Songbird
Dec
21
Manchester Orchestra Spring Tour
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Photo By: Don Van Cleave
Oh this was good news, which helped me to forget the overall shit of a day I had.
The Manchester Orchestra posted the following on their Myspace:
SPRING TOUR WITH BRAND NEW
Mar 15: Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Mar 16: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
Mar 17: Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
Mar 18: Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
Mar 20: Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Mar 21: Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
Mar 22: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Mar 23: Milwaukee, WI @ Rave at The Eagles Club
Mar 24: Kansas City, MO @Beaumont Club
Mar 25: Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre (16 +)
Mar 27: Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Mar 29: Seattle, WA @ The Fenix
Mar 30: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Mar 31: San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theater
Apr 3: Hollywood, CA @ Avalon Hollywood
Apr 4: Hollywood, CA @ Avalon Hollywood
Apr 5: Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
Apr 6: San Diego, CA @ SOMA
Apr 7: Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Apr 9: Dallas, TX @ Ridglea Theatre
Apr 10: Austin, TX @Stubb’s BBQ
Apr 11: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Apr 12: New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
Apr 13: Orlando, FL @House of Blues
Apr 14: Ft Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
Apr 16: St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Landing
Apr 17: Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
Apr 19: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
Apr 20: Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
Apr 21: Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
Apr 22: New York, NY @Irving Plaza (16 + )
Apr 24: Boston, MA @ Avalon
Apr 25: Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
__________________________________
Notice how I high-lighted not one but two shows they will be playing in my neck of the woods. Rich, are you responsible for this or wait you are some sort of undercover genie aren’t you? :)
Since I removed the links to my 2006 Album picks , I thought I would give those who haven’t heard these guys an opportunity to see what I am all excited about…
Don’t Let Them See You Cry (mp3 expired)
I’m Like A Virgin Loosing a Child [Get It]
You can listen to more of their songs here
Check out Coxon’s “Favourite albums of 2006” over at his blog To Die By Your Side
Pajo is good shits…It is a damn fine list.
Nov
30
A Little Louder
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I can’t turn down a challenge…That being said my next couple of posts might be a bit louder than my usual melancholy selections. Of course while listening to some music this evening EVERYTHING I liked was not quite loud enough…Ok well it wasn’t loud at all….I may have to scratch the previous comment about my “next couple of posts” there will probably be some posts in between the other posts…Are you following?
Ok good because I sure got lost somewhere back there.
It has been a very, very, very long day yet it flew by in a second…How is that possible? And look my music list is in pyramid form, I didn’t even mean to do that…Alrighty I am going to go to bed now, the star there on the last track listing by the Rosewood Thieves means I highly recommend listening, that is now my 3rd track from their EP and by far my favorite. They are really awesome, they have such a vintage sound but with an extra modern kick…So what the hell are you waiting for? Get their EP already! :P
mp3: Sad Statue (mp3 expired) – System of a Down
(Buy Mezmerize 2005)
mp3: Coup de Main (mp3 expired) – The Very Hush Hush
(Buy Mourir C’est Facile 2005)
mp3: Vision Of Division (mp3 expired) – The Strokes
(Buy First Impressions of Earth 2006)
mp3: Back Home To Harlem (mp3 expired) – The Rosewood Thieves
(Buy From The Decker House EP 2006)
Just a little note, don’t post a mix such as this at 1:30am…I am all wide eyed and bushy tailed.
Nov
26
An Ode To Beck
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Beck has 11 official album releases, 6 demos, 32 singles and a 177 compilations!!!! Holy shit…All together whiskeyclone.net documents a total of 286 releases and 706 songs. But it isn’t about how many releases he has or how many albums he can sell…It’s about the music he makes. His music transcends genre, in one song he mixes alternative rock with electronic, folk, blues and hip-hop. His funky style you can’t help but groove too and at the same time his music is much deeper than that…
“One of the reasons I’m a musician is because music isn’t divisive. It’s a medium where you don’t have to abide by divisions. The whole idea is anarchy and the best music just doesn’t give a fuck. And too much music is just so conservative these days. So I really don’t want to be careful about anything. And there’s so much music that’s trying to be offensive these days, trying to be aggressive and abrasive. But it’s just cheap and manipulative. So if I can offend someone in a good way and challenge their belief system, then I think that’s positive. I mean, I wonder what their problem with it is? I don’t have a problem. Wanda Coleman doesn’t have a problem with me singing like that.” -Beck, when asked, “Why be a musician?” -Ashare, Matt, ‘Slow Jamming: Beck reveals his inner soul man’, The Boston Phoenix, Nov. 1999
Beck is real and honest, he has remained true to himself, for that alone I admire him. But I think the honesty he pours into his songs is why he is loved by the 22 year old rebel and by the 40 year old white-collar. All people can relate to his music…
With his new release, The Information, a 15 track album which explores…pretty much everything it can. Of course this has been taken two ways. Stylus Magazine’s review of the album was mixed, they gave it a B- saying it just didn’t seem like the album molded together well. Where NME.com had nothing but praise, saying his use of technology helped him to explore the outer limits and how far he can push his music.
And to touch on the topic of the Scientology influence being at the core of the album, and I think he is very subtle with this influence. If anything Scientology has been the stepping stool for Beck to launch The Information into outer-space, the album picks up where Guero left off. And that is the point right? To progress one’s music , to evolve? I think Beck does this with each new album, I am always excited to listen to a new release of his and this album is no different , it is an experience through Beck’s own atmosphere . A funky space trip through all the crevices of Beck’s mind accompanied with futuristic fantasies along the way.
So in honor of Beck a little mix…
(mp3 expired) Dark Star – The Information (2006)
(mp3 expired) It’s All In Your Mind (Live Acoustic) – Bridge School Concerts, Vol. 1
also available on Sea Change (2005)
(mp3 expired) Derelict – Odelay (1996)
(mp3 expired) Broken Drum (Remix by Boards of Canada) – Guerolito (2005)
(mp3 expired) Black Tambourine – Guero (2005)
(mp3 expired) Lazy Flies – Mutations (1998)
(mp3 expired) Bogusflow – DGC Rairities, Vol. 1 (1994)
Nov
23
Stuffed Post
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Last night I saw Tom Morello and friends play a benefit show at the Hotel Cafe for the Axis of Justice/Food Not Bombs program. But I have to be honest although the Axis of Justice is a fantastic program, which I fully support…And of course hearing Tom Morello acoustic style was awesome as well…The main attraction for me was Alexi Murdoch. He is no stranger to the Hotel Cafe, a small intimate bar for acoustic performances, the ideal setting to see Alexi in.
He was quite honestly just amazing…If people didn’t know of him before the show, they knew of him after and you could just tell that he quickly became the main act. This was the second of three shows they are doing at the Hotel Cafe within a 3 week span. I couldn’t make the first one but I am going again next week for their final performance.
I think what impresses me the most about his music is the attention given to each chord, each note and every lyric. He is so meticulous, such a perfectionist…An artist indeed.
And if you didn’t catch the other 5 times I suggested picking up his new album then hopefully you will hear me now because Time Without Consequence sits at the very top of my “Best of 2006” it is #1. There is no doubt…It appeals to all and you can listen to every single track from beginning to end and then listen to it all over again.
And just in case you are still not convinced here is a track from the album for you to sample also one of the songs from his set last night:
Breathe (mp3 expired) – Alexi Murdoch
BUY Time Without Consequence
In other news all I do is work…In fact tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the US (America stuff your face day and then spend, consume and spend some more day) and remember when I said I got 4 glorious days off….Yeah that’s not going to happen…I am going to have to go in. But I did get the raise! :) Thank you for your words of encouragement and advice, I don’t think I would have spoken up if it wasn’t for all of your support…So a thousand thank yous.
And now on to this weeks releases…Three tracks from three stand out albums. Enjoy. Support the artists!!!!
All Fires (mp3 expired) – Swan Lake
Buy Beast Moans
The Matrimony Vine (mp3 expired) – Dave Fischoff
Buy Crawl
This last one is kind of the odd one out…But I think Jay Z is actually an extremely talented, smart businessman and musician. And the fact that he is open to expanding outside his rap/hip-hop style up and is why he is so good at what he does. Also I chose this track because I have a serious soft spot for Coldplay and not only does Chris Martin collaborate with Jay here, he produced it (put together the beats, which was originally going to be handed to Dr. Dre to do but Chris jumped in head first…It is a good fucking song. As for the album? Well…I think I am still digesting it so I can’t really say as of yet but did I mention the song Beach Chair? That is a good song…
Get my drift? Link available for a limited time.
Beach Chair (mp3 expired)- Jay-Z (feat. Chris Martin)
Kingdom Come
Nov
21
Battle
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*Edit*
So after I tried at least a 100 times I finally got the songs uploaded onto File Lodge. After the last couple of days I have decided to invest in a server. So as soon as I have a moment I am going to go ahead and check out Dreamhost…If anyone else has any suggestions on a server I always love options. :)A lot is going on…But right now I am out the door to a show…I will post later or tomorrow about it. I leave you with these….
New music on my headphones:
Plain Pieces (mp3 expired) – Audrey
Visible Forms
When I Am Gone (mp3 expired)- Sparrow House
(jared van fleet solo project, also the keyboardist for voxtrot)
Fall EP
I want to wish Richard a very happy birthday over at to die by your side. I hope you have a wonderful day and nothing but happiness in the upcoming year.
Nov
20
Rough Edges
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I just lost a fucking entire post that was quite long…Man that pisses me off. I don’t learn from my past mistakes…How long have I been blogging? Since 2004? Holy shit! And I can’t take the necessary precautions to prevent this exact thing from happening?
I am all huffy puffy…
Deep breath…Turn on Alexi Murdoch…
That is better…This has been a yucky weekend, I basically worked all weekend (even today) but that is alright because next weekend makes up for it…4 days off! It will be marvelous.
I was originally going to post a rock mix to kick the week off right…But I am afraid that will have to wait till tomorrow evening because my mood had darkened a bit due to some recent events here.
I was going into the garage to put in a laundry (which is usually a happy time because I don’t mind doing laundry, I love the smell of clean clothes and linens so…as weird as that may be to some)
But unfortunately this laundry excursion to the garage would soon be tainted…A little background info: I inhabited a family of black widow spiders that eventually grew into a few little families of black widow spiders in this shed right outside the garage…So I have been on the look out for any widows that have survived thus far and as I bent down there was a little black widow all stretched out in a little web showing off it’s red spotted stomach…Well I don’t really like killing insects…anything for that matter (except mosquitoes) but unfortunately I am allergic to bees, wasps and hornets (I get quite sick) so I really don’t want to see what a widow would do to me…I probably wouldn’t be able to see much of anything because I would die and I think I have a good 25 more years or so before that happens (aside from an accident)
So bug spray in hand I was ready to be strong and brave…I sprayed. The widow fell to the ground and curled into a little ball…After a couple of seconds it opened up and started squirming around slowly…As the poison began to take affect he became slower and slower…And I became quite sad and before I knew it tears were welling up in my eyes…Why was I crying over a potentially deadly insect? I have a real hard time watching any living creature slowly meet the end of it’s life, that slow drawn out suffering I wouldn’t wish on anything…But it is more the slow long drawn out process that I find hard to take not so much the death itself. Because if possible I would have much rather just been able to kill that widow with one swift smack if possible but this widow was not in a position where I could end this poor widow’s life that way.
All of this lead to questions but one main question: Why do we as human beings inflict so much pain and death on other living creatures even our own species?
I don’t get it…For a species who is conscious of itself and who is constantly living in denial of the inevitable end of our own lives we tend to be pretty sadistic creatures…It is a little disturbing.
Anyways on to the music a little instrumental mini-mix from some recent releases all of which I highly recommend.
The Dead Tree Gives No Shelter (mp3 expired) – Blue Sky Black Death
Buy A Heap of Broken Images
The Long Spring (mp3 expired) – Explosions In The Sky
Buy Thank You
Nov
12
Mellow Brew
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I thought we would wind down the day with a mix…Some tracks off of a few new releases of those lesser known singer/songwriters.
It has been a rough Monday, but that’s alright because it can only ease off from here…Right?
I have been putting together some rough drafts of my favorite 2006 picks…Oh my! It is going to be so hard to put together the best of 2006 lists. I think I may have you all help me out with some voting…Possibly a competition…I am just thinking out loud right now. Ok so sit back and listen, all tracks are highly recommended…I will return later.
She’s So Far Away (mp3 expired)- 4th Ave.
Every Single Way
The Inevitable (mp3 expired)- Jack Adaptor
Road Rail River
From The Interests Of Few (mp3 expired)- Norfolk & Western
The Unsung Colony
Driving Song (mp3 expired)- Roger Tarry
Last Time I Was There
Anna Lee (mp3 expired)- Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Broom
Nov
11
Weekly Rewind Mini-Mix
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What a week it was…
The week started off with a bang here in the U.S. with the 2006 elections where the Democrats took control of the House and the Senate for the first time in a little over a decade. (NPR) :)
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld resigns. (NPR)
Bloc Party kick off tour and announce UK dates on Tuesday and then Matt Tong (drummer) ends up in the hospital after his lung collapsed after their show on Thursday night. (Pitchfork) Yikes, I wish him a speedy and healthy recovery. And without Tong drumming his heart out they have postponed 3 shows thus far.
These two annoying human beings call it quits…That is really a shame, I mean I didn’t see that coming at all (sarcasm, lots and lots of sarcasm) But really I could care less about their split/divorce/parting what have you, but it does tie into what I really wanted to say:
Why is this guy even showing up on any “Top Song” list? I saw his name pop up a couple of times this week at the Hype Machine and iTunes (not that iTunes says much) but still why are people downloading anything from him and WHY are people actually posting his stuff on blogs? Just stop it. I mean can’t you put your money to better use?
Call me a snob, I care not. If I’m a snob because I don’t think he has any sort of talent then that is just fine with me. Snob city next stop, ding ding.
And as for new music well here are some of my selections from this weeks releases:
Wake Up Wake Up Wake Up (mp3 expired) – Pascal
Buy Dear Sir
We Dance (mp3 expired) – Pavement
Buy Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition
Review: Stylus A+ Approval
Window Seat (mp3 expired) – Librarians
Buy Alright Easy Candy Stranger
Voxtrot released a single, Your Biggest Fan. But since it is a single and there are probably 1001 mp3s floating around the net I will point you to their website where you can check out the band and purchase the CD single for only $3.99 (that’s less than a cup of terrible tasting coffee from Starsucks) or you could also go to their myspace to hear all the songs as they stream.
;)
Okie dokie time for bedums good night and good morning to those who are waking up and good evening to those who are just kicking off their Saturday night.
Nov
7
Emma McGlynn Radio FM4 Session
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Not that this comic from Toothpaste For Dinner has anything to do with Emma McGlynn but since it is Election day in the U.S. I thought it was appropriate. It certainly sums up how I feel about this election, although I did vote none the less.
And the excitement around these parts is really enthralling, calm yourselves people!!! Really the chatter is too much, settle down…I need some peace and quiet…I like sarcasm. Hopefully you all do too…Because that was my way of saying that I am a bit lonely around here…
Blah sums up my day yesterday and today quite nicely. I did come across some amazing tracks of an FM4 session of Emma McGlynn (March 2006). Just beautiful really, a little girlie but you know sometimes it is inevitable being a girl and all.
Also a highly recommended track off of her first album Kamikaze Birdie (2001)
This is quite befitting of my mood…Have a great rest of your day!
My War (Live) (mp3 expired)- Emma McGlynn
Forget You (Live) (mp3 expired)- Emma McGlynn
Emma McGlynn & The Monorails – Murder Set
New album available for download in advance at emusic
Lovesong (mp3 expired)- Emma McGlynn
CP #32, do check it out. I plan to conjure something up for next weeks Contrast Podcast. But go listen to what the armadillos have selected for this weeks “When?” theme: Songs with ‘When’ in the title.
Nov
6
2006 Mini Indie-Rock Mix
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Because it’s Monday. Cheers!
Moving Gaza (mp3 expired)- Exit Clov
You Don’t Love Me (mp3 expired)- Kooks (3rd recommendation off this album, BUY IT)
I’m Thirsty (mp3 expired)- The Broken Family Band
Balls
Your Unknown (mp3 expired)- Le Firm
Disclaimer
Music found on this blog is for sampling only. If you like what you hear then support the artist. Buy their music, attend a show and spread the word. If you own the rights to any of the music featured here and you would like me to remove it contact me and I will remove the link immediately.
Click the
tag to listen, right click the song title to save. If you find that an mp3 is not playing chances are it has expired.
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