Thursday, February 25, 2010

Under The Cover

I'm not sure who to blame my new found smitten-ness of Vampire Weekend on. Maybe it's my editor who said I should check them out. Maybe it's because the three songs of theirs I've heard on KXT. Maybe I decided to listen to Madonna's advice and "open my heart" to them. Regardless, I officially dig the whitest band alive.

That being said, they did a pretty boss cover of Rancid's "Ruby Soho."

MP3: Vampire Weekend - Ruby Soho

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Seabear | Build A Fire | Video

We told you a while back about the goodness of Iceland's Seabear. Now, you can see them live, on tape, on your computer! Of course the closest the band is coming here is SXSW... so, if you want to see them, I would suggest catching their Austin show.

Dawes | Love Is All I Am

I've recently been enraptured by the AM gold that is L.A's Dawes. You gotta love a song that actually says "love is more than kissing and holding hands." I think it's actually a pretty ballsy statement for someone writing a pop song, but, I digress.

The pop-folk treatment on this one reminds me of the not-dead Gordon Lightfoot and Cat Stevens.

The group will be at The Cavern a week from Thursday.

MP3: Dawes - Love Is All I Am

Monday, February 22, 2010

Lay Low | By And By

Iceland's Lay Low is a one woman, twang fest. Her song "By And By" feature great finger picking that you wouldn't expect from someone the same nationality as Bjork or Sigur Ros. She's been called the "Icelandic Patsy Cline," so, I'm assuming that would be for the song writing... because she sounds nothing like Patsy. However, "By And By" with it's subject matter focusing on her breaking a guys heart and telling him to think about how she'd done him wrong is irresistibly catchy.

MP3: Lay Low - By And By

It's A Head Song Swap!

Brent Best, Danny Balis and Ronnie Fauss will perform a "song swap" at All Good Cafe this Thursday. I would highly suggest you making a cameo for this one boys and girls...

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Tracey Thorn | "Oh, The Divorces"

Tracey Thorn is back with her third album after 2007 Out Of The Woods. It's hard to imagine her singing without being backed by hubby Ben Watt or even performing anything other than Everything But The Girl. But, she's back and her voice is as amazing as ever.

MP3: Tracey Thorn - Oh, The Divorces! (via Pitchfork)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Tickets: The Clientele

Hey all, everybody! We have not one, not two, but five pairs of tickets to give away for the Clientele/Vetiver show at Granada Theater on 2/28.

The first five people to to email me at bonafidedarling(at)gmail(dot)com with "Supreme Clientele" get a pair.

So, snap to it!

The Clientele - Spirit

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Ghostly International | Rarities

Detroit based Ghostly International has released a compilation of some mild-mannered electronica. Not for the faint of heart, only the the sexy, minimalist electronica lovers... you been warned.

You can get the compilation here, for free even

MP3: Michna - Quadruple Gold Dipped

Everybody Wayne Coyne Tonight


I was talking with a friend a couple of weeks ago about Wayne Coyne. Yes, Wayne is an odd bird. But, you have to respect the hell out of a guy who is known around the world and chooses to live in his hometown and in the shitty part of town. However, with all the drawbacks for living in a less-than-idealic the pluses are you get the property for cheap and you already have a shit-ton of money to fix the place up.

Anyhoo, Stereogum has some snap shots of Casa de Coyne and it's really more of a work of art than it is an actual house. The only part that sucks is they didn't show the spider lighting in the kitchen.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Smile Smile @ Good Records

This past Saturday we went to check out Smile Smile's in-store appearance at Good Records. It was an intimate affair with Ryan on guitar and Jencey on keys. In between songs they told a little bit of back story about the songs that are featured on Truth On Tape.

You can read all about how Smile Smile has stayed together through a lot of turmoil in my feature article about them in an Observer box near you. Or, you can click here and read it on your screen... either way is fine with me.

"Somebody Else"


"Truth On Tape"

Friday, February 12, 2010

Gina You're A Star

Former Dallas DJ, turned Hollywood DJ... now London DJ Gina Star has released her debut track for Tool Room Records. She's come a long way from the Fickle 500 crowd of club life in The D. She was named a who's who by L.A. Weekly and now she's spinnin' in England.

"This Is Hollywood" is a big room banger of a track, but, the vocals are a little bit lacking... even for a House track.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Justin Townes Earle @ The Guest Apartment

We checked out Justin Townes Earle again this past weekend at The Granada, and yes, it was fantastic. So check out his recent (?) interview with Baeble Music. Hey, he name checks all the right people...

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Spoon "Written In Reverse" Video

Parade Of Naps

You wouldn't expect a sunny version of indie/chamber pop to come out of the cold climate of the Rust Belt, but that's just what a favorite band of ours has done. We got hooked on them a couple of years ago with "Postcard." But, their sound has progressed and gotten more sunny in the two years since it's last album.

Parade finds the band expanding it's sound to the areas close to that of Camera Obscura or The Clientele. Warm, gentle melodies that bounce around your head a embrace your heart.

Their new album Parade is out now.

MP3: The Afternoon Naps - The Fall Companion

Monday, February 8, 2010

SNL | Fist Fight In The Parking Lot

With the shit-tastic Ashton Kutcher on SNL this weekend it was pretty much lack luster. But, this was probably the best sketch of the night and one of my favorites of the season.


Under The Cover

A few weeks ago DC9 at Night had this song as a free download from Taylor Young and John Pedigo... better known 'round these parts as The O's.

An upbeat number about how great the people, more importantly the girls, of Bowling Green are. I think even the Everly Brothers would have to give them props for owning this one. Make sure to check out their video for the song and witness the death of their touring van Flaps.

MP3: The O's - Bowling Green (Everly Brothers Cover)

Friday, February 5, 2010

Observe A Q&A With Justin Townes Earle

In case you had forgotten, sharp dressed man Justin Townes Earle is playing at the Granada Theater tomorrow supporting Chris Knight. DC9's very own Darryl Smyers has a Q&A with Steve's kid.

You can check it out here.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Amplive Remix Why?

Amplive, of Rainydayz fame, has remixed a handful of tracks from Why? He continues his eclectic tastes in music, that I think is a prerequisite for Oakland rappers and producers. He transforms the folky "Black Purses" into head bobbin', hip shake inducing goodness. His take on "Uno Roses" is also a track definitely worth listening to as it's turned into a buzzy, slow burn.

You can download everything here.

MP3: Why? - Uno Roses (Amplive Remix)

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Nedry Get Post Dubsteppy

I guess post dubstep is really a genre now, since that's what Nedry has been called. To put it more precisely it's like a dubby version of Bjork hailing from the UK. Singer Ayu has a voice sounding amazingly similar to the diminutive Icelander.

The track is dreamy, full of broken beats mixed together with Ayu's less than unique voice, making the slightly disjointed beats cohesive.

MP3: Nedry - A42

Monday, February 1, 2010

Smile Smile Truth On Tape

For those in the DFWd music scene familiar with Smile Smile you may already be familiar with their story. Love, betrayal and somehow keeping it together enough to make music.

On the bands second full length album Truth On Tape the duo lets their story bleed onto the record. There isn't anything that is off limits. "Beg You To Stay" and "Cancer" tells the story you would expect from a spurned lover, please don't leave me. And that feeling permeates throughout the entirety of the record.

It may not be the uplifting pop album you would expect, but from these two it's exactly what you would expect from them.