Album of the week

Retribution Gospel Choir
Retribution Gospel Choir (Caldo Verde)










Alan Sparhawk, the mastermind behind the eclectic minimalist sounds of Low and also other edgier side projects such as The Black Eyed Snakes, indulges once again in another project whose feel is a high contrast to the great slowcore band. This goes to show even more how talented Sparhawk really is, something that may be masked by Low's less accessible -but still his finest- tunes. Mark Kozelek, who was an original member of RGC, plays the producer role and also is the one behind the band's label, Caldo Verde -even though he doesn't play member to the band anymore. It's sonic heroin for the ears..not that I would know what the one for the brain is.

hear: They Knew You Well, Take Your Time, Breaker, Somebody's Someone, For Her Blood, Kids

Portishead begins its return with a new video for "Machine Gun"

Beth Gibbons and co. have been AWOL for 10 years or so. Well, there has been a lot of buzz since the announcement of a new album, titled Third (it IS their 3rd album). Portishead hasn't announced an official single(as far as I know) but they threw together a video for "Machine Gun" and posted it on their website. Third is due to drop April 28th.

Band of Horses release new single!

Wow, it sure does take indie bands a while to release singles. Band of Horses' solid album from last year has been out 6 months and the first single, "Is There a Ghost," was actually released a month before that. It might have to do with the fact that many indie rock albums have a handful of songs that could pass as singles and more often than not, the more preferred songs aren't chosen. Anyway, the South Carolina good 'ol boys have chosen the excellent, piercing "No One's Gonna Love You" to release as single numero 2. It's no "Islands on the Coast" but it sure is infectious. The single has been released as it should be -via 7'' vinyl. The B-side features a live cover of "I am a Good Man" by Them Two. Judging by the artwork, it seems every new release looks more and more like a John Denver record. Is that a good thing? Of course it is fellas.

Like music videos? Spoon and Modest Mouse can help...

Even a year after both Spoon's and Modest Mouse's universally lauded albums dropped, the bands are still working hard for the fans, putting together new videos. Spoon finally makes a video for my favorite track off Ga(x5), "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb." And Modest Mouse puts "Fly Trapped in a Jar," one of the sleeper hits off last years record, to film.

Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb


Modest Mouse - Fly Trapped in a Jar

Album of the week

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks
Real Emotional Trash (Matador)











The California Central Valley prodigy fulfilled returns with a whole new batch of slanted and enchanted songs. Stephen couldn't put out a bad record if he tried but he tends to do better when he's completely solo. His best solo albums are the 2 he's done without the Jicks, compared to the 2 he's done with the Jicks- which seem to be more influenced by classic rock. Having said this, it's hardly fair to compare any album to his last epic masterpiece, Face the Truth. Real Emotional Trash in a success, fullfiling the needs of both Pavement-like melodies ("Dragonfly Pie," "Cold Son") and latter-Malkmus-like jams("Hopscotch Willie," "Real Motional Trash"). And Malkmus is on top of his game lyrically, favoring a more retrospective underlying tone on Trash.

hear: Dragonfly Pie, Hopscotch Willie, Cold Son, Gardenia, We Can't Help You

More Take Away Show goodness with Yeasayer

Yeasayer seems like a band that would thrive under the raw, spontaneous watch of La blogotheque. And they do just that with 2 sets of 2-song pieces. The first is "No Need to Worry"/"Redcave" and second, the excellent "2080" along with "Tightrope."

YEASAYER - No need to worry / Redcave

YEASAYER - 2080 / Tightrope

Grand Archives play 5 shows at SXSW

If you follow my postings to the least extent(all four of you), you know I'm not a huge fan of festivals...especially ones as overwhelming and commercial as SXSW. However, if I were in the Austin area I would make an exception to see the best new band, Grand Archives. So for all of you who read my posts and live near Austin, or who value my opinion too much and feel the overwhelming need to go see them, just know you have five chances today through Sunday to see the amazing Seattle band. Do it. Do it.



SXSW shows:

Mar 13 2008 8:00P	SXSW	AUSTIN, Texas
Mar 14 2008 2:00P	FRENCH LEGATION MUSEUM (SXSW)	Austin, Texas
Mar 14 2008 8:00P	SXSW	AUSTIN, Texas
Mar 14 2008 10:00P	BOURBON ROCKS (SXSW)	Austin, Texas
Mar 15 2008 8:00P	SXSW	AUSTIN, Texas

Stephen Malkmus performs new songs, REM covers for La Blogotheque

I haven't seen too many take away shows that aren't in France..but the last video featuring REM covers is filmed at the renowned Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, which is relevant to Malkmus since it's basically his original home territory...and relevant to me because of the same reason and because they perform my favorite REM song, "Don't Go Back to Rockville."

Stephen Malkmus - Hopscotch Willie

Stephen Malkmus - We can't help you

Stephen Malkmus - Wicked Wanda

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - REM covers

I just came across this gem of a shirt

It's true too.

AlbumS of the week

British Sea Power
Do You Like rock Music? (Rough Trade)










When I first heard of British Sea Power I was a bit suspicious of the name "British Sea Power? Seriously?" Then I heard their music and I didn't care. Three albums in, it's easy to understand the name and how it's relevant to the lads of BSP. These aren't the typical English, London rockers -or Liverpool for that matter. Try Brighton. And everything they do is more akin to traditional British custom it seems. No band from London in their right mind would name their album Do You Like Rock Music? Then again, no London band can come up with the distorted, sincere sovereign British sound like they've done once again. Ignore the lazy comparisons to U2 (as if that were a bad thing anyway). And see them live -they're very entertaining.

hear: All in It, No Lucifer, Waving Flags, Trip Out, Great Skua, Open the Door



Bon Iver
For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)










It's one of three or four best albums released so far this year, with 2 of the best tracks of the year so far, "Lump Sum" and "Blindsided." Much has already been made of Justin Vernon and his little experience in a secluded Wisconsin cabin. Although Jagjaguwar released the album earlier this month, it was self-released last year. I remember hearing about it and being intrigued by the entire story of man goes to cabin in Wisconsin woods, lives a JD-Salinger type life for a few months, and comes out with the best music he's ever produced. I didn't get around to it till I was reminded recently. Of course, the album couldn't be anything but a post breakup album, hence the title. The sound is rustic and raw but it's definitely been polished a bit. Vernon's vocals are urgent and impressionable, though at times it reminds of TV on the Radio -but in voice only. It's a beautiful album that's solid from start to finish, without getting redundant as you would think such a remote-style record would become. Musicians need to get lost in the forest more often.

hear: Flume, Lump Sum, The Wolves(Act I and II), Blindsided, For Emma

Evangelicals and Headlights @ Union Hall, 2.29.08

Evangelicals brought their eclectic dark pop rock to Union Hall last weekend after Headlights really captured the crowd with their solid, catchy standard early 2000's indie rock, suitable especially for their label Polyvinyl. Headlights played like they meant it and probably are the better of the 2 bands live when it comes to execution, and certainly more charismatic with the charming Erin Fein behind vocals and an array of instruments. Evangelicals may win in the entertainment area though, with smoke, florescent, neon lights all over the place, lead man Josh Jones without his shirt on...pretty much stoned. No, Evangelicals aren't as good live as they are on record. Their recent release, The Evening Descends is one of the best record of the year thus far. Most of the set came from that album and while their sound doesn't translate great live, it's still fun to watch this unpredictable band perform...like when Josh Jones stands on a chair and pounds the ceiling for no apparent reason at all...and they do jam pretty well for a young band.

Recommended listening:

Beach House video: "Heart of Chambers"

It's not the best song off last week's Album of the week, Devotion from Beach House. But apparently it tickles them enough to make a video of it -and it is pleasing aesthetically. Check it.

Bon Iver releases video for "The Wolves (Act I and II)" -and via VIRB

Bon Iver is the alias for Justin Vernon's hermit-like status in a secluded Wisconsin cabin where he recorded the solid folksy album, recently released via Jagjaguwar. For Emma, Forever Ago is the album. "The Wolves(Act I and II)" is the song and now, MTV-bound(cross those fingers!) video. He even released it via the rad cult social networking site Virb.

Mew in the studio !!

Yes the Danish brothers of mine are apparently in the studio working on their follow up to And the Glass Handed Kites. This is a tall order as Kites was my #1 album of 2006 and won them universal acclaim. They actually had already created a masterpiece in Frengers, their debut album, that only saw a U.S. release after the success of Kites.

For the upcoming album, they will do recording in Brooklyn under the producing hands of Rich Costey, who worked with them on Frengers and also on that one certain best album of this decade so far: Turn On the Bright Lights. In their latest blog entry, they posted "We have personally danced to every song just to make sure. And we have sung every chorus. And it feels pretty D good." The Danes are so cool that they won't even say "Damn." God bless them.

Album of the week

Beach House
Devotion (Carpark)


I suppose this is what a sophomore album should sound like. I don't know why I was looking for more. Devotion is a solid, consistent, and cleaner album than their great self-titled debut. Still, song for song, Devotion doesn't quite measure up to it's predecessor. This isn't to say Devotion isn't a good listen, but quite the opposite. Beach House's lush arrangements reminiscent of shoegaze/slowcore bands of before, along with heavenly vocals make this album well worth the effort. The first three tracks are strong, luring you into the mellow world that Beach House has created with Devotion.

hear: Wedding Bell, You Came to Me, Gila, Some Things Last a Long Time, Home Again

"Wedding Bell"

The National @ BAM, 2.23.08

The National played to a sold-out show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music last Saturday night. The crowd was definitely a Boxer crowd and it was definitely a Boxer concert, as Matt Beringer and co. played 11 of the 12 tracks of last year's amazing album. The National's fan base has grown expedentialy over the past year, due much to older artist's influences, as they opened for both Bruce Springsteen and even the great Bob Dylan. Both of which vocally gave their admiration of the group. And this could be seen in the crowd at the show, many of whom seem from an older generation. In all truthfulness, this crowd reminded me of what a Natalie Merchant concert would resemble. And obviously, The National catered to this crowd with enthusiastic versions from Boxer. They only played a handful of songs from their masterpiece, Alligator, but they did play two songs from their under-appreciated EP, Cherry Tree, "Wasp Nest" and their signature finale "About Today," both of which were two of the more exciting moments for me.
















Recommended listening: