Sufjan Stevens – The Age Of Adz (2010, Asthmatic Kitty)
-see front page review-
Franklin For Short – Swell (2008, Beehouse) ♥♥♥½
-simple, melodic power-pop/rock that isn’t breaking down any new barriers but it is filled with hooks galore which makes it just swell in my book….-
Anagram – The Lights Went Out (2006, self-released) ♥♥♥½
-sophomore effort from this San Fran husband/wife duo consisting of varied dream-pop with a harder edge on a few tracks; takes a few listens for the goodness to surface but well worth the wait-
Futurebirds – Hampton’s Lullaby (2010, Autumn Tone) ♥♥♥♥
-sprawling Americana with hints of Built To Spill and Neil Young when they jam out; most of these songs reach epic status almost effortlessly; think of the expansive prairie where Kings Of Leon could be roaming instead of playing their vapid arena rock to the masses…-
Efren – Always A Bleeder (2010, Slo Pro) ♥♥½
-mellow psyche-folk hailing from Athens that might appeal to fans of Jason Molina or Patterson Hood–
House Of Bread – Superhuman Tomb (2010, self-released) ♥♥♥½
-electronic haze of melodic noise that consistently meshes into a pleasant experience-
These United States – What Lasts (2010, United Interests) ♥♥½
-this is another in a long line of not-nearly-folk, not-nearly-country acts that has recently made ripples on the scene; sadly I think this falls short as it lacks any kind of real punch or grit-
Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People EP (2010, Asthmatic Kitty) ♥♥♥♥
-i am betting there will forever be disagreements over which Sufjan ’10 album deserves higher acclaim; this LP gets my vote if for nothing but the choral sweetness of ‘From The Mouth Of Gabriel’ and ‘Djohariah’, the sprawling ode to single mothers and his younger sister (whose name happens to be the song’s title)-
Grouplove – Grouplove EP (2010, self-released) ♥♥♥½
-very basic but undoubtedly hook-laden tunes with oohs-aahs and handclaps; the vocalist reminds me of Colin Meloy and the band themselves could pass for a less serious version of the Decemberists or even the New Pornographers; you’ll definitely be hearing this name around in the near future-
unouomedude – Marsh EP (2010, self-released) ♥♥♥
-15 minutes of lo-fi pop centered around repetition and big hair; available as a free download here–
Castevet – The Echo and The Light (2010, Tiny Engines) ♥♥♥½
-Chicago collective that specializes in modern emo/post-hardcore rock with angular guitars, tense open spaces and throat shredding vocals; impressive if not common-
Mini-Beats – October 2010 – Edition 29
Filed under Mini-Beats
Special Monday Morning Tape – #74
Cashes Rivers – our boats
(taken from their 2010 release Cashes Rivers)
The Thermals – never listen to me
(taken from their 2010 release Personal Life)
Tahiti 80 – keys to the city
(taken from their 2011 release Solitary Bizness EP)
Reading Rainbow – always on my mind
(taken from their 2010 Weathervane Music session)
Gospel Claws – walk me down
(taken from their 2010 release C-L-A-W-S)
Lonnie Walker – summertime
(taken from his 2010 release These Times Old Times)
The Phantom Band – walls
(taken from their 2010 release The Wants)
Lohio – family tree
(taken from their 2010 release Family Tree EP)
The Soft Moon – tiny spiders
(taken from their 2010 release The Soft Moon)
Paleo – the king james fakebook
(taken from his 2010 release A View Of The Sky)
Michael Parallax – man, no
(taken from his 2010 release Vicious People EP)
Wolf People – tiny circle
(taken from their 2010 release Steeple)
Filed under Special Monday Morning Tape
Special Monday Morning Tape – #73
Daniel G. Harmann & The Trouble Starts – the horse and the sistine chapel
(taken from their 2010 release Risk)
Filthybird – hiders (edit)
(taken from their 2010 release Songs For Other People)
Stereolab – sun demon
(taken from their 2010 release Not Music)
Jookabox – worms
(taken from their 2010 release Import 7″)
The Asteroid #4 – ignition slated for eight
(taken from their 2010 release Hail To The Clear Figurines)
Matthew & The Atlas – i will remain
(taken from their 2010 release To The North EP)
Kurt Vile – in my time
(taken from his 2010 7″ release In My Time)
Zach Hill – memo to the man
(taken from his 2010 release Face Tat)
Northern Portrait – life returns to normal
(taken from their 2010 release Life Returns To Normal 7″)
Lykke Li – get some
(taken from her 2010 release Get Some 7″)
Big Troubles – video rock
(taken from their 2010 release Worry)
Suckers – Easy Chairs
Filed under Special Monday Morning Tape
October 2010 Mix
Original artwork by Fred Mealia
01. The Joy Formidable – the greatest light is the greatest shade
(taken from their 2010 release A Balloon Called Moaning)
02. The Wiggly Tendrils – beat the indie drum theme song
(recorded upon BTID request!)
03. No Age – fever dreaming
(taken from their 2010 release Everything In Between)
04. Like Pioneers – gift from a holiday
(taken from their 2010 release Piecemeal)
05. Blackhawks – sunday morning
(released as a digital single only)
06. Nightlands – suzerain (a letter to the judge)
(taken from his 2010 release Forget The Mantra)
07. Matt Costa – can you tell me?
(taken from his 2010 release Mobile Chateau)
08. Sweet Lights – message on the wire
(taken from his 2010 release Sweet Lights)
09. Fifty Miles From Vancouver – eternal youth/eternal fun
(taken from their 2010 split Beko Digital Single Series release with Boundary Jim)
10. Hussalonia – crush on you
(taken from his 2010 single Harvey Wallbanger Hussalonia)
11. Radical Face – doorways
(taken from his 2010 release Touch The Sky EP)
12. Eternal Summers – dye
(taken from their 2010 release Silver)
13. The Capstan Shafts – quiet wars
(taken from their 2010 release Revelation Skirts)
14. Endor – chapel doors
(taken from their 2010 release Endor)
15. Woody Whatever – make him rich
(taken from their 2009 release System Off)
16. Tame Impala – half full glass of wine
(taken from their 2008 release Tame Impala EP)
17. First Aid Kit – you’re not coming home tonight (daytrotter)
(taken from their 2010 Daytrotter Session)
18. Suckers – a mind i knew
(taken from their 2010 release Wild Smile)
19. Foals – spanish sahara
(taken from their 2010 release Total Life Forever)
20. Sacred Animals – chosen seed
(taken from their 2010 release Welcome Home EP)
21. TV Girl – on land
(released as a digital single only)
22. Dirty Gold – california sunrise
(taken from their 2010 release Hidden Treasures EP)
23. Chatham County Line – out of the running
(taken from their 2010 release Wildwood)
24. Sad Brad Smith – help yourself
(taken from the 2009 Up In The Air OST)
25. Valley Maker – abraham and isaac
(taken from their 2010 release Valley Maker)
Download Zip File 136MB
Filed under Mixtapes, The Best Things In Life Are Free
Special Monday Morning Tape – #72
Glasser – mirrorage
(taken from her 2010 release Ring)
Dr. Dog – nobody knows who you are
(taken fom the deluxe edition of their 2010 release Shame, Shame)
Envy – a breath clad in happiness
(taken from their 2010 release Recitation)
The Black – throwing away
(taken from their 2010 release Sun In The Day Moon In The Night)
Giant Sand – fields of green
(taken from their 2010 release Blurry Blue Mountain)
Surf City – kudos
(taken from their 2010 release Kudos)
Callers – how you hold your arms
(taken from their 2010 release Life Of Love)
The Sewing Room – kill me
(taken from their 2010 re-issue of And Nico)
MillionYoung – calrissian
(taken from his 2011 release Atmospheric Beast)
Foxes In Fiction – jimi bleachball
(taken from his 2010 release Swung From The Branches)
Liz Janes – i don’t believe
(taken from her 2010 release Say Goodbye)
Pomegranates – 50s
(taken from their 2010 release One Of Us)
Filed under Special Monday Morning Tape
Mini-Beats – October 2010 – Edition 28
The Lesser Birds Of Paradise – The Scenery (2008, Tight Ship) ♥♥½
-mopey acoustic-folk that finds the band a little too far removed from the clever songwriting found on earlier releases-
El Sueno De La Casa Propia – Historial de Caidas (2010, Pueblo Nuevo) ♥♥♥
-promising netlabel release from this Chilean electronic/glitch popsmith; this will appeal to fans of the more polished side of the chillwave movement-
Woody Whatever – System Off (2009, self-released) ♥♥♥♥
-a fine collection of 2-minute mid-fi pop songs; Erik’s best record since 2003’s When I Lost I Left!-
Sun Kil Moon – Admiral Fell Promises (2010, Caldo Verde) ♥♥♥½
-you pretty much know what you’re going to get with a Mark Kozelek release under any of the monikers he hides behind; the classical/flamenco guitar interludes/intros/outros on this LP are a welcome addition to his otherwise simple approach-
Chatham County Line – Wildwood (2010, Yep Roc) ♥♥♥
-twangy, traditional Americana that is as formulaic as it is soothing and organic RIYL Son Volt, Ryan Adams, Fruit Bats–
Eternal Summers – Silver (2010, Kanine) ♥♥♥½
-formed from the nutrient-rich Magic Twig collective, this boy/girl guitar/drums duo bangs out short, simple, dreamlike bursts of noise with sticking power; RIYL Galaxie 500, early Breeders–
The Globes – Sinter Songs EP (2010, self-released) ♥♥½
-no doubt these guys are influenced by some of their Pacific Northwest peers like Menomena/Lackthereof but there’s still some things to tighten up here before giving it the nod-
Valley Maker – Valley Maker (2010, self-released) ♥♥♥♥
-Austin Crane has taken one of the most controversial literary works (Genesis) and set it to words in such a hauntingly powerful manner; Amy Godwin’s goosebump-inducing vocals can’t be overlooked here as well; easily one of the most solid (yet simple) releases of the year and available as a pay-what-you-want download here RIYL Palace Music, Papa M–
Robocop Kraus – Blunders and Mistakes (2007, Anti) ♥♥½
-it would seem the crash-and-bang post-hardcore/punk of their earlier career has been traded in for something much less interesting; still one of my favorite German bands regardless-
Matt Costa – Mobile Chateau (2010, Brushfire) ♥♥♥½
-Matt has found himself a new signature sound that funnels all that is good with the 60’s; a much-improved step up from the ho-hum Unfamiliar Faces–
At Dusk – Small Light (2009, self-released) ♥♥♥
-left-of-center folk that can better be described as the Dodos’ less polished, younger brother-
At The Spine – Vita (2008, Global Seepej) ♥♥
-uneventful coulda-but-not-maybe-shoulda local college rock-
Zola Jesus – Stridulum (2010, Sacred Bones) ♥♥♥
-80’s-influenced darkwave that has somehow breached the genre’s limiting barrier and thrust itself into the indie scene; I was excited at first after hearing ‘Sea Talk’ but little else wowed me as much; still worth a few listens-
Filed under Mini-Beats
