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This Old Ghost – Island Of Violent Lovers

After reading the tag line on This Old Ghost‘s Twitter page I believe they do themselves a disservice by proclaiming the bands they sound like. After listening to their EP on bandcamp I disagree with them wholeheartedly. That’s not to say I don’t like the music, I do, a lot. Yes, there are influences from a specific musical spectrum, but know this Ryan, Ian , Karri, Rob, Brendan, own your sound and find ways to distinguish yourselves from the crowd. All in all, the Island of Violent Lovers EP is a very comfortable sweater you’ll likely grow more attached to after repeated listens. And I most assuredly have a sweater fetish. Peace.

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things we like: Audio-Technica AT-LP240-USB Turntable


 
Santa are you reading this? There isn’t many things I want for Christmas, but this is definitely one of them. If you’ve been living under a rock, you may not have noticed that vinyl has made a comeback in a majorly big way. And like so many people you want something to play your growing vinyl collection on. But, you don’t want to trust the ritualistic analog transference experience to any old record player. No way. You want something special don’t you? Of course you do and your precious and oh so fragile vinyls want what you want too.

What’s so special about the Audio-Technica AT-LP240-USB Turntable is its ability to encode all those vinyl tunes into MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WAV or AIFF audio files. Hey, stop salivating, this ones mine. Peace. Continue reading “things we like: Audio-Technica AT-LP240-USB Turntable”

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Now, Now – Dead Oaks

With a voice as adorable as a kitten drinking a bowl of warm cream, Now, Now lead-singer Cacie Dalager has it out for me, because she is killing me softly. The band is putting the finishing touches on their sophomore LP Threads, set to drop March 6th 2012 via Trans Records. If you haven’t heard they’re pretty great. Check out the track below. Peace.

 

This live session is such a sweet little visual of Now, Now performing “Neighbors”, offering testament why so many are head over heels, falling.

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Of Montreal – Wintered Debts

If I could take several specific paintings of Michael Hussar, a lock of Andre 3000’s hair, along with a few choice puffs of the Beatles’ Magic Mystery Tour album, place them in a cauldron, and wave Dumbledore’s wand over it, chanting, “Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.” What I suspect would materialize out of thin air would sound exactly like Of Montreal. Of Montreal has released another round of musical spells with Paralytic Stalks. I am more than a bit charmed. Peace.

“Wintered Debts” takes me places without atmospheres of turmoil.

“Id Engager” is so promiscuous, but I like my music that way.

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Nyemiah Supreme – None Of Ya Business

Hove can’t sleep, while she ridin’ his beat/yeah/who you wit/not grindin’ his lap/but twistin’ his wax…(lol) Yeah, I’m no rapper but Nyemiah Supreme is, and she’s on the come up. Dropping her Bad mixtape in November which birthed the bangers “Real Talk 101” and “House Party.” Expect to hear a lot from her in the coming year and beyond. And since her label RCRD LBL is sweet like that, you can download her latest “None Of Ya Business,” for free here. Peace.

Nyemiah Supreme “Real Talk 101” from Nyemiah Supreme on Vimeo.

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Family Of The Year – St. Croix

Family of the Year
“You bring the ocean/I’ll bring the motion/together we’ll make a love potion,” no way to go wrong with such inviting lyrics. And when you couple such suggestive words with open and inviting music awash in audible sunshine, the painted picture is scantily clad and frolicking on an idyllic beach. All of this is brought to you courtesy of Family of the Year and their St. Croix EP. Just a reminder of how much you love Summer, and definitely one of the best releases of the year.
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nerves junior | as bright as your night light

nerves junior | as bright as your night light
nerves junior | as bright as your night light

I dream of journeys repeatedly:
Of flying like a bat deep into a narrowing tunnel
Of driving alone, without luggage, out a long peninsula,
The road lined with snow-laden second growth,
A fine dry snow ticking the windshield,
Alternate snow and sleet, no on-coming traffic,
And no lights behind, in the blurred side-mirror,
The road changing from glazed tarface to a rubble of stone,
Ending at last in a hopeless sand-rut,
Where the car stalls,
Churning in a snowdrift
Until the headlights darken.

– Theodore Roethke

This excerpt is taken from T. Roethke’s “A Far Field,” and it pretty much sums up how we feel about Nerves Junior and their exceedingly excellent LP As Bright As Your Night Light. Peace. Continue reading “nerves junior | as bright as your night light”

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The Other Guys: Interview (Part 1)

Today, I have the pleasure of talking to up and coming hip-hop duo The Other Guys. And although their music is genuine and thoughtful, it also marks a return to hip-hop’s Golden Era. A time when hip-hop was fun, and brimming with positive vibes. Their music speaks for itself without bravado or the bombastic-materialistic-self aggrandizing associated with most practitioners of the genre. Listening to their latest LP The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth is like listening to the dawn of a new day.

d. durand: Welcome. What’s up? I’m a big fan, and I’m loving your work. First, how about telling the readers who you guys are? Name, where you’re from, etc.

Mighty Joe: We’re both from the DC/MD/VA area. But Gnormen Insanate Baites lives in Brooklyn and me, Mighty Joe, I  live in DC.

d. durand: How does your combined life experiences affect the kind of music you both create?

Gnormen Insanate Baites:  For me, everything I speak about is a direct reflection of my experiences. Songs like Thick Skin, Nowhere to be Found, and Valley of the Sun, are about real people and real situations. If I had different situations in life I’m sure I would speak about different things, and that would change our music completely.

Mighty Joe: I grew up listening to a lot of different genres, so since I’m a fan of so many different things I incorporate that into what we do. Continue reading “The Other Guys: Interview (Part 1)”

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Crystal Fighters – Champion Sound (Acoustic)

Allow me to introduce you to Mimi, Laure, Gilbert, Graham and Sebastian. Perhaps not my BFFs. Even better, they’re collectively known as Crystal Fighters and they make such a joyful noise.  And like the corrida de toros of their homeland España, they aren’t to be taken lightly. Listen to their potently tender rendition of their beautiful song “Champion Sound.” It’s like having an IV filled with Sangria. I think you’re going to want a refill too, so head over and visit CF’s soundcloud page and pour yourself another round. Peace. Continue reading “Crystal Fighters – Champion Sound (Acoustic)”