My Morning Jacket cover archive

Check out the My Morning Jacket cover archive on You Ain't No Picasso, a favorite blog of mine. There are some really fantastic covers on there. A few personal favorites: Peaceful Easy Feeling, Up on Cripple Creek, and Rocket Man (Jim solo), but seriously, check them all out.

Morning Benders Album Incoming!

And now for the most exciting piece of news to come out so far this year: The Morning Benders have given us a taste of their upcoming album, Big Echo! I am a huge Morning Benders fan, and they are one of the few bands I have seen live twice. I saw them once at the Coffee House in our fine city of Davis, and once more recently at this year's Outside Lands. At the Outside Lands show they played almost entirely new material, only "Waiting for the War" and "Patient Patient" from the first album. What I heard I loved, and this track "Promises" further confirms that. In a world where so many second albums really don't live up, I have very high hopes for Big Echo. "Promises" definitely has a different feel from most of the songs on Talking Through Tin Cans, and I from what I heard at the concert, so do most of the new songs. I love the percussion, and Chris's vocals are as great as ever. Take a listen for yourself:
Promises - The Morning Benders
They have a bunch of US tour dates on their Myspace. If they're coming to your area, I'd highly suggest you go, they put on a very good show. Album drops March 9th.

Mean Everything To Nothing

I know that this too is kinda old news, but I feel like I have to catch up on some of the really cool stuff that happened before I started the blog.

So, Mean Everything To Nothing was the album released last year by Manchester Orchestra, and definitely one of my favorite albums of the year. Not only is the music great, but they had the fantastic idea to film a series of short films, one for each song, which when viewed in order form a very loose narrative. I watched it, and it is extremely well done. The story follows the character "Elaine". It begins with her escaping from a mental hospital, and follows her journey, interspersed with occasional footage of the band.

At the beginning of the first video, the words "past present and future, they are all the same" appear on screen. This is very telling of the tone of the videos, where reality, imagination, past, present, future, all blend together. The filmmakers did a very good job of making the music and the video mesh together very well, and all her "memories" are so well done, they manage to make me nostalgic for a world and time I never experienced.

As for the actual music, it's a very solid album, good indie rock, at times venturing into some screamo territory. Normally I hate screamo, but it's not too overt, and very well done, so it's not a problem. One of the ways I like to judge music is by how much it makes me feel, and this music definitely does well in that area. The emotion is very intense, and very well conveyed by the songwriting. Sometimes you wish it would let up a bit more often, as it does with "I Can Feel a Hot One", but that's not a major concern.

I've read complaints about the singer's voice, and I can definitely see how some people could find it annoying, as it does have a kind of whiny, high pitched quality to it, but I have no problems.

Overall verdict, very solid album. It starts out very well, drags a bit in the middle, but then picks up again towards the end. The films are definitely meant to go with the music, they wouldn't have a whole lot of value without it. Together, the videos really heighten the experience of listening to the album, and add a very unique dimension that wouldn't have been there otherwise. I highly recommend both the album and the videos.

Two places to watch. On this website, they have all 11 videos with comments from the directors under each one explaining whats going on, which is really cool. However, there's occasional Sony ads, as well as other videos on the page which automatically start playing, both of which are very annoying.
As an alternative, they have all the videos on this Youtube playlist, which I'm pretty sure is ad free.

Also, in a fantastic coincidence, today's daily deal on Amazong MP3 is this very album, so for today only, head here to download the whole album for $2.99.
Update: It's over, but the album is still only $7.99, not bad at all.
And finally, if you don't want to sit through the videos, here are a few musical highlights from the album:
The Only One - Manchester Orchestra
I Can Feel a Hot One - Manchester Orhcestra
I've Got Friends - Manchester Orchestra

Click a label for related posts.

One week until Contra, two weeks until Transference

There are some great Tuesdays coming up. Next Tuesday, 1/12, we get the release of Vampire Weekends sophomore album, Contra! (XL Recordings) As an extra treat, the band is already streaming the entire album on their Myspace. I haven't listened to it yet, since I don't want to hear the album until I can have it. However, I have heard "Cousins", "Horchata", and "White Sky", and I've definitely liked all of them, so I'm expecting good things.
Horchata - Vampire Weekend
White Sky - Vampire Weekend
Where to pre-order:
Itunes
Amazon MP3
CD or Vinyl


As if that wasn't enough, the Tuesday after that (1/19) brings us the new Spoon album, Transference!! (Merge Records) Spoon has a very special place in my heart, as they, more than any other band, are responsible for bringing me out of my classic rock shell. They showed me that there is good contemporary music, and it's called indie, so I've got a lot to thank them for. That, combined with the fact that Spoon is unfailingly excellent has me very excited for Transference. Even further, 2009's "Got Nuffin-EP" was amazing, and I noticed that "Got Nuffin" has shown up on the album. There's another track from the album bouncing around the internets, called "Written In Reverse". I gave it a listen, and I'm not terribly intrigued by it, but I'm not letting that dampen my expectations of the album as a whole. I'm very psyched.
Written in Reverse - Spoon
Got Nuffin' - Spoon
Where to pre-order:
Itunes
CD or Vinyl
Nothing on Amazon MP3

Jessica - Avi Buffalo

The Avi Buffalo single "What's In It For?" got quite a bit of buzz a while back, so I figured I'd give it a listen. Personally, I'd have to say I prefer the B-side, Jessica. It is a beautiful melody, and very well sung. The sparse instrumentation really helps convey the emotion, and the background noise that runs through the whole song gives it a very unique feel. There's something about it that is extremely powerful, in a very understated way.
Stream it on their Ilike page, but you really should just buy it. If you must have a free download, here's the version they played on Daytrotter, which isn't really quite as good as the one on the single.

Mixtape

My first stab at making a mixtape, and I think it turned out pretty well. There's no theme, just a bunch of good songs I thought flowed well.

For now it will take the form of a playlist.com playlist, but let me know if you would like to download it. Also, comment if the embedded player is annoying, and would rather I just post a link.

Flagrant omission from my best of the year list

Young Hearts Spark Fire - Japandroids
When I'm feeling tired and apathetic, this song speaks to me in a way that no other song can. The driving fuzzy guitar and surreal sounding fuzzy vocals draw you into a kind of numb state of mind, along with the pounding drums and soaring screams. The lyric "we used to dream/now we worry about dying/I don't want to worry about dying/I just want to worry about sunshine girls" completes it. Can't believe I forgot about it.

Free Energy - Free Energy

I cannot stop listening to this song. One of the catchiest songs I've heard in a while. The combo of the guitar riff and cowbell at the beginning sucks you right in, and the song holds you the whole way. And I always love it when bands use their name as a song title.
Free Energy - Free Energy

Best songs of '09

Here are my top 30 songs of the year. My liking for songs tends to shift, so if you asked me in a month or so, the order of this list would undoubtedly be different, but I think this does accurately reflect my favorite 30 songs. Enjoy.


30. Pursuit of Happiness (Feat. Ratatat and MGMT) - Kid Cudi
Very very catchy, and I absolutely love the backing stuff that Ratatat did. I'm a fan of Kid Cudi's voice as well.


29. New Moon Rising – Wolfmother
Wolfmother, the kings of making classic rock in the modern age. Amazing guitar riffs combined with a voice that sounds like a cross between Ozzy and Robert Plant. This was by far the best song off their ’09 release, Cosmic Egg.


28. Come Alive (War of the Roses) - Janelle Monae
One of my favorite voices, and a fantastic, creepy song.


27. Cousins - Vampire Weekend (Link is to youtube, Web Sherrif is out making people take down this mp3)
Sneak peek single off of the upcoming Vampire Weekend album. Not much to say about it other than very very solid, and I'm excited for the album.


26. Bricks Part 1 - Fishboy
I love Fishboy. Their brand of pop and their singers voice just absolutely get me every time. This 1:26 long nugget is extremely catchy and enjoyable. For earlier stuff, check out "Parachute" and "Taqueria Girl" of of their 2007 album, Albatross: How We Failed To Save The Lone Star State With The Power Of Rock And Roll.


25. Hold the Line (feat. Mr. Lex and Santigold) - Major Lazer
Horse noises, crazy surf guitars and cell phones ringing. Most high energy song of '09, and so damn catchy.


24. Quiet Dog - Mos Def
One of the best song from the album that got me in to Hip-Hop, Mos Def's "The Ecstatic". The beat is nothing more than some sparse percussion, really bringing out Mos Def's voice and rhymes.


23. Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Fantastic dance type track. Love the vocals.


22. Julia - The Very Best
The Very Best is Radioclit, British producer, and Esau Mwamwaya, singer from Malawi. Julia is the highlight of their album, Warm Heart of Africa. One of my songs of the summer.


21. Auditorium (feat. Slick Rick) - Mos Def
The best track from The Ecstatic. Features a really cool middle eastern beat, and a guest verse from Slick Rick.


20. Trash - The Whip
My favorite dance song of all time, hands down. I love the way it builds, the dark atmosphere, and the killer guitar.


19. Revenge (feat. Flaming Lips) - Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse
An album which was never actually released, due to an issue with the label. It's got a good backstory, if you're interested in checking it out. The album is called Dark Night of the Soul. I wasn't a huge fan of the album, but this song is absolutely fantastic. The first line, "Pain...I guess it's a matter of sensation" always sticks in my head forever.


18. Nitro - Cool Catz
I said that Trash was my favorite dance song ever, but this song makes me want to dance more than any other song. The little synth riff that comes in a little ways in and goes throughout the song is the catchiest thing ever. Party hip-hop at its best (and the only rap song my Dad loves).


17. Friday XIII - Deer Tick
Smith Hill - Deer Tick
I couldn't decide between these two fantastic songs to represent Deer Tick's 2nd release, Easy. Americana/folk ballads, and all sung in a voice that you either love or you hate. I love it.


16. Treat Me Like Your Mother - The Dead Weather
I worship Jack White, that is fact. A lot of people didn't really like The Dead Weather, but I really like it. Horehound is definitely one of my top albums of the year, and this is one of the many standout tracks (it was a tough call. Also check out 60 Feet Tall. Hell, just listen to the whole album). Oh, and they were superb live.


15. Ain't No Rest For the Wicked - Cage the Elephant
I first heard this song on the radio, and wound up buying (and loving) the album. Then I went to Outside Lands and saw them live. Damn. They put on a hell of a show, their lead singer is a complete maniac on stage. And they sound really good. Love the slide guitar.


14. Nightingale / December Song - Sunset Rubdown
A stellar track on a largely disappointing album. Sunset Rubdown is the side project of Spencer Krug, of Wolf Parade. They have a very unique sound, and I love it. I purchased some old material of theirs, and was very excited when this song and one further up the list came out. Unfortunately, the rest of the album was a letdown, but this song and the other one are no worse for it. Love the lyrics in this one.


13. Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) (Feat. Mos Def and Jim Jones) - Blakroc
Blakroc is the collaboration between The Black Keys and a bunch of rappers. On the whole, it wasn't as good as it sounded like it could have been, but this song is awesome. The riff is rock solid, and the "la la la"s stick in your head for hours. Mos Def's singing is great, and Jim Jones' rapping is damn good. All around solid blues/rap track.


12. My Girls - Animal Collective
I'll talk a lot more about this album in my albums of the year list. The call and response singing on this song is really cool, and I just love the soundscape they assemble underneath it. For a heightened listening experience, I would suggest this fan video which may very well be the coolest music video ever.


11. Got Nuffin' - Spoon
Not much to say about this one, other than fantastic. Just listen and hear it for yourself.


10. Bull Black Nova - Wilco
I love the way the piano chords drive the song. And the noise-rock jam at the end is killer. Great song. Oh yeah, and its about a dude who murdered his girlfriend.


9. Never Had Nobody Like You (feat. Zooey Deschanel) - M. Ward
The only M. Ward song I own. I don't know what it is, but there is something about it that makes it incredibly enjoyable to listen to. My appreciation of music is very mood based, but this is one of the rare songs that is always good, regardless of what I'm in the mood for.


8. Living Thing - Peter Bjorn & John
There's something about this song, and the whole album, that just makes me want to move. I dunno. I guess you could call it groove. Or something. Just listen.


7. Generator ^ Second Floor - Freelance Whales
One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, it really just boils down to that. Amazing folk song with some really cool instrumentation.


6. In the Flowers - Animal Collective
My favorite song from Merriweather Post Pavilion. I can never get enough of the way the song just explodes at 2:30. This is more than a song, its an experience. Best enjoyed at high volume.


5. Swimming in the Flood - Passion Pit
My favorite song from Manners, a fantastic album. This song always gives me the very strong feeling of floating underwater in a cold pool on a hot day. It's a good feeling.


4. I Start to Run - White Denim
This song definitely wins best bass line of '09. Look for this in my Albums of the Year.


3. Idiot Heart - Sunset Rubdown
Modern day guitar gods. The song starts intense and never lets up.


2. Laundry Room - The Avett Brothers
Thats the MP3, but this is the best version of the song (its the first song on that video). This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard. Perfect melody, and the vocal harmonies take it to a whole nother level.


1. All We Want, Baby, Is Everything - Handsome Furs
I don't know what it is, but this song has it. Something about the vocals, the ringing guitars... It's just perfect.

classic rock remix

not words you usually see together.
yep, somebody remixed a classic rock song, and it works damn well. keeps the same feel as the original song, even with all the techno-beats, and really adds something to the song. Love it.
Gimme Shelter (The Illuminoids Remix) - The Rolling Stones

They have some other remixes and mash-ups available for download Here

Dead Weather live videos

this is gonna be such an amazing show

Will There Be Enough Water (one of 2 songs where jack white straps on the guitar and steps up to the mic, and damn am i glad he did, as amazing a drummer as he is)

The Dead Weather - New Music - More Music Videos

No Hassle Night


Treat Me Like Your Mother A much better live version from Jimmy Fallon, just skip to the last segment of the video

The Dead Weather - New Music - More Music Videos

Bone House

The Dead Weather - New Music - More Music Videos

Hang You Up From the Heavens