Yet Another Terrible Album Review: Sickle Sell Saturday Night by The Black Knights

Ever wonder would happen if the Black Keys jumped in a time machine, starting hanging out with a young Ozzy Osbourne, started having weird, occult-y sex that resulted in a couple of kids that then ended up forming a band and putting out their own music? Of course not. That's just fucking weird. Now, however, you're thinking about what that band would sound like, aren't you? Well, it might well sound like The Black Knights. Hailed as a voodoo trash blues duo (perhaps my new favorite genre description), The Dark Reverend Gary L. Hope (vox/axe) and Thomas Richard Pickford III (skins/vox) combine scuzz bucket blues with a touch of 70s rock to create an audial kick to the gut on their debut, Sickle Sell Saturday Night.

And with topics ranging from vampires ("I Drove a Stake Right Through Your Heart," "Vampire Rave") to demons ("Saturday Night Succubi"), Halloween seems the most appropriate time for this bad boy to work its way into your "Now Playing" list.

Snorting things off with "L.A. Hayfever," the boys waste no time getting grimy in this paean to cocaine. The beat is driving and menacing, and doesn't really let up for the duration of things. "Saturday Night Succubi" drops the tempo, but raises the fuzz, damn near doing the same for your blood pressure as the groove locks in and gets nasty. "Cult" opens with a tirade that calls the devil a "fucking nincom-fucking-poop;" honestly, that right there should be enough to buy the album, end of story, but the barn burner that follows is downright sick. The T-Rex homage, "Mailbomb Tom" keeps things rolling right along before "I Drove A Stake Right Through Your Heart" throttles things up a notch. "Bad Blood" slows things back down, all swampy and dark. "Schiz-" then jumps back into the thick of things, with a freakish demonic voice in the background to make sure the album maintains its unsettling air. The next few tracks continuously build upon one another to create an ever looming fright night before closing with the hauntingly appropriate "Receiver."

i'm telling you, about the only thing missing here is an ode to zombies, but what can you do? Regardless of the time of year, this is witchy music, pure and simple.

mp3: Saturday Night Succubi (The Black Knights from Sickle Sell Saturday Night)

Another Terrible Album Review: Kosmos by Micah Smith and mirF

Look at that, i was able to maintain a theme two days in a row. Will wonders never cease? Am i not taking the appropriately high dosage these days? How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of Lil' Kim? How long would you need to sterilize your tongue after the fact? So many questions, so little time. What the hell was i talking about again? Oh yes, another terrible album review...

We get so many submissions at LET, i'm embarrassed to say it's almost impossible for us to listen to each and every one. That is not to say we don't give it ye olde college try, but there are only so many hours in a day. As i've opined in the past, it's often the pitch letter that separates what goes onto the iPod and what lingers in the inbox. While i obviously prefer personal notes, every now and then, an artist/PR flak/whoever puts together a compelling enough mass email that i'll bite. When the announcement for Micah Smith and mirF's Kosmos came through, claiming to combine "the musical stylings of sampled soul, jazz, and chinese hip-hop beats steeped in the words of Walt Whitman," well, i was hooked. Hells yes, i dig chinese hip-hop beats; i grew up on bad kung-fu and anime. And who doesn't like Walt Whitman? Only dumb asses, and i've got no time for their lot anyway.

When i heard the opening, sped-up strings and diva vocals on Kosmos opener "Touch," i prepared myself for the worst, though. Sure, it may be an academic argument to some, but i like my instrumental hip-hop beat heavy, not necessarily dance floor ready. i'm about the headphone nodding, which is not automatically the same thing as what gets your booty bopping, as it were. Fortunately, i was quickly rewarded for my patience, as the drums soon slowed the affair down, and the chopped vocal sample showed a whole new side to the track. "Bliss (Together)" nails the Nujabes vibe so perfectly, it damn well should be on Tribute to Jun. The closing vocal sample, a dialogue between a man and a woman, wherein the man suggests a celebration, and the woman prefers they stay home, together, and listen to records, pretty much sums up the entire vibe of the album. "Eagle Claw" ups the Asian considerably, incorporating old school chop sockey strings and woodwinds. Made me want to get my Bruce Leroy on (this one, not this one), but that might have just been me. "All Goes Onward and Outward" is a spoken word piece played over Atari beats; i'm not saying it's better to listen to stoned, but i'm not NOT saying that, either. "Rain Fall" adds a bit of bedroom vibe to the affair. (Ed. note: What is it about precipitation that automatically makes composers think about getting it on?) "Exits" is a perfect outro, which is good, because it would have been an odd name choice for any other track, don't you think?

Best of all, this one, too, is a freebie, so shake your tail feathers and pick it up yourself. Whether you need a soundtrack for to align your chi with your gravity bong or are looking to seduce that cute kunoichi that keeps throwing stars at your head during practice, this album is right for you.

mp3: Bliss (Together) (mirF from Kosmos)

mp3: Eagle Claw (Micah Smith from Kosmos)

100 Shows of 2010 - #74: Hammer No More The Fingers/Birds of Avalon @ Motorco, 10/9/10

I would hope my fellow DC kids would agree on this statement, that we’ve got a pretty daggum decent little stable of venues at which to take in some rock and some roll. On any given night of any given week, we can venture forth and see a good show at one of any number of places. And that’s a damn fine feeling. However, for those of us with the travel itch, it’s nice to hit the road every now and again and see what’s goin’ on in other parts of this fine world. Especially when a brand spanking new venue is involved. Enter Motorco: newest venue in the fabulous (and fabulously talent-rich) Research Triangle (Durham, to be precise). So new the paint had barely dried, but still a terribly good spot for a terribly good show. And wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly how it went down.

MINI RECAP: Birds of Avalon = Blazingly Amazing! Hammer No More The Fingers = Handsomely Noisy! Motorco = Motorific! Overall Score: B+++

I loved everything about Motorco immediately (well, save for the parking situation). It reminded me a whole lot of my first Richmond apartment, the loftiness of it and the exposed ductwork and the dark, friendly confines (yes, lofts can be dark and friendly. Trust.). However, my place had neither that fabulous wall of windows nor the great stage and sound. The place was packed with shiny, happy North Carolinians, reveling in this super new space, not to mention the cheap beer. But that wasn’t all, oh no. There were some pretty fine bands, too, to help ring in the official grand opening soiree for this here venue.

Birds of Avalon was the first musical treat I had the pleasure of sampling. I’d wanted to see them for a little while now, so I was way excited they were on the bill for the Motorco party. They immediately tested the sound barriers of the new club, spewing out pulsating wave of noise after pulsating wave of noise in an unflinching, unapologetic set. I’m not sure, but I might have left my body there for a little while during this set, so good was this band. The sound was a mess of things, swirls of shoegaze, the crunch of straight up bastard rock, and definitely delicious dashes of psych rock. This is a band that turns what could have been a disparate jumble of noise into a cohesive, unified wall of beauty. I could hardly believe it when they set down their instruments and left the stage. It was the biggest bummer of the night bar none.

But then, my spirits were lifted, because soon taking up where Birds of Avalon had left off were local heroes (and LET faves) Hammer No More The Fingers. Somehow this was my third Hammer show in as many cities this year. I was totally mystified by Duncan’s sartorial choice (a boiler suit), but less confounding was the band’s totally rad rock and roll. Feeding off the partisanship of the crowd, the trio (and friend on keys) stormed through a triumphant little set full of that ridiculously catchy 90s college radio rock they’re becoming known for. Between riffs there were much banter, and the tossing of many glow-in-the-dark bracelets into the happily inebriated masses. On their home turf, the band was that much louder, that much cheekier, and that much more into it. And friends, that’s a wonderful thing.

When you get right to it, my friends, I wanted to uproot Motorco and move it up north about 4 hours to this neck of the woods. Despite our venues here, I am insanely jealous about this space, and I might just have to make an effort to hit more shows down there in the near future. Especially if they keep up that whole Beatlestones dancenight thingie. Yours truly might be unable to resist that kind of tractor beam. But kudos to all involved with Motorco, and may it have many good years ahead of it.

mp3: Your Down Time Is Up (Birds of Avalon from Uncanny Valley)

mp3: Nobody Knows (Hammer No More The Fingers from Looking For Bruce)

A Terrible Week of Album Reviews: Mr. Saint Louis EP

As luck would have it, i've received and/or ferreted out a handful of full CDs worthy of review lately, so i think we may just have a Terrible Week of Album Reviews. Until i change my mind tomorrow, at least, at which point you can expect your continued coverage of largely obscure beat tunes, zombie songs and mixes about female masturbation.

i've been singing the praises of Oddisee for a minute now, and i'm guessing his latest project might just propel him a bit further into the spotlight, which clearly is a good thing. Teaming up with Olivier Daysoul (how pimp a name is that, by the by?), Oddisee set out to make a soul record and did a damn fine job doing so. The album boasts four tracks, with instrumental and acappella versions thrown in for good measure. Oh, and there's a remix featuring Von Pea. Rumors of his sweetness have yet to be confirmed as of this moment.

The record kicks off with the space groover, "In the Now." Daysoul's falsetto plays slinkily against Oddisee's funk shuffle here before the oohs and aahs jump start follow-up, "Labor." "Foolish" keeps the melody flowing, amping up the guitar and drums just enough to keep the vibe frisky without ever jerking the listener out of the established mood. "Just a Song" adds a touch more romance to the mix, playing out like a sould record should. The acappellas and instrumentals just go to show how talented each is individually, but the team-up is so nice, that probably went without saying. i also imagine it's going to make life that much easier for the inevitable slew of remixes.

i'm guessing that by the time i finish writing and posting this review it already will be far too late, but the first 1,000 downloads of the album are FREE before going to "Pay What You Want, You Cheap Motherfuckers," and since i've already got one myself, 999 of you best move your asses in a quickly manner and get you some.

mp3: In the Now (Olivier Daysoul produced by Oddisee from Mr. Saint Louis EP)

mp3: Just a Song Acappella (Olivier Daysoul produced by Oddisee from Mr. Saint Louis EP)

Another Free Music Friterday

My somewhat insincere apologies for another late one of these, friends. i had tickets to see Cinematic Titanic last night, and i just couldn't get this one done prior to that hilarious event. Then i got home, an epic battle with a pizza was waged, and things that were supposed to happen did not. What can you do? It's an imperfect world, i tell you what. Anyways...

i find Kid Cudi to be particularly hit-or-miss for my tastes, with his best stuff often being the odd single here and there. However, the latest leak from his upcoming Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager samples St. Vincent's "The Stranger," so that pretty much guaranteed inclusion here.

mp3: Maniac (Kid Cudi ft. Cage from Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager)

i'll be honest, aTelecine probably wouldn't have hit my radar (or anyone else's) if not for the inclusion of one Ms. Sasha Grey, but she's in the, what, avant-garde noise troupe?, so here we are talking about the band. i like to imagine that most music has its corresponding drug of choice to take while listening--cheap liquor for the blues, E for raves, weed for everything--you get the point. For this, i'm thinking acid/E candy flipping, but maybe that's just me. It's like what Shlohmo might make if he were touched repeatedly in bad places by his mom's boyfriend to my ears. Incidentally, i would like full and total props for demonstrating restraint and not using the phrase "Double Vaginal/Double Anal Penetration" once in this entire review. Oh wait. Damn it.

mp3: It's All Write (aTelecine from A Casette Tape Culture)

mp3: I Came I Sat I Departed (aTelecine from A Casette Tape Culture)

Can't say as i know much about Themselves, but if Baths saw fit to do a remix, i'm going to post it.

mp3: Deadcatclear II (Baths Remix) (Themselves from CrownsDown & Company)

Liz Janes, of Sufjan Stevens fame, is back with her first full-length in five years. For Say Goodbye, she's taking a stab at a soul sound. From the first single, it sounds like she's going to do a fine job. Pick it up 12/7/10.

mp3: I Don't Believe (Liz Janes from Say Goodbye)

Now i feel bad about that Shlohmo comment earlier. To rid ourselves of that image, here's his latest remix. Sorry, guy.

mp3: April Showers (Shlohmo Remix) (Jed and Lucia from Apostrophe/April Showers 10'')

And as we ride off into the sunset, this jangly, dare i say twee (dare, dare!), number by Pepper Rabbit. Me likey.

mp3: Older Brother (Pepper Rabbit from Beauregard)

100 Shows of 2010 - #73: Gayngs @ Black Cat, 10/5/10

As I'm sure y'all informed little loves have already heard, Gayngs has been having a wee bit of trouble with their touring vehicle. And, well, their instruments. Hey, it happens. But before all that kerfuffle of confusion and all that silly, third-person statement-issuing, the conglomeration of super cute, super sassy Gayng-members rolled into DC, where yours truly and yes, best friend Laura, witnessed a night of hott rocks and cool jams. You know how we do. Needless to say, it was definitely one of the bestest, most ridiculous shows of the entire annum 2010. Fo sho, y'all.

MINI RECAP: Gayngs = Good Goddam! Overall Score: A

Gayngs, Gayngs, Gayngs. Where to start, really? There's about a million of them, as you know, but don't call them a supergroup. I like to think of them as a mob. A gang, if you will. Hey, they've even got their own gayng sign (involving middle fingers, naturally). Each one of the herd was delightful, with garb ranging from ghetto fabulous to indie chic. Which means there was a whole lotta sunglasses worn at night and super fly cowboy shirts. You know the drill. Special shoutout to Brad Cook (of LET faves Megafaun) for his fuzzy bear head accessory. Well done, Brad. The sound of Gayngs was slow jamz meets a wealth of indie quirkiness. In short, this was some hot diggity dog seriously ridiculous shit.

At times it was hard to tell where the line between joke and serious band began, but the music stands as a testament to what can happen when a whole lot of terribly talented music folk get together and start messing around. "We love you," someone from the audience lustily proclaimed, and got a "We love you guys, too" for their trouble. And I tell you what, y'all, damned if I don't love me some Gayngs. Any band that can make booties shake and touch your soul, well, they don't come along all that much. Oh, and a Sade cover? Priceless. Seriously. I can't explain it, but there is something unspeakably foxy about dudes who cover Sade. Bands, take note. Their sunglasses and dance moves cracked me up, but their music was the real deal.

Should you be lucky enough to ever have the chance to see this band, I can tell you only this: Do it. Do it. Oh, and, do it.

mp3: By Your Side (Sade Cover) (Gayngs from Daytrotter Session)

100 Shows of 2010 - #72: Foals @ Black Cat, 10/3/10

It seems that sometimes one has to be cajoled, coaxed, and very nearly dragged kicking and screaming to a show in order to be shown a good time. Such is the case of my best friend Laura and the Foals show at the Black Cat. Meeting with my dithering and waffling, she persisted admirably, and finally got me to leave the house. I know, meow meow meow rock and roll meow. Let me tell you, my darlings, that is a good friend. I can't even tell you how glad I am to have been coerced into this show, because it was one hell of a good time. To see Foals live is, well, unfathomably, splendidly, amazingly glorious.

MINI RECAP: Foals = Fucking Yes! Overall Score: A

I was pleased as punch to be at this show right from the beginning of their set. Foals has, somehow, won themselves quite a rabid little fanbase in DC, and I was pretty surprised by both the size and enthusiasm of the raucous revelers. Not surprised that Foals has so many fans, mind you, but surprised at how many dragged themselves out on a Sunday and were so very vocal. It's not often I'm part of such an excitable crowd these days, and it was rather refreshing. I'm guessing the kids dig that whole frenetic, whirling dervish synthy rock thing, quite possibly. I know I sure did.

With the crowd hanging on every note and cheering heartily for every song, Foals ripped through a doozy of an intense, glowering glow of a set. "Are you guys having a nice time?" the band inquired, to which the kids shouted their affirmations loud and clear. The sound was great, and the boys of Foals turned it loose and unleashed quite a mighty musical beast whenever they damn well pleased, which, happily, was a frequent happening. There's more to their sound than just luridly loud, filthy noise, mind you. Serious melodies and structure can be found all over the place. Foals knows how to write a song, that's for damn sure. Their interaction with the crowd was brief, but the musical communique certainly made up for the lack of smalltalk. I was totally and utterly astounded by their brutal, beautiful sound.

Foals, o Foals. What a wonderful, adorable band you are. If you, friends, find yourselves in the path of their tour, be it now or sometime in the future, don't wait for your friends to twist your arms into going to see them. Do it for yourselves. And maybe bring along a few friends. I guarantee they'll love you for it.

mp3: Balloons (Foals from Antidotes)

More Label Love for Project: Mooncircle

Is it just me, or is damn near everybody out there going on and on about Ninja Tune's 20th anniversary? Don't get me wrong, they deserve all the love and attention, and probably even some more, but let's not forget the other labels out there, doing what they do for off-center, instrumental, beat music or whatever you want to call it (and yes, i realize Ninja Tune does more than that, but bear with me, i'm writing a fucking post here).

Project: Mooncircle is back at it yet again with more goodies for our earholes. Remember that new Robot Koch joint i told y'all about a while back? Well, not only has Songs for Trees and Cyborgs hit the streets, good ol' RK has his first video out for the project, too. "Threats" features a robot, weeds, grass, and occasional light-ups. Now, i'm not one to read symbolism into everything, but, well, you do the math.

And if that weren't enough, they've put together another "everybody on the label" compilation, now with theme-y goodness inside! Inspired by their new A&R, Jinna, it's dedicated to her dream of going to the moon. Now, i don't want to say this is their best group project yet, as that would diminish all the other outstanding work they put out regularly, but i'm not NOT saying it, either. You've got label standard bearers like Robot and Pavel Dovgal here, as well as up and comers like Juj. The tracks all have a spacey, dream-like quality, a bit softer around the edges than you might expect from the label, but the end result is fantastic. Not that i have favorites or anything, but MyOwn's "Tit Tit Tudi Tit Ti" definitely has made my short list of best beat tracks of the year. Here's a snippet of glitchy goodness to prove my point. Make sure to snag this beast when it drops November 5, 2010.

mp3: The Moon Comes Closer Snippet (Project: Mooncircle Artists from The Moon Comes Closer)

The Smack Rabbit Edition

i suppose today's post could be labelled a lot of different things, but, quite frankly, let's just agree that i've stumbled upon some choice and tasty tunes to share of a somewhat hip-hoppish nature, with some juicy beat production swirled in for good measure. You know, like smack rabbit, a phrase i just totally made up when trying to think of something that combined "hippity hoppity" and "swirled in." i expect a far more vulgar definition to be up on Urban Dictionary shortly, so have at it, kids.

Tyler the Creator and Hodgy Beats are back with their latest foray into Don't-You-Fucking-Dare-Call-It-Horrorcore-Or-I'll-Fucking-Cut-Your-Baby's-Mama's-Throat-Wave you with "Sandwitches." The lyrics remain disturbing, yet well penned, and the beats displaying an ever increasing level of ass seizure inducement. Continuing with 2010's indie push for more nekkidness on singles covers, i give this the LET seal of approval (but don't tell Megan).

mp3: Sandwitches (Tyler the Creator and Hodgy Beats from OFWGKTA Website)

When last you heard from Ricky Eat Acid, he dropped some lovely, synth-driven HUGS on your collective ass. Since then, REA released and then asked us to hold onto another EP as it looks like old boy is getting some well deserved recognition in the form of an actual recording contract. While you were none the wiser, to make it up to, well, me, i guess, he teamed up with Teams and put together this spooky number for our collective ear holes.

mp3: Halls (Ricky Eat Acid ft. Teams from Halls)

Emay, Blackbird Blackbird and Star Slinger have joined forces to create Seeing Suge, which takes today's intro paragraph sound description to its logical conclusion. The group single, Breaking," comes with three solo tracks by the individuals. Star Slinger's "1987" is particularly good.

mp3: Breaking (Seeing Suge from Breaking (Single))

Beat Meat: Beat Your Woman 'til You Get Satisfied

A little of this, a little of that for this week's beat meat.

Apropos of nothing, i happened to stumble across too kick-ass beat tapes that essentially take the catalogues of two heavy weight performers, drop the vocals and ratchet up the funkification. One highlight's Cyndi Lauper, the other Bjork, two of my 80s/90s/00s/10s faves. The DJs involved on both projects have created nice soundscapes that pay homage without being too heavily indebted to the originals. Neither of these are particularly new, but i just found them myself, and since you don't listen to anything i don't tell you to, well, it's new to us, right? Right.

mp3: Gimme, Gimme (Fresh Nerd from The Cyndi Lauper Beat Tape)

mp3: Funky New World (Dert from Talk Strange: A Beat Tape Inspired by Bjork)

Probably realizing that more material means more traffic, the folks at Svetlana Industries continue an impressive outpouring of recent freebies with their latest shortcast. For this round, Brainfeeder impresario Lukid steps back to the turntables for this impressive mix including everyone from Ariel Pink to Sun Araw.

mp3: Shortcast #3 (Lukid from Svetlana Industries Podcast)

Rustie drops his Warp debut with his Sunburst EP, a six-tracker high on dance floor energy. To help free your mind in hopes of your ass following, he's put this single out their for your auditory pleasure.

mp3: Hyperthrust (Rustie from Sunburst EP)

100 Shows of 2010 - #71: James/Ed Harcourt @ 9:30 Club, 9/27/10

I've tried and tried and tried to come up with a suitably reverential opening for this review. But even as much as I can foam at the mouth about how wonderful certain bands are, I don't think I can adequately express to you just how amazing, how sensational, and how breathtaking the James and Ed Harcourt show was. On the one side, you have a beautiful, haunting voice (Ed Harcourt) full of ethereal moments and seductive loveliness. On the other side, well, you have much the same in the frontispiece for James, Tim Booth. It's in contention for my show of the year, and was nearly a religious experience. For real, y'all.

MINI RECAP: Ed Harcourt = Elegantly Hypnotic! James = Jaw-dropping! Overall Score: A

Somehow, shamefully, I'd never seen the divine Ed Harcourt before. I know, shame on me. I really should have my head examined. Onstage were three easy pieces, Ed, his keys and guitar, a drummer, and a lady bassist. The richness of the instrumentation was the perfect backdrop for Harcourt's vocals; those incredible, pitch-perfect, honey-coated vocals with equal parts languid enticement and thoughtful sentiment. The sound of this trio was sheer magic, hovering in the starry realms of twilight fantasies and secret, sweet rendezvous. I fell in love over and over again, thanks to lyrics like, "I wish that I was fiction/I wish that I was fact," and "Are you cursed or are you blessed?". Despite the fullness of the band's sound, the songs had a remarkably intimate quality, leading me to feel like the songs were sung only to me (what a delightful notion). To me, Ed was at his absolute best in songs like "The Trap Door", a slight huskiness in his voice giving him a very tender, very sexy appeal. The combination of Ed's guitar strumming and that voice was brutally gorgeous. It made me melt. For some reason, I feel like there's a hint of nostalgia to Ed, as though he is not quite of these times. Which, my friends, is a very good thing indeed. It was a beautiful, beautiful set.

And then, it was James. Despite being another formative British band in my youth, I never had the joy of seeing the band live. The band took the stage to a deafening roar, and the surprisingly loud crowd didn't seem to stop cheering all night. I really couldn't take good notes, so in awe was I. They pulled from all periods of their long, wonderful career. But what got me most of all was my favorite trio of James songs: "Getting Away With It", "Say Something", and "Sometimes (Lester Piggott)". I'm pretty sure I teared up at one point. It was just plain spectacular. The sheer glory of the band, the sheer magic of Tim Booth's voice, and the sheer nostalgia of it all. And I had no idea Booth was such a crazy dancer! He writhed and whirled all over the place, all arms and legs flailing artfully. I got chills from the word go, and they didn't leave me for the rest of the night. As the band bounded enthusiastically through megahit (and Britpop dance night fave) "Laid" and feathers rained down on the floor from the rafters onto a sea of blissful James lovers, I thought to myself, does it get any better than this? The answer, friends, is probably not.

We Yanks don't get many chances to see the old guard. So I do hope you'll take advantage, my loves, when bands like James and Ed Harcourt come to town. Drop what you're doing, cancel all other plans, and prepare for one hell of a night.

mp3: Say Something (James from Laid)

Free Music Friday: The Covered, Labelled, Reworked, Goodbye, Swedish, Localized Version

Man alive, you bastards owe me. i so should be home resting right now, watching hockey, but NOOOOO, i drag my sorry carcass into the office to work and make sure that y'all get your Free Music Friday fix. Seriously, my canonization better be imminent, i swear to Black Dynamite.

This one has been sitting in the inbox for a few weeks, but i kept forgetting to post it. It's a shame because this duet with Josh Ritter and Dawn Landes covering the folk classic "500 Miles" is pretty damn money. It's bittersweet, touching and all those good things you expect from acoustic folk tunes. Oh well, you've got it now.

mp3: 500 Miles (Josh Ritter and Dawn Landes from Josh's Website)

Sometimes, following labels pays dividends. i joined One Little Indian's mailing list due to sate my Bjork infatuation, but it's since lead me to the dulcet, bluesy tones of Dan Sartain. The latest newsletter continues the trend with the two from the man himself, one from the archive and a little taster from the new record too. The first track is a dark and dangerous boogie woogie stomper, and the latter has a touch more of a pissed off Elvis Costello vibe. Dig 'em.

mp3: Walk Among the Cobras, Pt. 1 (Dan Sartain from Dan Sartain Vs. The Serpientes)

mp3: Atheist Funeral (Dan Sartain from Dan Sartain Lives!)

Jason Collett is getting ready to drop Pony Tricks, a reworked acoustic collection of 11 songs, including two never-before released tracks, on October 12. You know how much we love our Canadian brethren, so it was a no brainer we'd be posting the first single, a somber, slow burner. Check it out.

mp3: Bitter Beauty (Jason Collett from Pony Tricks)

What began as a one-off split-45 by songwriters Greg Cartwright and Coco Hames first got together for a one-off, split-45, but the two apparently dug one another enough to form their own band, The Parting Gifts. The duo will release their debut full-length album this fall on In The Red Records. Of particular interest to me, expect performances by Dan Auerbach, as well as Patrick Keeler, Jem Cohen, Poni Silver and Dave Amels.

mp3: Keep Walkin' (The Parting Gifts from The Strychnine Dandelion)

Maintaining our place as in bloggerdom as purveyors of world rock, here's a track by The Radio Dept., written for the recent Swedish elections. As if the title didn't give it away, the lyrics make it pretty clear that the boys in the band don't think too highly of the current government. As my knowledge of Sweden begins with their hockey team and ends with the Chef, i'll take their word on it.

mp3: The New Improved Hypocrisy (The Radio Dept. from The New Improved Hypocrisy)

And to send you on your merry way, a rocker from local DC-talent, Mara Levi. In addition to teaching music and participating in Girls Rock! DC, Levi found time to drop her third CD, We Listen to Fools. The album (no CDs to keep things green) "processes the end of a five-year relationship, takes on a music industry that values conformity over individuality, smacks down the injustice of a capitalist system that rewards selfishness, and (of course) chronicles the search for new love." Oh, and it rocks. For the local kiddies, check out the release party at Phase 1 on Capitol Hill on October 15. Mention that you read about the party at LET and be met with blank stares on non-comprehension.

mp3: Gotta Get Out (Mara Levi from We Listen to Fools)

The Greatest Angioplasty Mix You Ever Will Hear

You want commitment? i'll give you fucking commitment.

Who here had an angioplasty earlier today, raise your hands? Just me? Well then.

Actually not the biggest of deals, it was just a maintenance thing from my earlier cyborg implant. Without going into too much gross detail, because of the artery that needed the ballooning, they went in through the groin with the tube. i realized after the fact that the male nurse gave me a landing strip (or manding strip, if you will). Am i a nurse bitch now? Anyone? Help? Please?

mp3: Dirty Blue Balloons (Failure from Fantastic Planet)

mp3: Black Balloon (The Kills from 5-14-09 KEXP Performance)

mp3: traveling at the speed of a balloon (Left Channel from Products of the Secondhand Circus)

mp3: 99 Luftballoons (Nena from Nena)

Return of The Greatest Zombie Mix You Ever Will Hear

i've noticed a lot of traffic to the previous Greatest Zombie Mixes lately, and seeing as it's already October, i reckon it's time for an update. Time to get that Halloween groove on, kids, so here we go.

Last time we spoke with Que Lastima, they promised to put together an opus detailing zombies in space. Well, i thought they were just blowing smoke, but clearly this is a band that does not fuck around. That's right, kids, a zombie in space concept album.

mp3: Zombie Culture (Que Lastima from Zombies in Space)

mp3: Zombies in Space (Que Lastima from Zombies in Space)

A few folks pointed out the last time around that the Greatest Zombie Mix ever would have to include the Misfits. Never let it be said i don't listen to you, the unwashed masses. Now go bathe.

mp3: Astro Zombie (Misfits from Misfits)

Need a little spasticity in your zombie mix? We've got that covered, too.

mp3: Be a Zombie (Los Reactors from Dead in the Suburbs)

Sure, Que Lastima's effort is sweet, but you simply can't sleep without another zombie concept album in your collection? Well, look no further.

mp3: Birth of the Zombies (Luke Kuzava from Zombies Can't Dance)

mp3: I Wanna Be a Zombie (Luke Kuzava from Zombies Can't Dance)

Last year, we introduced y'all to Zombie Girl with her religious premise, "Jesus Was a Zombie." Well, it was so good, i thought we all needed some more.

mp3: Blood, Brains & Rock 'n Roll (Zombie Girl from Blood, Brains & Rock 'N' Roll)

While we're on the topic of incorporating the undead into Christianity, how about a little Christmas with your brain eaters? And let's punk it up, while we're at it.

mp3: Christmas Night of Zombies (MxPx from A Santa Cause--It's a Punk Rock Christmas! )

OK, that was a pantsful, so let's bring it down a notch with some indie sounding goodness.

mp3: Enough Blood to Bathe a Zombie (Ryan Walsh from Everybody Knows There's a Portal in the Backyard)

Dude, i imagine you're asking, where the hell is the death metal? Dude, chill out.

mp3: Zombie (Copremesis from Muay Thai Ladyboys)

And now, more punk.

mp3: Zombie (Screeching Weasel from Boogadaboogadaboogada)

Alright, i believe that's enough for now, as i'm at that point where i could overload this one or have enough left over for one more brain-chomping update. Of course, that means at least one more Greatest Zombie Mix update before Halloween.

You lucky, lucky bastards.

100 Shows of 2010 - #70: The Acorn @ DC9, 9/26/10

Moustaches might be all the rage right now, friends, but some folks choose to keep it old school and stick with beards and shadow. And I'm an old-fashioned gal at heart, and I loves me some beards and shadow. The Acorn, some of my new favorite neighbors to the North, fancies it old school, too. Which, in truth, is but one reason to love them. Having seen them live, finally, I can assure you there's plenty more to become smitten with. Beardage is just the tip of the iceberg.

MINI RECAP: The Acorn = Totally Astonishing! Overall Score: B++

Ambling onto a stage that felt more like a lakeside living room than a DC stage, thanks to some lamps and actual cabin walls imported from Canada for the tour, The Acorn demonstrated that a band can actually look like they sound. That being rustic and lovely and just a bit woodsy (hey, there was some plaid present, after all, not to mention all that rugged facial hair). Their sound took me to the land of big skies and piney woods and crystal lakes, at times ever-so dreamy and lulling and always, always beautiful.

"Crooked Legs" was possibly the highlight of the night for me, the breathtaking delicacy eliciting scenes of firefly-lit nights serenaded by nocturnal animals and lit by starlight. While it might seem impossible, the live version of this, and probably every song they played, was even lovelier than the recorded version. Something about this band, friends, something about them is just bewitching. But of course, it wasn't all arch perfection. No, no. These Canucks know how to get a little raunchy, launching into "the sex vibes" with a song "about our collective genitalia." I was pleased to note the band can also bring a little rock, too, proving more than idyllically one-track ponies. And nothing earns points with a DC blogger like favorably comparing and contrasting DC crowds with Philly crowds.

But to me, The Acorn is at their best when carefully and delicately creating bucolic gems full of pretty, pretty sounds. The result is all sorts of glorious goodness. And really, this is a band that should be experienced often and regularly. You can interpret that however you want, you dirty bastards.

mp3: Crooked Legs (The Acorn from Glory Hope Mountain)

Beat Meet: The Galloping, 24-Hour, Throttled Edition

With the weather in D.C. today being of the stay-indoor variety, today's beat tracks seem particularly apropos. Drop the following onto your mp3 player of choice, take two, and funk me in the morning.

First off, can i once again declare my love for XLR8R? This recurring post would have a lot less material if those cats weren't surfacing some of the best stuff out there for nerdish collectors such as myself to devour, and this week is no different.

i meant to post this earlier, but Mt. Kimbie dropped a full podcast for XLR8R, and, as you'd expect, it's a laid back chill trip of the finest degree. Of course, there's ample booty shaking grooves on this roughly 45 minute mix, with tracks from Zomby, Dam-Funk and Kode 9, amongst others, so there's something for head nodders of all shades here.

mp3: XLR8R Mix (Mt. Kimbie on XLR8R Podcast)

i figured Baths would take the crown as the Brainfeeder champion for 2010, but Teebs continues to make his push to snatch the royal dome for himself. While i anxiously await the October 9 release of his Ardour, he continues to be the gift that keeps on giving with tracks like this for the latest in the on-going LA Series by All-City (the other side of this release shared with none other than Daedelus).

mp3: Anchor Steam (Teebs from LA Series 6)

My aural equivalent of Ju-On, Shigeto is back in the mix. In anticipation of his Full Circle hitting shelves November 9 by way of Ghostly, he's dropped the single, "Relentless Drag." It starts off with droning Asian strings before settling into a groove before kicking up the freak factor in the closing minute. This kid continues to grow on me.

mp3: Relentless Drag (Shigeto from Full Circle)

To close things out and simultaneously show that i do read more than just XLR8R, Caribou recently posted a Daytrotter set. i've had tickets to see the former Manitoba twice now, but keep getting called out of town for work when he does show. Here's a taste of what i keep missing.

mp3: Bowls (Caribou from Daytrotter Session, 9-16-10)

100 Shows of 2010 - #69: Field Music @ Rock'n'Roll Hotel, 9/25/10

I'm sure y'all will know exactly what I'm talking about when I say this, but I have this group of bands that I just for one reason or another have cruelly, and rather unjustly, not given enough due diligence to. I've talked about it before, I'm sure. The bands that, sure, you've heard of, maybe heard a song or two and pretty much thought it was rather good, but just haven't quite managed to make a staple in your listening rota. Well, add Field Music to this list. My lack of anything other than complete and total adoration for them has been, truly, remiss, especially when you consider that a) they're English, and b) know how to grow some mighty fine mustaches. So when my friend Carolyn offered up her extra ticket to this show, I thought it best, prudent, even, to take her up on her kind offer and venture out for what ended up being one surprisingly excellent show.

MINI RECAP: Field Music = Fucking Magic! Overall Score: A

The band, resplendently-mustached (well, half of them), threw out a set of incredibly well-crafted, interesting songs. Dynamic and angular, yet with a certain hint of pastoral sensibilities. In my notes I equate them to a much less cynical and abrasive Young Knives (who, if you're not familiar with, amend that immediately). There was keyboard goodness! There was jauntiness for days! There were even hints of some golden, funky 70s rock that crept in every now and again, adding even more to a sound that already offered so very much to love.

It didn't take me long to realize that I had been oh so shamefully negligent when it comes to Field Music. Not only was their music astounding, but they won serious points with their banter. They went on about Sunderland being near Washington's ancestral home, and having never played a Washington, be it city or state or ancestral home. It became a recurring joke betwixt songs, and caused many a chuckle from the crowd. They're punchy, those Field Music lads. They'll sing you a song in a cheerfully droll tone, with the accompanying guitar riffs so angular and lean they cut right through you. It was like watching a finely-tuned musical machine, so on-point was this band. And think of it like this: Spiky guitars, a kicky little drum beat, and the occasional falsetto. What's not to love??? Not a damn thing, that's the correct answer.

This is a sophisticated band, with quite a lot of texture to their songs. But when you get right down to it, friends, Field Music fucking rocks. Simple as. Go see them!

mp3: Measure (Field Music from Field Music (Measure) )

Free Music Friday

To start, many happy returns of the day to The Missus. Doesn't have a damn thing to do with today's Free Music Friday, but, hey, it's half my blog, so i'm going write about what i'm going to write about. Plus, you dig the Missus, too, so you should wish her one, too.

Anyway, we received some nice tunes the past couple of weeks while i've been traveling all over the place, so you get to enjoy the fruits of those looms, as it were.

Surprising no one, Stones Throw continues to give out more freebies than whore with poor pimp management. i don't know about you, but i've always been a huge fan of voice boxes. Fuck that auto-tune shit, i'm talking about the original real deal. Whereas Roger Troutman popularized the sound (using his own variation on the instrument), the ST crate diggers have uncovered a treasure trove from Bruce Haack, the inventor of “Farad," one of the first truly musical vocoders, and first to be used on a pop album. Also from the gang, Aloe Blacc's Good Things finally hit the stands, and to celebrate, they dropped this ultra-groovy, soulful number to get your juices fellow in a most mellow manner.

mp3: Electric to Me Turn (Bruce Haak from Farad: The Electric Voice)

mp3: You Make Me Smile (Aloe Blacc from Good Things)

Daytrotter did a session with the folks in Admiral Radley, and it's a good one. Go check it out. We keep telling you how good Jason and his crew are, so maybe this will make true believers out of you.

mp3: I Heart California (Admiral Radley from Daytrotter Sessions, 9-22-10)

Sadly, i've been a little less impressed with each new Thermals offering, but i am kind of digging the new single from Personal Life. Call me crazy, but the lo-fi noise of their self-titled EP remains their high water mark for my money. Sure, they've grown musically and lyrically, no doubt, but where's the fun in that? i first saw the band open for Sleater-Kinney years ago, fell in love with Kathy Foster while she was bouncing around on stage tearing up the bass, and have been hooked on and off ever since. This one goes a decent ways towards making me need to call my sponsor again.

mp3: Never Listen to Me (The Thermals from Personal Life)

i know what you're thinking, a live DOOM album? There's been a lot of talk about if this is even a real live set, how old it actually is, blah, blah, blah. All you need to worry about is the fact that DOOM spits fire, this is loads better than Live From Planet X, and the first track is free. The Villain is back, y'all, so don't sleep on this one.

mp3: Beef Rap (DOOM from Expektoration)

Another new Alex B track just hit the interwebs, so you know i'm going to post it here. It's about smoking weed and it's more bottom heavy than your fat-assed prom date, so you know it's worth listening to.

mp3: Dro on the D-Lo (Alex B from 1320 Records Volume II)

And to close things out, the latest from 0OoOO's eponymous EP. Personally, i dig the track, but i'm not sure about this "witch core" nomenclature. Really? Sure, it's spooky and has ethereal, seemingly disembodied female vocals, but is that honestly the new sub-genre name we want? Eh, fuck it, it's glitch, and it's good, and that's enough.

mp3: Burnout Eyess (oOoOO from oOoOO)