“Win or lose, you lose; you don’t wanna…”
Beans, “Win or Lose You Lose”
*Due to some crazy shite beyond my control (I think) that would not allow me to embed videos to the blog, I’ve replaced them with images of the album covers linked to the videos. Maybe next time, kids.*
THE NOW
No Age- “Fever Dreaming”
One of my favorite albums released last year sees video treatment for one of my favorite tracks. Matt and Eric of Gravity fame saw them at Hopscotch Music Fest last year and confirmed they were amazing (and extremely loud); perhaps a return appearance in Raleigh this year? Let’s just hope the vegan rock duo fully regenerates in time (watch the video and you’ll see what I mean).
The Thermals- “Never Listen To Me”
Admittedly, Personal Life- The Thermals latest offering to the world- is not my favorite in their catalogue of fantastic albums (it would be difficult to top More Parts Per Million and The Body The Blood The Machine, both ridiculously amazing and cater to my penchant for blisteringly-paced rock). A slower pace was foreshadowed sparingly on The Body and to a slightly greater extent on Now We Can See, but now takes center stage with an album that is tackling the complexities of intimate relationships. And it works. And you know what else works? BASSIST KATHY FOSTER ROCKING SOME MOTHERFLIPPING EoU FEATHER MINIS ALL UP IN THE VIDEO!!! I’m still salty they played Wilmatic the weekend before we moved down here. Unless they come back. Please?
Smith Westerns- “Weekend”
Mad props to Matt over at Gravity for getting hip to these cats. And they just got the recently-released Dye It Blonde on vinyl, which I have been super stoked to hear. They must be able to sense when I’m about to come into some money.
THE SOON
James Blake- “The Wilhelm Scream”
Ever since catching his interpretation of “Limit To Your Love,” I have been anxiously awaiting the release of James Blake’s eponymous debut which will finally drop next Tuesday. Finally. In the meantime, Blake breaks us off with his second single from the album.
Toro Y Moi- “Still Sound”
Unfortunately I’m not up on South Carolinian Chaz Bundick (bka Toro Y Moi) like I should be, although Matt and company have played some tracks from Causers of This and it’s a crime that I still don’t own it. Come February 22nd, however, I guarantee I’ll be up on those jawns. And this jam (which I assume is the “single”) gets better with each listen. Word is born (c/o Andrea Staley).
THE SOMEDAY
Fleet Foxes- “Helplessness Blues”
OK. It’s OK. Just breathe, Karl. Just. Breathe. OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD… The Return of the Real, folks. May 3rd, 2011. Sub Pop Records. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Gravity Records might (read: abso-motherfu#@ing-lutely, without a doubt) get it in. 2011 has been ridiculously dope, and it’s about to get a whole lot better. Amazing.