Does anyone else get as excited as I do about making music playlists?  I thoroughly enjoy the process of picking out tunes that I would want to hear for specific occasions, and I’m pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.  I always have several going for different uses – a Dinner Mix, an iPod Mix, even a Headphone Mix for music that’s best with careful listening.

The ultimate in playlists is the Road Mix.  Being on a long road trip and being stuck with 5 albums – or even worse, the radio – pretty much sucks all the fun out of being in the car.  Neglecting to have a road mix means that instead of having an obnoxiously fun sing-along to tracks you love, by the third time you hear “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” you’re sitting in grumpy silence wondering if drinking another Red Bull will make the situation better or worse.

As the husband and I get ready to embark on a birthday trip, I put together a road mix that will hopefully keep us entertained for nearly 9 hours each direction.  Here are 10 of the artists, albums, and songs we’ll be listening to:

Anais Mitchell - Hadestown (2010)

Bob Marley – Rastaman Vibration (1976)

Bruce Springsteen – The River (1980)

The Constellations – Southern Gothic (2010)

The Flaming Lips – Clouds Taste Metallic (1995)

Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO (And Other American Stories) (2011)

Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

Robyn – Body Talk (2010)

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – The Brutalist Bricks (2010)

The Walkmen – Lisbon (2010)

Even just posting these made me excited for the road trip!  So, what do you think?  How do you pick out road music (or any other playlists)?  Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @austingirlmg and “Like” me on Facebook here to keep up with my updates!

Thanks for reading.

]]> http://www.austingirlmusicguide.com/2011/10/12/road-trip-tunes-2/feed/ 1 http://www.austingirlmusicguide.com/2011/09/30/watch-adeles-video-for-someone-like-you/ http://www.austingirlmusicguide.com/2011/09/30/watch-adeles-video-for-someone-like-you/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:28:16 +0000 agmg http://www.austingirlmusicguide.com/?p=2366

Adele just released a video for “Someone Like You.”  If you thought the song was heartwrenching enough before, wait until you see this.  The video was shot in black and white on the streets of Paris and given a film treatment.  It’s gorgeous, simple, and effective.

Of course, the release is a great excuse to discuss this song I’ve been contemplating for a while anyway.  I first heard “Someone Like You” on the radio a few weeks ago, and it truly hits you like a ton of bricks.  Adele’s powerful voice delivers the rawest of heartbreak over a minimal musical background as she struggles to come to terms with love lost.  Her performance is absolutely brilliant in this song – quite possibly one of the best female vocal performances in years – and whether or not you’ve been through her situation, you’d have to have a cold steel soul not to relate to a piece of the pain she captures.  ”Someone Like You” is special in that it sticks with you deeply, and has the same affect on you each time you hear it – a real accomplishment for a modern ballad.

What do you think?  Is Adele a shoe-in for Best Female Vocal Performance at the Grammys?  Do you find yourself wrapped up in “Someone Like You”?  Or do you force yourself to change it so that you’re not tearing up at the grocery store?

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @austingirlmg and “Like” me on Facebook here to keep up with my updates!  As usual, thanks for reading.

When C3 announced last year that they were moving the festival back to September (essentially so that people would be too hot to stay all day), I groused pretty well about it, especially after the gorgeous weather October brought.  Still, I bought our 3-day wristbands, realizing that we just couldn’t miss out on the 10th anniversary year.  That was a wise decision.  This year’s crowds were much less jam-packed (hey, the plan worked!), the food choices were some of the best in recent memory, and the weather held out.  It was almost like God didn’t want to scorch us off the earth for a few days.  Also, the park looked fantastic – the grass was well-maintained and there were cool 10th anniversary things like the Willie statue keeping a keen eye on things, the booths where you could re-live fests past, and the spotlights surrounding the park at night shining up into the thick cloud cover.

Additionally, in my opinion this was the best lineup the festival has had since I’ve been going.  We totally lucked out in that the lineup included a whole bunch of our favorite bands along with ones that we were just getting into.  This was the first time EVER that every single show we saw was great – not just good or okay, but some really amazing performances all three days.  Here’s a review of what we saw:

Friday, September 16th

Best Band to Hear and Not See: Kurt Vile and the Violators

Image courtesy SSG Music

If you haven’t heard Kurt Vile’s Smoke Ring for My Halo, you really should get on that.  It’s an album filled with surprising depth, beautiful lyrics, and Vile’s captivating vocal style – almost a pained groan.  We’d just arrived at the Fest after some pretty exciting things went down and Vile and the Violators set was perfect in terms of timing.  With small bands, you never know how they’re going to sound live, but these guys did not disappoint.  Their set was solid and they had plenty of fans in the crowd.  We laid in the grass and absorbed it.

Coolest Performance of the Day: Nas and Damian Marley

If you’re new here, you’ll need to know that I am a huge Damian Marley fan.  I’ve written about him many times and I always enjoy his performances.  When he’s with Nas, the swagger reaches all new levels.  I’m not entirely sure that Damian Marley and Nas have perfected the art of integrating their musical sounds together, but what they do is bold and fresh and it’s certainly a ton of fun.  The best thing about seeing them together live is hearing them do their things individually.  Their set at ACL was cool and laid back, punctuated with their socially conscious tracks.

Best Show of the Day: Coldplay

Coldplay are in their element at festivals and they thrive off the energy of huge crowds.  This crowd was definitely loving every second of their show.  It was also probably one of the happiest crowds I’ve ever been in – there was jumping up and down, bopping, swaying, crying, kissing, proposals (seriously!)…and some of the most epic sing-alongs ever.  The band put on a phenomenal, energetic set including many songs from their upcoming album, and where I was standing, there was never a dull moment.  They were in great form.

Saturday, September 17th

Most Beautiful Set: Iron and Wine

Saturday started out with rain storms – the first at-length rain we had received after months of searing heat, drought and devastating wildfires.  I don’t think a single person cared that the fest was getting rained on.  We were just grateful to see it.

If you’re ever standing outside in the rain, and it’s the first rain you’ve experienced in a long, painfully hot summer, make sure you’re seeing Iron and Wine.  Sam Beam and co delivered a gorgeous set which was both emotional and quietly confident.  With Beam utilizing the electric guitar and standing with a troupe of super-talented horn players and background singers, Iron and Wine made the start of Saturday feel as magical as it was.  It was one of the best Iron and Wine sets I’ve seen.  Plus, Christian Bale added in a weird dose of crazy, distracting some of the crowd with his antics.  What could be better?

Breakout Performance: Fitz and the Tantrums

Image courtesy Austin360.com

Fitz and the Tantrums’ album Pickin’ Up the Pieces is one that I’ve spent the summer getting to know.  This band is so good, with their retro, soul-influenced vocals and insanely catchy songs that I sort of just found that I had memorized them without even trying to.  I was really looking forward to their set at the Fest.  They were very impressive.  It can be tough for small bands to get festival crowds moving in the middle of the day, but Fitz (Michael Fitzpatrick) and Noelle Scaggs worked to spread their boundless energy to the audience, who was completely won over by the end.  Their show is tight, professional and their songs translate really well live.  It was a ton of fun to watch.  I always enjoy watching bands appreciate their success, and Fitz and co definitely transmit that vibe.  They’re a band to keep an eye on.

Most Mindblowing Set: TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio have been one of my favorites for a while now, yet I’ve only seen them live at the Festival.  Turns out, that made for a nice comparison in their progress as a band.  Their latest album, Nine Types of Light, is incredible, and likewise, their live show is mindblowingly good.  Absolutely brilliant in fact.  The first time I saw them live, they were playing the equivalent of the Austin Ventures stage and their sound was squashed and sharp.  This Saturday, they were on the Google+ stage rocking out the audience with perfect pitch and their signature mash of instruments and synths.  It was one of the best sets of the whole Fest, an absolutely triumphant showing for a band who’s been through so much tragedy recently.

Best Show of the Day: My Morning Jacket

Yet another of my favorite bands who I’ve written about often is My Morning Jacket.  I really wanted to see them this year, but they were playing opposite Stevie Wonder.  I mean, Stevie Wonder, man!  You can’t miss that, right?

Well, we tried.  Unfortunately the drunkness of the enormous crowd got to us.  After the incident where some awesome chick tore down a Confederate flag being toted around by a group of teenagers, and then the people around us proceeded to chant angrily for the flag’s RETURN, we figured we were in the wrong crowd.  We wandered on over to the AMD stage instead and found a much more mellow and less pushy group of My Morning Jacket fans.  It proved to be a great call.  MMJ are always amazing live – always.  It was a short set (for them) in a weird time slot, but they completely nailed it.  Jim James has so much vocal ability and his bellows and cries (not to mention his karate kicks, stage antics, and genuine love for the crowd) are just a scene to behold live.  The undisputed highlight of the show was when they brought out the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for their latest single, “Holdin’ on to Black Metal” from Circuital.

Sunday, September 18th

Most Unplanned Set: Broken Social Scene

Image courtesy Playmakeronline.com

I kind of have a weird relationship with Broken Social Scene.  Basically, I have to be in the right mood to listen to them, or else I notice how inconsistent they are as a band.  I guess Sunday was a good day for us, because I really liked their set.  It felt very off-the-cuff and casual…probably because it was.  They ran out of songs to play with more than 10 minutes to go.  That’s not so hot for a band that’s been around as long as them, but they handled it well, with charm and the skills to improvise.  All told, it was a pretty solid indie rock set.

Strangest Crowd Draw: Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes are making some of the most interesting indie folk music right now, unafraid of creating spiralling, sprawling pieces that evoke the past.  Their newest album, Helplessness Blues, is a fascinating listen – it’s meticulously crafted and at times, irresistibly beautiful.  I guess they’re starting to get a hipster reputation or something because they drew a huge, weird crowd at the Fest on Sunday.  People were shoving their way to the front to get a view of Robin Pecknold, but only for a few minutes at a time before ditching out to see another band.  Too bad, because Fleet Foxes were great live.  Their hardcore fans were in there somewhere, but I’d really like to see them again at a different venue.

Breakthrough Performance: Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire have had quite a year.  After winning Album of Year at the Grammys for The Suburbs, they’re now closing headliners for a major festival.  I’m not one of those people who started disliking Arcade Fire the second they became popular either – The Suburbs is a brilliant album that hits close to the bone on many levels and the band are at top form right now.  Any doubters should have experienced their set at ACL (and the one earlier this year at The Backyard for that matter).  When 90% of your music is played at lightning speed, it’s a seriously impressive feat to move people to tears on multiple occasions.  Arcade Fire did just that.  They never fail to infuse each song with passion and furious energy.  It was a great close to the Festival and a breakthrough for this formerly-indie band now solidly on the path to stardom.

That’s all she wrote, kids.  What did you think of the festival?  Was it one of the best?  Who was your favorite and who did I miss out on?  Leave your comments below.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @austingirlmg and “Like” me on Facebook here to keep up with my updates!  Thanks for reading.

]]> http://www.austingirlmusicguide.com/2011/09/24/review-austin-city-limits-music-festival-2011/feed/ 0 http://www.austingirlmusicguide.com/2011/09/19/special-edition-review-coldplays-upcoming-mylo-xyloto/ http://www.austingirlmusicguide.com/2011/09/19/special-edition-review-coldplays-upcoming-mylo-xyloto/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:32:37 +0000 agmg http://www.austingirlmusicguide.com/?p=2296

Mylo Xyloto (Release date – October 24, 2011)

Hi there readers!  I can’t believe it’s been nine months since I’ve written a post.  Graduate school ended back in May, and while I’ve been tossing around the idea of blogging again, the truth is that I just haven’t gotten around to it.  This weekend though, I had sort of a once-in-a-lifetime experience that forced my hand.

If you’re new to my blog and you’re only reading this because I promised something uber-exclusive, then you’ll need to know that it’s no secret what a huge Coldplay fan I am.  I first saw them live at the simulcast for their 2005 ACL taping and for the past 6 years, I’ve been a hardcore dedicated fan.  I’m also happy to have a conversation with anyone about why loving them doesn’t preclude you from loving the most hipp(ster)ist of bands like TV on the Radio, Andrew Bird, Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, or the even more obscure.  After all, this is my philosophy.  Welcome to AGMG!

This weekend was pretty much everything a Coldplay fan could ask for: an incredible Austin City Limits taping with new material on Thursday night, and a headlining performance at the 10th Anniversary Austin City Limits Festival on Friday.  But when the ol’ husband and I arrived late at home buzzing with excitement after the taping (um, front row and got to meet Chris Martin after the taping…yeah!), there was yet another surprise waiting for us.  We discovered we were going to attend an exclusive listening party for Coldplay’s fifth album, Mylo Xyloto, at a secret location Friday afternoon.

We had some vague instructions to meet up at the Hilton by the airport, but we had no idea where we were going or what to expect.  To make a very long story shorter, an hour or so later about 30 “winners” were shuffled on to a comfy bus and we were heading toward Congress Ave.  We pulled up in the back of the Hotel Saint Cecilia, an absolutely gorgeous location, were fed and shortly thereafter we were herded into a room right off the patio to hear the album on a pair of MINDBLOWING Bowers and Wilkins 800 Diamonds.

It must be said that I wouldn’t normally write a review of any album until I’d listened to it multiple times.  I’m making a huge exception here for a couple of reasons.  First, I’ve heard most of the songs on the album many times because Coldplay has been playing them at festivals.  Second, I’m so familiar with their catalog that I feel pretty assured sharing my opinions on this album, in generalities at the very least.  Finally, how many times am I going to get to do this??  Like, none, and I really want to share this info with other excited Coldplay fans.  So, without further ado, here’s my review of Mylo Xyloto.

Mylo Xyloto Tracklist

Mylo Xyloto opens with the song of the same name, a tinkly, sparkling piano and xylophone track, a short musical introduction.  Coldplay has also been opening their festival shows with this, and as in their live performances, on the album “MX” breezes seamlessly into the guitar-driven “Hurts Like Heaven.”  ”Hurts Like Heaven” is a poppy number with ’80s influences (think “Lips Like Sugar“) and a number of terrific cascading riffs from guitarist Jonny Buckland that sound as fresh on the album as they do live.  ”HLH”‘s lyrics and Martin’s vocal delivery also give it an urgency that match the guitar work.

“Hurts Like Heaven” gives way into one of Coldplay’s biggest sound divergences to date, the thumping and atmospheric second single, “Paradise.”  The string intro to “Paradise” breaks into full-fledged hip-hop influenced synths and a heavy beat.  This song has been discussed quite a bit amongst Coldplay fans and has its few detractors, but in the context of the album, it totally works.  There are still a ton of Coldplay “indicators” here: piano notes, strings, and Martin’s smooth voice, here in storyteller mode, and the falsetto-filled chorus made for crowd chanting.  Yet another reason to like “Paradise” on Mylo Xyloto – the band’s group vocals are simply striking.  It was about this time at the listening party that everyone started bopping their heads – a definite good sign for being so early in the album.

One song Coldplay fans have been raving about for months now is the next track “Charlie Brown,” a song that sounds absolutely massive in concert thanks to Buckland’s circuitous, catchy guitar melody and Will Champion’s driving drums.  Fans will be pleased to know that the album version is faithful to the live one, and actually, “Charlie Brown” sounds even more affirming on Mylo Xyloto as the production is kept simple and Martin’s voice is loose and fluid.  Notably, “Charlie Brown” earned the first spontaneous applause in the tiny room of no more than 40 people.

The production value on “Us Against the World,” one of the standout tracks from Coldplay’s live performances, is thankfully also kept simple.  ”Us Against the World” is easily one of the band’s most beautiful songs, and on the record, Martin and Champion’s vocal duet is stunning.  ”UATW” has quieted festival crowds into contemplation mode, and it was no different at this event; the listeners totally absorbed it.

“M.M.I.X.”, another short instrumental interlude, quickly turns into Coldplay’s huge summer hit “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” featuring a sample of Peter Allen’s “I Go to Rio.”  Much has already been said about “ETIAW,” a divisive track in the Coldplay fan community, but one that I personally enjoy.  I mean, I don’t really know what’s not to like about it – it’s fun, the band sounds freer than they ever have, Buckland shines on an incredibly clever guitar riff, Champion pulsates on the drums, and I dig the talk-sing verses.  One of my favorite aspects of Martin’s songwriting is how he perfectly encapsulates a sentiment into a simple lyrical line and “ETIAW” is full of examples of that (“I’d rather be a comma than a full stop”).  As for the assertion that it’s too “pop”…well I hate to break it to you, but Coldplay’s had songs in the category of pop ever since “Yellow.”

On that note, the eighth track, “Major Minus,” serves as a perfect counterpoint to “ETIAW” for people looking for their rock fix.  On the album, “Major Minus” is considerably more glossy than it is live, with Martin’s vocals calling out from behind a gauzy layer.  Mylo Xyloto is sequenced so well that that aspect of it doesn’t bother me.  I still prefer the searing, blistering live versions of the song personally, where the fervor of guitars, drums, and bass are unfettered.  ”Major Minus” is also where the influences of Dylan and Springsteen are the most obvious, particularly in Martin’s phrasing and lyrics, and “MM” features one of the best recent uses of Martin’s falsetto.

It isn’t really until this point in the album that I heard songs that I wasn’t already familiar with.  Among the remaining tracks, the one I was looking forward to most was the highly anticipated Rihanna-guesting “Princess of China.”  Despite all the fretting/assumptions about it, I feel it is truly a standout track, the centerpiece of the album.  This is probably the only other place on Mylo Xyloto where any sort of hip-hop influences emerge, but it’s done in an even more subtle way than “Paradise.”  Rihanna sounds totally different here, unlike anything she’s done, and the combination of her voice with Martin’s is surprising in the best way possible.  I think the feeling was mutual around the room; people applauded “Princess of China” more than any other track and none of these dedicated fans seemed put off by Rihanna’s presence – in fact, it was the opposite.  This is still a Coldplay song, and Rihanna’s contribution is one that adds not only to the track, but to Mylo Xyloto as a whole.  I can’t wait to hear it again.

“Up In Flames,” which debuted at the Austin City Limits taping, is another attention-grabber.  It’s slow, with the metronome-style beat, and Martin’s crooning falsetto hitting highs more confidently than he has in years.  Following “Princess of China,” the listening crowd got quiet again and there was noticeable sniffling.  ”Up In Flames” is gorgeous and emotional in its simplicity, yet it sounds epic in its place on the album.  The last two tracks of Mylo Xyloto are also quite noteworthy.  ”Don’t Let It Break Your Heart” is an up-tempo track with a memorable ending reminiscent of “Charlie Brown” in styling, and “Up With The Birds” is another slow-burning torch song that completely breaks your heart at the end of the album.

Overall, Mylo Xyloto is bracing and vivid, not overproduced, and balances delicacy and bombast with a steady, assured hand.  Coldplay has never been more liberated as a band, even on Viva La Vida where they first dipped into expanding their melodious sound.  There’s no sense of that hesitation on MX which sometimes hindered the band in the past, and there are more variations of riffs, more solos, more beats, and more bass than ever before.  Martin’s voice has also never sounded more natural and his range never bigger – he sounds terrific throughout.  Mylo Xyloto is restless and fast-paced – the type of album that you can absorb listen after listen and hear something new each time.  It’s filled with frenetic energy, sonic highs, and heartwrenching ballads; as a loose concept album, it’s absorbing on many levels, and sounds very of-the-moment, something Coldplay has always excelled at.

Mylo Xyloto will be released on October 24 and you can preorder various versions of it here.  Special thanks to Bowers and Wilkins, 101X, KGSR, Capitol Records, and Hotel St. Cecilia.

The songs I choose are based on artists and albums that I’ve really enjoyed listening to this year, regardless of their original release year.  I’m so pleased to be sharing this year’s Tuneskies with my friends and family and of course, all of you as well.  With no further ado, here is the track listing and links for AGMG Presents: Christmas Tuneskies 2010, NOW That’s What I Call Tuneskies, Volume II: A Very Merry Tuneskies.

Track Listing

1. “Christmas Lights,” Coldplay – 2010

Now a Christmas Tuneskies tradition, each album will begin and end with actual Christmas songs to you know, set the mood and what not.  Last year, I included two Coldplay Christmas covers, but this year, they made it easy on me by recording a new track called “Christmas Lights.”  If you like Coldplay and/or Chris Martin as much as I do, you’ll also want to check out this video of his acoustic piano version of the song.

2. “I Can Talk,” Two Door Cinema Club, Tourist History – 2010

This up-and-coming band made quite an impression on me this year, especially with their breakout performance at the ACL Festival.  The poppy and sonically unique “I Can Talk” from their album Tourist History does justice to Two Door Cinema Club’s live performances.

3. “I’m Alright,” Agent Ribbons, Chateau Crone – 2010

Agent Ribbons is one of the hardest working, truly independent bands going, and they’re also stationed here in Austin.  All the way back in July, I reviewed their album which debuted in October and since then, I’ve been an admirer of their dedication and abilities.  “I’m Alright” reflects their charming style very well.

4. “Okay,” Venice is Sinking, Okay – 2009

Speaking of hard-working bands…yeah.  I first became aware of Venice is Sinking when I was sent the link to “Okay” in September 2009, and quickly realized that not only is this band bound to succeed, but they’re also out there pounding the pavement themselves, getting press.  Of course, we also included them in our SXSW Special where they blew us away with their gorgeous harmonies and overall loveliness.

5. “We Used to Wait,” Arcade Fire, The Suburbs – 2010

One of my all-time favorite bands, Arcade Fire made a huge splash earlier this year with their new album The Suburbs.  Back in May when they released two singles to the world, I blogged about the album’s potential.  Since then, I’ve listened to the album a few times (review of the album likely to come this winter break!) and “We Used to Wait” is one of the standouts.

6. “Day Glo,” Brazos, Phosphorescent Blues – 2009

In the run-up to SXSW, I participated in the AOL/Spinner project to interview a bajillion SXSW bands.  Martin Crane from Brazos was the first interview I did.  To prepare for the interview, I listened to the band’s latest, Phosphorescent Blues.  This album is one of the best by a local band I’ve heard yet and “Day Glo” is a sunny slice of indie pop goodness.

7. “Roll Up Your Sleeves,” We Were Promised Jetpacks, These Four Walls – 2009

Here’s that SXSW influence again…We Were Promised Jetpacks put on one of the best shows we saw during that utterly insane week of madness, plus “Roll Up Your Sleeves” provided me with the impetus to edit my first interstitial piece for our SXSW Special.  A Tuneskies must.

8. “How Do You Do It?” Quiet Company, Songs for Staying In – 2010

Ever since we were first acquainted at SXSW, local band Quiet Company has been in the musical roto.  They provided us with one of our favorite SXSW Special moments by performing acoustically for our cameras, and “How Do You Do It?” from their latest album Songs for Staying In is one of my favorites.

9. “I Wish it Would Rain,” Mayer Hawthorne, A Strange Arrangement – 2009

When Christmas time means sexy time, you might want a little Mayer Hawthorne to class things up a bit.  Sure this song is on the sad side, but it’s custom-made for those pouty apologies that buy immediate forgiveness after she unwraps her new vacuum cleaner on Christmas morning.  Mayer Hawthorne was terrific at the ACL fest this year, and he was a shoe-in for this year’s Tuneskies.

10. “Hit Em Up Style,” Carolina Chocolate Drops, Genuine Negro Jig – 2010

When I reviewed Genuine Negro Jig back in June, I talked about how much I love this cover of Blu Cantrell’s “Hit Em Up Style” by the Carolina Chocolate Drops.  Also, not bad as a follow-up to Mayer Hawthorne.  “Vacuum cleaner my ass!”

11. “What Goes On,” The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground – 1969

So, last year I included an “old” track on my Tuneskies album and I decided to do that again this year, but what I didn’t plan was the entirely coincidental placement in track 11.  Whoa!!  Starting this year, track 11 of Christmas Tuneskies shall be the “classic” track.  This year’s classic inclusion is The Velvet Underground’s “What Goes On.”

12.“Back and Forth,” Bright Light Social Hour, The Bright Light Social Hour – 2010

After interviewing Austin band Bright Light for SXSW, I finally had the opportunity to see them live in April and I couldn’t believe what an incredible live show they put on.  I’ve seen them again since their album dropped, and they’ve only gotten better.  They really are one of Austin’s must-see acts.  This track is one of the most fun, especially live.

13. “Crash Years,” The New Pornographers, Together – 2010

The New Pornographers are a band that I’m starting to settle into liking.  “Crash Years” is one of the first tracks on their latest album Together that grew on me quite a bit.

14. “The Sparrow Looks Up at the Machine,” The Flaming Lips, Embryonic – 2009

Ah, The Flaming Lips.  Any song that merits a video prefaced with a warning…and then really, REALLY delivers on that warning just somehow deserves a spot amongst the Tuneskies.  I saw the Lips three times this year, got some amazing pictures, and blogged about it all to boot.  One of my favorite bands indeed.

15. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, Quiet Company, A Merry Little Christmas EP – 2010

Every year in the harrowed year and a half history of my blog, it seems I end up talking about one band more than any other.  Last year, it was Coldplay; this year it was Quiet Company.  What can I say…I think these guys are great.  They work their asses off, are super-talented, and are genuinely cool people.  Also, they just so happened to release a Christmas EP including a cover of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” right in time for Tuneskies, which really worked out swimmingly.

And that’s all she wrote!  Do you know me?  If so, you’ll get your very own copy of this soon enough.  If you don’t, pull up your iTunes and try making this mix.  I guarantee Christmas cheer, holiday festivity, and possibly a song or two you haven’t heard yet.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Oh.  Hello there.  How’s it going?  <shuffles feet>

I’m alright…you know, I’ve been busy.

Yes, again.  I’m sorry, okay?

No really, I’m sorry.  I’ve been the worst blog owner.  You deserve more.

I understand.  I’ll start right away.

No, you’ll see this time.  I’m going to blog during my vacation.  It’s going to be great.

I will!  You’ll see.  In fact, I’m going to start now!

…

Hey everyone!  My long and arduous journey through my second-to-last semester in graduate school is over and I’m ready to take back up the mantle of “blogger” for the time being.  I’m actually really excited to be blogging again and I can’t wait to delve back into the local music scene!  But first, a tradition shows its face again this year…stay tuned.

Image courtesy ewirezine.com

Like, OMG, FFFF is almost here!  Why, it’s so super-fun, I can hardly even stand it!  Ha ha, sarcasm aside, I am looking forward to this weekend’s festivities and what will hopefully be a much more laid-back version of ACL weekend.  If you missed it, check out my FFFF picks for Friday and Saturday here.

Now, for the bad news about Sunday: Devo had to cancel their appearance.  What??!  The outrage!  But the organizers of FFFF thankfully relented in adding another ironic band to the lineup, opting instead to go with punk rock innovators, Descendents.  So, with that out of the way, onward and upward with the rest of my picks for Sunday’s lineup!  Don’t forget to come back later for my pre- and after-show recommendations as well.

Sunday, November 7th

12:25 pm, Crew 54

The Central Texas based rap group will perform at FFFF on Sunday.  Check out the sound they describe as “aggressive soul” at 12:25 pm.

12:50 pm, Magic Kids

Get your dose of indie pop goodness early in the day with the youthfully optimistic Magic Kids.

1:25 pm, Margo and the Nuclear So and So’s

A highly anticipated band, Margo and the Nuclear So and So’s, are scheduled to perform their brand of folky, eclectic indie tunes on Sunday of FFFF.

1:50 pm, JT Habersaat and The Altercation Punk Comedy Tour

Take a comedy break at 1:50 pm and check out JT and friends’ punk comedy stylings.

2:10 pm, Deakin

Now that you’ll have seen some pop, some comedy, and some rap, it’s time to get wiggy wid it and hear some electronic freakiness from Animal Collective founding member Josh Dibb.

2:55 pm, Toro y Moi

Continue your good trip (or escape your bad one) with chillwave specialist Chazwick Bundick at 2:55 pm.  This show will probably be pretty packed.

3:40 pm, Kaki King

Named one of Rolling Stone’s “New Guitar Gods” (and the only solo woman artist to be named on the list), Kaki King brings her unique style to FFFF at 3:40 pm.  Don’t miss this one!

4:00 pm, Jean Grae

Stick with the talented ladies of FFFF and make sure to check out South African rapper/MC Jean Grae at 4 pm.

4:25 pm, Cults

Let Cults’ happy indie-pop get you through the doldrums of the late afternoon energy slump.  See them perform at 4:25.

5:10 pm, Best Coast

This highly buzzed-about indie band will be one of the big draws of Sunday afternoon.

5:20 pm, Veggie Hot Dog Eating Contest

Are veggie hot dogs edible?  How many hot dogs can a hipster eat anyway?  Find out the answers to those questions and more by catching the disturbing/hilarious end of the Veggie Hot Dog Eating Contest at 5:20 pm.

6:00 pm, Sean Patton

Time for another comedy break!  Spend this one with Sean Patton.

6:30 pm, Shane Mauss

Extend funny-time with Shane Mauss.  Hilarious!

6:50 pm, Deerhunter

Don’t miss what is sure to be one of the best shows of FFFF: Deerhunter.  This quality indie-rock band draws from a number of influences and are known for their intense live performances.

7:05 pm, Alamo Drafthouse Air Sex Contest

Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like.  After Deerhunter, catch the end of this exercise in exhibitionism.  P.S. – want to enter the contest and show off your “skills”?  Click on the link above to read the rules!

7:40 pm, Yelle

Infectious dance-pop from France hits up FFFF at 7:40 pm on Sunday afternoon.  This should be a fun show.

8 pm, Blackmagic Rollercoaster and Friends’ Video Rodeo

Subversive video mashups showing at 8 pm, Sunday of FFFF.

8:45 pm, Descendents or Mastodon

So, what will you be in the mood for on Sunday night: punk or metal?  You’re covered either way (and guaranteed to have a great time!) with Descendents and Mastodon, my picks for the closing acts of Sunday.

Okay, there we have it!  All my recs for FFFF are now up.  Don’t forget to come back later for the best in pre- and after-shows too!  See ya then!

Happy Monday everyone!  Now that October is drawing to a close, isn’t it about time to look forward, forge ahead to the next big festival on Austin’s ever-expanding list of events?  And that, my friends, would be Fun Fun Fun Fest, taking place November 6-8 at Waterloo Park.  FFFF is one of Austin’s newer fests; it got its start in 2006 and is basically like a mini, underground Bonnaroo without the camping and heat stroke.  FFFF boasts artists from the “punk/hardcore, indie rock, hip hop/DJ, and comedy scenes” on four stages and is one of the best festival bargains around, with tickets starting at just $41 for a one day, Weird Al birthday-related pass.

If you’re a fan of obscure bands, underground artists, or enjoy discovering new bands you haven’t heard of, then FFFF might be your scene.  I’m going to be there for the very first time, and while granted, I’m not a huge fan of seeing bands for ironic reasons, I’m still looking forward to catching some of the genuinely talented indie artists headed our way in a couple of short weeks.  Here are my recommendations for who to see on Friday and Saturday of the fest!

Friday, November 5th

6 pm, Todd Barry

Start the fest out by checking out Todd Barry, the prolific comedian with a laconic style.

6:30 pm, Arc Attack

Don’t miss the local super-nerds with the super-coolest instruments ever, fresh off their appearance on America’s Got Talent.  Guaranteed to be entertaining!

7:45 pm, Weird Al Yankovic

Speaking of super-nerds, um…Weird Al is going to be at FFFF.  Al is experiencing a renaissance of sorts as the ’90s come roaring back into fashion.  The crowd will be divided between those who actually liked Weird Al back in the day, and those glancing coolly at him over a new pair of neon Ray-Ban knock-offs – which side will you be on?  (If you ever laughed hysterically at “Amish Paradise,” you’ll know where to find me.)

Saturday, November 6th

12:15 pm, Royal Forest

Another local band, this time an indie one, hits FFFF at 12:15 on Saturday.  Fans of experimental pop that combines traditional elements of indie melancholy with uplifting beats should check out Royal Forest.

12:50 pm, Woven Bones

Woven Bones, the third Austin pick for FFFF, specialize in messy, feedback-filled proto punk.  Check them out if you need some dissonance in your festival day.

1:00 pm, Andy Ritchie

Another dose of comedy for the mid-day slump, including jokes about Texas!  Don’t miss Andy Ritchie at 1 pm.

1:25 pm, Jeff the Brotherhood

Jake and Jamin Orrall are two brothers who make music with drums and a guitar.  They play stripped-down noise rock and are known for their propensity to play absolutely anywhere.  See them play an actual stage at 1:25 at FFFF.

2:00 pm, The Appleseed Cast

The Appleseed Cast, out of Kansas, are one of the more “experienced” bands to play this year’s FFFF.  Their style is something like emo with post-punk and post-rock thrown in the mix – they have an eclectic variety of tunes.  Their longevity and ability to draw from numerous albums should work as a plus at FFFF.

2:15 pm, Invincible

If you make Invincible your first dose of FFFF rap, then you won’t be disappointed.  She’s a rapper from the underground scene in Detroit who works her smart lyrics to tackle social issues with incredible style.  Don’t miss this show.

2:45 pm, The Antlers

One of the most anticipated bands of FFFF will likely produce one of the biggest crowds.  The Antlers will bring their polished, lovely indie tunes to Austin in another don’t-miss-it show.

3:15 pm, Anarchy Championship Wrestling

Alright, so I’m going completely hands-off on the Stupid Stunt portion of FFFF, but….c’mon.  Anarchy Championship Wrestling is an Austin original and promises to be a wild way to blow off some steam in the middle of the day.

3:30 pm, Wavves

When your stomach inevitable starts to hurt watching Anarchy Championship Wrestling, make your way over to Wavves’ show.  Yes, it’s THAT Wavves, the guy who got trashed on stage and roused the ire of serious indie artists.  See what he’s up to now (noisy indie rock inspired by the beach!) at 3:30 pm.

3:50 pm, Slick Rick

Old school British rapper Slick Rick will make a highly anticipated appearance at FFFF.  Check it out at 3:50 pm.

4:15 pm, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Another show not to be missed is Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti.  Drawing musical influence from the late ’70s and early ’80s, Pink blends together psychedelic elements with pop and lo-fi to interesting effect.  This should be a good one.

4:50 pm, Dominique Young Unique

This young artist from Florida blends hard and raw beats with a spitfire approach to lyrics.  See this show for the fresh attitude that will be pouring from the stage.

5:30 pm, New Movement Comedy Group

Comedy break!!!  Austin’s own New Movement troupe will put on an early evening improv/sketch show at 5:30 pm.

6:15 pm, Moshe Kasher

The comedy break continues with comedian-on-the-rise Moshe Kasher at 6:15 pm.  Oh, the hilarity!

6:40 pm, Delorean

Delorean is a Spanish collective of sorts, playing electronic alternative music meant for dancing.  Get your groove on in the sunset hours at this show.

6:55 pm, Man Man

Man Man is known for their eccentric style, both personal and musical.  They use a variety of unique instruments to create a exuberant lo-fi pop with a traditional twist.

7:35 pm, Dâm-Funk

LA’s Dam-Funk specializes in funky, modern, electronic DJing.  Another chance to boogie your face off.

7:50 pm, GWAR

So they were just in town for SXSW…who cares?  This is one of the craziest, most entertaining live shows you’re ever going to see.  See the Dirty Projectors another time and enjoy the simple pleasures of being covered in blood and alien semen at Gwar’s live show.

8:45 pm, Bad Religion or MGMT

Alright, so this is another one of those cop-outs, but honestly, I don’t even know who I want to see yet.  Like ACL, I’m going to allow my mood at the time to dictate my schedule.  If I want loud, brash, classic punk rock, I’ll see Bad Religion.  If I want something more psychedelic with chances of breaking down, I’ll see MGMT.  Simple as that.

Okay, there you have it – my picks for Friday and Saturday of FFFF!  So whaddya think?  Who are you going to see and why?  Are you going mainly for comedy and stunts?  Or to see artists with the potential of having stage meltdowns, of which there seem to be many?  Talk about it in the comments!

Stay tuned for Sunday’s picks, coming along this week.

Awww, are you sad yet?  I’m probably one of the last bloggers to get my reviews out there, plus tickets for ACL Fest 2011 are going to be on sale next week, so surely that means that this year’s fest will be a distant memory soon enough.  ACL Fest 2010, we’ll remember you for your beautiful weather (especially when we’re baking in the hot mid-September sun next year), your plethora of good bands, and your surprisingly good food options.

But before we get too nostalgic, there’s still the business of discussing Sunday’s bands.  Let’s do it!

Band to hear and not see: Portugal. The Man

Image courtesy www.huckjive.com

Alright, that might not be entirely true, but that’s how I experienced Portugal. The Man and I certainly enjoyed it.  It was during the extra warm part of the day and we needed some shade in a serious way, so we ended up listening to the show from behind one of those screened fence things.  Portugal. The Man’s brand of experimental indie tunes was a nice introduction to Sunday of the fest and the crowd seemed to really like it as well.

Breakout performance of the day: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

If Portugal. The Man was a nice way to start a sleepy festival Sunday, Trombone Shorty was the show that finally woke everyone up.  For the first time ever at the tented stage, I got a seat on the risers so I was able to actually see the show, and boy, was it a good one.  I loved the energy and pure talent of this young performer on the rise, and the band had the huge, overflowing crowd dancing the entire time.  I mentioned in my review of Two Door Cinema Club that I like to see performers enjoying themselves on stage, and Trombone Shorty pretty much exemplified that.  One of the best sets of the fest.

Meh of the day: Rebelution

Image courtesy Creative Loafing

Regular readers of AGMG will know that I love reggae a lot, and I’d like to consider myself a pretty good judge of reggae.  I would normally know better then to go see a band of Californians called Rebelution, but hey, I wanted to get close for The Flaming Lips.  So really, it was a total accident.  But needless to say, I did not enjoy Rebelution’s set.  Ever since Sublime, American bands have been trying to capture the spirit of reggae in their music and most of the time, it just doesn’t work.  It’s inoffensive pop-reggae, and if that suffices for some, then so be it, but there is so much great reggae out there that I don’t see the point of listening to bands like Rebelution.

Crazy of the day (in the best possible way): The Flaming Lips

In other posts, I’ve talked in great detail about my love for The Flaming Lips.  The ACL Fest marked the third time this year I’ve seen The Lips and somehow, they still manage to surprise me.  And no, it’s not just because this time Wayne rode a bear, or because they managed to incorporate even more female nudity into their background videos; it’s because this band is simply so beyond the bitter trappings of being living legends.  I love how Wayne is simultaneously down-to-earth and crazy as a loon; I love how much he cares about the band’s fans; I love how songs like “She Don’t Use Jelly” and “Do You Realize??” never fail to stir a variety of emotions.  There’s never a hint of jadedness at a Flaming Lips show – their concerts are all about the unbridled joy of watching the craziness unfold on the stage and listening to some of the most innovative music made in the past 20 years.

Biggest surprise of the day: The National

Prior to the festival, I had not listened to much of The National, but I knew I wanted to see the show based on reviews of their albums and of their live sets.  What I wasn’t prepared for was how much I was going to enjoy it.  Basically from the very first song I was intrigued and as the band played, I became more and more interested.  I really dig Matt Berninger’s deep vocal range, and his ability to go from that to screaming lyrics without hesitation.  The band itself displayed some excellent musicianship and their sonic sounds were a perfect match for the mood of the evening.  They were also pretty funny – they cracked jokes about The Eagles (who went on stage early) and The Flaming Lips (which I guess I’ll forgive them for) and played much longer then the hour they were scheduled.  Overall, The National was one of the best shows of the entire weekend – and provided an excellent end to the fest for those of us who ditched The Eagles entirely.

Well, that’s all she wrote!  Literally too.  As always, thanks for reading.  Don’t forget to check out the rest of my pictures on my Facebook fan page and while you’re there, go ahead and become a fan will ya?

I’m totally sorry about the gap between ACL Fest reviews there.  Shockingly, graduate school does NOT offer much flexibility, even when you have like, totally important music blogging to attend to!  Jeez.  Anyway, thanks for bearing with me and let the reviews of ACL Fest Day 2 begin!

Overall, Saturday was a better festival day than Friday.  Friday’s crowds were crazier (go figure), so by comparison, Saturday just seemed a lot more relaxed.  It was a little warmer, but nothing some shade time couldn’t fix.  I actually saw more bands on Saturday, and was even able to get fairly close to the stages a couple of times!  Miraculous!  Here’s who I saw:

Most esoteric of the day: Bear in Heaven

As I said in my ACL Fest preview, Bear in Heaven is like a mix of Grizzly Bear and Yeasayer.  After their set on Saturday, I would also add Blonde Redhead to that blend.  While that sound is clearly ambitious, their show wasn’t the most energizing of the festival – and the crowd definitely reflected that.  My critique is that although Bear in Heaven have great technical abilities, a daytime festival slot means that you really have to engage the crowd.  With very little stage banter and a dedication to a particular style, after three or four songs, they all started to blend together.  Overall, their set was interesting but not particularly memorable.

Breakout performance of the day: Two Door Cinema Club

If any band had a festival “moment” on Saturday, it was the Irish indie pop-rock band Two Door Cinema Club.  Assigned to one of the tiny stages, the band drew a huge crowd based on buzz alone and really, really delivered.  Their set full of danceable pop tunes was fresh, exciting, and fun; even the band members were enjoying themselves and that always makes a difference.  They very charmingly remarked on how surprised they were that there was such a big, responsive crowd.  Quite simply, TDCC put on a terrific show from start to finish and established themselves as a band to keep an eye on.

Sexiest of the day: Mayer Hawthorne & the County

Alright, I gotta admit I laughed and mocked the person who advised guys to “watch their gals” during the Mayer Hawthorne set…but I was wrong.  The smooth crooner and his band had the audience really going by the third song or so, and eventually, the best show wasn’t even on the stage – it was in the audience.  I have never seen mating rituals on display quite so unabashedly before.

Anyway, Mayer sounded great and even though it’s hard to believe that Motown-style tunes could translate well to a daytime festival audience, they did in spades.  Mayer is a true showman and his band is solid.  This was one of the best sets of the day.

Meh of the day: Broken Bells

Ah, Broken Bells.  How I had such high hopes for thee and oh, how those hopes were laced with doubt.  Unfortunately, the part of me that doubted that James Mercer and Danger Mouse’s low-key record could hold up to the festival’s finicky crowds was correct.  The pair drew a gigantic crowd, but even from a reasonable distance, they sounded much too quiet and displayed very little enthusiasm.  Very disappointing.

We ended up leaving the show to get food, which turned out to be somewhat of a payoff because we were able to hear most of Local Natives’ set, and they sounded pretty good.  I’m not going to review it hear because I listened to it from across the park, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to see them live sometime.

Most perplexing of the day: The Temper Trap

Image courtesy www.goldenplec.com

I’ve never really been too sure of what The Temper Trap is going for.  I mean, they’re obviously influenced by U2 and Coldplay, but at the same time, they have tracks that have no clear hook, really long instrumentals, and lyrics that need work.  Live at the fest, they sounded just like their record, which is both good (because they’re musically capable) and bad (because of the aforementioned flaws).  The set was uneven, with some soaring moments of melodic sweetness, and some moments of long-winded falsetto and uninspired instrumentals.  Overall, I wasn’t particularly impressed by their show.

Most energetic of the day: Gogol Bordello

So, I ended up seeing Gogol instead of LCD Soundsystem.  The reason is because I wanted to go to a show where I was SURE I was going to have a great time.  Gogol Bordello never disappoints.  I just love this band – they’re crazily energetic, have tons of rousing songs, and are guaranteed to satisfy your urge to jump up and down wildly.  The songs from their new album aren’t quite as good as their previous ones, but live at the fest, they all blended together really well.  The crowd loved them.

Most overrated of the day: Deadmau5

Duuuuude.  Before you unfriend/unfollow/unlike me for dissing Deadmau5′s highly regarded ACL set, hear me out.  The best thing about this show (and probably the reason so many people loved it) was the lights, which I must say, were pretty awesome and some of the most intricate I’ve seen.  I also thought it was cool when his mouse face had a digital mouth that moved…like, WHOA man!

BUT, even Deadmau5 admitted the set was technically flawed.  In my opinion, there is just nothing special about this guy’s music.  It’s basic house beats.  The crowd was shove-y and full of tweakers.  Bottom line, it was overhyped and overrated in every way (other than the light show).  Or maybe I just wasn’t on enough drugs.

Prog-rock fan show of the day: Muse

What can I say?  There was no better time to be a Muse fan then during Muse’s precision-perfect set closing out Saturday of the festival.  I’m not exactly a Muse-lover, but after seeing their show at ACL, they’ve grown on me quite a bit.  It sure looked like their dedicated fans were having a fantastic time, and the band throws themselves into their stage show.  The crowd was super-massive (get it?  Nyah!), and even from our vantage point waaaaaay back, Muse looked and sounded like a band that deserves to sell out arenas.  All-in-all, a fine choice for a closer on Saturday night.

Stay tuned for my reviews of Sunday, coming up shortly.  Also, check out the rest of my pictures on my Facebook fan page!