Watch What You Call Epic

The Decemberists—The Island: Come & See/ The Landlord’s Daughter/ You’ll Not Feel the Drowning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ZAn-etKPg

To call a song “epic” may seem a bit over the top, especially in today’s musical venue, and yet The Decemberists have, once again, managed to compose a song of epic proportions. “The Island,” off their newest album The Crane Wife, has three parts, each different in tone and energy and each equally impressive. In fact, each section is given a different name, as though the three stories were written separately, and then merged at the last moment. Not unlike some of the Decemberists’ other music, “The Island” is unique lyrically and stylistically. The end of the song is characteristic of The Decemberists in its serenity; the weight of Colin Meloy’s epic journey is lifted through a solemn but satisfying resolution.
-DEA

I’m Down

Eef Barzelay- Lose Big
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5fwqG3K-3E

I’m not exactly sure what to say about this song. I just heard it a few days ago and liked it. Eef’s voice is odd and strangely appealing. His melodies are unique in a ‘just starting to write songs’ kind of way and grow on you quickly. (side note: he sounds pretty great in this live recording)

Wilco- You Are My Face
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUNO4Nz3bCo

“I have no idea how this happens…” how a song can start off so boring and end no different, but in the middle rock out so hard. This one starts off like another quiet Wilco song, “Hummingbird”, except not as good. However, around 1:30 (in the studio version) something amazing happens. A distorted guitar joins the party and all bets are off. The vocals change to desperation and overflow with emotion. For a minute or so this song rages like a hurricane-sea before retiring to the tranquility it began with. The album, Sky Blue Sky, has a few other good songs: What Light and Walken.

LCD Soundsystem- Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFhXMbICMzI&mode=related&search=utnow%20scott%20loowa%20athiesm%20religion%20faith%20schrodingers%20cat%20paradox%20god

…Infants, it seems, experience twice the amount of REM sleep as adults. The younger we are the more we dream, and the closer to our origin we venture the more trance-like our existence becomes. And therefore, it is logical to assume that we are conceived in a state of dream, and only with age do we descend into the harsh world of reality. Maybe this is why we cannot remember our youth, because to recall its hallucinatory innocence would make the truth of the waking world unbearable…

Now, imagine the exact opposite of Daft Funk Is Playing at My House by LCD Soundsystem (listen). That is the best possible description of Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up. I could not be more serious. This song will make you fall asleep and if you aren’t careful you might just slip into a coma. Sure, this song is reminiscent of I’m So Tired by The Beatles but it seems that LCD took a great idea and added a twist.
-WJG

New Octopus Project CD!

The Octopus Project - "Hello, Avalanche"

The Octopus Project, a lap-rock meets electronica trio who played at the Ottobar last night just released their newest album, "Hello, Avalanche." They're on the start of a lengthy tour to kick off the event. I haven't had a chance to pick up the album yet, but if it is anything like their last album, "One Ten Hundred Thousand Million" then it's sure to be good. Below are their tour dates:

10/04 - Houston, TX @ Numbers
10/06 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
10/07 - Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds
10/08 - Orlando, FL @ Back Booth
10/09 - West Palm Beach, FL @ City Limits
10/10 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbit's
10/11 - Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
10/12 - Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
10/13 - Charlotte, NC @ Milestone
10/14 - Durham, NC @ Duke University
10/15 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottbar
10/16 - Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
10/17 - Philadelphia, PA @ John Brenda's
10/18 - New York, NY @ High Line Ballroom *
10/20 - Boston, MA @ Great Scott %
10/21 - Montreal, PQ @ La Sala Rosa %
10/22 - Toronto, ONT @ Sneaky Dee's %
10/23 - Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab %
10/24 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks %
10/25 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop %
10/26 - Chicago, IL @ Abbey Theater ^^
10/27 - Chicago, IL @ Abbey Theater ^^
10/28 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
10/29 - Minneapolis, MN @ Entry
10/30 - Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
10/31 - Norman, OK @ Opolis
11/02 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
11/03 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
11/05 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
11/06 - Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
11/07 - Portland, OR @ Holocene
11/08 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
11/09 - Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door
11/10 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
11/11 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
11/12 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush
11/13 - Phoenix, AZ @ Modified
11/14 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
11/15 - Lubbock, TX @ Jake's ~
11/16 - Austin, TX @ Emo's ~


* = w/ Islands, Trail of Dead, Enon, Yo Majesty
% = w/ Enon
^^ = w/ Appleseed Cast, Enon, Dreamend
~ = w/ Horse+Donkey, Cue

Cover Heavy

Spoon- Tear Me Down (Stephen Trask cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8GQ_KcqqI4

While this may be the worst video I have posted yet, this is also one of the best songs. It has the same characteristics that allow all Spoon songs to be recognized almost immediately. Tense, loud, rhythmic— everything you’d expect from a great Spoon song except this is a cover. And, though they might not be his lyrics, Britt Daniel sings with passion and force that is unparalleled while the guitars and horns blast behind him.

Dr. Dog- Heart It Races (Architecture in Helsinki cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QvJ3dXqmvw

How this song is even bearable eludes me. The original is horrific (Listen). Yet, Dr. Dog creates a true masterpiece from what can best be described as feces. What results is a playful, funky recording that dances on your eardrums. The quality of this cover is unmatched. Give this spectacular song a listen and you will be skipping around your room and singing it the rest of the week.

Jana Hunter- Restless
http://www.myspace.com/janahunter

How can I describe this voice: rough, tired, brave, worked, stubborn, undaunted or maybe resilient? It has an odd quality that avoids categorization. Whatever it is, I love it. The acoustic guitar being strummed remains the only instrumentation and can surely be classified as triumphant. It sets the tone for the entire song. By the way, if you can tell me what the lyrics means I’ll give you a quarter!
-WJG

Take This!

Andrew Bird- Oh, Sister (Bob Dylan cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyxs-j8_bWY&mode=related&search=

Can we discuss how talented Andrew Bird is? This video showcases his amazing musical abilities. He whistles and sings while playing violin and guitar in this wonderful take on a Dylan classic. While this live performance is great, an even better studio recording is available that truly blows me away. It can be heard here. Oh by the way, he has kick-ass originals too: Scythian Empire, Measuring Cups, and A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left.

Radiohead- 15 Step
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODIfcg_w8vQ&mode=related&search=

New album, new song, same great music. This track is a battle between a Nine Inch Nails beat and some random techno song. Then, Thom decides to sing over it with his haunting lyrics and a guitar riff joins the party. Desperation, sorrow and resignation seep from this tune; drums rage in the background. Everyone should go online and buy the new Radiohead album—In Rainbows. You get to pick the price… very cool.

Akron/Family-Love, Love, Love (Everyone)
http://www.younggodrecords.com/product.asp?P_ID=52

This song begins with uneventful strumming and mediocre vocals. You may be lulled into a sense of complacency. However, what happens next is reminiscent of The Beatles. Out of nowhere the chorus of this song, “Go out and love, love, love everyone”, erupts into a beautiful and catchy melody that reminds me of the Fab Four. It brings visions of the classics: All You Need Is Love, Hey Jude and Carry that Weight. Take a peak and see for yourself how fun this 1:46 minute song can be.
-WJG

Some New Grooves

Band of Horses- The Great Salt Lake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TshWB77-7M4

Persistent drums, droning guitar and perfectly placed slides. This Band of Horses tune has the characteristically awesome quality that exists in so many of their songs. It is hard to believe that a song about something as mundane as a salty lake can be this fun to listen to. Their new album, Cease to Begin, drops October 9, 2007.

Rogue Wave- Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xTzMjBpxGE

It’s 4:30 A.M. as you walk down a quiet alley in lower Manhattan. The sky is only now beginning to lighten and the birds are starting to awaken. The hustle of cabs and hot dogs stands is absent for the moment and you are the only soul on the street. You’re walking around with no particular destination in mind; you are only trying to remember what her face looks like.

Jamie Lidell- Multiply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkqIsSTWSsc

This song has classic style. If I did not know better I would say it’s from the 1960’s. It gets you swaying back and forth with its funky feel and your ears rejoice as Jamie’s voice growls with emotion. “I’m so tired, so tired, so tired… I’m so tired of repeating myself, beating myself up.” SING IT JAMIE! I can’t get enough of this track.
-WJG

Blog`s First Entry!

The Kinks- Strangers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsWRfkeCcss

For those of you that have never heard of The Kinks they are an English rock band formed in the 1960s. I first heard this song in the trailer for The Darjeeling Limited (which looks great by the way). The song has a liberating acoustic feel with impassioned vocals and beautiful piano work. The drums are used lightly and help to accentuate the singer as the driving force in the song.

MGMT- Time to Pretend
http://www.myspace.com/mgmt

This song is about living life as a hedonist: cars, sex, models and drugs. But, the message is more poignant than that and when combined with the songs rhythmic feel and energetic vocals it becomes fun and makes you want to start a dance party. A really kick-ass dance party!

Kristoffer Ragnstam- Beauty
http://www.myspace.com/ragnstam

Divide this song into two part, both amazing. The first, with a driving beat and playful vocals, builds like a wave of pressure that excites and creates tension that is relieved by each chorus. The second is a rock organ driven passionate expression of Kristoffer’s heartfelt lyrics. This song is amazing.
-WJG