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So, it’s the first real show of the New Year. New website, new music, new favorites. Not a bad way to start a decade. There is a lot happening around here (including a new stations playing the show, IndieSF.com), so I thought a little organization might be in order.
New Interviews – I posted the full interviews with Lightning Dust and Sonic Youth this week. Make sure to check ‘em out.
New Videos – How about that new Video Player? You hit play, and your magically transported back to when you could turn on a TV and see multiple videos in a row!!! I know, magic is pretty awesome. This week we added new moving pictures from OK Go, Islands, RJD2, Animal Collective, & Japandroids, along with the rest of big ones making the rounds. Kick back and let ‘em play!
Now, on to the show!
[podcast]http://files.me.com/kylemeredithpromo/pioaau.mp3[/podcast]
OK Go – This Too Shall Pass
It’s my first great find of 2010, from a band I didn’t expect. According to the band’s new bio, Damian Kulash decided it was finally time to indulge in his Purple Rain infatuation, and it turned out to be pretty awesome. There are multiple big tracks on the new record, Of The Blue Colour of the Sky, (and a cool video of the song WTF), but I thought this one kicked off a show nice enough.
Broken Bells – The High Road
The collaboration between Danger Mouse and James Mercer from The Shins, it took me a couple listens for it to hit, but it finally did and I haven’t taken it out of the shuffle yet. There are parts that remind me of really good Verve, and just goes to show that Danger Mouse can make anyone great. I get the feeling that he sits back and randomly motions for his henchmen to grab the nearest musician, regardless of who it is. Of course it sounds great in the end. It didn’t matter who was on the other side. When you’re working with the Mouse, you’re golden. My only gripe for this song is the ending. Throwing in a change that late in the game should have made it epic, but instead it just kind of teeters out. Hopefully, it’s a move that plays into the album more, instead of being just a spot in a single.
Love Is All – Kungen
Maybe it’s the bands name, but I hear this song and I think, “yeah, it’s decent, and it’s fun, but Karen O did it better when she did the “All Is Love” song.” Either way, you’ll get the chorus after one-time, making it a pretty easy sing-along to slip into.
The Flaming Lips – Speak To Me / Breathe
We all should have seen this coming. So many times they’ve been called “the modern day Pink Floyd.” They put out an album earlier in the year that was definitely not for the mainstream, so to balance it all out, they cover Dark Side of the Moon from front-to-back. To help out, Wayne calls up his nephew’s band, Stardeath & The White Dwarfs, Henry Rollins, and Peaches to add the color into the jaunt. Oh, how is it? It’s pretty great. And it sounds exactly like you think it will.
Vampire Weekend – Cousinz (Toy Selectah Mex-More Remix)
Are you tired of this song yet? If so, I recommend this remix. It brings out all of the strong points and adds a heck-uv-a great beat for good time party-party. The full album is up now on Ye Ol’ Myspace. Prepare to hear this one on the radio for the next whole decade.
The Watson Twins – Midnight (live on KCRW)
These Louisville gals were easy to like with their previous soul-folk discs, but they’ve just made it even easier. A little sex appeal layered on top of a battle between a B3 and a blues guitar. Its jams out in all of the right spots, and you can taste that midsummer late-night air.
We Are Wolves – Holding Hands
A quick blast of Stooges style raw power. Its aggressive, and yet you can dance to it. And hey, look! The whole Wolves name makes a quick comeback, and from Canada, too. I now assume those Canucks spend an ample amount of time fearing the dog-beast. It consumes their mind enough to make great art. Alas, we benefit from their torture.
Surfer Blood – Floating Vibes
These fellas made a pretty big impact late last year with their song “Swim (to Reach the End), enough to land them atop several hundred Band-To-Watch lists for the New Year. Here lies single number two to make the rounds and finds them diving deeper into the sound that caught us all the first go-round. Keep an eye on ‘em folks!
Portishead – Chase The Tear
It’s hypnotizing from the very beginning. The fact that the riff doesn’t change for five minutes should make it drag, but it only keeps me spellbound. This comes as a possible new marketing direction for the group, teaming up with Amnesty International to debut the song on World Human Rights Day, with all proceeds going to help the cause. Reportedly, the band is in the studio working on more goodies. I’m hoping they follow suit.
The Album Leaf – Falling From The Sun
Here’s one you’ll have to pay more attention to. It’s a slow builder from the return of The Album Leaf, after having been absent for four years. Sources say this was a full on band doing this time around, instead of the usual “dude brings a song in and adds the other dudes to it.” I’m not familiar enough with their history to know the difference, but I like what I hear now.
Boy Eats Drum Machine – Hoop + Wire
Another that had to grow on me for a few listens, but its fun enough. Of course, you could get close to the same thing from an Islands record.
jj – Ecstasy
This new re-discovery of trip-hop is big news. It’s what the kids are latching onto right now, and I guess that makes sense being it's one of the only genres-of-past to not have been mined to death in the last few years. Much likes the sound's first time through - circa late 90’s - it's not something I can easily sink my teeth into, but I’m rather fine with it playing in the background. The XX may have made it to the finish line first, but jj is running close behind with their next record (number three) coming out on Secretly Canadian in March.
Quasi – Repulsion
Fans of the 90’s have more reason to rejoice with the first new Quasi record in a few years. For those just checking in, it’s the ex-husband-wife duo consisting of Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney fame and Sam Coomes from The Donner Party and Pink Mountain. The formula stays the same and you get a blast of power chord vs. riff rock expertly assembled with a shout-along chorus, as done by the folks who helped create it. Take notes, kiddies.
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The Weekly Feed is distributed by WFPK and Louisville Public Media. The executive producer is Stacy Owen, with additional help from WFPK’s Laura Shine. Produced and hosted by Kyle Meredith. Make sure to say hi, yeah?
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