Animal Collective released the EP "Fall Be Kind", during, well, this fall...and it is already edging out my year-long favorite albums after only two weeks. Five songs clocking in at around 40 minutes. I've listened to it at least seven times a day since the release. All I can say is that it makes me extraordinarily happy...words do not suffice. So, I'll let Pitchfork describe my absolute favorite song, "What Would I Want? Sky?" I adore the line about how they are "the jamband for people who profess to dislike jambands." Well, as cliche as it sounds, I would follow them to the ends of the earth...yep, they're my Phish. Yeah, I said it and went there. No turning back.
This album deserves more than one measly blog post. I'm more than certain that, without even counting the endless list of international blogs that are already freaking the fuck out over this collaboration, my dear Austin friends have already blown up this project. I know this, because, I jumped on the bandwagon kinda late (and by late, I mean, 1 day, which is the equivalent of a million years in music blogs). They already blew it up on Twitter a day before me, so...you know how that goes...
Yes, I'm talking about Blakroc...frankly, I'm not confident enough to even do justice to it. I gather that it's the product of The Black Keys, who produced the collabs with Mos Def, GZA, RZA, Ludacris, Raekwon, etc...and, yes, ODB, dirt mcgirt. Basically, a laundry list of every living (and posthumerous) rap luminary, with a few glaring exceptions. Astounding, nonetheless. For lack of a better description, the LP is totally yummy. Yes, yummy. I've been listening to it for at least 4 days on repeat.
A little Wiki digging informed me that the biggest hip hop impresario around, Damon Dash, is overseeing the project...no surprise there, because, the package is incredibly sleek, honed and badass, and their website is no exception. No doubt he has a bunch of media gophers like me to accomplish that, but, that's beside the point....Anywhooooo...the album is among my top favorites of the year along with Phoenix, Grizzly Bear, The Xx, Florence + the Machine, Bat for Lashes and Animal Collective...Merriweather AND Fall Be Kind. The videos aren't so bad, either.*
Fun Fun Fun was...well, for lack of a better word, a lot of fun. Hailing from Atlanta (specifically, the outer burbs near Athens...Go Dawgs!!! or, more appropriately, my favorite venue in the world, 40 Watt Club), I'm embarrassed to admit that I saw Of Montreal for the first time ever that Sunday night. Expectations met. Don't need to describe, because everyone already knows the drill on their outlandish live shows. So, here's my run down of the fest.
Top 5 FFF Fest Acts (no particular order): 1. Pharcyde 2. Of Montreal 3. Mission of Burma 4. Les Savy Fav 5. Yeasayer
Yeah, nothing that surprising. I've never had less to say about a fest. I don't mean that in a bad way. It's just that I saw so many different acts, that it all blends together, outside from watching all of Of Montreal and Crystal Castles on the last night. I should also note that Crystal Castles was much better live than I expected. You could tell that someone's been whipping Alice into shape and making sure she doesn't self-implode since they've developed a fairly rabid following.
I danced a lot more at the Blue Stage than I anticipated and missed out on many acts that I'd planned on seeing, but had an exceptional time...so, no regrets. I really wish that I'd seen Kid Sister, Brian Posehn, Death, Jesus Lizard, Todd Barry, HEALTH, and a bunch of other stuff, but, living in Austin, I'm sure that won't be my only opportunity. We did, however, catch Danzig playing "Mother" as the encore after Of Montreal, so that was a big win on our part. We felt very very cool.
One major surprise for me, Mission of Burma. Where have they been all my life? Probably busy being a seminal post-punk band that influenced everyone from Nirvana to R.E.M. and I never paid attention. Yeah, sounds about right. Better late than never. Also, I'm really digging their new video, "1,2,3 Partyy!!!" New weekend anthem.
What more can anyone say about Grizzly Bear that hasn't already been said? Absolutely nothing. This is their year, we just live in it. With this new video for "Ready, Able", they build on a steady stream of groundbreaking music videos. Artist Allison Schulnik created this eerie, surreal piece that perfectly suits what is possibly my favorite track of the album. Stunning.
Words really can't explain how much I loved/love Natasha's last LP, Two Suns. The album leaked early this year, and I am still not even close to tired of it. Seeing her perform live in Atlanta a few months ago was one of the most moving concerts of my life. Yes, shit was MOVING. I dare you to see one of her shows and not say the same. From the creepy dolls, piano dripping in lace, tall candles littered all over the stage and jesus figurines setup to her powerful vocal range, it was a damn near religious experience. So, when I saw that Pitchfork is airing a making of Two Suns doc, "Two Plus Two", I was pretty giddy. Full disclosure: haven't gotten chance to view this one, either, but I've heard great things, and, let's face it, everything she touches is kind of the best.
Oh, Phoenix, you have my heart. So sentimental, not sentimental, no...indeed. I've loved your latest, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, since it leaked early this year. Seeing you guys this year's ACL really pushed this into a full throttle obsession. Oh, yeah, meeting you guys and hanging out at that house party till 4am didn't suck, also. So, when I heard about the release of the numerous Wolfgang remixes as a proper album, I was pretty happy. EAT IT UP
Ever since first listening to Devendra's last album, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon, he's held a special place in my heart. Love that bearded, hippy freak. His music is like taking a mini vacay down to some magical place in Mexico or Brazil where other neo-hippy, sexually ambigious hipster freaks frolick with beautiful people like Natalie Portman and Gael Garcia Bernal. Ok, that's just Devendra's life. Irregardless, the guy has incredible musical chops and I'm crossing my fingers that he decides to grace Austin with his charming freak show when he tours for this new album. I haven't listened yet, but I'm sure it won't disappoint. Listen to it in entirety here.
