Contest: Win Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs on Vinyl
“The Month of May” is a standout track on Arcade Fire‘s stellar new album The Suburbs, but it ain’t got nothing on the month of August.
So far this month, the indie rock sensations have played two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden — one of which was webcast under the direction of film auteur/Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam — and their performance at last weekend’s Lollapalooza was the festival’s most talked-about event (ok, second most talked-about). Oh, and did I mention that The Suburbs just beat out some guy named Eminem for the best-selling album in America?
Not too shabby, and the month isn’t even halfway over yet. To keep the awesomeness going for the rest of August, our friends over at Merge Records are giving away a copy of The Suburbs to one lucky Owl and Bear reader. And this isn’t some CD or 8-track or whatever format you kids listen to nowadays — this is a freshly pressed double-LP of pure vinyl goodness. Top that, Slim Shady.
For your chance to win Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs on vinyl, send an email to contest@owlandbear.com with “Arcade Fire Contest” in the subject line and your name and mailing address in the body. The winner will be selected at random on August 30th.
The Owl and Bear Podcast vol. 139
I was only reminiscin’ on the love I believed we’d shared.
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Review: Los Campesinos! May 11, 2010; San Diego Women’s Club
Photos by Eleanore Park
If the Arcade Fire ever went through an awkward post-adolescent pop punk phase and played at their high school prom, it would resemble a live performance by Los Campesinos! Continue reading…
Vic Chesnutt Talks Life, Death, and ‘At The Cut’ on NPR (MP3)
At age eighteen, Vic Chesnutt went from a reckless young man to a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic. All of his close family died off by the time he hit 25. He’s struggled with substance abuse. He owes $50,000 in medical bills. And yesterday, the 45-year old songwriter confessed to NPR’s Terry Gross (stream) that he’s tried—unsuccessfully—to kill himself at least four times. (more…)
Fanfarlo to Open ‘Reservoir’ 11/24 at the Casbah
Does anyone remember an album called Funeral, released by a then-unknown band called Arcade Fire? I know you’re racking your brain to remember. Do you remember how you felt when you first heard it? The sheer jubilation you enjoyed when the anthemic chorus erupted and subsided, sending chills down your spine? Some might say this is a stretch, but I experienced that once again listening to the album Reservoir, by yet another unknown band named Fanfarlo. (more…)
Win Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros’ ‘Up From Below’ on Vinyl (Contest)
Last month we described Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros as sounding like Arcade Fire minus the glum pretentiousness. And while that was meant as a compliment to Sharpe and Co. at the time, things have changed since then.
In the past few weeks we’ve given the band’s debut album, Up From Below, dozens of listens, and it turns out that the Los Angeles collective is much more than a pleasant reminder of another band’s glory days. Fronted by Ima Robot’s Alex Ebert, the eleven-piece band mixes rustic 60s pop with infectious melodies and childlike innocence to create songs that stay in your head—and, dare we say, your heart—for days on end. And, since the only thing we at Owl&Bear like better than good music is good music on vinyl, we’re happy to report that the album has just been released in the wondrously waxy format, and we’re giving it to one of you for free.
For a chance to win the LP, simply comment on this post and include your email address in the form (your email won’t be visible to the public). The winner will be chosen at random on November 15, 2009.
Also, be sure to listen to their exuberant ballad “Home”, which is easily one of the year’s best songs. We recently featured it on Podcast vol. 126, and it’s also available for download here.
Finally, the band is touring the States right now, so be sure to catch them. Dates are below. (more…)
The Rest Never Sleep (MP3s)
Remember The Rest? We profiled them for Poetic Memory back in July.
Well, the Ontario-based band just signed to Something in Construction records. To celebrate, they’re offering their Walk on Water EP for all to download—free of charge! (more…)
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros on Letterman (Video)
Remember that band Ima Robot, who had that catchy song “Dynomite” way back in 2003? Yeah, me neither. However, I won’t be forgetting former Ima singer Alex Ebert and his new band Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. Talk about a 180: he’s gone from an indie/punk/dance band to a down-home folk collective that makes songs so endearing that they might just bring a tear to your eye. If Arcade Fire decided to move to a log cabin in Alabama, drink whiskey, and drop the pretentiousness, From Below would be the result. It’s knee-slappin’ fun for all ages. Check out their appearance on Letterman, performing my new favorite song “Home”.
Poetic Memory: Erika Davies (List)
If you’ve never heard Erika Davies, then you’ve never heard Shakespeare the way it’s meant to be sung. Her jazzy melodies scoop and flutter above delicately strummed ukulele in irresistible and intoxicating fashion. Serving up a cocktail of jazz standards and charming originals, Davies delivers an enchanting performance, anchored by gorgeous vocals and Amelie-esque charm.
Says Davies:
Before I sat to write this, I tried to recall my first memory of music. I couldn’t. It was as if I had to try and remember what it was like, exiting my mother’s slippery womb. I can, however, remember how tiny I was when singing to my first audience. How natural it felt just opening my soul to them. And how quiet everyone was, listening.
And from then on, music, it seems, has been drawn to me.
Miss Davies is currently hard at work penning her sophomore album, tentatively titled Nothing But A Note Thing, which she plans to record in January. You can catch her in two places this Saturday: she’ll be playing an early evening set at Golden Hill DIY venue The Habitat before scooting over to Air Conditioned for this year’s North Park Music Thing (formerly known as North By North Park). We’ve got Davies’ Poetic Memory list, as well as some additional tour dates, after the jump.
Poetic Memory is a regular Owl and Bear feature in which musicians disclose their influences—whether it’s albums, songs, artists, or something random. If you’re interested in being featured here, send us an email. (more…)
The Cribs Won’t Be Ignored
Hey scenesters! Post-punk sibling act The Cribs have formally announced the impending release of their fourth album, titled Ignore The Ignorant. The album marks their first release since adding a guitarist by the name of Johnny Marr to their ranks, and was produced and mixed by Nick Launay of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave fame.
Set for release through Wichita Recordings on September 7th, the album will be available in limited edition CD/DVD, CD, download, and sweet sweet vinyl format. For the impatient, the band will also be releasing a single for the new song “Cheat On Me” on August 30th.
We’ve got a track list for you after the jump, as well as the hilariously NSFW video for “Men’s Needs” off their endlessly listenable 2007 album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever, which proves the group is capable of ignoring way more than just the ignorant. (more…)
“Wild Things” Make Your Heart Sing
The trailer for Where the Wild Things Are has been released, and it looks terrific. With its refreshingly non-CGI effects and its inspired use of “Wake Up” by Arcade Fire, the preview dazzles the eyes and the ears alike.
The movie, directed by the brilliant Spike Jonze from a script he co-wrote with the brilliant David Eggers—which was of course adapted from the immortal children’s story by the brilliant Maurice Sendak—features a score composed by the brilliant Karen O, and comes out on October 16th.
Owl and Bear’s Top 20 Albums of 2007
Owl and Bear writers’ favorite albums of 2007.
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Review: Arcade Fire w/ LCD Soundsystem; September 21, 2007 at the Hollywood Bowl
LCD and Arcade Fire; my iPod couldn’t have devised a better 1-2 punch on random. On a brisk night (by southern California standards) in a legendary venue, LCD officially started the party with the addictively repetitive “Yeah” and their sign-off, “New York I Love You.”
Review: Arcade Fire; May 19, 2007 at Chicago Theater
photo by littlepretty
As my two friends and I walked from Union Station to the Chicago Theater on Saturday, I observed to them that the diversity of people in Chicago had lessened to almost nothing as we got closer to the Arcade Fire show; the wide variety of the larger population had narrowed to only include the easily-excited “scene” kids gathered outside.
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
2007, Merge
Neon Bible lacks Funeral’s immediate pop appeal, but this album is no less intriguing.
