cover: Tallest Man on Earth "These Days"

"I've Stopped My Rambling"

(Photo by Karl Gunnarsson)
We've discussed "These Days" before and probably don't need to go into details about a song that is adored by nearly everyone whose ears are lucky enough to hear it. However, last week, The Tallest Man on Earth helped revive a song that, while still very much adored, has sort of become ubiquitous in the post-Royal Tenenbaums world. The Tallest Man on Earth's version is true to the original. To be honest, I can't really note any real difference between his cover and the many that have been recorded over the past 30+ years. Regardless, his version was quite moving, and a lovely segue into a magical set from Bon Iver. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up The Tallest Man on Earth's Shallow Grave after the show and it's proving to be a great mid-December album, perfect for the looming transition into Winter. Plus, it really compliments the smell of Nova Scotian pine (ie. the Canadian Christmas tree in my living room). Peep Hooves on the Turf's video of his performance below.

Tallest Man on Earth: These Days (cover) from hoovesontheturf.

we saw: Bon Iver @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

"What Might Have Been Lost"

Bon Iver: Wolves I & II from hoovesontheturf on Vimeo.

Stunning.

video: Bon Iver

"Love is for Fools"

This just made me very excited for Friday night at Music Hall.

new: Bon Iver EP

"Forever Ago"

It's been over a year since Justin Vernon self-released the phenomenal For Emma, Forever Ago and alot has changed since his first NYC appearance. A lot. First off, Bon Iver sold out two nights at the legendary Town Hall, and tickets are going for over $150 on Craigslist (!). Luckily for the Brooklyn faithful, Bon Iver added a third date at Music Hall, which sold out in 13 minutes (but we got ours). Now, our good friend and west coast correspondent Dura notifies us that JagJaguwar has a webpage for a CDEP/12"titled Blood Bank, due out 1/20/09 (aka inauguration day, aka Animal Collective release day). From JagJaguwar:

The four song Blood Bank collection continues down the path forged by 2008's critically acclaimed For Emma, Forever Ago.

While still tied to the identity of the place where it was born, Bon Iver is no longer an unplanned entity synonymous with Justin Vernon. It is an idea, a place and sentiment that has now become as international as it is timeless. From the title track's remembrance of the winter warmth we seek, to the summer love tribute of b-side gem "Babys," Bon Iver's snow-blanketed harmonies live across the seasons. Still, there is a reverence for sabbatical, solitude and the winding down of time. As much as Emma is about the cold, the Blood Bank collection is about the warmth that gets you through it. You can feel the air move. Like a fire you've been stoking for hours and finally got to sustain itself, the heat blisters your face while your back is frozen solid.

Bon Iver has grown to include more than what was available at the much-fabled Wisconsin cabin, such as piano, slide guitar, and vocoder. As Justin layers on harmonies in the meditative R&B a capella "Woods", he declares "I'm building a still to slow down the time." It is as poetic as it is necessary. Both expansive and intimate, these four songs explore the darker and lighter natures of the seasons and what they signify, and offer a dynamic glimpse into the natural energy and refined craftsmanship that characterize Justin Vernon's music.

Tracklisting:
Blood Bank
Beach Baby
Babys
Woods

You heard it here first people. Make sure you thank Dura next time your in the Haight.

CMJ filler: Bon Iver

"Who Will Fight"
(Photo by Ryan Muir)
Since were busy working day jobs, attending day parties and night time showcases, its pretty much impossible to post anything CMJ related. Yeah, it's been one day and I'm already thoroughly exhausted. So, in place of anything new and exciting, here is a video from the first show I attended at last year's CMJ, the Bon Iver set at the Brooklyn Vegan showcase at the Bowery Ballroom. If you didn't know, it single handedly assured the world that Justin Vernon is an undeniable talent. I was mesmerized, as were most, and walked away with one of the last handmade copies of For Emma, Forever Ago. A year later, For Emma... sounds just as fresh as the autumnal air.


Bon Iver "Skinny Love" @ CMJ 2007

Bobkast #15: Out of the Darkness...

"In The Doldrums, So The Story Goes"


Composed on an early fall flight from Idaho to LaGuardia, after a brief visit to Hell's Canyon, this mix is a subtle, woozy collection of songs that drift and float through both darkness and light, as if they were specks of rainbow dust that meander through the atmosphere only to occassionally brush up against your shirt and get you thinking about the size of the planet. We're big. We're small. We're infinite. Whatever we are, this subdued mix of fuzzy psych pop and muted downtempo electro is just the thing to transport you from the steamy slums of summer into the blissful shades of autumn


Bobkast #15- Out of the Darkness & Into the Fire
1. The Walkmen - In The New Year
2. Department of Eagles - Teenagers
3. Handclaps, etc - Keep It Together
4. The Rosebuds - Silence By The Lakeside (Portastic Remix)
5. Olivia Tremor Control - The Sylvan Screen
6. The Ruby Suns - There Are Birds
7. School of Seven Bells - Connjur
8. Caribou - Irene
9. Atlas Sound - Track 6 (from Unmastered Logos LP)
10. Bon Iver - Lump Sum (Daytrotter Session)

Bobkast #15- Out of the Darkness & Into the Fire

remixes: The Rosebuds

"I Know, It's Late"
I've been meaning to post these since early May but now that The Rosebuds have penciled in an October 7th release for their latest, Life Like, it seems like an appropriate time. Even more appropriate considering the album was co-produced by Portastatic’s Matthew McCaughan and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, who each contribute remixes to Sweet Beats, Troubled Sleep (Night of the Furies Remixed) . Matt's remix of "Silence By The Lakeside" is a mellow trip down bossanova lane, while Justin transforms "Get Up, Get Out" from an uptempo nu-disco cut into a slow burner complete with all the aching falsetto harmonies you'd expect from the man who crafted the insanely beautiful For Emma, Forever Ago. For those of you who forgot, Justin used to play in The Rosebuds, and also convinced them that they could record Night of the Furies by themselves. (Oh yeah, and we first discovered Bon Iver at the Rosebuds/Brooklyn Vegan showcase day 1 of CMJ 2007. Quite the family gig.)

Download Sweet Beats, Troubled Sleep (Night of the Furies Remixed) for FREE!

muxtape: Stormy Night in Brooklyn

"While You Wait For The Others"
Bored on a stormy night in Brooklyn, watching the sky light up and waiting to hear the new Grizzly Bear song on Letterman (which was sweeeet). Yep, that about sums it up. Here's the soundtrack to the evening.

Muxtape
Grizzly Bear - While You Wait For The Others
Yo La Tengo - You Can Have It All
Girls - Hellhole Ratrace
Galaxie 500 - Tell Me
Magnetic Fields - Abigail, Belle Of Kilronan
Sunset Rubdown - Us Ones In Between
The Rosebuds - Get Up Get Out - Justin Vernon of Bon Iver remix
(((Eagle Winged Palace))) - Hands of Doom
Blood on the Wall - Lightning Song
Atlas Sound - Marietta

Listen to the new
Muxtape

video: Bon Iver

"So The Story Goes"

#93.1 - BON IVER - Lump Sum
by lablogotheque

Bon Iver is a winter act. Justin Vernon's tunes just sound better when the sun sets at 4:30, plain and simple. And while I've had reservations about experiencing For Emma during Summer, this video from his session with Vincent Moon does a lot to quell my apprehensions. Not only is the new arrangement gorgeous but the glockenspiel and looser feel of "Lump Sum" make it perfect for drinking tea in the early morning while the sun is rising over the Manhattan skyline.

video: Bon Iver

"I Crouch Like A Crow"

We've fawned over Bon Iver's For Emma... and the bands live set numerous times. Now Pitchfork.TV brings us some live footage from Brooklyn's Glasslands. The show took place two days after the drool fest at the Sound Fix. If you haven't seen Justin play the songs live, this video is poised to tack a few extra dollars onto your monthly credit card statement. The best part is Justin just added a boatload of dates to his ever expanding tour and will be hitting the road with the Bowerbirds. Most definitely an ideal lineup, although it'll be interesting to see two acts I deem 'Autumn/Winter' groups during the height of Summer.

Bon Iver/ Bowerbirds Tour
Jul 20 - PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL Chicago, Illinois
Jul 21 - CROFOOT BALLROOM *** Detroit, Michigan
Jul 22 - LEE'S PALACE *** Toronto, Ontario
Jul 23 - CABARET MUSIC HALL *** Montreal, Quebec
Jul 25 - SPACE GALLERY *** Portland, Maine
Jul 26 - MUSEUM OF FINE ART *** Boston, Massachusetts
Jul 27 - THE CAPE CINEMA *** Dennis, Massachusetts
Jul 29 - BOWERY BALLROOM *** New York, New York
Jul 30 - MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG *** Brooklyn, New York
Jul 31 - FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH *** Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 1 - THE BLACK CAT *** Washington DC
Aug 2 - REX THEATRE *** Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Aug 3 - WEXNER CENTER *** Columbus, Ohio

we love: Sera Cahoone

"No clue as to what I'm doing here"

We love Sera Cahoone's new record. This should come as no surprise to anyone whose good at playing connect the dots. Shall we: Sera used to play drums in Carissa's Wierd, with Matt Brooke and Ben Bridwell. Carissa's Wierd broke up. Mat and Ben founded Band of Horses. We love Band of Horses. Sera played drums on their debut, Everything All The Time. Then, Mat left Band of Horses. Tyler Ramsey sorta took his place, but not really. Mat founded Grand Archives, whom we also love. Sera recently toured with Grand Archives and just released her second solo disc on Sub Pop, home to Carissa's Wierd, Band of Horses and Grand Archives. So yeah, six degrees and all that nonsense. Anyway, we've really been digging the "country noir" of Cahoone's Only As The Day Is Long, but there's just one problem; no vinyl release!

Seriously, Sub Pop, were you not listening when Sera dropped the final mix in your palms?! This record screams vinyl, from the front porch banjos to the jangle of tambourines and Sera's oh-so haunting voice. Only as the Day is Long feels like a record released 30 years ago and should be a prime target for vinyl release, just as Bon Iver's sylvan dream For Emma, Forever Ago is one of those records that only feels right on wax. Not gonna lie, we're a little disappointed in Sub Pop for not giving Sera the vinyl treatment, because honestly, Only As The Day Is Long really deserves it.

Sera Cahoone- Only As The Day Is Long

we saw: Bon Iver

"So Many Foreign Roads"

It's been just a little over four months since we first fell in love with Bon Iver at the Bowery Ballroom. Leaves died and fell from trees. Snow fell and covered evergreen trees and all the while we had our trusty handmade copy of For Emma, Forever Ago to keep us warm. For Emma... feels like drinking a mug of hot cider by the fire place in Northern New England, when the snow is thick and the only sign of neighbors is billowing smoke from a chimney three miles away. It's warm, it's comforting, it's folkie, and it feels like wearing your oldest, most favorite wool sweater.

Thursday nights free show at Sound Fix felt the same way. The atmosphere couldn't have been more fitting for Justin Vernon's atmospheric folk. Everything was right, from the chandelier to the dark golden light to the superb mix. And while the mix was superb, Justin's amp decided it wanted to pick up some Spanish radio frequencies, which it did for 80% of the show. Not one to let a little Merengue bother him, Justin played it off cool, saying that he had decided to do that, a little experimentation, after all he was in Brooklyn. Not gonna lie, for most of the show, it worked, adding a hint of CB radio warmth to his already cozy sound. Luckily, the Spanish radio cut out and allowed Justin the chance to play the ultra hushed "Re: Stacks" and hit the piano for a heart-wrenching cover of "Satisfied Mind", which was as good, if not better, than the versions by Jeff Buckley and Johnny Cash. Yeah, it was that sort of magical evening. And what better way to finish it off than with a totally acoustic version of "For Emma" in the middle of the utterly silent crowd.

After the show we picked up the vinyl copy of For Emma... (via JagJaguwar) and chatted with Justin for a hot second, who was just as charming and genuine as he was at CMJ. The evening finished with an epic drive through the snow covered streets of Northwestern Jersey at 3 am. The perfect ending for an evening with Bon Iver.

"Lump Sum" on The Current

This Week in Nu Musick

Get your wallets out, as tomorrow is the first big release day of 2008. Not only are two albums we've been dying to hear on vinyl finally getting released (Bon Iver, Grand Archives), America finally gets druggy with the Raveonettes, Cryptacize digs treasure and we also get a new fill of John Darnielle's drunken lullabies. It's a good week to be a music fan.

The Mountain Goats- Heretic Pride
Another great record from John Darnielle and company, this one departs from Get Lonely and The Sunset Tree, as it documents a series of character based tunes rather than Darnielle's interior dialogue. Nothing exceptionally new with the sound here, just great lyrics, affectingly nasal vocals and Darnielle's everyday poetics.

The Mountain Goats- Sax Rohmer #1{right click to download}



Grand Archives- The Grand Archives
We've been patiently awaiting this release since Mat Brooke uploaded 4 demos on MySpace over a year ago. Couldn't be happier to finally hear it on wax. We've had this one pre-ordered since Sub Pop put it up. They really need to come East soon.

Grand Archives- Torn Blue Foam Couch


Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
Yep, one of my favorite records of 2007 finally gets a proper release by the nice people at JagJaguwar. And yes, it's coming out on vinyl(!). More importantly Justin will be at Williamsburg's Sound Fix Thursday night for a free performance. See ya there.

Bon Iver- Skinny Love


Cryptacize-Dig That Treasure
Asthmatic Kitty releases the debut from this band of minimalist SoCal sugar popsters. And by sugar, we mean this band was started in an apartment across the street from a sugar factory and their sound totally reflects it.

Cryptacize- Cosmic Sing Along


The Raveonettes- Lust Lust Lust
Following in the steps of The Magnetic Fields Distortion, or the other way around (Lust Lust Lust was released in Europe last Fall), the new Raveonettes record finds them dabbling in J&MC distortion and MBV Loveless-esque walls of noise. Walls of feedback behind '60s pop melodies and loads of digital delay make tracks like "Dead Sound" and "Candy" sound like they could be long lost demos on a remastered deluxe version of Psycho Candy.

The Raveonettes- Dead Sound

we saw: The Rosebuds

"I'm Not Crazy I'm Just A Little Boy"

Our love affair with The Rosebuds is quite complex. You see, besides being major fans of The Rosebuds Make Out, Birds Make Good Neighbors & Night of the Furies, we also sweat the backing vocals they laid down on the Shout Out Louds Cure-conjuring Our Ill Wills, not to mention they are good buds with our Fall obsession Bon Iver, who used to play second guitar in the Rosebuds and whom we were introduced to the last time we saw Ivan and Kelly during CMJ at the Bowery Ballroom. So yeah, we like the Rosebuds and all their friends and their various incarnations, alot.

Last night we had a chance to catch Ivan and Kelly at Maxwell's on the last stop of a 4 show January tour. Surprisingly, Hoboken's itsy bitsy rock club never really filled in, which was great as we were able to pogo bounce with the rowdy kids up front all night long. And bounce we did as The Rosebuds brought a swinging '60s dance party to the best club in the Tri-State area. Culling from all three albums, with an extensive foray into their debut The Rosebuds Make Out, Ivan & Kelly, accompanied by drummer Matt McCaughn, played one of the most invigorating sets of live pop music I've seen in a while. This shouldn't come as a surprise as their CMJ show at the Bowery was a ton of fun, however the lack of a restricted set time and the coziness of Maxwell's made it feel like one of the best house party we've ever been too. Yeah, it was that kind of intimate goodness (Ivan even laughed at a few of our jokes). All in all a great night, unfortunately they won't be coming North again until the Fall. So until then, we leave you with this, The Rosebuds covering Salt N Pepa's "Push It" with their dog.

"This is for the sexy people"

McG's Best of 2007

"And the Beat Goes On..."

2007. Hmmm, what can I say? Well it was a damn good year for new music and it all started in 2006 with early leaks from The Shins, Of Montreal and LCD Soundsystem, albums which still resonate a year later, which says a lot given our fickle ADD blog-fueled music scene. 2007 will surely be remembered as the year indie went mainstream, with Neon Bible and Wincing the Night Away debuting at #2 on the Billboard charts and Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank popping in at #1, something I never would have dreamed of listening to "Wild Pack of Family Dogs" in high school. Which goes to show people aren't stupid, when they hear something good they immediately gravitate towards it (ie. Feist).

The year was dominated by French electro (Daft Punk, Justice, Ed Banger Records), Swedish Indie Pop (Jens Lekman, Shout Out Louds, Taken By Trees), the Italo-Disco revival (Glass Candy, The Chromatics, Italians Do It Better Records and Sally Shapiro) and, once again, Brian Wilson's LSD influenced hypnotics and harmonies (Panda Bear, Miracle Fortress).

The blog world blew up the Black Kids, helped Columbia grad's Vampire Weekend score a deal with XL on the strength of a Blue CD-R (and one of the most beautiful 7" singles I've ever seen). Not to mention The Explorers Club getting picked up by Secretly Canadian/JagJaguwar cousin Dead Oceans and Grand Archives, project of former Band of Horses member Mat Brooke, inking with Sub Pop. On those signings alone 2008 is shaping up to be just as action packed as '07, giving us no time to sleep. With that said here are my lists, I hope you enjoy and have a kick ass rest of 2007. Check back tomorrow when I'll have a stocking stuff (aka .zip file) of all the years best songs to keep you sane for the rest of the year.

Artist of the Year

James Murphy/LCD Soundsystem- Not only did President Murphy hit us with the colossal Sound of Silver but 2007 also saw the proper release of his Nike/iTunes collabo, the heart pounding 45:33, which gave birth to one of the best songs of 2007, "Someone Great." ("I'm wishing we could talk about it..."). Murph could've rested on his laurels and just toured with the Arcade Fire and !!!, but no he kept releasing compelling material under the LCD moniker, including the All My Friends EP with covers by Franz Ferdinand and John Cale as well as A Bundle of Stuff EP which features remixes by Soulwax and Carl Craig, among others... And then he & LCD drummer Pat Mahoney went and put together the funkiest, finger pointing collection of head hunting disco I've ever heard. As best said through Chic "I feel your love coming on, like the calm before the storm, your love is out to get me."

Favorite Albums of 2007 (in no order)

Of Montreal- Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago

Panda Bear- Person Pitch

Blitzen Trapper- Wild Mountain Nation

The National- Boxer

Glass Candy- B/E/A/T/B/O/X

Jens Lekman- Night Falls Over Kortedala

Vampire Weekend- Blue CD-R

James Murphy & Pat Mahoney- Fabriclive.36

Favorite Mix (Non Fabric/DJ-Kicks/Radio 1 Essential Mix)

Bullion- Pet Sounds: In the Key of D

Best Podcast

Mad Decent- Can't Forget Dilla

DJ/Producer/Remixer of the Year

XXXchange (of Spank Rock)- Bjork- Earth Intruders remix; Thom Yorke- The Eraser remix; Kid Sister- Control; Kid Sister- Let Me Bang; Spank Rock Fabric.Live 36

Best Demo (three way tie)

Grand Archives

Black Kids

The Explorers Club

Best Concert

Arcade Fire/LCD Soundsystem @ Red Rocks

Best DJ Set

James Murphy @ Hiro Ballroom, CMJ week

Bands I Wish I Had More Time to Absorb
The Acorn
Yeasayer
Burial
Santogold

nu musick: The Archivist

"I Look Forward To A Time When We Can Someday Meet Again"

Somewhere between Stephen Merritt and Elliott Smith sits The Archivist, a Milwaukee bedroom musician whose woolen folk often sounds like it was recorded via an ancient walkie-talkie inside a chopper shot down behind enemy lines. At times it's raw, lo-fi aesthetic at its best. However, The Archivist also brings a few synths to the table on the standout track "New Years" which could have been the 70th track on 69 Love Songs. Even his simple, yet universal lyrics are delivered in the same gentle deadpan that won The Magnetic Fields so many broken hearts.

"In ten or twenty years if thats not much too long/I'll try and find you here provided your not gone/ But if you left or if you hide or if you lock yourself somewhere hoping not to be found/ I take it as a sign your well and that you found somebody else with whom you'd be much better off/ I hope I wont be wrong"

If you've been spending endless nights pacing around your bedroom or starring into a half empty glass of red, your in luck as The Archivist has a gift for you. What you might ask? Well it just so happens to be his recently released debut EP "recorded in his bedroom and available for free to anyone with an internet connection." Click HERE to download the whole EP for free, or check out two of my favorites below. For fans of Bon Iver, Sparrow House, Peter and the Wolf, Elliott Smith and general folkie sadness.

The Archivist- New Years(highly rec'd)
The Archivist- Jeremiah (The Archivist)

we love: Bon Iver

It didn't take much for me to fall in love with Bon Iver (pronounced: bohn eevair; French for "good winter" and spelled wrong on purpose). Seconds, literally seconds, after hearing him at CMJ I knew I was a very lucky gentleman. Bon Iver is Justin Vernon, who retreated into sylvan isolation last winter and ended up with a hauntingly beautiful companion piece, For Emma, Forever Ago. His music conjures up long lost walks through snow covered forests and the golden glint of an early winter's sun down. It feels like tweed and wool, itchy and warm. For Emma... is full of heartbreak and nostalgic longings and a simple sense of understanding. It's a break-up record, a collection of songs that will remind you of someone long gone and maybe even provide you a bit of much needed clarity. After his mesmerizing set at CMJ I was lucky enough to chat with Justin and grab one of his last handmade copies of For Emma.... Since then it's been passed around, loved, huged, cherished, and listened to non-stop by anyone I've given it to. It is my "FALL" record and it should be yours too. Unfortunately it's all sold out right now and won't be getting the proper treatment until early 2008 when JagJaguwar sets Emma free. In the meantime, you can stream the entire record HERE.


Bon Iver- For Emma
Bon Iver- Skinny Love

Bon Iver "Skinny Love" at CMJ, Bowery Ballroom

CMJ recap: The Shaky Hands

"Maker, Make a Light to Shine on Those Who Need Light"

One of the most pleasant surprises of CMJ came on the first night. After checking out the Indaba lounge located in a third story walk up loft on the Bowery, I headed to the Bowery Ballroom for the Brooklyn Vegan showcase. I knew next to nothing about Bon Iver nor The Shaky Hands, but had a least listened to a few tracks from Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago. Bon Iver dosed the crowd at the Bowery Ballroom in haunting falsetto and lonesome atmospherics that set a luscious mood for the evening. Needless to say I bought a handmade copy of For Emma, Forever Ago after the set. More on him later, this post is about The Shaky Hands.

They came on after Bon Iver and raged the Ballroom for 45 minutes. Two Les Pauls, steady-as-she-goes bass, rhythmically entrancing hand percusion and some big hair thrown in for good measure. The Portland band blazed through selections from their self-titeld debut. A heavy dose of jangly heartfelt American rock and roll. A week later I still can't quite put my finger on what I really like about this band, mainly because I think it's all right where it should be. I bought the record from bassist Mayhaw Hoons after the show who told me they were on their last week of a three week tour cross country. If they were tired from driving from Cleveland the day before it sure didn't show, as their performance was as genuine as a pair of Levi's Original 501's. Their record hasn't left my CD player yet.


The Shaky Hands- The Sleepless