Eternal Otter Records

Big Month for The Milkman's Union

2011-10-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

It's time for the First Friday Art Walk here in Portland, and Eternal Otter Records will be celebrating with a free concert from The Milkman's Union in Congress Square. The event is sponsored by the Portland Music Foundation and goes from 5 to 6 pm. Stop by to listen to the music, pick up free download cards and records, and find out more about events coming up from The Milkman's Union, Eternal Otter Records, and The Portland Music Foundation. Here is the advanced word on those events:

Thursday, Oct 13th: The Milkman's Union celebrates the release of their new vinyl single "Texas Hold Me" from Eternal Otter Records with a show at Mayo Street Arts. The Milkman's Union will be joined onstage by a host of friends, including opener South China. Advanced tickets are available now. Show begins at 8 pm. You can also pre-order the single right now through Eternal Otter Records' new bandcamp page.

Thursday, Oct 14th: The Portland Music Foundation is throwing a CMJ kick off party at the EMPIRE Dine & Dance, featuring vinyl to get you dancing all night long, alongside songs from all seven bands participating in the Portland CMJ Showcase in New York City.

Thursday, Oct 20th: The CMJ Music Marathon is one of the largest music industry events in the world, and the Portland Music Foundation will be showcasing Maine's talents at NYC's Sullivan Hall on the 20th. The Milkman's Union will be in attendance, alongside Spose, Billy Libby, Kurt Baker, Sunset Hearts, The Mallett Brothers, and the Toughcats.

New 7" Single from the Milkman's Union now available for Pre-Order

2011-09-06T14:25:00.001-07:00

Eternal Otter Records is happy to announce that The Milkman's Union new 7" vinyl single, "Texas Hold Me b/w Little Bird" is now available for PRE-ORDER!

The album will ship on October 12th, but you can stream it now on our NEW bandcamp site. I have been following The Milkman's Union since first catching them at the Apohadion playing "Little Bird". Lead singer/guitarist Henry Jamison is one of Portland's finest lyricist, and I am in awe of drummer Peter McLaughlin every time I see him play. And now they have just added pop-mastermind Jeff Beam on bass. As if the line-up wasn't already stacked enough, Aly Spaltro of Lady Lamb the Beekeeper lends her vocals on "Texas Hold Me".

The first 6 people to place a Pre-Order will also receive a bonus 7" single randomly selected from our back catalog - so order now!

The official release show for The Milkman's Union single will take place on Thursday, October 13th at Mayo Street Arts, with Jacob Augustine opening the night.

West Bath Bonfire!

2011-08-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

Jesse Pilgrim is hosting a Bonfire show in West Bath this evening. It will be a great night of music featuring the following acts:

6:00 jesse pilgrim
6:20 good kids sprouting horns
7:00 billy carr
7:30 panda bandits
8:00 josh O'Donnell
8:30 milkman's union
9:00 great western plain
9:30 bony legs
9:50 butcher boy

Don't get lost in the woods!

Sunday Shoes / The Oak + The Ax

2011-08-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Aly Spaltro of Lady Lamb the Beekeeper returned home once again for a far more intimate show than her celebratory opening slot at the sold out State Theatre, where she opened for Beirut last month. Check out the Portland Daily Sun for the review I wrote of that show.

This time she took the stage at the charming and warm (very warm) Biddeford venue The Oak + The Ax. The last few times I have seen Lady Lamb play she has stuck pretty closely to a "hit" packed setlist, best showcased on the excellent "Live at Brighton Hall" download available from her website. But for this show - "among friends" - she broke out the deep cuts (including personal favorites "Solar, Solar System" and "Sunday Shoes") and debuted a number of new songs. She was also joined by the Milkman's Union's Henry Jamison (who opened the show) for one of the new "ditties", and Henry and his bandmate Peter McLaughlin joined on bass and drums for her final song.

It was a great time, and it was particularly wonderful to hear "Sunday Shoes" played - one of my favorite songs of all time and one of the first vinyl releases from Eternal Otter Records. One audience member even drove 2 hours to see the show in hopes of hearing the song - Aly dedicated the performance to him.

You can order a copy of "Sunday Shoes" (b/w "Metal Mouth" by TJ Metcalfe) here. We'll also send you an mp3 of a great live version of the song recorded for the vinyl release show.

We are also only 6 "Likes" away from 100 fans on Facebook. Become our 100th fan and you will receive a free copy of the single. You can checkout our facebook page here.

There is a lot in store for Eternal Otter Records this fall (including a new release from the Milkman's Union featuring Aly), and becoming a fan is a great way to stay up to date.

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I also encourage you to head over to the Oak + The Ax tomorrow (Friday) at 8 pm for an excellent FREE show featuring NYC's Hungry March Band and Portland's The Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue. Check out the faux newspaper I designed for the event:

Eternal Otter Records Update

2011-07-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Well, we've been silent for too long at Eternal Otter Records, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. Far from it!

First off, we are wicked excited to see Lady Lamb the Beekeeper open for Beirut at the State Theatre! The sold out show starts at 8 pm. Check out the awesome poster designed by Kris Johnsen (there will be a few available for sale at the show).

Second, we are proud to announce that Eternal Otter Records will be releasing a new vinyl singles from The Milkman's Union this autumn. The A-side "Texas Hold Me" features guest vocals from Lady Lamb's Aly Spaltro, and the B-side contains the excellent "Little Bird". The Milkman's Union will be playing a set with Lady Lamb the Beekeeper on August 17th at one of our favorite venues, Biddeford's The Oak & the Ax.

Finally, I [WTE] am continuing to write a monthly music column, "Sounds of the City", for the Portland Daily Sun. A new article should be appearing sometime next week. Check out my last column here. Starting in November, I'll also be taking over from the incomparable Bryan Bruchman of Hillytown as the "Listen" column writer for Maine Magazine.

A lot more news to come - stay tuned!

New Music Column from Eternal Otter Records' Founder Will Ethridge

2011-06-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

A new music column, Sounds of the City, debuted this past weekend in the Portland Daily Sun. Written by me (Will Ethridge, founder of Eternal Otter Records), it will run bi-monthly with Portland music news, show reviews, and song recommendations. Enjoy reading and send feedback!

Be a part of the next Eternal Otter Records release - Treble Treble Vol 3

2011-06-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

Eternal Otter Records is getting ready to release its first full-length vinyl - Treble Treble Vol 3 - a compilation featuring Big Blood, Samuel James, Wesley Hartley & the Traveling Trees, and other diverse, strange, psychedelic, and atmospheric artists.

Find out more here, and receive gifts from Eternal Otter for supporting the project:

In the News

2011-05-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

This week Portland Phoenix has a great article on the rise of cassette culture among local music labels. Among the featured cassettes is l'animaux tryst's beautiful Chakra Ledge, recorded last year at the Building of Song. Check out the article here. Eternal Otters' first cassette release, Panda Bandits' Revolver EP, will be available for online order in June.

Today's featured show in the Portland Daily Sun is "Maine Radio Project presents Aleric Nez". The show, featuring the category-defying Nez, takes place at vinyl record/vintage clothing store Moody Lords. It is a great opportunity to suppport community radio, local business, and hear a great Portland musician. Moody Lords is located at 578 Congress St above Strange Maine. Show at 8 pm. $5 donation at the door.

Tune into the Maine Radio Project today at 3 pm to listen to Moody Lords co-owner Andrew Change play tracks from his favorite vinyl available at the store.

Maine Radio Project presents Aleric Nez at Moody Lords

2011-05-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Maine Radio Project is a free form internet radio station supporting the creative community of Portland, Maine and beyond. Next Friday, May 13th, they are hosting a show at Moody Lords featuring a performance by Aleric Nez.

Moody Lords is an awesome vinyl record and vintage clothing store, located at 578 Congress St above Strange Maine. Next week, the owners of Moody Lords will be presenting a special one hour broadcast of tracks from their favorite records available at the store. This special program will rebroadcast broadcast every weekday at 3 pm. Be sure to tune in!

Aleric Nez was recently nominated for Best Category Defying Act by the Portland Phoenix (You can still vote here!). Come find out why no category can contain him, and pick up a copy of his excellent new vinyl release, and search for more hidden treasures at Moody Lords.

Show starts promptly at 8 pm. $5.

Record Store Day! Special Deal from Eternal Otter Records

2011-04-14T12:16:00.001-07:00

Saturday, April 16th is Record Store Day, and we are excited here at Eternal Otter Records! Across the country independent record stores will be celebrating great music with over a hundred exclusive releases from 7" singles, to special edition LPs, to exciting new compilations. Eternal Otter Records is getting in on the action by offering a special deal at Bull Moose Records in Portland, Maine.

If you buy Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire's excellent new CD "Trial & Error" from Bull Moose on Saturday, you will get to pick up a FREE copy of their Eternal Otter Records 7" vinyl single "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" when you check out.

Additionally, if you buy any of the great CDs from blues troubadours Samuel James or D. Gross, you get a free copy of the split single they released from Eternal Otter Records. Awesome!

This offer is only good at the Bull Moose location in Portland, Maine, while supplies last.

Portland Phoenix Music Awards 2011

2011-04-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

It's time to vote in the Phoenix Portland Music Awards! Eternal Otter Records is very proud to have worked with a number of artists that have been honored with nominations this year.

We released the album Samples for Handsome Animals (only a few copies left of our final run - order here) by "Best Local Act" nominee Lady Lamb the Beekeeper. This is the last year you will be able to vote for Lady Lamb in the local category because she is blowing up! You can also grab the 7" split single Lady Lamb's Aly Spaltro did with her former bandmate TJ Metcalfe (now of Dead Man's Clothes).

Samuel James was also nominated for "Best Local Act" and "Best Blues Act" and you can pick up the split single he shares with D. Gross, another "Best Blues Act" nominee. You can vote everyday, so I recommend alternating between the two.

Jesse Pilgrim also picked up a nomination for "Best Roots Act", and you should definitely get your hands on his vinyl single "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure", as well as his self-released killer new debut album Trial & Error. And if you missed his release show on Saturday then you missed one of the absolute best shows of the year.

Eternal Otter Records also wishes all the luck to the Lucid (Building of Song headliners), Meghan Yates (another Tower of Song/Building of Song alum), Dead Man's Clothes (who the Panda Bandits just played a show with at the Oak + the Ax), Jakob Battick + Friends (who invited the Panda Bandits to play Slainte and released an excellent new album), Portland Jazz Orchestra (who played the Casablanca screening we programmed at the State), and Big Blood & Olas, both made up of former members of Cerberus Shoal.

Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire CD Release

2011-04-02T11:52:00.002-07:00

We are very excited for tonight's show at SPACE with Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire. Eternal Otter Records released their 7" single "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" last year, and we are now thrilled for the new release of their debut album Trial & Error (with Shackleton b-side "Lead Me Down", featuring Lady Lamb the Beekeeper's Aly Spaltro).

The show starts at 8, and Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire will be joined by openers Butcher Boy and Grant Street Orchestra, as well as Eternal Otter Records' Panda Bandits.

check out the promo video here

Also, if you missed it yesterday, check out this very funny rap album that Jesse put out for April Fool's day.

New Release: REVOLVER by Panda Bandits

2011-03-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

"Arthaus Chaos Unit" Panda Bandits will be releasing their EP Cassette REVOLVER tomorrow at the Oak & the Ax in Biddeford this Saturday. The creation of Waisely "Scar" Lighthead & Marie "Minnie" Pistola (whose names just happen to be an anagram for William Thayer Ethridge & Alicia Ines Sampson), Panda Bandits have evolved from an "imaginary band", to "Johnny Cash tribute act", to "Portland's strangest animal collective". With this EP, you now can revisit all the hits, including "When the Panda Bandits Come to Town", "Henry Ford Is Coming Back", "Oso", and "You Know What I Mean, Jelly Bean?".

This is an extremely limited edition, so come out to the show to pick one up. Get your tickets here. Advanced ticket holders get $1 off the price of the cassette (normally $6).

Panda Bandits will be joined by recent Phoenix cover story rockers Dead Man's Clothes, returning from their SXSW tour, and the ever delightful Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue. Check out this great interview the Dirty Dishes did with the Portland Press Herald. The event is called "Bad Seeds" and you don't want to miss it. Good Seeds get in for $10 (and get a flower at the door), Bad Seeds can slink in for $6. Doors 7:30 / Show 8:30

Panda Bandits on the March

2011-03-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

Who are the Panda Bandits? They have been called "Portland's Strangest Animal Collective", "Like a fish gasping for water", "a celebration", and "some wonderful cult". Lead by Waisely "Scar" Lighthead and his Bandit Queen, Marie "Minnie" Pistola, they present to you the following trilogy of upcoming shows.

Fear Is A Man's Best Friend
Panda Bandits / Jakob Battick & Friends
Friday, March 11th, 9 PM at Slainte in Portland
FREE

Thunder meets Lightning as Jakob Battick & Friends team up with the Panda Bandits for a night of dark country magic*. Cohen and Cave disciple Jakob Battick celebrates the release of his Bloodworm Songs EP before he and his friends disband to various corners of the world (Russia, the Appalachian Trail, the dark recesses of the mind) for an extended hiatus. Check out the video for Three Orphans, the single from Bloodworm Songs.

Jakob Battick & Friends- 'Three Orphans' (Bloodworm Songs) from JakobBattick&Friends on Vimeo.

The Panda Bandits will be presenting material old and new, including work commissioned for last year's Vampire Musical Rock n Roll & the Immortal Soul, tales of revenge, stolen songs, and the Ballad of Marie Pistola. Get in the mood for a moody night with this promo video, directed by Jakob Battick.

Jakob Battick & Friends/Panda Bandits 03/11/11 from JakobBattick&Friends on Vimeo.

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Bad Seeds
Dead Man's Clothes/ The Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue / Panda Bandits
Saturday, March 26th, 7:30 PM at The Oak & the Ax in Biddeford
Bad Seeds: $6 / Good Seeds $10

For this show, the Panda Bandits will be releasing their debut cassette EP, titled REVOLVER. The seductive and subversive Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue offer an inspired feast. And Dead Man's Clothes return home from their SXSW tour. Has there ever been a better reason to venture down the back alleys of Biddeford? Email your mailing address to theottersden@gmail.com to request a hand printed show invitation designed Kris Johnsen's Emblem Studios.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW via BROWN PAPER TICKETS. $10 if you are a Good Seed. $6 if you are Bad Seed. Good Seeds will receive a flower at the door. All advance ticket holders will receive $1 off the purchase of the Panda Bandit's REVOLVER EP. Get your tickets here.

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Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire CD Release Show
Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire / Panda Bandits / Grant Street Orchestra / Butcher Boy
Saturday, April 2nd, 8 PM at SPACE Gallery in Portland
$8 18+

Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire celebrate the release of their debut full-length Trial & Error. I've heard it, and this album kicks, punches, falls down, and gets up to take another swig of whiskey. Panda Bandits join a trio of fearsome openers, before the man himself takes the stage to burn down the house with the Bonfire.

Check out Jesse Pilgrim performing at last year's Building of Song Festival, and grab a copy of his 7" vingle single, "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure", from Eternal Otter Records.

Building of Song 2010 - Jesse Pilgrim from House Productions on Vimeo.

Eternal Otter Records has a new Facebook Page - LIKE IT here to stay up to date on Eternal Otter Records and the Panda Bandits... you wouldn't want us to catch you unawares...

Regards,
Waisely Lighthead

* genre name stolen from Big Blood's excellent new album, Dark Country Magic.

Maine Radio Project Music Report - Episode 1

2011-02-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight at 8 pm you can stream the first episode of the Maine Radio Project Music Report. In this one hour show, Alicia and I talk about the upcoming week in music here in Maine. In this week's episode we talk about Clash of the Titans moving to Port City Music Hall, upcoming shows from local acts Dead Man's Clothes, Marie Stella, Wesley Hartley & the Traveling Trees, and Jacob Augustine, as well as national acts like Astronautalis and Low Anthem. The show streams online at the Maine Radio Project, devoted to Maine's music, art, and culture.

Casablanca Tonight!

2011-02-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce that the State Theatre will be screening Casablanca this evening, followed by a live performance of the Portland Jazz Orchestra. Since programming 1930s Night at the State featuring The Wizard of Oz and Over A Cardboard Sea, Eternal Otter Records has had the honor of bringing classic films to the beautiful theatre. We look forward to continuing to bring great film and music to one of Portland's best cultural centers.

Tonight's screening begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $10

"Of all the gin joints, in all towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."

http://www.statetheatreportland.com/event/26373/

In the News

2011-01-13T12:21:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

A couple of great articles came out today featuring artists who have released music through Eternal Otter Records. First, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper is featured in a stellar profile in Maine Magazine, recounting the story of her early recordings through her decision to set out for adventures beyond these borders. Read the article here.

The Lady Lamb the Beekeeper 7" single "Sunday Shoes b/w Metal Mouth" is currently available through Eternal Otter Records. Her former band mate, TJ Metcalfe, is featured on the B-side. There are also a limited number of physical copies left of Samples for Handsome Animals. Get them while you can as there are no current plans for a second printing! Samples for Handsome Animals will also be going off iTunes soon, but is now available directly through Lady Lamb's bandcamp page.

Samuel James, who released a split 7" single with D. Gross last year, is also profiled in the Portland Press Herald today. Check out the article here. Order the record here. See Samuel James and D. Gross play live at Blue in Portland on January 20th.

Great Shows Tonight!

2010-12-11T13:05:00.001-08:00

I'm DJing down at the Picnic Holiday Sale for the Maine Radio Project. Theodore Treehouse will be playing live in just a few minutes before heading down to SPACE for their CD release show (with Phantom Buffalo and Brenda). So, come down to the Maine Irish Heritage Center (34 Gray St) to pick up some great gifts and hear some awesome music.

In addition to Theodore Treehouse's CD release, there is an orgy of great shows today - including the Jakob Battick curated Lysa Hora Night at Mayo Street. At Biddeford's The Oak & the Ax, [dog] and [pony] celebrate the release of their 2nd dvd with performances by Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire, Wesley Hartley & the Traveling Trees, Greg Jamie, and more. Plus you can see Meghan Yates at Local Sprouts or see the hot touring act Grace Potter & the Nocturnals down at the State (where you'll find me working).

So, lots of great shows to choose from! Go see one!

Free Shipping for the Month of December

2010-12-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

Although the two vinyl singles that Eternal Otter Records released this year don't technically qualify for my Top 10 Albums of the year, I do think they represent some of the best music Maine has to offer. And you can order them with free shipping for the entire month of December. A great gift for your offbeat music-loving, vinyl-obsessive friends and relatives.

The first single series, Death, Rebirth & Transformation collected unreleased recordings from seminal Maine bands that have broken up. Cerberus Shoal offers "Tailor of Graves b/w Hymn", from their "lost album" The Ongoing Ding, now only available in Japan (and my choice for 4th best album of the year). Lady Lamb the Beekeeper's Aly Spaltro and her former bandmate TJ Metcalfe each turn in a solo track on their vinyl - "Sunday Shoes" and "Metal Mouth". The almost unknown, but terrifyingly awesome (or awesomely terrifying), Blaque Boose submitted the seasonally-appropriate "Winter" and "Past Live Owen"; the only two songs they ever officially released.

The second single series, Mystic Chords of Memory, collects music from Portland's neo-Americana scene. Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire tell the story of "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" on the A-side to their single (also available on Treble Treble Vol. 2). On the flip, Jesse turns in the solo "What Comes Ashore", and duets with Aly Spaltro on "Lead Me Down". D. Gross and Samuel James commit their musical partnership to wax on the split single featuring Gross' "First Train" and James' "George, the One Man Carnival". Over A Cardboard Sea, who recently played a triumphant show at the State Theatre's 1930s Night, cover the classic vaudeville tune "Down in the Subway" and turn in the definitive version of "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?"

Get these great records now!

This has been an exciting year for Eternal Otter Records. Besides releasing these two vinyl singles, we hosted a vinyl release show at SPACE Gallery (featuring Aly + TJ's first Lady Lamb reunion), organized the first concert to take place on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad (in celebration of the release of "Mystic Chords of Memory"), presented the 2nd Annual Building of Song Festival, assisted Hillytown with the CMJ Music Marathon's first ever Portland Showcase, helped launch the online Maine Radio Project, and brought Over A Cardboard Sea and The Wizard of Oz to State Theatre. Eternal Otter Records would also like to congratulate Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, the first artist we ever released, who just won "Best Folk Artist" at the Boston Music Awards.

Eternal Otter Records would like to thank Ian Paige, Bryan Bruchman, Jenny McGee, and everybody at SPACE; the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad; Lauren Wayne at the State Theatre; Pat May and everybody at the Portland Music Foundation; All the great DJs that supported Eternal Otter Records, including Mark Curdo, Charlie Gaylord, Robin Ivy, and Roy Ghim; Jess Lipton and everybody at the Maine Radio Project; Chriss Sutherland, Big Blood, Aly Spaltro, We Are X, Dead Man's Clothes, Sontiago, Samuel James, D. Gross, Dominic Lavoie, John Fountain, Dave Cimato, Dale Rand, Tristan Gallagher, Patric & Celeste, Greg Jamie, Jakob Battick, [dog] and [pony], l'animaux tryst, Travis Cyr, and many more. And, of course, Minnie Pistola and all the Panda Bandits!

We are looking forward to 2011 and another great year of Maine Music!

Best of 2010 (Local)

2010-11-30T18:57:00.000-08:00

And now it's time for a list of my favorite Portland albums from 2010. As with last year, I believe many of these albums are as good, if not better, than the stuff that made yesterday's national list.

1. Dead Songs - Big Blood

Dead Songs is definitely the best album of the year bar-none. After 9 incredible self-released CD-R's over the last 4 years, not to mention their contributions to Fire on Fire, Big Blood's Caleb and Colleen put out their first official vinyl release. The album was released by Time-Lag and the packaging and artwork (by Colleen) is exquisite. They had originally planned to release a vinyl of the best songs from the past releases, but in their typically prolific style they decided to write a whole new album instead. Nonetheless, Dead Songs ends up sounding like a greatest hits record anyway. "Dead Song", the first track, alone makes this album a must-buy. What follows is just an orgy of amazing music from "A Spiral Down" (apparently the "Everybody is screaming! From across the water I can hear them" lyric was inspired by the shouts of triumph on the night of Obama's election victory) to "Lay Your Head on the Rails, Pt II", culminating in Caleb's joyous "Daughter" and Colleen's deep rumination on family in "the Architect & the Archeologist". If you haven't heard of Big Blood before, I'm not even going to bother to try to explain their sound, you just need to get this album and listen.

2. Narrow Gauge Quad Trains / Don't Peel Your Bloomers Off Just Yet - Wesley Hartley & The Traveling Trees

Wesley Hartley & the Traveling Trees put out Narrow Gauge Quad Trains in 2009, but it was reissued this year by the Portsmouth label burst & bloom. And I'll be goddamned if it's not Maine's best country music since the heyday of Al Hawkes. Wesley is one helluva a songwriter and the Traveling Trees always know when to step up the shuffle or pull on the heartstrings. This album is also perfectly paced between quick country rockers ("Ol Texas", "Slow Shards", "El Gusano Rojo", "Outside Get Out") and slow burning ballads ("Jet Fighter", "Acreless"). This year's follow-up, Don't Peel Your Bloomers Off Just Yet, is not quite as immediate, lacking Ron Harrity's always impeccable recording prowess, but still has plenty of great songs, including my personal favorite, "Dream House".

3. We Left the Roadside - D. Gross

Krister Rollins is at Blue just about every time D. Gross and Samuel James are there swapping songs, so I'd like to quote his review of Dana's album:

"I’m going to go ahead and say that I think Portland’s extremely fortunate to have one of the Country’s best singer/songwriters living and working here. Dana Gross’ sophomore album We Left The Roadside is some crazy masterpiece. He’s hit a wonderful balance, blending allegory, parable, virtuoso guitar work, deft lyrics and good old American song structures. We Left The Roadside shows remarkable growth since his first album, Pirates. The album as a whole is tighter and the songs show more restraint and artful use of structure."

I couldn't agree more. Also, after hearing D. Gross play these songs solo for the last year, it is great to hear the full band arrangements. The tablas on "Hummingbird" are a stroke of genius, and "Sunset Mountain" is just about the happiest sounding takedown of religion I've ever heard. The whole album was recorded at Acadia Studios and sounds fantastic throughout.

4. The Ongoing Ding - Cerberus Shoal

Well, one of the best Portland albums released in 2010 was recorded in 2004 and is only available through a Japanese label. The album in question is Cerberus Shoals' full-length sequel to their masterpiece "The Ding" from the Vim and Vigour of Alvarius B and Cerberus Shoal EP. It is also turns out to be Cerberus Shoals' best album of their overflowing discography. Most Cerberus Shoal albums are just brimming with so many ideas, energy, and experimentation that the genius and adventure is undeniable, but the core is often impenetrable. The Ongoing Ding boils down Cerberus Shoal to its essentials, without losing any of their magical weirdness. It kicks off with the champagne burst of "Tailor of Graves" (which Eternal Otter Records' had the honor of releasing as vinyl single this year - available here) and then gives way to the metaphysical debate of "Should we give the earth a word", and the journey takes many more strange and wonderful turns from there. Cerberus Shoal went on hiatus in 2006, but its many members are still making incredible music today (Big Blood, Chriss Sutherland, dilly dilly), but this album is a great opportunity to appreciate once again the vim and vigour of Cerberus Shoal.

5. La Perla - Olas

To drive home my point about the enduring legacy of Cerberus Shoal on Portland's music scene, here is Chriss Sutherland's latest project Olas at #5. Chriss Sutherland flirted with a few Spanish lyrics on his excellent debut solo album Me in a "field", and went one step further on his follow up Worried Love. Now he takes lead vocal duties on the debut album from Olas, a collaboration of very talented musicians and dancers reinterpreting flamenco music through a prism of rock, folk, and Arabic sounds. Chriss sounds great singing in any language, and the Spanish tongue seems to draw out his most passionate growl. You also won't find an album this year with better hand clapping and foot stomping, and the band build to an ecstatic climax on nearly every song. Olas revisits two songs from Worried Love, "El Tiempo" and the traditional "Volando Voy", with superior results. There are also a number of other standouts, including the title track and "La Luz En Mi Vida". Ron Harrity does typically awesome, crisp production work, and the album packaging is a stunner (and comes with translations of the songs). Olas are best experienced live as the dancing is as key a component to the band as anything else, but La Perla is just about as great a representation of Olas as could be captured on CD.

6. Lady Lamb the Bee-Sides - Lady Lamb the Beekeeper

A cassette only release made available at Aly Spaltro's October farewell show. This collection is a smorgasbord of rare and unreleased Lady Lamb songs, ranging from Aly's earliest recordings, made when she was 17, to recent demos. Highlights include the myspace-favoite "Almond Colored Sheets", the live on radio take of "Dear Erin" (written for dilly dilly), and "The Nothing (Part 2)" demo. As with almost all Lady Lamb songs, the immediacy and lyrical splendor of each tune is breathtaking, and they put most artist's "A-Sides" to shame. Along with the recent series of self-released CDs, this cassette tape suggests that Aly has enough great songs in her that she could potentially pull off a triple LP for her next album with no decline in quality. It goes without saying that Lady Lamb's next album is one of my most highly anticipated releases for 2011, and I hope that it will top next year's national list.

7. Herbcraft Discovers the Bitter Waters of Agartha - Herbcradt

Herbcraft is the latest psychedelic pseudonym for Matt Lajoie, owner of the l'animaux tryst label (an inspiration to Eternal Otter Records) and one of the friendly freaks from Planets Around the Sun. Although I believe Herbcraft discovers the Bitter Waters of Agartha was recorded completely sober, it definitely ranks as this year's 2nd best stoner album (the best being The Ongoing Ding). You can follow along to the plot of Admiral Richard E. Byrd's journey to the Domain of the Arianni with the printed lyrics on the back of the (awesomely retro) album sleeve, but the best part of the Herbcraft experience is just getting lost in the wash of guitar tones. This is a vinyl only release, and the crackle of the needle against the wax is just one more great found sound on this oddball gem.

8. Ice Is War - Dead Man's Clothes

Dead Man's Clothes won "Best New Act" in the Phoenix Music Awards this year despite the fact that Ice Is War is the band's third release. Nonetheless, the award was justified not only because original members Don Dumont and Elliot Heeschen have been joined by Ian Riley (formely of Anna's Ghost) and TJ Metcalfe (formerly of Lady Lamb the Beekeeper), but also because they have now arrived at a distinct signature sound. For lack of a better word, Ice Is War is the most "mature" release of their career (and not just because they are no longer singing about Zombie Love). Although the songs are clearly built around Dumont's excellent songwriting and expressively dead pan vocals, every member fills an essential component in crafting the overall sound. The slow burning "A Fire" and the super catchy single "Moving Mountain" show the breadth of their range while still sounding like nobody else. Some complaints have been voiced with the sound quality of this recording, but the songs shine through. That being said, I would happily plunk down some serious cash to hear Dead Man's Clothes in 5.1 Surround Sound. Also, in a year of great record packaging, Ice Is War is one of the most artfully designed albums.

9. Heavy the Mountains, Heavy Are the Seas - Jakob Battick

This EP could have easily been a complete failure, but it proves to be a startling and challenging release by an exciting emerging artists. Jakob Battick reaches for the grand ambition of Scott Walker and Nick Cave at their darkest - not an easy task for an art student without access to expensive studio equipment. I would love to know more about the recording process for this album, because it creates a serious monolith of sound. This album takes patience, and some parts are just overlong, but when Battick's unsettling growl, cryptic lyrics, and dark atmospherics all fall into place, the results are truly captivating (best observed on "Nine Brothers & the Wolf"). Jakob Battick is definitely an artist to watch in 2011.

10. Treble Treble Vol. 2 - Various Artists

There are far too many great albums from this year to fit on a Top 10 list, so this compilation does an excellent job of picking out some of the choice cuts of 2011. Picking up from Joshua Loring's first installment, Bryan Bruchman of hillytown curates the latest edition in the Treble Treble series, chronicling Portland's rock scene. In this case, all 10 tracks are taken from bands that participated in the 2011 CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. Standout tracks include a new song from from Foam Castles, Marie Stella's "1985" (from this year's Trust EP), and Phantom Buffalo's "Radio Signal (from Cement Postcards with Owl Colors). Of particular note is "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure", the A-Side from Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire's 7" vinyl single released by Eternal Otter Records.

Treble Treble Vol. 2 is available as a free download here, so why don't you give it a listen?

I know a lot more great Portland albums came out this year, and I am sure I missed a few, so let me know your favorites in the comments. Much respect to everyone making music in this little city of ours.

1930s Night + Dark Side of the Rainbow

2010-11-30T07:18:00.000-08:00

This is a brief intermission from the "Best of 2010" lists to remind you to get your tickets for "1930s Night" at the State Theatre taking place this Friday, December 3rd. Doors open at 5 pm and Over A Cardboard kicks off their performance at 5:30 pm. They will be playing classic vaudeville tunes, complete with cardboard scenery, and puppets!

The screening of The Wizard of Oz starts at 7 pm. Put on your finest bowler hat, stick the family in the Model T, and head on down to the State. A photographer's booth will be setup to take your family portrait with tin-type film.

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! There will be a second screening of the Wizard of Oz that night at 10 pm synced to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.

Tickets to both screenings are $5, and available at Bull Moose Records. More information here.

Also, did you know that the Deli Magazine has nominated Over A Cardboard Sea as "The New England Band of the Month". Today is the last day to vote for them. Vote here.

You can also order their 7" vinyl singles "Down in the Subway b/w Brother, Can Your Spare A Dime?" from Eternal Otter Records here.

Best of 2010

2010-11-29T12:02:00.000-08:00

Well, so it's time for Eternal Otter Records' picks for the best albums of 2010. I know there is still a month left to go in the year, but perhaps you'll find some good gift ideas here. I'll be covering national albums today, and covering local releases tomorrow.

1. Brothers - Black Keys

Destined to become a Rock 'n' Roll Classic. The album that convinced me that Black Keys are more than just a pretty good garage rock band. The most startling revelation on this album is Dan Auerbach's voice, which shows previously unknown range, shifting from the Marc Bolan-esque falsetto of "Everlasting Light" to the clipped aggression of "Ten Cent Pistol". It goes without saying that the music rocks, and "Everlasting First", "Next Girl", and "Tighten Up" are an unstoppable opening trifecta. I used to think the album was a little too long, but I always end up going all the way to the end. It helps that the first track on Side 4 is "Unknown Brother", one of the most moving ballads ever put to wax.

2. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire

I think this album underwhelmed a lot of people, but I'll defend it as one of the best albums of the year. I recommend listening to it on vinyl, which allows you to digest the album in 4-song bites - I could imagine that the album could start to sound a little overlong and same-y without the occasional break to flip the record. That being said, The Suburbs is full of great songs, and if even if it doesn't have a "Wake Up" or "No Cars Go" on it, it does have "Rococco", "We Used to Wait", and "The Sprawl (Part II)". Also, every time I listen to the record it reminds me of the book "The Girl Who Owned A City", which was about an epidemic that kills everybody on Earth over the age of 13. I read it in 5th grade, and it's the first book I remember really liking.

3. Homeland - Laurie Anderson

This is one of the most interesting, diverse, and dark albums of the year. It starts with the beautiful "Transitory Life" assisted by Tuvan Throat Singers, then goes into the caustic "Only An Expert" (with Lou Reed on guitar), and ends with a violin solo. The centerpiece is the 11 minute "Another Day in America", Anderson's harrowing and hilarious state of the nation address, which she delivers in a ridiculous baritone through tape manipulation. A sample lyric:

"And another way to look at time is this: There was an old married couple and they had
always hated each other. Never been able to stand the sight of each other really.
And when they were in their nineties they finally got divorced and people said: Why did
you wait so long? Why didn't you do this a whole lot earlier?
And they said: Well, we wanted to wait until the children died."

Laurie Anderson's best album since Big Science.

4. I Learned the Hard Way - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have a formula down - they make funky music with a lot of soul, and they do it well, probably as good as anybody in the last 20 years. So, it's no surprise that they open their fourth album with two instant classics, "The Game Gets Old" and "I Learned the Hardway". However, the closing track "Mama Don't Like My Man" is one of their best tracks, and showcases a more stripped-down style that I really dig. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings also gave one of the best concert performances I saw in 2010, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in 2011.

5. Bright Bright Bright (EP) / Wild Go - Dark Dark Dark

One of the best finds of 2010. Hearing the 5-song Bright Bright Bright EP is like being shocked out of an afternoon nap into a strange day of setting suns and rising tides. Although the full-length Wild Go is stylistically very similar, built around Nona Marie's brightly melancholy voice and the band's sparse but evocative instrumentation, it has the opposite effect of the EP - luring the listener into a sad but hopeful reverie. The best song from either album is the summer jam "Make Time", in which the bands other songwriter, Marshall LaCount steps up to steal the show. Dark Dark Dark also treated Portland to two memorable concerts this year

6. Have One On Me - Joanna Newsom

I'm curious what the reaction to this album would have been if it had been released as three separate albums over the last three years, instead of as one big magnum opus. But I guess grand ambition is kind of the point. In any event, each of the 3 LPs is great and I still can't bring myself to pick a favorite, although the song "Good Intentions Paving Co." is an obvious highlight, as are "In California", and "Esme". The album also proves that Joanna Newsom is nearly as interesting on the piano as she is on the harp. My one complaint is that in an album this sprawling, I wish she would have included a few more off-kilter pop songs in the vein of such Milk-Eyed Mender gems as "Sprout and the Bean" and "Bridges and Balloons".

7. Rough Travel for a Rare Thing - Bill Callahan

I didn't discover Bill Callahan's Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle until this year, but in retrospect it should have been near the top of my 2009 list. Rough Travel for a Rare Thing, a vinyl and digital only release, is a live album that captures Bill Callahan playing songs mostly from his late-period Smog era. As would be expected, Callahan is low-key throughout, but each song is so beautifully crafted and skillfully arranged ("Diamond Dancer", "Held", and "The Well" are just a few of the great songs played) that the album is fully engaging from start to end.

8. Made the Harbor - Mountain Man

A short little folk album by a trio of young women. I don't have much to say about it, except that it sounds timeless in the best way - it would sound great to human ears at any point in our history. Best of all, it never tries too hard, just nice harmonies, an easy going charm, and simple songs. The track "How'm I Doing?" sums it up well: "Now I'm not braggin' but it's understood, that everything I do I sure do good."

9. Contra - Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend writes terrible lyrics, but that makes them even more fun, as you can just make up your own words as you dance along to their catchy tunes. I can't help but smile and shimmy across the floor every time I flip the record over to "Cousins", and that is reason enough for this album to be considered for the list. Throw in an M.I.A. sample, a few more summer jams, and a great album cover (even if it got them sued), and I'm sold.

10. The Happy (EP) - Bearkat

A wonderful new EP from the Austin-based Katy Pearson, who performs as Bearkat. I first heard Bearkat when Katy was briefly living in Maine during the summer of '09, and ended up totally crushing on her debut LP Suitcase Swimmers (highly recommended!). This EP doesn't have many stylistic changes from that album, but why change a winning formula? Wonderful instrumentation, which includes banjo and ukulele among other delights, mixes with a voice brimming with personality to create perfect little love songs. "Girl with the Broken Heart" also has a nice section near the end that flirts with some Tom Waits-esque darkness. My main complaint with most EPs is that they are too damn short, but The Happy is beautifully sequenced with 3 charming interludes that give you time to digest the song you just heard - the physical copy of the album even ends with a little surprise. But as great as this EP is, I am still waiting in great anticipation for Bearkat's next full-length! The Happy is available to listen to on bandcamp, so go do that now.

Ten Songs Great Songs from Albums that didn't make the list:
1. "Real Live Flesh" - Tune-Yards (Tune-Yards performed one of the best concerts I've seen this year, and Bird Brains should have topped my 2009 Best of List. This song was released as a single, and is as good as anything from her debut album. Can't wait to hear what she comes up with next.)
2. "Dance Yrself Clean" - LCD Soundsystem (LCD Soundsystem albums usually bore me by the end, but the highlights always turnout to be among the best songs of the year. I love how this opening track from This Is Happening starts super catchy and then gets super big.)
3. "Ambling Alp" - Yeasayer (Odd Blood was a little hit-and-miss overall, but this song is dynamite. "O.N.E." was pretty excellent, too. Looking forward to these guys releasing a killer singles collection.)
4. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" - The National (Everything good about The National in one song.)
5. "Right On" - The Roots (Have One on Me is great, but the best Joanna Newsom song this year was actually by The Roots, who sampled "The Book of Right-On" for this track.)
6. "Some Kind of Nature" - The Gorillaz (In 2010, Lou Reed turned in a great guitar part on Laurie Anderson's "Only An Expert" and a great guest vocal on "Some Kind of Nature". I'll take these two stellar contributions over an album about Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven anyday.)
7. "Ain't No Grave" - Johnny Cash (The Man in Black singing from beyond the grave. Even in death, no one can compete with Johnny Cash.)
8. "Black Vessel" - Pearl & the Beard (One of Brooklyn's finest bands, and friends to Portland released a nice little EP this year. The title track is a little slower than my favorite Pearl & the Beard songs, but I'm always game for a song about pirates).
9. "Got Nuffin'" - Spoon (Spoon's Transference was probably the biggest disappointment of 2010 after MGMT's Congratulations, but this song almost rises to the heights of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.)
10. "American Troglodyte" - David Byrne (Unfortunately, David Bryne and Fatboy Slim's too long album about Imelda Marcos is mostly a waste of time, but Byrne manages to pull off at least one great spazzy social critique.)

Looking over my Best of 2009 list, I realized that I discovered enough albums from that year in 2010 that it is due for a revision.

Best of 2009 (Revised):

Albums-
1. Bird Brains - Tune-Yards
2. Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle - Bill Callahan
3. Two Suns - Bat For Lashes
4. What Will We Be - Devendra Banhart
5. Down with Liberty ... Up with Chains - Chain & the Gang
6. Preliminaires - Iggy Pop
7. Sunset/Sunrise - The Dutchess & the Duke
8. Actor - St. Vincent
9. Merriweather Post Pavillion - Animal Collective
10. Embryonic - Flaming Lips

10 Great Songs from Albums that Didn't Make the List-
1. "Stillness Is the Move" - Dirty Projectors
2. "Crane Wife 3" - Marianne Faithfull (amazing Decemberist's cover)
3. "Another Reason to Go" - Vetiver
4. "Home" - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes
5. "Further Complications" - Jarvis Cocker
6. "Out of the Blue" - Julian Casablancas
7. "The Fear" - Lily Allen
8. "Oh, Death!" - Pearl & the Beard
9. (tie) "Well-Alright" - Spoon / "Tightrope" - Yeasayer (both from the Dark Was the Night compilation)
10. "The Butcher" - Larkin Grimm

Don't worry dear friend, you will find time for sleep.

2010-11-23T22:27:00.000-08:00

I was running through a bad dream, now I'm waking up.

Tonight I had trouble sleeping, and so I listened to some songs by Lady Lamb the Beekeeper. The first track to come on was "Almond Colored Sheets", followed by her cover of "These Days".

The third track was "The Nothing". This song is familiar to most as the rap stuck in the middle of "Pennylicks" (We will crane our necks...). However, the version I was listening to was a particularly unique take recorded live at One Longfellow Square. On the recording, Aly introduces the song as follows:

"This next song is called "The Nothing". This is usually in rap form with some percussion. I slowed it down just a tiny bit."

Accompanying herself only on banjo, Aly then proceeds to translate her rhymes into a hopeful and honest plea to face the darkness and challenges of life without fear.

Now there is something
Like a needle in our ears
But we are not fearful
This is, you know, This is the way that it is
This is the only way
You must harness that pain
Just rip it out
Toss it away. Toss it away.
You'll amount to something
You won't wash away
If you just get out of bed
If use your legs
Whether you choose to leave
Whether you choose to stay

Listening to this song in bed, soft tears started to run from my eyes. And when that first tear rolled down my cheek, I remembered that I had been at this performance, and I had cried then, too.

It was the first show that Aly played following the departure of TJ from the band. It was like no Lady Lamb show I had seen before or since. It was clear that Aly still carried the weight and pain of the band's separation, but what I most remember from that performance was her incredible courage.

Her songs were not only intensely emotional, but also physically daunting - on many songs she looped multiple instruments on top of each, or literally stretched her body across the stage to play a keyboard part while stomping a floor tom. The final song found her bashing on cymbals while screaming of a plane crash over Guatemala.

In short, she went for it. Her lyrics are poetry, her music is magic, and her voice sounds touched by the divine, but what I admire most in Aly is her fearlessness. People stop to listen to Lady Lamb, because they can tell she is showing the world her heart. It's powerful enough to start making you feel braver yourself.

I will miss Aly while she is away from Maine, but I know she is guided by her courage. And I hope everywhere she goes, she will leave a legacy that inspires people to believe in their talents and pursue their own best ambitions. I know that she has left that legacy here. But like all beautiful women, she can't help but leave you a little brokenhearted when she goes.

Goodnight, my friends.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

2010-10-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens tonight (8 pm) at the State Theatre. This is exciting for a number of reasons:

1) This is this the first show at the State that I helped program 2) The Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue will be the guides to tonight's entertainment 3) I'm a Rocky Horror Virgin myself, so I'm looking forward to dancing the Time Warp for the first time!

Hope to see you there! Happy Halloween!

Click here for more details.

Lady Lamb the Beekeeper's "Farewell For Now" Extravaganza

2010-10-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

What can I say? Perhaps the most creative and talented musician I have ever had the pleasure of knowing is leaving town. Lady Lamb the Beekeeper (a.k.a. Aly Spaltro) is heading to New York, but she is throwing one last extravaganza at her "farewell for now" show taking place this evening at SPACE Gallery.

It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life to be a part of Lady Lamb's journey, from her first performance at the Tower of Song, to the release of "Samples for Handsome Animals", and the Sunday Shoes/Metal Mouth vinyl single. I know that she will continue to cast a spell of reverential silence over crowds across the world.

I am also honored that Aly has invited the Panda Bandits to play at tonight's once-in-a-lifetime show. I am also pleased that Eternal Otter Records will be presenting "Lady Lamb the Bee-Sides", a limited-edition cassette only album of rare and unreleased recordings.

Please check out this wonderful interview with Aly, and this video and fitting tribute from [dog] and [pony].

Look Up! Look Up!