I'm still alive

I don't know about Trost.

Kings of Leon, New B-side, Woo Hoo

Let me preface this post a bit.

Shortly after I made the last post bad things started to happen. They say bad things come in threes, right? Well, first my laptop broke. That's the only problem that effects you in any way I guess; it's hard to post about new music with no computer or access to digital music.

So that kind of sucks.

Then there are a couple slightly more painful problems.

First, I dislocated my shoulder in a soccer match. Normally I would just be like, whatever, but I'm on scholarship and have to report to school for soccer exactly one month from tomorrow. So I have a dislocated shoulder now. Whatever, I can still train... Right?

Well, not so much.

I found out a couple days ago that I also have mono. Now my throat is so swollen that I wake up at night unable to breathe. I actually had to wake my girlfriend up to take me to the ER yesterday at like 5 am because I started to worry I was about to go out like Jimi without the sex drugs or rock & roll.

All of these problems suddenly seem trivial, though, as I just heard Kings of Leon's newest track, "Woo Hoo," the b-side to their "Fans" single, and I was reminded of everything good in the world.

Kings of Leon- Woo Hoo

Now I have a fever and I don't feel like typing anymore.

Enjoy.

The LCD Soundsystem Post (For those of you who think we're done, we're like, "no.")

A few days ago I said I'd dedicate a whole new post to LCD Soundsystem. Well, the time has come.

I know there's not much left to be said about James Murphy or his new album, Sound of Silver, but I would be remiss if I neglected to create this post. Truly great albums don't come around very often anymore. We bounce from band to band, album to album, song to song so quickly now; it's hard to stay interested in any one thing for a reasonable amount of time. I hope you don't read this and think "look at this hypocritical douchebag." I know that blogs like this one fuel that approach to music, and part of me actually feels a bit of remorse. Maybe.

Anyways...

I told you that the two tracks at the core of the album, "Someone Great" and "All My Friends," were two of my favorites of the year. I don't think you will find better back to back tracks on any album this year. I'm having a hard time thinking of any recent album with back to back tracks that good. Maybe Sonic Youth's "Incinerate" and "Do You Believe in Rapture," but even then...

Seeing as there really is nothing left to say about the album, I'll just try to give you a few b-sides you haven't heard before.

This first one, "Hippie Priest Bum Out," came out as a b-side to the "North American Scum" single.



LCD Soundsystem- Hippie Priest Bum Out

The next track, "Freak Out," was a b-side to the "All My Friends" single.



LCD Soundsystem- Freak Out

This last one is special; it's a cover of Joy Division's "No Love Lost" that came out as a b-side to a limited version of the "All My Friends" single. Maybe a concert-only version? I'm not really sure... Either way, check it out.

LCD Soundsystem- No Love Lost

I also have a lot of LCD remixes that came out as b-sides to this and that if anyone is interested. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I'll gladly throw them up if enough of you want them.

Enjoy.

We've been gone for a while, eh?

We're still alive.

I was starting to wonder about Trost, though. Ol'boy disappeared on me for a month or so.

I can't believe all of the love you guys are showing towards our humble little site. We really appreciate all the emails and comments. I know I've said it before, but I think we should be back for good this time.

I don't really know how to start back up. Maybe recap the big happenings of the past month or so?

The new Spoon album is good. "The Underdog" really is as fantastic as everyone keeps saying it is. The new LCD Soundsystem is my favorite album of the year so far, with "Someone Great" and "All My Friends" battling for favorite song of the year honors. I think I'll dedicate a whole post to LCD Soundsystem within the next few days. Maybe try to get you some b-sides or remixes you haven't heard or something. The new New Pornographers album has its moments, but honestly I lose interest after the first four tracks. What else? Hmmm. I just got the new Okkervil River album and the new Yeah Yeah Yeah's EP today, so I'll have something from those for you pretty soon. Oh, and the White Stripes... I keep hearing Icky Thump is a good album, and I have some b-sides from it...

What have we been listening to...

Pay the changer no mind. I haven't listened to the Wilco or Voxtrot albums for a long time. Both faded on me. Voxtrot just put out a weak album that should have been condensed to a fourth EP, and the Wilco album gets boring if you try to listen to it for more than 15 minutes at a time. I actually haven't listened to Kings of Leon or the Ponys in quite a while either. The only real constants for me have been Feist and LCD Soundsystem. I've also been listening to the new Bowerbirds album a bit. Then there's always a constant stream of new music: St. Vincent, BOAT, Seymore Saves the World, Bishop Allen, etc.

I don't even want to tell you what Trost has been listening to. It'll just bring you down. Sad bastard. He keeps telling me how good the new Magnolia Electric Co. album is though, and even though I've said in the past that I can only listen to them when I'm sad, I might have to give it a spin or two.

I feel like I need to reward you for reading all that.

Here's a little something from the new Okkervil River LP, The Stage Names, due out August 7th...

Okkervil River- Savannah Smiles

And even though you all probably already have these, they're pretty great, and I want anyone reading our blog to have them...

LCD Soundsystem- Someone Great

Spoon- The Underdog

3 mp3's isn't enough...

I got the new Josh Rouse album the other day (I was enticed, against my better judgement, by the great album title Country Mouse, City House), and, as expected, I'm not really digging it. I really do like the first track, though, so here it is:

Josh Rouse- Sweetie

Guess that's all for now. Keep checking back this week.

Wilco, Again

The new Wilco b-side I posted up a couple days ago got me all excited about Wilco again; the past 48 hours have seen me searching through all my favorite old tracks from Tweedy & Co. I definitely have some favorite Jeff Tweedy moments, and I've been thinking about where "One True Vine" might fit in.

Ok, it might not be quite that good - Tweedy has blessed us with some seriously astounding moments - but it's still pretty wonderful.

Anyhow, here are some of my favorite Tweedy moments...

I'll start off with my absolute favorite, Uncle Tupelo's "Wait Up." This song has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it. I was still just a young'in when March 16-20, 1992 released, but I'm pretty sure that, even then, I would have recognized this song's grandeur.

Uncle Tupelo- Wait Up

This next song released 3 years later on Golden Smog's 1995 LP Down by the Old Mainstream. You probably already know about Golden Smog's allstar cast, but despite being a veritble rock and roll "who's who," in my opinion, they've never really delivered. Think a modern day Travelling Wilburys. This song, though, is spectacular. Sounds like Wilco...

Golden Smog- Radio King

What else... There's just too much to choose from.

I guess I'll go with one of my all time favorite Wilco songs, "She's a Jar." That kind of feels like cheating - you know, posting up a track from a Wilco LP. Instead I'll use the demo...

Wilco- She's a Jar (Demo)

If I'm gonna post a Wilco song, I should try to give you something you haven't heard before, eh? Well, I have no clue where this one came from, and I haven't really seen it floating around the net anywhere. Don't believe me? Go search for it. I would guess it released as a b-side at some point, but I really don't know when or to what. Amazing song, though. Definitey a top 10 Tweedy moment.

Wilco- No More Poetry

In 2003 Tweedy teamed up with Jim O'Rourk to release Loose Fur their first album under the moniker Loose Fur. Much like Golden Smog, I was very impressed with some of it, and with some of it I was very underwhelmed. In 2006, though, they released a sophomore LP entitled Born Again in the USA, and the last track on that album has definitely become one of my favrite Jeff Tweedy moments.

Loose Fur- Wanted

This last song may not be an absolute favorite, but it's still very cool. It's a live cover (that you probably haven't heard) of a great song (that you probably have heard).

Jeff Tweedy- I Shall Be Released (Live Bob Dylan Cover)

Ok, that's all for today.

Enjoy.

Wilco- One True Vine (BRAND NEW, YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THIS)

I just got my hands on the first b-side from Wilco's Sky Blue Sky.

Wow.

You know how I feel about Wilco.

This track is no exception. I absolutely LOVE it. Actually, after a few listens, I might like this more than anything on the album, and I love the album.

Wilco- One True Vine

I wanna be what you are to me...

Remember where you heard it first.

Enjoy.

DON'T CALL THIS A COMEBACK

Ok, this time I'm not even going to apologize. I'm just going to start posting again. I'll earn your trust back.

Actually, I will apologize for not responding to emails. That's fucked up on my part. I really do want to fill requests, but honestly, I get really, really bored writing about old White Stripes b-sides and whatnot.

On to today's post...

I've been thinking about covers a lot lately, probably stemming from reading that I Am Fuel post. I made a list in my head of recent indie covers that I've loved, and, I dunno, maybe you'd like to hear them...



I can only listen to Magnolia Electric Co. when I'm sad. That's why I was so surprised when I found out that the last track on their 2005 Hard to Love a Man EP was a cover of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London." What a great cover; Molina & Co really make it work...

Magnolia Electric Co.- Werewolves of London



Last year Regina Spektor visited the BBC Radio studios and performed a few songs. Among them was my favorite rainy day song, Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel #2." Spektor's version of the song is beautiful.

I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best...

Regina Spektor- Chelsea Hotel (Live)



Talking Heads covers... I really don't know how I feel about them in general. I've heard some baaad ones, but I've also heard some that I love...

In 2003 the Constantines released the Nighttime Anytime EP. It was their first release on Sub Pop, setting the stage for their prodigious sophomore LP, Shine A Light. The third track on the four-track EP was a cover of the Heads' "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel." This is how a Talking Heads cover should sound. Bry Webb mimics Byrne's voice a bit, but the sound is still unmistakably Constantines...

Constantines- Thank You For Sending Me An Angel



Another Talking Heads cover done right...

Last year Voxtrot played a quick set for Seattle radio station KEXP. Along with three tracks from their Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP (Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives, Rise Up In The Dirt, and Soft & Warm), the band played a version of the Heads' "Heaven." I was raised on Talking Heads, and as far back as I can remember, "Heaven" has been one of my favorite songs. Imagine my excitement, then, when I discovered that it was covered by my favorite new band.

Voxtrot- Heaven (Live on KEXP)



I guess I'll keep with the Voxtrot theme.

I've been sitting here thinking about how to present this next track for a few minutes now. I can't really paraphrase the story for you, so here it is, straight from Ramesh...

"About a week ago when we were driving back to Texas for the final two dates of our tour, Jared (keyboardist) received a message from Garrison of Indieinterviews.com, suggesting that Union City Blues would be a nice song for Voxtrot to cover. I mistakenly believed Shayla to be called Union City Blues, and thus promised to work up a cover to record at the venue. There was some confusion but after we sussed it out I borrowed an accoustic guitar from Bosque Brown and we headed to Garrison's Corrola to record it. Small space, but his microphone was quite hi-tech so I think the sound quality is actually okay. I had first heard this song on a free Optimo New Year compilation and have always been moved by the liquid quality of her voice on the recording."

So there you have it.

Ramesh Srivastava- Shayla



I think that's a good place to transition to Jose Gonzalez, yes? Of course I can't have a covers post and talk about Jose Gonzalez without mentioning his take on the Knife's "Heartbeats." When "Heartbeats" released as a single, the b-side was, well, a live version of the track (That seems like cheating to me, but whatever).

Jose Gonzalez- Heartbeats (Live)

That's not what I wanted to talk about, though. In 2005 Gonzalez released a pretty limited Australian Tour EP. The first track on the EP is a cover of Joy Division's infamous "Love Will Tear Us Apart." I know I probably don't need to give you the backstory, but Joy Division recorded this song pretty much right before Ian Curtis committed suicide. What a sad, sad song.

Jose Gonzalez- Love Will Tear Us Apart



In 2005 Calexico and Iron & Wine got together to record their In The Reins EP. As good as that EP was, I think my favorite part of their partnership was revealed at their live shows, where they frequently played a fantastic cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." Something about that song has always just killed me; it's definitely one of my favorite Stones songs, and these guys do it justice. This recording is from October 22, 2005, at the Triple Door in Seattle.

Iron and Wine with Calexico- Wild Horses (Live)



You may remember a post I made a month or two ago about Beirut in which I included a Calexico cover of the Clash's "Guns of Brixton." I'll go ahead and post it again here. It's definitely the best cover of the song that I've ever heard.

Calexico- The Guns of Brixton

While I'm posting a couple Calexico tracks I might as well give you their take on the Minutemen's "Corona," eh? In 2004 Calexico released their Convict Pool EP. Among the six tracks on the EP is a cover of "Corona," complete with mariachi band. It's such a great song to begin with, and I love their take on it.

Calexico- Corona



I'll round out this post with the song that inspired it: Britt Daniel's take on Sam Cooke's immortal "Bring It On Home To Me." This track just came out on Bridging the Distance, a compilation of covers from Portland area bands. I would suggest that everyone go to the site and BUY IT... I mean, come on, it's only $10. I honestly wish I could post just about every track from the compilation.

Britt Daniel- Bring It On Home To Me

Alright, that's all for today.

Enjoy.

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