Merry Christmas

Well shiiiiit.
Haven't been 'blawgin' in a while so I guess now's the time to get on my work horse (not my high horse) and show you some tunes. I've been putting on repeat here at 9 1/2 jasper st.

The Vines: Autumn Shade II
The Vines: Winning Days

I feel like it's always been easy to dismiss The Vines as sort of being one and done. After their album Highly Evolved, and impossible to forget single "Get Free", it seemed like not much came from these Aussies. But for some reason, I've been playing their second album Winning Days, on a pretty frequent basis since November, and these two tracks I find to be their unlikely standouts on a pretty solid album. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it works for me.

HEALTH: DIE SLOW



Ummmm. Pulsating. Abrasive. Weird. Erotic. Awesome.
I didn't know Noise Rock could make you wanna dance.

Major Lazer: Keep It Goin Louder



Bonerjam of the decade? Possibly? Diplo and Switch reached a perfect medium with Dancehall and Pop music on their album Guns Don't Kill People, Lazers Do and "Keep it Goin Louder" shows the culmination in full effect. Crazy video too.

BONUS
Paper Route Gangstaz: Bama Gettin' Money (Diplo Remix)

Smooth. How good is that first verse?

MillionYoung: Weak Ends
MillionYoung: Hammock

While me and my roomate Dustin differentiate on different music occasionally, (He's into The Indigo Girls, I'm a Dixie Chicks fan) we've been digging new Florida based artist MillionYoung hard. Some super solid chillwave, with a little tropical influence, that you can clearly see on highlight "Hammock". Hopefully, he'll keep the output going.

Lil Wayne: Drop The World (feat. Eminem)

So by now, I have an impression of what Lil' Wayne's rock album Rebirth will be like. Probably mostly shitty. Not sure if I should deem this a 'guilty pleasure' or not, but regardless I think it's a hell of a track. Booming drums, showering synths, and a passionate Wayne are all part of the formula. Make your own opinion. Oh yeah, Eminem's on here, so that's pretty heady.

Surfer Blood: Swim (To Reach The End)

POWER CHORDS, CHANTING CHORUS, POWER-POP.
These kids know how to find a hook and beat it into your head. And you're all the more welcome for it. Kudos. Thank god someone's picking up for Weezer's slack.

Summer Camp: Ghost Train

This lo-fli, twee little song cannot find it's way out of my head. It confidently bounces along as random synths shower down in and out of the mix. Calming, peaceful. Enjoyable.

Harlem: Friendly Ghosts

Want yr Indie Rock? Harlem is probably your best bet then. This shit-kicking romp of a song is fun, exciting, and gets my blood flowing faster. Check it.

JJ: Troublemaker (Akon cover)

This sparse cover of Akon's "Troublemaker" works for what it does in it's negative space. And believe me, theres a lot of it. Using only vocals and sparse guitar, JJ manages to create a hollow, beautiful, intimate sonic landscape that I can't stop listening to.

Trap Goin' Ham

Who's House?

HEELS HOUSE

So...UNC basketball is finally underway and it just makes my days that much better. With our seasoned veterans Danny Green, Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansborough, and Wayne Ellington on to the NBA, Roy Williams has a brand new stable of stallions to thwart any challengers. Larry Drew II, Tyler Zeller, Ed Davis, John Henson all have the potential to lay down some more championships for Good Ol' Roy. It'll happen. And since I'm in such a good mood, I've got like a bazillion tunes to show you.

The Mantles: Don't Lie

Easily one of my favorite songs of the season. So simple and anthemic, The Mantles make me feel like a couple of kids time traveled to 1968 and changed the world of rock n' roll. Don't know too much about this band but I can only hope they continue to put out songs as good as this. Be sure to check out the music video as well. Perfect.



Rainbow Bridge: Big Wave Rider

I can't believe I haven't posted this song earlier. I know that everyone was going for the super hazy/stoned beach vibe this summer, but these guys blew everyone else out of the water with just one song. Whereas other bands would shower their lack of instrumentation over some serious lo-fi buzz, Rainbow Bridge sacrifices no talent for "authenticity", they just bring it. Delicately paced and guitar driven, I can't think of how many times I played this on the way out to Sullivan's Island this summer. Lyrically, R.B. keeps its simple, but for good measure. There is no way this song could be any better. I'm listening to it as I write and my head can't stop bobbing. Pick up a guitar.

King Khan & BBQ Show: Love You So

Fans of The Black Lips and fans of AM Oldies can come together in their appreciation of this jangly, raucous little number. I've never really listened to King Khan that much, I found it a little too sloppy and abrasive for my own taste. But King Khan and BBQ do a great job of mixing punk, doo-wop, and soul into one complete package without coming off as a novelty. Nice little ditty.

Animal Collective: Bleeding (Live) (Brand New!)

So...who knows what this will sound like on the actually new e.p. AnCo is releasing this Christmas. They're notorious for manipulating the shit out of live songs years in advance before the studio version comes out...This is pretty dense Animal Collective right here, and I'm sure it'll take a couple of listens before I can separate the ambiance from actual song writing. But, I have great faith in Panda Bear, Avey Tare, Geologist, and newly returned Deakin to have a method to this madness. Even on my second listen, I start to find myself spacing out to the sonic landscape that AnCo has laid out on the track. Pretty heady shit. Fall Be Kind their new "Dark" E.P. will be out some time in December.

The Notwist: Boneless (Panda Bear Remix)

Speaking of Animal Collective, heres an oldie (blogospherically speaking) from my favorite member of AnCo, Panda Bear. One of my favorites this song, combines the textural layouts of those familiar with Animal Collective combined with Panda Bear's manipulated delayed harmonies creating one beautiful sound collage. I hate even calling this song a remix because it does such a good job standing on its own.


Cold Cave: Life Magazine

Just found out about these goth-poppers, and this is one hell of a little electro-banger. Distorted synths and 4/4 beats dominate the spectrum as some hollow female vocals haunt in the distance. Nothing groundbreaking but it works and is slowly crawling up my Top 25 played.

Yeasayer: Ambling Alp
Yeasayer: Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix)

Never really got into Yeasayer too much. Sure 2080 was a hell of a debut single, and Tightrope was great on the Dark Was The Night compilation. But, I never really felt a reason to delve deeper than that. This song however has compelled me too check out the new album forthcoming. Sure, you can call it an Animal Collective rip-off due to it's loop driven structure, but it's got more to it than that, the energy and ambition on this song is at the forefront. With horns and falsetto's popping up in unlikely places it's got some balls. The prolific Memory Tapes already released his remix of Ambling Alp, just days after its initial release, so check that out too.

Beirut: Guyamas Sonora

I've been jamming out to this recently since the arrival of some relatively cold weather. Zach Condon of Beirut is that of a prodigy and his music shows it. His mastering of music composition is unrivaled by anyone in indie-rock with the exception of Dave Longstreth from the Dirty Projectors. Guyamas Sonora is one of my fav's off of Beirut's solid sophmore album The Flying Club Cup. Mandolins, Horns, Choirs fill up any empty space in this song as Condon's recognizable croon leads the way.




Atlas Sound: Kid Klimax

The hard at work Bradford Cox is always up to something. Seeing Deerhunter at the Paradiso in Amsterdam this summer was one of the best concerts I've ever seen...hands down. Along with Deerhunter, Cox has his solo project Atlas Sound. Whereas Deerhunter is more immediately gratifying and engaging, Atlas Sound is much more introverted in its sound. With that being said, this is one of the songs of his sophmore album Logos that really started to grow on me.

Henry Pedro: Midnight Sun

Beautiful. Listen.

Daniel Rossen: Too Little Too Late (JoJo Cover)

Now this is quite a number. Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles takes on B-list pop star JoJo's Too Little Too Late, to amazing effect. It's everything that you'd imagine Rossen would do, ghostly harmonies, creepy piano's, etc. It's all their. It's fragile. It's delicate. It's perfect.


Go Heels.

DTTG.

The Carter Doc.

Looks pretty nuts.

MAD MEN

So last night's season finale of Mad Men was just incredible bro.

The Dream: Sweat It Out

The-Dream continues to flaunt his proficiency as a songwriter. While this song could easily dismissed as a generic slow jam, it just simply isn't.

"Right after we finished, I'mma get your shit fixed."
Thoughtful.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Cowgirl In The Sand (Live at the Fillmore East)

One of the finer live recordings I've ever heard. Neil sure knows his way around a guitar and Crazy Horse does a fine job of holding everything together. Pure madness. Don Draper would not appreciate this sort of thing.

Girls: Darling

When Girls' first album came out, aptly titled Album. I liked it, but I didn't immerse myself in the record like I thought I would. I mean summer was over, and this ramshackle indie-pop didn't seem like it was gonna stick around. Boy, has that changed. Every week now I find myself finding a new favorite. First it was Hellhole Ratrace. Then came Lust for Life. Next was Laura, And now to compete with Morning Light comes this gem Darling. Album's closer leaves you with a nice panoramic view of what Girls came to accomplish. The "stoned, sun-drenched, happy go lucky, we're fucked but we don't care vibe". It works for me. Hopefully, you'll like it too.


Magic Kids: Hey Boy

This song starts off, pretty corny I know. But give it 10 seconds, and you're foot will start tapping. I'll be honest. I hate kids. I loathe them. Ughhh. But what I hate even more is kids singing. They should be seen, not heard. But for The Magic Kids, I'll give an exception. Besides the songs like two minutes. Well-played
(Disclaimer: I like kids)
(Double Disclaimer: Not like that, asshole)

Teengirl Fantasy: Portofino

Hey wanna hear some ambient electronic song? No? You've heard too many of those? Alright, well whatever. I'm posting it. You'll appreciate.

I'm out of here.

Betty Draper is a whore.

Watch This.

Grizzly Bear: Ready, Able
Incredible.

Well Heyyyyy Y'aaalll!
It's been along time since y'all came round these parts. Haven't updated since Halloween got a bit nutty. It takes time to recuperate from these things I suppose. But regardless, puttin' on dat nice nice. I'm gonna post a couple of times today, I've got some oldies and goodies all around.

Clipse (feat Cam'ron) : Popular Demand (Popeyes)
New stuff to look forward to on Clipse's long awaited third album Till The Casket Drops, Clipse's first single off the album, "I'm Good" really really sucked and lacked all the charisma and viciousness that The Brothers Thorton had on their first two albums and that Pharell beat was staler than the Ego Waffles I've had in my fridge since school started. But.....Cam'ron's on this joint which is the collision of Coke Rap titans. Lyrically, it's all there...but Pharell...step your game up. You haven't dropped something ill since 2000. I hope Casket's more Cuban Linx II, than Blueprint III. We'll see.

T.I./Sigur Ros: Big Shit Poppin'
M83/Lil' Wayne/Kanye West: Lollipop (Remix of the Remix)
These two songs come from the excellent Good-Ass Remixes Vol. 1, Team Teamwork does a great job properly handling these mash-ups. Seamless, smooth, and fun. I feel like the backing loop of Sigur Ros does a great job showcasing T.I.'s sick wordplay, which impresses me more and more with every listen, far more than the original beat does. Epic.
Lollipop....where to even begin. This song is so sick. Kanye's verse alone is so witty and impressive that if he had a single 808 snare backing him I would run everything. That M83 sample of "We Own The Sky" loop in the background is perfect for that synthed out spaceship vibe.

Miles Davis: Jeru
Time to take you back to Earth folks. So sit back, put on Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool and make yourself a nice cocktail, smoke a cigarette, do whatever it is that you do when you enjoy yourself. "Jeru" is one hell of a song. With Miles combining the fast-paced, high energy bebop with characteristics of Big Band, you have one hell of an album. Listening to this right now, just makes me feel at home and happy. So timeless. So perfect. If you don't like jazz music (and you probably don't), try this out. If you don't listen to this song...lord save you.


Off the record.
On the Q.T.
And very hush-hush.

DTTG.

Mr. CofC

Danknes Dankness Dankness!!!!!

Mr. CofC was soooo much funnnnnnnn lawlllzzzzzzzzz

:) :) :0 :@ :$ :)(

Some quality tunezzzzzzzzzzz

Lil' Wayne: No Ceilings Mixtape (Zip File)

Wayne brings the heat bro.

Grizzly Bear: Slow Life (Featuring Aretha Franklin)

This song is beautiful. Edward Droste would pull mad tail if he wasn't ghey.

Julian Casablancas: Tourist

The new album will be good

Kitty Cat Pony Starbugz 4EVA

DTTG

Go Heels.

I just want College Basketball to start. So bad.
Here's some stuff to hold you and me over.


Big Boi: Shine Blockas (feat. Gucci Mane)
Best rap song of the year.

Jay-Z & Music Without Borders: I Know (feat. Pharell)
Great Reworking.

Lil' Wayne: Watch My Shoes (Brand New!) (Nuts!)
It's nice to finally hear Wayne sound hungry again. Sick.

Animal Collective: Daily Routine (Phaseone Remix)
Just a great song.

The Strangers: Two To Make A Pair
Check it.

Hey! Hey! Hey!

Welcome to Man Camp!

Bangers. Jams. Grooves. Etc. Etc. Etc.

I'm gonna do my best to update this as much as possible.
LCD Soundsystem to ELO.
The Strokes to The Supremes.
Ryan Adams to Real Estate


To download, just click on the song and mediafire will walk you the rest.

Annie: Songs Remind Me Of You
80's cocaine dance pop reinvented for todays indie/electronic aesthetic.
Dramatic. Fun. Vodka.
What a catchy hook.

Phoenix: Armistice (YACHT RMX)
Phoenix dominated this summer with their fourth album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
Combining Arena Rock sensibilities with their already established synthed out 'blue eyed soul' , Amadeus finally catapulted these Parisians into in the spotlight. Since it's release Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix has spawned a shitload of remixes prompting an entire album of them. One of the highlights is this gem of a track, which pokes and prods at the inner workings of the song while maintaining its structure. Check it out.

Weezer: Can't Stop Partying (Feat. Lil' Wayne)
I could get all snobby on Weezer's recent output, which is legitimately shitty, inane, out of touch, etc... But to face reality, when The Blue Album came out it was like 1994 and I was playing with baseball cards, so what the fuck do I know. Weezer sort of sucks now, and there is no way in hell I'm buying the new album entitled Raditude despite the clever name. This track however, is one of the catchiest songs I've heard in a long long time. Weezer still maintains some aspects of their old, recognizable sound. You can still hear the churning guitar in the background and Rivers Cuomo's voice is the same as always, but this song is pretty much overtaken by a Timberland-esque beat (think SexyBack) for suprisingly good measure. It's weird to hear about Cuomo croon about 'bottles of goose' or state 'screw rehab I love my addiction' but its too catchy to give a shit about. Wayne's on here too and he mails it in which means its fun, easy, and fast. But all in all, it somehow works. Kudos if you get this chorus out of your head.


DTTG.