Merge Records has released a few lost live performances by Neutral Milk Hotel to coincide with their release of In The Aeorplane Over The Sea on 180gm vinyl. There has never been a band quite as mysterious since, although many have tried- as counterfeit poets that could never resurrect the prose of Jeff Magnum himself. Neutral Milk Hotel has profoundly impacted the way in which I understand folk music, writing and art.

As cliche as it may sound, (to those nodding few who understand how this band quietly but forcefully pioneered and revolutionized folk music) I continue to adore this band, and much like other followers, am eager to hear any unreleased tracks. Watch Jeff perform Two-Headed Boy live at the Knitting Factory in March 1998 below:

You guys are really going to like this one. Sometimes, I’ll write about bands with great enthusiasm, but words are words, and posts are rather uniform. But Alvin Band is currently raging through my speakers to the disgust of my sister a staircase below. I don’t care. My friend Jon just sent me their album ‘Mantis Preying’ and many people have been saying it’s a rip-off of Animal Collective, but heck so is every band these days- Yeasayer, Local Natives, virtually any hybrid of electronic and some kind of harmonized vocals.

Gosh. It’s about time we just classify it as it’s own genre, so that everyone is at liberty to experiment their own brand of strange and complex layered arrangements. The most important thing is that it is happy music. For the very sole purpose to ignite at least a fleeting moment of joy into one’s day. What a brilliant idea. This project is the creation of Miniature Tigers’ drummer Rick Alvin Schaier and it will be played loud and often from here on out. Please, enjoy!

Alvin Band- Cyberspace 2008

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Alvin Band- The Mystery of the Yellow Room

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Alvin Band- Ate

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It’s quite common to hear of stories about people who have taken their modest belongings, and trekked into the wilderness, often in search of their own salvation in the shape of a log cabin in the depths of the woods. These brave individuals would stay for months and months to finally emerge with something great, some kind of art. Often a collection of songs. These characters are praised as noble artists, rejecting the very human need for others to posture themselves to receive and channel creativity only found in the very quiet of themselves.

And gosh, do they ever make the rest of us distracted, frenzied few look bad. I blame Bon Iver, along with the rest of those mysterious songwriters who hide in hibernation. Regardless of what I think, there is no denying the magical happenings that occur behind a closed wooden door. JBM is one of those, Jesse Marchant to be exact. He’s got these beautiful songs that are self-reflective and quiet. Below are some of his songs recorded for a recent Daytrotter session:

JBM- Winter Ghosts

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JBM- Going Back Home

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JBM- Swallowing Daggers

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All Tomorrow’s Parties is a film documents music festivals from all around the world over the past 10 years. It includes performances from Sonic Youth, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, Belle and Sebastian, the Stooges, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Portishead among others. Shot by hundreds of filmmakers, the trailer itself is a chaotic montage of furious images of music, love, youth and celebration. It creates a dizzying affect, so I wouldn’t watch it more than once, but I’m intrigued to see how the whole film flows. Unfortunately, there will be no screenings in Toronto, but check out their MAP for screenings near you. The film will be available for purchase in Canada on Dec. 1st, I may pick it up.

Animal Collective’s EP Fall Be Kind is out digitally on November 23rd, and you are in for a treat. I feel like they’re the only ones who really got it right, they’ve perfected the whole trippy multi layered percussion, African jams, bizarre harmonies, and eerie song structures with no real rhythm or rhyme, but it just seems to work in the end. On A Highway seems to visit a dream sequence, more mellowed down and consistent, while ‘Bleeding’ has this beautiful vocal echoe that’s cyclical and calming.

‘Graze’ is my favorite track, because it’s got this playful transition making it two songs in one, the end finishes with this Disney-esque flute solo that sounds like the patter of dozens of elves, and ‘What Would I Want? Sky’ has that Washed Out vibe- this track is hearty, with sparkling layers it’s an easy slow jam. ‘I Think I Can’ is reminiscent of childhood stories, it’s got this beautiful repetition, with gorgeous drums to carry it through. The whole EP revisits the playfulness of MPP but is more evolved, sifting deeper into their childhood psyche, experimenting with new sounds and rhythms, deconstructing and reconstructing the song and offering us a new measure for what a song could do to your ears. Marvelous!

Animal Collective- Bleeding

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Rachael Cantu‘s new album ‘Far and Wide’ was released just yesterday, and I absolutely adore this girl! She’s toured with acts like Tegan & Sara, Pat Benatar (how cool is that?) Ben Lee and most recently blues legend B.B King, and has borrowed blues, soul and heartache, transforming her influences into a stunning collection of breezy slow jams and gorgeous rhythmic tracks like ‘Eaten Alive’ and ‘Your Hips Are Bad’ and ‘We’re the Rebels’.

She’s got some country-infused tracks too like ‘Blue House Baby’. She throws in a few sad songs for good measure, like ‘Genius and a Wizard’ and the haunting, ‘Devil’s Thunder’ likened to a church hymn with a backup choir. Easily one of my favorites. She reminds me of a laid-back Regina Spektor, with more soulful and dynamic voice range. It’s tough to find original female songwriters that aren’t a total bore, but she’s definitely a gem- with some poetic prose that are imaginative and playful, she’s a delight to listen to.

She’s got a few shows coming up in the California area- so to all of my San Diego and LA friends (yes, I know you’re reading this.. ahem, Brandon) please check out her myspace for dates. Then go, and tell me about it, will you? 

Rachael Cantu- Far and Wide

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Rachael Cantu- Make a Name for Me and You

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Pixie Carnation‘s debut EP ‘Fresh Poems’ is a gorgeous collection of rhythmic guitar jams in the vein of Fanfarlo or Frightened Rabbit. The band hails from Sweden, and they pull of American angst quite well, I suppose it translates well. They’ve got that orchestral pop sound that builds and builds through giant, sweeping crescendos like you were waiting for a furious explosion towards the end- things just get louder and noisier until a buzzing quiet takes you to the next track. ‘When Did the Lights Go Out’ is one of their notable tracks, but I’ve been really into ‘Little Sister’ because it has strange lyrics like, ‘throw a goddamn carnival in space if that’s what it takes’. Is that a Swedish thing? I don’t get it. Either way, this band is lovely, anticipating a full and celebratory LP out soon. They’re also quite beautiful, aren’t they?

Please check their myspace for a listen- tracks currently not uploading. I’ll resolve this asap.

I don’t know what it is really, maybe the weather? Maybe the fact that I’ll only be here for five more weeks or so. I’ve never loved or appreciated my home town of Toronto (alright, Oakville.. but for argument’s sake). You know, this life would be much easier if I did in fact, love Toronto. After listening to Gavin from The Wooden Sky talk so sweetly about Toronto, I thought, alright- it can’t be all that bad. He said it took him a few years to find community, and I guess that’s the thing I’ve been looking for up here.

There is this community called Bellwoods- where hellos can be exchanged walking down the street. What a novel idea.. This is mostly a community of artists and musicians, formed around the extended family of Ohbijou, an extraordinary band I’ve previously talked about, along with Tokyo Police Club, Born Ruffians and other lovely people, cut from the same cloth. Anyway, as my luck would have it- could it be that I am falling in love with Toronto? I have come across (thanks to my friend at White Guys With Beards) the ‘Live in Bellwoods’ Series- along the same idea of La Blogotheque, featuring videos of live acoustic performances from said artists. Please watch these sessions, they are so so good. And while we’re on the topic, can we discuss how much I adore Born Ruffians. He is the closest we’ll ever get to Dylan circa ’63. Thats it, I’m in love.

Last night, while clearing tables and changing linens- we played some  Motown- a genre I had long forgotten about and loved. I guess that’s what the rise in all these lo fi bluesy rock bands are all about- the nostalgia. San Francisco’s The Sandwitches infuse it all- blues, country, folk, all on grainy lo fi quality recordings. They’ve resurrected girl groups from decades passed with their new album- How To Make Ambient Sadcake.

The best explanation I’ve read has got to be,”Imagine a 60’s Girl-group is on tour and their van breaks down near a gothic castle high on the hill, Dario Argento invites them in to perform a concert for his tweaked actors in a big dark red room inside and, if the dream is right, it’s the Sandwiches – they’d fit right in with those misfits and speak the same language. I’d like to be there to dance.” Kelley Stoltz- Endless Nest

The Sandwitches- Back To The Sea

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The Sandwitches-Idiot Savant

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The Sandwitches- Marry Me

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These United States are playing the Horseshoe tomorrow night, and I will be missing it- but I wanted to tell you, URGE you to go. Their latest album ‘Everything Touches Everything’ is that familiar Americana that makes you want to smoke,  eat meat and watch Western films (all of which I would not encourage). Gosh, do I ever miss the States. Their brand of dirty Southern rock jams are best played loud and live, so check them out and tell me all about it. Also, have you noticed that this photo looks quite similar to the ones below it? Everyone looks good in black and white.

These United States- Burn This Bridge (an old one)

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