Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Unknown & Unheard Show 240! (mp3)













Bon Iver – Minnesota, WI – Bon Iver (2011)
-          2nd album.
-          Had one of the most critically acclaimed debuts in the past ten years.
-          Led by Justin Vernon, formerly of DaYarmond Edison.
-          powerful live performer.
-          Played the Murat Theatre Monday July 25th














Phil Collins – The Roof Is Leaking – Face Value (1981)
-          Debut solo album.
-          Album also features what’s probably his biggest solo hit, ‘In the Air Tonight.’
-          A lot of what Bon Iver has done reminds me of Genesis, Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel.














The Mountain Goats – This Year - The Sunset Tree (2005)
-          9th album
-          How have I not played this track before??? One of my all time favorite songs.
-          Their last, 'All Eternals Deck' , was out in early 2011 and one of the best of the year.
-          Led by John Darnielle and his unmistakable passionate and powerful vocals.
-          Opening for Bright Eyes next Thursday!














Bright Eyes - From A Balance Beam - LIFTED or The Story Is In the Soil, Keep Your Ear To the Ground (2002)
-          4th studio album of 9 as Bright Eyes
-          He has also released 2 solo albums and a brand new Bright Eyes album, The Peoples' Key.
-          One of the best SXSW shows. 2+ hours, under the super moon, fireworks and $1 tacos!














The War on Drugs – Baby Missiles – Slave Ambient (2011)
-          2nd full length. 3 EPs out also.
-          This is a reworking of a previously released track.
-          Kurt was formerly the lead guitarist for them.














Yellow Ostrich - Mary (Alternate/bonus track) - The Mistress (2011)
-          Debut full length
-          Sounds a bit like the Beatles and the White Stripes and even at times Menomena.
-          Very talented vocalist. Uses looping to deeply layer his music.
-          Played SXSW














Boston Spaceships - Christmas Girl - Let It Beard (2011)
-          Latest album out from this newest Robert Pollard-led band.
-          One of the most prolific recording artists you’ll ever find.
-          Robert Pollard = Former Guided By Voices front man and Indie Rock hall of famer














Pixies - Cactus - Surfer Rosa (1988)
-          2nd album
-          Led by Frank Black/Black Francis.
-          He played Radio Radio and blew the sold out crowd away.
-          About as important of a band as you'll find in music history.














Young Buffalo - Only We Can Keep You From Harm - Young Von Prettylips EP (2011)
-          Debut EP
-          A dark chant-like track with an upbeat indie-pop center.
-          The darker side of this song reminds me a ton of the dark and scary band Esben and the Witch.














The Features - Rambo - Wilderness (2011)
-          3rd full length.
-          This album seems a but more edgier and harder than their previous work.
-          Debut out in 2004. 2nd out in 2009. Released two other EP's in there
-          Kings of Leon fans can definitely find something here.














Crystal Antlers – By the Sawkill - Two-Way Mirror (2011)
-          2nd full length.
-          ‘A Thousand Eyes’ is a great track off their debut EP, out in 2008.
-          Harsh, aggressively paced vintage sound, but that’s what they are going for and that’s what will draw you in.
-          They sound like a more serious version of King Khan, not that King Khan’s immense talents aren’t serious.














Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground - Diggin' - Introducing Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground (2011)
-          2nd full length.
-          Big variety of styles on this album. From beachy and mellow to the more eclectic sounds of Sgt. Pepper's Beatles.














Portugal, the Man - Sleep Forever - In The Mountain, In The Cloud (2011)
-          7th full length. As the go on their music seems to be gradually less manic and erratic.
-          ‘Church Mouth’ is my favorite album.
-          RIYL The Raconteurs/Jack White/Brendan Benson














The Brute Chorus - I'm Gonna Shake Your Treehouse Down (Live bonus track) - The Brute Chorus (2009)
-          Debut album. 2nd album out last year, How The Caged Bird Sings.
-          Slightly raucous blues/folk UK band with distinct vocals.














St. Vincent - Surgeon - Strange Mercy (2011)
-          2nd full length. Debut was out in 2009, Actor.
-          Was a member of Sufjan Steven's backing band along with My Brightest Diamond, arguably two of the biggest breakout female artists of the past couple years.














The Hold Steady – Girls Like Status (Bonus track) – Boys & Girls In America (2006)
-          3rd album.
-          ‘commercial breakout’ their real break out was the album preceding ‘Separation Sunday
-          Big ass, borderline-punk, rocking anthems that will get you moving.
-          Possibly my top all-time live show.














Dillinger Four - Portrait of the Artist as a Fucking Asshole - Midwestern Songs of the Americas (1998)
-          Debut album of 4.
-          American punk rock band.
-          You can really hear their sound in the Hold Steady's music.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The Unknown & Unheard Show 239! (mp3)















tUnE-yArDs - Gangsta - w h o k i l l (2011)
-          BEST BAND OF PITCHFORK MUSIC FEST 2011!
-          2nd album.
-          Debut full length, ‘BiRd-BrAiNs’ was a huge critical success.
-          Eclectic, spastic indie pop sound.
-          Merrill Garbus is the main brains behind this act.
-          This is the best song I’ve heard from her so far.
















TV on the Radio – Halfway Home – Dear Science, (2008)
-          4th album.
-          Made my best of show 2008.
-          Released their 5th in April 2011, Nine Types of Light.
-          Long-awaited forthcoming album.
-          Played SXSW
-          Pitchfork Music Fest's main headliners.
















Kurt Vile - Overnite Religion - Childish Prodigy (2009)
-          3rd album. 4th album just out, Smoke Ring for My Halo.
-          dreamy pop rock with vocals that bring up thoughts of Devendra Banhart and Deerhunter.
-          Former The War on Drugs' lead guitarist.
-          Played SXSW, but had some of his equipment stolen before I saw him play and that limited him significantly. He more than made up for it at the P4K Fest!
















The War on Drugs – Come To the City – Slave Ambient (2011)
-          2nd full length. 3 EPs out also.
-          Kurt was formerly the lead guitarist for them.















Portugal, the Man - So American - In The Mountain, In The Cloud (2011)
-          7th full length. As the go on their music seems to be gradually less manic and erratic.
-          ‘Church Mouth’ is my favorite album.
-          RIYL The Raconteurs/Jack White/Brendan Benson
















Crystal Antlers – Always Afraid - Two Way Mirror (2011)
-          2nd full length.
-          ‘A Thousand Eyes’ is a great track off their debut EP, out in 2008.
-          Harsh vintage sound, but that’s what they are going for and that’s what will draw you in.
-          They sound like a more serious version of King Khan, not that King Khan’s immense talents aren’t serious.
















Electric President - Safe and Sound - The Violent Blue (2010)
-          5th album
-          Jacksonville duo.
















Jenny O. - Well OK Honey - Home EP (2010)
-          Debut EP
-          Has released various other songs, including one on the new Buddy Holly tribute album.
-          Full length is forthcoming.
















Common Prayer - Us vs. Them - Common Prayer (2010)
-          Debut album
-          Pop/Americana feel.
-          Brooklyn band.
















Bibio - Lovers' Carvings -
Ambivalence Avenue
(2009)
-          4th album of 6
-          British experimental folk to electronic songwriter.
















Le Butcherettes - New York - Sin Sin Sin (2011)
-          Debut album
-          Mexican garage punk band that sounds a lot like the Kills.
















Hollowbelly - Gonna Cut You Down - Punk, Northern and Blue (2010)
-          Debut album. Also has a live album out.
-          Think Seasick Steve… Rough, raw and heavy UK blues rock.
















The Ross Sea Party - Broken Arrows - Plains of Id EP (2010)
-          Debut EP
-          Indie folk pop.
-          Led by Brady Erickson formerly of Sunday Drivers.
-          Download it for free from their BandCamp site.
















Risers - Can't Get There from Here - Risers EP (2011)
-          2nd EP
-          Download it for free from their BandCamp site.
-          RIYL: The Twilight Singers.
















Teletextile - I Don't Know How To Act Here - Reflector (2011)
-          Debut EP
-          Very eclectic song that constantly jumps from genre to genre.

















James Blake - CMYK - CMYK EP (2010)
-          4th of 5 EPs. Solo debut is out this year.
-          From the UK and Hugely popular in Europe.
-          Despite what Google may insist, this is a different guy than the tennis player.
-          Reminds me a bit of Bon Iver and Justin Vernon’s work in Gayngs.
-          Experimental, soulful, electronic songwriter that was one of the biggest surprises at Pitchfork.
-          I went in not really fond of his style nor familiar with much of his music, but came away happy that I caught his set.