The album Broom by Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin was my summer album of 2006. I’m bringing it back this summer because it’s just that addicting. I enjoy every track on the album. Please don’t let the band name turn you off; they’re a fun, solid indie rock band from Springfield, MO. They should really have a bigger audience than they currently do.
The lead song from Broom called “Pangea” is what made me a fan. (I seem to be the only SSLYBY fan that I know that is really into this particular song, but whatever!) Watch the video below. I also recommend “Oregon Girl” on their myspaz page.
In Pitchfork’s review of the new After Dark compilation, Marc Hogan writes that Dutch DJ I-F “basically invented electroclash” with his 1997 hit “Space Invaders are Smoking Grass,” taken from his album Fucking Consumer (pictured above).
Well, the title of that song already had me at hello. It’s a delicious song with a pretty fun video. I’m not sure what’s really happening in video other than a space invader walking around stoned. Does it really matter? Turn the speakers up.
A five-year itch of mine was finally scratched, when I recently discovered the name and artist of a song I had been seeking for… five years.
About five years ago or so (it’s kind of blurry at this point), I went to see the Eels at the Roxy in Hollywood. While we patiently waited for the band to begin, I heard an amazing song being played on the house speakers. The orchestration and woman’s voice seduced my ears immediately. However, the only English words I could make out were “Baby… I love you…” So, it was a little difficult to search for a song with only those lyrics to work with.
Also, there was no visible DJ on the floor to ask. My companion didn’t know who sang the song either. Torture.
Fast forward to one year later. I am at the Roxy again, seeing the Eels, again. While we patiently waited for the band to begin, I could tell that they were playing the exact same set of songs on the house speakers as the last time we saw the Eels there. And sure enough, my song plays. Tortured again. I am still not sure to this day whether the house music was the same because the Roxy just plays the same stuff over and over again, or if it was the Eels’ instructions to play this same mix before their show.
Fast forward to two weeks ago. I am at Big Timmy’s house and he’s playing the song “Baby” by Os Mutantes in his living room. I can tell the song is that song from the Roxy, only with a different singer. After a little Googling, I find that the version I fell in love with is originally sung by Gal Costa. The song put her on the map in 1967. It originally appeared on Ou Panis Et Circenses, a compilation album from the Brazilian Popular Music Movement. A slightly different version later appeared on Gal Costa’s debut 1969 solo album Gal Costa (Não Identificado), the cover of which is pictured above.
Here’s the video for “Baby” by Gal Costa (1967 version). Sorry it cuts off a bit abruptly at the end, but you get the point.
I am totally jocking this from the Forkcast, but I have to plug Riceboy Sleeps. This is an ambient project from Jón “Jónsi” Birgisson (a member of Sigur Rós) and Alex Summers. The two songs posted on their page are ambient bliss. If you’re a fan of Stars of the Lid, William Basinski, or ambient Brian Eno, give it a shot. And if you’re not, you can become a fan today!
Unfortunately I cannot find any news about these songs being released in a traditional fashion; perhaps they are waiting until they have more songs to put an album together. Right now you can purchase their book which appears to have a DVD in it, and that’s about it. The videos for their two songs can be seen here:
“All the Big Trees”:
“Daniell in the Sea”:
Photo jocked from their website. If you ask nicely I can show you where to find downloads of these songs.
Art in Manila is the latest band from Orenda Fink, who was best known for being one-half of Azure Ray (the other half being Maria Taylor). Fink has one of the most seductive voices in music today.
It’s a shame that Azure Ray broke up because I don’t think either one of them has written material in their post-Azure Ray projects that is at the same caliber as their Azure Ray songs.
However, any new release from Fink is always worth checking out for her voice alone. I recommend the song “Time Gets Us All” on their website. Art in Manila’s album Set the Woods on Fire will be released 7 August 2007 by Saddle Creek Records.
P.S. One example of how great Azure Ray were can be found in the song “November.”
Photo shamelessly stolen from Art in Manila’s website.
Are you sick of mash-ups? Me neither! Well, I’m not sick of the good ones anyway.
Flosstradamus is responsible for one of the best mash-ups I’ve ever heard, “Overnight Star.” Twista’s “Overnight Celebrity” vs. that song by Sigur Ros. Blast it on their myspace page.
A few years ago Big Timmy turned me on to Great Lake Swimmers, a band from Toronto which is fronted by Tony Dekker. I’ve been hooked ever since. Their first two albums are practically perfection in my book, and their new album “Ongiara” is certainly growing on me.
From their myspace bio: “Great Lake Swimmers explores the worlds of indie folk, roots music and alt-country pop, with a focus on lyrics and the craft of songwriting. The records are permeated with the lush natural reverb of various acoustically unique locations, which create the backdrop for the melancholic songs.”
Start with “Various Stages” and “Your Rocky Spine” on their myspizzle.
Juiceboxxx rocked my face off last night at Pehrspace. He’s a rapper from Milwaukee and has the energy of a Red Bull-Viagara-Ecstasy cocktail (uh not that I would know).
If you enjoy Beck’s party songs or DJ Swamp, Juiceboxxx is for you. I recommend “Do U Want 2 Hear It” and “Thunder Jam 3.” Language UFW.
Great Northern is an excellent band that comes from right here in Southern California.
Their press release on myspace describes them as, “Densely layered melodies are draped with Stolte and Bixler’s signature velvety chimes, stately piano, luxuriant keyboard string flourishes and smartly counterpointed electric and acoustic guitars. The songs’ very point often seem to suggest the rich emotional textures of a daydream afternoon, as sunshine gently dims into the dark. The sensual fullness of the sound is like soaking in a bath of warm frequencies.”
My favorite tracks are “The Middle” and “Home.” No, I don’t know what’s up with their l33t hACkeR style on the page, but whatever… it’s great music!
I gotta thank my homey Big Dave for turning me on to Johnny Boy a few days ago. Their one and only album came out in 2005 and I don’t know how this managed to slip past my radar back then. Better late than never, right? This album and the new Tegan and Sara are giving me constant eargasms.
From wiki: Johnny Boy describe their sound as “Church bells, boy-girl vocals, loops, twists, warps, walls of sound and edgy guitars combined to rekindle the idea of Sandista-era Clash having an, erm, shootout with Phil Spector.”
Hit up their page and play “You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve,” which is simply abbreviated as “Generation” on the page. Then proceed to play their other songs!
Update: The geniuses at Pitchfork clowned this album with a 5.2. More proof you should not always listen to Pitchfork! Or me, for that matter…
