Happy Halloween

I'm not a big fan of Halloween but this year I've got a killer Flava Flav costume and I couldn't pass up posting songs with this theme. So...

Xiu Xiu - Brian the Vampire
Wolf Parade - Same Ghost Every Night
Cocorosie - Werewolf
Sound Team - Sound Monster
Cursive - Bloody Murderer
Antony and the Johnsons - Frankenstein
the Decemberists - Shankhill Butchers
TV On the Radio - Wolf Like Me (Live at KEXP)

Rid of Me

This song has been stuck in my head all the time these last few days. But it's OK.
PJ Harvey - Rid of Me

Feral Children

These guys just popped up on my radar after hearing them a few times on KEXP, and I got a copy of their debut CD which just came out and it's pretty awesome. I've read a lot of reviews that talk about how they sound a lot like Modest Mouse and are constantly compared to them, which kinda makes me mad. They are similar in some ways but I feel these guys are darker and have a more channeled and direct sound that's more well-kept than Modest Mouse. They deserve to be recognized as original artists who have their own sound, not just the next MM. Maybe it's just cause they're also from Seattle. I dunno. But they're noisy and dark and crazy and I really like these two tracks a lot:


Spy/Glass House
Jaundice Giraffe

Check them out on Myspace and buy some songs for sure.

Dance...?

So I've been kinda swamped this last week, sorry I didn't post. I had a lot of homework, plus I had been recruited to co-DJ our school dance, which took up a lot of time, which was also last night... I feel kinda wierd about it.
DJing is hard!!! People won't let you do your own thing. We got a million requests for stuff we didn't have... we need to burn more CD's, haha.
Also I'm not much of a big dance person (well this dance was tiny actually. My school is small. The room was small and we still didn't fill it up. Maybe under 100). Dancing alone in my room is way different than dancing with and in front of people. I'd be more comfortable if there was a bigger crowd, but I just stayed behind the table the whole time looking awkward and tapping my foot. Not really the first impression I wanted to make at my new school. I don't think I'll do that sort of thing again.
But it was kind funny to watch people grind to Busdriver and Dizzee Rascal (they went over surprisingly well). Things that didn't go over so well: Go! Team, CSS... stuff like that. People kept wanting hip-hop, and we kinda ran out. I thought people would dig the more dancey club music, but everyone just wanted to grind, so we did our best.

Busdriver - Kill Your Employer (Recreational Paranoia is the Sport of Now)
Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp
Ratatat - Party and Bullshit (Notorious B.I.G.)
Simian Mobile Disco - Love
E-40 - Tell Me When to Go (We ended up playing this twice, due to popular request)
Ol' Dirty Bastard - Shimmy Shimmy Ya
Spank Rock - Bump (I Think this was the best all night. Everyone seemed to like it)

Someone you might not know

While we're in that folky morose vein of music I thought it would be ideal to bring up Bill Patton, a surprisingly unknown Northwest musician.
I was introduced to him by hearing the song Lifelike on KEXP one night, and it was one of those cheesy moments where everything just clicked and I sat down and totally vibed out. I got a few free songs from his myspace but I had forgot about him for a few months. But recently I got a new job at KEXP (I volunteer there for those who don't know. And it's not really a job, but a position cause I'm still going unpayed). I get to review some CD"s so when DJ's pull out the CD they can read a little about their history and what it sounds like and recommended tracks. Pretty big deal right? Right! I think i'ts pretty cool.
Well back on track, I got Bill Patton's "Get's it On" to review and I was really happy to get his full length in my hands It did not disappoint me, I'm amazed he's not better known, at least in his home town. He's played with J Tillman, Band of Horses and tons of other great acts. So here's what I wrote for the review:

"Seattle guitarist Bill Patton’s debut album is packed with beautiful soulful folksy/indie gems throughout the CD. Patton fingerpicks his way gracefully through each wonderfully produced track, including a few very original and unexpected covers including songs by the Beatles, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Prince and the Cars. The instrumentation for songs are often very stark and simplistic, consisting of an acoustic guitar and an occasional drum tap, pedal steel, or vibraphone in the background, which perfectly compliments Patton’s charming and gruff voice. "

I know it's a little cheesy but that's how the other ones look. Anywaysm here are some really good songs you should check out.

Faries Wear Boots (Black Sabbath Cover)
Lifelike
The Devil Went Down to Georgetown
A Crime Fighter who pities Fools
She Loves You (Beatles Cover)

Fall/Rainy

I'm really excited about this post. This has some really good songs, some of my favorite songs, and this is my favorite time to listen to music. So it's like, my favorite post? Maybe?
Summer's been gone for awhile now, and the rain really just started coming down on Seattle (On and off. It was the windiest ever today!). While it sucks if you're not prepared or if it comes down really hard, but I actually like the rain a lot. I take real nice long walks around my neighborhood with headphones on, and it's really serene and nice, I feel totally at peace. Something about the sky with grey rolling clouds and the wet ground and cold temperature I really like. And the right music really makes a great fall season. Come Fall I really get into quiet sad and moving songs. Lots of acoustic stuff or singer-songwriter. It's actually almost all I listen to in Fall and Winter. So here's some songs/albums I really really like in the fall. You should listen to them when it rains and when orange leaves start falling.

Iron & Wine - Upward Over the Mountain (The Creek Drank the Cradle)
This album really is the key of all fall albums. The songs hit you extra hard and they're almost like a best friend. I really can't describe it, but I'm really attached to this album, and any other time of the year it's way harder to get into it, like Summer (Our Endless Numbered Days is a perfect Summer CD though). I really recommend you take the whole album for a spin in the rain with your headphones on, or go buy it if you don't own it.

Damien Jurado - Ghost of David (Ghost of David)
Just about everything Damien does fits so well with the Fall. All his songs are so moody and fit for walking in the rain. His music is like an escape for me, his lyrics are straight to the point and he tells stories so well. Everything off this album is worth spinning in the rain. Well almost everything he's done is like that.

Sparklehorse - Apple Bed (It's a Wonderful Life)
This album is so depressing, but it's in such a beautiful and good way, it's a bit hard to describe. Awhile ago I wrote about how great it is and if you didn't believe me then and didn't download those tracks or just haven't heard it yet here's your chance.This is one of my favorite songs Mark Linkous has ever written.

The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers - Lisa (Redux EP)
There was a week where I could not get enough of this song. This was initially the reason I made this post. It's so incredible, the way it builds. The lyrics are heartbreaking. It's written about an imaginary friend, but it can be applied to so much more I think.

Death Cab for Cutie - Stability (Stability EP)
This EP is often overlooked I think. 3 incredible songs and this one is quite possibly my favorite Death Cab song ever (that's a big statement!). The chords and dynamics are just so much more interesting and engaging on this version, more so than Stable Song (off Plans). It's way darker and the long instrumental at the end just makes me lose myself in my thoughts. I get into this state without realizing it. When it ends I'm totally at peace, it's really incredible.

Fionn Regan - Snowy Atlas Mountains (The End of History)
Oh man, when the drums kick in on this song. It's produced so perfectly, his voice sounds just right. I've seen him play it live and it doesn't really reach the same level. It really speaks for itself though.

Elliott Smith - Coming Up Roses (Elliott Smith)
Kinda self explanatory. I don't think it's fit to go through Fall without Elliott. I love lo-fi stuff like this album.

These are really good in the winter time also, actually.

Up and Running!

Hotlinkfiles.com = Back up and running!
I'll get right back on track!
This is a post from about a week ago. Now what I'm listeining to has changed quite a bit (it always changes so quick) but these songs are worth downloading.


Man, I'm sorry for being so slow. I had a great Fall/Rainy post coming with lots of great music for that time, but the rain kinda let up and I've been listening to way more than I usually do during this season. So I'll highlight some stuff on rotation on my busrides to school and back and in my room.

De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising

I loved this album before but it's really sinking in now how phenomenal it really is. This sort of album hasn't been done too much, it's just so happy and silly and fun it's hard not to like. But it's one of those classic albums that gets all this hype from writers and stuff so I won't say much more cause it's a well known fact that this album is considered a hip-hop classic.
De La Soul - Jennifa Taught Me (Darwin's Revenge)
De La Soul - Take it Off
De La Soul - Eye Know
(The song "The Magic Number" got me so hyped on this school house rock sample they use, I had to download the original and it's so good! I have to post it also cause I've been listening to it a lot..)
School House Rock - 3 is the Magic Number

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing...
Another classic album that's pointless to ramble on about. Lately I've been taking walks at like 9 O'clock and this album is the perfect soundtrack. Usually the streets are a little wet and all the lights reflect and this album's so dark and dense, I get into a groove and I'm off in my own world. I think I look kinda weird to the people that drive by in their cars.
DJ Shadow - Mutual Slump
DJ Shadow - The Number Song

Ryan Adams - HeartbreakerI was recommended this by an online pal and so I put it on hold at the library. I totally got into it on first listen, it's really addicting. I'm not usually big on country at all, and I know this isn't real honest country music, but it's got so much of a country overtone it's a big jump for me. So I guess I'm a new Ryan Adams fan now.
Ryan Adams - To Be Young
Ryan Adams - Amy
Ryan Adams - Bartering Lines

I got the Friend EP by Grizzly Bear from someone last night, and I haven't listened to it much but I already really like CSS's cover of Knife.
CSS - Knife

And lots of Hot Chip. Not so much their albums but their remixes and that new Shake a Fist song. That's hot, for sure.Another CSS track, I know, but I love this remix.
CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above (Hot Chip Remix)
Hot Chip - Shake a Fist

And lots of other random songs like these.
Daedelus - Something Bells (Ft. Pigeon John and Busdriver)
Atmosphere - Between the Lines
Feist - 1234 (Van She Technologic Remix) (I know I posted this already but I really recommend it, I love it)



And I'll spare you from talking about how good In Rainbows is. I'm really really sick of all the blogs giving track by track reviews. But it is good, it's really really good.

I hope that makes up for the lack of blogging.

Uh-oh

This isn't good. Check out www.hotlinkfiles.com
Could this be the end of my blog? I didn't even get to compile my year wrap-up post with like, best and worst albums of 07 and stuff like that. I'm keeping my eyes open. Maybe I'll switch to megaupload or yousendit. This sucks.

Two things

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. That's what I get for being cheap and not buying a server and using hotlinkfiles.com for free. I can't upload stuff for some reason. But I've got good blogs coming

Second thing. I'm getting really fucking tired of hearing about In Rainbows. And it's only been out two days! By no means am I sick of the album itself, but everyone has their own oppinion on this years biggest album, and it's like everywhere I go I hear about it. Everyone is either praising it or complaining about how Radiohead isn't that good and all the die-hard fans freakout on them.
I like the album, but I won't bore you anymore. Stop talking about it please.

Band of Horses secret show.

The Vera Project was talking about a secret show with a secret headliner this Saturday and they said "if you like indie rock you should go" or something like that. I guess you could say I like "Indie Rock" so I was intrigued. But last Thursday they announced it was Band of Horses. BoH are notorious for their boring live shows but I thought at a really cool and small intimate space like the Vera it might be really cool, which it was.
Tyler Ramsey opened with a really nice set of folksy/rootsy acoustic songs. His fingers are long! Like, really long.
He also played with them, and it turned out it was his first show with them. Honestly I couldn't even really hear what he was doing, he just added extra guitar strumming.
But it was way better than I expected. I've never heard the Vera get sound like that, it sounded almost exactly like the cd.
I tried taking some videos but the sound ain't so hot. Not even good enough for youtube.
But I took some pictures.



I should start taking a real camera to shows instead of digital. I need a flash and a dark room though...
Here's the setlist:
Is There a Ghost
Great Salt Lake
Weed Party
Islands on the Coast
Monsters
First Song
Our Swords
(Some cover song I don't know)
Marry Song
Part One
Lamb on the Lam (In the City)
The Funeral
Ode to LRC
Wicked Gil
No One’s Gonna Love You
Unknown Song (Pretty sure it was a cover)

MP3's from the new CD:
Marry Song
Islands on the Coast
Ode to LRC

PWRFL Power

Last night I was at the Vera Project with some friends seeing Mt. Eerie, the Moools, Oregon Donor and PWRFL Power. Oregon Donor were average, Moools were awesome and Mt. Eerie was enchanting and all that, but I'm blogging about local talent PWRFL Power today.
I saw him at the Capitol Hill Block Party, and you can look at that post for some videos I took from that show, but since then I was so hyped on him I bought his CD and I've been listening to it a lot lately. He put on a great 6 song show last night with his brand new electric guitar which gave him a
really cool sound, I think I may have liked it better. His complicated finger picking patterns sounded strangely fit with the subtle distortion. Sometimes his childish vocals sunk a little low in the mix and you couldn't hear his wonderfully simple lyrics, but besides that it was flawless (oh, it was a litle out of tune at times).



and some MP3's I really recomend
It's Okay
Let Me Teach You How to Hold Chopsticks
Let's Play Drums

www.myspace.com/pwrflpower



And someone asked for this Death Cab track. It's an REM cover
Driver 8
I think it's OK. Nothing special, but worth the listen. It's from some radio session, I forget.