievable soundtrack to Dziga Vertov’s 1929 experimental documentary Man With A Movie Camera.Â You can see it in part’s on YouTube, but the soundtrack is amazing enough to stand on its own. This song is just a bite of one of the many extreme moods expressed in the score. Check it out.

MP3: The Cinematic Orchestra – “The Awakening of a Woman (Burnout)”

Devendra Banhart: Song of the Day, New Album and More!

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Akhil

I’m sure you’ve all heard this track by now, but I just can’t get over it. Every once in a while, a remix will come out that is (in almost every way) better than the original song. Perhaps it is a reflection of our “open-source society.” In this case, Neighbors and Devendra Banhart completely rethink the song “Rome” from Phoenix’s latest album.

MP3: Phoenix – Rome (Neighbors RMX w/ Devendra Banhart)”

Since I first picked up Nino Rojo, my opinion of Devendra Banhart has changed fundamentally. While I initially reflected on Banhart as a musical jester, prone to take the side of drug-induced nonsense before engaging sincere emotion, I was not considering his full scope. Needless to say, 2007’s Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon blew me away. It moved between folk, psychedelica, doo wop, soul and pure rock with the finesse and grace that only seemed right emanating from such an enigmatic songwriter. The sensual, analog texture of the album and the sheer diversity of Banhart’s songwriting and production skills cemented him and his work as a thing of beauty. Still the strange, psychedelic, wandering minstrel that drew me to him in the first place, Banhart now has the tools at his disposal to do great things to whatever he touches.

MP3: Devendra Banhart – “Shabop Shalom” from Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

MP3: Devendra Banhart – “Seahorse” from Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

In researching Banhart for this post, I realized that his latest album, What Will We Be comes out on October 27th!!! Holy balls! For someone who writes about music, I should know these things… as someone who suffers from chronic obliviousness, I think I’m on par here. The new album features many of the same forces that made SRDTC such a fantastic album. Real info the actual recording and philosophy has been hard to come by… the mystery only intrigues me more. Check these out and let me know what you think. There’s a particular, defined energy that has been elusive on past recordings. I’m interested to see what this does for his more conceptual ideas. Regardless, I’m excited.

MP3: Devendra Banhart – “Baby” from What Will We Be (I LOVE THIS SONG)

MP3: Devendra Banhart – “16th and Valencia Roxy Music” from What Will We Be

MP3: Devendra Banhart – “Goin’ Back to the Place” from What Will We Be

Hear another track, “Walillamdzi” on StereoGum and hear another, “Angelika” on his MySpace

Home | MySpace | AllMusic Guide | Wiki | Hype Machine

What Will We Be drops Oct. 27, 2009. Pre-order: Amazon | InSound | iTunes

To close, here’s Devendra’s video for “Carmensita” starring his ex, Natalie Portman… yep, that’s right.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ezaxiKe-Y[/youtube]

I Met The Walrus

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Akhil

One day in 1969, a 14-year-old from Toronto skipped school on a rumor that John Lennon was in town. With a tape recorder and unassailable determination, Jerry Levitan snuck into Lennon’s hotel room and conducted an intimate audio-interview that has been animated into what was the 2008 Academy Award winner for “Best Short Film.”

Levitan’s interview dealt with PEACE and how human beings can foster healthier environments for such an important concept to flourish. Lennon, a man of sincere wit and ambition, does not disappoint with his insights in the least. With the addition of surreal pen-animation, this interview is transformed into a work of art. It combines the spontaneous, excited energy of a revolution with the precise, scrupulous perfection of visual art in animation. Inspirational and humbling all at once, I Met The Walrus is not to be missed. Check it out:

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/3003057[/vimeo]

For more info on this short, visit the I Met The Walrus Official Site.

Thom Yorke and Flea… YES!

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Akhil

Well, if you haven’t heard about it already, Thom Yorke of Radiohead fame enlisted Flea, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist along with producer Nigel Godrich and percussionists Joey Waronker and Mario Refosco played two shows in Los Angeles this week… yes. Here’s a clip of “Harrowdown Hill.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fNnCKU_gUs&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

If you ask me, there’s something right about seeing Flea rocking out over Thom Yorke’s… “dancing.” The LAWeekly Blog has a solid roundup of the project.

One thing is for sure. This isn’t any sort of vanity project. These guys are for real, and made music on Friday night that was both a logical extension of The Eraser — some sort of advance — and something very removed.

See what they mean, there are a few more videos on the website. I’m gonna wait to hear more… maybe a recording?

Air – “Sing Sang Sung” Video

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Akhil

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/6605514[/vimeo]

I’ve broken my long silence to share this video. The animation and beautiful simplicity of the concept is a sing-a-long to their innermost, fractal ideas. Check it out. Directed by Mryzk & Moriceau, animated by Mathematic Studios.

Wilco (At Bonnaroo 2009)

Posted on July 4, 2009 by Akhil

snapshot-2009-07-04-10-58-32 (Photo credit: C Taylor Crothers)

As promised, here’s the Wilco show from Bonnaroo. For those of you that waited this long to check out Wilco (The Album) I hope that over the next few weeks we will realize why this band is truly coming into form. Like I’ve said before, The Album didn’t exactly pique my interest at first, there is something truly meta-Wilco about the project and the way the band is working in its current form. My close friend Dave Nyman even pointed out what I would call a “considerate” review of the new album that actually does the band a bit of justice. If anyone would be quick to call Wilco “old and boring” it would be our pretentious brethren at Pitchfork. Needless to say, I was surprised that the site took into consideration what the album stood for before doing the usual track by track bashing. The fact of the matter is, that as music becomes more personal, bands desire communication and growth over several works. Wilco has consistently proven that confidence is a large part of happiness. Even if that means we won’t be seeing the harrowing lonliness of Yankee Hotel Foxrot for a little while, you gotta be happy that the journey has become a bit smoother.Â This new album, their seventh, is entitled Wilco (The Album), and it’s a statement. It might be weird, but after coming this far, I get a huge grin when I think of Jeff Tweedy happy.

Continue reading →

Song of the Day – 6/23/09

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Akhil

snapshot-2009-06-22-18-27-12

I’m on my way out the door, but I just heard a song I’d love to share with you. A short song by Philadelphia’s Grubstake. From what I understand, these guys are just about to release their fifth album and have a serious local following. Grubstake are huge proponents of dirty, folky blues. I can hear Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Woodie Guthrie, Lou Reed and the White Stripes all at once, just from their MySpace. They are certainly unattended on the edges, but no song has made me want to drive a truck so badly. No bullshit.

MP3: Grubstake – “Recession Blues 2001”

Alright, here are a few more, at random.

MP3: Grubstake – “Whispering Blues”

MP3: Grubstake – “Musicians”

Let me know what you think, or if you know anything about these guys that I don’t. PEACE.

Roundup: Wilco

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Akhil

(Photo Credit: Doug Mason)

After this year’s Bonnaroo I can safely say that YES, Wilco is a touring band at its prime. The recently released Ashes of American Flags tour DVD gave me new insight into the workings of a group that, in my opinion, has overcome considerable struggle and years of obscurity to finally be standing strong at the peak of their art. After previewing the stream, Wilco (The Album) felt empty without Tweedy’s anxiety and experimental energy–it’s what defined masterpieces like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born. Nonetheless, there are new, beautiful aspects of the band that shine bright this time around–in addition, the new album is also considerably different from Sky Blue Sky. In my obsession of what I consider to currently be “The Great American Band,” I’ve stumbled on a few blog-gems that I will share with you, leading up to the release of Wilco (The Album). First, here’s a few minutes of Wilco (at Bonnaroo ’09) courtesy of Billboard Music.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1KSEUK_Vl4[/youtube]

Recently, The LAist published an extremely insightful interview with Wilco guitarist (and “Guitar God”) Nels Cline. In the article, Nels is approached about the new Wilco album, due out in a week or so. He answers questions about Wilco’s songwriting process as well as thoughts on his own project, The Nels Cline Trio–an avant-garde jazz group. If for no other reason than to learn about a true artist and a dying breed, check out the article. There’s also a fantastic video of Nels’ part on “Handshake Drugs” as well as a link to Nels Cline’s list of his Top 200 Guitarists.

[LINK] Read the article at The LAist

OneThirtyBPM wrote a post a month or so ago that covers all you’ll need to prepare for new Wilco, complete with track lyrics and live versions of many of the songs on Wilco (The Album). After listening to their new songs live, it is fantastic to see how they are adapted for the stage and it’s even more interesting to see how they’ve already improved on songs that haven’t even been released yet. It’s definitely a more time-consuming post, but it’s worth it. ZIP file included.

[LINK] Read/Download the live/album preview at OneThirtyBPM.com

Finally, just a quick note on the June 30th release of Wilco (The Album), if you order from Wilco World before the album comes out you get a full 256kbs download on release in addition to the physical media. Also, if you pre-order, you can download the track “You Never Know” right away. This track, incedentally, is also going to 7″ for a limited time in honor of Vinyl Saturday (from the creators of Record Store Day). The 7″ will include “You Never Know” as well as “Unlikely Japan,” an unreleased Sky Blue Sky track–a precursor to “Impossible Germany.” Since we all love nerding out on b-sides and rarities… this is welcome. More info on that at Nonesuch Records.

Pre-Order Wilco (The Album) NOW: The Wilco Store | NoneSuch Records | Amazon | iTunes | InSound

Don’t Worry, I’ll be posting Wilco’s show from Bonnaroo 2009 soon!

To end, I leave you with a Glenn Kotche interview by Nashville’s Lightning 100 fm. Kinda hard to hear, but it’s funny… just not ha ha funny.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl-rw8ABmQQ[/youtube]

Bonnaroo 2009: Delta Spirit

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Akhil

(Photo Credit: Jay West 2009)

Perhaps my favorite story from this years Bonnaroo happened on the first night. The day, spent obtaining press passes and setting up campsites in the rain, was anything but magical. Nervous faces and knotted stomachs were a sign of the apprehension, but people maintained hope for a positive, pleasant weekend.

Poncho on, we headed in to catch the White Rabbits, Chairlift and Passion Pit. The shows did not disappoint and the crowd was just happy to see some music. I’ll expound on those shows later, but the real treat of the night came in the form of California natives Delta Spirit. Originally set to go on at their 7 p.m. slot, the poor guys were stuck in a Dallas airport as their stage time passed. I can only imagine their shock when they found out that they would be going on after Passion Pit–12:30 a.m, This Tent,Â in the pouring rain.

Occasionally clarifying their anxious bewilderment with bits of banter that included “thank you for listening,” and “we definitely aren’t the best band out here,” Delta Spirit exemplified raw, honest energy better than any band I had the pleasure listening to all weekend. Though I didn’t catch the whole show, I was assured that their hour long, last-minute set was full of folk-infused, no frills Delta rock. Lead-singer Matthew Vasquez led the band with authority and an ear-to-ear grin, culminating with “People C’mon,” a call-to-arms for wandering souls. As he screamed, “And I’ll be wondering all, for all my years. What I become no one can say!” I was sold. The crowd cheered and fed off their raw energy. I can say, without a doubt, that whatever was lost in inexperience and nervousness was more than made up for with sheer enthusiasm.

What would have been a normal festival run serendipitously turned into a once-in-a-lifetime, Cinderella-story. I can only hope that the press and attention resulting from such a story will bring Delta Spirit closer to being required listening and competing with the best we have to offer.

MP3: Delta Spirit – “People C’mon”

MP3: Delta Spirit – “Strange Vine”

MP3: Delta Spirit – “Streetwalker”

Home | MySpace | Hype Machine | AllMusic| Wiki

Pick up Ode to Sunshine NOW: iTunes | Amazon | eMusic

The only reason I had even heard about Delta Spirit was from a particularly wonderful “Take-Away Show” at La Blogotheque. As I still know very little about these dudes, the video says more than I ever could about the band and their sound. Check it out the whole article here.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/4077192[/vimeo]

In 2010, Delta Spirit will issue the follow-up to their debut, Ode to Sunshine, with an LP entitled Natalie Portman Says This Album Will Change Your Life. (via)

I’m very very excited. Plus: More Bonnaroo reviews, live tracks and pictures coming this week…

Songs of the Day III

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Akhil

Hey everyone, since I’m totally strung out in preparationÂ for graduation, just wanted to give you a quick mix. I’ve been out for a bit, so I’m gonna give you the accelerated version. As I occasionally do, here’s a little stream-of-consciousness mixtape of my recent musical findings.

(On the go? Here’s the entire mix as a ZIP file [zShare].)

First, from a fantastic compilation a friend of mine picked up in Northampton, just a slice from what is one of the grooviest collections of funk I have ever heard. Get it. Dance.

MP3: Vibes Alive – “The Spoken Word (Remix)” from The Best of Cookin’

Positive vibrations ongoing. Upcoming Song of the Day on this next band soon. Their album is on frequent rotation over here–though I hear “it’s been out FOREVER!!!”…

MP3: School of Seven Bells – “Half Asleep” from Alpinisms

Speaking of shameful neglegence–Midlake. Apparently, I missed out on these guys a bit at the time, but seriously… SO good. SO underrated.

MP3: Midlake – “Young Bride” from The Trials of Van Occupanther

A brilliant compilation with emotion to be had from every performer. Probably the strongest attempt at getting so many popular indie artists together like this.

MP3: Andrew Bird – “The Giant of Illinois” from Dark Was The Night

I have no clue where this song came from but its texture gets stuck in my head.

MP3: Lands & Peoples – “Isabella”

Hmmm…. this one is happier. Like… WAY happier. I mean, it has bells… as we’ve come to expect from these guys.

MP3: The Boy Least Likely To – “A Fairytale Ending” from The Law of the Playground

Speaking of celebrating happiness, Wilco is always refreshing… and they never mind laughing at themselves. I’m unbelievably psyched for their upcoming album (*cross fingers* Late June), supposedly includes some form of this song.