Boxer/Briefs #10

Boxer/Briefs #10

Photo by Annabel Mehran.

- The Minnesota Daily asks artists who played P4Kfest about Pitchfork.

- Bombsite interviews Joanna Newsom.

- P4k asks Marissa Nadler about here favorites.

- The Awl ranks Bill Callahan songs.

Joanna Newsom and Robin Pecknold Duet

Joanna Newsom and Robin Pecknold Duet

Joanna Newsom and Fleet Foxes cover Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow's duet "Picture," which seems like a wierd choice, but it works.

Boxer/Briefs #6

Boxer/Briefs #6

-Black Book interviews Allison Krauss of Sleigh Bells about her musical past and M.I.A.

-Flavorwire lists the sexiest indie-rockers over 40.

-NY Times looks at Arcade Fire

-Independent interviews Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes, who is opening for Joanna Newson.

-Newsom had help on her second album from Van Dyke Parks, interviewed here.

-The New Yorker profiles Big Boi

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 

Robin Pecknold covers Joanna Newsom

Robin Pecknold covers Joanna Newsom

Joanna Newsom Track List, Album Art, 2 New songs

Joanna Newsom Track List, Album Art, 2 New songs

Joanna Newsom's highly anticipated new (triple) album Have One On Me is set to come out 2/23. For now, enjoy the tracklist and two new songs.


Disc One:
1 - Easy 06:04
2 - Have One On Me 11:02
3 - '81 03:51
4 - Good Intentions Paving Company 07:02
5 - No Provenance 06:25
6 - Baby Birch 09:30
Total: 43:54

Disc Two:
1 - On A Good Day 01:48
2 - You And Me, Bess 07:12
3 - In California 08:41
4 - Jackrabbits 04:23
5 - Go Long 08:02
6 - Occident 05:31
Total: 35:37

Disc Three:
1 - Soft As Chalk 06:29
2 - Esme 07:56
3 - Autumn 08:01
4 - Ribbon Bows 06:10
5 - Kingfisher 09:11
6 - Does Not Suffice 06:44
Total: 42:31

Joanna Newsom - '81 - Have One On Me

Joanna Newsom - Good Intentions Paving Company - Have One On Me

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:

Joanna Newsom in MGMT "Kids" Video

Joanna Newsom in MGMT "Kids" Video

Joanna Newsom is all about the unexpected these days. I watched this video three times and had no idea that was her. If it wasn't for Rolling Stone, I still wouldn't believe it. Seriously, this is blowing my mind. Speaking of which, as for the video itself, I think the number of people who haven't heard this song is only slightly more than the number of people who are Drew Carey. That is just to say, I know that maybe some people are getting sick of this song/band, but this video is completely insane. It is up there in my mind with Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks" video for creepiest/awesomest video of the year.

WATCH IT.

New Devendra Banhart Songs

New Devendra Banhart Songs

Thanks to all those purveyors of freakalicious folksterdom, there is gonna be some new tunes from great musicians in the next undetermined amount of time. First Ms. Newsom debuted a ton of new material out of the blue at a live show and now Mr. Banhart has done the same. Via Jp's Blog, a couple videos surfaced last week of a show Devendra played prior to his Coachella set. He decided this was a good time to debut a couple new songs. Maybe we'll get some "I Hate Natalie" tracks? At any rate "Chin Chin & Muck Muck" sounds really cool, although he says at the beginning of the video that the song won't sound like this again.

Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands (with Vashti Bunyan) - Rejoicing in the Hands [Young God; 2004]

Idiot Box 4/9/09

Idiot Box 4/9/09

Idiot box

n. Slang

A television.

Phoenix play three songs from their upcoming LP Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix on SNL. Thomas Mars lets out a few yelps like he's Vampire weekend. Also it looks like Jesus is working the synths in the background.

"Listzomania"

"1901"

"Too Young"

The second single from maestro Dylan's soon to be released 42nd album Together Through Life. I actually like this one a lot more than the first. Let me know your thoughts.

"Feel a change comin on"

Two bits of Joanna news(om) in two weeks? This is just getting gratuitous. Here, the beautiful music from Milk Eyed Mender's "Sprout and the Bean" lifts up (ahem) this Victoria's Secret commercial. Strange pairing, no?

"Sprout and the Bean"

Canada's finest, Leslie Feist and Kevin Drew discuss Drew's new film project which features Feist's "The Water." The movie also apparently stars Cillian Murphy aka Scarecrow from Barman aka definitely awesome. This clip is actually really fascinating if you are a fan ofBroken Social Scene and/or Feist and/or Cillian Murphy and/or experimental film.

In case you weren't satisfied with the silhouette + weird mouth combo of Animal Collective's official "My Girls" video, here is an awesome unofficial Alternate video that is as trippy and beautiful as Animal Collective's music. Pretty sure I spotted some Andy Goldsworthy in there too.

"My Girls"

I've never really listened to Man Man but this video for "Rabbit Habits" makes me feel weird and strangely happy.

"Rabbit Habits"

For a bonus video, Youaintnopicasso has Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno trailer which looks hilarious.

Black Box 4/3/09

Black Box 4/3/09

Friday's Black Box


Friday is a day to crash. Crash meaning "to kick back and relax." And also, for me, meaning to violently burn to the ground in a heap of broken pieces because of all of the things that I have neglected to write about during the week. Since this happens pretty much every friday, I've resolved to go the way of the airplane and record everything in a tiny black box. Also, for your convenience I have decided to forgo the inevitable casualties usually associated with plane crashes. Cheers.

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New Joanna Newsom!

Ok, so here is what happened. On monday, I post about how I am frustrated that Joanna Newsom hasn't made any music for a long time. Then on tuesday, she plays a secret show debuting two and a half hours of music. So obviously, the only thing I can conclude from that is Joanna Newsom reads this blog! Right? Please...? Ok fine. But still, this is awesome news. Via Naturalismo Newsom, playing under the pseudonym "The Beatles's" played through her forthcoming 3rd LP which "combines the strong melodic presence of songs on The Milk-Eyed Mender with her continued instrumentational prowess and maturation beyond Ys." Apparently there are some "Only Skin"-esque songs over the 12 minute mark and a bit more of a focus on piano. Be sure I will keep you updated on everything I know about this.
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Phoenix on SNL

French popsters, Phoenix, will grace the Seth Rogen hosted SNL on the morrow promoting their forthcoming album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which is out on May 26. Definitely sound promising.

Phoenix "1901" - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [2009]
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" Covered A Cappella

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New Bob Dylan Track, Lp

Bobby D has made a track from his forthcoming 46th LP, Together Through Life, via this website. The track is entitled "Beyond Here Lies Nothin" and is free. Album's out 4/28 on Columbia.

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Cryptacize Have Video for "Blue Tears"

Sufjan loves this band. We love this band. Maybe you love this band? Check the vid.

If you do love this band, then buy their forthcoming (how many times can I say forthcoming in this post?) album Mythomania on April 21st via Asthmatic Kitty.

Cryptacize "Blue Tears" - Mythomania [2009]
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Bat For Lashes Album on Myspace

You can now Stream her forth-------- album for free. I am still on the fence about this one. Let me know what you think. It seems like it is trying to be really big and grand but I'm just not sure that it has enough content to fill all that space. Not to mention it employs the now ubiquitous synths.

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Yeasayer Video from Dark Was the Night

In addition to writing their follow album to the excellent All Hour Cymbals, Brooklyn's Yeasayer made this video of their also excellent contribution to the charitable Dark Was the Night compilation. It's a lot more intimate than the recorded version, which offers a new angle to the song that I think is really interesting.

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Stuart Murdoch Offers Song from his Musical

Belle and Sebastianite, Stuart Murdoch has written a musical. He calls this musical God Help the Girl. The music itself is mostly new material with a few old B&S songs. The album is due June 23 on Matador and the first single "Come Monday Night" is out May 11, but you can hear it right now on the God Help the Girl MySpace.
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Sigur Rós performed an acoustic version of the title track to last years beautiful 'Með suð í eyrum' for the French blog La Blogotheque. They bang on a bucket, which I think is rad.

Newsom, Banhart and Antony in New Documentary

Newsom, Banhart and Antony in New Documentary

No New Newsom is Now Growing Oldsome
If you are like me, you have been hitting your head over anything close enough to hit your head over wondering when Joanna Newsom was going to come out with new material. The Joanna Newsom and the Y's Street Band Ep came out two years ago, and though interesting, it has not been enough to satiate my hunger for warbly voiced labyrinthine, baroquely orchestral folk gems of near perfection. That being said, the excruciating wait continues as Newsom does whatever she does in complete reclusion. Maybe she hangs out with Thomas Pynchon?

So naturally, in order to capitalize on mindless followers like me, Currituck Co. frontman Kevin Barker is releasing a documentary that consists of 2004 tour footage from Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Antony and the Johnsons and others. The film is called The Family Jams (which, as it turns out, is a terrible choice for the title as it is shared by an album made by Charles Manson). It is set to premier at The Sarasota Film Festival on April 2 and 3 (via P4k). According to the synopsis, the film is "brimming with beautiful footage of intimate live shows," and "is more than just a revealing portal into a very special moment in time. It reflects the engaging spirit of a special group of artists connected by their passion for music and care for one another." Touching.

Actually this trailer looks fantastic. Anything set to Joanna's music will have a difficult time being bad.

Still no word on whether or not this film will be playing at SIFF, but I sure hope so. For more "freak folk" documentary goodness, check out Eternal Children.

Download Joanna Newsom "Bridges and Balloons" - Milk Eyed Mender (2004)

Download Decemberists "Bridges and Balloons (Joanna Newsom Cover)" - Picaresqueties (2005)