Cadence Weapon @ MHOW, June 2012 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Some of you may recall that before he became known as Cadence Weapon, Rollie Pemberton spent time as a music critic, having penned a number of reviews for Pitchfork in the early '00s. So chances are he knows his way around making year end lists, and we've got his best of 2012 list right here in this post. While it includes year-end regulars Kendrick Lamar and Jermih (and fellow Canadians Mac DeMarco and TOPS), his top spot is a bit of a surprise.

Rollie's pick for #1 release of 2012 is Captured Tracks' reissues of '80s low-fi indie cult band Cleaners from Venus whose cassette-only Blow Away Your Troubles (1981), On Any Normal Monday (1982), and Midnight Cleaners (1982) saw the light of day via Captured Tracks. The vinyl sold out but you can still get them on CD and digital, and stream them via Spotify.Captured Tracks will reissue Cleaners from Venus' next three albums (1983's The Golden Autumn, 1984's Under Wartime Conditions, and 1985's Songs for a Fallow Land) plus a disc's worth of rarites in February 2013.

Meanwhile, if you haven't heard Cadence Weapon's 2012 Polaris Prize-nominated album, Hope in Dirt City, you can stream that below too. Rollie's Best of 2012 LP list is below...

Continue reading "Cadence Weapon lists his favorite LPs of 2012 which includes Captured Tracks' Cleaners from Venues reissues"

Peter of HWGM @ Brooklyn Bowl, 9/18/2012 (more by Sarah Gainer)

Here We Go Magic's A Different Ship has made a few Best of 2012 lists, including ones from The Fly, Q, Johnny Beach of Bowery Presents and Freelance Whales. But what records did they like this year? Drummer Peter Hale submitted a list to us, with the following note:

Two confessions: I've ordered these very haphazardly, and I added my band's record as number one.

I don't get asked to do this very often (maybe that's why), but I'm honored to do it and humbled (really) by the multitude of beautiful records. I'm probably wrong, but I imagine anyone who's ever worked as hard as he or she could on an album would agree that celebrating it is the best way to let it go; to release it not just to the public, but from those straps -- the emotions and toil -- that bind it so closely to our hearts. Like so many graduation days, this is letting go. What a great year!

Here We Go Magic only have one show on their schedule: January 17 at Le Poisson Rouge and tickets are on sale now. Meanwhile, HWGM started a Pledge Music campaign to fund a new live EP. There are some fun incentives, including having Peter cook for you or a private gig from the band.

You can check out their Pledge Music video below, alongside Peter's Top 11 of 2012.

Continue reading "Here We Go Magic readying live EP, list favorite LPs of 2012, playing NYC in January"