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Through the wonderful world of technology, I digitally record my favorite radio show, Morning Becomes Eclectic (Mondays from 9am – 12pm on KCRW) straight from the airwaves (and I don’t have to even think about it, my radioSHARK2 is like a TIVO for AM/FM transmission). The Flaming Lips sat in the studio with Anne Litt, and performed "Eclipse" by Pink Floyd (from Dark Side of the Moon) live on October 16, and I thought I would pass along the sonic tribute. Sorry about the sound quality, but it is a bootleg and I do not receive the best reception.
This list represents 10 of my favorite songs of the year thus far. A final list will be issued by the end of the year. 1. Generationals – Nobody Could Change Your Mind http://generationals.bandcamp.com/track/nobody-could-change-your-mind This duo from New Orleans starts out their debut album with a powerful, soulful romp filled with horns, upbeat rhythm, catchy lyrics, well-built, albeit meek vocals, and unassailable melodies. The song sets the vibe for the entire album, which, for me, has become one of those quintessential summer albums. 2. Mew – Introducing Palace Players http://stereogum.com/archives/new-mew-introducing-palace-players_071582.html “Introducing Palace Players” was the first track released on the band’s Myspace page months before the album’s actual release, and while it reflected a more off-beat dance-driven Mew, it still held the deep, heavy rhythm of the band, the intricate guitar melodies, and the ethereal, yet strange vocal arrangements of lead singer Jonas Bjerre. This Danish band left their fans with a taste, which caused intense cravings only to be satisfied by the ridiculously long-titled release of their supposed fifth studio album, “No More Stories Are Told Today, I’m Sorry, They Washed Away, No More Stories, The World Is Grey, I’m Tired, Let’s Wash Away.” 3. Animal Collective – My Girls “Merriweather Post Pavilion” is Animal Collective’s self-proclaimed best-produced album recorded to date. While I have enjoyed the band on a somewhat non-emotional level, this album brought the band into the ranks of the great, highly-respected musicians in my proverbial mental musical hierarchy. To top it off, the lyrics strum my heart chords as the song is about providing for a wife and daughter. This is a beguiling, dreamy, poignant track. 4. The Dirty Projectors with David Byrne – Knotty Pine http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/new-david-byrne-dirty-projectors-knotty-pine_045941.html “Dark Was the Night” is probably one of the most talked about indie compilations to date. This compilation was put together to help raise money and awareness for AIDS and HIV. What came about is an amazing double disc compilation with a tracklist/artist list not to be reckoned with. This collaborative track takes the off-the-beaten-path experimental sound of the Dirty Projectors and mixes them up with Talking Heads singer, David Byrne. What comes out is an artsy, edge-of-your-seat musical equation. 5. Grizzly Bear – While You Wait for the Others http://www.spinner.com/2009/09/11/grizzly-bear-while-you-wait-for-the-others-video-premiere Picking this song, was very hard for me as the masterpiece “Veckatimest” consisted of one gem after another. It came down to “Two Weeks” and this one, and ultimately I elected to pick this song, as they debuted this very early, and I immediately fell in love with the tune. As far as I’m concerned, for reasons I can write pages about, this is the perfect song. Just listen to the playful vocals of the bridge and try not be wowed. 6. Bonnie “Prince” Billie – You Don’t Love Me http://www.last.fm/music/Bonnie+'Prince'+Billy/_/You+Don't+Love+Me This is an all around great song that is stupidly romantic with that layered country folk feel. Reminds me a lot of an Arlo Guthrie song from “Hobo’s Lullaby”, but it’s new and fresh. Complete with hand claps and simple, yet bewildering lyrics. The song (as Sondra says) continues to dance around in your head for days. 7. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros – Carries On http://www.earsofthebeholder.com/post/146383266/edward-sharpe-and-the-magnetic-zeros-carries-on “Carries On,” as much of Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros’ songs, focuses on love and the joys of life. That alone is enough to catch my attention, but furthermore, the tune is masterfully crafted. At first, it plays much like a Chris Isaak song, or even an Elvis reminiscent song to start, and works its way into shape and form of layered vocals and joyous explosiveness. Love carries on is the message; it’s that simple. 8. God Help the Girl – God Help the Girl http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2009/06/19/stream-the-god-help-the-girl-record-early/ I am an enormous Stuart Murdoch and Belle & Sebastian fan, so when I heard this was coming out, I was more than ecstatic. Stuart found novice vocalists to sing much of the album, and this title track is a prime example. This concept album is to be made into a film as well. Did Murdoch bite of more than he can chew? Musically, no. As far as the motion picture is concerned? We’ll see. But enjoy this song, this album. Enjoy this feel good music! 9. The Lewis Duckworth Method – The Age of Revolution What is this? An entire album devoted to the game of Cricket? Yes, precisely, and it is spearheaded by Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy) and Thomas Walsh. This track sticks out to me because it is framed by these old-time style trumpets what sounds like it’s playing off a victrola in the background, heavy keys providing bass what sounds like Stevie Wonder stepped in during his recording session of “Very Superstitious” for a guest appearance, and we are forced to learn about a revolutionary age of cricket. The lyrics may not be profound, but the song is fun and borrows strongly from fundamental sounds that span the last 80 years. 10. Zee Avi – First of the Gang http://www.ilike.com/artist/Zee+Avi/track/First+of+the+Gang Although this sounds like a less soulful Adele, this Malaysian singer/songwriter took Morrissey’s tragic song about idiotic kids in gangs killing each other, and turned it into a romantic story of the same lyrics simply by stripping down the song, making it her own, and enchanting its listeners’ ears. I hesitated putting a cover on this list, but I couldn’t hold back. This is one of my favorite songs of this year so far and thus it made the list.
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02/06/09
Übel und Gefährlich Hamburg
02/07/09 Möbel Olfe Party Cobra Killer DJ-Team, Berlin 02/13/09 Cobra Killer Casablanca 02/14/09 Cobra Killer Marrakesh 02/18/09 Shamballa Zagreb See Also |
One of the theme that I keep hearing on her album - and it's perhaps the guitar or bass loops - of a garagey sixties music. This is evident on songs like "In Diesem Raum", featuring an infectious bassline and Trost's best 60s girl voice. Although a wonderful song, I felt the ending to this song was kind of repetitive.
My favorite song on the album is "Cowboy", it has the best quality of "In Diesem Raum", but minus the tiresome ending. It's a perfect radio song too, ending just slightly at the three minute mark.
You can find Trust Me for sale if the record store have them in stock - otherwise head over to eMusic or iTunes
Incidentally, I don't know what is wrong with Firefox, but it simply will not load up Minty Fresh's website. It's probably just my security settings and it's probably all for the best because I hate all-flash websites anyway.
01/29/2009 21:02:14 ♥ vu (
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♥ cobra-killer.org ♥ myspace.com/cobrakiller1 ♥ myspace.com/trostcity
I have a difficult time understanding the music industry. I like listening to music. I want to legally buy music and have money go to the artists. Why does that have to be difficult? Why does it depend on where I live?
Top Artists for the week ending Sunday 7 September 2008
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Spooncat! - A band I heard on DJ's muxtape (Thanks!).
No Kids - I think I first heard them on KEXP or Pitchfork (not sure).
Sing-Sing - They had a free song on http://music.download.com/ that I liked.
Cat Empire - This band was a last.fm recommendation.
Stars - I had a couple of free mp3s from their latest album, so I thought I'd check out their older stuff.
Vampire Weekend - got the A-Punk mp3 from KEXP (and liked it), so I downloaded the album when it finally got to eMusic.
A lot of my downloads were based on free mp3s, so that marketing ploy must be working (at least in my case).
y downloads were based on free mp3s, so I guess that's working as a marketing pl
Buying good music in Bangkok is practically impossible. The ability to buy music online has been one of the greatest things! Of course, I could download it illegally, but then I feel guilty listening to it...it's weird. Anyway, I subscribed to eMusic in December 2007 and with a inadvertent click of a button ended up with a "Premium Account". Really, way more music than I need each month, but I'll keep it for the year. Usually my monthly downloads end up in my Last.fm top artists, at least for a week. These are the downloads for June '08...
I thought I'd go back in time and add the May 08 eMusic downloads. I have a lot of music in my eMusic "Save for Later" list, but for some reason, I did a bunch of impulse downloading in May. This is what I ended up with...
