Friday Song - Apollo Sunshine

Today's song is brought to you by Apollo Sunshine. I heard it this morning and it reminded me that have to by this entire album. I have several songs from 2008's "Shall Noise Upon" but have to purchase all songs.

I wish it was Spring weather vs. Cold, wet, rainy stay inside weather. This song makes me want to be outdoors. Excellent.

Give this song a listen...you won't be angry.



Apollo Sunshine- Singing to the Earth (To Thank Her For You).mp3

Phoenix

The French pop indie rockers are at it again, the band I speak of is Phoenix. Their new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is scheduled for a May release but almost the entire album has been leaked and can be found on almost any music blog. I'm a fan of Phoenix. I always know what I'm in for with them...its poppy, happy, pretty songs. Timeless summertime rock, is what i like to call it.

I liked their first album United, I was luke warm with Alphabetical, but really liked 2006's It's Never Been Like That and have been anticipating a new release by these Frenchies....oh side note, the lead singer is married to Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette)....that seems to be a point of reference you'll find on all the other blogs. Phoenix did some work with Air which did the score for Sofia's first movie....i wonder if thats how they met?

The current Track listing is below.


"Lisztomania" (4:01)
"1901" (3:13)
"Fences" (3:43)
"Love Like a Sunset" (7:30)
"Lasso" (2:47)
"Rome" (4:37)
"Countdown" (3:55)
"Girlfriend" (3:24)
"Armistice" (3:04)

Here are two songs from the new album that i really enjoy and remember who coined the phrase Timeless summertime rock...
Phoenix- 1901.mp3

Phoenix- Armistace.mp3

Pree

The Kora Records sent over an Mp3 from their next album release which is from a band named Pree. I was immediatley interested in this song only after a few seconds of hitting play.

Below is The Kora Record's write up/background on the band and also is the MP3 below. You'll see references below about Modest Mouse/Isaac Brock..and i hear a little of that especially 2002's Sharpen your Teeth from Ugly Cassanova.

Pree, led by May Tabol (formerly of Le Loup) emerged onto the DC music scene
with a string of compelling and intimate shows during the summer of 2008. Pree's
musical prowess evokes seductive and shadowy moods that call to mind Regina
Spektor's imaginative narratives as well as Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock's
rhythmic vocal stylings-- mixing haunting folk elements, unmistakable vocals,
and a remarkable command of words to elicit a fare as delicate as it is
powerful.

Pree's debut album explores the dangers of building concrete walls
around intangible thoughts and impulses-- walls ultimately unable to house the
complex individuals they seek to shape, limit and define. Speaking through
characters with fractured personalities and questionable motives, A Chopping
Block examines the chaotic and often destructive relationships that take root
when individual fails to adopt cohesive and socially acceptable identities--
raising the question of whether social boundaries will ever be able to quantify
and contain any force as powerful and unstable, and as beautiful and reckless as
the human psyche.

http://www.thekorarecords.com/sounds/intheparlor.mp3

Brother Sport

One of my favorite songs of January thus far....

I'm in no way going to claim this the album of the year but i really really like this song.

"MATT!"

I would like to have a better understanding of exactly what the song is about. I have several thoughts / theories about what it could be about, but just give it a listen.

Brother Sport. mp3

Best of 2008 (Mix)

I'd like to make a little list of my favorite tracks of '08. You could look at these tracks and also maybe make the assumption that these are my favorite albums, you might be right but I dont want to confirm one way or the other.....See, I like to keep the readers guessing. It keeps them coming back to GBS, but thats blogging 101.

Time to get serious though, I shouldve posted this mix about 17 days ago but have been busy trying to feel out '09. Trying to just dip my toes in to see what the temparture is like, just a small sample of '09....a starter plate if you will before I take off the robe and jump right in. Well, so far i think its going to be a good one....so lets all jump in the '09 pool. But first, before we take the plunge lets take a moment (or 53 minutes and 39 seconds) to listen to my favorite songs (maybe albums of '08) streaming in white box to the left. Oh, and if you really like how the list looks or sounds, I have a zip file i could send.....just lemme know.

Some of these are consitent with other "Best of lists" but i tried to choose my true favorites and leave it at that. Have fun and let me know what your favortite songs of '08 are. These are not ranked as favorites but in order of how i thought they sounded best.
1. Beck - Orphans, Modern Guit

2. Deerhunter - Nothing Ever Happened, Microcastle

3. Department of Eagles - Teenagers, In Ear Park

4. Dr. Dog - My Friend, Fate

5. Blitzen Trapper - Sleeytime in the Western World, Furr

6. Ra Ra Riot - Oh La, The Rhumb Line

7. David Byrne and Brian Eno - Strange Overtones, Everything that Happens Will Happen Today

8. TV on the Radio - Dancing Choose, Dear Science

9. MGMT - Electric Feel, Oracular Spectacular


10. The Sea and Cake - On a Letter, Car Alarm


11. Stereolab, Vally Hi!, Chemical Chords


12. The Helio Sequence - Back to This, Keep your Eyes Ahead


13. The Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal, Fleet Foxes


14. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks- Cold Son, Real Emotional Trash


15. White Denim- Sitting, Workout Holiday

Date with Ikea

"Date with IKEA" literally. Pavement and imeem agreed to a funny/goofy promotion where a lucky winner will get to spend a day with a member or Pavement at an Ikea. This is a buzz effort to promote the expanded edition of Pavement's fourth LP Brighten the Corners. Yep, its real but it still hasnt been announced who the member will be...

Here's some more info Pitchfork

Here is Streaming "Date with Ikea" Courtesy of Pitch

Stream: Pavement: Date With Ikea [totally unofficial stream] [from the Brighten the Corners LP]

There is also an entire Matador Fall '08 sampler. A Pavement song included "Cataratcs".

Download that here.

New Albums/Bands/Songs

Finally, a new post, plus a Taco. Yes.


My busy work season is almost over and the holidays are approaching which I'm pretty happy about. I saw Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks last week in Lawrence, KS. Blitzen Trapper was the opening band. Great show and great company...you know who you are. I also ran my first marathon since my last post so I'm pretty much a bad ass now. And more importantly, Obama was elected into office which means America voted the right way and things are already happening (even before hes taken office).


So, what have I been listening too the last few weeks? Some different stuff. Mainly some 'ol fashion indie rock and just some regular indie pop too. Here goes:











This first jewel is from a band named Sunset. The key member from Sunset is from Sound Team out of Austin, Bill Baird. Sound Team broke up last year and I was kind of bummed about it but then discoverd Mr. Baird has been doing some solo stuff and Sunset stuff for a little bit. There are 3 albums that I'm aware of...one is Bright Blue Dream (released in March '08), Glowing City (released in July '08) but a new album called Pink Clouds..(A variety of recordings that come together as an album. Produced on clear pink cassettes with handmade covers. only 100 copies). This band is a music factory. Here are some tracks from each of the mentioned albums. Check out the song Loveshines, it could have easily made The Virgin Suicides soundtrack. Not sure why but it has the sound..kind of like the song from Air in that movie. Dominate it.

Sunset- Loveshines.mp3 (Pink Clouds)
Sunset- Man's Heart Complaint.mp3 (Bright Blue Dream)
Sunset- Twenty Four Karat Soul.mp3 (The Glowing City)

Next is a Swedish band called "Love is All". There new album actually just came out this Tuesday. I like what I've hear. Very raw sounds, and I started to jump in and call them another 80's type band but thats a weak and easy statement to make. They almost have more of a late 70's punk sound, but thats also easy and weak. At times the singer Josephine Olausson voice can push your ear drums to the limit but it grows on you and then you want more. Weird. Couple of songs here. Movie Romance and Sea Sick from the album- A Hundred Things Keep Me Up.

Love Is All- Movie Romance.mp3 (A hundred things)
Love Is All- Sea Sick.mp3 (A hundred things)

Finally, this last band's album, Little Joy (self titled) came out last week, Big news is- one of the band members is from The Strokes. It's Fabrizio Moretti, which should be a fake name. I like the Strokes....even though they've lost their cool over the years, just because i guess. No real back up as to why but i still like them. I think they make good music and its always fun to revisit. This album is very good, its a little more laid back than a Strokes record and has some tropical-ness to it. This is probably because one of the other members is a very well known Brazilian indie rocker guy named Rodrigo Amarante (from Los Hermanos). Also, multi-instrumentalist named Binki Shapiro is in the band. Overall, good album, two tracks from this album.

Little Joy- Brand New Start.mp3 (Little Joy)
Little Joy- Keep Me In Mind.mp3 (Little Joy)

I'll try to post more stuff soon. All songs are streaming in the WHITE BOX to your right for a limited time. Thanks a million.