Ghostland Observatory albums.

I initially held off on posting these because I feel their live show is so very and vastly far superior to their actual music, but I think it's worth it as I've been listening to them more frequently lately. I first encountered them at Bonnaroo 2008, and their light show was stunning, particularly in the wee hours of the morning. I missed them in DC and saw them again, however briefly, at Coachella this year- I love dancing, and they bring the perfect atmosphere. Listen to them in preparation for one of the most visually appealing live shows you could ever hope to witness!



Paparazzi Lightning (2006)



Delete.Delete.I.Eat.Meat.(2007)

Two Eluvium cuts.

These are really beautiful, piano-heavy delicacies from a guy who's opening for Explosions In The Sky when they do their three US dates in celebration of their ten-year anniversary. I'll be seeing them (and this man) in LA at the end of June. :D



An Accidental Memory in the Case of Death (2004)


When I Live By the Garden and the Sea (2006)

The Be Good Tanyas - Hello Love (2006)

I found this band through the Weeds soundtracks, both of which will appear in an upcoming post, and I thought they were really something. Very unlike anything I'm generally into posting here, this Canadian bluegrass-y, Americana band perfectly embodies what last.fm refers to as "lush vocal melodies." I've always admired well-done harmonies, and this record is chock full of them. Though it's not for everyone, I'd recommend it if you like music that's slightly traditional but not boring.



Download.

Coachella live cuts (not mine).

This guy posted his tumblr account on the last.fm event page for Coachella, so I'd like to pass on the link to anyone who reads this. There are a handful of full-set recordings from various acts, many of whom I did get to see! Morissey, Antony and the Johnsons, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Liars, My Bloody Valentine's sets are all located on the 21 April 2009 page, which I mention because he seems to use it as a personal blog as well; entries will shift back accordingly with time. BIG UPS; THANK YOU, SIR!

In case you missed that above, click here for the link.

Alberta Cross - The Thief and the Heartbreaker (2007)

I am so obsessed with this record right now. This band, who sounds like Neil Young only with two English guys instead of one Canadian, is the best thing I've found so far this year. Seriously, it's brilliant, and I have Coachella to thank for having uncovered them.



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Calvin Harris - I Created Disco (2007)

I found dear, sweet, Scottish Calvin Harris by way of his cover of Jamiroquai's "Stillness In Time", which you can cop from me if you scroll down just a little. As they are one of my favourite bands (10 years after the fact, I know, okay) and he managed a catchy cover that may even be more fun than the original, he instantly had my heart. This album is more of that same, perfect dance electronica, and make no mistake-- the fact that I think it's perfect might tell you something. (As it happens, I hate this mediocre, electroclash, MGMT-y crap that's popular right now, but I think this album stands out as an example of what more electronic artists should be doing instead. )



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PJ Harvey and John Parish - A Woman A Man Walked By (2009)

HERE IS THE NEW PJ HARVEY RELEASE! I discovered PJ Harvey for real when I was almost out of high school, and since then she's been one of my favourite artists, not only because of how excellent her musicianship, lyrics and overall state of being are, but also because she was one of the first artists I noticed that I had to grow up to appreciate. I'm usually very weary of my artists' new material for fear of radical disappointment, but this is a pleasant, refreshing treat. My two favourite tracks are "A Woman A Man Walked By", in which Polly emits a high-pitched bark, and "Pig Will Not", in which she screams, "I WANT YOUR FUCKING ASS," --- who could ask for more?! The rest of the album will (most likely) not disappoint you either.



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Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind (2009)

This is the new Mono release, which, so far, has not let me down even a little bit. If you don't know Mono, they're a Japanese post-rock band that stands apart (for me, at least) for having deftly struck an ideal balance between the mounting, layered grind of guitars and the radiant, sparkling infinity of instruments with a more delicate sound (all said upon realizing it makes me a pretentious assclown). I'm making a pilgrimage to see them with a 25-piece orchestra in May.



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Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury (2006)

This is probably a little (okay, very) out of place, but it's the only radio rap I can genuinely dig my heels into. It also helps that these two are from Norfolk, which is right around the corner from where I'm from in Godawful, Virginia. :]


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Three Liars albums.

Tagging these albums was kind of challenging, and I may not have done it adequately. However, Liars are a band I'm listening to a lot these days because of how unique their sound is: tribal, chant-y, drone by a threesome of Australian boys. (...oh.) It's like a more organic Fuck Buttons (who I'd also recommend highly and who you can also find if you skip back a few pages), but it's no less frightening and sounds no less like heartbeats. I most highly recommend Drum's Not Dead as a starting point.

I was just going to post Drum's Not Dead, but one good turn deserves two more, right?


They Threw Us All In A Trench and Stuck A Monument on Top (2002)


They Were Wrong, So We Drowned (2004)


Drum's Not Dead (2006)

Two more Black Moth Super Rainbow albums!

Because you can never have enough spaced-out, technicolour electronica made by foresty, reclusive hippies with both real instruments and synthesizers. Mostly for you, Justin!


Start A People (2007)


Drippers (2008)

Bat For Lashes - Two Suns (2009)

I don't know if this has been officially released yet, but I've had it in its entirety for about two months now, I think. It's pretty dreamy, dark and excellent, a formidable opponent to Bat For Lashes' first release, which can be found by pushing back a few pages on this site. Also, dig this cover art, which is much better when viewed in a larger size. I'm finally getting to see this girl and her melodic, night-time pop in May, and I could not be more excited!



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Two Ozric Tentacles albums.

Ozric Tentacles were a psychedelic band formed in 1970's England, but not in the same sense that Pink Floyd was 'psychedelic'. Indeed, I think this group pinned down the mind-bending aspect of the word moreso than Pink Floyd, who seemed more conceptual, much more lyrically abstract than musically. There are words to these songs, which, in my opinion, makes them closer to ideal, and if you're doing any kind of hallucinogenic drugs (or even just smoking weed), this is probably a nice addition to your experience. Ahem. Here are two of their more recent cuts.


Strangeitude (1991)


Tantric Obstacles / Erpsongs (2001)

Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb (2007)

Hailing from the wacktacular but considerably musically prolific state of Virginia, Pig Destroyer is a grindcore band, or so I'm told. (I'd also not hesitate to call them metal as they keep playing these DeathFest shows in various parts of the country, but that may be a little too simplistic.) They did a split CD with one of my favourite bands, Isis, which is how I found them and decided to investigate further, despite the fact that I can't seem to find more than one track off that release. Anyway, they've got a good sound, so give it a shot.



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Russian Circles - Enter (2006)

If you're into drone, this band is a gem, as you may know. Building aggression with grinding but thoughtful guitar and bass reminiscent of a coming thunderstorm, it's a really ideal record. Also, this band definitely did not disappoint me when I saw them live last winter.



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Russian Red - I Love Your Glasses (2008)

I don't know much about this woman other than that she's based out of Spain and has made a really interesting record that puts her polished, almost Cat Power-y voice and guitaring on display in a way that makes this entire piece really enjoyable.



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My two favourite Saves The Day albums.

Awww, Saves The Day saved my day all the time when I was thirteen, oh man. I will always love these two CD's, not only because of their nostalgic appeal, but also because they're what I suppose is technically "emo" at their best, or at least, they're the only band in that genre that I've ever really enjoyed. I don't know that they're in the pop punk genre, which is kind of a shame because that carries much less stigma than 'emo'. OH WELL. ENJOY.


Through Being Cool (1999)


Stay What You Are (2001)

Celebration - Celebration (2005)

Oh man, this is really excellent. I'm not even really sure how to tag this in a way that isn't douchily vague and probably inaccurate. Their last.fm page tells me that this band is "cabaret punk", but don't take that to mean it's mediocre, (unpleasantly) grating, Amanda Palmer-esque music for mall goths refusing the label. It's a little like They Shoot Horses Don't They in the sense that the vocals are a frantic and vary drastically in pitch, and the music is explosively exuberant in a freak-ass, circus kind of way. As of late, this is one of the few records that I've instantly liked in its entirety, and I'm now actively seeking their second one.



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A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Scribble Mural Comic Journal (2008)

This really lovely album is shoegaze (and/or dream pop) at its finest, and the fun part is that this band is two twins and their brother (or so I'm at least fairly sure).



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Two Asobi Seksu albums.

Asobi Seksu is this really interesting, pleasant dream-pop band from New York (not Japan) that's recently completed what I believe to be their third album. (I'm still looking for their first, so if you have it feel free to comment with a link.) It's upbeat and fresh, and I've had Citrus, which I highly recommend, on repeat for days now. I'm still getting into Hush, but that process may be expedited when I see them live in March- so excited!


Citrus (2006)


Hush (2009)