mp3: Crystal Stilts "Love Is A Wave"

"Feel Prostituted"

A few weeks ago Slumberland announced that BK nightcrawlers Crystal Stilts would release the Love Is A Wave 7" on March 31st. The track, which clocks in at 1:59, is probably the brightest, most upbeat Stilts song, which isn't saying much considering their penchant for darkness. However, while brief, the song shows exceptional growth for the band, maybe because they're finally recording with Frankie on kit, who really knocks this one out of the park. While I really, and I mean really, fucking love the studio version (probably my favorite Stilts track), I can't seem to get over the live version that NYC Taper recorded on December 7th when the band opened for Love Is All at the Bowery. The song, which closed their set, is a little more chaotic, raucous and the guitar is really frantic, in that "holy shit I just witnessed a murder and must run as fast as I can before the killer realizes I saw him" kinda way. Simply put, it's ferocious. Compare and contrast below.

Purchase the Crystal Stilts Love Is A Wave 7" here.

Crystal Stilts- Love Is A Wave (7" version)
Crystal Stilts- Love Is A Wave (Live version courtesy of NYC Taper)

mp3: Vetiver

"Please Don't Pass Me By"

If I had to dislike something about Vetiver, it'd be that they are just so easy. Almost like easy listening of the folk variety. While this could easily tarnish their reputation, fact is their sound is so effortless and carefree that the simplicity doesn't bother me, rather it enchants me, giving their sylvan folk a preternatural quality, comparable to dawning sun. If your looking to get into the band, I highly suggest checking out "Sleep a Million Years", a collaboration with Vashti Bunyan which appeared on Vetiver's covers album Things of the Past, which, like all thigns Vashti, is absolutely magical. Vetiver released their latest, Tight Knit, this week on Sub Pop and will be heading on tour with current Bobka favorites Papercuts this Spring. The pairing will hit the Bowery Ballroom on May 3rd and Brooklyn's Bell House on May 7th. I highly suggest penciling this in on your calendar.

Vetiver- Everyday
Vetiver w/ Vashti Bunyan- Sleep a Million Years

we saw: Fleet Foxes and Blitzen Trapper

"Turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime"

(Photo by JuicyGoo)
We knew last night's Fleet Foxes show was going to be amazing, and now we can confirm... utterly amazing. While lead singer/songwriter Robin Pecknold prefaced their set by letting the crowd know he had the flu and had puked right before hitting the stage, his sore throat and headache didn't seem to affect his vocal, which was spot on all evening. We're also happy to report that the bands majestic harmonies are as eerily dreamy as they are on record. Cathartic and wonderstruck, like a magical revelation through a dream.

The show kicked off with the gorgeous acapella "Sun Giant" and within seconds all questions regarding Robin's voice were gone. The crowd was silent. Eyes were wide open like children on a snow day. "Sun Giant", the opening track on the recently released EP of the same name, segued perfectly into "Sun it Rises", the opener on the bands leaked, and soon to be released (June 3) eponymous full length debut. Other highlights included an utterly pristine version of "Oliver James", a heart wrenching cover of "Katie Cruel" (video which we posted yesterday), a fan requested "Blue Ridge Mountains" and the pastoral insta-classic "White Winter Hymnal."

After a set that felt like being baptized in fresh mountain water, it's safe to say that Fleet Foxes blend of high lonesome balladry and CSNY harmonies is going to be pointing alot of kids to the forest. Like Justin, we agree that Fleet Foxes remind us of the criminally under rated, and often forgotten, David Crosby record If I Could Only Remember My Name, as well as After The Gold Rush era Neil Young.

All in all, we were blown away. Like, totally blown away. The band seemed to feel the same way, amazed at the sincere and righteous reaction from the glowing New York crowd. Not to mention, all the singing along.

After the show we got a chance to catch up with lead Fox Robin Pecknold, who had just turned 22 at midnight and was drinking Emergen-C to heal his aching flue. While we can't stress enough how impeccable Pecknold and Co. sound live, we really hope he gets back to a 100% so crowds in the rest of the country get to bask in the light of his warm voice. We also caight up with multi instrumentalist and co-harmonizer Casey Wescott who let us know that the vinyl release of Fleet Foxes will include the Sun Giant EP. That makes 2xLP's we couldn't be more excited to hear on the ole phonograph.

Oh yeah, Blitzen Trapper played too. They rocked out the title track from last year's Wild Mountain Nation, as well as the albums "Country Caravan", "Devils A-Go-Go" and "Sci-Fi Kid." They were pretty darn good, but, unfortunately, couldn't compare to the Fleet Foxes, who were utterly jaw dropping. I've often heard that the Who refused to go on after Hendrix at Monterey Pop, fearing that he would suck all the wind from the audience. Honestly, I'd hate to be in any band that has to play after Fleet Foxes. It's just not fair.

Fleet Foxes- Oliver James
Blitzen Trapper- Stolen Shoes (Daytrotter Session)

tonight: Fleet Foxes & Blitzen Trapper

"Over near Tennessee"

Backstage Sessions : Fleet Foxes - Katie Cruel (Cover) from Hard to Find a Friend on Vimeo.

We're super duper excited to see Fleet Foxes and Blitzen Trapper tonight at the Bowery Ballroom. As of a few minutes ago the show still hadn't sold out, but expect that to change by show time. This will be Fleet Foxes first show in New York, and from what we've heard, it sounds as if we could be in for a very magical evening. Not to mention that Blitzen Trapper put out one of my favorite records of 2007. Ola Podrida is also on the bill. Oddly enough, the last time we saw them was back in October at Maxwell's on the same bill as Port O'Brien. It's all coming full circle. Weird. Anyway, if you're in the area be sure to hop a train, plane or automobile down to Delancy St. for what is sure to be a memorable evening.

post-hype: Lykke Li

"For You I Keep My Legs Apart"

Lykke Li (pronounced Lookey Loo??) is the latest Scandanavian sweetheart to make our collective hearts flutter. Her record Youth Novels is the type of minimalist pop that blends the boundaries of indie bedroom folk and laptop pop, with weeping orchestrations and arrangements by, you guessed it, Bjorn Yttling of PB&J and Lasse Marten, who also worked on Our Ill Wills and Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've been Gone". Lykke is bound for exponential stardom, or at least fan-boy dom, as her coy, slinky vibe is sure to win over last years Feist converts and hype eating hipsters, alike. Goldmines like "Dance, Dance Dance", which features the precious "My hips they lie/ cause in reality/ I'm shy, shy, shy", is poised to wind up on college playlists across the country, while "Little Bit" is likely to be zapped into your home Television set via a Honda commercial. And rightfully so, as Lykke has all the makings of a Swedish pop sensation; sincere, smart, beautiful and Swedish, that's all it takes. Not only does she have the stuff FM pop stations should be drooling over, she's got tracks that scream "remix", like "I'm Good, I'm Gone" and the slightly robotic breakup jam "Complaint Department" ("If you want to complain/ I'm not the complaint department").

The only thing preventing International stardom is the limited distribution, as Youth Novels is currently only packaged for Scandanavian consumption, although we're pretty sure after all the shows she played at SXSW that somebody is bound to ink a deal to bring it Stateside. Right now the only place to buy Youth Novels is HERE.
She will be making her NYC debut 5/7 at Joe's Pub, with another date at the Bowery Ballroom 5/8. Peep the video that made me fall for Lykke below.






"Little Bit" in the Street

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"

Glass Candy/Blog Fresh/Friendship!

Tuesday the 16th of October was the first day of CMJ and like we've said a few times before (and will do at least once more) we were at the Bowery Ballroom for the Brooklyn Vegan Showcase featuring the Rosebuds, Voxtrot, Shaky Hands, bon Iver, Dean & Britta and the Most Serene Republic (Miracle Fortress was not allowed through the border!). At some point during the evening, after Charles convinced me we need some Patron XO shots, I headed to the bathroom to do what people do in the bathroom. Like any drunk with dancing feet, I had late night on my mind and knew where I was headed...James Murphy at Hiro. Problem was I couldn't remember where the hell the Hiro Ballroom was. Luckily there was a line at the dude's bathroom to ask some peeps. I politely asked the guy in front of me who said "14th between 1st and 2nd." "Thanks alot man, 'preciate it." Tap tap on the shoulder from the guy behind me. "Actually it's 16th between 8th and 9th." I got real lucky he overheard me getting bunk info. A few minutes later I spotted the fellow with the correct address at the bar and had the bartender send him a drink on the Bobka. It was then, after a few minutes of geek rock talk, that I discovered the aforementioned corrector of bad addresses was Bill, the man in charge of Blog Fresh Radio since Ms. Alex went back to grad school.
Long story short, last week Bill gave me a shout and had me spit some ish for the latest edition of Blog Fresh Radio, which as you know is pretty much the best 45 minutes of each week (truth). We chatted about Glass Candy. You can hear all this nonsense HERE.

Glass Candy
Brooklyn Vegan

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

Death to Ringtone Rap

"Undercover/Fuck ya Mother"

Last night Mort and I decided that we hate Soulja Boy. Yep, "Crank Dat Soulja Boy" has gotta be one of the worst rap songs ever. And while you may like to get down to the over-and-done with minimalist beat (perhaps you even know the dance), truth be told the guy just can't rhyme. Maybe it's because he's 17. The above is what a real rapper looks like at 17. Death to ringtone rap.

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"Get Up/Get Out"

CMJ starts today and we'll be at the Brooklyn Vegan showcase at the Bowery Ballroom tonight. Really looking forward to seeing The Rosebuds, Miracle Fortress and Bon Iver. For those without tickets, don't worry, late night with Annie Mac and DFA king bee James Murphy at the Hiro Ballroom for FREE!