It's getting colder....

I had to put on a sweatshirt for the first time this Saturday night, I guess that means Fall is here. It also means shorter days, in terms of actual daylight NOT actual shorter days...which would be nice. Unfortunately tonight is going to be a long one, 'cuz I am busy, busy, busy. But I thought I would at least leave you with a couple of "Fall" related tunes.

[MP3] Yo La Tengo - Autumn Sweater from "I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One" (via Box.net)
[MP3] Voxtrot - Warmest Part Of The Winter from "Little Darla Has A Treat For You, Vol. 24" (via Box.net)

GREAT NEW MUSIC TO MAKE WHOOPEE TO: The Budos Band

If you're looking for an excuse to host a backyard/streetblock, flip-flop wearin', mojito-slammin' bash: then the new album from Staten Island's The Budos Band, "The Budos Band II", is just that excuse. This all-out Afrobeat/funk/SOUL music can make the best day even better. Not looking for excuse to dance & drink mojitos? Then make love to this album. Uh...I mean, make love while LISTENING to this album. Actually, nevermind...actually make love to this album. It could be amazing, you never know. It definitely has the rhythm part down.

[MP3] The Budos Band - Adeniji from "The Budos Band II" (via Box.net)
[MP3] The Budos Band - Chicago Falcon from "The Budos Band II" (via Box.net)

The Budos Band - website | Myspace

GREAT NEW MUSIC: Beirut "The Flying Club Cup"

I'm going to do something bad. I usually try and keep leaked music to myself (and of course I buy it when it comes out. Really!), but the new Beirut album is just too damn good. Especially the closing title-song, "The Flying Club Cup". It is, in my humble opinion, a perfect choice for the album's closer. It starts out playfully with twilling woodwinds, but soon starts it's triumphant & swelling, military-style march towards the sky. It soars and soars, and I never want it to end...but it does. So I skip back and play it again. And again. My only gripe would be that I wish this song was three minutes longer.

Zach, your entire album has me hooked, and I apologize profusely for putting this song up early. But I had no choice, I just can't keep it to myself. Sorry.

[MP3] Beirut - The Flying Club Cup from "The Flying Club Cup" (via Box.net)

MORE FREE ATLANTA SHOWS!!

It seems as though the "Unplugged in the Park" series over at Park Tavern (Piedmont Park) is wrangling up some noteworthy talents to play some of their free Sunday night shows. I just recently saw Ben Kweller & Maria Taylor there (although not together), and now they've booked both The Apples in Stereo & Band of Horses(!) to play for free as well. I cannot express my love for "free shows" enough. I do love me some free shows!

UNPLUGGED IN THE PARK @ PARK TAVERN, Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA:

The Apples in Stereo ***FREE SHOW***
Sunday, Sept. 23rd

Modern Skirts ***FREE SHOW***
Sunday, Oct. 7th

Band of Horses ***FREE SHOW***
Sunday, Oct. 14th


Park Tavern - website
99X "Unplugged in the Park" - website

Brock Scott Quartet TONIGHT @ The Earl (9/11)

One of my other favorite local bands, The Brock Scott Quartet, is also playing tonight @ The Earl with Saint Nemo, and Donny Hue and the Colors. TBSQ goes on at 9:30, price at the door is $7. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

The Earl - website

Menomena performs live for La Blogotheque

I heart Menomena.

#62.3 - Menomena - Wet and Rusting
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Black Lips CD Release Show Tonight, 9/11

Just a quick reminder that Atlanta's own Black Lips are playing an "invite only" CD release show tonight (9/11) @ MJQ Concourse in Atlanta for their "ICTH Recommended" new full-length "Good Bad Not Evil". How do you get an "invite" to the show? By purchasing the new album for $11.99 at Criminal Records that's how! You will not only receive a copy of the album at a discounted price AND a ticket to tonight's show, you will ALSO receive a copy of their new DVD "Live In Israel"!!! It's a total win-win-win. The only unfortunate part is that the show is 21+ over, but don't fret you youngins, buying this bad-ass new 'Lips album and getting a free DVD is still pretty fucking boss! You under-agers still say "boss", right? Damn right, you do! Cuz it's boss!

***Get directions to MJQ Concourse, here.***
(MJQ is located right behind the Drunken Unicorn)
MJQ Concourse
736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE # 17
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 870-0575

Criminal Records
466 Moreland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 215-9511

[MP3] Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil from "Good Bad Not Evil" (via Box.net)

STILL MORE, GREAT NEW MUSIC: Le Loup & Georgie James

First off, let me say that this year keeps seeing the release of some truly fantastic albums, and it doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. This brings me to two more "truly fantastic" groups that I was originally going to post about separately, but it seems as though they will be touring together (there is an Atlanta date!!), so it seems appropriate to put them together into the same post.

First off there is Le Loup, who just recently signed to the Sub Pop sub-label, Hardly Art, and is releasing their long-worded debut "The Throne Of The Third Heaven Of The Nations' Millennium General Assembly" on Sept. 11. Playfully combining glitchy keyboard electronica, banjo, horns, multitracked vocals, and ballooning melodies: they have created one complex and truly engaging album. There is no "one sound" here, it's more of a chameleon that seems to be walking through a diverse landscape where danger is lurking everywhere. I can't possibly allow you, the reader, to pass this group by. This album carries my highest recommendation.

[MP3] Le Loup - We Are Gods! We Are Wolves! from "The Throne Of The Third Heaven Of The Nations' Millennium General Assembly" (via Box.net)
[MP3] Le Loup - Planes Like Vultures from "The Throne Of The Third Heaven Of The Nations' Millennium General Assembly" (via Box.net)

Le Loup - website | Myspace


From the ashes of Q And Not U comes Georgie James, featuring multi-instrumentalist John Davis (drummer of Q And Not U) and singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn. Slightly reminiscent of A.C. Newman (and this is due to their shared love of 60's and 70's pop), this duo brings the pop in the best way possible. It's multi-part harmonies, driving rhythms and catchy-as-fuck melodies make for one amazingly fun album. Their album, "Places", will drop on Sept. 25 via Saddle Creek. This is also highly, highly recommended!

[MP3] Georgie James - Need Your Needs from "Places" (via Box.net)
[MP3] Georgie James - Only 'Cause You're Young from "Places" (via Box.net)

Georgie James - website | Myspace

Le Loup TOUR DATES:
Sep 17 - Granada Theatre - Lawrence, Kansas %
Sep 18 - W L Lyons Brown Theater - Louisville, Kentucky %
Sep 19 - Buskirk Chumley Theater - Bloomington, Indiana %
Sep 20 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL
Sep 22 - The Canopy Champaign - Urbana, Illinois
Sep 29 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
Oct 03 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
Oct 13 - Terrace F Club - Princeton, NJ
Oct 22 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC $
Oct 23 - Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA $
Oct 24 - Taste - Orlando, FL $
Oct 26 - Spanish Moon - Baton Rouge, LA $
Oct 27 - The Mohawk - Austin, TX $

% - Andrew Bird
$ - Georgie James

Georgie James TOUR DATES:
Oct 03 - Brooklyn, NY. - Europa
Oct 04 - Troy, NY. - Revolution Hall #
Oct 05 - Montreal, Quebec - Main Hall #
Oct 06 - Ottawa, Ontario - Barrymore #
Oct 07 - Toronto, Ontario - The Mod Club #
Oct 08 - Cleveland, OH. - Beachland Ballroom #
Oct 09 - Nashville, TN. - Exit/In !
Oct 10 - Memphis, TN. - Hi Tone Cafe !
Oct 11- Columbia, MO. - Mojo !
Oct 12 - Des Moines, IA. - Vaudeville Mews !
Oct 13 - Omaha, NE. - Slowdown !
Oct 22 - Chapel Hill, NC. - Local 506 $
Oct 23 - Atlanta, GA. - Drunken Unicorn $
Oct 24 - Orlando, FL. - Taste $
Oct 26 - Baton Rouge, LA. - Spanish Moon $
Oct 27 - Austin, TX. - The Mohawk $
Oct 29 - Phoenix, AZ. - Modified &
Oct 30 - San Diego, CA. - The Casbah &
Oct 31 - Los Angeles, CA. - The Echo &
Nov 01 - San Francisco, CA. - Rickshaw Stop &
Nov 03 - Portland, OR. - Holocene &
Nov 04 - Seattle, WA. - Crocodile Cafe &
Nov 06 - Salt Lake City, UT. - Kilby Court &
Nov 07 - Denver, CO. - Hi Dive &
Nov 09 - Grinnell, IA. - Gardner Lounge/Main Hall &
Nov 10 - Minneapolis, MN. - 7th Street Entry &
Nov 11 - Chicago, IL. - Schubas Tavern &
Nov 12 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom Tavern &
Nov 14 - Allston, MA. - Great Scott &
Nov 15 - New York, NY. - Knitting Factory &
Nov 16 - Washington, D.C. - Black Cat &

# - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
! - The Good Life
$ - Le Loup
& - Aqueduct

Off to the beach...

So, me and the wife are off to Isle of Palms, SC for a little weekend retreat. I'll be back in time for some fun posts on Monday, enjoy your weekend!!

[MP3] Beach House - Saltwater from "S/T" (via Box.net)
[MP3] Califone - Wade in the Water from "Roomsounds" (via Box.net)
[MP3] Clientele - From Brighton Beach To Santa Monica from "God Save the Clientele" (via Box.net)
[MP3] The Decemberists - Summersong from "The Crane Wife" (via Box.net)

GREAT NEW MUSIC: Fionn Regan

I've meant to post on this for awhile, sometimes life can be a little distracting. I was introduced to Fionn Regan by the musician whose music video is going to be my directorial debut (mad props, Brock!!), and what an introduction it was. Fionn's music hit me the same way that Elliott Smith, Conor Oberst, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits did when I was introduced to their catalog...this is not a comparison of musical styles, but rather a comparison of the effect their music/lyrics have on my psyche. It (my psyche, that is) is not easily moved, but when it is it wanders far and completely out of my control. It is a visceral experience, rendering rich visuals & painting a place in my subconscious that I don't want to leave for conscious reality anytime soon. That is my benchmark for success in art/music, and Fionn scores a 10.0. I really can't recommend this new album, "The End of History" enough. You should judge for yourself though. Check out the two MP3s below, and if you feel so inclined, purchase his album from your favorite local independent record store (if you live in Atlanta, might I suggest purchasing it from Criminal Records).

[MP3] Fionn Regan - Put A Penny In The Slot from "The End of History" (via Box.net)
[MP3] Fionn Regan - Be Good or Be Gone from "The End of History" (via Box.net)

Fionn Regan - website | Myspace

Oh, and this video for "Be Good or Be Gone" is pretty cool too. It's kind of "live", he was filmed playing the song in many places, and then the multiple takes were edited together KEEPING the actual audio from the footage as opposed to putting the recorded version of the song back overtop. I like.

[VIDEO] Fionn Regan "Be Good or Be Gone"


TOUR DATES:
09/08 - Bestival, Isle Of Wight, UK
09/15 - Longhorn Ballroom (w/ Lucinda Williams), Dallas, TX
09/16 - ACL Festival (Austin Ventures Stage), Austin, TX
09/19 - WorkPlay Theatre, Birmingham, AL
09/20 - The 5 Spot, Atlanta, GA
09/21 - The Basement (w/ Teddy Thompson), Nashville, TN
09/22 - Rudyard Kipling, Louisville, KY
09/24 - Lake Shore Theatre, Chicago, IL
09/26 - Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON
09/27 - Cabaret, Montreal, Quebec
09/28 - Lizard Lounge, Boston, MA
09/29, 30 - Irving Plaza (w/ Lucinda Williams), New York, NY
10/02, 03, 04 - Town Hall (w/ Lucinda Williams), New York, NY
10/06 - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, San Francisco, CA
10/08 - Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA
10/10 - World Cafe Live Downstairs, Philadelphia, PA
10/12 - Blender Theater @ Gramercy, New York, NY
10/13 - IOTA Club & Cafe, Arlington, VA
10/14 - Cultural Center Theater, Charleston, WV
10/22 - Social, Nottingham, UK
10/23 - Little Civic, Wolverhampton, UK
10/24 - Komedia, Brighton, UK
10/26 - Cockpit, Leeds, UK
10/27 - Night and Day, Manchester, UK
10/28 - King Tuts, Glasgow, Scotland
10/30 - Plug, Sheffield, UK
10/31 - Kings College, London, UK
11/01 - Fleece, Bristol, UK
11/03 - Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland

SO MANY GOOD NEW SONGS....

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS
Holy crap is this band fucking loud. Their music is a literal wall of sound...beautiful, tangible, organic sound. Highly recommended!

[MP3] A Place To Bury Strangers - My Weakness from "S/T" (via Box.net)
A Place To Bury Strangers - website | Myspace


LIARS
How do I explain the Liars? Not sure, but this song reminds me of looking over the edge of a 30-story bldg. when you're afraid of heights...exhilarating, piercing & overwhelming all at the same time. This whole album is also recommended!

[MP3] Liars - What Would They Know from "S/T" (via Box.net)
Liars - website | Myspace


NINA NASTASIA AND JIM WHITE
I've been traveling a bit, as of late, and this what I listened to on my way back from New York...which was perfect because this is definitely exploratory music. Take your time with this album, it will not disappoint.

[MP3] Nina Nastasia And Jim White - How Will You Love Me? from "You Follow Me" (via Box.net)
Nina Nastasia - website | Myspace


POLYNYA
I was just sent this track a couple of days ago (I'm anxiously awaiting the full CD in the mail), and it's so much fuckin' fun!!! It's like Sonic Youth, Le Tigre & Huggy Bear playing at the same time in your younger sibling's room (where it doesn't matter what the hell breaks) while 20 people have a no-holds-barred, feather-flyin' pillow fight.......fun. Hope the rest of the album is as interesting as this song is.

[MP3] Polynya - Sweatshop from "S/T" (via Box.net)
Polynya - website | Myspace

VIDEO: Menomena "Evil Bee"

I'd almost forgotten about this album amongst the deluge of amazing music that we've seen so far this year (I'm definitely going to change my "Top 25 of 2007" list to "Top 35..."). The video made me revisit it today, and guess what...it's even better after a few months of no listening. It's in my top ten, folks...count on it.