Class Actress

I have to thank this song for making the drive to and from Portland that much more memorable.

Here We Go Magic

I have been listening to this band more and more. This track Tunnelvision is the best song to drive home to late at night. The video isn't half bad either.

Girls

Yeah I know this band is the center of way too much hype but this song might be deserving of it.

The Breeders

You have to love the 90s... if only we could have harnessed all the grease in kim's hair and converted it to crude oil we wouldn't have needed to invade iraq

Cass McCombs

I'd put this in my top songs of the year list(if I were to make one)...

Phoenix

Live in paris
who knew 1901 could be pulled off acoustic?

Phoenix - 1901 - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Headlights

Cherry Tulips.

This song sounds like a standard I'd like to be dancing to in my retirement home half-senile/half-drunk.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Think I Wanna Die.

If you are feeling like getting in a good mood without saying so this video is for you... check it out!

The Top Music Videos of 2009

The Top Music Videos of 2009

Pitchfork actually put together a really good list, even though I usually have trouble completing a sentence including the words 'pitchfork' and 'good.'

Japandroids

A year ago Japandroids were like any other noise band, drunk and playing in half-empty dive bars. 2009 has been kind to the duo, and thanks to the blog-generated hype, they have climbed well out of obscurity. They headlined the bill Friday night at the Echo in Los Angeles with Florida born buzz-band Surfer Blood.

Most people come to shows at the Echo expecting to tolerate the opening bands and start to get hyped for the headliner, but Surfer Blood won over the crowd quickly with their catchy jams and boyish charm. They immediately gave you the "this band is going to be big someday" feeling. The vocals were kind of lo-fi and hazy while the guitars were reverb drenched and foregrounded. The Major/minor chord changes had that friendly digestible feel that had the crowd leaving humming melodies. By the time they were finished the crowd had forgotten who they came to see and the awkward "So are you guys ready for Japandroids?" shout out was confusing. John Paul Pitts, Surfer Blood frontman, left the stage with a final goodbye saying, "You should stick around for Japandroids cuz these fools are tiiight," accompanied by a finger-snap straight out of Da Ali-G Show.

After a few minutes of too loud dance-party indie remixes Japandroids wanders onstage to the highly distinguishable guitar tone of Brian King. He then told us that this was the band's second time in LA and he knows that LA crowds tend to be a bit too reserved to get rowdy but that this show is going to be the right time to forget about that. They opened with a kind of sloppy version of "The Boys Are Leaving Town" as King complains that the vocals are too low and so are the drums(about which he was right). Then about halfway through "Rockers East Vancouver" everything started to come together and the crowd noticed. People start nodding their heads which turns into a bit of hopping up and down which finally resolves in an awesome mess of pushing and shoving. As the set rolls on through their limited arsenal the band plays a couple of songs that they claim will be on an upcoming 7" and the crowd never slows its moshfest. After about 45 minutes of extended versions of the Post-Nothing favorites the sound man signals that they only have about 15 minutes left. So Japandroids seem to consciously decide to bring the sets highlight, "Heart Sweats" with a one chord verse and a refrain that consists of the duo plus 150 fans screaming "XOXOX"; it was garage rock at its most primal. Overall a great way to spend a friday night in Los Angeles. (especially for 8 bucks;))

Surfer Blood

Just saw Japandroids at the Echo which was a pretty good show but more notably Surfer Blood opened and they killed it.

Surfer Blood.zip

the album is filled with catchy jams but swim takes the cake

Best Coast-When I'm With You

Phresh best coast.

Every part of this Best Coast track sounds perfectly effortless: the slow open, the major/minor chord changes, the harmonies that blow in for the refrain, the bridge("I hate sleeping alone.") This is what I wish Weezer records still sounded like, obvious gender issues aside...

Titus Andronicus

posted a new video on their blog... civil war theme

allusion to new album perhaps?

The National

The National – “Blood Buzz Ohio” (Live In Boston)

The National – “The Runaway” (Live In Boston)

The National – “The Runaway” (Live on Q TV)

Flaming Lips on KCRW Cover Pink Floyd

During a set on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, The Flaming Lips decided to break out a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse” off of The Dark Side of the Moon. The band is planning to release a full cover of the 1973 album in collaboration with the band Stardeath and White Dwarfs. Henry Rollins and Peaches will also make appearances. Gettin hyped

Beck covers Velvet Underground

Record Club: Velvet Underground & Nico "Femme Fatale" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

I guess he is going to have an entire album of these... definitely delivers here with Femme Fatale

nice, like it

New Thom Yorke

live but totally worth a listen

MP3 Thom Yorke – “The Present Tense” (Live)

Fever Ray

Images were taken from comics novel "Black Hole" by Charles Burns. "Memory comes when memory's old I am never the first to know"

down

gentle friendly's lovers rock

pretty down with this song. saw it on www.nopaininpop.com

Beck, Wilco, Feist cover Skip Spence's "Little Hands"

Record Club: Skip Spence "Little Hands" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

And the line-ups get more all-starier! For the next installment of his record club, Beck corralled Wilco, Feist and Jamie Lidell to do a cover of Skip Spence’s album OAR. This might be the most solid-sounding recording to come out of the record club recordings.

White Rabbits + Britt Daniel do "Instant Kharma"

Here’s a video of White Rabbits and Britt Daniel of Spoon covering John Lennon’s “Instant Karma.”

Good little setup for the upcoming lennon movie... loks pretty rad

Medium Troy - Medium Troy

On June 6th going into June 7th, 2009, we went to a great concert in Eugene. Medium Troy, accompanied by Planet Asia, paved the way to a relaxed, awesome show. Using Hijack pro I finally tracked down their whole album! It's pretty dope.

Download the Album

The Virgins-The Virgins

The Virgins self titled, debut LP has some very catchy tracks on it. Overall a very solid album worth listening to.

MFire link

Voxtrot-Trepanation Party

This is the new single from Voxtrot. Any rumble from Voxtrot has been long awaited, however I'm afraid to say I'm not a fan of this single. Voxtrot might be my favorite band, I'm sure they'll pull it together, anyways, here it is.

MFire link

Burning Hearts-Aboa Sleeping

A very neat album with some sweet tracks from this indie duo.

MFire link

Chase & Status

This doesn't really fit the blog but this track is fuckin insane...

SAXON

Helio Sequence-Keep Your Eyes Ahead (2008)

The latest from Portland's beloved Helio Sequence. This duo makes a lot of noise for two people, a lot of good noise definitely worth hearing. Great indie rock album that dips into electronica, totally worth it. "Can't Say No" is one of the best tracks of 2008. 

...Follow up: This Album is amazing.

Working DL Link

Yardwork

Yardwork- Yardwork

Yardwork started as a recording project to manifest the positive energy of Thomas Shelburne Berkau II. Having mastered zero instruments by the age of 24, Thomas began fleshing out songs on washing machines, sauce pans, and steering wheels. After learning how to play the drums like a crazed child he then learned the A chord on the guitar which opened up all kinds of musical possibility...

Wavves

Wavves-Wavves

Yeah we know this is a pitchfork acclaimed album but i liked it and think its at least worth a listen

Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura's new album My Maudlin Career leaked...

repost

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are actually really good. The catchy pop/punk works and this is a very solid debut album. Definitely worth checking out.

DL link.

Music

Feel free to email us for any music request and we'll get the link up.

Harlem Shakes-Technicolor Health

Here is Harlem Shakes' new album. It is very good. Sunlight is a brilliant track.

DL link.

School of Seven Bells-Alpinisms

Here's their debut album, Alpinisms. SV11B are a promising new band that mix electronica with indie very well. Half Asleep really is an amazing track.

DL link.

Half Asleep Video.

Jared Mees and the Grown Children-Caffeine, Alcohol, Sunshine, Money

Jared Mees and the Grown Children are an awesome, widely unknown band out of southeast Portland. They could be described as folk/indie rock, they have a fun rhythm, beautiful melodies, and great lyrics. This is one of the best albums i've heard in the last couple years. Look out for "Bees", "In the Fall", "The Tallest Building in Hell." This is a must listen to album, if you like them you should get their album, they can use the support. I'm also adding a link to their underground portland record label Tender Loving Empire.

DL link.

Tender Loving Empire.

Pete Doherty-Grace/Wasteland (2009)

Pete Doherty's solo project is out.

DL link.

2009 Sasquatch! Music Festival

The Sasquatch! Music Festival. It starts May 18th at the Oregon Gorge and last for three days. If you're thinking about going you really should. It's a beautiful amphitheater along the Columbia river. Tickets are still available for around 66 dollars a day. The line-up is amazing with acts such as Kings of Leon, The Decemberists, Mos Def, Animal Collective, Bon Iver, M.Ward, Ra Ra Riot, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Crystal Castles, TV on the Radio, of Montreal, The Walkmen, Fleet Foxes, Santigold, Grizzly Bear, Blitzen Trapper, School of Seven Bells, Demitri Martin, and many more.

Sasquatch! website.

Top Concert Venues in Portland.

 modest mouse at the Crystal Ballroom.
1) The Crystal Ballroom-has been having great concerts on its bouncy floors since the 60s. The best in Portland since the days of Jimi Hendrix all the way to the Arctic Monkeys. Today its the main spot for all quality indie and alternative music.

2) Roseland Theater-is a cool hang out for all ages and is a stop for a lot of great acts.

3) Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall-is home to broadway plays and operas but is also a solid venue for more "mainstream" music, not that that means there are always good bands playing.

4) McMenamins Edgefield-is an awesome getaway place with a big outdoor area for concerts.

5) Dug Fir-is 21 and over but provides a great vibe at their bar/restaurant/club.

6) Dante's-is a bar/nightclub that serves great pizza and somehow bring in some awesome bands.

7) Aladdin Theater-has been bringing in good, diverse acts for a long time.

8) Backspace-is just a cafe but its in a cool area of downtown, has cheap tickets, and occasionally has some good smaller concerts.

9) Hawthorne Theater-just a couple years old but has another indie act performing nearly everyday of the week. I'll never forgive myself for not seeing Voxtrot there.

10) Rose Garden-If you just have to see U2 or coldplay or something like that, this is where you'd go...

The Thermals-Now We Can See

Yes! Three years in the making and the new Thermals album has finally dropped. They bring an energy and a passion to all of their songs. Driving drums and guitars with melodic choruses and conscious lyrics fail to describe what makes them awesome. To understand how good these guys are requires listening time rather than reading a review. Trust me, listen to this album, and listen to their other three, and then you'll be happy.

Thermals RS link

DOOM

New album from the DOOM we all used to know as MF Doom...

It's alright or at least worth a listen. Do you think DOOM changed his name so that future hip hop historian could say, "Doom's career is easily divided between the good - MF Doom - and the bad - DOOM"?

link

Nobody Wave

Nobody Wave is a little Indie-rock band out of Southern-California. They are expected to be on tour of the West Coast this summer and the most detailed information about them is on frontman chris' blog http://nobodywave.blogspot.com

Trance Vacation is an EP they released in september of 2008 and has a few fun songs you will hopefully really enjoy... check it out

Thanks!

The Hugs

Hailing from Portland, OR the hugs are proof that someone is certainly putting something in the water in this town. They are similar to the Lemonheads or the Libertines but are taking it in all their own direction. Let us know what you think... This is a collection of three tracks of theirs...

HUGS-RS

New Aesop

Mr. Rock releases new track called "Tomorrow Morning"

I guess there is a new video out there too so if you find it post it in the commentzzz

Hope yalls dig it like I did... more new music to come

Backspace to Troubadour

to

Welcome!

This blog is a little co-lab effort from Andrew and Casey where we basically just talk about music we like. It will become a great place to share music events, music news, and just broad musical discussion. I hope you enjoy what we have to share...

Pz