1000x/minute

A Memorial Day Weekend 8tracks Mix

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:52:00 -0400

Retro-Proactive via 1000xpm on 8tracks

Hey all. Hopefully you’re headed into as great of a weekend as I am. It’s been awhile since putting together some kind of a mix, but I was recently moved to do so for some family & friends. There’s a good smattering of tunes that have been posted here before and some that haven’t but either way you should be able to find something that strikes you. The whole thing is playable via 8tracks (which you can also get for your iphone/android if you have one), or through the widget below. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Stepdad | Must Land Running Here’s a big moment for the...

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:29:26 -0400

Stepdad | Must Land Running

Here’s a big moment for the hometown - Grand Rapids’ very own Stepdad are finally releasing their debut LP Wildlife Pop this June 12 via Black Bell Records. You may recall their Ordinaire EP (which ended up being about as long as a full-length album) hit these pages several times over the past year or so. In fact, I’ve nearly run out of things to say about how great this band is.

Must Land Running is our first preview of the much-anticipated new album and certainly doesn’t disappoint. My wife loves these guys, so I can’t wait for her to hear it.

Check ‘em out at bandcamp, and look for the new album on June 12th!

Damien Jurado | Working Titles It’s a crime I’ve...

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:36:21 -0400

Damien Jurado | Working Titles

It’s a crime I’ve been enjoying Damien’s new album Maraqopa so much and haven’t yet mentioned it here. Up until now I’ve had a passing knowledge of his music, but upon deciding to dive into his 10th album (released last February) it’s motivating me to look back into his body of work.

Working Titles stands out on the new album for several reasons: the lyrics are deceivingly cutting, particularly because on the first few listens I couldn’t help but sway along to the music. I like that in a song - to have a message veiled by the music slowly revealing itself at each listen. Jurado does it masterfully here and carries that talent through the rest of Maraqopa.

Pick up the album via Secretly Canadian, and don’t let this one pass you by!

(track via chewablevitamins)

Kindness | Swinging Party World, You Need A Change Of Mind, the...

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:54:00 -0400

Kindness | Swinging Party

World, You Need A Change Of Mind, the debut album from UK’s Adam Bainbridge, may have existed on a lot of people’s radar for quite some time now, I’m not sure. There’s a number of videos and tracks posted by other blogs, but the first time I heard Kindness was via ex.fm, with the track Swinging Party (a cover of The Replacements, as it turns out).

Well, needless to say, I liked it. And in giving the complete album a full-on listen, I can confidently say this is one of those pleasant surprises of an album that comes out of nowhere one day and makes your ears feel like they’re exercising muscles they haven’t exercised in a long while - i.e., it’s a different, but altogether groovy new listen that I’ve been digging for the past few weeks.

Swinging Party is my jam right now, and while the rest of the album has extreme high, and some disorienting, moments, it’s been holding on strong as one of my favorite listens as of late. Grab it off iTunes/Amazon.

[shameless sidenote: A picture I took is in a photo contest - would you consider voting for pic #1 over here? It’d be much appreciated!]

Right Away, Great Captain! | Blame In ‘07 we had The...

Thu, 10 May 2012 10:39:36 -0400

Right Away, Great Captain! | Blame

In ‘07 we had The Bitter End & in ‘08 there was The Eventually Home - now rounding out the trilogy of albums from the side project of Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull is The Church Of The Good Thief. The trilogy tells the tale of “a 17th century sailor who catches his wife in the act of betrayal with his very own brother”, and honestly makes me feel like a fool for not fully taking in the lyrics of the previous releases.

It’s okay, though, because great music like this nearly always has the effect of compelling me to rip through the archives and dig up an artist’s previous work. Blame is a continuation of the heartfelt, acoustic sound that Right Away, Great Captain! pulls off so naturally. Plus, let me just give a shout out to some great cover artwork. I would put that on my wall if I could.

Hearing about the release of this album was a pleasant surprise - I’ve already listened to Blame 5+ times just now in anticipation! Look for The Church Of The Good Thief on June 12th, to be accompanied with a collection of outtakes entitled The Lost Sea via Favorite Gentleman.

Passion Pit | Take A Walk You’ve probably heard this...

Mon, 07 May 2012 20:39:00 -0400

Passion Pit | Take A Walk

You’ve probably heard this already, but in case the news of the day hasn’t quite reached your ears, here’s a preview of Passion Pit’s upcoming sophomore album Gossamer.

I am… impressed, to say the least. Sleepyhead has been a long time favorite track of mine, and while the debut full-length Manners was fun, I had a hard time with the falsetto on some of those tracks. But Passion Pit has undeniably had some great sounds coarsing through their music from day one, so yes, I’m looking forward to this one.

Look for Gossamer on July 24th - until then, check out this interview for a more in-depth peek at the man behind the music.

(track via nvrlookback: thevenomblog)

Joe Pug | One Of Many As of last week, the man whose initial EP...

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:21:00 -0400

Joe Pug | One Of Many

As of last week, the man whose initial EP rocked so many faces off a few short years ago released his second full-length album The Great Despiser, solidifying 11 great tracks to his repertoire. The band comes out in full force on this one, backing up Pug’s traditional guitar & harmonica combo with a full sound, and his lyrics are as profound & articulate here than they’ve ever been.

One Of Many stood out to me on first listen - there seems to be nearly everything I love about Joe in this one song, but no doubt every song on the album is just as solid. My only small issue with the album is not about what’s on it, but about what’s *not* on it - a song I’ve heard a few times since catching a Monday night show in a tiny bar (probably called Burn & Shine) was honestly one of the greatest songs I’ve heard from the man, no question. I’m really aching to hear a recorded version of it, but perhaps it’s being held out for an upcoming EP. Fingers crossed!

I’m eating this album up - if you’re one of the few who haven’t been blessed by Joe Pug’s music yet, I simply cannot recommend this album, his previous album Messenger, and/or his Nation Of Heat EP enough. Get on it! Or see the man in concert, you’ll be the better for it, I promise. Pick up The Great Despiser and more straight from Joe at his website.

[note: I wrote about Joe Pug’s previous live album over at Slowcoustic a while ago as a guest writer. Check it out!]

Observer Drift | Home Persisting as one of my 2012 favorites is...

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:51:41 -0400

Observer Drift | Home

Persisting as one of my 2012 favorites is Observer Drift’s debut album Corridors, the wonderful project from Minneapolis’ Collin Ward. While Collin appears to be a new face to the lo-fi, experimental indie music scene, his music betrays a strong talent and know-how to make a song better with each listen.

Take Home for example - it’s been a few weeks since I last listened to the album in full, but hearing the track above paired with clips from his family home videos has me appreciating the music all over again. And not only am I pretty excited to see more of this kind of stuff, I really look forward to seeing what will come next.

Not that there’s any rush. I’m still squeezing out all there is to hear on Corridors - if you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend finding him at bandcamp/facebook and giving a thorough listen!

Taxidermy Hall | Pan I realize it’s been awhile -...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:34:00 -0400

Taxidermy Hall | Pan

I realize it’s been awhile - hopefully this track from Melbourne Duo Taxidermy Hall can make up for it. It’s raining here in Michigan, which has perfectly coincided with my introduction to these guys via hyperbole.tv, and I echo the sentiment over there - why aren’t these guys more popular?

Pan is just one in a series of downtempo grooves that are tremendously easy to surrender yourself into off Swimming In A Snow Globe, the rest being up at bandcamp and soundcloud for *free*. Lasting Words (feat. Winston & Goldstein) is another incredible, slightly more upbeat and equally as moving mix of male/female vocals over an emerging electronic landscape. These guys certainly deserve your attention, lest they fade unheard like so many others into the sea of hype.

Taxidermy Hall | Lasting Words (feat. Winston & Goldstein)

Different Sleep | Turbulence Got the heads up on...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:10:00 -0400

Different Sleep | Turbulence

Got the heads up on Chicago’s Different Sleep and the first 2-track release Next Time I See You via Mister Lies (who’s probably enjoying his featured track on pitchfork lately). Self-described as “A small release reflecting life as of recent“ I’ve particularly been loving the relaxing, simple tones of Turbulence, the single’s “b-side”. My only gripe with the track is that it ends - something like this could go on for an hour and I’d have absolutely no issue with that at all.

I’m not sure what the plans are for Different Sleep, but I’d certainly enjoy a proper full album’s worth of material like these two tracks. Go support him over at bandcamp, get your money’s worth, and let’s hope together that he’s in it for the long haul.

[edit] It appears that Mister Lies & Different Sleep are actually collaborating on a project for digital release label Absent Fever (bandcamp). A preview track from that upcoming EP, set for release on May 8th can be heard over at Mister Lies’ soundcloud.

Beach House | Myth There are a handful of bands over the years...

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:59:50 -0400

Beach House | Myth

There are a handful of bands over the years that have risen to the “can do no wrong” status - Beach House hits that mark with ease here on Myth, the opening track off the upcoming Bloom, which already has people foaming at the mouth.

Personal confession: something about Teen Dream, the band’s much, much-lauded 3rd album came across my path several times in 2010, & while I tried to give it the due diligence of multiple listens, it never quite clicked with me. No, I didn’t hate it (by a long shot!) - I attribute it to my lack of workable vocabulary for their style of music at the time. However, listening to Myth now makes me feel like I’ve missed out on an awful lot. This is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year, and I hear Bloom surpasses even their prior, oft-praised albums.

Look for it on May 15th via Sub Pop!

(via zarniwoogan)

s / s / s | Museum Day Music for Ants beat me to the punch on...

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 19:44:00 -0400

s / s / s | Museum Day

Music for Ants beat me to the punch on the latest goings-on with Sufjan Stevens, but the music is worthy enough to bear repeating here. First off (and my personal favorite of the two tracks) is the collaboration track Museum Day with Serengeti and Son Lux off an upcoming EP (via Anticon), Sufjan being that third “s” in the s / s / s moniker. Disparagers of the man’s use of a vocoder won’t find much here to appreciate, since this (and the track below) use the “auto-tune” so often derided - but I will defend his use of it for a few simple reasons: 1) Sufjan uses it as an instrument on its own and not a cover-up. You can hear how he plays with it particularly in this track and adds his own creativity to it, which is a far cry from pop radio’s overuse of the thing to roboticize vocals for the club dance floor. 2) His use of it on Adz during the 25-minute Impossible Soul, if you ever saw it in concert, coincided with an alien spaceship landing on the stage - otherworldly vocals fit incredibly well with that overall experience. And, 3) the songs are still good, so far be it from me give him the business for it. Were he to begin overusing it, I’d join the naysayers, but so far I’d take a track like Museum Day anyday.

I haven’t been as familiar with Serengeti or Son Lux up to this point, but it’s safe to say the laid back rap and added chorus that circles around the phrase “we are recovering” has kept me coming back. Altogether, a powerful combination of artists and a solid track here.

The second track is a collaboration with Rosie Thomas, a better history of which can be found over on musicforants. I was more easily tempted to give up on that one at first, but seriously glad I stuck around for the whole thing. The build-up is reminiscent of an Illinoisy + Adz-ish + Rosie Thomas collab oughtta. It’s highly likely people would prefer that over the s / s / s track, even if just for the touring history/longtime friendship between Sufjan and Rosie. Check that one out below, and look for the Hit & Run 7” on record store day, April 21st.

Will Stratton | You Divers Late last night the doors were opened...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:24:00 -0500

Will Stratton | You Divers

Late last night the doors were opened to Will Stratton’s upcoming album Post-Empire, previewing the first two tracks via his soundcloud and bandcamp pages. I have been a big fan of Will, particularly because of a single song I’ve been listening to for years - namely, the demo of For No One that I heard via Slowcoustic that accompanied many a late night train ride in Japan.

Furthering that, Stratton’s New Vanguard Blues somehow flew under my radar for 2010. When I finally got a hold of it in 2011, I grew even closer to the acoustic, speed-picked, contemplative atmosphere created in his music. I’ve been following him on twitter ever since, anxiously anticipating news of his next full-length.

You Divers is one of an excellent two-track preview from that long-awaited new album, a 7-minute song incorporating several elements that I sincerely appreciate about great, guitar-driven music. A long, string-driven intro to set the stage, thoughtful acoustic reflections, blinding skill on the frets, and then (to my pleasant surprise) a couple of solid breakdowns that I keep on trying to imagine done in a live setting. It’s important to note that Will’s music is not typically a lackadaisical romp through the flowers - every song feels like it’s carved or chiseled out of those lingering, unforgettable conversations and pieced together into these tapestries of sound. They have character pouring out of every listen.

With all that said, I’m pretty psyched for this new album. This song (or the other appetite-whetting track When You Let Your Hair Down To You Shoulder) set to be a part of Post-Empire on March 20th comes highly recommended by me, for what that’s worth. You can prepay for the album over at bandcamp - as an artist who’s purposely taking a chance on releasing his music label-free via bandcamp, I’d say there are few better ways to spend your money.

New Animal | The Sound That It Makes While anxiously awaiting...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:05 -0500

New Animal | The Sound That It Makes

While anxiously awaiting for something new from my favorite artists of 2011, this track released about a month ago (with accompanying vid below) shows that they’re still on track for making the same great sounds that still have me listening (and for a long time, I suspect) to their great, self-titled debut. Which can be found at their bandcamp for *free*. I’d apologize that I keep on mentioning these guys, but I just keep wanting people to listen!

Check out the vid, posted via the band’s tumblr, below. And pick up this track (and more!) at their soundcloud page.

Peter Broderick | It Starts Hear I’ve been a growing fan...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:26:00 -0500

Peter Broderick | It Starts Hear

I’ve been a growing fan of Peter since first hearing tracks off Home several years ago, and then subsequently the 7-track soundtrack-to-a-rainy-day How They Are. Some might still remember his work with Denmark’s Indie Rock outfit Efterklang, but he has clearly branched off into his own conceptual workshop since, creating masterful, serenity-inducing works of art (have you heard his soundtrack to the documentary Music For Confluence? Recommended.)

Broderick’s latest work is the unique concept album http://www.itstartshear.com - which, as you may suspect, is also a working website. What I didn’t know until actually visiting is that the website is somewhat like an interactive lyric sheet/insert, giving tidbits of info on each song, how they came together, and other bits of multimedia such as relevant photos/videos, etc. The whole concept could have been a bit off if Broderick’s music didn’t rise to the occasion (as it always does), providing the backbone for the whole project and standing well enough alone to be a great listen whether you can visit the site or not.

The video above is from the album’s title track, which can be heard at the website or picked up at the KEXP blog here. I’m working my way through the album still, but am finding it to be quite beautiful. For something even more stripped down, I highly recommend Music For Confluence (video). It Starts Hear is available via Bella Union and just came out. Don’t deprive yourself!

COOLRUNNINGS | Badlands Badlands is a high-octane, jangly,...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:02:00 -0500

COOLRUNNINGS | Badlands

Badlands is a high-octane, jangly, lo-fi jam - “post-rad” in self-described terms off COOLRUNNINGS bandcamp page, which, as of January, has the Spirit Of The High 7” featured. The two tracks offered show they’re capturing what makes their music enjoyable. And while I wouldn’t quite say “unique” as compared to other lo-fi acts strutting around the atmosphere, it’s a step forward from their debut LP which I didn’t find so hot.

Anyway, Badlands makes up for that. I wanna run hard & fast and do awesome things when I hear it. It’s not always easy to make that happen. Check it out.

(via ostberlintamere)

Ramona Falls | Spore This is joyous news. 2009’s...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:38:06 -0500

Ramona Falls | Spore

This is joyous news. 2009’s Intuit was a sleeper, but man did it pack a punch. To see what I mean, just take a moment to revisit the music video for I Say Fever and then join me in excitement with the freshly announced album Prophet from Menomena’s Brent Knopf. This is one side project that I prefer over the more established main act - Spore, our first taste of the new album, serves to give me all the hope in the world that Prophet will be a solid follow-up to the impressive Intuit.

You can grab the track for *free* from the widget below, and check out the great art over at Ramona Falls‘ website. Look for Prophet via Barsuk on May 1st!

(via Pitchfork)

Mr. Lies | False Astronomy Last night I cracked open my...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:14:00 -0500

Mr. Lies | False Astronomy

Last night I cracked open my criminally underused ex.fm app to peruse whatever new music came across my dashboard, when suddenly I remembered a few songs I’d put on the backburner for later listening - Mister Lies’ False Astronomy being the first of several that I couldn’t get past.

Self-described on facebook as “Bass/Ambient Gospel” this track and the other offerings are downtempo dreams from this Chicago native (or natives? Nowhere is any name specifically stated, only the mysterious phrase “This music is not the truth”). Either way, it’s highly recommended that you use a proper set of headphones to properly experience the bass on this track or on the r&b-ish groove Cleam, another gem off the 4-track Hidden Neighbors EP.

From his bandcamp:

listener,
these four songs are for all those who put up with my drastic changes in the weather. it is certain that all these years we have been living a lie but we are slowly shifting closer to the truth.

from chicago with love,
mister lies

Makes sense.

You can catch ‘em for *free* at soundcloud or at bandcamp.

[Sidenote, for the connected, you can catch 1000x/minute by way of ex.fm, soundcloud, facebook, or twitter - stop on by!]

Beach Fossils | Shallow Last year’s What A Pleasure EP...

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:12:57 -0500

Beach Fossils | Shallow

Last year’s What A Pleasure EP from the Brooklyn foursome was so good and perfectly airtight in its sound I put it right up there among my favorite releases of the year. Beach Fossils have cemented themselves as one of those bands for which I’ll always be keeping a lookout - I’ve always envisioned their sound as the type of music I’d try to make if I was in a band.

In prepping for their second full-length they’re releasing the Shallow/Lessons 7” on February 14th via Captured Tracks, the first track of which you can hear above. It fits so well alongside their previous material it could almost be heard in conjunction with their EP - but if you’re still looking for a little more, some of the members have had their hand in a few side projects. Namely, Heavenly Beat & Dive. And if you haven’t heard it yet, get your hands on What A Pleasure!

Flights | Taller In my humble opinion, bandcamp is becoming the...

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:05:00 -0500

Flights | Taller

In my humble opinion, bandcamp is becoming the bastion of underhyped, under-the-radar gems of a wondrous kind, where the music, simply presented, is ripe for the picking in vast amounts. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the high-profile releases (I do, to be sure) but there’s an element at play in sleeper albums like the previously posted Corridors, or my persistent favorite New Animal. Now I get to add Flights to the list.

Anywhere But Where I Am is a piece of work that needs to be heard in a complete, unbroken listen. Taller is a great example of what I mean - a listen from beginning to end has the song unfolding from its opening acoustic riff into a tapestry of sound that is subtle, intricate and masterfully done. The claps in the background by song’s end can almost be missed, but fill the song out so well it’s an absolute joy to listen to. Altogether, the whole album listens extremely well at its own pace, slowing life down to those calmer, unhurried, more reflective moments. Not to be missed.

The whole thing can be picked up at a name-your-own-price via bandcamp, which is an absolute steal for music this good. Support these guys!