Prepare to watch this video on repeat. My friend and I just practiced a Fleetwood Mac version of ESP, you know.. where he read my mind as I listened to this gorgeous Fleetwood Mac cover by Stacey Dupree, Jeremy Larson and Darren King. Funny how those things happen.
This was recorded by friends of my friend Brandon, who agrees with me that this is the best Fleetwood Mac cover of all time. Beautiful.
So Brooks just sent me Everlea’s new EP- and it is stunning. I know the guys, but not enough to tell them that their songs provide a great comfort to me while I ride around this foreign place. If I were to properly illustrate the GTA to anyone, I’d use Justin’s voice as the sountrack to a slow panning shot of Brooks’ backyard, and Ross chopping food saying awkward things to girls that look french. And we would all be laughing. And Everlea would still be playing.
Everlea has organically become OUR band.. our friends, and our music. And for that reason alone (besides the fact that they are unfathomably talented) we love them. I hope you enjoy their stuff- it has been a longtime coming.. at least for Brooks. The release of their EP was likely his Christmas.
I Feel Right, But I’m Wrong- Everlea
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Impossible- Everlea
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this is Nathan..the hit maker [the heartbreaker]
All I know is that her name is Maggie Eckford.
My friend Nathan Finochio is a genius (aka Alexander Fairchild). You know, he threw together a gorgeous record a few months ago, which further solidifed the fact that everything he touches turns to gold. I was hanging with my new friend Taylor when he put on Eckford’s album, immediatly I loved it. She’s got the soft vocals of Eisley or Now Now Every Children, backed by a simple beat and harmonies.
The track ‘Asleep’ starts off like Lykke Li’s Dance Dance Dance, it’s super stripped down and ridiculously catchy. I anticipate huge things for this girl, and revel in the fact that she is relatively unknown. I’d bet my last m&m (seriously.. eating these things until I get sick) that she absolutely will be of the Bat for Lashes/Lykke Li/Amanda Blank kind very soon. She’s got this versatility that fits into any genre, she’s got soul, country, and dance covered. Let’s just wait for Hypem to take notice, and voila. Remixed by Memory Tapes in no time.
Seriously. Get into this girl. She’s unbelievable.
Asleep- Maggie Eckford
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Could Not See- Maggie Eckford
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If you’ve consistently read any of my sparse words on music, you’ll likely notice a very obvious appreciation for all things crisp. I like my music clean, strong and concise – seldom soft around the edges or hazier than a humid summer day.
This means that I do not listen to or really even like psychedelic surf-pop, which also means that Jersey’s Real Estate has made a liar out of me because there’s always a loophole to every self-proclaimed rule – and for me – they’re it.
They dropped their self-titled album during the tail end of 2009 and brought with it a flurry of ingredients that somehow really work for me. Perhaps it’s the mysticism, the serene melodies or even the Tropicana vibe that sometimes presents itself (see Pool Swimmers), or maybe it’s just my constant reflection back to days spent at the ocean that makes this album so appealing. Either way, I guess these folks are onto something, and I guess you should probably check them out.
Real Estate – Pool Swimmers
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(ps. these guys will also be featured at SXSW this year!)
When I was younger I spent quite a lot of time in Milton, Ontario because my best friend Alyssa had moved into a “house” that was essentially a city block. It was there that I discovered a love for Nutella, how dream catchers and worry dolls work and a profound love for sing-a-longs while driving.
Unfortunately my love for the city’s musical talent didn’t come until much later, long after Alyssa and I stopped being friends due to her convictions that I stole a hair ribbon (I didn’t), and while my dear friend Evelyn was coaching me out of ‘screaming’ music. She had been working on an article about The Most Serene Republic for the print mag I was running and directed me to their 2008 album, Population, which immediately pitched me into a month-long listening frenzy – even with the band’s obvious zest for experimenting (several times) in each song.
As follow up to the album, And the Ever Expanding Universe came out this passed summer and has kept me more than satisfied as I wait for its successor. The band has finally honed a skill for NOT over-stuffing their tracks with new ideas and instead focus on what works: a bit of consistency – at least for the sake of the toe-tappers.
TMSR – Heavens To Purgatory
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This is the video for Evelyn Mchale from Parenthetical Girls. The story is about the ‘most beautiful suicide’ read here for more. They will be releasing 5 EPs to complete their 4th album called Privelage. I got this video off of Stereogum. Gorgeous.
I don’t usually like anything that’s not sad. We’ve discussed this. But sometimes you just gotta dance like a complete idiot. This is what this song is for.
Cold Cave- Life Magazine
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Rogue Wave came into my life a bit late, my friend Andrew (yes, Jamdrew) made me a mix when I foolishly drove by myself from Nashville to Birmingham, Alabama. The song started with a, “screw California” and there I was, driving Andrew’s car laughing by myself. It would be a few days after I’d moved from San Diego so I considered it an anthem of sorts. Another rather spooky thing happened with this band- after I was sure I’d just seen a ghost, the song ‘Ghost’ starts playing on my computer. Weird, huh?
Anyway, on March 2nd they’re set to release their new album Permalight and after a few listens I’ve enjoyed most of it, but it’s a little fragmented- I’m not a huge fan of Good Morning (The Future) or Permalight, mostly because it sounds a little too Hellogoodbye for me. But I do love ‘Fear Itself’, ‘I’ll Never Leave You’ which sounds a little Cat Stevens. There are some soothing ballads but there’s friction as they sit between electro dance jams. But overall, lovely.
Rogue Wave- I’ll Never Leave You
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Rogue Wave- All That Remains
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Here I am – beneath layers of suddenly-hip clothing (see also, long johns), miles away from the best of both coasts and finally inspired to write something amidst my annual hibernation period.
They’re called Wintersleep. Fitting, right? I discovered this band on a particularly frigid evening last February and obviously much too late – turns out everyone had also discovered these gentlemen – conveniently months or even years prior to when I had. But I post this because rationale tells me that I’m not cut from an entirely unique fabric which means that somewhere, there most certainly exists a person who is (or soon to be, was) as uneducated as I; missing out on the delicate strength brought fourth by fellow lumberjacks.
Wintersleep – Weighty Ghost
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Wintersleep – Oblivion
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Wintersleep – Drunk On Aluminium
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Sonny & The Sunsets is the best thing I’ve found all week. It’s Tuesday you say? Well.. I’ll hold off all discoveries for the next few days to assure that this is, in fact, the coolest thing my ears will hear. This time last year, he started an ambitious project called “100 records” in which 100 artists make 7” record covers of fictional bands that he supplies the music for. The show debuts for a five week run at Gallery 16 in San Francisco in April 2010. How rad does that sound? His album ‘Tomorrow is Alright’ came out sometime last year on Soft Abuse and he’s also apart of San Francisco’s Endless Nest which gives him a few more cool points.
Sonny & The Sunsets- Heart of Sadness
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Sonny & The Sadness- Too Young To Burn
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