Jul
08
In the morning I listen to the Ed Norris Show, but in the evening it’s usually tunes to carry me home. Here then are three songs that have emerged as favorites during my evening commute this week. All have gotten the repeat treatment, and all have taken the edge off of the congestion. All are from relatively high-profile 2009 indie rock releases, hyped on many blogs for months before I ever got around to them. Subanimal Sounds makes no claim of being on the cutting edge of obscure. My hope is that I have some readers who are likewise on the fringe and can benefit from these recommendations:
Phoenix: Fences
Grizzly Bear: Two Weeks
Dirty Projectors: The Bride
I am asking for readers to comment and list three recent commute favorites of their own, and I might even listen and follow up in a “From A Friend” post.
Mar
16
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti,
Camera Obscura,
Crystal Stilts,
Dangerdoom,
Doom,
Grizzly Bear,
Hip-Hop,
Indie Music,
Pet Shop Boys,
Quasimoto,
Rock/Pop,
The Cool Kids,
The Vivian Girls
The Big Black Bear just woke up from a 5-hour Sunday nap. Such an unplanned hibernation leaves one a bit woozy feeling. I’m just getting the muscles working again, so I will be posting some random songs without a central theme, other than a vague tendency to post in threes.
First, some samples of three upcoming releases, starting with one from the Grizzly Bear. No relation to the Big Black Bear. The poor Grizzlies have seen their new album leak all over the internet. Veckatimest is out May 26, and I urge everyone to buy it if you like this sampler. I’m excited about it, and from what I’ve heard, it seems that the songwriting and production bears some similarities to the Department of Eagles side project. Following that is a track from the upcoming Camera Obscura album My Maudlin Career (April 13). I’m ready to be heartbroken. Finally there’s one from the upcoming Pet Shop Boys’ album Yes (March 23). Judging by this track and “Love, Etc.,” it promises to be a good one.
Grizzly Bear: Two Weeks
Camera Obscura: French Navy
Pet Shop Boys: Did You See Me Coming?
And now, three for Crozier, all from recent or upcoming singles. The first one (to be released March 31), from the Crystal Stilts, that has stuck itself on repeat in my head; hope you like it too. Their drummer, incidentally, used to play with the Vivian Girls, and we’ll be seeing them soon; I’ve posted the a-side to a September 2008 single. Also on that same bill is Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, so I did a bit of research on them. Weird stuff that goes under the name of freak folk. This track is from a December 2008 single. Sounds like a warped version of a song that might have appeared on the complimentary 8-track mix tape that came with my parents’ Oldsmobile back in the late 70s.
Crystal Stilts: Love Is A Wave
The Vivian Girls: I Can’t Stay
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Can’t Hear My Eyes
And finally, three of my favorites from the world of hip hop; all of these songs are exactly three minutes long.
The Cool Kids: What Up Man
Dangerdoom: Korn Dogs
Quasimoto: Green Power