Thanks for reminding me about this gem, Monique!
“If they only knew he was a 9/11 hero…”
“They do.”
Springtime appropriate:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAO4EVMlpwM[/youtube]
Hipster Olympics!
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Author Archives: Akhil
Song of the Day – 3/14/09
Hey everyone. Just wanted to quickly share some sweeeeet music with y’all.
I don’t really watch anime, but in terms of soundtracks, some of the most thoughtful arranging and composition can be heard in shows like Cowboy Bebop, for example. A friend of mine recently gave me the soundtrack to Samurai Champloo, a ShinichirÅ Watanabe creation. It features work by producers, musicians and artists: Nujabes, Fat Jon, MINMI, Force Of Nature, Tsutchie. It’s amazing. Once again, I don’t know much about the show, but the use of sampling, sequencing and fusion makes for an unbelievably smooth, Eastern-influenced compilation spanning four discs and 79 tracks–if you like what you hear, you will not be disappointed. It is a tasteful balance of trip-hop beats, jazz and the underground Japanese hip-hop movement that feels new and comfortable all at once. For your weekend chillout:
MP3: Samurai Champloo OST – “Aurarian Dance”
MP3: Samurai Champloo OST – “Dead Session”
MP3: Samurai Champloo OST – “Sanctuary Ship”
MP3: Samurai Champloo OST – “Sneak Chamber”
REMIX!
MP3: Nujabes – “Aurarian Dance!” (Tae K Remix)
And just because it’s only appropriate to mashup a perfectly beautiful beat with Jay-Z:
MP3: Nujabes & Jay-Z – “Aurarian Encore” (Tae K Mashup)
Samurai Champloo OST: Amazon
Opening Credits: I need to watch this show, don’t I.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OuRajFzMYI[/youtube]
Song of the Day – 2/25/09
It came to me as a pretty big surprise that the Bowling Green, KY’s Foxhole is frequently grouped in with the Christian genre. There is a certain level of quality we are used to with music of the “Christian” variety, and objectively, it has definitely been a limiting factor for some bands, who are immediately dismissed (for whatever reason) simply due to the fact that their music has a spiritual side. My experience with Foxhole’s 2004 LP (Reisued: Burnt Toast 2008), We The Wintering Tree, has led me to believe they are an intelligent and multi-faceted group of individuals with the ability to create well-layered rock music–in any scene. Moreover, almost all of the songs on the LP are, for the most part, vocal-free. Perhaps it’s just their prerogative.
Whatever connotations you associate with the Christian scene or otherwise, there are great moments to be had. Channeling epic sounds that remind me of Explosions in the Sky, Maps or I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness, Foxhole has a firm grasp on moving a song along and getting the most out of a particular motif or concept. There is a good deal to find in their music, although it can feel dry or played out at times. Most of the pleasure I’ve found in this album is rooted in its production and harmony. The album feels like it has glue holding it together. That is to say, the album is coherent. As an instrumental endeavor, guitarist and co-foudner Adam Moore has helped create a polyrhythmic sound–through use of horns, strings, sequencers and delay–that is as formidable as it is ethereal, as tasteful as it is an overload. Check it out:
MP3: Foxhole – “A Children’s Canto”
MP3: Foxhole – “The End of Dying”
MP3: Foxhole – “Forgiving Monarch” from the new Push/Pull EP
Home | Wiki | MySpace | AllMusic
Support Foxhole: Burnt Toast Vinyl | iTunes | Amazon | InSound
Foxhole are currently working on a new album, slated to drop Summer ’09.
Farms in Trouble – “The Gas Station Soundtrack” (2008)
Over winter break, I got a chance to give a visit to a few local record stores and a few in Milwaukee as well. On a freezing night, inside of one of the last open shops on Brady St., a not-so-shabby local chain, I fished out The Gas Station Soundtrack by Farms in Trouble. In a plastic sleeve, pressed firmly in the fold of a rectangle of cardboard–the diagram of a patchwork quilt screened on its front–was a disc that the clerk assured me was “dirty.” I don’t think I realized what he meant until later. I gave him $6, the cost of the album. It sat for a few weeks with all the other albums I collected over the break.
This 27-track epic is the product of Zack Pieper and Riles Walsh (of The Candliers), Milwaukee’s own, better known as Farms in Trouble in their 10-piece format. Totaling in at 42 minutes, this album is genius. It’s also, admittedly, dirty. For several reasons. I’ve just finished listening to it, and aside from the fact that my head is still spinning from the manic joy of the whole thing, its texture is also a force to be reckoned with. It’s not lo-fi, it’s not proper, it’s not simple and it’s certainly not a demo. It’s… dirty. No single song breaks the 3-minute mark, but if you weren’t following along, you’d swear there was a long one in there, for sure. Each track lends itself to the next in some way, sometimes chordally, or lyrically, but more often with a particular juxtaposition that makes it rough and crude without losing its charm and brilliance.
As I looked back at the album art, I saw the patchwork drawing. A collection of grids, dotted lines, arrows and what I think are pieces of a city map, the album truly does resemble a patchwork collage. The Gas Station Soundtrack is homegrown. It is rough on the edges and jagged in the seams. There is absolutely no way I could describe this album with a few songs, so I’ve picked some momentary favorites.
MP3: Farms in Trouble – “Pleasure Dome”
MP3: Farms in Trouble – “Like A Needle In Heaven”
MP3: Farms in Trouble – “My Beautiful Baby Born Inside Out”
MP3: Farms in Trouble – “Many Boss Levels”
Support Farms in Trouble: Activities Recordings | MySpace
Here’s a video for “Empty Arrows and Exit Signs” (Track 3)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfqrejOD3Po[/youtube]
A friend of mine was talking about Guided By Voices recently, and I can’t help respect the elements of their early style that reflect in the ambitions of Farms in Trouble. Later I came to realize that Zack Pieper actually lists Robert Pollard as one of his influences.
Insane Bonnaroo Lineup Announced!
So, it’s true that I had my doubts after last year’s ‘Roo, but that won’t stop me from proverbially “blowing my load” over the announced lineup that came out last week. Just so you know, tickets are almost sold out. Already.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZqjfB_ZR24[/youtube]
In between major players like Oakenfold, The Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, The Mars Volta and (of course…) Phish, this years Bonnaroo shows some interesting attention to indie acts. While we have seen the likes of Radiohead, The Flaming Lips and the usual 4-hour My Morning Jacket set in the past, no year has been so comprehensive.
Wilco, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Decemberists, Bon Iver, Andrew Bird, Jenny Lewis, Band of Horses, MGMT, TV on the Radio, of Montreal, Animal Collective, Neko Case, Grizzly Bear, Okkervil River, Elvis Perkins, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Chairlift… okay… just saying all those names out loud makes me feel like I’m just reading a list of crucial indie acts from the past few years. Every year I ask myself, “Would I check out these guys if they came through Boston?” You know the answer. In addition, amazing world acts such as KING SUNNY ADE, Femi Kuti and Toubab Krewe as well as guaranteed dance parties from Galactic and Santogold mean that while I have no idea what it’s going to be like, the music is still some of the best around and there’s something for everyone too.
More to come about Bonnaroo as news is announced, but just understand… if you love MUSIC, it will surely be in Manchester, TN from June 11th to the 14th.
Songs of the Day II
I’ll start, as I always do, with an apology for not writing in some time. Being in school and at work and trying to scrape and find and explore new music is a job that is a lot tougher than I thought. So this past week I swore to devote my time to pick out my recent favorites and share them with you (sorry if I totally missed the boat on some, it’s the thought that counts, right?) I apologize for the layout too, WordPress is being a lameass. Dig deep, there’s quite a bit to be had here.
First off is an awesome track from one of my favorite bands today, Moscow Olympics. Honestly, the production alone on their new album, Cut the World, is worth mention. It is a lesson in tasteful, atmospheric rock the likes of which not only hail to MBV but wholeheartedly attempt to evoke the same amount of emotion… and that’s fuckin rad.
MP3: Moscow Olympics – “No Winter, No Autumn”
MP3: Moscow Olympics – “Still” from the Still 7″ on Fraction Discs.
This next band, Weird Tapes, is infectious (Thanks GvB!). Grab the Get Religion EP for free! And a bunch more tracks at the We’re Tapes blog. These seriously are the jams. I don’t really know too much about these guys, check out Gorilla vs. Bear for that scoop. For now, listen.
MP3: Weird Tapes – “The Heavens”
MP3: Weird Tapes – “TV Romance” from Nightstalking
Arsenal have been popping up around a lot lately. Mostly for their rollicking electronic, pop-rock tune, “Estupendo.” And rightfully so, that song is amazing. Not less than perfect for going on a run, going out or jumping on all the furniture in your house. Their new album, Lotuk, is an eclectic mix of Electropop, downtempo jams, garage rock and blah blah blah… It’s hard to get you a few tracks and fully describe these Belgian dudes, so here are some of my favorites. “Selvagem” it badass, at least. That crunchy lead line is perfect when coupled with their European, indie genius. Also, check out the chillout, spoken word bombs on “The Letter,” if you can. What do you think?
MP3: Arsenal – “Selvagem”
If not simply for his part on The Flaming Lips, Hit To Death In The Future Head, Johnathan Donahue has constantly brought something new and interesting to my table. Mercury Rev have been consistently enigmatic from 1991’s Yerself is Steam all the way to their newest, Snowflake Midnight (You should definitely get this). The title could not be more indicative of the chilled, ethereal concepts behind this album. Take a listen to the first track, “Snowflake in a Hot World,” then jump on the awesome Fujiya & Miyagi remix of “Sense on Fire.” Finally, there’s my all-time favorite ‘Rev song, “Car Wash Hair,” from their first album, written about the Lips and possibly one of my favorite songs of all time.
MP3: Mercury Rev – “Snowflake in a Hot World”
MP3: Mercury Rev – “Sense on Fire (Fujiya & Miyagi Remix)”
MP3: Mercury Rev – “Car Wash Hair” from Lego My Ego EP (1991)?
My favorite underground hip-hop artist today is none other than Cadence Weapon (a Canadian!!!). With truly raw beats and panned out production, this guy is a real person. The character he embodies is actually a reflection of something real and he’s not afraid to be smart, something that I look for in the art of poetics. That said, CW kicks you hard in your teeth and ankles… a blow of truth. Check out these bomb tracks and dig more at Hype.
MP3: Cadence Weapon – “Limited Edition OJ Slammer”
Mp3: Cadence Weapon – “Real Estate” (which has an awesome video)
Department of Eagles are doing pretty well these days, from what I see. That’s definitely a good thing. I haven’t heard too much, but their album, In Ear Park is full of great, reverb-ey swamp rock and I like it a whole lot. Especially that song that everyone loves, “No One Does It Like You.” Here are three versions, each awesome in it’s own way. These guys are good.
MP3: Department of Eagles – “No One Does It Like You” from In Ear Park
MP3: Department of Eagles – “No One Does It Like You” live 10/6/08
MP3Â Department of Eagles – “No One Does It Like You” alternate take at Don’t Look Down.
I’ve said it before, but we should all be even more interested in Rogue Wave. These guys are always at the top of my list of musical recommendation. They’re brilliant. Recently they did a MySpace session and the intimate nature of the performace not only gave me new insight into some of their more orchestrated songs, but also displayed a desire to never set a song in stone and always strive to perfect them. So, it’s okay to cancel a few shows. Great job guys, you are the shit! Few are better.
MP3: Rogue Wave – “Eyes” live on MySpace
MP3: Rogue Wave – “What Difference Does It Make (The Smiths Cover)” live on MySpace
MP3: Rogue Wave – “I’m Only Sleeping (Beatles Cover)” live on… somewhere.
In terms of classics, I’ve been listening to the Rolling Stones a bit lately and thought I would remind myself of the total awesomeness of this band.
MP3: The Rolling Stones – “She’s Like A Rainbow”
MP3: The Rolling Stones – “Street Fighting Man”
Finally, it’s election time, and for seriously counscious artists this means there is a great duty to fill. Wilco and Fleet Foxes recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released,” as an incentive download if you pledge to vote in November. Just a simple, honest gesture of incentive in activism from one of my new favorite bands and one of my favorite bands ever. I’ll post a super LO-fi version here, but you gotta get the real deal for the full effect.
MP3: Wilco & Fleet Foxes – “I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan Cover)”
MP3: Jeff Tweedy – “Simple Twist of Fate (Bob Dylan Cover)” from the I’m Not There OST
MP3: Jeff Tweedy -Â “I’m Into Something Good” (Herman’s Hermits Cover)
MP3: Wilco – “Nothing Up My Sleeve” YHF b-side
I hope you’re all doing well. Thanks to everyone who supports and reads our site. We love you very much. Stay connected, keep your eyes/ears peeled for MusicFloss.com and SUPPORT GREAT MUSIC!
Song of the Day – 9/8/08
Hey everyone. It’s been crazy as always. Good to see you again.
photo credit: Bowen Rodkey
A few weeks ago, I got a chance to listen to the On the Tail of the White Donkey EP, the debut release from folk-singer Vikesh Kapoor. His music always brings me to the same conclusion. We must return to this tradition. There is so much to be had here–so much that real folk music can do for the industry and all the places it reaches.
I can just imagine Kapoor (recently off a successful tour with staff favorite Nicholas Beaven) moving along, each song gracefully falling from his back pocket. Travelling through the heart of an unnamed area, almost ignoring the complications of musicianship and poetics, he sings his stories. I remember my first experience with his music, sitting cross-legged on the floor of a discreet second-story Allston apartment. There were no chairs, no posters, no amplifiers and absolutely no bullshit.
An Indian-American traditonal folk singer is something to turn your head to at first. His influences are part of a strong force of writers and players that do not share common ground in style, but share a similar need to create this long-forgotten escape that doesn’t have any room for the pitfalls of popular music today. I’ll spare all of you comparisons to others in his genre and simply say this: Everything in his music that at first sounds tired quickly becomes an understanding–that in order to create a piece of intellectual, poetic tradition one must come to terms with both who they are and what they have learned along the long, hard path. Kapoor’s feet are on their way to becoming tough and leathery and we’re lucky enough to catch him so soon.
Over the course of the EP, this truly became clear. Deciding which of these songs was going to be your Song of the Day was tough. Just as important as the individual tales, the whole EP is a coherent, imaginative collection of songs that describe a shared need for honest human connection. If that isn’t the point of this EP, then I would have to say Vikesh Kapoor as succeeded in creating something that, while sometimes inconsistent and unsteady in its footing, is in a way universally relatable–the way it should be.
Some major moments for me occur on the unnervingly beautiful “One Woman Man.” It’s those moments of folk glory where the song sounds as if it is from 1950 until he includes a line with a turn-of-phrase or euphemism that jarrs the listener back into the present. All of a sudden we have something that exists outside of the system. Later on, Kapoor hits what I consider to be a masterpiece, “Willy Robbins.” A traditional folk tale (no chorus, just the adamant painting of a harrowing picture). He sings lines like “then like many working men, he’d shower, watch TV.” and their gravity is unreal. It is truly brilliant.
However, neither of these songs I chose to share with you today. I think you should grab the EP and spend a moment to hear what an honest artist sounds like. The songs discussed above are even better in context. One song, however, you should definitely hear. “Till the Fields” is a happy, catchy tune with many simple parts working together. Truly, Vikesh Kapoor’s poetry is the most obvious talent, but as a guitarist he supports himself in admirable fashion.
MP3: Vikesh Kapoor – “Till the Fields”
MP3: Vikesh Kapoor – “Down by the River”
Support Vikesh Kapoor: Buy On The Tail Of The White Donkey EP
Vikesh Kapoor is performing at TT the Bears in Caimbridge on Thursday, September 25th. It’s his only show for a little while so GO THERE.
Pick up an album and meet the guy. It’s all possible with real music.
I leave you with an intimate performace by Kapoor at Firehouse 13 in Rhode Island
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPJwZBjs3d0[/youtube]
Song of the Day – 8/22/08
 
Being in a band is not the easiest thing in the world, especially when you’re young. It can seem stupid and foolish to pursue something with such vigor and intensity knowing well and good that you could fail at any moment. Regardless, one must accept that their innate connection to the art will keep them satisfied and must remember where it comes from. With years of practice, you can finally come out of your cave and share your work with the world–and hope that that child-like energy isn’t gone. But how can you be certain? Thus a band is born in tension, irony, anxiousness and excitement.
Today I listened to an album by New York’s Ravens & Chimes. A group of wonderful musicians who fight against the all-too-common outcome of a band losing track of what’s really important. These are people truly singing of what they know and are well aware of what they tend to project. I’m a sucker for layering, and these guys layer themselves musically as well as poetically. The results could not be a finer debut album–one full of peaks and valleys but is all tied together by a sense of proud urgency. I haven’t taken a lot of time to get into the album, Reichenbach Falls, but I will tell you, after my first listen I’ve had numerous hooks and imagery stuck in my head.
It’s a grunge at times–at others it’s a folk explosion. In an attempt to disassociate with the tendency to simply describe an artist in terms of others, I suggest you take these beautiful pop songs as they are. If you are interested in these emotion behind these tracks, you will love their album. Buy it. Now.
Today’s SotD were two chosen at random. Almost every song on this album has some truly fine quality and to decide on a definitive description would be unfortunate for the creative and talented members of this band. Please, let me know what you think. It’s been a little while since I had the time to listen to music, so I’m excited to get back to it.
MP3: Ravens and Chimes – “Far Away Sound of Cars”
MP3: Ravens and Chimes – “Saint Jude in the Village Voice”
MP3: Ravens and Chimes – “…and I Came Upon It in the Clearing”
Home | MySpace | Hype Machine | Better Looking Records
Support this band: Amazon | iTunes | InSound | Better Looking Records
Check out this beautiful intimate performance on Brightest Young Things:Â [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQACN9TMTRE[/youtube] Awesome.
Paul Mawhinney on Records, Legacy and the State of Music Today.
[vimeo 1546186]
I heard about this when it was first publicized… to realize nobody wants this is very sad.
We do a lot with digital tracks these days. This blog wouldn’t be possible without it. However, if you haven’t truly invested vinyl I suggest you take the time. Maybe you never really realized how good it can be. In the past months, I’ve been turned onto it and I can safely say that physical, analog interaction with sound multiplies your appreciation tenfold.
Bonnaroo Goes Supernova!
 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp-XZ3VAKrY&feature=related[/youtube]
Sorry I’m late with the post, but there are a few good reasons why I wasn’t so prompt in writing my review.
- I’m busy, but in reality I’m quite lazy
- This years Bonnaroo made an impact on me that wasn’t as simple and easy to understand as previous years.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I think that Bonnaroo is still the same fun-loving tent city I know and love, but something was different this time around. Let me explain it this way: Two years ago, when I went to my first Bonnaroo, I also attended Lollapalooza a few months later. There was absolutely no comparison between the two. While Lollapalooza (although still very successful, I’m sure) stumbled with predetermined set durations and security guards, Bonnaroo was a truly awe-inspring experience. Freedom and the emotions associated with it were strong and most importantly, they were pure. Lollapalooza felt more like concerts in the park, Bonnaroo felt like a true festival.
I don’t think we can overemphasize the importance of “the festival” in the world of music. It is crucially important that people have a place they can go to enter the group mind. A festival with extremely limited security presence, in the middle of nowhere and far from any truly crazy points-of-interest, makes for the best foundation on which to build a shared common experience–what a festival was truly meant to be. Lollapalooza, Vegoose, Langerado, Coachella, etc. all fall victim to the same issue. It’s not like these are bad festivals, they kick a lot of ass, but due to the demands of consumerism they are falling short of what a truly glorious thing it could be. Bonnaroo, in past years, was a festival I would describe as maintaining the mission statement of the honest, good-vibe festival except on a ridiculously large scale–now, im afraid to say it, but Bonnaroo may be going the way of the supernova as well.
Before I get into why this may be my last trip to Manchester, TN, let me reiterate that I saw some amazing shows at Bonnaroo 2008. My Morning Jacket’s balls-to-the-wall midnight set may have been one of defining moments of my musical life, Yonder Mountain String Band’s incredible fusion of bluegrass and other genres never ceases to amaze me. Jack Johnson and Eddie Vedder (what a surprise) may be one the most consistent musicians I’ve ever seen.
Basically, there is still something for everyone there. Unfortunately, when something gets as big as Bonnaroo does there will be those out there who go to Bonnaroo to prove they are bigger than music itself. In this case, of course, I’m talking about the biggest ego/biggest letdown in music–Kanye West.
Now, I wasn’t even at this show, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t feel the repercussions. Bonnaroo is just as important for artists as it is for fans. It’s one of the few truly solid chances an artist has to get on the level of his or her fans. Metallica did it, and they very well may be the biggest, hardest band Bonnaroo has ever had. Kanye West on the other hand, was a prime example of how an artist can be so delusional that they choose to create a rift with their audience based on the assumption that they think they shit gold. It may work in L.A. or New York, where the artist represents the market, but when you’re on stage and you and your fans are supposed to be sharing equal respect for the greater power: music, you can’t act that way. Kanye’s “Glow In The Dark” show, described to me by a friend as “even cooler than Daft Punk Alive [sic]” turned out to be the equivalent of being struck impotent on your honeymoon. That could have been the best moment of his career. Shame on him for not apologizing to his fans right then and there.
But it wasn’t a simple event that injected the festival with anxiety, it is the unavoidable notion that we, as fans, are going to lose yet another fantastic outlet for loving people to commercial interests.
The Kanye example is only pertinent to the greater problem with choosing artists that truly reflect the values of the festival. One thing about Bonnaroo that I really enjoy is its transcendence in terms of variety. It is not just a crunchy-granola-jam-band festival, it is an agreement of music. Like a world conference bringing opposites together–legends and indie fledglings share the stage in a truly beautiful display. There is nothing wrong with having commercial stars at your festival. Before we went I was worried about the crowd Metallica, Jack Johnson and Pearl Jam were going to bring. I didn’t really see Kanye as much of a threat to the vibe. It was the exact opposite. Kirk Hammett’s modesty made my respect for him raise exponentially. Kanye’s ego put a horrible taste in my mouth.
SO what are we supposed to conclude on? Who is to blame here? The answer is this: no one is to blame, but the torch will soon enough be passed.
A festival is very much like a star. It is the coalescence of elements into a fiery storm of pure energy. It is the gathering of like minds and like values. It is a celebration of the cosmic power of art. The unfortunate part is that sometimes stars become to massive for their own good. These congregations begin to manipulate the space around and inside until the artists believe they are bigger than the festival and in turn, the festival believes it is bigger than art.
Next year, think about giving your usual festival an honorable discharge.