LISTEN: Brendan Codey

For fans of Nick Drake, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Elliott Smith, Bon Iver and cold winters.

"Recorded throughout January and February, deep into a recent Chicago winter, "a bottle house vernacular," was inspired by certain visionary and outsider artists.

Beneath the healthy smother of reverb, multiple-part lyric-less harmonies stack atop doubled and tripled gut string guitars, percussive implements, and the very occasional bass drum or xylophone.

This marks the first of several eps Brendan Codey plans to self-release on his label, blueeyed boy, as he parses a constantly growing backlog of songs and projects recorded while wood-shedding through different genres during recent years.

Brendan Codey is a foghorn trigger and rapscallion lover of dusk, five o'clock, and shadow. He was born onto the east coast sometime in the late seventies and is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Currently, he abides in Philadelphia, PA, where he labors in labor."

via Brendan Codey (be sure to download the first track for free!) and Yvynyl

Original Soundtrack: The Royal Tenenbaums

Wes Anderson's films always have great soundtracks, and this one is no exception. This is also one of my favourite films. A great autumnal film that I'll definitely be pulling out in the next couple of months. It's actually hard not uploading the entire soundtrack, as it's that good, but here are 4 tracks for your listening pleasure.

Bob Dylan - Wigwam

John Lennon - Look At Me

Emitt Rhodes - Lullabye

Elliott Smith - Needle in the Hay

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Elliott Smith - Lucky Three

I just randomly remembered this video and felt like watching it again. Smith himself described it as:

 "a cross between a video and a documentary, but actually being neither of the two."

It's a short film that was shot by Jem Cohen and was recorded in October of 1996.

I forgot just how haunting and beautiful it is...

Real Estate - Reality EP

Following up one of my favourite albums of last year (the band's S/T LP), Real Estate released this EP only a month after their deut album. The reason, according to the band, is that the songs on this EP were tracks they either wrote or recorded too late to be included on their LP. Also of note, is that apparently only one of the EPs tracks features all the band playing together. The rest were all performed by Martin Courtney.

The only real difference in sound between the LP and this EP are maybe that the EP sounds a little more desolate and sadder. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with the almost solo recording of this EP or not, but that's what it sounds like. The standout track after my first listen is probably 'Younger Than Yesterday', which whilst keeping the bands trademark beach vibe could almost be unreleased Elliott Smith song. If you liked their debut as much as I did, you're sure to enjoy this 5 track EP.

"New Jersey’s Real Estate has successfully captured the sound of a late Sunday afternoon, in the dreaded hours before work or school claims your life again. The band’s sweet, loose pop ballads recall a modern-day Everly Brothers, drifting and dreamlike, as their tales of suburban indifference and insecurity mask your own fears. Six new songs, and not a moment too soon."

 Mexican Summer - BUY THE ALBUM

Real Estate - Basement

Real Estate - Younger Than Yesterday



Real Estate - Basement, 10.18.09 from Duke Chronicle on Vimeo.