Archive for August 2012
Oh Canada
'The Carpenter'
NPR is streaming the new Avett Brother's album, 'The Carpenter', in it's entirety. I'm six songs in and I'm amazed. I can't wait to have a copy of it for myself. Good thing payday is Sept. 20 :)
You can listen to it by clicking HERE.
September Can't Come Soon Enough
But that's not why I'm so happy (okay, getting paid is going to be great, but beside that). September 2012 is possibly the best month for music in years. There are so many albums coming out by many of my favorite bands. I seriously have no idea how I'm going to buy them all (thank goodness for Spotify).
See for yourself. Here's a list of all the albums coming out next month.
September 4
-Animal Collective: Centipede Hz
-Azure Ray: So Above, So Below
-Cat Power: Sun
-Jens Lekman: I Know What Love Isn't
-Stars: North
September 11
-The Avett Brothers: The Carpenter
-Bob Dylan: Tempest
-Sea Wolf: Old World Romance
-The XX: Coexist
September 18
-Band of Horses: Mirage Rock
-Ben Folds Five: Sound of the Life of the Mind
-Grizzly Bear: Shields
-The Killers: Battle Born
September 25
-Mumford and Sons: Babel
(Album Review) Circa Survive- Violent Waves
Youth Lagoon
Trevor Powers is Youth Lagoon. His debut album "Year of Hibernation" came out last year to great reviews. I was especially interested because he was from Idaho, where I was living at the time. Not too many good independent musicians call Idaho home (Built To Spill is the only other band I can think of). From what I can remember I liked the album at first listen, but I never came back to it until now.
Youth Lagoon played at Pitchfork Festival earlier this summer, and last month they posted a video of his performance on their website. It sent shivers down my spine. The very next day Daytrotter re-posted his session from last year. I listened to it. I loved it.
I went back and listened to "Year of Hibernation" and this time it made an impression. Most of the album sounds like it was recorded in his basement (I think I read that it was, but I'm too tired and lazy too look it up), which I love. Tracks that I love on the album are: Cannons, Afternoon, Montana, & Ghost To Me.
If you haven't listened to this album, I highly suggest it.
on being alone.
Today's Supernatural
This song and video are really good, but the video might give you nightmares for months. Animal Collective gets my weird as hell nod this week. Their new album Centipede Hz comes out September 3. I'm looking forward to it.
The Jack White Show
So, as most of you know, I went and saw Jack White last night. It was unreal. Hands down the best show I've ever seen. Duh, it was Jack White. It was a treasure that can only be experienced and understood in person. Words can't even describe it so I won't even bother. So, I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about the opening band, Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three.
They're a band from St. Louis. And they are the most perfect little band from St. Louis. They were a southern country band with a lot of fantastic bluesy harmonica and some Django-esque style guitar picking and of course, a washboard. They were so adorable. I wish I had a pocket size version of them I could carry around with me. They just had so much character and boy, could they play! They ended their set with the harmonica and lead guitar going back and forth trying to stump each other. Needless to say, neither were stumped and it ended in a draw.
I love when opening bands are unexpectedly great. I had looked them up before the show but didn't give them much of a listen and I knew they would be good 'cause, duh, they're opening for Jack Freaking White, but I didn't realized they would be great. They only drawback was the size of the venue. They're the kind of band that needs to be seen in a smaller venue to be fully appreciated. Lucky for me, they're coming back to play such a venue in Seattle in September and you better believe I'll be there.