slow dancing barefoot on a dusty front porch somewhere

I was looking through a few blogs the other day - you know, sizing up the competition - when I came across I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS. Normally I don't get too excited over anything I see on other blogs, but her Sam Cooke post caught my eye. You probably could have guessed by the name of the site (I was boooooooorn by the river...) that I am a huge Sam Cooke fan.

In addition to posting over 500* covers of one of the greatest songs of all time, she wrote something so perfect that I can't get it out of my head:

...it always sounds to me like slow dancing barefoot on a dusty front porch somewhere.

Try listening to the original version of "Bring It On Home To Me" without thinking about that line now. I dare you.

*Rough estimate... I stopped counting after 16 or 17

New Architecture in Helsinki (Some Old Architecture in Helsinki, Too)

Architecture in Helsinki's newest album, Places Like This, isn't due out until August, but the first single has already leaked to the net.



Architecture in Helsinki- Heart it Races

I've never been a huge Architecture in Helsinki fan, but there's something about this song that I really like. I dunno, check it out for yourself.

Like I said, I've never been a huge fan, so I don't have a ton of rare tracks or anything. I have a few that you might not have heard. We'll see...

This next track has appeared on a few limited EP's, the first of which (I'm fairly certain) being 2002's Like a Call EP.

Architecture in Helsinki- Sooner than Soon

I like this track a lot too. I dunno, maybe I'm coming around; starting to see the light...

I was also going to post up a live version of "It's 5!" from the Architecture in Helsinki/Takka Takka/Clap Your Hands Say Yeah 2006 tour EP, but I just realized I already posted that a long time ago. Oh well, here it is again...

Architecture in Helsinki- It's 5! (Live)

Enjoy.

S is for Islands

On March 30th Islands released an extremely limited 2-track 7-inch, -S-, as part of Tomlab's Alphabet Series. The a-side is "Flesh," a previously unreleased track that predates Islands' 2006 debut album Return to the Sea. I've heard that "Flesh" was actually the first track the band ever recorded, and the Unicorns even played it at their final shows. The b-side is a brand new track (!) called "Dnttakemy Wingzz Away." I've liked "Flesh" since the first time I heard it, but "Dnttakemy Wingzz Away" definitely took a few listens to grow on me. I like both tracks quite a bit, though.

Islands- Flesh
Islands- Dnttakemy Wingzz Away

You didn't really think I was going to leave the post at that, did you? This is Born by the River...

The second single from Return to the Sea was the infinitely infectious "Rough Gem." The single released with a b-side called "Big Bluff."

Islands- Big Bluff

And just because I love "Rough Gem," here's the video, directed by Nick Diamonds himself...



One last surprise for you. Islands' cover of the Kinks classic "Waterloo Sunset" (for the record, one of my favorite songs of all time)

Islands- Waterloo Sunset

Enjoy.

Photo by Clever Name

I've Been Slacking

My apologies. I mean that sincerely.

Trost and I have been throwing around a couple ideas, but never really getting around to creating anything.

That, and I haven't been listening to any new music lately. Well, I mean, I haven't been listening to new music that I haven't already written about here.

I appreciate all the comments and emails, though. I definitely have a Born by the River to-do list (in my head), and responding to all of those comments and emails is at #2, directly below following up on my White Stripes promise. Now that I think about it, though, another White Stripes post would effectively take care of about half of those emails. Two birds with one stone. Yes? Or two things on my to-do list with one post. That seems more relevant. And realistic. Who has ever hit two birds with one stone? In the same throw, I mean. If anyone ever has, they probably weren't trying to.

Point being, I'll start posting again shortly.

Remember The White Stripes?

Jack White has ruled over the indie rock world in the 21st century, but I think people lose sight of his greatness amidst all of the magazine covers and Coke commercials. De Stijl and White Blood Cells are two of my favorite albums, and while Elephant and Get Behind Me Satan may not be as raw and authentic feeling, they are both pretty awesome in their own right.

I had very high hopes for the Raconteurs album, and honestly, I came away from that very, very disappointed. I guess I'd rather hear a Jack White solo album, or just another White Stripes album.

I'm not sure how much interest there is, but I have quite a few White Stripes rarities (b-sides, bonus tracks, live tracks, etc) that I'd like to share.

In 2000, the White Stripes released a fairly rare Party of Special Things to Do 7-inch. The a-side contained "Party of Special Things to Do," while the b-side held "China Pig" and a cover of Captain Beefheart's "Ashtray Heart."

The White Stripes- Party of Special Things to Do (One of my favorite Stripes songs)
The White Stripes- China Pig
The White Stripes- Ashtray Heart

Also in 2000, the White Stripes recorded a song called "Hand Springs" that, along with a Dirtbombs track called "Cedar Pointe 76," came free with a certain number of copies of a magazine called Multiball. I know... wtf right?

The White Stripes- Hand Springs (Another of my favorite Stripes tracks ever)

I'm not sure what else to post, and, like I said, I'm not sure if anyone is interested. Drop a comment if you'd like to hear more.

Enjoy.

Top 3 Reasons That Pitchfork Should Not Be Taken Seriously

Definitely not the only reasons... Just the top 3.

One

Two

Three

So completely ridiculous.

Sorry, I don't have a real post for today. I have something planned for tomorrow, though.

More Rare Guillemots (I was going to do it no matter what)

So a few days ago I told you I'd post up some more Guillemots b-sides and rarities if you asked for them. Well, you did ask for them, but honestly, I probably would have posted some more anyways.

I'll start with a couple b-sides....

Last year Guillemots released "Made-Up Love Song #43" as the second single from their fantastic album Through the Windowpane. The CD version of the single came with two b-sides, a demo of a song called "Woody Brown River," and "The Dormouse & The Meerkat."

Guillemots- Woody Brown River (Demo)
Guillemots- The Dormouse & The Meerkat

I seriously have so many rare Guillemots tracks that I don't know where to go next. I guess I'll go with the two tracks that came exculsively on the Japanese Edition of From the Cliffs.

Guillemots- Moonlight
Guillemots- Pa Moila

The third official Guillemots release was a four track EP called Of the Night that was available for download on the band's website. I've heard that it released on CD and Vinyl later, but I have never seen either.

Guillemots- She's Evil
Guillemots- The Rising Tide
Guillemots- Bad Boyfriend
Guillemots- By the Water

I'll round out this post at an even 10 tracks with a couple live recordings you probably haven't heard. These two tracks are sound desk recordings from last year's november 25th London Calling show.

Guillemots- 21st May
Guillemots- Words

Ok, that's enough for today. I have a couple more, but these are my favorites. Let me know what you think.

Enjoy.

Photo by Laurencea

That Good Ol' Born By The River Sound

I've never really explained the name of this site... Yes, yes, it was taken from one of the greatest songs of all time, but it also seemed like a good way to express my love for bluegrass, americana, country, rockabilly, blues, etc. Real music. Music that has that born by the river soul. It's something that you just don't find that often anymore.

Trainwreck Riders... For a while I kept hearing tales of their raucous live sets, so about a week ago I hunted down a copy of their 2006 album, Lonely Road Revival. How had I not heard this band before? They're awesome. For some reason, after listening to their album, I felt a strange desire to break out Cosmo's Factory. Check em out...



Trainwreck Riders- Through Unto the End

Trainwreck Riders- Old Timey Feeling

Also, check out their Daytrotter session from not too long ago.

I don't remember where I first heard about Cassino. I think the cover of their album, Sounds of Salvation (released March 29th), caught my eye somewhere. If Tweedy and Farrar were still making music together, this is what it would sound like. I really, really like this album.



Cassino- The Old Year

Cassino- Platano

I would like to publicly declare my love for Free Indie dot com. I should go ahead and declare my love for Carlon, too. A couple weeks ago I downloaded Free Indie's Carlon webmix, and I've been listening to it daily ever since.

"Carlon is the beer drinker's indie band."

Say no more.

Carlon- Ferris Wheel

I'd also like to point out that "Ferris Wheel" is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time. If you listen to nothing else in this post, listen to "Ferris Wheel." Please.

Enjoy.

Some Guillemots You Haven't Heard

So a month or two ago I wrote a quick piece about Guillemots. We didn't get any comments on it, but I've received a few emails asking to re-up those tracks. Actually, I've been getting requests for more Guillemots rarities as well.

Well, you are in luck; I have for you those original two tracks and a few others...

First, here's the version of "Annie, Lets Not Wait" that released as a single, and the two b-sides that came along with it:

Guillemots- Annie, Lets Not Wait (Sngle Version)

Guillemots- Photograph (Demo)

Guillemots- Take Me Out (Live)

So what next...

Well, I have the two b-sides from the "Trains to Brazil" single from 2006...

Guillemots- White Rag

Guillemots- Blue Eyes

Is that enough? Do you want more? Ungrateful bastards...

Jokes.

But seriously, if you want some more rare Guillemots tracks, drop a comment, let me know; I have plenty, and you know me, I like sharing.

All I ask is that you tell your friends about Born by the River. And your cousins. And brothers and sisters. Or just random people on the street. Hell, buy a Born by the River t-shirt. They don't exist yet, but I know Trost is dying for an excuse to make some. Give him a reason; request one.

Enjoy.

Photo by Laurencea