The kind of band that I would have played over and over cranked up to 11 in my bedroom as fourteen year old. I am so happy people are still out there making music that can excite my inner teen...I wonder if I can still skateboard???
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The death of Mixwit
So my original idea was to make you a mixtape every week or so but with the very unfortunate shut-down of Mixwit I will have to find other means...
In the mean time this is awesome!
First Aid Kit covering Fleet Foxes.
As is this!
In the mean time this is awesome!
First Aid Kit covering Fleet Foxes.
As is this!
2009 Preview and the Vampire Weekend Effect
Everyone has already made their predictions on the bands to watch in 2009. I have always found this to be an interesting subject because I feel it becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. If all the major media outlets (read:"music-nerd" sites) say that a band will be a breakout artist this year they will (you're welcome Vampire Weekend). It is the whole if you build it they will come thing. This is not solely based on the talent of the artist...It's HYPE. Many of us get wrapped up into the excitement of something new and will go and seek out something because we are supposed to. We live in fear of losing our "indie" cards if we don't have the "A-Punk" mp3 at least a month before the album comes out.
None of this is necessarily a bad thing. I love the age of Internet buzz and blogging. I remember when you had to look to the liner notes, T-shirts, and interviews of bands you liked to see who they were listening to in order to find new music. I grew up in a rural area where we didn't even have access to MTV (the music television station not the reality network) so I appreciate the good work of everyone over at Pitchfork Media, Stereogum, NPR, etc...I am happy that all of the fifteen year-olds in central VA can discover the same music as the music critic in LA or the kid with the asymmetrical haircut in Williamsburg.
In the spirit of discovery (and hopefully generating some hype) here is my list of bands and albums to watch for in 2009...
An Horse
Their full length album Rearrange Beds was available on iTunes as of December 2008, and is due to be released in stores in March. I discovered this Australian duo of Kate Cooper and Damon Cox thanks to their opening slot on Tegan and Sara's 2008 Out Of Hibernation Spring US tour. I LOVE this band.
Florence and the Machine
A lot of folks are predicting that Florence Welch will be huge in 2009 and I have sipped the smooth, art-pop Kool-Aid on this one. The album is due out in May.
Bon Iver
Everyone fell in love with Justin Vernon's voice and songwriting last year on the amazing For Emma, Forever Ago. This month he released the Blood Bank EP. I had the title track on repeat for almost an hour before I moved on to the other three tracks...
La Roux
Singer Elly Jackson and synth player Ben Langmaid are La Roux. They are making playful, fun electro-pop tunes. Sometimes you just need to dance...
Sound of Arrows
Speaking of dancing the duo of Oskar Gullstrand and Stefan Storm are a necessary addition to every party shuffle this year.
Animal Collective
Merriweather Post Pavilion...for serious.
Madlib
Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to... is a 42-track piece dedicated to the late, great J Dilla. The entire Beat Konducta series is a great ride. The ability to convey the spirit of the mixtape passed among friends is captured in each volume. The album is due out in February.
Sometimes you should believe the hype...happy listening.
None of this is necessarily a bad thing. I love the age of Internet buzz and blogging. I remember when you had to look to the liner notes, T-shirts, and interviews of bands you liked to see who they were listening to in order to find new music. I grew up in a rural area where we didn't even have access to MTV (the music television station not the reality network) so I appreciate the good work of everyone over at Pitchfork Media, Stereogum, NPR, etc...I am happy that all of the fifteen year-olds in central VA can discover the same music as the music critic in LA or the kid with the asymmetrical haircut in Williamsburg.
In the spirit of discovery (and hopefully generating some hype) here is my list of bands and albums to watch for in 2009...
An Horse
Their full length album Rearrange Beds was available on iTunes as of December 2008, and is due to be released in stores in March. I discovered this Australian duo of Kate Cooper and Damon Cox thanks to their opening slot on Tegan and Sara's 2008 Out Of Hibernation Spring US tour. I LOVE this band.
Florence and the Machine
A lot of folks are predicting that Florence Welch will be huge in 2009 and I have sipped the smooth, art-pop Kool-Aid on this one. The album is due out in May.
Bon Iver
Everyone fell in love with Justin Vernon's voice and songwriting last year on the amazing For Emma, Forever Ago. This month he released the Blood Bank EP. I had the title track on repeat for almost an hour before I moved on to the other three tracks...
La Roux
Singer Elly Jackson and synth player Ben Langmaid are La Roux. They are making playful, fun electro-pop tunes. Sometimes you just need to dance...
Sound of Arrows
Speaking of dancing the duo of Oskar Gullstrand and Stefan Storm are a necessary addition to every party shuffle this year.
Animal Collective
Merriweather Post Pavilion...for serious.
Madlib
Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to... is a 42-track piece dedicated to the late, great J Dilla. The entire Beat Konducta series is a great ride. The ability to convey the spirit of the mixtape passed among friends is captured in each volume. The album is due out in February.
Sometimes you should believe the hype...happy listening.
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