DOWNLOAD: Steinski - The Payoff Mix (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Steinski - Lesson Two (James Brown Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Steinski - Lesson Three (History of Hip Hop) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bon Iver - Skinny Love (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shearwater - Leviathan Bound (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal (Dj Doc Rok Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fucked Up - No Epiphany (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fucked Up - Twice Born (MP3)

Plush's Fed & The Dodos' Visiter

It's the time of year when people start talking which album was the best this year. That usually means I start cramming and trying to figure out what I still haven't heard and look forward to what others have to say to make my selection process slightly easier. Part of what I'm saying is, I'm not ready to answer that yet. According to the aggregated critics at MetaCritic, this is what was best this year...

1 London Zoo by The Bug
2 Fed by Plush
3 For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
4 Dear Science, by TV On The Radio
5 Exit by Shugo Tokumaru
6 Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
7 Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
8 Robyn by Robyn
9 Hercules And Love Affair by Hercules And Love Affair
10 What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective by Steinski

Does when an album actually came out matter?. Bon Iver's album actually came out in 2007, but was reissued in 2008. Shugo's album came out in 2007 in Japan. Plush's album actually came out in 2002 in Japan (I still haven't heard it). Robyn's album came out in Sweden in 2005. Steinski came out in 2008, but as the title suggests, is actually a compilation of tracks that were released between 1983-2006.

Other bands currently ranking in Metacritic's Top 30: The Dodos, The Music Tapes, Shearwater, Portishead, Harvey Milk, Torche, The Hold Steady, Drive By Truckers, and Fucked Up.

Also put out albums this year: Sigur Ros, Jamie Lidell, Laura Marling, Lykke Li, Marnie Stern, Jenny Lewis, She & Him, Conor Oberst, My Morning Jacket, MGMT, The Black Keys, Calexico, Crystal Stilts, Crystal Castles, Crystal Antlers, Grails, Al Green, Anathallo, Flight of the Conchords, Frightened Rabbit, Wolf Parade, Vampire Weekend, Vivian Girls, The Walkmen, Santogold, Parts & Labor, Cut Copy, Hot Chip, David Byrne, Death Cab For Cutie, Beck, Beach House, Elbow, REM, M83, NIN, No Age, Of Montreal, Destroyer, Department of Eagles, Deerhoof, Deerhunter, The Dears, and Deer Tick (though Deer tick was out in 2007 and reissued in 2008) (and I guess Radiohead is qualified too) (and Metallica, AC/DC and Guns N' Roses) (and JACK JOHNSON) (and a million others).

Who else? What are your favorites this year? Who will Pitchfork pick as #1?

The Bug is going on tour with Nine Inch Nails. Those dates are below...

Continue reading "What is the best album of 2008? (when did it come out?)"

Photos by Chris La Putt

Shugo Tokumaru opened for the Magnetic Fields at the Loews Theater in Jersey City, New Jersey last night (10/23). The headliner's setlist and more pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "the Magnetic Fields, Shugo Tokumaru @ Loews - pics, setlist"

Photos by Chris La Putt

So it ends up that Magnetic Fields show in Jersey City is not Shugo's next NYC-area appearance. Tickets just went on sale for the following October 22nd CMJ show at Bowery Ballroom:

Margot And The Nuclear So & So's w/
Wild Sweet Orange / Love As Laughter / Audrye Sessions / Shugo Tokumaru / Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons

Last night (9/23) Shugo made his NYC debut at Mercury Lounge with an all-star cast featuring members of Beirut, The National and So Percussion. More pictures and the setlist below...

Continue reading "Shugo Tokumaru played Mercury Lounge (pics), playing CMJ w/ Margot and the Nuclear So & So's"

Shugo Tokumaru's first-ever NYC show (it was his first US show, but then he added one earlier this month at Chicago) happens tonight (9/23) at Mercury Lounge in NYC. This who you can expect to see on stage with him:

* Jon Natchez (Beirut)
* Bryan Devendorf (The National)
* Perrin Cloutier (Beirut)
* Lawson White (So Percussion)

Twi the Humble Feather open the late show.
(Lenka plays the early show at the same venue)

If you miss him, Shugo is back in the area in exactly a month, but next time as an opener for The Magnetic Fields, and in Jersey City. Tickets for the Loew's show are still on sale. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Shugo Tokumaru - tonight w/ all star backing band & updated 2008 Tour Dates (w/ the Magnetic Fields) "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Twi the Humble Feather - finale (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twi the Humble Feather - before the morning lights (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twi the Humble Feather - for the sorcerer forest (MP3)

Twi

there is legend and rumor of a new interstellar adventurer, by the name of twi, who came to be by the will of an ancient sorcerer forest existing unknown in a nameless galaxy. those aware of this rumor say twi seeks the wisdom of vast green worlds, as well as the sating secrets of sound. inspired by the adventures of this new mythical character, the trio 'twi the humble feather' compose guitar and vocal based music depicting environments recently visited by twi; such as magical castles and forests, and various realms of the uncharted cosmos.

Saturday, Sept 6 at Sound Fix Records in Brooklyn, 8pm:

The Burg for Barack - a grassroots fundraising event featuring La Strada, Twi the Humble Feather, and Amber Rubarth. Plus a cupcakes-and-brownies-galore bake sale, and a silent auction including fine apparel, jewelry, yoga classes and spa packages, and more from stylish neighborhood boutiques and stores. 100% of the proceeds go to the Obama campaign. $5 suggested donation at the door.

Brooklyn acoustic guitar-and-voice trio Twi the Humble Feather is coming off a series of opening gigs for Jose Gonzalez earlier this summer and the release of their sci-fi/fantasy concept album "Music for Spaceships & Forests" in June (out on non-label Friendly Ghost Recordings). The FGR site reports that the band is in the process of prepping a new piece for live performance called "Twi Presents the Antek Songs," as well as its second album. Other upcoming shows include opening for Japanese popster Shugo Tokumaru at Mercury Lounge (tix still on sale), a show at Williamsburg DIY gallery/space Paris London West Nile, and a free Wordless Music Series gig at (le) poisson rouge.

Speaking of Obama benefits and (le) poisson rouge, the West Village venue ia hosting a fundraiser of its own on September 10th. Living Colour, The Family Stand, Earl Greyhound, Danielia Cotton, and Viva Mayday are on that bill.

These aren't the first Obama events of the year, and they certainly won't be the last. Another, The Audacity of Jokes II, takes place Monday September 15th at Comix. It will feature Fresh Prince creator Andy Borowitz, SNL's Fred Armisen, comedian and Barack impersonator Kyle Grooms, Last Comic Standing alum Amy Schumer, and Weird Al surrogate Jonathan Coulton. Tix $45 ($100 VIP).

See a video of the Twi guys at Goodbye Blue Monday HERE, and Kyle Grooms's Barack above the tour dates below....

Continue reading "Twi the Humble Feather tour dates & other Obama benefits"

DOWNLOAD: Shugo Tokumaru - Parachute (MP3 in a ZIP file)

Tokyo-based Shugo Tokumaru discovered his musical ingenuity at an early age, expressing his unique conceptions on albums; you may or may not be familiar with, "Night Piece" and "L.S.T." For "Exit", Shugo's US debut, he enlisted the help of his Mac, a few microphones and little else to avoid the restraint felt when recording in a traditional studio. Using over 50 different instruments, most of which Shugo plays himself.

"Exit", due out September 2nd, 2008 on Almost Gold Recordings, is a universally compelling blend of pop, folk and new music drawing inspiration from such diverse artists as Brian Wilson and Sun Ra.

Tickets are on sale for a September 23rd Shugo Tokumaru at Mercury Lounge - a nice small venue for what I'm thinking is his NYC debut. It's about time! He also has a show scheduled in Montreal on October 3rd. New fancy-label album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Shugo Tokumaru releasing album, playing NYC! (& Montreal)"

Continue reading "Deerhoof announces new album, tour dates and stuff "

Shugo Tokumaru

I like the album Shugo Tokumaru put out in 2004. I've been meaning to check out, and talk about, the one he put out in 2005.

I also like Jeff Hanson. Besides good music, I can thank him for getting me to the Decemberists' first ever NYC show at Knitting Factory. It was May 2003. Jeff Hanson and the Decemberists were opening for Mary Lou Lord to a pretty small crowd. It was the few Jeff Hanson tracks I heard that got me to the show (pre-blogging). I never stopped liking Jeff, and I've obsessed over the Decemberists ever since.

Pitchfork pointed out today that Jeff Hanson is touring with Shugo Tokumaru. They don't seem to visiting the NYC area though. Wah.

Huge fans of Shugo they are, Cokemachineglow Interviewed Shugo and said his album from 2005 was the 24th best of the year (2 worse than the Decemberists, one better than Jamie Lidell).

Previously
Shugo Tokumaru | Night Piece
Buy Jeff Hanson
Saw Jeff Hanson recently @ ML, but didn't post pics

I'm a huge fan of holiday music. And by holiday music, I mean Christmas music. I love Christmas because the radio stations play nothing else. I've also amassed a pretty large mp3 collection over the years. I collect cover songs of all genres, especially classics done by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elvis. Christmas music is no exception. Everyone and their mother has their own version of White Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells, etc... I can't get enough.

Enjoy the following links...

Stream the 2004 No Love for Ned holiday show (and 2003 and 2002) (via largeheartedboy)

soma fm also offers a streaming holiday broadcast. (via largeheartedboy)

And another one over at cool 104.9

For an indie Christmas MP3 mix, check out more cowbell (if you haven't already)

Then of course there's the Arcade Fire Christmas mix.

The Walkmen posted two christmas songs for download.

Shugo tokumaru posted one.

Free Christmas MP3s here.

White Christmas MP3

And finally, Music From the O.C. Mix 3: Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah @ Amazon.

If you're like me, you scour the end-of-year "best of" lists looking for recommendations. Thanks to cokemachineglow, I've found my first new gem. Its name is Night Piece. Its author, Shugo Tokumaru, is a Japan-based singer/songwriter.

The album and an mp3 sample are available at toneVendor, who has this to say:

'shugo tokumaru bends the most gentle and familiar pop sounds into a bittersweet backroad journey through a dreamy, imaginary countryside. the instruments are often conventional, but the sound never strays from surprise and bewilderment: acoustic guitars are almost never strummed, but pluck out exact rhythms and slide from note to note in amazing melodies.'

Cokemachineglow's review adds this information:

"With a run-time under a half-hour, you could fit three Night Pieces onto one CD-R. Go for it. When it’s over you’ll be so sunk into your seat that it will hurt to move, and it’ll save you the trips back to the play button."

Other Music, who also sells the CD, said:

"Night Piece is really indescribable. The nearest relative I can think of would be the Books Lemon of Pink, and that's not even that close. This is one of the best album debuts that I've heard in a long, long time, don't miss out. [GH]"

I agree with GH. It's not close to the Books. It's way better.

Although not on their best of 2004 list, Pitchfork also give this album a very high rating.

You can download a Shugo song at musicrelated.net.

Shugo posted a special 'Merry Christmas' song on his website for download. Get it before the holiday passes.

I love this album so much right now. It's my holiday recommendation present to you. I hope you love it too.