Anders Parker :: S/T Release

Anders Parker first graced the virtual pages of An Aquarium Drunkard back in May while Kevin, from So Much Silence, was guest posting while I was on the road for a couple of months. And a mighty fine taste it was. Since then Anders has been busy, both recording a new self-titled solo record and a collaborative neo-traditional folk record under the name "Gob Iron" with none other than one Jay Farrar. Not a bad year's work. Both will be released on Halloween. Here's a pedal-steel soaked sample from the upcoming S/T record which was recorded in L.A. at a pool house cum studio. An ode to love and Los Angeles.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Anders Parker :: Missing, CA
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www.andersparker.com +++ www.myspace.com/andersparker

+ Anders Parker available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Anders Parker MP3s.

Pogues :: If I Should Fall from Grace...

Irish lilt mixed with the attitude of early UK punk rock was what initially powered the The Pogues. Fronted by the (in)famous Shane MacGowan, The Pogues lifted traditional Irish music out of the gutter of past injecting it with a strong dose of piss and lager.

Originally released in 1987 If I Should Fall from Grace With God was the band's calling card and breakthrough to mainstream audiences anchored by the crossover Christmas ballad "Fairytale in New York" -- a fine tune which I have posted, and will be posting again during the upcoming Holidays. MacGowan's writing and the band are in top form here, swimming in cigarettes and Guinness. The reissue comes with a good share of bonus tracks sure to excite the MacGowan die hards.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Pogues :: If I Should Fall from Grace With God
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www.pogues.com
www.shanemacgowan.com
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Pogues MP3s.

Neil Young :: London, England 2-27-71

Originally shared this live Neil Young set - from 1971 - on the Drunkard back in March, but revisited this week while prepping for a radio show. If you were not around these parts earlier in the year then this is for you, and if you were, and did not check these out the first go-round, here is another shot.

Recorded in London, February 27, 1971. Neil is introducing some songs for the first time that would become classics and staples in his repertoire over the decades. A fascinating listen.
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Related Neil News:
Via Billboard, Jonathan Cohen: "Neil Young is finally ready to roll out releases from his long-rumored "Archives Performance" series. First up is "Live at the Fillmore East 1970," due Nov. 14 via Reprise. The album features six as-yet-unannounced selections from Crazy Horse's March 6-7 runs at the New York venue, at a time when late guitarist Danny Whitten was still a member of the band."

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Neil Young :: On The Way Home
MP3: Neil Young :: Tell Me Why
MP3: Neil Young :: Old Man
MP3: Neil Young :: Journey Through The Past
MP3: Neil Young :: Cowgirl In The Sand
MP3: Neil Young :: The Bridge
MP3: Neil Young :: The Loner
MP3: Neil Young :: Don't let It Bring You Down
MP3: Neil Young :: See The Sky About To Rain
MP3: Neil Young :: Out On The Weekend
MP3: Neil Young :: I Am A Child
MP3: Neil Young :: Ohio
MP3: Neil Young :: Love In Mind
MP3: Neil Young :: Only Love Can Break Your Heart
MP3: Neil Young :: Heart of Gold
MP3: Neil Young :: A Man Needs A Maid
MP3: Neil Young :: Harvest
MP3: Neil Young :: The Needle And The Damage Done
MP3: Neil Young :: Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing
MP3: Neil Young :: Dance, Dance, Dance
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Related Post: Neil Young :: A Perfect Echo Vol. I

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Click here to get 25 free mp3s from eMusic

The Animals :: Animalism (Reissue)

The Animals don't seem to garner the attention that some of the other early British Invasion bands of the sixties continue to reap. This is a powerful shame, as Eric Burdon and the band were tops at what they did, only matched by the Stones during their early R&B days. Inter-band fallout and infighting led to a relatively quick demise, but what they did put down on tape is an incredible listen if you're into the Brits take on American blues music.

These young British musicians, obsessed with an American art form that was mostly ignored by it's own countrymen, revitalized the music and spit it out with their own unique stamp, thus popularizing the original American bluesmen and their legacy. These early blues-rock romps and garage bands of the time, in hindsight, seem like a distant precursor to the punk that would surface a little over a decade later.

The album Animalism was originally released in 1966 and chock full of blues covers from across the pond. Allegedly an American actually makes an appearance long before he would gain notoriety as a solo musician: Frank Zappa. Finally reissued after being long out of print, collectors can let their vinyl copies rest and spin a CD. How 2oth century, no? Hip-O-Select has the reissue which has also been remastered for all you audiophiles (myself included). I've also been eyeing The Animals Retrospective at Amoeba Records, but that's for another time in another post.

Download:
MP3:The Animals :: Hey Gyp
MP3:The Animals :: Smokestack Lightnin'
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The Animals - Animalism (Reissue)
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional MP3s.


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I received a press copy of Joseph Arthur's Nuclear Daydream in the post the other day having never heard a note of his music. There obviously must be a big PR/Press push behind this guy because he seems to be all over the place everywhere I look; TV, Web, Posters, etc. At first listen it seems to be an o.k. album, but I'm not particularly sold either way yet.

Thoughts? Any of you fans? Lovers/Haters? Ambivalent? Drop me a comment below.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Joseph Arthur :: You Are Free
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Amazon: Joseph Arthur - Nuclear Daydream
www.josepharthur.com +++ www.myspace.com/josepharthur

+ Joseph Arthur available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional MP3s.

Everyone Stares :: Inside The Police

Since the demise of The Police in 1984, Sting's output has been rather, er, tame -- I almost used "lackluster/boring", but that is not quite right. It is, though, the the reason the "Adult Contemporary" category was created. As a whole it's admittedly, for the most part, pleasant, but nothing to really sink your teeth into. Perhaps background music at The Pottery Barn would be an effective way to describe it to the unfamiliar.

The Police on the other hand were an entirely different animal and Stewart Copeland's documentary Everyone Stares does a fine job demonstrating that point to the uninitiated. This was a band, a real band -- at least for a few albums, before Sting took the lions share of songwriting and arrangement duties. But even then they were great. Stewart Copeland has long been, and remains, my favorite drummer. Andy worked some chords that seemed near impossible, and Sting, well, Sting was a truly charismatic songwriter and front man.

The film is compiled of old Super 8mm footage the drummer shot from beginning of the band's professional touring career through their last days together following the Synchronicity tour. Stark, rough, and light hearted - with candid narration from Copeland himself - it's the loose insider view of a band every fan appreciates. If the DVD does anything, it reminds people of the creative force The Police were and the legacy their body of work leaves behind. Also, if not more important, it's a fine Police primer for the generation of music fans 10 years younger than myself that have, unfortunately, only known Sting's solo career as the measure of his talent.

++ Below mp3 and video of my favorite Police song off my favorite Police record, Zenyatta Mondatta.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Police :: Don't Stand So Close To Me
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Video: The Police :: Don't Stand So Close To Me
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Amazon: Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out
www.stewartcopeland.net

Now Podcasting :: Episode 15

Welcome to Episode 15 of the podcast edition of The Aquarium Drunkard Show; airing live every Wednesday 2-4 p.m. at the Little Radio studios in downtown L.A. As requested, below is the tracklisting order for this week's podcast.
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Tommy James & The Shondells – Hanky Panky + The Velvet Underground – White Light/ White Heat + Santo & Johnny - Sleepwalk + Dream Syndicate - When You Smile (demo) + Scott Walker – 30 Century Man + Dogme 95 – Summon My Baptist Ways + Eugenius – Oomalama + The French Church - Slapneck 1943 + Jacque Dutronc - On nous cache tout, on nous dit rien + Man Man – I’d Rather Go Blind + Badly Drawn Boy – Cause A Rockslide + The Smiths – Unlovable + Blur – Tracy Jacks + The Shins – Know Your Onion! + Ryan Adams – Don’t Even Know Her Name + Robyn Hitchcock – Adventure Rocket Ship + Robert Pollard – Dancing Girls/Dancing Men + LUNA – Slideshow By The Seashore + Stephen Malkmus – Jo Jo’s Jacket + B-52s – 52 Girls (remix) + Talking Heads – Making Flippy Floppy + Television – I See No Evil + Ramones – 53rd & 3rd + Midlake – Roscoe + The Long Winters – Fire Island, AK + The Whigs – Technology + Yo La Tengo – Pass The Hatchet, I’m Goodkind + Galaxie 500 – Submission (sex pistols cover) + Stevie Wonder – Maybe Your Baby + Stanton Moore – Witch Doctor + Allen Toussaint – From A Whisper To A Scream + The Meters - Keep on Marching (Funky Soldier) + Aretha Franklin – Nikki Hoeky + Outtro: John Coltrane – Afro Blue

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Subscribe: Add This Feed
MP3 Download/Stream: Episode 15
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An Aquarium Drunkard Podcast: Archives Here

William Elliott Whitmore :: Folker

I first came across this young, tattooed folk singer with the gravelly voice early last Spring on the recommendation of a friend over beers at SXSW. After checking out a few on his tunes online, I made a mental note to re-visit William Elliott Whitmore's music when I had more time. I made good on that promise this past month via his new record entitled Song of the Blackbird.

Like the best alt.folk/country, the album satisfies and excels infusing early 20th century acoustic music through a 21st century lens. It feels as if channelled by someone who likely has as much of an appreciation for Joe Strummer as for Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. Whitmore will be touring this Fall with Lucero and Rocky Votolato; a tri-fecta that should prove to be quite the American acoustic, roots,/electric rock bill of the season.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: William Elliott Whitmore :: Dry
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Video: Whilliam Elliott Whitmore :: Dry (clip)
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Amazon: William Elliott Whitmore - Song of the Blackbird
www.williamelliottwhitmore.com
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional William Elliott Whitmore MP3s.

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From The Archives:
MP3: Band of Gypsys :: Who Knows

Hallowed Ground :: Femmes Gothic Country

Long winded Preface: In the audio commentary of the Vanilla Sky DVD, Cameron Crowe makes a statement regarding his choice of using The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" in the film's score. In a nutshell, he wanted to reclaim the song for himself and his audience -- take it away from the populist soda pop connotations that had so weighed it down over the decades. His comments resonated with me as I too felt certain songs had sorely become part of our musical vernacular, thus losing their original power. An immediate example, for me, is " I Heard It Through The Grapevine" -- composed by Strong and Whitfield, popularized and given a soul by the late and great Marvin Gaye. For years I subconsciously connected the tune to animated, dancing raisins -- as I am sure many of you reading did as well.

This brings us to the Violent Femmes. The aforementioned affect can also apply to an artist and their work. In this case it is the Femmes debut album which, while immensely popular, pigeonholed the band for the rest of their career. It's fairly safe to say that anyone (re: "anyone" as referring to the kind of people who read music blogs) who came of age in the pop culture of America in the past 20 years is somewhat familiar with the Violent Femmes. If not intimately, then through a film's soundtrack, the radio, MTV, your older sibling, babysitter, etc, etc. A musical rite of passage.

So I suppose this post is a reclamation in a way. More specifically, their critically/commercially misunderstood second album Hallowed Ground. Regular old John and Jane Doe were not expecting murder ballads, country death songs, disturbing religious imagery, backwoods gospel, and the generally bizarre overtone that encapsulated the mass of Hallowed Ground. No "Blister In The Sun" here; in it's stead are spooky tales sang in Gordon Gano's misfit voice over a bed of acoustic weirdness. Unintentionally this album laid the groundwork for many of the freak-folk, gothic-country, and backwoods weirdness that have sprung up the past ten years. Great overview of the album here.

Listen to this 1984 album with fresh ears, void of any pre-conceived notions about who and what the band were. "Country Death Song" is widely available, so I'll leave you with the two tracks below. There are tales within these songs to be heard -- perfect songs for Autumn, which has just arrived.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Violent Femmes :: I Here The Rain
MP3: Violent Femmes :: Never Tell
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Amazon: Violent Femmes - Hallowed Ground
www.violentfemmes.net

+ Violent Femmes available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Violent Femmes MP3s.

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Unrelated Track:
MP3: Okkervil River :: The President's Dead

Johnny Cash :: If I Were A Carpenter

I have heard many, many versions of this old tune, but it's Johnny and June Carter Cash's take on it that rings the truest.

Related News (via pitchfork):
"Columbia/Legacy will reissue Johnny Cash's first chart-topping album-- the live Johnny Cash at San Quentin-- on November 14 as a three-disc (two CDs and one DVD) set, along with plenty of previously unreleased extras. The 2000 remastered version of the 1969 LP expanded the original's tracklist from 10 to 18 tracks, but this release will transcend both by including 13 previously unreleased performances from Cash and his entire ensemble, which included his wife June Carter Cash, the Carter Family, Carl Perkins, and the Statler Brothers. "

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Johnny Cash :: If I Were A Carpenter
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Amazon: Johnny Cash - Man In Black
http://www.johnnycash.com/
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Johnny Cash MP3s

tvontheradio :: hollywoodbowl 9.24.06

Despite the enormity of the Hollywood Bowl, Tv On The Radio failed to disappoint the gathered masses. Opening for Massive Attack, whose performance seemed like an afterthought compared to the TVOTR experience, the group surprisingly translated their expansive sound to the atmosphere of the outdoor amphitheatre. Their vibe firmly intact, selections from Return To Cookie Mountain and the previous LP/EP demonstrated to the uninitiated the serious chops and game that have floored both critics and audiences alike the past few years. Until the venues management cut them off, the band had us eating out of their hands. This post-art-punk, soul, gospel, distortion thing they are working shows no signs of letting up, leaving me yearning for their next headlining club date in L.A.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: TV On The Radio :: Staring At The Sun
MP3: TV On The Radio :: Dry Drunk Emperor
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Amazon: TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
http://www.tvontheradio.com/
www.myspace.com/tvotr

+ TV On The Radio available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional TVOTR MP3s.

Pale Blue Eyes :: Re-revisted

In the Sex Beat post, a longtime reader mentioned how much they enjoy Alejandro Escovedo's cover of The Velvet Underground classic "Pale Blue Eyes" (off the groups eponymous third LP . ) This led me to dig out my copy of the R.E.M. compilation Dead Letter Office in order to listen to Stipe and Co's excellent cover of the track. In fact, this R.E.M. cover was my introduction to the tune back in middle school -- long before I had come to know Lou Reed's voice on the definitive and original version. Check out the subtle - and not so subtle - differences below.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Velvet Underground :: Pale Blue Eyes
MP3: Alejandro Escovedo :: Pale Blue Eyes (cover)
MP3: R.E.M. :: Pale Blue Eyes (cover)
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Amazon: The Velvet Underground - S/T
Amazon: R.E.M. - Dead Letter Office
Amazon: Alejandro Escovedo - Bourbonitus Blues

Mick Harvey Hearts Monsieur Gainsbourg

One thing on this blog tends to often lead to another. After my latest Serge Gainsbourg post, Will, from Be The Boy, turned me on to the pair of Serge covers albums that Mick Harvey released, Intoxicated Man and Pink Elephants. These english interpretations are great, and an enlightening listen themselves no matter the context. Former Birthday Party/Bad Seeds multi-instrumentalist does good. The below tracks are off the Intoicated Man LP.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Mick Harvey :: Chatterton
MP3: Mick Harvey :: Bonnie & Clyde
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http://www.mickharvey.com/
Amazon: Mick Harvey - Intoxicated Man
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Related Post:
Serge Gainsbourg :: Revisited

Bert Jansch :: The Black Swan

News of Bert Jansch releasing a new album came at me from left field; and I about fell the fuck over when I heard one of my favorite labels, Drag City, was responsible for it's release. This guy is, and has been, an incomparable British folk artist and acoustic warlock for years. I only learned of him after nearly wearing out, fellow Brit folker, Nick Drake's catalog. Glad I did, as the gent, while not as well known as his late contemporary, has an equally impressive back catalog.

For those into folk, Black Swan is well worth your time with some interesting guests adding their vocal chops to Jansch's playing -- my personal favorite: Beth Orton.

Also: Below you will find Jansch's "Black Water Side"; if it sounds familiar it's because it is. Much like the case of Jake Holmes, Jimmy Page failed to credit Jansch on the liner notes to Led Zeppelin's debut. Read what Jansch has to say about it here. The Black Swan drops October 18, 2006.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Bert Jansch :: The Black Swan

From the 1966 album Jack Orion:
MP3: Bert Jansch :: Black Water Side
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www.bertjansch.com
Amazon: Bert Jansch - The Black Swan
Amazon: Bert-Jansch - Jack Orion
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Bert Jansch MP3s.

Eponymous LPs :: Ben Kweller :: Lemonheads

True story. I knew so very little about Ben Kweller in 2002, that I went to his show at the Roxy to see My Morning Jacket open and then immediately split before his set. But truthfully, after all that early-period MMJ rockness, I probably would have thought his schtick to be shit anyways. The accompanying '02 pr buzz hyping that he was Evan Dando's little buddy did more harm than good. But, it's 2006 and the times have changed -- and I for one am paying attention now.

For a little over six weeks, I've been steadily listening to Kweller's eponymous third LP and it's good in that power-pop, high and bright production kind of way. Where his debut wore it's influences on it's sleeve, this new jam of his seems to be a synthesis of those influences rolled into Kweller's own sound. And it's good.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Ben Kweller :: Nothing Happening
MP3: Ben Kweller :: Penny On The Train Track
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MP3: Ben Kweller :: How It Should be (Sha Sha) [old]
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Amazon: Ben Kweller - S/T
www.benkweller.com
www.myspace.com/benkweller

+ Ben Kweller available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Ben Kweller MP3s.

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The Lemonheads :: Eponymous

And speaking of Evan Dando...and speaking of Eponymous releases, one cannot forget the Lemonheads are back with their first LP since 1996's Car Button Cloth. Dando, who has been releasing solo, downbeat, folk albums under his own name the past few years re-ignites the Lemonheads moniker and bashes out a fast-paced pop/punk record that actually does sound like an old Lemonheads record. Makes sense.

Not unlike Jay Farrar’s 2005 Son Volt album, this is a Lemonheads project in name only, as the band is made up of Dando and two session players. Although the term “session players” is used loosely here being that said players are drummer Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag) and bassist Karl Alvarez (Descendents).

If you're a Dando fan (I am) this is a pretty good recent interview. In it, Dando halfway dismisses Baby, I'm Bored, his solo record from 2003 that I quite liked.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Lemonheads :: No Backbone
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MP3: Evan Dando :: How Will I Know (acoustic Whitney Houston cover)
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Amazon: Lemonheads - S/T
www.thelemonheads.net

+ Evan Dando available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Lemonheads MP3s.

Sex Beat :: Under The Covers

Alejandro Escovedo's cover of Gun Club's "Sex Beat" has been posted here before; been played more than once on my radio show as well. Why? Because like any good re-interpretation, it's takes the song's bare essence and spins it until it becomes something different entirely -- and yet it hangs on to the the same sense of purpose the original intended.

On "Sex Beat" we have Gun Club's Jeffrey Lee Pierce's original in all it's glory - spewing it's cowpunk drunken menace right through your speakers. Nearly 20 years later Escovedo, no stranger to the early L.A. punk scene himself, takes the song and truly makes it his own. Slowing it down to a sludgy pace of drums, strings, and eerie guitar, Escovedo tells his tale in an almost speaking voice over the instrumentation. Chilling results.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Gun Club :: Sex Beat
MP3: Alejandro Escovedo :: Sex Beat (cover)
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Amazon: Gun Club - Fire of Love
Amazon: Alejandro Escovedo - Bourbonitus Blues

+ Alejandro Escovedo available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional MP3s.

Portastatic :: Be Still Please

If you were in the Research Triangle area, or surrounding states, in the early to mid '90s, chances are you were a Superchunk fan. If so, this one's for you. While it's not Superchunk (it's been 4 years and change since the last SC album) this one, in a lot of ways, feels damn close. Close enough, anyway.

Flying well below the radar, Portastatic has long been ex-Superchunk and Merge Records founder, Mac McCaughan’s go-to moniker for any and all recording projects over the years. Initially a solo project, Portastatic has evolved into a full band on recent albums spanning diverse genres ranging from stark Appalachia-folk styled film scores to amped up power-pop. It's the power pop vibe that is front and center on their latest, Be Still Please. Album drops October 10th.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Portastatic :: Sour Shores
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Amazon: Portastatic - Be Still Please
www.myspace.com/portastatic
www.portastatic.com

+ Portastatic available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Portastatic MP3s.

Yo La Tengo :: I Am Not Afraid of You

It's 2006, so that must mean another Yo La Tengo record. Wait, take a step back, things are different here, really. The first of fifteen tracks, “Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind,” is all distorted droning guitars and attitude. It begs you to try and not listen; not get sucked into it’s fierce pull. It’s the calling card and return of Hoboken’s finest. If your one of those people who wrote the band off with the somewhat lackluster dynamics of Summer Sun, listen to the tracks below and consider re-thinking your stance.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Yo La Tengo :: Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind
MP3: Yo La Tengo :: Beanbag Chair
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Amazon: Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
www.yolatengo.com

+ Yo La Tengo available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional YLT MP3s.

R.E.M. :: Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)

I am a child of the '80s from the American South. Like many of my brethren, R.E.M. served as my first taste of left-of-center musical fare; what was then referred to as "college music." Seems such a dated term now, but at the time it was as kicked around as the ad nauseam of today's ever-expanding catch-all term "indie."

With all the recent R.E.M. news (their induction into Georgia's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the new two disc IRS retrospective) I went poking around You Tube to reminisce watching some of the old videos from the bands IRS salad days. The following is a clip of the band playing "Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)" off of the seminal and essential Chronic Town EP on Nickelodeon's Livewire, October 1983. Watch Stipe dance.

Watch: R.E.M. Live on Nickelodeon's Livewire
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Download:
MP3: R.E.M. :: Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)
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Amazon: R.E.M - Dead Letter Office
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional MP3s.

Robyn Hitchcock :: Ole! Tarantula

Upon first listening to the upcoming Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 record Ole! Tarantula I was immediately struck with two competing thoughts: a) damn, this is really good. B) I would bet cash money that Bob Pollard is a huge Soft Boys/Hitchcock fan.

This LP marks a clear return to the garage pop Hitchcock used to crank out all the time prior to his muse taking him on various genre excursions. While many of those have been rewarding, it's great to hear new material in that older Hitchcockian style. This album and it's sound make sense.

I should mention The Venus 3 is made up of Pete Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Bill Rieflin. Some pick-up band, huh?! This shit is immediately accessable -- great from top to bottom. (Oct. 3rd release date - Yep Roc)

Also: The Drunkard would also like to recommend Hitchcock's 2004 roots oriented album Spooked which was recorded in collaboration with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Robyn Hitchcock :: Adventure Rocket Ship
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Amazon: Robyn Hitchcock - Ole! Tarantula
www.robynhitchcock.com

+ Hitchcock available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional MP3s.

The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes

Even today most fans still do not know that Led Zeppelin's epic "Dazed And Confused," off their eponymous debut, was in actuality a cover tune. During a U.S. American tour in the late '60s the Jimmy Page led version of the Yardbirds shared a NYC Greenwich Village gig with the American folk singer Jake Holmes. The band became enamored of the folkie's dark and mysterious song and re-worked it into their nightly set list, usually closing the show with it showcasing Page's trademark guitar/bow combination. In a somewhat charlatan move, Page solely credits himself as songwriter on the Zeppelin debut.

While the Zeppelin workup of the song is quite fantastic, the original is quite potent in it's own right - a very folk-sixties-psychedelic sound. The track can be found on Holmes 1967 debut The Above Ground Sounds of Jake Holmes.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Jake Holmes :: Dazed And Confused
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Amazon: Jake Holmes - The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes

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From The Archives:
MP3: Leonard Cohen :: Suzanne