Beach House :: Untitled

Beach House :: Untitled

I'll never turn down a mysterious new Beach House track, and this one (like most) finds that soulful groove the band forged so perfectly on Teen Dream. I haven't heard any new-album rumblings yet, but any new music is a good sign. This one actually might give you some chillz. [Via GvB]

Boxer/Briefs #5

Boxer/Briefs #5

-State has a great list of the top 25 albums of 2010, with Beach House's Teen Dream at #1.

-Mother Jones has a short interview with Ariel Pink

-P4k reviews Panda Bear's excellent new track "Slow Motion".

-The Recording summarizes the current state of music and lists the top 50 songs of this year.

BCB's Favorites of 2010 Thus Far

BCB's Favorites of 2010 Thus Far

Well its about 2010.5 (actually, its 2009.5 to be technical) and its time for more lists! Brandon and I recently composed our lists of favorite albums and EP's and lo and behold they were quite similar. Instead of just listing out our hierarchical impulses, we are just going to lay out the albums we agreed upon.

Top two albums:
Beach House: Teen Dream
Joanna Newsom: Have One On Me

I (Scott) had Teen Dream atop my list and Brandon had Newsom's triple LP, but we both agree that these are the best albums of the year thus far. I would say future '10 releases from Panda Bear, Radiohead, and Fleet Foxes are the only chances of supplanting this pair.

[mp3] Beach House :: Silver Soul

[mp3] Joanna Newsom :: '81

Other agreements (in no particular order):

The Tallest Man On Earth: The Wild Hunt

[mp3] King Of Spain

Morning Benders: Big Echo 

[mp3] Excuses

Owen Pallett: Heartland

[mp3] Lewis Takes Action

Mountain Man: Made the Harbor

[mp3] Soft Skin

Tame Impala: Innerspeaker

[mp3] Runway, Houses, City, Clouds

MGMT: Congratulations

[mp3] Flash Delirium 

ceo: White Magic

[mp3] Come With Me

Best EP's thus far:

Twin Sister: Color Your Life

Memoryhouse: The Years

Oberhofer: oO0OooOo

Active Child: Curtis Lane

Grouper: Grouper/Roy Montgomery Split 

Beach House: White Moon

Beach House: White Moon

My Favorite Albums of 2010

My Favorite Albums of 2010

2010 Was the Best Ever!

As best as this year as been for music, with all the leaks/rumors of albums for next year I am beginning to think that 2k10 might be even bester. Stereogum just posted their 25 most anticipated albums of 2010 and while their list is fantastic and and very blogcore, mine is a little different/personalcore. With few exceptions, all of the bands below hold onto the notion of an album as a cohesive and coherent form and are apt at producing music within the constraint. While some people are all worried about this particular form, I prefer simply to enjoy it and not worry about its sustainability. For this reason and in no particular order, I am looking forward to contributions from:

New Grizzly Bear Song

New Grizzly Bear Song

I definitely think Victoria Legrand should just join Grizzly Bear. Or maybe all of Beach House could join forces in some Grizzly House Beach Bear collaboration. Anyway this song is lovely and slow and sounds like Yellow House. Also, here is a great article on Grizzly Bear's artistic trajectory.

Beach House + Celebration Cover"Billie Jean"

Beach House + Celebration Cover"Billie Jean"

Department of Eagles "No One Does it Like You" Video

Department of Eagles "No One Does it Like You" Video

The Grizzly Department of Bear Eagles Does Many Things of Note

The Brooklyn based Bear and Eagles associates have been busy lately. If you are one of those who have already partaken of the low-quality leak of Grizzly Bear's forthcoming album, Veckatimist, you may be pleased to know that "Cheerleader" is now available in a (slightly) higher quality version.

Again in the Grizzly camp, if you are planning on attending Record Store Day, then you may be able to get your hands on the limited edition Live on KCRW 7" LP that looks awesome. A full list of participating stores here.

The band is also readying a music video for "Two Weeks," directed by Patrick Daughters who did the video for Feist's "1234." Pictures of the set via Stereogum.

If you are in the video watching mood, you can check out this live video of "Two Weeks" at SXSW with Beach House's Victoria Legrand singing the chorus backup just like on the album.

Onto the Department of Eagles camp. One of In Ear Park's best tracks "No One Does It Like You" got the artsy mcfartsy video treatment directed by Patrick Daughters (this guy keeps coming up) and Marcel Dzama. I say artsy mcfartsy (which is a technical term) because it debuted at MOMA (which I think is awesome). I would describe the video to you but I think you should just watch it.

Veckatimest is out 5/26 via Warp.

Grizzly Bear "Cheerleader" - Veckatimest [Warp; 2009]

Department of Eagles "No One Does it Like You" - In Ear Park [4AD;2008]