The Glorious Hum

A post-birthday mix

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:21:00 +0000

I'm 21, finally, as of Saturday. I thought it deserved a mini-mix.

The Magnetic Fields - Too Drunk To Dream
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Bad Reputation
The Dead Milkmen - Punk Rock Girl
Frightened Rabbit - Old Old Fashioned
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Come Saturday
Modest Mouse - The Good Times Are Killing Me

These United States

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:40:00 +0000

It's easy to forget that Washington, DC is technically a southern city, but These United States country/folk rock sound is a poignant reminder of the fact. The band is one of DC's more successful recent exports, and their new album Everything Touches Everything (to be released September 1) is likely to give them a truly national fanbase. I know I can relate to the idea behind "I Want You To Keep Everything," that sense that someone should benefit from a necessary split.

These United States - I Want You To Keep Everything [highly rec'd!]
These United States - The Secret Door

These United States' website/myspace

The Octopus Project, "Golden Beds" EP

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:25:00 +0000

The Octopus Project - Wet Gold [highly rec'd!]

Two years after the release of Hello, Avalanche, The Octopus Project is back with new music, and this song signals a more subtle approach to electro-pop from the band. The Golden Beds EP will be released on July 28.

Buy The Golden Beds EP from the band
The Octopus Project's website/myspace

Boston hipster-tracking

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:23:00 +0000

Thanks to Ryan's Smashing Life for the heads up!

I can't wait!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Harry and the Potters - Voldemort Can't Stop the Rock!
The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe in Magic?

Two Hours Traffic "Territory"

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Anyone who's been reading this blog for a while knows that two summers ago I was more than a little bit obsessed with a Canadian band by the name of Two Hours Traffic, who had just released their debut album Little Jabs. Well, they're back! "Territory" is the first leaked track from their upcoming album of the same name, to be released in September. I'm glad to know the band hasn't lost their ability to create catchy pop numbers.

Two Hours Traffic - Territory [download or die!]

from Little Jabs:
Two Hours Traffic - Heroes of the Sidewalk [download or die!]

Territory Tracklisting:
1. Noisemaker
2. Wicked Side
3. Territory
4. Weightless One
5. Painted Halo
6. Just Listen
7. Drop Alcohol
8. Monster Closet
9. Lost Boys
10. Happiness Burns
11. Sing A Little Hymn

Two Hours Traffic's website/myspace

Fruit Bats: "My Unusual Friend"

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:53:00 +0000

I have a sweet spot for Fruit Bats, I must admit. Even envisaging a new album puts me in mind of cloud-watching, xylophones and ukuleles, daisy chains, eating delicious frozen yogurt of the Mr. Yogato variety. "My Unusual Friend" loses a little of the lo-fi twee feel, but substitutes it with an undeniable piano-pop sound and a few more power chords than usual.

The Ruminant Band is set for an August 4 release, and Fruit Bats are touring this fall.

Fruit Bats - My Unusual Friend

Older:
Fruit Bats - Lives of Crime
Fruit Bats - Rainbow Sign

Fruit Bats' website/myspace/at SubPop

Beautiful Small Machines

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:16:00 +0000

It don't think I've heard as cute of a debut EP as The Robots in Love EP in a while. But Beautiful Small Machines aren't exactly indie music rookies: the duo is Bree Sharp and Don DiLego. Bree Sharp has had some hits in her time; I was a bit enamored with her 2006 album More B.S. Fans of The Submarines and Mates of State are likely to get hooked on this great electro-pop. Stream the EP here.

Beautiful Small Machines -Counting Back To 1 [highly rec'd!]
Beautiful Small Machines - Superconductor

And just in case you haven't heard Bree Sharp, this cover is brilliant:
Bree Sharp - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (cover)

Buy The Robots in Love EP from CDBaby (also on iTunes)
Beautiful Small Machines' myspace

new Sondre Lerche album!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Sondre Lerche: Heartbeat Radio

Sondre Lerche's upcoming release, out September 8, has me super excited. I had a bit of a love affair with Two-Way Monologue (2004), and enjoyed the two albums he's released since then. So far the only hint we have of what the album sounds like is a track Stereogum has up for streaming, but I'm sure there'll be more as we get closer to the release date. Also importantly, information about an upcoming tour is up, and Sondre Lerche is coming to both DC and Cleveland.

The tracklisting:
1. Good Luck
2. Heartbeat Radio
3. I Cannot Let You Go
4. Like Lazenby
5. If Only
6. Pioneer
7. Easy to Persuade
8. Words and Music
9. I Guess it's Gonna Rain Today
10. Almighty Moon
11. Don't Look Now
12. Goodnight

Older tracks:
Sondre Lerche - Say It All
Sondre Lerche - Sleep on Needles

Sondre Lerche's website/myspace

Jenny Lewis is a Bond girl! (but better)

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:53:00 +0000

...sort of. Watch and all will be illuminated. Also, does anyone know if that's Laura Burhenn (formerly Georgie James) or Blake Hazard (The Submarines) in the video?

Jenny Lewis "See Fernando" from Team G on Vimeo.

Jenny Lewis - See Fernando [highly rec'd!]

Buy Acid Tongue from Insound
Jenny Lewis' website/myspace

How To Talk Like A Politician

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:56:00 +0000

Presented by The Full Ginsberg:

Thanks to FamousDC for the heads up!

Jersey Kids!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:09:00 +0000

I got an e-mail all the way back in May from the lead singer of The Static Jacks, a band from (if you couldn't guess from the title) New Jersey, only the 2nd greatest state in the Union.* Anyhow, their songs are super catchy and good for dancing too. Like these two:

The Static Jacks - Stay A Lover [highly rec'd]
The Static Jacks - Wine Cellar

Buy Bridges and Tunnels from amazon.com (also eMusic and iTunes)
The Static Jacks' website/myspace

*Virginia being, by far, the greatest state in the Union.

I Love Sundays

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:43:00 +0000

Much to my surprise and delight, this year's 4th of July was a remarkably idiot-free experience. Even the metro was relatively uncrowded (by which I mean, not as bad as rush hour on a weekday). Though someone thought it would be a good idea to put sparklers near the Tenleytown metro - I have no idea what they were thinking.

On a related note, having Friday off was excellent. A friend and I managed to unintentionally walk about eight miles zigzagging between Wisconsin Ave. and Connecticut Ave. up and down NW DC, even making it to Politics and Prose, my favorite independent bookstore in DC.

Things that make Sundays great:

Eastern Market, now that it's reopened. The flea market is my favorite part!
NPR's This American Life (I loved last week's show!)
Schadenfreude: from reading the missed connections section of Craigslist and this DC intern's metro ride of shame.
I Guess I'm Floating's 4th of July Mix
Seeing Jenny Lewis wearing this (thanks, Brooklyn Vegan).

On the downside:

I only realized a few weeks ago (being back for the summer) that Murky Coffee in Arlington closed. I heard rumors about health code violations, but their website cites the high rent, which makes a ton more sense. On one hand, I can no longer spend my Sundays there drinking iced coffee and making use of their wifi. On the other hand, I won't miss the snobbery.

So, a Mini-Mix:
Beulah - Sunday Under Glass
Oh No! Oh My! - Walk in the Park
Spoon - In The City
The White Stripes - We're Going To Be Friends
Bishop Allen - Tea for Two
The Kinks - Till The End of the Day

In DC This Month (July 2009 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:53:00 +0000

July 3 - No Second Troy @ Iota
July 6 - Bowerbirds, Vandaveer @ The Black Cat**
July 8 - Wilco, Connor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
July 10 - Handsome Furs @ The Black Cat
July 20 - Magnolia Electric Co. @ The Black Cat
July 23 - Benjy Ferree @ Fort Reno**
July 23 - Paolo Nutini @ 9:30 Club
July 25 - Extra Golden @ The Black Cat
July 28 - Destroyer @ The Black Cat
July 28 - Illinois @ DC9
July 29 - Fleet Foxes @ The Black Cat (SOLD OUT)
July 30 - M. Ward @ 9:30 Club**
July 30 - Jennifer O'Connor @ Iota

**I'm going, let me know if you are too!

Fanfarlo for $1 !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:31:00 +0000

...must. blog. about. Farfarlo. before. July. 4...

I'm a bit in love with these british kids lately, who released their debut album, Reservoir, this year (in May, I think). Anyhow, you can still download their album for $1 until July 4th, so get to it! Fans of Beirut are sure to like these guys, and I'm not even much of a Beirut fan and I love 'em to!

Fanfarlo - Finish Line [highly rec'd!]
Fanfarlo - The Walls Are Coming Down [highly rec'd!]

Buy Reservoir from the band (if the whole $1 thing doesn't appeal to you)
Fanfarlo's website/myspace

Fanfarlo "Finish Line" music video

Preliminary Assessment: Wilco (The Album)

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:49:00 +0000

I've been streaming Wilco (The Album) on NPR, and am liking it so far in an unremarkable sort of way. It's less of a from-old-men-for-old-men album than Sky Blue Sky, less peculiar than Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but possibly a more lo-fi, less produced version of A Ghost Is Born. All good things, but nothing earth-shattering or life-changing so far.

From Wilco (The Album):
Wilco - You Never Know [highly rec'd]

Older:
Wilco - Muzzle of Bees
Wilco - Magazine Called Sunset

Buy Wilco (The Album) directly from the band
Wilco's website/myspace

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Exclusive Wilco Song

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Mark Sanford

Zooey Deschanel madness!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:06:00 +0000

I can't wait to see 500 Days of Summer, Zooey Deschanel's (of She & Him) new movie. It arrives in theaters July 17.

I may have initially resisted Zooey's charms when she joined forces with M. Ward last summer, because I love M. Ward so much I couldn't bear to see him not work on his own music. Thanks to Hold Time, however, and the fact that I'm seeing him on July 30th, I'm less bitter now. But no doubt, she's still a real-life manic pixie dream girl. We'll see if the movie features her as one as well.

She & Him - Sweet Darlin'

Alexi Murdoch

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:27:00 +0000

I saw Away We Go (see the trailer) at the E Street Cinema with my friend and occasional TGH-contributor Jason on Friday and generally enjoyed it. But it was one song from the movie that haunted me as I rode the metro back home, with the words "will you wait for me?" fading away.

So, when I got home and back in front of my computer, I went looking and found Alexi Murdoch's song "Wait," which I could swear is changing my life this very minute. It's the question those of us who are just getting started are wondering to each other, hoping desperately that the answer is "yes."

Alexi Murdoch - Wait [download or DIE!]

Buy the Away We Go Soundtrack from amazon.com
Alexi Murdoch's website/myspace

Jenny Lewis "Carbetbaggers" video

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Jenny Lewis (feat. Elvis Costello) - Carbetbaggers [highly rec'd!]
Thanks to Culture Bully for the heads up!

My Tiny Michael Jackson Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Michael Jackson "Beat It" Live

Jackson 5 "I Wanna Be Where You Are"

"Last Train Home"

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:48:00 +0000

Lately I've been excited about David Mead's forthcoming album Almost And Always, to be released on August 4th (thanks to Tonia for the correction). David Mead is a singer-songwriter with a sweet voice, and his records are full of haunting melodies, memories like a breezy spring afternoons

I’m not sure if "Last Train Home" is about coming together or falling apart, but I’m not sure it matters. I was on a last train of sorts last night, but I felt far from alone.

David Mead - Last Train Home [highly rec'd!]

Buy David Mead's music at iTunes
David Mead's website/myspace

Why I Hate/Love DC

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:35:00 +0000

I Hate: that The Real World is coming, that they will be in Dupont near where I work. That photograph? The house.
I Love: that the Black Cat and Wonderland Ballroom have let us know they definitely won't be Real World-friendly.

I Hate: Capitol Hill interns, with their red badges of shame. As a DC native (yes, I've been an intern, but I'm aware of my limitations), I cringe at the idiotic things visitors say and do - but capitol hill interns also believe that they are all-knowing and their bosses are all-powerful, making them so much worse than your run-of-the-mill tourist.
I Love: Spotted: DC Summer Interns, a blog about all the hilariously stupid things DC summer interns say and do. Today's best post is about a presumptuous intern who walked into Starbucks and thought he could get coffee for his whole office without paying.

I Hate: that Phoenix's concert at the Rock & Roll Hotel last night was sold out.
I Love: Phoenix.

I Hate: that the Metro was so seriously delayed today, due to yesterday's tragedy; and that no matter what happens, nothing ever seems to get properly fixed. Anyone remember last summer's accidents? Or when a train derailed?
I Love: that people were generally pretty good-humored about the endless delays. Also, Adrian Fenty.

The Magnetic Fields - Washington, D.C.
The Nation of Ulysses - You're My Miss Washington, D.C.

White Rabbits "Percussion Gun"

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:43:00 +0000

I'm kind of in love with White Rabbits' new album, It's Frightening (released in May), so I thought I'd share the music video for their first single for the album, "Percussion Gun."

White Rabbits "Percussion Gun" Music Video from White Rabbits on Vimeo.

White Rabbits - Percussion Gun [download or die]

Buy It's Frightening from iTunes
White Rabbits' website/myspace

Tuesday's release: Modest Mouse's "August Beds" single

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:38:00 +0000

So far, so good. Modest Mouse has been lying somewhat dormant since 2007's We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, and this August they'll be releasing a collection of unreleased songs. No word about a new album yet. Stream the single at Spinner.

Modest Mouse - Autumn Beds [download or die!]
Older: Modest Mouse - Blame it on the Tetons

Buy Autumn Beds [single] from skyrocket
Modest Mouse's website/myspace

In anticipation: We Were Pirates

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:43:00 +0000

I've been super excited about finally seeing We Were Pirates tomorrow at the Black Cat . We Were Pirates is Mike Boggs, a DC native who has moved from awkward indie pop into the realm of power pop. It's an improvement. He's playing with Mittenfields and Vox Pop.

So, a little sharing:

We Were Pirates - The Making of "Settle Down"on Vimeo.

We Were Pirates - Settle Down [highly rec'd!]
Previously:
We Were Pirates - The Wolf [highly rec'd!]

Buy Cutting Ties from BigCartel
We Were Pirates' myspace