This one’s for Clay, as a bookend to his Dean and Britta post and a celebration/lament of the amount of time we both spent listening to Galaxie 500. While Dean Wareham was off with Luna, et. al., the rhythm section — Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang — made some beautiful music of their own. Subtle, soaring, and consistently artful, D & N’s sixth album comes out in February on their own 20/20/20 record label. “I Dreamed of Caucasus” is off 2002’s Song to the Siren.
The Changes
Continuing in my tour of OPLs (Other People’s Lists), I found this gem — amidst Blockhead, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and Comets on Fire — on Scissorkick‘s eclectic hit parade of 2004. (Convenient comparison alert!) The Changes are modern-day Chicago’s answer to Haircut 100: bouncy, dreamy pop that makes you want to smile at complete strangers or maybe, just maybe, swing from a vine in a Hawaiian shirt. However, unlike Haircut 100, these guys appear to have a longer career in them.
The Herms
My next-desk neighbor tipped me off to The Herms this afternoon. We’re both back in the office after a healthy holiday break. His New Year’s Eve was much more celebratory than mine. He: Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco for the Rogue Wave, Kelley Stoltz, and Herms show; Me: road-tripping back home down I-15, determined to miss the Las Vegas to L.A. parking lot over the weekend. It’d have been nice to have iPodded these tracks for the ride. “Record Machine” could be a demo recording from Bauhaus, and the remaining tracks, while wandering off on a sort of Jonathan Fire*Eater tangent, fail to disappoint. I’m baiting Clay with the former comparison. Watch for his impending, spirited comments.
mclusky
Given all the nominating going on, I offer mclusky’s The Difference Between Me and You Is That I’m Not on Fire as Album Title of the Year. The album’s music ain’t bad either. Producer Steve Albini’s influence continues to rub off on these talented lads in the form of increasingly noisy, sometimes sneering, and always witty rock to the roll. “Without MSG…” is but one flavor — the surprisingly thoughtful “She Will Only Bring You Happiness” being quite another — so check the album for the full menu.
Gran Ronde
If you count yourself among the many fans of the current faux-British invasion, then get ready to surrender to another crusader. Today’s 3hive pick brought to you by the number 3 (what else?) and by a hot tip from regular (in his use of 3hive) Todd Simmons. Thanks, Todd!
Perry Weismann 3
Let’s get the new year off to a good start! You may remember that last year 3hive brought you two projects of members of the Apples in Stereo, those being The High Water Marks and Ulysses. The Perry Weismann 3 features another member of the Apples, this time my fellow Tennessean Eric Allen (discovered when he saw my Tennessee license plate while getting into my car many years ago in Utah), along with ex-Neutral Milk Hotel and others. The PW3 drift from fuzzed out instrumentals to free style jazz and back again, two styles that don’t usually go together. Kind of like the title of this song from their last release. “Alaskan Jihad,” anyone?
Stars
This year, I became a father for the first time. On the way home from the hospital, we listened to Stars’ brilliant album, Heart, and barely held it together. The first few weeks were touch and go, sleepless and filled with more emotion than I’d ever known existed. Heart was the soundtrack. This new track off the forthcoming Set Yourself on Fire sounds more raw and still as beautiful. You can’t help but love a band who will tell you at the height of the holidays to go listen to Prefab Sprout’s first full-length, Swoon, because it’s a reminder of Paddy McAloon’s failed youth. Yes, I’m out and proud about my Prefab Sprout love. I’m also out and proud about Stars.
The Walkmen
Yeah, yeah, I know, they’re all over the place nowadays: The OC, Conan, Letterman (tonight, in fact). And we’ve already had a discussion about this topic (see Jetscreamer). But it’s still the Christmas season, ain’t it? How could we pass up these Yuletide gems from The Walkmen? The first two are from their unreleased Christmas single, the third is from last Christmas, and the fourth, well, it’s just a great song from their early days. If you missed The Walkmen’s appearance on The OC and were wondering if Summer fell for Seth’s attempt to trick her into coming to the Walkmen show with him, you can hear MP3s from the show on the Walkmen’s website.
The Green and Yellow TV
Thanks to 3hive regular Kieran for dropping this suggestion in the box. His email sent me rummaging through some old MP3s on my backup drive, because I was sure I’d heard of these guys before. Lo, there they were: three tracks which I’d apparently downloaded off the pre-Vivendi MP3.com back in March 2001. Those three tracks aren’t available on the band’s site, but these four are — which sufficiently illustrate The Green and Yellow TV’s euphoric, timeless pop with a keen ear for hooks, lines, and melodies. I dare you to not air drum/strum/sing along.
Hinkley
I love this time of year, and not just because I can lounge around all day in my jammies eating leftovers and candy. I love it because this is when I start cherry picking the best-of-the-year lists for artists I somehow missed or slept on. Today’s find comes from Mystery & Misery’s Best of 2004. They caught my eye because my grandmother’s maiden name is Hinckley, which turns out to be a happy coincidence. Their ragged, folksy pop would make them at home in the Elephant 6 stable but for now they’re unsigned and living in Rochester, NY. Thanks, Jason!