Justin Vollmar has a free download of a recording called "campfire songs" on his website. Originally a CD-R release limited to 50 copies, it is now free for all you twangy head hangers. Have a wonderful new year.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Free Vollmar Release
Justin Vollmar has a free download of a recording called "campfire songs" on his website. Originally a CD-R release limited to 50 copies, it is now free for all you twangy head hangers. Have a wonderful new year.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Crystal Moustache will EAT YOUR BRAIN
My friend Carmen turned me onto Montreal band Crystal Moustache a few months back. Here's a free track up for download on the RCRDLBL website. Hope you like it.
Free Francois Virot Tracks
Francois Virot, A Shirley and Art Favorite, has a free album release party CD-R for download on his European Label, Clapping Music('s) website.The disk also includes songs from artists Karaocake and Marie Marie Cells. Enjoy.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Shirley and Art: The Beginning
First an explanation:
The name Shirley and Art derives from a t-shirt given to me by my friend's dad. I thought the name had a nice/ memorable ring to it and so is history.
I know its sort of cheating to start a music blog with a year-end list, but whatever, it's my blog, I do what I want.
This first posting is a list of my favorite songs of the year, but as you will see its a bit unorthodox. Most of the songs are linked videos, some of which are live recordings and remixes. I hope you enjoy my first attempt at being a music-reviewing douchebag.
-Thom
Songs:
Lykke Li (feat. Bon Iver)- Dance Dance Dance (online video)
Although the album version of Dance Dance Dance is good, this video, shot in a park in LA with buddies Bon Iver, gives dimension to the song adding a more lively drum beat, chain jingles, a hand trumpet,and the spine shivering falsetto of Justin Vernon. Lykke Li will be a household name before you know it.
Why? - Good Friday (Boards of Canada remix)
Why's latest album Alopecia is as unabashed as they come. Good Friday, a mostly rapped song reads like a series of brief anecdotes intricately laced with neurosis and regret, not only portraying Yoni Wolf's vulnerability, but also his brilliance.
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson- "Buriedfed"
"Buriedfed" paints a portrait of life from the margins; Amongst its story lines, a victim that comes face to face with her rapist in jail and tells him "fuck you I wanted just to die". Robinson's lyrics are crafted to give you a gut check, to break your heart, and to pry open your eyes to a world often ignored.
Francois Virot- Say Fiesta
Sat Fiesta is beautifully twitchy tune and an anomaly in that its a song sung in English by a Frenchman. Built on a staccato riff and spoon taps, Virot's songwriting is delightfully simple and refreshingly asymmetrical.
The Felice Brothers- Frankie's Gun
The Felice Brothers sound nothing like a band from 2008. If I could place them in an era it would have to be somewhere around prohibition, and they'd be smuggling booze into Chicago on a rowboat while playing an accordion. Check some free tracks here.
Passion Pit- Sleepyhead
The singer of Passion Pit originally wrote most of these songs as a gift for girlfriend. Although the lyrics may not be the most inspiring, Passion Pit has a knack for picking extraordinary samples and beats and melding them into complex yet catchy tunes.
Vampire Weekend- Ottoman
I really want to hate Vampire Weekend, but their catchiness is undeniable. After releasing their self-title debut and romping their preppy asses on to every stage known to man, Vampire Weekend released "Ottoman" just to show it wasn't a fluke.
Connor Oberst- Milk Thistle
Conner Oberst returned this year with his first solo effort "Connor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band". Although I found the record as a whole to be so-so, amongst its Cassadega-like outtakes lye a few gems, namely "Milk Thistle", the albums last song. Unlike most of the record, which is wrought with Alt-Country twang, "Milk Thistle" delivers a true solo-effort, blending Oberst's classic writing prowess with vocals that have shed the affected whine of the past in favor of a clear and more mature delivery.
Horse Feathers- Father
Crystal Castles- Vanished
I heard Crystal Castles several years back when they released the Alice Practice 12" EP. Although I enjoyed what I heard, I felt their use of video game samples would keep them from being anything bigger than a gimmick band. Over a few years, Crystal Castles' sound fleshed out into an expansive and icy sound as big as their name.
Bon Iver- Creature Fear (Daytrotter Session)
Bon Iver's For Emma Forever Ago is by far my favorite record of the year, and maybe (in my opinion) one of the best records but out in the last 20 years. What's so great about Bon Iver's Daytrotter Session, especially the song "Creature Fear" is that they really reworked the song, moving away from the sparseness of the album version in favor of a full and even more soulful vocal. Justin Vernon's falsetto is simply the shit.
The name Shirley and Art derives from a t-shirt given to me by my friend's dad. I thought the name had a nice/ memorable ring to it and so is history.
I know its sort of cheating to start a music blog with a year-end list, but whatever, it's my blog, I do what I want.
This first posting is a list of my favorite songs of the year, but as you will see its a bit unorthodox. Most of the songs are linked videos, some of which are live recordings and remixes. I hope you enjoy my first attempt at being a music-reviewing douchebag.
-Thom
Songs:
Lykke Li (feat. Bon Iver)- Dance Dance Dance (online video)
Although the album version of Dance Dance Dance is good, this video, shot in a park in LA with buddies Bon Iver, gives dimension to the song adding a more lively drum beat, chain jingles, a hand trumpet,and the spine shivering falsetto of Justin Vernon. Lykke Li will be a household name before you know it.
Why? - Good Friday (Boards of Canada remix)
Why's latest album Alopecia is as unabashed as they come. Good Friday, a mostly rapped song reads like a series of brief anecdotes intricately laced with neurosis and regret, not only portraying Yoni Wolf's vulnerability, but also his brilliance.
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson- "Buriedfed"
"Buriedfed" paints a portrait of life from the margins; Amongst its story lines, a victim that comes face to face with her rapist in jail and tells him "fuck you I wanted just to die". Robinson's lyrics are crafted to give you a gut check, to break your heart, and to pry open your eyes to a world often ignored.
Francois Virot- Say Fiesta
Sat Fiesta is beautifully twitchy tune and an anomaly in that its a song sung in English by a Frenchman. Built on a staccato riff and spoon taps, Virot's songwriting is delightfully simple and refreshingly asymmetrical.
The Felice Brothers- Frankie's Gun
The Felice Brothers sound nothing like a band from 2008. If I could place them in an era it would have to be somewhere around prohibition, and they'd be smuggling booze into Chicago on a rowboat while playing an accordion. Check some free tracks here.
Passion Pit- Sleepyhead The singer of Passion Pit originally wrote most of these songs as a gift for girlfriend. Although the lyrics may not be the most inspiring, Passion Pit has a knack for picking extraordinary samples and beats and melding them into complex yet catchy tunes.
Vampire Weekend- OttomanI really want to hate Vampire Weekend, but their catchiness is undeniable. After releasing their self-title debut and romping their preppy asses on to every stage known to man, Vampire Weekend released "Ottoman" just to show it wasn't a fluke.
Connor Oberst- Milk ThistleConner Oberst returned this year with his first solo effort "Connor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band". Although I found the record as a whole to be so-so, amongst its Cassadega-like outtakes lye a few gems, namely "Milk Thistle", the albums last song. Unlike most of the record, which is wrought with Alt-Country twang, "Milk Thistle" delivers a true solo-effort, blending Oberst's classic writing prowess with vocals that have shed the affected whine of the past in favor of a clear and more mature delivery.
Horse Feathers- FatherHorse Feathers latest effort "House with No Home" may be the most underrated record of the year. Justin Ringle's lyrical prowess and delicate vocals combined with the backing cello and strings, provide guaranteed chills every time.
Crystal Castles- Vanished
I heard Crystal Castles several years back when they released the Alice Practice 12" EP. Although I enjoyed what I heard, I felt their use of video game samples would keep them from being anything bigger than a gimmick band. Over a few years, Crystal Castles' sound fleshed out into an expansive and icy sound as big as their name.
Bon Iver- Creature Fear (Daytrotter Session)
Bon Iver's For Emma Forever Ago is by far my favorite record of the year, and maybe (in my opinion) one of the best records but out in the last 20 years. What's so great about Bon Iver's Daytrotter Session, especially the song "Creature Fear" is that they really reworked the song, moving away from the sparseness of the album version in favor of a full and even more soulful vocal. Justin Vernon's falsetto is simply the shit.
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