Teen Creeps
I've made a Muxtape. Due to their restrictions it's a dumbed-down version of a longer mix, although maybe that's okay-- the real one's just too special.
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I've begun purchasing vinyl instead of CDs, and Nouns came in the mail yesterday. There couldn't be anything more perfect than that.
This has got to be the most undeniable band in existence. In a way, everything I wanted punk to be when I was a teenager, to the point where I'm almost embarrassed at the optimism and empowerment I get from their perfect music/movement/aesthetic synergy.
Plus bands that skate are bulletproof.
Special Levels
Today's McSweeney's front page is "Acoustic Citizen": Live the embittered existence of a folk legend in the latest expansion pack for the successful Guitar Hero franchise... You'll sing on subjects as diverse as pickup trucks, sparrows, the cost of battle, and gypsies.
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"...sounds like Conor Oberst screaming from the bowels of hell."
Hey, that's what I got too! I've given The Airing of Grievances a few listens and it's totally refreshing. For reference, the most Oberstian of the bunch:
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I'm really feeling 2008, you know?
My Photo Album
Though I am, sadly, 0% excited for their new album, Death Cab's recent Daytrotter Session finds me giddy at the inclusion of three cuts from The Photo Album. I tend to claim We Have The Facts as their finest hour, but I now realize TPA is truly my favorite.
Dawn & Delta
Do any of you live in Davis? My reason for asking is two-fold: first, I don't consider B+A to be as geographically-oriented as many other music blogs, so I've never really thought about the Davis contingent of my vast readership. I'm curious.
Secondly, if you do happen to live in Davis (or surrounding areas), I'd like to recommend you come to the Delta of Venus cafe tomorrow night. The Chapin Sisters, Two Sheds, and Dame Satan are performing, and it's the latter of the three that I'm excited to see.
Dame Satan sent their latest, possibly first, album, Beaches and Bridges, and it's spot-on. I've had it for two days and I'm pushing it-- that never happens. Immediately striking was the music's resemblance to two traits seemingly at odds with each other: Fleet Foxes' stateliness and Akron/Family's gloriously buoyant weirdness. Now, these are the characteristics that define my love for these bands, and to find them in something equally realized but essentially different from either is wonderfully impressive. If you're even remotely fond of this West-Coast-weirdo-collective love sound, come out to the show, or buy the album and listen to it outside, in the evening.
Two Minutes Forty Two Seconds
I, like Kevin at So Much Silence, wanted to know which songs in my collection were "the perfect length" after reading this funny Morning News article. (Also like SMS, I had 42 songs, and many of them we had in common).
The list:
Arthur Advocate - Four Forty Eight
The Beach Boys - Forever
The Beatles - Michelle
Blood on the Wall - Junkeee... Julieee...
Bob Dylan - Song To Woody
The Books - All Bad Ends All
Caribou - Hello Hammerheads
Cat Power - Half of You
Chris Isaak - Forever Blue (Acoustic Version)
Chris Thomas King - Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
Conway Twitty - To See My Angel Cry
Crystal Castles - Alice Practice
Emitt Rhodes - You Should Be Ashamed
Eric Bachmann - Lonesome Warrior
The Fiery Furnaces - Ex-Guru
Franz Ferdinand - Swallow Smile
Guided by Voices - Echos Myron
Holopaw - 3-shy-cubs
Julie Doiron - I Left Town
The La's - There She Goes
Let's French - Start A New Life
Lily Allen - Alfie
The Lovin' Spoonful - Full Measure
The Magnetic Fields - Xavier Says
The Mendoza Line - Golden Boy (Live)
Microphones - Something
The Mountain Goats - Slow West Vultures
Nancy Wilson - Lucky Trumble
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
Nina Simone - To Love Somebody
Okkervil River - The President's Dead
Rosie Thomas - All The Way To New York City
Sam Cooke - Twistin' The Night Away
The Saturday Knights - Ass Kicker's Haircut
The Shangri-Las - Past Present And Future
Sufjan Stevens - Super Sexy Woman
Tap Tap - Little Match (Big Fire)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Criminal Piece
The Terrordactyls - Decoration Daniel
Them ft. Van Morrison - I Can Only Give You Everything
Uncle Tupelo - Discarded
Yo La Tengo - Center of Gravity
Okay... okay. I'm surprised to not see more Mountain Goats songs. And no classics. Whatever-- being able to share Conway Twitty with you makes up for any disappointment.
One more re: Merge
This American Life played a lovely Portastatic song in between the first two acts of last week's show ("Nobody's Family Is Going to Change"). "In the Lines" transcends its crisply-strummed anysong opening with above-average songwriting and that weary voice, perfect in this instance.
I'm Working But I'm Not Working For You
Continuing on the Radar Bros. tip, here's a gift from the band and Merge.
I'm guessing they were forced to do this (it's a Superchunk cover), and that's why it sounds so good.
And, speaking of Merge, did you know the new single for Spoon's "Don't You Evah" is out? A new song, along with 84 remixes and The Natural History's original version (which I don't think was ever released, right?).
nasty!
