Top 9s Updated w/ Xiu Xiu
New MP3s: Blockhead, Field Music, Boy Eats Drum Machine
Tycho
Tycho’s latest single evokes the tranquil mood that accompanied my recent sunset chase here in Huntington Beach. A few years back my father pointed out that late in the year, and from the vantage point of the H.B. pier, the sun settles into the isthmus of Catalina Island. My father is full of such miscellany. For some reason, this year I had a major itch to witness this minor phenomena. To my surprise, I found no information online, so beginning winter solstice I closely monitored the coast trying to determine the D-day. My efforts did not go unrewarded. The area experienced scattered showers in December, which smeared plenty of clouds across the skies, clouds that bled all the warm colors of the rainbow. Sensing that was the day, I crammed kids and cousins into the car on New Year’s Eve and sped off to catch some dying rays. “Coastal Brake” provides that same warm, shimmering epiphanic moment.
Cherrypickings (Thrice, Quasi, Album Leaf MP3s)
Play It As It Lays 2009 Review
David Bazan
I don’t listen to David Bazan as much as I should. The reason why is pathetic. And definitely one a musician never wants to hear—that you love one album, or maybe just one song, so much that anything else from that artist pales in comparison, according to that person’s narrow, small-minded, myopic point of view. Guilty. My two favorite song’s from Bazan come from his Pedro the Lion album It’s Hard to Find a Friend: “Big Trucks” and “When They Really Get to Know You They Will Run.” I’m enamored by the way those songs sound like snippets from short stories, more narratives than lyrics. And their tempos, their simplicity, and Bazan’s young, quiet earnestness on that first record. I realize this is no excuse and I need to dig deeper into his catalog—especially if I plan on attending one of his upcoming West Coast living room shows (Tickets go on sale today. Only 30 are available for each show). I don’t want to be that chump in the corner only singing along to or requesting older material. I hate those people.
We just included Pocket’s Top 9 of 2009 in our on-going Best of 2009 lists from friends of the ‘hive. Be sure to take a gander that way for his take on art, apps and laughs along with his cover of New Order’s “Sub-Culture” for next year’s tribute album from 24 Hour Service Station. If you don’t already have any of Richard Jankovich’s songs in your pocket, now’s the time to start squirreling. Formerly of Burnside Project, Jankovich began remixing tracks for oh, folks like Beck, Radiohead, Cat Power and Antony & The Johnsons. And now he’s putting his depth of musical taste and history to good use in a series of singles marrying vocalists from bands like Dag Nasty, The Church, Shudder to Think, Liquid Liquid and Asobi Seksu with his own blend of electronic beats, blips, and blasts. I noticed he dropped a Human League sampled beat in one of his tracks as well—it’s like he’s curating the Gen X museum of music geekdom with his Warhol-esque pastiches of the past and ever evolving present.
Vic Chesnutt
R.I.P.
Patti Smith
3some: Xmas 2009
Merry Christmas! Here’s our last installation of holiday cheer for the year. First up, a faithful rendition of The Three Wise Men’s (aka XTC) “Thanks for Christmas” by Ireland’s Pugwash. Led by Thomas Walsh, his band has a revolving cast of characters (Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory (XTC), Michael Penn, and Jason Faulkner. Watch for their U.S. debut next year. Next up, a song to remind everyone to keep their cool during the holidays by The Crookes. Cheerful on the surface with the ringing guitars and tambourines, but blue on the inside, relating the tale of a poor soul who gets the cold shoulder. Then a more traditional Christmas song from a band awfully generous to call themselves The Crookes. Check their 12 Days of Crookesmas for more holiday music. Hurricane Bells stuffs your stocking with a brief gem that I wish played through at least one more time. Songwriter Steve Schiltz, the former frontman for Longwave, has a new record out through Vagrant called Tonight is the Ghost. Last, but not least, London producer LJ Kruzer (Stephen Fiske) cranks out a bumping version of “We Three Kings” awash in heavy doses of synthesizer. Alrighty then, I’m off to celebrate Christmas Eve with sushi and the family. Peace and joy to you and yours!
Thanks for Christmas [MP3]
by Pugwash
Chorus of Fools [MP3] and
Oh Come All Ye Faithful [MP3]
by The Crookes
Christmas Don’t Be Late [MP3]
by Hurricane Bells
We Three Kings [MP3]
by LJ Kruzer