CMJ day 1: Ponytail/ Passion Pit/ Jens Lekman

"People Like Me Are Fond of People Like You"
Jens Lekman (and Hunter) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 10/21 (photo by pixelateit)
Our night ended with a DJ set by one of our all time favorites, a certain Mister Jens Lekman. Billed as "Singing DJ Jens Lekman", we weren't quite sure what to think, but were obviously intrigued, I mean, its Jens, right. So basically, Jens fooled around with a CD-DJ, played some choice European house and sang a few bars over a few songs. Didn't know much of what he spun but Lykke Li's "Dance, Dance, Dance", Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" (unfortunately not the ODB remix), The Hood Internet's remix of his "If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This)" were all fun and whatnot. Nothing spectacular, but it's Jens, so who cares.

Passion Pit @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 10/21
(photo by Jalapeno)
(photo by pixelateit)
The last time we saw Passion Pit was their second NYC appearance at Pianos in August. Things have certainly changed since then. Besides the universal love they've received from every blog, webzine and independent radio station, not to mention releasing the kick ass Chunk of Change EP, it's safe to say that, like before, Passion Pit is blowing the fuck up. Not only that, but makes sense considering their live show is about 200x better than it was at the significantly smaller Pianos. Go see them before you have to catch them at the Garden.

Ponytail @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 10/21
(photo by Jalapeno)
(photo by Georgia Kral)
Spastic, jubilant, ecstatic, Adderall. That's basically Ponytail in a nutshell. Personally, I dig their brand of euphoric spaz punk. Granted it's certainly not for everyone, but if the idea of Bjork yelping over two frenetic guitars, which rage with MC5 "Kick Out The Jams" intensity, then definitely give them a try. Their always playing and, presumably, their always fun.

covers: Arthur Russell's A Little Lost

"A Voice In Me Is Telling Me To Run Away"

While it was a pleasure seeing the Department of Eagles live debut, for me the highlight of the night came early on, when double bass aficionado Nat Baldwin took to a cover of Arthur Russell's "A Little Lost." There is no doubt that Baldwin's minimalist experiments with the double bass are eerily similar to Russell's works with the cello, however, they should hardly be written off as regurgitated nostalgia, for Baldwin's songs are real, living, breathing gems. That said, his version of "A Little Lost" made me feel all warm and giddy inside, like I just met a girl I really like and want to hold her hand and take her out to dinner and all that crap.

Coincidentally, my favorite Jens Lekman cover is his version of "A Little Lost", which we featured a while back. You may remember that Jens took a stab at "A Little Lost" r for the 4 Songs by Arthur Russell compilation, which he also curated. Jens, who will be in town doing a "singing DJ set" during CMJ, really has a way with the kalimba on his Take Away Shows version. And yes, Arthur Russell crushes it as well. All thee videos below for aural and visual stimulation.

Nat Baldwin "A Little Lost"


Jens Lekman "A Little Lost"


Arthur Russell "A Little Lost"

Valentine's Day Mix Up

"Let's Stay Together"

This year we're starting a new tradition. Every Valentine's Day instead of giving out candy hearts and chocolate's, we're gonna share a few songs. Know matter what kind of mood you're in this year, we've got a song for you. Don't believe us. Just take a gander down below.

For the innocent Virgin couple celebrating their first Valentine's Day->The Beach Boys- Forever
Also, for Full House fans who remember Uncle Jesse rocking this Denny Wilson classic (Stamos' favorite B.B's song) out with an elderly version of the Beach Boys.


For someone still in love with their Ex-> The Magnetic Fields- I Don't Wanna Get Over You
"I don't wanna get over love/I could listen to my therapists/Pretend you don't exist/And not have to think of what I think of...Or I could make a career of being blue/I could dress in black/And read Camut/Smoke Clove Cigarettes/And Drink Vermouth/When I was 17/ That would be the scream/But I don't wanna get over you." A 69 Love Songs classic.


For the soul mama who loves his her funky daddy-> Aretha Franklin- Baby I Love You
Ain't nothing wrong with that.


For the lustful cougar who just signed up for Facebook -> The Chromatics- I Want Your Love
Something wrong with that.


For people who practice kissing their hand late at night-> Cat Power- Where Is My Love?
If you're gonna pretend to make out with someone, Chan Marshall's a good pick.


For those seeking closure-> LCD Soundsystem- Someone Great
Who knew James Murphy was so human? We were convinced analog wires ran through his veins.


For sexual philosophers-> Silver Jews- How Can I Love You (If You Wont Lie Down)?
David Berman never sounded so enlightened. Come to think of it, he always sounds the same.


For thirteen year old mall rats & drunken 19 year old celeb-utants->Uffie- First Love
What middle school dances are all about.


For the sappy, hopeless romantic->Jens Lekman- Someone To Share My Life With
Sometimes he goes a little overboard with the melodrama...Take that back, never enough melodrama.

For the heartbroken drunk->Tom Waits- I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You
Nobody knows whiskey and women better than Ole Mista Waits.


For Sexual Deviants-> R. Kelly- Sex Planet
"Girl I Promise This Will Be Painless(Painless)/We'll Take A Trip 2 Planet Uranus(Anus)."


For making love on crushed velvet-> Barry White- Ecstasy When You're Next To Me
You know that voice does you mmm mmmm good...Ok, that was nasty.


For "Schmooopies"-> The Explorers Club- Forever
Yes it has the same name as the aforementioned Beach Boy's song. And yes it sounds just like the Wilson's and Friends. And yes, you're the schmooooooopie.

For anyone with a heart-> Joy Division- Love Will Tear Us Apart Again


And we'll end with our collective favorite Valentine's Day Jam-> Silk- Freak Me
It's hard picking a particular lyrics to associate with this song, but we're gonna go with this one. "You, you, you, you/Oh you/You, you, you, you/Let me freak you/ You, you, you, you/ All of you/ I want it, I want it/ You, you, you, you/ Oh you/ You, you, you, you/ Let me do you/ Cuz tonight baby, I wanna get freaky with you"

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

done did it again: Jens Lekman

"You're a Drop of Blood in My Milk"

Well its been a few days since we've written anything about Jens Lekman, which means one of two things; either A) you're sick of hearing about freakin' Jens Lekman (and Sweden in general) or B) you simply can't get enough. While I can't speak for everyone, it's fairly obvious that I, Michael Peter McGregor, am a Jens-o-phile. It's true, I have to get my hands on everything this guy creates with his witty, meloncholic, romantic, er, hands. Anyway, this is the bonus digital release for Night Falls Over Kortedala and it plays as a farewell concert for one that Jens gave to his apartment as a farewell gift. The digital-only release kicks off with a cover of Paul Simon's Graceland classic 'Homeless' and meanders with Kortedala standouts "Friday Night at the Bingo Drive-In," "Shirin," "I'm Leaving You (Because I Don't Love You) and, my personal favorite, "A Postcard to Nina", which contains a play-by-play breakdown of the tunes drama (which is about a Germanic lesbian who asks Jens to pretend to be her boyfriend so her father won't realize she is gay. Listen as the comedy unfolds. OH NO!). In typical Jens fashion the song is a witty, refreshingly straight forward exploration of generational gaps, gender roles and awkward moments. Boy, that Jens Lekman, he's a charmer. Pre-order Kortedala here

Jens Lekman- Kalendervagen 113. D

this is just a tribute: Arthur Russell

"I'm A Little Lost Without You"

Jens Lekman , whose Night Falls Over Kortedala is a breath of fresh summer swedish disco pop, compiled this four song tribute to avant-garde cellist and disco producer Arthur Russell, who collaborated with David Byrne, Phillip Glass & Allen Ginsberg (just to name a few). Unfortunately, in 1992 Russell fell ill with the AIDS virus and, as Kyle Gann of the Village Voice wrote, "vanished into the music." Jens and some friends, including the enchanting Victoria Bergman of Taken By Trees, put this compilation together as a tribute to a true one of a kind. More on Arthur Russell soon.

Jens Lekman- A Little Lost
Taken By Trees- Make 1, 2

*******************************************************************************

Those cats at the Hood Internet done did it again. This time they bring in all of our favorites. Literally. R. Kelly, Jens Lekman, and Kid Rock! I can honestly say that I've listened to Jens joyously weep over "If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This" a shit load of times, and never, not once thought about Kels. God bless the Hood Internet.


ABX- If I Could Rock (It Would Feel Like This)

Holy Sch-nikes! Twice in One Day

"Sunshine Lady Came to My Door"

Like we've said numerous times before, we're suckers for swedish indie pop. Alex from Blog Fresh Daily understands our deepseeded obsession and luckily has given us another outlet to pontificate over soft and sweet Swedish singer-songwriters. In addition to having us on her radio show discussing Jens Lekman and "Friday Night at the Bingo Drive-In" (here), she also had me do a short segment on the new Taken By Trees record, which we covered about a month ago. Click here to listen to the segment.
Below is a wondrous live performance Victoria did on a swedish TV show which may or may not be called Nyhetsmorgon.

"Julia"



Blog Fresh Daily
Blog Fresh Radio
Taken By Trees

Blog Fresh/Jens/Bobka

"Take Up Hippie Names, I'd be Snowfish, You'd be Sunny"

Be sure to check out this weeks edition of Blog Fresh Radio where I chatted with the lovely Alex about Jens Lekman's new single, "Friday Night at the Bingo Drive-In," which we posted about last week (here. Make sure you listen, because aside from Jens & ourselves, Alex is featuring a great track called "Song For an ABBA Tribute Band" by a new British band called Lets Wrestle. Don't know anything about them, 'cept that this track is Jonathan Richman/Art Brut witty and jangly indie as all hell.

Listen to Blog Fresh Radio

juzt in: JENS!

"Oh You're So Silent Jens"

Thank god he's not that silent. Here's the new one from the man who made it safe to write songs about Rocky Dennis. This time Mr. Jens Lekman sings about a "Friday Night at the Bingo Drive-in." Another lovely idiosyncratic ditty from Sweden's finest. Thanks to our Swedish friends at DiscoBelle for the mp3.


Jens Lekman- Friday Night at the Bingo Drive-In