Chad VanGaalen

Nothing but music - the endless post?

This is an ever changing and (hopefully) expanding list of some of the songs I have mentioned before in this blog or simply stuff I have found somewhere on the web that I find interesting, but have no time to write about. All files have been found somewhere in cyberspace (and NONE of them have uploaded by me, so I cannot help you with any requests you might have - just keep returning and something new might pop up), so they will be available until the artists, record labels, fans, whatever decide to remove them. Thanks to a few readers, I've just finished yet another round of cleaning up (actually I'm doing this more or less all the time). But please leave a comment if some of the links are no longer working, and I will do my best to remove them as quickly as possible....If you are interested in finding even more songs than the ones I have listed below, these links will provide you with lots and lots of free AND legal mp3's - I really hope you'll enjoy the list!!* Badman Recording* Bad Taste Records* Barsuk Records* Beggars Group USA* Better Looking Records* betterPropaganda* Cityslang* Cloudberry Records* Eenie Meenie Records* Force Field PR* Friendly Fire Recordings* Go, Jukebox!* Hush Records* Indiecater* Indiepages* Insound.com* Jade Tree* Jagjaguwar* Joyful Noise Recordings* killbeat music* Killrockstars* Labrador* Last.fm* Lujo Records* Magic Marker* Matador Records* Matinée Sounds* Merge Records* Misra* Music From Denmark* Music Is My Girlfriend* Parasol* Plastilina Records!* Pox World Empire* Radarmaker* Secretly Canadian* Series Two Records* Shelflife* Sick Room Records* Slumberland Records* Songs I Wish I Had Written* Subpop* Supertroels* We Are Free* What Are Records?* White Whale Records* Wonderland Records* Yellow Mica Recordings* To be continued......Have decided to remove all links and instead start rebuilding the list...this is just the beginning...+ The Antique Toys - Joey+ Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running+ Asobi Seksu - Walk on the Moon+ The Ballet - In My Head+ Beach House - Norway+ Belle & Sebastian - Come Monday Night+ The Big Pink - Dominos+ Blue Foundation - Enemy+ The Bridal Shop - For Seas+ Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career+ Celestial - Lake Como (Remix)+ Champagne Riot - Scandinavian Warfare+ Choir of Young Believers - Action Reaction+ Club 8 - Western Hospitality+ The Enright House - Darkwave = MC Squared+ Every Move A Picture - Signs of Life+ Fanfarlo - Finish Line+ Faunts - It Hurts Me All The Time+ Gentle Touch - Smedby+ Get Well Soon - 5 Steps / 7 Swords+ Heligoats - Heat Vents+ [ingenting] - Halleluja!+ Interpol - NYC+ JJ - Let Go+ Jens Lekman - The Opposite of Hallelujah+ Loch Lomond - Wax and Wire+ Mikrofisch - The Kids Are All Shite+ Mixtapes & Cellmates - Soon+ moi Caprice - The Art of Kissing Properly+ The Monday Photo - Alies (No Tomorrow)+ Moto Boy - Blue Motorbike+ My Favorite - Burning Hearts+ Okkervil River - Black+ Otter Petter - Winter Days+ The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Higher Than The Stars+ The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Higher Than The Stars (other in conversation remix)+ Phantograms - When I'm Small+ Play People - Goes Out+ The Poems - Ballad Of A Bitter End+ Project:Komakino - Civility+ The Raveonettes - Last Dance+ Sad Day For Puppets - Again+ The Shape Of The Earth - Alone In This+ The Sky Drops - Swimming With Fishes+ Spoon - I Turn My Camera On+ Karin Ström - Hon Som Älskade Dig+ Sofia Talvik - What Happened On The Bridge Today+ TempEau - Mädchen aus Greifswald+ Tetris = Therapy - Seasick+ The Thermals - Now We Can See+ Those Danicing Days - Toxic (Britney Spears cover)+ Tower of Foil - Shaping The Sky+ Twig - Helen of Troy+ Ultrachorus - Words Kept Talking+ John Vanderslice - They Won't Let Me Run+ Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree+ Viola - Neon Lightning+ Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree+ Voxtrot - The Start Of Something+ Warm Morning - Disconnected+ The William Blakes - Running Up That Hill (Kath Bush cover with Spleen United)+ Windermere - Trailer Park+ The xx - Basic Space+ Yeasayer - 2080

from Hits In The Car on August 22, 2010

Nothing but music - the endless post?

from Hits In The Car on August 22, 2010

Various...

Quite unusual this, but I've spent this morning listening to the radio. And DR Barometer is, hands down, by far the best radio station in Denmark. Go check the playlist if you don't believe what I'm telling you! Kent, Michael Møller, Bright Eyes, Morrissey, you name it. They've got it all covered! And while typing this beauty is on...+ Chad VanGaalen - Willow TreeSpeaking of radio. Heard Bad Romance by Lady Gaga on DR P3 while having breakfast this morning and my ridiculously small brain simply refuse to understand how and why a song this awful is getting any airplay!Been waiting for this and finally there is some news from Matinée Recordings! Tracks from the new releases can be streamed at Myspace. Time to start preordering! Great music just can't be stopped! mp3hugger features Death Valley Sleepers.I’ve tried getting into Efterklang a number of times, but so far without any luck. However new track Modern Drift, taken from the forthcoming album Magic Chairs, is pretty good, so perhaps this will be time? But apparently fans of the band think that the song is too mainstream, which probably explains why I like it? Blast! Life is complicated!+ Modern DriftNew album Bear Life by NY indie pop band The Ballet is out now!+ The House on Fire

from Hits In The Car on November 24, 2009

Sixeyes Mix: Monday Nov. 23rd

from *Sixeyes on November 24, 2009

Chad VanGaalen | Zulu Records Instore

Next week Chad Vangaalen hits Vancouver with a couple shows. In addition to his proper show at the Rio Theatre (all these new venues that have opened while I was living in Sydney are throwing me!) he will be playing an instore gig at Zulu Records on Thursday, October 15. The show is at 7pm but you probably want to get down there early (you may want to follow Zulu on Twitter for any updates). Chad has also recently released a free EP of b-sides from the fantastic Soft Airplane sessions. All you need to do is click here. And because I still think this song is amazing… Download Chad VanGaalen – Willow Tree

from A Reminder on October 09, 2009

Polaris goes Soft

As I said almost two months ago, I'm fairly certain that Chad VanGaalen is going to take this year's Polaris Prize. This has nothing to do with whether or not I'm a fan of Soft Airplane; for the record, I'm fairly indifferent to it. I think it's definitely above-average, but it's one of those albums that I appreciate intellectually more than I actually enjoy (see also: The Acorn). No, I think it will win because it's the safe choice, and if past winners are any indication, safe is what wins the Polaris. No one is going to be outraged if the likes of Patrick Watson or Caribou take home the $20,000, but at the same time, no one is going to be shocked or inspired, either. VanGaalen winning would just continue that tradition. And, of course, it helps that his competition is pretty lacklustre; as indifferent as I am towards it, I still think it's far superior to the likes of Labyrinthes or Fantasies. Anyway, all that said, it really is fascinating to see how VanGaalen makes his music work in a live setting. Further evidence of this fact can be found in the songs below, taken from his performance at this year's Calgary Folk Festival. 1. Poisonous Heads 2. Inside The Molecules 3. Willow Tree 4. City of Electric Lights 5. Mini TVs 6. Bare Feet On Wet Griptape 7. Wanna Be The Sun 8. Cries Of The Dead 9. All Is True 10. Rabid Bits of Time Enjoy!

from i (heart) music on August 28, 2009

In the Margins

Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree" "Our lives are of little importance," said Rebecca, to the figure in her favourite painting. The painting is old and has a traditional frame and hangs on her mustard-coloured wall. The figure inside is looking at the artist, at the audience, standing on a windy grassy hill. Rebecca is tall so the picture is hung high, higher even than her eye-level, so the figure looks like it is looking down at the viewer, or over the viewer's head. An obvious position of superiority. The rain has been non-stop. The whole east coast has had rainy days for three weeks straight. Biking in the rain, even the change in Rebecca's pocket is wet by the time she gets where she's going. The bank, the library, the video store, a potluck, a vernissage, the movies, a date, nothing special. Rebecca checks her pulse and writes it down. She keeps detailed notes of her anxiety. She is most anxious at night time, when she believes that she hears noises that aren't there, people that aren't there, things that aren't happening. She has trouble sleeping, but takes natural sleep-aids like melatonin. The notes she keeps don't really help the anxiety, they kind of function like making an extremely detailed floor map of your own apartment. Yep, there it is all mapped out, but you could also just look around and see the same thing. In the margins of her notes, Rebecca is drawing a little story of a rocket ship with arms and legs. It burns off its arms and legs when it tries to fly. On the first sunny day after the rain, it's a Saturday. Rebecca went for a walk to find a garage sale. She brought her favourite painting with her, and she walked in the sun on the sidewalk. She found a garage sale and pretended to look at things until the old couple in the lawn chairs whose stuff it was weren't looking, and she left the painting right there, leaning up against the old bear-shaped dishes and VHS copies of Three to Tango and Money Train. [Buy]

from said the gramophone on July 28, 2009

Continued Commentary on the Polaris Process...

Some of you may have already noticed that the Polaris Committee has selected the Lost List of the best 40 albums in Canadian music over the last 12 months. You may also know that the Captain/President/CEO Justin Beach of the NxEW Music Blog is doing something of a Polaris Shadow Competition, which anyone can participate in (see the differences b/w the real Polaris and the NxEW version here). And, you may also know that I pretended that I was a juror (in the real competition) and made my picks last Monday (I did actually participate in the NxEW one).A couple of things that struck me about the long list:The sheer number of bands from Montreal (17), particularly the number of bands from Montreal that I had never, ever, ever, heard of.... C'mon! I can't believe that there were 17 bands from Montreal that made better albums than the the Black Hat Brigade and the Sunparlour Players. Note to those who select the jurors... you could use a little diversity...Also, the number of bands NOT from big cities (2)... shitty... The number of "Big" Indie releases that weren't great, but were selected on their name: Metric, Handsome Furs, Wolf Parade, K-Os, K'naan.Albums that I hope do well: Bruce Peninsula, Chad VanGaalen, Timber Timbre, Woodpigeon.I'll be completely shocked if Pink Mountaintops, Metric, K-Os or K'naan for musical diversity purposes, Bruce Peninsula, and Chad VanGaalen don't make the short list (I don't think Patrick Watson is a lock since he won two years ago).I'll be even more shocked if CVG isn't crowned the overall winner - he's due, he's produced a lot of really good music (see, in particular: Infiniheart and, to a certain extent, Skelliconnection), plus he's unique/weird enough to be "artistic"... remember the last 3 winners have all been quirky artists (Patrick Watson, Final Fantasy, and Caribou)...[mp3] Bruce Peninsula - Steamroller[mp3] Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree[mp3] Timber Timbre - Demon Host[mp3] Woodpigeon - Oberkampf

from Burgeoning Metropolis on June 16, 2009

Polaris Picks, or, If I Were More Important...

Not familiar with the Polaris Prize? They're like the Grammy's, except Canadian, and the jury is made up of people who like and care about music, and there's only one category, and the winner gets a cash prize. So, in another far more accurate way, they're the opposite of the Grammy's....Despite being the editor/owner/president of this here prestigious blog I was not selected to the Polaris Jury. I know, I'm shocked too. But, luckily, you all still get to hear my thoughts on the Polaris process through my contribution to the NxEW "shadow polaris prize", which is an idea so good I wish I had thought of it myself and here...If I were a juror I'd vote for... Sunparlour Players - Wave NorthWhy? Because, despite the fact that this isn't the best album, the SPP are easily the best live act in the GTA and they deserve much more recognition than they get...[mp3] Sunparlour Players - Battle of '77Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain is a MouthWhy? Because they are, for lack of a better description, an absolute force of nature, a serious Polaris contender, and the front-runners for album of the year (on the prestigious BM blog)...[mp3] Bruce Peninsula - SteamrollerBlack Hat Brigade - FathersWhy? I dunno, because I really like it.... you can hear almost all of it (I think) streaming on their myspace... [mp3] Black Hat Brigade - Zombie City ShakeChad VanGaalen - Soft AirplaneWhy? Because I'm a front runner, and this has got to be the odds-on favourite for the big prize. Also, its a tremendous, creepy, and terribly haunting singer-songwriter album, which, if selected, will force CVG to leave his basement and play some songs...[mp3] Chad VanGaalen - Willow TreePink Mountaintops - Outside LoveWhy? Because, even though I was determined to not like this album, the love-in that is Outside Love is like a hazy weekend that you can't remember, but you know you had a good time...[mp3] Pink Mountaintops - Axis Thrones of LoveExcellent Albums that Deserve Recognition Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah Going SteadyPick of the Week #21: Howie Beck How to Fall Down in PublicPick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre Timber TimbreAlbums that I haven't listened to enough, are definitely 'Long-List Worthy' and are definitely going to suffer b/c their release date is too close to the end of the Polaris Period.Ohbijou - BeaconsHayden - The Place Where We Lived

from Burgeoning Metropolis on June 08, 2009

This Week In Bay Area Live Shows: Mar 29 - Apr 4

I was hard-pressed to know that the day I fly out to Boston is the same day Great Lake Swimmers play the Bottom of the Hill. This wouldn’t be that much of a problem if I didn’t love their new album, Lost Channels, so much. No matter, I’m happy with seeing the brilliant Chad VanGaalen and Women perform at the same venue this Tuesday. If you haven’t already noticed, noise-freak rockers The Mae Shi and pre have been invading the Bay Area. They swung by the Berkley Amoeba Records and San Francisco’s Hemlock Tavern on Friday, Visalia on Saturday, and will be playing at Your House in Oakland tonight with Religious Girls. You can also catch them this week at… 03/30 Los Altos - KFJC live 03/30 San Jose - Nickel City 03/31 Santa Cruz - Crepe Place Also tonight is Goapele at Yoshi’s Oakland, Emiliana Torrini at The Independent, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy at the Orchard Spotlight in Santa Rosa (who will also be playing the Fillmore the following day), and The Bronx at Rickshaw Stop. In fact, Rickshaw Stop is kind of busy with Sebastien Grainger on Monday and Kid Sister on Wednesday. Well, Kid Sister cancelled (AGAIN!), so nevermind. RATATAT sold out the Fillmore for both Thursday and Friday. So keep checking craiglist if you haven’t bought tickets yet. The Bottom of the Hill will be hosting White Denim on Thursday and Lily Allen and Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head visit the Warfield Theatre this Saturday. See you out there! White Denim - Sitting Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree Great Lake Swimmers - Palmistry Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - Afraid Ain’t Me

from Kata Rokker on March 29, 2009

On a slightly morbid note

I wrote a will today. I’ve never done that before, which is kinda understandable I guess considering I’m only 25, I don’t have any material assets to speak of and I have a deep-seated loathing of paperwork. It felt really morbid. I was forced to consider things I didn’t want to think about. Who should be the executor of my estate? (That’s such a formal word to use, considering my lack of material worth!) What should happen with my remains? The organ donation part was the easiest part - a big resounding ‘take it all, with my compliments’. My dad was right though, he advised me to be as specific as I could with my wishes so that in the event that my family did have to deal with that stuff they wouldn’t be forced to make any tough decisions. And I guess that’s why you make a will - so that the people you leave behind aren’t left agonising over what your wishes would be. Still, it’s not a pleasant feeling, and I feel a heck of a lot better now it’s done. Willow Tree - Chad VanGaalen <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://itallstarted.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://itallstarted.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fitallstarted.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fwillow-tree_.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> Forever Young - Youth Group <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://itallstarted.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://itallstarted.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fitallstarted.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fyouth-group-forever-young.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> And bonus Youth Group track, courtesy of Marcy at Lost In Your Inbox. The end especially is fantastic. Shadowland - Youth Group <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://itallstarted.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://itallstarted.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fitallstarted.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fyouth-group_skeleton-jar_01_shadowland.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> Posted in Leftovers Tagged: mp3, Music

from It All Started With Carbon Monoxide on March 23, 2009

Who we saw at CMW

Many thanks to Kelly Bergeron for providing ihm with this recap of this year's Canadian Musicfest! $100 (Thursday @ Horseshoe Tavern) Country music isn't for me usually, but I've only heard that this band has a certain edge that the sometimes under-appreciated genre is missing. Lead singer Simone was quite the presence in a room full of male lead singers this evening and it was brilliant to see her carry her voice through such a wide range. She swayed and sang to the crowd, in a captivating fashion, and encouraged us to embrace some slow dancing opportunities. Download "Blaze Of Glory" Basia Bulat (Saturday @ Lee's Palace) I have to admit, I have been a fan for a while but never took the time to check out Basia's live show in fear that at such a young age, she might not have the confidence to pull it off. Well, I had regrets after seeing her show on Saturday night. Not only did she pull off the set with such a gleam of assurance, but connected with her band mates and audience in appreciation. Her songs were all well-played and she didn't seem to miss a chord, taking on everything from the ukulele (after some technical difficulties), to her guitar and her harp. She's adorable and pixie-like with the voice that could break a thousand hearts at once. She's currently recording a new album and I'm hoping that this next one makes her a household name, at least in Canada. Black Diamond Bay (Friday @ Rancho Relaxo) Rancho became a circus even before Black Diamond Bay came on. No one could move and I am almost certain it was because they wanted to come and witness the wall of sound that this band produces on stage. Patrick Krief alone could hold that audience with his guitar playing, but with his band, also known as his "brothers", their sound is loud, bluesy, and hard-hitting. At one point during the end of the show, Krief took his guitar playing into the audience where everyone just stood there astounded by the intensity of his playing. Hendrix-comparisons all round. Download "Mercury" Chad VanGaalen (Thursday @ Horseshoe Tavern) Chad has grown from the little amount of time that he's been touring in support of all his amazing albums: Soft Airplane, Skelliconnection, and Infiniheart. His stage presence is wrapped in a certainty that only years of practice could teach. Everyone was here to see his sweet and somewhat lyrically-twisted songs take place on the live stage. As he brought Soft Airplane's magnificent gems to the audience, songs like "Molten Light", "Inside the Molecules" and "Willow Tree" were even more melodic and layered than on the record. Chad once again demonstrated that if he continues to drive even more great albums out to the world, that he has the ingredients to become Canada's hottest export since Neil Young. Download "Willow Tree" Gentlemen Reg (Thursday @ Horseshoe Tavern) After such a long time of teetering on the brink of success, it's nice to see someone finally being recognized by the masses. It was easy to see that many packed the 'Shoe tonight because of this man. His songs are surrounded in sugary-pop lyrics that speak of romance and simple pleasures of life. He delivered a heartwarming and appreciative set with full enjoyment of the spotlight, a role to which he was born to live out. A surprise appearance by Liz Powell of Land of Talk, who co-wrote Coastlines, added an even bigger thrill to the evening by providing killer backup vocals on stage. His new album, Jet Black, is out now and is receiving high praise. Herman Düne (Saturday @ Lee's Palace) This band has been around since '99, they hail from France and yet sing about California like it's their second home. Herman Düne's alt-folk songs are cheeky, sweet and well-crafted. The band sports a certain playfulness on stage, and enjoyed the audience reactions as lyrics about nomadic-tendencies held full attention. At one point in the show, Herman spoke about a Julie Doiron song collaboration, who they once played backing-band for. Seems like such a perfect fit. The Lovely Feathers (Thursday @ Horseshoe Tavern) Regrouping after their previous release and taking their time finishing up this record, which will be debut in the Spring, the band showed that they still had the energy and excitement for being back in the game and tonight they gave the crowd their all. They sang their danceable, rock-anthems while breaking a sweat onstage. Songs like "Pope John Paul" and "The Wrong Choice" were definitely great Talking Heads-influenced tunes that jolted and kept everyone in frenzy. A great start to a long night of music-going. Sprengjuhöllin (Friday @ Rancho Relaxo) This was hands-down my favourite show of the fest. This Icelandic band delivered Malajube-esque rock/pop tunes with such high energy and an appreciation for the audience. If you have ever witnessed some great stage banter, this is the band that could probably top anyone in the weirdness/hilarity department. They discussed sausages with the plastic wrap around them, introduced their buddy from Major Maker as the CN Tower (I think he's about 7 feet tall), and thought up charming ways to get us to buy their CDs (so they wouldn't have to bring them on the plane). They are chart-toppers in Iceland and I am almost 100% certain, that with the right word of mouth, they will make their mark on North America as well. Download "The Drive" Women (Thursday @ Horseshoe Tavern) Women are receiving so much well-deserved attention all over the blogosphere and in print. Their album draws comparisons to the Mamas and Papas and the Velvet Underground. I've seen them play live before and they mesmerized me by the ability they have to translate experimental noise into great shoegaze rock. Tonight, VanGaalen was playing with the band, and the sound was even more chaotic than usual. Maybe it was the venue, because I've seen their sound be more on par with what they were trying to achieve, but the sound wasn't as clear as it could have been. The crowd didn't seem to mind; they were cheering and swaying as the band played a retro, White Stripes-influenced set.

from i (heart) music on March 17, 2009

CMW Day 2 Gentleman Reg, Chad VanGaalen @ The Horseshoe

Gentleman Reg was due to start at 11pm for his gig at the ‘Shoe. Unfortunately, or fortunately, for me I was late and then I had to wait for 20 minutes outside before they found room to shoe horn me in. The place was packed. Gentleman Reg, however, was a big disappointment for me. I had heard a bit about him before the gig and then the Toronto Star had run a small bit about him so I was really expecting something quite, if not spectacular, then at least entertaining. Instead if found him to be a bit whiny and kind of run-of-the-mill. Coastline by Gentleman Reg The ‘Shoe isn’t the best place to see a live band, the sound often isn’t the greatest and you are left craning your ears trying to understand the singer. And with a capacity crowd the acoustics changed leaving the sound often a bit dead. This may account somewhat for the rather lack-luster set by Gentleman Reg. I found that the crowd near the front was far more engaged than at the back, which can probably be attributed to the ‘Shoe’s wonky acoustics. Chad VanGaalen, however, didn’t have any problem getting the crowd going. Right from the first note of the first song, “Willow Tree” he had us in the palm of his hand. It was amazing to hear the crowd singing right along with him, this is usually reserved for the last song in a gig or at least a few songs in. “Willow Tree” is a hauntingly beautiful song played on banjo with soft, thin harmonies. I’m not a person who tears up easily but I found myself wet-eyed. In fact, I found myself tearing up on a few other occasions during his set. VanGaalen is without a doubt the best singer/songwriter I’ve seen in quite some time. His sound can only be described as: vocals like Win Butler; lyrics from a Ian Curtis notebook; melodies from a Neil Young songbook, and a rhythm section which at times sounds like they were stolen from Bauhaus. A friend of mine who was there texted me this morning describing VanGaalen as a nihilistic Damien Rice. I wouldn’t compare VanGaalen with Damien Rice, though there are loose similarities. Both right songs that can only be described as grey but where Rice’s can be unremittingly dreary, VanGaalen’s aren’t as likely to send you to the nearest bar to drown your sorrows. If you missed Chad VanGaalen then you’ve probably missed what, for me, will be a definite highlight of the CMW’s. If you missed Chad VanGaalen then you won’t be able to see him again for a while judging by his MySpace tour listings. And if you missed him this time, don’t be foolish and miss him next time he comes around. I will definitely be there and so should you. Next time though, I don’t expect that I’ll be seeing him in such an intimate a setting as the ‘Shoe. I fully expect that he will be filling much larger venues. Willow Tree by Chad VanGaalen Related posts:Chad VanGaalan - Soft Airplane Review Chad VanGaalen is a Canadian musician from Calgary, Alberta who’s...Ne-Yo — Year Of the Gentleman Review I’ve never been a Ne-Yo fan. In fact, never...The Stars Here @ The Horseshoe Dec. 27, 2008 Strange things can happen when you are least expecting...Soft Circle and High Places @ The Horseshoe Tavern Soft Circle When one wanders through a forest and...Vampire Weekend @ The Horseshoe Tavern Monday, February 11th, 2008 was one fucking cold day. Sorry...

from Allan's World Music on March 13, 2009

Women / Soft Airplane

While AD opted for a limited 2008 year-end wrap up, I can assure you that, had we each listed our top twenty LPs of the year, Women’s self-titled debut would have most definitely made the bottom half of the list. Comprised of Chad VanGaaalen, again toiling away in his Calgary basement both alone and with [...]

from An Aquarium Drunkard on January 08, 2009

Best Of 2008

Here are my favorite albums of 2008; some of these might be predictable, but then again some of them might not. 2008 had a lot of great releases and I had quite a few ties when ranking these albums, but in the end I had to cut the ties. So, here are my five choice picks of the year. Go buy the albums and listen to them as a whole, for these albums are up here, partially, for their completeness.1.Fleet Foxes s/tDownload:Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal2.Chad VanGaalen Soft Airplane Download;Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree3.Lindstrom Where You Go I Go TooDownload:Lindstrom - The Long Way Home4.Deerhunter Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.Download:Deerhunter - Nothing Ever Happened5.M83 Saturdays = YouthDownload:M83 - Couleurs

from Put On Your Ear Goggles on January 01, 2009

Stacy Lloyd Brown’ Best of 2008

In addition to being Rebekah Higgs artist to watch for this coming year, Stacy Lloyd Brown is a Halifax, Nova Scotia (actually he came east from Alberta to find a place in the Halifax music community) musician who plays an acoustic experimental folk style of music. Stacy will be releasing his latest album, an EP titled Automatic later in December. Last week we asked Stacy for his feedback on the year in music, and he was happy to reply to our request with his choices for the best of 2008. Raised on Indie : What was your favorite album released in 2008? Stacy Lloyd Brown: Offend Maggie by Deerhoof. It’s the inspiring blend of convention and invention that sets this record apart. It’s care-full appropriation and alteration of hard rock riffs mixed with absurd time signatures and discordant melodies create a timeless album that captivates me to no end. Raised on Indie : And your favorite single of 2008? Stacy Lloyd Brown: Willow Tree by Chad VanGaalen. Harmoniums, Vibraphones, Banjos, Accordions, Melodicas…Our Grandparents instruments are cool again! Raised on Indie : Who would be your artist to watch in the coming year, 2009? Stacy Lloyd Brown: Machinery editors note: Machinery is a band out of Grand Prairie, Alberta who are an experimental shoegaze group who will be releasing an album titled White Tusk, release date unknown. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree Share:

from Raised on Indie on December 27, 2008

Årslistan 2008, plats 1: Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane

Chad VanGaalens gubb-indie tog oss lite på sängen i år, med albumet Soft Airplane bevisade kanadicken återigen vikten av starka melodier och med sin smått humoristiskt naiva och befriande fascination för döden blev hans texter lite av en vän att luta sig tillbaka mot. Med elgitarr, amatörmässigt snygga trumarrangemang och glimten i ögat framstod VanGaalen som en kombination av Neil Young, Casiotone For The Painfully Alone och Napoleon Dynamite. Självklart kunde vi inte annat än kapitulera.Texterna pendlade mellan att handla om de mest basala vardagsbetraktelserna till att innefatta de eviga frågor de flesta av oss brottas med på regelbunden basis och i Molten Light så bjöds vi även på årets kanske mest makabra och häpnadsväckande allsångsrader. Med sin krokigt övertygande falsettstämma ställde han lyssnaren inför den mer eller mindre självklara raden efter den andra men med tyngden som han levererade sina funderingar om livet efter detta så kändes han mer som en skruvad konststudentsmotsvarighet till Antony Hegarty eller Win Butler än en salongsberusad kvasifilosof på valfri efterfest. Vi har alla ställts inför faktumet, men sällan har det känts mer ärligt och uppriktigt än när VanGaalen i Rabid Bits of Time konstaterar att No one knows where we go, when we're dead or when we're dreaming. Med största sannolikhet så kommer vi som inte kunde bevittna hans framträdande på Debaser Slussen den 3:e december att ångra oss tills vi vet det.Chad VanGaalen - Willow TreeChad VanGaalen - City of Electric LightsFör övrigt så vill vi här på Bunny Rabbits passa på att önska er alla en fröjdefull jul och hoppas samtidigt att tomtens säck är fylld av platta fyrkantiga paket. Ta det lugnt så ses vi i mellandagarna.Fridens liljor så länge.

from Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits on December 24, 2008

25 for 2008: Two

Album #2: Havilah by The Drones I’ve spent a lot of time this year praising this record and this will be the last time. Havilah is, quite simply, a triumph. Another triumph, really, and I’ve run out of words to describe the world of The Drones. Powerful, moving, harrowing, funny, intelligent, important. The Drones are so good it’s scary. Watch: The Drones - The Minotaur <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CsahEX4vA9k&hl=en&fs=1"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CsahEX4vA9k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> * Song #2: Willow Tree by Chad VanGaalen A simple melody, lyrics full of vivid imagery, and a perfect vocal delivery. In Willow Tree, Chad VanGaalen has crafted a nearly perfect pop song and one that I will be listening to for years. Download: Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree * —> See the rest of the 25 for 2008 list here.

from A Reminder on December 24, 2008

2008 in Review: My Favourite Songs pt.1 (Mix-Tape)

It’s about damn time I got around to looking back on 2008. What can I say, December’s a busy month. That said, I’ve spent the last few weeks pouring over the music that passed my way this year and am finally ready to divulge my favourites. There’s nothing like diving in head first, so here are my 30 top Canadian tunes of the last 12 months. For ease of posting I’ve divided this list into 2 parts—essentially two mix-tapes, each subjectively arranged in a way that I thought would make a nice listen all the way through. Here’s the first half (grab it in a zip file here): Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree (Soft Airplane, Flemish Eye) The Rural Alberta Advantage - Don’t Haunt This Place (Hometowns, Independent) Sleepless Nights - Got Caught (Turn Into Vapour, Forward Music Group) Tricot Machine - L’ours (Tricot Machine, Grosse Boite) Bells Clanging - The Law of Averages (The Law of Averages, Independent) Plants & Animals - Feedback in the Field (Parc Avenue, Secret City) HILOTRONS - Lovesuit (Happymatic, Kelp Records) The Bicycles - Once Was Not Enough (Oh No, It’s Love, Fuzzy Logic Recordings) Construction and Destruction - Ring Around the Moon (The Volume Wars, Independent) Final Fantasy - The Butcher (Spectrum, 14th Century, Blocks Recording Club) Old Man Luedecke - Proof of Love (Proof of Love, Black Hen Music) Entire Cities - Dancing with my Brother (Deep River, Independent) The Human Soundtrack - Babies Are the New Pursedogs (Organs for Sale, Independent) Born Ruffians - I Need a Life (Red Yellow & Blue, Warp) The Rest - Apples & Allergies (Apples & Allergies Single, Auteur Recordings) — Enjoy part 1 (once again, here’s a zip of the whole thing). Check back tomorrow for pt.2 and keep an eye out later in the week for my favourite Canadian albums, EPs and international albums of 2008. I should also mention that I was to lazy to bother with the whole “Best Songs” list until I saw the one posted by cvilleMUSE and that got my motor running—thanks for inspiring me to get off my ass, Shaun!

from Wolves, Hawks and Kites on December 24, 2008

25 for 2008: Twenty Two

Album #22: Soft Airplane by Chad VanGaalen Despite winning Canada’s Hottest “Band” award, I still feel that Chad VanGaalen is criminally underrated. He is one of Canada’s more diverse and accomplished young songwriters as evidenced by the superb Soft Airplane. Each song is completely different from the song that precedes it and its only serious flaw is its superfluous and rather dull final track. Plus, any album with Willow Tree on it is going to rate highly. Download: Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree Chad VanGaalen - City Of Electric Light * Song #22: Stay Free by Black Mountain The fourth straight Canadian act to appear on the list, Black Mountain released a great album this year full of some pretty amazing songs but Stay Free is my favourite. It sounds so out of time. Whenever I hear it I have to remind myself it wasn’t recorded in the late 60s. No points deducted for its association with a Spiderman film. Watch: Black Mountain - Stay Free (live at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver) <object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oAyZ9X-ZfkI&hl=en&fs=1"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oAyZ9X-ZfkI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> * —> See the rest of the 25 for 2008 list here.

from A Reminder on December 04, 2008

New Chad VanGaalen - “City of Electric Light”

Chad VanGallen’s Soft Airplane remains at #1 on the CBC Radio 3 Top 30 for the 3rd straight week. Damn that was a lot of 3’s. Soft Airplane also went back to # 1 on Chartattack on Nov 9th making that 8 weeks at # 1 and was # 1 for the second month in a row (September/October) on Earshot with 8 weeks at #1. To celebrate Chad has made “City of Electric Light” available for download. You can also hear “Willow Tree” and watch the video for “Molten Light” after the jump. If you haven’t heard Soft Airplane yet it is available now on Flemish Eye. Check it out. For more information head over to Killbeat Music. Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree (mp3) Chad VanGaalen - City Of Electric Light (mp3) Chad VanGaalen - Molten Light <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

from Salad Days Music on November 18, 2008

Chad VanGaalen has written one of my favourite songs of 2008

I can’t get enough of Chad VanGaalen’s song Willow Tree at the moment. As I said on Tumblr, the song has one of the sweetest and saddest melodies I’ve heard in a long time. And dude’s from Calgary, which means I really must be digging this song if I’m actually writing about someone from that town. The way Chad delivers the lines are just perfect and it kills me every time I hear it. Willow Tree reminds me of something Sufjan Stevens might write if he didn’t feel the need to bury every song under 17 trumpets and 56 oboes*. Not that there aren’t some wonderful sonic embellishments on Willow Tree, but they don’t take away from the heart of the song. Soft Airplane (from which this song is taken) is a pretty fabulous record from start to finish. After the success of Skelliconnection, Soft Airplane is another step forward. It’s a record of maturity but at the same time you can hear the fun Chad had in making it. Highly recommended. Download Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree Willow Tree is also the #1 song on CBC Radio 3’s R3-30 this week. Nice work, Chad! *Don’t get me wrong, I love Sufjan.

from A Reminder on November 05, 2008

Sunday MP3 Roundup, 10.26.08

Here are the tracks we discussed this past week: The Dutchess and The Duke - Reservoir Park Hacienda - She’s Got A Hold On Me Tim Hardin - Shiloh Town Mark Lanegan - Shiloh Town The Dead Trees - Shelter Bel Air - Looking Up Bel Air - This City Pt. 2 The Raveonettes - Black/White Leopold and His Fiction - Come Back (Now That I’m Here) Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree Chad VanGaalen - Echo Train Chad VanGaalen - Clinically Dead Chad VanGaalen - Flower Gardens Chad VanGaalen - Graveyard

from HearYa: An Indie Music Blog on October 26, 2008

Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree [new mp3]

I first saw native Canadian Chad VanGaalen open for Band of Horses at the Fillmore two years ago, back when we first started this here blog. He’s self-deprecating by nature and made a comment that all Canadians are “furry little mutants made of baby diarrhea.” That poetic line stuck with me…like baby diarrhea. He has a new album out called Soft Airplane. Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree He also released a video for “Molten Light” Click here to view the embedded video. Here are a few others from past albums: Chad VanGaalen - Echo Train Chad VanGaalen - Clinically Dead Chad VanGaalen - Flower Gardens Chad VanGaalen - Graveyard

from HearYa: An Indie Music Blog on October 23, 2008

Ekkert kreppuvæl á mínum bæ

Úr Zúralandi er allt gríðargott að frétta. Unnið hörðum höndum að helluleggja og ekkert væl neitt. Ekkert Airveivs rölt þetta árið enda heillaði fátt Zúru eyrun, en ég huxa að ég splæsi næsta ár ef lænöpp veður hálft eins gott. Saknaði röltsins, bjórsins og að hitta misgáfaða tónlistarunnendur og aðrar félagsverur. Mixmaster Zúri mun einnig á næstunni koma til með að valhoppa með hluta af safninu sínu í Nýlenduverzlun Hemma og Valda, og gefa fólki kost á að hlusta á mikivæga tóna. Meira um það síðar. Já, þó það sé kreppa og vonleysi þá deyr múzíkin ekki heldur dafnar hún og verður enn mikilvægari. Hennar hlutverk er að hressa upp á þungbúið skap, döpur hjörtu og þreytuleg eyru. Eyru sem hafa hlustað á símalandi hagfræðinga, siðblinda viðskiptaglæframenn, ósamstíga pólitíkusa, æsta fréttamenn og "blásaklausa" bankastjóra. Nei, nú er nóg komið og tími til kominn að hressa upp á hljóðhimnuna. Veitir ekki af! Hér er mikilvæg múzík sem mig langar að deila með ykkur. Starfucker er ákaflega asnalegt hljómsveitarnafn en nýja platan þeirra er engu að síður heldur betur ekki svo mjög asnaleg. "German Love" er bjartsýnt og léttvægt popplag í dúr eða molli eða sjöund. Hefur keim af Ratatat eða frönsku elektrói en er þó lo-fi, sem er næs. Barasta hæfilega kæruleysislegt og saklaust allt saman. Starfucker - German LoveAnnað "fuck"-band sem nældi sér í ný eyru er Torontobandið The Fucked Up. Búnir að vera eitthvað að rembast í einhver ár, en hafa væntanlega hitt naglann á höfuðið með plötunni The Chemistry of Common Life sem kom út nýverið hjá Matador. Svo sem ekki verið að finna up hjólið heldur er verið að setja ný dekk á hjólið, nú með göddum, snjókeðjum og nöglum. Þessi plata bítur frá sér, sækir sinn efnivið í hardcorerokk en er þó öllu mýkra og aðgengilegra. Árásargjarnt, drulluþétt og kraftmikið rokk, minnir stundum, já andskotinn, á hina alíslensku Ham. Langt síðan að maður hefur heyrt í svona hressu rokki. Nýja uppáhaldið, allavega í nokkrar vikur. Fucked Up - Days Of LastLæt fljóta hér inn smá nostalgíu. Ég var hér um bil átta ára þegar ég heyrði fyrst í Orange Juice og þótti mér það vera stök schnilld á þeim tíma, já ég var með framúrskarandi góðan tónlistarsmekk þrátt fyrir ungan aldur. Lagið Rip It Up þótti mér vera óvanalegt en þó grípandi þegar ég heyrði það í Listapoppi hjá Gunnar Salvarssyni á Rás 2. Löngu síðar fór maður að leita uppruna bandsins og ath. stöðu hennar fyrir vinsældir og Topp 40 hittara. Og jú, Orange Juice áttu nokkra hressa indie slagara. Hér er eitt feikigott og ég læt fljóta með 12" útgáfuna af Rip It Up sem er náttúrulega bara klasssssík.Orange Juice - Blue BoyOrange Juice - Rip It UpEkkert nýmóðins hér á ferð, jú nýtt lag og ný sveit en hún hljómar eins og eitthvað gamalt. Finnst þetta vel áheyrilegt og hef reyndar tekið ástfóstri við þetta lag. Starling Electric - Camp-FireHin gamla og góða The Sea And Cake kemur eins og skrattinn úr sauðaleggnum og framreiðir eina bestu síðsumars/hausttóna þetta árið. Nú með hreinræktuðum elektróblæbrigðum. Af nýju plötunni, Car Alarm, kemur þessi gullmoli. Gjörsamlega ávanabindandi djöfull. Og ég sem var búinn að afskrifa þessa sveit fyrir löngu enda flest allt með henni svona "allt alveg eins". Þetta lag er brill. The Sea And Cake - WeekendÉg er ekki frá því að nýja Grizzly Bear platan sé sú plata sem ég bíð hve mest í ofvæni eftir. Á netið hefur verið sett tvær upptökur. Önnur er úr Letterman, hitt er úr sessioni sem tekið var upp fyrir hinn klassíska og virta L.A. þátt Morning Becomes Eclectic á KCRW. Bæði þessi lög eru ný og eiga væntanlega eftir að birtast á næstu plötu. Þessi tvö lög eru náttúrulega algjörlega skotheld en það sem kemur mest á óvart er að þeir hafa gerst ákaflega aðgengilegir á poppaða hátt. Færri orð, fleiri tónar...þ.e. í mér. Enjoy. Grizzly Bear - Two WeeksGrizzly Bear - While You Wait For The OthersChaddarinn er ekkert að fara klikka. Hann kemur eitraður til baka með þokkalega zældarlega plötu. Reyndar fáránlegt að ég hef enn ekki mikið verið að hlusta á annað en fyrsta lag plötunnar, eins og ég komist ekki framhjá því, það krefst þess að hlusta á aftur. Strax. Einlægt og þægilegt stuff. Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree

from ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy on October 21, 2008

Opinions are like Assholes

I haven’t been writing much since I figured my readers don’t really want to hear my opinion since their 401K’s or 403B’s in the crapper. Besides, there’s just way too many others’ out there giving you advice on what to do. Damn I can’t do it! I have to add my two cents. My thought is that this isn’t the end, that we SHOULD have all our money in our mattress, and that besides a depression, an all-out race war will form if the election is stolen from Obama by the Electoral College. But that’s just me: I always think on the extremely negative side. On a lighter note, it was just announced that The Boss is playing a free show on the Parkway this wknd. in support of Obama. I might walk by but I probably won’t stay. Why? Not a big fan of the Bruce. Not the person, just his music. And for the life of me I can’t figure out WHY someone would WILLINGLY sit stand through an entire THREE HOUR show. WTF? Play an hour set, do two encores and get the hell off the stage so I can go home and go to bed! I know, I’m a crotchety old fart. Here’s an email intercepted by Mark Focht, Executive Director of the Fairmount Park Commission: As you may have already heard, earlier this evening the Obama campaign announced that Bruce Springsteen will present a free concert on the Parkway this Saturday afternoon. The plans are evolving. We believe it will be just Springsteen without his band. The stage will most likely be set up in the middle of the Parkway just west of 20th Street (about the same location from which we staged the Parkway press conference on July 17th). The stage will face the PMA. Construction of the stage will occur after Friday’s rush hour. We have heard different times for the performance - 3:30 or 4:30. We do not believe that Senators Obama or Biden will be present, however there will be some speakers. It is very difficult to anticipate how many people will attend. Springsteen is obviously a big draw and the weather is supposed to be very nice. The Obama campaign told us they expect 20,000. We anticipate it could be many more. This all is evolving very quickly. I will keep you informed and would appreciate if you would share information with members of the Foundation. Instead I’ll be making my way to the 3rd Annual Midtown Village Fall Festival, which is another great excuse to drink in the streets. At this point I should post a song by Bruce Springsteen, but I’m proud to say that I have not one Bruce tune in my 8,700+ song iTunes library- only this cover by the Chromatics: <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fgvsbchris.com%2Fimonfire.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object>MP3: Chromatics- I’m On Fire (Springsteen cover) Here’s some other stuff I’ve been digging lately: <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fluxblog.net%2Fchadvangaalen_phantomanthills.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> MP3: Chad Vangaalen- Phantom Anthills <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fgramotunes.com%2FRabid_Bits_of_Time.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> MP3: Chad Vangaalen- Rabid Bits of Time This Canadian homebody rarely dips his toe into the States but he made a rare appearance in NYC two weeks ago. These tracks are from his long-awaited 3rd LP on Sub Pop. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fgvsbchris.com%2F01%2520willow%2520tree.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> MP3: Chad Vangaalen- Willow Tree And here is an older favorite of mine: <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://badluckcity.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fflemisheye.com%2Fmusic%2FFLCR013%2FChadVanGaalen-Graveyard.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> MP3: Chad Vadgaalen- Graveyard

from Bad Luck City Blog on October 01, 2008

This Week's Releases

With school getting crazy, I got super backed up with releases. Fear Not, I have spent all of the afternoon and some of the evening playing catch up. There are roughly 90 albums in this post, so you may want to take it in short bursts. I'm hoping that I included every album that people were looking forward to, but if not, I apologize. Feel free to comment on what I missed and I will make an attempt to doing these on a weekly basis again in the future.Without wasting anymore time, let's get to the great music that was released during the month of September.Sep 2nd:This was the only moderately sized release week of the whole month. It featured mostly folk music with a couple albums deviating from that trend (my stats class is forcing it's way into the rest of my life). I can recommend pretty much everything on this list as solid, but nothing on here really jumps out at me as that great.BirdmonsterFrom Mountain to the Sea - "Born To Be Your Man"Matt BauerThe Island Moved in the Storm - "Don't Let Me Out"Broadfield MarchersThe Inevitable Continuing - "The Watchful Hill People"Giant SandproVISIONS - "Increment of Love" & Full Album StreamApollo SunshineShall Noise Upon - "Singing To The Earth (To Thank Her For You)"TK Webb & The VisionsAncestor - "Teen Is Still Shaking"Dan le Sac vs Scroobius PipAngles - "Thou Shalt Always Kill"Sonya KitchellThis Storm - "For Every Drop"Sep 9th:This week featured an insanely long list of music and some surprising albums that really stand out from the pack. People in Planes, Okkervil River, Bound Stems, Calexico, Rahim and Common Market all released amazing albums that I would encourage everyone to check out. That isn't to say that the other albums aren't good in their own right, but the ones mentioned really set the bar for what everyone should strive to achieve in terms of quality.People in PlanesBeyond The Horizon - "If You Talk Too Much"Okkervil RiverThe Stand Ins - "Lost Coastlines"Bound StemsThe Family Afloat - "Happens To Us All Otherwise"CalexicoCarried To Dust - "Two Silver Trees"RahimLaughter - "Through A Window"Common MarketTobacco Road - "The Crucible (ft. Geo from Blue Scholars)"HigginsZs - "Everybody (Thunder Mountain)"Lost in the TreesAll Alone in an Empty House - "Fireplace"PortastaticSome Small History - "Some Small History"The Low LowsThe Shining Violence - "Sparrows"Soft TargetsHeavy Rainbow - "Something Else"Fujiya & MiyagiLightbulbsDon ChambersZebulon - "Highwaters (ft. Patterson Hood)"Of Great and Mortal Men43 Songs for 43 U.S. Presidencies - "James Monroe"The Broken WestNow or Heaven - "Auctioneer"Liz DurrettOutside Our Gates - "Wild As Them"Michael Franti & SpearheadAll You Rebel Rockers - "Say Hey (I Love You)"KellarrisaFlamingo - "Flamingo"NovilleroA Little Tradition - "A Little Tradition" & Full Album StreamThe Shaky HandsLunglight - "We Are Young"Emiliana TorriniMe and Armani - "Me and Armani"Bart DavenportPalaces - "Jon Jon"The DonkeysLiving On The Other Side - "Walk Through A Cloud"Grayson CappsRott 'N' Roll - "Back to the Country"Lesser Gonzalez AlvarezWhy Is Bear Billowing? - "Mostly a Friend"Damien JuradoCaught In The Trees - "Gillian Was a Horse"ViarosaSend for the Sea - "Beggars and Thieves"Boston SpaceshipsBrown Submarine - "Go For The Exit"Chad VanGalaanSoft Airplane - "Willow Tree"The New YearThe New Year - "The Company I Can Get"The EttesLook At Life Again Soon - "Marathon"Josh RouseThe Best of the Rykodisc YearsHorse FeathersHouse With No Home - "Curs in the Weeds"Parenthetical GirlsEntanglements - "A Song for Ellie Greenwich"The Dead ScienceThe Dead Science - "The Throne of Blood"Sep 16th:KEXP released their forth compilation, including songs from Fleet Foxes, !!!, Pela, Vampire Weekend and many more. In addition to the compilation, this week also featured a long list of strong releases from some immensely talented artists. Passion Pit, Dead Confederate, Ruby Isle, and Asteroid No. 4 all have released albums that will be played over and over again on my mp3 player.VariousLive At KEXP Vol. 4Passion PitChunk of Change - "Sleepyhead"Dead ConfederateWrecking Ball - "The Rat"Ruby IsleNight Shot - "Hey Hey Hey (That Kid's Okay)"Asteroid No. 4These Flowers of Ours - "Hold On"AdventureAdventure - "Battle Cat"JemDown To Earth - "It's Amazing"The GirlsYes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No - "Transfer Station"War TapesWar Tapes EP - "Always Falling"The Break and Repair MethodMilk The Bee - "You Won't Be Able To Be Sad"Mother MotherO My Heart - "O My Heart"FemBotsCalling Out - "Good Days"KiNoMap of the Universe - "Won't Do"The Brass BedMidnight Matinee - "BBC Midnight Broadcast"The LonelyheartsDisaster Footage At Night - "Harlequin Bands"HaciendaLoud Is The Night - "She's Got A Hold On Me"The Physics of MeaningSnake Charmer and Destiny at the Stroke of Midnight - "Aeroplanes and Hurricanes"PoorfolkOur Burning Street - "Demons"Alexander TuckerPortal - "Veins to the Sky"Paul TurnerClear Blue - "City Lights"Sep 23rd:Well this came out of nowhere. I have to admit that I didn't listen to Blitzen Traper's first album and had really only heard one of their songs before. However, after hearing "Furr" from the album of the same name, I was blown away. I have listened to it many more times since then and I'm sure that trend will continue. I would highly recommend this album to anyone that is a fan or thinks that they have good taste in music.In addition to that, it seems that this week is the week of sophomore releases. These United States, Jenny Lewis and Cold War Kids all released their second albums this week and they are all excellent. Kings of Leon is the lone kid in the corner that doesn't stay with the group, but their new album is just as strong as the others. There are several other solid releases, as well. Enjoy!Blitzen TrapperFurr - "Furr"These United States (DC)Crimes - "West Won" & Full Album StreamJenny LewisAcid Tongue - "Acid Tongue" & Full Album StreamKings of LeonOnly By The NightCold War KidsLoyalty to LoyaltyFriendly FiresFriendly Fires - "Jump In The Pool"The Pica BeatsBeating Back the Claws of the Cold - "Poor Old Ra"The High DialsMoon Country - "Killer of Dragons"TV on the RadioDear ScienceHigh PlacesHigh Places - "From Stardust to Sentience"StarfuckerStarfucker - "Pop Song"MogwaiThe Hawk Is Howling - "The Sun Smells Too Loud"David GrubbsAn Optimist Notes The Dusk - "An Optimist Declines"Mason ProperOlly Oxen Free - "Lock and Key"Karl BlauNature's Got Away - "Mockingbird Diet"The StandardSwimmer - "Hotel"Tracy SheddCigarettes & Smoking Machines - "Whatever It Takes"Thea GilmoreLiejacker - "Roll On"McCarthy TrenchingCalamity Trenching - "Mormon Girl Blues"Stereo ImageStereo Image - "Pack Moves"Holy SonsDecline of the West - "Gnostic Device"KatJonBandKatJonBand - "Bad Apples"Nagisa Ni TeYosuga - "Premonition"Brightblack Morning LightMotion To Rojoin - "Oppressions Each"

from Instrumental Analysis on September 26, 2008

Anmeldelse: Chad VanGaalen - “Soft Airplane”

Canadiske Chad VanGaalen får nok aldrig et større publikum, end da han optrådte for millioner af seere på The Late Show with David Letterman – ikke med sin musik, men som en del af det populære indslag “Stupid Human Tricks”. Det er lidt en skam, for VanGaalen kan i den grad mere end at agere klatrestativ for en knap så høj kammerat. Klik ‘Læs mere…’ for resten af anmeldelsen plus en gratis mp3. (more…)

from Frekvens on September 23, 2008

Album of the moment: Chad VanGaalen’s Soft Airplane

I wonder what it is about Canadian artists that continue to exude massive appeal to my ears. Among my favorites of the past decade, I count names like Julie Doiron, Joel Plaskett, Leslie Feist, A-Trak, Chromeo, and too many more to name off the top of my head. In a group of names like that, I might have forgotten about Chad VanGaalen except for he doesn’t let me. Thanks to an opportunity to catch him at the Sub Pop showcase at CMJ a couple of years back, I became an instant fan. His newest release, Soft Airplane continues his love affair with experimental noise pop and tender love songs, a pattern developed over the course of two other fine albums (2004’s Infiniheart and 2006’s Skelliconnection). The resonant difference is the maturity of the material & the confidence evident in the performance and songwriting. Vangaalen’s gift has been to apply pressure only when necessary: to take dissonant arrangements and manically depressive subjects into his arms for a taste of sweetness. Thematically, it has always seemed to me, one of his central themes throughout all three albums has been death. On Soft Airplane, he doesn’t really stray too much from that mode; however, there is an unsubtle celebratory atmosphere around the subject which I found to be missing from his previous outings. Death is no longer merely an ominous figure hiding in the dark. He wants to, and wants us, to some degree, to dance with death as with a friend or loved one. On “Rabid Bits of Time”, VanGaalen’s chorus resonates his vision clearly: “No one knows where we go/When we’re dead or when we’re dreaming”, as if it were a song to be sung at the end of the universe while we ponder the destruction in our wake. Oh, and one more thing — The easy comparison of VanGaalen’s voice and style to Neil Young are sincere and not merely cliched; they become even more favorable with this album, a comparison which is both complimentary and deserved. Mixing tender acoustic ballads on death like “Willow Tree” and “Rabid Bits of Time” with the disaffected Casio-tone-laden indie rock of songs like “Bare Feet on Wet Griptape” and “TMNT Mask”, VanGaalen never ceases to fascinate himself (or us) with the process of discovery. For fans of Helium, The Shins, Built to Spill and others, you will find Soft Airplane both accessible and exceptional. It’s a confident, accomplished album of dream resonance worth hanging on for. Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree Chad VanGaalen - Bare Feet on Wet Griptape BUY: Soft Airplane from Amazon.Com [cd|digital] Bookmark: Facebook | Digg | StumbleUpon | del.ico.us Hide Sites

from Loudersoft on September 20, 2008

Chad VanGaalen + Women + Giant Sand - new records, 2008 Tour Dates, NYC shows

By Andrew Frisicano DOWNLOAD: Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree" (MP3) DOWNLOAD: Women - Black Rice (MP3) Chad VanGaalen Pop songsmith Chad VanGaalen is playing Blender Theater at Gramercy in NYC this Sunday, Sept 21st, with Howe Gelb's Americana rock band Giant Sand. Chad later launches into a tour of his native Canada in October and visits Europe in November. It feels like forever since Chad was last in NYC, and this Sunday show also seemed to pop out of nowhere. Tickets are on sale. Giant Sand, the headliner at Gramercy, is on a huge tour of their own in support of their new album proVISIONS, released earlier this month on Yep Roc. Their first album in almost four years features guest appearances by Neko Case, M. Ward and Isobell Campbell. "The incarnation of Giant Sand hitting the road in support of this release includes Howe along side Danish musicians Thøger T. Lund on bass, Peter Dombernowsky on drums and Anders Pedersen on slide guitar." Giant Sand VanGaalen's latest record, Soft Airplane, was released earlier this month on SubPop. (See MP3 above.) Unlike Chad's previous releases, which pieced together material spanning several years, the tracks on this album were all sprung from the same creative burst. To give an idea of the aesthetic, SubPop says that most of Soft Airplane was recorded in Chad's basement on "an old tape machine and a JVC ghetto blaster." VanGaalen recently recorded Women's debut self-titled LP, out on Jagjaguwar Oct 7 (or out now in Canada on Flemish Eye). Women, in all their psych drone-rock glory, will be touring with VanGaalen this fall and visiting NYC on Sunday, Oct 19 for a performance at Cake Shop with The Pains of Being Pure of Heart and more ($7, 8pm doors, 21+). See full tour dates and a video of "Molten Light," off VanGaalen's latest, below... Chad VanGaalen - Molten Light <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Chad VanGaalen - 2008 Tour Dates Sep 21 - Blender Theater at Gramercy, NYC w/ ++ Oct 1 - Attenne-A ** Quebec City, Quebec Oct 2 - Zaphod Beeblebrox ** Ottawa, Ontario Oct 3 - Ukranian Federation ** and Julie Doiron Montreal, Quebec Oct 4 - El Mocambo ** Toronto, Ontario Oct 9 - Richards on Richards Vancouver, British Columbia Oct 10 - Sugar Nightclub Victoria, British Columbia Oct 11 - Doug Fir Lounge ++ Portland, Oregon Oct 12 - Triple Door ++ Seattle, Washington Oct 17 - McDougall United Church w/ Guests Edmonton, Alberta Oct 19 - Cake Shop, NYC w/ The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Oct 25 - The Uptown Theatre w/ Guests Calgary, Alberta Nov 20 - Vera ** Groningen Nov 21 - Crossing Borders Festival Den Haag Nov 22 - Trix ** Antwerp Nov 24 - La Fleche D'Or ** Paris Nov 25 - The Borderline ** London Nov 27 - The Captain's Rest ** Glasgow Nov 28 - Limelight ** Belfast Nov 29 - Rosin Dubh ** Galway Nov 30 - Crawdaddy ** Dublin Dec 3 - Pusterviksbaren Gothenborg Dec 4 - Debaser Stockholm ** w/ Women ++ w/ Giant Sand Women - 2008 Tour Dates Sep 26 - Amigos Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Sep 27 - The Lo Pub Winnipeg, Manitoba Sep 28 - The Apollo Thunder Bay, Ontario Sep 29 - Cosmic Dave's Shop Sudbury, Ontario Oct 1 - Antenne-A ** Quebec City, Quebec Oct 2 - Zaphod Beeblebrox ** Ottawa, Ontario Oct 3 - POP Montreal: Ukranian Federation, Montreal, Quebec **, Julie Doiron Oct 4 - El Mocambo ** Toronto, Ontario Oct 9 - Casbah Lounge Hamilton, Ontario Oct 10 - Call the Office London, Ontario Oct 11 - Ford Plant Brantford, Ontario Nov 20 - Vera ** Groningen Nov 21 - Crossing Borders Festival Den Haag Nov 22 - Trix ** Antwerp Nov 24 - La Fleche D'Or ** Paris Nov 25 - The Borderline ** London Nov 27 - The Captain's Rest ** Glasgow Nov 28 - Limelight ** Belfast Nov 29 - Rosin Dubh ** Galway Nov 30 - Crawdaddy ** Dublin Dec 3 - The Windmill London ** w/ Chad Vangaalen Giant Sand - 2008 Tour Dates Sep 19 - Orpheum Theatre Madison, WI Sep 20 - Hideout Block Party Chicago, IL Sep 21 - Blender Theater - Gramercy New York City Sep 23 - Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH Sep 24 - The Pageant St. Louis, MO Sep 25 - The Lyric Oxford, MS Sep 26 - Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK Sep 27 - Granada Theater Dallas, TX Oct 3 - Modified Arts Phoenix, AZ Oct 4 - Club Congress Tucson, AZ Oct 8 - The Echo Los Angeles, CA Oct 9 - Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, CA Oct 11 - The Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR Oct 12 - The Triple Door Seattle, WA Oct 23 - Sammies Dunedin, NZ Oct 24 - San Francisco Bathhouse Wellington, NZ Oct 25 - 4.20 Auckland, NZ Oct 28 - The Troubadour Fortitude Valley, QLD Oct 30 - Clarendon Guest House Katoomba, NSW Oct 31 - The Factory Theatre Enmore, NSW Nov 1 - Northcote Social Club Northcote, VIC Nov 2 - Northcote Social Club Northcote, VIC Nov 3 - The Jade Monkey Adelaide, SA Nov 25 - Koko London, UK Nov 28 - Le VIP St. Nazaire, France Nov 29 - Le Vauban Brest, France Nov 30 - Fri-Son Fribourg, Switzerland Dec 1 - El Lokal Zurich, Switzerland Dec 2 - Le Ciel Grenoble, France Dec 4 - L'Aeronef Lille, France Dec 5 - Gebaude 9 Cologne, Germany Dec 6 - Handelsbeurs Ghent, Belgium Dec 7 - Uebel & Gefahrlich Hamburg, Germany Dec 8 - Lido Berlin, Germany Dec 9 - Scheune Dresden, Germany Dec 10 - Karlstorbahnhof Heidelberg, Germany Dec 11 - Feierwerk Munich, Germany Dec 12 - Primavera Sound Festival Barcelona, Spain Dec 13 - Primavera Sound Festival Madrid, Spain

from brooklynvegan on September 19, 2008

Bare Feet On Wet Griptape

Photo by Marc RimmerThe Chad Van Gaalen aesthetic is one that I've never been able to fully wrap my head around. Though the extremely tall Calgarian is obviously full of ideas and talent, the kitchen sink/everything goes approach that seemed to dominate his first two records didn't quite jive with me. Though there were moments of shining pop glory that poked out of the lo-fi ramshackleness, I would have preferred things to be tidier. But that's me. On his new record Soft Airplane, things haven't changed too much but I think I'm starting to come around or at the very least no longer wishing Van Gaalen would be something that he's obviously not. It still sounds like he spent his advance trolling local garage sales for new noisemaking equipment rather than book time at the poshest studio in town, but the production has reached a comfortable state of mid-fi that retains the fingerprints of Van Gaalen's quirky creative process while sounding fuller than past efforts. Soft Airplane is thirteen tracks of soft and gentle, singer-songwriter cores anchored by Van Gaalen's high, tremulous voice, dispensed in a wide variety of ear candy coatings, from crunchy rock to shiny electronica to just plain odd sonic concoctions that only Van Gaalen knows what went into them. Getting frustrated with Van Gaalen's musical ADD is a waste of energy - it's far more interesting to simply sit back and enjoy the ride. Van Gaalen is in town on October 4, though the venue has been changed from the Mod Club to the El Mocambo. I had noted before that he'd be doing an in-store at Sonic Boom the following day, October 5, but I can't seem to find anything to back that up so double-check with the store before heading down. Or surprise yourself. And courtesy of Killbeat Music, I've got a pair of passes to give away to said show along with a copy of Soft Airplane on CD or LP, your choice. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with "I want to ride the Soft Airplane" in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body along with your preference for analog or digital media. Contest closes at midnight, September 30. CMJ has an interview with Van Gaalen. MP3: Chad Van Gaalen - "Willow Tree" Video: Chad Van Gaalen - "Molten Light" MySpace: Chad Van Gaalen NOW, The Georgia Straight and The Boston Herald talk to Oliver Ackerman of A Place To Bury Strangers, playing tonight at Lee's Palace. Pitchfork has details on the Belle & Sebastian BBC Sessions comp mentioned yesterday, including the cover art, source of the tracks and a North American release date of November 18. And yes, it's a two-fer. The split 12" between The Acorn and Ohbijou isn't out till October 7 or thereabouts, but you can now preorder it as well as stream the whole thing (all four songs!) and download the cover of Ohbijou by The Acorn to hold you over. Their joint tour stops at Lee's Palace on November 27 and The Acorn's Heron Act collection is out September 30. MP3: The Acorn - "Steep" Stream: Ohbijou / Acorn split 12" Jaymay turns in a couple new songs in her Daytrotter session. Daniel Hunt and Helen Marnie of Ladytron talk to Prefix. Tuscon Weekly and The Houston Chronicle converse with David Berman of Silver Jews. Ryan Adams will release a new album in Cardinology on October 28. The Georgia Straight and Boise Weekly profile Ra Ra Riot. Hercules & Love Affair are at the Opera House on October 18. Full tour dates at Pitchfork. Video: Hercules & Love Affair - "You Belong" Video: Hercules & Love Affair - "Blind" England's Foals are coming back to dispense some Antidotes - look for them at Lee's Palace on October 24, tickets $15. MP3: Foals - "Balloons" Those who like their roots music on the creaky and creepy side will be pleased to know that O'Death will be at the El Mocambo on November 4. Paste has complete dates. MP3: O'Death - "Lowtide" Stars have added a second date at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre - in addition to December 12, they will also be playing on December 13. And FYI - next Thursday's My Bloody Valentine show has been moved from one acoustically dubious venue - Ricoh Coliseum - to another - the Kool Haus. At least at 1/3 the size, it'll feel that much more intimate. And deafening. Also note that this weekend's MBV-curated All Tomorrow's Parties in New York will be streamed in its partiality at WFMU. And tangentially, next Friday's Gemma Hayes show at Supermarket was billed in the print ad in this week's NOW as "...& Special Guests". I'm not saying it means anything, but maybe I am.

from Chromewaves on September 19, 2008

Album Review: Chad VanGaalen

As he’s shown on his previous records, 2004’s Infiniheart and 2006’s Skelliconnection, Chad VanGaalen knows how to create intricate pop songs, whether soft and simple, or distorted and experimental. Now, that contradicting sound is nicely summed up in the title of his latest - and perhaps best - effort, Soft Airplane. Death has been a central theme on all of VanGaalen’s records so far, and Soft Airplane is no exception. On the album-opener, the gentle “Willow Tree”, VanGaalen frailly sings: When I die I hang my head beside the willow tree When I’m dead Is when I’ll be free Somber to say the least, but also one of the best tracks I’ve heard all year. And the rest certainly don’t disappoint - Soft Airplane is by far VanGaalen’s most consistent album yet, with well crafted tunes from start to finish. Because while his first two records had plenty of solid songs on them, there were also some that easily could have been weeded out. This time, it seems like VanGaalen has done just that and only included the top of the crops, creating one of the best albums of 2008. MP3: “Willow Tree” MP3: “Bare Feet On Wet Griptape” - Cecilia

from Rock Sellout on September 18, 2008

The Breakdown : Chad VanGaalen : Soft Airplane

While our goal for The Breakdown is to allow artists to demystify their albums in their own words, it just wouldn't be Chad VanGaalen if all mystery were to be revealed. Weighing in on a fraction less than half of the tracks that make up his amazing new record, Soft Airplane, VanGaalen does reveal some humorously personal bits of info about the inspirations behind some of his latest songs, and frankly, we'll take what we can get. Soft Airplane was released via Sub Pop just last week, and if you haven't checked it out yet, maybe you're the one in need of demystifying.Cries of the Dead : is actually about Mark, a friend, leaving a super nice painting at my place. The other part is self-explanatory?Inside the Molecules : Loosely based on my daughter's birth, or thoughts of my daughter in-utero and the expectations of her having to make me into a better person and then realizing that I have to do it myself.TMNT Mask : Feeling frustrated with technology and interfaces and finding an escape through nature and then realizing that all that technology and interface is part of nature anyways so resistance is futile.Molten Light : A story of revenge, folklore special.<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Old Man + The Sea : is based on the novel of the same name.Rabid Bits of Time : Just like, you know, finding beauty in the mysteries of life. Like a pirate flag waving in the face of christianity.Chad VanGaalen - Willow TreePrevious:Full Album Stream : Chad VanGaalen : Soft AirplaneChad VanGaalen - Skelliconnection--------------------------------------------------------Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | eMusic | Subscribe To RSS Feed

from My Old Kentucky Blog on September 16, 2008

Top Ten Songs On Elbo.Ws Reviewed In 50 Words or Less: 9/01/08--9/15/08

(Jenny Lewis)Just a quick note: I've decided to review Justice's "Plainisphere" as one whole song, rather than the four separate parts. So if you're confused regarding the order of this edition, that's why.1. Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue"Download: Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue"On the title track of her second solo album, the Rilo Kiley songstress harkens back to folk-and-country-influenced songwriters of the 70s, not only musically, but by eschewing modern-day production techniques. The narrative is somewhat trite, but the multi-tracked harmonies will still breaking hearts after multiple listens. Heck, after multiple years.Grade: A-2. Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie"Download: Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie"Speaking of title tracks, "Offend Maggie" shows that Deerhoof are just about to hit a creative plateau, with an offering that's not quite as spastic as their past work, but still showcases the deft instrumental interplay for which the art-pop trio are known. An abrupt end leaves the listener wanting more, and wondering why they didn't get it.Grade: B-3. Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"Download: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"A departure from his past three educationally-themed albums, "Love Lockdown" is the most straightforward R&B song that Chicago-rapper West has written. It's also his darkest, with lyrics depicting conflicting, borderline possessive (think stalker), lyrics about relationships, and a dim heartbeat of an electronic beat keeping the pulse. A unusual change of pace, one that has potential to grow greatly on listeners.Grade: B+4, 5, 9, 10. Justice - "Planisphere"Download: Justice - "Planisphere"An epic, extended dance track created for the Dior Homme fashion show, this four-part dance symphony from the French duo introduces many different motifs, ranging from neo-classical to old-fashioned metal (dig the not-quite lightning fingers guitar solo) while still keeping a steady beat. Justice introduce enough ideas to keep listeners engaged throughout, but enough to blow their minds.Grade: B6. The Kooks - "Kids" (MGMT Cover)Download: The Kooks - Kids (MGMT Cover)The British rock quartet offer an acoustic take on the electro-pop group's standard anthemic tracks. Cue song being used to soundtrack a prom scene quarrel in three, two, one...Grade: C7. Annuals - "Confessor"Download: Annuals - "Confessor"The first representation of the North Carolina-based blog-buzz band's sophomore release, "Confessor" has the requisite multi-part harmonies that evoke the most sun-filled day, and reverb-heavy production characteristics that define the band's past work. A brisk tempo should work to the band's advantage, but instead ensures that the song suffers from an anti-climatic end.Grade: B-8. Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree"Like Neil Young, this Canadian singer-songwriter has an affecting tenor that suggests both defiance and resignation in swinging, banjo-accented folk music. Despite a pleasant melody, VanGaalen adds nothing new to suggest that listeners should listen to his music instead of Young's.Grade: C+(Jonathan Graef)jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com

from MFR on September 16, 2008

Drake’s Take: New Releases 09.09.08

Though I’m still a little undecided about the new one from Calgary’s Chad VanGaalen, Okkervil River’s The Stand Ins (which was mostly admired by Drake) and Calexico’s Carried To Dust (which was curiously unreviewed by Drake) both get the ’shine nod of approval from me. Anyway, as he correctly pointed out in last week’s comments, I was lapped — I’ll try to be a little more snappy this time around. -ed. Drake’s Take: New Releases 09.09.08 It’s a big week for releases as we run into the fall season, second only to spring in it’s capacity for ‘best of the year’ list entries. Some possible competitors in this crop include the latest from Okkervil River, The New Year, Chad Vangaalen, Kimya Dawson (poached in last week’s edition,) Damien Jurado, Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez, Horse Feathers and The Lovely Sparrows. Playlist: New Releases 09.09.08 Okkervil River - The Stand Ins Stream / Purchase [mp3] You could call The Stand Ins a sequel to 2007’s excellent The Stage Names, and it would be kind of accurate. But it’s probably more like it’s conjoined twin separated early and now making it’s own debut, as it the album was originally meant to be the second half of a double album, looking at the art and entertainment world. So if there’s one flaw, it might be that it suffers from being a slight repeat of a theme we’ve already heard, that of the soul-crushing nature of the entertainment biz (a theme, however, that is worthy of a second album). “Lost Coastlines” is easily the album’s highlight, and it also marks a farewell of sorts to Jonathan Meiburg, who shares vocals on the song with Will Sheff and has since moved on to make his band Shearwater a full-time gig. The song seems to be about trying to keep a band together, so it’s bittersweet, to say the least. The next song features some tasty guitar lines from guest guitarist Charles Bissell (The Wrens), making the medicine of Sheff’s heady lyrics go down easier, like jelly with crushed aspirin. The whole album features moments like this — “Starry Stairs” immediately follows complete with horns, and then there’s including the meta-inducing “Pop Lie,” which admonishes the audience for singing along to the pop singer who lies. It’s a song that’s sure to have fans complicitly singing along. Download: “Lost Coastlines” [mp3] The New Year - The New Year Stream / Purchase [mp3] The Kadane brothers’ previous incarnation of Bedhead made great use of space within the notes of a song, making melancholy out of what you didn’t hear. In their third album since forming The New Year, with slowcore drummer Chris Brokaw (Come, Codeine,) the band nudges further away from the anti-sound they cultivated, filling in the spaces with (gulp)arrangements. Like fellow Steve Albini recorded act Silkworm did towards the end of their run, the band has added piano to their sound, adding some depth to songs that border on feeling too slow for their own good. The build and release of any good The New Year song is present, though, and between “The Company I Can Get,” “Seven Days and Seven Nights” and “The Idea of You,” the Kadanes have created some of their best work yet. Free album stream from AOL Download: “The Company I Can Get” [mp3] Chad Vangaalen - Soft Airplane Stream / Purchase [mp3] Coming across this time like a spooky version of Neil Young, Chad Vangaalen’s sound has matured a bit in the two years since Skelliconnection, but his recording techniques remain as lo-fi as ever. Where his previous albums came across as scattered, it was because they were culled from hundreds of songs in his basement, whereas Soft Airplane was written and recorded with the album in mind (even if it’s still in his basement). Three of the first four songs sound , in structure at least, remarkably like Neil Young songs, and while the album is his most straight ahead album yet, by the halfway point (“Phantom Anthills”) strays briefly into electronica, with danceable drum beats and the odd analogue synth sound here and there. But it bounces back into the CVG trademarked spooky with the ghostly murder ballad “Molten Light,” featuring the repeated refrain “I’ll find you and I’ll kill you.” Cue chills. Free album stream from AOL Download: “Willow Tree” [mp3] More on the radar this week: Fujiya & Miyagi - Lightbulbs / Free album stream from AOL Calexico - Carried to Dust / Free album stream from AOL / “Two Silver Trees” [mp3] Kimya Dawson - Alphabutt Damien Jurado - Caught in the Trees / “Gillian Was a Horse” [mp3] Mogwai - Batcat EP Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez - Why is Bear Billowing / “Mostly a Friend” [mp3] Sam Champion - Heavenly Bender / Free album stream from AOL Tricky - Knowle West Boy / Free album stream from AOL The Lovely Sparrows - Bury the Cynics Horse Feathers - House With No Home / Free album stream / “Curs in the Weeds” [mp3] Angela Desveaux - The Mighty Ship Parenthetical Girls - Entanglements / “A Song for Ellie Greenwich” [mp3] Bound Stems - The Family Afloat Michael Franti & Spearhead - All Rebel Rockers / Free album stream from AOL Hallam Foe: Original Soundtrack Steve Wynn - Crossing Dragon Bridge Colourmusic - F, Monday, Orange, February, Venus, Lunatic, 1 or 13 The Subways - All or Nothing LL Cool J - Exit 13 Greg Camp - Defector Locksley - Don’t Make Me Wait Emiliana Torrini - Me and Armini Matt Bauer - The Island Moved in the Storm Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt Metallica - Death Magnetic Stereophonics - Pull the Pin People in Planes - Beyond the Horizon oRSo - Ask Your Neighbor The Low Lows - Shining Violence Growing - All the Way The Sound of Animals Fighting - The Ocean and the Sun Hal Ketchum - Father Time Callers - Fortune Joan Baez - Day After Tomorrow / Free album stream from AOL Civet - Hell Hath No Fury REISSUE ZZ Top - Eliminator [Expanded Edition]

from Bumpershine.com on September 15, 2008

Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane

Av någon anledning känns Chad VanGaalen redan som en veteran i musikvärlden, vilket är märkligt med tanke på att han i dagarna släppte sitt blott tredje studioalbum. 2005 var året för hans entré och sedan dess har VanGaalen försett oss med två album av skiftande kvalitet. Debutskivan Infiniteheart var närmast briljant medan uppföljaren Skelliconnection snarast liknade ett sömnpiller. Inför tredje skivan Soft Airplane visste man därav inte alls vad man kunde vänta sig. Efter den fantastiska balladen och tillika förstasingeln Willow Tree höjdes mina förväntningar en aning, men jag vågade fortfarande inte hoppas på för mycket. När skivan anlände visade det sig att förstasingeln skiljde sig avsevärt från resten av materialet. Den f.d. konstskoleeleven från Calgary hade nämligen rockat till resten av materialet ganska rejält. Sådana tilltag brukar inte vara något som faller mig i smaken och efter första lyssningen var jag rejält besviken på det till synes dåliga omdömet hos Chad. Det visade sig vara alldeles förhastat från min sida och efter några veckors tid med skivan är jag återigen beredd att geniförklara den här mannen. Soft Airplane är en mycket jämn historia som innehåller ett par av de bästa låtarna han skrivit. Redan nämnda Willow Tree är både vacker och intressant med sin morbida text, Phantom Anthills drivs av en synnerligen välprogrammerad trummaskin och TMNT Mask ackompanjeras av ett ypperligt blipblop-beat.Med facit i hand kan jag konstatera att Chads folkinfluerade falsettpop faktiskt gör sig väldigt bra i en lite rockigare omgivning. Ett plus i kanten får han också för att han begränsat antalet låtar till tretton, vilket är en förändring gentemot tidigare skivor. Sedan kan man givetvis fråga sig varför han inte valde bort det sista spåret Frozen Energon också, då jag inte blir klok på den låten.Om man inte kan få nog av Chad så finns här ett klipp där han och en kamrat framför ett något annorlunda trick. Spola fram till 2.34 för att se vad det rör sig om.Skivan släpptes på Sub Pop den 9 september.Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree

from Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits on September 13, 2008

A puddle splashing rainy day mix

I just spent half an hour this morning splashing around in some puddles with Hailey and it was certainly a ton of fun. We made it out between bursts of rain and it’s currently pouring down in buckets. We’ve gotten about 5 inches of rain since yesterday, but it ain’t nothin’ compared to what Texas is getting. Hopefully Grubbs, Laura, and all our pals in the vicinity of Ike are OK. So in addition to the pictures one post before, here are a few songs to (hopefully) brighten your rainy (or otherwise) day. We’re heading out into the downpour in a little while to check out rock music for kids courtesy of The Terrible Twos for the third time. We think they’re great and Hailey loves ‘em too. MP3 | Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue MP3 | MGMT – Kids MP3 | Birdmonster – Iditarod MP3 | Liz Durrett – Wild As Them MP3 | Chad Van Gaalen – Willow Tree MP3 | TV On The Radio – Golden Age MP3 | The Broken West – Auctioneer MP3 | Bloc Party – Talons MP3 | Jamie Lidell – Hurricane

from can you see the sunset from the southside? on September 13, 2008

New Music Releases: 9/9/08

Summer's over and the record labels aren't frucking around.Noteworthy Albums Released on 9/9/08:Albums I’ve Heard:The New Year: The New Year (Touch & Go) – I first got into the Kadane Brothers back in the Bedhead days circa 1994 or 1995 when my old roommate and I went to see them at the Replay in Lawrence, Kansas. There was a year or two where I went to sleep to Bedhead every day. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard The New Year had booked a show at the Echo, because I had no idea they were still around. And now a new album. The record’s classic Kadane Brothers. Most of the time Matt still sounds like he’s about 10 minutes away from hanging himself, but the way they slowly build a song is still fantastic. Recommended.Live: The Echo on 9/24/08MP3: The Company I Can Get (choice lyric: “the redneck in the red Corvette”)Okkervil River: The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar) – Maybe not quite as solid all the way through as last year’s The Stage Names (my favorite record of 2007) but it’s still damn good. I’ll write more about it later tonight. RecommendedLive: The Fonda on 9/23/08MP3: Lost CoastlinesPontiak: Sun on Sun (Thrill Jockey) – In the Black Mountain and Dead Meadow school of rock. Heavy guitar sounds. I haven’t completely absorbed it yet.MP3: Shell SkullEmiliana Torrini: Me and Armini (Rough Trade) – She sang the song at the end of the second Lord of the Rings movie. She’s Icelandic. She makes adult, Morning Becomes Eclectic type of music. Not really my wheel house, but it’s pretty pleasant.MP3: Me and ArminiWoodhands: Heart Attack (Paper Bag) – This type of music is definitely not in my wheelhouse, but it’s still pretty popular. Indie, electro dance music along the line of Does It Offend You, Yeah? Live: On the Rox on 9/13/08MP3: DancerMP3: I Wasn’t Made for FightingLocal Releases:The Broken West: Now or Heaven (Merge) – Another one of my most eagerly anticipated records of the year, and another success. The influences from the first record are still there (Teenage Fanclub, Badfinger, etc.) but the songs are more dynamic. The record has a more cohesive vibe and feels more like the product of a band. Not all the songs are jams, but some of my favorite tracks are more introspective (like "Ambuscade" and "Elm City"). And I really dig the layers of synths and pianos on "House of Lies" too. Lyrically, it's a very dark album. I just wish Merge would have released it on vinyl. RecommendedLive: Spaceland on 10/4/08MP3: AuctioneerMeiko: Meiko (Myspace Records) - Another artist springing out of the Hotel Cafe. I haven't heard this yet.Live: Hotel Café on 10/10/08Tweak Bird: Reservations (Volcom) - One of the sickest album covers I've seen in a while. There are a few strong tracks here, but it doesn't hit as hard as their live show. Definitely check them out if you're into heavy duos with that weird Mike Patton edge to them.Live: Silverlake Lounge on 9/17/08Other noteworthy new releases:AIDS WolfJoan BaezThe Black and White YearsBound StemsCalexico - Live: The Fonda on 9/29/08 MP3: Two Silver TreesCallersCivetColourmusicCommon Market - Live: Knitting Factory on 10/4/08Bart DavenportKimya Dawson – for the childrensAngela DesveauxThe Donkeys - MP3: Walk Through a CloudLiz Durrett - MP3: Wild as ThemThe EttesFujiya and Miyagi - Live: Troubadour on 10/30/08GrowingHorse Feathers - Live: Spaceland 10/5/08 MP3: Curs in the WeedsI’m Not JimJesu EPDamien Jurado - MP3: Gillian Was a HorseLesser Gonzalez Alvarez - MP3: Mostly a FriendLittle TeethLL Cool JLocksley - Live: Troubadour on 10/20/08Darlene Love compilationThe Lovely SparrowsThe Low Lows - MP3: SparrowsMetallica - Live: The Forum on 12/17/08Novillero - MP3: A Little TraditionOf Montreal 7”Parenthetical GirlsPlushgunPortastatic – rarities collection - MP3: Some Small HistoryRafterJosh Rouse – best of Rykodisc - Live: Largo on 9/23/08 – 9/24/08The Shaky Hands - Live: Spaceland on 10/24/08Jessica Simpson - Live: The Pomona Fairgrounds on 9/20/08The Sound of Animals FightingSoundtrack – The WomenThe SubwaysTricky - Live: The Fonda on 9/12/08Mark TuckerChad VanGaalen - MP3: Willow TreeWovenhandSteve WynnYoung Widows - MP3: Old Skin

from You Set the Scene on September 12, 2008

The Daily Graboid

After a week off, the Daily Graboid is back and better than ever, as we have a ton of of releases to sift through this week. This seems to be a consistent recurrence as there always seems to be an enormous amount of albums the week after I tend to take breaks from the blog. This sort of thing is never anything to complain about, as it’s always great to discover new music. This week brings us new albums from Okkervil River, Calexico, The Broken West, Portastatic, Emiliana Torrini, Chan VanGaalen and some lesser known TYS faves like Lost in the Trees and The Lovely Sparrows. Anything in particular that you’re excited to pick up? Let us know! The Broken West :: Now or Heaven MP3: “Auctioneer” Calexico :: Carried to Dust MP3: “Two Silver Trees” full album stream Chad VanGaalen :: Soft Airplane MP3: “Willow Tree” full album stream Colourmusic :: f, monday, orange, february, venus, lunatic, 1 or 13 MP3: “Put In A Little Gas” Damien Jurado :: Caught in the Trees MP3: “Where Lies My Tarp?” The Dark Romantics :: Heartbreaker MP3: “Let’s Ride” The Dead Science :: Villainaire MP3: “Throne Of Blood (The Jump Off)” The Donkeys :: Living on the Other Side MP3: “Walk Through A Cloud” Emilliana Torrini :: Me and Armini MP3: “Me and Armini” full album stream The Ettes :: Look at Life Again MP3: “Marathon” MP3: “I Get Mine” Fujiya & Miyagi :: Lightbulbs MP3: “Knickerbocker” full album stream Grayson Capps :: Rott ‘N’ Roll MP3: “Back to the Country” Horse Feathers :: House With No Home MP3: “Curs in the Weeds” full album stream Josh Rouse :: The Best of the Rykodisc Years MP3: “Nothing Gives Me Pleasure” full album stream Kellarissa :: Flamingo MP3: “Flamingo” Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez :: Why Is Bear Billowing MP3: “Mostly A Friend” Lost in the Trees :: All Alone in an Empty House MP3: “Fireplace” The Lovely Sparrows :: Bury the Cynics MP3: “Year of the Dog” The Lows Lows :: Shining Violence MP3: “Sparrows” Mogwai :: Batcat EP MP3: “The Sun Smells Too Loud” The New Year :: The New Year MP3: “The Company I Can Get” full album stream Novillero :: A Little Tradition MP3: “A Little Tradition” full album stream Okkervil River :: The Stand Ins MP3: “Lost Coastlines” Parenthetical Girls :: Entaglements MP3: “Love Connection, Pt II” Portastatic :: Some Small History MP3: “Some Small History” Rahim :: Laughter MP3: “Through a Window” Tricky :: Knowle West Boy full album stream ShareThis

from The Yellow Stereo on September 10, 2008

Baker's Dozen Downloads with Jenny Lewis, Deerhoof, The Album Leaf, Ponytail, and more

Here's September's installment of our monthly Baker's Dozen Downloads...and not a moment too soon. Take a moment to grab them, put them on your Zune or iPhone, and let their sonic goodness wipe the scary memories of the VMA's right out of your noggin.Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie" mp3The Album Leaf - "I Could Write A Book" mp3The Hush Now - "Traditions" mp3Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue" mp3Royal Bangs - "Cat Swallow" mp3Colourmusic - "Put In A Little Gas" mp3Mock Orange - "Song In D" mp3Holy Hail - "Samo Sun (remix)" mp3Grayson Capps - "Back To The Country" mp3Ponytail - "Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)" mp3Brass Bed - "BBC Midnight Broadcast" mp3Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree" mp3KiNo - "Won't Do" mp3

from extrawack! on September 10, 2008

New Music Release Tuesday: September 9, 2008

There are plenty of good albums to buy this week, including Foals new EP Gold Gold Gold, which we wrote about last Friday. I couldn't find the album art, but you can buy the EP on iTunes here.The Black And White Years - The Black And White YearsPower to Change (mp3) off The Black And White YearsBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonChad VanGaalen - Soft AirplaneWillow Tree (mp3) off Soft AirplaneStream Full AlbumBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonFujiya & Miyagi - LightbulbsStream Full AlbumBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonThe Lovely Sparrows - Bury The CynicsDepartment Of Foreseeable Outcomes (mp3) off Bury The CynicsBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonMetallica - Death MagneticBuy on AmazonThe New Year - The New YearThe Company I Can Get (mp3) off The New YearStream Full AlbumBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonOkkervil River - The Stand InsLost Coastlines (mp3) off The Stand InsBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonCheck out their Daytrotter SessionPeople In Planes - Beyond The HorizonStream Full AlbumBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonStereophonics - Pull The PinBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonThe Subways - All Or NothingBuy on iTunesBuy on AmazonViarosa - Send For The SeaBuy on iTunesBuy on Amazon

from ultra8201 on September 10, 2008

Chad VanGaalan - Soft Airplane Review

Chad VanGaalen is a Canadian musician from Calgary, Alberta who’s been praised by critics for his two self-produced albums Infiniheart and Skelliconnection. I’ve been sitting on a promotional copy of VanGaalen’s for a weeks now and I just couldn’t wait to review this album. This album took a little while for me to fully like. Soft Airplane begins with “Willow Tree” arguably one of the strongest tracks on there with simplistic banjo strumming but with VanGaalen’s vocals absolutely steal the show singing about his death. I’m left really confused when looking at the lyrics. Death is sung in a celebratory manner. The next track “Bones of a Man” takes a much different approach, with a slow paced song both vocally and musically. It never really picks up until maybe the harmony, but in the end it’s sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the opener. Cries of The Dead almost loses me with the 1 minute intro but it takes a more poppy-er approach and uses Van Gaalen’s vocals like they should. There’s a strange lyric I’m looking to figure out. “I can’t hear the cries of the dead, maybe it’s your neighbour beating his dog in the basement”. A little odd maybe? It is sung incredibly well though and it’s a good song. The next two songs are top notch. Inside the Molecules with the use of stronger guitar work sets a different tone like the 3 previous tones. It’s progressively different. We also get a eerie stringing/keyboard sounds to end the song for the next 30 seconds. It felt really out of place and unnecessary. My favorite song on the album is Bare Feet on Wet Grip Tape, it’s by far the hardest track and rocks out the most but I feel like it’s using more of VanGaalen’s skills. It’s also by far the best song lyrically with no weirdness or eeriness. The rest of the album here on out is mainly mistake free, VanGaalen isn’t afraid to experiment which I find to be more of a downside. I’m not sure I like how it’s different just to be different. There are so many unnecessary things that make you forget you are listening to an album. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Mask (or TMNT Mask) features the use of synthesizer and keyboard work. Old Man at the Sea has the weird stuff at the end. Anytime when VanGaalen is not singing, it’s more of a shame then not, luckily for most of the album that stays true. He’s very talented and this album comes off as trying a little bit too hard. I still enjoy 90% of the songs. Rating: 4.25 out of 5 MP3s/videos after the jump. Molten Light by Chad VanGaalen (I think he created this himself) <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> MP3s: Bare Feet on Wet Grip Tape by Chad Van Gaalen Willow Tree by Chad Van Gaalen Rabid Bits of Time by Chad Van Gaalen

from Allan's World Music on September 09, 2008

Try It Before You Buy It (September 9th Music Releases)

Try It Before You Buy It features free and legal music downloads and full album streams from the week's music releases. MP3 downloads and full album streams from music released this week: Bart Davenport: Palaces "Jon Jon" [mp3] "A Young One" [mp3] Behrouz: Nervous Nitelife: Pure Behrouz NYC full album stream Bound Stems: The Family Afloat full album stream The Broken West: Now or Heaven "Auctioneer" [mp3] Calexico: Carried to Dust full album stream "Two Silver Trees" [mp3] Chad VanGaalen: Soft Airplane full album stream "Willow Tree" [mp3] Civet: Hell Hath No Fury full album stream Damien Jurado: Caught in the Trees "Gillian Was a Horse" [mp3] The Dark Romantics: Heartbreaker "Let's Ride" [mp3] The Dead Science:The Dead Science "The Throne of Blood (The Jump Off)" [mp3] Don Chambers:Zebulon "Highwater (featuring Patterson Hood)" [mp3] The DonkeysLiving on the Other Side "Walk Through a Cloud" [mp3] Emiliana Torrini: Me and Armini full album stream "Me and Armani" [mp3] The Ettes: Look At Life Again Soon "Marathon" [mp3] "I Get Mine" [mp3] Fujiya & Miyagi: Lightbulbs full album stream Grayson Capps: Rott 'N' Roll "Back to the Country" [mp3 Gym Class Heroes: The Quilt full album stream Horse Feathers: House With No Home full album stream "Curs in the Weeds" [mp3] Jessica Simpson: Do You Know full album stream Joan Baez: Day After Tomorrow full album stream Joan Osborne: Little Wild One full album stream "Sweeter Than the Rest" [mp3] "Hallelujah in the City" [mp3] Josh Hoge: Everything She Was full album stream Josh Rouse: The Best of the Rykodisc Years full album stream Kellarissa: The Best of the Rykodisc Years full album stream "Flamingo" [mp3] Leigh Jones: Music in My Soul full album stream Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez: Why Is Bear Billowing? "Mostly a Friend" [mp3] Liz Durrett: Outside Our Gates "Wild as Them" [mp3] from Outside Our Gates (out September 9th) "All of Them All" [mp3] The Low Lows: Shining Violence "Sparrows" [mp3] Matt Bauer: The Island Moved in the Storm "Don't Let Me Out" [mp3] Meiko: Meiko full album stream Michael Franti & Spearhead: All Rebel Rockers full album stream Natalie Cole: Still Unforgettable full album stream The New Year: The New Year full album stream "The Company I Can Get" [mp3] Novillero: A Little Tradition full album stream "A Little Tradition" [mp3] Of Great and Mortal Men: 43 Songs for 43 U.S. Presidencies "James Monroe: The Last Cocked Hat (with Marla Hansen)" [mp3] Parenthetical Girls: Entanglements "A Song for Ellie Greenwich" [mp3] People in Planes: Beyond the Horizon full album stream Portastatic: Some Small History "Some Small History" [mp3] Rahim: Laughter "Through a Window" [mp3] Sasha: Involver 2 full album stream Tricky: Knowle West Boy full album stream Young Widows: Old Wounds "Old Skin" [mp3] also at Largehearted Boy: previous Try It Before You Buy It lists CD & DVD release lists tags: music cd list indie album releases mp3 download

from Largehearted Boy on September 09, 2008

New Releases - 9/9/2008

This week provides another great slate of new releases. Okkervil River’s latest effort The Stand Ins is an absolute must have. SDM can also recommend Calexico’s Carried to Dust. Also, If you missed Colourmusic’s vinyl release of F Monday Orange February Venus Lunatic 1 Or 13 a couple of weeks back you can now pick it up on CD. We’re also looking forward to hearing the highly underrated Mitch Hedberg’s posthumous release, Do You Believe in Gosh. I’m betting on it being hilarious. Let us know what we’re forgetting. New Releases, Album Art, Streams, and MP3’s After the Jump.. (more…)

from Salad Days Music on September 09, 2008

Chad VanGaalen: "Soft Airplane"

from *Sixeyes on September 09, 2008

Full Album Stream : Chad VanGaalen : Soft Airplane

Chad VanGaalen's Soft Airplane is streaming in it's entirety on his MySpace. The album will be released this coming Tuesday by Sub Pop. VanGaalen says the new album was recorded "primarily on an old tape machine and a JVC ghetto blaster" in his own Calgary basement.Chad VanGaalen - Willow TreeIn case you missed it: New video for Molten Light<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Previous:Chad VanGaalen - Skelliconnection--------------------------------------------------------Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | eMusic | Subscribe To RSS Feed

from My Old Kentucky Blog on September 05, 2008

Novedades Sub Pop

Novedades del sello Sub Pop para el inicio de temporada. Furr, el cuarto álbum de Blitzen Trapper, sexteto de Portland y nuevo fichaje de la compañía de Seattle. Nuevo disco de Chad VanGaalen, se llama Soft Airplane y es el tercero del músico canadiense. También debutando en Sub Pop, Death Vessel, con su álbum Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us. Y por último, Daniel Martin Moore, la última incorporación de la compañía. Su primer álbum verá la luz el próximo mes de octubre. Para escuchar algo de él, de momento hay que visitar su MySpace.*Blitzen Trapper-Furr*Chad VanGaalen-Willow Tree*Death Vessel-Bruno's Torso

from Planeta Pop on September 05, 2008

chad vangaalen and his soft airplane

chad vangaalen is a cool cat. he’s like a young bob pollard. actually he’s really nothing like uncle bob except that they both have a penchant for recording on 4 tracks or other random analog equipment and crafting strangely hummable pop songs. case in point, chad’s new record, soft airplane, was recorded primarily on an old tape machine and a jvc ghetto blaster or at least thats what subpop would lead you to believe. either way, he’s kinda all over the map not so much in styles but in instrumentation and is very reminiscent of the early elephant 6 days of elf power, olivia tremor control, nmh, the music tapes, etc. i have really really dug his past records, infiniheart and skelliconnection and judging by the first single off soft airplane i am sure my fanboy status will keep on, keepin on. willow tree off soft airplane echo train off infiniheart clinically dead flower gardens off skelliconnection graveyard btw, sub pop and flemish eye are also offering a bonus limited edition cd-r featuring three songs, including a new track and two 1-man-band versions of songs from soft airplane to anyone who pre-orders the album by september 9th. molten light Tags: chad vangaalen, sub pop, youtube

from captain's dead on August 29, 2008

New Chad VanGaalen Video - "Molten Light"

Anyone keeping up with Chad VanGaalen -- and everyone should be -- has seen his drawings at some point or another, gracing the covers to his albums, lending an air of animated surreality to videos by Guster and Chad VanGaalen. And once again, Chad does himself a solid -- a murderous and weird, colorfully ominous solid -- with the treatment for the vengeful and eerie strums of "Molten Light." The twisted fairy tale also serves as the second listen to his forthcoming Sub Pop release Soft Airplane, so key in on that. And also how easily you'll sing along to "I'll find you and I'll kill you."

from stereogum on August 27, 2008

i'll find you and i'll kill you

Here's the surreal new video for Chad VanGaalen's "Molten Light" -- taken from his excellent new Soft Airplane LP -- featuring some disturbing visuals, brought to life by Mr. VanGaalen himself. If you're unfamiliar, the dude is obsessed with death, murder, and revenge:<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&color1=11645361&color2=13619151&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" height="344" width="425"></embed>previously:mp3:chad vangaalen :: willow tree***************************************

from Gorilla Vs. Bear on August 27, 2008

Chad VanGaalen Premieres New Video

Enjoy the animated brilliance of 'Molten Light' below. Visit Chad on MySpace.<object width="500" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DLw5b70OJH8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="400"></embed></object>MP3: Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree

from The Music Slut on August 27, 2008

Video/Freeload: Chad VanGaalen Makes Us Happy/Sad/Happy/Sad Etc

from The FADER Magazine on August 27, 2008

Fleet Foxes Are Coming To Australia; Or An Ode To All Things Subpop

Yes, yes, yes! Fleet Foxes are coming to Australia. Today, these sweet voiced marvels were added to the lineup of The Falls Festival at the end of December. Their debut album, released in June, has won many hearts and rightly so. It is a beautiful and stunning release. So, they join The Dodos, who are also playing this festival. Then we have The Mountain Goats and Final Fantasy coming here for the Meredith Music Festival. Let's start counting the days until the sideshows are announced. I can't wait.I also heard a very small rumour that Wolf Parade could be coming to Meredith. Now, I normally don't listen to rumours and this one is a doozy. So, I don't want to get any one's hopes up, but to say this would be quite exciting would be a massive understatement. The band has just finished a short North American tour and are going to do a short European tour in November, so let's hope that maybe, just maybe they will decide to visit our country.Now, both these bands are on Subpop, home to many great artists. Oxford Collapse just released a new album on the label and Blitzen Trapper and Chad VanGaalen have albums due out shortly. Here are some samples of Subpop goodness (circa 2008).MP3: Language City-Wolf ParadeMP3: White Winter Hymnal-Fleet FoxesMP3: Furr-Blitzen TrapperMP3: Willow Tree-Chad VanGaalenMP3: The Birthday Wars-Oxford CollapseMP3: Bruno's Torso-Death VesselBonus Goodness-MP3: Lost Coastlines-Okkervil River

from oceans never listen on August 26, 2008

"Willow Tree"from the album Soft Airplane2008iTunes<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://obscuresound.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://obscuresound.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&bg=0xFFFFFF&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x534741&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x534741&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x534741&slider=0x534741&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0x534741&loader=0xED1C24&soundFile=http://subpop.com/assets/audio/4611.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/></object>A notorious homebody, Chad VanGaalen is well known for rarely leaving his basement in Calgary, endlessly drawing, recording, and making art. Fortunately, he has an uncanny knack for creating music that is sweepingly beautiful and undeniably genuine, and with his third full-length Soft Airplane (due September 9), this celebrated multi-talented artist has created his most complete album to date.With 2005's Infiniheart and 2006's Skelliconnection, Chad displayed an innate understanding of simple pop melody and a penchant for intellectually playful arrangements. Compiled from years of hidden back-catalogue and lo-fi CD-R releases, both albums went on to receive critical acclaim from across the globe. While his first albums hinted at musical reference points (that even Chad seemed to be reluctant to embrace), Soft Airplane reveals an artist utterly in stride — confident enough to span genres, while working with a determined and deliberate focus.Freed somehow from expectations or restrictions, Chad's musical expression seems both focused and unfettered. While elements might recall Neil Young (On the Beach), touch upon Sonic Youth (Sister), or even evoke the electronic meanderings of Raymond Scott, Soft Airplane manages to soar above musical reference points. The songs trace stories of birth and death, reflecting changes in his life over the two years since Skelliconnection, and cocoon the listener in a distinctive and unique world. Layered with a lush and complex mix of found sounds, vibraphone, corrupted synthesizers and drum machines, accordions, cello, clarinet, guitars and many others, Soft Airplane remains spacious and surges with pop-informed sophistication despite its lo-fi recording origins.The album opener "Willow Tree" showcases Chad's seemingly wise and fearless understanding of death amidst sweet banjo rhythms, swells of accordions, and resonating vibraphone; from first listen, the song captures the overwhelmingly compassionate human spirit that defines Soft Airplane. In "Bones of Man" and "Bare Feet on Wet GripTape," Chad pays tribute to the slack vocal styling of Thurston Moore, while on "Molten Light" or "Rabid Bits of Time" his voice trembles with his distinctive vulnerability. When electronic experimentation comes into play on "Phantom Anthills" and "TMNT Mask," Chad toys with literate quasi dance-pop songs, but in characteristic irreverence with broken glitches from circuit-bent toys recorded to old tape machines. In fact, "Cries of the Dead" debuts a mechanical drum machine of Chad's own design, a handmade robotic device that strikes out an awkwardly fallible and surprisingly human rhythm.As Soft Airplane closes, Chad allows the fragile, ascending, "Rabid Bits of Time" to greet the thunderous synth spasms of "Frozen Energon" through the stereo field-recordings of a passing freight train, and a psychedelic nightmare suited to cartoonist Jim Woodring brings the album to a shuddering halt. Sometimes the most powerful of musical expressions come from the most hushed and unassuming sources; with Soft Airplane, Chad VanGaalen has created one of these rare, heartfelt and gripping moments from the depths of his cluttered basement. Fortunately for him — and us.~ killbeatmusic

from Jonk Music on August 25, 2008

premiere: White Denim :: "Sitting"

white denimAfter releasing their stellar Workout Holiday LP in the UK to unequivocally glowing reviews, then proceeding to tear up clubs all over Europe, TX's White Denim is finally set to release their self-produced Exposion LP here in the states in November on Austin's young Transmission label. I might've gone on enough about how much I love these dudes over the last couple years, so let's just say that Exposion fully embodies this band's raw power and earnest, soulful approach, and is undeniably one of the best records that will be released this year. Here's the album's glorious closing anthem:mp3:white denim :: sittingExposion arrives November 3 on Transmission. The band will play both the Monolith and ACL festivals in September before heading abroad for the Iceland Airwaves fest in October.********************************************unrelated:Our weekly GvsB Sirius radio show airs today at noon + midnight EST on Left of Center. New stuff this week from High Places, Fight Bite, The Cool Kids, Harlem, and more. You can listen right here, for free. Full playlist for this week + some mp3s after the jump...gorilla vs. bear sirius blog radio :: august 181. The Walkmen :: On the Water2. White Denim :: Sitting3. Harlem :: South of France4. Arch M :: 21st Union5. Grouper :: Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping6. Burial :: Shell of Light7. El Guincho :: Fata Morgana8. J Dilla :: Last Donut of the Night9. Air France :: Collapsing at Your Doorstep10. Gang Gang Dance :: House Jam (xxxchange remix)11. Terror Bird :: Shame is on Your Side12. The Knife :: Silent Shout13. Women :: Black Rice14. Adrian Orange :: While You Live15. Chairlift :: Planet Health16. Quiet Village :: Free Rider17. RATATAT :: Mumtaz Khan18. Mujava :: Township Funk (edit)19. The Cool Kids :: Pennies20. Department of Eagles :: No One Does it Like You21. Chad VanGaalen :: Willow Tree22. Panda Bear :: Untitled (Song for Ariel)23. High Places :: From Stardust to Sentience24. Fight Bite :: Widow's Peak25. Tenlons Fort :: Ghost on a Hill26. Kleerup feat. Lykke Li :: Until We Bleed (cello version)27. Sufjan Stevens :: Redford28. Sufjan Stevens :: Vito's Ordination Song29. Fight Bite :: Swissex Lover

from Gorilla Vs. Bear on August 18, 2008

Chad VanGaalen, 'Willow Tree' -- Free MP3 of the Day

Filed under: Free MP3 of the Day, New MusicSpinner.com: Artist: Chad VanGaalen Songs: 'Willow Tree'Album: 'Happy Birthday To Me: Terminal Sales Vol. 3' [iTunes]Sounds Like: Mark Kozelek, Band of HorsesDownload: 'Willow Tree' (MP3)[Get Winamp] [Download Help] Next MP3... Read more

from Spinner on August 15, 2008

Chad VanGaalen, 'Willow Tree' -- Free MP3 of the Day

from Spinner on August 15, 2008

Chad VanGaalen

I'm kind of busy right now watching Canada vs. Cuba in Olympic baseball on CBC, but I will say this: Chad VanGaalen's trembly, trippy, falsetto-ed pop makes a lousy soundtrack for watching athletics on television. (For the most part: the rocking "Graveyard," available for free download below, might fit in during the half inning breaks where t-shirts are tossed into the crowd.) VanGaalen, of Calgary, crafts stylish and hip songs with a strong D.I.Y. vibe. With these tracks below, borrowed from VanGaalen's three ablums, all your lo-fi friends will be wanting to know what you're spinning. Tell them you're busy — water polo's on in ten minutes.

from 3hive on August 14, 2008

Chad VanGaalen - new album & MP3

DOWNLOAD: Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree (MP3) Recorded primarily on an old tape machine and a JVC ghetto blaster in Chad's Calgary basement, Soft Airplane retains the handmade charm and singular character of his previous records, while incorporating new layers of sophistication and weight.I haden't listened to Chad VanGaalen for a while before hearing this new track that instantly reminded me why I became a fan in the first place. "Soft Airplane" is out on Sub Pop on September 9th. "Willow Tree" is the first track. Full track list below... Soft Airplane tracklistWillow Tree Bones of Man Cries of the Dead Inside the Molecules Bare Feet on Wet Griptape Phantom Anthills Poisonous Heads TMNT Mask Molten Light Old Man + the Sea City of Electric Light Rabid Bits of Time Frozen Energon

from brooklynvegan on August 13, 2008

Daily Downloads (Blitzen Trapper, Chad VanGaalen, and more)

Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Arbouretum: "Buffalo Ballet (John Cale cover)" [mp3] from Kale (split album with Pontiak) other Arbouretum posts at Largehearted Boy Beaten By Them: "The Asiatic Capital Vista" [mp3] from Signs of Life (out November 11th) other Beaten By Them posts at Largehearted Boy Blitzen Trapper: "Furr" [mp3] from Furr (out September 23rd) other Blitzen Trapper posts at Largehearted Boy Brighton, MA: one track [mp3] other Brighton, MA posts at Largehearted Boy Chad VanGaalen: "Willow Tree" [mp3] from Soft Airplane (out September 9th) other Chad VanGaalen posts at Largehearted Boy DeLeon: "Porke Yorach" [mp3] from DeLeon (out August 12th) other DeLeon posts at Largehearted Boy The Monolators: "Don't Dance" [mp3] from Don't Dance (out October 21st) The Monolators: "Hearts Going Steady" [mp3] from Don't Dance (out October 21st) The Monolators: "This Is Goodbye" [mp3] from Don't Dance (out October 21st) other Monolators posts at Largehearted Boy The Republic Tigers: "The Nerve (live on KCRW)" [mp3] other Republic Tigers posts at Largehearted Boy Today's free and legal recordings of live shows, rarities, and demos available via bittorrent: The Airborne Toxic Event: 2008-08-07, El Rey [flac]* other Airborne Toxic Event posts at Largehearted Boy Bob Dylan: 2008-08-09, Pittsburgh [flac]* Bob Dylan: 2008-08-08, Philadelphia [flac]* other Bob Dylan posts at Largehearted Boy Cat Power: 2008-05-26, Lisbon [flac]* other Cat Power posts at Largehearted Boy Girl Talk: 2008-08-08, Jersey City [flac]* other Girl Talk posts at Largehearted Boy Neil Young: 2008-08-09, Goteborg [flac]* other Neil Young posts at Largehearted Boy Pylon: 2008-08-08, Winston-Salem [flac]* other Pylon posts at Largehearted Boy Raconteurs: 2008-08-09, Pittsburgh [flac]* other Raconteurs posts at Largehearted Boy Radiohead: 2008-08-08, Jersey City [flac]* other Radiohead posts at Largehearted Boy Wilco: 2008-08-08, Cary [flac] other Wilco posts at Largehearted Boy *registration required also at Largehearted Boy: previous mp3 and bittorrent downloads 2008 Lollapalooza downloads 2008 Bonnaroo downloads 2008 Coachella music downloads 2008 SXSW music downloads and streams 2007 Austin City Limits Music Festival downloads other music festival downloads Try It Before You Buy It (mp3s and album streams from weekly CD releases) weekly CD release lists tags: music download indie mp3 bittorrent

from Largehearted Boy on August 12, 2008

Weekend Shorts

The Guardian surveys a raft of new folk (Loudon Wainwright III, Noah and the Whale) and issues a general "meh", but they like the new Joan Baez the best. The album, "Day After Tomorrow", carries the name of its Tom Waits cover. Trolling the Live Music Archive, scrolling through page after page of Disco Biscuits concert upload, has its benefits. I unearthed a few new show uploads with some

from Indiefolkforever on August 10, 2008

Some Sunday Links...

Sorry to have wandered off there for a while, a (mostly) computer-less vacation kept me away from all things blog. Lots of music and whatnot to catch up on, but I figured I'd jump back into things with a Sunday links post...Will Ferrell: His 16 Wackiest Characters (Entertainment Weekly) The Top 20 Stupid Faces Made By Patrick Swayze in Ghost (Best Week Ever)Berkeley Place has moved to a new addressBehind Bright Eyes (Wall Street Journal)After the most recent Bright Eyes album, which featured an elaborate studio production and a tour, Mr. Oberst took a simpler tack. Beckoned by friends in Mexico to a town called Tepoztlán, he and a small band recorded there last winter in a hotel villa and in the open air outside. "You can hear the lack of a ceiling," he says. Movement, whether for escape or discovery, is a major theme of Mr. Oberst's self-titled album and "my adult life," he said.John Norris interviews Conor Oberst (YouTube)Interview: Okkervil River right before Lollapalooza (Consequence of Sound)Life Since "Flagpole Sitta" by Sean Nelson of Harvey Danger (LA Times)Here’s a guy who’d lived the rock-star dream for a nanosecond -- and he’s more content now that chance has faded away. Sean’s life is a useful reminder that what happens after fame, especially for a one-hit wonder, matters more than the “big moment.” I thought others might learn from his example, so I asked him to write up a timeline of his experiences since that fateful “Flagpole Sitta” summer.Why Raymond Carver's legacy keeps growing (Telegraph)Asked to talk about the relationship between Carver's life and art for yet another memoir, Richard Ford complained that the very question was an "arrogant disservice to his work", while Tobias Wolff replied that he "would like to see Ray regarded as the great artist he was, and not as somebody who had a terrible life that he wrote about".The World of Web Trolling (New York Times)Another troll explained the lulz as a quasi-thermodynamic exchange between the sensitive and the cruel: “You look for someone who is full of it, a real blowhard. Then you exploit their insecurities to get an insane amount of drama, laughs and lulz. Rules would be simple: 1. Do whatever it takes to get lulz. 2. Make sure the lulz is widely distributed. This will allow for more lulz to be made. 3. The game is never over until all the lulz have been had.”Is Yoga Enough To Keep You Fit? (Yoga Journal)We sent three yogis to the lab to test the theory that yoga is all you need for optimal fitness...Sweet Relief: Is ice cream an anti-depressant? (ABC News)New research published in the journal Nature Neuroscience this month may shed some light on the biological relationship between depression and appetite. While it does not show that Ben and Jerry's is an antidepressant, it does suggest that a brain chemical, that motivates the consumption of the ice cream, may be.Then, put away the ice cream already, and try these songs:"2 Bodies 1 Heart" - Noah & the Whale"Willow Tree" - Chad Van Gaalen

from Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands on August 04, 2008

July Mixtape

SIDE A1. Calexico - Two Silver Trees2. Port O'Brien - Stuck On A Boat3. Patchwork - Spaceships4. Takka Takka - Everybody Say5. Brown Bird - The Brokedown Palace Of My Head6. Paper Rival - Cassandra7. Mogwai - The Sun Smells Too LoudSIDE B1. Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree2. The Burning Hell - Goodbye Ukulele3. Department Of Eagles - In Ear Park4. Ra Ra Riot - Dying Is Fine5. Setting Sun - How Long6. Liz Durrett - Wild As Them7. Parts & Labor - Nowhere NighTags: July, Mixtapes, Captain Obvious Mixtapes, Captain Obvious

from Captain Obvious on July 29, 2008

Listening Assignments 7.28.08

1. Calexico - Two Silver Trees - Everybody's favorite western alt-folk group is pouncing back to Feast of Wire form with the upcoming release of Carried to Dust. Sounds like they're singing out over an expansive plain, echoing across canyons, accompanied by the whispery grasslands and wild dogs. They survive on dust and dew. [from Carried to Dust (out 9.9)|info]2. Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree - This is so Chad. Tiptoeing along with timidness. It always sounds like trembling fear, but it always gallops into redemption. This time, especially. [from Soft Airplane (out 9.9)|info]3. The New Frontiers - Spirit and Skin - I spent a week with this record, after reading numerous reviews saying it was the Militia Group's best release since Copeland's Beneath Medicine Tree (one of my all-time favorite records). And it's good, but not transcendent in any way, save this one song. A simple and beautiful ballad that would be huge if it were recorded on a cheap tape recorder and Sam Beam were singing it. But being on Militia just isn't "cool" enough. [from Mending|buy]4. My Brightest Diamond - Inside a Boy - Something tells me if it were a dude singing a song called "Inside a Girl", it'd be a major taboo. As it stands, it's more of Shara Worden's Jefferson Airplane-esque spaciness, spinning through an enormous space with violins and tons of reverb. [from A Thousand Shark's Teeth|buy]

from linesthroughlines on July 28, 2008

ein (p)fund mp3 (125)

am 19. august erscheint das boxset "lumious groove":Robyn Hitchcock - Bad Case of History"donkey" kommt!, sub pop, na klar:CSS - Rat Is Dead"Your Anchor" heißt hier der longplayer, stolperpop seit 22.07. auf barsuk:Lackthereof - Last Novembereine ep steht ins haus, sie nennt sich "m4" (auf friendly fire), na denn:Faunts - M4 (Part II) der blog indie mp3 hat bekanntlich sein eigenes Lost Music Record Label, dort erscheint demnächst eine single von ihm:Pete Green - Best British Band Supported By Shockwavesbot sich an, ist aber auch ein pfund:Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassamein alter kumpel kommt nun endlich mit dem dritten album herüber, getauft hat er es auf "Soft Airplane", erreichen kann es jeden ab 09.09., hoffentlich gelingt ihm wieder eine solch kraftvolle musikalische exkursion wie auf den vorgängerwerken (auf flemish eye):Chad Van Gaalen - Willow Treeauf dem selben label vertreten mit aktueller musik:Women - Black RiceWomen - Group Transport HallHealth - Heaven - Narctrax Remixdie freude über das im september erscheinende "Carried To Dust" dürfte allerorten groß sein:Calexico - Two Silver Treesgehen mit "object 47" auf große tour, kommen aber leider nicht nach good old germany (verriet mir ein erster blick):Wire - One Of UsWire - In The Art Of Stoppingund was sonst noch wichtig ist:Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal (sub pop)Wolf Parade - Language City (sub pop)Stereolab - Three Women (4ad)

from das klienicum on July 28, 2008

A Rock & Roll Romance

Photo by Frank YangIt may have sat on my bookshelf for almost three months before I even cracked the spine, Dean Wareham's memoirs Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance barely took me a day to finish reading. No doubt my being a long-standing fan of all his works, from Galaxie 500 through my beloved Luna to his present works as Dean & Britta, contributed to the rate at which I plowed through it but I think that anyone who's interested in the life and times of a cult indie rock band would have found it just as compelling, whether they knew his work or not. Black Postcards reminded me very much of Bob Dylan's own memoirs, Chronicles, and not just because it was the last rock bio I read. Both their careers have obviously taken much different trajectories, they're both famously cryptic in their songwriting and standoffish at best with the press, yet both their books are surprisingly clear and forthright. Starting at the very beginning and his childhood in New Zealand and Australia, Wareham is comprehensive in his recollections. He traces the path of Galaxie 500 from a university dorm project to cult band playing the European festival circuit and offers his own perspective on quitting the band when they seemed on the cusp of something greater - bandmate Damon Krukowski has gone on the record with his account of the band's dissolution and while Wareham doesn't necessarily contradict them, he does offer his own reasonings for needing to get out. The Luna years are similarly covered. Though it features numerous entertaining anecdotes about the mundanity of life on the road - common topics are hotels, food, narcotic adventures and occasional dalliances - the running theme is mostly of Wareham's frustrations with essentially having plateaued as a band, commercially speaking. Playing the same venues tour after tour, ongoing label issues, intra-band tensions - certainly not unique to Luna, but that doesn't make it easier to take. Wareham is also extremely forthcoming on his personal life, particularly about his affair with bandmate (and now wife) Britta Phillips and all the ensuing drama, including the subsequent dissolution of his first marriage. He recounts most everything matter of factly, not necessarily apologetically but with the benefit of hindsight. It's a wholly engrossing read, particularly for someone as emotionally invested in the music around it all as I am, and it's interesting how much of Wareham's seemingly nonsensical lyrics are actually about something concrete. And yeah, it totally made me miss Luna, like a phantom limb. And it also prompted me to do as I've intended for over two years and watch the band commentary for the Tell Me Do You Miss Me documentary DVD. The film runs in parallel with the last portion of the book quite tightly but rather than offer any more insight into the final days of the band, the commentary is more a reminiscence about the making of the film. Recorded a year after the band officially broke up, the interplay amongst Dean, Britta and Sean Eden (Lee Wall recorded his track on his own in Los Angeles) is friendly though some of the lingering band tension does surface occasionally. It's sort of a silly thing to care about, but it pleased me see that all of them still get along. Or at least did a couple years ago. Here in the present, Dean and Britta are obviously carrying along quite nicely with Dean & Britta. Their debut album, L'Avventura has been out of print for a while but will be getting a reissue on September 2 with some bonus tracks from the Sonic Souveniers remix EP tacked on for good measure. Lee Wall has a MySpace. Sean Eden was running with Elk City but is now also with Gramercy Arms. Odds of a Luna reunion are slim to none unless you start throwing lots of money at them. Le sigh. MP3: Luna - "Friendly Advice" (live) MP3: Luna - "The Slow Song (live) Video: Luna - "Slash Your Tires" Video: Luna - "Season Of The Witch" Video: Luna - "Lovedust" Video: Luna - "1995" Billboard has details on Paul Westerberg's just-released 49:00, which as the name implies is 49 minutes of music which he's selling online for $0.49. Neil Young discusses his plans surrounding the release of Archives this Fall with Billboard. He reveals that there will be CD and DVD editions, not just Blu-Ray, and there will also be extensive touring to support. He does not reveal a release date. He also stopped in at the Charlie Rose show - video clip at The Daily Swarm. Drowned In Sound, NPR and The Stranger q&a The Hold Steady. QRO, Metro and JAM interview Brendan Canning. The Quietus hit the road with Radiohead in 2003, took notes, and have now published them online. And a second part. More to come? Radiohead's 2008 edition are at the Molson Amphitheatre on August 15. Also at The Quietus is also offering up an audio guide to Sheffield, England courtesy of Jarvis Cocker. Paste also reports that Jarv is composing songs for Wes Anderson's adaptation of The Fantastic Mr Fox. Five will get you six that he'll also have to cover a Kinks song for the soundtrack. Cocker, by the way, may well now be #1 on my list of artists whom I have yet to see live (and have a reasonable expectation of doing so). Seeing the reports back from Pitchfork and New York City this past week have made me all angsty that he hasn't come to play Toronto yet - and hasn't been here since Pulp's final show at Massey Hall in 1998 (I believe - do correct me if I'm wrong unless it means that I've actually missed seeing him here in the past decade). There's some kind of meme running through the whole of the music media in the last few weeks... The San Francisco Chronicle gets Rob Dickinson to discuss Catherine Wheel's place in the annals of shoegazing. Chad Van Gaalen, whose new record Soft Airplane is out September 9, will be at the Mod Club on October 4. MP3: Chad Van Gaalen - "Willow Tree" No, I didn't go to the She & Him show last night - a combination of general tiredness and too many things to do took precedence. And anyway, I saw them at SxSW, so I'm good. The Toronto Star talked to Matt Ward, Metromix and The Philadelphia Inquirer to Zooey Deschanel.

from Chromewaves on July 24, 2008

Der schmale Grad zwischen Vorbild und Plagiat

Heute fand ich gleich zwei Neuvorstellungen, die mit Tempo in Richtung Ausleihen-ist-besser-als-selber-Machen bewegen. Da ist zum einen der frisch gehypte Chad VanGaalen. Das scharwenzelt so unverblümt im Sufjan Stevenschen Gefilden herum, wie nur was. Selbst der Gesang, wie lange man dafür wohl üben muss. Waren die ersten Alben noch dem Rock verschrieben, ist Herr VanGaalen in Illinois angekommen. Fehlt eigentlich nur noch das Banjo. Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree (Soft Airplane, September 2008) // via betterPropaganda // label :: SubPop Noch unverholener machen uns Music Go Music ein Mamma Mia (oder ähnliche) für ein Light of Love vor. Oder doch eher Middle of the Road? Bei soviel Dreistigkeit muss ich mich fragen, ob die einfach darauf setzen, dass die heutigen Pop-Konsumenten die Ikonen aus Schweden höchstens von den Nostalgie-Parties ihrer Eltern kennen. Und das ist ja in der Regel was fürs Vergessen. Und überhaupt das Cover. Geht gar nicht. Music Go Music - Light of Love (Light of Love, Mai 2008) // myspace // label :: Secretly Canadian Tags: mp3, musik, neuerscheinung, Chad VanGaalen, Music Go MusicVerwandte ArtikelMIT mit Rauchenden ColtsMusik aus der RetorteWrongkong - Kanada-Nürnberg-ConnectionNeu: The Stills spielen wieder breitbeinig

from Bhlogiston on July 21, 2008

Playlist v. 29

Johan:The Durutti Column - GlimpseNoah & The Whale - Do What You DoNo Age - Teen CreepsMorgan Geist - Ruthless CityChad VanGaalen - Willow TreeOskar:Dr. Dog - My FriendNoa Babayof - Marching BandHigh Places - GoldenTwine - In Through the DevicesDeaf Center - Vintage WellNiklas:Women - Shaking HandGhosties - Guts and BrainsFlying Lotus - Beginners FalafelSebadoh - Perverted WorldBroken Social Scene presents: Brendan Canning - Snowballs and Icicles

from Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits on July 20, 2008

Song #42: Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree

Ok, so maybe I’m jumping the gun on this one, seeing as Soft Airplane—the 3rd full-length from Chad VanGaalen—doesn’t come out until Sept. 9, but I just couldn’t resist. What can I say? I’m looking forward to the album and, if “Willow Tree” is any indication, it’s going to be a great addition to VanGaalen’s already admirable catalogue. Undeniably haunting and serene, this early teaser-tune perfectly exemplifies the ethereal quality that is ever-present in VanGaalen’s work—a ghostly anthem for retired spectres content to lounge under a tree in the afterlife. Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree Hear more at his Myspace page and look out for Soft Airplane from fine retailers everywhere on Sept. 9.

from Wolves, Hawks and Kites on July 19, 2008

But what's it got to do with a new track from Chad VanGaalen?

Margaret Wente should know better.In her first of four columns on (or against) Harm Reduction for the Globe & Mail, she seems to place all the responsibility of Vancouver's out of control drug problem at InSite's doorstep. Never mind that the Supervised Injection Site was never intended to solve addiction, let alone heal an afflicted city. Even the experts Wente so enthusiastically quotes don't seem to support her conclusions as boisterously as she purports them."Safe injection is a misnomer," says Milan Khara, another veteran addictions doctor. "Insite is a supervised injection site. Injections inevitably lead to medical complications."That's just a factual statement, not a value judgment. Though Wente presents it as damning evidence against harm reduction. Wente cites anecdotal evidence, quotes "experts" of questionable authority, such as the police officer--one that Wente claims to have witnessed reaching into a woman's bra to seize a crackpipe--who's assessment of InSite is a snorty, "It's like saying, 'Hey man, you're really high. Want some treatment? Here's some more drugs!' "For the record, which Wente shows no interest in mentioning, InSite has never provided drugs to its participants.Despite her best efforts, Wente does actually hit on what actually matters in regards to harm reduction: "Harm reduction without a treatment component is a failed policy," addictions doctor Stan de Vlaming tells her.Harm Reduction is just one of "four pillars" of Vancouver's drug policy, along with Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement. The idea of four pillars is that each complements and supports the others, like legs on a table. You take one leg away, the table starts to wobble.Adam Radwanski, one of Wente's Globe colleagues, can smell what's cooking.mp3: "Willow Tree" by Chad VanGaalenmp3: "Thing (Summer in 6/4 Time)" by The Cape May

from A Bulldozer With A Wreckingball Attached on July 16, 2008

Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree" MP3

Photo by David Greenwald - more hereMe being the savvy (obsessive) Chad VanGaalen blogger that I am, we were one of the first (only) blogs to premiere the "Willow Tree" stream last month. Sorry, folks -- a few dudes beat us to the MP3, but here it gloriously is. VanGaalen's sure-to-be-brilliant third LP, Soft Airplane, is due out 9/9 on Sub Pop.Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree": mp3Previously: Live: Chad VanGaalen at UCLA***Looking for new music? Click below for more recent and upcoming 2008 releases, or visit our MP3-filled Album Release Calendar.

from The Rawking Refuses To Stop! on July 15, 2008

sirius blog radio :: july 14

Our weekly GvsB Sirius radio show airs today at noon + midnight EST on Left of Center. New stuff this week from the Walkmen, Department of Eagles, Music Go Music, Flying Lotus, Grouper, and more. You can listen right here, for free. Full playlist for this week + some mp3s after the jump...Gorilla vs. Bear Sirius Blog Radio :: July 71. The Walkmen :: Donde Esta la Playa2. The Walkmen :: In the New Year3. The Walkmen :: The Rat4. Chad VanGaalen :: Willow Tree5. Cass McCombs :: Not the Way6. Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear :: Deep Blue Sea7. Grizzly Bear :: While You Wait for the Others (live)8. Grizzly Bear :: Colorado9. Department of Eagles :: No One Does It Like You (demo)10. Department of Eagles :: In Ear Park11. Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear :: Too Little Too Late (JoJo Cover)12. Patto :: Tell Me Where You've Been13. White Denim :: All You Really Have to Do14. Bodies of Water :: Gold, Tan, Peach, and Grey15. Music Go Music :: Light of Love16. Music Go Music :: Explorers of the Heart17. Q Lazzarus :: Goodbye Horses18. Pnau :: Embrace feat. Ladyhawke (Miami Horror + Fred Falke remix)19. Souls of Mischief :: 93 'til Infinity20. Paper Route Gangstaz :: Rollin (DJ Ayres remix)21. M83 :: Kim & Jessie22. Flying Lotus :: Robo-Tussin (feat. Lil' Wayne)23. Erykah Badu :: Real Thing feat. Re-Up Gang (Tumbling Dice remix)24. Kid Cudi :: Is There Any Love (feat. Wale)25. Grouper :: Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping26. Tripping Daisy :: Waited a Light Year

from Gorilla Vs. Bear on July 14, 2008

Chad VanGaalen - Willow Tree

First discovered by Gorilla Vs. Bear on July 08, 2008

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