The Clientele / Photo by Mick O Says So
Having run down the best albums of 2009 thus far, I’d be a poor critic if I didn’t leave you with anything to look forward to. Below, my most anticipated albums scheduled for the second half the year and a few not-quite-slated discs that we can hope/dream for. After the jump! Read the rest of this entry »
Best of 2009: 20 essential albums from the year thus far.
Live: Photos from the Pitchfork Music Festival via my new gallery software. If you can tell me how to make Simple Viewer prettier, I’d appreciate it.
Jamz: Radiohead’s Thom Yorke unveils a new track, Boat Club put on their flippy-floppies, Jens Lekman’s (at left) summer mixtape.
Deeper Into Movies: (500) wonderful Days Of Summer. I really liked Harry Potter, too. Disappointed with Bruno.
News: New Rose Melberg and more release dates.
Rose Melberg, whose former act The Softies are my favorite band of all time, has a 12-song set of (presumably twee, adorable) jamz due on September 22 from her old home, K Records! I’ve got a full list of most-anticipated albums for the second half of 2009 coming next week, but, guys, Rose! Huuuuuugs! More new stuff (including Rawkblog heroes Jim O’Rourke and the Clientele) on the 2009 Album Release Calendar.
Previously: Bootleg: The Softies – 10.20.00, The Milky Way, Boston | More Melberg
Photo by David Greenwald
The 20 best albums of 2009′s first six months, after the jump. Now with more Animal Collective (and, um, Mandy Moore)! Read the rest of this entry »
Photo by David Greenwald
It’s time to sip on the sweet nectar of DJ Jens’ summer jamz. While dude’s taste is immaculate, the best bit of this 30-minute set is the preview of a studio version of Jens’ “New Directions,” a track he’s been playing live that’s no less energetic here. Word is he’ll have a new album out in 2010 — this should help us pass the hours in between.
Jens Lekman – “The Summer Never Ends”: mp3 (left-click)
(Via Jens Lekman) Tracklist after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Canadian post-emo heroes the Weakerthans are playing a rare show at the Roxy tonight — a much more intimate venue than the last time I saw them, at the El Rey. Is it too soon for these guys to play an All Tomorrow’s Parties-style Left And Leaving tour? As usual, more tour dates on our ongoing calendar — Stephen Malkmus on Saturday at the Echoplex, whoa.
John K. Samson (Weakerthans) – “Utilities” (live): mp3
Like their Swedish countrymen the Radio Dept. with a Balearic bent and a taste for the high seas (and chunky shawl-neck sweaters!), Boat Club play blissed-out, fuzzed-up dream-pop that I could, and repeatedly have, listen to in a melancholic haze for hours on end. This untitled live track seems to be from April 10 of this year, the only word we’ve had from the hermetic act since its Best of ’07 Catch The Breeze EP. Pour yourself a gin fizz, press play and whet your appetite for more.
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All photos by Taleen Kalenderian
Much thanks to Rawkblog contributor Taleen Kalenderian for braving the Wavvy wilds of the Pitchfork Music Festival over the weekend to bring us these photos. I’m testing yet another new piece of gallery software with these — thoughts? It’s Simple Viewer.
