Born By The River Compilation: Volume I

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. The Voxtrot album provided a decent time for a break.

We're back, though, and we come bearing gifts. Actually, just one gift, but it's a good one.



Trost and I have decided to put together a compilation; our favorite tracks from the first quarter of 2007. The idea is kind of that this will become a regular thing, where we put out a compilation every quarter.

You have two ways to get it; you can either follow the first link to the zip file, or you can get the tracks individually. I like to promote free will, so you go ahead and get the compilation whichever way makes you more comfortable.

Born by the River: Volume I

1. Great Lake Swimmers- Your Rocky Spine
2. Elvis Perkins- While You Were Sleeping
3. Wilco- Impossible Germany
4. Voxtrot- Stephen
5. Son Volt- Methamphetamine
6. Kings of Leon- Black Thumbnail
7. Feist- My Moon My Man
8. Josh Ritter- Daddy's Little Pumpkin
9. Tokyo Police Club- A Lesson In Crime
10. Cloud Cult- Your 8th Birthday
11. Andrew Bird- Heretics
12. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Yankee Go Home
13. The Ponys- Harakiri
14. Willy Mason- When The River Moves On
15. Lou Barlow- Yawning Blue Messiah
16. Arcade Fire- Keep The Car Running

Enjoy.

NEW VOXTROT LP (Pt. 3)

Still obsessing over the new Voxtrot? Yeah, we are too.

Actually, I can't lie, I was really, really hoping they would use "Sway" as the closer. That might be my favorite Voxtrot track ever. Either that or "They Never Mean What They Say." Hell, any of the slower songs. As good as they are at crafting infinitely catchy, saccharine pop songs, I think they are even better when it comes to slow, sweeping, sad songs.

And lets face it, what would life be without the sad songs?

Voxtrot- Sway (Demo)

Voxtrot- They Never Mean What They Say

That was kind of a dramatic build-up for just two songs, wasn't it... The rest of these aren't sad or slow, but they are pretty rare.

Voxtrot- Angry Mulch

Voxtrot- Love Me Like A Stranger

Voxtrot- You Will Never Be Free

Voxtrot- Stephen (Early Live Version)

Forgive the quality of the last three tracks, they were recorded during live performances. I was planning on keeping those tracks to myself, as I hate posting mp3's that aren't the highest sound quality; but ask and ye shall receive...

Check out Part 1 and Part 2 for more.

Enjoy.

Photo by akmal.naim

NEW VOXTROT LP (Pt. 2)

Since last night's Voxtrot leak, we honestly haven't listened to, or even cared about, anything else.

Yesterday we mentioned the b-sides, covers, and just general rarities that Voxtrot has floating around.

Today we bring them to you.

You've probably heard tracks like "Warmest Part of the Winter," from that Little Darla compilation, but we have some equally fantastic stuff hidden away that you might not have heard.

After much deliberation, we were able to select six to bring to you...

Voxtrot- I Walk Away

Voxtrot- Razorsharp

Voxtrot- This Is Not My Bloody War

Voxtrot- This Place Has Got No Soul, Kid

Voxtrot- Silence Is A Burden

Voxtrot- Dirty Version

Enjoy.

NEW VOXTROT LP

Sometimes it pays to stay in on Friday nights.

We just got our hands on the new, self-titled, Voxtrot 11 track LP. The sound is what we have come to expect from the perennial mp3 blog champs; solid song-writing and instrumentation, and sparkling production. I have a feeling they're not going to lose any fans with this release.

There's no need to hype Voxtrot; they are the proverbial it band right now. For good reason, though; three solid EPs, and a slew of rare b-sides and covers, all of which have held me over nicely until today.



The album could have consisted of 11 different versions of "The Start of Something," and I would have been happy.

It doesn't though.

Check out a few of our favorites...

Voxtrot - Introduction

Voxtrot - Real Life Version

And if I'm not mistaken, this is their first time using a synth drum:

Voxtrot - Every Day

I can't stress enough for you all to support this band. Go to their shows, buy their albums and shirts, whatever. And as always, remember where you heard it first.

Enjoy.

EDIT: Let me be the first to say this album is what we've all been waiting for. Make sure you pick it up when it releases, May 22.

EDIT #2: PART TWO IS UP.

Photo By Jason O'Dell

New Ted Leo Bonus Tracks - Mo' Living

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists’ newest album, and first in three years, Living With The Living, is set to release March 20th. It's the band's first album on their new label, Touch and Go, as Lookout! Records went under in '06.

The album ships out this coming week, and fans who were nice enough to pre-order a copy will be rewarded; Mo' Living, a 5 track bonus EP of all new material, will also arrive at their doorstep. Of course we got our hands on the EP, and, as always, we're more than happy to share it with you…



You want to hear an interesting cover? How about Leo’s take on Chumbawumba’s “Rappaport's Testament: I Never Gave Up.”

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Rappaport's Testament: I Never Gave Up

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Old Souls Know

And my favorite from Living with the Living...

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Bottle Of Buckie

Enjoy.

Good Shoes

Good Shoes decided that they would rather I did not write anything about them.

Andre Benjamin aka Dre aka Andre 3000 aka Possum Alowishus Jenkins

Andre's rumored 2007 solo album is far and away my most anticipated 2007 album. It's still just a rumor, but the way Andre has been attacking the mic on his 2007 guest appearances has got me excited.

I'm not sure why I'm posting this. I have no news for you. The other day I heard "What a Job" from Devin the Dude's upcoming album, Waiting to Inhale. Andre has a great verse on that track. Then I heard the "Throw Some D's" remix from Rich Boy's self-titled album, and Andre goes crazy on that as well.

I guess I just feel like people don't appreciate Andre enough. There aren't many, if any, rappers in the same league.

Check out a few of his newer verses, if you haven't heard them already...

Devin the Dude feat. Snoop Dogg & Andre 3000- What a Job

Rich Boy feat. Andre 3000, Jim Jones, Nelly, Murphy Lee & The Game- Throw Some D's (Remix)

DJ Unk feat. Andre 3000 & Jim Jones- Walk it Out (Remix)

Lloyd feat. Andre 3000 & Nas- I Want You (Remix)

Enjoy.

New Arctic Monkeys. Again.

Last month I posted a live recording of "D is for Dangerous," from the Arctic Monkeys' upcoming release, Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Yesterday I came across the first official studio track from the album, "Brianstorm."

Arctic Monkeys- Brianstorm

No, that's not a typo. It really is Brianstorm.

Favourite Worst Nightmare is still slated for an April 23rd release.

Enjoy.

Photo By Mark C. Austin

For Those Of You Still Interested In The Shins

Yesterday I got my hands on the Shins' Japanese release of Wincing the Night Away. The Japanese release came with two bonus tracks that aren't on the American release; "Nothing at All" and "Split Needles (Alternate)." You may recognize both of these tracks from the "Phantom Limb" single released last year.

The Shins- Nothing at All

The Shins- Split Needles (Alternate)

For some reason I always feel guilty when I only bring you a couple mp3's, so here's one more you might not have. This is a b-side to the Shins' 2002 single "Know Your Onion!"

The Shins- Sphagnum Esplanade

Enjoy.

Photo By thomaskrap

NEW F***ING SON VOLT (?)

I understand why it is such a big deal when Wilco releases a new album, but why doesn't Son Volt release to at least a little bit of fanfare? Son Volt is good. Jay Farrar is pretty cool. He may not be as cool as Tweedy, but who is?

Son Volt's new album, The Search, released 4 days ago (March 6th), and I have still yet to read anything about it anywhere.

As usual, the album is good; it's a slice of that good old americana that we love so much at Born by the River.

Son Volt- Underground Dream

Guns or education? The answer's larger than the Hollywood sign

Son Volt- Methamphetamine

That's all for today.

Enjoy.

Photo By Ipso Photo

NEW F***ING OLD NEIL YOUNG

Neil Young will release Live at Massey Hall next tuesday, March 13th.

If you didn't already know, Young's 1971 solo acoustic Massey Hall show has become somewhat infamous for two reasons; it was an incredbile show, and it was never officially released. That is, it was never officially released until now. There have been numerous bootlegs floating around, but this is the real deal.

Neil Young- Ohio (Live)

Neil Young- Down By The River (Live)

I don't really know what to end this post with. I'd like to post up some Horsey Craze mp3's or something, but I don't have any of those. I do have a few Constantines Neil Young covers, but I already posted them a couple months ago.

I guess I'll just leave it at that.

Enjoy.

Photo By rustovision

Albert Hammond Jr, The Strokes, and Lou Reed

What did you think when you heard that Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. was releasing a solo album?

Well, Albert is cool... That much is definitely true.

I waited quite a while to give it a listen, but Yours to Keep really isn't bad at all. It definitely surprised me a bit. It sounds about how you'd expect it to sound, but for some reason I was pleasantly surprised.

I know you probably already have the album, but just incase you don't...

Albert Hammond Jr- Blue Skies

Albert Hammond Jr- Hard to Live (In the City)

I can't have an Albert Hammond post without posting something about the Strokes, so here's the Strokes doing "Walk on the Wild Side" at a show in May of last year...

The Strokes- Walk on the Wild Side (Live)

Has Casablancas ever sounded more like Lou Reed?

Speaking of Lou Reed...

Lou Reed and The Strokes- Walk on the Wild Side (Live)

From the Rolling Stones 1000th issue party. Unfortunately the recording was somewhat ruined by some smarmy bitch saying "now you have some material for your blog... not that I read it." Or something like that. Stupid girl.

Enjoy.

Photo By tinatinatina

Some Beirut You May Not Have Heard

Last month I got hold of a couple new Beirut tracks that comprise the emusic exclusive Pompeii EP. It's kind of cool that Zach Condon works so hard to always bring his fans new music, but two tracks? Maaan. Kidding. I can't complain.

Beirut- Fountains and Tramways

Beirut- Napoleon on the Bellerophon

And because the Pompeii EP isn't super new, I'll try to throw something else up that you might not have heard...

Last year Beirut hooked up with Calexico to release a very limited split 7-inch. Beirut recorded a track called "The Interior of a Dutch House," that I don't believe has been released on anything else, while Calexico recorded a BBTR favorite, "The Guns of Brixton."

Beirut- Interior of a Dutch House

Calexico- The Guns of Brixton

Enjoy.

Picture By bobbybulat.

New Tokyo Police Club!!!1!!1!

The Tokyo Police Club bandwagon seems to be picking up speed. I may as well jump on while I still can, eh?

I was going to say that I don't really know that much about them, but I probably know as much as anybody else. I have all of their EP's and singles, so you know, I'll go ahead and try to share.

Their first release was the A Lesson In Crime EP, which released April 27th of last year. You've probably heard that. You may not have heard the UK version, though, and the UK version contains a bonus track...

Tokyo Police Club- Cut Cut Paste

That leads me to the next EP... The upcoming three-track Smith EP. One of the three tracks on the new EP happens to be "Cut Cut Paste."

The third track from the Smith EP may be my favorite yet from the band.

Tokyo Police Club- A Lesson In Crime

"A Lesson In Crime" also appeared on Tokyo Police Club's 2006 tour Ep, along with acoustic versions of 4 tracks from the A Lesson In Crime EP.

Earlier this year -- at the end of last month actually, I think -- Tokyo Police Club had a session with Daytrotter, where they performed two new songs, including "Graves," and the aptly titled "New Song."

Tokyo Police Club told Daytrotter: This was the first song we put together after recording our EP. At the time, we named it “New Song” and reckoned we would change it later, but we have been playing it for months now and it is still just “New Song.” I guess if it ever shows up on a record we will come up with a title.

Tokyo Police Club- New Song (Live Daytrotter Session)

Tokyo Police Club- Graves (Live Daytrotter Session)

I have no clue when they plan on releasing a full-length, but I am pretty excited for it already.

Enjoy.

Picture by theplot

Lupe Fiasco: AOL Session

Sometime at the end of 06, Lupe Fiasco had a live AOL session. He performed a number of tracks from Food & Liquor (BBTR's 06 Hip Hop album of the year) with a live band backing him. The result is pretty incredible stuff. Check out the videos here.

Or, if you don't feel like clicking the link, here's "Sunshine"...

Lupe Fiasco - Sunshine (Live AOL)

And just incase you wanted some mp3's...

As far as I know, these are the only mp3's from this session on the net. That's right, another Born by the River exclusive.

Lupe Fiasco- Daydreamin' (Live AOL Session)

Lupe Fiasco- Kick, Push (Live AOL Session)

My only complaint is that he didn't do "Hurt Me Soul." Easily my favorite track from Food & Liquor.

Enjoy.

Picture by Hooverdust

NEW F***ING WILCO (CONTINUED)

Well, I listened to Wilco's Sky Blue Sky all night, and I have to be honest, I was completely blown away. Jeff Tweedy is the most important figure in music right now; he makes rock the way it should be made.



Check out the guitar solos...

Wilco- Impossible Germany

Summerteeth?

Wilco- Sky Blue Sky

Enjoy, and remember where you heard it first.

NEW F***ING WILCO

For you late night readers, Wilco is streaming their new album, Sky Blue Sky, all night.

I just finished listening to it.

Album of the year.

ENJOY!

EDIT: It's down. Damn. Oh well. I hope you got a chance to hear it.

The First Monthly Request Post

I think I really am going to take tomorrow off. I've thrown up a post every day for like a month now.

I've been getting emails from time to time asking me about certain bands/tracks, so yesterday I figured I'd start making a monthly request post. Think of it as christmas in march. Or maybe your birthday's in march. In that case, happy birthday.

This first track was requested about a week ago. It was actually a two-part request, and I was unable to fill the second part.

Mikka in Germany:
Could you please help me find two other rare songs? The first is called "the present" and is originally on the sampler "help: a day in the life". The other one is "american kids."

Well, "The Present" I do have. It released on Always New Depths: The Complete Silent Alarm B-Sides & Remixes. Not to be confused with Silent Alarm: Remixed.

Bloc Party- The Present

"American Kids," however, I could not find. From what I have found, all that is available is a 55 second clip. The song was recorded way back in the day, when the band was called Angel Range, and a full version of the song does not exist online.

Anyone care to prove me wrong?

The next 3three requests came just yesterday, and again, I was stumped by one of them. For a different reason.

Garrison in Oregon:
Hold Steady - "Modest isnt that sweet"
Hold Steady - "You have to dance with who you came with"

the song i would literally kill for...
OLIVER FUTURE - "Marcello Mastrioanni"

please. please please.

Well, G, I have the two Hold Steady tracks for you, but I don't know anything about Oliver Future, and can't find that track anywhere.

The two Hold Steady tracks released as bonus tracks to the Australian edition of Almost Killed Me...

The Hold Steady - Modesto is not that Sweet

The Hold Steady - You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came With)

The next request came today, and I'm pretty proud of myself, as it's the only request I have been able to fill completely.

Nate in I don't know where:
Thanks for the rare Kings Of Leon. I'm currently after "Where Nobody Knows." Do you have this song?

Yes, Nate, I do have that song. "Where Nobody Knows" came out as a bonus track on Aha Shake Heartbreak...

Kings of Leon- Where Nobody Knows

Ok, there are a couple more requests that I'm working on filling, so check back; I'll probably be editing things in throughout the weekend.

Enjoy.

And feel free to request more: denton@bornbytheriver.com

Kings of Leon: BBTR's Take

BBTR = Born by the River. Just incase you didn't know...

So let me fill you in on my history with Kings of Leon. I read about Youth and Young Manhood before it released, and became infatuated with the idea of owning it. I had never heard any of the band's music before, but I fell in love with the band name, the album title, and what I had read about them.

Note: Pops raised me on southern rock: CCR, the Allman Brothers Band, Little Feat, James Gang, etc.

Anyways, I bought Youth and Young Manhood the day it released, and played the hell out of it. I can't think of any albums that I listened to more in 2003 and 2004, despite receiving some poor reviews (like this shitty pitchfork review that spends more time critiquing the backstory than the music itself).

By the time Aha Shake Heartbreak released in early 2005, even pops was a fan. I instantly fell in love with that album, as well. Honestly, I think I will be listening to Aha Shake as long as I live.

Now to the good stuff.

I posted the first single, "On Call," from the new Kings of Leon album, Because of the Times, a few weeks back. I liked the track a lot. It's kind of a departure from their previous garage-blues efforts. Just a day or two after I posted "On Call" I received an advance copy of the album. At first I was kind of disappointed. I don't dig synth shit at all. I like music to be cleanly produced, but studio tricks are not my style. I'm definitely a purist; I like to hear a guitar, a bass, and some drums. The Korg has no place in rock, in my humble opinion.

Trost dug the album right away, but Trost is an easy sell. It took me at least a week to get into Because of the Times, but now I would list it right up there with Andrew Bird, Willy Mason, and the Ponys as the best albums of the year. The band has evolved. They have progressed in many ways. Caleb Followill's vocals are by far the most noticable improvement. I loved them already, but people used to complain endlessly. Now I dont think they have anything to complain about. Because of the Times is a giant step forward for Kings of Leon.

Two of my favorite tracks from the album:

Kings of Leon- Black Thumbnail

Kings of Leon- Ragoo

For some reason, I have a strange emotional attatchment to Kings of Leon, so I might not be the best source for a reliable take on the album, but I would urge everyone to buy it.

One more bonus track... Here's an alternate version of "Molly's Chambers," a b-side from the 2003 "Wasted Time" single...

Kings of Leon- Molly's Hangover

Enjoy.