Top Ten Releases of the Decade 2010-2019 – Plus Others Worthy of a Listen

Here's my list of the Top 10 Albums of the past decade plus a few Honorable Mentions – music loved from front to back and listened to in full many times. Check them out on Spotify at the link here if you missed any! And yes I do love my veteran indie bands, no excuses needed.

In no particular order...

1. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
2. Arcade Fire, Reflektor
3. Arcade Fire, Everything Now
4. Spoon, Transference
5. Spoon, They Want My Soul
6. Spoon, Hot Thoughts
7. LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening
8. LCD Soundsystem, american dream
9. The National, High Violet
10. MGMT, Congratulations

Honorable Mention:
Gorillaz, Plastic Beach
Okkervil River, The Silver Gymnasium
The Walkmen, Heaven
Moby, Innocents

Our His & Hers 25 Top Concert Lists Comparison With Video Highlights

Celebrating the anniversary in Montreal

On the way home from seeing Arcade Fire in Montreal (write up, photos and vids in the previous post) Paul and I took the long road trip to transcribe our top 25 concert moments of all time, plus some Honorable Mentions with the overflow of awesome live music.  It has been an ongoing conversation for years and yes, most of the bands we have experienced together. So on the occasion of our anniversary today, I thought I'd list them here as a his and hers compilation.  As a testament to our longevity, The Ritz is now known as Webster Hall and a big thank you to the Bowery Presents for sprucing up venues around New York City, especially the Music Hall of Williamsburg, The Capitol Theater and Bowery Ballroom -- all excellent spots to see a show. And of course we are fuzzy on some of the dates.

As far as compiling the lists, it was hard to put things in any particular order or consider many festival slots since it usually means not seeing an entire set. Both of us did list Franz Ferdinand at Austin City Limits Music Festival (2013) and Flaming Lips at Moogfest (2012), as we got to the stages early to secure a good view for the complete set. I've added videos from those shows here along with one from LCD Soundsystem's first night of the final week of shows for the band, truly epic.  Other matches are the Talking Heads in 1983, which I wrote about recently with the 30th anniversary of the concert doc from the tour, Stop Making Sense, and David Bowie's 1983 "Serious Moonlight" tour. But can you guess which list is Paul's and which is mine? Listen to some of our fave songs on a Spotify playlist here.

LIST #1
1. Talking Heads 1983 (Forest Hills, NYC)
2. David Bowie 1983 (Madison Square Garden, NYC)
3. Flaming Lips 2011 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
4. Arcade Fire 2014 (Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal)
5. LCD Soundsystem 2011 (Terminal 5 NYC)
6. Franz Ferdinand 2013 (Austin City Limits Music Festival, TX)
7. Moby 2009 (Irving Plaza, NYC)
8. Beck 2014 (Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC)
9. Elbow 2014 (Webster Hall, NYC)
10. Art Brut 2012 (Music Hill of Williamsburg, NYC)
11. Weezer 2006 (Roseland, NYC)
12. Spoon 2018 w/Grizzly Bear (The Captitol Theatre Port Chester, NY) *Update
13. Hot Chip 2010 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
14. Phantom Planet 2004? (Irving Plaza, NYC)
15. Paul Westerberg 2005? (The Globe Norwalk, CT)
16. David Byrne 2009 (Oxford, UK)
17. David Byrne 2001 (Apollo Theater, NYC)
18. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. 2011 (Bowery Ballroom, NYC)
19. Peter Bjorn & John 2011 (Bowery Ballroom, NYC)
20. The National 2010 (Brooklyn Academy of Music, NYC)
21. CAKE 2010 (Irving Plaza, NYC)
22. Gang of Four 1984 (The Ritz, NYC)
23. Octopus Project & Devo 2010 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
24. Sufjan Stevens 2010 (Beacon Theater, NYC)
25. Iggy Pop 1986 (The Ritz, NYC)

Honorable Mention:
Dandy Warhols 2011 (Webster Hall, NYC)
The Walkmen 2012 (Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, Brooklyn Academy of Music, NYC)
Band of Horses 2014 (The Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY)
Portugal The Man 2012 (Terminal 5, NYC)
Fitz And The Tantrums 2010 (Mercury Lounge, NYC)

I was there!!!!

LIST #2
1. Talking Heads 1983 (Forest Hills, NYC)
2. David Bowie 1983 (Madison Square Garden, NYC)
3. Flaming Lips 2011 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
4. Arcade Fire 2014 (Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal)
5. LCD Soundsystem 2011 (Terminal 5, NYC)
6. Franz Ferdinand 2013 (Austin City Limits Music Festival, TX)
7. Frank Zappa 1978 (Felt Forum, NYC)
8. Police 1982 (Syracuse University, NY)
9. Gang of Four 1984 (The Ritz, NYC)
10. The Clash 1981 (The Bond, NYC)
11. Beck 2014 (Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC)
12. Phantom Planet 2004? (Irving Plaza, NYC)
13. Orbital 2012 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
14. Allman Brothers & Eric Clapton 2011 (Beacon Theater, NYC)
15. Yes 1978 (Madison Square Garden, NYC)
16. Paul Westerberg 2005? (The Globe Norwalk, CT)
17. Band of Horses 2014 (The Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY)
18. Peter Bjorn & John 2011 (Bowery Ballroom, NYC)
19. Spoon 2009 (Roseland, NYC)
20. Weezer 2006 (Roseland, NYC)
21. Atoms for Peace 2013 (Austin City Limits Music Festival, TX)
22. Hot Chip 2010 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
23. Grateful Dead 1987 (Providence, RI)
24. Fitz and The Tantrums 2010 (Mercury Lounge, NYC)
25. Iggy Pop 1993 (The Ritz, NYC)

Honorable Mention:
The Walkmen 2012 (Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, Brooklyn Academy of Music NYC)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. 2011 (Bowery Ballroom, NYC)
Jeff Beck 2009 (B.B. King Blues Club, NYC)
CAKE 2010 (Irving Plaza, NYC)
Sufjan Stevens 2010 (Beacon Theater, NYC)

New Song by Hamilton Leithauser "11 O'Clock Friday Night" (Video & Tour Dates in NYC April 15/16)

I have to admit I was hesitant to take a listen to this new song by the former frontman for The Walkmen, since they were such a fave band and he's now going solo.  (Read about the band's "hiatus"as I wrote about it last December here and revisit the heartbreaking tune "Heaven" witnessed live at BAM two years ago, recently featured in the finale of How I Met Your Mother, in the video at the end of this post.) This video was shot with friends in his new home of New Orleans after growing up with fellow members in the D.C. area before moving to NYC to make it in the indie music scene.  It's actually directed by the Walkmen guitarist Paul Maroon and it really is comforting to see Leithauser so at ease on his own, bombing around on a bike and doing what he does best -- singing.

So much of the group's sound hinged upon Leithauser's passionate, cut-to-the-quick vocals, and when his voice enters in "11 O'Clock Friday Night" there's an emotional pull back into the music with welcome relief. The instrumentation has less of the Walkmen tight band aesthetic, things are now more global in approach with ample use of vibraphone. Amber Coffman of The Dirty Projectors adds some subtle backing vocals, but it's still Leithauser's show and I'm all for it.  Can't wait to hear the entire album, Black Hours, due June 3 via Ribbon Music.  N.B. Leithauser will also be performing at Joe's Pub with two shows April 15 and 16.

The Walkmen Take A Hiatus (Videos for "Heaven"- Official & Live)

The Walkmen (photo in digital booklet from Heaven, 2012)

As the news of fave indie rock band The Walkmen taking a hiatus hit last week, I found myself reeling in self pity.  I have been a fan of the band since their song "We've Been Had" on that Saturn ad back in 2003 caught my ear and left me wanting much, much more.  Not that they didn't deliver -- when I finally saw the band live at Crossing Brooklyn Ferry in May 2012, they were playing material from album number seven, Heaven, which wasn't even out yet.  Old and new songs were presented with the same gritty take on indie rock, sealed by the plaintive, emotional tenor of frontman Hamilton Leithauser. This concert had me holding my heart often, as their authentic approach to traditional band instrumentation and soul-bearing music cut to the core. The night earned a spot on my list of Top Concert Experiences in 2012, while the album was a Top Ten Releases of 2012.  The title track was also one of my Top 20 Tunes of 2012, after appearing on my Early Summer 2012 New Music Playlist. Now that band members are moving on with solo projects, this album may well be the very last one.

The official video for the song "Heaven" shows a nostalgic pastiche of footage and photos of The Walkmen through the years. A lengthy article on Stereogum discusses how members joked how they should quit after this video was made, since it was such a fitting conclusion to the band.  It begins with someone's kid hopping around backstage, as the lyrics enter with "Our children will always hear, romantic tales of distant years." Yet as the song was presented live, I had no idea the end was near.  They played like a super tight group as always, with a common upbringing in the D.C. area creating an instant bond that carried into the music.  Sure, they had spread out from those early years as young men making their way to the Big Apple, to Philly and New Orleans, and the new collection was created virtually, but that's nothing unusual these days.  After all, the song credit was still given to The Walkmen, a nod to the group aesthetic.  But it seems recent gigs were treated as guys getaway weekends, with the pull of family responsibilities bringing an early conclusion to the rock and roll lifestyle.  While I'm saddened by this next stage, I'm still thankful for all the great music in my collection attributed to this band.  Check out both videos below, and be sure to acquaint yourself with anything by The Walkmen you may have missed along the way.

Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2013

OK, round two for a Romantic Tunes Playlist in honor of Valentine's Day 2013. (If so inclined, revisit the original list for Valentine's Day 2012 here.)  Going back into my iTunes collection it was easy to come up with another dedicated listening session to fill the day with romance -- plus I had added a few over the year (The Walkmen for example) to keep things current.  Again, this is a purely personal list from my own musical history.

Beginning with the adorable sentiment of Hot Chip's "One Life Stand" to the soaring melody of Elbow's "One Day Like This," I have ordered things carefully for smooth segues and left the ending mellowed out as always.  Certain songs take right me back to the time and place of the year they came out, others have stuck with me through the decades and still sound new with each visit.  Some even break my heart with the music, words or both.  But whether uplifting or sinking of sentiment, these songs just show how the heart is made to be used for more than pumping blood.  Use this link to listen, indulge and enjoy!

1. "One Life Stand" -- Hot Chip
2. "NYC" -- Interpol
3. "Swinging Party" -- The Replacements (live version 1991)
4. "Heaven" -- The Psychedelic Furs
5. "Wordless Chorus" -- My Morning Jacket
6. "Love Is Luck" -- The Walkmen
7. "Yet Again" -- Grizzly Bear
8. "Out Go the Lights" -- Spoon
9. "You're the Best Thing" -- The Style Council
10. "Heroes" -- David Bowie
11. "No Distance Left to Run" -- Blur
12. "Eyes Be Closed" -- Washed Out
13. "Live Alone" -- LCD Soundsystem (Franz Ferdinand cover)
14. "Lights Out, Words Gone" -- Bombay Bicycle Club
15. "Can You Tell" -- Ra Ra Riot
16. "Decide" -- Caveman
17. "Love You Madly" -- CAKE
18. "Nothing But Our Love" -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
19. "One Day Like This" -- Elbow
20. "Outro" -- M83

Top 20 Songs of 2012 With Video Playlist

There were plenty of moments in 2012 when pure attention through the ears became a moment to behold. When I came across these songs this year, it didn't just make my day... it rocked my world and made my life.  My year flashes before me as I revisit favorite new tunes while still fresh in the mind.

Here again I give you my Top 20 Songs of 2012 in no particular order, but arranged into a pleasing listening session via Spotify here or a YouTube Video Playlist below. It begins with Santigold's self-produced treatment of one catchiest songs of the year and includes some awesome live versions (including a NMMatters one of The Walkmen during this year's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry!) Enjoy, JaneJS

1. "The Keepers" Santigold
2. "Take a Walk" Passion Pit
3. "Heaven" The Walkmen
4. "Simple Song" The Shins
5. "Let's Go" Matt & Kim
6. "Sad Vacation" The Dandy Warhols
7. "Thankful" Caveman
8. "Amanaemonesia" Chairlift 
9. "Good As New" Vacationer
10. "Happy Home" Onuinu
11. "Yet Again" Grizzly Bear
12. "Would That Not Be Nice" Divine Fits
13. "From Nowhere" Dan Croll
14. "Hail Bop" Django Django
15. "Unless You Speak from Your Heart" Porcelain Raft
16. "Summertime is Coming" Paul Banks
17. "Heart" Oberhofer
18. "The Reflection of You" Bear In Heaven
19. "Myth" Beach House 
20. "So Long You Pretty Thing" Spiritualized

Top Concert Experiences in 2012 With Video Highlights

Me & Paul flashing credentials at Moogfest 2012

My top five picks for 2012 are from just three events -- two at the excellent new Crossing Brooklyn Ferry festival, two at this year's Moogfest and one in a tiny club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  The bands are both new and established, but the music somehow transcended space and time.  You just never know what you're in for when planning to attend a concert, as it's not about what the band will bring but the crowd and venue play into it as well.  Here is this year's list in no particular order, with links to the original write ups plus video highlights. Enjoy!

1. The Walkmen @ Crossing Brooklyn Ferry -- May 5, 2012

The Walkmen served as the headliner for the opening night of Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, the inaugural meeting of like minded musical minds as curated by Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National.  I had followed the band over the decade of their existence, since their plaintive "We've Been Had" was featured on a Saturn commercial.  The group confidently took to the stage in the grand opera house at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, with their beloved vintage instruments radiating a woody amber glow.  They began with the lush harmonies and acoustic accompaniment of "We Can't Be Beat," the lead off track of their new album, Heaven.  Hamilton Leithauser admitted how he's been trying to get the band to sing with him like that for years! Leithauser continued as the gracious host, with passionate vocals floated over the signature of layered guitars and pervasive percussion.  This indie rock quintet has spread out across the country from their early days in New York City with the additional responsibilities of fatherhood, but the band’s sound is as tight as ever.   An adult appreciation of each other and their fans serves them well, as even the music matures with each listen. 

2. Caveman @ Crossing Brooklyn Ferry -- May 5, 2012

Caveman took to the same stage for the closing night of the festival, with a leap in venue size that only added to the grandeur of the music.  This new band had made a splash during 2011's CMJ Music Marathon with their debut album, CoCo Beware, so I was eager to see them for myself.  I had experienced multiple plays of their songs and loved their indie sound.  Turns out they performed with such an attractive self-assurance, I ran down to the orchestra pit just to be nearer to their radiance.  

There are plans for a new album and tour in 2013 (dates here), can't wait!

3. Divine Fits @ Moogfest 2012 -- October 27, 2012

Divine Fits is another new band with a debut album this year, A Thing Called The Divine Fits, but it was put together by members of two fave bands (veteran road warriors Britt Daniels of Spoon and Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs).  So their opening slot on the closing night of Moogfest was a must see and they did not disappoint in any way.  It was a solid set of classic indie rock -- if there is such a thing!  Here is Paul's highlights from the entire evening and yes, that's me screaming in the beginning...

4. Orbital @ Moogfest 2012 -- October 27, 2012

Orbital was the headliner for the same night and lots of people at the festival were proudly there because of them. (The organizers for the past three years have split with Moog Music who are saying there will be another Moogfest -- but now there's also a Mountain Oasis Electric Music Summit planned. Stay tuned?!?!)  Even if you weren't a die hard fan of their electronica, it was hard to resist their showmanship when climbing on stage as captured in the video above, or their English charm during the panel that afternoon and even during our run in with the two brothers, Phil and Paul Hartnoll, at the Asheville Regional Airport. 

5. Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ Glasslands, Brooklyn -- June 8, 2012

Unknown Mortal Orchestra had quite a year in 2012.  After Ruban Nielson's bandcamp hit "Ffunny Ffriends" provided enough buzz for a self-titled debut album in 2011, the group toured on their own and then snagged an opening slot for indie kings Grizzly Bear. This video captures the first song of the night, and you can hear people crowding into the small venue. But behind them is Nielsen's blistering guitar and the trio really kicking it up a few notches right away (strobe lights even!) I love how bass player Jake Portrait looked around wide eyed, in awe of the attention. The applause that followed only increased after every song, so by the end of the night they made the room their own.

Top Ten Releases of 2012 With Video Highlights

This week PopMatters posted The 75 Best Albums of 2012 from compiling top ten lists from staff writers.  I also contributed a write up for Passion Pit's excellent entry, Gossamer (#66). Reviewing this article is another opportunity to discover bands not already on your radar, so I highly recommend taking the time to dive in. 

My personal top ten is listed here with video highlights -- chosen on the basis of how excited I was about the album before it came out (sometimes months before the release date) to how much I visited the songs once it did. Together it represents over seven hours of happy listening. And I must say, 2012 was a fine year for new music!  

1. Grizzly Bear, Shields
The Brooklyn indie band Grizzly Bear built upon the success of their third album in 2009, Veckatimest, with a confident collection in Shields.  Featuring the songwriting skills of Edward Droste and Daniel Rossen as produced by band member Chris Taylor, the songs are varied and rewarding in a multi-layered, thoughtful presentation.

2. The Shins, Port of Morrow

James Mercer returned with a revamped line up for his fourth album as The Shins, after the acclaimed Broken Bells side project with producer Danger Mouse.  For fans waiting five years since 2007's Wincing the Night Away, Port of Morrow continues on that secure path of indie indulgence.  Mercer's warm tenor leads the way, through new subjects of fatherhood and adult responsibilities plucked straight from his domestic life.  

3. Passion Pit, Gossamer
Gossamer was released as the sophomore album from Boston area based group Passion Pit, but it was really the solo project of frontman Michael Angelokos (which is actually how the band began).  Angelokos wrote and produced the songs, with vague references of his own mental strife as he continued a battle with bi-polar disorder.  Yet the music remains as strong as ever, a full frontal indie electropop that reads well on stage as evidenced when Angelokos appeared on SNL earlier in the fall.

4. Beach House, Bloom

Baltimore's dream pop duo Beach House released their fourth album, Bloom, with more gauzy soundscapes.  Victoria LeGrand's expansive yet earthy vocals keep things grounded as a counterpoint to Alex Scally's haunting guitar and the layered synths.

5. Spiritualized, Sweet Heart, Sweet Light

Jason Pierce (a.k.a. Spaceman) released his seventh album as the frontman of U.K. alt rock band Spiritualized, Sweet Heart, Sweet Light.  The songs pour out from Pierce's harrowing experiences with chemotherapy for liver disease, with swells of musical transcendence and uplifting choruses.  (The Huh? on cover art refers to the original working title, in case you're wondering!)

6. The Walkmen, Heaven

The Walkmen released their seventh album over a decade, Heaven, and celebrated time together as a indie rock band plus the years since high school in the Washington, D.C. area.  While the group's early days were spent in New York City, members have moved to Philly and New Orleans as they began another stage into family life. Their devotion to each other is seen and heard in the video for the title track here, with solid songwriting that favors vintage instruments and persistent guitar work. 

7. Vacationer, Gone
New band Vacationer put New York City's synth duo Body Language together with Philadelphia area's Kenny Vasoli, formerly of post punk outfit A Starting Line. (Interview and concert review from last spring here.) The result is a breezy collabo of electronic beats and swatches of lush samples, with Vasoli's laid back but eager vocal delivery finding another fitting musical home.

8. Miike Snow, Happy To You

Miike Snow is a Swedish indie pop band with the producing team Bloodshy & Avant (Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg) and American vocalist Andrew Wyatt.  Their sophomore album, Happy To You, finds the trio flaunting their self-made studio ways, utilizing all the tools to achieve hooks galore.  This video could use some explanation, however!

9. Tame Impala, Lonerism
Australian psych rock quintet Tame Impala, the musical project of Kevin Parker, released their sophomore album Lonerism.  It's full of trippy grooves and explosions of sound, with buried vocals that somehow burst from this busy foundation.

10. Andrew Bird, Break It Yourself
Chicago area native Andrew Bird has released nine plus albums of music as composer and muli-instrumentalist.  Break It Yourself features fourteen complex compositions with Bird on guitar, violin and vocals (including lots of whistling!)

Wrapping Up the Year in Music - Best Songs of 2012 via PopMatters

Let the end of year lists begin!  PopMatters posted "The 75 Best Songs of 2012" with staff picks ranging with the familiar (Goyte, Carly Rae Jepson and Taylor Swift) and the not so much. The nice thing about perusing the list is seeing those musicians you've never heard of, so take time to listen to anything that peaks your interest -- I promise it'll be well worth it!   Each writer was asked to submit their top five (ranked) songs a few weeks ago with my write up for a top pick, The Shins' "Simple Song," found at #44.  I'll list my other picks as submitted while I'm working on my own top 20 songs and will post top 10 releases of 2012 soon.

TOP 5 BEST SONGS OF 2012:

1. The Shins, "Simple Song"

2. Passion Pit, "Take a Walk"

3. The Walkmen, "Heaven"

4. The Dandy Warhols, "Sad Vacation"

5. Matt & Kim, "Let's Go"

TOP 5 ARTISTS OF 2012:

1. M83

2. Grizzly Bear

3. The Shins

4. Passion Pit

5. Andrew Bird

TOP 3 BEST NEW ARTISTS OF 2012:

1. Oberhofer

2. Divine Fits

3. Bear In Heaven

TOP 3 BEST MUSIC BOOKS & DVDs OF 2012:

1. LCD Soundsystem, "Shut Up & Play the Hits" DVD

2. David Byrne, How Music Works

3. "Color Me Obsessed: A Film About the Replacements"

TOP 3 HOPE TO MAKE IT BIG IN 2013:

1. Indians

2. Dan Croll

3. Django Django

TOP 5 Reissues of 2012:

1. Blur, Blur 21

2. Roxy Music, Roxy Music: The Complete Studio Recordings

3. Interpol, Turn On the Bright Lights

4. Bright Eyes, Fevers & Mirrors/There is No Beginning to the Story

5. R.E.M., Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage

Early Summer 2012 New Music Playlist

To most people, the Memorial Day weekend is the start of summer so why not explore some new music for your own personal soundtrack.  With a mix of recent arrivals and established artists, releases abound for the listening to heat things up.  Notes are provided with background info for further discovery. Link to listen here, enjoy! 

1. “Disparate Youth” – Santigold

This solid single is off Santigold’s second album, Master of My Make Believe.  With a mix of reggae, jazz and new wave influences, she continues to forge her own distinctive pop path.

2. “Happy Home” – Onuinu

Onuinu is the musical project of Portland multi-instrumentalist Dorian Duvall, combining an electro pop past into a new genre he likes to call “Disco-Hop.”  This shimmering romp of a song is off his upcoming full-length debut, Mirror Gazer.

3. “Heaven” – The Walkmen

The Walkmen are ready to release album number seven after a decade together – this title track highlights their unique sound, featuring Hamilton Leithauser’s passionate vocals over a steadfast foundation. The band members are now living in New York City, Philadelphia and New Orleans, but still present an unwavering united front for indie rock fans.

4. “Bad for Me” – Brendan Benson

This tuneful song is the single off Benson’s sixth album, What Kind of World, which was recorded entirely in analog. In the middle of a busy career as a musician, songwriter and band member of The Racounteurs, he now also has his own record label called Readymade Records.

5. “Good as New” – Vacationer

6. “Trip” – Vacationer

These groove-based songs bring a feel good summer attitude via the new chill wave band Vacationer, embracing all things sunny and cool in the debut release, Gone. Listeners may recognize Kenny Valosi’s fun time vocals from his punk pop band, The Starting Line. 

7.  “Warbeth” – The Magnetic North

This U.K. band is an alt music collaboration between Simon Tong (Gorillaz, The Verve), folk artist Erland Cooper and prolific Irish songstress Hannah Peel.  “Warbeth” is a mesmerizing multi-part composition off their debut album, Orkney: Symphony of The Magnetic North.

8. “Act On Impulse” – We Were Promised Jetpacks

We Were Promised Jetpacks is a quartet from Edinburgh, Scotland, generating buzz with their take on indie rock.  This building jam is off their second release, In the Pit of the Stomach.

9. “Alpine” – Hands

This single from Australian band Hands will be featured on their upcoming full-length release.  Six band members combine to create quirky songs with Scandinavian sounding indie pop sensibilities.

10. “Heart” – Oberhofer

Founder and frontman Brad Oberhofer moved East from Tacoma, Washington to study music at New York University and now his band is based in Brooklyn.  He writes and records all the music himself, gathering a tour band to support this second release, Time Capsule II.

11. “Montauk” – Rufus Wainwright

American-Canadian singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright recently released another album of intensely personal songs featuring his signature tenor and virtuosic piano playing. (He has seven albums of original music, ten if you count compilations and other contributions). This one, called Out of the Game, focuses on his new stage of life finding the wonder in marriage and fatherhood.

12. “Higher Palms” – My Best Fiend

This Brooklyn based quintet embraces the psychedelic ways of fuzzy indie pop.  Singer Fred Coldwell provides spaced out renditions of melodic vocals for this single and lead track on their second release, In Ghostlike Fading.

13.  “Hey Jane” – Spiritualized

14. “So Long You Pretty Thing” – Spiritualized

Jason Pierce (a.k.a. J. Spaceman) has had a tough seven years battling health problems such as double pneumonia and going through chemo for liver disease. So it’s no surprise that the new release for his U.K. band, So Long You Pretty Thing, is full of soul searching songs contemplating the highs and lows of human existence.

15. “Saint Nothing” – Daniel Rossen

This quiet, solemn song is off Daniel Rossen’s solo EP, Silent Hour. Rossen is originally from Los Angeles, traveling east to study at New York University and then becoming part of the indie bands Department of Eagles and Grizzly Bear.

PopMatters Review for Crossing Brooklyn Ferry 2012 -- Opening Night May 3

My PopMatters review for day one of Crossing Brooklyn Ferry posted today at the link here with photos and highlight video below, enjoy!  

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Highlights @ BAM 5/5/12

BAM's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry 2012, Opening Night May 3

With Paul in the BAMcafé

Last night was the first night of Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, a new music festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).  BAM has hosted many single concerts before, but to have the entire main building taken over by like-minded indie music fans was something definitely different. As curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry (named after the Walt Whitman poem) celebrated all the connections the brothers have made since leaving Ohio to make Brooklyn their home (handy New York Times graphic here).  As the first act began in the BAMcafé, the intense JACK Quartet, Bryce Dessner sat  in the crowd with his head tilted in concentration.  Aaron Dessner soon entered the venue and stood at attention in the back.  Without any official declaration, their musical concept became a reality.  Just off tour with Bon Iver, yMusic took the stage next and then the room filled with people as the rows of chairs were removed for People Get Ready.  This band seemed much tighter and together since we caught them warming up for Washed Out last summer, which is always nice to witness in live performance.

Crossing paths again with David Byrne

We spent the rest of the night checking out the acts in the Opera House: Twin Shadow, Sharon Van Etten and The Walkman. The crowd was allowed to fill in the orchestra pit and without ticketed seats, mingle about at will.  This also allowed a nice back and forth during sets in the Opera House back to other bands in the BAMcafé,  along with food and drink.  Wondering where Paul had wandered off, I texted him for info.

"Upstairs talking to db" he wrote, using the initials for David Byrne who we had heard was in the house.  I thought maybe Paul was just saying Byrne was nearby, but when I got there I saw he was indeed telling the truth -- two guys just chatting at the bar. Paul was in the middle of telling our story of helping his friend Brian Eno through airport security after Moogfest last fall. I chimed in with details and then asked him about how he once said that he was disappointed not to see his contemporaries at music shows around the city.  Turns out he actually meant fellow musicians, not just the same generation of music fans (like me!)

Looking forward to going back Saturday night and full write up on PopMatters here.  Below is a few photos and videos from the night...

BAM Lobby

Loads of band merch available, love it!!!

  Sharon Van Etten "All I Can" @ Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, BAM 5/3/12

                       The Walkmen "Heaven" @ Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, BAM 5/3/12

The Walkmen set list

BAM's Music Fest Crossing Brooklyn Ferry This Weekend

In anticipation of this weekend's Crossing Brooklyn Ferry new music festival, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) compiled a video playlist highlighting some of the 30+ artists in the line up. Curated by The National's Bryce and Aaron Dessner, the three-day event will take over BAM's main building at 30 Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.  While bands are playing on the Opera House stage and in the BAMcafe, there will also be films with original scores in the cinemas. Featured acts include The Walkmen/Sharon Van Etten (May 3), St Vincent/The Antlers (May 4) and Beirut/Atlas Sound (May 5, which is sold out). Tickets are available for the first two nights at $45 each along with the full schedule at CrossingBrooklynFerry.com.

Photo @ouraugust

New Music Fest in NYC: Crossing Brooklyn Ferry May 3 - 5

Beirut, Photo: Kristianna Smith

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) has announced plans for a new music festival, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, May 3 through 5.  Curated by Bryce and Aaron Dessner of Brooklyn band The National, headliners for the event include The Walkmen (May 3), St. Vincent (May 4) and Beirut (May 5).  Crossing Brooklyn Ferry will take over the three venues in the Peter Jay Sharp Building at 30 Lafayette Avenue. There's the grand Howard Gilman Opera House, a wide open party space in the BAM Café, and the BAM Rose Cinemas for commissioned short films and accompanying scores.

St. Vincent, Photo: Tina Tyrell

A three-day Fest Pass costs a very reasonable $110 and tickets will go on sale to the general public March 6. Single tickets are $45 each and will be available on March 12.  Friends of BAM will be able to purchase either option a day prior to these dates. For more information visit CrossingBrooklynFerry.com

The Walkmen

Late Fall 2010 New Music Playlist

As soon as I finish one of my playlists, I start another. This one began in mid-October with a few songs then it sat for a bit until I had the opportunity to go to Moogfest in Asheville, North Carolina. This three-day festival was full of names I couldn’t wait to see, ones I had barely heard of and others worth exploring (see tracks by The Octopus Project, Devo, Caribou, Neon Indian, and Jonsi). Add in a few new releases and all of sudden another lengthy playlist was ready to share -- lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  Link to listen here.

1. "Fuguefat" -- The Octopus Project
This full throttle song kicks off this Austin based group's fourth release, Hexadecagon. The indietronic band specializes in high energy instrumentals like this one which draws you in instantly for a wild, fun ride. (See my interview posted below for more info!)

2. "Total Life Forever" -- Foals
The Foals are five guys from Oxford, England with a bent towards the catchy yet complex compositions. This song is off their second release of the same name. It delivers simple sing-a-long lyrics over a driving beat and adds in hand claps just for fun – irresistible.

3. "Mind Games" -- Devo
4. "What We Do" -- Devo
Yes it's been twenty years since anything new from Devo, but you sure can't tell by these songs. The original energy in the synth-driven beats remain intact with tongue fully implanted in cheek. Their new release, Something for Everyone, is a party not to be missed.

5. "Odessa" -- Caribou
Caribou is the brain child of Daniel Victor Snaith, a prolific Canadian musician who also embraces the indietronic label. This melodic maze over an infectious groove is the opening track off his latest release, Swim.

6. "Coquet Coquette" -- Of Montreal
This band from Athens, GA has been exploring the psychedelic side of indie pop since 1994 with a raucous party of a stage show at every stop on tour. The lyrics border on crass insanity but they're always second to the sound presented. The song is off the latest release called False Priest.

7. "Should have Taken Acid With You" -- Neon Indian
8. "Deadbeat Summer" -- Neon Indian
Texan band Neon Indian is part of the new chillwave musical movement with fuzzy chords in a laid back vibe. They also grab samples as they see fit to provide a backbone to a song or merely as a reference. (For example, Deadbeat Summer contains a snippet of Todd Ruddgren's "Izzat Love?") These two selections are off their debut release from a year ago, Psychic Chasms, which has been gaining steam ever since.

9. "Desire Lines" -- Deerhunter
Deerhunter is a four-piece band with roots in Georgia and solid indie rock credentials. This melodic creation of layers is off their fourth album released earlier this fall, Halcyon Digest. Frontman Bradford Cox provides a soundscape over a drumbeat that expands into a dreamy song about childhood.

10. "Angela Surf City" -- The Walkmen
East coast indie rock band The Walkmen released their sixth studio album with this single about the same time. The quintet favors vintage instruments and dreamy buried vocals which speak of life's disappointments with earnest poetic yearning.

11. "Reservoir" -- Real Estate
12. "Out of Tune" -- Real Estate
These two songs are part of a mini-release from this band that calls themselves psychedelic surf pop under the indie rock label. It’s a bit bolder than anything so far, which brings a welcome burst of confidence. The quartet was originally from New Jersey but are now based in -- you guessed it -- Brooklyn.

13. "Get Real Get Right" -- Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens has composed this song for his tenth release called The Age of Adz, which delves into electronica along with the many other styles he's known for, from folk to art rock. He can play banjo, guitar, and drums as well as piano so there's always has an interesting use of instrumentation. Having bounced back after serious viral infection last year has only heightened the value of spiritual themes in his compositions.

14. "Go Do" -- Jonsi
15. "Sticks & Stone" -- Jonsi
Jonsi strikes out on his own for these solo project recordings, the first off his release Go and the second from the soundtrack of the magical movie, How to Train Your Dragon. Without the comfort of his band Sigur Ros and now singing in English, Jonsi is challenging himself while his musical gifts are up for grabs.

16. "Heretofore" -- Megafaun
The easy going sound of this trio from North Carolina by way of Wisconsin infiltrates this track off their mini-CD of the same name (their third release). They list "everything and everyone" as influences as the laid back layers invite all to relax and listen.

17. "Pieces" -- Villagers
Villagers is an Irish band fronted by Conor J. O'Brien whose soulful singing illuminates the dark lyrics. This song is off their second release, Becoming a Jackal.