leaky, leaky

Holy god this is beautiful. But then, as you're likely aware, I'm a total Okkervil River fangirl... :)

my top albums of 2007 #10-01

10

Menomena - Friend And Foe
Menomena has been on the rise since the release of this fantastic album. The music is fresh, the lyrics are witty, and there's lots and lots of saxophone.
TLOBF review

09

Jamie T - Panic Prevention
This was one of the first 2007 releases that I heard. And it's barely left my playlist since.

08

Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation
Ah, yes, my love affair with this album is still going strong.
My review

07

LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
Soooooooooooooooooo good. And it became even better after seeing James Murphy & co. open for The Arcade Fire at Red Rocks earlier this year.
TLOBF review

06

Kevin Drew - Spirit If...
Brilliant.
My review

05

The New Pornographers - Challengers
I know I said it before, but the first four tracks of this album are about as close to perfection as any band can get. I put off listening to this one for a while because I feared it would not be too good. Obviously that was not the case... :)
TLOBF review

04

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Bon Iver, aka Justin Vernon, self-released For Emma, Forever Ago back in July, creating quite a buzz in certain corners of the blog-world. Luckily for me I've got a friend in one of those corners who introduced me to it. In the meantime, Justin's been signed by Jagjaguwar and the album will be re-released in February. I'm definitely thrilled that I got my hands on a self-released copy early on... them things are gonna be rare. As for the album, it just may be good enough to land on next year's list too...

03

Okkervil River - The Stage Names
Well, this should come as a surprise to NO one... ;)
My review

02

Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Andrew Bird indeed achieved the impossible by making an album even better than The Mysterious Production Of Eggs.

01

The National - Boxer
The National and Andrew Bird were pretty much battling all year for the #1 spot. The National clinched it with a stellar performance at the Ogden back in September. Boxer is just an amazing album...
TLOBF review

So there it is. I have to say I'd be hard-pressed to find any other year where my top 50 albums are not just good, but exceptional. I hate to say it, but I'm ready for a break in 2008... :)

reason #1493 to love okkervil river

OK, so I pulled that number out of my ass, but still, there are a LOT of reasons to love Okkervil River. Here is another one. They are offering a FREE download of their "Golden Opportunities Mixtape", recorded live on tour over 2006-2007.

The tracklist:

1. APRIL ANNE (John Phillips)
2. SIMON SMITH AND THE AMAZING DANCING BEAR (Randy Newman)
3. I WANT TO KNOW (Charles F. Olsen/Ed Sanders)
4. DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO (Jimmy Webb)
5. I CAME HERE TO SAY IM GOING AWAY (Serge Gainsbourg/Trans. by W. Sheff)
6. THE BLONDE IN THE BLEACHERS (Joni Mitchell)
7. ANTARCTICA STARTS HERE (John Cale)
8. LISTENING TO OTIS REDDING AT HOME DURING CHRISTMAS (Will Sheff)
9. SOLO (Sandy Denny)

download!

printable artwork and liner notes
printable artwork and liner notes (alt version)
printable artwork and liner notes (b&w)

All downloads (obviously) courtesy of Okkervil River.

Enjoy. I am.

the best of 2007... part 3

I knew I would get around to this eventually...

So, dear friends, it's pretty clear that the third quarter of this amazing year has been extraordinarily good to me. I hooked up with the inimitable "other MS" Merry Swanskter to bring you news of the finest live shows in the Denver area, I was asked to join the unparalleled staff of the UK-based blog The Line Of Best Fit, and I was invited to bring the glory of Denver's local music scene to the masses at MusicRex. Unfortunately, my humble little blog here has somewhat fallen by the wayside in the wake of all the other projects I've become involved with, but fear not loyal readers (both of you), I am still more than willing to force upon you my favorites in indie music.

All MP3's available here are for promotional use only. Please support the artists by going to shows and buying their stuff. If you own the MP3's here and want them taken down, please e-mail me at brhelgothATgmailDOTcom.

That being said, here is the probably-not-too-long awaited part 3 of the Mystik Spiral 2007 best new music tracklist:

01 Bishop Allen - Rain
02 The Gaslight Anthem - 1930
03 Marmoset - Luckcharm
04 The Avett Brothers - Salina
05 The Broken Family Band - Dancing On The 4th Floor
06 David Dondero - Rothko Chapel
07 Ezra Furman - Hotel Room In Casablanca
08 BOAT - Make Way For The Genius To Appear
09 Les Savy Fav - Scotchgard The Credit Card
10 Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
11 Stars - Take Me To The Riot
12 Blitzen Trapper - Sci-Fi Kid
13 Josh Ritter - To The Dogs Or Whoever
14 Figurines - Bee Dee
15 The Cribs - Moving Pictures
16 Kevin Drew - Lucky Ones
17 The Ladybug Transistor - Three Days From Now
18 Okkervil River - Plus Ones
19 Iron & Wine - Resurrection Fern
20 New Pornographers - Adventures In Solitude

download it!

And here are my previous "best of 2007" playlists, altered slightly when I made the gut-wrenching decision to limit each to 20 tracks.

Best of 2007, Part 2:

01 Elvis Perkins - While You Were Sleeping
02 Cloud Cult - Pretty Voice
03 Revival - Favorite One
04 Get Him Eat Him - The Coronation Show
05 White Rabbits - While We Go Dancing
06 Good Shoes - Never Meant To Hurt You
07 Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
08 Dan Deacon - Pink Batman
09 Handsome Furs - Dead + Rural
10 Art Brut - People In Love
11 The Teeth - Shoulderblade
12 Pela - Trouble With River Cities
13 Voxtrot - Firecracker
14 The National - Apartment Story
15 Elliott Smith - Looking Over My Shoulder
16 Ryan Adams - Pearls On A String
17 Bright Eyes - If The Brakeman Turns My Way
18 Page France - Pigeons
19 Blonde Redhead - Spring And By Summer Fall
20 Narrator - A Decade In Kentucky

download it!

Best of 2007, Part 1:

01 - The Apples In Stereo - Can You Feel It?
02 - Deerhoof - +81
03 - LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
04 - The Broken West - Down In The Valley
05 - Apostle Of Hustle - Chances Are
06 - Of Montreal - A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger
07 - Menomena - Air Aid
08 - CYHSY - Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles In The Air...
09 - Illinois - Nosebleed
10 - Modest Mouse - Spitting Venom
11 - The Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
12 - The Besnard Lakes - Devastation
13 - Panda Bear - Take Pills
14 - Beirut - Scenic World (Version)
15 - Andrew Bird - Dark Matter
16 - Jamie T - Calm Down Dearest
17 - Dr. Dog - Worst Trip
18 - The Shins - Girl Sailor
19 - Papercuts - Take The 227th Exit
20 - Do Make Say Think - A Tender History In Rust

download it!

Because I like to convince myself that you love it, here are my ten favorite albums from July - September 2007 (in alphabetical order - links to TLOBF album reviews where applicable):

Bishop Allen - The Broken String:

Aaaaaaah, what can I say about this album that I haven't already said? It's a piece of pure pop heaven, it is. Justin Rice and Christian Rudder are like, totally, my new heroes.

Favorite tracks: The Monitor; Rain; Flight 180; Like Castinets









Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation:

Somehow it's happened that I've missed opening sets by these guys not once, but TWICE this year. I will see this band live one day, I swear. Really unique music from these Portlanders (I'm thinking I need to move to Oregon already...).

Favorite tracks: Devil's A-Go-Go; Sci-Fi Kid; The Green King Sings; Country Caravan





The Cribs - Men's Need, Women's Needs, Whatever:

Have I already mentioned the UK invasion of 2007? Yeah, I thought so.

Favorite tracks: Our Bovine Public; Moving Pictures; My Life Flashed Before My Eyes; Shoot The Poets










David Dondero - Simple Love:

I already wrote about this one too!

Favorite tracks: The Prince William Sound; Rothko Chapel; You Don't Love Anyone; Lone Rose

[TLOBF review]










Ezra Furman & The Harpoons - Banging Down The Doors:

Ezra's voice is like a mixture of CYHSY's Alec Ounsworth and a young Bob Dylan. His lyrics are funny and poignant. You should get this one!

Favorite tracks: Mother's Day; Hotel Room In Casablanca; Halloween Snow; The Little Red-Haired Girl








Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog:

This album is so beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Favorite tracks: Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car; Lovesong Of The Buzzard; Innocent Bones; Resurrection Fern; Flightless Bird, American Mouth










Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew - Spirit If...:

[TLOBF review]

Favorite tracks: Tbtf; F--Ked Up Kid; Lucky Ones; Backed Out On The...












New Pornographers - Challengers:

I never thought the New Pornographers could top their brilliant 2005 release Twin Cinema. Challengers proves me wrong. If there is anything in life more perfect than the first four tracks on this album, well... I'd love to hear that.

Favorite tracks: My Rights Versus Yours; All The Old Showstoppers; Challengers; Myriad Harbour; Unguided; Adventures In Solitude

[TLOBF review]



Okkervil River - The Stage Names:

Big surprise, huh?

Favorite tracks: All of them. But especially Unless It's Kicks; Plus Ones; John Allyn Smith Sails

[TLOBF review]










Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga:

Despite the much-maligned title, this is a very solid album. Good work, Spoon.

Favorite tracks: Don't Make Me A Target; You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb; The Underdog; Black Like Me

[TLOBF review]



As always, here are some more albums that are definitely worth your time (links to TLOBF album reviews where applicable):

Alberta Cross - The Thief & The Heartbreaker
Angels Of Light - We Are Him
Architecture In Helsinki - Places Like This
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold
BOAT - Let's Drag Our Feet
The Broken Family Band - Hello Love
Caribou - Andorra
Cherry Ghost - Thirst For Romance
Figurines - When The Deer Wore Blue
The Gaslight Anthem - Sink Or Swim
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Once OST
Great Northern - Trading Twilight For Daylight
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter
The Ladybug Transistor - Can't Wait Another Day
Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love - Ends Of June
Marmoset - Florist Fired
Monkey Swallows The Universe - The Casket Letters
Múm - Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy
O'Death - Head Home
The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth
St. Vincent - Marry Me
Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War
The Thrills - Teenager

Phew. Only three more months to go. Viva music!

oh my

I'm going to see Okkervil River tonight!

Just excited is all... ;)

okkervil update

When I was trying to convince y'all to buy the new Okkervil River album, The Stage Names, I neglected to mention that if you buy the CD you get a bonus disc of demo versions of all the songs (= nothing more than Will Sheff + guitar). Of course, I hadn't heard the demo disc until today, so I couldn't have been too convincing about it at the time, could I? Well, now I'm emphatically urging you to buy it. The demo disc is precisely why I even got the CD... (I got the LP too, cuz I love records). At least it was worth it.

Trust me.

brilliant albums for brilliant people #1

Hey, a new feature! This is where I will choose a brilliant album every week, and then tell you why you should buy it. :)

Okkervil River's The Stage Names is hardly a new subject for this blog, but it comes out tomorrow so I deemed it fit for the first installment of brilliant albums.

Will Sheff is a master not only of unfurling stories within his songs, but going the next step to unfurl stories within entire albums. As 2005's Black Sheep Boy was built conceptually around the cover of Tim Hardin's song of the same name, The Stage Names plays out as a (semi-)autobiographical journey through the life of a "Rock And Roll Man". Sheff's clever lyrics wend and weave through 9 tracks about movies vs. life, realities of the road, unfaithfulness and failed suicide.

Sheff's lyrics are no doubt the most notable feature on any Okkervil River album, but even so it would be difficult to overlook the many other layers that contribute to the success of the album: dense instrumentation (rollicking piano, big guitars, horns, strings), backing vocals, and Sheff's voice itself. It's no big secret among Okkervil River fans - Sheff's voice, while extraordinarly unique, is not the best in the world. But with The Stage Names he's taken his vocals to a new level and has never sounded better. Plus, he can still whip himself into a good ol' frenzy by the end of a song.

Though the subject matter of The Stage Names may seem a bit dismal, the overall feel of this record is vastly more upbeat than Black Sheep Boy. There is not a bad song on the album, and Okkervil even manages to get away with a could-have-been-disastrous Beach Boys tribute of sorts in album closer John Allyn Smith Sails. I'd never have thought it possible, but in time this album may very well prove itself stronger than Black Sheep Boy.

Okkervil River - The Stage Names
available: August 7, 2007
Jagjaguwar

i love okkervil river

There, I said it. Okkervil River was one of the first bands I got into when I finally "discovered" indie music just a bit over a year and a half ago. Black Sheep Boy appeared on several "best of 2005" lists, and so I bought it. Admittedly it took me a couple of listens for the album to sink in, but once it did... I found myself hunting down everything the band has ever recorded.

I realize the picture up there is pretty dated (that's Jonathan Meiburg on accordian), but I couldn't resist... It's just... so... great.

Since it's leak (a mere 3 weeks ago), I believe I have listened to this year's upcoming release, The Stage Names, about 30 times. I have preordered it both on vinyl and CD. It is incredible - and for a band to follow up a superb album with an equally superb album is rare. As I sit here and listen to The Stage Names yet again, I can't help but wonder how the music industry ever ended up in such a state... where the world's most no-talent hacks get all the press while the world's most ingenius bands are still playing 300-capacity clubs nearly 10 years after they are born. While the band started in NH, they are currently based in Austin, which is what, like 900 miles from Denver? OK, it seems like a ways, but our states out here are pretty fucking big. There is no way this amazing band should still be playing in 300-seat venues at this point in their musical career.

Not that I'm complaining... today I bought my ticket to see Okkervil in September at Denver's Marquis Theatre. But each time I get to see a brilliant band at a small venue with (too often) a small crowd there's a part of me that can't get past the injustice of it all. I guess in the meantime I will go ahead and enjoy everything I know that the rest of the world doesn't. Yes, I have indeed turned into just a bit of an indie music snob... :)

And so ends this rambling, maybe slightly gin-induced, proclamation of love to what is likely my favorite band at the moment. If you are not familiar with Okkervil River, check out their catalogue post-haste, and proceed to NOT be disappointed. And PLEASE buy The Stage Names on August 7... if you are a fan of brilliant lyrics, superior musicianship, and a vocalist who may not be the most "talented" singer in the world (but who belts out his tunes with passion and a unique voice), you will love it.

Now for a sampling of those brilliant Will Sheff lyrics (it's a Stage Names spoiler, so don't read if you don't want to know...):

Okkervil River - Plus Ones

No one wants to hear about your 97th tear
So dry your eyes or let it go uncried, my dear
I am all out of love to mouth into your ear
And not above letting a love song disappear before it's written

And no one wants a tune about the 100th luftballoon
That was seen shooting from the window of your room
To be a spot against the sky's colossal gloom
And land deflated in some neighbor's state that's strewn with 99 others

8 chinese brothers
Well, there's a reason why the last is smiling wider, sitting higher than the others
Swinging his arms

You would probably die before you shot up 9 miles high
Your eyes dilated as light played upon the sight
Of TVC16 as it sings you goodnight
Relaxed as hell and locked up in cell 45
I hope you're feeling better

The 51st way to leave your lover
Admittedly, it doesn't seem to be as gentle or as clean as all the others
Leaving a scar
All in the after hours of some Greenpoint bar

I told you, I can't listen, baby, 'bout the 4th time you were a lady
And how your forthrightness betrayed a secret shyness
Stripped away by days of being hailed as "your highness"
And what's new pussycat, as you were once a lionness
They cut your claws out

Kitten, not everyone's keen on lighting candle 17
The party's done, the cake's all gone, the plates are clean
The chauffeur's leering from the cheerless mezzanine
And in just one year, this straight world could pay to see
What they have been missing

But you were caught kissing 8 chinese brothers
Well, there's a reason why the last is smiling wider sitting higher than the others
Stinking with charm

And he says, "Lets get lost, let them send out alarms"
He says, "Let's get crossed out and come to harm
Let's make the world's stupidest stand and truly mean it
Let's hit the limit of loss over lover's arms
No, lets exceed it."

Those are the most clever lyrics I've heard for quite some time...

I couldn't be more excited for September 13... I've only been waiting a year and a half. <8

regarding okkervil river...

I guess all I had to do was ask... :)

07-14 Concord, NH - Capitol Center for the Arts
07-15 Providence, RI - Jake's Bar and Grille
09-03 San Diego, CA - Casbah
09-04 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
09-05 San Francisco, CA - Independent
09-08 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan (MusicFest NW)
09-09 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
09-10 Seattle, WA - Neumos
09-13 Denver, CO - Marquee Theater
09-14 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
09-15 Iowa City, IA - Picador
09-18 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
09-19 Urbana, IL - The Canopy Club (Pygmalion Festival)
09-21 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
09-22 Hamilton, Ontario - Pepper Jack's Café
09-23 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
09-24 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
09-25 Boston, MA - Middle East
09-26 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse
09-28 New York, NY - Webster Hall
09-29 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
09-30 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
10-02 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
10-03 Athens, GA - 40 Watt
10-06 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington

new okkervil river... finally.

Austin's Okkervil River, one of my favorites, will be releasing their 5th album on August 7. The album is entitled The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar); the tracklist:

01 Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe
02 Unless It's Kicks
03 A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene
04 Savannah Smiles
05 Plus Ones
06 A Girl in Port
07 You Can't Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man
08 Title Track
09 John Allyn Smith Sails

Here's hoping for a Colorado tour date this summer!

trying to catch up...

OK, it's not my fault, I was in southern California for 8 days, OK?!?

It was supposed to be a vacation, but... I was with my sister and brother-in-law and their 3 kids. So NOT a vacation!!! I love those kids, but damn... there's a reason why I don't have any of my own. Incidentally, if you want the most effective birth control ever... spend 8 days and 7 nights with other people's kids. Trust me.

Anyhoo, I'm back in town and feeling quite out of the loop. I haven't posted in a while, and am just catching up on all the news. So here are some blurbs that are of interest to me, if nobody else.

################################################

Prince played the Superbowl halftime show on Sunday. Kick ass... except that I was watching the game with a bunch of NON Prince appreciators. Prince is a God. Sadly I had to resort to youtube the day after to get the full effect of his performance. He still kicks ass on that guitar. Especially in the pouring rain, oh yeah. Of course, NOW the FCC "broadcast decency" watchdogs are accusing Prince of using his guitar as an "inappropriate phallic symbol". [sarcasm] Prince? Nooooo.... [/sarcasm]. As for me, I'd much rather see Prince's penis guitar than Janet Jackson's nipple. Am I right?

################################################

Will Sheff and Josh Ritter scheduled a handful of west coast dates for later this winter. Unfortunately, however, Will Sheff lost his voice and consequently had to cancel the tour. Too bad, except that they weren't coming to Colorado, so fuck 'em. BUT... Okkervil River is heading to the studio and will hopefully release an album this year. Happy, happy!

################################################

Band Of Horses will be back in the studio/on a little tour of the southeast come March:

03-10 St. Augustine, FL - Cafe Eleven *
03-11 Sunrise, FL - Langerado Festival
03-12 Orlando, FL - The Social *
03-13 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds *
03-14 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
03-15 Knoxville, TN - Blue Cats *
05-18-20 Minehead, England - ATP vs. the Fans Festival

* with Cary Ann Hearst and the Gun Street Girls

I so cannot wait for the new album...

################################################

We've got a tracklist for the new Bright Eyes album, Cassadega, which will be released on April 10 (Saddle Creek):

01 Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed)
02 Four Winds
03 If the Brakeman Turns My Way
04 Hot Knives
05 Make a Plan to Love Me
06 Soul Singer in a Session Band
07 Classic Cars
08 Middleman
09 Cleanse Song
10 No One Would Riot for Less
11 Coat Check Dream Song
12 I Must Belong Somewhere
13 Lime Tree

################################################

Arctic Monkeys revealed some album details: Favourite Worst Nightmare will be released on April 23rd in the UK, very next day in the US (Domino). Tracklist:

01 Brianstorm
02 Teddy Picker
03 D Is for Dangerous
04 Balaclava
05 Fluorescent Adolescent
06 Only Ones Who Know
07 Do Me a Favour
08 This House Is a Circus
09 If You Were There, Beware
10 The Bad Thing
11 Old Yellow Bricks
12 505

################################################

More album news, you say? I've got some! Maximo Park have announced April 2 as the release date for their sophomore effort, Our Earthly Pleasures. I'm not sure if there's a definite US release date as of yet.

Tracklist:

01 Girls Who Play Guitars
02 Our Velocity
03 Books From Boxes
04 Russian Literature
05 Karaoke Plays
06 Your Urge
07 The Unshockable
08 By the Monument
09 Nosebleed
10 A Fortnight's Time
11 Sandblasted and Set Free
12 Parisian Skies

################################################

Chin Up, Chin Up and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin are touring together this month:

02-15 Grand Rapids, MI - Division Avenue Arts Cooperative
02-16 Toronto, Ontario - Sneaky Dee's
02-17 Montreal, Quebec - Casa del Popolo
02-18 Allston, MA - Great Scott
02-19 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
02-20 Medford, MD - Tufts University
02-21 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
02-22 Washington, DC - Black Cat

No Colorado... bummer. But SSLYBY will be stopping by in April:

02-08 Springfield, MO - Jefferson Starship *
02-11 Springfield, MO - Borders (instore performance)
03-09 London, Ontario - Salt #
03-10 Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda #
03-11 Boston, MA - Axis #
03-13 New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre #
03-14 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts #
03-15 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-16 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-17 Norfolk, VA - NorVA #
03-19 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club #
03-20 Winston Salem, NC - Ziggy's #
03-22 Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre #
03-23 Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre #
03-24 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse #
03-25 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel #
03-27 Cincinnati, OH - 20th Century Theater #
03-28 Chicago, IL - House of Blues #
03-29 Cleveland, OH - House of Blues #
03-30 Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall #
03-31 Grand Rapids, MI - Intersection #
04-01 Urbana, IL - Canopy Club #
04-03 Milwaukee, WI - Rave #
04-05 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line #
04-06 Omaha, NE - Rock #
04-10 St. Louis, MO - Gargoyle Club #
04-12 Lawrence, KS - Granada #
04-13 Little Rock, AR - Revolution Room #
04-14 Norman, OK - Union Court at University of Oklahoma #
04-16 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre #
04-18 Boise, ID - Venue #
04-20 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards #
04-21 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater #
04-22 Seattle, WA - Neumos #
04-24 San Francisco, CA - Slim's #
04-25 Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues #
04-26 San Diego, CA - House of Blues #
04-29 Phoenix, AZ - Clubhouse #
05-01 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater #
05-03 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa #
05-04 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Ballroom #
05-06 Houston, TX - Meridian #
05-07 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues #

* with Drew Danburry, BIGBIGcar, Andy Zipf, Them Damn Kids, Nathanial Carroll
# with Mute Math, the Cinematics

Of course they have to come to the Fox the same night that Sunset Rubdown is at the Hi-Dive. Probably won't make it to this one...

################################################

Deerhunter will be touring come March in support of their fantastic new album Cryptograms:

03-02 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
03-03 Charleston, SC - Music Farm +
03-04 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse +
03-14 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon (Gas Food Lodging Music Festival)
03-15 Austin, TX - Soho Lounge (SXSW)
03-16 Austin, TX - Emo's Jr. (SXSW; Pitchfork party) #%
03-18 Houston, TX - Mink ^%
03-31 Jackson, MS - George Street Grocery
04-04 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle $
04-06 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar %
04-07 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge %
04-10 Seattle, WA - Neumos %
04-11 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards %
04-12 Portland, OR - Dante's %
04-13 San Francisco, CA - 12 Galaxies %
04-14 Los Angeles, CA - Echo %
04-23 Toronto, Ontario - Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
04-25 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs
04-26 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
04-28 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
04-29 Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel

* with Grizzly Bear, the Papercuts
+ with Sparklehorse, Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter
# with Girl Talk, Menomena, RJD2, the Pipettes, Do Make Say Think, Simian Mobile Disco, Fujiya & Miyagi, Beach House, Marnie Stern, Crystal Castles
^ with the Black Lips
% with the Ponys
$ with Nudge

Holy crap, SXSW is going to be amazing this year.

################################################

Alright, that's it. I'm all newsed out. Here are some albums that I've been enjoying lately:



In case you're wondering, they are: Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha; The Broken West - I Can't Go On, I'll Go On; Roddy Woomble - My Secret Is My Silence; Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder; The Shins - Wincing The Night Away; The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible; Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?; Alkaline Trio - Remains; Deerhunter - Cryptograms; Jamie T - Panic Prevention; The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America; M. Ward - Post-War; Menomena - Friend & Foe; Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity; Bright Eyes - Four Winds EP; Oxford Collapse - Remember The Night Parties; Richmond Fontaine - Thirteen Cities; Okkervil River - Overboard & Down EP. Good, good stuff.

################################################

Here are some upcoming shows that I would really like to attend, though I'll have to get a second job to pay for March's concerts alone...:

Feb 8 Camera Obscura @ The Bluebird
Feb 13 Glen Phillips @ Soiled Dove OR Grizzly Bear @ Larimer Lounge (which one???)
Feb 15 The Shins @ The Fillmore
Feb 17 Sparklehorse @ The Gothic OR The Roots/Lupe Fiasco @ The Fillmore (decisions, decisions...)
Feb 21 Alexi Murdoch @ Fox Theatre
Feb 24 The Autumn Defense @ Soiled Dove
Mar 2 Cold War Kids @ Hi-Dive
Mar 5 Clipse @ The Gothic
Mar 6 Snow Patrol/OK Go/Silversun Pickups @ The Fillmore
Mar 7 Dropkick Murphys @ The Fillmore
Mar 9 Malajube @ Larimer Lounge
Mar 10 Midlake @ Hi Dive
Mar 17 Sebadoh @ Fox Theatre
Mar 18 Badly Drawn Boy @ Fox Theatre
Mar 19 Viva Voce @ Hi-Dive
Mar 20 TV On The Radio @ The Ogden OR Dr. Dog @ Larimer Lounge (leaning toward Dr. Dog...)
Mar 22 The Hold Steady/The Thermals @ Hi Dive
Mar 30 Subtle @ Larimer Lounge
Apr 5 Neko Case @ The Gothic
Apr 7 Menomena @ Hi-Dive OR Deerhunter @ Larimer Lounge (damn it...)
Apr 10 The Long Winters @ The Bluebird
Apr 15 The Frames @ Boulder Theater
Apr 16 Sunset Rubdown @ Hi-Dive
Apr 22 Ted Leo + Pharmacists @ The Gothic
Apr 22 The Decemberists @ The Fillmore

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. I only now realized that I have tickets to both Ted Leo & The Decemberists... I gotta start writing this shit down. Why oh why do The Decemberists dates always clash with other shows I want to see?!? Anyone need a ticket for Ted Leo + Pharmacists?