Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Elvis Perkins- In Dearland
Elvis Perkins returns after a 2 year hiatus with his second full length- In Dearland. Perkins first LP, Ash Wednesday, was an incredible first effort. Songs such as All the Night Without Love, While You Were Sleeping, and Emile's Vietnam in the Sky, showed Perkins' to be a classy and imaginative craftsman capable of writing circles around many of his esteemed and established colleague. In many ways, In Dearland starts where Ash Wednesday leaves off, building from a foundation of earthy guitars, strings, deep drums, and swirling lyrics. What's different this time is that Perkins' vocals seem much more ambitious, moving outside of his previously restrained range, and experimenting with rich, loose, dipping and diving notes that dance with the lyrics rather than watch them from the bleachers. This is especially apparent on the single Shampoo as well as Hours Last Stand, and I Heard Your Voice in Dresden. The song I was both most surprised and pleased with was I'll Be Arriving, a song driven by a 60's soul organ, a relentless metallic jangle, and a woozy trumpet: a very Tom Waits-like venture, with an intense yet sloppy demeanor that screams purgatory, or maybe just Detroit.
One unfortunate likeness between In Dearland and Ash Wednesday is that they are both very top heavy records, with the quality tunes arriving more towards the beginning and middle, and fading out with subtle tracks that are ok, but not necessarily screaming to be listened to. Overall, In Dearland is certainly worth a listen, if not many.
Check out Elvis' MySpace to hear some of the tracks.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Bon Iver covers Feist
Not many people are better than Bon Iver at squeezing the poignancy out of other people's songs. Check out his live cover of Feist's "The Park".
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Dark Was the Night
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Check out the "Dark Was the Night" benefit compilation for the Red Hot Organization. The album was produced by the Dessner brothers from The National and includes exclusive tracks from all the Indie heavyweights (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez, Feist, The New Pornographers, and many more). A new track is being streamed each day on their myspace page and you can also listen to the collaboration between The Dirty Projectors and David Byrne here. Enjoy.
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Check out the "Dark Was the Night" benefit compilation for the Red Hot Organization. The album was produced by the Dessner brothers from The National and includes exclusive tracks from all the Indie heavyweights (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez, Feist, The New Pornographers, and many more). A new track is being streamed each day on their myspace page and you can also listen to the collaboration between The Dirty Projectors and David Byrne here. Enjoy.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sorry
Hey Everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while, my computer has been broken for a couple of weeks, and is currently at the Apple store getting fixed. I promise there will be some amazing new posts in the coming weeks.
-THom
Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while, my computer has been broken for a couple of weeks, and is currently at the Apple store getting fixed. I promise there will be some amazing new posts in the coming weeks.
-THom
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Le Blogoteque meets Daytrotter in a High School
Everyone should check out Laundromatinee, an Old Kentucky Blog side project that records and videotapes live sessions in an Indianapolis High School radio station. Featured artists include the Acorn, Castanets, Bodies of Water, Dr. Dog, and Bon Iver. Good Stuff.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Free music for people that like short songs
Ottawa's The Acorn have put up two mini-ep's for free download on their website. The Earworm EP is a 12 song fury made up 30 second hit or misses. While Little Elms,the other EP, is 75% joke, 68% offensive, and 23% cute as shit. Both are well worth checking out.
(I recommend downloading the EP's separately because I had some issues with combined zip file.)
Check Out The Acorn on Myspace for some full length tunage.
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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