By Jesseca Bagherpour

I’m not sure if I’ve complained enough (on this blog) about how much I hate writing lists where I rank, well, anything. So rather than write a list of the top albums of the year, I wrote a list of the albums I listened to the most this year. Most of them weren’t even released this year (one isn’t from this decade, for that matter). But they’re the ones I played the most, for whatever reason. In the spirit of my hatred of lists, I have placed them in alphabetical order, according to album title. Bonus: the last two records on the list are my breakup albums for 2009 (and may therefore appear on another list later this month)!

George Harrison- All Things Must Pass

(1970, Apple/EMI)

What can I say about this album that hasn’t been said in the almost 40 years since its release? It’s an innovative, influential masterpiece from my favorite Beatle and one of the greatest musicians in history. I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflecting this year, pondering relationships, careers and my place in this world. This has probably been my most introspective year, and I think that’s why All Things Must Pass hit me the way it did. I’ve always realized it was a great album, but now I think I understand it on a deeper level. “My Sweet Lord”, “Isn’t It A Pity” “Wah Wah”, “If Not For You” and “Let It Down” got the most plays.

Watch George Harrison (and friends) perform “Wah Wah” at The Concert for Bangladesh (another brilliant release of his):

Liam Finn- I’ll Be Lightning

(2008, Yep Roc)

Son of famous Kiwi musician Neil Finn (Crowded House, Split Enz), Neil Finn is an exciting young (just two weeks older than I am, in fact) artist who has earned acclaim in his own right. I first happened upon Finn on mtvU, when his video for “Second Chance” was getting repeated plays. I got hooked on the video.

But for some reason forgot about his music (and his beautiful beard) until I saw him open for Wilco in October. Playing with just Aussie Eliza Jane Barnes to accompany him, Finn kept the attention of almost everyone in the packed Palladium ballroom. His vocals are striking and he’s a fine guitarist, but he’s, well, a complete badass on drums. His music is reminiscent of his father’s, with some alt-country elements and his own experimental streak. My favorite songs from the album are “Better to Be”, “Second Chance”, “Lead Balloon” and “Fire In Your Belly”.

Here’s Finn doing a solo rendition of “Second Chance” (click link for song download), because you have to see him wail on those drums to truly get it:

Apples in Stereo- New Magnetic Wonder

(2007, Yep Roc/Simian/Elephant 6)

I’ve been listening to this album repeatedly for the past few weeks. I’ve listened to it while writing, reading, driving, walking, shopping and working out. What with my recent obsessions with psychedelic music and ELO (Electric Light Orchestra, if you’re not aware), it’s an obvious choice.

Why didn’t this album grab me in 2007? Probably because I was still mocking ELO at that point. But I have since seen the light. Wonder album was the first release from Apples-obsessed Elijah Wood’s Simian label (he also directed the video for the first single, Pepsi anthem“Energy“).

The entire record is chock full of infectious, retro pop vibes. “Can You Feel It?” is a superbly chosen opener, “Skyway” is a cool, 60s rock tune and “Same Old Drag” (by far my favorite) is the most ELO-esque song on the record, complete with dominant keys/synthesizer, robot vocals and vocode-filtered backing vocals. Then, of course, there’s “Energy” (click for song download), the first single, which has an almost irritatingly upbeat and catchy hook.

Here’s the video for “Same Old Drag” (this one isn’t the official video, which I thought was creepy, but instead a video of the band lip syncing to the song in their van):

The Thermals- Now We Can See

(2009, KRS)

The Thermals have been around since 2002, but I only became addicted to them after the release of Now We Can See. What’s ironic is I’ve always loved their hyperactive punk-pop and Now We Can See is a departure for the band, having a more subdued sound (with much of the punk being present in spirit only). The band has a knack for writing songs that put the listener in a great mood, and Now We Can See continues that tradition. Stand-out tracks include “My World”, “I Let It Go” and “Now We Can See” (my choice for download), but I love the whole album.

I would say more about it, but I would have to get into some personal issues to fully explain what the album meant to me this year. So I’ll let the music do the talking. You can watch The Thermals performing three of their songs in a graveyard in Edniburgh (for Off the Beaten Tracks) here.

And download the title track here:

The Thermals- Now We Can See

Wilco- Wilco (The Album)

(2009, Nonesuch)

I know, I’ve only written a handful of posts for Daybowbow so far and my love for Wilco is already apparent. But music bloggers aren’t exactly known for objectivity, so deal with it. Were I to make a list of the top albums of 2009, this one would probably be at the top. But I didn’t, so it’s not.

It’s hard to admit this as a self-proclaimed Wilco fanatic, but I didn’t like this album when the band streamed it in May. I hated the title (which I now realize is tongue-in-cheek, like the 90s-esque album cover)–real creative, guys! I thought they had gotten too poppy (and that’s a lot coming from me) on some songs and too sappy (entering Sky Blue Sky territory) in others. And a female vocalist (Feist, no less … I know she sang our track of the day, but I can’t hide my ambivalent feelings towards her)? Blasphemy.

But once I gave it a few more listens, I was hooked. : “Wilco (The Song)”, “One Wing” (for reasons stated in the opening paragraph) and “Bull Black Nova” (the Television influence really comes out here) are my favorites, but I haven’t tired of any of the songs so far. And “You And I” (the aforementioned duet with Feist) is lovely and great to sing along to. When I saw the band this fall, I still got more excited hearing their older songs, but when Wilco opened with “Wilco (The Song)”, I freaked out like a 14-year-old girl seeing The Beatles in 1964.

Watch this not-too-horrible video (the sound is better than the picture) of Wilco performing their eponymous track:

Also, download “Bull Black Nova”, my top pick from the album.

Wilco- Bull Black Nova

Everything I say falls away,
Like the fade on the radio song.
And everything I try pass me by,
Like the tide seems to rise then it’s gone.

Still there’s something to said for company in bed,
This time I want it, see, I knew we’d agree.
How can anyone deny the benefits of lying with your friends?
We’ll try it again.

Sometimes when I’m by myself, I can’t find myself,
And there’s no one there.
Sometimes I can see myself, I can be myself,
With a friend, now…
EverydayI ride of my eyes,
And my mind fills with complications.
And everywhere I go, pass by slow,
Fading moments and aspirations.

Sometimes when I’m by myself, I can’t find myself,
And there’s no one there.
Sometimes I can be myself, I can see myself,
With a friend, now, a friend now…

I’ll never know you like you know yourself.
You’ll never know me like I know myself.
I’ll never know you like you know yourself.
You’ll never know me like I know myself.
I’ll never know you like you know yourself.
You’ll never know me like I know myself.

It’s all a matter of time…

By Jesseca Bagherpour

During my grade school days, I freaked out when other people discovered the music I loved. It was my music and I didn’t want anyone to steal it from me. I first experienced this reaction while listening to Weezer’s Blue album with my family on a road trip. They all liked it! I was all right with my older brother liking it, because he was close to my age and therefore cool. But my parents? No way. I asked them to remove the cassette (remember cassettes?) from the tape deck and I promptly put it back into my Walkman. As the years progressed, I briefly hated (or was “over”) The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, The White Stripes and a slew of other artists who rose from relative obscurity to become “the next big thing.”

But I’ve changed. I share music with my mom and we even go to concerts together. When an artist I like gets popular, signs on with a major record label or has a song featured in a commercial, I’m happy for them. That could come from having lived in an area teeming with musicians, many of whom are friends and acquaintances (some of whom have sold their songs for commercial use in foreign markets, but I won’t name anyone). Or it could come from being an adult. Either way, I’d rather my favorite artists be able to make a living (by selling their songs, not mine, no matter how personal they may feel). There’s nothing noble in starving and/or cleaning toilets in the name of your “art”. And I want as many people as possible to be exposed to good music. When the masses accept it, it gives me a little hope for mankind.

This is a list of 10 artists I still love, even though they’ve “sold their souls” (specifically to take part in major ad campaigns):

Iggy Pop (Royal Carribean)

I decided to kick it off with the man who is probably the most famous of all “sellouts”. When Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” was first used in a Royal Carribean commercial in 2005, people couldn’t believe their ears. A song about drinking, drugs and other debauchery used in an ad promoting a cruise line, of all things? But Iggy wasn’t bothered by the criticism.

Bob Dylan (too many to list)

The godfather of punk may have sold one of his greatest songs to sell cruises (and to buy a second Rolls Royce), but Bob Dylan, a seminal figure in the counterculture for 50 years, has helped many a company sell its wares.

I couldn’t decide which was more jarring–Dylan selling iPods, Dylan selling bras (in an insanely creepy Victoria’s Secret ad which made me long for the comparatively less upsetting Joanna Newsom version), Dylan selling Cadillacs (while Smog plays in the background)?

Then I happened upon this one, which I must have blocked from my memory over the past several months–Bob Dylan and Will I Am selling Pepsis. Despite all the ads, and allowing a member of the Black Eyed Peas to butcher one of his songs, I still love Bob Dylan. He’s Bob Dylan, for crying out loud.

The Apples in Stereo (Pepsi)

The Apples in Stereo also contributed to a Pepsi ad this year (and it wasn’t their first brush with “selling out”, having sold a few songs for ads, movies and TV shows earlier in the decade). I’ve been listening to New Magnetic Wonder a lot lately, and their song “Energy” gave me the idea for this list.

Jack White (Coca Cola)

I wasn’t aware of this one until I started doing my research, but the song and commercial are honestly good. I am a sucker for a good pop song and the commercial looks like a White Stripes video. I wonder if The Apples and The White Stripes are contractually obligated to hate each other since they’ve advertised for rival soft drink companies.

Karen O (Adidas)

Spike Jonze directed this commercial which, like the Jack White Coke commercial, could stand alone as a brilliant music video. The title song in the ad, “Hello Tomorrow”, was written by Jonze’s brother. The commercial won several advertising awards as well. There’s no way I’m calling Karen O a sellout for this one, and I’m definitely not criticizing Jonze, whose commercials are as inventive as his videos and films. I’m also pretty sure this initial collaboration inspired Jonze’s picking O to create the soundtrack to Where the Wild Things Are. If that doesn’t convince you, then your heart is made of stone.

The Flaming Lips (Land Rover)

I liked “Do You Realize?” more before its excessive usage in films and ads, not the least of which is this commercial for a gas-guzzling, overpriced yuppie-mobile. But I adore the Lips (especially Wayne), and it’s a lovely song.

Wilco (Volkswagen)

Speaking of car commercials, Jeff Tweedy and company got a lot of guff from fans for this one. Some choice words were spoken … er … typed … in their fan forum. I, for one, was excite for the band when I saw the ads. They were well-made and, again, exposed new people to their music. Even if it is music from my least favorite Wilco record (which is why I posted their B-side, “The Thanks I Get”).

Spoon (Jaguar)

The Jaguar XK is stylish, its commercial is stylish, the song is stylish. Spoon got exposure and money for selling a song. No moral quandaries here. I’m not just saying that because Britt Daniel is easily one of the sexiest front men of the past 10 years. They’re a talented who put consistently stellar records and always put on a terrific live show. There’s no reason to turn on them for selling a song to a car company (or to emusic, who featured their song “Sister Jack” … but they support independent artists, making that ad even more innocuous).

Guided By Voices (Nissan)

I scoured the internet for a Canadian Nissan commercial featuring “Quality of Armor”, but to no avail (I guess to many other music nerds posted it to their blogs and Nissan removed it. I did, however, post the song … so you can visualize someone driving a Nissan while listening to it. Pollard was nonchalant about the ad and even had a few others in the works, including a reworked version of “Non-Absorbing” for Budweiser (GBV and their fans LOVE beer, after all) and an original jingle for Krispy Kreme (he didn’t have a deal for that one … he just loves their doughnuts). The man is possibly a musical genius, but he’s not about posturing so I wouldn’t care if he decided to turn to a life of writing jingles. He would be the most prolific jingle writer alive and commercials would be a lot cooler.

The New Pornographers (The University of Phoenix)

Speaking of Canada, this commercial comes from mostly-Canadian band The New Pornographers. I don’t know who could talk smack about this one. Maybe the New Pornographers wanted to help promote online education. It’s kind of a cheesy concept, but I’m sure it’s helped a lot of people. And “Bleeding Heart Show” is one of my favorite songs. Good choice, University of Phoenix. I’m pretty sure there were a lot of fans at their last Dallas show who heard them for the first time because of this commercial. But that’s kind of the point, right?

As Iggy told David Fricke of Rolling Stone: “So am I happy to hear my music anywhere? Yeah. I don’t like the art ghetto. I want a wider culture..”

Songs to listen to when out on a cold night at sea
DJ Krush & Toshinori Kondo – Shoh-Ka
Futurecop! – Eyes Like The Ocean
Myrtle K. Hilo – Lover’s Prayer
Hazel Nuts Chocolate – Yo-Ho-Yo-Ho
Mario Nascimbene – Carol on the Sea
Venetian Snares – Hajnal
The Ruby Suns – Blue Penguin
of Montreal – Nickee Coco and the Invisible Tree
The Apples in Stereo – Coda

20 Watts played Annie, Elephant 6 and more on WERW

Eric, Chris, Caitlin AND special guest Mary are in the studio this evening!  We’re playing an hour of new music, an hour of Elephant 6 and an hour of local music.  Tune in by clicking this link — we’ll be here until 1!

Want to talk to us or request a song? IM werw1570, tweet @20_watts or call (315) 443-1278.

New tracks are in bold, local artists are italicized.

And don’t forget to tune in to 20 Watts’ Audiocandy+ shows on Wednesday and Thursday from 9-11 p.m.!

Title: My Love Is Better [16/20 watts -- read the review]
Artist: Annie
Album: Don’t Stop

Title: Me Against the Music
Artist: Britney Spears and Madonna
Album: Greatest Hits

Title: XR2
Artist: M.I.A.
Album: Kala

Title: Disturbia
Artist: Rihanna
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad

Title: Fake Blues [14/20 watts -- read the review]
Artist: Real Estate
Album: Real Estate

Title: Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
Artist: John Mayer
Album: Where the Light Is

Title: Hong Kong Cockfight
Artist: Euroboys
Album: Jet Age

Title: Baby By Me [14/20 watts -- read the review]
Artist: 50 Cent
Album: Before I Self Destruct

Title: Cappuccino
Artist: The Knux
Album: Remind Me In 3 Days

Title: Norway [read John Cassillo's editor's pick on the single]
Artist: Beach House
Album: Teen Dream

Title: Slow Life
Artist: Grizzly Bear & Victoria Legrand
Album: New Moon Soundtrack

Title: When I’m with You
Artist: Best Coast
Album: When I’m with You 7″

READ THE 20: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE ELEPHANT 6

Title: Old Familiar Way
Artist: Of Montreal
Album: The Gay Parade

Title: Ghost
Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel
Album: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Title: Signal in the Sky
Artist: The Apples in Stereo
Album: Let’s Go!

Title: Popular Mechanics for Lovers
Artist: Beulah
Album: The Coast is Never Clear

Title: Motion in the Ocean
Artist: Nana Grizol
Album: Love It! Love It!

Title: Crayon Box
Artist: The Gerbils
Album: Are You Sleepy

Title: Naomi
Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel
Album: On Avery Island

Title: Define a Transparent Dream
Artist: The Olivia Tremor Control
Album: Dusk at Cubist Castle

Title: The Lovely Universe
Artist: Circulatory System
Artist: Circulatory System

Title: Fun Loving Nun
Artist: Of Montreal
Album: The Gay Parade

Title: Yesterday’s World
Artist: Circulatory System
Album: Circulatory System

Title: Don’t Know Why (You Stay)
Artist: The Essex Green
Album: Cannibal Sea

Title: I Love How You Love Me (Phil Spector)
Artist: Jeff Magnum
Album: Live at Jittery Joe’s

Title: Strawberryfire
Artist: The Apples in Stereo
Album: Her Wallpaper Reverie

Title: Two-Headed Boy Pt. 2
Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel
Album: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Title: Saints & Saboteurs
Artist: Why the Wires
Album: Love Elevators

Title: Definitive Gaze
Artist: Magazine
Album: Real Life

O grupo The Apples in Stereo faz parte do coletivo musical americano Elephant 6, então daí vocês tiram que tipo de som pode surgir das guitarras e vocais no mínimo estranhos dessa banda. Formada pelo front man Robert Schneider, John Hill, Eric Allen, Bill Doss, John Dufilho e John Ferguson e recentemente lançaram o trabalho #1 Hits Explosion bem experimental e psicodélico.

Aqui para download o álbum #1 Hits Explosion     Download

1 – Energy

Liam Finn & Eliza Jane, Won’t Change My Mind
Belle and Sebastian, We Are the Sleepyheads
Be Your Own Pet, Hillmont Avenue
The Clean, Loog
The B-52s, Pump
Benett, Just Because I Liked You (in the Summertime)
Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions, For the Rest of Your Life
Bettie Serveert, Unsound
Belly, It’s Not Unusual
Madison Park, Another Yesterday
Beat Happening, I’ve Lost You
Bat for Lashes, Seal Jubilee
Polynya, Mobile
Bangs, Call and Response
Bagheera, Admission/Concession
Box Elders, Stay
Babes in Toyland, Live at the Academy
Asobi Seksu, Before We Fall
Asleep in the Park, Nobody Wants
Azure Ray, We Are Mice
astroPuppees, She Can’t Say No
Polite Sleeper, Driving Ohio
April March, I Just Might Crack
The Apples in Stereo, Stream Running Over
Electric Valentine, Take Your Time
Aroah, La Historia Mas Triste
An Horse, Little Little Little
Divisible, Don’t Say Nothin Now
Anjulie, Boom
Maya Angelou, Calypso Blues
The Dry Spells, Rhiannon
The Anniversary, Never Die Young
Laurie Anderson, The Ouija Board
Vivian Girls, Can’t Get Over You
Angus & Julia Stone, Just a Boy
The Amps, Tipp City
Thee Headliners, Sketch City
Amanda Blank, Might Like You Better
Lily Allen, Everything’s Just Wonderful
All Girl Summer Fun Band, Lipsmacker Kiss
Dido, Take My Hand
Olivia Broadfield, Don’t Let Go
The Rocking Horse Winner, Playing With Lights

Arg, to-day is talk like a pirate day.  The only piratical words I know are “Arg” and “aye”.  (At least those are the only piratical words that I know that I also know the meaning.) 

Most of the interesting things that I’ve done (or more specifically thought) I’ve already blogged about.  So, basically, I just have to-day and Friday to talk about. 

To-day, I watched “I, Robot”.  Ironically, my cousin is also watching it in school.  But that’s dumb.  I have two copies of the book “I, Robot”.  There are but three similarities between the book and the movie, not including the name.  Those three similarities are (1) – there’s a character named Susan Calvin, (2) – it’s about robots (not so specific), and (3) – the three laws that govern the robots.  So, I can’t see the purpose of watching it in an Englisch class (which I gather is the science fiction course).  I mean, one can’t even watch it to see how they’ve changed the book in certain places, because there are hardly any similarities between the movie and the book, save for those three that I’ve listed above. 

On Friday, I finished my art class paintings.  Technically, I finished them on Thursday, but I decided that I was done on Friday.  Then, I had to write a ‘paragraph’ about them.  Mine turned out to be about a whole sheet.   I have mock-up versions of them on flickr, but I have the links in previous posts and I feel too lazy to re-link them.  Also I don’t see the purpose nor the necessity of it.

I went to the Sunflower Fest downtown to-day.  It was pretty boring.  My idea of fun is not walking around looking at people selling things that aren’t really necessary and smelling cooking (or burning) food.  I did see a 1948 Willys Jeepster.  That was pretty much the only good part.  (I really like Jeeps and other cars.  Basically for the art aspect of them.  I have no ideas whatsoever about engines or power or even driving.  I just like looking at the cars.)

I’ve been playing guitar more often recently as well.  That sentence sounds weird because I’ve placed ‘often’ next to ‘recently’, but, eh.  I’m trying to transpose “Rhapsody in Blue” from E to G.  It should be pretty easy, I just haven’t put much effort into it yet. 

I also found a new band this week.  I’d looked up the Zombies on the Zune software (which updated this week), and one artist that Zune claims has been influenced by the Zombies is The Apples in Stereo.  I looked them up on Amazon (which fortunately had two of their songs avaliable for FREE download).  They’re a pretty cool band.  I especially like their music video for “Can You Feel It?”.  I’m not sure if the question mark is in the title or not, but I added it. 

To-day, as well as being talk like a pirate day, is also the death date of the 20th president, James Garfield.  I’m the kind of strange person who knows this offhand.  He was the second president to be assassinated.  He’s one of my favourites too.  Basically just because he was from OHIO and could write simultaneously in Greek and Latin.  I went to his house on vacation last year.  Anyway, he was shot in a train station.  I learned at his house/museum, that Abraham Lincoln’s son was present at his shooting (Garfield’s).  Also that Lincoln’s son (I’m not sure which one, that rhymes) was present at the assassination of the third assassinated president, McKinley.  Whose name I can’t think of presently.  William.  I always do that!  I say, “Oh, I can’t think of it.”  and then either as I’m saying that or immediately thereafter, I do think of it. 

After this, I’m off to revise the first page of atomic element symbol words, hereafter abbreviated as AESW.  I’ve been carrying around the 17 Jan 09 list since 17 Jan 09 and have been adding words as I come across them.  My addiction to them got so serious at one point that I could barely read because I kept analysing the words.  To cure that, I just read faster, giving myself less time to focus on each word.  But enough about that….

This isn’t the type of high playlist that’ll wow you and fill you with existential angst after breaking down all your assumptions in a postmodern musical fury. It’s just fun music to listen to and that’s what being high is about some times. Most of the songs on this playlist are pretty upbeat, and a lot of them are by the same artists (mainly because those artists have an abundance of great upbeat songs to choose from (except Pavement)). While they aren’t necessarily technically masterful, they aren’t bad songs either. You’ll just be especially happy when listening to this compilation, really if you’re high though. I couldn’t see someone truly enjoying this playlist as much as a 65 if you’re not high; but who knows, maybe this is just a sick playlist.

I think the picture says it all.

Go – The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone – The Apples in Stereo
Fee – Junta – Phish
Aeroplane – One Hot Minute – The Read Hot Chili Peppers
Stream Running Over – The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone – The Apples in Stereo
Live and Let Live – 93 ‘til Infinity – Souls of Mischief
Speak, See, Remember – Terror Twilight – Pavement
Foxes Mate For Life – Red, Yellow & Blue – Born Ruffians
Hiphopopotamus Vs. Rhymenocerous – Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords
… And Carrot Rope – Terror Twilight – Pavement
It’s True That We Love One Another – Elephant – The White Stripes
What I Got (Reprise) – Sublime – Sublime
Energy – New Magnetic Wonder – The Apples in Stereo
Kurt Vonnegut – Red, Yellow & Blue – Born Ruffians
The Bird That You Can’t See – The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone – The Apples in Stereo
Skyway – New Magnetic Wonder – The Apples in Stereo
She Took All The Money – Bluefinger – Black Francis
Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Give it Away – Blood Sugar Sex Magik – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Float On – Good News For People Who Like Bad News – Modest Mouse

Estaba preparando una recopilación para el blog, fundamentalmente de novedades, y se me ocurrió mirar qué disco había puesto hoy Fer en Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow: ¡¡me había pisado la idea!! Y lo peor era que coincidía en más de media docena de temas (por cierto, no os perdáis End Of Summer 2009, que es buenísima). Así que decidí darle otro enfoque a mi selección y, partiendo del estilo que más o menos tenían los temas que había seleccionado hasta ese momento, fui recomponiendo la recopilación con otras canciones.

Haz clic en la portada para descargar la recopilación

Al final, este es el resultado: DAYS, una recopilación de temas de David Bowie, Wiretree, Cowboy Junkies, Dinosaur Jr., Stephen Malkmus, The Sea And Cake, Beck, Eels, Willy DeVille, Sondre Lerche, Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson, Two Gallants, Brendan Benson, Richard Thompson, Frank Black, The Apples In Stereo, Matthew Sweet, Fanfarlo, Mark Olson, Rickie Lee Jones, Lambchop y Mark Mulcahy, en la que se mezclan temas actuales (ninguno coincide con los de la recopilación de Fer) y otros de unos pocos años atrás que espero os haga más agradable este fin de semana que se presenta con temperaturas un poquito más suaves.

Como siempre, haciendo clic en la portada del disco os podéis descargar las canciones y la carátula en pdf. Y AQUÍ tenéis el listado completo de los temas que incluye.

P.D.: La foto de la portada la hice ayer durante la visita a una obra en Cártama (Málaga), viaje que tambien aproveché para tomar un café con uno de los visitantes más asiduos de este blog.

The Apples in Stereo's greatest hits album drops this week

PREVIEW: Download The Apples in Stereo’s “Energy” MP3

Every week, 20 Watts rounds up the new releases on our radar; click the link for our full review.

Have suggestions? Leave a comment or e-mail them to 20wattsblog@gmail.com.

The Apples in Stereo — #1 Hits Explosion [14/20 Watts]

The extensive and fun career of The Apples in Stereo has finally been summed up for your listening pleasure. Including all of the tracks that have had you and every other indie kid bopping around through the years, the collection is a hallmark moment for the group, which retains just one of its original members (Robert Schneider). If you’re already a fan, you’ve heard these all before, but for those new to the band, perhaps this is the right effort to get you started.

David Bazan — Curse Your Branches [14/20 Watts]

As he resurrects himself from the depths of alcoholism and his personal struggle with Christianity, David Bazan also continues to make music. Appearing to be more beaten-down than ever before, Bazan seems to bounce between his usual tongue-in-cheek banter and complete exhaustion on Curse Your Branches. As a person, he’s tortured, and it appears the wear of a life spent stressing on religion, sex and alcohol has taken its toll. At the same time though, he presents a knowledge of his issues, so perhaps this is the first step toward recovery.

Datarock — Red [9/20 Watts]

Where Datarock fails miserably in terms of lyrics, they seem to excel in their instrumental endeavors. Littered within bright and triumphant ’80s pop are some of the most insufferable lyrics you’ll hear all year, turning what could be a much-heralded release into one worth ignoring. Perhaps the band needs a new lyricist, because with music as infectious as what they’ve put together on Red, it seems a shame to let it all go to waste.

– John Cassillo, Reviews Editor

eu fico cantarolando essa música, sempre que vejo o comercial novo da Pepsi, o clipe também é bem simpático

The Apples in Stereo – Energy

The Genius File is featured on the newest episode of This Man Is Not My Father (a local music video blog).  We are big fans of The Genius File and, coincidentally, we will be sitting down with them this weekend to record another part of our “A Six Pack With…” Series.  Check’em out…

PART I

PART II

The Genius File is…

Matt Taylor- vocals, keyboards, guitar
Ryan Rollins – vocals, guitars, excellence
Donovan Lauderback- bass, guitar
Martin Larsen- drums

A word from Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo and Co-Founder of the Elephant 6 Recording Company w/ Jeff Mangum…

“Laser-guided indie rock from Matt Taylor (Blastic Pubble) and co-conspirator Ryan Rollins. The Genius File takes off from the maximum psychedelia of Blastic Pubble, into a vector-graphic landscape of jagged pop hooks. An awesome debut from these mid-fi masterminds.” -Robert Schneider (The Apples in stereo)

Some are new, some are old. But they’re all wonderfully seasonally appropriate and quite musical if I do say so myself. Here it is, the summer playlist for maximum sunny enjoyment…

1 Gavin Castleton | “Coffeelocks”

2 The Apples in Stereo | “Energy”

3 Jonathan Boulet | “A Public Service Announcement”

4 The Boy Least Likely To | “Be Gentle With Me”

5 Michael Leviton | “Summer’s The Worst”

6 Jens Lekman | “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill”

7 Belle & Sebastian | “Another Sunny Day”

8 Still Flyin’ | “The Hott Chord is Struck”

9 Acid House Kings | “Do What You Wanna Do”

10 Camera Obscura | “Let’s Get Out of This Country”

11 The 1900’s | “Everybody’s Got A Collection”

12 I’m From Barcelona | “This Boy (feat. Loney Dear)”

13 Jack Penate | “Second, Minute or Hour”

14 Vampire Weekend | “Mansard Roof”

15 Benji Cossa | “Sunset”

16 The Magic Kids | “Hey Boy”

17 Patrick Wolf | “The Magic Position”

18 This Is Ivy League | “The Richest Kids”

19 Voxtrot | “The Start of Something”

20 Bishop Allen | “Click, Click, Click, Click”

21 Oh No! Oh My! | “The Party Punch”

22 Badly Drawn Boy | “Something To Talk About”

23 His Name Is Alive | “Get Your Curse On (Summer Left Your Heart Behind”

And I found this the day after I finished the mix. Replace another song with this if you wanna…

Bonus Track: Johnny Foreigner | “Feels Like Summer”

[this is just under 80 minutes so it should fit on your average blank cd]

The Apples in Stereo – Play Tough

you gotta play tough my love

Mediafire

So you’re an original founder of Elephant Six. You’ve got production credits on both Neutral Milk Hotel records as well as work with Olivia Tremor Control and Beulah. You’ve made enough great albums with The Apples In Stereo to have a good shot at the Indie Rock Hall Of Fame, and on top of that, your solo projects Marbles and ulysses weren’t too bad either.

What do you do next?

Write music for children educating them about science, maths and ethics! Make it into a cartoon!

That’s the career path for Robert Schneider, aka Robbert Bobbert from Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine. It’s unclear who the Bubble Machine is as yet, but the bookies have thrown up the names of the bubble machine from the Flaming Lips at 3/1 and the bubble machine who formerly worked with Dublin Duck Dispensary at 10/1.

It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Apples In Stereo + a straight admission that you’re writing for children = Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine.

But then, when you hear some of the songs about science, like ‘Gravity’, you’ll realise that certain AIS songs, like for example ‘Energy’… are exactly the same.

Check this one out:

Or if you want sound quality, try MySpace.

Hi Everyone,

It’s been a while since I last posted but I thought I would check in. In the span of one week I will be traveling up and down the east coast (for various important family birthday parties) four different times. (CT-DC, DC-CT, CT-DC, DC-CT). Now if my multiplication skills are correct that means that I will be spending over twenty four hours on the train and therefore will be in need of an adequate soundtrack for my multiple trips. I won’t burden you all with every song I plan on listening to (that could even be a little embarrassing) but here are a few songs that will definitely be on the playlist.

The first song, “German Love,” I loved immediately upon my first listen (which is rare for me). I have literally been playing it on repeat since I came across it a few days ago. My only complaints are that it’s not long enough and I’m not a huge fan of the band’s name.

The next song “Questions and Answers” is a song I’ve loved since junior or sophomore year of high school and recently rediscovered. While I’m hesitant to say it’s unbearably cute for fear of sounding too much like Zack…it’s unbearably cute. Also it makes me happy because it reminds me of the many hours spent in the Death Cab with Suz, hey Suz!

Finally, I found Royksopp’s new song weeks ago and since then it’s popped up everywhere but if you have yet to hear it, it is absolutely worth listening too. It is already my favorite Royksopp song by far and truly lives up to its title, “Happy Up Here” as it is one of the most upbeat, happy songs I’ve ever heard.

MP3: Starfucker – “German Love”
MP3: The Apples in Stereo – “Questions and Answers”
MP3: Royksopp – “Happy Up Here”

Love,
Claire