Takeaway Show Friday - Vampire Weekend "Mansard Roof"

Sometimes take away shows drives in a van:

#80.1 - VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Mansard Roof
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Takeaway Show Friday - Andrew Bird "Spare-Ohs"

Maritime

Maritime: Jukebox at the top. I'm a big fan of these guys and their indie rock stylings. They are well worth opening the site and letting the jukebox play in the background. They have some really good driving rhythms, well placed background lead guitar and good clean lead vocals. They remind me of two bands put together but I can't think of names...it's in my head though. Maybe a modern day Lemonheads. If you can think of who they sound like, post a comment. Regardless let that jukebox roll. I think these guys are going to be big in the next couple of years in this indie scene.

The best part? Free downloads. Under the menu click on Downloads and there is 7 songs you can download, including the good sounds of "Guns of Navarone".

Videos:
(very good song) "Someone has to die"


"Guns of Navarone"


"Tearing Up the Oxygen"

Rivers Cuomo Needs Your Help

Apparently Rivers Cuomo needs your help to write a song.

Let's Write a Sawng (Steps 1 & 2: Song Name)


Let's Write a Sawng (Step 3: Chords)



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Bonus Video: "Lover in the Snow". This is a video for one of his latest songs from his latest album. Tis an odd video as he talks the first 30 seconds and then plays the song. But the video is of his love for soccer, and playing in a Mia Hamm soccer game. Anyways, it's a video and it's a song:

Lover In The Snow

Andrew Bird Album Review

Andrew Bird is one of my favorite artists so whenever he releases new music, even if it's an EP, I'm all about it. Pitchfork did a review of his latest EP Soldier On(which I have yet to pick up) and gave it a 7.7. "The Trees Were Mistaken" is a great song on the EP and well worth previewing. Excerpt from the review:

The most remarkable track on the EP is the one that kicks it off, though. "The Trees Were Mistaken" is something new for Bird, and really quite good. It takes the looping technique he's perfected over the years to a new level, throwing blankets of sound over a programmed beat, with dabs of pizzicato violin and splashes of electric guitar splattered across the surface. Bird joins the layers of texture with his voice, riding the song's swelling pulse into a thorny den of oscillating violins and eerie whistling. It's a track that makes this compilation more notable than your average side release-in fact, Soldier On is exceptionally good for a quick collection of rarities, a must-have for fans and a genuine expansion of his range.

If you missed Andrew Bird before this, go and pick up his album Armchair Apocrypha...truly a great album. Bird is a violin virtuoso and uses the instrument to lay down music you've never heard before. Pitchforks review of that album gives it a 7.7 but I think it deserves a 9.5.

Menomena Album Review

Pitchfork has a great review of Menomena's latest album: Friend and Foe. There is a free download of "Wet and Rusting" on the review page and a streaming version of the entire album here. Here is their closing arguments about the album (of which they gave an 8.5):

Once you've listened through a couple of times, it's stunning how many clever and exciting moments stick with you-- music this full of ideas, sections and material can come across as overstuffed, but this feels just right almost everywhere. Their previous two albums worked because of their stripped, immediate simplicity; Friend and Foe works just as well moving away from that approach and shows dimensions of the band-- especially in the vocal department-- that weren't apparent before. In fact, the biggest concern one might come away from Friend and Foe with is whether the band can top it next time.

Five Year Old Brawl

My Brother sent me this link yesterday. I couldn't help but post it: "How Many Five Year Olds Could You Take In a Fight?"

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Takeaway Show Friday - Gravenhurst "Black Holes in the Sand"

Takeaway Show Friday - Jose Gonzalez "How Low"

Takeaway Show Friday - Beirut "The Penalty"

Pete Murray

Pete Murray - Myspace. Listen to "Opportunity" or "George's Helper". Reminds me a bit of Matt Wertz (a good thing) on some of his songs. You could classify him in the rock/acoustic category. Regardless, he's got a sound worth checking out if you are into the rock/acoustic type of music and aren't just an nwa hardcore rapper fan.

Kenny = Constantines, Dolly = Feist

Apparently the new Kenny Rogers is the Constantines and the new Dolly Parton is Feist...well, sort of. It looks like Constantines and Feist are covering the song "Islands in the Stream". Strange choice, but I'm extremely curious to see the spin they put on it.

The Violet Archers

The Violet Archers - Myspace . I have no idea how to describe this band. If you listen to "Simple" you'd think newer folk music, but then if you listen to "Coordinates" it's very different. Regardless they have a good sound and are worth listening to at least "Simple" and then either "First the Wheel" or "Coordinates". You can download "Coordinates" from their site.

Vampire Weekend Album Review

Pitchfork(one of my trusted review sites) has a good review of Vampire Weekend's debut album. By now I'm sure you've heard Vampire Weekend as they've been a feature video on MTV and on SNL (great showing). If you haven't then you are part snork and part tree branch. They are definitely on the side of indie pop but they are very fun to listen too. Worth at least checking their myspace out.

Cary Judd

Cary Judd - Main Site or Myspace. Listen to anything he's got on the music player at the bottom. "Perfect Tonight"(main site) or "American Girl" or "Coma"(myspace).

Takeaway Show Friday - I'm from Barcelona "We're From"

Just wait for the town to join... (one of my favorite takeaway shows)

Takeaway Show Friday - Menomena "Wet and Rusting"

Patrick Park rides his bike on the freeway

A while ago I posted Patrick Park (one of my personal favorites). My brother just sent me this video of my favorite song:

Eskimo Joe

Eskimo Joe: They have a similar sound of Snow Patrol, sort of. Worth checking out. Listen to "New York" or "Breaking Up". I can't find it on any of their sites but if you can get a listen to "Suicide Girl" it's one of their bests.

Cocoon

Cocoon - Myspace . Talk about two good voices together. I've posted these guys before with their cover of "Hey Ya" which is fantastic in my opinion. Definitely listen to "Hey Ya" and then "Vultures" then "Chupee" and the rest if you'd like, that will give you a good feel of their style. They are an interesting sound that has it's roots in folk, but Iron & Wine's folk, and also taps on the indie market. They are hard to describe so give at least "Hey Ya", "Chupee" and "Vultures" a listen.

Takeaway Show Friday - Vampire Weekend "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance"

Really good stuff here:

Takeaway Show Friday - The Ruby Suns "Criterion"

The Ruby Suns make some great sounds and great takeaway shows:

Takeaway Show Friday - Jason Mraz " It's A Lovely Day"

This one is one of my favorites because he finds a street musician to play with out of the blue. That's how you tell he's a solid, creative artist . I sometimes wish that jason mraz didn't play with a band and improvised his songs, I think he's better that way. If you've never heard his live at java joe's album it's worth listening to for this factor alone. Anyways, rant done, video now:

Split Series - Jason Mraz - It's a lovely day
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Bands coming to Norfolk

I need to convince Tyler to go to the NorVa with me on April 12th to see Spoon. Here is my first attempt:



If not Spoon, there's always Ben Folds on April 9th. I remember this video being very funny when it first came out. (Produced by Weird Al.)



All are welcome! Come to Norfolk and enjoy a show!

Pachelbel in every song

another old one, but worth the watch:

Benjy Ferree

Benjy Ferree - Myspace . The quirky are on the rise in the music business because they make catchy songs. Same goes with this fellow, Benjy Ferree (double r, double e). His myspace classifies him as "Garage/Folk" but I don't think you can classify him down to just two genres. This guy has some really catchy tunes and I really like his voice and style. Well worth checking him out as I think he has the catchyness of Blind Pew (modern day Queen) and the influence of Bright Eyes but with his own style that I haven't heard in anyone I've come across. This is a guy that when you hear him the first time it has an impact on you and you want to hear more. I fell victim to that and you might too. Listen to "In the Countryside" (my favorite), "The Desert" and "Leaving the Nest" to get a good feel of Benjy's style. He currently has one album called "Leaving the Nest", it's very good.

Side note: Benjy was signed by a British company called Domino Recording Co. who hosts other good bands like: Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Cass McCombs and Caribou. I'll be posting later about Cass McCombs.

Nickel Foot Creek Switch

Fans of Nickel Creek and Switchfoot will enjoy The Real SeanJon, featuring Sean from Nickel Creek and Jon from Switchfoot. They randomly got together and have been working on an album. Myspace

Also check out Jon's solo effort. He's releasing 4 EPs - one for each season. Myspace

Coldplay breaking out

Here's a pretty good article about Coldplay's upcoming album this year. Seems as if they are straying away from their first three studio albums.