Sleepytime Mixtape Project: 1 & 2

I don't know about most of you out there, but I listen to music when i go to bed every night, it's almost gotten to the point where I have to have music to fall asleep. But that's niether here nor there, the point is I've noticed that some songs help me fall asleep better than others and just make for a generally wonderful relaxing in bed experience. So for the next week or so I will be sharing my personal favorite "good to fall asleep to" songs. I will post two everyday and at the end of the Sleepytime Mixtape Project you can put them all together to make your very own Matt approved Sleepytime Mixtape (How Neat?). And for all of you new iPod users out there, I'll even be making some album art for it, so it will look all pretty on your on your screen. Here are songs one and two. Enjoy!

1. [MP3]: A.C. Newman :: Come Crash
This is the perfect lead off song to any sleepytime mix. Its not as soft as some of the other songs that will come later, but it's the perfect wind down song. In the chorus where he says, "Christine come crash on my floor" there's a guitar bend and drum roll that make it feel like Christine crashed on floor right after he said that.

2. [MP3]: Autistic Daughters :: The Glass House and the Gift-Horse
I first heard this song on a Kranky records compilation and I would listen to it in bed with just this song on repeat the whole time. The song goes back and forth from acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drone and bells. The whispered vocals make the song feel very tense like its always on the brink of snapping but instead it's just immensely mesmerizing.

Buy The Slow Wonder by A.C. Newman from Amazon.com
Buy Jealousy and Diamond by Autistic Daughters from Amazon.com

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Kid Theodore

Being a blogger, my inbox is typically flooded with "check out my band" emails. I try to get to every one of them that I recieve, but sometimes I just can't. But the one's that get my attention first are the one's with distinguishing uniqueness. Humor and/or appealing photos will make me more interested, and such was the case with Kid Theodore and the above picture that was included in the email. The fact that they even have an upright bass would've been enough, but no, he's holding it up and playing it behind his back. I had no choice but to listen.

In the band's own words, "Kid Theodore, though a very young band, has years of experience within it. Each member has been playing in bands since they were at least 15-16yrs of age; three of which have released albums. All band members know how to play multiple instruments. As for showmanship, they put on an entertaining extravaganza, sure to wow those in attendance, through their stage acrobatics and antics."

If you could mix early Tom Waits with the Kinks, or Belle and Sebastian with Johnny Cash, add in some Jazz and touch it with Radio Head then you'd get a pretty good idea of what Kid Theodore sounds like. "Lonely Angel" starts out with one of the best intros I've heard in quite a while with handclaps and a thumping bassline that you just can't sit down and listen to, it almost demands movement. The lyrics and vocals are executed so perfectly and the song is just pure fun. "I am a Moth" however, takes a completely different route. It's a beautiful slow burning acoustic ballad and the vocals almost sound a blend of Thom Yorke and John Mayer, or well, whoever it sounds like, I really love it.

[MP3]: From Goodnight... Goodnight
Lonely Angel
I am a Moth

Kid Theodore has just finished recording their first EP, Goodnight... Goodnight, and will have it available for purchase by early February of 2006.

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Jason Believes Me, You Can't Trust Your Dreams

Spencer Krug's other, other band Sunset Rubdown released a new EP on Global Symphonic on January 11th. It's quite a differerent sound than that of his much more popular band Wolf Parade. Sunset Rubdown make lush psychadelic infused pop with a lot of exotic noises and whimsical vocals. It's funny because the one press shot available for the band(pictured above) actually looks a lot like the band sounds. Here is a new track from the new EP.

[MP3]: Sunset Rubdown :: Jason Believes Me, You Can't Trust Your Dreams
This song sounds a bit like a fairy tale of sorts, in the sense that I can feel like I'm watching a scene from a book as I listen. Musically it's a very lush sound with acoustic guitar and keyboard interplay and a recorder or possibly a set of woodwinds hovering over. In fact, I think the simple woodwind line is my favorite part of the song.

Buy the EP from Global Symphonic for just $6.00!.

Dreams of Horses one of my favorite blogs out there, If you don't read you should really start doing so. Right now he's got a new acoustic Yeah Yeah Yeahs track that may or may not be on the new album.

Dodge has two new Gossip Tracks, another cute husband and wife band, and a snazzy new layout.

Also, hurry over to B(OOT)LOG and download the tracks he's posted from Belle and Sebastians's recent BBC6 appearance.

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The pAper chAse Give Up New Album Details

Finally! We finally have details and release date for one of my most anticipated albums of the year. The pAper chAse will be releasing their fourth full length album on Kill Rock Stars later this year. The album is going to be titled Now You Are One of Us and will be available in the U.S. on none other than June 6th, yes that's 6/6/06. Singer and songwriter John Congleton said, "we are still hard at work on the new album. i don't think i'd give too much away, if i said that these songs are utterly horrifying. and yes, we'll do our best to come to your town when this thing is in the can." So a tour, a promise of an utterly horrifying album, and a evil release date... I'm psyched.

Tracklist for Now You Are One of Us:
1. its out there and its gonna get you
2. we know where you sleep
3. the kids will grow up to be assholes
4. wait until i get my hands on you
5. you will never take me alive
6. delivered in a firm unyielding way lingering for just a bit too long to communicate the message “i own you”
7. the most important part of your body
8. what's so amazing about grace
9. you're one of them aren't you?
10. the song will eat itself
11. ...and all the candy you can eat
12. all manner of pox or canker
13. at the other end of the leash
14. we will make you one of us
15. the house is alive and the house is hungry

Track 6 better be amazing with a title like that, that's all I've got to say. Also, for all you Texans, The band will be playing a one-off show on April 9 at the Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth for the Wall of Sound Festival.

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Belle and Sebastain On Mark Radcliffe... Again

For the first time since the release of If You're Feeling Sinister, Belle and Sebastian will be doing another Mark Radcliffe session on the BBC. Mark Radcliffe was the man who practically made Belle and Sebastian back in 1996, listen in on BBC Radio 2, 88 - 91FM between 10.30pm and midnight and see if he'll make or break them this time around. You can also listen online HERE or if you're busy tonight you can always listen later, as the show will be archived.

Also!
Starting February 1st you can listen to The Life Pursuit, the new album by Belle and Sebastian, in it's entirety over at Radio-Indie-Pop.com. I also highly recommend Radio-Indie-Pop.com for daily listening as it is commercial free and I'm never bored with what they play.

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Racetrack

As much as I love weird experimental stuff, sprawling post-rock, and other off the beaten path music, I still have a big spot in my heart for some good old perfect pop. Racetrack are a three piece power-pop band of the loud variety from Bellingham, WA. Echoing power-pop greats Superchunk(and i sense a little bit of Ted Leo sound in there too), Racetrack's not-so-old members bring back the sound of feedback and distortion laden pop that's hasn't exactly been flourishing lately. The squalls of feedback that arise quite a bit on their debut City Lights remind me of Modest Mouse immediately, which is a very good thing.

City Lights, which was produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, is an easy to digest collection of up tempo, fun power-pop songs full of handclaps, tambourines, piano and angsty female vocals to top it all off. Racetrack is definitely a band to watch and I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from them this year.

[MP3]: From City Lights
One Step Forward
Epitaph

Buy City Lights from Skrocki Records.

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Spinning and Scratching

With all the excitement over Swedish exports the past couple months, Love Is All is the first of them to really get me excited. Their new album Nine Times That Same Song has been on constant play all weekend and I can't seem to stop listening to it. This band is exactly what indie rock needs right now. The melodies are tight and there's just a enough dance punk sensibility to get you moving. Elsewhere I've heard many complaints about how the vocals deem this album unlistenable, but I digress. This album wouldn't be half as good without the screaming and shouting slurs and ridiculous lyrics.

[MP3]: Love Is All :: Spinning and Scratching
This song captures everything I love about this band and puts it all into one song. Josephine Olausson's shouting about lost love along with the horns and eratic drum rolls make this song one of the obvious standouts of the album. If you like this song, you'll no doubt love every other song on the album.

GvB's got another track from Nine Times That Same Song called "Used Goods." It's another one of my favorites from the album, I recommend checking it out.

Buy Nine Times That Same Song from Insound.

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People In Planes - New Video

The Cardiff, Wales five piece People In Planes has recently finished a video for "If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)." This song is set to be the first single off of their their debut album As Far As the Eye Can See which will be released March 28th on Wind-Up Records. The video was directed by Joaquin Pheonix and while he's obviously new at the whole directing thing, the video does suit the song pretty well. Check it out.

[WMV]: People In Planes :: If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)
[MP3]: People In Planes :: If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)

Chris at GvB has a new feature where he rounds up his favorite songs of the month for quick and easy consumption. Genious!

P.S. Anyone out there heard "Waves of Grain" from the new Two Gallants album? Is it not the greatest song to be realeased so far this year or what? I cant get enough of their new album.

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The Hyper Modernity Club & Crix Crax Crux

I got an email from Frigital Records with a couple tracks from a couple of their forthcoming releases. The first song, "Our Friend in Baghdad" comes from a band called The Hypermodernity Club and it's my favorite out of the two tracks. It's got a hazy dreamy feel to it, like a kind of acoustic shoegaze. It's also very relaxing, probably perfect for a morning walk. The second track, "Radio On" comes from North Carolina indie rockers Crix Crax Crux. This is a solid song, but I just feel like there's something missing, I'm not really even sure what. They sound to me like a much more lo-fi version of Spoon, while mostly acoustic, the guitarwork and vocals are quite similar.

From Praxis Vs. Poiesis
[MP3]: The Hypermodernity Club :: Our Friend in Baghdad

From Mountainears
[MP3]: Crix Crax Crux :: Radio On

The Hypermodernity Club on Myspace.
Crix Crax Crux on Myspace.

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New Xiu Xiu Split Tracks

Lately it seems like everytime I turn around Xiu Xiu is releasing another 7". Some of the more recent ones include a split with Devandra Banhart released on 5RC, one with The Dead Science on Death Bomb Arc, and one very new split with Kill Me Tomorrow which is to be released with the GSL 12th anniversary 7" box set. Keep in mind that the tracks I've posted are vinyl rips, so that's why the quality isn't all too great.

[MP3]: Xiu Xiu :: Juarez
This track appears on the split with The Dead Science and features vocals by Eugene Robinson from OXBOW. This song is incredibley creepy and Eugene's "I'm dying while I'm singing" voice just makes it all the more creepy. I also have a feeling this song may be referencing the Juarez, Mexico murders/rapings just as At The Drive-In's "Invalid Litter Dept" did a few years ago.

[MP3]: Xiu Xiu :: Red Croissant
This track comes from the GSL split with Kill Me Tomorrow and is full band Xiu Xiu, with Jamie on vocals. This definitely isn't one Xiu Xiu's best moments, but all the typical buzzes, beeps and moans are all in place and it's still a pretty good song.

Buy all the splits from Midheaven Mailorder.

Chris at GvB has got a track from the new Love is All album. I am absolutely in love with this band, I'll have a track from their new album Nine Times That Same Song up in a couple days, too.

Aquarium Drunkard's got a whole mess of Slint tracks spanning their entire amazing (yet short lived) career. If you've never listened to them, I highly recommend you do.

STG made a whopper of a post early this morning with a new track from The Knife and it seems he is also one of the countless bearers of a Cat Power Digipak Contest, except, in true STG style, his contest is actually quite interesting. Rhyming couplets anyone?

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New Neko Case Track - "Star Witness"

The New Pornographers' leading lady Neko Case is set to release her fourth solo album in March on Anti Records and it's being speculated to be on of this year's best releases. Collaborating with the likes of The Band’s Garth Hudson, Calexico’s Joey Burns and John Covertino, and Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb, she displays a newfound love of studio artistry. Anti has just posted a track called "Star Witness" from the album new album which is titled Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. While this song isn't typically my type of thing, I'm finding it growing on me, I just can't deny that voice.

[MP3]: Neko Case :: Star Witness

Sorry about the late update guys, I was superbly busy today.

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Todosantos

I never heard much if anything about the Venezuelan music scene before and to be honest I never really thought i would, until today. The electro-glitch-indie rock band Todosantos has made me interested in Venezuela in a way Mr. Wiggins just never could back in 7th grade. A warning though, if you picked up any new releases yesterday and plan on getting into them today, don't listen to this yet, because it will be all you want to listen to.

The tracks the band has available on their website run the gammut of glitch pop, electronica, indie rock and post-punk. I can't really pin down their sound as it seems to jump around from song to song, much like that of the Canadian powerhouse that I need not mention. They've got an album out now called Aeropuerto which should prove to be amazing and hopefully it will see a U.S. release this year.

[MP3]: A Veces
"A Veces" is a humming buzzing hypnotic trip through glitch pop heaven. The vocals are foreign and beautiful and make you feel like you're stuck in a dream sequence. I also can't help but feel like I'm listening to Xiu Xiu when that guitar comes around during the fantastic bridge. This is something special.

[MP3]: Ian Curtis
Not only do they sound more than a bit like New Order, but it seems they've also got a love for their earlier musical workings and the amazing man that led them. "Ian Curtis" shows off the bands ability to jump from genre to genre while still holding onto their unique sound. Even with the post-punk bassline and raspy vocals, it still sounds like the same band that you just heard play "A Veces" only moments ago.

I don't even know where you could possibly get this album, but if you can find it, GET IT!

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B.C. Camplight

So my friend Alex is at a show tonight(of which the headliners will remain nameless for her own protection) and I get a text from her saying, "RIGHT NOW! Go do a blog post on B.C. Camplight." How could I not be curious after a message like that?



So to google I went, and boy am I glad I did. B.C. Camplight is the perfect pop artist. With influences like George Gershwin, Burt Bacharach and Todd Rundgren how could you go wrong? B.C. is essentially the solo pop project of 25 year old Brian Christinzio, a very gifted songwriter with an obvious knack for meshing both the "frighteningly beautiful and humorously twisted" into something very listenable.

On his debut album Hide, Run Away Brian played piano as well as almost every other instrument, except drums, but he joked that he would've played those too, if he knew how. It's that humor and honesty that makes him so enjoyable. Song's like "Couldn't You Tell" and "Blood and Peanut Butter" really show off his influences and his desire to make no-nonsense catchy pop music. "Couldn't You Tell" relies on a swirl of piano and electronic keyboards layered over each other while "Blood and Peanut Butter" comes right at you with pulsing sythns and acosutic guitar with some female guest vocals in the chorus.

[MP3]: From Hide, Run Away
Couldn't You Tell
Blood and Peanut Butter
Hide, Run Away

Buy Hide, Run Away from Amazon and be Brian's friend.

P.S. To all you kids from the UK, B.C. Camplight will be touring with The Boy Least Likely To in February:

Thu 16 - Brighton, Hanbury Ballroom
Fri 17 - Bristol, Louisiana
Sat 18 - Southampton, Joiners
Sun 19 - Oxford, Zodiac
Mon 20 - Birmingham, Bar Academy
Wed 22 - Sheffield, Leadmill
Thu 23 - Manchester, Night & Day
Fri 24 - Glasgow, King Tuts
Sat 25 - York, Fibbers
Sun 26 - Nottingham, Social
Tue 28 - London, Bush Hall

P.P.S. I'm having a little struggle writing today, don't know why, but anyway sorry for the not-so-great write up.

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Stereolab Is Hitting The Road

What with a new a new album coming out in March and the fact that everyone still loves them, Stereolab have decided to head out on an (almost) country spanning tour starting March 1st.

Mar 1 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
Mar 2 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Mar 3 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Mar 5 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
Mar 6 - Seattle, WA - Showbox
Mar 7 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
Mar 9 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
Mar 10 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Mar 11 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
Mar 12 – Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
Mar 14 - Toronto, ONT - Phoenix Concert Theatre
Mar 15 - Montreal, QBC - La Tulipe
Mar 16 - Northampton, MA - Pearl Street
Mar 17 – New York, NY – Town hall
Mar 18 – New York, NY - Townhall
Mar 20 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
Mar 21 - Washington, DC - 9.30 Club
Mar 22 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
Mar 24 - Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
Mar 25 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater on Grand Prairie
Mar 28 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
Mar 29 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues

Sorry for the lame update, something better tonight I promise.

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The Lovely Sparrows

So Twin Cinema wasn't nearly as good as Mass Romantic, no one with ears will argue that. It sort of got lost in that stagnet mid-tempo range where you always thought something good was around the corner and then it wasn't. Well The Lovely Sparrows are here to rescue you from your impending mid-tempo doom.

I recieved their Take Your Hats Off You Godless Bastards 7" in the mail today and I was really excited and then the excitement faded as I realized I couldn't listen to it due to my lack of a turntable(I really need to go get one). But I wasn't about to give up on them just yet, they looked too good. I went to their website where I found a link to a myspace with both tracks from the 7" available for download! So download I did, and man if this isn't they most infectious stuff I've heard this year.

The 7" features two tracks, "Glad Rangers" and "I Have A Need You See." Both tracks are meticulously crafted pop gems that could've been pulled right from your favorite Destroyer or New Pornographers album. Super tight melodies, clever lyrics, and superb guitarwork all topped off with some beautiful boy/girl harmonizing. Watch out for their "an-as-yet-to-be-determined-but-surely great" release due out on Abandoned Love Records this spring.

[MP3]: Glad Rangers
"Glad Rangers" rushes at you right from the start with quick lo-fi keyboard led melody that eventually falls out to reappear later on. Frontman Shawn Jones has one of those "made for pop music" voices that just meshes with Meagen Perry's jangly guitars like it's just another one of the instruments. The guitar riff in the bridge is soooo Mass Romantic and it'll definitely be stuck in your head.

[MP3]: I Have A Need You See
One thing that this band does very well, as far as these two songs go, is utilizing inticate guitar melodies but hiding them within sunny pop songs. Plus, this song is just pure fun, with Shawn singing "I have this need you see / to make you throw your hands up!" as Meagen "oohs" and "ahhs" overtop a flawless pop melody.

Be their friend duh.

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Need Something To Do Tuesday Night?

If you dont have any plans for tommorow(Tuesday) evening, I would highly suggest getting off the couch, computer, tramopline, etc, and go see this. It's going to be eventually released on DVD as well, but this might be the only time you'll ever get to see Radiohead or say, The Arcade Fire on the big screen!

Coming to Select Theatres for One Night OnlyTM on Tuesday, January 24th at 7:30 pm - The World Premiere of Coachella - Experience this amazing documentary about the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. This two-hour event will highlight the last six years of the Coachella festival including some electrifying performances from bands such as Morrissey, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The White Stripes, Oasis and the Pixies. Some language may not be suitable for younger audiences.

Click here for a list of theatre locations.

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New Placebo Album Due Out in March

According to their official website, Placebo's fifth studio album is due for release March 13. It's called MEDS and I don't like the cover art. In fact, it freaks me out a little bit so I'm not posting a picture of it, but here's a link. There's a link for a press release on their website, but of course it's not working. So all you're getting is a tracklist. (Oh, and two new tracks because I love you.)

Tracklist:
1. Meds
2. Infra-red
3. Drag
4. Space Monkey
5. Follow The Cops Back Home
6. Post Blue
7. Because I Want You
8. Blind
9. Pierrot The Clown
10. Broken Promise
11. One Of A Kind
12. In The Cold Light Of Morning
13. Song To Say Goodbye

[MP3]: Because I Want You
This is apparently going to be the first U.S. single off of MEDS which is kind of disheartening because I think it's one of the weaker songs on the album. It's got a decently catchy hook and picks up pretty well around 3:20, but compared to other tracks, such as the "Meds," it's just not that exciting.

[MP3]: Meds
The lead off song of the album is always very important because if it doesnt grab you somehow, their might not be as much reason to continue. "Meds" starts off with a sole acoustic riff that reminds me a bit of "Every You Every Me." After the vocals come in for a few measures, the rest of the bands comes in, along with VV from The Kills(the girl) who just makes the song that more eerie and awesome.

Matt's got a couple new Two Gallants tracks. (I'm definitely getting that album now)

Looks like Michael over Dreams of Horses waited about as long as I did to listen to the new Broadcast album. If you haven't heard it yet, go listen to the track he posted.

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A 21st Century Pop Song

This song is about 3 years old but I just now stumbled upon it(as well as the amazing album that it comes from) and I'm really digging it. Check it out.

"The pair merge slick hip-hop production tricks with indie guitar riffing to overlapping vocals that tackle ideological cynicism, the futility of mundane existence, and atomic bomb survival tactics. Lines like, "You put your life in the hands of the highway designers/ Your stride and unforeseen side effect/ Of the urban planner's realized blueprint dream," express feelings of marginalization and impotence. The song's melodic chorus ("It's root root root for the home team") ties the awkward verses together and shows a strong pop sensibility that continually rears its head over the course of the record." - PitchforkMedia.com

[MP3]: Hymie's Basement :: 21st Century Pop Song

Buy it at Amazon.

GvB's got a track from Sparrow House(Voxtrot's Jared Van Fleet) and it's amaaaaazing.

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New Built To Spill Track

We all wish that Built to Spill would sound like they did on on Perfect From Now On again, don't we? Well after the dissappointment that was their last record, it's looking like their new one, You In Reverse, is heading back towards the epic sound that we all know and love, even Pitchfork thinks so.

[MP3]: Built to Spill :: Going Against Your Mind

P.S. In the interest of not getting yelled at by Warner, I'm not keeping this up very long. So hurry up and get it.

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Constellation Records' First 2006 Release!

This is easily the highlight of my entire week! I love Constellation Records more than any label out there, and they never seem to dissappoint. Also, if you ever held one of their releases in your hands, its like holding a work of art. Okay, so on to the good stuff!


Glissandro 70 is the result of two years of intermittent collaboration between Toronto's Sandro Perri (Polmo Polpo, Continuous Dick) and Craig Dunsmuir (Guitarkestra). Paying homage to clumsy but driven 80s dance music like the Talking Heads, Afro beat and trance inducing psychedelia, Glissandro 70 deliver 5 ferally charged tracks that will surely excite fans of Animal Collective, Ariel Pink and Gang Gang Dance. Once again, a beautifully packaged Constellation release.

[MP3]: Glissandro 70 :: Bolan Muppets
Stylistically, this song is all over the place. The guitar intro sounds almost exactly like the beggining of some old U2 song(that i can't for the life of me seem to remember the name of) and then a second guitar comes in with one of the most refreshing picked guitar lines I've heard in recent memory. They let that ride for a bit until some double tracked singing(read: chanting) is thrown into the mix making this something any animal collective fan would love. Then it changes on us again, finding a new guitar melody and actual singing and some steady snare.

All i can say is that i love everything about this song. Yesterterday I would have said Midlake's new song was my favorite of '06 so far. Not anymore, this song is by far the best I've heardall year so far(and even the end of '05). Constellation really does never dissappoint, I'm so excited to have a new album to look forward to! It should be out sometime in March.

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They Shoot Videos Don't They?

These Canadian horn freaks have finally got around to making a video for one of my favorite songs off of the new album, "Sunlight." If you heard They Shoot Horses Don't They? and you wondered what a music video would look like if they made it, this is pretty much everything you probably pictured in your head. Bright colors, rainbows, silhouettes of old men that trun into ten silhouettes of old men who then start spinning, oh, it's wild(and kinda hurts the eyes).

[MPEG]: They Shoot Horses Don't They? :: Sunlight

www.theyshoothorses.org
p.s. The above image is a screen shot.

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Liz Durrett

Before 2005 it had been over a decade since Liz Durrett had done anything even remotely music related. Call it music exile, but after completing a whole full length album, Liz decided to shelve it and forget about music for a long while. That is, until 2005, when it was released on Athens, GA Warm Electronic Recordings. So what's she been doing all this time?

On January 24, Liz Durrett’s second album, The Mezzanine will be released by Warm Electronic Recordings. In contrast to her previous work, The Mezzanine is a surprisingly hi-fi affair. Gone are the hissing ghosts and unsure echoes that once haunted and obscured her recordings. One listen and you'll have a pretty solid comparison to turn to. Yes, we all know she sounds dangerously similar to a certain Chan Marshall, but is that such a bad thing? Liz makes sparse acoustic songs, but, like Ms. Marshall, she manages to cram in tons of emotion and atmosphere into each haunting track of The Mezzanine.

[MP3]: Liz Durrett :: The Mezzanine (Very Tasty)

www.lizdurrett.com

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Let There Be Ads

As you can see to the right, I am now accepting ads on this here blog. If you would like to, y'know, advertise on here, then just click on that "Advertise Here" link at the bottom of the ads box. It's simple and easy and it gives me money to pay for warm meals and a box to sleep in at night.

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New Xiu Xiu Song - "Boy Soprano"

In a recent interview Jamie spoke of the new track saying, "there’s a song for the new record called 'Boy Soprano' that's one of my favorites also." This is an mp3 rip of a video recording of 'Boy Soprano' live.

[MP3]: Xiu Xiu :: Boy Soprano
This new song features Caralee singing lead vocals for the entire song. However, it's kind of tough to hear the vocals though as they are somewhat drowned out, but considering this was apparently recorded using a digital camera, the quality is pretty good. Hopefully this is a sign of more Caralee singing on the new album.

Other Tid-Bits: Jamie also said that he would really like to work with Michael Gira, Broadcast, and Deerhoof. Deerhoof's drummer, Greg Saunier, will also be producing Xiu Xiu's new album, which is very exciting, I'm really looking forward to what he'll be able to do with their sound. And finally, Jamie noted that he's really interested in collaborating with "like a caveman or something, like a sperm whale, that would be really crazy."

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New Midlake Track

This track appears on the new 2006 Bella Union sampler Beneath the Surface: Volume 2. You can this sampler for free when you purchase £8.99 or more from the Bella Union online store, and trust me, it's very easy to spend more than £8.99 in there.

[MP3]: Midlake :: Roscoe (Highly Rec'd)
I've been pretty much in love with this song since I first heard it yesterday and I think you guys will love it too. I still cant decide what it is that makes me love this song so much, though. Is it frontman Tim Smith's rustic vocals and lyrics, or could it be the keys or the fuzzy guitars? Either way, it demands repeated listens. Let me know what you guys think of it.

Elsewhere:

Head over Indie Interviews and check out the new podcast (Episode 27) where Garrison sits down with Chris Hrasky of Explosions in the Sky to talk about stuff.

Colin Meloy is playing a live solo set on KEXP today! But don't worry about a thing because Matt's got the logistics all worked out for you.

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The Young Republic

You know the saying "less is more"? Well, it doesn't always apply. For example, cookies; who would really want just one cookie if they could have like nine AND a glass of milk. It also doesn't apply to bands (see: Broken Social Scene, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Belle and Sebastian, Architecture In Helsinki... the list goes on). Well here's another band to add to that list.

The Young Republic was started in 2004 by eleven ambitious men and women. Unfortunately, two of them eventually became a little less ambitious and left, but when you've got eleven bands members, I suppose you can spare a few. Now, about the music: they make lush orchestral folk pop, that's the best way to describe it. Sounding a good deal like a folkier Belle and Sebastian and also sounding pretty Arcade Fiery at times, this is band anyone can get into. Songwriter, Julian Saporiti, writes simple songs about love and lets his band turn them into something grand and beautiful. The Young Republic hope to have their new album Modern Plays out by mid-January, which--as all you calendar watchers know--is pretty soon. So if you like what you hear, hear over to their website and find out how to get it!

[MP3]:
The Painter (Rec'd)
Modern Plays
Girl From the Northern States

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Weekend Playlist

These songs will be by my side all weekend, I suggest you grab 'em up and do the same! Add these to the rest of the Tales of Jenny songs and you've got a complete weekend playlist.

[MP3]: Montt Mardie :: Huckleberry Friend
[MP3]: Montt Mardie :: Modesty Blaise
[MP3]: The Young Untold :: Sisters
[MP3]: Love Dance :: You Should Know Where I'm Standing
[MP3]: I Am Bones :: Talk to the Hand

All songs highly recommended!

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New Pretty Girls Make Graves Track

Matador has posted up a new track from the upcoming Pretty Girls Make Graves album Élan Vital, due out April 11th. The new track is called "The Nocturnal House" and I am really, really in love with it. It's dark, ambient, and I love Andrea's voice in this song. This album is going to be a big favorite of mine this year, I can tell already. Plus, I really like the cover art.


[MP3]: Pretty Girls Make Graves :: The Nocturnal House

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This Definitely Deserves It's Own Post

Oh man, look how pretty!

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Mash-up Wednesday!

I'm going to try to make this an every Wednesday thing, but we'll see. Anyway, I've got some fairly enjoyable one's today, although, isn't any mash-up fun to listen to? Yes.

1.) Bloc Party Vs. The Pussycat Dolls
This mash-up is a pairing of Bloc Party's "Banquet (Phones Disco Edit)" from their Silent Alarm: Remixed album with The Pussycat Dolls' "Don't Cha" from their PCD album. Made by Aggro1.

[MP3]: Bloc Party Vs. The Pussycat Dolls

2.) Radiohead Vs. The Beach Boys
This mash-up is pairing of Radiohead's "I Might Be Wrong" from their Amnesiac album with The Beach Boys' "You Still Believe In Me" from their Pet Sounds album. Made by TOTOM.

[MP3]: Radiohead Vs. The Beach Boys

3.) The Beatles Vs. The Cure Vs. Some beats and stuff
This mash-up is a paring of The Beatles' "Taxman" from their Revolver album with The Cure's "Lovesong" from their Disintegration album with other beats thrown in and some vocoder action. Made by Team 9.

[MP3]: The Beatles Vs. The Cure Vs. Some beats and stuff

More next Wednesday? Maybe.

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Phantom Buffalo

Phantom Buffalo (formerly The Ponys) is a lo-fi indie rock band from Maine. I recently fell in love with their album Shishimumu which was actually released several years ago here in the States. I don't know why it took me this long to find out about these guys. Phantom Buffalo make lush lo-fi rock with quite the eye for perfect production. Shishimumu, as well as their recently released KIlling's Not O.K. EP, are reminiscent of The Shins and The Byrds, with most songs having that jangly guitar feel to them and soothing vocal harmonies that leave you drifting off to another place. The melodies are also spot-on and and lyrically, the songs are quite impressive with lines like, "Even in our minimized world / we can survive, girl." That one line by-the-way, from "Be the Boss," will be stuck in your head for days after you listen to the song a few times.

[MP3]: From the Killing's Not O.K. EP
Be the Boss
Killing's Not O.K.

BUY Shishimumu from Amazon.

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Cheyenne

Cheyenne started out as the musical project of one Beau Jennings, along with a large cast of revolving door musicians icluding members of Ester Drang, Fruit Bats, Starlight Mints, and Sufjan Steven’s Illinoisemakers. Since the release of Cheyenne's first full length I Am Haunted, I Am Alive last year, the band's line-up has become more permanent and now includes Beau Jennings (guitar, vocals) Heath Fisher (drums, vocals), Rob Stephenson (banjo, pedal steel), and Ben Shelton (piano, vocals). On the album, guitars, pianos, synthesizers, lap steel and drums accompany haunting murder ballads and heartbreaking stories of both love and war. Beau's songwriting is somewhere along the lines Sufjan Stevens of Jeff Tweedy, while his vocals lie more in David Bazan territory, which is, by no means, a bad territory to be. Oddly enough, co-producer for I Am Haunted, I Am Alive has worked with both Pedro the Lion and Sufjan Stevens.

"Once this album starts working its charms - and it’s really only a matter of seconds before that happens - it’s harder than hell to get it out of your CD player." - Copperpress.com

[MP3]: From I Am Haunted, I Am Alive
You Were The Sound (Highly Rec'd)
Houses (Highly Rec'd)

BUY I Am Haunted, I Am Alive from The Record Machine for $10.

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Skatterbrain Gets Animated!

Check out this super-sweet SKATTERBRAIN animation made by one of my awesome readers known solely as Penguin. That website looks really cool too, I might mess around with it later.

See you tommorow.

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Belle and Sebastian News

The new Belle and Sebastian single "Funny Little Frog" will be available on iTunes starting tommorow, January 10th. Here's the catch, it's only going to be available in the UK iTunes store and most likely Europe, too. Sorry Americans, you're just going to have to wait until, the hard copies are released on January 16th, in a smattering of formats.

But the band's got a special treat for you! To coincide with the release of the "Funny Little Frog" single on the 16th of this month, Belle and Sebastian will have a live version of "Funny Little Frog" available to download from their website for free! It will either be up on the 16th or the 17th. How exciting?

Also, contrary to popular belief, The New Pornographers WILL be playing with Belle and Sebastian in Austin, TX. (Not Pretty Girls Make Graves)

Lost on Purpose



"Breezy choruses, languorous melancholy and touching melodies are prominent in Hollond's vocal delivery; his unassuming approach results in ultra-sensitive little indie ballads of vaguely Nick Drake-ian affiliation." - Splendid Magazine

Lost on Purpose is esentially a one-man acoustic outfit, save for a some strings and chimes every now and then. The songs are quickly catchy and the melodies woven around the breathy vocals are near perfect. I consulted Leza the Music Describer and she had this to say, "[It] sounds kind of like chasing a sunrise on an empty road and the crescendo is where the sky is vivid colors and lit up and it's the only thing in your world for a minute. The end is where the sun is up and other cars are on the road and your chase is basically over." The only slight downfall is that this could seemingly be all over MTV teen dramas with the right exposure. I guess it comes down to whether you think that's a good or bad thing.

[MP3]:
Right On (Highly Rec'd!)
London
Lonely Road

Also, here's a pretty interesting song by the Welsh band People in Planes. The band recently worked on a video for this song directed by actor(and apparently now director) Joaquin Pheonix. The pictures from the shoot look pretty neat, keep your eyes peeled for the video soon.

[MP3]: People in Planes :: If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)

Head over to YANP immediately as Matt has posted yet another awesome new Man Man track and a few Stellastarr* videos from the Bowery Ballroom.

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The Glass Family Are So Hot Right Now

It seems like every great band I've been hearing about lately is either coming out of Texas or Canada. Austin, Tx's The Glass Family keep the streak going with their infectious piano-laden rock. The Glass Family come from the same vein as other recent successful acts like SOUNDteam, Voxtrot, Zykos, etc. The Glass Family's debut LP Sleep Inside This Wheel was recently released on I Eat Records and is getting lots of play on college radio across the U.S. I haven't been able to stop listening to this song since the first playthrough, everything is just perfect, especially those back and forth vocals in the chorus, those really grabbed me.

[MP3]: The Glass Family :: This Is Impossible

Buy Sleep Inside This Wheel directly from I Eat Records.

In early April they will embark on their first semi-national tour, starting in Houston then traveling to and up the east coast, over through the midwest, and back southward. They're even coming to Maryland! Except... I'm not 21. Well, hopefully everyone else will enjoy them without me.

Them there dates:

Mar 31 2006
The Parish Austin, TX
Apr 3 2006
Rudyard's Houston, TX
Apr 4 2006
Red Star Bar Baton Rouge, LA
Apr 5 2006
The Earl Atlanta, GA
Apr 6 2006
House Party!! Athens, GA
Apr 7 2006
The Cave Chapel Hill, NC
Apr 8 2006
Talking Head Baltimore, MD
Apr 9 2006
Mercury Lounge New York, NY
Apr 10 2006
Pianos New York, NY
Apr 11 2006
TT the Bear's Boston, MA
Apr 12 2006
Manhattan Room Philadelphia, PA
Apr 13 2006
Inside Out Gallery Cleveland, OH
Apr 14 2006
Lager House Detroit, MN
Apr 15 2006
Empty Bottle Chicago, IL
Apr 16 2006
Verde Iowa City, IA
Apr 17 2006
Replay Lounge Lawrence, KS
Apr 18 2006
Hi Lo Oklahoma City, OK
Apr 19 2006
The Cavern Dallas, TX

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The Glass Family - "This Is Impossible"

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It seems like every great band I've been hearing about lately is either coming out of Texas or Canada. Austin, Tx's The Glass Family keep the streak going with their infectious piano-laden rock. The Glass Family come from the same vein as other recent successful acts like SOUNDteam, Voxtrot, Zykos, etc. The Glass Family's debut LP Sleep Inside This Wheel was recently released on I Eat Records and is getting lots of play on college radio across the U.S. I haven't been able to stop listening to this song since the first playthrough, everything is just perfect, especially those back and forth vocals in the chorus, those really grabbed me.

[MP3]: The Glass Family :: This Is Impossible

Buy Sleep Inside This Wheel directly from I Eat Records.

In early April they will embark on their first semi-national tour, starting in Houston then traveling to and up the east coast, over through the midwest, and back southward. They're even coming to Maryland! Except... I'm not 21. Well, hopefully everyone else will enjoy them without me.

Them there dates:

Mar 31 2006
The Parish Austin, TX
Apr 3 2006
Rudyard's Houston, TX
Apr 4 2006
Red Star Bar Baton Rouge, LA
Apr 5 2006
The Earl Atlanta, GA
Apr 6 2006
House Party!! Athens, GA
Apr 7 2006
The Cave Chapel Hill, NC
Apr 8 2006
Talking Head Baltimore, MD
Apr 9 2006
Mercury Lounge New York, NY
Apr 10 2006
Pianos New York, NY
Apr 11 2006
TT the Bear's Boston, MA
Apr 12 2006
Manhattan Room Philadelphia, PA
Apr 13 2006
Inside Out Gallery Cleveland, OH
Apr 14 2006
Lager House Detroit, MN
Apr 15 2006
Empty Bottle Chicago, IL
Apr 16 2006
Verde Iowa City, IA
Apr 17 2006
Replay Lounge Lawrence, KS
Apr 18 2006
Hi Lo Oklahoma City, OK
Apr 19 2006
The Cavern Dallas, TX

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First Ever Recorded Sigur Ros Track

This track appears on the 1994 Smekkleysa compilation Smekkleysa í hálfa öld and is the first song Sigur Ros ever recorded.

[MP3]: Sigur Ros :: Fljúgðu
Upon hearing this song, you realize more than ever, that My Bloody Valentine's Loveless was quite a favorite of Sigur Ros in their early years. Also, am I hearing things or is that actually some flanger effect on the drums? I think it is. I love this song though, it's very mesmerizing.

Matt had his Elizabethtown gloating moment, well now it's my fifteen minutes of fame. ANNAPOLIS! Woo Hoo! Okay, I'm done.

GvB has got a track from one of my most anticipated collaborations of the year. After hearing this song I'm even more excited.

Head over to Can You See The Sunset From The Southside for a couple great tracks from the Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins album. I still maintain that Jenny Lewis is cutest thing in the world.

Finally, be sure to stop by MarathonPacks and check the second installment of his Covers Mix Contest. Here's the quick run-down: He made a mix of covers. Download it. Listen Carefully, do some research. Email him with the song title, and the name of the original artist and the covering artist for each song. Maybe you'll win? Not if you dont enter!

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Bound Stems @ The Velvet Lounge

I tend to pimp out Bound Stems around here quite a bit and it was due time I finally saw them live. If you've heard any of their music, you know they use a lot of loops and samples that are very important to all of their songs. Well there are a lot of bands out there that sound like this on tape, but have a difficult time transfering that sound to their live show. Bound Stems are a beautiful exception. The ivy was pretty sweet.

Click pictures for larger versions.
All photos by Alex Baca.

Fun fact some of you may not know. Bound Stems have really cool jobs, well, aside from being in an awesome band. Two of them are teachers at the local high school. One of them is a lab scientist and another draws comic books. Pretty cool, huh?

www.boundstems.com

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La-La La La La, My Ears Are Bleeding...

I'm not really sure how to introduce this, so I won't say anything more than this is a delightfully painful mash-up of The Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" and Kelis' "Milkshake." God help us.

[MP3]: The Arcade Fire and Kelis :: Neighborhood #5

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Early We Are Scientists MP3s!

Okay. It's possible that this may not be as amazing a find as I think it is, but I for one had no idea these were even in existance and I consider myself quite a fan of We Are Scientists. Regardless, I'm sure there are many of you out there that haven't heard any of these either, so for and for you, have a wonderful day and enjoy these!

Inaction (Released: October 2003)
DOWNLOAD MP3s


Bitchin' (Released: October 2002)
DOWNLOAD MP3s


Safety Fun and Learning (In That Order) (Released: April 2002)
DOWNLOAD MP3s

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Explosions in the Sky KVRX Performance Now Available!

Explosions in the Sky's second performance on KVRX from October 24, 2000 has been re-mastered by the wonderful people at KVRX and the entire setlist is now available for MP3 download.

Explosions in the Sky @ KVRX (October 24, 2000):
1. The Moon is Down
2. Yasmin the Light
3. Once More to the Afterlife
4. With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls We Slept

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Animal Collective Rarities

BBC Session :: November 1, 2005: (New Songs)
1. Bonfire
2. Sea Lion
3. What I Do

Various Compilations:
1. Forest Children Risen (U.S. Pop Life Vol. 13)
2. In the City That Reads (Invoke)
3. Judy Biworker (Comes With A Smile Vol. 14)
4. The Kite (They Keep Me Smiling LP)

Live Released Tracks:
1. Leaf House (Bowery Ballroom, NY :: 8/15/04)
2. Softest Voice (You'll Be Alright) (Live @ KVRX)
3. College (Live @ KVRX)

For a bunch more live unreleased MP3s, click here. Animal Collective will also be on tour through the U.S. in February and March with new Paw Tracks signees, First Nation. Check out the dates HERE.

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New Final Fantasy 7" Out; Live MP3

Final Fantasy will finally be releasing the much speculated Young Canadian Mothers 7" on Escape Goat Records later this month. The 7" has four tracks, two of which are new and two of which are new versions of song from last year's wonderful Has a Good Home.

Tracklist:
1. This Is The Dream Of Emma & Cam
2. The Sea
3. Spell For A Weak Heart
4. Peach, Plum, Pear

This release is limited to only 500 copies so act fast!
PRE-ORDER IT from The Blue House for $7.00.

Also, for some very unofficial Final Fantasy European tour dates, head this way. For those of you unfamiliar with Final Fantasy, it is the solo project of Owen Pallet of The Arcade Fire. Owen is an amazing violinist and is esentially a one man string section. He sounds like this.

[MP3]: Final Fantasy :: Illusion Song (live from the Music Gallery)

Also, speaking of music you can buy, that there aren't many copies of, hurry over to Cat Bird Records (the blog/tiny record label) and get yourself a copy of the super-limited (only 200 copies!) edition Get Him Eat Him ep, Do As I Tell You, before they're all gone.

[MP3]: Get Him Eat Him :: Exposure

Also, even though I got an email ahead of time alerting me of this, Matt still managed to beat me to the four new unreleased Page France songs! Oh well, I'll settle for living 30 minutes from them. Hehe. Download the tracks HERE.

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EastCoastPost #2: Kenny Tompkins

Okay, I didn't really introduce the whole EastCoastPost thing too well in the first post so I'll do it now. I was thinking about it the other day, and I realized I have barely (if even at all) touched on anything from the Maryland(or Virginia, or Delaware). Granted, there isnt much of a Maryland music scene(excluding D.C.), but we do have out fair share of noteworthy musicians. That is the essential purpose of this series of posts. We're more than crabs, people.


Kenny Tompkins is amazingly talented 23 year old singer/songwrited from Frostberg, Maryland. Kenny started making music around ten years ago and hasnt stopped since, it's that kind of drive that makes a damn good musician. He released his debut Songs for July back in July(oddly enough) of 2002 and eventually signed to the D.C. label Pro-Gravity Records in 2004 and soon after, released his second album The Beautiful Death of Everything to a great deal of local and national acclaim. Kenny doesnt rest however, and he was soon recording again, this time for a split with Doll Tearsheet titled Apples & Eggs. He then went on tour in spring/summer '05 in support of Apples & Eggs with members of Page France in tow (they just seem to be involved in some way with everything that is good in Maryland).

Kenny 's songs are carefully crafted short stories woven around beautifully catchy acoustic melodies with a voice and delivery that really has a way of making you feel what he's saying. "Right against your breath I linger / hoping to breath in these things but / all I've tried to find is lost / and all I've tried to lose has found me" sings Kenny on "Untie Yourself From Me." Shortly following that line comes some of the catchiest oh oh oh's you've heard in a long while. Smother Magazine says, "the type of ingenuity not often found in college rock... his tunes could easily fit between Lennon and Harrison."

[MP3]: From The Beautiful Death of Everything
Untie Yourself From Me
Avery
Bodies Feed the Worms That Feed the Birds

[MP3]: From Apples & Eggs
Another Holiday
Who's Gonna Love You Now?

You can listen to a few more mp3s here.

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I wish I had the guts to say hello

I just stumbled upon this gem of a song by a band called Heart Short Hope. Unfortunately all i can tell you about them is that theyre a two piece from Colorado and according to their label, "they'll blow yer socks off!" Honestly, my socks went nowhere, but I do love this song.

[MP3]: Heart Short Hope :: Hello Hello

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EastCoastPost #1: The Broadway Hush

I love Page France, that's no secret. Other Matt really loves Page France, you love Page France, heck, everyone does! Well, assuming that common interest, say hello to your new favorite music.

The Broadway Hush are Whitney McGraw and Michael Nau. If those names sound familiar, it's because they are. Whitney and Michael are both in Page France, as well. Except While Michael sings for Page France, Whitney takes the spotlight here. First of all, She has a beautiful voice, that's the first thing I said to myself when i heard "Jetplanes In Chicago." The songs are very serene and acoustic based with a chimes and horns and clever drumming thrown in, in the most perfect of places. The greatest part about The Broadway Hush, however, is the male/female harmonies, most particularly on "White Courtesy Box," which also happens to be the best song ive heard in a quite a while. A wise music-describer by the name of Leza says, "It's so...white cotton sheets and finding a comfortable position and then your three year old creeps into the room and gets into bed with you because it's raining and they're scared." I'd say that's pretty dead on. Now, not to take away from the fact they are a completely seperate band, but The Broadway Hush are essentially a female-fronted Page France. However, that is in no way a bad thing. The world needs more music like Page France and the world needs to hear Whitney McGraw.

"Much like a scene from a dated musical in circa sunshine, the Broadway Hush comes down the street pedaling banana seat bicycles, whistling some sticky tune that will remain in your head for weeks to come." - From Myspace.

They recently released a limited edition 7" titled By Ship or By Shoe. The release is limited to 300 copies and each one is hand numbered. Get it now at ClerestoryAV. Highly recommended for fans of Rilo Kiley, The Rosebuds and of course, Page France.

[MP3]: (All very highly rec'd!)
White Courtesy Box
Jetplanes In Chicago
Rooster
Famous [Skatterbrain Exclusive!]

Be their friend, too.

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