Brooklyn’s Sharon Van Etten released her widely anticipated new album, Tramp, yesterday. For some time now, Van Etten has been one of my favorite female musicians. However, this album is Sharon to the next level. All of her work is gorgeous, haunting, profoundly poetic, and deeply resonating. That said, Tramp, has truly eclipsed her past work. The sound of this album is full bodied, gorgeously produced, and of course, her voice resonates through it in perfect harmony. Her voice can be shrill but shrill in a way that is addicting. Her lyrics can touch your soul deeply. At times this album is the most upbeat music while at others you embrace a despair that can rarely be attained in music. Sharon Van Etten is unlike anyone. Her sound is so unique and of her own that all I can do is keep hitting repeat. This album will easily be  a top five for 2012. I kid you not when I say that literally every track is amazing. I’ve been in a Sharon trance for two days now and I don’t see myself leaving it anytime soon. Each song, Each word, each octave change is perfect. I know I sound like I have a major crush on her. I can say that I have a major crush on her music. She often sings about and for lovers—”lovers of heartache, of life, of raw human emotion”

There is a reason that Sharon will take your ears by storm. It is because her sound can eclipse your daily experience with a heart felt authenticity that will warm your soul and haunt your thoughts. Like the narrative of a stray cat who has seen so much pain and witnessed so much happiness, Tramp will guide you through a gauntlet of emotional experience. I will not blame you if you tear up, I definitely did. She achieves a subtle grace that is seldom seen in music. Her statements are small and express the intimate mind so articulately.

Enjoy today’s gorgeous, gorgeous jamz and experience this gauntlet of feeling.

Desire recently released a new jam titled, “Don’t Call”. This song is quite different from “Under Your Spell” but it has many of the same sensibilities and introspective delivery that Desire has become synonymous with. Did I mention this music video was filmed during a Miami Hurricane warning, pretty cool.

Enjoy

Enjoy!

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Unfortunately these guys do not have any high quality youtube or Vimeo videos of their work. The Stolen Sweets of Portland, Oregon are a the 3-part harmony faithful recreation of the famours 1930s group, The Boswell Sisters. The vocals of Jen Bernard, Lara Michell and Erin Sutherland compliment a certain Mr. Pete Krebs and Mr. David Langenes well. The resulting sound is a time-machine to an era of swing jazz out of an old Hollywood Movie. I’ve had a chance to see this group on several occassions and today, they just popped into my head. The result of their music and homage to the Boswell Sister’s is a unique brand of upbeat and contagious vintage jazz; the Stolen Sweets may steal your heart.

I know the quality is low but Enjoy.

“The Museum of Modern Art has commissioned Antony and the Johnsons to perform Swanlights, on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Featuring a 60-piece orchestra, the performance piece is conceived as a new commission especially developed for the January 26th performance, and an evolution of the highly acclaimed The Crying Light, which was presented at the Manchester Opera House for the 2009 Manchester International Festival. Envisioned as a meditation on light, nature, and femininity, Swanlights includes songs from all four of Antony and the Johnsons’ albums (self-titled, I am a Bird Now, The Crying Light, and Swanlights), set to symphonic arrangements by Nico Muhly, Rob Moose, and Maxim Moston.”

His performance last night was stunning and a unique first–Antony and the Johnsons is a gorgeous etherial blend of orchestration, deep and dissecting self-reflection, performance art, and meaningful hymns. His

In the red corner: Serge Gainsbourg

In the blue corner: Caetano Veloso

This is almost a question of which country is more seductive, France or Brazil?
Enjoy today’s jamz of the day.

Enjoy

I wanna start by saying that South Africa’s Spoek Mathambo and his self-described “township tech” is going to take the club scene by crazy storm–this man has a new flavor of musical contribution. Mathambo takes Afro Futurist’ to another level entirely and makes them look as old school as Coolio. This is absurd jamz at its best and I’m certain that Spoek Mathambo is a crazy ass! His beats drop hard and pulse through your nerves. At first, he comes across as daunting and a-typical, at times playing what appears to be hip hop beats in reverse matched against psychedelic electro accompaniment and drones. This guy has barely touched the American scene predominantly because he has been unable to bring his entire crew out here. That said, he just signed to Sub-Pop and I assure you this man has a sound that is new, refreshing and takes hip-hop, tech, dance, and awesomeness to another level. His crazed induced jams are unmistakable, intense, addicting, and may make you feel temporarily insane–but in a good way.

Within Minutes what was first uneasy for you will have transformed to an irresistible drug of music. You will be dropping your head and bobbing wherever you are. This gem has been on  loop all day and I’m dancing while writing this post. There’s no doubt that Spoek Mathambo hits hard, insane and deep with multiple layers of distress as his driving voice covers your mind and body. It’s crazy and everywhere. I’m stoked to see more of him in 2012 and want to witness him in person! This man shatters. Nuff said

Enjoy today’s jamz

A question for the ages, I guess.

Only we now know–however, all of us sang a different tune when UMO released their anonymous debut album on bandcamp!

Shooting lightyears forward, we learn that UMO is a freak Portland infused New Zealand project, headed by Ruban Nielson that arrived on this planet for an intergalactic love odyssey…

In addition to having a stellar sound, the band has also moved from labels and producers–My guess is that the dreamy soundscape that Lower Dens have become synonymous with with continue but with more edge than before. Their latest single and today’s jam of the day, “Brains,” carries their sound so well. The synth cuts through the dozing guitar like parmesan against broccoli rabe. If”Brains” is any indication of what to expect on their upcoming Spring release, I’m excited.

Get a peek at the new jam and download it here:

http://lowerdens.com/

I’m going to the Catskills all weekend and as such I thought today’s jam should reflect that gorgeous hilly region!

We were unsure whether our wagon train yokes and oxen could handle the hurricane winds of the delta! We had to ford a few rivers, cross bogs, make some stew, avoid dysentery, and kill at least one black tailed deer every hour to sustain the hardships that we’d faced in the treacherous Catskills also known as, “The Steeps of Snowy Death.” If we didn’t make it, it was because we experienced a Donner moment, if we did, we would bring a hootenanny and jug band.

Without further adieu, backwoods bluegrass daddy, Vassar Clements, and his jam, “Crossing the Catskills.”

OWWWWW!
Dig it and enjoy the long weekend!

This is a sort-of hysterical jam of the day… All I can say is cover party 2012, catchy as hell cover party 2012 is more like it.

Of all The Beatles, McCartney probably had the highest expectations by a manic crowd of  devoted followers after the band’s historic break-up–Lennon was known for peace and well, Ringo and George were Ringo and George. McCartney needed to produce music and fast–so he set-out on a solo career and created music that is reminiscent of in-house recorded demos and it sold well. However, he produced a second album titled, “Ram”. “Ram” did not meet the hearts and minds of the zeitgeist and apparently, “Jon Landau in Rolling Stone called it ‘monumentally irrelevant.’” That being said, critics joined his side later on and now regard it as his seminal solo work. This brings us to today–veteran musician Dave Depper, member of numerous Portland crews including Loch Lomond and now the Fruit Bats said, screw it, and recorded a cover album, title, “The Ram Project”  with Joan Hiller on bvox. He then grabbed a group of cohorts to pay tribute to this once befuddled  and catchy album.

Depper set out on this project during a tough time in his own career, “Stuck in a self-described ‘rut.’” However, I think he really does a pretty amazing job of mimicking McCartney word for word and lick for lick. However, Depper does not carry the depth of  McCartney. Herein lies the problem with Depper’s work, it is a direct cover  but not as good as “Ram,”so why listen to this? Why is it a jam of the day? Who cares?

My answer is simple: Depper’s cover album, “The Ram Project” is catchy as hell, a solid cover that deserves some credit, and anyone who has a background in music and decides to be music historical, relevant and on a quest for his new sound in a funny way is good in my book. I think Depper’s “The Ram Project” is hysterical, fun to listen to and relevant. The truth of the matter is that this is a cover, enjoy it for what is– enjoy these jamz and set aside expectations for the morning.

Cheers and all that jazz.

This week saw the release of a new single by The Shins, who have been on hiatus for five years. The Shins, The seminal Portland band played a large role in driving 21st century rock and pop in a couple specific directions–these guys have a resume that rivals the biggest of bands.

Whether you like listening to The Shins or not, you have to credit them with having a tremendous impact on the international music community. Furthermore, this latest pre-album release titled, “Simple Song” at once maintains quintessential Shins sounds and techniques, yet it also drifts away from the old–in a way, The Shins declare that the band has matured together and has a new vision for their sound’s future. It’s certainly not the twee pop of ‘Chutes too Narrow’ but it carries the effortlessly catchy guitar rifts and organ noodling that so many have come to love and appreciate about the band. The forthcoming album, ’Port Of Morrow’ will be launched on band leader James Mercer’s Aural Apothecary label via Columbia Records in March and I imagine to high acclaim if the rest of the album reflects the buzz as well as the easily digestible sounds of “Simple Song”

I feel like ‘Port of Morrow’ is a matured Shins and represents a new era in their sound. Expect much more from this far from dead band.I dig this jam and think you all will as well.

Enjoy.

I have fallen into a pop worm-hole today… This strange and peculiar happening occurs without anticipation. So what is the solution you ask? Well, it’s quite simple, today’s solution is to listen to Lanu, drink some orange juice and coffee, snack on rye bread and just go with it! Specifically today’s jam, “The Roosevelt Blues” is pleasing my pop desire. The lyrics are actually quite dark but are complimented by a “get over it already” mentality!  Megan Washington’s often bouncy lyrics dash through the heavily catchy melodies and rhythms of Lanu. You swim through their duet of macabre smiles.

So happy Monday from Fiore Jam of the Day.

Enjoy,

That’s what I got–This is conceivably the best music video I have ever seen.  Nothing gets better than gorillas enjoying a concert, wearing buckets on their heads, and connecting with human musicians. Even if Grass Widow sucked, I’d still post this video because it’s awesome, nuff said. However, Grass Widow is far from sucking. In fact, they kick ass and I’m incredibly stoked listening to their unique blend of all the best female-fronted late ‘70s punk bands  like the slits and the more contemporary psychedelic reigns of Cat Power . These ladies have an awesome infusion of airy  yet directed and driving vocals complimented by often post-punk surf rock sounds.

They are what I want in a power trio: heavy, bad ass, and driving!

Their sounds are upbeat and ominous all at once, simultaneously euphoric and diminishing in a way that reminds me of a melting ice cream sundae before it gets poured on popcorn. Grass Widow’s “Milo Minute” off of their EP Nature is stellar.

The bottom line is that Grass Widow kick ass and should be listened to. I mean, they play for Gorillas… Who else can say that?
Enjoy today’s Jam of the Day

Enter Tandoori Knights:

For starters, Anything Tandoori is generally good. Therefore, this band upon inception had a good chance of being pretty digestible. All and all the album is salty but when blended together with some jasmine rice, and a side of mango chutney complimented by a lassi, the listener is given another awesome psychedelic excursion in vindaloo mayhem.

Tandoori Knights is the latest of King Khan’s musical ventures, only this time teaming up with another  Canadian Post-punk stomp psychedelic musician, Bloodshot Bill. Working together each of them offer a unique dash of psychosis infused jamz. The cultural crossings of these two might have conceived an Indian themed garage rock, post-punk theaterical golden love child band better than sita and rama–just saying. These two are hysterical and worth a mindless listen. Dig it?

Enjoy today’s Jam of the Day.

Today’s jam of the day comes from Arcade Fire and their ridiculously awesome and curious interactive video for Sprawl. As usual, Arcade Fire has proven they are truly clever,  orchestrated, artistic, and gorgeously full-bodied.  Check the Below video and check the interactive version as well. The interactive version is fun as hell! Do it!
http://www.sprawl2.com/

Enjoy Today’s Jam of the Day!

Enjoy!

God damn, I have Failed December.
So irritating, grrrrrrrrrrrr (my inner tiger is pissed because Blue cheese doesn’t have the consistency of chevre and therefore, blogging has fallen to the wayside for other things [namely mulled wine]. Things have been nuts with holiday related stuff and I have not been updating this blog  everyday. But sometimes shit happens. And well, that’s about that.
How can I put it. Sometime Musicians morph into cabin dwellers. Many musicians go on these voyages to reinvent there sound as is well characterized by The Mighty Boosh in “Searching for the new sound.” That being said, there is this type of whimsical and often orchestrated almost alcha seltzer like quality to listening to music from a person who has recently returned from a cabin voyage. Anyway, Leslie Feist was in the woods this past year and while there recorded what would later transform into her most recent album, “Metals.” The album is curious and very Feist but with a dash of mountain retrospective with a hint of dark absence. Dark absence is basically a drink that has transformed into a bubbling and forgettable invention. “Metals” is an interesting album that is very worth your ears and time.

Enjoy todays jam.

So withouot further adieu, Bill Frisell.

Enjoy.

Lewis unknowingly or maybe completely knowingly turns his music into monologues and dialogues of reflection and thought. His approach is at once humorous, sad, enjoyable, uplifting, flattering, and communal. Lewis’ unique off-kilter sound and approach to stage and lyrics is a force to be reckoned with. His strange sound and tact have developed for him a very devout group of followers who will swear by his sound and lyrics. They are a community of people who relate to one another and connect with the underlying truths of Lewis’ jamz. Lewis’ ability to develop a community of such is a unique and amazing talent for a musician to possess. So I guess we can just watch and enjoy the maturation of Jeffrey Lewis and his quirky jamz. Enjoy!

This song, “Seven Stars ft. Victoria Legrand”  by Air just pre-released  for Le Voyage Dans La Lune, out February 2012  and is  both stunning and a truly new level for Air!!!! The prolific and reliably hot Air have been around for some time now. Many of their albums have been met with fan appeal and fervor but I believe this will outsell Moon Safari.  They have truly out-done themselves with this jam and what this album could potentially be or become. If “Seven Stars ft. Victoria Legrand” is any indication of the entire new album that will launch in 2012, we are in store for a best of the year release. We are lucky for this early gem of a jam. 

This music is quintessential Air but matured, further developed, more fully orchestrated, complex,  and gorgeous, just gorgeous! Air’s new music is simply beautiful

Enjoy today’s super pre-release hot jam of the day!

I’ll say this though. Lana has a hot voice and she is taking her sound completely viral. She is hyped and hyped and hyped!!! This video isn’t even the video but was just released! She  has torn through the ratings without even releasing an album. Her ability to be fabulous is second to none. She was signed to major label Interscope Records on the strength of two songs.

 About her affiliation with the indie community: basically she doesn’t give a damn. She’s here for herself.

It’s a great song.

Enjoy.

Enjoy today’s beautiful jam of the day.

The just released video for “Hey Sparrow” is stunning and represents yet another mode for experiencing the band’s wonderful music.

Enjoy today’s jam.