Drown Your Beliefs

It's the Remix Edition: Sleigh Bells, Robyn, More!

2010-05-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

Apologies in advance for the long hiatus - I plan to make up for it with an EPIC post. As always when I am gone, I am still listening to tons of music and there have been some truly incredible songs unveiled in the past few weeks. Most are of the remix variety, but I am going to be throwing in some others for good measure. Here we go:

Marina & the Diamonds has appear on DYB before in remixed form, but not even close to this good. She is of the Little Boots, La Roux great female vocalist mold that Britain just seems to churn out on a weekly basis. For me those acts shine most in remixes when production is put into more adept hands. Enter Clock Opera, a London quartet with stellar production chops though their vocals and melodies leave a bit to be desired. With Marina (aka Marina Lambrini Diamandis) taking vocal duties, Clock Opera takes her song with its vulnerably beautiful verses layers in epic strings and more importantly takes an okay (at best) chorus and chops up her vocals to mind blowing effect. This song has been on repeat for a week straight and I see no end in sight. This one will be on my year end list for sure. Find it HERE.

Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors' fame (she goes all Maria Carey on "Stillness Is The Move") took some time off to guest on Rusko's track "Hold On" on his latest album, O.M.G.! (really??). Fortunately the song is about the opposite of the album title. Amber's voice is quickly becoming one of my favorites in music today. This song shows her with more soul and a bit of an edge. Sub Focus provides just insane and very STRONG (the percussions are not for the weak) beats that kick this song into another gear. Love this - HERE.

While not a remix per se, Sleigh Bells takes an excellent female vocalist Alexis Krauss and pairs her with a production mastermind, Derek Miller. They just happened to form a band instead! (Note to Little Boots, et al.: Please use this same formula). So instead of just a one off great remixed track, Sleigh Bells dropped a whole album of absolutely banging beats and sultry vocals - this album is SICK! The album dropped on Tuesday and is available for the rest of the week for free streaming on NPR. Definitely check them out HERE. I have raved about these two before - HERE for more info.

Robyn has been putting out dancefloor ready tracks for years and doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. Possibly my favorite of hers to date "Dancing On My Own" has been on repeat for me for a while. Check it out HERE. Dance remix by Buzz Junkies HERE works for a more amped up late night play but I am still waiting for a quintessential remix of this track. Right now nothing beats the original.

Lastly and out of nowhere is HEALTH with "USA Boys". HEALTH was a group making mainly loud uninteresting noise in the LA scene. Here they throw that completely out and put together one of the sickest beats I have heard this year off of their remix album DISCO 2. Going to start paying attention now for sure. Give it a spin HERE.

Couple other things of note:
(1) Check out wearehunted.com for a great playlist of the 99 most blogged songs of the moment and a whole section devoted to remixes as well HERE.
(2) Lala is shutting down end of the month thanks to Apple buying it (Stewart is right - Apple is turning into the Gestapo) BUT a huge benefit - all of Pitchfork's tracks on their website can be streamed repeatedly for free so check it out HERE. Until the end of the month that is..

Enjoy,
MD

May Is Here: New Music from LCD Soundsystem, National and Broken Social Scene!

2010-04-23T09:49:00.001-07:00

Don't have much time to write and have SOOO much I want to share on the amazing Coachella weekend that just passed (my favorite in the 4 years I have been to the festival and possibly my favorite weekend EVER). One band that was present, James Murphy's LCD Soundsystem, who had THE performance of Coachella (with 10 foot disco ball hanging overhead the whole time) has put their new album This Is Happening (which is as unbelievably brilliant as their last, Sound of Silver) up for free streaming on their website HERE. He is also playing the Hollywood Palladium on June 4th and the Glass House in Pomona on June 5th - more info on presales HERE.

Not to be outdone, the two other most anticipated albums of May (and in my opinion the year, unless Radiohead surprises all of us) have been put up for streaming as well. The National's High Violet is on the NY Times website HERE only until April 27th so listen soon! It is destined to be another classic slowly burning into your mind.

If that wasn't enough, Broken Social Scene's new album, Forgiveness Rock Record, that I have raved about on this site multiple times already, is streaming on their website HERE! They have already put out two songs ("All Is All" and "World Sick") that will definitely be on my year end best songs list.

Enjoy,

Coachella IS Coming! Coachella Commitment Day 3 Mix Featuring Thom Yorke, Phoenix, Spoon, MORE!

2010-04-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Coachella is only 2 days away (2!) - Get ready!

Without further ado, I present the final installment of the "Coachella Commitment" Mixes - the EPIC Day 3! "Day 3 Commitment" is the next level. After two full days of intensity (sun, LOTS of people, port-o-potties), those around for Sunday deserve a medal. This year with Thom Yorke, Phoenix, Spoon, Pavement, Gorillaz, it is my favorite lineup of the festival - so looks like I have no choice but to power through. I hope all of you do as well!

Like everything on this site, this mix is an editorialized selection of my favorite acts performing this year and my favorite song(s) by them. For those acts with two songs, they should not be missed. For those with just one, I am going to try to catch them for at least a few songs. Some others worth considering and not on the mix - Jonsi (lead singer of Sigur Ros - don't love his solo stuff but his voice is otherworldly) and Local Natives (excellent LA band playing on the early side - wrote more about them HERE). Below is the tracklist and at the bottom is the link to the download. Next to some artists I have put a link to previous posts I have written on them for more details and tracks.

Coachella Commitment Day 1 Mix Tracklist:

1. Phoenix - Lisztomania ( Off of DYB's Favorite Album of '09; More Info HERE)
2. Spoon - The Way We Get By
3. Pavement - Cut Your Hair
4. Thom Yorke - And It Rained All Night (I may talk about this guy a tad bit too much like HERE)
5. Julian Casablancas (Lead singer of The Strokes; more HERE)
6. Phoenix - Long Distance Call (25 Hours A Day Remix)
7. Spoon - I Turn My Camera On
8. Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension
9. The Big Pink - Dominos
10. Miike Snow - Burial (DJ Medhi Remix - who is playing as part of Club 75 Sunday!)
11. Gorillaz - Stylo
12. Little Boots - Stuck On Repeat
13. B.O.B. featuring Amy Winehouse - Grip Your Body
14. Florence & The Machine - You've Got the Love (see also Day 2's xx remix of this excellent song)
15. Yo La Tengo - Here To Fall
16. Thom Yorke - The Eraser

DOWNLOAD DAY 3 MIX HERE

Enjoy and see you there,
MD

PS New LCD Soundsystem Album is up and available to stream on their website! Check it out HERE. Awesome so far!

Coachella IS Coming! Coachella Commitment Mix Day 2 Featuring MGMT, Tiesto, 2ManyDJs and Many More!

2010-04-13T09:59:00.001-07:00

Coachella is only 3 days away (3!). Tickets appear to have sold out (though rumors persist that they may release some day of...who knows?). All set times are up (HERE) so its fully time to get serious - Coachella is approaching fast...

Given the immediacy of the coming festival is it time for BOTH Coachella Commitment Day 2 AND Day 3 to be released! Here is Day 2 - Day 3 follows TOMORROW!

For Day 2, I have a special treat. My good friend DJ Mikky Eriksen, an excellent up and coming DJ out of LA (check out his many sweet house and electro-rock mixes HERE) and my resident expert on all things electronic has put together a SICK mix focusing on all the great electronic acts gracing the stage that day. On Day 2, if all else fails, head to the Sahara "techno" tent - there will definitely be a party going on all day. Its such a techno heavy day that Tiesto is gracing the final performance of the Coachella (Main) Stage that night. Should be an absolutely epic electronic music event. Here is the tracklist and link to DJ Mikky Eriksen's Coachella Day 2 mix:

Florence & The Machine - You Got the Love (The XX Remix)

Miike Snow - Sylvia (Dirty South & Sebastian Ingrosso Remix)

Tracey Thorn - Grand Cayon (Dirty South Remix)

Hop Chip - Over & Over (Solid Groove Remix)

Major Lazer- Pon De Floor (Laidback Luke Remix)

Empire of Sun - Walking on a Dream (Kaskade Mix)

Tegan & Sara - Back in Your Head (Tiesto Remix)

MGMT - Kidsos (Sebastian Ingrosso Mix)

David Guetta - Memories (Barletta Remix

Bloody Beetroots - WARP (2ManyDJs Mashup Mix)

David Guetta & Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over (DG Podcast Mix)

David Guetta - The World is Mine (DJ Red & Josh Dupont Remix)

Tiesto & Sneaky Soundsystem - I Will Be Here (Laidback Luke Remix)

Kaskade - Move For Me (Extended Mix)

Tiesto - Walking On Clouds

David Guetta- Love is Gnuk (Axwell Mix)

Tiesto - Delerium - Silence (In Search of Sunrise Mix)

Tiesto- Adagio For Strings

Kaskade - I remember (Caspa Remix)

MGMT - Time to Pretend (DMoe Funk Club Mix)

DOWNLOAD DAY 2 MIX HERE

Enjoy,

Coachella IS Coming! Coachella Commitment Day 1 Mix Featuring Jay-Z, LCD, Passion Pit, MORE!

2010-04-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

Coachella is only 9 days away (9!) and I may have to freeze myself until then to contain my unbridled excitement. Instead I have decided to dedicate DYB to all things Coachella until then INCLUDING Introductions to the most exciting (and some lesser known artists), Recommended schedules for each day and most importantly MIXES including all the best, most exciting artists. Get ready!

Without further ado, I present the "Coachella Commitment Day 1" Mix! "Commitment" because Coachella is not for the weak. It is intense (sun, LOTS of people, port-o-potties), but always always AMAZING! Like everything on this site, this mix is an editorialized selection of my favorite acts performing this year and my favorite song(s) by them. For those acts with two songs, they should not be missed. For those with just one, I am going to try to catch them for at least a few songs. Some others worth considering and not on the mix - Gil Scott Heron (70s legend I wrote about HERE) and Fever Ray (female half of The Knife - out there, but very cool). Below is the tracklist and at the bottom is the link to the download. Next to some artists I have put a link to previous posts I have written on them for more details and tracks.

Coachella Commitment Day 1 Mix Tracklist:

1. Yeasayer - ONE (More Info HERE)
2. Jay-Z - Heart of the City
3. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends (More Info HERE)
4. Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground (More Info HERE)
5. LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk is Playing At My House
6. Passion Pit - Moth's Wings (More Info HERE)
7. Jay -Z - 99 Problems
8. Aeroplane - Friendly Fire's "Paris" Remix
9. La Roux - I'm Not Your Toy (Jack Beats Remix) (More Info HERE)
10. Deadmau5 - Ghosts N Stuff
11. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
12. Wale - TV In The Radio (Produced by David Sitek of TV on the Radio)
13. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks (More Info HERE)
14. Vampire Weekend - Diplomat's Son (More Info HERE)
15. Sleigh Bells - Ring Ring
16. The Whitest Boy Alive - Burning
17. Ra Ra Riot - Can You Tell

DOWNLOAD MIX HERE

Enjoy and see you there,
MD

Coachella IS Coming! Introducing Club 75

2010-04-01T17:47:00.001-07:00

Coachella is only 15 days away (15!) and I may have to freeze myself until then to contain my unbridled excitement. Instead I have decided to dedication DYB over the next 15 days (15!) to all things Coachella until then INCLUDING Introductions to the most exciting (and some lesser known artists), Recommended schedules for each day and most importantly MIXES including all the best, most exciting artists. Get ready!

To kick off the COACHELLA IS COMING! section, I want to introduce one of the most exciting and unique collaborations at the festival, Club 75. Most will be surprised to see Club 75 in BOLD with billings comparable to such acts as Phoenix, Spoon and Strokes lead man, Julian Casablancas (all of who I highly recommend seeing as well) until they know who is in this electronic music supergroup. Club 75 consists of Xaiver de Rosnay (1/2 of Justice), Zdar (aka Cassius and the producer of Phoenix), DJ Medhi and Busy P (only the founder of Ed Banger Records and Daft Punk's original manager) - now that's a bit more exciting. This collaboration started five years ago at REX CLUB in Paris with all these electronic geniuses behind the deck and each one stepping forward and taking over at random whenever they had an idea on where to take the music. "From hip-hop to rock to house to techno to rock" this should be an all-out party in the Sahara "techno" Tent! Check out a mix from Club 75 below:

Club 75 - Mixmag Presents Club 75 Mix

More Coachella knowledge to drop on all of you soon. For know...

Enjoy,

New Music Overload! Thom Yorke, The National, BSS, and more

2010-03-26T16:33:00.001-07:00

Well it is about time! This week has seen new music dropped by three of my favorite artists and some exciting up and comers ALL with great new tracks. With Thom Yorke (in a supporting role), The National and Broken Social Scene all releasing new music this week (and BSS with two new tunes), the pleasure centers in my brain have been malfunctioning and on the verge of complete collapse. Let's get to some of this music already:

Broken Social Scene already released the brilliant "World Sick" (currently in the pole position for song of the year for me) off their forthcoming album, Forgiveness Rock Record. Now they have made available for download on iTunes and available for streaming below, TWO new songs off the forthcoming album, "All to All" and "Force to Love". "Force to Love" is an excellent tradition rock song with the added layers one comes to expect from BSS. "All to All", for me, is the true gem. It uses occasional female vocalist for the group, Lisa Lobsinger, as the lead and it comes off like a newer Yeah Yeah Yeahs song with Lisa a more vulnerable Karen O. The song is airy, summery at the beginning and by minute 3 is jammy and drives it home beautifully. I have been listening to this one on repeat - check it out below.

The National already got me (way too) excited for their upcoming album with the "Terrible Love" performance from Fallon (video posted HERE.) Now comes their official single, "Bloodbuzz Ohio", off the new album, High Violet, that drops in May. This song would have fit beautifully on their last album, the absolute classic Boxer, but it shows a bit of the transition from that album to the all-out rocker that is "Terrible Love". These guys can do no wrong in my book.

Flying Lotus is an experimental producer based out of LA creating some of the craziest beats out there. His album, Los Angeles, was a critical darling in 2008. How does one improve upon that success? Team up with Thom Yorke on your new album's, Cosmogramma, first release, And the World Laughs With You". The first two minutes sets the stage for his mind bending beat making ability with Thom Yorke's super smooth vocals coming in shortly after the 2 minute mark. Loving this track too!

While the biggest names in indie music are raising the bar this year, the newer guys are holding their own too:

Delorean (who I have written about before HERE) are back with the first track, "Stay Close" off their upcoming debut album (though these guys had quite the impressive first EP dropped last year). This track is everything that is great about Delorean - fun, dancey electronic club music made for beach / poolside listening. These guys take a lot of influences from the Swedish poppy electronic bands (learn more about them HERE), but make this their own. Will be listening to this one all weekend.

One more newbie that I just started listening to be, but am really digging is Blondes. These two guys are an electronic music "jam band". They are experimenting and always pushing their music (I hear their live shows are sick!). Check out a jam off their EP below.

Enjoy and have a great weekend,
MD

Phoenix: Live In Sydney FREE!

2010-03-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

After topping numerous end of year lists (including DYB's) with their brilliant Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix and touring relentlessly throughout 2009 and still going strong in 2010 (with US dates starting again with Coachella on 4/18 - see full tour dates HERE), Phoenix is the gift that keeps on giving. But why stop there - Phoenix is giving away a 8 song FREE live set from their show in Sydney on their website -HERE! From someone who saw Phoenix perform 4 times last year (and will be front and center at their Coachella set), trust me this is a must listen.

Enjoy,
MD

The National Debut "Terrible Love" On Fallon...

2010-03-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

And make me all the more excited for May. While this year has been slow on the mind-blowing music front, two of my favorite bands of the past decade, The National and Broken Social Scene, have both dropped new songs on the world to give me hope that the 10s have some promise yet. Broken Social Scene absolutely killed their return after a 5 year hiatus with the single, "World Sick" off their forthcoming album (out May 4th), Forgiveness Rock Record (single and all the details available HERE). The National's last two records (3rd and 4th overall), Alligator and Boxer, are two of my favorite records of the past decade (just barely missing out on this HERE) and show a band that is absolutely peaking right now. "Terrible Love" shows the band continuing to build on all the qualities that make them great -lead singer Matt Berninger's deep baritone, helpless yet somehow hopeful lyrics, brilliant orchestral instrumentation, and distinctive and flat out awesome drumming. The band talks about how they have to make their songs less "epic" as they finalize their record, but like Broken Social Scene these guys embrace that "epic" sound in all the best ways. The last minute is both raw but polished rock of the highest order. Can't say enough about these guys. I am looking to them and BSS to save the year.

Enjoy,
MD

Ok Go - "This Too Shall Pass" - Insane Music Video!

2010-03-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

So the band that rode a synchronized treadmill (video) to stardom (the video for "Here It Goes Again" HERE) have managed with their latest video to top themselves and then some. This music video is on completely different level - it is one of the most insane and brilliantly awesome videos (music or otherwise) I have seen in a while. The video follows in one shot the most ridiculously extravagant Rube Goldberg Machine (or before I looked it up what I was calling The Mouse Trap Game)built in a two story warehouse in Echo Park with the help of local engineering firm Synn Labs. It is in no way profound but perfectly achieves what lead singer, Damian Kulash, said was it's main goal: "It's purpose is only to be awesome". Great success! The part with the guitar, spoon and glasses goes beyond simple awesomeness to utterly brilliant. The song is even pretty damn good too! Check it out below:

Enjoy,
MD

Fresh Tracks: Broken Social Scene, Local Natives, Gil Scott Heron and More

2010-03-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

(Broken Social Scene)

Broken Social Scene are back at it after a 5 year hiatus (although there were a number of band side projects) and they sound as good as ever. "World Sick", BSS's first single off their forthcoming album Forgiveness Rock Record (forgiveness for their lengthy hiatus perhaps?), is EPIC like you would expect from the band that can range from 6-19 members. At times it seems like almost all 19 of them are playing various guitar parts building to the songs many crescendos - these guys absolutely own the modern guitar epic (almost forgot how good these guys can be). It doesn't stop with its musical brilliance either; lyrically, lead singer and lead member of BSS, Kevin Drew, strikes a chord with its chorus "I get world sick every time I take a stand". Seems to perfectly encapsulate the current feeling of constant disappointment from the world's (and our country's in particular) politicians. Get the get track for free at BSS's website:

Broken Social Scene - "World Sick"

Morning Benders are a throwback of the best kind. Coming out of the exploding music scene in San Fran, they have crafted a 60's pop gem with "Excuses". This one sounds like a lost track in Phil Spector's or Brian Wilson's catalog. The song has me longing for summer. It is just a breezy top down driving tune with airy almost floating guitar rhythms, and a gorgeous melody accented with lush harmonies. Take a listen to the single off their new album, Big Echo:

Morning Benders - "Excuses"

Local Natives are one of the most exciting bands in the LA music scene right now. Recently being graced with a P4K Best New Music label shouldn't hurt either. These guys are very much deserving. Their debut album, Gorilla Manor, is one of the most intriguing of the new year. They sound like Grizzly Bear if it was produced by David Sitek. Really these guys resolve my only issue with Grizzly Bear - their weak rhythm section. They don't quite have Grizzly Bear's vocal chops but they have some great harmonies and I LOVE their drumming. Listen to the great first two tracks off their album, "Wide Eyes" and "Airplanes".

Local Natives - "Wide Eyes"
Local Natives - "Airplanes"

Gil Scott Heron is an icon of the 1970's. An African-American poet, musician and author; his musical style played a huge role in the development of hip-hop both with the political and social commentary of his lyrics as well as his rapping style of delivery. Then for a long time he disappeared, was in and out of jail on drug related charges and had only one album to come out in the last 25 years. Then he recently dropped I'm New Here and damn he's still got it. "New York Is Killing Me" is sure to be a classic. It is a stripped down blues tune with minimal hand claps and Gil's signature raspy baritone lamenting of his personal downfall in that great city. But it wouldn't be a Heron classic without its social commentary on the changing landscape of NYC. Enjoy:

Gil Scott Heron - "New York Is Killing Me"

And lastly, Yes Giantess' "The Ruins" may sound EXACTLY like a Passion Pit track (and they also happen to be from Boston, Mass too) BUT it still sounds so good. Check it out:

Yes Giantess - "The Ruins"

Enjoy,
MD

New Thom Yorke Songs!

2010-02-26T11:19:00.000-08:00

Lots of Thom Yorke related news as of recent. At his solo performance in support of UK's Green Party, he chose to unleash three new song gems on us. Check out the three new tunes below:

"Give Up The Ghost":

"The Daily Mail":

"Mouse Dog Bird":

Enjoy,
MD

Thom Yorke's Band officially Atoms For Peace AND Touring!

2010-02-25T18:06:00.000-08:00

(Recently named Atoms For Peace at The Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles)

First, it was ????. Then on the Coachella flyer it became Thom Yorke ????. Now it is official - Thom Yorke's new superband (with Nigel Godrich, Flea and other musical geniuses in tow) is called Atoms For Peace. Atoms For Peace is both a song off of Thom Yorke's solo debut album, The Eraser, and the famous (or infamous or really a little of both) speech delivered by then President Eisenhower to the UN Assembly that established the US program of supplying information and equipment for the development of atomic energy around the world. It was intended as a means to lead to equality amongst nations in the use of nuclear power / energy and a way to help solve "the fearful atomic dilemma". It was also under this program that both Pakistan and Iran built their first nuclear reactors. The song, "Atoms For Peace", is perhaps my favorite off the album, simple and gorgeous bass harmonics, hauntingly beautiful vocals, and a call to action: "No more talk about the old days, it's time for something great". So clearly I love the name choice (shocking).

Check out this sick remix of "Atoms for Peace by Four Tet (separately, you can catch Four Tet playing the Echoplex on Saturday, 2/27):

Atoms For Peace has announced some additional tour dates in addition to playing Coachella - lucky for those in NYC, Boston, Chicago and SF / Oakland. Check out the dates HERE. Pre-sale tickets available starting March 2nd on W.A.S.T.E. March 5th at 10am EST on Ticketmaster. Good luck - these are going to go fast.

Enjoy,

MD

Quickie: The Year of the Producer? New Music from Yeasayer, Four Tet and others

2010-02-09T14:56:00.000-08:00

(Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden)

So far, 2010 has been the year of the producer. Producers - bands that produce their own music (Yeasayer), bands taking over the boards for the first time (Spoon), longtime production geniuses (Four Tet) and young up and comers (Keepaway) - are the reason behind everything on my playlist right now.

Here's a sampling of their best stuff:

Yeasayer - I Remember - I have already raved about both singles ("Ambling Arp" and "ONE") and this CD just keeps growing on me. The first half is very strong and the appeal lies squarely in their musical experimentation and layered instrumentation. If anything, Yeasayer try TOO much. Not a bad problem at all on your sophomore effort. I see these guys only heading for bigger and better things on LPs to come. "I Remember" is one of the few songs that follows just a couple of ideas and they execute on it beautifully.

Spoon - Who Makes You Money - My track of the year so far. Can't say enough about these guys.

Four Tet - Angel Echoes - Four Tet (pictured above) is the electronic moniker for Kieran Hebden, an absolute electonic music pioneer - from his days back in the the post-rock band Fridge to his intoxicating blending of hip-hop, folk and jazz as Four Tet. His newest album, There Is Love In You, is his best and most straight forward. Absolutely love this track, "Angel Echoes", which is possibly the best musical articulation of a track title I have ever heard. The vocals are haunting. You can see him live Saturday, February 27th at Echoplex.

Keepaway - Yellow Wings - The Animal Collective reference point is an obvious one here, but the Keepaway's, a young Brooklyn band, are more than just a lesser AC. They use simple samples and percussions to perfect effect on "Yellow Wings" off their debut EP, Baby Style. And they have something to say; lyrically more akin to indie rock past than the AC mold. Been addicted to this tune for weeks.

Enjoy,

A Look Back On The Music Year So Far...

2010-01-27T18:46:00.000-08:00

First off, my measly blog posting output for this past month has been unacceptable - PERIOD. I promise you it will not happen again. While I have been absolutely swamped with work, it has only hindered my ability to inform you about music (these ramblings take far more time than it looks) and (fortunately for my sanity) not my ability to find it and listen. So this post is intended as an all-encompassing grab bag of all the exciting new music to have already dropped and the new music news about the very exciting 2010 music future. Here we go:

1. Favorite band of last year (Phoenix) covers favorite act of my youth (Bob Dylan): world collapses in on itself. Fortunately I survived my encounter with this tune. Thomas Mars channels a very convincing Dylan, staying very true to the original "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" off the beyond essential, Blonde on Blonde. From personal favorite "Visions of Johanna" to classics "Just Like a Woman" and "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" check out the original too - please. Phoenix - "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands"

2. Animal Collective premiered their "visual album" at Sundance yesterday and have some screenings planned for NYC and Chicago in the next couple months (hopefully LA soon?). more info here: http://oddsac.com/. The 30 second teaser below is everything you would expect from an AC video: visually captivating and terrifying. Unfortunately not a lot of insight into the music in the teaser, but I was sold at "visual album".

3. Spoon's Transference came out last week and I have been listening to it non-stop. So hard to rank Spoon albums since all of them are truly fantastic, but they focus more here on textures with the same brilliant instrumental interplay. Britt's voice is as captivating and playful as ever on the melodies. Check out "Who Makes You Money" and "I Saw the Light" (especially the absolutely awesome piano solo / break starting at the 2 min mark). Best album of the year so far (a bit underwhelmed by the other big releases - Vamp Weekend, Beach House (though do check out "10 Mile Stereo" HERE which is an excellent track off a good album, and Surfer Blood).

4. Dirty Projectors weren't content to just rest of their laurels of "best of year" lists from nearly every publication or maybe just because of that they have given their fans a present. Single "Ascending Melody" (not featured on Bitte Orca, but from that session) has been released on their website for free: http://www.dirtyprojectors.net/. I like the single, but for me the highlight is the free b-side, "Emblem of the World". It is as simple as this band gets (or I would bet will get) - just a simple guitar strum, minimal drums and David Longstreth at his most harmonious.

5. I have already raved about Yeasayer's first single "Ampling Arp"; this single may just top that one. "One" - 80s disco infused good times. Free download here: http://www.yeasayer.net/. The rest of the album, Odd Blood, drops February 9th and it ain't too shabby, but these two are the absolute gems.

6. Check out this very cool video of El Perro De Mar joined by Lykke Li on an LA rooftop performing an acoustic version of "Change of Heart". Love this cover (and the original HERE). Check it out:

7. LASTLY, LCD Soundsystem and The National have new albums out this spring!!! The National are playing the Wiltern on May 22 and LCD Soundsystem as of now is playing Coachella on April 16th and hightailing for a European tour after that. More updates on these guys (and a massive Coachella primer posting) coming soon.

Not a bad start to the new decade...

Enjoy,

Coachella 2010: It's Now Official

2010-01-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

AND WHAT A LIST IT IS!!

Hope to see you all there!

Enjoy,

Coachella 2010: It's Fun To Dream

2010-01-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

(Musical Nirvana)

So The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (known simply as Coachella) is set to hit the California desert for the 11th time the weekend of April 16th - 18th. The festival is absolutely epic and has a storied history of acts from big-time reunions (Pixies back in 2004, Rage Against The Machine and Jesus and the Mary Chain) to rock legends (Paul McCartney) to most importantly (in my humble opinion) the best acts in indie, electronic and (for the most part) hip-hop today PERIOD. The festival typically reveals its lineup by the end of January, but speculation on the acts begins much earlier and is all part of the fun. I have been monitoring the lists of "confirmed" acts which means they are either fully confirmed or more likely they have a conspicuous hole in their touring schedule conveniently around the 16th-18th and right near LA. I have scoured some of my favorite acts touring schedules as well to add to the list of potential acts. If this is anything close to the real list, this may just be my most anticipated one yet!

Selection of my favorite "confirmed" acts found on a number of fairly reliable sites:
The Big Pink
Devo
Delorean
Hot Chip
Miike Snow
Phoenix
Vampire Weekend
The xx

Passion Pit

Selection of acts heavily rumored with new records dropping this year:
Dirty Projectors
LCD Soundsystem
jj
Gorillaz
Yeasayer
Pavement

Florence & The Machine

MGMT

Little Boots

MY Added groups that have those odd and very intriguing schedule gaps from the 16th-18th:
Spoon
Japandroids
Beach House
Washed Out (maybe? They are touring with Beach House just after the dates)
Wilco?

Panda Bear?
Thom Yorke? (Has been rumored and did just play The Eraser with a new band in LA just a few months ago / Unfortunately Radiohead is highly unlikely)
Arcade Fire? (Supposedly have a new album dropping this year)
Broken Bells? (Danger Mouse did debut Gnarles Barkley at the festival why not his new band with James Mercer from the Shins)

For those who have not gone - this is a must on any West Coaster's yearly itinerary. Can't wait for the full list in the next few weeks!!

Enjoy,
MD

Bon Iver's Humble Beginnings

2010-01-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

(Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver)

Before there was Bon Iver, the new man/moniker that emerged from the northwoods of Wisconsin after months of seclusion, there was just Justin Vernon. Bon Iver (a reference to the French word bon hiver meaning "good winter") seemed to have produced a masterpiece, For Emma, Forever Ago, simply out of thin air in his father's cabin. Now with some insight into his earlier recordings, his previous album, Hazeltons (whole album available HERE), shows a lot of the promise that led to his brilliant "debut". "Hazelton" HERE, the title track off his previous album, believed to have only 100 copies in circulation, shows the foundation of everything that made For Emma, Forever Ago so incredibly moving - layered vocals, his captivating and incredibly emotive voice, the melancholy and simple guitar picking and his uncanny sense for melody (He has talked about how he started For Emma, Forever Ago with wordless melodies and then later found the words to fit within the melody). For those unfamiliar with Bon Iver, simply listen to "Skinny Love" (HERE with a few others off the album) once through and you will be hooked for good.

(Just outside my top 10 albums of the 00s)

Happy New Year!

Enjoy,
MD

Best Albums of 2009 Round-Up

2009-12-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

Well the year and decade are just about at their end - and both were fantastic for music. I can only hope the coming year and decade continues to bring us exciting, innovative and groundbreaking music from those we are hoping and expecting it from (see my most anticipated albums of 2010 post HERE) and, sometimes even better, from those just getting started (the future xx's). Before the new year, I want to leave you with 3 things: (1) my top 10 albums of the year (below), (2) links to some of the best music blog & magazine end of year lists and (3) the most exciting music news for 2010 already: Radiohead back in the studio THIS January (we can only hope for that In Rainbows follow-up to kick off the decade Kid-A style).

Happy New Year Everyone!

DYB's Top Albums of 2009
10. Passion Pit - Manners
9. Fanfarlo - Reservoir
8. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
7. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
6. Handsome Furs - Face Control
5. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
4. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
3. The xx - The xx
2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Pitchfork's List: HERE

Stereogum's Reader Poll: HERE

Metacritic's Compilation of Year-End Top Ten Lists: HERE

Enjoy,

Quickie: Spanish Lost Season 6 Promo featuring Radiohead

2009-12-14T14:24:00.000-08:00

This is awesome (and completely hilarious) in all the best ways possible!

In this Spanish language promo for one of TV's best shows, Lost, entering its final season (sad, but exciting), possibly my favorite song of the decade, Radiohead's "Everything in its Right Place" (off Kid A) plays over this hilariously stereotypical and overdramatic ad that would work perfectly for any Telemundo soap opera.

Should help make the Monday work just a little more bearable:

Enjoy,

Quickie: More New Vampire Weekend and Introducing Toro Y Moi

2009-12-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

(Vampire Weekend)

NOW I am VERY excited about this new Vampire Weekend CD! (There goes the CAPS lock again) First they drop an all-out punk song, "Cousins", as their first single and now they take a page out of Animal Collective's playbook for the b-side to the "Cousins" single on "California English, Pt. 2". Keep in mind, this is just a b-side and more of a musical idea than a fully constructed song - but if this is any hint of the willingness of VW to push the limits of their sound, January 12th can't come fast enough (or at least the next leaked song off Contra). And Pt. 2 does seem to imply a Pt.1 that may be on the album...and just a bit more fully formed perhaps? Let's hope. In the meantime check it out on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdP2d_M3yTg&feature=player_embedded

(Chaz Bundick aka Toro Y Moi)

So here's the second music video shot in Paris posted here for the week - why not? Especially when the song "Talamak" by Toro y Moi is made for driving and the video takes us on a trip at dawn on a nearly traffic-less tour of the French capital. Toro y Moi is one-man show from South Carolina, Chaz Bundick who's lo-fi loop-driven dreamy electronic sounds play like a marriage of Washed Up (also from SC and raved about HERE) and Bibio (who put out one of the absolute best albums of the year and is also the man responsible for DYB's first ever music post HERE). Toro Y Moi is great on its own right - check video out below and get the song HERE:

Enjoy,

Phoenix Perform "1901" and "Lisztomania" for The Take Away Shows

2009-12-03T13:40:00.000-08:00

For those unfamiliar with the Take Away Shows directed by Vincent Moon, it is time to get acquainted (All the shows are available for viewing HERE). The concept is simple: take a great artist and bring their music outside - to a park, field, square, even an elevator - in an atypical setting and just let it play out. No editing just letting the music and the environment interact and see what happens. The National, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire, you name it have done some fantastic shows in the past. Now it is Phoenix's turn. They play "1901" in front of a couple about to be married and a small crowd in Trocadero square right next to the Eiffel Tower and then take over a double decker tour bus to play "Lisztomania" riding right by that famous Paris landmark. Check out the whole series (including "Long Distance Call" and some detail on the event HERE).

"1901":

"Lisztomania / One Time Too Many":

Enjoy,
MD

Ten Most Anticipated Albums of 2010 (and some other rumored hopefuls)

2009-12-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

Before we fully wind down 2009 and I discuss my favorite music of the year and the decade (both to come in the next few weeks), I thought I would start with the future. I have already posted singles from some of the most anticipated and exciting albums of 2010 with Yeasayer's "Ambling Arp" and Vampire Weekend's "Cousins" so I thought I would go one step further. These are my top 10 most anticipated albums of the upcoming year in no particular order (other than release date for those with them). I have also include a few albums that have been rumored to drop in the coming year because it is always fun to dream. To prep everyone for these exciting releases, I have put together a lala playlist in the upper right corner with a couple of the best tracks from these bands to keep you occupied until the release dates.

Vampire Weekend - Contra (January 12): Only two weeks into the new year and Vampire Weekend is following up their nearly universally acclaimed self-titled debut with Contra. I have already raved about their first single, "Cousins", below HERE and word from those who have heard it all (unfortunately I am not one of those people) is that it is just the beginning. "Cousins" has me very hopeful that there won't be a sophomore slump from these Columbia alums.

Spoon - Transference (January 26th) - Another band that I won't shut up about HERE. From "Mystery Zone" which leaked a few weeks ago to their single, "Written in Reverse" which came out today on iTunes, their follow-up to Ga Ga Ga Ga looks to be another excellent effort from the band that just can't seem to put anything out that isn't strong to quite strong.

Hot Chip - One Life Stand (February 9) - Hot Chip is one of those bands that is so consistently great you sometimes forget about them. Made in the Dark was one of the most tragically underrated albums of 2008 with excellent singles at nearly every turn from "Ready For The Floor" to "Out At The Pictures". Their blend of R&B with electronica is taken to the next level with lead singer Alexis Taylor's subtle yet intoxicating vocal delivery (It has always struck me as similar to The Notwist's Markus Acher in that way - another favorite band for another posting). The One Life Stand tracks to hit the web so far are no less stunning. "Take It In" starts off like an 80s New Order influenced dance jam and slowly seems to mellow and build at once - loving this HERE. The title track is great too HERE.

Yeasayer - Odd Blood (February 9): I have already raved about single, "Ampling Amp" HERE. They seem even more sonically adventure on the new single than the previous album's best work, including "Sunrise" on the lala player playlist. Look for this one to be heavily blogged about in the new year. Yeasayer is the 2010 MGMT (until MGMT comes out with their own debut follow-up Congratulations in Spring 2010)

LCD Soundsystem - TBD (March): Another band I absolutely LOVE (as evidenced HERE). James Murphy is one of the most talented musicians and producers in the game PERIOD. When I talk about him or LCD Soundsystem I have trouble with my CAPS Lock like Kanye. Pat Mahoney, co-founder with James Murphy of DFA and the drummer in LCD had this to say on the new album: "different than Sound Of Silver and certainly different than the first one ... It still sounds very much like us, like James. It's maybe slower and it has kind of got some more rock stuff back in it. It also has a bunch of disco influences." It could be a country record and I would still give it a whirl.

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (TBD): Big Boi is one half of the best hip-hop group of my lifetime, Outkast. So anything by these guys (the other half is Andre 3000) is going to be highly anticipated. Many expected this to drop in 2009, but there have been issues with its release. We have seen two excellent tracks already hit the web from it though with "Shine Blockas" HERE (one of the best hip-hop jams of the year) and "Fo Yo Sorrows" (just the type of fun as hell track you would expect off an Outkast record). This record should be sick - more details in this interview with Pitchfork HERE. (In it he gives us hope for a new Outkast record in 2010 too!)

The National - TBD: The National's last two albums Alligator and Boxer are two of my absolute favorites of the past decade. Easily one of the bands I have spun the most in that time period. Listen to the anthemic and totally awesome "All The Wine" off Alligator and "Apartment Story" off Boxer in the lala playist. Lead singer Matt Berninger has a way with phrasing - it is simple, understated at times jarring but always spot on. With instrumentation by the Dessner brothers, two of the most talented musicians in indie rock today, this new album is going to be great.

Interpol - TBD (Early 2010): Interpol's first album, Turn Of The Bright Lights, is perfect or it was when it came out in 2002. In the aftermath of September 11th, these New Yorkers painted the perfect desolate landscape of the city yet there music was still so hopeful and so damn cool. Their second album was strong and the third unfortunately weak, but Interpol has been talking a lot about getting back to where they started. Drummer Sam Fogarino told PASTE, "The new record falls back towards the first ... That big wash of reverb? It's back." Thank God. Check out old favorites "Untitled" and "NYC" in the playlist.

Panda Bear - TBD: Panda Bear aka Noah Lennox is one of the masterminds behind Animal Collective and his solo album Person Pitch will most definitely be on my best of the decade list. He is one of the most innovative and constantly changing forces in music. He talks about it being "darker" and more "raw" than his previous effort and "totally different" than Animal Collective's brilliant Merriweather Post Pavillion. I can't wait - in the meantime I will have to listen to "Comfy in Nautica" and "Bros" on repeat (lala playlist on the upper right - hint hint). They are pure sonic bliss.

Arcade Fire - TBD: When your previous two albums are all over everyone's best of the decade list, Funeral in particular, there is going to be a lot of anticipation around this one. Arcade Fire's "Rebellion (Lies)" is one of my favorite songs of all-time (to hell with just of this decade) and "No Cars Go" off Neon Bible is great too. Usually the third album is where things really start to blossom (a la OK Computer) - no pressure.

Other Potential Releases To Wet Your Appetite:

Radiohead: They have talked about never doing an LP again with Thom Yorke telling The Believer, "None of us want to go into that creative hoo-ha of a long-play record again." (That day was the saddest of my life). But in a recent interview with NME, Ed O-Brien stated, ""We were misquoted. We will be making an album!" (The best day of my life). Who knows but even a hypothetical Radiohead album is better than most albums.

Justice: The follow-up to t should be dancey electro heaven.

The Shins w/ Danger Mouse: After James Mercer announced he fired his current band, he announced he would be making an album with Danger Mouse. This has my attention.

Enjoy,

Quickie: New Vampire Weekend

2009-11-19T18:37:00.001-08:00

(Awesome new cover for equally awesome new single, "Cousins")

Been a busy week, but look for a slew of new posts next week as I will be blogging from sunny Florida.

Vampire Weekend exploded onto the blogsphere and then the mainstream with their excellent and commercially successful self-titled debut. Influenced heavily by Paul Simon ripping afro-pop, Vampire Weekend make their Graceland. Now these Columbia University alums are dropping their sophomore album, Contra, on 1/12. After a leak of the song "Horchata" I was a bit concerned about a sophomore slump - it had some of the charm of the last offering, but less of it (the classic symptom of most sophomore outings). But first single, "Cousins" (video below) brings this right back near the top of my list of anticipated 2010 albums. "Cousins" is bursting with energy as much influenced by Paul Simon as The Clash. Vampire Weekend showed some inclinations for punk music on the aptly titled "A-punk", but this track blows that one out of the water (and A-punk was one of my favorites on the first album). Lots to be excited about here! Check it out:

Enjoy,
MD

Everything You Need to Know About (EYNTKA): Spoon

2009-11-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

It is like Wikipedia, if Wikipedia was only concerned about you sounding cool.

(Britt Daniel, front left, and Jim Eno, front right, of Spoon)

Exciting News: Spoon are coming out with their seventh LP, Transference, due January 26th 2010! They dropped one of the songs off the album as a single a few months back called Got Nuffin'. (Fun fact: They enjoy misspellings - you can see them all over their song titles) Check out the song: LINK (Also on the upper right in the lala playlist)

Background: Spoon is one of the defining bands of the 00s. They formed in Austin, Texas and are considered a huge influence on the bands coming out of that exciting music city. While technically, Britt Daniel and his right hand man, Jim Eno, started the band back in 1993 and had released two full LPs and a slew of EPs in the 90s, it was the 00s that saw their distinctive sound take full form. They have had some rotating backing members, but the current other players include Rob Pope on bass and Eric Harvey on keyboard.

The Sound: Their brilliance like so many of the great bands before them from the Beatles to Nirvana is quite simple. There is little technical wizardry - it is simple guitar, piano, drums and bass. The brilliance is in their interplay - the layering of the instrumentation, the classical music like movements and the continued variations always in touch with the song as a whole. They are like the Beta Band meets Gang of Four. They are punks working within the pop construct, but just barely.

Hipster Talking Point: Is Spoon referred to so often as underrated that they are in fact overrated? Obnoxious hipster response: "Once they started showing up in the Billboard Top 10 and playing SNL I was through." Correct answer: Either (a) bitch slap (b) rolling eyes and walking away or (c) "Each of their 4 albums released this decade is front to back loaded with hits of pop, rock and experimentalism gelling like late 60s Beatles or Stones. This is rock n' roll at its finest. Only when your mom knows about these guys are they overrated" (Sorry Mom).

Key Albums / Song Highlights / Cliff Notes Description:
Note: All of the songs mentioned can be listened to on the lala player in the upper right - check them out.

A Series of Sneaks (1998) - "Car Radio" - More experimental, less polish. Missing that production sheen. Still ripping a bit from the Pixies.
Girls Can Tell (2001) - "The Fitted Shirt" - They begin to strip down their sound, beginning their minimalist approach, production is much tigher and refined.
Kill The Moonlight (2002) - "The Way We Get By", "Stay Don't Go", "Vittorio E", EVERY SONG - this is their magnum opus, no doubt. Stripped down rock n' roll perfection. One of my favorite albums of all-time.
Gimme Fiction (2005) - "I Turn My Camera On" (Personal favorite song of theirs - can't describe how utterly brilliant this song is. This is as if Prince and the Stones got together and put out a song better than anything either of those groups had ever done) - To follow-up Kill The Moonlight with this is incredibly impressive. This album is more sonically rich and diverse, but less focused. Other highlight is "My Mathematical Mind".
Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007) - "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb", "Finer Feelings" - This album sees Spoon more focused, back to more minimalist instrumentation, but more experimental than Kill The Moonlight. Some consider this to be on par with Kill The Moonlight (and it is damn close).
Transference (2010) - Can't wait!

Rarities & Covers: For those all ready attuned to Spoon's brilliance and looking for some more, here are a bunch of rarities and some videos of the new albums tunes played live. LINK

Enjoy,
MD