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January 12, 2011

Josh’s Favorite Records of 2010

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Since I’m later than everyone else and am expounding (and have expounded) elsewhere plenty on 2010 I’ll keep this one short. The following is a list of the most compelling records I heard in 2010. Not coincidentally these really were the records I actually listened to most. To my mind, every one of my choices exists as a whole record, and not just a collection of individual singles, so, in my humble opinion, every single record on this list is worthy of taking the time to listen all the way through to be absorbed fully.

Since I only did twenty songs for 2010, I also limited myself to an unordered list of twenty records (plus a few stellar EP’s). Click the link on a band name to see what we’ve wrote about them in 2010.

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December 9, 2010

Todd’s Favorite National/International Releases of 2010

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Try as he might, Todd just couldn’t keep him favorite national releases to a Top 10, here are his Top 12 releases of 2010. He’ll be sharing some more locally focused favorites very soon!

1. The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards 2. The Budos Band – III 3. Black Keys – Brothers 4. Rjd2 – The Colossus 5. Beach House – Teen Dream 6. MGMT – Congratulations 7. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 8. Grinderman – 2 9. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs 10. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach 11. Oceansize – Self-Preserved While the Bodies Float Up 12. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

April 13, 2010

Beach House at Neumos

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Beach House ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

If every show sells out the way last night’s Seattle show at Neumos did for Beach House, local powerhouse Sub Pop can be said to have undoubtedly made the right investment. The band’s Sub Pop debut Teen Dream arrived in January accompanied by a blogorama of coverage, first after the initial leaking of the record in late 2009, and then during the week of the official release with sustained coverage of the videos commissioned by the band for each of their songs. That they had these atypical music video’s made by unconventional filmmakers set a different tone, and a different standard even, for what might come in the future. Not just that we should expect music video’s at all, but that they might be more than an ego trip for person making the music and instead an opportunity for someone else to inject some creativity and build another dimension to the songs.

The band have been touring hard on Teen Dream in the months since, including riding opening slots for Grizzly Bear in Europe, so I doubt they much knew or cared what day it was. I could tell they were having ‘a case of the Mondays’ though. The monitors weren’t right, which caused them to abruptly end their single “Norway,” well before it was finished.  After a few more songs of missed timing and glares at the sound guy, they decided it was futile to make the sound any more right and did their best. Vocalist Victoria Legend powered through and for the most part rescued the songs but the band just never seemed to find their pocket. The curiously drunk Monday-night crowd was oblivious.

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Bachelorette ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

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Beach House ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

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Beach House ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

February 1, 2010

Overheard at Sonic Boom Records

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Overheard at Sonic Boom Records Capitol Hill location in Seattle this afternoon…

A customer (me) hands a clerk at the register a vinyl version of Teen Dream.

Sonic Boom Desk Clerk (while ringing up the album): “This new Beach House album is …”

[He stops and shakes his head in bewilderment.]

“I thought people might like it, but this is unreal. Far and away the biggest selling record of the week.”

—-

Also, Daytrotter did an exquisite session with Beach House that was just posted today.

February 1, 2010

An Invitation to Abbey’s January 2010 Listening

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Drew Grow & The Pastor’s Wives Fences Kelli Schaefer Goldfinch Ravenna Woods Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside The Ironclads The Maldives Zoe Muth Whalebones The Moondoggies

Dave Bazan performs “Bad Diary Days” – 1/08/10 in a Seattle Living Room

These are the songs, bands, and sounds that I’ve started off my 2010 with. Lots of new bands I’d never listened to before 2010, many who I think we’ll be sharing much of the year with. Take a listen and maybe, just maybe, you’ll  find your first favorite new band, album or song of the new year! Thanks for starting 2010 with Sound on the Sound, we’re looking forward to sharing another great year of local music with you.

Sharon Van Etten - Because I Was In Love and “Love More“ Drew Grow & the Pastors’ Wives – “Colder by the Minute” and “Friendly Fires” Kelli Schaefer – “Gone In Love” The Ironclads – “Emily” (download here) Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers – s/t debut Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside - Myspace Demos and any YouTube I can find Moon Duo – “Stumbling 22nd St.” (from Noah’s Daily Choice) Whalebones – every new song on myspace and their Morning Man EP from 2007 Vic Chesnutt – “I Flirted With You All My Life” Ravenna Woods – Demons and Lakes Salmon Thrasher – Myspace Demos Emperor X – The Blythe Archives Pedro The Lion – “Bad Diary Days” (see a Sound on the Sound video above from 1/08/10) Goldfinch – s/t Phantogram – Eyelid Movies (out on Barsuk February 9th) Fences – “Sadie-” from GIVE Seattle The Moondoggies – “Side of the Road” from GIVE Seattle Beach House - Teen Dream The Maldives – “Go Back to Virginia” (new Maldives tune)

January 22, 2010

The Daily Choice Pt. 2: Beach House – Silver Soul (VIDEO)

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I haven’t said a terrible amount of my much beloved Teen Dream by Sub Pop’s latest signee Beach House.  Why?  Because everyone else has.  That said, I love this song and this video and I want to roll up in a blanket of Beach House love and sleep for days and days.

Beach House “Silver Soul” from Sub Pop Records on Vimeo.

January 20, 2010

Stream Beach House’s Teen Dream via NPR

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It’s Beach House week this week in blogland. Gorilla Vs. Bear has previewing a video a day from the Teen Dream DVD, and now NPR is streaming all of Teen Dream. You will stream it, and then I’m betting you’ll go out and buy it when it comes out on Sub Pop Records next Tuesday.

Beach House is playing Neumos April 12th, with Bachelorette. Tickets are $13 adv. via TicketsWest.

December 29, 2009

Abbey’s Favorite Not-Northwest Songs of 2009

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Nick of Elvis Perkins in Dearland ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

I have to say,  with such a vibrant year of local music, I spent the vast majority of my 2009 exploring things made in the Pacific Northwest; rather than venturing out in to the vastness of the internets and the rest of America. So most of these are pretty well known tracks, albums, and artists or from Noah’s Daily Choices — though I do hope you discover a new favorite you hadn’t heard before too.  These are the records and tracks recorded outside of the 206 that I most enjoyed and listened to on repeat in 2009.  (The top 10 may be in some sort of hierachal order, but after that the order is not nearly as thought out or meaningful.) 

“Much More Than That” and “For You” by Sharon Van Etten | download ‘For You’ | “Blood Bank” by Bon Iver | download ‘Blood Bank’ | “Airplanes” by Local Natives  | download ‘Airplanes’ | “Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear | listen to “Two Weeks” | “Eet” by Regina Spektor | watch video | “Shampoo” by Elvis Perkins in Dearland | download ‘Shampoo’| “A Violent Translation of Concorida Headscarp” by Emperor X | download track | “Andrew” by Crystal Antlers | download ‘Andrew’ | “Kick Drum Heart” by The Avett Brothers | listen to track | “Lust for Life” (though “Laura” is also tempting me) by Girls | download ‘Lust for Life’ |

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Girls at Capitol Hill Block Party ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

“Garble Arch” by Blame Ringo | watch video | “The Walls are Coming Down” by Fanfarlo | listen to track | “Flirted With You All My Life” by Vic Chesnutt | download track | “The Ballad of the RAA” by Rural Alberta Advantage |listen to track | “Safe Word” by Vampire Hands | download ‘Safe Word’ | “Future Primative” by Papercuts | download ‘Future Primative’ | “Tidal Wave” by Thee Oh Sees | download ‘Tidal Wave’ |  ”Crystalised” by The xx | listen to track | “Lisztomania” by Phoenix | watch videos | “Norway” by Beach House  | download ‘Norway’ |  “Vanderlylle Cry Baby” by The National | listen to track | “Can’t Talk” by Ty Segall | download “Can’t Talk” | “Day of Sunshine” by Lee & Willbee | listen to track | “Summertime Clothes” by Animal Collective | listen to track | “Save The Day” by Huck Notari 

December 28, 2009

Josh’s Favorite Songs of 2009

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David Bazan Japandroids Grizzly Bear Fresh Espresso Zoe Muth Widower The Maldives The Moondoggies The Ironclads The Cave Singers People Eating People Nurses Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Macklemore

“Eet” by Regina Spektor

Here is my list of thirty songs that dominated my iTunes, the songs that moved me to learn them on guitar, and the songs I will identify with 2009 forever. In no particular order. Though I suppose the top five could be my top five.

“Walkabout” by Atlas Sound + guest Noah Lennox from Logos (Kranky/4AD) Listen: Get mp3 via FADER

“Technicolor” by Nurses from Apple’s Acre (Dead Oceans) Listen: Download mp3 courtesy of Dead Oceans

“Lisztomania” by Phoenix from Wolfgang Amadaeus Phoenix (Glassnote) Listen: Stream at Myspace

“World News” by the Local Natives from Gorilla Manor (Rough Trade/Frenchkiss) Listen: Download a live version via a Daytrotter Session

“Come Monday Morning” by Widower from Widower (self-released) Listen: Stream at Myspace

“At the Cut” by the Cave Singers from Welcome Joy (Matador) Listen: Download mp3 courtesy of Matador Records

“Comets” by Fanfarlo from Fanfarlo (Canvasback Music) Listen: Stream at Fanfarlo.com

“Alamagordo” by the Ironclads from The Space Between the Maps (self-released) Listen: Download MP3 courtesy of the Ironclads

“Young Heart Sparks Fire” by Japandroids from Post-Nothing (Polyvinyl Records) Listen: Download MP3 courtesy of Polyvinyl Records

“Eet” by Regina Spektor from Far (Sire Records) Listen: Watch the Video above, Stream at Myspace

“Walk Away” by The Maldives from Listen to the Thunder (Mt. Fuji Records) Listen: Stream a Video from a KEXP In-Studio

“Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” by Mayer Hawthorne from A Strange Arrangement (Stones Throw Records) Listen: Stream the Video at Vimeo

“Ready, Able” by Grizzly Bear from Vecktamist (Warp Records) Listen: Stream the Video at Youtube

“For Now” by People Eating People from People Eating People (The Control Group) Listen: Stream at Myspace

“Lust for Life” by Girls from Lust for Life (True Panther Sounds/Matador Records) Listen: Download MP3 courtesy of True Panther Sounds/Matador Records | Watch the Video Below

 

“Lust for Life” by Girls (Safe Version)

“Lazerbeams” by Fresh Espresso from Glamour (Out for Stardom) Listen: Stream the Video at Youtube

“The Town” by Macklemore from The Unplanned Mixtape (self-released) Listen: Stream the Video at Youtube

“Otherside” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis from VS. (Sound Records) Listen: Download VS. EP courtesy of Ryan Lewis Productions

“You Only Believe Me When I’m Lying” by Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers from Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers (self-released) Listen: Download MP3 via KEXP Song of the Day

“Stillness is the Move” by the Dirty Projectors from Bitte Orca (Domino Records) Listen: Stream Track via Domino Records

“Magic Mtn” by Arthur & Yu from Don’t Piss into the Fire Sub Pop Singles Club Record Store Day Release and Hardly Art Label Sampler (Sub Pop/Hardly Art) Listen: Download Track at Amazon via Hardly Art

“Let Me Fall” by the Final Spins from THIS IS THEN/THAT WAS NOW (self-released) Listen: Download MP3 via KEXP Song of the Day

“Ed Jackson” by See Me River from The Great Unwashed EP (Aviation Records) Listen: Download MP3 via KEXP Song of the Day

“Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh” by Say Hi from Oohs and Aahs (Barsuk Records) Listen: Download MP3 courtesy of Barsuk Records

“Please Baby Please” by David Bazan from Curse Your Branches (Barsuk Records) Listen: Stream a solo version at youtube

“The Perfect Space” by the Avett Brothers from I and Love and You (Columbia) Listen: Stream via theavettbrothers.com

“What Took So Long” by the Moondoggies (unreleased) Listen: Download a live session version via Luxury Wafers

“Summer of Hate” by Crocodiles from Summer of Hate (Fat Possum Records) Listen: Download MP3 courtesy of Fat Possum Records

“Isabella” by Lands & Peoples from Lands & Peoples EP (self-released) Listen: Stream via Bandcamp

“Norway” by Beach House from Teen Dream (Sub Pop) Listen: Download MP3 courtesy of Sub Pop

September 18, 2009

An Embarrassment of Riches and Difficult Decisions — This Weekend in Seattle Shows

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They Live! at Fremont Oktoberfest ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

This weekend provides an embarassment of riches and difficult decisions when it comes to musical choices. On the average weekend night in Seattle there are usually a couple shows tugging us in different directions, but Saturday’s musical options alone could make for a solid week of amazing shows. It’s further proof why I wouldn’t trade the Seattle music scene for anywhere else in the country. It’s a fucking conundrum which show to choose, for sure, but what a wonderful conundrum to have.

Here’s why there’s absolutely no excuse not to catch at least a couple shows this weekend:

The Black Whales at The Tractor Tavern ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Friday – September 18th

Dirty Three, Chris Brokaw — The Crocodile

Bobby Bare Jr., The Black Whales (CD Release Show) – The Tractor Tavern

Mad Rad  – Nectar

Monotonix at Neumos ::: photo by Abbbey Simmons 

Saturday September 19th

Monotonix, Black Eyes & Neckties (Last Seattle Show Ever) – Neumo’s

Local Natives, Final Spins – High Dive

Whore Moans, Police Teeth, High Class Wreckage – Sunset Tavern

They Live!, Champagne Champagne, & More – Fremont Oktoberfest

The Soft Pack – The Crocodile

Arctic Monkeys – The Showbox

Cosmic Panther Land Band  at The Sunset ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Sunday September 20th

M. Bison, Skeletons with Flesh on Them – Fremont Oktoberfest

Cosmic Panther Land Band (members of the Moondoggies & Maldives), Curious Mystery – Sunset Tavern (late show)

Beach House – Neumo’s

History for Sale – Sunset Tavern (early show)