Alice Russell @ A2 Summer Festival

The Summer Festival in Ann Arbor is almost over (so sad). I've been fortunate to see some pretty awesome acts so far: Los Lobos, Savion Glover, Zap Mama, and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings to name a few. Sharon Jones has DEFINITELY been the best one yet. There have been some great acts on the outdoor stage too that unfortunately I couln't go to. My My My and hometown favorites My Dear Disco and The Macpodz are the ones that come to mind...But one that I'm for sure not missing is Alice Russell tomorrow night. If you don't know who she is check her out right now. I know there seems to be a lot of singers crowding the "vintage" soul genre as of late, but Alice Russell is seriously really good. She was slated to open for Jose Gonzalez on the main stage, but after Jose canceled due to a family emergency, the festival organizers moved some things around so Alice can still perform. She takes the stage tomorrow on the outdoor stage (aka the free stage) at 8:30pm. I am SO happy that the organizers didn't scrap her performance. Her most recent album, Pot of Gold, is out now and it's really good, but you shouldn't overlook her earlier albums Under the Munka Moon and My Favourite Letters. They are worth a listen too.
Seven Nation Army (zshare)
Turn and Run (zshare)
A Blind Salamander - My My My (zshare)
White Lies - My Dear Disco (zshare)
Panama Jackalope - The Macpodz (zshare)

everyone needs some good drinking songs

That's what Deer Tick makes. Fabulous songs that make you think you're in some dive bar with an old jukebox playing songs by guys with croaky cigarette laced drawls that sound as booze soaked as the guy next to you crying into his beer.

Last week, Deer Tick released their sophomore album, Born On Flag Day. It's got a bit of a different feel to it than their first album War Elephant. I was turned on to Deer Tick after hearing their songs "Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)" and "Ashamed." I had an instant connection with the song "Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)"...you know when you hear a song and think that it's totally the story of your life? Cliché, I know, but still. And if that's what it takes me to discover a really fantastic band, then so be it.

Anyways, Deer Tick released their new album and I really really like it. Maybe not quite as much as War Elephant, but it's still really good. The first track, "Easy", is really the most radio friendly track on the album. It really kicks starts the album. But after it's done the album kind of takes on a softer side for the next few songs. Not a bad thing, just a little different. "Song About a Man" is a powerful slow burner of a song that is the perfect end to the slower portion of the album. Things start to pick back up with "Houston, TX" which leads right in to the high energy honky-tonk meets "Johnny B. Goode" track "Straight into a Storm." The hidden track, a beer fueled cover of the standard "Goodnight Irene" is fantastic. So don't stop listening after "Stung" finishes up. This album is definitely worth your while. I also hear they put on rockin live shows so try and catch them live sometime this summer too.
Easy .
Song About A Man .
Straight Into A Storm .

the king of pop and sharon jones

First and foremost a HUGE HUGE HUGE RIP to the one and only Michael Jackson. I think I'm still in shock that he's actually dead. True, he was completely bat shit crazy, but he pioneered pop music, and no matter what he will always be the king of pop. The "Thriller" video always terrified me but I watched it anyways b/c it was (and is) awesome. His music always takes me back to elementary school when our 4th and 5th grade classes sang "Man in the Mirror" at school assemblies. What a sad day. RIP MJ. What a shitty week in the entertainment world losing 3 icons in one week. Oofda.


But the main point of this post is Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. If you haven't seen them live you are SERIOUSLY missing out. They played the Summer Festival here in Ann Arbor tonight and it was awesome. Some of the old fuddy duddies were upset that the main floor got turned into a dance floor but seriously. If you don't start moving when Sharon Jones is on stage something is wrong with you. Sharon Jones is a spark plug, whose petite 4'11" frame flies around the stage dancing up a storm, as she belts out funky soul tune after funky soul tune. You would NEVER NEVER guess that she was 53 years old. It is about time that she is getting the attention she very much deserves. She and the Dap-Kings have a new album coming out soon and from the tracks she played tonight from it, it's going to be a damn good album. Go see her live...she's playing a bunch of festivals this summer...and buy her albums. NOW!!
This Land Is Your Land
Humble Me
Nobody's Baby

Check it out...

So I've been meaning to feature some of the stuff that's been sent to me for a looooooooooong time now. Sorry to the bands for the delay...I really do enjoy getting notes from people telling me to check out their stuff. I've received a pretty wide range of acts so far, and these are my favorite ones, so you should definitely check them out!

First up is Apteka. If you're a shoegazer you'll probably most definitely like this band. They're even offering up their tour EP for free download via their myspace page. Check them out!
If You Were Here

Next, Suds and Soda has been generating some buzz. Most of the time I have to be in a certain mood to enjoy the type of electro/dance pop that they do, and I'm either in one of those moods or they're just good. I'm going to lean towards the latter because on multiple listens I don't turn it off. They're busy doing lots of remixes and such so be on the lookout!
Style Over Substance

Joseph Scott makes some nice abient electronica music that is perfect to just chill out to. From his press release: "the hushed-pulsating-vibrating-still-dreaming-luminousintimate
sounds of this EP are abundant with artistic singularities and personal meanings." Kind of a mouthful of a description, but he's worth a listen!
Celeste

And last but not least, Trevor Giulliani. He has a Andrew Bird/Sufjan Stevens/Jens Lekman feel to his sound and it is really nice to just relax to. His debut album, Subcontrario (In Stereo), drops on July 21st, and you can pre-order it from his myspace or his label, Dovecote Records. I suggest you do so.
Wasting Your Town

That's it for now. If you want to submit something to me, I definitely encourage it! I can't promise everything will make it on here, but I'll do my best. So drop me an email and I'll see what I can do.

Mixtape mania

My life has taken a turn towards crazytown lately, so I apologize for the lack of posts/not updating links since boxstr still sucks donkey nards. I went through and put in some better links in the most recent posts and I managed to find some time to share some new stuff I've gotten with y'all.

i know I'm late with this but Santigold's mixtape is hot. There was a contoversy b/c someone sent a cease and desist order to the maker (not Santigold...), Terry Urban, but there are still ways to get it if you search for it. My fave track is Andre 3000 and Bun B's contribution.
You'll Find A Way Player

And keeping with the mixtape theme, my favorite DC area rapper Wale released his mixtape "Back to the Feature". I absolutely love it. For those who don't know me personally, I am a HUGE fan of UofM football, so the shout out he gives to Tim Biakabutuka, the Michigan running back form the 90s, in the track "Wonder Why" makes me happy. Wale's wordplay is fantastic, and he has some hot producers and guest appearances on it. Def check it out.
5 Minutes feat. Skyzoo
Life's a Bitch feat. Talib Kweli & Joel Ortiz
Wonder Why feat. Big Sean, Ken Starr, & Mike Posner
New Soul feat. Yael Naim

Because I don't want to be at work...

So because I REALLY don't want to be at work today, I am procrastinating and writing up a little note for y'all. Moving sucks. Just going to throw that out there. But there is some pretty sweet music that's about to drop, has dropped, and has been getting buzz lately that has been keeping my spirits up as I try to unpack and reorganize my life. But before I start on that, I just want to let you know that I've caught the Twitter bug. Follow me on there and you'll get random musings and notices about new posts. Check out the Twitter update box on the left side of the page...

There have been lots of leaked tracks from Discovery's upcoming LP lately. I like them. I didn't expect to because they discovered (ha!) their love of Autotune, and we all know how much I dislike Autotune. They're streaming 4 songs on their website. Check them out, and if you like them buy the LP when it drops July 7th.
I Want You Back


I also feel like Jenny Owen Youngs has been getting a fair amount of buzz lately. I might be lying but I feel like there was a week long period where every music site had something about her....Anyways, I saw her open for someone last year and I really liked her. Her stage presence is great....tells lots of great stories. And she does fun covers (see Hot in Herre video) and my favorite song of hers, "Fuck Was I," is off her 2005 album Batten The Hatches. Her new album is good too...check it out her myspace page and try to catch her live.
Fuck Was I
Led To The Sea

And finally there is an indie folk lover's wet dream in the making. Conor Oberst, Jim James, and M. Ward finally made an album together after touring together way back in 2004 on the Monsters of Folk tour. The new album drops conveniently the day after my birthday, September 22. Happy birthday to me.
Girl From The North Country

Boxstr Blows

I apologize for most of my links not working...Boxstr decided to be all sucky and disappear. Argh. I'll work on reuploading the songs to a different site (anyone have any suggestions?), but it might take a while because I just moved and need to unpack. So, be patient...we'll be back up and running soon. Until then f you boxstr. You suck.

Flashback Friday #3

I had a pretty fantastic week. I got into the grad school I wanted, I didn't have to stay late at work once, and I got a mystery check in the mail for $40. Life is goooooood. So in an homage to the 2am sing-a-longs that happened my senior year in college, today's Flashback Friday post is all about OLD Weezer. New Weezer sucks ass (see MGMT/Lady Gaga cover, Snuggies, that Beverly Hills craptastic song, etc.). However, their old stuff still rocks. Nothing will ever be better than coming down the stairs at 2am, taking a break from cramming for a Biochem test and seeing your housemates jumping up and down, screaming at the top of their lungs all the words to every song on The Blue Album. BEST STUDY BREAK EVER.
The World Has Turned And Left Me Here (hl)
In The Garage (hl)
Surfwax America (hl)

the more i buy the more i'm bought

I know I've blogged about him before, but Joe Pug is awesome. The Chicago based singer/songwriter is going to be to playing the Newport Folk Festival this year, and I really really really really wish I could go. Seriously it's going to be amazing. Look at the line-up and tell me you're not impressed. I dare you. Anyways, I was browsing his myspace page the other day to see if there's any new material, and after being thoroughly impressed with his tour schedule (touring with Steve Earle and Josh Ritter and hitting up a bazillion festivals...), I found a video of him giving six concerts in six hours in Chicago. I love it.


I also came across tracks from a show he did at Schuba's Tavern in Chi-town thanks to Ghost of Electricity. I love Tom Waits and I think he does a pretty decent job on Ol' 55. Better than the Eagles version (I hate the fucking Eagles, man). I've been fortunate to see Joe live twice, and REALLY recommend that everybody try to catch him at least once this summer.
Ol' 55 (hl)

Simmer down simmer down simmer down...

Mos Def was on Letterman last night (6/8) and rocked out on the timpanis performing "Quiet Dog." TOTALLY rocked it and made me love him even more. Plus the Fela Kuti intro was pretty sweet too.

As I said in my previous post, his new album The Ecstatic, dropped earlier today. It's pretty on point, minus a 3 song lull towards the end. After the track "Pretty Dancer" he kind of tunes out until "History" with Talib Kweli. Secretly (or not so secretly) I want there to be a Black Star reunion album sooo badly, so whenever Mos and Talib team up it makes me happy. The first six or seven tracks are definitely the best, and I'm sure they will move into my regular rotation quickly. Overall I give the album 3 1/2 out of 4....because maybe the 3 songs I hate will grow on me. But it's definitely a very very solid album. Buy it here...it's only $3.99....
Priority (hl)
Auditorium (hl)

Mos Def is back!

IT'S FINALLY HERE! And it's hype. Well worth the wait. I'm in the middle of listening to it right now, but wanted to plug the new album right away. Seriously, I love it. Go buy it NOW. I'll post a better review after I've listened to it a few more times...

This track was posted in short on Mos's myspace page before the album dropped. When he posted it I was REALLY hoping it was part of the album and it was. holleRRR.

Seriously buy the album.
Wahid-(hl)

D.O.A.

I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE AutoTune. It's about time somebody called it out. I love you Jay-Z.

"I know we facin' a recession, but the music ya'll makin gonna make it a great depression....This is Death of Autotune, moment of silence"

word.
D.O.A. (Death of AutoTune)-(hl)

pack it up pack it in

I'm moving this coming weekend, so that means that every spare second of my day is spent shoving everything I own into boxes. I HATE packing. In college when I'd move out of the dorms, I would usually wait until the morning my dad would pick me up to start shoving things into oversize garbage bags. He wouldn't be pleased but I'd get the job done. But now that I'm theoretically older and wiser, I'm trying out this whole "non-procrastination" thing. So to get me through packing (to the dismay of my current neighbors) I've been blaring my music. Yesterday I accidentally went on a Yeah Yeah Yeahs bender. To be honest I had never really listened to them a lot. They were one of those bands I knew I should like but could never really get into. Until yesterday. I was a packing MACHINE yesterday. Thank you Karen O. I started with "Zero" off their their new album, It's Blitz!, because it's all 80's synth wonderful. Instead of shuffling to a different artist my computer played a couple more songs off that album, and I was hooked. My living room was done in an hour and a half. I got to pack up most of my bedroom while rocking out to their back catalog. And to top off the wonderful day, just as I was coming down (aka giving up for the day), the acoustic version of "Maps" came on. PERFECT.
They are playing in El Paso, Texas on Wednesday and if my friend who lives there doesn't go to the show, I'm punching her in the face next time I see her. Well not really, but I'll be super disappointed...
Maps (acoustic) (hl)
Black Tongue (hl)
Phenomena (hl)
Y Control (hl)
Dull Life (hl)

RIP Koko Taylor

It is a sad sad day. Blues legend Koko Taylor passed away earlier today from complications from surgery to fix a gastrointestinal bleed. She was 80 years old.

Taylor was the reigning Queen of the Blues, and leaves some HUGE shoes to fill. Her breakout hit was "Wang Dang Doodle" when she first signed to Chess Records in 1965. She held her own in the male dominated Chicago blues scene, with her signature growl and emotional singing style. After she moved to Alligator Records, almost all of her albums were nominated for Grammy's, and you'd be hard pressed to find a current blues artist who doesn't cite Taylor as a major influence. Koko you will be missed....
Voodoo Woman
I Got What It Takes

Bon Iver rocks my socks

Man do I love me some Bon Iver. This live track I came across at box of boom via The Hype Machine seriously is my new favorite. It's from the Radio City Music Hall concert for the Dark was the Night/Red Hot Organization fundraising concert (remember I told you to buy the compilation b/c it's stocked with really great music and proceeds go to a good cause?). I have yet to see Bon Iver live (though I'm hoping to this summer...), so I'm sustaining myself by watching YouTube clips and blog surfing for anything that could remotely be considered new material and keeping what I do have in steady rotation on my iPod. I also love the video at the end of this post. I love it for the dog that wanders through, the random people who walk in on the impromptu concert, and for just making me smile every time I see it.
Flume (with My Brightest Diamond)