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December 7, 2011

Kathleen’s 10 Favorite Records (National) of 2011

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Girls ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

End of year lists give me the cold sweats. Much like when I was in college and finals were looming, I suddenly forget about everything that sparked in my mind, and all I’m left with is, “I don’t know…when did River Deep, Mountain High come out? THAT COUNTS, RIGHT?”

2011 was a spitfire of a year. While I was still knee deep in snow in Colorado, artists had started to bury themselves in my chest with warm melodies, inventive loops, lyrics that bound to me with knots as tight as the ones in my throat.

So, barring Ike and Tina Turner actually releasing River Deep, Mountain High in 2011, here are my top national releases for this year. Yes, there was a playlist made on Spotify called “Sophie’s Choice” with 30 possibilities, so I can safely say this was a good twelve months for our ears, and all the other soft human parts that music electrifies into waking.

MEGAFAUN_COVER

1. Megafaun – s/t

Clearly fans of Phil Lesh, this band of bearded brutes crafted an album that solidified their predilection for lush folk. It often veers into psychedelic, brain melting jams, and then transitions without a breath into piano heartbreakers like “I Hope You Know.” The album flows with flawless precision, and airtight songwriting that allows for the kind of sonic free fall these guys always send me into.

believers

2. AA Bondy – Believers

AA Bondy is a songwriter who pulls me closer, seeking warmth in his stark, distant melodies. I didn’t think he could top a song like “Mightiest of Guns,” or improve upon spellbinding melancholia. But he has in Believers, which blooms into an opulent soundscape that has moments of such pure sparseness that the whole world exhales into the song and all of a sudden you realize that you’re in a whole different world than when you started.

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3. Tinariwen – Tassili

A desert guitar band hailing from the Sahara desert (actually), Tinariwen set aside the electric guitars they had adopted during their extensive touring and picked up their acoustics for a release that has such threads of longing and homesickness through it, it unravels even girls who grew up in the safe concrete suburbs. With guest spots from Nels Cline, who throws in his own ambient touch, and a couple pals from TV on the Radio, the album is a beautiful homage to roots and change.

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4. Feist – Metals

What can I say about Feist’s 2011 powerhouse of an album? I don’t skip a song. A long way from the safety of the precious, breathy singles like “Mushaboom” and “1234,” Feist has emerged creatively refreshed, her amber voice darker, her songs full of dynamism that I hadn’t heard before. With towering numbers like “Anti-Pioneer,” and some folk-pop tunes that bring back her fans from the beginning, it’s an album that animates, spiritualizes, and expands fearlessly.

kurt-vile-smoke-ring-for-my-halo

5. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for my Halo

I think Kurt Vile read my diary. And then put it to music. And then channeled John Fahey, and then washed off some of that gritty lo-fi grime he had accumulated, and then made an album that crystallized all his guitar influences into a singularly beautiful, wry, and affecting work.

For the rest of Kathleen’s favorites & runner’s up (more…)

September 29, 2011

My Most Played: September 2011

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As for the first two tunes, my niece is due any day now, in fact she was due on Tuesday and in the weeks leading to her arrival, I’ve listened to these songs so many times BMI is going to start charging me. Tom Petty was right, the waiting IS the hardest part.

Tom Petty – “The Waiting” Justin Townes Earle – “Can’t Hardly Wait” Kelli Schaefer’s Doe Bay Session Been Here All My Days Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost Gem Club – Breakers Dan Mangan – “Leaves, Tree, Forest” Canon Bros – “Out of Here” Robin Bacior – Rest Our Wings Numero Group Eccentric Soul: The Deep City Label Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues Quiet Life – San Luis Opisbo Damien Jurado – “The Loneliest Place I’ve Ever Been is In Your Arms” Champagne Champagne’s Doe Bay Session Richard Swift – “Lady Luck” S – I’m Not As Good As You Avians Alight – s/t Apricot & the Beginners Sera Cahoone’s Doe Bay Session

The Lonliest Place I’ve Ever Been (Is In Your Arms) by saintbartlett

January 12, 2011

Josh’s Favorite Records of 2010

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Tags
Pickwick
crop_290

 

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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January 3, 2011

My Most Played: December 2010

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Grand Hallway ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Like most music writers, I spent much of my December 2010 listening to every album deemed important by other music writers I respected as well as personal favorites in an attempt to make lists of the best releases of 2010. Seeing that you have yet to see a Best Northwest Releases of 2010 post so far, you can see how successful I’ve been in this endeavor … then again, part of me wonders if that’s just me trying to hold onto what was an absolutely enchanting year of local music.

But there were some new tunes that managed to steal some of my time and a couple old favorites that came to life on vinyl. That’s the focus of this list about what kept me company during the final month of a pretty amazing 2010.

Youth Rescue Mission – s/t debut Grand Hallway – Ricebelly: Demos, Covers & Rarities – 2007 to 2010 Kevin Large – “Love or Lack Thereof” Drew Grow – “The Comfort Feel” EP Girls – Broken Dreams Club EP (download “Heartbreaker”) Bob Dylan – Nashville Skyline Goldfinch – “Vacant Lot” Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – The Vs. Remixes Tony Kevin Jr. – “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Let You Down” Ted Lucas – The Om Album Carissa’s Wierd – Ugly But Honest on vinyl Melodie Knight – “Comfort and Care” The Moondoggies – You’ll Find No Answers Here EP Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz and “Sister Winter”

December 29, 2010

Twenty Songs I’m Giving a “10″ in 2010

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the morning benders

The Morning Benders at the Crocodile ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Though choosing any number songs to represent my year for a one such as myself is a challenge, the spare unordered listing below of twenty is about as complete as I can hope to make any such effort. For some of these songs I was smitten at first listen, for others I’ve come to them over the course of the year via live performances. Though I’ve now seen it live probably more than ten times in course of the last year, every time I’m treated to “It All Comes Right” by Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives my body responds with shivers as strong as the first time I heard it.

2010 was personally a year of the highest highs and lowest lows I’ve experienced yet in life, and these songs were my soundtrack. It’s a surprisingly non-emo grouping considering how this year has gone…

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“Rill Rill” – Sleigh Bells Sleigh Bells – Rill Rill by marinak

“Albatross” – Besnard Lakes The Besnard Lakes-Albatross by inertiamusic

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June 9, 2010

Sunday at Sasquatch 2010

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Girls ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

It wasn’t the early bird who got the worm when it came to Sasquatch. No, the Sasquatch early birds got 8-hour traffic back-ups, while people like me, who made our way east on Sunday morning, got to The Gorge in record time.  It was one of the many counter-intuitive surprises that marked Sunday at Sasquatch: the buzz bands lived up to their hype, intimate electronic songs worked beautifully in the wide-open space and the Tallest Man on Earth turned out to be just about my height.

It came as no surprise to me that The Local Natives, who ended up being the first act on the Bigfoot Stage,  played to a packed and appreciative crowd. Just over a year ago I saw the band play to 20 people or so, but even then it was easy to predict that the band would be playing to a Sasquatch sized-crowd soon. Packing every grassy nook available and well-versed in the Los Angeles’ bands songs, a crowd of thousands joined me in an early afternoon sing-along that had me beaming.

I expected the crowd to clear out for the mellower stylings of Swedish folk troubadour The Tallest Man on Earth, but the crowd crushed forward against the barrier as they strained and struggled to be closer to Kristian Matsson. If you want to know what the kids are surprisingly going crazy for these days, it is for this petite Swede. Matsson does Dylan the same way Dylan did Guthrie — with reverent fetishism. Clad in tight blue jeans and with a cigarette smoking cowboy emblazoned on his leather guitar strap, Matsson enraptured the crowd doing Dylan better than Dylan does these days and much more succinctly. The fervor of his crowd and the way he filled the festival stage with just his lyrics and his guitar, was certainly one of Sasquatch’s biggest surprises. His cover of Paul Simon’s “Graceland” was one of my favorite musical moments of the entire weekend. 

The surprises and solid covers continued as the day went along: a new Long Winters line-up showed off a full-grilled John Roderick and they ended their set with the Grateful Dead’s “Touch of Grey.”  Sub Pop’s Avi Buffalo offered an elastic, complex and catchy set which belied the bands youth and showed great promise. They’re definitely a band to watch as they inch towards the legal drinking age. After the rock roller-coaster Avi Buffalo treated us to, Freelance Whales seemed like nothing more than pleasant afternoon filler. Admittedly, despite their sweet stage banter, the band couldn’t keep my interest for longer than the first few songs.

Happily, fellow blog buzz band The xx fared better than the Freelance Whales when it came to impressing and living up to the hype.  As out of place the black-clad British trio looked in the wide open and neu-hippie crowd of Sasquatch, the band’s dreamy and throbbing sounds translated much better than expected (or feared). Despite the almost infinite expanse of the Gorge, The xx’s songs retained the intimacy that made them so pleasing in the first place. Despite the crowd of thousands, it still felt as if the band was whispering the song in your ear. For the most part, the band was all business and no banter on stage, but their aloofness came across as endearing and shy, though on stage they clearly know what they are doing. As I have always been with this band, I was ready to be disappointed by The xx, to pass them off as a blog blip, unworthy of the hype, but the band yet again pleasantly surprised me.

My surprise took a much less pleasant turn when it came to the attendance for San Francisco’s Girls. Their set was the most disappointingly under-attended of Sasquatch, as seemingly 95% of the crowd enjoyed LCD Soundsystem at sunset on the mainstage. Those of us who stayed behind, a lucky handful of hundreds, enjoyed the coming dusk backed by the sad and sunny eccentricities of Girls’ cascading retro hooks. With a twitchy intensity Christopher Owens, clad in high-waisted pleated khakis and a Dwight Yokam tour shirt, took little notice of the crowd (whatever size it was) and performed the hell out of some of 2009′s best songs including “Lust for Life,” “Laura” and the plodding “Hellhole Ratrace.” The band may have been better suited for the smaller stage or an earlier time slot, when they wouldn’t have been challenged by the dance-thems of LCD Soundsystem, but those of us who stayed behind for Girls didn’t regret the decision.

The fastidious Dirty Projectors fared better in terms of attendance and as you’ve hopefully already read, their golden hour set made me a believer in this Brooklyn band. Unfortunately, the night peaked with the Dirty Projectors for me as the final big name acts I caught that night: Pavement and Public Enemy were plagued by technical issues beyond their control. While the false starts and sudden stops added to the sloppy charm of what one would expect from a Pavement show, the technical issues completely derailed the momentum of Public Enemy’s set. For a call and response rap to work, the audience has to be able to hear you calling … after about six moments of sudden silence during the Public Enemy set and having already screamed “Flava Flaaaave” at the top of my lungs, I called it a night on what turned out to be a surprising Sunday at Sasquatch.

The xx ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Tallest Man on Earth ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Gorge at Dusk ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

More photos after the jump…

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February 12, 2010

The Daily Choice: The Morning Benders & The Big Echo Orchestra – Excuses

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Yours Truly Presents: The Morning Benders “Excuses” from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Today is quite officially, my last day at local label Light In The Attic.  And with that enormous change comes a few things, but most importantly a more active role in this here site.  We’re trying to do a bit of SF expansion on this here blog and I thought I’d celebrate the occasion by posting this absolutely fabulous song by local crooner Morning Benders.

The Big Echo Orchestra, the group of people surrounding the lead singer, are a selection of SF’s finest musicians – John Vanderslice, that long-haired guy from Girls, someone named Golden Gram and a whole lot more.  And you know what?  If this is what SF brings, I couldn’t be more excited to start digging on in.

If you don’t enjoy this song, I think you should start worrying, one of your eardrums might’ve been punctured.

December 30, 2009

Josh’s Favorite Releases of 2009

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Tags
Damien Jurado David Bazan Elvis Perkins J Tillman Grizzly Bear Kaylee Cole Macklemore Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Ironclads The Moondoggies Widower Nurses

The Maldives ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

These are the albums that defined my 2009. Some I consider to be the strongest local albums of the year while others held my attention and memory in a special way such that I kept coming back to them. While many of these albums are admittedly made by bands whom I’ve also developed a strong affinity for over the past year, this is an albums list, and not simply a “my favorite bands who over the last year put out a record list.” Seven of the top ten are acts I was not familiar with at prior to the start of 2009. This includes the Ironclads. Man, a lot has happened this year.

Though the concept of the “album” may not be as relevant as it once was, I still consider myself to be an album person, for me such a group of songs is an important body of work for helping me come to relate to and really like a band. A single song usually just doesn’t do it for me. Simply put, these are the releases from this year that I listened to all the way through, over and over and over again.

 

LPs

 

1. Listen to the Thunder by The Maldives on Mt. Fuji Records Listen: Download an mp3 of “Tequila Sunday” courtesy of Mt. Fuji Records If any band conquered Seattle in 2009 it was the Maldives. For so many reasons, this record was the most important record in my life this year.

2. Curse Your Branches by David Bazan on Barsuk Records Listen: Stream the entire record at Barsuk.com David Bazan isn’t simply a musician. He is a religious philosopher. You might say this is “The Book of Dave.” A deeply personal record with very real ramifications for those who might have questions like he did about the consequences and realities of his long held beliefs. Though I don’t count myself particularly religious, I identified. To my mind this is the best album about religion and family that Bazan has ever done.

3. Apple’s Acre by Nurses on Dead Oceans Listen: Download an mp3 of “Caterpillar Playground” courtesy of Dead Oceans Through the power of the Internet I came into the possession of a 30-minute single-file live recording of Nurses. I can say without hyperbole that this recording is the most played “song” of the last year on my iTunes. They are playful, unique sounding, and completely DIY. This is the quintessential example of what everyone hopes a Portland band can and will be.

4. The Space Between the Maps by The Ironclads (self-released) Listen: Download an mp3 of “Alamagordo” courtesy of the Ironclads Advanced garage pop that’s well traveled and downright bombastic. Inventive lead guitar work and imaginative storytelling are this foursome’s forte and the record is a successful recreation of their live aesthetic.

5. Lust for Life by Girls on True Panther Sounds Listen: Watch “Laura” on Youtube Sad Bastard pop that doesn’t make me sad. Sign me up!

6. Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers by Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers (self-released) Listen: Get an MP3 version via KEXP Song of the Day I’m waiting for one (or three) of these songs to be covered by Dolly Parton. Another record like this and Nashville is gonna scoop her up, post haste.

7. A Strange Arrangement by Mayer Hawthorne on Stones Throw Records Listen: Watch “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” on Vimeo A DJ becomes a soul crooner, FTW. An album that you never want to turn off.

8. Keep it Hid by Dan Auerbach on Bloodshot Records Listen: Download an mp3 of What’s old is new again. More please. Other bands should take notes. The Blues are your friend, and mine.

9. Fanfarlo by Fanfarlo on Canvasback Music Listen: Stream the record at Fanfarlo.com Fronted by a clarinet playing choir boy, Fanfarlo take the cake for making this year’s most accessible orchestral pop record, and the best thing I heard out of the U.K. all year long.

10. I and Love and You by the Avett Brothers on Columbia Listen: Stream via theavettbrothers.com The Avett Brothers made a massive followup effort to Emotionalism, that drops the emo that marked it’s predecessor while striking a more hopeful and romantic note. This is another album that I feel wrong turning off in the middle.

11. In Dearland by Elvis Perkins on XL Listen: Watch “Chains, Chains, Chains” Directed by Seattle’s Sean Pecknold Elvis and his cohorts delve deep into old Americana and early rock for a record that is uniquely sad in it’s disposition, but overflowing with happy in the energy and passion of the full band performance.

12. Vecktamist by Grizzly Bear on Warp Listen: Stream the Video for Two Weeks Maybe this album should be higher on the list, but when I first got a hold of it I felt like it was just too much. Now, I’ve come to feel like this is a bold statement, and these guys are the vanguard of modern pop.

13. Year in the Kingdom by J Tillman on Bella Union/Western Vinyl Listen: Download an mp3 of “Earthly Bodies” courtesy of Western Vinyl Just when I thought J Tillman’s voice was an ideal, he goes to work for the Fleet Foxes and comes out the other side an even stronger singer.

14. Logos by Atlas Sound on Kranky Listen: Get an mp3 of “Walkabout” via FADER This was my official go-to chill record this year.

15. The Life of the Of the World to Come by the Mountain Goats on 4AD Listen: Download mp3 of “Genesis 3:23″ courtesy of 4AD As many of John Darnielle’s albums can be, this one is a grower, that really hooks you after you listen to it by yourself for a while. Seeing the songs performed live with a bit of Darnielle’s humor added in between songs for context allowed me to listen anew, and understand better than how the songs initially came off on the record.

 

EPs

 

1. Widower by Widower (self-released) Listen: Stream at Myspace

2. VS. by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, (self-released free digital EP) Listen: Download EP via Myspace

3. The Moondoggies by The Moondoggies on Hardly Art Records (for Record Store Day), Ltd. Ed. Listen: Stream at Myspace

4. Don’t Piss into the Fire/Magic Mtn Single by Arthur & Yu for a Sub Pop Singles Club release for Record Store Day Listen: Stream via Myspace

5. Fun & Laughter Land of Talk on Saddle Creek Records Listen: Watch “The Man Who Breaks Things (Dark Shuffle)” at Vimeo

 

The ones I missed in 2008 and I banged the most in 2009:

Hometowns by The Rural Alberta Advantage (originally released 2008, digitally released with eMusic November 2008, then re-released by Saddle Creek Records in mid-2009).

We’re Still Here Missing You by Kaylee Cole (self-released in November of 2008)

The one from last year’s list that’s stood the test of time and stayed strong into this year

Caught In Trees by Damien Jurado, SOTS’s #20 Northwest album of 2008. In retrospect, I should’ve probably lobbied for a top 10 spot for this album on that list.

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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Tags
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