tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:55:46 +0000http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Vince)Blogger24125noreply@blogger.comnotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-1314879229714606155Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:08:00 +00002008-01-18T11:57:13.284-05:00Whilst perusing the world wide web this morning, I happened upon Andrew Bird's latest release, "Soldier On." It's a collection of reinterpretations and rarities that is remarkably consistent and refreshing. It's a somewhat sedate and tranquil collection, leading to an almost hauntingly relaxing listen. The new material has all of the elements I've come to love about his music: swirling violin http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2008/01/andrew-bird.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-8709333438350192320Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:07:00 +00002008-01-16T22:20:08.148-05:00British Sea Power's latest album, "Do You Like Rock Music?" arrives in the states on Feb. 12th. It sees them continuing on the same thematic path they charted on 2005's "Open Season," mostly songs about nature, the elements and our impact on both. "Waving Flags," however, the album's first single, is BSP's bid to score England's next World Cup run. It's an anthem brimming with huge, propulsive http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2008/01/song-of-week-returns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-605543974246272821Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:22:00 +00002008-01-15T23:21:30.555-05:00Les Baxter was a composer, arranger, and conductor who made big band music sexy back in the '50s. He composed over 200 scores for film, tv and radio programs. Among them were such classics as: "Beach Blanket Bingo," "Operation Bikini," "Beach Party," and "How To Stuff A Wild Bikini." He is also widely considered to be one of the forefathers of the exotica movement in music. In 1968, He scored a http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2008/01/les-baxter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-3688768627234480395Sun, 30 Dec 2007 23:59:00 +00002007-12-31T00:12:29.813-05:002008 is going to be dynamite; I can feel it. Here are some songs to help usher in the new year, proper-like. Asobi Seksu - New Years - [buy the album here]The Thrills - This Year - [buy the album here]The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year - [buy the album here]Otis Redding & Carla Thomas - New Year's Resolution - [buy the album here]The Mountain Goats - This Year - [buy the album here]http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/12/welcome-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-201465375531071173Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:07:00 +00002007-12-23T20:05:05.496-05:00Aught-7 was a solid year for music. Perhaps a bit front-loaded, with many of the years best being released in the first half. But overall, there was much worthy of praise and repeated listens. Here's a look at my favorite songs of 2007. 50. Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan - [buy it here]49. Editors - Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors - [buy it here]48. Explosions In The Sky - So Long, Lonesome - [http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/12/favorite-songs-of-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-6909310640412529439Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:45:00 +00002007-12-13T21:58:44.169-05:00 In 1966, Ike & Tina recorded the seminal album, "River Deep - Mountain High." Produced by Phil Spector, who came out of retirement to handle the recording, it reached number 3 on the UK pop charts, but failed to make a dent back home. Today, it's widely considered among their best work, and a classic in Spector's legendary catalog. In addition to the stellar title track, it contained another http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/12/ike-tina.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-5073948201953156490Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:04:00 +00002007-12-13T13:17:46.144-05:00I have to confess to totally missing the brilliance of Electrelane on first listen. It was only after hearing "To the East" at B.T. Gilmore's birthday party, and at his urging, that I revisited their lastest album "No Shouts, No Calls.""To the East" is the record's first single. That it stands out on an album with so many well-crafted songs is quite remarkable. Perhaps it's the opening notes, thehttp://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/12/song-of-week_13.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-9132608208817982663Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:25:00 +00002007-12-07T01:26:38.224-05:00Jens Lekman's "A Higher Power" might provide a smoother transition from the comfortable, brisk days of fall, to the blustery, snow-filled days of winter than even nature itself. Borrowing from The Ronettes, Blueboy, and Sweden's own The Night Keys, Jens brilliantly crafts a tale of sincere, innocent teenage romance. And the result is pure pop perfection. Like many of his songs, you get the sense http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/12/song-of-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-4569622531172433487Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:22:00 +00002007-12-05T13:17:47.198-05:00Because he's a winner! Congratulations to my cousin, Michael Roma and a nameless co-conspirator from SVA's MFA program on winning An Elephant and An Apple Tree's first ever Design My New Banner Contest. Roma was selected out of thousands of submissions from the tri-state area, and even one from Guam. To see more of his fantastic designs click here.Michael wins a copy of Demetri Martin's http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-is-this-guy-smiling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-8727734870732589023Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:05:00 +00002007-11-27T23:09:53.911-05:00Here's a new feature I'm going to try to stick with, song of the week. I recently came across this Rilo Kiley b-side from the Execution of All Things UK single. I like their new record, a lot in fact, but the songs lack the bite and edge that once made them so appealing. Gone are the moments of raw intensity, the screaming, the cursing; replaced by disco beats, synthesizers, and "Dejalo." http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/song-of-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-2653920422580058391Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:48:00 +00002007-11-27T16:06:36.544-05:00Thanksgiving dinner for 5,400 people: 220 turkeys weighing over 6,000lbs, 500 additional turkey legs weighing 600lbs. Stuffing made from 500lbs of onions and celery, sauteed in 100lbs of butter mixed with 350lbs of croutons, 5qt of garlic, 10qt of sage and 1qt of thyme. 90 gallons of gravy. 40 crates of lettuce and 20 gallons of dressing for salad. 2,000lbs of peeled yams. 300lbs of Nova Scotia http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/nov-25-1976-rock-rolls-last-supper.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-5560632032929482594Mon, 26 Nov 2007 03:00:00 +00002007-11-26T00:24:25.255-05:00The State of Samuel is Stockholm, Sweden's Samuel Petersson. On his second full length, "Here Comes the Flood" Petersson dives deeper into fuzzed out, Elephant 6 influenced power pop. Clocking in at under 28 minutes, it's a delightfully short, sweet affair that usually leaves me craving another spin. It's full of cheerful hand claps and ba-ba choruses that shine through the lo-fi production. His http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/state-of-samuel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-7624518748130327701Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:53:00 +00002007-11-16T12:25:16.195-05:00Of the 6 or 7 people who read this blog, I think most are familiar with the 2 Man Advantage. For the uninitiated, 2MA are close friends who've made it their mission to bring some personality to a game desperately trying to find it's identity. I think with each episode, that goal gets a little closer. If you love hockey, do yourself a favor and spend some time on their site, it's highly http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/2-man-advantage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-954283746155520608Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:38:00 +00002007-11-16T02:07:44.568-05:00I'd been meaning to post about Concord, North Carolina's the Avett Brothers for some time. I've always been a big fan of alternative country/bluegrass, so it was somewhat of a surprise to learn that their latest, "Emotionalism" was actually their fifth proper studio album. I picked it up in early June, a couple of weeks after it was released, and was instantly hooked. The band, consisting of http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/i-spit-tooth-in-palm-of-my-hand.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-6785424238685289200Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:50:00 +00002007-11-12T16:36:34.891-05:00"Thank you very much. We're the T-rills," proclaimed singer Conor Deasy as The Thrills tore through "The Midnight Choir" the opener from their excellent third album, "Teenager." Their sound has become so closely associated with southern California, it was almost shocking to hear his brogue, which isn't at all evident when he sings. Any questions of their origins were put to rest when they played http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/thrills-mercury-lounge-nov-9-2007.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-8010571608987233349Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:15:00 +00002007-11-09T16:33:27.531-05:00I am here:Mando Diao - If I Don't Live Today, Then I Might Be Here Tomorrow [buy]The Byrds - You Ain't Goin' Nowhere [buy it]The Clientele - Here Comes the Phantom [buy the album]Neil Young - Everybody Knows this is Nowhere [buy the album]The Legends - There and Back Again [buy the album]Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More [buy the album]The Faces - Love Lives Here [buyhttp://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/adverbs-of-place.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-1385728443684665930Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:12:00 +00002007-11-07T22:36:37.436-05:00Talkdemonic is an electronic/folk instrumental band from Portland, OR comprised of Kevin O'Connor on drums and Lisa Molinaro on viola. With a sound so big and expansive, it's hard to believe they are just a duo. That scenic, landscape like sound is achieved by layering electronic blips over Kevin's cymbal-heavy drumming, while the viola gently floats above. It's all rounded out by gorgeous http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/talkdemonic-is-electronicfolk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-4080625739202966239Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:54:00 +00002007-11-07T15:47:24.221-05:00The Magnetic Fields have finally announced their follow-up to 2004's "I." The new disc is called "Distortion" and it arrives January 15th. The band, who influenced Springsteen's latest, will hit the road shortly after, and are scheduled to play NYC's Town Hall on February 22nd & 23rd. Tickets are on sale this Friday at noon. Check out a few songs from Holiday and 69 Loves Songs below. The http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/on-ferris-wheel-looking-out-on-coney.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-5351565706032886782Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:16:00 +00002007-11-02T19:21:56.687-04:00In December 1966, Otis Redding played three nights at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Legend has it that every band in the city asked to open for him. Janis Joplin arrived at the the theater at 3 in the afternoon the day of the first show to make sure she'd be in front. Bill Graham, owner of the Fillmore and perhaps rock's most successful concert promoter, a man who put on thousands of shows said http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/11/now-dig.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-3662077528418789852Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:32:00 +00002007-10-31T13:12:20.045-04:00In honor of Halloween, here are some favorites in country costumes: Iron Horse - The World at Large (Modest Mouse) [buy it]Corporate Love Breakdown - High and Dry (Radiohead) [buy it]Various Artists - Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson) [buy it]Dawn Landes - Young Folks (Peter, Bjorn & John) [more info]The Sidekicks - Hard to Explain (The Strokes) [buy it]Iron Horse - Kissing the Liplesshttp://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/10/happy-halloween.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-125695000858217974Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:37:00 +00002007-10-29T18:09:45.170-04:00Jens played a delightful set to an overflowing crowd at Webster Hall last Saturday. He was engaging and charming, treating the crowd to several encores before succumbing to the thumping house music of the club next door. The melodies and rhythms he borrows from other groups become more obvious when you see him live, which only adds to his appeal. It's easy to like a guy whose sound is rooted in http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/10/jens-lekman-webster-hall-oct-27.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2161929783911870238.post-8410420103335235965Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:25:00 +00002007-10-27T14:11:27.079-04:00Do not play cards with this man.http://elephantandappletree.blogspot.com/2007/09/poker-face_22.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Vince)0en-usnonadult