DREAMS OF HORSES

We've Moved!!

2009-01-30T16:08:00.002-06:00

Well we jumped the Bloggership, and jumped onto the WordPress Wagon. While doing so we also changed names! Kind've just to start something new you know? So update your bookmarks to:

http://tribulationstrials.wordpress.com/

Thanks!!

Loch Lomond

2009-01-30T12:35:00.002-06:00

Here's another band you ought to know about: Loch Lomond. They are ex-Decemberists tourmates and on the Dec's old label, Hush Records. As you can tell there are many of them. Seven, I guess. But they just released an EP on Hush called Trumpets for Paper Children. Their sound is pretty downbeat, and sounds as if they were singing old Scottish folk songs. They have a CD out, Paper the Walls that I want to check out too. But anyway you can download the EP for free/small donation at Hush's website here. Here's a track from the EP as a taster.

Bird and a Bear

I Don't Want To

2009-01-28T20:59:00.003-06:00

Remember that band Soldout I posted on the other day? Well digging a little deeper I know a little bit more about them. Their newest CD Cuts is actually their second LP (there's another disc of remixes and stuff too). The video above comes from their first CD. Apparently the track has been remixed several times. But the video above is um amusing? And disturbing.

You can find out more about Soldout at their label Anorak Supersport's website. And while you're surfing around check out this video of them playing a track off their new CD called "The Cut."

New N.A.S.A.

2009-01-28T17:10:00.003-06:00

Here's the newest video from N.A.S.A., "Hip Hop." Cool animations with an awesome song. And here's another track off the album, The Spirit of Apollo, out February 17th on Anti-.

A Volta (feat. Sizzla, Amanda Blank, & Lovefoxxx)

She Said She'd Leave at Threeeee

2009-01-28T15:28:00.003-06:00

Have y'all seen this video? It's just about the greatest thing. Since...some other amazing/clever video...anyway, I love any excuse to post on Metronomy (duh) so here's one: this new remix by Blackout.

Metronomy-A Thing for Me (Blackout remix)

So Fine

2009-01-27T19:53:00.001-06:00

Telepathe-So Fine

The Park

2009-01-27T15:40:00.002-06:00

I know pretty much everyone has already seen/heard this but it's just too gorgeous to pass up. Justin Vernon's voice is perfect for cold weather. I've been listening to his CDs on repeat on my walks to school and it clicks very well. And now he goes and covers Feist. How awesome would it be if someday in the future they recorded something together?

Bon Iver-The Park (Feist cover)

Vernon and Feist both appear not once but twice on the Dark Was the Night compilation everyone's buzzing about. Pre-order it here.

SMC YACHT

2009-01-26T17:02:00.003-06:00

I don't really understand what this is. Some Hazmat suit-wearing cell phone-loving YACHT-seeing event. If you're in NY...go or whatever tonight. Weirdos.

The Blow-Hock It (YACHT Remix) <--Bang it

Skeleton Boy

2009-01-25T15:07:00.004-06:00

Friendly Fires-Photobooth (Mock & Toof Remix)

This video reminds me of this one...

People Got a Lotta Nerve

2009-01-25T10:29:00.001-06:00

Okay so I know pretty much all of you have heard this song already but it's for a good cause! I just found this out.

Neko Case has released a new single, "People Got A Lotta Nerve," that is available as a free download at the Anti- Records website.

The record label plans to make a donation to the Best Friends Animal Society for every blogger that posts the song and every iLike user who adds it to his or her profile, according to a press release.

The promotion for the song, which is the first single from Case's new album, "Middle Cyclone," will run from Jan. 14 to Feb. 3. Five dollars will be donated for every blog post and $1 for every iLike user that adds the song to their profile.

"Middle Cyclone" will be released March 3.

So basically for putting this song on my blog Anti- will donate $5 to a good cause, the Best Friends Animal Society. So NOW we know why Neko almost always mentions animals in her stuff...anyway go to the song's iLike page and add it to your profile and you'll be helping out too!

Neko Case-People Got a Lotta Nerve

Can't Stop

2009-01-24T13:09:00.002-06:00

Ok so I just had to share this. Most of you have already heard Franz Ferdinand's new album Tonight (if you haven't, you can stream the whole thing at Myspace) but as you may have heard, there's a deluxe edition of the album featuring another disc entitled Blood: Tonight which features dub versions of several songs off Tonight. If you didn't think Tonight was dancey enough, check out the dub disc. It's mind-blowing. For sampling, check out the AMAZING track below. Oh, and turn up the bass.

Die on the Floor (Can't Stop Feeling Dub)

Die at the Same Time

2009-01-23T09:47:00.003-06:00

Photo by Sarah Meadows

I am definitely loving White Lies' album To Lose My Life and am super anxious to see these guys live at SXSW. In the mean time they've been getting the remix treatment to which I have no argument.

To Lose My Life (Filthy Dukes Remix)
Farewell to the Fairground (Yuksek Remix)

Previously on Dreams of Horses...

We Are Soldout

2009-01-22T17:05:00.004-06:00

So, new cool band alert! They're from Belgium (home to Soulwax, waffles, and the Dardenne Brothers) so they've gotta be awesome right? They're called Soldout and really I don't know a whole lot about them. I received their album Cuts and am loving it's electro gooey-ness. Female vox. Great beats. Rad. Definitely check them out! They will (hopefully) be huge.

One Word and the Next
Mysteries

PS the software to turn any picture into a Polaroid is now available for Windows! Rejoice and be merry! Download it here.

New Kind of Thrill

2009-01-21T18:58:00.002-06:00

You guys have all heard Franz's newest single "Ulysses" and the 10,032,348 remixes people made for it, and now it's time for the b-sides! Enjoy! And if you haven't seen the video, definitely worth a viewing.

New Kind of Thrill
Anyone in Love

Shark Week Pt. 2

2009-01-20T17:08:00.001-06:00

Here at DOH, we definitely lurv us some Shara Worden aka My Brightest Diamond. We mentioned back in November that Shara had released an EP of remixes from her sophomore release A Thousand Shark's Teeth. It was the first of several EPs where one musician remixed different tracks from the record.
Well Asthmatic Kitty announced today that the second ep, Shark Remixes - Vol 2: Son Lux of the series, this time the remixer is Son Lux, was available starting today.

Inside a Boy (Son Lux Remix)
Pluto's Moon (Son Lux Remix)

You can download Shark Remixes - Vol 2 from eMusic.

Deep Red

2009-01-20T16:44:00.002-06:00

What could only be good news really is. Deep Red is the side project of Andrew Raposo, Morgan Wiley & Nomi Ruiz, all members of 2008 breakout act Hercules & Love Affair. Formed while on the road, the band will be playing their very first show in New York this week on the 22nd.

If you're desperate to hear new Hercules & Love Affair, you can use these two tracks to try and soothe your jazz-disco needs. Deep Red's sound is very similar to H&LA so, enjoy! And go see them if at all possible!

Fun Girl
Good to Go

Presidents, Magistrates

2009-01-20T09:38:00.002-06:00

Sufjan Stevens-Presidents and Magistrates

MXSW Part 3: Selma Oxor

2009-01-19T11:04:00.002-06:00

Also hailing from the beautiful Monterrey is Selma Oxor. The band features, as you can see, two girls and a guy. Their rough-edged songs sound like something like a girl band who's Influences section on their MySpace could be could read: Peaches, CSS, YYYs,.
They've got the canned drum beats and then some weird organ moans on tracks like "Tienes Algo," with singer Violeta chanting something alongside. The production quality isn't amazing but the potential definitely is there. I'm going to be very excited to see these guys flesh it out live.

Tienes Algo
Sexo Moral
Let's Burn
Abrazame Demonio

We Are the People Who Rule the World

2009-01-16T11:27:00.000-06:00

Speaking of Mexico, check out Empire of the Sun's new video for the song "We Are the People," which was shot in Mexico. Who knows where. Gotta be somewhere towards the south with all the ruins...anyway it's a great video, weird. But good. Plus an awesome remix below the video.

We Are The People

We Are the People (Ted & Francis Remix)

MXSW Part 2: Ratas Del Vaticano

2009-01-16T08:10:00.000-06:00

Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, Ratas del Vaticano (come on think it out, RATaS del VATICANo) just might be Mexico's answer to the Black Lips. Or the Ramones. Their grungy and loud guitars definitely are reminiscent of another era, some leftover from the late 70's. But the songs are filled with an intensity (usually in just 1 1/2 - 2 minutes) that'll make you fall in love with the punk asthetic all over again. Or maybe even for the first time.

Tema de las ratas
Olvido

Check out their MySpace for even newer, better songs! I can't wait to see these guys live.

MXSW Part 1: Hello Seahorse!

2009-01-15T17:17:00.004-06:00

So, checking SXSW's lineup so far I noticed a lot of Mexican bands were playing and thought it would be fun to highlight some of them here because they probably won't get much press anywhere.

First off we have the decidedly non-Spanish named group Hello Seahorse! from Mexico City. Late last year the group was signed to Portland's Magic Marker Records (home of other groups former and present like Dear Nora, BOAT, Tullycraft, and All Girl Summer Fun Band). Their bright and poppy bilingual tunes are hooky and cheery. The stand-out single "Won't Say Anything" is infectious and adorable. You can call it MexiTwee. Check out the cute overload video for "Won't Say Anything" below.

Won't Say Anything

No Encontré Nada (I Found Nothing)

Buy Hello Seahorse!'s CD Hoy a las ocho.

The Rake's Song

2009-01-15T09:36:00.003-06:00

Head on over to The Decemberists' website for a FREE download of a new song from their upcoming album The Hazards of Love called "The Rake's Song"! Enjoy!!

Tonight I Drew First Blood

2009-01-15T09:25:00.002-06:00

Okay soo here's a mix of some of my favorite songs of this moment. Good ones by Telepathe, High Places, Ssion and more...now I gotta go to class.

First Blood (33.75 MB, 28.34 min)

Telepathe-Michael
High Places-Head Spinz (Hawnay Troof Remix)
Ratatat-Gettysburg
The Knife-Pass This On
Chromatics-Running Up That Hill
Ssion-Heaven

Ready for the Funeral

2009-01-13T19:16:00.005-06:00

Photo by Dunny

I am really in love with this track by Kanye's protege Kid Cudi. It's off his mixtape A Kid Named Cudi that 10 Deep is offering for free. You can download the whole mixtape (way worth it) here.

Kid Cudi-The Prayer

You may notice the sample used on the track is Band of Horses' amazing track "The Funeral" from their debut, Everything All the Time. Such a great track. Here's that one for you too.

Band of Horses-The Funeral

Here We Go Magic

2009-01-12T15:43:00.004-06:00

Hello blogosphere! Here is your new boyfriend! Or girlfriend. His name is Here We Go Magic, the brainchild of Luke Temple. The self-titled album was recorded over two months on his own analog equipment all in his own Brooklyn bedroom.
What's got me hooked are the beats. Ethnic drumbeats to be precise. Here's what the press release says:

Many of the songs pulse with infectious afro-beat and kraut-rock influenced grooves, calling to mind classic albums like Remain in Light and Graceland.

Okay? Does that sound awesome or what? Just wait to you actually hear the music. It's gorgeous. I will take this over Animal Collective any day, thank you.

You can hear the track "Tunnelvision" at Fader. And hear two other songs at their Myspace.

If you live on the east coast you can see them play with Department of Eagles:
01/17 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
01/18 Cambridge, MA The Brattle Theatre
01/19 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

Fear's Got a Hold On Me

2009-01-09T13:58:00.000-06:00

Have you guys heard these White Lies guys? They could potentially be a next-big-thing. I mean, they're British. They're going to be at SXSW. And they've got catchy music. The vocalist sounds like the guy from Stellastar* (remember them?) and Robert Smith and Mark E. Smith and Ian Curtis and um some more British singers. I am really digging these two tracks. Their new full-length comes out in England on January 19th, I'm not sure about everywhere else. Until then check this out.

Unfinished Business
Death (HAUNTS remix) <---better than the Crystal Castles remix

Buy it at Insound

Fallen Snow

2009-01-05T16:35:00.002-06:00

I am back in Utah (for the first time in two and a half years) and of course, it is snowing. I hate snow. A lot. Especially on the first day of classes. Music however, about snow, is a lot prettier. And a lot less wet.

Au Revoir Simone-Fallen Snow
Belle & Sebastian-Fox in the Snow
Laura Veirs-Snow Camping

On the Road

2008-12-31T13:59:00.000-06:00

Well today I'm heading off to go back up to school. I leave for Dallas today to spend some time with CC (my sister) and then tomorrow morning me and a buddy are off to Arizona for the wedding of some friends, and then back on up to Utah on Saturday/Sunday. Wish me luck. Here's another travellin' mix from me to you.

Patrick Wolf-Get Lost
Jens Lekman-Run Away With Me
Arcade Fire-Keep the Car Running
Camera Obscura-Let's Get Out of This Country
The Decemberists-We Both Go Down Together
Okkervil River-Lost Coastlines
Midlake-Head Home
Bright Eyes-I Must Belong Somewhere

Spend New Years Eve with YACHT

2008-12-30T10:40:00.000-06:00

Join YACHT For New Year's Eve from Jona Bechtolt on Vimeo.

This is a really neat idea that YACHT has come up to be able to spend NYE all across the globe. YACHT themselves are in France so spend some time and make a video for them if you've got the time and ability.

YACHT-I Saw Gold (from the Worried Noodles compilation)

Little Bit

2008-12-29T16:40:00.001-06:00

So, mashing. What about mashing two versions of the same song? So, there's the Aether remix of "Little Bit" and the version where rapper Drake makes it into a duet. And put them together? You get meh. I know I didn't do an amazing job but the idea was funny so I thought I'd share.

Lykke Li - Little Bit (Aether Remix ft. Drake)(Copfy edit)

Remixxed

2008-12-29T00:06:00.000-06:00

Well a post similar to this was taken down earlier so I wonder if it happens again.

Hercules & Love Affair-You Belong (Hercules Club Mix)
Friendly Fires-Photobooth (Mock & Toof Remix)
Foals-Astronauts And All (Barringtone Remix)
Long Blondes-Giddy Stratospheres (Findo Gask Remix)
Hey Willpower-Uh Uh Uh (Strategy Remix)

They're Just Bein' Mae Shi

2008-12-25T12:09:00.001-06:00

The Mae Shi VS. Miley Cyrus See You Again from the mae shi on Vimeo.

"Since U Been Gone" 2008. Or 2009.

The Mae Shi-See You Again

Far Too Long

2008-12-19T18:02:00.002-06:00

Hot Chip has made a new EP available online. It's a collaboration with Robert Wyatt and Geese. The songs are reinterpretations off Made in the Dark. Nothing drastically different really, but nice for the Hot Chip completist.

You can sign up here and get the first free mp3 "Made in the Dark" then they send you a link to download the other, "We're Looking for a Lot of Love" via your own e-mail. Cool!!

Blogger has taken down two of my last posts. It's really frustrating because there's a lot of good stuff I wanna share but they take it down. Does anyone have any ideas what I can do? I don't know what to do about it and it's kinda depressing.

Christmas in the Room

2008-12-18T16:09:00.002-06:00

It just wouldn't be Christmas without a good ol' Christmas tune by Sufjan.

Sufjan Stevens-Christmas in the Room
from his new Christmas ep Sufjan Stevens: Songs for Christmas Volume 8: Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Infinity Voyage

For more Sufjan Christmas fun, check out his site at Asthmatic Kitty.

KLANG!

2008-12-18T11:03:00.004-06:00

'Round here we really love the Rakes. And we are overjoyed that they have announced a new album titled KLANG on March 23rd in the UK (probably in the US the 24th, the same day as the Decemberists' Hazards of Love!! Too much excitement for one day!). The album will be preceded by the first single "1989," which you can get a sneak peek at above in the unofficial video filmed during the recording of the album. And here's the tracklist:

You're In It
That's the Reason
The Loneliness of the Outdoor Smoker
Bitchin' in the Kitchen
The Woes of the Working Woman
1989
Shackelton
The Light From Your Mac
Muller's Ratchet
The Final Hill
Never Get Married

The Rakes-The World Was a Mess But His Hair Was Perfect
(From their previous album Ten New Messages)

Ellie Greenwich

2008-12-17T13:56:00.003-06:00

Parenthetical Girls always kind of gave me the creeps. Thank you video for continuing the creep.

Parenthetical Girls - "A Song For Ellie Greenwich" from judesays on Vimeo.

Parenthetical Girls-A Song for Ellie Greenwich (mp3)
Their new-ish album Entaglement is available via Slender Means Society

Top of 2008 #1

2008-12-15T11:21:00.001-06:00

I love this album so so much. The lyrics are astounding, the songs are so catchy, the artwork is beautiful, I can't stop listening to this CD. Will Sheff's storytelling abilities fill the songs with rich imagery and tongue-twisting lyrics.Their songs are full of modern-day disillusionment, rock stars passing their prime, groupies getting tired, and relationships gone sour.

Whereas The Stage Names kind've dragged on towards the end, I feel The Stand Ins gets even stronger towards the end. The last three full songs "On Tour with Zykos," "Calling and Not Calling My Ex" and "Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed On The Roof Of The Chelsea Hotel, 1979" are some of my all-time favorites by Okkervil. They mature more and more each album, it's so incredible. So that's why The Stand Ins is my album of the year for 2008!

Okkervil River-Calling and Not Calling My Ex
Buy The Stand Ins from Insound.

Top of 2008 #2

2008-12-14T10:50:00.001-06:00

Seriously who knew this album would be so huge? So awesome? Their first CD had some great singles, but In Ghost Colours, start-to-finish, I can't find a single song I skip. It's borderline perfect. I could see every song becoming a single and having success. This was definitely the year of Cut Copy as it very much should have been. These boys deserve the success they're having and I hope they keep up the grooves.

Cut Copy-Nobody Lost, Nobody Found
Buy it from Insound.

Christmas is Coming Soon

2008-12-13T15:03:00.007-06:00

"Unless you happen to belong to one of those rare, perfect, Norman Rockwell families, spending the holidays with your loved ones can have its ups and downs, its highs and lows - this Christmas album which benefits Amnesty International serves as a soundtrack to such an experience, documenting and representing the entire spectrum of emotions and feelings you might face during the most wonderful time of the year."

We all know that Christmas season is upon us, with its sickening, sticky, saturated Christmas songs like "All I Want for Christmas is You," "Feliz Navidad" (which really only has four lines), and the worst Christmas song offense in the history of Christmas music, "The Christmas Shoes."

Christmas is nothing like a little Thomas Kinkade painting, but the stress and often unhappiness of the season is very wrapped up in sparkly paper and bright tinsel of the awful Christmas songs heard almost any store you visit, be it the Central Market, the mall, that favorite indie record store, or your own FM radio station.

There's a CD that was released at the beginning of the month called I'll Stay Til After Christmas that does an excellent job capturing the up's and down's of the season. It features old well-known songs and some new ones too. With artists like My Brightest Diamond, Au Revoir Simone, Blitzen Trapper, Parenthetical Girls, Bosque Brown and Sally Shapiro, it's enough to make anyone's stocking burst. There are some people I've never heard of that make some great tunes (The Papercuts, Au, to name a couple). And to wrap it all up with a huge Good-Will-To-Man bow, it's all put on by Amnesty International. Let it be the soundtrack of your Christmas time breakdown, or the best day of sledding ever.

Blitzen Trapper-Christmas is Coming Soon
Buy it on iTunes.

P.S. I put up a new header. Do you like it? Hate it? Wish there was something vaguely horsey up there? Let me know what you think! Please.

Top of 2008 #3

2008-12-13T11:39:00.002-06:00

Hands down, Hot Chip is one of my two favorite bands making music right now. I mean there are a lot of bands that I love their work, but only two whose I really choose to follow very closely (the other being the Decemberists, if you haven't noticed). Made in the Dark is exactly why I love them. They can bounce so many different styles of music, and do it well, that it makes me sick. In a good way.

The fact that Made in the Dark has floor-fillers like "Ready for the Floor" and "One Pure Thought" and "Hold On," and then throw in slow james like "We're Looking for a Lot of Love" and "Made in the Dark," along with the quirky nerd jams like "Wrestlers" and "Don't Dance." The album spawned handfuls of remixes too. I just love their shape-shifting abilities and am always eager to hear something new from these guys.

Hot Chip-Made in the Dark
Buy Made in the Dark on Insound.

Top of 2008 #4

2008-12-12T08:29:00.000-06:00

I'm really pleased that on my top ten there's quite a few new artists. I'm glad that there are still bands out there that can impress me as much as these bands have.
Hercules & Love Affair became an overnight success. Releasing their self-titled debut on DFA would help, but also that the record was just so likable didn't hurt either. The music is an infusion of disco, jazz, pop, and well, Antony. I'd always loved Antony Hegarty's voice, and hearing it to danceable music wowed me. But over all, H&LA makes me even more excited to see what they have in store for their sophomore record. In the mean time I'll keep groovin' to this one.

Hercules & Love Affair-Athene
Buy it from Insound

Top of 2008 #5

2008-12-11T08:52:00.002-06:00

The Mae Shi has always made interesting music, but sometimes to the point of the unlistenable. HLLLYH is their most melodious album to date, and it's full of those glitchy beats we all love. Also full of biblical references, HLLLYH is Mae Shi at their most focused.

The Mae Shi-Lamb and the Lion
Buy HLLLYH.

VISIBAS

2008-12-10T18:06:00.002-06:00

VISIBAS MiniMix
(23.8 MB, 19:51 Min)
Islands-Creeper
Man Man-El Azteca
Beck-Que Onda Guero (The Mae Shi Latino 96.3 Remix)
The Blow-Hock It (We Two Remix)
Hot Chip-Shake a Fist (Diplo Remix)
Bobby Birdman-Victory At Sea (E*Rock Remix)
Tracy + the Plastics-What You Still Want

Enjoy this little mix I made! It's got some really great stuff on there. Turn up the bass! (And no, I don't have to start every mix with an Islands song but they are great starter songs)

Top of 2008 #6

2008-12-10T15:21:00.002-06:00

I've been a fan of Fujiya & Miyagi since their last album, Transparent Things. I love the casual yet persistent beats, but most of all I love everything about the vocals. Singer David Best's voice is almost a whisper on most tracks, but he's just so lovable with his goofy lyrics that fit into the groove of the basslines perfectly. Lightbulbs is just a very solid record by these Kraut-lovers. Am looking forward to what the future holds for these boys.

Fujiya& Miyagi-Hundreds & Thousands
Buy Lightbulbs from Insound.

Part of the Weekend Never Dies

2008-12-10T00:10:00.000-06:00

Where would you like to be on a drizzly, cold, blustery day like today? Me, cuddled up basking in the glow of a new-to-me speaker system bleating out the new DVD Radio Soulwax: Part of the Weekend Never Dies. Maybe you've heard of Soulwax, or 2 Many DJ's, or Radio Soulwax, or maybe Nite Versions. Or maybe you too are very confused as to the difference (if there is one) between all those titles. The documentary settles all that near the beginning so don't you worry.

Part of the Weekend Never Dies does a really good job of what (I think) it meant to-showing the real pains of being on tour all the time. Take for example the brothers who are part of the band Soulwax, and the DJ's known as 2 Many DJ's. They usually play as a band, and then later as DJ's. In one point they mention being in sound check at 6 PM and not finishing until 4 AM for several months on end.

The documentary is a star-studded affair, including interviews with some of dance music's biggest stars like James Murphy, Erol Alkan, Justice, Tiga, Nancy Wang, Peaches, Klaxons, Kitsune, etc. The disc includes another live film of Soulwax's Nite Versions, which is full of audience antics and crazy awesome music. The film awed me to be truthful. And my respects to Soulwax for all their work as one of music's hardest working groups.

Part of the Weekend Never Dies was directed by Saam Farahmand. Watch a trailer here. Here's my favorite Soulwax remix:

The Gossip-Standing In the Way of Control (Soulwax Nite Version)

Buy Part of the Weekend Never Dies from Insound.

Top of 2008 #7

2008-12-09T08:25:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I get worried about finding new artists to love. When I got home the first CDs I went hunting for were bands I already knew before I left. I didn't really know where to turn for new bands to look out for. But, luckily enough, Friendly Fires have received a decent amount of attention from the blogs for various awesome singles, remixes and a cover of another new-comer,Lykke Li. Friendly Fires' debut is a well-crafted album full of catchy hooks, guitars, and everything else that should make you weak at the knees.

Friendly Fires-In the Hospital
Buy Friendly Fires from Insound.

Top of 2008 #8

2008-12-08T10:13:00.003-06:00

Little Joy is the perfect recipe. Just three simple ingredients make Little Joy's debut album a smashing success:

1 Part Devendra Banhart+1 part The Strokes+1 Cute Girl = Little Joy.

Ya got it? Ok. Their album is an almost flawless breezy pop monster. That sounds as if a Stroke and some dude who plays sometimes in Devendra's band got together and made music. Oh...wait...

Little Boy-Brand New Start

Buy Little Joy on Insound.

Top of 2008 #9

2008-12-06T13:51:00.002-06:00

Metronomy's second LP Nights Out is filled with interesting bits. From the amazing "Heartbreaker" to the goofy/creepy "Radio Ladio" there's always something interesting to hear from this London trio.
The LP plays out like a night out on the town filled with the upbeat moments and depressing bits. The singer said it was sort of an ode to those nights out that just left a little to be desired. Everyone knows the feeling, and hearing it as a soundtrack to your own disappointing night out on the town is hauntingly dead on. Some moments of Nights Out really have me feeling sort of frenetic, and other moments of pure dancefloor hits. There's a little bit of something for every type of mood.

Metronomy-The End of You Too

Buy Nights Out on Amazon.

Beach Baby

2008-12-05T21:10:00.002-06:00

Bon Iver is releasing a new EP called Blood Bank on January 20th. The EP contains 4 fresh new cuts from indie's new poster boy. The songs are chilling, seamless additions to last year's For Emma, Forever Ago.
Here I've got the song "Beach Baby," which could almost be a "Re: Stacks Part 2" It's really a beautiful track. Also look for the haunting auto-tuned(!!) "Woods" on a blog near you...
Bon Iver-Beach Baby
Pre-order your CD or 12" from Jagjaguwar now!

Hazards of Love Tracklist

2008-12-05T19:23:00.003-06:00

Paste Magazine got out a few more details about the Decemberists' new LP Hazards of Love. It will be released March 24th on Capitol Records. And here's the tracklist:
1. Prelude
2. Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone)
3. A Bower Scene
4. Won’t Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)
5. Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)
6. The Queen’s Approach
7. Isn’t it a Lovely Night?
8. The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid
9. An Interlude
10. The Rake’s Song
11. The Abduction of Margaret
12. The Queen’s Rebuke / The Crossing
13. Annan Water
14. Margaret in Captivity
15. Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)
16. The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)
17. Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)

Looks like a real epic tracklist if you ask me!

The Decemberists-Culling of the Fold (Demo)
Colin Meloy-The Rake's Song (Live)

Previously on Dreams of Horses: Hazards of Love

Top of 2008 #10

2008-12-05T16:35:00.003-06:00

Little Marnie Stern's big album This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That is well-known by now for it's comically large title, and Marnie's abilities to rock out. Her finger-tapping guitar-playing is admirable by slobber boys everywhere, and by anyone who wants to be able to rock out. The cd is a solid affair. So what if her singing isn't the best-when did that ever matter? Rock's history is full of mediocre singers. The cd is an awesome creation.

Buy it on Insound.

Marnie Stern-Transformer

Top of 2008 #11

2008-12-05T12:10:00.002-06:00

I couldn't get down to 11. I'm sorry. So after almost 6 weeks of playing catch-up I think I've got this whole "year 2008" thing down. And after days of listening to albums not only from this year and 2007, I've picked out the best from the good. And we're gonna start counting down backwards-style that's so common for these lists. Welcome.

If you've never seen the Fiery Furnaces live, then maybe you won't get this record or be able to sit through two discs of it. But when they play live, they cut up their songs and then re-hash them all over the place. One second they'll be playing something off of Blueberry Boat and then kooky guitar lurches into a riff straight off Bitter Tea. I wasn't able to see them tour in support of Bitter Tea or Widow City., so I'm really glad they made this album. It's just like hearing them live. And I love it so much.

The Fiery Furnaces-Japanese Slippers

Buy Remember on 3xLP from Insound
Or 2xCD

Grand Ole Playlist

2008-12-04T17:08:00.001-06:00

Check out this rad playlist that Kim of Matt & Kim fame made for RCRDLBL. It has some great songs by M&K ex-tourmates Best Fwends, the firecracker Kid Sister, mad DJ A-Trak, and of course, Matt & Kim. While you're enjoying the jams, look up Matt & Kim's Flickr. Then just try and sit still till Matt & Kim's new record Grand is in your hands next year. Check out potential tour dates where you live supporting Cut Copy(!!) next March on their MySpace.

Inside the Corrections

2008-12-04T16:25:00.006-06:00

Just found this diddy on my iTunes and love it. It's a New Buffalo track that was originally featured on her album The Last Beautiful Day. This version however was featured on a self-titled EP with guest appearance by DOH fav Jens Lekman. Yay! He is currently on tour in Asia (if you're from there, great) with Viktor Sjöberg.Tour Dates follow the mp3.

New Buffalo-Inside (The Corrections) (ft. Jens Lekman)
Dec 4 - Shanghai, China - JZ
Dec 6 - Bandung, Indonesia - Dirgantara I IPTN
Dec ? - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - TBA

Buy The Last Beautiful Day from Insound or iTunes

Guilt Bookstore

2008-12-04T11:02:00.010-06:00

So this news about a possibly-bionic hand bringing back the Long Blondes is the best news of the week. Maybe I will be able to see them after all! For those of you who don't know, the band broke up because their guitarist injured his hand. Lame. And for those of you who don't know who I'm talking about, shame on you.

The Long Blondes-Guilt (Dan Carey Mix)

Here's the video for "Guilt." Kate with dog actors!

And speaking of things that make me happy, a new episode of ThunderAnt!!

"The food was so good in the airport that I never left the airport." Sometimes I feel like them when I'm going through new CDs I get in the mail. But definitely not that bad.

Autorretrato

2008-12-03T14:19:00.004-06:00

Sorry for the heavy lack of posting!! I'll get on it. In the mean time here's a mix I fixed up of some tracks I've been liking.

Autorretrato Mix
(32.93 MB, 28:44 Min)
Envelopes-Party (Sportsday Megaphone Remix)
Ratatat-Seventeen Years
Flying Lotus-Parisian Goldfish
Lucky Dragons-Ivy Girls
Panther-Puerto Rican Jukebox (Lips and Ribs Remix)
Best Fwends-Get Away From Me
Stereolab-Self-Portrait With Electric Brain (YACHT Remix)
Copy-A Slight But Delicious Warble

She's Done Us Wrong Enough Times

2008-11-26T14:00:00.002-06:00

Metronomy has been one of my favorite new artists this year. Their album Nights Out is a slow-grower. The first couple tracks, instrumentals, wear you out a bit when you reach "Radio Ladio" it's love.
But my favorite track has been "Heartbreaker," which has been remixed dozens and dozens of times. On the original, I love the squealchy, creaky keyboards and percussion. The sounds on it are just great. I really am enjoying this remix of the song also, because it preserves much of what I love of the original but upgrading it.

Metronomy-Heartbreaker (Discodeine Remix)

Nerd Voice

2008-11-22T10:38:00.005-06:00

Original drawing by Chad Crouch

So I'm Copfy and I'll be your mix guide today. Today are some nice poppy tunes to make your Saturday a little bit brighter.

Copfy-Nerd Voice mini mix (26.05 Min, 36 MB)

Islands-Abominable Snow
Good Shoes-Small Town Girl
Vampire Weekend-Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Very Best Remix)
Peter Bjorn & John-Let's Call it Off (Girl Talk Remix)
Ratatat-Flynn
YACHT-It's Coming To Get You
Late of the Pier-The Bears are Coming
Liars-Houseclouds

Enjoy!!

Hazards of Love

2008-11-19T19:11:00.002-06:00

Photo by the awesome Alicia J. Rose

If you didn't read the news on Pitchfork today, go and check out because oh my word, their new album Hazards of Love sounds like it's going to be epic. Talking to Rolling Stone,

It’s a twisty, fantastical story about a woman named Margaret who is ravaged by a shape-shifting animal; her lover, William, who is desperate for the two of them to be reunited; a forest queen; and a villainous rake. “There’s a story there, but it’s really painted with broad strokes,” says Meloy.

Look for Hazards of Love around the end of March 2009!

AND the Decemberists just played a show in Michigan last week and you can go get a recording of the show in FLAC lossless format here. Thanks very much to the recorder! It's great quality and the closer is a new chapter to "Hazards of Love" that is just beautiful! (If you don't know anything about FLAC I'd recommend you look here about converting FLAC files to MP3s for your own use, not to be redistributed).

The Decemberists-Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas) (.m4a)

Ruler of the...

2008-11-18T15:55:00.005-06:00

So since I was gone Marnie Stern came onto the scene. I guess you love her or hate her. I love her. Check out her video for "Ruler" and maybe you'll like her too.

We Are Young

2008-11-17T12:24:00.004-06:00

I don't know how many of you may have already heard Portland's The Shaky Hands' new CD Lunglight but it s spectacular. I just recently got it and ran through the whole thing about twice. The melodies instantly get lodged in your head and their feel-good vibes are infectious. I really don't know a whole lot about them but darnit if Portland didn't do it again in churning out the awesome acts.

The Shaky Hands-We Are Young

You can buy Lunglight from Kill Rock Stars or Holocene Music. Or even on iTunes if your need is urgent. (At Kill Rock Stars you get a free poster with your order oooohh if that sways you any)

Days of Elaine

2008-11-13T13:29:00.003-06:00

The other day in the mail I got my latest edition of the Decemberists' Always a Bridesmaid: A Singles Series, this edition month's 12" vinyl being the lovely "Days of Elaine" backed with "Days of Elaine (long)" and "I'm Sticking With You." The songs are truly great and the vinyl is beautiful. If you haven't bought the vinyl, I strongly recommend it. You can buy "Days of Elaine"and other Decemberists goodies here. Or buy the first two volumes of Always a Bridesmaid on iTunes.
And last week the group popped in on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and played "Days of Elaine." Here's the video.

Bonus MP3:
The Decemberists-Think About Me (Fleetwood Mac cover)

Attack/Release

2008-11-12T13:27:00.002-06:00

Ohio's own awesome blues rockers The Black Keys made their last album, Attack & Release with DangerMouse and was a pretty stellar disc. They are also quite awesome to see live. We saw them open for Arcade Fire awhile back in Austin and it was one of the sweatiest, heaviest shows I've been too.
If you've never seen them live, don't worry. They're set to release a new live DVD called The Black Keys Live at the Crystal Ballroom (which is where we saw Sleater-Kinney take their final bow and is a very cool venue too) on November 18th. Produced and directed by Lance Bangs (husband of Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney, Jackass film guy, and also director of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' live DVD Tell Me What Rockers to Swallow, Belle & Sebastian's Fans Only, Sonic Youth's Corporate Ghost etc.) Here's a video and MP3 from the DVD, of the song "I Got Mine"

"I Got Mine" (Quicktime)

The Black Keys-I Got Mine (Live at the Crystal Ballroom) (MP3)

Order the DVD directly from Nonesuch.

Just Half of a Sunburn

2008-11-11T22:28:00.003-06:00

So, Matt & Kim, meet the readers of Dreams of Horses. Readers, meet Matt & Kim. This adorable video just made me love this song. It's an incredibly catchy tune and I can't get enough of Kim's huge grin through the whole thing. Kind've reminds me of Karen O's face while playing live.

Matt & Kim are from Brooklyn. They have a new CD coming out soon called Grand and I can't wait to hear it all. They're going on tour with Cut Copy in March (see the tour dates at Pitchfork). Here's a video of when Matt & Kim rolled through Denton last year:

Shark Week

2008-11-07T10:51:00.005-06:00

Photo by Matt Wignall

Around here in these parts, we love us some Shara Worden aka My Brightest Diamond. We loved her first CD, Bring Me the Workhorse and am totally loving her latest CD A Thousand Shark's Teeth. For such a delicate girl, she's got an incredible voice (she studied opera here in Texas) and great songs.
And she happens to have a new CD called Shark Remixes Vol 1 because, like she did with Workhorse she let people have a crack at remixing her already great songs (the results of the first remix album was Tear it Down). But this time she's letting four people remix several songs and they're releasing each one as an EP. This first one was remixed by Alfred Brown. You can buy Shark Remixes Vol 1 on iTunes for $5.99. Here's a peek.

The Loneliest Man in History (Looking Down from the Top of the World)
Of Fear and Wonder (I Found a Universe) Courtesty of Pitchfork

Go see Shara when she comes to your town! (Hits Dallas Dec 3rd at the Granada)

It's Boring

2008-11-06T11:32:00.000-06:00

Photo by Sarah Meadows

Tonight! YACHT makes a super-special stop tonight in Dallas at Club Dada (buy tickets here). I wish I could go but I can't. Though my sister CC is planning on going so maybe she'll take some pictures or video? That'd be sweet. YACHT is of course here wasting time before the Fun Fun Fun Fest on Saturday/Sunday that I also won't be attending. Lame. Anyway, here's a B-side from YACHT's first DFA release, Summer Song. It's VERY DFA-sounding more on the second half but the lyrics are still goofy and YACHT-ly. Buy the EP on iTunes and get a remix of the other track, "So Post All 'Em."

YACHT-"It's Boring / You Can Live Anywhere You Want"
YACHT-"So Post All 'Em"

Here's video CC took when YACHT last came to Rubber Gloves in Denton.

Getting Down

2008-11-05T14:48:00.002-06:00

So I thought I'd share this little mix I made this morning with you. It's a good little dance mix, great for dancing in your car, cubicle, club, or comfort zone. The editing's not too hot (my first) but the songs fit well together I think. Hope you enjoy!

Dreams of Horses-Getting Down Mix (66.05 MB)

Here's the tracklist:
The Kills-Getting Down
Fujiya & Miyagi-Uh
Hot Chip-Wrestlers (Sticky Dirty Pop Mix)
Cansei de Ser Sexy-Let's Reggae All Night
Metronomy-Heartbreaker
Ratatat-Shempi (Zongamin Remix)
Ladyhawke-My Delerium
Friendly Fires-In the Hospital
Calvin Harris-The Girls
Lo-Fi Fnk-Wake Up
Digitalism-Pogo (Radio Edit)
Cut Copy-Nobody Lost, Nobody Found

A New Day in America

2008-11-05T08:13:00.001-06:00

Photo by Diegu

Well America, this is the today promised to you yesterday. Congratulations and good luck to Barack Obama as he takes his position as our future president. We know you have a lot to fix and change.

Hot Chip-We're Looking For a Lot of Love (Christmas Recording)

This song is completely my favorite off of their latest album, Made in the Dark. I love Hot Chip's ability to make real dancefloor fillers ("Over & Over," "Boy From School," "Ready For the Floor," etc) and slower R&B-like jams (see "Look After Me" from The Warning and most of Coming on Strong). This is an acoustic recording made by frontman Alexis Taylor. It's found on the "One Pure Thought" single. Buy it on iTunes.

Slowest Rhyme

2008-11-04T09:44:00.000-06:00

Photo by Band of Outsiders

Hey you all remember how I'm in love with Bobby Birdman? Since I've been gone there's two more reasons!! No he hasn't made a new CD sadly. But he did remix up this old Young MC track.

Young MC-Slowest Rhyme (Bobby Birdman Remix)
You can find it on the Bust a Move Remix 12" also with Diplo and Don Rimini remixes at Delicious Vinyl. Or here on iTunes.

Well that was one thing. The other is that he has a new(?) track on the Hush Records' DECA compilation celebrating Hush's 10 year mark. This song is just SO cool. If you don't like Bobby Birdman, at least download this next track. I really think you'll like it. The drums are sick.

Bobby Birdman-Ridin' for a Fall (Young Dub)
You can download the DECA compilation at Hush. Or if you have a heart you can buy it for however much you want, as that is the new style of CD selling.

Nothin' But Girls

2008-11-03T11:16:00.001-06:00

Evie Sands - Take Me For A Little While
by soulpatrol

Well I was looking through some of my CDs and came across own my sister had given me that a guy she worked (his name's Matt, or DJ Boom)with had given her. It's 23 songs of old 60's girl groups, all pretty short, full of heartbreak and pleading. It's a really enjoyable listen so I thought I'd just put up the whole thing. You've probably heard several of them but, still worth hearing. Some of them I don't know the name of the group so if you know you'll have to tell me.

Various Artists-Nothin' But Girls

And for an extra bonus, here's Neko Case covering "Train from Kansas City," which is sung originally by The Shangri-las if I'm not wrong.
Neko Case-Train From Kansas City

'86 'Til Infinity

2008-11-01T21:56:00.000-05:00

Hey so um, I got back this Monday from Mexico. I've been kinda just soaking in everything. New music, movies, tv, fashion, everything. I am really glad to be back and start takin' care of the blog. My sister Carol did a pretty good job as she could. She's a workaholic so I understand why the posts weren't many but we're gonna start changing that.

I'd really like to change the layout of the site but I don't have any skills. So if you think you can help, it'd be appreciated. If not, I'll try and muck through it all...

Anyway, this is a really awesome mix that Copy made for XLR8R magazine called "'86 'Til Infinity"
It's full of awesome Portland bands (Glass Candy, Atole, YACHT, The Blow, Copy, etc.) and well, just check it out.

Copy-'86 'Til Infinity Mix

Annie New Album Sampler

2008-07-28T08:18:00.001-05:00

One of the albums I am looking forward to this year is the return of Annie. Her new album Don't Stop isn't out until October 6th, but I've got this album 11minute sampler you might enjoy.

MP3~Annie Album Sampler

You can also download a free copy of the Get Shakes remix of her first single "I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me" here and buy all 7 remixes here.

Let's Girl Talk

2008-07-21T07:56:00.000-05:00

If you are a Girl Talk fan, there is a new release this week that you may want to run out and buy. Greg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) and Frank Musarra (of Hearts of Darkness) have mixed 15 years worth of Thrill Jockey artists' music and compiled it on a cd under the moniker Trey Told 'Em. This cd is super limited edition (only 4,000 made). Most of them were sold at the Thrill Jockey anniversary shows in Chicago & London and through mail-order, but a very very small number are being sold through retailers. It's called Super Epic Thril Jockey Mega Massive Anniversary Mix by Trey Told 'Em.

Stream the new album through his myspace, or you can also pay what you want for the new Girl Talk album Feed the Animals, ala Radiohead through this link. If you pay more than $10, you automatically get a physical cd.

mp3 Trey Told 'Em-Trans Am Mega Mix

Upcoming tour dates:

Wed07/23/08	Sugar	Victoria	BC
Thu 07/24/08	Commodore Ballroom	Vancouver	BC	Twin Crystals
Fri 07/25/08	Capitol Hill Block Party	Seattle	WA
Sat 07/26/08	Roseland Theater	Portland	OR	Panther, Monkey Trick
Sun 08/03/08	Lollapalooza 2008	Chicago	IL
Fri 08/08/08	All Points West Festival	Jersey City	NJ
Thu 10/09/08	Starlight Ballroom	Philadelphia	PA	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Fri 10/10/08	9:30 Club	Washington	DC	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Sat 10/11/08	Sonar	Baltimore	MD	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Mon 10/13/08	Cats Cradle	Carrboro	NC	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Tue 10/14/08	Orange Peel	Asheville	NC	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Wed 10/15/08	Valarium	Knoxville	TN	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Thu 10/16/08	Variety Playhouse	Atlanta	GA	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Fri 10/17/08	House of Blues New Orleans	New Orleans	LA	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Sat 10/18/08	Warehouse Live	Houston	TX	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Mon 10/20/08	Emos	Austin	TX	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Tue 10/21/08	Palladium Ballroom	Dallas	TX	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Thu 10/23/08	Rialto Theater	Tucson	AZ	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Fri 10/24/08	Henry Fonda Theater	Los Angeles	CA	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Sat 10/25/08	Henry Fonda Theater	Los Angeles	CA	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Mon 10/27/08	The Fillmore Auditorium	San Francisco	CA	Grand Buffet, Hearts of Darknesses
Tue 10/28/08	The Fillmore Auditorium	San Francisco	CA	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Thu 10/30/08	In The Venue	Salt Lake City	UT	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Fri 10/31/08	Ogden Theater	Denver	CO	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Sat 11/01/08	The Granada Theatre	Lawrence	KS	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Mon 11/03/08	First Avenue	Minneapolis	MN	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Tue 11/04/08	Turner Hall Ballroom	Milwaukee	WI	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Wed 11/05/08	Canopy Club / Club Void	Urbana	IL	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Thu 11/06/08	Cannery Ballroom	Nashville	TN	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Fri 11/07/08	Headliners Music Hall	Louisville	KY	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Sun 11/09/08	Bogarts	Cincinnati	OH	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Mon 11/10/08	Beachland Ballroom	Cleveland	OH	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Tue 11/11/08	Eagle Theatre	Pontiac	MI	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Wed 11/12/08	Koolhaus	Toronto	ON	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Thu 11/13/08	Club Soda	Montreal	PQ	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK
Fri 11/14/08	Showcase Live	Foxborough	MA	The Death Set, CX KiDTRONiK

Rilo Kiley & Thao Tour

2008-06-16T09:38:00.000-05:00

Last night, I saw Rilo Kiley, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, and Benji Hughes.

Now, I would describe Benji Hughes as a guy who looks like he should be in ZZTop, sings like Englebert Humperdinck, backed by a rock band. It was cool because it was different and unexpected.

Thao (Nguyen) & the Get Down Stay Down sounded a lot different than I thought they would. I guess maybe it's because I haven't listened to the new record as much as I should've. The old one (Like the Linen) is just SO fabulous. On stage, Thao dances and thrashes her head like no one's watching.

I was never a big Rilo Kiley fan. I have seen them before and thought they were good, but I never really fell in love until Jenny Lewis came out with her solo album. So, admittedly, it's more about Jenny, but I really enjoy when Blake sings and look forward to his songs on the new album. Jenny's smooth, sweet voice is intoxicating and almost, almost outdone by her onstage presence. You can tell she enjoys performing. I am eagerly awaiting her new solo album due out later this year and produced by Elvis Costello.

As for now, I will be downloading all that I can find and it looks like my first stop is for bootlegs at the Rilo Kiley Network.

"Little Boxes" (Weeds theme) Jenny Lewis & Jonathan Rice

"Roll On" Dntel (featuring Jenny Lewis)

"Nothing Better " Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab) with Jenny Lewis

I Saw Jim, YAAAAAAY!

2008-04-07T10:33:00.001-05:00

Last night, I went and saw Jim Florentine at the Improv. He started making a name for himself by toying with telemarketers that would call his house. He told a story about how he took a girlfriend dressed as an expectant mother to an abortion clinic that had a bunch of protesters outside. She had a pillow in her dress and she was saying, "No, I want to keep it, " but he was bullying her into the place. Then she ran down the street, and he ran after her with a wire coat hanger. Yeah, I know I have sick humor, but I think the guy is ingenious.

Oh, you may also know him as Special Ed or Bobby Fletcher on Crank Yankers.

Hear some of his stand-up comedy on his myspace page and definitely check out his prank phone calls.

This is my favorite, the classic Special Ed "I Got Mail" call.

Sort It Out

2008-03-18T09:09:00.001-05:00

This is kind of what my brain feels like right now. I am trying to go thru the 500+ pics that i took during the week. I also may have an mp3 or two to share, if they turned out.

For now, here is a little quick round up.

Best band I had never even heard the name of: Bellafea

Best lived-up-to-the-hype: Crystal Castles (except that it was a super short set)

Best Reunion: The Slits

Best Haven't-Seen-in-Awhile: Janeane Garofalo

Band that got all glitsy and famous: Sons and Daughters

Band set to blow up: Okkervil River

Jerk of the Week: Taylor Hanson

Coolest guy-that-has-every-reason-to-act-big-but-doesn't: Thurston Moore

Mea Culpa

2008-03-17T21:14:00.000-05:00

Hello again,

If there is anyone still out there, who checks in from time to time, I must apologize. I have been out of touch with music in general for a while. Since Mike left, I have found no joy in music. I love music so much that if I can't discuss it with someone, I am lost. Mike and I would constantly have a back and forth of "Do you like this?" or "Have you heard this?" Without that sharing of music, I'd rather not listen.

On my ride home from sxsw, I was crying to Nirvana's "Lithium" that was playing on the radio. Good music can really move me, and I just miss having that person with whom I can share all of the good things that are out there.

Again, please forgive my lack of updates. I need to get back into it and have all of the good stuff picked out before Mike gets home. I plan on planting him in his room with all of the music and movies he's missed over the past couple of years.

Right now, I'm loading all of my pics from my memory cards, so I will have a sxsw update sooon.

Most Sincerely,
Carol

New This Week

2008-01-21T08:53:00.000-06:00

This week ADA has some great releases, one of them being Cat Power's new one. So I finally uploaded a couple of the videos i took of Chan at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin.

Out this week:
Black Mountain - In the Future (Ltd Ed 2 disc/on JagJaguwar)
Blood on the Wall - Liferz (Toured with Sonic Youth/YYYs/The Kills/Fiery Furnaces)
Bodies of Water - Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink (on Secretly Canadian)
Cat Power - Jukebox (Deluxe silver foil gatefold w/bonus cd)
Depeche Mode - 5 Reissues on 180 gram Vinyl (Music for the Masses, Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Ultra, & Exciter)
Evangelicals - The Evening Descends
Hey Willpower - P.D.A. (=part Imperial Teen, part Tussle/On Tomlab)
Holy Fuck - LP
Lions - Jungle Struttin' 7" (Ltd 1000 copies)
Love Is All - Mixed Up (on Parlophone)
Mahjongg - Konpab (on K Records)
Mono - Sky Remains the Same As Ever DVD
Jack Penate - Matinee
Rafter - Sex Death Cassette (releasing a song a week on Asthmatic Kitty)
Santogold - Creator 12"
Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!
Times New Viking - Rip It Off (on Matador)

Sarah Silverman under my Christmas Tree

2007-12-17T09:50:00.000-06:00

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is to meet Sarah Silverman. You can win it for me here.

Love,
me

Sarah Silverman on Howard Stern 10/01/07
fast forward 3 hrs if you only want to hear Sarah, but this show is one of my favs from the whole year

Learn Guitar from Laura Veirs

2007-12-03T09:48:00.000-06:00

If you live in the Portland area, Laura Veirs could be your guitar teacher.

Laura is accepting music students in the Portland, Oregon area. If you are interested studying guitar, banjo or songwriting with Laura, please email Clyde at yourheartbreaks@hotmail.com and I will pass along her contact information.

She's teaching lessons in a rad backyard studio with a wood-burning stove and French doors to her garden. It's lovely place to learn music and Laura's a great teacher.

Here's lesson info from Laura:
******************************
********
Guitar, Banjo and Songwriting Lessons
$50/hour
Alberta Arts District location
**************************************

What I Teach:
-- Guitar: country-blues, folk finger-style, rock, pop songs, music/chord theory, singing and playing at the same time
-- Banjo: clawhammer/old time songs with an emphasis on singing and playing
-- Songwriting

Teaching Philosophy:
Over ten years of teaching private lessons I've found that this method works: Listen, play and record.
Listen -- We listen to a recording of the song you want to learn.
Play -- With chords and/or tablature as a visual aid, you play through the song slowly.
Record -- I record the song slowly for you to play along with at home.

Each week I give specific homework for students. Songwriting students are encouraged to use "The Artist's Way" as a supplemental text.

Every few months we have "Star Parties" where all my students gather together to present the music they've been working on. These parties tend to freak out some students but ultimately give them a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie.

I try to make lessons fun, engaging and challenging.

Caveat:
Since I'm a touring musician I am sometimes gone for weeks at a time. Adult students tend to adapt better to my schedule (kids need more consistency to keep up with their lessons).

Laura Veirs - Songs My Friends Taught Me

Interview of Laura and Colin Meloy from 2006 talking about how they started playing.

Mikey Update

2007-11-30T09:37:00.001-06:00

Since Virginia asked...and it's been a year since Mike left, it is definitely time for an update on the kid. Mike is doing really well. He loves Mexico, loves the people, and loves the food. We were a little worried about a boy that wouldn't eat much more than meat and cheese, but he's definitely branched out. He loves menudo, cilantro, and even face tacos (barbacoa).

He's not as homesick, but still misses the music SOOOOO much. He gets an hour of internet time and spends much of it finding out what is happening in the music world and trying to juggle writing all of us.

I don't know how many of you knew him personally, but he does check his email weekly. I'm sure he'd like to hear from any of you.

He's scheduled to come home in October, and I'm sure he'll be hold up in his room with cds and dvds galore surfacing only for food.

New Duke Spirit

2007-10-08T06:20:00.000-05:00

I have missed these guys. The Duke Spirit don't make standard indie rock, maybe standard british indie rock.

A pre-cursor to the new album due early next year, their new ep Ex-Voto will be released on Rough Trade October 22nd.

Get your ep or Ltd 10" here.

The Duke Spirit - Masca

Radiohead Rarities

2007-10-07T04:38:00.000-05:00

Everyone's in a tizzy about the new Radiohead album In Rainbows. I have to admit the vinyl looks purdy.

Skirting the stores, the "pay what you want" method will definitely work for them. They are an established band with a HUGE fan base. The quality of their work is consistent, and even $5 is probably more than they'd usually make on a release thru retailers.

The album will be available October 10. Details here.

I will have to put these rarities in my itunes rotation to get in the mood.

Radiohead - Paragons of Virtue (thanks Miss D)

Tracks
01 Talk Show Host
02 Bishop's Robes
03 Banana Co.
04 Polyethylene
05 Pearly
06 A Reminder
07 Melatonin
08 Meeting in the Aisle
09 Lull
10 Climbing Up the Walls (Zero 7 mix)
11 Climbing Up the Walls (Fila Brazilla mix)
12 Palo Alto
13 How I Made My Millions
14 Airbag (live in Berlin)
15 Lucky (live in Florence)
16 Fake Plastic Trees (acoustic)
17 Wonderwall
18 My Iron Lung (live at Forum, London)
19 Creep (live in Amsterdam)

Back to the Grind

2007-10-02T15:46:00.000-05:00

Back from a little vacay. I hope you all are well. ACL was good. I'll be uploading some photos and videos in the next week or so.

For right now, please check out the video above. Jenny Hoyston's Paradise Island just began their tour. I caught the above performance Saturday and hope to have another video of her show tonight at Rubber Gloves.

Tour Dates:
Oct 2 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves w/Hot As Sh*ts!, Adrienne Anemone
Oct 3 Memphis, TN @ The Hi-Tone w/Warble
Oct 4 Asheville, NC @ The Parlour w/Adrienne Anemone
Oct 5 Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Kitty Club
Oct 6 Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Kitty Club
Oct 7 New York, NY @ Cake Shop w/Dynasty Handbag, Telepathe, Winning Looks
Oct 8 Philadelphia, PA @ Tritone w/Gemini Wolf, Under Not Over
Oct 9 Washington DC @ Velvet Lounge w/Partyline, Adreinne Anemone
Oct 11 East Lansing, MI @ (Scene) Metro Space w/Adrienne Anemone
Oct 12 Ann Arbor, MI @ 701 House Party! w/P*sy Pirates, Adrienne Anemone
Oct 13 Chicago, IL @ AV-Arie w/Bird Names + more
Oct 14 Minneapolis, MN @ Pi the bar w/SUKEY TAWDRY & gay beast
Oct 16 Iowa City, IA @ The Picador w/Adrienne Anemone
Oct 17 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s
Oct 25 Portland, OR @ Sloan’s
Oct 28 Seattle, WA @ Vera

****************************************
I also uploaded a couple of new vids from the Neko Case/Rufus Wainwright show I attended. See them here.

White Stripes Cancel ACL Shows!!!!

2007-09-11T12:46:00.000-05:00

My insider has just given me word that the White Stripes have cancelled both of their shows, possibly due to a Meg White breakdown? I was already a little comme ci, comme ca about the fest, but here goes my big aftershow...Guess we'll be at the clubs...no big venues for me.

Long Blondes DON'T tour US

2007-09-10T16:12:00.001-05:00

So, I'm not quite sure what happened here, as EVERYONE (Venues & Blogs & powerhouse Pitchfork) was under the impression the Long Blondes were touring.

So, the tour's not cancelled, but it's not happening either.

US dates (lack of)

Some of you may have read from various sources that we will be touring America in November, including a number of shows with Gossip. We are sorry to say that this announcement was not exactly accurate – much as we would love to come back to the US, neither us nor Gossip will be touring there in November! We will in fact be spending October and November recording our second album. We’re sorry for the confusion, and we apologise to anyone who hoped to come see us.

Again, a massive apology to all our US fans. x

Acoustic PJ Harvey & a New One

2007-09-07T19:07:00.000-05:00

WOOHOO!! I got 5th row tickets to PJ Harvey's show in LA. I'm super excited. Now, I just have to come up with the airfare. Does anyone know if you have to sit at the Orpheum?

In celebration, I thought I'd share some of my favorite new found PJ items.

PJ Harvey - Shame (acoustic) (Live on KCRW)

PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her (acoustic) (Live on KCRW)

PJ Harvey - The Letter (acoustic) (Live on KCRW)

Oh, okay, I know you want a little extra somethin'. Here's a new one from her highly anticipated (by me) album White Chalk, hitting shelves September 24th.

PJ Harvey - Broken Harp

Dylan's On

2007-09-07T11:27:00.000-05:00

They just verified my sources on KGSR. Tickets for the Saturday aftershow with Bob Dylan will go on sale at 10am Wednesday.

They'll be sold through Front Gate.

ACL Dylan Rumor

2007-09-07T08:19:00.000-05:00

I have it on very good authority that Bob Dylan is the much anticipated missing link to Stubb's ACL aftershow calendar. Stubb's has a full dance card next weekend during the festival, except for Saturday. Speculations have circled Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and the sort, but I just got word this morning from a very reliable insider that the word is Dylan. The show will be announced next week with tickets going on sale on Wednesday. Many thanks to my new best friend for the tip.

in other Dylan news:

I'm Not There the (only Dylan approved) bio-pic includes 6 actors portraying different eras of Dylan's life. One includes Cate Blanchett pictured below. It will be in limited release in US theatres in November.

Kristin Hersh Manifesto

2007-09-02T11:16:00.000-05:00

When not writing her book Paradoxical Undressing, or making music with 50 Ft Wave, Kristin Hersh has had a lot on her mind. She's had it with record labels. You can read the whole manifesto here, but in short an artist that doesn't appeal to the sham radio is nowadays can't make it with a major label.

In hopes of cutting out the middlemen, she has started the CASH Music Project

"ThrowingMusic is happy to announce an entirely new musical endeavor. We're calling it the Coalition of Artists & Stake Holders, or the "CASH Music Project". CASH Music represents a new music business model which we hope you'll not only support but also help us shape, by sharing with us your thoughts, suggestions & opinions.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will come to you with a new kind of offering from Kristin. We're planning lots of great new content, including a brand-new studio recording posted to Kristin's blog every month - free of charge.

We're committed to not holding music hostage, the music will be free. We’ll be asking for donations and offer you the opportunity to subscribe to Kristin’s career – past, present and future."

She's also added a tip jar to the top of her mp3 page, and will soon be releasing albums on a subscription basis.

Hersh will be touring soon, and even has a couple of rare dates with Throwing Muses pal Tanya Donelly.


Date	Artist	Place	Venue

19 Sept 2007	Kristin Hersh	Chicago, IL	Estrojam Festival at Schuba's Tavern
6 Oct 2007, 6pm	Kristin Hersh w/Tanya Donelly!	Cambridge, MA	The Brattle Theatre
6 Oct 2007, 9pm	Kristin Hersh w/Tanya Donelly!	Cambridge, MA	The Brattle Theatre
11 Oct 2007	Kristin Hersh	Richmond, Victoria	The Corner Hotel
12 Oct 2007	Kristin Hersh	Hepburn Springs, Victoria	The Palais
14 Oct 2007	Kristin Hersh	Auckland, NZ	Kings Arms
15 Oct 2007	Kristin Hersh	Wellington, NZ	San Francisco Bath House
17 Oct 2007	Kristin Hersh	Bulli, New South Wales	The Heritage Hotel
18 Oct 2007	Kristin Hersh	Katoomba, New South Wales	Clarendon Guest House
19 Oct 2007	Kristin Hersh	Sydney, New South Wales	The Basement
21 Oct 207	Kristin Hersh	Fremantle, Western Australia	Fremantle Arts Centre

Devendra & Jana News

2007-08-31T07:01:00.000-05:00

Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Mountain will be released on September 25, and while trying to figure out which Devendra Banhart song to post, I found out he's putting up a couple of songs from his forthcoming album each week. You can check out the 2 he's put up here.

Drawing from his time living in Venezuela, Devendra has added some tropicalia influence to his repertoire.

Here's a rendition of a Caetano Veloso song done by Cibelle and Devendra that appeared on her 2006 album The Shine of Dried Electric Leaves.

Cibelle & Devendra Banhart - London, London

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In other news:

Jana Hunter has premiered a new song on her myspace in anticipation of the release of her ep Carrion out Sept 10.

Carrion has a few songs in the same vein as her last album, as well as a a few re-workings.

If you're a vinyl junkie like me, you would be wise to pick up the one sided limited (to 500) 12" on Woodsist. You can get that here and now before the cd is out.

CSS live show

2007-08-30T14:03:00.000-05:00

CSS with L7

Here's the CSS set from one of the 20 festivals they had booked this year. They were in Portugal, so it's fun to hear them speak in their native tongue.

I was just going to put up a couple of the songs from this show, because they say this generation is all about the 1 song and move on, but I love a good show, and hearing a band you may have never seen can be a good advert as to why you should.

Soon CSS will be touring Europe with Gwen Stefani. Get dates here.

Tracklisting:

01 Jagger Yoga (Don't Miss My Holiday)
02 Alala
03 Fuck Off Is Not the Only Thing You Have to Show
04 Meeting Paris Hilton
05 This Month Day 10
06 Alcohol
07 Lindja
08 Patins
09 Pretend We're Dead (L7 cover)
10 Off the Hook
11 I Wanna Be Your J. Lo (partial Sleater-Kinney cover)
12 Art Bitch
13 Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above

CSS - Live from PDC 15Aug07

The Blow Tour Dates

2007-08-29T18:38:00.001-05:00

New Year's Eve '06

The Blow (Khaela) updated her blog for the first time in 2 months. She's on what I call Japanese time (20 or so years behind which means 5 or so years in the fashionable future). Don't give her any guff. I'm just happy to hear she's still out there.

For you lucky PDX-ers, The Blow will be at Holocene Friday and she'll hop like a bunny around the midwest and east in September & October.

Tour Dates:
Aug 31 Portland, OR @ Holocene
Sep 14 Seattle, WA @ Seattle Public Library
Sep 29 Grinnell, IA @ Grinnell College
Sep 30 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar
Oct 1 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Oct 2 Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center for the Arts
Oct 3 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian
Oct 4 Washington DC @ Black Cat
Oct 5 New York, NY @ Blender Theatre at Gramercy
Oct 6 Boston, MA @ Museum of Fine Arts - Remis
Dec 15 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir

Fiery KEXP Session

2007-08-29T17:51:00.001-05:00

SXSW '04

Here are the rest of the tracks from that KEXP session.

Fiery Furnaces - I'm Gonna Run - Straight Street (Live @ KEXP)

Fiery Furnaces - My Dog Was Lost But Now He's Found (Live @ KEXP)

Or a zip of all 4 songs.

Fiery Furnaces Tour Hits Austin (& some other cities)

2007-08-29T02:04:00.000-05:00

ACL '04

As I was updating my showlist, I found more tour dates for the Fiery Furnaces. I haven't seen this full list on the usual suspects' pages, so away we go...

October / November 2007

10/09 Newport, KY / Southgate House / 24 E. 3rd Street
Time: 9pm / Tickets: $12 / Ages: 18+

10/10 Milwaukee, MI / Shank Hall / 1434 N. Farwell Ave.
Tickets: $18 Adv. $20 Day Of / Ages: 21+

10/11 Madison, WI / The Annex / 1206 Recent St.
Time: 8pm / Tickets: $13 Adv. $15 Day Of / Ages: 21+

10/12 St. Paul, MN / Turf Club / 1601 University Ave West
Time: 9:30pm / Tickets: $13 Adv. $15 Day Of / Ages: 21+

10/15 Vancouver, BC / Richard's On Richards Cabaret / 1036 Richards St.
Time: 9:30pm / Tickets: $20 Adv. $25 Day Of / Ages: 19+

10/16 Seattle, WA / Crocodile Cafe / 2200 2nd Ave
Time: 9:30pm / Tickets: $13 Adv. $15 Day Of / Ages: 21+

10/17 Portland, OR / Aladdin Theater / 3017 S.E. Milwaukie
Times: 9pm / Tickets: $15 / Ages: All

10/19 Berkeley, CA / UC Berkeley Campus / Lower Sproul Plaza
Time: 12pm / Ages: All

10/19 San Francisco, CA / The Independent / 628 Divisidero St.
Times: 9pm / Tickets: $15 / Ages: 21+

10/20 Big Sur, CA / Big Sur Fernwood Resort / Highway 1
Time: 8pm / Ages: All

10/21 San Diego, CA / The Casbah / 2501 Kettner Blvd
Time: 9:30pm / Tickets: $14 / Ages: 21+

10/22 West Hollywood, CA / Troubadour / 9081 Santa Monica Blvd
Time: 9pm / Tickets: $15 / Ages: All

10/26 Austin, TX / Emo's / 603 Red River
Time: 10pm / Tickets: $12 Adv. $14 Day Of / Ages: All

10/27 Austin, TX / Emo's / 603 Red River
Time: 10pm / Tickets: $12 Adv. $14 Day Of / Ages: All

10/29 St. Louis, MO / Blueberry Hill / 6504 Delmar
Time: 9pm / Tickets: $15 / Ages: 21+

10/30 Champaign, IL / Highdive / 51 Main St.
Tickets: $13 Adv. $15 Day Of / Ages: 19+

11/02 Millvale, PA / Mr. Small's Theater / 400 Lincoln Ave
Tickets: $12.50 Adv. $14.50 Day Of / Ages: All

11/03 New York, NY / Hiro Ballroom / 363 W. 16th
Time: 8:30pm / Tickets: $20 Adv. $25 Day Of / Ages: 21+

2 dates in Austin!! It looks like I'll have to hit up someone to crash on their couch. It will be well worth it.

I cut and converted this track, so my apologies if I included too much or too little talk.

Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat (Live at KEXP)

Sia Artwork Contest

2007-08-28T18:02:00.000-05:00

I first became enamored with Australian export Sia (See-ah) when her album Healing is Difficult came out as an import in 2000. In 2005, I saw the video for "Breathe Me" while I was waiting in a movie theatre. Suddenly, she was everywhere. This is really an excellent video.

Sia has been working on a new album (Some People Have Real Problems) and is running a contest where you can create artwork for it. The deadline has been extended to September 7 (12 noon BST). Is that Bangladesh Standard Time? Probably British Summer Time.

So, get all of the info here and maybe your work will be included, like Mike's was in the YYYs.

Sia - Buttons (from Some People Have Real Problems)

Sia - Breath Me (Four Tet Remix)

Sia - Paranoid Android (Radiohead cover)

Sia - Drink to Get Drunk (Different Gear Remix)

School of Seven Bells

2007-08-28T11:05:00.000-05:00

I have been kicking myself ever since I all but missed On!Air!Library! opened for Secret Machines and Interpol. Who starts a show before 9pm? Well, On!Air!Library! broke up shortly after that, but it seems that the twins have resurfaced.

Alejandra & Claudia Dehezia have joined forces with Benjamin Curtis (formerly of Secret Machines) and James Elliott to form School of Seven Bells.

They have 4 tracks for you to enjoy on their myspace and you can catch them touring with Blonde Redhead this summer.

They are also featured on this new track with Prefuse 73.

Prefuse 73 - Class of 73 Bells (w/School of Seven Bells)

On!Air!Library! - Faultered Ego

On!Air!Library! - Feb.

Tour Dates:
Sep 7 Northampton, MA Pearl Street w/Blonde Redhead
Sep 10 Detroit, MI Majestic Theater w/Blonde Redhead
Sep 11 Chicago, IL Subterranean
Sep 12 Columbia, MO Blue Note w/Blonde Redhead
Sep 13 Oklahoma City, OK Bricktown Ballroom w/Blonde Redhead
Sep 14 Dallas, TX Good Records (live in-store!)
Sep 15 Austin, TX Austin City Limits @ Emo’s w/ Blonde Redhead
Sep 17 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club w/ Blonde Redhead
Sep 18 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theater w/ Blonde Redhead
Sep 19 Ashville, NC Orange Peel w/ Blonde Redhead
Sep 21 Norfolk, VA The Norva w/ Blonde Redhead
Sep 22 Sayerville, NJ Starland Ballroom w/ Blonde Redhead
Sep 24 New Haven, CT Toad’s Place w/ Blonde Redhead
Sep 25 Providence, RI Lupo’s w/ Blonde Redhead
Sep 26 Boston, MA The Roxy w/ Blonde Redhead
Oct 4 New York, NY Cake Shop

Justice Live

2007-08-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

I wasn't looking for this, but I happened upon it and thought I'd share.

Enjoy!

Justice - set @ I Love Techno (10.2006) 57min

S to the A to the D

2007-08-24T15:01:00.000-05:00

Perhaps you are not as obsessed with Amy Winehouse. I was REALLY looking forward to her performance at ACL, ever since she cancelled the "private" gig I was depending on at SXSW. I am resigned to the fact that she won't be there (at ACL) as she's entered a program, but I did think about not going for a moment.

So, I will be consoling myself with these new found finds and sending her good thoughts (especially to get back here).

I made a zip of the files or you can get them indiviually below.

Back to Black Bonus Tracks

Amy Winehouse - Do Me Good (Bonus Track)

Amy Winehouse - Rehab (Hot Chip Remix)

Amy Winehouse - Love is Losing Game (Acoustic)

Amy Winehouse - Monkey Man (Bonus Track)

Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good (Skeewif Remix)

Rehab Remixes

Amy Winehouse - Rehab (Desert Eagle Remix)

Amy Winehouse - Rehab Remix (Feat. Jay-Z)

Amy Winehouse - F Me Pumps (MJ Cole Remix)

Eddie V & Corin T

2007-08-23T13:52:00.001-05:00

Perhaps you read about Eddie Vedder opening for Sleater-Kinney on their last show date. Well, I know Corin has been looking through tons of video tape of the S-K, trying to pick out what will be on their forthcoming DVD, but it looks like she also made some time to sing with her friend Eddie. Corin sings back-up on the song "Hard Sun" for the movie Into the Wild.

Eddie Vedder "Hard Sun"

The movie, based on the book of the same name, is directed by Sean Penn, and features a few of my favorites, Catherine Keener, Jena Malone, and Vince Vaughn.

Into the Wild is out on September 21.

Check out the movie trailer