GIRLS - Album

As usual, I'm a few months behind...BUT, this album really is as good as most reviewers would have you believe. I've just been listening to it for the past couple of hours and all the songs are really strong pop songs in their own ways. I won't bother going on about who they sound like and how varied their sound is...instead here are a few really nice live acoustic videos I found on Youtube. The album isn't acoustic, but it's on Spotify and worth 44mins of anybody's life.

Piccadilly Records Top 100 Albums of 2009

I always love Piccadilly Records' end of year list simply because it's bound to be nothing like any of the other, more obvious ones (Pitchfork, Uncut etc). Every year, without fail, I read the list and am excited to listen to the albums I haven't heard (which is usually loads!). I was going to reproduce the list here, but it's much easier if you just check it out on their website:

Piccadilly Records Top 100 Albums of 2009

DJ Muggs vs Gza - Grandmasters

As it's been snowing a lot this past week I thought I'd play something that reminded me of previous winters. This album reminds me of Winter 2005 and cruising round in my friend's car in the snow back in Manchester. By the end of the night we'd slammed into a curb and dented his bumper. This album will always remind me of that night and Christmas and it has a really great late night atmosphere to it that goes perfectly with orange-tinted wintery nights out in the snow.

"Chess is the ultimate board game. Monopoly is not in its league and Checkers doesn’t compare at all. It’s civilized war. It’s a mathematical thing, its science, and it’s strategy. That’s life all the time. Just planning your day, being ten steps ahead and seeing the moves ahead. That’s what chess is about."

Gza/The Genius

The Black Ryder - Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride

 
The Black Ryder are an Australian band comprising of Aimee Nash and Scott Van Ryper (formerly of Morning After Girls) and their debut album 'Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride' was released last month. The album also features a host of guest appearences that include BRMC's Peter Hayes and Ricky Maymi (BJM, The Imajinary Friends). I've only as yet heard one track (see below), but the band have received excellent reviews, with comparisons including The Cowboy Junkies, The Raveonettes, My Bloody Valentine as well as the aforementioned bands.

Albums I Enjoyed In 2009

I think it would be impossible to even attempt to compile a Top 50 of 2009, simply because one, I probably haven't listened to 50 new albums this year and two, if I had there's no way I could've given them all the attention they deserve for them to become a favourite. Therefore, I thought I'd list some albums I enjoyed from 2009.
Obviously, you'll probably read it and say "I can't believe he missed this or that", but if you think I should give something a listen please leave a comment. Sure, there are a few albums that featured heavily in major lists that I didn't care for too much, but there are just as many that I just never got around to listening to.

There are quite a few albums I'm just getting round to listening to and would probably make the list, but I haven't given them enough attention yet for the to join the list. For example, I recently got into Kurt Vile, but haven't got round to listening to his latest album 'Childish Prodigy' and I love Espers, Bob Dylan and Sufjan Stevens but haven't listened to their latest albums as of yet. Also, I've recently been listening to Dam-Funk's 'Toeachizown', Dinosaur Jr's new album, The Mantles and Flaming Lips' 'Embryonic' and I like the sound of them, but just haven't heard them enough to warrant a place in my favourite's list.



Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Grandes Exitos (tour release only)
Atlas Sound - Logos
Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand
BLAKROC - BLACKROC
Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer EP
Bon Iver - Blood Bank
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Beware
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Smoking Acid EP
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - One EP
Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
Cass McCombs - Catacombs
Conor Oberst - Outer South
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Devendra Banhart - What Will Be Will Be
DOOM - Born Like This
The Duke & The King - Nothing Gold Can Stay
El Michel's Affair - Enter The 37th Chamber
The Felice Brothers - Yonder Is The Clock
Ganglians - Monster Head Room
GIRLS - Album
Grizzly Bear - Veckamist
The Horrors - Primary Colours
Lee Fields & The Expressions - My World
Leonard Cohen - Live in London
Leonard Cohen - Live at The Isle of Wight
The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
Monsters of Folk - S/T
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
Q-Tip - Kamaal The Abstract 
Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Linx II
Real Estate - Real Estate
Smith Westerns - Smith Westerns
The Strange Boys - The Strange Boys and Girls Club
Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom Live
Ty Segall - Lemons
U-God - Dopium
Wavves - Wavvves
White Denim - Fits
Woods - Songs of Shame

Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2009

Nice to see The Horrors in this list. Still no Felice Brothers!

50. Antony And The Johnsons - The Crying Light [Secretly Canadian]
49. Mos Def - The Ecstatic [Downtown]
48. Silversun Pickups - Swoon [Dangerbird]
47. jj - n° 2 [Sincerely Yours]
46. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II [Loud/RCA/BMG]
45. Regina Spektor - Far [Sire]
44. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns [Saddle Creek]
43. Mastodon - Crack The Skye [Reprise]
42. The Dead Weather - Horehound [Third Man]
41. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures [DGC/Interscope]
40. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms [Lefse]
39. Brand New - Daisy [Interscope]
38. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle [Drag City]
37. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains [Self-Released]
36. The Horrors - Primary Colours [XL]
35. Tegan And Sara - Sainthood [Vapor]
34. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport [ATP]
33. Florence & The Machine - Lungs [Island]
32. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm [Jagjaguwar]
31. The Mountain Goats - The Life Of The World To Come [4AD]
30. Dan Deacon - Bromst [Carpark]
29. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career [4AD]
28. Wild Beasts - Two Dancers [Domino]
27. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young [Cult/RCA]
26. Metric - Fantasies [Metric Music International]
25. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast [Fat Possum]
24. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug [Domino]
23. Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk [Shangri-La]
22. The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You [Sony]
21. Japandroids - Post-Nothing [Polyvinyl]
20. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart [Slumberland]
19. Atlas Sound - Logos [Kranky]
18. Wilco - Wilco (The Album) [Nonesuch]
17. Various Artists - Dark Was The Night [4AD]
16. The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love [Capitol]
15. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns [Astralwerks]
14. Fever Ray - Fever Ray [Mute]
13. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer [Jagjaguwar]
12. St. Vincent - Actor [4AD]
11. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic [Warner Bros.]
10. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone [Anti-]
09. Passion Pit - Manners [Frenchkiss]
08. The Antlers - Hospice [Frenchkiss]
07. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz [Interscope]
06. Girls - Album [True Panther]
05. The XX - XX [Young Turks/XL]
04. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [Glassnote]
03. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca [Domino]
02. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest [Warp]
01. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino]

Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2009

 
I won't bother ranting oer what's missing. Plenty of good albums included and plenty of great albums missing. Here's the list:

50 Woods - Songs of Shame
49 Cass McCombs - Catacombs
48 DOOM - Born Like This
47 Zomby - Where Were U in '92?
46 Dan Deacon - Bromst
45 The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World to Come
44 tUnE-yArDs - BiRd-BrAiNs
43 Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
42 A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar
41 Baroness - Blue Record
40 Mos Def - The Ecstatic
39 Jim O'Rourke - The Visitor
38 Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People-- Lazers Do
37 The Antlers - Hospice
36 Dinosaur Jr. - Farm
35 jj - jj n° 2
34 Passion Pit - Manners
33 Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
32 Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth
31 Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions
30 Röyksopp - Junior
29 Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
28 Micachu and the Shapes - Jewellery
27 Various Artists - 5: Five Years of Hyperdub
26 Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
25 DJ Quik & Kurupt - BlaQKout
24 Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
23 Memory Tapes - Seek Magic
22 Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
21 Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
20 Real Estate - Real Estate
19 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
18 Atlas Sound - Logos
17 The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
16 Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light
15 Japandroids - Post-Nothing
14 Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms
13 St. Vincent - Actor
12 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
11 Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
10 Girls - Album
09 Fever Ray - Fever Ray
08 Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
07 Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
06 Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
05 Raekwon - Only Built for Cuban Linx... Pt. II
04 The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
03 The xx - The xx
02 Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
01 Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Golden Dawn - Power Plant

Legendary early pioneers of psychedelic music from Austin. Lead singer George Kinney had shared his childhood with Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators if you didn't already know!) and had played with him in another group (The Fugitives). The two groups definitely have a similar sound and that obviously is a great thing! Here are a couple of tracks from their most famous album, Power Plant. The band still perform to this day and earlier this year performed at the Austin Psych Fest, where they played the whole of this album.

Real Estate - Real Estate

I've finally got round to getting their debut album and it's easily in my Top 5 albums this year. Although most people have labelled it a perfect summer album, it's been really snowy here of late and the album has a lethargic quality to it that goes perfect with the snow. Plus the last track on the album is called 'Snow Days'. I'm sure it'll sound great all year round! Their sound kinda reminds me of Clientele (see video below) in that it has the same hazy dreaminess to it that you can get lost in. They do have a surf-rock edge to many of their songs too and have a hint of Beach House's late night sleepiness to them. This album wouldn't be out of place alongside some of Modest Mouse's slower, dreamier songs (Drammamine, Edit The Sad Parts). The comparisons could go on and on, but they DO have their own sound and I like it. I've already made two earlier posts on these guys, so be sure to check those videos out too if you haven't already and give these tracks below a listen.

Ganglians

Ganglians are yet another band to emerge from the label that has brought us Woods, Crystal Stilts, Real Estate and Kurt Vile...Woodist. This year saw the band release both a self-titled mini-LP and a full length album ('Monster Head Room'). I haven't yet heard their self-titled mini-LP, but have been listening to 'Monster Head Room' this past hour or so and have thoroughly enjoyed my listening. The first song to really jump out at me was 'Valiant Brave', which kinda reminded me of Devendra Banhart's 'Seahorse' in the way it exploded into life after a gradual build up. The song also includes some killer flute work and has a really great atmosphere. Elsewhere, the rest of the album has some really nice acoustic songs ('Cryin' Smoke' and 'Lost Words') and some general acid-folk/psych style songs that fans of Devendra Banhart, The Beach Boys and Grizzly Bear alike should find appealing. Anyway, time to listen to it again...

"This album is pure naive headphone acid pop to drive to, at least that's what was going through our heads." - Ganglians

Pitchfork's Top 100 Songs of 2009

I won't bother to criticise the list, as lists are always going to be different and songs will always be missing. My band of the year was probably The Felice Brothers and they got no mention. Oh well. So here it is anyway, as if you're like me, then you'll love lists regardless of your opinion of it. Plus, I know I for one haven't listened to every track on this list. Have you?

Listen to them on Spotify! (Those that are available!)

Pitchfork Top Songs of 2009

100 Darkstar - "Aidy's Girl's a Computer"
99 Julianna Barwick - "Bode"
98 Future of the Left - "Arming Eritrea"
97 The Smith Westerns - "Be My Girl"
96 Gucci Mane [Feat. Plies] - "Wasted"
95 The Thermals - "Now We Can See"
94 Best Coast - "Sun Was High (So Was I)"
93 Morrissey - "Something is Squeezing My Skull"
92 Cam'ron - "I Hate My Job"
91 HEALTH - "Die Slow"
90 The-Dream - "Rockin' That Shit"
89 No Age - "You're a Target"
88 Passion Pit - "Moth's Wings"
87 Here We Go Magic - "Fangela"
86 Drake - "Best I Ever Had"
85 Wavves - "No Hope Kids"
84 Junior Boys - "Parallel Lines"
83 Lady Gaga - "Paparazzi"
82 DJ Kaos - "Love the Nite Away (Tiedye remix)"
81 Bowerbirds - "Northern Lights"
80 YACHT - "Psychic City (Voodoo City)"
79 Pictureplane - "Goth Star"
78 Charlotte Gainsbourg - "IRM"
77 Frida Hyvönen - "Jesus Was a Cross Maker"
76 The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Don't Haunt This Place"
75 Gold Panda - "Quitter's Raga"
74 Neon Indian - "Should Have Taken Acid With You"
73 Woods - "Rain On"
72 Matt & Kim - "Daylight"
71 A Sunny Day in Glasgow - "Close Chorus"
70 Discovery - "Orange Shirt"
69 Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me"
68 Röyksopp [Feat. Robyn] - "The Girl and the Robot"
67 Arctic Monkeys - "Cornerstone"
66 Julian Casablancas - "11th Dimension"
65 The Tough Alliance - "A New Chance (The Juan MacLean Remix)"
64 Annie - "Songs Remind Me of You"
63 Real Estate - "Fake Blues"
62 Volcano Choir - "Island, IS"
61 Atlas Sound [Feat. Lætitia Sadier] - "Quick Canal"
60 Kurt Vile - "Freeway"
59 tUnE-yArDs - "Sunlight"
58 Fever Ray - "If I Had a Heart"
57 Sleigh Bells - "Crown on the Ground"
56 John Talabot - "Sunshine"
55 Bat For Lashes - "Glass"
54 Joker & Ginz - "Purple City"
53 The xx - "Islands"
52 St. Vincent - "Actor Out of Work"
51 Antony and the Johnsons - "Aeon"
50 Matias Aguayo - "Rollerskate"
49 Yo La Tengo - "Here to Fall"
48 Destroyer - "Bay of Pigs"
47 Yeah Yeah Yeahs -"Heads Will Roll"
46 Memory Tapes - "Bicycle"
45 The Flaming Lips [Feat. Karen O] - "Watching the Planets"
44 Jay-Z [Feat. Alicia Keys] - "Empire State of Mind"
43 Camera Obscura - "French Navy"
42 The Big Pink - "Velvet"
41 Major Lazer [Feat. Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze] - "Keep It Goin' Louder"
40 Bear in Heaven - "Lovesick Teenagers"
39 Lady Gaga - "Bad Romance"
38 Dirty Projectors and David Byrne -"Knotty Pine"
37 Surfer Blood - "Swim"
36 Fever Ray - "When I Grow Up"
35 Micachu and the Shapes - "Golden Phone"
34 Atlas Sound [Feat. Noah Lennox] - "Walkabout"
33 DJ Quik and Kurupt - "9x's Outta 10"
32 The Very Best [Feat. Ezra Koenig] - "Warm Heart of Africa"
31 Lily Allen - "The Fear"
30 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Young Adult Friction"
29 jj - "Ecstasy"
28 Neko Case - "This Tornado Loves You"
27 Four Tet - "Love Cry"
26 Bon Iver - "Blood Bank"
25 Cass McCombs - "You Saved My Life"
24 Basement Jaxx - "Raindrops"
23 Animal Collective - "Brother Sport"
22 Delorean - "Seasun"
21 Raekwon [Feat. Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, & Method Man] - "House of Flying Daggers"
20 Japandroids - "Young Hearts Spark Fire"
19 Joker - "Digidesgin"
18 The Big Pink - "Dominos"
17 Fuck Buttons - "Surf Solar"
16 The xx - "Crystalised"
15 Girls - "Hellhole Ratrace"
14 Joy Orbison - "Hyph Mngo"
13 Neon Indian - "Deadbeat Summer"
12 Grizzly Bear - "While You Wait for the Others"
11 Animal Collective - "What Would I Want? Sky"
10 Washed Out - "Feel It All Around"
09 Girls - "Lust for Life"
08 Phoenix - "Lisztomania"
07 Big Boi [Feat. Gucci Mane] - "Shine Blockas"
06 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Zero"
05 Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"
04 Bat For Lashes - "Daniel"
03 Phoenix - "1901"
02 Dirty Projectors - "Stillness Is the Move"
01 Animal Collective - "My Girls"

Cat Power - Moon Pix

 
It's been snowing for a couple of hours and I just got in from work. I put the kettle on, put my wet gloves and hat on the radiator and sat down. I wanted to put an album on that would go well with the snow outside my window and after initially thinking Low's 'Secret Name', I ended up putting on Cat Power's 'Moon Pix'. I haven't heard the album in years, but it s every bit as good as I remember and perfect for a cold, snowy day.

Spotify: Cat Power - Moon Pix

Mos Def x Talib Kweli x Dirty Projectors x The Roots x Jimmy Fallon

I've been playing 'The Ecstatic' a lot this past week and it's definitely one of my favourite releases of the year. I just came across this performance of 'History' on Jimmy Fallon, performed with The Roots and the girls from the Dirty Projectors and it's legendary! CHECK IT OUT!

The Mantles

The Mantles hail from San Francisco and state their influences as "stanky blues" and think they sound like "there's an ocean nearby..." Whether or not they actually sound like this, I'm not too sure, but their self-titled debut album had my attention on the first listen and has some great tunes, with 'Don't Lie' probably my favourite out of the lot. Plus the album cover is really cool. The album's on Spotify, so give it a listen, but first check out these two videos. The first one is awesome and made me want to check out the film it was set to Paper Moon (1973).

Black Mountain - S/T

I've just got back in from a bit of Christmas shopping and start work in an hour, so thought I'd have a cup of tea and listen to something I haven't heard for a while. My random selection ended up being Black Mountain's debut album from 2005. If you've never heard this album, do yourself a favour and check it out on Spotify (Black Mountain) or buy it, as it can be picked up for next to nothing! If you're a fan of anything on the heavier side from the 60s or 70s then look no further.

MWW FAVOURITE: Mos Def

Mos Def is one of my all-time favourites. So I thought I'd post a few videos to illustrate his greatness, taking in all of his albums. I know I did a single track MWW FAVOURITE on Sunday and I really could've done a full Wu post! ENJOY!


From 'Black On Both Sides':





From 'The New Danger':



From 'True Magic':



From 'The Ecstatic':


Mos Def - Supermagic from Burnocchio. Story. on Vimeo.

With DJ Honda:



Black Star:





And of course, BLACKROC:

Sun Araw

Sun Araw is former Magic Lantern's guitarist Cameron Stallones' solo project. If you liked the Woodsman post the other day or are into Brightblack Morning Light, Spacemen 3 or Spiritualized then this is right up your street. I've only heard a few assorted tracks on You Tube and was disappointed not to see any of his work on Spotify, but from what I've heard and read it sounds pretty damn cool. The latest album is called 'Heavy Deeds.' Uncut's Wild Mercury Sound described the sound as "sticky, horizontal, hot night music." That sums it up pretty perfectly.

MWW FAVOURITE: I Can't Go To Sleep

I've decided to introduce the 'MWW FAVOURITE', which will basically be favourite tracks of mine that I've listened to dozens and dozens of times. The sort of track you become addicted to and put on repeat and years down the line always return to. Today I've chosen the Wu-Tang Clan's 'I Can't Go To Sleep' off their album'The W' (2000). The track reminds me of bus journeys to and from school and has some of the Wu's best verses on it. It uses the classic Isaac Hayes sample from 'Walk On By'. The album has some of my favourite Wu tracks and is on Spotify. For those of you who don't have an account, if you ask around on the internet, you can find a free invitation easily enough. I just asked on Facebook and within a day I had one.

Wu-Tang Clan - The W

Woodsman

If you enjoyed my recent Real Estate post, then you'll love Woodsman and like Real Estate they're also on Mexican Summer. The video below is for their song 'Sunglass' is a perfect accompanyment for the blissed out, woozy feel of the track. It kinda has a similar feel to something by Brightblack Morning Light, in the way it almost seems like nothing is happening, but in the best possible way. The track is available on their new album, 'Collages', which can be downloaded at Mexican Summer, but has not yet been released on vinyl.


Woodsman - Sunglass from woodsman man on Vimeo.

From the green forests of Denver comes the debut album from Woodsman, an instrumental quartet with roots in nature, post-rock of the mid-‘90s Tortoise/Cerberus Shoal/A Minor Forest variety, and a sense of epic grandeur that ties the whole thing together. Killer from nose to nuts, with 19-minute monster “Mothershift” taking top honors; it reminds us that one ton of feathers is just as crushing as one ton of lead, if properly positioned.

Mexican Summer

The Morning After Girls - Hidden Spaces

This is one of my favourite songs ever and I just came across this awesome live video on You Tube:



If you've never heard these guys before, they're incredible and massively underrated. Their album is on Spotify and is brilliant from start to finish. A must for any Brian Jonestown Massacre fans! I saw them support BJM a few years back and was blown away!

The Morning After Girls

Ty Segall - Lemons

 If you like any of the current trend of lo-fi bands or are into 60s psych at all, Ty Segall is a must. The album clocks in at just over 25 minutes and rocks pretty hard the whole way through and before you know it you'll be hitting play again! This first video is AWESOME! Check the album out for free on Spotify:

Ty Segall - Lemons

The Strange Boys

 The Strange Boys released their debut album, 'The Strange Boys And Girls Club', earlier this year after having released their first EP back in 2004 ('States Newest Noisemakers EP'). As with many new bands, it's rare for me to actually listen to an album at it's time of release and I have only really got round to listening to their debut for the first time in it's entirety today. The band is on In The Red Records, where fellow garage-punks Black Lips and King Khan & The BBQ Show have also released albums. The band are from Austin, Texas and kinda sound like a rawer Brian Jones era Stones with Pete Doherty ('Up The Bracket' era) as the singer. The band play a mixture of RnB, garage psych and acoustic songs that barely last 2 or 3 minutes. If you're a fan of The Brian Jonestown Massacre's mid-90s work (especially 'Take It From The Man'), this will definitely appeal to you. Chech the album out for free on Spotify:

The Strange Boys And Girls Club


the strange boys -this girl taught me a dance. from george trimm on Vimeo.

Blitzen Trapper

The first song I heard by Blitzen Trapper was 'Texaco' a couple of years ago and it's still one of my favourite songs. It just sounds right and is a perfect song for driving through the countryside or just kicking back with a beer.



Since then they've released several new albums, including the recent 'Black River Killer Ep' earlier this year. The title track was included on their 2008 album 'Furr', who's title track also joined 'Black River Killer' as 2 of the bands other favourite songs of mine.





This is more a post for those of you who haven't yet heard these guys. They  cover a range of styles, from folk/country to more indie sounding jams. My favourite tracks tend to be the former, but their albums are always rewarding and never get boring. Another favourite of mine has to be 'Not Your Lover', which kinda sounds like a Neil Young outtake from 'After The Goldrush'.

New Harlem album 2010

 Harlem are due to release their new album, 'Hippies', next year and hopes are high following their awesome debut 'Free Drugs ;)', which included classics such as 'South of France' and 'Psychedelic Tits.' Matador have put a sample up on their website entitled 'Friendly Ghost'.

 Friendly Ghost

Monsters of Folk

The more I listen to this album, the more I like it. There's such a range of songs on there, that everytime I listen to it I discover something new. I just saw this video for 'Temazcal' for the first time and it's lovely!



The band are also holding a competition at the moment to see who can make the best video for their song 'Dear God'.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO CREATE A COMPELLING VIDEO FOR THE SONG “DEAR GOD”. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CREATE A VIDEO, POST IT TO YOUTUBE, AND TAG IT WITH THE WORDS “DEAR FOLK MONSTER”. THE WINNER WILL BE AWARDED $5,000, A GIBSON ACOUSTIC GUITAR SIGNED BY THE BAND, AND A COPY OF FINAL CUT PRO! THE CONTEST ENDS JANUARY 1ST. CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED!

Dear God video contest

More BJM videos

Here are a few other videos from the upcoming album! Ode To Space Hasstle isn't on the album unfortunately, but I've included it here anyway! Enjoy!

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Bruttermania from Jon Carling on Vimeo.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Ode to space hasstle from Jon Carling on Vimeo.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Someplace else unknown from Jon Carling on Vimeo.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - (Run Run Run) I'll walk and still catch you from Jon Carling on Vimeo.

Jay Electronica - Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)

I downloaded this earlier this year and just found it again. If you're a fan of Jon Brion or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind you'll love this. There's an intro track before this with Erykah Badu describing the first time she met Jay and it's surprisingly relaxing.

Joe Walsh

I was listening to the former Eagles and James Gang member's 'Barnstorm' on my iPod earlier and forgot how good it was! I thought I'd have a look on You Tube for some cool videos and stumbled on this performance from 1977:



'Mother Says' is also one of my favourites off the album:

Party in the Pines

Party in the Pines was a festival held in California out in the forest at the end of the summer and was presented by Kemado Records, Mexican Summer and folkYEAH!. It featured some of my favourites, including Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Dungen, Vietnam and Kurt Vile. I had never heard of it before I stumbled on a page on Fader TV, who were there and filmed a load of the festival. Check these videos out:

Dungen:



 Kurt Vile:



Woods:



Farmer Dave Scher:



Vietnam:

Wedding Songs

I recently made an order with some Christmas money I received from my Grandad and bought a few Dylan albums I don't yet own and also some BBC DVDs - Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Yellowstone. Anyway, one of the Dylan albums I got is 'Planet Waves' and it's one of my favourites. The final song on the CD is 'Wedding Song' and I said to Ida that when we get married I want it played at our wedding. Her choice is Barry White's 'You're The First, My Last, My Everything.'

What songs have you or do you want to get married to? Post choices in the comments.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

I really can't wait for their new album! It's due for release sometime in Spring next year and is their first since signing for 4AD. Someone once described his sound as something similar to being a child in the 70s and hearing your parents playing FM radio downstairs while your in bed under the covers listening to the muffled sounds. Sound strange? It maybe is at first, but once you get into it you'll discover loads of great pop songs. They released a 7" in 2008, 'Can't Hear Me Eyes'/'Evolution's A Lie', that was a lot cleaner sounding than their previous work:





Whilst this year also saw the release of a greatest hits compilation entitled 'Grandes Exitos', which only saw a tour release. The album is well worth getting hold of (mediafire!), whether you're new to Ariel or a longtime fan and has definitely got me ready for some new songs next year! It's been one of my most played albums since I got hold of it and includes songs like 'Helen' and 'Life in L.A.':

The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

If you missed these guys this year, their album is a must if you like bands like The Felice Brothers,The Duke & The King and Fleet Foxes.

Radio Moscow - The Escape

This is an awesome band. They've released two albums so far and join the ranks of other great power trios. This could have been released forty years ago and is off their album, 'Brain Cycles'.

Buffalo Killers

I bought the second Buffalo Killers album, 'Let It Ride', earlier this year and was definitely one of my favourite finds this year. Check out their cover of Neil Young's Homegrown below:




And their own song, 'Get Together Now Today':

Beach Comber

I know I already posted this song, but I just came across an awesome live version of it on You Tube and this song is slowly becoming a favourite of mine for 2009! The ending of the song is phenomenal anyway, but this live version is even better! I love the nodding heads!

Clipse - Til' The Casket Drops

 This has definitely snook in under the radar and I didn't even realised it had dropped until I randomly saw it on Amazon for sale. After two classic albums everybody's waiting to see if they can continue in the same fashion. The Neptunes have been assigned production duties on 8 of the 13 tracks and initial reviews have been very good. I'm on my first listen on Spotify and things are sounding FRESH, but take a listen for yourselves and hopefully this will rank up there with Raekwon as one of the hip-hop releases of the year.

EDIT: ok, after a few listens this isn't anywhere near Only Built for Cuban Linx II or even their previous two albums. It's not a bad album by any means, but it just lacks the rawness of their first two albums and some of the female guest spots are a bit on the weak side! But still check it out on Spotify, as it's worth a listen!

Til' The Casket Drops

Oh No - Dr. No's Ethiopium

Oh No's latest album is called 'Dr. No's Ethiopium' and is an instrumental hip-hop album that uses Ethiopian music of the 1960s and 70s as it's inspiration/source. I've only heard a couple of tracks on You Tube, but Madlib's brother has created a perfect mix of funk, soul and African sounds that are perfect for chilling too and are bound to be used by Ghostface or someone in the near future!

Kurt Vile

I've heard his name around before and often cofused him with the inspiration behind The Doors' 'Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar),' Kurt Weill:





His latest album, 'Childish Prodigy', was included in Uncut's Top Albums of 2009 and he has compared with everyone from Ariel Pink to tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. I'd listened to his band 'War On Drugs' once or twice a while back and remember enjoying them, but not returning to them. I decided today that I'd set some Kurt time to one side and listen to his 2008 album 'Constant Hitmaker.' The first song on the album is 'Freeway' and is instantly likeable:





I'm only a few tracks into the album and can already understand the various comparisons made. The album jumps from style to style with the first radio friendly track 'Freeway' making way for a dreamy Neil Young meets My Bloody Valentine track ('Space Forklift') before the fingerpicked 'Slow Talkers' floats over my speakers....

UNCUT'S TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2009

I just bought the latest Uncut magazine and I thought I'd share their Top 50 Albums Of 2009 with you:

Click album name to listen via Spotify!

50. Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy
49. Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
48. Raphael Saadiq – The Way I See It
47. Alasdair Roberts – Spoils
46. Broadcast & The Focus Group - …Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio Age
45. Richmond Fontaine – We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River
44. Reigning Sound – Love And Curses
43. Bruce Springsteen – Working On A Dream
42. Richard Hawley – Truelove’s Gutter
41. Van Morrison – Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl
40. The Felice Brothers – Yonder Is The Clock
39. Cornershop – Judy Sucks On A Lemon For Breakfast
38. Arctic Monkeys – Humbug
37. Dinosaur Jr – Farm
36. Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport
35. Tinariwen – Imidiwan: Companions
34. Trembling Bells – Carberth
33. Duke And The King – Nothing Gold Can Stay
32. Iggy Pop – Preliminaries
31. The Dead Weather – Horehound
30. Jim O’ Rourke – The Visitor
29. PJ Harvey & John Parish – A Woman A Man Walked By
28. Madness – The Liberty Of Norton Folgate
27. Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs
26. The Unthanks – Here’s The Tender Coming
25. Sunn 0))) – Monoliths And Dimensions
24. Micachu And The Shapes – Jewellery
23. Manic Street Preachers – Journal For Plague Lovers
22. Alela Diane – To Be Still
21. Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
20. The Horrors – Primary Colours
19. Sonic Youth – The Eternal
18. Graham Coxon – The Spinning Top
17. Doves – Kingdom Of Rust
16. Florence And The Machine – Lungs
15. Bassekou Kouyate And Ngoni Ba – I Speak Fula
14. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
13. White Denim – Fits
12. Fever Ray – Fever Ray
11. Bill Callaham – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
10. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
8. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
7. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
6. The XX – xx
5. Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
4. Bob Dylan – Together Through Life
3. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
2. Super Furry Animals – Dark Days/Light Years
1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion


Now, I could quite easily go through the list praising certain choices and dismissing other, but it's a list and I haven't listened to everything on it so it'd be pointless. They included Jay-Z's 'The Blueprint 3,'  but missed Raekwon and many other far greater hip-hop albums released this year. I could go on, but it's their list and the magazine has introduced me to some great music over the years (The Felice Brothers!!) and they have some excellent albums in there...Felice Brothers, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Dylan, White Denim, Low Anthem etc. But as with any list that includes so many things I know and love, I will definitely try my best to listen to the ones I haven't yet heard!

Christmas Time Is Here mix

Following on from the previous post, here's a little Christmas playlist for Spotify featuring some obvious and some not so obvious Christmas songs to get you in the festive spirit!


ENJOY!!


Christmas Time Is Here micromix

Christmas Time Is Here

We just finished watching 'A Christmas Story,' which we've never seen before and apparently it's shown every year in America. It's easily one of the best Christmas films I've seen and is definitely going to enter into our rotation of Christmas films! But this is a music blog, not a film blog, so I thought I'd post one of my favourite Christmas songs! Vince Guaraldi's 'Christmas Time Is Here' from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas.'





Here's the extended instrumental of the song:





The album is on Spotify and is perfect if you're sick of the same old Christmas songs. I could listen to this all year round!


A Charlie Brown Christmas

Dâm-Funk

Following on from the previous post, Dâm-Funk is another Los Angeles based artist who creates the perfect soundtrack for cruising through L.A. late at night. His new album 'Toeachizown' has just been released on Stones Throw Records and is a 5LP set.

Known as Los Angeles' "Ambassador of Boogie Funk," Dãm-Funk represents the citizens of the Funkmosphere. Headquartered in the Leimert Park section of L.A., Dãm (pronounced: 'Dame' as in Damon) spent the last few years cultivating a musical renaissance rooted in the early-'80s styles known as Boogie, Modern Soul and Electro-Funk.

http://www.stonesthrow.com/damfunk

Listen to 'Toeachizown' in Spotify






BlueFunk District presents Dâm Funk from eckelwood on Vimeo.

El Michel's Affair x Wu-Tang Clan

These guys hail from NYC and earlier this year released a cover album of Wu-Tang instrumentals entitled 'Enter The 37th Chamber.' They cover a range of Wu-Tang related songs, ranging from Gza's 'Duel of the Iron Mics' to ODB's 'Shimmy Shimmy Ya.' They've also supported Raekwon on tour. The whole album can be heard on Spotify or You Tube and is a definite must for any Wu-Tang fans out there!

My most played tracks of 2009

1. Black Lips - Short Fuse (17 plays)
2. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Can't Hear My Eyes (16 plays)
2. M.I.A. - Paper Planes (16 plays)
4. The Felice Brothers - Penn Station (14 plays)
4. Leonard Cohen - Memories (14 plays)
6. The Tallest Man On Earth - Honey Won't You Let Me In (13 plays)
6. Raekwon - House of Flying Daggers (13 plays)
6. Blitzen Trapper - Furr (13 plays)
6. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Can't Take My Eyes Off You (13 plays)
10. Black Lips - Drugs (12 plays)
10. The Felice Brothers - Roll On Arte (12 plays)
10. Raekwon - The Return Of The North Star (12 plays)
10. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - The Drummer (12 plays)
10. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Interesting Results (12 plays)

My most listened to artists of 2009

Most blogs tend to release a Best of 2009 around this time of the year, but what you think was the best music of the year doesn't always match up with what you actually played the most:


1. Bob Dylan (427 plays)
2. Leonard Cohen (316 plays)
3. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (254 plays)
4. The Felice Brothers (250 plays)
5. The Brian Jonestown Massacre (195 plays)
6. Raekwon (194 plays)
7. Black Lips (162 plays)
8. Tom Waits (128 plays)
9. Blitzen Trapper (124 plays)
10. Animal Collective (112 plays)


http://www.last.fm/user/markwales

Sunday Afternoon micromix

Here's a new mix for you to listen to on Spotify:


Sunday Afternoon micromix


I know everybody doesn't have Spotify, but it's easy enough to get an invite if you ask around, so no excuses!


01 Bobb Trimble - Premonitions - The Fantasy
02 Atlas Sound - Walkabout (w. Noah Lennox)
03 Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer
04 Dillard & Clark - Polly
05 Neil Young - Tell Me Why (Live at Massey Hall 1971)
06 Devendra Banhart - Goin' Back
07 Jefferson Airplane - We Can Be Together (live at Woodstock)
08 The Felice Brothers - Cooperstown
09 The Doors - The Crystal Ship
10 Beach House - Apple Orchard
11 The Brian Jonestown Massacre - The Devil May Care (Mom & Dad Don't)
12 Beastie Boys - I Don't Know
13 Black Lips - Trapped In A Basement
14 The Dandy Warhols - Ride
15 Nirvana - Come As You Are (live at Reading 1992)
16 The Brian Jonestown Massacre - The 'One'

Beach House - Teen Dream

I remember buying the first Beach House from Piccadilly Records after reading one of their descriptions on the front of the CD in store:

Take a vacation at the Beach House away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Let the Baltimore duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally take you to a new place, a unique place where slow hazy pop fills the room with organs, slide guitars, reverb, echoes and simple yet unforgettable melodies. Beach House contains memories from past trips, times, and places: 70s Southern California (lunch with Karen Carpenter), mid 90s England (star-gazing with Mazzy Star no doubt), a weekend at Warhol's Factory in New York (shared a cab with Nico) and a camping trip in the Appalachians back in 1940 (with a country breakfast at Patsy's).

http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/


How could I not like it?! Their second album was equally as brilliant and they're set to release their 3rd album 'Teen Dream' on 25th January.

When You Awake mixtapes

One of my favourite blogs is When You Awake and I always love downloading their latest mixtapes, which are often compiled by bands and friends of theirs. If you've never been there, take a look at:



When You Awake mixtapes

About When You Awake

When You Awake is an ode to country life, celebrating everything from classic country and rock to the the current indie folk and roots scenes. The daily blog features music news, mixtapes, ticket giveaways, style finds and much more. With roots in Nashville, Los Angeles- based founder Jody Orsborn also hosts a two hour radio show every Monday from 2-4 pm PST on Little Radio.com and presents shows around town featuring musicians like Justin Townes Earle, Deer Tick and Leslie and the Badgers.

Heartworn Highways

I really want to see this film! It was released in 1981 and is about the "outlaw" country music scene of the early 70s and features Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Guy Clark and other such legends! It looks gritty, with lots of drinkin' and hard livin', and it looks full of great performances! When I actually have a full-time job then maybe I'll buy it...

Take a listen to the soundtrack on Spotify:


http://open.spotify.com/album/4YVy5cRiNN19SH6deninil

Bobb Trimble

I remember downloading Bobb Trimble's 'Harvest of Dreams' when it was reissued in 2007 and listening to it late one night and thinking how good it was. But as with many things, without meaning to you forget about things just as easy as you fall in love with things. Sometimes you rediscover things and they're back in your life and sometimes things can be lost forever. I was just looking through some random Listmanias on Amazon and Bobb Trimble was included in one. The album is called 'Harvest of Dreams' and it was originally released in 1982. It's a really dreamy psychedelic folk album and this is the standout track for me: