Reveille Mag: Warp + Weft: A Death Cab for Cutie Retrospective: The release of a new album by a band is always a good excuse for a look back on their catalog. Narrow Stairs seems destined for a lukewarm reception from the critical blogosphere—with the exception of the superlative “Long Division” and despite a much higher guitar-to-piano ratio than 2005’s Plans, Death Cab for Cutie has not returned to the leaner days of The Photo Album. Instead, they continue to work with lusher arrangements and often more electronic instruments (and even a tabla on “Pity and Fear”), and Ben Gibbard continues to work the seams that separate everyday life from greater truth.
Archive for the 'music' Category
Bon Iver is featured on Pitchfork.tv today. It’s from a live show at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn, and worth watching, especially if you haven’t seen him live.
Last.fm + YouTube Mashup - this is so very cool, just put in your last.fm username and it creates a video playlist based on your music. A lot of live videos and other clips that I hadn’t really seen before. I’m a fan. (via)
Children’s Records: Children’s Vinyl Record Series: Free MP3s of children’s music sold in the US during the 1950’s and 1960’s
Dosh’s World: Electronic one-man band Martin Dosh steps out of the background and into the spotlight. Onstage and in the studio he makes his music, often alone, in what can best be understood as a cockpit. In the center is a swiveling drummer’s stool, and with a push from one foot, he can turn to face a drum set, his vintage electric piano, or a small table with a tangle of cables, effects machines, and a synthesizer.
Excellent article on Minneapolis musician Martin Dosh, who plays at the Walker Art Center Saturday night in an event called, The World of Dosh
Flickr: Elbow at the Fine Line 4/30/2008: Here are my pictures from last night’s amazing Elbow show. I never used to like shows at The Fine Line, but now it has to be one of the best in town, especially for a band like Elbow, with excellent sound. Lead singer Guy Garvey was very entertaining between songs, and his voice sounded perfect.
See British Rock is Always Top for complete review, more pictures, and the setlist
Atmosphere’s old-school record party: More than a thousand kids lined up to be the first to buy (yes, buy!) the Minneapolis hip-hop group’s new album at midnight.
This is pretty damn cool, and must also have been a decent payday for Slug and Ant. Somehow they were able to keep the record off the internet for long enough, and were smart enough to delay the public release, to have a release party of their own and at their own record store.
I’ll never forget buying Atmosphere’s first album Overcast at the Electric Fetus back in the day. I grabbed my CD from the shelf, walked up to the counter, and who was working? Slug. He looks at me and says, “damn, I heard this record really sucks”, to which I replied, “yeah, and I heard the lead guy is a total dick”. He laughed, we completed the transaction, and I walked away. Never in a million years did I ever think he would get as big as he did, but from everything I’ve read, he did it right.
Hands On: When Life Gives You Lemons: Your first look at the new Atmosphere album “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold”. The Deluxe version includes: a 40 page gold embossed hard cover book featuring an illustrated children’s story written by Slug and a bonus DVD with over an hour of live footage and extras.
Kottke: Top Five Most Played Songs in your iTunes library?
1. The Hold Steady - Your Little Hoodrat Friend
2. Voxtrot - The Start Of Something
3. Sage Francis - Slow Down Ghandi
4. The Decemberists - 16 Military Wives
5. Shout Out Louds - My Friend And The Ink On His Fingers
