Cheers: Friday Dance Jams

Firstly, go download all of Everybody Taste's Halloween picks. Then, if you like to dance (and you do), throw these songs on a playlist with them and have a silly costumed weekend. Cheers.

Hooray For Earth vs Twin Shadow - "A Place We Like"
Crystal Castles Ft. Robert Smith - "Not In Love"
Postelles - "White Night"

Levek - "Look On The Bright Side"

Levek, the project of former Florida school bus driver David Levesque, finally has his first official label release courtesy of San Fransisco's Father/Daughter. After transforming songs by Grizzly Bear and The Dirty Projectors into lush and overwhelmingly creative a cappella soundscapes, Levek is offering up his original soul-infused and Curtis Mayfield-worthy "Look On The Bright Side" with full funky band in tow. The single will be released November 16th as a red-vinyl seven-inch with B-Side "Slow."

Levek - "Look On The Bright Side" (from Levek 7")
Previously:
Levek - "NW 4th St."

Lonnie Walker - "Love Turn"

Raleigh, North Carolina punk-country outfit Lonnie Walker have a beautifully frenzied and unstable energy about them, often pushing songs into galloping speeds where the path between harmony and chaos is narrow, rickety and a hell of a good time. With a split seven-inch for their new track "Love Turn" due out November 4th and a national re-release of their toe-tapping fire-lit-under-Americana's-ass debut These Old Times on December 14th, this quintet is more than poised to make its inevitable leap to a wider audience.

Lonnie Walker - "Love Turn" (from The Ink Well/Love Turn 7")
Lonnie Walker - "Summertime" (from These Old Times)
Lonnie Walker - "Feels Like Right" (from Friends and Friends of Friends)

Help Kickstart Tess Brunet's Au Ras Au Ras

It's not often fans get the opportunity to directly support and fund an artist's music. But New Orleans musician Tess Brunet—the drummer for Everybody Taste favorites Generationals—is short on cash and needs help Kickstarting her debut record as Au Ras Au Ras. If you need convincing, check out a demo from Brunet along with her homemade promotional video for the project. Donate just one dollar and you'll receive a digital download of the recording when it's finished. Not a bad deal. Head to Kickstarter to check out the rest of the contribution scale's prizes.

Stream: Tess Brunet - "Untitled" (demo)


Generationals - "Trust" (from Trust EP)

Happy Halloween: Picked Out Your Costume Yet?

Harry Belafonte - "Zombie Jamboree"

David Bowie - "Dance Magic"

Benji Hughes - "The Mummy"

She & Him - "I Put A Spell On You"

The King Khan and BBQ Show - "Invisible Girl"

Dead Man's Bones - "My Body's A Zombie For You"

Ghostland Observatory - "Midnight Voyage"

Rockwell - "Somebody's Watching Me"

The Misfits - "Astro Zombies"

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - "Red Right Hand"

And my personal Halloween favorite from Ghostbusters II:

Bobby Brown - "On Our Own" 

Tapes 'n Tapes - "Freak Out"

Here's an excellent upbeat jam from Tapes 'n Tapes forthcoming 3rd LP, Outside, due out on January 11th. Check out the details over at the band's homepage.

Tapes 'n Tapes - "Freak Out" (from Outside)

New Girls - "Heartbreaker"

San Francisco's Girls will whet whistles again on November 22nd with the release of the Broken Dreams Club EP, which you can preorder here and grab a free track from ("Heartbreaker"). Considering how widely lauded Christopher Owens and company's debut Album was, it's safe to file this under one highly anticipated. (via)

Doug Hoyer - "Lakes of Mars"

Clever dead-pan baritone vocals over playful instrumentals clearly put Edmonton's Doug Hoyer under the stylistic umbrella of greats like Jonathan Richman and Jens Lekman, but with ukulele in tow, Hoyer's songs also take on their own distinct charm. On "Lakes of Mars"—the B-Side to his forthcoming 7-inch on Canadian label Old Ugly—Hoyer discusses exploring far away galaxies, dreaming of a chat with God, and getting lost in someone's eyes all while a pounding rhythm section and hook-laden melodies wrap a stranglehold around your ears. Order the 7-inch for $7 or download both tracks digitally free here.

Doug Hoyer - "Lakes of Mars" 

Cheers: Friday Dance Jams

In the famous words of Steve McQueen, "I live for myself and I answer to nobody." It's Friday, enjoy yourself and let these songs be your weekend's dance-infused guides. Cheers.

The xx - "VCR (Matthew Dear remix)"
Chubby Checker - "Let's Dance"
Yelle - "Ce Jeu (Bill Eff's Love 1987 Remix)"
Miami Horror - "Holidays" (feat. Alan Palomo)"
Kisses - "Kisses"
Orange Juice - "Blokes On 45"
Robyn - "Indestructible (Dance Edit)" 
New Order - "Temptation (7-inch version)"

Live, the Cults are the real deal

Tuesday night I watched the Cults, Twin Sister, and Morning Benders perform at Portland's Doug Fir Lounge. With the widespread use of computers and electronic effects in modern pop, I find it especially interesting to see how bands transfer their sound to a live format—and that interest is magnified even more so when it's three of the most buzzed-about bands of the year. While Twin Sister was plagued all night with high-pitched buzzing from the monitors and barely audible vocals—due in part to the sound engineer and the fact they simply had too much going on instrumentally—the Cults set the room abuzz with their small but infectious repertoire of songs. Comprised of couple Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin and a few supplemental long-haired guitarists, the band's sing-along Supremes-esque choruses matched perfectly with their "we're just happy to be here" smiles and stage presence. It's amazing their only real release so far is a 7". And the Chris Chu-led Morning Benders? At this point they're savvy veterans, casual between songs and energetic during, nailing every riff and vocal line throughout the night to that squishy faux-Doug Fir wall.

Cults - "Oh, My God" (Daytrotter)
Twin Sister - "Meet The Frownies" (Shaking Through)
Morning Benders - "Virgins" (La Blogotheque)

Kurt Vile - "In My Time"

Here's another dreamy guitar-painted landscape courtesy of young Philadelphia prodigy Kurt Vile, who will have two additional tracks released digitally on October 25th with a vinyl 7" release following on November 9th. (via Matador)


Kurt Vile - "In My Time" 

Reissue: T-Rex's The Slider

Statement from label Fat Possum:
The Slider is the definitive soundtrack to Bolanmania that swept most corners of the globe during 1972. It was boom-time for manufacturers of lipstick-sized phials of glitter. The music press had a field day, too, seizing the opportunity to debate the rabid tensions between playful pop and sensible rock. But to the many thousands who had succumbed to T. Rextasy, the first great teenage phenomenon of the 1970s, it was - in the words of Morrissey - "many people's first love affair."

The Slider, out of print in the US since 2003, will be available digitally Oct. 26 and remastered vinyl on Nov. 23.

T. Rex - "Telegram Sam" (from The Slider)

The Fresh & Onlys - "Waterfall"

"You and I know from the radio" is the simple yet anthemic line that hooks ears to The Fresh & Onlys' single "Waterfall" off their latest LP Play It Strange. Backed with dark reverb-drenched vocal "oohs" and a garage-flavored backbone of drums and electric guitar, the song soars on its straightforward and lean laurels into something truly great.

The Fresh & Onlys - "Waterfall" (from Play It Strange)

Joanna Newsom in Malibu Magazine

"I’d really love to work with Nicki Minaj or Dolly Parton. And certainly Robin [Pecknold] at the drop of a hat. And Roy Harper—we’ve talked about collaborating at some point, and I hope we do. That would be amazing." — Joanna Newsom on collaborating with another musician.

Check out the rest of my article on Joanna Newsom for Malibu Magazine here.

In Memory: Solomon Burke -"Maggie's Farm" (Bob Dylan)

Solomon Burke, the "King of Rock and Soul," was an indelible musical figure—one that produced his craft at a high level on a consistent basis for an entire half-century. In 1965, he became one of the first black artists to record a Bob Dylan song with this take on "Maggie's Farm."

Solomon Burke - "Maggie's Farm" (LP Version)

Dr. Dog - "Nobody Knows Who You Are"

"This song took several years to write itself. Then it was done in a split second. That's the best. Like a hungry frog. Wait. Wait. Wait. Fly lightning! It goes to show you how easy it is to feel all right if you actually want to." — Scott McMicken, Dr. Dog

On November 2nd, Dr. Dog will release a deluxe edition of Shame, Shame with four brand spanking new songs, including "Nobody Knows Who You Are." Dig yourself some Philadelphia soul. (Art by  Mike Bertino)

Dr. Dog - "Nobody Knows Who You Are" 

Previously:
Dr. Dog - "Take Me Into Town"

Generationals - "Trust"

The Generationals—the New Orleans Phil Spector-loving band responsible for the fabulous 2009 record Con Law—have returned with an even richer sound for their second release, the Trust EP. Recorded in Washington, DC, title-track "Trust" is the best ear candy I've heard all year: an infectious amalgamation of hypnotic bass riffs, swelling guitar chords and sharp rhythmic solos that join and add texture to the band's already hook-laden jangly pop sound. It's appalling Con Law didn't launch these southern gentlemen into stardom, but with this EP and the equally insatiable "Either Way" featured on the soundtrack for the Hollywood rom-com Going The Distance, it seems a wider audience for these gems is all but inevitable. Trust is out November 9th on the always excellent Park The Van.

Generationals - "Trust" (from Trust EP)

The Walkmen - "Woe Is Me" (Live on NPR's World Cafe)

In regards to Lisbon, the Walkmen's excellent sixth full-length album, people love to rave about the track "Angela Surf City" as its roaring tempo is reminiscent of the band's most popular song to date, "The Rat." But for "Angela Surf City" to dominate the discussion surrounding the incredibly textured Lisbon is a shame, especially considering it's not even one of the record's best songs. Personally, I'll put my money on "Woe Is Me," whose syncopated clean-toned guitar riffs and sparsely articulated lyrics make it one of the year's most refreshingly delectable songs. Here's a cut of said track, performed recently for NPR's World Cafe. Eat up.

The Walkmen - "Woe Is Me" (Live on NPR's World Cafe)

Laughing Man: DC's Best Kept Secret

I once wrote for the Washingtonian, "The Laughing Man’s song 'The Sweet Tooth' sounds as if Tom Waits asked a group of jazz musicians to transmit rock-and-roll from the moon." I revert back to that statement because the Washington, DC trio create an incredibly eclectic collage of sound derived from elements of jazz, garage rock and soul music—one that's not all together easy to put into words. I've been waiting for years to buy a release from these intelligent eccentrics and it seems like that day is finally approaching with a full-length titled The Lovings ('63-'69) due out on DC independent label Sockets Records. Preview two tracks from the record below as well as the previously released "The Sweet Tooth." In parting for the weekend, I'll leave you with my favorite quote from singer and guitarist Brandon Moses after I asked about the influence of jazz in his music: “If life is a blank sheet of paper and you’re a pencil, jazz is like waking up one day and you’re a Crayola.” Amen.

Laughing Man - "Mood & Dress"

Laughing Man - "Already Always"


Laughing Man - "The Sweet Tooth" (from The Blues EP)

The Dutchess and The Duke, No More

It's sad when little bands brimful of excellent songwriting and potential all the sudden loosen their sails and call it quits. The Seattle Weekly reported on Tuesday that folk rock revivalist duo The Dutchess & The Duke will be playing their final show November 26th at The Tractor Tavern in Seattle. While "Reservoir Park" may have been their big "hit," the band's catalogue is full of sharp harmony-filled nuggets, such as my personal favorite, "Back To Me."

The Dutchess & The Duke - "Back To Me" (from She's The Dutchess, He's The Duke)

Mixtape: Nobody Listens To Turtle

"I tried to tell you man, but nobody listens to Turtle." 

- Turtle, North Shore

No work today. Going surfing. This is what I'll be listening to for the two hour drive to the coast.

SIDE A

The Explorers Club - "Do You Love Me"

Crystal Stilts - "Love Is A Wave"

Navajo Bixby - "Down Under"

The Walkmen - "Woe Is Me"

Seth Kauffman - "I Bleed Easy"

Generationals - "Our Time 2 Shine"

Tame Impala - "Vital Signs (Midnight Juggernauts cover)"

Lord Huron - "We Went Wild"

Princeton - "Show Some Love, When Your Man Gets Home"

SIDE B

Sonny and The Sunsets - "The Houris"

The Sandwitches - "Back To The Sea"

The xx - "VCR"

Summer Camp - "Round The Moon"

Javelin - "We Ah Wi"

Real Estate - "Beach Comber"

Warpaint - "Undertow"

Herzog - "Slowest Romance"

Scott Walker - "What Do You Say"

John Fahey - "On The Sunny Side of the Ocean"

Nobody Listens To Turtle.zip

"Design me right outta the picture, haole. Here on the North Shore we treat friends mo bettah." 

- Turtle, North Shore

Gayngs: The Soft Rock Revolution

Gayngs is members of Bon Iver, Megafaun, The Rosebuds, Solid Gold and more and they play sweet and unapologetically soft rock. The Minneapolis-based group has an excellent new session up over at Daytrotter, which features the unreleased Justin Vernon auto-tune-led track "By Your Side." Above, the band performs "Faded High" at April Base Studio in Eau Clarie, Wisconsin for MPLS.TV.

Gayngs - "By Your Side" (Daytrotter)

Herzog - "Abandon Love"

Search by Herzog, the project of Cleveland's Nick Tolar, is the first full-length release from Transparent and its one adorned in a classic quilt of influences, from the beautifully cavernous vocal harmony of Simon & Garfunkel to fuzzy hook-laden power pop and the wordy lyricism of Robert Zimmerman. Tolar, both as a vocalist and home recording extraordinaire, shines here as an artist capable of conquering an array of diverse textures and styles, but it's the quieter moments on Search ("Slowest Romance," "Abandon Love" and "Steady Hands" in particular) that truly resonate and occasionally raise a few goosebumps.  Grab the album for a reasonable price over at Herzog's Bandcamp.

Herzog - "Abandon Love" (from Search)

New Morning Benders track and Bob Dylan cover

The Morning Benders premiered a new song with a La Blogotheque performance earlier this week and it just so happens to be one of their most excellent harmony-laden compositions to date, perhaps even rivaling this year's Big Echo standout "Excuses." Chris Chu and company, always fond of recording covers in their spare time, have also released a version of the Bob Dylan classic "Outlaw Blues" which will be featured on the forthcoming compilation Subterranean Homesick Blues: A Tribute to Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home.

The Morning Benders - "Virgins" (La Blogotheque)
The Morning Benders - "Outlaw Blues" (Bob Dylan cover)