SOTD 12.31.09

It’s the last day of the 2000s. Tomorrow, a new decade begins. Who knows what that decade will hold? If Hollywood and the conspiracy theorists of the world had its say, this coming decade will only be two years long, for the apocalypse is nigh. Well, if that’s case, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to go out with an appropriate soundtrack. So, for today’s SOTD, I offer you a piece by minimalist composer Steve Reich. Working with phasing and tapes during the 1960s to create phenomenal musique concréte compositions like “Come Out,” Reich has continually produced innovative music. This particular work, Different Trains, movement ii, utilizes a string quartet interpolated with audio clips of interviews done with European Holocaust victims and American train porters. What Reich hoped to accomplish was to shed light on the role of trains in history depending upon the time period, and in so doing, he evaluated the recordings for melodic aspects found in the interviewees’ speech. With its subject matter lending the music an inherent gravity, the song also features a haunting atmosphere created by frantic screeching strings, howling sirens, and eerily manipulated audio clips. If the apocalypse comes in 2012, this is probably what it’s going to sound like…

Steve Reich: Different Trains, Europe During the War (mvt ii)
Listen
Buy

SOTD 12.30.09

Once a member of the now-defunct indie pop band Harlem Shakes, ARMS is the solo moniker of Todd Goldstein. His debut, Kids Aflame, is a beautiful lo-fi record with impassioned lyrics delivered in Goldstein’s rather rough-around-the-edges vocal style; however, this is by no means a knock against ARMS, but instead a quality that jives perfectly with the subject matter and overall feel of the album. Containing one of my favorite lyrics of all time is the second track off the album, “Whirring,” which muses,

I wrote down all my thoughts
to see what I thought, I gave it a shot
and there thousands of spiraling knots.

Although Harlem Shakes’ jangly pop is no more, the indie community is lucky that ARMS will continue to create lovely—superior—music.

ARMS: “Whirring”
Listen
Buy

You and Your Effects: Quelling Our Tongue Tied Rivalries

I think that we are going to get through this. Maybe the first year of the Obama administration didn’t go exactly as we planned. Healthcare may be less than fixed, Iran may be less than stable, and Sarah Palin may be less than dead but ye have little faith. I beg you, have a little faith in folk music.

Amidst the shit-storm that has been the last 3 years in this country, real American culture, I believe, has prevailed. Folk music is part of the popular conscience once again with the brilliance and omnipotence of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver along with a resurgent love for the music of Elliot Smith and Nick Drake. Residing in North Carolina for the better part of the last three years, I have been privileged to the the landscapes these artists long to croon about– they are as breathtaking as the melodies churning through your headphones. I have heard the story of the broken American south and it is sublime in its ability to both devastate and inspire. That American story is where we start in our introduction to You and Your Effects. A five piece band formed in early 2008 and centrally located in Davidson, NC, You and Your Effects effectively praise the beauties of these very same landscapes and the intricacies of the domestic. Lushly arranged but sparsely polished, authenticity shines through with every finger-picked note and every fluted breath. Songs such as “Skylight” are reminiscent of Nick Drake’s beloved Pink Moon LP while “Fall” and “Red Swan” seem to be our answer to Ireand’s The Swell Season.

YAYE has already experienced well deserved publicity within the state of North Carolina. NC State’s student radio station, WKNC 88.1, named YAYE “the best band you may not have hear of…yet.” The band will also being returning to play live shows in the spring in and around Davidson after a self-described period of diaspora. They have more than handful of tracks curretly streaming on their MySpace and their debut album, Wire Sharks, is on sale at Raleigh’s very own School Kids Records. You and Your Effects is…

Jon Springfield- guitar, vocals, violin, banjo, accordion, piano
Michael Mellody- guitar, vocals
Lexi Valauri-Orton- flute, vocals
James Johnson- bass
Mark Crowley- drums

Check out the social networking.
MySpace
Facebook
YouAndYourEffects@gmail.com

Don’t worry, the kids are alright.

You and Your Effects: Quelling Our Tongue Tied Rivalries

I think that we are going to get through this. Maybe the first year of the Obama administration didn’t go exactly as we planned. Healthcare may be less than fixed, Iran may be less than stable, and Sarah Palin may be less than dead but ye have little faith. I beg you, have a little faith in folk music.

Amidst the shit-storm that has been the last 3 years in this country, real American culture, I believe, has prevailed. Folk music is part of the popular conscience once again with the brilliance and omnipotence of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver along with a resurgent love for the music of Elliot Smith and Nick Drake. Residing in North Carolina for the better part of the last three years, I have been privileged to the the landscapes these artists long to croon about– they are as breathtaking as the melodies churning through your headphones. I have heard the story of the broken American south and it is sublime in its ability to both devastate and inspire. That American story is where we start in our introduction to You and Your Effects. A five piece band formed in early 2008 and centrally located in Davidson, NC, You and Your Effects effectively praise the beauties of these very same landscapes and the intricacies of the domestic. Lushly arranged but sparsely polished, authenticity shines through with every finger-picked note and every fluted breath. Songs such as “Skylight” are reminiscent of Nick Drake’s beloved Pink Moon LP while “Fall” and “Red Swan” seem to be our answer to Ireand’s The Swell Season.

YAYE has already experienced well deserved publicity within the state of North Carolina. NC State’s student radio station, WKNC 88.1, named YAYE “the best band you may not have hear of…yet.” The band will also being returning to play live shows in the spring in and around Davidson after a self-described period of diaspora. They have more than handful of tracks curretly streaming on their MySpace and their debut album, Wire Sharks, is on sale at Raleigh’s very own School Kids Records. You and Your Effects is…

Jon Springfield- guitar, vocals, violin, banjo, accordion, piano
Michael Mellody- guitar, vocals
Lexi Valauri-Orton- flute, vocals
James Johnson- bass
Mark Crowley- drums

Check out the social networking.
MySpace
Facebook
YouAndYourEffects@gmail.com

Don’t worry, the kids are alright.

SOTD 12.29.09

Another feel-good song for you as the year comes to a close you get to reflect on all the fortune you’ve experienced in the past twelve months and the potential that awaits in the coming twelve. Creating indie folk pop is Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, who released their fourth LP, Know Better Learn Faster, this past October. This San Fransisco trio is fronted by Thao Nguyen (yes, TB, an Asian), who has a knack for fashioning infectious pop numbers in both solo and band-based settings. Enjoy.

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down: “Cool Yourself”
Listen
Buy

Songs from the Portuguese

Here, I will attempt to veil the fact that we are just two college kids writing about the music we love. Though in the spring of 2009, my relatively limited scope for music in this great world was pricked, twisted, and shocked in a school class, yes a class with a professor, homework, lectures, and grades. MUS241 with Mauro Botehlo (mustache and all) was my first in-depth exposure to international leanings and tones and it was great. We tend to think of US as having one of the most extensive cultural scapes known to man, and don’t get me wrong me, it does. Though for a country that does not claim to be the world’s “tossed salad,” Brazil has one of the most intriguing musical histories in the civilized world. Aside from the immensity of Samba and Carnavalia, pop music truly matters. The selection I have chosen to share with all of you comes from a super group of sorts. Think of the three most popular, talented, and respected pop musicians you know of (I know, it’s difficult) and imagine them somehow forming a cohesive unit…welcome to Tribalistas. Tribalistas is a super group formed from revered pop musicians Marisa Monte, Arnaldo Atunes, and Carlinhos Brown. Think “We Are the World” on street cred steroids.

I will stop blabbering and get to the track. This is “Ja Sei Namoroar” from the LP Tribalistas and the short lived trio of the same name. Make sure you fill your prescriptions, this shit is infectious.

Tribalistas: “Ja Sei Namorar”
Buy

Songs from the Portuguese

Here, I will attempt to veil the fact that we are just two college kids writing about the music we love. Though in the spring of 2009, my relatively limited scope for music in this great world was pricked, twisted, and shocked in a school class, yes a class with a professor, homework, lectures, and grades. MUS241 with Mauro Botehlo (mustache and all) was my first in-depth exposure to international leanings and tones and it was great. We tend to think of US as having one of the most extensive cultural scapes known to man, and don’t get me wrong me, it does. Though for a country that does not claim to be the world’s “tossed salad,” Brazil has one of the most intriguing musical histories in the civilized world. Aside from the immensity of Samba and Carnavalia, pop music truly matters. The selection I have chosen to share with all of you comes from a super group of sorts. Think of the three most popular, talented, and respected pop musicians you know of (I know, it’s difficult) and imagine them somehow forming a cohesive unit…welcome to Tribalistas. Tribalistas is a super group formed from revered pop musicians Marisa Monte, Arnaldo Atunes, and Carlinhos Brown. Think “We Are the World” on street cred steroids.

I will stop blabbering and get to the track. This is “Ja Sei Namoroar” from the LP Tribalistas and the short lived trio of the same name. Make sure you fill your prescriptions, this shit is infectious.

Tribalistas: “Ja Sei Namorar”
Buy

SOTD 12.28.09

Some of my favorite bands are what I’d call “sleepers;” the ones that put out an album or two and disappeared or have silently compiled a respectable discography without any real widespread acclaim or just release a solid album and, for whatever reason, go largely unnoticed. Although it’s early, as their debut LP, Weathervanes, doesn’t come out in physical form until March 2010, Freelance Whales haven’t really been catching the traction that other bubbling indie acts get. For instance, Washed Out blew up with just two mp3s on his MySpace page back in the summer, and oOoOO is a Gorilla vs. Bear darling based on their gimmicky name alone. However, let it be known that Muzjiks will not overlook this band. Freelance Whales creates indie pop in the vein of Cloud Cult and Slow Runner that will surely brighten your dreary winter days with its refreshing departure from the indie lo-fi/no-fi/glo-fi fad. Utilizing an atypical battery of instruments—including a harmonium, a glockenspiel, a banjo, and a waterphone—and male-female harmonies to create a lighthearted atmosphere, the boyish vocals are driven by a lead singer whose voice strongly resembles Miniature Tigers‘ Charlie Brand. I’ve just posted the track “Generator ^ First Floor” to give you a taste, but the entire album is great, so download it off iTunes using the link below.

Freelance Whales: “Generator ^ First Floor”
Listen
Buy

MuzjiksTV: 12.21-12.27

Tuesday, December 22: KiD CuDi performs “Pursuit of Happiness” on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (NBC)
Although CuDi’s lyrics are nothing too spectacular and we’ve all seen better technical emceeing ability from other rappers, it’s undeniable that the guy knows what he’s doing. He puts together memorable melodies, pushes the envelope with his production choices, and knows how to create feel-good music.

http://www.youtube.com/v/MTNQNr8QVQ8&hl=en_US&fs=1&

Saturday, December 20: Arcade Fire performs songs from Neon Bible on Austin City Limits (PBS) [re-run]
We apologize for the lack of embedding on this video, but follow the link to enjoy this performance from indie monoliths Arcade Fire, who are currently working on their third LP. Plan on that being out in late May 2010, along with an accompanying tour beginning this summer that will start out with some North American festival gigs. Where 2009 was noticeably devoid of this Canadian collective, 2010 will surely make up for the absence.
http://video.pbs.org/video/1350236975/

Snoop Dogg on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

You don’t get to see wasted people on network TV a lot, so I thought I would add this. I don’t even think this is the right week–we make our own rules here.
http://player.longtailvideo.com/player.swf

MuzjiksTV: 12.21-12.27

Tuesday, December 22: KiD CuDi performs “Pursuit of Happiness” on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (NBC)
Although CuDi’s lyrics are nothing too spectacular and we’ve all seen better technical emceeing ability from other rappers, it’s undeniable that the guy knows what he’s doing. He puts together memorable melodies, pushes the envelope with his production choices, and knows how to create feel-good music.

Saturday, December 20: Arcade Fire performs songs from Neon Bible on Austin City Limits (PBS) [re-run]
We apologize for the lack of embedding on this video, but follow the link to enjoy this performance from indie monoliths Arcade Fire, who are currently working on their third LP. Plan on that being out in late May 2010, along with an accompanying tour beginning this summer that will start out with some North American festival gigs. Where 2009 was noticeably devoid of this Canadian collective, 2010 will surely make up for the absence.
http://video.pbs.org/video/1350236975/

Snoop Dogg on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

You don’t get to see wasted people on network TV a lot, so I thought I would add this. I don’t even think this is the right week–we make our own rules here.