Mixtape | The Jamuary Mixtape
Here’s my first mixtape of the year. Its chock full of songs that I’ve fallen in love with over the last 30 days or so. A lot of these songs come from albums that I’m extremely excited about (Yellow Ostrich, Delta Spirit, Ben Kweller, Diamond Rugs, Bowerbirds, Tennis) so its a great precursor to some fantastic music we’ll enjoy over the next 320 days. Hope you enjoy.
Playlist:
- Guards - Do It Again
- Adam Arcuragi - The Well
- Plants & Animals - Lightshow
- Yellow Ostrich - Marathon Runner
- Bowerbirds - Tuck the Darkness In
- Peasant - The Flask
- Ben Kweller - Mean to Me
- Harriet - I Slept With All Your Mothers
- Delta Spirit - California
- Diamond Rugs - Gimme A Beer
- Tennis - My Better Self
- Young Hines - Rainy Day
- Bailiff - In the Reverie
- Night Beds - Ramona
- Atlas Genius - Trojans
- Buxton - Boy of Nine
- Herman Dune - Tell Me Something I Don’t Know
- Fort Frances - The Lowlands
- Barna Howard - Promise I Won’t Laugh
- Big Deal - Chair
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Emily Wells is a classically trained violinist whose penchant for hip-hop styled production has nabbed a brand new record deal from Partisan Records for her great ability to create hauntingly beautiful compositions using her voice, violin, synthesizers and loops to create a sort of orchestral sound that is pretty damn unique. Her track “Passenger,” leaped out at me, its really something quite different and has a fantastic chilled out vibe.
Her upcoming record, Mama, debuts on Partisan on April 10th.
Upcoming Emily Wells Live Dates
Saturday, February 18th - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (Early Show, doors @ 6pm)
Wednesday, March 14th-Saturday March 17th - Austin, TX @ SXSW
Thursday, March 22nd - Indianapolis, IN @ White Rabbit (w. Echomakerdoors)
Monday, April 9th - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Album Release Show)
The much anticipated second album from Denver-based Tennis, Young and Old, is set for release February 14, 2012 on Fat Possum Records. What better day to fall in love with this band all over again. I can’t say enough about how I enjoy the lo-fi sugary sweet and breezy bedroom pop songs that Tennis has put out to date. With this second album coming out it only fuels the fire for similar hype. I’m digging this second released single, it really brings me straight back to the first album, and the added keys rounds out the sound a bit more.
New Music | Damien Jurado - Museum of Flight
[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/dojagsc/damien-jurado-museum-of-flight[/soundcloud]
This is the second single from Damien Jurado’s upcoming release Maraqopa. It’s an elegant sound, as the layers of sound sort of wash over your ears. The gentle basslines, tender strumming, and Jurado’s subtle shivered voice make this one of the more touching sounding tracks I’ve heard in a while.
Order (out 2/21): Maraqopa
Tour:
04/13/12 San Francisco, CA: Bottom of the Hill w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/14/12 Los Angeles, CA: Bootleg Theater w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/15/12 San Diego, CA: Soda Bar w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/17/12 Denver, CO: Hi-Dive w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/18/12 Salt Lake City, UT: Velour w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/19/12 Boise, ID: Neurolux w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/21/12 Vancouver, BC: Biltmore Cabaret w/ Peter Wolf Crier
04/22/12 Portland, OR: Holocene w/ Peter Wolf Crier
05/16/12 Chicago, IL: Schubas w/ JBM
05/17/12 Pittsburgh, PA: Warhol Museum w/ JBM
05/18/12 Boston, MA: RADIO w/ JBM
05/19/12 New York, NY: Mercury Lounge w/ JBM
05/20/12 Philadelphia, PA: Johnny Brenda’s w/ JBM
05/21/12 Washington DC: Black Cat w/ JBM
05/22/12 Raleigh, NC: Baracade w/ JBM
05/23/12 Atlanta, GA: The Earl w/ JBM
05/25/12 Nashville, TN: The Basement w/ JBM
05/26/12 Bloomington, IN: Russian Recordings w/ JBM
New Music | Dr. Dog - Lonesome
[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/antirecords/dr-dog-lonesome[/soundcloud]
Check out the new track from Dr. Dog off their rapidly approaching Feb 7th release of Be the Void. “Lonesome,” a rickety track with gang chorals begging you to sing along and exclaim… “What does it take to be lonesome? Nothing at all!” The ramshackle sound of slide guitars, and the sing songy style of this track really whets the appetite for the album.
Look for it in 2 weeks from Anti Records
New Music | Electric Guest - This Head I Hold
[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/electricguest/this-head-i-hold[/soundcloud]
Grab the single on itunes
Check out Electric Guest and their infectious single “This Head I Hold,” a sort of neo-soul inspired track from Asa Taccone and Matthew Compton, or as they like to be called Electric Guest. This is the first track off of a debut album, Mondo, which was produced by Danger Mouse and to be released on Downtown Records.
This Head I Hold is a fun, energetic, 60’s soul throwback tune ala Raphael Saadiq. Its a breath of air a totally enjoyable listening experience and whets the appetite for more.
Also check out the rather unsettling video fro their track “American Daydream”
Look for Mondo April 24th
New Music | Trampled by Turtles - Alone
[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/trampledbyturtles/02-alone[/soundcloud]
Check out a brand new track from Minnesota’s Bluegrass/Rock band Trampled By Turtles. The quintet whose music has the energy of angsty punk music and the country soul of bluegrass will release Stars and Satellites on April 10 via Thirty Tigers/RED. On this first cut “Alone,” toils in the more bluegrass side of things as it ambles along weeping through banjo plucking, fiddled ornamentation and the band’s usual dynamic and beautiful harmonizing. Later in the song, it starts to relent to the bands energy, as the dials are turned up quite a bit. Great first track froma highly anticipated album.
Check the the first single “Alone,” the album trailer and tour dates below (including a date here in Boston)
Tour Dates:
March
3-4 - Vail, CO @ Snow Ball Music Festival
15-16 - Austin, TX @ SXSW
April
11 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
12 - Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theatre
13 - Chicago, IL @ The Metro
14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
15 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
17 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
18 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
19 - Syracuse, NY @ The Wescott Theatre
20 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
22 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater
24 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
25 - Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre
26 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
27 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
28 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Taft Theatre
May
16 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
19 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
21 - San Diego, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
22 - Los Angeles, CA @ Music Box
24 - Yosemite, CA @ Strawberry Festival
25 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
26 - Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
June
15 - Bayfield, WI @ Big Top Chautauqua
July
27 - Lyons, CO @ RockyGrass Festival
New Music | Andrew Bird - Eyeoneye
[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/andrewbird/eyeoneye[/soundcloud]
About to release his 12th album (wow!) Andrew Bird’s, Break It Yourself, is due March 6 on Mom + Pop. Following his last album Eyeoneye seems to be one of his most accessible and warm efforts. The full on chamber style seems to be toned down to a more emotionally charged indie rock sound. It’s a refreshing sound from Bird who’s music can feel a bit tangential sometimes.
On 1/24, Fans can pre-order the Break It Yourself deluxe edition box set at http://andrewbird.net and receive an immediate digital download of the track. Hand numbered and limited to 1,000, the linen wrapped box set includes the 180-gram double vinyl album, CD, Here’s What Happened DVD, original Jay Ryan poster, stationary and stamp set, lyric booklet and a photographic reproduction of the 1915 album cover image.
Tour:
March 15 Majestic Theatre Dallas, TX*
March 16 The Howlin’ Wolf New Orleans, LA*
March 17 Tabernacle Atlanta, GA*
March 19 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN*
March 20 Southern Theatre Columbus, OH*
March 22 The Pageant St. Louis, MO*
March 23 The Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO*
March 24 Riverside Theater Milwaukee, WI*
April 9 Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA†
April 10 The Vogue Vancouver, BC†
April 11 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland, OR†
April 13 Fox Theater Oakland, CA†
April 18 Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center Mesa, AZ†
April 19 Lensic Performing Arts Center Santa Fe, NM†
April 20 Rialto Theater Tucson, AZ†
May 3 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA‡
May 4 Beacon Theatre New York, NY‡
May 5 Beacon Theatre New York, NY§
May 6 House of Blues Boston, MA‡
May 8 9:30 Club Washington, DC‡
May 9 Ramshead Live Baltimore, MD‡
May 10 The Fillmore Detroit Detroit, MI**
May 12 Auditorium Theatre Chicago, IL**
* with Eugene Mirman
† with Laura Marling
‡ with Patrick Watson
§ with Tift Merritt
** with Mucca Pazza
Yellow Ostrich - Marathon Runner
Super excited for a brand new album from Yellow Ostrich. They’ve recently signed to Barsuk, and now are new full-length that builds upon the success from the Mistress. The first cut from their upcoming album, Strange Land, is one damn fantastic song titled “Marathon Runner,” an indie-rock styled track with pounding drums, moody guitar riffs and it feels as though the band was making a statement with this song. It’s anthemic, hammering, a bit of bombast, and one you’ll be consistently turning louder and louder as the song reaches its climactic, critical mass feel. They are becoming a band I can not avoid, and I’m constantly going back and listening to and I’m extremely excited for a new album from them.
Look for them in town to start the tour, debuting a lot of this new material with 1,2,3 backing them up.
Yellow Ostrich tour dates:
3/3 - Great Scott - Allston, MA #
3/4 - Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY #
3/6 - Beachland Tavern - Cleveland, OH #
3/7 - The Pike Room at The Crofoot - Pontiac, MI #
3/8 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL #
3/9 - Der Rathskeller - Madison, WI &
3/10 - 7th St Entry - Minneapolis, MN #
3/11 - Cactus Club - Milwaukee, WI #
3/12 - The Gramophone - St. Louis, MO #
3/15-19 - SXSW - Austin, TX
3/19 - Solar Culture - Tucson, AZ
3/20 - Soda Bar - San Diego, CA
3/21 - Bootleg Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
3/23 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA @
3/24 - The Depot at Humboldt State - Arcata, CA
3/26 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR %
3/27 - Media Club - Vancouver, Canada %
3/29 - Flying M Coffee - Nampa, ID %
3/30 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT %
3/31 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO %
4/2 - The Waiting Room - Omaha, NE %
4/10 - Johnny Brenda’s - Philadelphia, PA
4/11 - Black Cat Backstage - Washington, DC
4/12 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
# = with 1,2,3
& = with 1,2,3 and Lower Dens
@ = with Lost in the Trees
% = with Howler
Spin dropped this yesterday, and I’m so excited to finally get to hear more music from one of my favorite artists Ben Kweller. I feel like I’ve been listening to him for multiple decades, and its pretty wild that he’s on his 5th studio album, titled Go Fly a Kite, due out on Feb 7th.
This first track “Mean to Me,” is an all out power-pop tune with a blown-out guitar solo that is going to make you mouth water, horn ornamentation, and some really smooth harmonies. His music has always had this youthful quality, he has the earnest ability to write and produce music that is extremely catchy, fun, and totally relatable.
I’m getting extremely excited to hear the album in full, after the teaser and now the first single, I can’t help but get excited about another Kweller album.
