Poetic Memory: Generationals (List)
Generationals‘ 2009 album Con Law made our Best of 2009 list. For me, it’s the perfect example of everything I look for in a good pop-rock album: upbeat, catchy, light-hearted, and above all, fun. What made it exceed my expectations, however, were the varying styles from song to song. One minute I’m hearing Motown or Gary Numan, and the next I’m listening to…arena rock? Generationals’ unabashed experimentation with different sounds has helped to set them apart from the rest of the indie pack.
In addition to releasing great albums, they’ve been gallivanting around the U.S. spreading the rock-and-roll cheer nonstop. So, needless to say, I’m extra pleased that Grant Widmer took some time out of his busy schedule to send us a list of his influences. His Poetic Memory is below. Continue reading…
Review: The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
The Avett Brothers are all about feeling. On Emotionalism, their last proper full length, the Avetts certainly didn’t shy away from feeling; they celebrated it. The songs from Emotionalism were mostly led by banjo, upright bass, occasional strings and the just-twangy-enough vocals of one or both brothers. Everything about that setup said these guys were playing bluegrass music, but what came out of the speakers felt different.
That element, that unique style of bluegrass that sounded more like an alt-country-influenced indie band, clearly set the Avetts apart from anything I’d ever heard before. But there was more to them than that. There were also those straightforward and heartfelt lyrics, melodies that felt nostalgic and comforting, and an overall sense that these guys grew up loving American music and wanted to make it their own, to take it somewhere new while keeping everything that was great about it intact. (more…)
Califone To Release ‘Funeral Singers’ Oct. 6; Film, Tour TBA (MP3)
Chicago/LA’s Califone (aka Red Red Meat’s delicious table scraps) will release their new album, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, October 6 on their new label Dead Oceans. The release of Funeral Singers marks their first release of new material in three years (to the month). As can be expected, the band members will extract sound from a variety of devices, including guitar, violin, banjo, percussion, optigan, stylophone, baritone ukulele, mbira, and thumb piano.
In conjunction with All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, Califone are also releasing a feature film of the same name, which will be submitted to festivals in 2010. During their soon-to-be announced tour, the band will provide a live soundtrack to the film, silent movie-style. (more…)
Grand Ole Party Tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Since taking the city by storm with their debut release, 2007’s Humanimals, San Diego dance-funk band Grand Ole Party has kept plenty busy. They’ve played back-to-back sold out shows at the Casbah, thrilling audiences with their syncopated sass. Lead singer Kristin Gundred started her own label, Zoo Music, and signed bands like Crocodiles and Dum Dum Girls. The band has also been hard at work in the studio, recording their eagerly awaited follow-up to Humanimals.
But since nothing is ever enough for you people, the band hasn’t stopped there. The trio has lined up a Midwest tour where they’ll be opening up for a little band called Yeah Yeah Yeahs. You may have heard of them. (more…)
Sub Pop Records Sampler (MP3s)
Amazon is offering a free MP3 sampler of current music from the legendary record label, Sub Pop records.
Featured bands include Flight of the Conchords, Vetiver, Handsome Furs, Obits, Red Red Meat, Vaselines, Blitzen Trapper, Fleet Foxes, Iron & Wine, Daniel Martin Moore, and Chad Vangaalen.
Lots of good stuff here; you should definitely check it out.
[Amazon]
SubPop Podcast – Live Iron & Wine Videos
Today’s SubPop Podcast features four live videos of Sam Beam performing solo to a rapt audience. Although the recordings appear to pre-date The Shepherd’s Dog, Iron & Wine’s most recent release, fans who attended Beam’s recent tour with The Swell Season will be reminded of its sparse goodness.
Download: Owl and Bear’s Top 20 Albums of 2007
Owl and Bear writers’ favorite albums of 2007.
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Review: Iron & Wine with Califone; Tuesday, November 27, 2007; 4th & B, San Diego
After a hassle with misappropriated tickets and a trip back to the car to return what is apparently my “professional rig” camera, we got into 4th and B, got drinks, and found seats. A friend’s description of the venue pretty much proved true: outside, it looks like a skyscraper; when you first walk inside, it looks like someone’s dilapidated barn; when you get into the actual venue, it looks like a pretty decent place.
Iron & Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
This is easily my favorite Iron & Wine album to date. No question. Unlike Sam Beam’s previous effort, Our Endless Numbered Days, every single song is completely solid, and no less than four are absolutely stellar. No question, I enjoy Beam’s past work a good deal. But, in my opinion, previous Iron & Wine albums have been inconsistent and hit-or-miss.
Pitchfork Music Festival 2007 (I)
Let’s get this out of the way: fuck the Chicago Tribune. They messed up a lot of indie fans this past weekend by printing completely wrong directions to the Pitchfork Music Festival. Despite having lived in the Chicago area for nearly eight years and being with two people who attended the festival last year, I still managed to take the Green Line L train all the way to the end of the line (as per the directions), nearly five miles south of Union Park. A long string of expletives and one forty minute bus ride later, we had missed nearly all of Slint, the first act of the first night. It’s a shame, too, as they sounded pretty damn good.
