The Walkmen - The House You Made
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“The House You Made” by The Walkmen // Heaven (Single 7”) (2012)
Another week, and The Walkmen continue to drop magnificent tracks for all to enjoy in the lead up to the release of their forthcoming, “Heaven”. This time, the track is a b-side to first official single and title track, “Heaven”. It continues the sad-teenage-love-song sound and 50’s doo-wop inspirations that some of the other tracks have showcased, but this one might be the best yet, with Hamilton Leithauser’s voice crooning beautifully along with somber guitar notes that just float hauntingly into the distance. Absolutely highest recommendation. Great stuff.
Daniel Rossen - Up On High
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“Up On High” by Daniel Rossen // Silent Hour / Golden Mile (2012)
Three for three. Daniel Rossen’s new EP for Warp Records comes out in a few weeks and so far, three tracks have made their way out there into the blogosphere. All three are absolute excellence. In fact, this most recent track, the EP’s kick off track is perhaps my favorite. It’s a bluesy, dreamy folk pop track that hits its stride early on and never lets up. Gorgeous writing and vocals and restrained atmospheric instrumentation make for a perfect fit here. Sadly, this is just a radio rip, so the quality suffers a tad, but no matter - you can here everything perfectly and it’s a nice taste to satiate the hunger for the full release on the 19th of March.
Daniel Rossen - Silent Song
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“Silent Song” by Daniel Rossen // Silent Hour / Golden Mile (2012)
Daniel Rossen is two for two on excellence on his forthcoming Warp Records EP. Previously he had released the quiet, melancholic piano heavy track, “Saint Nothing” and now he’s gone and dropped another. This one more upbeat and featuring a lush production with those familiar harmonies that you might find in his Grizzly Bear work. It’s a downright fantastic track worth all sorts of repeat listens. At this point I’m starting to think it’s safe to say that Chris Taylor (CANT) has some serious competition in the best of the Grizzly side-projects .
Radio Slow Riot - Episode Eight
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RADIO SLOW RIOT /// a p|m|w podcast /// Episode Eight (01.30.12)
After taking a couple of weeks off from the podcast circuit, Radio Slow Riot is back with a quick catch up episode of all of the latest and greatest tracks currently populating the blogosphere (with a couple of older tracks thrown in for good measure. This week is almost entirely new music, but the surprise might be that it’s about 50% on the upbeat side. We’re not solely in contemplative dream pop territory here, we mine the lo-fi, power pop, synth pop, new wave, shoegaze, and just about everything else in hopes of finding something fun to cram into your ears. Also, this week, there are only a few interruptions from me, as this one is pretty much a 90 mixtape of the tracks that have been getting the most play in my world. Just some great music to help get you through the workday/school day/whatever day.
Please don’t be afraid to share/reblog with others and or support any and all artists that strike your interest. Stream or download as you wish. Thanks for listening to Radio Slow Riot.
Featured Music (click the name for band info):
(download mp3) Radio Slow Riot Podcast // Episode Eight (mediafire)
(stream off-site) Radio Slow Riot Podcast // Episode Eight (soundcloud)
(previous eps) Slow Riot @ P|M|W
Please support the artists that you find and enjoy. Buy their music, merchandise and tickets to see their shows. Supporting them is the only purpose in doing this blog. Contrary to the opinions of some, music blogs are a great way to discover new music, but there will only be so much new music to go around if these artists can’t afford to support themselves through their art and commerce. Only use these mixtapes as a guide to find something to throw your (financial and emotional) support behind.
Daniel Rossen - Saint Nothing
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“Saint Nothing” by Daniel Rossen // Silent Hour / Golden Mile (2012)
The members of Grizzly Bear never seem to let me down. Daniel Rossen’s work outside of the band has been especially interesting. His early work with Department of Eagles blended electronics and psych pop into some incredible material and later they matured into something of an experimental folk act that lead to similar excellent output. Now, Warp Records is releasing an EP of Rossen’s solo material titled Silent Hour/Golden Mile and they’ve dropped the first taste in the form of the haunting, melancholic piano led number, “Saint Nothing”. On paper you would think that you would know exactly what to expect from a sad, piano ballad from one of the Grizzly Bear guys, but you’d be underestimating Rossen’s talent. While the song is a gorgeous, must-listen on those merits, the real sell is the incredible production and multi-instrumental flourishes that are peppered throughout (the horn section and soft, jazz structure drums are especially gorgeous). I can’t say enough good about this song. Highest possible recommendation.
FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2009 (as chosen in 2009)
- “Veckatimest” by Grizzly Bear
- “XX” by The XX
- “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” by Phoenix
- “Two Suns” by Bat for Lashes
- “It’s a Blitz” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- (bonus compilation pick) “Dark Was the Night” by Various
* listen to these favorite albums of 2009 in a p|m|w Spotify playlist.
Once again, 2009 was a major transitional year for me with far too much movement and emotional turmoil to really settle into a solid selection of albums that grabbed my attention. I suppose I just didn’t find the time that year to get absorbed into a lot of selections, hence my fairly obvious choices here.
For me, 2009 was much more about single song discoveries that I found myself obsessed with, but that’s not to take anything away from these selections. They’re all wonderful albums, full of incredible music. These were certainly the albums that stood out above the rest at the time, but in hindsight, I can see that I overlooked several choices that certainly were not properly absorbed until the following year.
All that being said, seeing these albums listed together does bring back a slew of memories from various points in that year that were often filled with grief and pain, but also some tremendous moments of self-discovery. Grizzly Bear and some of the tracks found on “Dark Was the Night” still carry reminders of a blossoming relationship that was building (perhaps too fast) in the early months. Phoenix was certainly the soundtrack to some of the more happy and successful moments of 2009 (the summer months), while The XX provided a mood for the later months as things started to turn dark on all aspects of my life.
It’s strange how you can let music be an escape as well as a tomb to lock yourself away and feed your depressions. Sometimes it feels like the right song can save your life or put a bullet in your head. Luckily, the singles from that year did more saving - or perhaps “distracting” is a better word.
* (previous top 5 year end lists)
Cant - Bericht
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“Bericht” by CANT // Dreams Come True (2011)
The new album from Chris Taylor’s CANT is so very different than the work he puts out with his other group, Grizzly Bear, yet for some damn reason I’m drawn to the one song on the album that could be a Grizzly Bear track. That’s not a knock on “Dreams Come True” because that album is loaded with dark, haunting, sexy as hell jams, but it’s the somber closer, “Bericht” that’s been getting a lot of late night play. I’m a big fan of the album, and “Bericht” is probably not even my favorite song on there, but it’s a pretty phenomenal track all the same. It also reminds me of the piano in Thom Yorke’s “The Eraser” (the song, not the album), only slowed way down. Just a thought.
Department Of Eagles - Sailing By Night
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“Sailing by Night” by Department of Eagles // from the album, The Whitey on the Moon UK LP
While compiling this week’s episode of the Afterglow Show, I went back through some old dreamy cuts that I hadn’t sought out in a while. This one didn’t make this week’s show due to time constraints, but it’s an old favorite so I wanted to give it it’s own post. This is Daniel Rossen gold from before the Grizzly Bear explosion or the In Ear Park love. Just solid dreamy experimental folk sounds. I love it.
THE UNDER the COVERS SHOW // EPISODE ONE // MAY 4th, 2011
A podcast hosted by Steve from PerfectMidnightWorld and dedicated to cover songs.
- Featuring -
LCD Soundsystem // My Gold Mask // Surfer Blood // Pavement // The National // Grant Lee Phillips // Bon Iver // Grizzly Bear // Metric // The Shins // Arcade Fire // The Antlers // Kitteh Fur // Snow & Voice // Devics // Failure // Ellie Goulding // TV on the Radio // Papercuts // Gayngs
- Covering The Music Of -
Joy Division, Kim Carnes, Pavement, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Psychedelic Furs, The Church, Tom Petty, Hot Chip, The Strokes, The Magnetic Fields, Doves, The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Knife, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Don Henley, and Sade
Email questions, voice notes, or whatever else you’d like to: afterglowpodcast@gmail.com.
(download) The Under the Covers Show : Episode One // May 4th, 2011
Hopefully everyone enjoys the song selections. Next episode will probably head more into a theme territory. So send your suggestions the askbox or to the above email address. Thank you for listening!
Please support the artists that you like and reblog to share with friends.
Grizzly Bear - Boy From School (Hot Chip Cover)
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grizzly bear - BOY FROM SCHOOL (Hot Chip Cover)
How about a very autumnal sounding lullaby of sorts to follow up the pictures of autumn heaven. I’ve posted this in the past, but it’s impossible to have ever heard it too much. It’s simply gorgeous.
grizzly bear - KNIFE (TAKE AWAY SHOW #10)
Another one of my favorite Take Away Shows. What more can be said about these guys’ voices? They’re incredible.
Ruby Weapon - Two Weeks (Grizzly Bear Cover)
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ruby weapon - TWO WEEKS (GRIZZLY BEAR COVER)
(mp3)
Grizzly Bear - Boy From School (Hot Chip Cover)
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GRIZZLY BEAR - BOY FROM SCHOOL (Hot Chip Cover)
Grizzly Bear have decided to cover another fantastic band in Hot Chip and their hit “Boy From School”. It’s all perfect and harmonious as one would expect. Downright stupid good to be correct.
Give it a listen and or download the shit out of it.
GRIZZLY BEAR - BOY FROM SCHOOL (HOT CHIP COVER)
