Friday, April 30, 2010

Katie Wishes You Well

Stumbled across Katie Herzig on the All Songs Considered blog a few months ago. Apple Tree is a really nice CD. You can listen to samples and buy it on CDBaby.com. This is the cut Wish You Well:




Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Tourista

Cool sounds from Josh Rouse's El Tourista:



  

    

    

    

    

    

    

  


Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Stereogum's Drive XV

Stereogum has a very nice download -



Drive XV: A Tribute to Automatic For The People

A bunch of bands cover the songs from the REM album. Here's The Veils covering Drive:



Charlotte Mixed

Here's a mix of an upcoming Charlotte Gainsbourg song "Time of the Assassins". We don't have the song yet, but we have the mix - how odd is that? Anyway, this mix comes courtesy of nme.com's Daily Download and is done by XXXchange:



Thursday, April 22, 2010

Gift Horse

Feel free to look this Gift Horse in the mouth!

<a href="http://gifthorse.bandcamp.com/album/mountain-of-youth">Not The Only One by Gift Horse</a>

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Vehement Flame #3 show notes

Show Notes for Vehement Flame #3, the Humor-cast

In honor of Strange Powers, the documentary "10 years in the making", Vehement Flame #3 opens with Magnetic Fields and one of the funniest songs thus far this year:
You want what you've turned off turned on
You call it sunset, now it's dawn
You can't go 'round just saying stuff
Because it's pretty
And I no longer drink enough
To think you're witty
00:01:00 You Must Be Out Of Your Mind - Magnetic Fields (Realism 2010)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

This CD was one of my top ten from 2009, and is still in constant play. Even my daughters request it often.
00:04:10 All The Same To Me - Anya Marina (Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II 2009)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

Download Girls Are Robots ep, Thirst While Drowning here.
00:07:19 DK World - Girls Are Robots (Thirst While Drowning 2010)
Amazon MP3 | Napster

While Vermillion Lies is either no more or at least on hiatus, the two sisters who made it up both have vibrant solo careers. Check out Kim and Zoe Boekbinder's home pages for lots of great sounds.
00:10:59 Global Warming - Vermillion Lies (What's In The Box 2008)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

The story of how Rodrigo and Gabriela went about trying to find their muse is inspiring. From members of a thrash rock band in Mexico to homeless buskers in Dublin, playing their music their way, it is the story of people passionate about their art. They fought efforts to change their sound and it is truly one of the most memorable sounds in all of music today. Orion is a tribute to their thrash rock days, as they cover this Metallica song. Be sure to buy their CDs, as each includes an extra bonus DVD of performance videos and cool "how we do it" videos.
00:15:25 Orion - Rodrigo y Gabriela (Rodrigo y Gabriela 2006)
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Another great song from this Australian studio project group was "Walking In The Rain", featuring the same odd voiced singing.
00:23:22 Hey St. Peter - Flash and the Pan (Flash And The Pan 1979)
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This Aussie group was a favorite in the 80s, including their alternative radio "hit", Solid Rock. This song is very evocative of Australia. I bought their Oceania CD while on vacation in Australia and it brings back warm memories every time I listen to it.
00:27:46 Every Passing Day - Goanna (Oceania 1985)
Amazon CD | Napster

County and Folk Segment

Hank Williams posthumously won the Pulizer Prize for his "pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life." Always been a big fan and the 40 Greatest Hits double CD set is a definitive collections.
00:34:33 Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams (40 Greatest Hits 1978)
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Lui is a local folk singing legend here in New England and I've seen her shows a number of times. I even have her autograph on my copy of the Baptism of Fire CD. Here she covers a classic Greg Brown song.
00:37:08 Rooty Toot Toot For The Moon - Lui Collins (Baptism Of Fire 1981)
Amazon CD | Napster

Lush was one of my favorite 4AD bands in the 90s and Lovelife one of my favorite CDs. Lots of great sounds on it.
00:42:14 Single Girl - Lush (Lovelife 1996)
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The previously played Vermillion Lies opened for Ms. Palmer at a great show a few years back. That concert wrapped up with a rousing version of Leeds United, with the whole card on hand for the song.
00:44:48 Leeds United - Amanda Palmer (Who Killed Amanda Palmer 2008)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

Vehement Flame's first listener request (thanks, MsRedPen!), Blonde Redhead really impresses with its repetoire. This CD, 23 (pronounced Two-Three), showcases their range, with every song sounding new. Hard to pick just one!
00:49:34 Silently - Blonde Redhead (23 2007)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

Smash Mouth also does All Star, the rousing opener in the first Shrek movie.
00:53:51 Walkin' On The Sun - Smash Mouth (Fush Yu Mang 1997

Vehement Flame #3 : The Humor-cast

Download Vehement Flame #3 mp3 (51.8 - 57 minutes long)
(click play button to listen now)

Subscribe To Podcast

Citay, Magnetic Fields, Anya Marina, Girls Are Robots, Vermillion Lies, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Flash and the Pan, Goanna, Hank Williams, Lui Collins, Lush, Amanda Palmer, Blonde Redhead, Smash Mouth


Playlist
00:00:00 Return From Silence - Citay
00:01:00 You Must Be Out Of Your Mind - Magnetic Fields
00:04:10 All The Same To Me - Anya Marina
00:07:19 DK World - Girls Are Robots
00:10:59 Global Warming - Vermillion Lies
00:15:25 Orion - Rodrigo y Gabriela
00:23:22 Hey St. Peter - Flash and the Pan
00:27:46 Every Passing Day - Goanna
00:34:33 Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams
00:37:08 Rooty Toot Toot For The Moon - Lui Collins
00:42:14 Single Girl - Lush
00:44:48 Leeds United - Amanda Palmer
00:49:34 Silently - Blonde Redhead
00:53:51 Walkin' On The Sun - Smash Mouth

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Final Fantasy

Owen Pallett, Canadian pop singer and loop back violin fan, used to be called "Final Fantasy" but due to obvious copyright problems, he's gone back to using his own name. His Heartland cd is the first under his name and made AllMusic.com's Best of January (under the Final Fantasy name though). He's out touring, so check him out! His web site is http://www.owenpalletteternal.com/. Here's a video of Lewis Takes Off His Shirt:


Lewis Takes Off His Shirt from Owen Pallett on Vimeo

Friday, April 16, 2010

RCRD LBL plays

A great spot for some free MP3 downloads, RCRDLBL.com is some good stuff. Check out their "radio station".

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

At Last

The samplers found on Amazon's MP3 page are really great ways to find new music. A new one called Six Degrees Records Global Grooves Sampler is a new favorite. All kinds of great rhythms and different sounds. Here is "At Last" from The Dø. You can download 4 more free tracks from this group at their page on RCRDLBL_.com, found here.



Monday, April 12, 2010

Vehement Flame #2 : Dark Side


00:00:23 When You're Falling by Afro Celt Sound System
00:05:37 The Great Gig In The Sky by Pink Floyd
00:10:41 Money by Brad Smith
00:17:36 Consuella by Tough On Tobacco
00:22:10 Dandelion by Charlotte Gainsbourgh
00:25:27 Rocket by Goldfrapp
00:29:31 Fly Me Away by Goldfrapp
00:33:53 Level 3 by Aspects Of Physics
00:41:18 Flashback by Danielle Dax
00:45:38 Clouds by The Go-Betweens
00:50:06 Careful With That Hat by Citay

Download Vehement Flame #2 mp3 (51.8mb - 57 minutes long)
(click play button to listen now)
 
Subscribe To Podcast

Peter Gabriel sings lead on this. It has a wonderful video:
00:00:23 When You're Falling - Afro Celt Sound System (Volume 3: Further in Time 2001)
Amazon MP3Amazon CD | Napster

This album was on the Billboard 200 for a record 741 weeks, from 1973 to 1988. The SACD version of The Dark Side Of The Moon is an amazing thing to hear. Clare Torey, who's impromptu vocal stylings are featured, was granted co-songwriting credit for the song in 2004.
00:05:37 The Great Gig In The Sky - Pink Floyd The Dark Side Of The Moon 1973)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

 An incredible effort - a complete cover of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon into a form compatible with the original 8-bit Nintendo game console. You really ought to download this!
00:10:41 Money (Pink Floyd 8-bit NES cover) - Brad Smith

Tough on Tobacco, is a "humor-tinged pop-rock-reggae sextet from Mumbai". Download their album for free here
00:17:36 Consuella - Tough On Tobacco (The Happy Goat 2009)

One of those annoyingly multi-talented folks, Charlotte Gainsbourg is an awarding winning actress who just happens to make some great music. Daughter of French singer/songwriter/provocateur Sergei Gainsbourg and British actress Jane Birkin, she didn't let a small thing like a life-threatening brain injury from water skiing slow her down. Instead, she collaborates with Beck on "IRM" (which is French for "MRI"). Great sounds from my first repeat artist. I played Heaven Can Wait from "IRM" on Vehement Flame #1. I'd surely love to know how the collaboration between her and Beck worked. This is one CD you should pick up for real, as the booklet it comes with is pretty interesting, with snapshots of Beck & Ms. Gainsbourg's sessions.
00:22:10 Dandelion - Charlotte Gainsbourg  (IRM 2010)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

The newest CD from Goldfrapp is a flashback to frothy 80s synth pop. Fun.
00:25:27 Rocket - Goldfrapp (Head First 2010)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Amazon VinylNapster

Fly Me Away I first came across on a Music On Demand channel and it remains my favorite Goldfrapp song.
00:29:31 Fly Me Away - Goldfrapp (Supernature 2005)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

This electronica was found in a massive free download from Amie Street music download. An interesting paradigm, where music starts off free and then as it gets more popular, the price goes up. Sign up and you can download this "sampler" for free : crazyeyes sampler.
00:33:53 Level 3 - Aspects of Physics (Marginalized Information Forms 3: Other 2009)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

Listening to Gainsbourg's IRM made me think of Danielle Dax. She is also an actress, albeit just starring in the wonderfully weird The Company Of Wolves, a modern take on Little Red Riding Hood, complete with werewolves, starring a creepy Angela Lansbury. Good one, especially if you like werewolves!
My CD is called Inky Bloaters but it looks like it was re-released here in the US as Dark Adapted Eye, the same title as a Ruth Rendell mystery.
00:41:18 Flashback - Danielle Dax (Inky Bloaters 1987)
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The Go-Betweens seminal pop CD "16 Lovers Lane" benefited from the same sort of romantic friction that powered Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors", as the band members fell in and out of love with each. Fantastic CD, one of the best of the rock era. The newest packaging makes it a double CD, with a bunch of unreleased cuts from the sessions. Sadly, supremely talented Grant McLennan, one half of the main singer/songwriter Go-Betweens team, died a few years ago.
00:45:38 Clouds - The Go-Betweens (16 Lovers Lane 1988)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Napster

Another one from AllMusic.com's January list, it's the first time I had heard Citay, but they're a bit of a San Francisco legend I guess. A studio project of Ezra Feinberg, it includes players from lots of groups, including The Dry Spells. Great guitar sound! And download the MP3, courtesy of Citay themselves. I'm just such a fan of jangly guitars...
00:50:06 Careful With That Hat - Citay (Dream Get Together 2010)
Amazon MP3 | Amazon CD | Amazon Vinyl | Napster