Author Archives: the OCMD

School of Language

Posted on by

Artist:  School of Language
Album:  Sea from Shore [released February 4, 2008]
File Under:  Brit Pop
Recommended if You Like:  Rock Symphonies
Featured Track:  Extended Holiday

It wasn’t until I took my Sonos player off shuffle and listened to this album in its entirety did I actually ‘get it’.  Now I can’t stop listening to it and the more I do, the better it gets. Testament to a great album and an exceptional musician by the name of David Brewis, member of the on-hiatus group Field Music.  The songs are exquisitely constructed and I love the way he plays with structures and sounds. 

The album is almost entirely a solo project showcasing David’s genius and is a true album experience.  Like a mini rock symphony, the album starts and ends with a series of songs called ‘Rockists Part 1 and 2’ and ‘Rockists Part 3 and 4’.  Parts 1 and 4 are different versions of the same song but strung together and listened to in it’s entirety, is a stunning arrangement.  

Get this album free via eMusic’s 50 Free MP3 Promo


buy it at insound!

Bookmark and Share

Goodbye iTunes, Helloooo Songbird

Posted on by

I’ve been keeping an eye on Songbird for a while but was always a bit intimidated to try it out. A fractional (v 0.5) developer release with nightly builds? Come on, that’s a bit scary for the average bear. I finally installed it this weekend and can honestly say I have arrived at the pearly gates of music heaven.  

Developed by a group calling themselves ‘Pioneers of the Inevitable’ (love it), Songbird is a free open source media player and web browser rolled into one.  It’s like the power of iTunes and Firefox combined.  Not only can you manage and play your own music, now you can play the web too.  

For example, any media files stored on a website will show up as a playable file in the Songbird application that you can download or save to your library.  Even better, it has a built-in RSS subscription and MP3 file download so now you can subscribe to your favorite MP3 blogs as playlists!  Plus, it’s already integrated with HypeMachine, eMusic and InSound.  To get a better sense of all the features, watch their online demo here.

The potential of the application is mind boggling.  Just today I added the mashTape add-on that shows tour dates, photos, lyrics and videos of the artist currently playing and I thought my head was going to explode.  Now if they would only integrate with Sonos…..

Go get it now!

Bookmark and Share

All Hail the Duke Spirit

Posted on by

Artist:  The Duke Spirit
Album:  Neptune [Released Feb 2008]
File Under:  English Indie Rock
Recommended if You Like: Grungy garage rock a la Sonic Youth and P.J. Harvey
Featured Track:  The Step and the Walk

I’ve been a fan of The Duke Spirit since their first album, Cuts Across the Land, hit the US in 2005.  With their second release, Neptune, the band has clearly come of age.  The album is a seductive blend of lead singer Leila Moss’s bluesy-rock vocals and ferocious guitar riffs.   The songs, evoking images of sea gods and ships, are a journey of brooding intensity that, in the end, leaves me only to say… “All Hail The Duke Spirit.”  

buy it at insound!

Bookmark and Share

I Heart Pitchfork.tv

Posted on by

The recently launched Pitchfork.tv is one of my latest obsessions.  Especially when they post these amazing live sets like this one from one of my favorite bands of 2007, Caribou.  Pitchfork.tv picks up where MTV’s 120 Minutes left off.  It’s everything Indie music television should be and will become. I love you Pitchfork. Rock on.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

 

more about ““, posted with vodpod

 
Get this album free via eMusic’s 50 Free MP3 Promo


Bookmark and Share

 

Bon Iver, Mon Ami

Posted on by

For Emma, Forever Ago

Artist:  Bon Iver (pronounced bon hiver – as in French for good winter)
Album:  For Emma, Forever Ago ( Released February 7, 2008 )
File Under:  Singer/Songwriter; Make out Music
Recommended If You Like:  Iron & Wine
Featured Track:  Skinny Love


The label Jagjaguwar knows how to pick artists and Bon Iver is no exception.  Their release of the band’s debut album, “For Emma, Forever Ago,” made waves among critics and music lovers alike.  And for good reason, the album is stunning. The band’s driving force – Justin Vernon – wrote this masterpiece holed up in a cabin in Wisconsin for three months during the winter.  The sense of isolation, longing and loneliness are palpable in his songs, but in a beautiful way.  The tempo and rhythm of the CD washes over you in a way that just makes you want to curl up and touch someone. 

Get this album free via eMusic’s 50 Free MP3 Promo


Bookmark and Share