Growing up, Talk Talk was a popular band in my house. Looks as though it was for the boys from Weezer as well. Apparently, the Britain version of their Red album contains a cover of Talk Talk's "Life's What You Make It." And some dude synced the cover to Talk Talk's original video for the song.
Mark Kozelek
Nights LP (Caldo Verde)
Kozelek's Nights LP is a companion CD to the recently re-released book including the lyrics of most of his, Red House Painters, and Sun Kil Moon's songs, titled "Nights of Passed Over."
This is not a mere ornament to the book or Kozelek's catalogue. Nor is Nights strictly for the devoted Kozelek fan, but for anyone. Kozelek's live shows are amazing and many times his live versions surpass the originals. Excellent live renditions of "Michigan" and "Drop" -a song he rarely plays live- recorded at London's Union Chapel start the album off strong. Live versions of "Gentle Moon," "Wop-A-Din-Din" and "RIver" are the other live tracks on Nights. An alternative (drum) version of April's "Heron Blue" may be more of a collector's item. Although it's solid, the more melancholy, original version is better. There is also an interesting "Jam" version of Ghost of the Great Highway's hit, "Carry Me Ohio." The demo take of "Smokey," originally released on The Shanti Project, is better than the Old Ramon version-although still very good- in my opinion. The more lively track, "Leo and Luna" is beautiful and probably the most accessible on the album. A demo take of "Metropol 47" -a song written directly after Kozelek saw Elliott Smith live and released on Mark's first solo album- is also included. Perhaps the most interesting, however, is the "Malmo" version of "Cruiser," a song originally released on Th Red House Painters' Old Ramon. The producer and the drummer of The Cardigans take part in this recording in which Mark just sat back and observed while in Sweden. It has a "Cardigans" sound to it. I never thought I'd ever say that about any Mark Kozelek song...but it really is interesting. Then again, Sweden loves him. Nights can only be purchased if you buy the book, but you won't go wrong with either.
hear: entire album, especially: Michigan(live
at Union Chapel), Heron Blue(drum version), Leo and Luna, Duk Koo
Kim(10"version), Cruiser(Malmo version), Smokey(demo version)
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)
Fleet Foxes have been aboard the hype train ever since they released the Sun Giant EP earlier this year. Their rustic, western sound is easy to identify with give the recent trends of indie rock. Their self-titled album really does begin where they left off, which is exactly what legions of fans were hoping. This album may not be as superb as some make it out to be but it is still one of the top 10 releases so far this year. For me, no track on this album is as good as Sun Giant's "English House." However, many come close and that is wherein lies the quality of this album -it is extremely consistent and really doesn't have a bad track -other than perhaps the quasi-boring opener. "Ragged Wood" is pretty much "English House"'s half-brother. Many of the other track are simply infectious, especially "White Water Hymnal," "Blue Ridge Mountains" and the sleeper hit "Your Protector." Fleet Foxes' debut may not be your favorite album of the year but they may just be your favorite band.
hear: White Water Hymnal, Ragged Wood, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, He Doesn't Know Why, Your Protector, Blue Ridge Mountains
Caught on tape at the Accelerator festival in Sweden.
I guess in recent shows, The Cure have been starting things out with this new tune, almost certainly to be a part of the new album.
Rivers threatened he'd do it. He invited fans to show up ready to play on Weezer's Hootenanny Tour in Portland...which we can see was an intimate, daytime session. And they did. Kids on guitars, drummers, peeps on Clarinets -I guess if you played anything including the cowbell(insert Will Ferrell joke here), then you were welcomed to show up and cover Radiohead's "Creep." And as you can see, it actually turned out really well.
For his second "Take Away" session, Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver throws down another version of "Flume," as well as "Skinny Love" and "Wolves Acts I and II."
As you probably have heard by now, Devendra can be romantically linked to the great acting, super smart, beautiful Natalie Portman. Consequently, they've called Natalie a "Jew for Jesus." In actuality, Portman is not Jewish but simply half Israeli. And in further actuality, we can tell from these pictures that Devendra is categorically not Jesus. She must really like his music. That would make sense. God bless him.
It's been a little while since we've had something to really celebrate on La Blogotheque...well maybe it just seems that way because they always have good stuff. And it's great to see that Bon Iver and Vincent Moon got together- and they double the fun with 2 separate sessions. Bon Iver's music is perfect for the Take Away Show's aesthetic. He plays three songs for the first session, all from For Emma, Forever Ago: "Lump Sum," "Flume," and the title track.
Shearwater
Rook (Matador)
hear: On the Death of the Waters, Rooks, Leviathan Bound, Century Eyes, The Snow Leopard, The Hunter's Star
The second night of M83's June stay in NYC was the better concert. The energy was higher and it was obvious Anthony was more into it. The rad setup was replicated as the night before...bright blue-flashing boxes, fiberglass walls, families of keyboards, and even Anthony's bifocals. The crowd was also better this time around, albeit still dominated by the recently converted. The same songs from the night before got the same reception. "Kim and Jessie" and "Graveyard Girl" were much more exciting for me tonight...the kind of youthful excitement you get listening to the record. The setlist was exactly the same except for it included one more song from the new album I think. "*" -the song also known as "Asterick" from Before the Dawn Heals Us had the crowd moving their bodies and was absolutely incredible. Morgan Kibby's voice soared throughout the night, as she sings just as much if not more than Anthony on the new record -"Up" was especially moving. "Don't Save Us From the Flames" once again tore through the crowd, taking us for a ride in its little portal. Unfortunately, it probably reminded a few people of that Pontiac commercial as well.
Recommended listening:
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shannon said:
[this is good]the story on who Crush is read more
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