One of the things one does not expect to hear when putting on a Dead Heart Bloom album is Built To Spill. Yet this is exactly what happens in the opening moments of Fall In, the new EP that finds the band throwing everything they can at the wall and seeing what sticks.
This shotgun-approach to style is almost always a recipe for disaster (I’m looking at you, My Morning Jacket), and it’s all the more egregious when the band in question has already settled into a winning formula. Dead Heart Bloom’s previous release, Chelsea Diaries [All of their albums are available for free on their site —Ed], was an intimate, string-heavy collection of acoustic songs that showcased Boris Skalsky’s beautiful vocals, all while tugging gently at the heartstrings.
Continue reading ‘Dead Heart Bloom - Fall In’
Frightened Rabbit is one of the best bands out there that you can still see in a small club. They’re comprised of two brothers and two multi-instrumentalists: singer/songwriter/guitarist/whisky sipper Scott Hutchison, his brother Grant (who destroys drumsticks and provides vocal harmonies), and Billy Kennedy and Andy “Medusa” Monaghan who both alternate on keys, guitar, and bass.
Legend has it that as a kid, Scott was compared to a Frightened Rabbit for his lack of social skills, but you wouldn’t know it from this show. Hutchison’s between-song banter was often hilarious and he showed no shortage of the fabled Scottish charm; he even exuded silliness as he discussed a “plectrum” (pick) that someone had given him.
Continue reading ‘Review: Frightened Rabbit; June 23, 2008; Casbah, San Diego’
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Revolver (Part 2) - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Head Rolls Off - Frightened Rabbit
Big Huge Valley - Vic Chesnutt
The Ballad of Butter Beans - Man Man
Via Chicago - Wilco
Oliver James (Live) - Fleet Foxes
Queen And The Jokester - The Dreadful Yawns
Pyramid Song - Radiohead
Can’t Make a Sound - Elliott Smith
Cemetery Row - The Minus 5
Our Last Martyr - Dead Heart Bloom
Today’s Undertaking - M. Ward
I’m Just A Killer For Your Love - Blur
Loyal to My Sorrowful Country - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Fever Dream (Live) - Iron & Wine
Lullaby - Loudon Wainwright III
Unabomber’s cabin is on display in D.C. – The tiny Montana cabin where Ted Kaczynski hid now stands a few blocks from the FBI headquarters in Washington. The interactive exhibit will allow visitors to type their own manifestos, carve ornamental pipe bombs, and quietly stew with social anxiety in an isolated area.
Continue reading ‘June 20, 2008 Link Roundup’
Man Man Interview - Pitchfork interviews members of Man Man, one of Owl&Bear’s most favoritest bands. Just remember who did it first. While you’re at it, feel free to grab this sweet Man Man show that we just posted.
Continue reading ‘June 19, 2008, Juneteenth Link Roundup’
That’s right, two Radiohead shows exactly one year apart!
Radiohead
April 4, 1995
Soundboard (FM)
README
Continue reading ‘Hosted Live Download: Radiohead; April 4, 1995 & 1996′
Here are two flacalicious 1970 downloads for you. More stuff to come.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
February 25, 1970
Soundboard
Continue reading ‘Hosted Live Download: Neil Young in 1970′
Road Rage Linked To Automobile Bumper Stickers - This doesn’t surprise me at all. I’d imagine that having a “W” sticker (in support of Weezer, of course) could increase your odds of getting your ass ridden.
The media overdo the death of Tim Russert - The media overdid the death of someone? Maybe someone needs to catalog the appearance of “the media overdid the death” articles after the reasonably surprising death of anyone famous.
Continue reading ‘June 17, 2008 Link Roundup’
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Casino Queen (Live) - Jeff Tweedy
Black Star - Radiohead
Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues - Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
Say It to Me Now - Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
It’s a Wonderful Life (Live) - Sparklehorse
Between the Wars - Billy Bragg
Somebody’s Baby (Live) - Elliott Smith
Rock Bottom Riser (Live) - Smog
Cherry Lane - Ryan Adams
Ruby Colored Halo - The Rationales
Living With War - Neil Young
Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset - Modest Mouse
Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou) - Sufjan Stevens
Gin House Blues - Nina Simone
Lie To Me - Tom Waits
