New Video: Feist- "The Bad in Each Other"

Feist just recently released a new video for Metals opening track, "The Bad in Each Other." The video was shot on location in Mexico and was directed by Martin De Thurah. Here's a little of what she had to say about the video shoot (via Spin): "When I approached Martin to make a little film for this song, he told me he thought it sounded like a battle cry. And that he wondered about finding the little, tiny wars people experience in between the big dramas. I interpreted that to mean, all the quiet internal battles that guide our actions, all the hopes and struggles we suppress or let carry us away. I feel like he's made a sort of symphony of in betweens and stretched split seconds into feel-able, graspable echoes."

Benjamin Francis Leftwich- "Pictures"

I started following Benjamin Francis Leftwich's music towards the end of last year. The talented singer-songwriter who hails from the UK, caught attention back home with two well-received EPs in  2010 and early 2011, that led up to his debut LP, Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm finding it's release. The disc has some great tunes on it, the highlight of which might be the delicate track, "Pictures." Leftwich just announced plans for the song to be released as his latest single this coming February 20th. In other news he also recently unveiled plans for a new set of tour dates in the US and Canada beginning this April. Take a look at the video for "Pictures" below, and check out his website for all the latest tour details HERE.



http://www.benjaminfrancisleftwich.com/

Ohbijou- "Mossy Lungs"

Here's a new one called "Mossy Lungs" from the Canadian band Ohbijou. It's beautiful and dreamy like everything else the band produces, with singer Casey Mecija's vocals floating through the track. The recently released song comes from their Metal Meets sessions, which apparently didn't make the album at the time. It's a song near and dear to the band about the house they used to live & practice in. Here's what Casey Mecija had to say about the song: "Mossy Lungs was a song written after myself and my sister got evicted from a house we used to live in. It was full of mold and as soon as we asked the landlord to get it checked out he started the process of evicting us. We lived, practiced, gathered at that house on Bellwoods Ave. and it was a big loss for myself and my sister."

Give a listen to "Mossy Lungs" below & be sure to check out their 3rd & latest album, Metal Meets, which is out now via Last Gang.



http://www.ohbijou.com/

New Music: Damien Jurado- "Museum of Flight"

Damien Jurado just released the second single off his upcoming album, Maraqopa. The track titled  “Museum of Flight” is a beautiful slow builder, and it's available now as a free download if you head over to Secretly Canadian's soundcloud page HERE. In addition you can also now pre-order Maraqopa which comes in a variety of different formats with bonus tracks.

Here's the release from Secretly Canadian: Marqopa is available for purchase at SC Distribution. We have three bundles described in detail below, and all come with an instant download with your order. Several great songs from the Maraqopa sessions did not fit on to the album, so Secretly Canadian is releasing six of them via special 7″s that will come with pre-orders of the record. 7″s will be randomly inserted into the regular edition bundles, but the deluxe edition will include all three 7″s. What songs you receive will be a surprise, unless you decide to buy them all!
Blue 7″ “Wyoming Songbirds” / “Ghost of David (The Return)”
Red 7″ “Clouds Beyond” / “Let Us All In”
Yellow 7″ “Diamond Sea” / “Pentagrams”

You can pre-order the album &7”s here and check out the new single below.


Damien Jurado "Museum of Flight" by DOJAGSC


damienjurado.com/

U2 'From the Sky Down' the Making of Actung Baby

Just yesterday U2 officially released their DVD of From the Sky Down, the documentary chronicling the making of their 7th studio album, Achtung Baby. The documentary which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the release of the album has been out in some shape and form for a while now. It aired on Showtime TV here in the US, and it was also available as part of one of the deluxe box sets of Achtung Baby for a hefty price tag.
I found the doc interesting for a number of reasons. First I can't believe that its been 20 years since it's release, because I remember it well when it came out, and that just flat out makes me feel old. I was a bit of a U2 fanatic back in those days, from let's say the mid 80's to the early 90's I loved everything the band was doing. When they released Achtung Baby in '91 it was like nothing the group had done previously, a clear shift not only stylistically & musically, but also visually (album art, video, etc.) with the image the band was portraying. The stark shift in sound & mood showed the band taking on influences of industrial, dance music, and electronics that was previously unfamiliar to fans. I remember hearing "The Fly" on the radio for the first time and I wasn't quite sure what to make of it .

The album quickly grew on me and it became one of my favorite works from U2, and still is. One of the interesting things about the album is that I think it actually holds up to the test of time, and feels almost as fresh today as it did back in '91. I would definitely rank the album up there with some of my favorites over the past 20 years, and the documentary is a great watch for fans to see what the band was working thru to make the LP. You have to remember this is all pre-internet so details of the album weren't like what you find today with leaks and all. But we later learned of the struggles that went into making the disc, both internally among the band, and externally with group members failing marriages and relationships. We didn't know what a big pivot point it as for the group at the time, but the documentary captures the turmoil well, and it's a great look back at a fantastic album. It brings back good memories for me too, even if it does make me feel old. Check out some of the clips below, and you can grab it in stores now on Blu-ray and DVD. 


 

Get to know: Grace Woodroofe

You should get ready to hear a lot more about Grace Woodroofe in 2012. This Australian born singer who was discovered & managed by the late Heath Ledger when she was still in High School just unleashed her debut LP, Always Want here in the States. Ledger was so enamored with the singer's music that he passed it along to Ben Harper, who eventually produced the debut. Part sultry, part raw, this now 21 year old singers debut seems wise beyond her years, mixing bits of soul, blues, and folk to create a pretty spellbinding first LP. Check out some of her music below, with the beautiful opening track, "I've Handled Myself Wrong," and her kick ass  take on The Stooges, "I Wanna Be Your Dog" below.
 

The Hill and the Wood- "The Disciple"

I was a big fan of this Charlottesville, Virginia bands debut disc that dropped at the end of last year. The bands first LP shows off a wide range of styles and moods that has even earned them some some comparisons to the likes of Wilco, and Radiohead. There's more than a few standout tracks on the album, but one of my absolute favorites is the track, "The Disciple" which features amazing harmonies between founder Sam Bush & Juliana Daugherty. I recently found this great live version of the song that was taken from a show a few weeks back at the Pink Warehouse in their hometown in Virginia.
Watch it below and don't forget you can stream the bands debut album over on their bandcamp page HERE.



The Hill & Wood, "The Disciple" from Adam Clark on Vimeo.

http://thehillandwood.bandcamp.com/

Stream: Adam Arcuragi- 'Like a Fire That Consumes All Before it...'

One listen to the music of Philly's Adam Arcuragi and you can tell that the man is an old soul. It's no wonder as Arcuragi grew up listening to his grandparent’s collection of old country records and Southern hymns, while mixing in a little bit of Bob Dylan and The Beatles.
Armed with a new set of tunes, Arcuragi is readying his 3rd LP, Like a Fire That Consumes All Before it... which comes out on January 31 via Thirty Tigers. 
The new album is streaming in full right now if you head over to the folks at NPR HERE.
And be sure to check out his website here for all his recently announced tour dates, which includes a stop at Union Pool in Brooklyn on Feb 2nd.  




http://adamarcuragi.com/

Sarah Jaffe announces new LP, 'The Body Wins'

Young Texas singer, Sarah Jaffe just unveiled plans for her new sophomore album, The Body Wins, which is due out April 24 on Kirtland Records. The new LP was produced by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Explosions in the Sky, Wye Oak) and follows up to her critically acclaimed 2010 debut, Suburban Nature, which if you can believe it, was written in her teens. As Jaffe gears up for the release of the new disc she 
will be performing select dates across the US in February and March, which includes stops at SXSW, and a show at the Mercury Lounge in NYC on Feb. 22. You can check out all the dates HERE.

http://sarahjaffe.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SarahJaffeMusic

Kathleen Edwards on Letterman

On Tuesday night Kathleen Edwards stopped by the Late Show With David Letterman to perform the track “Change The Sheets” off of her new album, Voyageur. The new LP which was co-produced by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver is the Canadian singer's fourth full length. It's out now via  Zoë/Rounder Records.
 


www.kathleenedwards.com/

Song of the Week: Indoor Voices-"Nevers (Loud)"

Another great find out of Toronto, Canada. This one comes from Jonathan Relph aka Indoor Voices. You might know his work from his previous band Junetile, but the Toronto musician put out a great album in 2011 called, Nevers. It's a collection of songs that Relph had written between 2009 and 2011, that with the help of some friends like Chris Stringer (Timber Timbre, Ohbijou) finally took shape in the form of the recent release. You can stream the album over at his bandcamp page now, and hopefully 2012 will see some tour dates south of the border into the US and NYC soon. Listen to "Nevers" below. 

 


http://indoorvoices.com/

Bryan John Appleby- live sessions

At the end of last year thanks to some fellow bloggers like Visible Voice and Fuel Friends blog I discovered the music of Seattle singer-songwriter Bryan John Appleby. Having only recently becoming familiar with his fantastic 2011 album, Fire on the Vine, I've been scouring the internet lately watching and listening to anything I can get my hands on from BJA. Well thanks to the aforementioned Fuel Friends blog and their great Chapel Sessions series, and the cool video site Natural Beardy we have some great live videos from BJA doing what he does best, armed with his guitar and his hypnotic voice. You can also stream his album, Fire on the Vine below.



Bryan John Appleby - Sprout - Beardy Session from Natural Beardy on Vimeo.



http://bryanjohnappleby.bandcamp.com/
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Lower Dens: New single, "Brains" +album announcement

I was a big fan of this Baltimore, MD bands 2010 debut LP, Twin Hand Movement. The four pieces lo-fi early 90's style took to me back to some of my favorite albums of my youth. The group is now back and ready with their sophomore effort titled, Nootropics which will be out this May 1st in North America and on April 30th throughout the rest of the world via Ribbon music. Give a listen to the first single, "Brains" off the LP which is available as a free download over on the bands website HERE.


  Lower Dens - Brains by Ribbon Music

"Rosie" from 2010's Twin Hand Movement
  Lower Dens - Rosie by delucagabi

http://lowerdens.com/

We Are Augustines- "Ballad of a Patient Man"

If your a regular reader of the blog you know how much we praised We Are Augustines for their brilliant, Rise Ye Sunken Ships. Not only did the band nail down our 'album of the year' honors in 2011, they also put on one of the best live shows I saw all year. If you've had the chance to catch the band live you have probably heard them play the song, "Ballad of a Patient Man" which doesn't appear on their LP. The guys recently stopped by the folks at Relix Magazine to perform the track, which hopefully one day might appear on an upcoming album.

(via Relix Magazine)

Radiohead covering Joy Division- "Ceremony"

Yes I know this is an old clip, but it's one I've never seen before and thought maybe you haven't either, so I just wanted to pass it along. I was in an old Radiohead kinda mood this morning and was digging up all sorts of internet treats. Check some of them out below.




and here's Joy Divisions version



plus found these golden oldies:


 one of my all time favorites:


saw them many times on the tour for this album, brings back good memories.

Pale Seas- "Something or Nothing" single

A few months ago we told you about the newly formed London band called, Netherlands, who had been catching some buzz off their dream pop single, “Something Or Nothing.” Since our last post the band has undergone a name change to, Pale Seas and news of an official release date of their single is now out. "Something or Nothing" will be available digitally and on a limited edition 7" vinyl thru Fear & Records this March 5th. The track could originally be found on their EP, Places to Haunt, which was recorded with Jimmy Robertson and Demien Castellanos (Florence & The Machine, Big Pink).




  Pale Seas- Something or Nothing Single by Pale Seas


order at Fear & Records.
http://placestohaunt.com/

The War on Drugs: live on Jimmy Fallon

After putting out one of the best albums of 2011, Philadelphia's The War On Drugs are continuing the good vibes into the New Year. The band made their television debut the other night on Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon, performing the track, "Baby Missiles." Questlove even joined in on drums.
Also the band have a new 7" single coming out for, “Come to the City” via Secretly Canadian on Jan. 24. The B-Side for the single is a previously unreleased song called, "Don’t Fear The Ghost.” Check everything out below.

White Rabbits announce new LP, Milk Famous

 
Brooklyn's own, White Rabbits recently unveiled plans for their forthcoming LP, Milk Famous. The album which is the bands third comes out this March 6 on tbd Records and features Spoon producer Mike McCarthy at the helm. The opening track, "Heavy Metal" is available over on the groups website or below, where you can grab it for the small fee of your e-mail address. Listen below.

 

White Rabbits - Heavy Metal by foundations

Song of the Week: Of Monsters and Men- "Six Weeks"

This Iceland folk-pop sextet, Of Monsters and Men first started generating some real buzz with their appearance at the Iceland Airwaves this past October. Since then I've seen the band being tabbed as a band to watch in 2012 on more than a few sites, but so far their debut album My Head is an Animal has only seen a release in their native Iceland. With news of an impending  US release coming soon the group recently put out a new EP, Into the Woods to hold over anxious fans. The EP features several of the tracks that appear on the LP, including one of my personal favorites, the rousing "Six Weeks." When the guitars kick in around the :50 second mark the song just takes off. Can't wait to see what 2012 has to offer from these guys.



Of Monsters & Men- "Six Weeks"
Slow, slow me down,
her blood, on my bones.
Let go, lay to rest.

We fall, we fall, we fall,
we fall to the ground.

Sleep, sleep all night
while the young, they wait alone.
Get up, shake the rust.
We crawl, we crawl, we crawl,
we crawl on the ground.
  
Alone, I fight these animals.
Alone, until I get home.

A wolf, wolf and I,
we share the same cold meal.
I float on, float on down .
We ride, we ride, we ride
we ride it all out.

Coming back, I’m coming back.
She follows me into the woods,
takes me home.
http://ofmonstersandmen.is/
http://ofmonstersandmenmusic.tumblr.com/

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Daughter-"Youth" live version

With two brilliant EP's under her belt in 2011, UK singer Elena Tonra, aka Daughter is primed for big things in 2012. Her most recent 4 track EP called,  The Wild Youth appeared on our 'favorite EP's of 2011' list and featured mesmerizing tracks like, "Home" and "Youth." Just last month she curated an evening of live music at the St. Giles in the Fields Church in London, where she shot a new video for the previously mentioned track, "Youth." The voice along with the setting is pure gold. 
Check it out below, and you can stream or purchase the 4 song EP via Daughter’s Bandcamp page now.





http://ohdaughter.bandcamp.com/

Get to know: Francis

I first became familiar with the Swedish band Francis when they opened some tour dates for fellow Swede, The Tallest Man On Earth last year. Building off a year that also saw the group release their debut album, Lekomberg, We Were Kin, the band is back with a new EP, This Must Be Blood, which is slated for a release Feb. 27th Via Strangers Candy. Check out the super catchy first single, "Traktor" off the forthcoming EP below. The single is available on Jan. 23rd.



Francis - Traktor by francis

http://francisishere.com/

Sharon Van Etten- plays "Serpents" on Jimmy Fallon

Not sure how I missed this one from this past weekend, but Brooklyn's Sharon Van Etten made her TV debut last Thursday on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. She performed the intense guitar driven first single, "Serpents" from the forthcoming LP, which even had a special appearance on guitar by The National’s Aaron Dessner (who also appears on the disc). Tramp comes out this February 7th via Jagjaguwar, you can pre-order HERE.

The Barr Brothers- "Beggar in the Morning" on Letterman

This Montreal band was a tough one to leave off my 'Best of List.' They released a great album in 2011 called, Beggar in the Morning and they stopped by the Late Show with David Letterman last night to perform the title track off the LP. It's an awesome live version, give a look below.



thebarrbrothers.com/

New music from The Wooden Sky- "Child of the Valley"

It was just yesterday that I was writing about The Wooden Sky's new forthcoming LP,  Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun and saying how no new music has been unveiled from it yet. Well I guess ask and you shall receive, because a few short hours later the guys posted the first track for preview off the disc, called "Child of the Valley" on their facebook page. As high as my expectations are for this one, it surely doesn't disappoint, if anything it raises my hopes even higher. You can download the song for free over on their soundcloud or just click download on the player below. Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun comes out this February 28th on Blackbox recordings. 

  The Wooden Sky - Child of the Valley by curlybecs 


http://ifidontcomehome.com/

Aunt Martha: free EP, La La Lonesome

If you happened to catch our 'Best of 2011 list' (scroll down a few articles if you didn't) you know what big fans we are of the band, Aunt Martha. These guys have what seems like a never ending supply of new tunes, they put out 2 EP's and a full length  in 2011, plus an album of covers if you want to count that. And most of it is available for free!! So the band kicked off the New Year in good fashion by giving fans another new set of songs to feast on, with their latest EP, La La Lonesome. You can grab that as well as all the other free stuff over on their website HERE, or just give your email address below to pick up the new EP.

 

http://www.auntmarthaband.com/

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Trixie Whitley: New live EP

With soul music seemingly making a big comeback lately, this could be a very good year for talented young singer, Trixie Whitley. She's a bit of a throwback, one listen to her voice and you can tell that Whitley is an old soul, she packs as much raw emotion into her music as anyone I've heard lately. She may be best known for her singing with, Black Dub, a collaboration featuring producer Daniel Lanois and drummer, Brian Blade, but Whitley has a few solo EP's out there as well. The latest of which is a Live EP she just put out from a performance at The Living Room in NYC from this past year. You can listen to snippets from the EP HERE, or check out live versions of the songs, "Breathe You in My Dreams" and "Oh the Joy" below.







http://www.trixiewhitley.com/

The Wooden Sky- play Kitchen Sessions

 So with 2011 now in our rear view mirror it's time to look ahead to what 2012 has to offer. One of the albums I'm most looking forward to is the forthcoming disc, Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun from Toronto band, The Wooden Sky. Their new disc is due out February 28 on Black Box Recordings and so far no new music has been unveiled by the band. But to hold us over we do have these lovely live performances that the band gave to the good people over at the site, Kitchen Sessions while on a recent Fall tour stop. The band played, one of my favorites, "North Dakota" and the more recent song, "Take Me Out" off of their latest City of Light EP.   

Kitchen Sessions Presents: The Wooden Sky - North Dakota from Kitchen Sessions on Vimeo.

Kitchen Sessions Presents: The Wooden Sky - Take Me Out from Kitchen Sessions on Vimeo.

The Wooden Sky on Facebook  
http://www.kitchensessions.net/