02

July
2009

I Need Sleep/Emperor X - Live At The Model Home, Philly

category: Commentary, Reviews
by The Beat, No Comments »

It would definitely take a lot for me to go out and see a house show at my dangerously ascending age but that’s exactly what I did a few Sundays ago. I featured I Need Sleep in a post a while back and they happened to be touring through the area. This probably would have been enough to get me off my ass but Chad from Emperor X was also along for the trip and I’ve been a longtime fan of his work so it became a bill of awesome.

Conditions were less than desirable at The Model Home (R.I.P.) - blasts of armpit and OE seething out its every corner. I’m guessing my friend and I were probably the oldest girl and guy, respectively, at the house. Several local bands played first, none of which I knew but all of them actually sounded more than capable in their respective field - mostly hardcore/mathcore to be exact. One of them (wish I had remembered their name) had a serious Minus The Bear vibe going on.

Now I pretty much had a strong inclination that I Need Sleep weren’t exactly going to lull me to sleep (’natch) on stage. Reports on the interwebs (mostly via videos) cued me towards their previous stage antics and wardrobes. Somehow they managed to set up their heaping amount of weapons of mass distortion and chaos inside of a tiny 12×12ish bedroom. Keyboards, cornet (maybe?), 2 drum kits, electric violin and banjitar all contributed to the vaudevillian affair.

The first 30 seconds of the performance had me fooled into thinking the night might not end with a persistent hum in my eardrums. I should have known better. A pounding assault of noise bursted from the amps and for the next half hour the 7 (or 8) members of the band soiled the floor with their sweat - occasionally bringing their musical business up into the crowd’s grill. Squalls of trance-like skronk were followed by creepy call-and-response dirges. Cymbals crashed to the floor. Violin strings popped. It was very hard not to smile at the spectacle considering we were all cooing along to the Lion King soundtrack in the van during the pre-game show. Unfortunately it seemed like their set ended before it even began.

Shortly after the amps started their cooling process, Chad made an executive decision to play an intimate acoustic performance in front of a crowd of about 12 people, my being one of them. The lights were turned off and we all huddled around him on the floor while he belted out 6 or 7 of his classic pop gems. I can’t say just how awesome it was to experience his show in such a quiet, subdued setting and I couldn’t have been more pleased with his setlist - which included 3 of my favorite Emperor X tracks - ‘Speltier’, ‘Addison Aceh’ and ‘Sfearion’. He ended the set with a brand new song which he strummed out for his lady friend - on the other end of a cell phone. The perfect salute to an eventful night out on the town.

For the complete set of photos taken by the lovely Rachael Whitson clicky here.


29

June
2009

Monday Morning Shuffle - #14

category: Monday Morning Shuffle
by The Beat, No Comments »

The Empty Set - portia, i dreamt you were real
(taken from their 2009 release As Neat As A New Pin)
J. Tillman - seven states across
(taken from his 2006 release Long May You Run)
Leatherbag - it’s over
(taken from his 2008 release Love & Harm)
The Meat Puppets - rotten shame
(taken from their 2009 release Sewn Together)
Snowglobe - get it on
(taken from their 2009 release No Need To Light A Night Light On A Night Like Today)
St. Vincent - the strangers
(taken from her 2009 release Actor)
The Mitchells - prefab
(taken from their 2003 release Hear Where You Are)
The Accident That Led Me To The World - hole of doubt
(taken from their 2008 release The Island Gospel)
Jerry Fels and the Jerry Fels - nobody does me like you do me
(taken from his 2009 release So Twice They Named It Nice)
Derby - if ever there’s a reason
(taken from their 2008 release Posters Fade)
Circus Devils - ships from prison to prison
(taken from their 2009 release Gringo)
Ha Ha Tonka - close every valve to your bleeding heart
(taken from their 2009 release Novel Sounds Of The Nouveau South)
Sunset Rubdown - idiot heart
(taken from their 2009 release Dragonslayer)
Viva Voce - devotion
(taken from their 2009 release Rose City)
Throw Me The Statue - ancestors
(taken from their 2009 release Creaturesque)
Deer Tick - easy
(taken from their 2009 release Born On Flag Day)
Octopus Project - wet gold
(taken from their 2009 release Golden Beds EP)


24

June
2009

Deirdre and Conor - At Our Tiny Dinner Table EP - BTID006

category: Netlabel
by The Beat, No Comments »

BTID is proud (or happy as a pig in…mud) to announce its latest netlabel release, At Our Tiny Dinner Table, brought to you by Philadelphia’s Deirdre and Conor.  Readers of BTID’s previous incarnation might be familiar with Conor’s membership in Chicago’s now-defunct (but still appreciated!) First Coat, who we had the pleasure of saying a few words about here. Deirdre, no stranger to the Hyde Park scene herself, spent time in the Passerines. The two fell in love and found their paths leading them to the Philly area, where they recently married and began writing songs as a collective. At Our Tiny Dinner Table is their first official release together and hopefully not their last. Be sure to check out the video below for the first ’single’ off the EP!

The news that this would be arriving in my inbox this week set us off on a euphoric wave of glee. It feels great to be getting back into the ‘business’ of releasing music we enjoy and love. 3 years have passed since we had the opportunity to do so. Thank you for continuing to tune in and enjoy the EP + video!

Cover art by Lee Mansfield

Download all songs in a zip file or stream/download individually below.

For a permanent link and a full list of credits and lyrics visit the release page in the Netlabel section.

01 - We Should Self Unite (mp3)

02 - How Are You? (mp3)

03 - Song For The Thrills Of Nuptials (mp3)

04 - Who Knew It Was A Tic (mp3)

05 - Gravity (mp3)

06 - Song For The Seasons Of Our Lives (mp3)




22

June
2009

Monday Morning Shuffle - #13

category: Monday Morning Shuffle, Updates
by The Beat, No Comments »

Jack Rose - fishtown flower
(taken from his 2009 release Black Dirt Sessions)
Wormburner - sleepy jane
(taken from their 2006 release A Hero’s Welcome)
Trouble Books - shaky science
(taken from their 2009 release The United Colors Of Trouble Books)
The Allender Band - green wound
(taken from their 2008 release In The Grip Of Light EP)
American Princes - real love
(taken from their 2007 release Other People)
Antenna Shoes - open arms
(taken from their 2007 release Generous Gambler)
Bad Veins - afraid
(taken from their 2006 release It’s Not Mysterious If No One Cares)
Dawes - when my time comes
(taken from their 2008 release Dawes)
The Soft Pack - bright side
(taken from their 2009 release The Muslims)
The Physics Of Meaning - aeroplanes and hurricanes
(taken from their 2008 release Snake Charmer and Destiny At The Stroke Of Midnight)
Black Kids - i’m not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance
(taken from their 2008 release Partie Traumatic)
Wye Oak - warning
(taken from their 2008 release If Children)
Nat Baldwin - all that was
(taken from his 2005 release Enter The Winter)
Bodies Of Water - water here
(taken from their 2008 release A Certain Feeling)
The Blakes - pistol grip
(taken from their 2007 release The Blakes)
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - the debtor
(taken from his 2008 release Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson)
Generationals - angry charlie
(taken from their 2009 release Con Law)
Barn Burning - you are the highway
(taken from their 2008 release Bound To Leave This Dark Behind)
A.A. Bondy - when the devil’s loose
(taken from his upcoming 2009 release When The Devil’s Loose)


19

June
2009

June 2009 Mix

category: Mixtapes
by The Beat, 3 Comments »


Cover art by Dolly Vu

1. Dark Mean - frankencottage
(taken from their 2009 release Frankencottage EP)
2. The Enright House - darkwave = mc squared
(taken from their 2007 release A Maze And Amazement)
3. The Daredevil Christopher Wright - the east coast
(taken from their 2009 release In Deference To A Broken Back)
4. Ben Sollee - how to see the sun rise (daytrotter)
(taken from his 2008 Daytrotter Session)
5. Emperor X - a violent translation of the concordia headscarp
(taken from his 2009 release Blythe Archives Vol. 2)
6. The Burning Hotels - stuck in the middle
(taken from their 2007 release Eighty Five Mirrors EP)
7. Patrick Watson - man like you
(taken from his 2009 release Wooden Arms)
8. Lisa Mitchell - coin laundry
(taken from her 2009 release Wonder)
9. The Allender Band - the lights
(taken from their 2008 In The Grip Of Light EP)
10. Bowerbirds - beneath your tree
(taken from their 2009 release Upper Air)
11. Miniature Tigers - cannibal queen
(taken from their 2008 release Tell It To The Volcano)
12. Headlights - cherry tulips (daytrotter)
(taken from their 2008 Daytrotter Session)
13. There Will Be Fireworks - foreign thoughts
(taken from their 2009 release There Will Be Fireworks)
14. Bad Veins - found (daytrotter)
(taken from their 2008 Daytrotter Session)
15. Kevin Devine - time to burn (another bag of bones)
(taken from his 2009 release Blood Brothers)
16. Kindercastle - postmaster general
(taken from their 2008 release In A Tizzy)
17. Pet Ghost Project - wires from the ceiling
(taken from their 2009 release Idiot Brain/Genius Heart)
18. The Physics Of Meaning - bigger cities, thicker doors
(taken from their 2005 release The Physics Of Meaning)
19. Danger & The Steel Cut Oats - earthquakes
(taken from their 2007 release The Birds Woke Us Early EP)
20. Venice Is Sinking - ryan’s song
(taken from their 2009 release Azar)
21. Dark Mean - lullaby
(taken from their 2009 release Frankencottage EP)

* Download all songs in one zip file 105MB.
* Click the song titles to download each song individually.
* Click on the blue arrow to stream the song.
* Songs will only be available to stream until the following month’s mix is posted.


17

June
2009

Fair and Balanced News

category: Commentary, Free Music
by The Beat, No Comments »

I’m reserving today’s post for several bits of news that I’ve more or less been sitting on for a little while. There are also a few background rumblings here that you should know about. June’s mixtape is nearing completion and will likely be posted on Friday. The middle of next week will see BTID’s latest netlabel release from Philadelphia’s very own, Deirdre and Conor. Yes folks, we’re keeping it local this time for once.

1.) This weekend I will be attending my first show in quite some time. I know, I know - not necessarily behavior befitting an amateur music journalist. Emperor X and Tennessee’s I Need Sleep (featured previously here) will be playing for us Philly natives at Big Mama’s Warehouse this Sunday June 21st. I’ve admittedly never been to the Warehouse so I’m not sure how the venue will cater to Emperor X’s lo-fi pop or I Need Sleep’s rowdy nature. Hopefully I will have some pics to post and possibly a few audio clips.

2.) The Everybodyfields have announced their breakup via their website. To me it seemed the band still had their best work ahead of them. Each of their albums progressed drastically from the previous, ending with probably my favorite album of 2007, Nothing Is Okay. Want a bit of consolation to go with this gloom pie? Both primary members, Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews have already undertaken new projects. Follow the links below to see what they are both up to. I’ve also taken the liberty to acquaint you with some of their previous work. Very few bands could hold a torch to their gorgeous harmonies together. Good luck, friends!

Sam Quinn and Japan Ten’s Myspace page

Jill Andrews’ Myspace page

The Everybodyfields - HearYa Session

The Everybodyfields - Daytrotter Session

The Everybodyfields - aeroplane

The Everybodyfields - lonely anywhere

The Everybodyfields - out on the highway

The Everybodyfields - everything is okay

3.) The Music Alliance Pact has released the June mix for all to enjoy. I seem to be raving about this project every month so there’s really no reason for you to not download it. This month includes a few notable indie acts like Fanfarlo (UK), Dappled Cities (AUS) and the best band to ever hail from France, Phoenix. For newcomers - the project consists of 25 international blogs submitting one track each from artists within their borders.

4. Shelflife Records is inviting (nay, begging) you to download a free mixtape featuring a song from each of their current roster members. I’ve not kept up with their catalogue like I was prone to 2-3 years ago so may this serve as a re-initiation to the club.

5. Sub Pop, a label needing no introduction to music enthusiasts young or old, is playing into the mixtape hype with one of their own. They’ve compiled all the freely available downloads throughout their site into one handy zip file. Dig the Fleet Foxes, Iron and Wine and Flight Of The Conchords tracks, among others.

6. Sounds Are Active has released a somewhat comprehensive mixtape of local Denton, TX musicians. I haven’t listened to it yet and I’m honestly not familiar with a single artist on the mix but, come on, it’s Denton. It may not be Austin but talent still oozes from its every crack.

7. NYCtaper continues to post a steady stream of fresh and notable indie shows to download. My recent favorites include:

Of Montreal - April 15, 2009 Radio City Music Hall

Vivian Girls - May 11, 2009 Bowery Ballroom

The Decemberists - June 10, 2009 Radio City Music Hall

Fiery Furnaces - June 11, 2009 Le Poisson Rouge


15

June
2009

Monday Morning Shuffle - #12

category: Monday Morning Shuffle
by The Beat, No Comments »

The Enright House - we might as well have stayed young
(taken from his 2007 release A Maze and Amazement)
Joel Preston West - 28th and ne davis
(taken from his 2008 release Dust Jacket)
Titus Andronicus - waking up drunk (daytrotter)
(taken from their 2008 Daytrotter Session)
Circulatory System - overjoyed
(taken from their 2009 release Signal Morning)
Yellow Fever - culver city
(taken from their 2008 release Culver City 7″)
Miniature Tigers - cannibal queen
(taken from their 2008 release Tell It To The Volcano)
MC Frontalot - goth girls
(taken from his 2005 release Nerdcore Rising)
Aristeia - feedback king
(taken from their 2008 release How To Kill A King)
Bowerbirds - northern lights
(taken from their 2009 release Upper Air)
Malcolm Middleton - a brighter beat (acoustic)
(unreleased acoustic demo)
Imogen Heap - hide and seek
(taken from their 2005 release Speak For Yourself)
Vampire Hands - statuette
(taken from their 2008 release Me And You Cherry Red)
Black Moth Super Rainbow - born on the day the sun didn’t rise
(taken from their 2009 release Eating Us)
Sarah Jarosz - song up in her head
(taken from her 2009 release Song Up In Her Head)


10

June
2009

The Enright House - (no relation)

category: Updates
by The Beat, No Comments »

I admittedly would have never had the chance to experience the sounds of The Enright House if it weren’t for their choice of name. Those of you close to me know my roommate’s last name is Enright (shout out, holla) and we frequently label our living quarters House Enright. It was a sheer coincidence that I stumbled across them but I’m glad I did. TEH primarily consists of Mark Roberts (Evan Svchaare joins him on tour) who now calls Chicago his home after spending several years in Europe and New Zealand. Mark characterizes his material as such:

“Sonically, my music is constructed from various materials: a passion for the derelict and broken, prolonged spells of depression and self-imposed isolation, a deep respect for classical music, a somewhat warped pop sensibility, and as much hope and idealism as I can muster on my better days.

Perhaps, as someone once suggested to me, it is a music best suited for rainy autumn-winter days, or for slitting one’s wrists, or for falling in and out of love and philosophizing about life, or simply for rolling around in your feelings like an Irish Wolfdog in the leaves of a forest park.”

I’m not going to argue with that. I haven’t felt this enamored with sad-bastard, electronic music since the debut London Apartments LP (reviewed here). There’s enough melody throughout to keep me interested but also a healthy amount of twists and turns for those needing a bit of a challenge. There are also a few mellow post-rock influenced moments, not unlike BTID favorites Epic45- see the 2 opening tracks on their sole LP, A Maze and Amazement. The Acoustic EP, Remixes EP and Cat and Bird split 7″ can be downloaded free from their Bandcamp page. Below are a few mp3’s and a video that should get you hooked, if you aren’t already. You can purchase their A Maze and Amazement CD over at CDBaby or digitally through the iTunes store. It comes highly recommended.

Darkwave = MC Squared

We Might As Well Have Stayed Young

Broken Hands

Visit The Enright House on Myspace or Facebook for more sounds and info.


08

June
2009

Monday Morning Shuffle - #11

category: Updates
by The Beat, 1 Comment »

Tyler Ramsey - ships
(taken from his 2007 release A Long Dream About Swimming Across The Sea)
The Marzipan Man - billy the fox
(taken from their 2007 release The Marzipan Man Stories)
Lewis & Clarke - before it breaks you
(taken from their 2007 release Blasts Of Holy Birth)
Grizzly Bear - cheerleader
(taken from their 2009 release Veckatimest)
Suzannah Johannes - horserider’s smile
(taken from her 2008 release Suzannah Johannes 7″)
Alina Simone - half my kingdom
(taken from her 2008 release Everyone Is Calling Out To Me, Beware)
Run On Sentence - the afterlife pt. 1
(taken from his 2007 release Oh When The Wind Comes Down)
Chef Menteur - europa
(taken from their 2005 release We Await Silently Tristero’s Empire)
Sons And Daughters - chains
(taken from their 2008 release This Gift)
The Twin Atlas - happy at the wheel
(taken from their 2006 release Magic Car Wash)
Ben Sollee - only a song
(taken from his 2009 release Something Worth Keeping EP)
The Waltz (Brian Carley from Penfold!) - the capital of everything
(taken from his 2009 release Spoons & Shoes)
Magnetic Health Factory - breathing underwater
(taken from their 2001 release I Can’t Wait To Not Talk To You)
Speck Mountain - hey moon
(taken from their 2007 release Summer Above)
Low Vs. Diamond - heart attack
(taken from their 2008 release Low Vs. Diamond)
{{{Sunset}}} - when perfect flames expire
(taken from their 2008 release The Glowing City)
Illinois - she’s so funny
(taken from their 2009 release The Adventures Of Kid Castastrophe)
Yo La Tengo - periodically double or triple
(taken from their 2009 release Popular Songs)


03

June
2009

Magnetic Health Factory/BS Busking + more

category: Commentary, Free Music
by The Beat, No Comments »

Not much is known about Portland’s Magnetic Health Factory even though I’ve been familiar with them for going on 7 years now. I recall first hearing about them in a review on the older (much better) version of Delusions Of Adequacy that heralded the band as worthy torchbearers of the Guided By Voices brand of lo-fi popsmithing. The band, primarily Eric O’ Connor and various friends crafting songs whenever they see fit, released Western Medicine just a few weeks ago and has apparently made it available to download on their website for free. I gave it a few preliminary listens and found that (thankfully) nothing has changed since the first time I explored their catalog (2001’s double-discer I Can’t Wait To Not Talk To You). Fans of the basement-pop DIY ethic will find much to love here. Grab Western Medicine from their sounds page as well as many other mp3’s running the span of their entire catalog. MHF also have a Myspace if you’d like to sample before downloading.

A few months back I linked to a Frightened Rabbit video I found on YouTube that apparently originated from the entertaining Bandstand Busking website. I didn’t bother to investigate the site any further at the time but I most definitely should have. BB features videos of musicians playing live versions in various parks around the London area, giving them the appearance of everyday street performers. The newest performer featured by BB, Fanfarlo, have slowly become a band to pay attention to thanks to several bloggers featuring them on their mixtapes recently. Many of my favorite artists have appeared on the Busking tour including Of Montreal, Asobi Seksu, David Karsten Daniels (an excellent raw performance!), The Acorn, Loney Dear and Gregory and The Hawk to name a few. I spent a solid hour or two the other day checking out some of the artists I was unfamiliar with - definitely something for everyone here. Dig it!



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