Countdown to Triptych!

The Brew's Triptych

Not one, but THREE albums are about to be dropped by The Brew! Commence giddy dancing! Over the next several weeks The Brew will be releasing three albums in succession. According to their press release, it is "more than 30 original songs – and a single cover tune – make up the interwoven set collectively known as Triptych." Each will have its own feel and style, including both new and cover songs. The first, A Garden In The Snow, will be released tomorrow (or tonight at midnight, which I will probably stay up for). Get pumped!

Great Cover for a Monday Morning: Oh Land covers The National

The National has a distinct, deep sound, and Oh Land is a light, pop, whimsical sound, so I was surprise when I came across this cover that she did of The National's Bloodbuzz Ohio.

Here is the original in case you are not familiar:

Here is Oh Land's cover.  Thoughts?

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio (Oh Land Cover) by Hypetrak

Flaming Lips 24-hour Song

I thought it was excessive when they wrote a 6-hour long song, but it seems the Flaming Lips have outdone themselves again with a twenty-four hour song that began live streaming at midnight. What little I could tolerate listening to was more of an assault on my ears than anything enjoyable. Perhaps hour 14 is where it really picks up...

Oh, and if you don't have the time for the live stream, you can always purchase one of 13 copies being made for $5000. It comes encased in a human skull...

It's not easy being green

Perhaps the greatest idea since the Muppets themselves is a cover album of all their music. Titled, Muppets: The Green Album, artists include Weezer (who does a fabulous rendition of Rainbow Connection), Andrew Bird, Sondre Lerche, and many more. NPR is streaming it this week on their site. Check it out.

Feist Goes Metal

That is to say that her next album, Metals, will be released this October! Her last album, The Reminder, garnered much success and is still played on repeat on my itunes. She is posting a series of album 'teasers' on her website, but I thought it more appropriate to get excited with this classic.

Music Video from Cowboy and Indian

Cowboy And Indian - "Troubled Tracks" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Hot Weather Makes me Homesick

The chronic heat that comes with living in Central Texas has me lethargic, exhausted and wishing I could sleep the entire summer away. With the heat also comes little bouts of homesickness for the Northeast. I miss the wet grass between my toes, diving into the cool lakes of the Adirondack mountains and the crackling of the summer campfires that last well into the night. I also find myself pining for the hippie jam band music so prevalent on the east coast where Phish and Dave Matthews reign. I have been listening to Dave’s Central Park album on repeat for days.

But I am not going to share a Dave song tonight. I will be doing plenty of that as we get closer to Caravan time.  Instead, I decided to share a song in honor of my sluggish and unproductive mood. My brother gave me ALO‘s album, Empty Vessel a few years back and dared me not to love it. It’s a fantastic album that I have continually gone back to over the years. Even though the group is made up of a bunch of guys from California, their sound takes me away from the heat for a while and is the perfect boost of energy. Listen, love, and I dare you not to play it at least several times while breaking out in an impromptu dance wherever you are.

New Music Video from Foster The People

Foster the People released their new video this morning. It’s like some weird 1980′s sci fi movie and while I totally dig a roughed up looking Mark Foster, I’m not sure I’m digging the video. Maybe I just didn’t get it.

I wish, instead that they had made a video for Houdini and done some kind of period (turn of the century) piece where Mark Foster is a struggling illusionist, embarrassed by the success of his fellow band mates/illusionists. It would be in technicolor and a fun play on the “sometimes I wanna disappear.” I know it’s kind of obvious for a song called “Houdini” but they came up with the metaphor first.

**Upon further investigation it seems the boys may have already filmed their Houdini video. They did not take my advice….

Addressing Lady Gaga: Born This Way

I think it’s about time to address the Lady Gaga in the room. (Is a moderate hipster with a passion for the fiddle and sweet jazz riffs allowed to admit love for Lady Gaga?)

I’ve been a long time fan of the Gaga, having stumbled upon her years ago when she was peddling her first album, Fame (before actually garnering much of it). Before all the freaks and ‘mosters,’ she was just a pop singer with a killer voice who didn’t like to wear pants (and really, who does?). I immediately fell in love with her album about getting drunk, having sex and maybe there would even be paparazzi watching and chasing. Or was I watching and chasing the paparazzi? I never could exactly tell. She threw around seemingly obvious fun pop words like “glamorous” “glitter” “disco stick” and yet I was never entirely sure what her songs were about. Did it have meaning, was it frivolous fun, was it brilliant? Maybe her album was one giant poker face and that was the big joke on me. But it was dance pop music that I loved to love and I didn’t care if I didn’t get it or if she didn’t wear pants. Sometimes a hipster, fiddle loving girl’s just gotta dance to awesome pop and know it’s gonna be ok, right?

Then things started to getting a little weirder than lack of pants and fun pop beats. Suddenly it was parkas made out of Kermit the Frogs or raw meat, weird interviews, religious imagery, egg arrivals, and a whole culture of “mosters” was born. As a moderate hipster I could appreciate her going against the norm. Hell, I love that she is a total freak artist!

But she has lost me a little bit with her newest album, Born This Way. She’s become a moster priestess with a message a lot deeper than “just dance.” No more poker face, there’s no mistaking her message this time and that loses some of the mystique for me. It’s also just a whole lot crazier. I applaud her for being a voice to so many that feel like they don’t have one. I spent many of my formative adolescent years on the unfortunate side of bullying and feeling like I would never overcome all of my awkwardness. My teenage self would have loved this album and I can see why it is embraced by so many. My self-confident adult self doesn’t quite connect with all of it.

Musically, this album is ok. The beats are well constructed, there are more instrumentals (including a pretty sweet saxophone) and You and I is a pretty killer piano power ballad. A lot of the songs all seem to be in a slightly higher register, lacking the deep beat that was the consistent syncopated heartbeat of Fame. I miss that low anchor.

I still love Gaga for being the wonderful freak that she is and for making instant dance party music. I will see her live any day because girl seems like she kills it in concert. Still, I can’t help but miss when she was singing about fashion, fame, and was humping a blow up orka whale in her video. But that’s just me.

Acoustic Foster the People

Apparently the Foster the People concert last weekend was amazing. I would give my account as I was there sweating in the crowd at Emo’s that night, but due to unfortunate circumstances, missed most of the show. Thank goodness I have my fond SXSW memories to fall back on and Torches to play on repeat.

I came across this acoustic version of Pumped Up Kicks today and thought I’d share. It’s my least favorite song off their album but I dig the way it sounds acoustically.

favorite albums of the year (so far)

This year has been filled with so much great music and we’re only half way through! Below is my list of top 5 favorite albums so far. They are albums that I keep going back to, playing on repeat, and have passed on to friends. They are in no particular order.

The Head and the Heart: I discovered this group at SXSW and fell in love with their indie, folksy sound. Their self-titled album is rich in vocals, harmonies, simple but rich instrumentals, and it has undertones of melancholy without being depressing. They are as great in concert as they are on their album.

Fitz & The Tantrums: I am addicted to the organ on Fitz & The Tantrums debut album, ‘Pickin’ Up The Pieces’. It’s the guiding force in an album full of funk and soul. It has a 70′s retro feel to it that makes me want to throw on a short dress and a pair of heels and go dancing.

Eddie Vedder: Soloing from Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder released ‘Ukulele Songs’ this year. It is a very quiet album, as Vedder casually strums his ukulele, while serenading in his rich, deep voice. They are the perfect compliments to each other.

Foster the People: Foster the People are a dance party wrapped up in an amazing album! I can’t get enough of Torches. They are catchy, fun, upbeat and awesome! Sort of the indie version of Maroon 5, they put on equally as great of a show (although Maroon 5 did have lasers). Here is video of my favorite song off their album performed at SXSW. If you look closely, you might be able to spot me in the front.

Adele: Oh Adele, with her powerful voice, catchy tunes and amazing album from start to finish! I can’t get enough of her sound. Should any man ever wrong me, I only wish I could write as kick ass of an album to get him back. Adele is certainly at the top of my list this year (we just won’t bring up my disappointment in her concert being moved to the Frank Erwin Center…).

I can't wait for what the rest of the year holds!

Music I can't get enough of: The Brew

What do you get when you cross hippie music, hipster rock and undertones of jazz? You get The Brew, who’s album, Back to the Woods, magically appeared in my itunes tonight thanks to my fantastic brother. It was love at first listen. He described them as unfortunately lost out in musical ‘lala land,’ lacking a specific niche that would lead to the greater popularity they so rightly deserve. It’s true, they are a bit hard to categorize. Just when I’m thinking that yes, this is a great hippie jam band, rich saxophone joins with syncopated harmonies, flutes and crisp jazz riffs on keys. Sometimes classic rock, jam, jazz, choral, they are all kinds of talented.

My brother goes on to say, “They are bold enough to cover ‘I believe in Miracles’, talented enough to cover ‘Foreplay/longtime’, and their version of Hello Goodbye is at least as good as the Jonas Brothers.” That last bit comes with a wink and a smile from my tall, blonde brother who sums it up with, “and they are some of the coolest musicians I’ve met.” They’d have to be to create this fun, cool music blasting out from my speakers.

Road to ACL: Young The Giant

Young The Giant numbers among the many bands that worked the SXSW circuit and now find themselves on the ACL list. This is a fun band that I caught at the Fader party during the fest and will definitely bring a fun, vibrant energy to the ACL stage. The group stems from a variety of backgrounds and their melting pot of influences is clear in the varied sounds they create. Sometimes beachy, other times leaning towards rock with jazz influences, this group is a fun one to catch.



12 Fingers by youngthegiant

Bright Light Social Hour

The first time I met Jack O’Brien and his mustache was back in April at the Foals concert. My friends pointed him out in giddy fan excitement and I thought, Ah, this is that Bright Light Social Hour that everyone keeps talking about. Of course he is only one of 4 talented members, but Jack was delightful when we pestered him and I thought, with a mustache like Jack’s, their band has to be great. I immediately went home to download their album. No wonder my friends had been so giddy!

Bright Light Social Hour is based out of Austin, and given this city’s ‘keep it weird’ mentality, it’s no wonder their sound has trouble fitting a mold. This rock group (and they certainly rock!) channels classic influences, are sometimes heavy, often light, quirky, syncopated. They are certainly a band going places!

I can’t think of a better place to enjoy this hometown group and hear them for the first time than at Blues on the Green where they performed on Wednesday night under the warm, Texas summer sun. They are a band that rocks and knows how to rock it out on stage. I can’t wait to catch them any chance I get. I’ve officially become one of their giddy fans!

Shanty by thebrightlightsocialhour

Road to ACL: Smith Westerns

Smith Westerns have become the band I hate to love. I discovered their newest album, Dye it Blonde, back before its release when NPR was streaming it on their site and immediately dug it. This indie rock group has a fresh pop sound that weaves delicately throughout their album. They’re 90′s grunge meets indie pop.

Then I made the mistake of following them on twitter. While their young ages are masked by their musical talent on their album, their immaturity as a young group comes out in full force in 140 characters or less. Still, regardless of their obnoxious tweets, I can’t help but continue to love their music. They will be a fun group to catch at ACL on Friday.



Smith Westerns - Weekend by Vicente P

Bands I can't get enough of: The Bad Plus

I saw The Bad Plus years ago on stage at the Rochester Jazz Fest and was immediately taken away by their sound. If there are limits to jazz, this trio pushes them creating sweet cacophony!

Check them out covering Everybody Wants To Rule The World and then buy all of their albums and play them on repeat. They’ll change your world.

Road to ACL: The Secret Sisters

Today’s ACL preview is for The Secret Sisters. This duo have a sweet country Americana sound without being swallowed up in country crooning. These sisters are a perfect blend of harmonies and simple instrumentals. Their sound is timeless, rocking chair music with melancholy jazz undertones that I have fallen absolutely in love with. They will be taking the ACL stage on Friday.

Fun songs for a Friday: Aztec Two Step

Every weekend needs a good dance party, whether it is blasting Lady Gaga in the bathroom while applying an appropriate amount of eye glitter for a night on the town, avoiding creepers on the club dance floor to club beats or an impromptu sidewalk dance party to no music at all when alcohol has deemed that the best of ideas. Today’s Friday song is from Aztec Two-Step, an old hippie folk band out of the early ’70′s. The song is, Dancers All and is a great song about moving to the magic of the music, whatever that music may be this weekend. So, all you music lovers and dancers, as you make your way down the yellow line of the black highway, dance to the magic of the music and have a great weekend!

KT Tunstall: Girls who Rock

She had me years ago with “Suddenly I See,” an anthem of empowerment and life satisfaction and  ”Black Horse and a Cherry Tree” was my go to sing-at-the-top-of my-lungs song in my car (ok, maybe it still is). Her 2010 album, Tiger Suit, has been a favorite and when one of only two strings broke during her recent Austin concert and she shouted, “F**k you string! I only needed one anyway,” she rocked with one string like she had an entire orchestra. There is no doubting that KT Tunstall is a girl who rocks!

Her latest stroke of awesomeness is The Scarlett Tulip, a collection of seven entirely finger picked songs that she wrote as a love letter to her fans. It was originally only available at concerts (I practically dove over the merch table to get mine) and is a testimonial to what makes her a great singer-songwriter! Her album is iced tea in the garden on a sunny summer afternoon. Listen and fall in love.



KT Tunstall - Tulip Heart by tunes2

Music I can't get enough of: Other Lives

I stumbled upon this band a while back and fell immediately in love. Other Lives received a lot of great twitter buzz coming out of Sasquatch Music Fest this past weekend so I thought I’d share them with y’all. They have a wonderful ensemble, instrumental sound. It’s like cool summer rain on rooftops and fogged windows. They will be playing here in Austin at the Parish on June 24.



Other Lives - Tamer Animals Sampler by tbdrecords