Internet Equations
Cool Pop Song + Nice Childhood Memories + Clever Remixology = Propagatory Success
(Phoenix - Brat Pack Mashup - via MBV)
For the Investors on a Monday Morning
About time we had a good day, no? So press play and let's have some fun today. Thanks.
Tune In Saturdays: Mayer Hawthorne
Holy shit, why is there not more of this out there? Prepare your groove pants for the greatness of Ann Arbor's Mayer Hawthorne, a sometimes blues-y, sometimes funky, but always soulful album that probably belongs more fittingly in 1966 rather than 2009. Very few records get me as excited as this one did, or as disappointed that there are only been 2 songs released.
Mayer Hawthorne - Just Ain't Gonna Work Out (video)
Mayer Hawthorne - When I Said Goodbye (video)
Tune In Saturdays: Malajube (revisited)
Putting aside the absolute obtuseness of releasing an album in some countries and not others, leaving me listening to Malajube's new record, Labyrinthes, without buying it, I'll have to forge ahead considering just how good it actually is.
From QRO Magazine:
"Leave it to the French, or at least, French-Canadians to put amuch-needed, thought-provoking twist on rock 'n roll. While the underground music world continues to stretch in infinite directions, Malajube helps to recenter the trends with an inventive mix of soaring '90s alternative rock sounds and ultra-modern effects. Labyrinthes is a clear gem in 2009's rock bag."
And check out this fantastic, Clue-like video for Porte Disaru:
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3108461&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
MALAJUBE || PORTÉ DISPARU from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.
From Stereogum:
Malajube - Ursuline (mp3)
Tune In Saturdays: The Acorn
More good stuff out of Canada, this time from Ottawa's The Acorn. It's often quiet, but a little Americana-ish and folksy. For fans of the Fleet Foxes, this is probably a safe bet.
From Pitchfork:
"The record has some ethnomusicological underpinnings: While writing it, Klausener researched Honduran indigenous music, which has connections to the West African roots of many of its practicioners, but stopped short of replicating it outright, preferring to learn from its rhythmic pecularities and translate them to his own folk-collective worldview. "Crooked Legs" is easily the best example of the band's strengths; a melodic hodgepodge of brass, rumbling drums, intricately plucked guitars, and Klausener's plangent vocal melody do more than their parts to propel a charming, inspirational lyric."
The Acorn - The Flood Pt. 1 (mp3)
The Acorn - Crooked Legs (video)
Tune In Saturdays: Hype Machine Music Blog Zeitgeist
Rather than featuring a band, we'll take a step back and just pick our favorites from the fantastic Music Blog Zeitgeist 2008 from Hype Machine. You'll find the top 50 artists, albums and songs as posted by the music bloggers they track.
http://media.imeem.com/m/81rAYqRBky/aus=false/
Some of my favorites:
Artists
Albums
...a whole bunch in the top 10.
Songs
Grizzly Bear - Knife (Girl Talk Remix)
via MBV
Tune In Saturdays: Benji Hughes
Benji Hughes is clearly one weird dude. I'm not sure what exactly the North Carlina songwriter is on, but give me two of whatever he's having. The guy looks like he's straight out of the 70's rock and roll scene, with songs that have this crazy, but fitting mix of folk and lounge music, good old hip hop, and randomness. The whole thing is very odd, and very appealing. A great party record.
He looks like an Allman brother, sings like Beck and suffers the dating travails of George Costanza. But on his sprawling double-CD debut, Benji Hughes is unmistakably — and always hilariously — his own man. The North Carolina-and-Tennessee-reared artist specializes in laugh-out-loud vignettes about hipster culture, with catchy, eccentrically arranged songs that straddle folk, lounge, electro, synth rock and a half-dozen other styles.
<[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MWmFpLoLlE&w=400&h=225]
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1804716&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
A Love Extreme (Benji Hughes) from New West Records on Vimeo.
Tune In Saturdays: J. Tillman
For any fans of Fleet Foxes or Bon Iver, prepare for your pants to go crazy for Seattle's J. Tillman (also known as Josh). Although this is his 5th studio release, it's his first since becoming the drummer for the Fleet Foxes. Most of his earlier work, including the video below, is about as minimalist as they come, but with Vacilando Territory Blues, he's adding additional elements while keeping the original folksy style.
"It is heavily apparent that Tillman is going to find widespread success eventually, and it looks to be quite soon too with the upcoming release of Vacilando Territory Blues on January 20th. Coinciding with how his albums seem to get better with each passing one, Tillman’s newest effort proves to be his most consistent to date. While other January releases from the likes of Animal Collective, Franz Ferdinand, and Andrew Bird may be receiving the most attention at this point and time, it would be a shame to overlook this gem. I will say this much: If it were being released this year, I would have to shuffle around some albums to make room for it on my Top 50."
Tune In Saturdays: Plants and Animals
Another in a pretty much constant stream of Canadian talent, trio Plants and Animals brings an ambitious, folksy-ish, but malleable record with Parc Avenue. At times southern rocky, and at others classic rock & Fleetwood Mac-y, the album has one unexpected gem after another.
"They offer up explosive, Polyphonic Spree-sized choir choruses, 1970s AM radio guitars, cozy folk balladry, and rambling stoner boogie-often in the course of one song-- and switch between them with little warning. Many of their songs clock in at over five minutes long, but that's all the better for them to pick up steam, stylistically mutate, or expand."
Plants and Animals - Good Friend (mp3)
Tune In Saturdays: Emiliana Torrini
You'd hardly expect this folksy, sometimes on the edge of latin, pop to be born of Iceland. But Emiliana Torrini makes her break after a writing a song or two for others and jumping on a few odd soundtracks with Me and Armini.
From Paste Magazine:
"A diva/chanteuse somewhere between the bad-girl anti-heroics of Lily Allen and the Sunday morning adulthood of Norah Jones, Emiliana Torrini sings with the inquisitiveness of fellow Icelander Björk. On Me and Armini, Torrini’s sixth album (third international), her songs are set into glittering poptronics by collaborator Dan Carey, with whom Torrini once co-wrote and co-produced songs for Kylie Minogue. The two aren’t afraid to aim for absolute hookiness."
Emiliana Torrini - Introductory Video
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGbRYf9X5LA&w=425&h=275]
Emiliana Torrini - Big Jumps (video)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l-XlG_TjCw&w=425&h=344]