'Song of the Week': Wye Oak-"For Prayer"

The two piece of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack, Wye Oak released their sophomore LP last week, The Knot. A much darker and haunting affair then their great debut, If Children, the new disc is less layered this time around, and more slow building, delving into weighty relationship territory. The pair is at their best going from the quieter moments to the flat out explosive, which is showcased on one of my favorites off the new disc, the sorrowful track, "For Prayer."
You can catch the band out on tour now, across the States and Europe into the fall, where they will be playing with acts ranging from, The Dodos, Okkervil River, and Blitzen Trapper. (all dates below)

For Prayer - Wye Oak
Upcoming tour schedule:
Jul 26 MERGE FEST - Memorial Hall Chapel Hill, NC
Aug 8 Black Cat Washington, DC
Aug 12 Bowery Ballroom NYC, New York
Aug 13 Middle East Boston, Massachusetts
Aug 14 North Star Bar Philadelphia, Penn
Sep 7 Manoquinerie Paris
Sep 8 Botanique Rotunda Brussels
Sep 10 Molotow Hamburg
Sep 11 Magnet Berlin
Sep 12 Melkweg Amsterdam
Sep 13 End of the Road Festival North Dorset, UK
Sep 14 Scala London, UK
Sep 25 McDonald Theatre Eugene, Oregon
Sep 28 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, California
Oct 7 New World Brewery Tampa, Florida

listen to Wye Oak on myspace.

stream the new Wye Oak album, 'The Knot'

With still a little over a month to go 'till the albums official release, on July 21st, Wye Oak is now streaming their upcoming disc, The Knot over on the Merge Records website here. The sneak peek is up for a limited time so check it out while you can. The new sophomore LP shows a slightly more restrained sound from the two piece, who are known for their beautifully layered indie rock, with less feedback this time around and more simple melodies.
'The Knot' comes out Aug 28 in Europe, and Aug 31 in the UK.

upcoming Wye Oak tour schedule:
Jul 21 CD Release Show @ Ottobar Baltimore, Maryland
Jul 26 MERGE FEST - Memorial Hall Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Sep 7 Maroquinerie w/ the Dodos Paris
Sep 8 Botanique Rotunda w/ the Dodos Brussels
Sep 10 Molotow w/ the Dodos Hamburg
Sep 11 Magnet w/ the Dodos Berlin
Sep 12 Melkweg w/ the Dodos Amsterdam
Sep 13 End of the Road Festival North Dorset, UK

Wye Oak on myspace.

new music from Wye Oak (download free track)

Wye Oak's last LP, If Children, was one of the true hidden jems of 2008, jam packed with layered indie-pop charm that seemed hard to believe was the work of just two people. So we were excited when we recently learned that the duo of Jenn Wasner (guitar & vocals) & Andy Stack (keys, drums), are now ready to unleash their next album, The Knot this July 21st on Merge Records. One of the new tracks off the forthcoming disc, "Take it In" is available now as free download over on the Merge Records website here.
The band also just began began another round of US tour dates w/Pomegranates that takes them into May.

Take It In - Wye Oak

Wye Oak tour schedule:
04.17 Chicago, IL The Hideout
04.18 Northfield, MN Carleton College - The Cave
04.19 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry
04.20 Iowa City, IA PS1
04.21 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
04.22 Denver, CO Lion's Lair
04.23 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
04.24 Boise, ID Neurolux
04.25 Kennewick, WA The Red Room
04.26 Seattle, WA Sunset Tavern
04.27 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
04.29 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop
04.30 Los Angeles, CA Silverlake Lounge
05.01 Phoenix, AZ Stinkweeds Record Store
05.04 Norman, OK Opolis
05.05 Ft. Worth, TX Lola's Stockyards
05.06 Austin, TX The Mohawk
05.09 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn
05.10 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
05.11 Washington, DC Black Cat Backstage
05.12 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie
05.13 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
05.14 Cambridge, MA TT the Bear's
05.15 New Haven, CT Cafe Nine
05.16 Baltimore, MD Metro Gallery

Wye Oak on myspace

Burn The Bowery: Favorites of 2008

20 Sigur Ros- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
19 Weinland- La Lamentor
18 Lykke Li- Youth Novels
17 The War On Drugs- Wagonwheel Blues
16 Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
15 The Secret Life of Sofia- Seven Summits
14 Laura Marling- Alas I Cannot Swim
13 Wye Oak- If Children
12 The Dodos- Visiter
11 Land Of Talk- Some Are Lakes

10 City and Colour- Bring Me Your Love
In what was a very good year for acoustic/folk based music, this one flew way under the radar. This solo project from Dallas Green is passionate and effortless. The man simply has a killer voice.






9 Point Juncture, Wa- Heart to Elk
This one may have appeared even higher if we just didn't recently come across it. Although it's still relatively new to our ears, it had to be included in the top 10. Gorgeous, dreamy, textured pop gems that seem to build and build.



8 Blitzen Trapper- Furr
Our 3rd entry from Portland in the top 20, Blitzen Trapper deliver a detailed new album that grows on you with each listen. Great rootsy old Americana feel, with excellent harmonies.






7 Jessica Lea Mayfield- With Blasphemy So Heartfelt
Amazing debut from the 19 year old Mayfield. Strong album from start to finish and she sounds wise beyond her years. A distinct fresh voice that we think you'll be hearing a lot of for years to come.





6 Helio Sequence- Keep Your Eyes Ahead Our 4th Portland band in the top 20,the album features two of the years strongest tracks in, "Lately' and "Shed Your Love". Singer Brandon Summers severely damaged his vocal cords, which led the band to re-invent it's sound. The result is an ambitious album that beautifully blends, indie rock and folk, with ambient and synth led numbers.


5 Ra Ra Riot- The Rhumb Line If you know the story of the tragedy the band went through, losing there drummer John Ryan Pike to a drowning accident while recording the LP, you can't help but feel the heartbreak that plays out on the disc. Pike wrote some of the LP's most ironic tracks such as, "Dying is Fine" and "Ghost Under the Rocks." Excellent melodic indie rock album.



4 She Keeps Bees- Nests
In a music world that is often times lacking some true soul to it, She Keeps Bees delivers. The NYC powerful two piece is gritty and raw, and frontwoman Jessica Larrabee is one of the finest there is.





3 Damien Jurado- Caught In The Trees
Usually known for his fictional storytelling prowess, Jurado gets personal on his latest disc and delivers his best work yet. For a guy that's been around as long as he has, it's about time he gets recognized for this disc.





2 Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
What can you say, the guy had a killer year, but still one that I just kept coming back to again and again. One of the years most intimate records. It truly takes you away to that cabin in the Wisconsin woods, where you can feel the despair.





1 Frightened Rabbit- The Midnight Organ Fight
Raw, visually blundt, emotional, exceptionally strong songwwriting. Plays out very cinematically with a beginning, middle and end. You won't find a better album from start to finish then this one.

new video: Wye Oak- "Please Concrete"

This past April, Merge records re-released Wye Oak's fantastic debut disc, If Children. For those who haven't caught the two man band yet, the album is one of the year's pure indie rock gems (to read our review you can go here). The pair have been busy on the road since the album's release, but recently had some time to release a brand new video for their track "Please Concrete", directed by Caleb Stine and Eric Diga.

Wye Oak- "Please Concrete":



For tour dates & more go to Wye Oak on myspace.

Wye Oak- If Children (review)

This Baltimore Maryland two piece (named after the state tree) is one of my favorite new discoveries.
Wye Oak formerly known as Monarch until a few months ago (it turned out there were several bands with that name) & fresh off being picked up by Merge records, is made up of Jenn Wasner (guitar & vocals) & Andy Stackall (keys, drums).
It seems to defy your ears when givin a listen that just these two people made up the record. My first introduction to the band was the track "Warning". Listening to the intro my first thought was ok here's another alt country band. Wrong!, immediately the song bursts out at you with well crafted distortion and fuzz, leaving that notion in the dust. Wye Oak is much more than that, and although i've heard them get pigeonholed in the usual shoegaze, alt country, power pop and even folk categories, they brush off any labeling upon giving them a closer listen. From the intimate simplicity of the song "Please Concrete" which takes you on a wave of noise, to the violin tinged driving track "Family Glue", WO is making more than just sweet layered goodness. The band has a sound all their own, & to me their a sort of throwback to the early to mid 90's scene, and i mean that in a good way. Jenn Wasner's voice seems made to match the songs, and even on a few tracks Andy picks up the vocals. which in a lot of guy/ girl combo's lose something cause one is far superior to the other. But here they don't lose a step.

The band can currently be seen at SXSW thru Sat the 15th. with touring picking back up again in April. You can catch shows locally in the nyc area on apr.12th @ Union Hall in Bklyn.

Wye Oak's new album "If Children" is set to be released on April 8th & can be found on Merge records, online and hopefully in your local music store. Check them out at wyeoakmusic.com or on their myspace. Def worth giving a listen.