NFT's Got You Cover? Hank Williams... The Old One!

Various Artists - Hank Williams Compilation (2013)

From the folks who brought us the Top 40 Compilation comes another look into reconstructing a persons work into simple acoustic lo-fi tracks. This is the Hank Williams Compilation, a collection of - yep, you guessed it - Hank Williams cover songs.

I recently wrote an essay about a certain cover album (which I will not name) that really got me looking at covers in the sense that what people do to a song will ultimately never be as authentic as the original and that the songs usually miss the point of what the original stands for all together. Granted some things should not be covered for the sake of art like church hymns or sea songs, I think taking someone's work like Hank Williams's and re-imagining it, added a little of yourself to it, and giving it away for free is not a bad thing at all. That is, unless you throw a bunch of club noises into it (I'm looking at you, Pill Friends).

Anyways, these covers are just for fun; that's really what covering music should be about anyway.

Artists/bands doing their best Hank Williams impressions (sorta) include: Pill Friends, Radiator Hospital, Free Cake For Every Creature, Teen Suicide, Told Slant, Florist, Lizard Kisses, Fog Lake, and Totally Ruined.


Birdtapes.com
Last.fm (Birdtapes)

Silver Jews - American Water

Silver Jews - American Water (1998)

Silver Jews were an explorational early 90s to late 2000s indie rock group that thrived mostly on the creative songwriting juices of David Berman. The original line-up of Silver Jews consisted of Berman and Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich - who left after their debut full-length, Starlite Walker but returned for their 2005 album, Tanglewood Numbers.

To many, American Water is the essential Silver Jews album. It encompasses the perfect amount of somber Berman singing with the right amount of story-telling and the right amount of Stephen Malkmus.

Highlights: "Random Rules", "People", "Honky If Your Lonely", "Blue Arrangement", "Smith & Jones Forever"

While this album will never be the Silver Jews album that got me into Berman's stuff, that would be their last album from 2008, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, it does feature my favorite Silver Jews song: "Smith & Jones Forever". "Smith & Jones Forever" was the last song that the Silver Jews ever played live - a fact I hope never changes if they ever decide to go on a reunion tour and play something else:

Similar acts/sounds: Pavement, Smog, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Rites of Spring, Bonny "Prince" Billy, Songs: Ohia, Miighty Flashlight, The Modern Lovers, Calvin Johnson, Guided By Voices, and other 90's indie rock music.

David Berman's Blog
Drag City
Last.fm

Monday LXXVI

La Luna - La Luna (2013)

La Luna are a female fronted hardcore band from Calgary with a burst of violence and despair in every bite.

La Luna are also the band formerly known as Brain Fever, one of the first bands that I ever posted on a Monday post. This self titled album is actually a remixed and remastered version of said band's release from 2012.

Now they have the same name as an Indonesian easy-listening retro pop band.



Last.fm

Snail Party - Toppled Propane Glory (2013)

Snail Party is the full band of Mogli and friends from Halifax. They play all those really fun folk instruments like banjos and saws...



Last.fm

1994! - FUCK IT (2013)

1994!'s new album, FUCK IT is the nosiest noise post hardcore and math rock clusterfest ever to be recorded on an iPhone using a shitty microphone.

Despite being recorded on shit equipment in such low quality as it is, their bandcamp recommends that you not listen to the album using your crappy Macbook speakers...



Bandcamp
Last.fm

The Act of Estimating as Worthless - Circadian Tremors

The Act of Estimating as Worthless - Circadian Tremors (2013)

It's a shame how long I forgot about The Act of Estimating as Worthless. Good thing I am on the Birthquake Records mailing list where I not only rediscovered this beautiful band, but also heard about their new album, Circadian Tremors.

Thanks internet!



Circadian Tremors is a 6 song journey through the vocal chords of Zoe Grant and Matthew Van Asselt. It's the kind of music that tries to hug you and - while you are usually not okay with random hugs or close encounters - it hugs you anyway...

But it's alright because it's really good at hugging and your body is infinitely ready.

This album and The Act of Estimating as Worthless all around are perfect for this transition into Spring. Which, for me at least, is really just that awkward and confused season before summer.

Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXXIII

RIP Margie

Gimme Goldar - Dizzep (2013)

Had me at Goldar.

Some noisy music spasms by Portland folk. Recorded on location at 131 Washington Ave.

Spoiler alert: they don't sound like Goldar...



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Safe - Safe EP (2010)

Safe is Chris "CF" Edley. Edley plays very elegant lo-fi-ish pop music recorded in secret basements for secret basements.



Safe will be playing with groovestep Portland acts, Glass Fingers, Altered Gee, and Conjjjecture at the Darkmouth Castle on the 19th (house on Dartmouth Street in Portland. Just follow the noise).

Rumor has it that this will be Glass Fingers' last performance as Glass Fingers. I don't know what this means but most likely will lead to more surprises ahead.

Last.fm


Moon Bandits - Action Changes Thinking (2013)

Moon Bandits are another, but less aggressive sounding, anarcho-punk outfit with acoustic instruments hailing from the west coast. If you enjoy or attended the Blackbird Raum (the anarcho-punk band I introduced last week) show last Friday night at The Oak + The Ax and had yourself a real doozy of a time, I highly recommend giving Moon Bandits a listen.

Or, if you are in town Wednesday night, you can just go check them out at Dobra Tea (that tea place above Bullmoose/Video Port on Middle Street) for yourself!



Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXX

Happy 311 day.

Here's some stuff that might sound like 311 if they were sped up/slowed down/mixed using an iPhone/had different members/weren't into colors/streaked more/were more distorted/were more like Weezer or Cap'n Jazz or Captain Beefheart or early Metallica/didn't twinkle as hard/weren't from Nebraska/had an album coming out this year/weren't on your mom's iPod/etc.

Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass - New Songs Summer 2012 (2012)

Clearly I'm behind on my Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass listening as I just got word that they have had new songs out on their Bandcamp since last summer. Regardless of all that though, there's no better time like the present to listen to some guilt-free music like Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass.



Did I mention that most of the money you give towards Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass's music goes to his friend in Cambodia's small school he started to help educate and nourish children in the village with art and science? Of course I didn't; I was saving the best news for last!

For real though, check it out!

Last.fm

We Scare Coyotes - PF Flyers DEMO (Live Recording) (2013)

I found out about these guys after checking out the predominately math rock blog, Plenty of Swords. I was initially turned on to this band in particular due to the description of them being a math rock band with strings (I'm guessing a violin). And even though I would say that We Scare Coyotes are bit more post rock than the average math rock outfit these days, they definitely incorporate the violin very nicely into their instrumental music on this live demo titled after those shoes the kids were wearing in The Sandlot.



This release is still much more post rock-y than their 2012 live demo, Wild Dreams which does not feature any strings if my ears serve me correctly. Still a decent listen for any instrumental/post rock/whatever fan out there, however.

Last.fm

Jakob Battick & Friends - Last Songs (2013)

Jakob Battick & Friends may have called it quits in 2011, but it was definitely not the last time we would hear from the likes of either Jakob Battick or his "Friends" - including Jared Fairfield who seems to be appearing just as much on here as Jakob Battick lately. Not to mention that these last four songs by JB & Friends were originally set to be on a split with Jared Fairfield that never happened.

It almost seems like a crime that Jakob Battick and his friends put out such a phenomenal post-humorous release like this on top of all the other stuff Jakob Battick is up to currently (Captain Hollow, new Afraid stuff, etc.) as well as Jared Fairfield (who recently made this). Stop teasing us like you guys should be together still and have so much creativity, okay?

Rumor also has it that Jakob Battick's new project as Afraid will feature Jarboe. That's right, The Living Jarboe from Swans. This is just a rumor as of now, but just crazy enough to be true! When and if it ever happens you can be sure to see here, no doubt.

As for the music itself, these last four songs of Jakob Battick & Friends legacy are probably their best. They know it, too. And while I always enjoyed their other work, this is really some pretty nifty stuff that I can put on constant rotation.

So find yourself a big dark room to sit in and listen to these last four hunting post folk medleys until your bones can no longer take it anymore and you must draw the curtains back and let life return to your body. Except you don't, and your body just stays in equilibrium until your new life begins before your very own eyes.

Or listen to it like a normal person would. I don't care.



Other Friends from JB & F's past: Mark Dennis, Ryan Higgins, Marisha Drown, Nate Pronovost, Milo Moyer-Battick, Dan Littlefield, Johnathan Downs, and more!

Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXVII

That Monday where the pope quit.

Dore Mear Beon - Dore Mear Beon EP (2012)

Here's some Canadian math rock for ya. Apparently it's that sort of one man (Andrew Sagriff) math rock stuff which always makes me wonder if it's naturally done or with the help of fancy technically and newfangled computer magic. However it's created though, it still sounds great and right up my alley.

Track 2 features a sample from Richard Linklater's philosophical talky film, Waking Life. You know, that kind of talky film where you feel really smart afterwards and totally better than anyone else who hasn't seen it before.


Last.fm

Tawny Peaks - Tawny Peaks (2012)

I'm a bit surprised I haven't shared these guys before seeing how long I've been holding on to this self-title and such.

Recently, I rediscovered these guys on Spotify no less and have been getting to know their music a lot more than before. So here they are now!

Tawny Peaks play twinkly, sometimes acoustic - sometimes electric, sometimes male vocals - sometimes female vocals - sometimes both, emotional  music out of New Jersey.



Last.fm


Real Kind - Hard Red Winter (sketches) (2012)

Real Kind is the warm and fuzzy-feel moniker of Marissa Owens from Portland, Maine when she plays warm and fuzzy music.

A good friend of mine suggested I give Real Kind and her album Hard Red Winter a try - I did and it was a perfect accompaniment to my loner weekend stuck in Northern Maine thanks to that little snow storm we had. Ironically however, a folk show that I was invited to in Portland this weekend that was canceled due to Nemo, included... that's right... Marissa Owens!



This version of Hard Red Winter is just a "sketch" of what the real thing will sound like when it is officially released this April. Or maybe this is just an April Fools Day joke because this album is already perfect the way it is.

Whatever happens though, you'll be sure to hear about it right here on NFT.

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Speaker For The Dead

Speaker For The Dead - I Hope You Have Fun While You Sleep (2011)

While visiting friends on my first night back from school for Winter Break, I got a chance to see the nightmare fuel Portland folk outfit, Butcher Boy perform one of their last sets before packing up their things and voyaging off onto their nationwide-ish tour. The church-turned-performing arts venue on Mayo Street where Butcher Boy were playing also featured a band I had yet to witness called Speaker For The Dead, a Worcester-born folk punk collective with a bit of a pep in their step fronted by Greg McKillop, the gentleman who put on this whole wonderful event.

And while not knowing what to expect from a band that seemed to be half a folk punk band and half a brass section that I thought would play ska music (but ended up playing more of a gypsy rock accompaniment), Speaker For The Dead definitely made a tremendous impression on me that night. It was the kind of clean fun and excitement that I needed and hadn't experienced in a long while.

Seeing these folks was a real nice treat to me on my first night back and a hell of a way to ease into my winter vacation. I suggest anyone who likes upbeat punk music with horns and blacksmiths wielding guitars to check SFTD out! Or even, if you just like music that makes you jump out of your chair (remember those at shows?) and dance around with strangers like there's no tomorrow!

Speaker For The Dead can surely do that to a person!

Speaker For The Dead have lots of music to choose from in their discography but 'I Hope You Have Fun While You Sleep' seems to be their most accessible album to date. It's also their most recent not counting Greg McKillop's new solo album that was released a month ago today.  

Highlights: "Journal", "Pile of Dirt (Allenby Beardsly cover)", "If You're Dead Please Raise Your Hand", and "I Hope You Have Fun While You Sleep Pt. 2"

And: For all you book readers out there, I'm pretty certain that the name of this band comes from the Ender's Game series written by Orson Scott Card, a series I almost read as a kid (which doesn't sound like much, but for someone who doesn't read anything, this is a big deal).

Official site

Bandcamp

Last.fm

The Very Berry Best 0f 2012 part 1

HEEERRREEE WEEE GOOO!

Duck. Little Brother, Duck! - Don't Take Our Filth Away (2012)

I picked up Duck. Little Brother, Duck!'s 2012 release, 'Don't Take Our Filth Away' this summer when they returned to "the other" Portland after tearing the roof down (almost literally - mind you) a year before. And while their set was cut short by a police scare in the basement of Poland Street, these guys still got a chance to play some of their new (to us at least) numbers and return to one of the places DLBD! actually  wrote about and featured in one of their tracks from this release. I wish I could tell you which song that was that references Poland Street and the incident with the shit pipes breaking and leaking dirty punk water everywhere, but I can not.

I know it's in there though.

Highlights: "Everybody Loves Screamo", "OMGMT", "I'm Just happy To Be Around So Many Docks", and "Calvin Young"

Topshelf records put out so many good records by so many good bands this year. So much good.

Topshelf Records

Bandcamp

Last.fm

The Tallest Man On Earth - There's No Leaving Now (2012)

The Tallest Meng On Earth is no stranger to this blog, neither is what he's playing here on his release from last year, 'There's No Leaving Now'. What I mean by that is this is just classic TTMOE doing what he does and has been doing for some time now. But is it? Is this just another generic Swedish Bob Dylan release about running away?

To me, following Kristian Matsson's work for a few years now, this is just the next chapter for him in the Tallest Man On Earth storybook. It started off just him and his guitar basically and now he's off using moving-drums with brushes and piano. Matsson is exploring the possibilities best he can without losing that signature sound of his and without that natural/organic feel. Is it a slow progression? Very much so, but I can't complain really - It's another TTMOE album and another one I can listen to beginning to end over and over again.

Is it for everyone? Nah. Is it a good TTMOE to start with? Nah. Is it his best? Nah. Am I asking to many questions like this? I think you get the picture.

Highlights: "Revelation Blues", "1904", "Wind and Walls", and "On Every Page"

Dead Ocean

Official site

Last.fm

Aesop Rock - Skelethon (2012)

"Here is how a great escape goes when you can't take your dead friends names out your phone"

Need I say more?

Highlights: "ZZZ Top", "Cycles To Gehenna", "Zero Dark Thirty", "Gopher Guts", and the bonus track, "Dokken Rules feat. Rob Sonic"


Rhymesayers

Official site

Last.fm

Spook Houses - Trying (2012)

Spook Houses' debut LP, 'Trying' really impressed me right from the start. I mean immediately after posting this release on MONDAY XXXXXI I felt I should have given these guys their own post and more of an actual review. I'm not too good at doing either I suppose so I kept listening to Spook Houses and their powerful debut album more and more until it really clicked and I knew this was a top contender for AOTY. So yeah, that's why this album is back.

Plus singing saws still rule!

Highlights: "Bad Sound", "Old Folks", "Family Plan", and "Search For"

Eevil Weevil Records

Bandcamp

Last.fm

Serengeti - C.A.R. (2012)

Serengeti is the first member of this list to be a new find for me in 2012. While a member of one of my favorite collectives, Anticon, I think I just found this Chicago alt-rap native by accident one day. Long story short, I was spinning his Shaq inspired track, "Shazam" from his Kenny Dennis alter ego EP also from last year on a mixtape I made for my c.a.r., and I had to hear more of this guys stuff. Luckily for me he had plenty of solo and collab material in his catalog  Three of which from 2012: 'Kenny Dennis EP', 'C.A.R.', and his collaboration with Sufjan Stevens and Son Lux as s / s / s who also released their album 'Beak & Claw'.

Clearly Serengeti was on top of his game this year, something that really deserves some kind of recognition.

C.A.R. was his last release of the year and produced by Jel & Odd Nosdam as I've mentioned before. It also features Yoni Wolf of another one of my favorite acts, Why? on Geti's track, "Geti Life". Yoni also co-produced Geti's solo album in 2011 with Casiotone for the Painfully Alone's Owen Ashworth (who is also from Advance Base who have collaborated with Serengeti on a single called, 'Be A Man').

Highlights: "Greyhound", "Amnesia", "Geti Life (with Yoni Wolf)", "Peekaboo", and "Go Dancin"



P.S. That movie that Shaq was in where he as a genie was called "Kazaam". I think Serengeti is aware of this though since he has the superhero "Shazam" on the cover of the Keny Dennis EP, and is probably just a reference to the fact that people forget what that Shaq movie was called and commonly refer to it as "Shazam" because it really doesn't matter what it was called anyway. I could be totally wrong though...

P.P.S. Geti  is the namedropping master!

Anticon.com

Last.fm

Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm especially thankful for the new Butcher Boy EP...

Butcher Boy - Shoreless Sea (2012)

These boys have come a long way since the first time I laid my ears on them (including two members getting tendinitis), and it's really cool to see that they are still kicking it and even going on big ol' American tours and such!

Their new EP, Shoreless Sea was released yesterday and features 5 new recordings of either new material or some familiar classics of theirs (Hand in the Window/Empty Ocean). Check it out:



For the eyes: check out this sweet video for the opening track, "Hand in the Window" shot by Mike Cunnane (brasscankles.tumblr.com), who I might add, always shoots quality videos of great bands these days in Portland:

Facebook

Bandcamp

Enjoy and have a filling and thankfully-giving-thanks Thanksgiving!

Monday XXXXXIV

It's getting a bit nippy out there...

TotorRo - Home Alone EP (2012)

TotorRo are post rock/metal act out of Rennes , France. These gents (or should I say, hommes) are on the same label as KYOTY and AmanRa, if that says anything. Which it should since those aforementioned cats are crazy good, too. The label is Tokyo Jupiter Records, of which I've hopefully mentioned before to y'all.

'Home Alone' is the name of this new EP here and is just a taste of what's to come via their upcoming album.



Tokyo Jupiter Records
Last.fm

Brightside - Seconds Matter (2012)

Brightside of Pittsburgh play a wonderful array of emotionally fun-filled indie rock and punk-y music. The band itself is comprised of ex-members of Code Orange Kid and The Edukators. And that's 'bout all we need to know.

Oh, and their bandcamp page hurts my eyes.



Last.fm


if and it - Grrr Boo Hiss (2012)

Local dreary folk warlords, if and it have been releasing so much music this year that I can hardly keep track of it all. It probably doesn't help matters that I heard about as much if and it I wanted to listen to for a whole year, last New Year's Eve, but that's beside the point. 'Grr Boo Hiss' is their newest work to be released this year following Bleeding Moon (released last summer) and Sparkly Gold (released in May) and honestly, I don't think I would have given it the time of day - until, say, next year - but the fact that it was recorded in a cabin somewhere in New Hampshire during hurricane Sandy, well.... how I couldn't not give it a proper listen? That would be un-American of me or something.

Cheers to these guys for daring the elements for the love of rock 'n' roll last week. Wish I could say the same for the HMS Bounty...



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Legs Like Tree Trunks

Legs Like Tree Trunks are a band out of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia that incorporate the subtle sounds of folk music with the twinkly integrity of math rock. In the little time Legs Like Tree Trunks have been formed and ready as a band, they have released two EPs, 'Future Reference' being the new one, and a demonstration tape filled with outtakes, remixes and live cuts. LLTT also recently recorded a set for Daytrotter. But you can only listen to if you are a member; a paying member.

I bet it sounds great though!

Future Reference (2012)

Favorite track: "Anchorage"

Fun fact: Guitarist and vox man, Matt Holden is the older brother to Jake Holden of Little Kingdoms and Little Pirouettes. 

Legs Like Tree Trunks EP (2011)

Favorite track: "Winter"


Also, I wasn't going to mention it but it's unavoidable -so sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here - but if you miss the old math-y side of Maps & Atlases, you'll most likely love Legs Like Tree Trunks.

Legs Like Tree Trunks definitely have the earthy and organic math-folk-technical-pop qualities that Maps & Atlases had on their 2007 EP, 'Tree, Swallows, House'. But LLTT also have a little more of an emo influence that sounds like it's staying with them... I don't think these guys will be watering their sound down anytime soon.

Similar acts/sounds: Little Kingdoms, Little Pirouettes, (early but not really really old) Maps & Atlases, A Great Big Pile of Leaves, Cage Match, Two Knights, Shapes Like Dinosaurs, Girlfriends, Watchworld, Diving, and other smooth (twinkly-ish) criminals.

Bandcamp
Facebook
Last.fm

Okay- Huggable Dust

Okay is the moniker of Marty Anderson of sporadic math rock band, Dilute. While Dilute was filled with start and stop, taps, and distant bloops and blips; Okay is filled with light-hearted indie rock instrumentation with Marty Anderson really displaying his vocals and all around unique voice... this time... without coming off a little creepy sounding. I love the two bands equally, don't get me wrong, but there is a vastly different approach between them that I felt needed pointing out.

Okay - Huggable Dust (2008)

'Huggable Dust' is Okay's (and Anderson's) 18 song, 2008 release. It features many great little indie gems like "Only", "Natural", "Panda", and "Pretend". I don't listen to as many "indie rock" bands that I did maybe a few years back but there's something about Okay and the way Marty Anderson sings over the music. It's almost as if these songs shouldn't be as delicate as they are; like there's supposed to be chaos in it all and instead it was replaced by beautiful major music. The closest it gets to chaotic is the tracks, "Beast" or "Truce" or "Already" I guess, but even then those still feel like the right amount of noise and balance. All of 'Huggable Dust' is like that actually... really well put together and balanced. With 18 songs on it, I don't think there is ever a time when I listen to it all the way through that I really start to get bored.

Along with Okay, Marty Anderson also has been known to call himself Jacques Kopstein. He has released one album under the name and it's called 'A'. It also features "dreamy and damaged folk pop" (Aquarius Records) but a little more stripped down and experimental.

Similar acts/sounds: Dilute, Jacques Kopstein, Natural Dreamers, Sarcastic Dharma Society, François Virot, car seat headrest, Coma Cinema, Misophone, Phil Elvrum, Karl Blau, Kickball, Foot Ox and other stuff I like...

Myspace
Last.fm

Monday XXXX

XXMONDAYXX

Jowls - Cursed (2012)

With guitar and drum duty by ex-members of Victor! Fix the Sun and bass by an ex-member of cloud mouth, Jowls already had the makings of one hell of a band, but damn, I got to say they really surprised me with this one... in a good way, of course. This new release entitled, 'Cursed' may just take the cake as my favorite screamo album of the year and possibly fill in for the loss of a new Victor! Fix the Sun record. Definitely something I'm going to be listening to a lot!

Last.fm

Goose Hunt - throw it at your dads house (2012)

This fun little electronic indie pop outfit from Montreal is going to be rolling into Maine in July and I felt I should share it. "Check it out" is my favorite track so far and is actually what you should do with it.

I don't know much more about the band per se but the show will be at Genos on the 26th.

Last.fm

Shakey Graves - Roll the Bones (not 1987)

Shakey Graves is Texan native, Alejandro Rose-Garcia. When he's not wearing cowboy hats, he's wearing goat heads. 'Roll the Bones' is filled with some dirty back road folk jams and even a surprise cover of The Boss's "I'm on Fire" (well, I guess it's not that much of a surprise since it's called, "I'm On Fire" but I really thought it was going to be an original or something). This album could have either been released this year or 1987. It probably wasn't released in 1987 though.

Some perfect American music for this coming Fourth of July, if you ask me.

Last.fm

Friday Steamin'

Just some stuff you can stream and listen tooooooo... I don't know. Stuff and stuff.

Kite Party - Baseball Season (2011)

I happened to hear about Kite Party from the Algernon Cadwallader show that took place near me a couple of weeks ago. They weren't there but I did find out later that they play a nice little blend of indie rock and pop punk that can't really be slumped into one of those categories and ignored. So regardless of what it is, what it isn't, is not enjoyable music. That's a double negative. Listen.

Favorite track: "Arizona"

Last.fm

Pneu - Pince Monseigneur (2008)

Really good and powerful math rock from France. If you like 'Highway to Health', their 2011 release, this is right up there with it.

Laasst.fm

The Guru - Native Sun (2011)

I'm really trying to think of something to write about these guys other then, modestmousecore. 

Still really really fun stuff. 

These guys are also the creators of Seagreen Records, who, you may or may nor remember, released that sweet Valentine's Day comp last Valentine's Day. 

Favorite Track: also "Arizona" (Though, they do have a song called, "Pirate's Cove" which is a name of a mini golf course I just went to yesterday...)

(...I total destroyed it...)

Last.fm

if and it - Sparkly Gold (2012)

Portland's own indie/fuzzy/folk/jam band have a new album out called "Sparkly Gold". because, well... it's shiny and new.

if and it (pretty sure they like to keep it lowercase) have the distinct honor as the last thing I listened to in 2011 and the first thing I listened to 2012. Yeah, that happened, and it was all thanks to the New Year's Eve party that Local Sprouts (a local restaurant and work place for many nice cats) put on. It was a very nice thing of them to do and a very lovely night to watch not only 2011 kick the bucket but also if and it, a native singer-songwriter named Christopher, and Glass Fingers. As the clock struck the big ol' 12 o'clock hour and the ball dropped in New York, if and it was playing their last note. Luckily for you though, this was not their very last note ever together as a band and will be playing more in the future, persuadably for this new album as well. They've got themselves a fancy-dancy CD release party for 'Sparkly Gold' the 20th of July at the Dirigimus warehouse in Portland and everyone is invited. You should go, maybe.

PS: if you would like to read a real review for 'Sparkly Gold', I'd highly suggest you check out The Portland Press Herald's (That's right! The Portland Fucking Press Herald!) review, here.

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Have a nice weekend!

Happy May Day! + more

Get your maypole out, kids. It's May!

Appendix Out - Travels In Constants Vol. 13 (2001)

Appendix Out (or Appendix: Out) was a one-time moniker and band lead by the scottish folk singer-songwriter, Alasdair Roberts. Some may know him by his solo career or that he is the other guy from Amalgamated Sons of Rest along with indie folk superstars, Jason Molina (Songs: Ohia, etc.) and Will Oldham (Palace Music/Brothers/Songs, Bonnie Billy, etc.) or maybe you know Appendix Out, that's cool too. Well anyways, Appendix Out lasted from about 1994 to 2001 and in that time of releasing a few EPs and full-lengthers, the band also released a limited edition CD called 'Travels in Constants Vol. 13' (right around the end of their tenure as a band) which is the name of the now defunct recording collection series by Temporary Residence records that was essentially a big studio release version of Peel Sessions or like the In the Fishtank series. In other words, it was just a cool little thing that Temporary Residence would do by inviting artists from and outside of their label to come and record some stuff. But enough about that, it's what is inside that matters here.

What is inside exactly, is perfect music for this season and/or the month of May in general. With Robert's scottish accent and laid-back folk landscape that is either accompanied by little sound collages or interrupted by spoken word and even the time and temp lady, there is so much to take from this album. I'm not even joking about the time and temp thing either; I swear the female voice in the song, "Daylight Saving, Gibson Room (Part Two)" says, "today is Tuesday... May...". Wait a minute... today is tuesday... and it's May... and this album's about the first day of May...  and it's the first day of May...! It's crazy to believe, I know, but it's true. Honestly though, I have been trying to figure out this album out and its story it tells for some time now, especially the song, "Speech" about May 1st festivities that are either called 'melting day' or 'belting day'. I'm really not sure which one it is and if it is a real thing, but I find the speech itself very interesting, maybe even more so due to another scottish band, There Will Be Fireworks who have a very simular sample/speech in the hit song, "Columbian Fireworks". The speaker sounds exactly the same in both band's songs and even mentions festivities and kids getting excited. Yep, I'm going to leave it that way... 

What I'm really trying to say here, is this: this album is perfect for May Day and this time of the season (or 'that time of the season' as I like to call it), it's full of fun little noises and samples, and has a nice spring time folk flare to it. I haven't even really listened to a lot of Appendix Out's stuff other than this and I'm not sure how I even came across it... All I know is that I have it and listen to it every May Day.

All jokes aside, check out the Travels In Constants releases. bands like Explosions in the Sky, Mono, Mogwai, Low, Jason Molina as Songs: Ohia, Papa M, and even Rumah Sakit have really sweet Travels In Constants releases. 

Last.fm

Mogli - I Miss You

Mogli (David) is a singer/songer from Halifax who makes some very interesting folk music in a punk ethic/DIY sense that is drenched in accordion and acoustic guitar. I listened to Mogli, yes, kind of like the Jungle Book character but without the 'w', a lot when my friend, Martin died last December and it definitely holds a very emotional value to me. I wanted to show him this or ask him if he's ever heard of them but I never got the chance. This is now however, my chance to tell someone else.

Mogli - I Miss You EP (2009)

My favorite track from her 2009 release, 'I Miss You' is, "Back To You" hands down. Track 5, "Snowstorm" is also a Wintersleep cover. And along with the really anti-twee sounding vocals, I really like all that accordion. It's so good.

Love me some singing saw as well.

Mogli is also apart of the Nova Scotian bands, Ants & Anchors, Snail Party and Jackfish. Or at least friends with them.

Similar acts/sounds: fairy boy, Snail Party, Squinch Owl, byron., Mistake Makers, Jellybean!, Jackfish, Rosa, Foot Ox and more or less bands I could name that either have a female singer, an accordion, or are DIY folk, but not Mogli. Only Mogli is Mogli.

Last.fm

Tax Day!

Today's the last day to get taxes in to the feds for some folks here in America...

But have no fear, for this album is free of charge:

The Taxpayers - To Risk So Much For One Damn Meal (2010)

It's super fitting.

This is The Taxpayers' 2010 release right after A Rhythm In A Cage. It's not as aggressive sounding but very much a worth-it release for anyone into clean 7-piece folk punk. Don't let that fool you though, it's still got the DIY stamp of approval. Especially since it's free. No tax included!

Fuck Tax.

Cash rules everything around me, greed is a country on a planet under constant rotation at the bank.

Quote Unquote (I know... more from this place) (Be sure to read the explanations, though!)

Last.fm

Charles Manson - LIE

Charles Manson was a tragically misunderstood outsider musician who not only revolutionized stoner music but the indie rock beard.

Manson started his music career while surfing around in Los Angeles where he met Dennis Wilson, the drummer for The Beach Boys, who was riding a dolphin at the time. Soon after their first meeting, Manson and Wilson started up a local stankcore band with Johnny The Bull Stambolli and Asher Roth. The band, known as the Healter Skelters, went on a small tour with Set Your Goals, Four Year Strong and Lostprophets. Well together, the band only released a single called, "I am the Devil, and the Devil always has a bold head" and a split with Three Six Mafia before Manson left the group to pursue a solo career. The others went on to form the super inflectional 90's metal rap horrorcore band, Stuck Mojo.

After leaving the band and Los Angeles all together, Charles Manson moved in to a cabin in Alaska isolated from the rest of the world to record his first album. It wasn't until four years later that people would notice his amazingly stunning and subtle indie rock bliss. Why was he finally figured? Why did it take so long? Some say it was his astonishing one song collaboration with Kanye West, others say it was the great reception he received from indie god websites such as pitchpork,  NPR, Gorilla Vs. Bear, Last.fm, AOL.com, and MTV Music.com (now known as MTV Hive because they forgot that "Music" was already in their name).

Whether it had to do with the phantastic praise Manson was receiving on the internet or his astonishing Kids Choice Awards performance in 1969, Manson was blowing up just like I thought he would.  Everybody knew this men was killing it on the mic. Just a straight up killer musician.

To date, Lie: The Love and Terror Cult is one of his best selling albums with other 300 copies sold worldwide and in China. It was once reissued on Awareness Records, a record company that donates money to those victims of crimes. The cover art is Manson on the cover of LIE magazine, a boy band magazine sold to overly devoted fan girls.

Charles Manson - Lie: The Love and Terror Cult (1970)

The album itself is about society as a whole and what we can do to stop The Lorax from coming.

Manson's music has been covered and sampled by many musicians such as GG Allin, The Lemonheads, The Beach Boys, Front Line Assembly, Marilyn Manson, Devendra Banhart, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Guns N Roses, and Clay Aiken.

Similar sounds/acts: GG Allin, Tiny Tim, Jeff Mangum, Radiohead, Memoryhouse, Kraftwerk, Fozzy, ODB, and Phil Spector.

Despite popular legend, Charles Manson did not addition for a role in The Monkees. He was in the Philippines at this time helping children to read and write science.

Unofficial site
Facebook
Last.fm

Paul Baribeau Part 3

I couldn't resist talking more about Paul Baribeau and the show on Monday. So here's the rest of Paul's work that I have (or know).

Yikes Baribeau (2005)

I meant to ask Paul about "Yikes Baribeau" but the more and more I think about it now, the weirder and ruder it would have been if I just went up to him and started asking him about his work rather then saying how cool it was that he was here and such.

At first I thought Yikes Baribeau was a collaboration of Paul and the San Francisco noise rock band Yikes. While this is a full band and much punkier Paul Baribeau, it doesn't seem to actually have anything to do with "Yikes". Turns out that this is actually pre-Paul Baribeau Paul Baribeau before he stuck with an acoustic guitar and really opening up for all of us.

Yikes Baribeau does feature the precursors to the tracks "I Miss That Band", "Brown Brown Brown", "Strawberry", and "When You Go Back To College". They are the same tracks we have all become familiar with and grown to love but with electricity and a more punk'd up approach. I'm not sure who the other musicians are in the band or the ladies voice on a few of the tracks is. If anyone knows, lemme know too.

Demo Tape (2009)

Demo Tape was just an unreleased Paul tape that washed up on the internets in 2009 and featured mostly tracks that went on to be in Unbearable. The only track not on Unbearable is "Sand Dollar" and the track "Through the Wall" is just "The Wall".

Paul actually played most of these songs on the Demo Tape for the show monday night, which was awesome even if not as many people knew them as much as "Brown Brown Brown" or "Ten Things" . That's nothing new though...

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that once in a while on this demo there is a narrator type male voice that comes in during some of the tracks like "Sand Dollar". Maybe it was just on "Sand Dollar"... I can't remember.

Splits:

Ghost Mice/Paul Baribeau (2005)

I don't have the artwork but I do know the tracks for the Ghost Mice/Paul Baribeau Tour CD-R split. It features Paul Baribeau covering Ghost Mice and Ghost Mice covering Paul Baribeau. For the Ghost Mice side we hear Chris Clavin and the gang's renditions of  "Tablecloth", "Boys Like Me", and "Never Get to Know". On the other side, we hear Paul's renditions of "The Good Life", "Dead Flowers and Dirt", and "Ghost Mice Says" (also 'released' on 25).

The covers are pretty sick, obviously. Even Ghost Mice's cover of "Never Get to Know", a track that can really only be sung by Paul and Paul alone (like he wanted at the show), is still really fun to listen to even if it doesn't capture the emotion that Paul puts behind it.

Maybe I'll re-post this one sometime in the future with a further review for NFT's Got You Covered! Until then though, you can get fully acquainted with it by checking it out above!

Your Heart Breaks/Paul Baribeau Split (2009)

Features "Torrey Pines" by Your Heart Breaks w/Kimya Dawson whose track "Tire Swing" cleverly featured and gave a shot out to Pauly B.

Paul Baribeau's 7" split with Your Heart Breaks comes with some bonus tracks by YHB if you buy it from them. I don't have a linky for the tracks but you can grab the 7incher at YHB's store for a DIY punk price of 5 bucks, here. Paul's side of this split includes a different version of "The Rolling Clouds" (says it's "The Rolling Hills" on that site but I've only heard it as "clouds") from Unbearable.

Last.fm
Official site
Part 1
Part 2

This might be all the Paul Baribeau extra goodies that I can think of at the moment but there is surely more out there. Hopefully this wont' be the last time we see Paul on this blog or in person!