"Swim"
from the album Astro Coast
2010
iTunes
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The four members of Surfer Blood in an odd twist of fate met at an afterparty for a music festival none of them attended. Sharing distaste for drum and bass, and perhaps bonded by the irony they were attending said party, John Paul Pitts, Tyler Schwarz, Thomas Brian, and Marcos Marchesani got together and formed a band. In the same tradition of unexpectedness, these West Palm Beach, Floridians don't surf — yet they play songs that evoke a sense of modern day surf culture.
Surfer Blood's debut release, Astro Coast, on Kanine Records lends to a distant underwater sound with the warbling guitar fuzz and distant tin can vocals. In the album opener, "Floating Vibes," the guitars have a raunchy quality as they drive through the melody, and hovering above it all is Pitts' youthful vocals. The guitars seem to trudge along with the rest of the instruments that float as if skidding across the surf. This is a fantastic opener to an album rife with catchy hooks. Setting the bar so high, so early on might be a risky move, but the album as a whole and doesn't leave anything more to be desired, nor dwarf the stunning lead track.
If safety begets perfection, then the standout single, "Swim," hits the mark. Anthemic, tuneless shouting, and the fist-pumping chorus, rarely stray from the formula that once made Weezer's Blue Album a success, and seems to be precisely why reviews have flocked to this reference to float on. However, "Swim" on its own sounds little like anything from The Blue Album, and strangely reminds me of it at the same time.
It's hard not to make all kinds of beach-going, watery references, given Surfer Blood's roots and name, but the music brings about the imagery to make it relevant and not derivative. The tune most revealing of their surf music influence, "Catholic Pagans," reveal in the lyrics deeply personal issues related to drugs and romantic relationships. Also invoking Surfer Blood's more introspective side, "Anchorage" is heavier, and JP takes a dourer tone as he sings about a place quite opposite from his home town. "Neighbour Riffs" acts as an interlude eking by the two minute mark, but shows off Surfer Blood's technical prowess.
Following suit to most indie-core this day and age, Surfer Blood break out the syncopated West African guitar lines, but it's like they took a Vampire Weekend to the Ivory Coast. Surfer Blood kicks it up a notch, the simplistic guitar styling, fuzzy background noise, and syncopated rhythm makes you want to get up and dance.
The album invokes a sense of the familiar, but there's a Surfer Blood spin on what's lingering at the tip of your tongue. They do it well enough to seem celebratory of their influences. This is a great introduction to an intriguing young band. Rather than wonder about their influences, and dwell on originality, take Astro Coast at face value and enjoy every last bit.~ Carrie Rubens, KEXP
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Here it is! My Pitchfork 2010 Festival schedule/guide. Expectations are high this year being the lineup is so promising. I left out some obvious highlights, and will probably do an afterparty post tomorrow. This should be a lot of fun.
Liars : friday / 5:30 / connect stage
Liars are a 3-piece band that have been intriguing critics since the turn of the century. Their latest album, Sisterworld, explores alternate spaces people create in order to maintain identity/environments where outcasts and loners celebrate a skewered relationship to society. Crazy!
Liars – The Other Side Of Mt. Heart Attack
Robyn : friday / 6:25 / aluminum stage
Is Robyn Sweden’s answer to Madonna, but born 25 years later? No, but she did open for her Euro-tour a few years back and has won a lot of awards. Her work this year has been on the Body Talk Series, that will include Royksopp & Snoop collabs -among others- and a tour with Kelis.
Robyn – Cobrastyle
Delorean : saturday / 2:30 / aluminum stage
I’ve been waiting to see these guys all year. Hot on the heels of their 2010 release of Subiza on True Panther- their third album since ’04- Delorean has been steamrolling the indie/dance scene this year. Snag some tickets to their Empty Bottle set on Friday if you like them like me. Do it.
Delorean – Simple Graces
Real Estate : saturday /1:45 / connect stage
Highly recommended by Pitchfork themselves, receiving a Best New Music title and receiving an 8.5 rating for their first release, Real Estate. Garden State should prove to be worth an early arrival Saturday afternoon. You probably need the suntan anyway.
Real Estate – Beach Combers
Smith Westerns : saturday / 4:45 / balance stage
We’ve seen some big things happen to this Chicago group this year. Releasing a highly praised album, signing to Fat Possum, touring with The Big Pink & MGMT next in Europe? How you could blow up faster without having the whole world rightfully hate you. Oh yeah- By making great music.
Smith Westerns – Be My Girl
Bear In Heaven : saturday / 6:45 / balance stage
Brooklyn-based Bear in Heaven have scored huge with their latest album, Beast Rest Forth Mouth, and are another band that received the Best New Music award from Pitchfork. I don’t know what’s more amazing: the album, or the insane ways that p4k told us to enjoy it- but it is indeed awesome.
Bear In Heaven – Lovesick Teenager
Here We Go Magic : sunday / 1:45 / connector stage
Another Brooklyn-based group, Here We Go Magic started as the brainchild of Luke Temple with a 4track and some fuzzy, psychedelic lofi recordings, and has since expanded into a band that just released the full-length, Pigeons. that has been getting massive play lately.
Here We Go Magic – Casual
Surfer Blood : sunday /4:45 / balance stage
Another band I’d likely toss ‘best summer album at’ if it wasn’t released in January! Guess they got a good start. Surfer Blood is a band out of Florida, who’s debut full length, Astro Coast, could easily be described by it’s influences spanning from Pavement to the Beach Boys. Very lively.
Surfer Blood – Swim
Neon Indian : sunday / 6:45 / balance stage
The third incarnation of Alan Palomo’s (succeeding the Ghosthustler and Vega projects of his) with the addition of Alicia Cardetto, Neon Indian released Psychic Chasms last year after a series of remixes that gained plenty of online praise. This should satisfy my synth-pop & electronic cravings I’ll have.
Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer
Filed under: redthreat
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The release (exclusively sold at London’s Rough Trade Shop) features: 1. Swim 2. Swim (Allen Blickle [Baroness] Mix) Wanna own it? If so, then leave a comment on this post! A winner (US only) will be randomly chosen on 7/15 @ NOON. Surfer Blood’s debut album, Astro Coast, is out now via Kanine Records. View [...]
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Filed under: The Hit List, Free MP3 Download of the DayEvery summer, music fans from New York and elsewhere come with beer and Nathan's hot dogs in hand to the daylong Siren Festival in Brooklyn's Coney Island. Those braving the heat for this year's 10th anniversary concert on July 17 will be treated to sets from some of the biggest names in indie rock. Before you head to Brooklyn, help yourself to these free MP3s from some of the Siren Fest 2010 performers.
Artist: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Hail From: New York
Song: 'Young Adult Friction'
Album: 'The Pains of Being Pure at Heart'
Sound Like: Nada Surf, Teenage Fanclub
Download: 'Young Adult Friction' (MP3)
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We’ll be joining the happy masses at Barcelona in a few days for the best bang for your buck in the year of 2010, Primavera Sound. Three different stages curated by ATP, Vice and Pitchfork full of indie rock’s up and coming bests, I hope I have the stamina to catch at least a good 20 of them. Here’s part 1 of my primer in random order – part 2 to follow soon hopefully.
The definitive highlights for me are Shellac, Real Estate and Thee Oh Sees! John Dwyer here I come!
BEAK> – Ears have ears
Real Estate – Basement
Mission of Burma – After the Rain
Owen Pallett – Midnight Directives
Peggy Sue – Once we were strangers
Shellac – Disgrace
Surfer Blood – Swim
Tortoise – Prepare your Coffin
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Photo taken by the amazing Linus Lohoff – Flickr
What is all this talk about Vitamin-D being a natural source of energy? In terms of getting anything outside of work done, this has honestly been the most unproductive month of my life (unless you count running after the bus). I may have even resorted to compiling a mix because I couldn’t decide on which half-written review I’d like to finish… but I’ll never tell–sometimes it’s better that way. Here’s my first real attempt to let the music speak for itself. Yes, I may be jippin’ you of some sticky intellect, but believe me when I say that I put a lot of time and thought into the song order. Enjoy, and throw some D’s on that…
MP3 Frightened Rabbit – Not Miserable
MP3 Neon Trees – Animal
MP3 The Black Keys – Everlasting Light
MP3 Foals – This Orient
MP3 Broken Social Scene – All to All
MP3 Dr. Dog – Unbearable Why
MP3 Band of Horses – Dilly
MP3 Local Natives – Camera Talk
MP3 The Temper Trap – Fader
MP3 Phantogram – Turn It Off
MP3 Two Door Cinema Club – This Is The Life
MP3 Delorean – Real Love
MP3 Yeasayer – O.N.E.
MP3 Toro y Moi – Low Shoulder
MP3 Surfer Blood – Swim
MP3 The Joy Formidable – Whirring
MP3 Free Energy – Bang Pop
MP3 The New Pornographers – Your Hands (Together)
MP3 The Radio Dept. – David
MP3 The National – Lemonworld
MP3 The Morning Benders – Excuses
Download this mix in its entirety here: Various Artists – Summer (Or What It Sounds Like).rar (140.53 MB)
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MP3: Swim
After stopping in Columbus in November, Surfer Blood returns Sunday night for a Benco Presents show with Turbo Fruits (ex-Be Your Own Pet) and locals Tin Armor at the Summit. Oddly, I spent all of last week in the West Palm Beach area, which is the Surfer dudes’ hometown. So instead of previewing the show by attempting to describe their debut using adjectives like “anthemic” (see “Swim,” above) and “youthful” (“Close contact on the couch was fine/Tell me where to draw the line”), I decided to ask singer JP Pitts a few ignorant questions about the Atlantic side of south Florida and what it’s like to play music down there:
Was it tough for a band like Surfer Blood to gig in the West Palm area? To completely stereotype after spending only a few weeks down here in the past three years, it seems like most of the bars are filled with Margaritaville bands, and the “arts and culture” spots are for upper-class, dress-up types?
A lot of the stereotypes associated with West Palm Beach are true. There is a lot of affluence and Jimmy Buffet pride and there are not a lot of young people in bands. However, like anywhere else there is a group of talented and creative young people that are doing cool stuff, you just have to look a little harder for them. Most bands down in South Florida end up playing a lot of house shows and DIY spaces because there is a serious lack of small venues for up and coming bands.
(More about Florida’s lame waves, Willem Dafoe, Robert Kennedy and the awesomeness of Columbus after the jump…)
Speaking of upper class, is there much of a middle class down here?
Absolutely. South Florida is one of the most sprawling bourgeoisie areas in the country; for the most part, it’s one giant suburb. However, West Palm Beach proper has its fair share of rough spots, it ranks in the top-ten highest crime cities in the United States every year. Kind of strange considering that the people living on Palm Beach island are some of the wealthiest people in the world. I used to work at a restaurant on Palm Beach and I saw Robert Kennedy and Mark Foley more than once.
Coolest celebrity spotting on the beach?
I’m not sure. I’m sure I’ve seen an actor or actress on Palm Beach at least once, but I honestly wouldn’t know, I’m not good at keeping up with celebrities. I saw Paris Hilton at Coachella in 2007 and I saw Willem Dafoe recently in an airport though.
It’s beautiful down here, but it seems like the waves are actually kinda lame for surfing. Are they bigger other times of the year?
South Florida is the worst for surfing: the beaches are soft pack and shore erosion is a big concern. North Florida on the other hand, isn’t bad. Daytona and Cocoa beach both have decent surfing. It’s definitely not like California or Hawaii, but there are waves for sure. I think Kelly Slater grew up on the east coast of Florida.
How sick are you of journalists and bloggers always talking about the beach, beach music, Florida, etc. when talking about Surfer Blood? If you could go back in time and name your band something that has nothing to do with the ocean, would you?
I wouldn’t change our name at all, I really like it and think it suits the music nicely. However, it does get tiresome to hear so many people trying to lump us into this sort of ‘surf revival’ category. The name wasn’t really meant to be taken so literally. It was more of an aesthetic choice, not anything for or against surfing or surfers as some people have tried to claim. We came up with the name Surfer Blood as a joke and it happened to embody the sense of youth and defiance that comes through in the music.
I missed you guys last time you came to town. What’d you think of Columbus? What should we look for this time around?
Columbus is a pretty awesome place. There are a lot of young people who are excited to come out and see bands almost any night of the week. I’ve only been there once and we got there kind of late, so we didn’t really have a chance to explore too much. I did drive to the Western Union while we were there though, and I remember being struck with how big the city was. I was expecting it to be smaller. …I think people who come to the show can expect to be entertained.
———
Things to know:
April 11, 9 pm
The Summit
2210 Summit St.
(614) 268-9377
$8 adv / $10 door
Or buy tickets online
ages 18+
…I think “Slow Jabroni” is my favorite song off Astro Coast:
Click here to view the embedded video.
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If you’re not already familiar with Surfer Blood, now’s a good time to immerse yourself in the breezy indie pop flavor that is Surfer Blood. I may have missed them several times at SXSW (I honestly don’t know how, they played like 12 shows), but I will not be missing their free show at Amoeba today at 6pm. Get there early and check out one of the better bands out there right now. Also try and catch them at the Bottom of the Hill tomorrow with Turbo Fruits, and Ganglians while Bagel Radio DJs.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
[mp3] Surfer Blood – Swim from Astrocoast (2010)
Oakland’s whimsical and infectiously catchy Man/Miracle are finding themselves in a good spot. With their recent album The Shape of Things and their successful SXSW shows already making a buzz, it’s going to be obvious that this band will see much more fortune in the near future. They are now preparing to hit the road for the rest of April with our own Rogue Wave as well as a new split entitled <3/Other People with fellow Bay Area dance-rockers Butterfly Bones. Both groups are celebrating with a release party tonight hosted by Epicsause at The Milk Bar in San Francisco. So after you see Surfer Blood at Ameoba today, it’s going to be an easy decision to walk next door to see some of the finest in Bay Area music.
Bay Area Shows
4/1 – San Francisco, CA @ The Milk (7″ Release Show)
4/30 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore w/ Rogue Wave
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
[mp3] Man/Miracle – Above The Salon from The Shape of Things (2010)
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Shortly after unleashing "Swim" on AOL's Interface last week, Floridian rockers Surfer Blood are pimping their catchy lead single a little more with an official video. I have yet to see these guys live so I can't attest to the greatness of their shows, but if the video below is any indication of the events transpiring before taking the stage then it'd make for an interesting performance. I'm guessing they love Florida as much as the next beach comber but are fed up with the over abundance of Walt Disney? Hence the burning palm trees and cynical gang of Disney characters reeking havoc on a community of people in a park, or who knows - maybe I'm reaching. Regardless of how you feel about "Swim", I sincerely urge you to check out Astro Coast because it's really good and will make your young 2010 all the better.<object id="delve_playerf41db15d64b449eaa0064d5529d83f23334260o" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="510" height="374" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="wmode" value="window"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="flashvars" value="mediaId=1e7d5886c5534a29b5b82fa32ac172a5&playerForm=88a26316a62d4655a806dda0da4e95ca&autoplayNextClip=true"/><param name="src" value="http://assets.delvenetworks.com/player/loader.swf"/><param name="name" value="delve_playerf41db15d64b449eaa0064d5529d83f23334260e"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><embed id="delve_playerf41db15d64b449eaa0064d5529d83f23334260o" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="510" height="374" src="http://assets.delvenetworks.com/player/loader.swf" name="delve_playerf41db15d64b449eaa0064d5529d83f23334260e" flashvars="mediaId=1e7d5886c5534a29b5b82fa32ac172a5&playerForm=88a26316a62d4655a806dda0da4e95ca&autoplayNextClip=true" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object>[MP3] Surfer Blood - Swim<-- Surfer Blood -->SB's Blog | MySpace | More MP3s | Buy Astro Coast
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SIDE A1. The Tallest Man On Earth - King Of Spain2. Surfer Blood - Swim3. Beach House - Norway4. Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Action5. Seabear - Lion Face Boy6. Fionn Regan - Protection Racket7. Worker Bee - No DreamsSIDE B1. Midlake - Acts Of Man2. Rogue Wave - Good Morning3. Shearwater - Black Eyes4. She & Him - In The Sun5. Get Well Soon - 5 Steps/7 Swords6. Wild Yaks - River May Come7. Thomas Western - Your Front DoorTags: Mixtapes, Captain Obvious Mixtapes, Captain Obvious
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Florida based fuzz-pop outfit Surfer Blood are getting all kinds of crazy attention with the recent release of their debut LP Astro Coast. Are they worth the hype? Check out two tracks from the new album:Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes [mp3]Surfer Blood - Swim [mp3]
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Next to Birthday’s and Christmas Day (and maybe the first night of Chanukah), there’s no greater cause for celebration around the Drake household than the release of a new Spoon record. For my money, it’s a pretty raw record (which is not a bad thing), it reminds me of “Girls Can Tell” minus a lot of the hooks, but it’s a good one for sure— a grower though. -ed.
Drake’s Take: New Releases 01.19.10
It’s another decent week for new releases in this first month of 2010, with the much anticipated latest from Drake fave Spoon (is every post this week going to feature Spoon? Perhaps). Other notable releases include new ones from Supergrass offshoot The Hotrats (profiled here), Eels, Surfer Blood, Josephine Foster, Barton Carroll, RJD2, Vulture Whale, Editors, the soundtrack to Crazy Heart, a vintage live Elvis Costello disc and the comedic stylings of Aziz Ansari.
Playlist: New Releases 01.19.10
Spoon – Transference
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Coming off their most commercial effort to date in Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Transference feels like a retreat back to basics, going all the way back to Drake Tungsten, Britt Daniel’s now defunct alter ego/solo lo-fi project. A Series of Sneaks, Spoon’s only major label release from 1998, is the album I’d compare it to, as its collection of rough sketches hint at something great and rely in the listener to finish. The album is Spoon in its rawest form, with nearly half the album remaining in demo form, which works well with a common Spoon theme of break-up. It’s the sound of a heart refusing to break, yet breaking all the same. Lead single “Written in Reverse” has Daniel writing himself out of a relationship, which is an act both of defiance and depression. Similarly, another standout track, “Is Love Forever?”, juxtaposes parental love with that of “some ex-girlfriend, call her Heather.” Since the album title is defined as a “redirection of feelings and desires towards a new object,” if Daniel is using the album (and, in turn, us) as part of his psychotherapy, slap a beard on me and call me Sigmund Freud.
AOL Album Stream
The Hotrats – Turn Ons
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
In the (fabulous) spirit of David Bowie’s Pin Ups comes this great collection of covers from bands that have inspired Supergrass‘ Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey. The Oxford lads play it mostly straight on the selections, only re-imagining Beastie Boys‘ “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party),” while the production of Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) unfortunately keeps it from getting too raucous. But you can still hear the glee in their rendering of Bowie’s “Queen Bitch,” and Elvis Costello’s “Pump it Up.” And just about any cover of The Kinks’ “Big Sky” (I miss you Flop) is sure to please, in my book.
More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Eels – End Times / Free AOL album stream
Surfer Blood – Astro Coast / “Swim” [mp3]
Josephine Foster – Graphic as a Star
Barton Carroll – Together You and I
RJD2 – The Colossus
Vulture Whale – Bamboo You
Editors – In This Light and on This Evening / Free AOL album stream
Crazy Heart Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Various Artists – Almost You: The Songs of Elvis Costello
Tape Deck Mountain – Ghost
Danny Barnes – Pizza Box
Aziz Ansari – Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening
Elvis Costello – Live at Hollywood High
REISSUES
Nouvelle Vague – Nouvelle Vague
Bob Log III – School Bus
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Toronto's Dinosaur Bones are currently in the studio with producer Jon Drew(Tokyo Police Club, the Arkells) on dual projects: their long-anticipated debut LP and 7" being released February 1. If this body of work is half as good as their debut album in 2008, it should be something special.My Divider(from 2008's Dinosaur Bones EP)Dinosaur Bones: MySpace • FacebookDinosaur Bones EP available via Amazon• • • •Don't know too much about English duo B For Butterfly other than Matt May and Emily May's music is some of the smoothest and most reflective I've heard in some time. Had a bad day? Play some of his work and realize what a reassuring effect smooth instrumentals and reflective vocals can have on you.Treading On SnailsB For Butterfly: MySpace • Facebook• • • •Another duo producing a soothing sound is Canada's Memoryhouse. Denise and Evan's new The Years EP is dreamy without the fluff and the pristine, unique background instrumentals only add to the beauty and comforting nature of the music.Sleep PatternsMemoryhouse: MySpace • Free album download here• • • •New Jersey's Eric Sarmiento has gigs with the Candles, the Pistol Arrows, a Suncrush for Sweethearts, and the New Tribe on his resume, as well as a couple of solo projects. He's recently returned from travels to such diverse locales as Japan and Oklahoma and some of his ideas and thoughts are in the form of new music. As always, his work is crisp, smooth and exceptionally well-done.Strange PowerEric Sarmiento: Website • MySpace • Eric's music available via Amazon• • • •Portland's Pierced Arrows are finishing up work on a February 2nd release of their newest album, Descending Shadows. The obligatory album-release tour will commence shortly thereafter and will run through the end of March and if you haven't seen them live, you should; it's an awesome show. The guitar and vocal pairing that Fred and Toody Cole forged with Dead Moon and Kelly Halliburton's equally dynamic drumming are in top form, and this should be one kick-ass album.Paranoia • Let It RainPierced Arrows: Website • MySpace • Watch Vice Records for the release• • • •Florida's Surfer Blood has their debut album out, Astro Coast, and the quartet should make a name for themselves with the release just by the guitar work alone. Slightly fuzzy, impressively catchy. Floating Vibes is a great track, I hope it gets the airplay it deserves. This is why you don't see many bands from Nebraska making surfer music. Duh.Floating Vibes • SwimSurfer Blood: MySpace Astro Coast available via Kanine Records• • • •The Treats are an eclectic rock band from from Madison, WI. The new full length, Sir Unicorn, was released January 16th and is an impressive myriad of their brand of rock & roll, blues, folk, country, hard rock, and psychedelia. Andrew Isham (guitar, lead vocals), Don Isham (drums, backing vocals), and Tim Payne (bass, backing vocals) play their music loud and gimmick-free and that's becoming a bit rare these days. Highly recommended.Yahweh Won't Look The Other Way • OnThe Treats: MySpace • Sir Unicorn available via CD Baby• • • •Brooklyn psychedelic rock band Von Haze will be releasing a self-titled album on March 16. Von Haze makes sexy dark rock and has drawn some comparisons to The Knife and Brightblack Morning Light. After a listen I have no doubt their music will end up being a soundtrack to something, it just feels right for that. Excellent.Sooner or LaterVon Haze: MySpace • Von Haze music available via iTunes• • • •Last but certainly not least, the absolutely lovely Sarah Elizabeth Foster has a new album out. Titled Gardening From The Ground Up-Part I, it's a perfect showcase of the lush vocal talent of this lady. Originally from Houston, Sarah has been studying music since the age of four and is a classically trained vocalist, pianist and ballerina. Gardening From The Ground Up is her debut album and is a wonderful mix of folk, pop and even a bit of classical. Obviously not one to let time idly pass by, she's already working on a follow-up album. Simple elegance, simply exquisite.Missing You NowSarah Elizabeth Foster: Website • MySpace • Gardening Fround The Ground Up-Part I Available via Amazon
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What a day for Surfer Blood, huh? It's amazing how quickly a "blog buzz band" can transform into a "Pitchfork buzz band," all with a two digit number and a three word title of commendation. They really deserve every byte of respect and love they've picked up all over the Internet and abroad. If you're still on the fence, the video below should demonstrate their live energy and collaborative skills. Here's "Swim" from the so-hot-right-now Astro Coast LP, as performed on AOL/Spinner's Interface:<embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10032373001?isVid=1&publisherID=1612833736" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="@videoPlayer=61766037001&playerID=10032373001&domain=embed&linkBaseURL=http://www.spinner.com/interface/surfer-blood" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="510" height="330" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"> </embed>[MP3] Surfer Blood - Swim[MP3] Surfer Blood - Take It EasyMake sure to check out Surfer Blood on their current (massive) country-wide tour (most dates with the highly underrated Turbo Fruits, and especially when they wow the hell out of everyone at SXSW this March.<-- Surfer Blood -->SB's Blog | MySpace | More MP3s | Buy xxx
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Try It Before You Buy It features free and legal mp3 downloads and full album streams from this week's music releases:
Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening
full album stream
Barton Carroll: Together You and I
full album stream
"The Poor Boy Can't Dance" [mp3]
Super 8 Bit Brothers: Brawl
full album stream
Dawn Landes: Sweet Heart Rodeo
full album stream
Dinowalrus: %
"Nuke Duke 'Em" [mp3]
"BEAD" [mp3]
Editors: In This Light & On This Evening
full album stream
EELS: End Times
full album stream
Feral Children: Brand New Blood
"On a Frozen Beach" [mp3]
John Morales: The M & M Mixes
full album stream
The Len Price 3: Pictures
full album stream
"After You've Gone" [mp3]
Motion City Soundtrack: My Dinosaur Life
full album stream
Spoon: Transference
full album stream
Surfer Blood: Astro Coast
"Swim" [mp3]
also at Largehearted Boy:
Try It Before You Buy It lists
weekly CD & DVD release lists
daily free and legal mp3 downloads
Online Best of 2009 Music Lists
Online Best of the Decade (2000-2009) Music Lists
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Almost every facet of life as we know it can be summed up by timing. Timing is truly everything no matter what your field or where you want to input the saying, apply to anything and you'll see that it is absolutely the case. It's equally true in music, in deciding which bands breakout and become successful and which labor for years just to be noticed or avoid working painful day jobs. We're not saying it's a fair system or anything like that, but every band that has ever cracked the big time has had perfect timing and a series of fortunate breaks to go with their talents.Surfer Blood come along at a very opportune time for their type of music. For the past year or so we have been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of bands recording music that is classified as lo-fi, or "chillwave", or a throwback to the garage and surf laden early days of rock n' roll. These bands have become a dime a dozen but some of them happen to do justice to the history of the genre and manage to do so with limited production skills, money, and in some cases musical talent. Surfer Blood just happens to be one of the bands that manages to make everything work in their favor and has managed to, please forgive this, ride the wave of bands the top of the heap.After spending most of the last few months building up buzz around their live band with raucous shows and the instantly catchy sounds of their first single, "Swim", the band have finally pulled back the curtain on their full length debut Astro Coast, a record that was recorded in their dorm room with scholarship money that their parents probably won't be happy about its final destination. The buzz surrounding them was deafening enough to land them on one of the label's of the moment Kanine Records, which should help with the marketing of this record to the same sort of kids that have made the word "chillwave" part of the musical lexicon.The overall sound of Astro Coast is exactly as it has been described, built on the surf sound of the 60's, with vocal harmonies that will cast Beach Boy comparisons on the band and choruses that "ooh" and "aah" right next to anything Weezer has ever done. It makes the record immediately recognizable and familiar with touchstones that ring in your ear and your mind at the same time. Obviously there's a derivative nature to the sound, but there has been to this whole burgeoning sub genre all along so who are we to start complaining now. In fact there's little to find fault with on this record as the melodies are charming, the sound is wildly entertaining, and most listeners will be held captive by all Surfer Blood has to offer on repeated listens.One of the few surprises offered by the record is that it doesn't really sound all that lo-fi which hopefully will push Surfer Blood a bit beyond the rest of the whole "chillwave" label. Right from the opening tune, "Floating Vibes", you hear a more refined touch on the record which is downright shocking when you consider it was recorded without a truly professional touch or big budget to go along with it. Once the opener hits its final chords we are greeted to "Swim" and from there you should be hooked, we know we were at that point, and really this isn't all the band has to offer us either. Tunes like "Slow Jabroni", "Take It Easy" and "Twin Peaks" strengthen the album past the point of being a one-hit wonder.We've tried the best we can to make this record sound as good as it is but really we could never top the graphic breakdown of the record and the band's sudden rise in fame above (from The Chicago Tribune). It may have been meant to be a satirical look at the band and their buzz but it does an amazing job at pinpointing all the factors that make Astro Coast the first fantastic debut record of the year. It's not all that surprising that we're here raving about the record considering how quickly they captured our attention last year, but hey it is a debut and it is great and that should be noted somewhere. At least we think it should.Surfer Blood - "Swim"Surfer Blood - "Slow Jabroni"<script type="text/javascript">
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Among the bands heavily speculated to hit it big via hype this calendar year, Surfer Blood may be one of the most often mentioned. Of course by the time many publications put out those "hot in 2010" lists, more than a few Surfer Blood tracks were already circulating around the internet and generating a little bit of buzz. Now that their debut album "Astro Coast" finally arrives in stores this week, expect that little bit of hype to pick up dramatically in the coming weeks and months.So, since Surfer Blood are destined to become "your new favorite band" in a reasonably short amount of time, what can I tell you about them? First of all, they're from South Florida, so between the band name and the album title and the cover art featuring a picture of a killer shark, they've got a serious theme going. Add in song titles like "Swim" and "Take It Easy," and it throws more fuel on the fire. So given all those clues, guessing what the band actually sounds like shouldn't be that difficult of a challenge. Yes, Surfer Blood seeks to put surf rock in its place. To the casual listener, that might seem to be the case. But perhaps surprisingly, there's more than just a fin skimming across the surface that makes this band a threat to be dealt with. Yep, here is a band that seeks to have depth. Whether or not they succeed in that quest is another thing entirely.The deal with "Astro Coast" is that you get 10 tracks of rock music that bounces through a number of genres, from surf rock to punk rock to lo-fi/shitgaze to alternative rock to flat out experimental. These guys are tough to pin down, and that's either because they want it that way, or they're just indecisive and can't seem to fully settle on a particular style. View it as a positive or negative, but there's pretty much something for everybody to like on this album as a result. Personally, I think the reason why Surfer Blood is attracting so much attention is because despite the fluctuation in styles, everything they do, they it well. That just breaks down to sheer talent, which it quickly becomes clear that this band has in spades. So one minute they're sounding like Weezer, the next Pixies, then throw in some Pavement or Built to Spill and you're starting to grasp what's going on here. It's like reliving the 90's rock scene all over again. That being said, there's a tendency to say Surfer Blood is just ripping off the music of their youth, and not particularly searching for something original. I'm not going to disagree with that, save to say that there are definitely moments when it sounds like the band is searching for their own way, and even when they are blatantly ripping off other great bands, they're doing so with a style that's less carbon copy and more pure homage. Take from that what you will, I suppose.From my own personal best guess, I'd say that Surfer Blood will wind up with about the same degree of popularity as other similar-sounding 90's revivalist bands from last year, most notably Japandroids and Cymbals Eat Guitars. Hopefully you don't consider that a bad thing - I for one like Surfer Blood quite a bit. "Astro Coast" may not be everything that the initial hype pushed into my head, but it is a solid debut from a band that's clearly talented. My hope is that they find more cohesion and a greater sense of self for their sophmore record. Until then though, enjoy these 10 tracks of variety that make up this debut album. If the 90's were an important time in your musical taste development, as they were mine, you'll find lots to identify with and relate to via Surfer Blood.Surfer Blood- Floating VibesSurfer Blood- SwimBuy "Astro Coast" from Amazon
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(via inlog.org)
Adam Green - What Makes Him Act So Bad
Basia Bulat - Gold Rush
Beach House - Norway
Broken Bells - The High Road
Citay - Careful With That Hat
Efterklang - Modern Drift
Field Music - Measure
Final Fantasy - Lewis Takes Action
Get Well Soon - 5 Steps / 7 Swords
Harlem - Friendly Ghost
Jaga Jazzist - One-Armed Bandit
Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi
Liars - Scissor
Local Natives - Sun Hands
Midlake - Acts of Man
Oh No Ono - Helplessly Young
Pantha Du Prince - The Splendour
The Red Krayola - Portrait Of Wile E. Coyote
Retribution Gospel Choir - Hide It Away
Serena-Maneesh - Ayisha Abyss
Scout Niblett - The Calconation Of Scout Niblett
Shearwater - Castaways
Shout Out Louds - Walls
Spoon - Written in Reverse
Surfer Blood - Swim
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Even Heroes Have To Die
Tindersticks - Black Smoke
Titus Andronicus - Four Score and Seven (part two)
Toro Y Moi - Blessa
Vampire Weekend - Horchata
Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
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10. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - MY GIRLSÁrið 2009 var líklega árið þar sem Animal Collective sprakk út endanlega. Í áraraðir höfðu þessir kappar sent frá sér frábærar plötur en í ár hittu þeir naglann algjörlega beint á höfuðið. "My Girls" er í raun popplag í dulbúningi. Léttleikandi, villt og ævintýralegt. Uppfullt af víðáttumiklum hljóðum og afrískum tribal takti. Raddanir margþrungnar og lagið í raun ein stór rússíbanaferð.9. CASS MCCOMBS - YOU SAVED MY LIFESólóartistinn Cass McCombs átti kannski ekki að mínum dómi heilsteyptustu plötu ársins, virkaði svolítið einstrekkingsleg á köflum, en á Catacombs mátti finna einn gríðarlega vel slípaðan gullmola. "You Saved My Life" er hægfara ballaða með ávanabindandi undirleik. Gæti hæglega átt við í brúðkaupi jafnt sem jarðaför, epískt án þess að reynt sé að gera það að einhverju extravaganza bullshjitti. Laglína og texti fær að njóta sín án óþarfa skrauts. "Less is more". Eitt fallegasta lag ársins.8. SONIC YOUTH - SACRED TRICKSTERÞetta lag situr í þessu sæti vegna þess að í því má glögglega heyra í gömlu góðu örlí næntís Sonic Youth. Opnunarlag fyrstu plötu sveitarinnar hjá Matador, gerði mann reiðubúinn í restina og um leið tók mann 20 ár aftur í tímann. Þó platan hafði nú ekki alveg staðið undir væntingum þá er þetta eitt hressilegasta rokklag ársins. Gítarinn eins og vera ber óviðjafnanlegur og rödd Kim Gordon aldrei verið eins kynæsandi. Það er bara gjörsamlega magnað hvað þessi sveit er ódrepandi.7. SWAN LAKE - A HAND AT DUSKSorglegasta lag ársins, og á jákvæðan hátt, eiga Swan Lake. Tölurnar sýna að þetta sé eitt mest hlustaða lagið hjá Zúra rjómanum™ þetta árið, einhvernveginn átti þetta við á þessu ári. Skuggalega fagurt píanó (a la Spencer Krug) byrjar ballið. Þar til mögnuð laglína bætist við og ógreinilegt en grunsamlegt gítarsarg rúllar bakvið. Geigvænlega myndrænt og stundum dálítið kvikmyndaskor-legt. Eitt magnaðasta tónverk ársins og fellur í flokk þeirra laga sem líklega hefðu átt að vera hærra á listanum? Millikafli sem hægt er að grenja yfir.6. SURFER BLOOD - SWIMAlltaf dálítið ánægður þegar Florida-sveitir gera góða hluti. Árið 2009 kynnti fyrir umheiminum West Palm Beach-bandið Surfer Blood og var tími kominn til. "Swim" er einn óvæntandi popprokkslagari ársins. Hresst, grípandi og um leið fallegt. Beach Boys meets Modest Mouse með viðkomu í Weezer. Og nýja platan kemur svo snemma á 2010. Frábært hreinræktað rokk gert af heilindum og vel meinandi. Ómengað og hreinskilið.5. FEVER RAY - WHEN I GROW UPUnglingur eða jafnvel barn með hugleiðingar um hvað það ætlar að verða þegar það verður fullorðið. Raunar ekkert flóknara en það. Þessar hugleiðingar eru síðan færðar í eitthvað magnaðasta tónspil sem um getur. Lag sem hefði getað tekið þið til himna ef það hefði verið meiningin, en Fever Ray heldur þig á brúninni allan tímann. "When I Grow Up" fer aldrei þangað sem það gæti hafa farið sem er einmitt það sem gerir það af svo mikilli schnilld. Þungt og með óþrjótandi aðlaðandi tónsvið og hljóma. Gæti hafa verið í Ipodnum hjá Mr. Decker í Blade Runner.4. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - GRAZE"Graze" kom seint út á árinu á aukaskífu sem Animal Collective henti frá sér, Fall Be Kind. Líklega bestu þröngskífu ársins. Opnunarlag og svo sannarlega ekkert slor. Þetta lag tekur mann í nefið. Geimlegt og svífandi laglínur umlykja eyru manns til að byrja með, ómmikið og ekkó. Síðan brjóta kapparnir þetta upp með einhverjum fallegasta millikafla síðari ára sem líkist mest tónlist þar sem dvergarnir í Willow dönsuðu við. Upp úr því er ekki annað hægt en að gráta yfir kraftmiklum elektróbítum og fagurri laglínu sem er rödduð óviðjafnalega. Hreinlega magnað.3. SUNSET RUBDOWN - YOU GO ON AHEAD (TRUMPET TRUMPET II)Og ekkert er Spencer Krug búinn að segja sitt síðasta. Þetta lag var flaggberi plötunnar Dragonslayer og eitt flottasta tónverk sem kappinn hefur samið í gegnum tíðina. Og ef lesendur Zúra rjómans™ eru ekki enn búnir að koma þessu í gegnum þykku hauskúpuna á sér þá fullyrði ég enn og aftur að Spencer Krug er einn hæfileikaríkasti lagasmiður sem mannkynið getur státað sig af. Og auk þess einn sá vanmetnasti. Virtist blómstra ásamt konu sinni á síðasta ári, og heyrist það glögglega í þessu lagi.2. EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS - HOMEEinskonar kommúnuband, líklega vinstrisinnuð og umhverfisvæn, nútíma hippar. Þrátt fyrir það er hér um að ræða geigvænlega hressandi poppsmell sem kemur manni í gott skap og gefur góða strauma frá sér. Upplífgandi á tímum neikvæðra frétta, einfaldur ástardúett sem svínvirkar og laglína sem maður syngur með. Poppari ársins. Nó dádt.1. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - IN MY FLOWERSLag ársins á hljómsveit ársins líklega einnig, Animal Collective. Upphafslag stórvirkisins Merriweather Post Pavilion og hreinræktuð sónikspeis rússíbanaferð sem endar með gæsahúð. Eins og raunar öll platan þá búa til Animal Collective gríðarlega víðáttumikið og stórt sánd sem fyllir upp í öll tónhólf sem um getur. Krafturinn er óviðjafnanlegur þegar þungar tribal trommur gefa frá sér fastan takt og síðan bætist undraverður bassi sem fyllir upp það sem þú hélst að væri orðið fullt. Einfaldlega eitt fullkomnasta lag ársins í ár. Og lag sem ég fæ aldreið nóg af.
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New Year's Eve in New York City is quite possibly the craziest night of the year around these parts. People go absolutely nuts whether they are penned in like cattle in Times Square or celebrating a casual, drunken New Year with friends somewhere closer to home, people do not hold back for this holiday. Fittingly it is one of the busiest days of the year for the music venues of the city, booking acts and charging exorbitant amounts to allow people to pay even more for booze. It may not be my favorite night of the year to go out, I generally tend to stay here in Staten Island, but there is so much going on this year that I may dip my toes in the crazy water of the holiday. If you're the show going type there is probably a show on this list that would be your ideal way of ringing in 2010, so snap to it and grab some tickets to your preferred show before they are all gone!!!Who: Patti Smith & Her BandWhere: Bowery BallroomStart Time: 8pmCost: $55 [tix]Why: Patti Smith playing New Year's Eve shows at Bowery Ballroom has become the new Yo La Tengo playing Hannukah shows at Maxwell's, only without the scores of comedic and musical geniuses Yo La Tengo normally line up for their annual extravaganza. Of course the whole Yo La Tengo thing didn't happen this year, so we'll have to settle for the legendary Smith ringing in the New Year with some of her classic tunes.Listen: Patti Smith - "My Generation"Who: Screaming Females, Talk Normal, Frankie Rose & the Outs, CSC Funk BandWhere: Cake ShopStart Time: 9:30pmCost: $15 [info]Why: If you are a fan of loud, aggressive music or wearing ear plugs this is probably the show for you. All of these acts flat out bring the rock, and with the heightened popularity of Screaming Females and the up-and-coming status of Talk Normal and Frankie Rose this is sure to be one of the hotter tickets on the Lower East Side.Listen: Screaming Females - "Starving Dog"Talk Normal - "Hot Song"Frankie Rose & the Outs - "Thee Only One"Who: Golden Triangle + Electric Tickle MachineWhere: GlasslandsStart Time: ?Cost: ? [info]Why: I wish Glasslands were a little more forthcoming with information about their shows, I can't track down a time or cost for this show, but the bands are certainly worth checking out and with the size of the venue you can be sure that this show will be one of the more intimate affairs of the evening.Listen: Golden Triangle - "Prize Fighter"Electric Tickle Machine - "Part of Me"Who: Roky EricksonWhere: Maxwell'sStart Time: 10pmCost: $35 [tix]Why: New Year's Eve and nostalgia go hand-in-hand, so what could be better than checking out an artist who has ridden the wave of comebacks to a revived musical career! Not that Roky Erickson is just cashing in on a trend, the man is responsible for some of the greatest rock music in the history of pop culture, but really this is probably best suited for the diehard Roky Erickson fans out there who will easily pack Maxwell's to capacity and beyond.Listen: Roky Erickson - "Two Headed Dog"Who: Titus Andronicus + The So So GlosWhere: Mercury LoungeStart Time: 1:30amCost: $15 [tix]Why: If you're heading to a party early in the evening and want something of a late night option check out this two-headed bill at Mercury Lounge. This one doesn't get going till after the ball has already dropped and with the excitement building for the Civil War inspired, sophomore release from Titus Andronicus this is sure to be a damn good time. Catch a new song on video and you might even wind up on Pitchfork to kick off your new year!Listen: Titus Andronicus - "Four Score and Seven Part One"The So So Glos - "Isn't It A Shame"Who: Passion Pit (DJ Set)Where: PianosStart Time: 10pmCost: $60 (3-hour open bar) [tix]Why: Okay the price of this is a little excessive but I'm sure almost any New Yorker worth his salt could out drink the $60 entrances fee in the 3-hours that they have a totally open bar - so long as you can manage your way to the bar! It would be a million times better and absolutely worth it if Passion Pit were doing a live set, but we're sure these boys are more than capable DJ's too.Listen: Passion Pit - "Sleepyhead"Who: Dean & BrittaWhere: SouthpawStart Time: 7pmCost: $20 [tix]Why: If you're looking for a little music before you actually kick-off your partying this is probably the show for you, with an early start time and a curfew thanks to another show later in the night. Of course if you are a fan of brilliant indie pop this is also a show you'll want to check out.Listen: Dean & Britta - "Old Toy Trains"Who: Obits + Eli Paperboy Reed & the True LovesWhere: The Bell HouseStart Time: 8pmCost: $30 [tix]Why: Very solid two-headed bill with a couple of bands that know their way around a stage and know how to keep energy amped up throughout their set.Listen: Obits - "Two-Headed Coin"Eli Paperboy Reed & the True Loves - "I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can"Who: Lemonade, Surfer Blood, Frankie Rose & the Outs, Beach Fossils, + We Are Country MiceWhere: Cameo GalleryStart Time: 8pmCost: $15 [tix]Why: By FAR the best bang for your buck this New Year's Eve is this lineup of buzz acts at the truly intimate Cameo Gallery. This is going to sell out (if it isn't already) so make sure you jump on tickets right now and get ready for a night of fantastic music from some of the most talked about bands of the year.Listen: Lemonade - "Big Weekend"Surfer Blood - "Swim (To Reach The End)"Frankie Rose & the Outs - "Hollow Life"Beach Fossils - "Time"We Are Country Mice - "Ballad of John"Who: Project Jenny, Project Jan Where: Union HallStart Time: 8pmCost: $20 [tix]Why: Always fun and always party worthy, Project Jenny, Project Jan are sure to ring in the New Year in an insanely unique way. What that may entail we have no idea, but there is no doubt in our mind that it will be fun and memorable, unless you drink too much and wind up blacking out but then you'll only have yourself to blame.Listen: Project Jenny, Project Jan - "320"Who: Team RobespierreWhere: Bruar FallsStart Time: 9pmCost: $10 [info]Why: If you're looking to spend your New Year's Eve getting sweaty with a bunch of crazy kids this is the place for you. Team Robespierre is one of four crazed bands on the bill, but they were the only name we actually recognized. Should be a fun enough way to celebrate the holiday.Listen: Team Robespierre - "Billz"Who: FischerspoonerWhere: Irving PlazaStart Time: 10pmCost: $45+ [tix]Why: If you like your bands in costumes, or if you wanna dress up in costumes yourself, you may want to get in line for Fischerspooner. These guys put on a ridiculous live show and are sure to be one of the best dressed bands playing New Year's Eve this year.Listen: Fischerspooner - "Supply & Demand"Who: Chuck BerryWhere: BB KingsStart Time: 8pm & 11pmCost: $98 [tix]Why: No doubt that $100 asking price is a bit steep for any live show, but at this point we all know the legendary Chuck Berry and what he's capable of and you know if all that is worth $100 to you.Listen: Chuck Berry - "Memphis"Who: Talib KweliWhere: Metropolitan PavilionStart Time: 11pmCost: $140+ [tix]Why: Wow, I can't believe this is the only hip-hop option on the list, but at least it's a worthwhile one!Listen: Talib Kweli & Madlib - "Time Is Right"(and everything else....)<script type="text/javascript">
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כמובטח, הנה השלמת המצעד האישי שלי. שוב, ברצוני להזכיר כי מדובר בבחירות אישיות לגמרי, אשר אינן מהוות יומרה כלשהי להטיף מוסר מוזיקלי לכם או לבני ביתכם. זה בסך הכל טעמי האישי ותחושותיי הפרטיות. על כל פנים, לחיצה על שם השיר תאפשר לכם להורידו למחשבכם. רגעי האמת מתייחסים לקבצי האמפי3 עצמם ולא לקליפים. בכל מקרה, אתם יכולים להוריד בלינקים הבאים את כל שירי המצעד. כמה כיף:
מקומות 100-76
מקומות 75-51
מקומות 50-26
מקומות 25-1
50
Lily Allen :: Fuck You
איש יקר ואהוב, אבי שירר גולדברגר, הסביר לי לפני כמה שבועות מדוע לילי אלן היא האמנית הגדולה של העולם. אני לא בטוח שלגמרי הסכמתי עם כל מה שהוא סיפר לי וטען בפניי, אבל אני מוכן להודות שיש משהו בכל התחכום והישירות הזו שלה שהוא באמת שובה. מכל הסינגלים, הדי מוכרים ופופולאריים שלה, אני דווקא אהבתי המטופש הזה יותר מכל. למה? כנראה שהבובתיות האירונית שבו תאמה את רוחי יותר פה ושם.
רגע האמת: 2:10. כל הפאק יו הזה עולה מדרגה. ברמות פיטש חדשות לגמרי.
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49
Casiokids :: Verdens Storste Land
בחודש ינואר הכול נראה היה אחרת. יום אחרי יום נמצא ברשת עוד להיט מסיבות שערורייתי, וכוחות אירופה אחזו בראשי. בין כל אלה בלטו Casiokids החמודים מברגן שבנורבגיה, אותה עיר שהצמיחה כמה דינוזאורים סקנדינביים דוגמת Kings of Convenience ורויקסופ. לרגע הם היו הבטחת החודש שלי, הם גם הגשימו את עצמם, אך האביב הוליד גם כמה להיטים אחרים. ועדיין – אושר גדול.
רגע האמת: 5:13. אני איש של קולות גבוהים, ולכן כאשר צצים כאלו – לבי נשבר.
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48
Kings Of Convenience :: 24-25
ומתושבי ברגן כאלה אל תושבי ברגן אחרים. איריק גלמבק באו וארלנד איי אהובים עליי מאז הטיול השנתי בכיתה י"ב, אז קניתי את אלבומם הראשון באילת רק בזכות העטיפה. כמה שבועות אחרי זה הכתיר אותם גל אוחובסקי כמלכים של עולם חדש, וחשתי טוב עם העובדה שהייתי יכול להסכים עמו. אני מאוהב באלבום האחרון שלהם גם כן, ובמיוחד בשיר הזה. יחד ישבנו על גג האוניברסיטה בסתיו בכמה רגעים קשים במיוחד. לנצח תהיה איתי.
רגע האמת: 2:30. שלב החמיצות בלחיים.
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47
Kasabian :: Fire
יאללה, חלאס עם הדמעות. בריטניה דעכה אל מול עיניי השנה שוב וכל שנותר מעולם הגיטרות הקשוח שלה היה כמה להיטי מופלאים, על אמת. והנה אחד מהם. אינני מעריץ גדול של חבורת הערסים הזו, אבל כל סינגל שלהם (כמעט) הוא פשוט פצצה. טרם חזיתי בהם על במה בלייב, אלא רק באמצעות יוטיוב, אבל מספרים ששם טמון כל הקסם. במיוחד בשיר האש הזה.
רגע האמת: 0:56. פה הכול עולה באש לראשונה.
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46
Fever Ray :: When I Grow Up
לשנות האלפיים יש כמה צלילים משל עצמם, לפחות אחרי עשור אחד. בין כל אלו מסתתר גם קולה של קרין דרייר אנדרסון, השבדית הסמי-רובוטית הזו. כבר כמה שנים שכל דבר לתוכו היא מזמרת הוא פשוט מוצלח. אני מודה שלפעמים היא מייאשת אותי לגמרי, משרה עלי רוח קודרת מעט יותר מדיי – אבל זה כל הקסם. אה, ועוד לא דיברתי על שורת הקליפים המופלאים שלה מהאלבום הזה.
רגע האמת: 0:22. כל שאני רוצה הוא מבטא שבדי כבד.
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45
Arctic Monkeys :: My Propeller
בקיץ האחרון, בחדרי בהיידלברג שבגרמניה, בשעות הערב המוקדמות הושמע אלבום אחד בריפיט יותר מכל אחד אחר. אני חייב להודות שאינני יודע כל כך להסביר מדוע זה קרה, הרי לא מדובר באיזו יצירת אמנות דגולה, בעיניי. על כל פנים, מבין כלל הפזמונים באלבום האחרון של הקופים הארקטיים, זה שייך לי, לחלוני שהשקיף על הסמטה הארוכה בה ישנתי ולכל הציפיות לגשם שכמעט ולא התממשו.
רגע האמת: 0:06. הכניסות לשירים שלהם תמיד היו הדבר המדויק ביותר שקיים.
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44
Chew Lips :: Solo
איכשהו השנה התאהבתי קלות בכל ריליז של לייבל האלקטרו הצרפתי Kitsune. אם אינני טועה, הכול החל עם הסינגל הזה של שלישיית הילדים הלונדונית הזו, Chew Lips, שממש מצליחים לרגש במלודיות הקלות שלהם, אף שאין להם כל בשורה. הם אינם רוצים לחכות, כי פשוט אין להם זמן? נו, גם זה פזמון אלקטרו מקפיץ ונעים.
רגע האמת: 2:48. סיבוב אחרון, והביתה.
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43
Bat For Lashes :: Daniel
על גבי עננים נישא לו השיר הזה. ההפקה המעודנת שלו גורמת לי תמיד לחוש כאילו אני רץ ברחובות ריקים אל עבר יעד לא ברור, ממתין למישהו שיצטרף אליי. ואולי כאלו הם כל שיריה של נטשה קאן, מרחפים בין כל מיני שדות של ביטים מלאים, שירה קדושה של אנשים החולמים על תקווה – ורוחות קלות של סתיו. כה נעים.
רגע האמת: 1:05. כאן אתחיל לרוץ הפעם.
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42
Surfer Blood :: Swim
ומעולם האתלטיקה רצים אנו חיש מהר אל האוקיינוס, ושם מחכים לנו חברי Surfer Blood לערב מדמם של שחייה בין מדוזות וכרישים. פה כולם קופצים בבגדים למים אחרי שלוש כוסות של עראק נקי, וחותרים בדרך אל הסוף המר. או שאולי זהו באמת סוף מתוק. כל כך הרבה גולשים צצו בשנתיים האחרונות מכל מיני חורים באמריקה, עד שאפילו כאן בירושלים התחלתי לחוש גלים. של זיעה באוטובוס.
רגע האמת: 0:01. קולו של אלוהים מהדהד בטירוף מתחת למים. פנטזיה.
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41
The Big Pink :: Too Young To Love
כולם רוצים את דומינו בחייהם, אני יודע, כולם גם אוהבים את להיט הבחורות שנופלות כמו קוביות של צמד הבריטים הללו. עם זאת, אני לא אתן להם. הלהיט הגדול ביותר של הוורוד הגדול, לפחות לטעמי, הוא זה. כה מעורפל, כה עוצמתי, כה מכאיב. קצת כמו לדפוק את הראש עשרות פעמים ברצף בכרית ועוד ליהנות מכל הסיפור הזה בצורה קצת סוטה.
רגע האמת: 2:17. האקורד ברקע משתנה לראשונה זה שעתיים. משהו אצלי מסתובב.
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40
Ourself Beside Me :: Sunday Girl
בשיא החורף הקודם, רגע לפני הבחירות, ובעיצומה של ההמתנה לשלג – נפל עלי הברק הסיני. הרכב הפוסט-פאנק הזה, שמורכב משלוש צעירות מבייג'ינג סחרר לי לגמרי את המחשבה על עולם האינדי הנוכחי. מעולם לא חשבתי שאזכה ליהנות ממוזיקה סינית בצורה כזו, ואני עדיין תוהה האם ישנו הרכב דומה מארץ הענק הזו – שיצליח לגרום לי להתמוגג מהאופניים שלו. הזיוף הטוב ביותר של השנה.
רגע האמת: 0:00. להלן, אופניים.
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39
Jeremy Jay :: Love Everlasting
ועכשיו לקצת פורנו רך. אחד מאבותיו המייסדים של ז'אנר ה-Suicide Twee Pop הוציא השנה את אלבומו השנה היפהפה. עם זאת, הלהיט שלעיל כלל אינו לקוח משם, אלא נשלח אל המערכה כתופין מקדים כבר קודם. ללא מאמצים רבים הוא זוכה בפרס היוקרתי של השיר בעל הסקס אפיל המשובח ביותר. ולחשוב שגם הדבר הזה, גדוש קונפטי הזהב על מצעי הסטאן, מגיע מעיר השמש לוס אנג'לס. נשבר הלב.
רגע האמת: 2:19. איזו דרמטיות ענוגה.
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38
Calvin Harris :: I'm Not Alone
ובחזרה לעולם הטראש הבריטי. ממש כמו בשנות התשעים, לעתים כל שצריך באוזניים אלה מלודיות זולות, סינתיז עבים לגמרי וחבורה של אנשים שמוכנים לרקוד עם כל הביטים הנלווים. לקטגוריה הזו הוצנח בקול תרועה הלהיט אדיר המימדים הזה של הסקוטי בעל המבטא הבלתי אפשרי (נסו להקשיב לו פעם מדבר, באמא שלכם). היסטריה שלמה בתוך שיר אחד. יהיה לי קשה לעבור לשיר שבמקום הבא, אבל נו, שיהיה.
רגע האמת: 0:44. הפתיח האינפנטילי והמיותר מסתיים. עוברים למשחק של הגדולים.
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37
Beach House :: Norway
אופי צריכת המוזיקה הנוכחי מאפשר לכולנו לסכם את 2009 ולחשוב כבר על סיכום 2010. כך, באופן מעט אבסורדי, את רוב השבועות האחרונים אני מעביר בהאזנה בלתי פוסקת לאלבום החדש של Beach House שייצא רשמית רק אחרי דצמבר. באמת שמדובר ביצירת אמנות שאותה אסביר רק בדצמבר בעוד 12 חודשים. עם זאת, את הסינגל הראשון מהאלבום הזה כבר מותר לי לדחוף לשנה הזו. מזלו שהוא גאוני.
רגע האמת: 3:26. קריאות שבר לנורבגיה האבודה נשמעות. לא חבל?
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36
Pomegranates :: Jerusalem Had A Bad Day
ובחזרה לירושלים, או לחילופין לסינסינטי, אוהיו. אחד השירים ששרתי בראשי השנה יותר פעמים מכל האחרים שייך לחבורת הרימונים הזו. תקופה ארוכה בכלל שכחתי שזה השם המלא של השיר הזה, אולי כי כל קשר בין העיר האפורה בה אני חי לבין המורכבות הססגונית בלהיט הביתי הזה הוא תמוה לגמרי. כל כך הרבה שכבות של שיר בתוך שיר אחד בודד. לעתים, כך אני מרגיש, זו הדרך הנכונה היחידה כדי ליצור מוזיקה.
רגע האמת: 2:10. כל הלהקה מתעוררת פתאום לעולם אחר, לא ירושלמי בעליל.
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35
Junior Boys :: Hazel
אוי, היידלברג. איך צעדתי אל אזור התעשייה שלך כדי לרקוד עם עצמי בפינתו של אולם גדול עם ג'וניור בויז, כשאני שיכור לגמרי, מתרפק על הרוח שעוד נשבה בחוץ, ונופל על הרצפה צמוד למגבר. היה זה אחד מרגעי השנה שלי, שהוביל אותי לשקוע לגמרי בתוך האלבום השני החמוד של יקירי האלקטרו העדין מקנדה. הם רכים כמו קוטג', וזו תחושה נהדרת ליפול לתוכם. נסו זאת בהופעה, ובכלל תשתוללו.
רגע האמת: 3:33. גם נקודת זמן נאה, וגם היסחפות ווקלית טיפוסית.
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34
Camera Obscura :: French Navy
פתאום אני מבין שאני באמת אוהב סקוטים. הנה עוד כמה, שישה במספר. בכל פעם שבל אנד סבסטיאן מצויים בפגרה מסוימת, מגיע זמנם של חברי Camera Obscura למלא את החלל העירוני המתקתק הרגיל, שאותם הם די אוהבים למלא יש לציין. השיר הזה הוא כנראה הדבר הכי טוב שהם הקליטו בחייהם, ואם תרצו אגלה שהוא אפילו מתעלה על רבים משירי סטיוארט מורדוך וידידיו.
רגע האמת: 2:51. טירוף של כינורות תמיד היה הקיק שלי.
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33
Amazing Baby :: Headdress
אם יש שיר ברשימה הזו שאותו אני מצטער שלא אראה לעולם בהופעה – הרי שזהו זה. פליטי ברוקלין האלה דפקו כרטיס סמי-פסיכדלי בחיי וגרמו לי לרקוד באיטיות על השטיח בספריית הר הצופים כמה פעמים השנה. וזו בכלל הפתעה. זה לא אמור להיות הדבר שיגרום לי לזוז, כי אינני בן 17 עוד, אבל זה כל כך גלי, שברירי ואימתני. כמו BRMC בתוך מערבולת.
רגע האמת: 0:04. די, לא יודע למה קאנון הגיטרות הזה עושה לי משהו בכלל. אבל הוא עושה, לעזאזל.
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32
Surfer Blood :: Take It Easy
עוד שיר מאלבום שבכלל יוצא ב-2010 כדי לזכות במלוא תשומת הלב, ועדיין מצא את עצמו ברשימה הזו. לא ברור לי מדוע הרשתי לעצמי לעשות דבר כזה. אני פשוט לא שולט בעצמי, כי הוא ואני, אני והוא, די מאוהבים זה שבועות מספר. כינורות, מקצבים שבורים כלבבי, קולות גבוהים אווריריים – ופזמון עדין וקליט. גבירותיי ורבותיי, כך בדיוק אמור להישמע האינדי פופ שלכם.
רגע האמת: 2:14. הפזמון בא בפעם השנייה, והוא כבר לא ייגמר לעולם. דמעות.
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31
The Drums :: Let's Go Surfing
ואם כבר גולשים, אז עד הסוף. קודם כל רצים על החוף בבוקר היפה, ביחד עם האני כמובן, עולים על גלשן עלק, ותופסים גלים. כמו בחיפה. את כל זה עושים בסיועו של פטנט ידוע לכל שבדי ולכל כלבלב – שריקה. עם קצת השפעות פנדה בר משונות – כל זה הופך ללהיט בלתי נתפס בכלל, שעשוי להדהד בראשי עד לשנות הארבעים האפלות של חיי. אבל יש עוד זמן, מאמא.
רגע האמת: 1:39. בחזרה למסיבת הכיתה. מחיאות כפיים. אדיר.
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30
The XX :: Shelter
בכל תקופה בחיים מסתתר שיר אחד שמסמלה יותר מכל. ובכן, הנה שיר גרמניה 2009 שלי. לילה אחרי לילה הוא השכיב אותי למיטה, השעין אותי על המעקה, ולמעשה כשמו – תחזיקו חזק – סיפק לי מקלט. ואי ואי, נשמע מפוצץ, אני יודע. ובכן זו האמת. מדובר בפלא מינימליסטי שמסמל יותר מכל את הגאונות של הילדים (והם באמת ילדים) האנגלים השמנמנים והמדוכאים האלה. אומר זאת שוב, לא יאומן כלל שהם כאלה צעירים.
רגע האמת: 2:41. פזמון לא פזמון, קצב לא קצב, מלודיה לא מלודיה. דור העתיד.
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29
The Twilight Sad :: I Became a Prostitute
בחיל ורעדה אצא לרחובות הקפואים של עירי בלילה, אתבונן לעינו האיש ברמזור, אחפש מגע עם קירות – ועדיין לא אזכה למפץ אורבאני מופתי כמו זה השגרתי כל כך שסיפקו לי The Twilight Sad בסינגל הזה. אחת הלהקות הגדולות של חיי לא אכזבה אותי השנה עם האלבום החדש, ועוד יותר חיזקה את נפשי המדוכדכת גם ככה עם דכדוך משל עצמה.
רגע האמת: 0:25. מפל של חיים שלמים זורם לרגיעה בת רגע.
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28
The Cribs :: Cheat On Me
ג'וני מאר והחברים למשפחת ג'רמן ממערב יורקשייר שבו השנה בעודי מצפה להם, בדיוק כפי שלא ציפיתי שישובו. משופרים. זה היה הסינגל הראשון מהאלבום שלהם, הוא תפס אותי ואת בלישה באמצע יולי, בלב תקופת מבחנים מייאשת, גדושת אמוציות, ומעט מזלזלת בחבורת הצווחנים הזו – אבל משהו בי בכל זאת זז. זה פשוט להיט סמית'ס מסוג אחר. לא יכול להסביר זאת באמת.
רגע האמת: 0:48. קצב חדש, צעקות ישנות, גיטרות רטרו.
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27
Golden Silvers :: True Romance
ועכשיו, בחזרה לשנת 2008. השנה הזו היתה קצת פחות קצבית מזו הקודמת – ועדיין, מדי פעם צצו כל מיני מומחים כאלה ואחרים להזזת ישבנים ורגליים שלא בדרכים השגרתיות. הנה הלונדונים האלה, שלרגע חשבתי שיהיו לי ל-Friendly Fires מסוג אחר. הם סיימו מבחינתי עם להיט ענק אחד, זה שכאן, אבל גם זה משהו.
רגע האמת: 2:28. רוח הרפאים חוזרת ברקע, לרומנטיקנים אמיתיים בלבד.
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26
Sin Fang Bous :: Clangour And Flutes
והנה אני באיסלנד. כרגיל, אני חושב, באיסלנד. כלב ים עם שיני בריסטול צבעוניות זוחל לידי על אדמת הטרשים המשונה, ואני הוזה. בתחילת השנה הזו נפלתי בידיו של Sin Fang Bous, או בשמו האמיתי סינדרי מאר סיגפוסון. הוא סיפק לי צבעים, לחשושים מאגיים, ואני חייכתי לצלילי כל חליליו ותופיו. זה ממש כמו החבילה הגיעה – רק במנגינה.
רגע האמת: 2:01. שדונים קטנים של שנת 2009, שהופיעו בכל כך הרבה שירים אחרים השנה, מופיעים גם פה. אלא שכן הם בשיאם.
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25
Soap&Skin :: Mr. Gaunt Pt. 1000
ועכשיו עליי להיות קצת יותר עצוב, ולא בשל העובדה שאני עומד לדבר על אוסטריה. נדמה לי פשוט שאין שיר עצוב מזה בכל 100 שירי השנה שלי, אולי משום שרוב הזמן אני מנסה לברוח מן המחוזות הללו. אלא שבתחילת השנה היה לי ברור לגמרי מיהי זמרת השנה שלי – ולא טעיתי. אני פלשג בת ה-19 מווינה אכן הגיעה אל סיום 2009 כשהיא זוכה בכתר זה על-ידי. השיר הזה הוא הפלא הקטן הכי מושלם שלה. כה פשוט.
רגע האמת: 1:42. לא רוצה לדבר על זה יותר מדי.
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24
Phoenix :: Rome (Lanny Merge Remix
ההופעה הטובה ביותר שראיתי השנה היתה של פניקס. זה קרה בלב הסנטרל פארק בערב גשום למחצה שאותו הם חלקו עם Passion Pit. אחד משיאי המאורע הזה היה השיר הזה שמוקדש לבירה האיטלקית. אורות נצנצו, עצים רקדו, ובאמת שלא רציתי שייגמר עוד לעולם. גרסת האלבום של השיר חביבה למדיי, אך דווקא הטוויסט שסיפק הרימיקס הזה – שדרג את רומא לרמה של אימפריה. ומדובר אך ורק בנגיעות קוסמטיות.
רגע האמת: 2:19. בדיוק הקטע שחסר לי בשיר המקורי.
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23
Dananananaykroyd :: Black Wax
גלאזגו רוצה שאחזור לחיקה, ואני עושה זאת די בנינוחות. שאיש לא יבקש ממני להגות את שמם של Dananananaykroyd כמו שצריך, כי זה ייגמר רע. אבל אני בהחלט מוכן לשיר את הפזמון המוצלח הזה שלהם. הם נוהגים להתחכם ולספר כי הם אבות ה-Fight Pop, אך את כל הדן אקרויד הזה שלהם אפשר לסכם פשוט ב"כיף גדול".
רגע האמת: 0:49. וווהוווו.
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22
The Juan MacLean :: The Simple Life
בין אדניות הכוסברה והגרניום שלי, עם בקבוק מים ביד אחת ואצבע מתנופפת ביד השנייה, פצחתי במחולות בפיג'מה בכל רחבי ביתי הקודם. אין עוד אלבום שנפתח בצורה כזו שיצא השנה, כי זה פשוט באנקר. כל הלהיט הזה מתנהל ביקום מקביל, במרתפים שאליהם מגיע רק ג'יימס מרפי לרוב. אם רק Kraftwerk היו מעיזים להעלות הילוך פעם בחיים – זה ודאי היה מסתיים כך, בחיים פשוטים יותר.
רגע האמת: 3:18. במקום שבו שירים אחרים כבר היו נגמרים, כאן אנו עדיין מטפסים אל עבר שיא השיאים.
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21
Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: Zero
מפגן עוצמה. אין לי חשק אפילו לנסות ולהסביר מה עובר לי בראש בכל פעם שאני לוחץ על כפתור הפליי במסיבות רגע לפניו. האמת היא שזה די מפחיד. כל כך חזק, כל כך מתסכל. לעולם לא אצליח להגיע לרמות הללו שמופגנות פה בנונשלנטיות. כל הרימיקסים השונים שסופקו לבומבה הזו בשנה האחרונה – פשוט עושים עוול לקרן או וברנשיה. תשאירו את הקרנבל בידיים שלהם.
רגע האמת: 1:21. נו, באמת, אין פה הרבה מעבר לזה הרי.
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20
Bibio :: Mr. & Mrs. Compost
אתנחתא קלה לפני עשרים הגדולים. ביביו הוציא השנה שני אלבומים וחצי, וזה הראשון היה שלי יותר מכל האחרים. צפיתי בעזרתו בסרטי טבע משנות השבעים, כאלו עם שמש מתכהה ונמוגה, ולבי נשרט שוב ושוב. השיר על אדון וגברת קומפוסט, על כל שברירותו, הוא הפינה המעומעמת ביותר שקופצת לי לראש בכל פעם שאני מדמיין אביב גשום. אלו הם מוות וחיים גם יחד.
רגע האמת: 1:00. עוד שנייה וחצי זה מסתיים, משאיר אותי בודד אך מסופק.
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19
Think About Life :: Johanna
החבר'ה הקנדים אשר חושבים על החיים כל הזמן הם כנראה המוזיקאים המפוספסים ביותר של השנה האחרונה. יש להם אלבום פנטסטי, אופנתיות מתוחכמת ומעודנת, ולהיט שרודף אחר להיט – ועדיין, הם נשארו קטנים וחצי מיותרים. ג'והנה שלהם כל כך טוב, שלעתים מתחשק לי להשתגע מכך שלא מספיק אנשים מעוניינים לרקוד איתו בעולם.
רגע האמת: 2:25. אלו הן חצוצרות קטנות, שבירת רצף, שתוביל לסיכום מוצלח במיוחד.
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18
Röyksopp :: This Must Be It
כניסה נורבגית מרשימה נוספת אל המצעד, ושוב פעם נמצאת אתנו גם קרין דרייר אנדרסון. מכל השירים ב-Junior המצ
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Comenzamos a mirar hacia el año 2010 y a las novedades musicales que el principio de dicho año nos va a deparar, una de ellas se trata del álbum de debut del quinteto de Florida Surfer Blood. El disco llevará por nombre Astro Coast, verá la luz el día 19 de enero, y entre los diez temas que lo integran se encuentra Swim, una canción vibrante y enérgica que nos sirve de aperitivo de un álbum que promete estar muy bien.MySpacemp3: Surfer Blood-Swim
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Tune in today for My Old Kentucky Blog Radio on SIRIUS XMU! Channel 26 on SIRIUS & channel 43 on XM. The program starts at 12pm ET, last two hours, and is replayed again at Midnight ET!Fuck Buttons - Rough SteezHarlem - Friendly GhostSurfer Blood - Swim (To Reach The End)Best Coast - When I'm With YouMajor Lazer - Keep It Goin' Louder (ft. Wale, Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze)<object width="450" height="248"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6793510&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=d05ae8&fullscreen=1"/><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6793510&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=d05ae8&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="248"></embed></object>Fan Death - Reunited (Ghost Hunter Remix)DJ STV SLV - Like Yea(h)sayer (B.G. vs Yeasayer)Pepi Ginsberg - Coca ColaFamily Portrait - Mega SecretsIdiot Glee - All Packed UpAbsofacto - No PowerWoods - Rain OnVampire Weekend - CousinsBlackroc - Telling Me Things (The Black Keys feat. RZA)Jams Dean - The XX vs. Chicago GirlsNite Funk - Am I Gonna Make ItThe Soft Pack - Answer To YourselfThe Strange Boys – This Girls Taught Me a DanceThe Field - Sequenced (Rainbow Arabia's Dark & Dumb Version)Aa - Glow WreathEcstatic Sunshine - ConchOh No Ono - Internet WarriorThe Zombies - Care of Cell 44Tanlines - SawKid Sister - Right Hand Hi (Caspa Remix)Daniel Martin Moore & Ben Sollee - Dear CompanionJ. Tillman - My Proud Mountains (Townes Van Zandt)The Depreciation Guild - Because (Beatles Cover)--------------------------------------------------------Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | eMusic | Subscribe To RSS Feed | Follow MOKB on Twitter<script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pub=xa-4b0d4baf727abd55"></script>
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Happy holidays, folks! It's been pretty busy over here recently, but we've managed to take the time to continue our yearly tradition of serving up non-traditional holiday music. Try putting it on during tree decorating...01. My First Earthquake - Together In Our Holiday Sweaters02. Girls - Lust For Life)03. Paul Anka - Jump (Van Halen cover)04. Julian Casablancas - 4 Chords of the Apocalypse05. Camera Obscura - Teenager [Motel De Moka]06. The Most Serene Republic - Green Door07. [ingenting] - Halleluja!08. Vampire Weekend - Horchata09. Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal [Stereogum]10. Free Energy - Dream City [Pitchfork]11. The Sound of Arrows - M.A.G.I.C.12. Antony and Bryce Dessner - I Was Young When I Left Home13. Nina Simone - Gimme Some (Mike Mangini Remix)14. Dave Sitek - With A Girl Like You (Troggs cover)15. Beck - Sunday Morning (Velvet Underground cover)16. Regina Spektor - Fidelity17. The Dodos - Fables [Stereogum]18. Dignan Porch - Two Of Us [Pitchfork]19. Surfer Blood - Swim (To Reach the End))20. Au Revoir Simone - Take Me As I Am
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Tune in today for My Old Kentucky Blog Radio on SIRIUS XMU! Channel 26 on SIRIUS & channel 43 on XM. The program starts at 12pm ET, last two hours, and is replayed again at Midnight ET!Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader (Neon Indian Sega Genesis P-Orridge Remix)Thao and The Get Down Stay Down - Violet (LaundroMatinee.com session)Thao and The Get Down Stay Down - Beat (Health, Life and Fire) (LaundroMatinee.com session)Thao and The Get Down Stay Down - Cool Yourself (LaundroMatinee.com session)Free Energy - Something In CommonYeasayer - Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix)Major Lazer - Keep It Going Louder (DZ vs. NTRLD Remix)Woods - Rain OnToro Y Moi - TalamakThe Notwist - Boneless (Grizzly Bear Remix)Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - HomeSurfer Blood - SwimAnimal Collective - GrazeHacienda - Shake Ya (LaundroMatinee.com session)Hacienda - Little Girl (LaundroMatinee.com session)Hacienda - Useless & Tired (LaundroMatinee.com session)Hacienda - She's Got A Hold On Me (LaundroMatinee.com session)Fucked Up - Neat PartsTed Leo & The Pharmacists - Even Heroes Have To DieSacred Harp - Elevator EndeløsAriel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Can't Hear My EyesJams Dean - The XX vs. Chicago GirlsBlakroc - Coochie (feat. Ludacris & Ol' Dirty Bastard)Port O'Brien - Tree Bones (LaundroMatinee.com session)Best Coast - When I'm With YouGrizzly Bear - Cheerleader (Neon Indian 'Studio 6669' Remix)Daniel Martin Moore & Ben Sollee - Dear CompanionDaniel Martin Moore - Flyrock BluesBen Sollee ft. Yim Yames - Only A Song--------------------------------------------------------Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | eMusic | Subscribe To RSS Feed | Follow MOKB on Twitter<script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pub=xa-4b0d4baf727abd55"></script>
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Surfer Blood ::: Photo by Ian Witlen
We jealously watched from afar as fellow music writers and blogger tweeted their way through this year’s CMJ in NYC, and one new name kept coming up: Surfer Blood (@SurferBlood). With an album due out in January and a bundle of those good words to send them on their [...]
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I've been recently enjoying the power pop stylings of Surfer Blood. Part Weezer, part Dodos, and part Shins, it's the music of a good time being had. Their debut Astro Coast is due out January 19th.Surfer Blood - Swim (To Reach The End)Surfer Blood official siteSurfer Blood on MySpaceP.S. Stay tuned for Let's Sexy Fighting Xmas 2009!
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photo: byianwitlen
What draws me to a band with no release, and hardly any tour history under it’s belt, is as much a mystery to me, as our existence. Maybe it’s in a name, or maybe a collection of key words that catch my attention? Whatever it may be, Surfer Blood peaked my attention, and in pursuit I’ve found myself making my way through the band’s upcoming debut release Astro Cast. I’m not sure if it was the name of the band or a combination of the name along with being from Florida, which we all know is rich with rock music that leans towards the metal side, but I was expecting something a bit heavier. What I’ve discovered is a sound that comfortably fits in the current scene of indie pop, while managing to establish a foreseeable future in the hearts and minds of bloggers and music fans, with an obvious strength in crafty diverse songs. Admittedly, upon the first couple of listens, I had all but written the band off as another fluff piece cashing in on the low-fi, fuzzed out sounds of the current indie pop scene, but as the minutes ticked by the album’s appeal slowly revealed itself.
Surfer Blood have nothing to do with surfing, despite hailing from Palm Beach, Florida. Yet,the band rides the theme out with song titles “Floating Vibes” and “Swim”, while compounding it with a picture of a Great White’s gaping mouth on the cover of the album.
After making quite the splash (couldn’t help it) at this year’s CMJ, the band hit the road with opportunities to share the stage with Art Brut, Japandriods, and an upcoming opening slot for Jay Reatard in Dallas 12/10. You can catch them performing in-studio @ KEXP.org 12/1.
Astro Coast drops legal on 1/19/2010.
MP3> Surfer Blood ‘Swim’
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Surfer Blood's debut single, "Swim," is one of those numbers that had it been recorded in the '80s, its video would require a California beach, bikini babes, muscle men, and a flashy Camaro. Thankfully, we're in a different decade. By utilizing a lo-fi approach similar to that of Japandroids, the band crafts an unapologetic anthem (Which "Swim" most definitely is) replete with big guitar lines and well placed "Whoas" and presents it in such a way where it doesn't sound hopelessly dated, but fresh and fun. MP3: Surfer Blood - SwimSurfer Blood's debut record, Astro Coast will be available January 19th on Kanine Records.Surfer BloodKanine Records
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Su primer álbum, Astro Coast, no se publica hasta el 19 de enero, pero este quinteto de Palm Beach, Florida, está creando una gran expectación desde hace semanas. Se llaman Surfer Blood y tras su serie de conciertos en el Festival CMJ y la filtración de algunos de sus temas se les señala como una de las firmes revelaciones de 2010. Grandes canciones como Swim o Floating Vibes les avalan.*Surfer Blood-Swim (To Reach The End)*Surfer Blood-Floating Vibes (vía P4k)
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אחת לתקופה זה קורה. אני פותח בו זמנית את כלל האלבומים החדשים שהורדתי בתוך הווינאמפ שלי (כן, לא באייפוד), ועובר על כל מיני שמות שפספסתי בעבר. לרוב, כל שצף לאוזניי אלו הם הרכבי פולק משמימים מכל מיני ערים וארצות, שאינני זוכר אפילו היכן ומדוע הורדתי. אבל לא תמיד זה כך. לעתים קורה מה שקרה לי אתמול, כשהתעניינתי קצת יותר מדי ב-Surfer Blood. ומה קרה לי, תשאלו? ובכן, התשובה ברורה: גיליתי את אחד מאלבומי השנה. השנה הבאה, כלומר.
ארבעת החברים, אשר תמונתם נחה כאן למעלה, מגיעים מפאלם ביץ' בפלורדיה, וכמו שזה נראה כעת, חייהם עומדים להיראות קורנים ושמשיים כמעט כמו עיר הולדתם. את אלבום הבכורה שלהם, Astro Coast, הם הקליטו כל כולו בחדרם שבמעונות אוניברסיטת פלורידה, במסגרת הקריירה האקדמית שהם ודאי זנחו כבר. כשמם כן צלילם, המורכב מים של ניואנסים מעולם הגלישה, בניחוח פנדה בר ועם כמה השפעות נעימות של ניו אורדר. בכל מיני פינות כבר התלהבו לחלוטין מהשיר הראשון שהם שחררו לעולם (Swim), אך נדמה שהאלבום כולו גדול עוד יותר מן הלהיט המדובר. אותי, אתמול אחר הצהריים, הייתם יכולים למצוא רוקד חמש פעמים ברציפות ל-Take It Easy שלהם. וזה, אף שנדמה כי אין זה הגיוני, לא קרה לי כבר די הרבה זמן. יאללה, לפלורידה.
Surfer Blood :: Take It Easy
Surfer Blood :: Swim
Surfer Blood :: Floating Vibes
האלבום המלא והמעולה
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