New Animal Collective due in January

"You've got so much inside..."

So this somehow escaped me over the weekend, but one of the most Bobka'd bands out there, Animal Collective, has (cryptically) revealed the title to their new album, as well as a tracklisting (via Stereogum). It's called Merriweather Post Pavilion, which you may know as an outdoor amphitheatre in Maryland, and includes the following tracks:

01 In The Flowers
02 My Girls
03 Also Frightened
04 Summertime Clothes
05 Daily Routine
06 Bluish
07 Guys Eyes
08 Taste
09 Lion In A Coma
10 No More Runnin
11 Brother Sport

The rumor mill (aka stereogum's comments section) purports the following possible song name translations from AC's recent live shows. In order of most likely to be true, based on commenters confidence:

Old Name - New Name
"Bearhug" = "Summertime Clothes"
"House" = "My Girls"
"Dancer" = "In the Flowers"

Here's some video, and mp3's of "Brother Sport" and "Daily Routine" from earlier in the year. Enjoi.

Animal Collective- Daily Routine (5/28/08 Lisbon, Portugal)
Animal Collective- Brother Sport (5/28/08 Lisbon, Portugal)

Animal Collective "Summertime Clothes" @ Hove Festival

Animal Collective "Daily Routine" @ Hove Festival

We Saw: Grizzly Bear/ The National

"Baby, we'll be fine..."

real perty photo by sokane1

New York Magazine had it's 40th birthday on Thursday, and since magazines can't buy porches, they throw badass parties instead. Stella opened with some particularly hilarious banter, and then Grizzly Bear took the stage, using the Hammerstein's legendary reverb to their advantage. Their set list was fairly similar to All Points West, but between the acoustics, the light show, and the fact that I wasn't on my lonesome, this one proved to be an even more enjoyable performance. Of particular note were the new songs "Two Weeks", "While You Wait For The Others", and the lesser known "Fine For Now", a lovely little Dan tune with Ed accompanyment. Kinda makes you forget about all that Dan/Ed squabble nonsense.

Despite their plethora of New York dates these past few years, I'd never gotten the chance to see The National, a fact I began to regret about one minute into their first song. With a Springsteen-esque mix of heartfelt sincerity and stadium rocking bombast, they far exceeded my expectations, thanks largely in part to a gorgeous horn section (basoon included). Part way through their set, The National lead singer Matt Berninger told the audience that this would be their last show for a long while, as the band was preparing to go make another record (cue cheers and applause). When they get back, make sure to get the first ticket... you won't regret it.

Here's a super neat video of Friend standout "Deep Blue Sea" being sung by the sea, as well as the mp3 of new Grizz song"Two Weeks", perhaps my favorite song of the year. For National lovers, a fittingly moody Vincent Moon video of "Baby We'll Be Fine", dedicated to all those poor stock brokers out there.



Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks (Live on David Letterman"

we saw: Of Montreal

"Is It A Solar Fever?"
(Up Close & Personal Photo by Mimi)
Spolier Alert: Kevin Barnes rode a white horse last night at Roseland...literally. That said, if you are going to see Of Montreal in the next couple of weeks and want to leave an air of mystery to the show, which will only enhance your experience, I recommend you don't watch all of these videos. If you were previously thinking about buying a ticket but were on the fence, do it. Immediately. If you've never liked them before and think that Barnes/Fruit is an overdramatic sex obsessed pre-madonna, your right, he is, and one of the best. ever. period. Easily one of the best shows of 2008, no doubt about it. My only complaint is that they sold out of gigantic psychedelic Skeletal Lampings horse posters and 2xLP's, although I'm not surprised, just jealous. Thank god for online merch catalogs.

A Song of Sorts in Kongsvinger@ Roseland


Gronlandic Edit@ Roseland


She's A Rejector@ Roseland

tonight: Of Montreal

"Ninja's prove it"

Skeletal Lampings lyrics I can't wait to hear Georgie Fruit sing tonight, in no particular order:

"We can do it softcore if you want, but you should know that I go both ways."
"The sky is pregnant with faggots"
"I'm a mother fucking headline and bitch you don't even know it"
"I'm just a black she-male"
"When we get together it's always hot magic"
"You've gots a super wicked style, show it to me baby, let me see it baby"
"A freaky permiatation, something like Voltron"
"I'm not worth knowing cause I'm probably dead"
"We climbed upon the rocky shore and freaked out on the mountain goats"
"I was a hater in the depths of an emotional hibernation"
"I took her standing in the kitchen, ass against the sink"
"It's time to penetrate their fantasies"
"I'm so sick of sucking the dick of this cruel cruel city"
"Still some gentle people fucking to strawberry letter 23"
"You should call sometime, I wont answer but at least I'll know you care, How will you know its me, Caller Id"
"I live to make you call my name"
"Turning tricks on the hood of Jasmine's car"
"Biting the prick that feeds me in my sister's bathroom"
"How can I function? There's no more Apollonian beauty to behold"
"I want you to be my pleasure puss, I wanna know what its like to be inside you"
"Bless my lips with your sunlandic kisses"

and

"I wanna slap face your face, I wanna paint your nails, I wanna make you scream, I wanna braid your hair, I wanna kiss your friends, I wanna make you laugh, I wanna dress the same, I wanna defend you, I wanna squeeze your thighs, I wanna kiss your eyelids and corrupt your dreams, I wanna crash your car, I wanna scratch your cheeks, I wanna make you sick, I wanna sell you out, want to expose your flaws, I wanna steal your name, I wanna show you off, I wanna tell you lies, I wanna write you books, I wanna turn you on, I wanna make you come 200 times a day"

What are your favorites? Old and new? See ya at the Roseland.

"Wicked Wisdom" Live in Durham

white session: Arcade Fire

"Us Kids Know"
Arcade Fire- White Sessions, Paris, FR 09.03.05

01 - Wake Up
02 - Neighborhood (Laika)
03 - No Cars Go
04 - Une Année Sans Lumière
05 - Power Out
06 - Rebellion
07 - Neighborhood (Kettles)
08 - Crown Of Love
09 - Neighborhood (Tunnels)

holiday: Soul Messengers from Dimona

"Black Hebrews"

Some funky ish for all you Jews fasting and atoning for this past years sins. The best black-American-Hebrew speaking-Gospel-Funk ever. A Numero must own.

Between 1975-1981, a group of American ex-pats took their native sounds of Detroit and Chicago and intermingled them with the messages of the Black Hebrew culture. The results are a heavenly mix of spiritual soul and jazz with an undercurrent of gospel psychedelia. Featuring the Soul Messengers, the Spirit Of Israel, Sons Of The Kingdom, and the Tonistics, Soul Messages From Dimona is the only living document of a thriving community at both the center and fringe of the world.

Soul Messengers- Savior In The East
Soul Messengers- Equilbrium
Soul Messengers- Heaven of Heavens

Snag it here on Wax.

we saw: Franz Ferdinand

"Come and Dance With Me Michael"

(Photo by Bill)
I have to admit I haven't listened to, nor even really thought about, Franz Ferdinand in years. That said, when a friend offered me a ticket yesterday afternoon to their "secret show" at Music Hall, I couldn't pass it by. In retrospect I can't believe I inadvertantly fell out of lust with Franz Ferdinand for no real reason except that there has just been way too much good music released over the past few years.

I've been digging their new single "Lucid Dreams" on Sirius for a bit, so when we got to Music Hall and they were playing Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell" (12" version?) and Prince, I knew things were going to get funky. And they did, real funky. Franz, which includes at least one Greenpoint resident, brought the neck slicing guitar funk last night and once they went into "Michael", Franz's gay disco "will you dance with me?" jam, I was instantly reminded why their debut was so killer, and sort of pissed at myself for neglecting You Could Have It So Much Better, which Charles constantly reminds me is criminally underrated. The band played a hefty load of new songs, most of which were straight jams, as well as a smattering of crowd pleasing hits of old. "Dark of the Matinee" was a pleasant trip down memory lane, but, for me, nothing was better than their closer, "This Fire", my absolute favorite Franz Ferdinand song, with the exception of their own remix of the song, "This FFFire." Unfortunately, I may have taken the "we're gonna burn this city" a bit literally, as I most definitely scorched the top of my mouth while gorging myself on Pizza after the show. Oh, the perils of Brooklyn life.

*Actual Setlist (via SoundBites)
Bite Hard*
Michael
Tell Her Tonight
Turn it On*
Dark of the Matinee
Send Him Away*
The Fallen
Kathryn Kiss Me*
Take Me Out
ULysses* |
40 Ft.
What She Came For*

Encore:
A New Thrill*
Outsiders
This Fire
(*New songs)

Short Clip of "Turn It On" from Last Night (shot by We All Want Someone To Shout For)

new: Atlas Sound

"Video Game (?)"
Grab the Coricidin, fire up some candles and turn the lights down low for a splendid trip to the woozy synth'd out ether world. Yep, Bradford Cox has done it again. New virtual 7" over at the Deerhunter blog. "Airedales" is pretty much all I ever want my dreams to sound like. Deerhunter November 7th??? Anyone? Bueller?

Atlas Sound- Maybe Logic 7" ("Maybe Logic" b/w "Airedales")

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"

we saw: Department of Eagles at Bell House

(Photo by Play Vicious)
The Department of Eagles live debut last night was sort of how we expected it to be; a warm night of bedroom songs played in front of a super attentive audience. Daniel Rossen sounded great and made for a warm and convivial host, often noting how "cool" the evening was. Rossen and fellow Eagle Fred Nicolaus were backed by Grizzly Bear's Chris Bear on drums and backing vocals, bassist, and opening act, Nat Baldwin and the Dirty Projectors Angel Deradoorian on keyboards and harmonies. Much of the night seemed like a rehearsal, mellow and really laid back, as if we were in a friend's barn. Rossen made it work, often noting flubs and rehashing inside jokes about Jimmy Jawn (or John), aka "Grizzly Bear's code word for anything finger-picky and twangy." Dept. of Eagles ran through a host of new songs, including "1997", as well as Rossen's infamous cover of JoJo's "Too Little Too Late", dedicated to lead Grizzly Bear Ed Droste. However, the warmest crowd reaction came, not surprisingly, during "No One Does It Like You", the first single from In Ear Park and one hell of a pop song. For those wondering, yes, the band was able to recreate the stunning harmonies that permeate In Ear Park, as well as many of the haunting textures that make the album feel at home in the chilly October night. No DoE tour dates scheduled, but if your going to the Book Eaters Revenge tonight, you're in for a special treat. Peep P4k's video of DoE performing on a roof in Brooklyn.

(side note: Is it me or is Daniel Rossen always wearing that shirt?)

Department of Eagles "In Ear Park

around: The Beach Boys 1967 Rehearsals

"God Only Knows"

Anyone with a more-than-casual interest in the Beach Boys should head over to Aquarium Drunkard ASAP. For the second time in a few years, AD is hosting some quintessential Beach Boys demos, recorded in 1967 during the rehearsal sessions for Pet Sounds. Simple, stripped down versions of Beach Boys classics. A must for collectors, BW obssesors and Mom and Dad. According to AD, the mp3s will be up for two weeks. Do not hesitate. Could not be recommended anymore.

The Beach Boys :: God Only Knows
The Beach Boys :: Surfer Girl
The Beach Boys :: You’re So Good To Me
The Beach Boys :: The Letter
The Beach Boys :: Help Me Rhonda
The Beach Boys :: Heroes & Villains
The Beach Boys :: Their Hearts Were Full of Spring

monday morning music: Stars of the Lid

"And Their Refinement of the Decline"

Still recovering from the weekend? Don't fret, Stars of the Lid are here to make everything better. Their orchestrated ambient compositions are truly the musical equivalent to homeopathetic medicine, an organic cure for all ills. Above is the trailer from the Stars of the Lid film, to be released in 2o10. Luckily, Austin's finest purveyors of tired sounds will be in NYC for two shows in November, as well as an appearance at the Brainwaves Festival in Boston, which also boasts Silver Apples and Bobka-favorite Marissa Nadler on its lineup. Surprisingly, there are still tickets available for Stars of the Lids shows at (le) poisson rouge. We'll be at the late one night, getting all ethereal and shit. I recommend you do the same. You can get tickets HERE.

We Saw: Stereolab/Atlas Sound

"Don't worry be happy things will get better naturally..."


Bitchin' photo by Bill
Sadly, this bobkat couldn't watch the (hilarious) trainwreck known as Sarah Palin, but happily, it was because I was getting a facefull of Stereolab...which was only made more poignant considering the top story on Pitchfork when I got home from the show. McCain family fans aside, the show was a real victory for the people, who were treated to Atlas Sound bringin' some ooey gooey shoegaze, followed by Stereolab's funkified, Chemical Chords heavy set, sweeping the crowd into a frenzy of refreshingly non-political fervor. Is it too late for McCain to ask Lætitia Sadier to be his running mate? She's certainly a hot older lady. Oh but she's French... trop mauvais...

Here's some video from Beggar's really awesome youtube channel, showing the band playing fan favorite "Percolator" in front of just a hundred or so fans in the UK

we saw: Fleet Foxes at Grand Ballroom

"When I First Came To Town They Called Me The Roving Jewels"
(Photo by Play Vicious)
As expected, last nights Fleet Foxes show at the Grand Ballroom was another blessing. No surprise, considering every time we've seen them, with exception of Pitchfork Fest, they've been absolutely magical. Last night's set wasn't too different from what I've seen in the past, but it did feature a healthy Robin, a first for us New Yorkers, and a standing Robin taboot. Highlights of the evening were Robin's solo, totally unplugged versions of traditional standard "Katie Cruel", a personal favorite, and "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song." They also unleashed a not-quite-finished new song, "Silver City", which they've been playing on the road, and features Robin on electric guitar. And, of course, "Mykonos" continues to define itself as the definition of new American gospel folk, a made up genre that perfectly suits le Fleet Foxes. If our prior posts on the wonders of the Fleet Foxes didn't make you immediately buy tickets to their next show, please do yourself a favor and make it happen. You will not be disappointed.

Setlist:Sun Giant->Sun Rises->Drops in the River, English House, White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, Your Protector, Crayon Angels (Judee Sill Cover) {Robin solo}, Oliver James{Robin solo}, Quiet Houses, He Doesn't Know Why, Mykonos,

Encore: Katie Cruel (Traditional) {Robin unplugged, solo}, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song {Robin unplugged, solo}, Silver City(new song), Blue Ridge Mountains

Fleet Foxes- Silver City (Live at the El Rey Theatre) (new song)
Fleet Foxes- Katie Cruel (Nashville Sessions)
Fleet Foxes- Mykonos (BBC Sessions)

found: Brotherman

"The Pusher Who Became A Preacher"

The Numero Group table at the Pitchfork Music Festival's Record Fair was one of the sweetest, most financially devastating, booths I've ever browsed. Dozens of Numero reissue vinyls were to be had for cheap (We picked up Soul Messengers From Dimona, Don't Stop:Recording Tap, and Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal), but perhaps the biggest get was a pre-release cassette copy of Brotherman, the soundtrack to a movie that was never filmed. From the Numero site:

In classic Numero fashion, before even one foot of film was shot, the plug was pulled and the movie was cancelled. Dragged around for 30 years by songwriter and arranger Wolfolk, the tapes of his life’s work have finally been mixed, and the soundtrack album has been augmented to include two orchestrated instrumentals intended for the film. Having no stills from the film to work with, the Numero Group tasked Minneapolis’ Burlesque of North America to paint a cover that could withstand the scrutiny of any blaxploitation poster geek.

The Final Solution's soundtrack is '70s street soul at its finest; funky, grimey, ass rattling and smooth as butter. Of course, Numero Group says it best:

He was a pusher that became a preacher. A gangster pimp serving soup from the trunk of his Coup Deville. A mutant cross between Robin Hood and Friar Tuck. Everyman, our man on the street, Brotherman. Continuing a tradition that began with Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, and culminated with Shaft and Superfly, Brotherman was a blaxploitation film set to hit screens in 1975. Prior to the script being finished, the producers commissioned an original soundtrack to be performed by The Final Solution, a fledgling vocal group from Chicago’s west side.

Brotherman sits in Tape 2 of our stereo, always accessible when doing dishes or trying to get your swerve on. If couch listening isn't enough, Koushik made a few of us very happy when he dropped "Theme from Brotherman" last night at APT.

Final Solution- Theme from Brotherman
Final Solution- Never Coming Back Again

classic: I Feel For You

"I Think I Love You"

It's Friday. Get involved with this classic jam and get into the vibe. Written by Prince for his 1979 debut album, Chaka Khan's 1984 version of "I Feel For You" features Stevie Wonder on the harmonica and re-ignited her career. Legend has it that the stuttering "Chaka Khan" at the beginning was a mistake by producer Arif Mardin, but he wisely decided to keep it in. Fun fact: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake performed this song together during their stint on the Mickey Mouse Club.

Check out the original Prince version while you're at it:

Sarah Mother F*cking Palin

"We're Gonna Lay More Pipeline"
Guarantee you're singing this all week.

John Brown- Sarah Palin (I Wanna Lay The Pipeline)

classic: Mazzy Star

"Strange You Never Knew"

It's a woolly day in Greenpoint and while the sun is certainly shinning, I can't get Mazzy Star's narcotic "Fade Into You" out of my head. I really really liked this song, and its accompanying album, So Tonight I Might See You, when I was an adolescent, which, in retrospect, makes a lot of sense considering my fondness for woozy, celestial psychedelia. One of the most stunning and surprising hits of the '90s. Welcome to October.

Mazzy Star- Fade Into You

old: Fleet Foxes

"A One Way Ticket On A First Class Airplane"

Everyone loves Fleet Foxes. Seriously. I love 'em so much this Saturday will be my fourth time seeing them live since March. That says a lot considering there are bands I've listened to for years and have never seen (Belle & Sebastian, Beck), or just recently saw for the first time (Built To Spill). Because the band has received much well deserved acclaim, I'm sort of surprised I haven't read anything about their first release. No, not Sun Giant, rather Fleet Foxes EP, or demo, that proceeded it in 2006. This may be because FF sound almost entirely different, and from my understanding, were a completely different band then, the only remaining members being singer/songwriter Robin Pecknold and guitarist Skyler Skjelset (?). The younger incarnation of Fleet Foxes touches on such universal themes as young love ("Textbook Love"), identity ("Anyone Who's Anyone") and roaming ("In The Hot, Hot Rays"), each of which serve as ex-post facto portraits of how the group found its sylvan folk sound. While it does not live up to, and should not be compared to, Sun Giant and Fleet Foxes LP, the EP serves as a logical stepping stone in the short career of a band I expect to be hearing a lot from for a long time. Their vision for the future is no more evident than on the closer, "Icicle Tusks", which is a clear sign of where the band was/is headed. Demo available as a .ZIP below. Enjoy!

Fleet Foxes 2006 EP/Demo

PHISH 3/6-3/8 HAMPTON

"Won't You Please, Sir"

Phish 3/6-8 2009, Hampton Beach, Virginia
Somebody call the nitrous mafia, Phish is gearing up for a reunion tour. First stop, the mothership (aka Hampton). Goo balls, anyone?