live: Animal Collective

"The Sweet Aroma"

Everyone's getting really "stoked" on the new Animal Collective...even though it hasn't leaked and most people haven't heard it. It's gotten so out of hand that there are over 600,000 page views in the AC-MPP atease thread and even a Twitter account dedicated to the Merriweather Post Pavillion leak. As one of the lucky few able to attend the NYC-MPP listening party, I can attest to the freaky joyous bounce fest that is MPP. If you've heard the "Brother Sport", or the "My Girls" rip, or have seen the band live in the past year, you're probably feeling the same way. That said, it's important to look to the past to remember how far AC have come, and this live set from Other Music in 2004 is a great example. Remember when Animal Collective was a "freak folk" band? Yeah me neither, but some people said they were. Anyway, this in-store performance, recorded a few months after the release of Sung Tongs, is all the drone-y vocal, shuffling acoustic strum and Avey screaming you remember from the pre-sampler AC. Notice the "On A Plain" cover, it's money. These guys sure have a way with Nirvana covers.

Animal Collective Live at Other Music 8/16/04

El Guincho Alegranza / Blog Fresh

Last week, while not attending SXSW, we spoke with those cool cats over at Blog Fresh Radio about Barcelona's hypnotizing El Guincho. With the polar ice caps melting and mud puddle season among us, it's only appropriate that Alegranza take some of the heat for global warming and the ever increasing hole in the O-Zone. We're OK with it, and for one reason only, El Guincho is playing the Other Music Partytonight at Union Pool for free. While it sucks that not receiving a work visa means some of our favorite artists can't get paid for shows, it's really sweet for us fans, especially the poor ones. So do El Guincho a favor and purchase the lysergic Alegranza immediately, you'll be glad you did.

Be sure to check out Blog Fresh this week, an exceptional episode in which Edinburgh's Song by Toad introduces us to a sweet Scottish folk collective by the name of Broken Records. Just one of many of the fine bands this top notch show has introduced us to, and we're not just saying that because we contribute.

video: El Guincho "Kalise"

This might constitute plagiarism, but it's impossible not to think El Guincho sounds like a lysergic Spanish Sangria made withs tons of fresh fruit, a whole Os Mutantes & a wedge of Panda Bear. Everyone fucking loves it. I could guzzle intoxicating nectar all day, everyday. Guaranted to make Spring and Summer that much better for years to come. El Guincho Alegeranza; get down, ya heard.

If you like tropicalia, bossanova, afrobeat,Canary Islands, steel drums, acid, tribal rhythms, life, sun, loops, dancing, and the beach, then you should buy this right now from Other Music, the exclusive distributor of Alegranza in the States.

It's so on.

"Kalise"

we saw: MGMT

"Baby Girl, Shock Me Like An Electric Eel"

Although we won't be attending February's sold-out Yeasayer/MGMT double bill, we were lucky enough to catch a secret MGMT show last week at The Mercury Lounge thanks to Other Music and a heads-up from McG.

Despite pre-show problems with one of their keyboards (they ended up having a brand new one brought in; the perks of being on a major label) the set began at 10:45 and lasted only an hour, just long enough for our minds to be blown.

Their set covered most of their debut album, Oracular Spectacular, with the exception of 'Youth' and 'Kids.' Highlights included '4th Dimensional Transitional,' 'Of Moons, Birds & Monsters,' and a killer 'Electric Feel.' They also played a few tracks unknown to us, either from their debut EP or possibly b-sides. Overall MGMT was able to harness the strengths from their infectious debut and build on them until the whole place was gripping their proverbial seats, begging for more.

Next time MGMT comes to your town...be there.

Below: MGMT's funkiest number, 'Electric Feel' [off 2008's Oracular Spectacular]: