New Midlake songs

This is definitely the new album I am most excited about hearing. Their last album Bamnan and Slivercork is REALLY growing on me since I've stopped hearing Thom York whenever I listen to it. Ryan described them as a "poor man's Radiohead", and at first listen, it's a great comparison. After getting friendly with B&S though, they've revealed their own distinctive flavor that no longer smacks of Radiohead. In fact, I would love it if the next Radiohead album reminds me of Midlake.

These are 2 live tracks they recorded for the BBC during SXSW this year. These two tracks, plus previously posted Rosco, you can see why I'm pumped for the new album.

MP3: Van Occupanther
MP3: We Gathered in Spring

The new album is called The Trials of Van Occupanther, and comes out June 5 in the UK (according to their MySpace page)

The Trials of Van Occupanther tracklist:

1. Roscoe (Rad)
2. Bandits
3. Head Home
4. Van Occupanther (Rad)
5. Young Bride (1st single. Referred to as "the song of 2006". So there.)
6. Branches
7. In This Camp
8. We Gathered in Spring (Super-Rad)
9. It Covers the Hillsides
10. Chasing After Deer
11. You Never Arrived

The New Amsterdams and New Look

Decided to give the site a bit of a facelift today. I hope I didn't break anything. I might do this quite a bit since I tend not to like things I design for very long.

The New Amsterdams' new album came out this week, and it's already getting quite a bit of time in my rotation. It's hard to tell sometimes if a new album is going to get its hooks into me. Sometimes I'm fairly luke-warm about something at first, and it ends up being one of my favorite go-to albums(see A.C. Newman, Great Lake Swimmers). So, we'll see...

MP3: Calendar Days

Yet Another Tapes 'n Tapes blog entry...

This band has been getting a lot of blog activity in the last few months, and they are almost getting as much hype as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, and that's quite a bit. Having gone back to the album again recently, it really isn't surprising. The songs are sometimes moody(MP3: Omaha), sometimes feisty(MP3: Insistor), always confident, and always catchy.

You can buy the album for just $10 from their site.

Born Again in the U.S.A.

Well, it's been a while since I've posted, and it's only because I haven't had a lot of time to spend with the iPod as of late. I've relocated, and in doing so, have cut my commute from around 4 songs long to only 1 song. It's great being closer to the office, but I'm not getting that quality time to listen to new stuff. Well, I'll adapt somehow.

I have managed to grow quite fond of a new album from a band whose members were enough to get me more than a little interested. It's the 2nd Jeff Tweedy side project album of the new year, and, like the new Minus 5 album, it has a handful of really great tracks. The rest of the band consists of Glenn Kotche(drummer, Wilco) and Jim O'Rourke(multi-instumentalist), and when I listen to this album, I really hear a love for making music. These are talented dudes, and they seem to be having a lot of fun flexing their musical muscles. The result is a very charming cohesive album. Here's the one-two punch that kicks off the album:

MP3: Hey Chicken
The album kicks of smartly with this guitar-heavy, herky-jerky, dose of defiance. A cool track that uses creative timing to capture the attention of the listener(well, in my case anyways), and doesn't really let go until the end.

MP3: The Ruling Class
Catchy and clever....a great combination in my opinion. You gotta love it when a song starts off with a catchy little whistling hook. But then Jeff kicks in with one the coolest opening lines I've heard in a long time.

Cut Me Open! Vol. 2(A song Review Column by: Hoiner)

MP3: We Just Won't Be Defeated

Three words to describe this song:

1. Unique
2. Ridiculously repetitive (I know that’s two words)
3. Fun
   

Well……I don’t hate this song. But I’m quite far away from admitting that I like it. It is undeniably unique and even, dare I say, catchy, but exactly what the hell is going on here?

If you are really into music that sounds like team chanting of a 12-year-old girls soccer club - combined with background music reminiscent of a 1970’s sitcom theme song, then this will definitely crack your top 10.

Safe to say, “We Just Won’t Be Defeated” has not moved into my top 10.

Give The Go! Team full credit for their individuality, musical prowess, and ingenuity – this is a song unlike anything else I have ever heard (plus I always dig the horns!).

I actually really enjoyed the last 30 seconds of the song after the incessant chanting ceases. It is a simple combination of drums and piano – and ultimately I think I like it because it is beckoning childhood memories of “Peanuts”. Oh well.

Ultimately you’re going to have to check this song out for yourself - it deserves a couple listens.