Mike's Top Singles of 2006

I asked Mike what his favorite tracks from this year were. He didn't order his albums, but he did the songs, so enjoy. Sidenote: He's getting to where he dreams in Spanish and speaks Spanish in his sleep. Totally cool.

#1 Turn Into by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
#2 Parentheses by The Blow
#3 In The Morning by Junior Boys
#4 Let's Make Love & Listen To Death From Above by CSS
#5 Gravity's Rainbow by Klaxons
#6 Listen Up by The Gossip
#7 We Were Sparkling by My Brightest Diamond
#8 When You Were Young by The Killers (thanks underrated)
#9 Body Work by MSTRKRFT (sorry, i couldn't find my cd)
#10 Hustler by Simian Mobile Disco

Well, I'm a little hmph about the whole 12 days. Might as well go out on a high note. So, I'll make 12 days 4. Thanks to everyone who reads and those who entered, including Sam who won yesterday.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.

The Affair hails from New York and will be releasing an album on Absolutley Kosher, home to many awesome bands including, Xiu Xiu, Hidden Cameras, The Court & Spark, and recently +/-.

"With a swagger in their sound that could only come from the five boroughs, the band channels bits of New York acts like the Shangri-La's, The Ronettes, and Blondie. Throw in dashes of the Cars and the Runaways and distill them in gin and thorns, it give them a distinctly modern voice."

Andy

Anything But Disco

day 4

Let's see how this goes. Day 4's winner will receive The Beatles-The Capitol Albums V.2 (4cd) boxset. It includes all of the albums pictured above in both mono and stereo.

All of these tracks are from This Bird Has Flown: A 40th anniversary tribute to Rubber Soul

Fiery Furnaces-Norwegian Wood(This Bird Has Flown)

Ben Lee-In My Life

Nellie McKay-If I Needed Someone

Again, if you'd like to enter, please post your email in the comments. Congrats to Jamie for yesterday's coup.

day 3

Day 3 (a little late in the day)brings you 3 little items. First is the UK import from Semifinalists. This full sounding 3 piece has been recommended if you like Flaming Lips or Secret Machines. They even made some top 10 lists this year.

I also have the KCRW Alive & Rare compilation and the Feist Mushaboom cd with a Postal Service remix, Knock Knock remix, and video.

Semifinalists-Show The Way

Semifinalists-You Said

If the prizes haven't done it for you yet, hopefully, I'll part with something you'll want. It's hard giving away you're own stuff.

p.s. Nick, you won day 2. Eenie meenie was all I needed for the 2 of you.

Day 2

Okay, so #4 was drawn out of a blank cd spindle top, which means born_on_the_floor wins! I'll get it in the mail asap. Send me your addy.

Today, up for grabs is a 50 Foot Wave self-titled ep and Lisa Papineau's Night Moves. 50 Foot wave is Kristin Hersh's side band. And, Lisa's lent her voice to Air and M83.

50 Foot Wave-Animal

Lisa Papineau-Shucking, Jiving

Thank You

As a thanks for reading, I wanted to start an annual give-away. I was going to call this the 12 days of Diss-mas, but that's pretty lame. Every day for the next 12 I will be giving away something. It may be big. It may be little, but hey, it's free. Let's start out slow. One cd by Immad Wasif and a couple of YYYs stickers from Show Your Bones. It's his solo release on Kill Rock Stars. He's been in alaska!, The New Folk Implosion, and toured with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

So, please leave your email in the comments. I will randomly draw a name and announce it before the next day's giveaway.

Out In The Black by Imaad

Run, do not walk to the New Year's Eve Party that Urban Pollution is throwing down in Austin. I wanted to give it full props by waiting until people were back from xmas break, so listen here. You will regret not being at this show. If you're even mildly thinking about it, just decide to do it. Here are the specs. This is why I'm freaking out.

December 31st at The Mohawk in Austin, TX
Doors at 8pm
only $10!!

Inside Stage:
09.00pm Loxsly
10.30pm Jonathan Meiberg
12.00pm A Hawk and a Hacksaw

Ouside Stage:
09.45pm Cari (of Belaire) & Jason (of Voxtrot)
11.15pm Evangelicals
12.45pm The Blow

More info here

The Blow-Pile of Gold

Belaire-RIP

Evangelicals-Here Comes Trouble

So, you want more new music, eh? Well, I've been sitting on the new Explosions in the Sky for a couple of days and don't want to ruin the whole album for you, but you can check out 3 of the 6 songs from their upcoming cd here. They've all been posted this week. Anyhoo, the Texas instrumental band's cd All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone drops February 20th.



And, Low's new album Drums and Guns will be in stores March 20th. Using a couple of new elements (drum machines, looped vocals, etc.), they re-interpret a couple of their live show staples as well as bringing the subtle beauty and power that you've come to expect from Low.

Pretty People

Violent Past

No one else is blogging. Is anyone reading? Anyways, 2007 looks to be a great year. The spring will bring many flowers, including a full length release from political dance punks !!!. Their album Myth Takes will be released March 4th through Warp and is set to get you dancing again.

Myth Takes

Heart of Hearts

The new album by Sondre Lerche is Phantom Punch. Drawing on early musical influences from 80s pop to Brazilian music, he recorded many of the songs in one take. He says, "I wanted every song to jump out of the speakers-punchy, concise pop songs, played with restless spirit."

Airport Taxi Reception

After All

See the video for Say It All here.

The last Air album was on constant rotation in our store. The new album Pocket Symphony includes vocals by Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy). They'll be heading out in March to support the album. So, here are a couple of tracks from the new album in eager anticipation for it's release March 5th.

Once Upon a Time

Somewhere Between Waking and Sleeping

Jewcy

Happy Hanukkah! I can't imagine where we'd be without the talents of such an important group of people. So, as a Hanukkah gift, give your friends a subscription to Heeb Magazine. I guarantee you'll be captured by the great articles of politics, social matters, as well as entertainment. Or try one of the artists below and buy them an album.

Sleater-Kinney - Entertain

Regina Spektor - Ne Me Quitte Pas

Jenny Lewis - Fernando (from Jay Leno) courtesy of livemusicblog

Yo La Tengo - Autumn Sweater (alt version)

The Rakes new album Ten New Messages is set to be released this March. At the helm are Jim Abbiss & Brendan Lynch who've produced Arctic Monkeys and Primal Scream. Lead singer Alan Donahoe said the album is a "combination of choral music, the television show 24, (James) Bond theme tunes, World War 1 poets and the Sugababes".

"It's a bit more focused than the last album. It has the same sort of lyrics but its more character driven," Donohoe told NME.COM. "We've got this one song called When Tom Cruise Cries. Its about media sensationalism on one level but on another level its about how actors can be so believable you get into an emotional relationship with them when they're only acting. I got the idea for this from the scene at the end of Magnolia when he's rying at his sick father's bedside."

They'll be touring in the UK in March. Hopefully, when they come to the states, they'll hit more than 7 cities or whatever it was. Didn't you guys have fun at SXSW? That's where we fell in love. Don't you remember?

22 Grand Job (Filthy Dukes Society mix)

Let's Dance w/Lilly Allen (Bowie cover)

T Bone (bonus track)

Amy Poehler's newest project Mighty B was just picked up by Nickelodeon for 20 shows beginning in 2008. Amy stars as the voice of Bessie Higgenbottom, the world's most ambitious and lovably unhinged 10 yr old Honeybee scout who has earned more Bee Badges than anyone in history but will not stop until she's earned every last one. I'm curious to see how many former SNL alums she gets to help with voice overs.

I'd rather have inserted an Amber skit here, but I'm sure dumb NBC made YouTube remove them all. Watch this while you still can.

K To The O

Karen O & Janet Weiss (of Sleater-Kinney)

These low-key Karen O tracks were found in a once inhabited apartment of TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek. I love the KO and hope you do too. I saw the YYYs open for Sleater-Kinney in New York and had Karen O's stylist Christiane(?) Joy trying to push us out of our front row spot, 'cause "I'm her stylist, and it's my birthday." She didn't get the spot but jumped up and down on us for quite a while.

And all the woe that moved him so That he gave that bitter cry, And the wild regrets, and bloody sweats None knew so well as I, For he who lives more lives than one, More deaths that one must die, Oscar Wilde

We're in it for the long haul kid, we feel, cuz we're real All the love + safe travels + good luck Karen!



Enjoy!

Karen O - Beside Me

Karen O - Save the Seeds

All Good Things Come to an End

The Organ called it quits in November and the announcement rang across the globe yesterday. Speculation is that the break is due to members living far apart. Hopes are high for new projects between members as well as possible solo stars rising.

Lead singer, Katie Sketch's appearance in British Vogue. Wish I'd seen this first hand.

Memorize the City

Love, Love, Love

It's Time To Go

Plea

So, here I am begging for Peaches & Herms to come back and reschedule their show for Dallas/FW. It was cancelled because Texans are so scared of their driving that they won't venture out and just take it slow. I also blame both cities for knowing about the cold front and not preparing the roads for it. Sorry for the rant. I'm still reeling from the disappointment.

You Love It (w/ Joan Jett)

Sucker

Break It Off (Doors vs Peaches vs Jefferson Airplane) lots/too much going on here

Rock Stars Kill

My favorite record label Kill Rock Stars has put together their annual holiday packs. There is something for everyone, from The Decemberists to Xiu Xiu to Shoplifting to Deerhoof to Sleater-Kinney and more. Most of the packs have a combo of cds, posters, and shirts. They even have a sale on shirts that are going out of print. A few new tshirt designs for KRS and 5RC have been added as well. Best thing: If you buy $50 or more they'll throw in a cd-r of their itunes exclusive holiday compilation.

Deerhoof - Miou Miou Remix

Deerhoof - Rrrrrrright (Roman Sheriff Remix)

Shoplifting - Male Gynecology

Petra Haden with The Decemberists - Wuthering Heights (live Kate Bush cover)

The Decemberists - Mr. Blue Sky (live ELO cover)

The Decemberists - Go Your Own Way (live Fleetwood Mac cover) not super recording

Just Desserts

Mary J. Blige took home 9 trophies from the Billboard Music Awards. I typically depise awards shows (gasp!), but I am glad that Mary J. got the recognition. She's a classic. She doesn't make the headlines, because she doesn't participate in any drama. So I could understand if she'd been overlooked by those not listening to the radio. But, she deserves your ears, so please lend them.

Dance For Me (Thunderpuss Remix)

Be Without You (Remix feat. Stat Quo)

At Last (cover Live with Natalie Maines)

She'll be releasing a greatest hits later this month and will be on Jimmy Kimmel on Friday the 8th.

Frenchie

French artist Eglantine Gouzy draws comparisons to Bjork with her delicate voice and electronic ways. I'm excited to hear what her full album Boamaster offers. She first caught my eye with this video.

Mr. Invisible

As it has been said before, everyone knows one thing about Jandek, that no one knows anything about Jandek. The elusive Jandek will be making a rare appearance in Indianapolis December 9th and one in Atlanta possibly in February. Since 1978, he's released all of his own cds (nearly 50 now) via a p.o. box on his own Houston label Corwood Industries. He doesn't sit for photographs. Often when approached, he never admits he's Jandek, but refers to himself as a representative of Corwood Industries. Kurt Cobain told Spin in '93, "Jandek's not pretentious, but only pretentious people like his music."

Go to Orangejello for a couple of mp3s.

Interview with the man himself from the dvd documentary.