The Echo

Bon Iver's Blood Bank EP streaming right now

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:04:26 -0800

I felt a little bad that I didn't go ahead and include Bon Iver's album as a 2008 release. After all, I consider it one of the best albums of the decade so far. Which makes me supa excited for Justin Vernon's upcoming release of the Blood Bank EP, to be released January 20th on one of my favorite labels Jajaguwar. And the EP is streaming in it's entirety on his Myspace page as we blog. Check it out! It's good -and smartly, even more minimal(or is it less?) than For Emma. "Woods" and the piano-rockin "Babys" stand out the most to me right now, but the entire thing is worth a listen.

Listen

Bloodbank

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2008 Best-Ofs: Album

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:07:43 -0800

Best Album:

40. Retribution Gospel Choir - s/t 39. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

Retributiongospelchoir1

EvilUrges

38. Neil Halstead - Oh! Mighty Engine 37. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Lie Down In The Light

NeilH

BPB

36. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins 35. Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers

51066.okkervil

wal

34. High Places - s/t 33. R.E.M. - Accelerate

rem

32. Wire - Object 47 31. Lindstrom - Where You Go I Go Too

Object-47

Lindstrom

30. The Sea and Cake - Car Alarm 29. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

narrow_stairs

28. Her Space Holiday - XOXO, Panda and 27. Beach House - Devotion
the New Kid Revival

devotion

XOXOpnkr

26. Deerhunter - Microcastle 25. Lukestar - Lake Toba

Microcastle

lukestar

24. Destroyer - Trouble In Dreams 23. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

Trouble in Dreams

Wolfparadeatmountzoomer

22. Ida - Lovers Prayers 21. Lykke Li - Youth Novels

loversprayers

Lykkeli

20. The Walkmen - You & Me 19. Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue

youandmecover

ParcAve

18. TV On The Radio - Dear Science 17. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park

dear_science

inearpark

16. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum 15. Hercules And Love Affair - s/t
við spilum endalaust

sigurros

herculesandloveaffair

14. Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash 13. The Presets

realemotionaltrash

- Apocalypso

apocalypso

12. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie 11. Santogold - s/t

Deerhoof

Santogold

10. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight 9. Fleet Foxes - s/t

midnightorganfight

fleetfoxes

8. Bodies Of Water - A Certain Feeling 7. M83 - Saturdays=Youth

saturdays=youth

Bodiesofwater

6. Evangelicals - The Evening Descends 5. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

eveningdescends

inghostcolours

4. Shearwater - Rook 3. Grand Archives - s/t

Shearwater rook

thegrandarchives

2. Portishead - Third 1. Sun Kil Moon - April

3rd

April

Honorable Mentions: The Kills - Midnight Boom, The Cure - 4:13 Dream, Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line, Stereolab - Chemical Chords, School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms, Coldplay - Viva La Vida, Love Is All - A Hundred Things Keep Me Up at Night, The Secret Machines - s/t, Parts & Labor - Receivers, Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling

(note: although the "top10" Bon Iver album was officially released early this year, it was independently released at the end of 2007 and thus won't be part of this list)

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2008 Best-Ofs: Album Art and New Band/Artist

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:18:15 -0800

Best Album Art:

WIRE - Object 47

Object-47

High Places - High Places

HighPlaces

The Music Tapes - Music Tapes For Clouds and Tornadoes

MusicTapesforCloudsandTornadoes

Sun Kil Moon - April

April

Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill

DraggingADeadDeerUpAHill

Best New Band/Artist:
Grand Archives

Grand-archives

Sleepdriving

Grand Archives

Grandarchives

Are: Matt Brooke, Curtis Hall, Ron Lewis, Jeff Montano, Thomas Wright
From: Seattle
Album: Self-Titled

Honorable Mentions: Fleet Foxes, Santogold, Hercules and Love Affair, The Duchess and The Duke

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2008 Best-Ofs: Music Video and Concert

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:54:28 -0800

Best Video:

"House of Cards" - Radiohead

Honorable Mentions: "Lost Coastlines"- Okkervil River, "Weekend" - The Sea and Cake, "L.E.S. Artistes"- Santogold, "Graveyard Girl"- M83

Best Concert:

Mark Kozelek / Neal Halstead @ The Music Hall of Williamsburg

Runner Up:

Cut Copy / The Presets @ Webster Hall

Honorable mentions: Frightened Rabbit @ Southpaw, R.E.M./Moddest Mouse/The National @ MSG, M83 @ Bowery Ballroom, Sigur Ros @ United Palace Theater, Low @ The Bell House, Grand Archives @ Union Hall, Destroyer @ Bowery Ballroom, Fleet Foxes @ Union Hall, Portishead @ Coachella, Shearwater @ Le Poisson Rouge

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2008 Best-Ofs: Best Song

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:56:23 -0800

Best Song:

"We Carry On" - Portishead

2. "Moorestown" - Sun Kil Moon
3. "Lost Coastlines" - Okkervil River
4. "Torn Blue Foam Couch" - Grand Archives
5. "Nowheres Nigh" - Parts & Labor
6. "Shooting Rockets" - Destroyer
7. "Kim and Jessie" - M83
8. "English House" - Fleet Foxes
9. "In the New Year" - The Walkmen
10. "Lump Sum" - Bon Iver
11. "The Killers, 1964" - Ida
12. "Heron Blue" - Sun Kil Moon
13. "Rooks" - Shearwater
14. "Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur" - Sigur Ros
15. "Party Crashin'" - Evangelicals
16. "Unforgettable Season" - Cut Copy
17. "The Rip" - Portishead
18. "Under the Pines" - Bodies Of Water
19. "Ragged Wood" - Fleet Foxes
20. "Blind" - Hercules and Love Affair
21. "We Own The Sky" - M83
22. "Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
23. "The New Kid Revival" - Her Space Holiday
24. "Family Tree" - TV on the Radio
25. "Agoraphobia" - Deerhunter
26. "Sleepwalking" - Grand Archives
27. "Blindsided" - Bon Iver
28. "Lost Verses" - Sun Kil Moon
29. "I'm a Lady" - Santogold
30. "The Modern Leper" - Frightened Rabbit
31. "Fresh Born" - Deerhoof
32. "Cold Son" - Stephen Malkmus
33. "In Ear Park" - Department of Eagles
34. "Bye Bye Bye" - Plants and Animals
35. "Leviathan Bound" - Shearwater
36 "My People" - The Presets
37. "Snowblind" - +/-
38. "The Shade You Hide" - Lukestar
39. "Celebrated Summer" - Mark Kozelek
40. "Small" - Portishead
41. "I'm Good, I'm Gone" - Lykke Li
42. "Cheap and Cheerful" - The Kills
43. "Undertow" - Stars
44. "Mr Richards" - R.E.M.
45. "Weekend" - The Sea and Cake
46. "The First Snowflake" - The Boy Least Likely To
47. "Happiness" - Goldfrapp
48. "Miniature Birds" - Grand Archives
49. "Queen Bee" - Neal Halstead
50. "The Grey Estates" - Wolf Parade

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Don't Forget About Daytrotter; My Brightest Diamond, Takka Takka, Damien Jurado

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:24:24 -0800

My Brightest Diamond

With the rise and glory of such musical sessions as Juan's Basement, The Black Cab Sessions, and Stereogum's little new thing, interest in one of the original boutiques for indie live acts, Daytrotter, seems to be declining. No need to sound the alarm. People still love Daytrotter and great acts will continue to perform sessions, but since Juan's Basement is basically sponsored by Pitchfork and The Black Cab Sessions carry such a new, eclectic appeal, Daytrotter is being overshadowed and under-appreciated. Of course, the obvious difference is that these sessions aren't visual. Rad December Daytrotting sessions include The Minus Story, Joseph Arthur, My Brightest Diamond, Damien Jurado. and Takka Takka.

From The Top Of The World

Sure that Walkmen rendition of "In The New Year" killed on Juan's Basement but don't forget about Daytrotter. Who knows what may happen when no one's watching?...

Everybody Say

Takka Takka

Gillian Was A Horse

Damien Jurado

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Christmas Songs to Believe In

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:13:16 -0800

Sufjan

This year's Christmas releases haven't been large in quantity but there are probably just as many solid releases as last year. Of course, 2006 was a highlight because of the Sufjan Stevens 5-part Christmas series. The single best Christmas album is Low's Christmas record, comprised of the classics, the original "Just Like Christmas" and the minimal, Gap-approved "Little Drummer Boy." The 2008 holiday season was treated to a return to the Christmas single by David Bazan of Pedro the Lion, who this time released the 7" of "Jingle Bells" and "All I Want For Christmas" under his own name. For me, "Jingle Bells" is his finest Christmas song of the 6 he's released- yes a little bit more affective than his version of "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day." One of the best songs for the holidays wasn't intended to be a Christmas song at all, but The Boy Least Likely To said that that their new single, " The First Snowflake," reminded them of the 25th so much that they are are going to apply the tag. Rosie Thomas's "A Very Rosie Christmas" is probably the

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

The Raveonettes

finest Christmas album by a single artist this year around. Jack Jonson's Brushfire Records dropped holiday tunes as a collective label. Before you dismiss is, you may be surprised to know that both Neil Halstead and Rogue Wave are on Johnson's label. Johnson's original "Someday at Christmas" is a decent tune while Neal Halstead's "The Man in the Santa Suit" is even better. The highlight of the album though is "No Christmas For Me" from the contemporary Ella Fitzgerald-ish Zee Avi. As for Rogue Wave, it doesn't appear they put much effort into this

Low

contribution, but diehards will still enjoy. And Low actually released a fresh number- the quasi-haunting, quasi-threatening "Santa's Coming Over." If you've seen the video for this, it's even more haunting. But Low's eerie, yet hopeful attitude on music, especially their Christmas songs, make the songs accessible to more than just the indie rocker. And I wouldn't feel right without mentioning the Christmas classic from the hands of Stephen Colbert, Feist, John Legend, Elvis Costello and Toby Keith. So frikin hilarious. If you are only able to listen to one Christmas song this season(and that of course would never be the case, but still...), push play on "Nutmeg."

15 fine 2008 Christmas/Holiday songs:

Jingle Bells- David Bazan

"Jingle Bells" - David Bazan
"Alone At Christmas Time" - Rosie Thomas
"Why Can't it Be Christmastime All Year" - Rosie Thomas
"Christmas Time Is Here" - Rosie Thomas
"The First Snowflake" - The Boy Least Likely To
"No Christmas For Me" - Zee Avi
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" - The Raveonettes
"Come On Santa" - The Raveonettes
"Santa's Coming Over" - Low

Nutmeg

"O Come O Come Emmanuel" - Enya
"The Man in the Santa Suit" - Neil Halstead
"Nutmeg" - Stephen Colbert, et. al.
"There Are Much Worse Things to Believe In" -
Stephen Colbert et. al.
"Someday At Christmas" - Jack Johnson
"Auld Lang Syne" - El Perro Del Mar

Little Drummer Boy

Low

20 Fine Songs From Christmas Past:

"Just Like Christmas" - Low
"Little Drummer Boy" - Low

Santa Baby medley

"Baby (Please Come Home) - U2
"Santa Baby" - Snoop Dogg, P. Diddy, Salt-N-Peppa,
Joseph Simmons, Keith Murray, Onyx, Mase
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" - Sufjan Stevens
"The 25th of December" - Everything But the Girl
"Last Christmas" - Erlend Oye(Kings of Convenience)
"All I Want" - The Weepies
"Sleigh Ride" - Ella Fitzgerald
"Christmas Isn't Safe For Animals" - Of Montreal

Holiday Road

"The Christmas Song" - The Raveonettes
"Christmas Time is Here" - Smashing Pumpkins
"Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby and
David Bowie
"Holiday Road" - Matt Pond PA
"I Just Wanted to Say" - My Morning Jacket
"Maybe This Christmas" - Ron Sexsmith
" Do You Hear What I Hear" - The Carpenters
"Donna and Blitzen" - Badly Drawn Boy
"Christmas Time" - Denison Witmer

All I Want

The Weepies

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Album Round-up: November-December

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:34:15 -0800

Love Is All

It's common for album releases to slowly decline in quantity as the year nears its end. December itself seems to be a month to recap, not release new albums...unless its novelty stuff, remixes, EPs, or Britney Spears....which all makes sense to be sure. November saw some solid releases as it usually does. Denison Witmer, Wilderness, Longwave and Lukestar released under-appreciated gems, while our Scandi-darlings Love is All returned with a worthy sophomore album and Asobi Seksu finally released a new song to tie us over to their full-length next year. In December and under the novelty theme, Mark Kozelek's The Finally LP, an album of covers that were done for various compilations gathered together along with a couple original Kozelek tracks, is his best covers album yet(he's also done covers albums exclusively devoted to ACDC and Modest Mouse) and also proved to be one of the best albums of the past few months altogether. Hüsker Dü's "Celebrated Summer" is the highlight for me but I think any song on the album could qualify for that for anyone else as the album has no duds. "New Partner," a Will Oldham tribute, is another favorite as is "Bedtime Lullaby," a Jarond Gibbs song done for the Children's show "Yo Gaba Gaba!" And it's interesting to hear Mark's take on "Send in the Clowns."

One of this year's best new artists Lukestar, while not technically "new," made an album, Lake Toba, that approved them for the non-official, official indie rock arena. The obvious Mew influence isn't surprising as these kids are also Scandis. But these Norwegian type are a little bit more untamed. Think Mew meets Pretty Girls Make Graves.

Lukestar

The Shade You Hide

Lukestar

More Denison? Yes please. One of the most underrated singer-songwriters of the past ten years is Denison Witmer out of Philadelphia. Riding the heels of his neighbors The Innocence Mission, Denison crafts the same simple, piercing music but from more of a micro level -in scope and in general as he is a one-man outfit. Blake Shelton produced Witmer's recently released Carry The Weight, which continues the folk-inspired tradition of past records but with slightly more polished production, which is nice because it's different, but on the flip-side it's no Safe Away -Witmer's first and finest album that is extremely raw and personal.

Denison Witmer

Life Before Aesthetics

And the new single from Asobi Seksu is not to be taken lightly:

Me & Mary

Asobi Seksu

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Weezer Does Ski Video for "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived...

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:49:08 -0800

...(variations on a Shaker Hymn)" And the video carries a timely theme albeit something you may not associate with Weezer.

Children of Winter - Poor Boyz featuring Weezer

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M83 Catalogue out on vinyl today

nobody@vox.com(TheEcho) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:25:36 -0800

M83

M83_saturdays_youth

btdhu

Scratch that- only Saturdays=Youth is available for purchase at this time. So all of you(including me) who want to listen to those slow burners from the classic Before the Dawn Heals Us on cracklin vinyl with the lights off(not including me), you'll have to wait till January 13th. Puzzling, I know. it would have been the perfect Christmas gift from my sister! Alas, in the meantime we can also set adrift on this year's excellent Saturdays=Youth as well as get our dance on if we choose.

Let Men Burn Stars

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