Category Archives: Uncategorized

01.18.10
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On the Lookout in 2010

  
   

The new year of 2010 has finally embraced us all.  I’m not one to celebrate a new year in a giddy fashion like many others.  I cannot stand those mass texts of, “Happy New Years!! :)” from people I only talk to during holidays.  So, as I hosted a little first-day-of-the-new-year and watched as everyone got heavily drunk, I realized, holy fuck, it’s 2010.  Do you know what this means?  Do you?  2010 is going to be a great, great year of releases.  I only say that based on the fact that some of my most admirable artists are releasing their upcoming albums within the next few months of 2010.  I’ll segment this into pieces.  Each piece will contain 6 artists and their upcoming album(s) for the year 2010. –Krista De La Rosa

She & Him: Volume 2

Now, my obsession with She & Him is stronger than my obsession with Robert Downey Jr.  It could be for two reasons: I am head over heels with M. Ward.  As awkward as a character he may be, he has swooned me over many times.  I’ve seen him live many times and I’ve only fallen more in love with his salty black hair, deep brown eyes, and facial structure.  Now, of course, the other reason sums of 150% to why I love She & Him so much: My love for Zooey Deschanel is stronger than any other.  I have never fallen in love with an actress/singer as much as I have with her.  You don’t understand.  I really cannot stress how much I am in love with her.  So, when you put the two together, holy God, how can one NOT be completely in love with their sound?

She & Him: Volume 2 is set tobe released March 23 on Merge.

Volume Two track list:

01 Thieves
02 In the Sun [ft. Tilly and the Wall]
03 Don’t Look Back
04 Ridin’ in My Car (NRBQ cover)
05 Lingering Still
06 Me and You
07 Gonna Get Along Without You Now (Skeeter Davis cover)
08 Home
09 I’m Gonna Make It Better
10 Sing
11 Over It Over Again
12 Brand New Shoes
13 If You Can’t Sleep

By just reading their track list, butterflies fluttered around my stomach.  I already know this album is going to be the soundtrack to my year and life.  I mean, COME ON, track numbers 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 are already the soundtrack to my life just by reading the title of their songs.  Zooey and M. Ward never cease to amaze me.  Lord, I cannot wait till this album comes out.  (By the way, their album cover comes out later this Spring.  I think I have pictured almost every possible album cover they may have for Volume 2.)

Vampire Weekend: Contra

Vampire Weekend.  Vampire Weekend. Ezra Koenig,Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, Chris Baio.  Have you ever seen Ezra and Chris (Tomson)?  Ever?  I have never even seen them in the flesh, yet just watching videos/pictures of Vampire Weekend makes my heart melt into puddles.

The day they released Horchata, I became the happiest girl in this little world.  I mean, that song was on repeat for weeks.  I literally listened to nothing BUT Horchata.  That’s how awesome it was.  And when they recently released Cousins.  Holy shit.  Their video just amazed me.  Like, it left me in awe with how awesome it all was.  This song makes me dance.  I DON’T DANCE.  (Well, okay, I’ve been dancing in a studio since I was 5, but I have no passion for it at all.  So, don’t ever remind me that I admitted to the fact that I was a dancer).  Regardless, this song makes you dance.  And only a song like that is a song worth listening to over and over again.  Plus, Ezra and Tomson look SO good in this video.

Vampire Weekend: Contra is set to be released January 11 on XL Recordings.

Contra track list:

01 Horchata
02 White Sky
03 Holiday
04 California English
05 Taxi Cab
06 Run
07 Cousins
08 Giving Up the Gun
09 Diplomat’s Son
10 I Think Ur a Contra

Beach House – Teen Dream

Now, I would like to get a round of applause from every Beach House listener in the world.  Why?  Because when Teen Dream album leaked in November, I did not indulge in the peer Beach House pressure.  Yes, this is all true.  I am waiting 24 more days to personally purchase and own a copy of this album.  24 more fucking days.

Beach House was produced and engineered by Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Grizzly Bear).  These past few days, I have been thinking about how awesome it would be to be Coady.  Then I scribbled on a piece of paper; “Goal: To be another Chris Coady”.  I am going to take over this music world.  Really.  Maybe.  Maybe really.

Beach House: Teen Dream is set to be released January 26 on Sub Pop Records.

Teen Dream track list:

01 Zebra
02 Silver Soul
03 Norway
04 Walk in the Park
05 Used to Be
06 Lover of Mine
07 Better Times
08 10 Mile Stereo
09 Real Love
10 Take Care

Eels: End Times

If you don’t love the Eels, you don’t love life.  If you don’t love this depressing, bearded-beauty album cover, you don’t love humanity.  There is just something so extra magical about the Eels that keep my heart beating.

Eels: End Times is set to be released January 19 on Vagrant Records.

End Times track list:

01 The Beginning
02 Gone Man
03 In My Younger Days
04 Mansions of Los Feliz
05 A Line in the Dirt
06 End Times
07 Apple Trees
08 Paradise Blues
09 Nowadays
10 Unhinged
11 High and Lonesome
12 I Need a Mother
13 Little Bird
14 On My Feet

Spoon – Transference

Now, now, now, I love Spoon very much.  Even though it’s been 5 months since I have last seen them live, my love for their music continues to grow.  So, when I found out about their newest album, my heart dropped.  But then, BUT THEN, they released their recent single, “Got Nuffin”.  Oh My God.  That song, THAT SONG, had to be the greatest thing my ears have ever tuned in to.  Also, let me not forget to add that my obsession with Rob Pope (bassist of Spoon/Get Up Kids) skyrockets beyond all others.  Charming men playing absolutely mind blowing music is the key to my heart.  Spoon has it all.

Spoon: Transference is set to be released January 26 (January 25 in Europe) on Merge.

Transference track list:

01 Before Destruction
02 Is Love Forever?
03 The Mystery Zone
04 Who Makes Your Money
05 Written in Reverse
06 I Saw the Light
07 Trouble Comes Running
08 Goodnight Laura
09 Out Go the Lights
10 Got Nuffin
11 Nobody Gets Me But You

Shout Out Louds: Walk

Okay, Phil Ek produced this album.  PHIL EK.  If you are not familiar with this man, just know that he also produced The Shins, Fleet Foxes, and Band of Horses albums.  So, you know without a doubt that this album will be nothing but glorious sounds.  Shout Out Louds have always been a favorite of mine.  Even when all The O.C. fans became obsessed with them after hearing one of their songs during an episode (I’m not hating, I am a complete O.C. fan), I still was a devoted fangirl to Shout Out Louds.  Words cannot express how excited I am that they are no longer on a “break” and are releasing a new album.

Shout Out Louds: Walk is set to be released February 23 on Merge.

Walk track list:

01 1999
02 Fall Hard
03 Play the Game
04 Walls
05 Candle Burned Out
06 Throwing Stones
07 Four by Four
08 Moon
09 Some Me Something New
10 Too Late, Too Slow

01.14.10
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Vampire Weekend Appear on MTV Unplugged


Gone are the days when MTV airs their Unplugged performances on TV. Of course we’re in an indie rock renaissance and as all of our favorites hit the stage the only way we can see them is over at MTV’s website. The most exciting Unplugged of, well maybe ever, is the one that the hottest band around right now, Vampire Weekend just filmed. The band took the stage to perform six songs, new and old with an orchestra and a very intimiate crowd. This is every Vampire Weekend’s fans dream, and hey, even if you’re not into the band, it’s time to start. How they’re able to pull off their songs from “Cousins” to “A-Punk” acoustically, so beautiful, is truly an amazing experience. This gives us a taste of what the band is going to provide on tour this time around, and it looks good to us. Move over Grizzly Bear. Someone is stealing your thunder this year.

Watch the Unplugged video for “A-Punk” below

Watch the entire Unplugged performance HERE

01.11.10
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Secondhand Sunday: Vampire Weekend “A Punk”

It’s only a few days until Vampire Weekend releases their second record Contra (XL) and it’s safe to say that people are pretty excited. Alright, extremely excited. The quartet is bound to make an even bigger splash the second time around especially since they managed to out due themselves, which a lot of people thought would never happen. This edition of Secondhand Sunday is Vampire Weekend’s “A Punk.” Yes kids, thats where it all started. Two more days until Contra!

01.08.10
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Pavement to Release Greatest Hits Album

This year should be deemed the “Year of Pavement.” Every indie kid’s dream is that one day the classic band would reunite and of course, now that it’s happening and they’re going on a worldwide tour, what possibly could get us more into the mood? Matador Records has just the thing to hold us over until then. The label will be releasing Quarantine The Past: The Best Of Pavement on March 9 and will feature 23 songs spanning the band’s 10 year career.  The album will be a double LP and CD, and the treble kicker is that Matador is making the fans guess what the tracklisting is, with the exception of the first song, “Gold Soundz.” If you figure out the right songs on the record,  you have a chance to win some awesome prizes like a trip to see Pavement play in Central Park, New York City! Check out the concert details below and head to Matador Records to enter!

From Matador

We are holding a Guess The Track Listing Contest. The album contains 23 tracks, all previously released, and the first track is “Gold Soundz” (MP3 of remastered version below). Prizes will be awarded as follows:

FIRST PRIZE for the track listing closest to the actual track listing
SECOND PRIZE for the most imaginative track listing
FOUR RUNNERS-UP in either of the above two categories (4 runner-up prizes total)

First prize will be a pair of tickets, with flights and hotel rooms, to see Pavement at Central Park Summerstage on Tuesday, September 21, 2009. Plus a complete set of Pavement Matador 12″ vinyl.

Second prize will be having your track listing pressed up in a special limited-edition vinyl double LP for Record Store Day (April 17). You will receive 5 copies of your best of selection. Plus a complete set of Pavement Matador 12″ vinyl.

Runner-up prizes will be complete sets of Pavement Matador 12″ vinyl.

…A few more clues: 3 pre-Matador tracks are included, plus one song that originally came out on a compilation. Every Matador album is represented, plus Watery, Domestic.

Deadline for entries is 2 weeks from today: TUESDAY, JANUARY 19.

Entry is open to anyone worldwide, with the exception of those listed under the contest rules and restrictions.

01.05.10
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Vampire Weekend Return with “Contra”

I’m not going to lie. I never ever thought they’d be able to do it. It seemed nearly impossible. It would be too hard. Oh what am I mumbling about you ask? Vampire Weekend. That’s right, the band is back to prove me wrong that they’d never truly survive the dreaded ’sophomore’ slump. It’s nearly as if Ezra Koenig and the boys tried to prove me wrong on purpose. I’ve been defeated.

Vampire Weekend is set to release their second record, Contra (XL), next week, January 12, and has everyone at the edge of their seats. Starting off is the first single “Horchata” that could have easily been on their debut record, as it picks off where the last ended off. Though at the second track “White Sky,” we really start to see some progression in the band’s sound. Koenig’s voice is easily infectious in this song, and the harmonies and ending are nothing less than dreamy….I’m already hooked. “Holiday,” sounds exactly like it should; a beach song filled with melodies that make you want to get up and dance around the room. I may or may not be doing that right now. The band has mentioned that they took influences from ska bands such as Operation Ivy, and it really shows.

Autotune takes over in a new direction for the band on the shortest song on the album, “California English.” It takes a few listens to get used to this one, but in time, it starts to grow on you and the band is really determined to defend this one. “It doesn’t sound like T-Pain. There’s plenty of music from around the world using Autotune besides American Pop,” states Koenig. “Taxi Cab” and “Run,” show the more mature side of Vampire Weekend and it suits them. What we’re seeing here is a band trying to grow up, and they’re doing it well. Not only music wise, but also in lyrics such as in “Taxi Cab” which carry the words  ”In the shadow of your first attack, I was questioning and looking back; You said baby we don’t speak of that; like a real aristocrat.” A true step from their prior work. “Run,” which brings out the musical maturity of the band is filled with unforgettable drums that rhythm keeper Christopher Tomson is quite proud of. “On this song, I experimented with certain rhythms that I avoided on the first record. I like how this song alternates between heavy, Rock-like choruses and reggaeton verses,” he says. I’m with him on this.

The next song  brings us to “Cousins,” which was recordeded in Mexico City and has to be one of the most fun songs written in the past five years. The next track “Giving Up the Gun,” follows right in it’s footsteps making it a non stop indie dance party right in your own bedroom. “Diplomat’s Son,” continues the event with an explosion of reggae beats that seemingly fit the album like a glove. Closing out the experience is “I Think UR a Contra,” which is the most mellow song the band has ever recorded and it uses acoustic guitars and string sections. It’s a beautiful ending to this extremely surprising album. Vampire Weekend is going to be one of the most used names this year, so sit back and get comfortable with Contra. It’s going to be a long ride.

Vampire Weekend is also letting you stream the whole album on their Myspace starting yesterday afternoon. Give it a listen!

12.31.09
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Modern Mystery’s Top 25 Albums of 2009

 

1. The Wooden Birds-Magnolia
From the ashes of the classic indie band, American Analog Set, rose a new project from former frontman, Andrew “AK” Kenny, called The Wooden Birds. Shifting completely everything he’s done musicially, AK has come out with one of the most surprising releases of the year. Creating a record that is more folk than rock, no songs on the album contain any drums what-so-ever. The bass and vocals really take off and captivate you, the listener. The live sets of the song also include Matt Pond on guitar along with songstress Leslie Sisson. I’m not sure I’ve heard such a heart felt and warm record in the past 10 years.

2. Julian Casablancas- Phrazes for the Young
It’s been a long time since we heard from The Strokes as a unified band. A lot of fans were hesitant on the thought of a solo album by the charasmatic leader, Julian Casablancas, putting out music that doesn’t resemble his band at all. What a surprise it was when we found he took his love for a bit of 1980’s dance and incoporated it with his unforgettable voice and lyrics. The end result? One of the coolest records of the year. We’d expect no less from him.

3. James Husband- Parallax 1
It took 10 years for multi-instrumentalist and drummer from Of Montreal, James Husband, to create his solo album masterpiece. Husband is in the spotlight for the first time in his career and wow, is he certainly taking advantage of it. Providing one of the best indie pop records of the past year, he lets out a 60’s retro sound that no one can mess with. The end result is something as charming as it seems. Raw, catchy, and glorious.

4. Alvin Band-Mantis Preying
Rick  Schaier is not only an amazing drummer and artist, but he is also an extremely talented singer and songwriter. Schaier who spends most of  his time playing drums in The Miniature Tigers has begun a new chapter in his book in the form of ‘Alvin Band,’ this year and completely blew our minds. Blending a retro sound with updated electronics, this is one album you should pick up if you haven’t yet. The catchy hooks and vocals will only leave you wanting more. That my friends, is a good thing!

5. Bishop Allen- Grrr
It’s been a long night since Bishop Allen gained attention by two teenagers named Nick and Norah, and fans were at the edge of their seat wondering what the Brookyln line up would come up with next. Taking a further step into their brilliant indie pop sound, the band did not disappoint at all with Grrr. See it as the next chapter in the Bishop Allen movie, one that is bound to have many sequels in store.

6. Grizzly Bear-Veckatimest
Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you may have heard of a little band called Grizzly Bear. Somehow exploding this year, it was certainly one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2009. Every song is flawless. Catchy yet moody. Beautiful in every way. This album describes itself better than anyone ever could.

7. Bat for Lashes- Two Suns
Completely out of left field, the lovely miss Natasha from Bat for Lashes surprised us all this year with making a stunning, charming, and beautiful record. The combination of her voice and the spacey background music is enough to send chills down your spine. And it does just that. The haunting track “Daniel” captivated the attention of many, and the rest of the album is able to keep you around.

8. Flight of the Conchords-I Told You I Was Freaky
Yes, they are known for writing ‘funny’ songs, but on this record, FOTC became even witty and even more advanced it seems in their writing. Their songs, even though the lyrics are mostly ‘silly’, are composed perfectly from start to end. Jermaine and Bret are really on top of their game with this record. We can’t wait to hear more!

9. Phoenix-Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
This band always makes a great record, and their 2009 hit was no different. Everyone wanted a piece of Phoenix and boy, did they get them. This classic indie dance pop record was a must have for everyone who ‘knew what’s cool.’ Apparently, this was the world.

10. Girls-Girls
An unlikely hit, this retro indie duo shocked us all with such a raw and appealing debut album. This lo-fi record filled with melodies, doesn’t need any frills or thrills to make it great. It hold’s its own firmly which is a hard thing to mess with.

11. Cass McCombs-Catacombs
12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Its Blitz
13. Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Pains of Being Pure at Heart
14. Casper and the Cookies-Modern Silence
15. Headlights-Wildlife
16. Japandroids- Post Nothing
17. Cymbals Eat Guitars-Why There are Mountains
18. Kevin Devine- Brother’s Blood
19. Joan of Arc- Flowers
20. Passion Pit-Manners
21. The Antlers- Hospice
22. Loney Dear-Dear John
23. Neko Case-Middle Cyclone
24. The Mountain Goats- The Life of the World to Come
25. Dirty Projectors-Bitte Orca