Gruff Rhys :: Candylion

Last Friday night, to and from the Of Montreal show, Zapp Brannigan's automobile was filled with the sounds of Gruff Rhys latest, and second solo album, Candylion. Have you listened to this yet? Neither had I, but it is completely worthwhile -- I might go as far as say essential for brit-pop fans. Between this and the new The Good The Bad And The Queen I am in an Anglophile's heaven. For all you Super Furry Animals fans this one is a no brainer -- for everyone else I suppose the most mainstream comparison would be: think a laid back Damon Albarn solo project had he not become enamored with afro-beat and hip-hop. Ah hell, just listen to the mp3 samples below.

By the way, in 2005 I didn't bother picking up SFA leader Gruff Rhys initial solo album Yr Atal Genhedlaeth as, A) I had read its delivery is completely sung in Welsh, and more importantly , B) it had received mixed reviews. But now, after devouring Candylion the past few days, I may have to seriously re-investigate. Chime in -- great, good, fair, poor??

Elsewhere: Watch the video for Gruff RhysCandylion

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Gruff Rhys :: Candylion
MP3: Gruff Rhys :: Lonesome Words
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Amazon: Gruff Rhys - Candylion (import)
www.gruffrhys.com +++ myspace

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

M. Ward w/ Jim James :: Magic Trick (alt)

This track is brought to you courtesy of So Much Silence for taking the time to rip the audio from vinyl to mp3 format. Thank you, sir. The vinyl I received is a limited edition 7″ via Fader so unless your one of the lucky 500 who received a copy of the limited pressing I wanted to make sure you got a hold of this track digitally. For those interested, the b-side is the Ladyhawk tune "Soap."

The M. Ward A side, "Magic Trick," with My Morning Jacket's Jim James supplying guest vocals is an alternate version from Ward's Post-War album with an even further understated production element. Perfect for all y'all completists out there.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: M. Ward w/ Jim James :: Magic Trick (alt version)
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+ M. Ward available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional M. Ward MP3s.

Aquarium Drunkard Presents :: Submarines

Tonight we're presenting the final night of the Submarine's month-long residency at the Echo. Come on on out -- don't cost nuthin'. 10pm/FREE/ 21+ address: 1822 sunset blvd.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Blake Hazard :: Darkest Things (live on aquarium drunkard show)
MP3: Blake Hazard :: Brighter Discontent (live on aquarium drunkard show)
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Amazon: The Submarines - Declare A New State
www.thesubmarines.com ++ www.myspace.com/thesubmarinesmusic

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

Jesse Sykes And The Sweet Hereafter

A few years ago a friend of mine returned from a business trip to Seattle with tales of former Whiskeytown guitarist Phil Wandscher's latest project. This turned out to be working with Jesse Sykes in their newly minted band The Sweet Hereafter. He also came back with a copy of their, as of then, just released debut LP Reckless Burning. I was practically sold on sight by the album's noir-ish cover art. Thankfully the album's contents, all downer country soundscapes, were just as rewarding as the haunting visual promised.

I admittedly lost track a bit after the band's last release, 2004's excellent Oh, My Girl, so I was both surprised and excited to receive a press copy of the new album from the band's label Barsuk. Once again the mix of Cowboy Junkies-styled, smoky dirges crossed with Wandscher's raw Faithless Street era playing make for another solid listen.

Stream the album: here

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Jesse Sykes And The Sweet Hereafter :: Station Grey
MP3: Jesse Sykes And The Sweet Hereafter :: LLL
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AmpCamp: Jesse Sykes - Like, Love, Lust & ... (pre-sale)
www.jessesykes.com ++ jesse's myspace
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Jesse Sykes MP3s.

Of Montreal :: El Rey, Los Angeles 1.26.07

It's raining like a sum bitch out there tonight, and I'm about out the door with a big umbrella , but before I head out for the night I want to encourage anyone with even a faint interest in Of Montreal to make a point to go see them on this present tour. Last night they brought the synth-psych-funk at the El Rey despite some sound issues the first few tunes. Oh, and they also covered Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" which left many in the audience scratching their heads..ha, kids.

The below live track is Of Montreal covering Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" last week in Texas. Thanks, Matt, for originally posting this. Of Montreal is playing Los Angeles again tonight and tomorrow night at the Avalon and Troubadour respectively. Check their website for furter tour information.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Of Montreal :: Moonage Daydream (Bowie cover)
MP3: Of Montreal :: A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger

Update: Get the entire show from San Antone here at Funeral Pudding
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AmpCamp: Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna Are You the Destroyer
++www.ofmontreal.net ++ www.myspace.com/ofmontreal

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

Submarines Live @ Aquarium Drunkard Show

Blake Hazard, one half of L.A.'s songwriting pop duo The Submarines, stopped by the show yesterday and played a couple of tunes for us on the acoustic before doing an eclectic guest DJ set. Not only can the girl can sing, but she can spin some sides. Below are two tracks from Blake's acoustic performance.

Also: If you're in the L.A. area An Aquarium Drunkard presents The Submarines show this coming Monday at The Echo. Come on out as this will be the final night of the Subs month-long residency at the club.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Blake Hazard :: Darkest Things (live on aquarium drunkard show)
MP3: Blake Hazard :: Brighter Discontent (live on aquarium drunkard show)
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Amazon: The Submarines - Declare A New State
www.thesubmarines.com ++ www.myspace.com/thesubmarinesmusic

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

Catherine Howe :: What a Beautiful Place

Are you down with the Numero Group? If not, get hip, as they are just one of the many, many great labels that have sprung up the past few years specializing in obscure reissues and deep-crate compilations. I spent much of 2006 exploring these label's vast and eclectic catalogs.

Numero Group's latest project is a remastered reissue of '70s English folkie Catherine Howe's debut album What a Beautiful Place. I think they nail it in their description of the the album lauding it as "a pastoral blend of English countryside folk and London orchestral pop, not unlike Bryter Layter or North Star Grassman And The Ravens."

The pastoral folk coming out of Albion at the time all shares that somewhat spooky and ancient vibe that appears on so many of the albums of the era (see Burt Jansch, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, etc).

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Catherine Howe :: It's Not Likely
MP3: Catherine Howe :: In The Hot Summer
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Purchase: Catherine Howe - What a Beautiful Place
www.catherinehowe.co.uk/ ++ www.numerogroup.com

Sloan :: Never Hear the End of It

My exposure to Nova Scotia's power-pop outfit Sloan was a reverse and catch-up affair as they have steadily flown below the radar in the U.S. -- even in "indie" terms. Perhaps the flood the past four years of Canadian artists is what finally made myself (and other holdouts) take notice.

Now being released (stateside) on NC's Yep Roc label, Sloan return with Never Hear the End of It -- a 76 minute, 30 song affair. Before placing the disc in the changer, at 30 songs, I wondered if the album's title was the tell-tale sign of things to come; i.e. a never-ending, droning disc. Thankfully it is for the most part an entirely engaging album. With four distinct songwriters in the band the album flows like a consistent pop nugget juggling varied elements depending on the song(writer). RIYL: Power Pop

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Sloan :: Who Taught You To Live Like That?
MP3: Sloan :: Can't You Figure It Out?
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Amazon: Sloan - Never Hear the End of It
www.sloanmusic.com ++ www.myspace.com/sloan

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

The Shins :: Wincing the Night Away

Without a doubt The Shins Wincing the Night Away was the leak of 2006 -- and for good reason.

Mercer and company have done it again, and I must agree with the early reviewers who noted that Wincing moves the band into a more "mature" realm of songwriting and sonic experimentation. And thankfully this is painlessly and eloquently executed.

While Chutes Too Narrow clearly occupied a different aural territory than Oh Inverted World, much of Wincing takes this a step farther eschewing the band's signature whimsy without sacrificing its familiar identity. Different yes, yet remaining a Shins album. Orchestration and electronic beats may have taken the place of passages formerly reserved for a syncopated guitar strum, but the feel and atmosphere remain the same. Listen to Mercer's excellent, spot-on Morrissey vocal affectation below on "Sea Legs." Outstanding.

Wincing the Night Away see wide release today and comes highly, highly recommended.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Shins :: Sea Legs
MP3: The Shins :: Phantom Limb

Video: The Shins - Phantom Limb
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Amazon: The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
www.theshins.com +++ www.myspace.com/theshins
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Shins MP3s.

Hissing Fauna Are You the Destroyer

This is not your older brother’s Of Montreal.

After one listen to the group’s latest, Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer, fans of Of Montreal prior to 2004’s Satanic Panic In The Attic will be shocked to learn this is the same outfit that produced the expansively twee, carnival-esque albums The Gay Parade, and Cherry Peel. The degree in separation in both sound and atmosphere could not be more decidedly different.

Having toiled in what Of Montreal’s leader and chief songwriter, Kevin Barnes, has described as the “indie ghetto” for nearly ten years, Barnes took the reins of the group in 2004 ending an era of Elephant 6 styled mass group collaboration. Having complete creative control in terms of songwriting, sound and production what emerged was the beat heavy, electropop-synth watershed Satanic Panic In The Attic. 2005 saw Barnes further chase his new muse on The Sunlandic Twins mining varied genres until ultimately spinning them into one of his own.

Part three of Barnes’ creative trilogy Hissing Fauna is the logical next step in terms of sound, but with an added layer of personalization and introspection not so readily and immediately available on prior efforts. When he emotes on the track “A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger,” “I spent the winter on the verge of a total breakdown while living in Norway” backed by the incredibly poppy and upbeat instrumentation it’s as if you wonder whether to laugh or cry with him. Such is the duality of Hissing Fauna. Fifty plus minutes of clever, clever pop saturated in what sounds like a man on the brink of a nervous breakdown. It also may very well be Of Montreal’s best work yet.

Here are seveteen seconds from Of Montreal's "Gronlandic Edit," one of my favorite musical moments of 2007 thus far. Of Montreal's Hissing Fauna drops today....
Snippet (mp3): Gronlandic Edit

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Of Montreal :: A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger
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Amazon: Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna Are You the Destroyer
www.ofmontreal.net ++ www.myspace.com/ofmontreal

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

Yer Bird To Release Folk Compilation

The excellent VA based indie-folk label Yer Bird Records will be releasing it's first compilation this Spring (which looks stellar). News and details below via the label's message board.
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Folk Music for the End of the World

So, all the tracks are officially in - I don't have the track order down yet, but the track listing is:

Paleo - Swimming in Money
Travel By Sea - Too Much Too Quickly
Chris Bathgate - A Flash of Light Followed By
Alina Simone - Gunshots
J. Tillman - Barter Blues
Hayden - Message From London
Allyn Latorre - On the Banks of the River
Chauchat - Smoking Paint
Sarah White - Part of the Story
Hezekiah Jones - Mississippi Sea
The Gunshy - No One Remembers The Drunk
O'Death - Angeline
Elephant Micah - Korean Sunset
Nic Garcia - Torn Up in the Machine
Oweihops - Sad Little Drunks
Matthew Ryan - Gone For Good
The Hotel Ghost - Lay Me Down

The Mooney Suzuki :: Maximum Black EP

Here is a blast from the recent past. This past fall V2 re-released The Mooney Suzuki's 1999 tour-only Black EP with five extra tracks pulled from the original recording sessions. This is fine, fine neo-garage. Along with the track additions it's nice to finally have a 'hard' copy of this. I'm not sure what happened to these guys with their Sony debut, but you might remember it was less than impressive.

Not to dwell on past mistakes, v2 (the label which, as of this month, ceased to exist) played a smart hand re-releasing the Maximum Black EP reminding the core fan base not only that the band exists, but that they used to rock. The Mooneys were slated to release their next full length album on v2 prior to closing shop.

Elsewhere: Visit Mr. Dodge for an additional track off the Mooney's Maximum Black EP.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Mooney Suzuki :: Half of My Heart
MP3: The Mooney Suzuki :: My Dear Persephone
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Amazon: The Mooney Suzuki :: Maximum Black EP
www.themooneysuzuki.com ++ www.myspace.com/themooneysuzuki

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

Elvis Perkins :: Ash Wednesday

Kevin from So Much Silence turned me on to Elvis Perkins during his last trip to L.A. Thank you, sir. After reading a brief bio of Perkins, it's easy to see where he is coming from in terms of his lyrical content. The man has been through a lot. Perkins album Ash Wednesday sees wide release February 20th -- here is a little preview.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Elvis Perkins :: Ash Wednesday
MP3: Elvis Perkins :: May Day
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Amazon: Elvis Perkins :: Ash Wednesday
www.elvisperkins.net +++ www.myspace.com/elvisperkins

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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Elvis Perkins MP3s.

Lee Hazelwood :: Saccharine Underground

Yesterday Stereogum posted a track off the upcoming Lee Hazelwood album Cake or Death. More importantly, for me, they shed the sad news of Lee Hazelwood's reported diagnosis of terminal renal cancer. My fandom, while only a few years old, runs deep. The man is an icon.

Founder of the so-called 'Saccharine Underground,' Lee's contribution to the cowboy -psych movement is undeniable. A pioneer in sound, production and the re-defining of what a duet could be, the man truly made waves. As if his own body of work is not evidence enough, have a look at the stable of artists who have covered his canon over the years, e.g Total Lee! The Songs of Lee Hazlewood featuring Jarvis Cocker, Lambchop , Erlend Oye, Richard Hawley, and Calexico among others. Hell, just this past week I posted Dean and Britta's cover of Lee Hazelwood's duet with Ann-Margret "You Turned My Head Around" off their upcoming album Back Numbers.

Below is Lee and Nancy Sinatra's signature duet "Some Velvet Morning" along with their "I've Been Down So Long." Also: two tracks culled from the 2002 Total Lee! The Songs of Lee Hazlewood compilation. Hazelwood's wry lyrics on "I'm Glad I Never" could not be better suited for Lambchop's Kurt Wagner.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Lee Hazelwood & Nancy Sinatra :: Some Velvet Morning
MP3: Lee Hazelwood & Nancy Sinatra :: I've Been Down So Long
MP4: Lambchop :: I'm Glad I Never (via sendspace)
MP4: Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley :: The Cheat (via sendspace)
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Amazon: Lee Hazelwood - Cake or Death (released January 23rd)

Amazon: Total Lee! The Songs of Lee Hazlewood
++ www.myspace.com/leehazlewood ++ unofficial site

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

Now Podcasting :: Episode 22

First off: The A.D. podcast has been up since last spring and has grown to attract about 1,800 listeners each week. BUT, I do have a problem. I am hoping one of you may have a solution to and/or advice. I made a rookie mistake last April submitting my feed to iTunes podcast service when I only had one 30 minute show up (apparently they reject 'casts without at least several shows). It was denied and now I cannot re-submit the same feed twice. I have not been able to reach anyone with iTunes to explain the situation as I would love to have the podcast listed with them. Anybody got a clue as to what I can do here? Thanks. -- A.D.
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Welcome to Episode 22 of the podcast edition of The Aquarium Drunkard Show; airing live every Wednesday 2-4 p.m. PST 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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DJ Shadow - Best Foot Forward ++ Darondo – Let My People Go ++ Sister Nancy - Bam Bam ++ The Meters – A Message From The Meters ++ Shuggie Otis – Inspiration Information ++ Moses Dillard - Tribute To Wes ++ Digable Planets – Black Ego ++ A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation ++ The Clash - The Guns of Brixton ++ Elvis Costello – This Years Girl ++ The Broken West – On The Bubble ++ The Greenehorns – Shelter of Your Arms ++ Spaceman 3 – Come Down Easy (demo) ++ Yo La Tengo – Decora ++ David Vandervelde –Nothin’ No ++ Lou Reed – Vicious ++ Dr. John - I Walk On Gilded Splinters ++ Dogme 95 –Bear Beat II ++ Black Fiction – Magic Hands ++ Neutral Milk Hotel – Ghost ++ Blur – On The Way To The Club ++ Dean And Britta – You Turned My Head Around ++ The Broadway Hush – Tonight You Belong To Me ++ Loudon Wainwright III – Swimming Song
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Subscribe: Add This Feed
MP3 Download/Stream: Episode 22
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Aquarium Drunkard Podcast: Archives Here

Meters :: Live @ The Showboat Lounge 1977

In contiuuing with the string of New Orleans related posts until Mardi Gras, here is a Meters show from 1977 I posted on last January as part of the original Live Upload Series. Look for another Meters live feature in next few weeks recorded at The Bottomline in the late seventies.
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Nobody..and I mean nobody funked it up like The Meters did in their prime. Shit-hot grooves. I have collected a number of shows from the band's '70s hey-day, and this is one of my favorites. It is culled from a 1977 New Orleans Live radio broadcast complete with a smokey-voiced DJ popping in and out during the duration of the show.

Great banter from the band too. Several times throughout the show Art Neville speaks directly to the greater New Orleans radio audience, telling them to get with it and come on down to the show. The beginning of "People Say" is particularly nasty.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Meters :: Just Kissed My Baby
MP3: The Meters :: Band Banter
MP3: The Meters :: Big Chief
MP3: The Meters :: Stage Banter
MP3: The Meters :: Jungleman
MP3: The Meters :: Ask's For You
MP3: The Meters :: Hey Pocky Way
MP3: The Meters :: People Say
MP3: The Meters :: Ain't No Use -->
MP3: The Meters :: Po' Boy Jam -->
MP3: The Meters :: Ain't No Use
MP3: The Meters :: Feel Da Groove
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www.themetersonline.com ++ www.nola.com ++ www.wwoz.org
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Meters MP3s.

Captain Beefheart :: Safe as Milk

Captain Beefheart's 1967 debut, Safe as Milk, has had a firm hold on my ears the past couple of weeks -- namely because I just recently replaced my old copy with the remastered version (complete with added bonus tracks). While Trout Mask is it's own fantastic, bizarro ride (note: possible future post) Safe As Milk remains my favorite complete Beefheart work from start to finish. It was also my introduction to the band.

Re-listening to the album in 2007 is an interesting experience in and of itself based solely on the amount of recent indie bands who have clearly co-opted much of the Beefheart sound, style, and aural aesthetic. Granted, I tend to love many of these bands for that very reason.

Beefheart's unrelenting mix of raw garage rock distilled through their rendering of the delta blues sounds like midnight under a full moon in the bayou. This cleaned up version of the album only further punctuates this. Foe those interested, the bonus tracks are outtakes from Mirror Man Sessions.

Video: Watch the band's "Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do" rave up. Damn.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Captain Beefheart :: Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do
MP3: Captain Beefheart :: Safe as Milk take 5 (bonus track)
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Amazon: Captain Beefheart - Safe as Milk
www.beefheart.com

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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Beefheart MP3s.

The Autumn Defense :: New Album

I heaped praise on The Autumn Defense 2003 album Circles back in March of last year and have since wondered if/when they would record a proper follow-up. Well they have and it is being released this month by Broadmoor Records.

Still mining the '70s kinks-esque, singer-songwriter landscape they so eloquently articulated on Circles, John Stirratt and Pat Sansone again prove this is no mere Wilco side-project, but a viable entity of its own.

Previously: The Autumn Defense :: Circles

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Autumn Defense :: Canyon Arrow
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Amazon: The Autumn Defense - S/T
www.theautumndefense.com ++ www.myspace.com/theautumndefense

+ Autumn Defense album Circles available via eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Autumn Defense MP3s.

Gilles Peterson :: Digs America

For those of you who were curious as to what compilation I was referencing in the Darondo post, the following should clarify a bit. Gilles Peterson is the envy of dj's, collectors and crate diggers around the world. At least in the world of An Aquarium Drunkard he is. The holmes has a collection so dense and thick that it is stored in it's own warehouse (Gilles former home, known as Brownswood). Note: He has also started a label under the moniker Brownswood as well.

As eclectic as he is prolific, Peterson's tastes run across the board touching on funk, dub, r&b, soul, danchall, and hip hop, with a particulary keen ear for interesting world music. His comps are fantasticly eclectic and varied -- and there are many, many of them. Gilles Peterson Digs America: Brownswood U.S.A. finds Peterson mining obscure old, rare and out-of-print soul, r&b, and jazz . Mecca.

Also check out: Gilles Peterson on the BBC Radio

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Bob Cunningham :: Lover's Theme
MP3: Moses Dillard :: Tribute To Wes
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Amazon: Gilles Peterson Digs America - Brownswood U.S.A.
www.brownswoodrecordings.com

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

David Vandervelde :: Moonstation House Band

Upon listening to David Vandervelde's late 2006 Daytrotter session (dude covered the Stones "cocksucker blues"..i mean, c'mon) I immediately shot an email to his label Secretly Canadian to get the scoop on who this guy was and if/when he had an album in the works. Not only did he have one in the works, he had one in the can all ready to go in 2007. Well, here we are and Vandervelde is set to release his album The Moonstation House Band on January 23rd. Giddy up.

His rock & roll '70s stylings smell like a dirty glam-rock show. Truly. If he was around ten years ago he could have been easily cast in a role in Velvet Goldmine. Oh well, maybe he'll warrant a pt. 2.

Elsewhere:
+ Check out Vandervelde's December Daytrotter session
+ Gorilla vs. Bear has Vandervelde's "Murder In Michigan"

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: David Vandervelde :: Nuthin’ No
MP3: David Vandervelde :: Jacket
MP3: David Vandervelde :: Cocksucker Blues (stones cover via daytrotter.com)
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Amazon: David Vandervelde - The Moonstation House Band
www.davidvandervelde.com +++ www.myspace.com/davidvandervelde ++ www.secretlycanadian.com

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

Darondo :: Let My People Go

In 2006 the Luv N' Haight folks released this nine track career spanning collection of Darondo's music (including three previously unreleased demo tracks) and my ears have never been the same. Once referred to as a street-wise Al Green, Darondo is the real deal. As music gets more and more sterilized through technology and the like - it is shit like Darondo's rawness that brings everything into focus and perspective. I have never cared about genre and recently while prepping for a radio show and queuing up Darondo's "Let My People Go" I was reminded of why. Unbridled Soul. He has it. Link Wray had it. Q Tip has it. Jim James has it. Steve Earle has it. There are no boundaries, nor artifice. Download these two early '70s gems and close your eyes.

Note: Savvy readers may remember "Didn't I" from Gilles Peterson Digs America

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Darondo :: Let My People Go
MP3: Darondo :: Didn't I
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Amazon: Darondo :: Let My People Go

Update: You can download free via eMusic's 25 Free MP3 offer.

Dean And Britta :: Back Numbers 2.27.07

Picking up right where 2003's L'Avventura left off, Dean And Britta return with their new full length Back Numbers. As with L'Avventura and their work with Luna, Wareham and Phillips know how to tastefully cover other artists material both staying true to the original and equally giving it a life of its own. This feat is accomplished a couple of times on Back Numbers but no more eloquently than Britta Phillips take on Lee Hazelwood and Ann-Margret's "You Turned My Head Around. "

Produced by Tony Visconti, Back Numbers will be released on February 27th via the Rounder Records Group. Until then -- listen to Britta's interpretation below.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Dean And Britta :: You Turned My Head Around
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Purchase: Dean And Britta - Back Numbers
+ www.deanandbritta.com ++ www.myspace.com/deanandbritta

+ Dean And Britta available through eMusic's 25 Free MP3 trial offer.
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+ Visit The Hype Machine for additional Dean And Britta MP3s.

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Menomena :: Friend or Foe

As one of the more interesting albums thus far in 2007 -- Menomena's latest Barsuk project -- Friend or Foe -- once again, like their debut I Am The Fun Blame Monster, defies genre convention. While IAMTFBM was melodic and atmospheric with it's charming cut & paste lo-fi beats, Friend or Foe