This Frontier Needs Heros – “Firefly”
When this Brooklyn-based brother and sister folk duo contacted me about their debut album saying they toured the UK with one of my favorite bands, She Keeps Bees, I couldn’t help but take note. Indeed there are similarities with their stripped down sound and stories of love, loss and longing, but This Frontier is a more folky variety. Check out the track ‘Firefly’. And if you’re heading to Austin this year for SXSW, look for them on the schedule.
Seriously. I’m coveting muscle cars? What’s wrong with me! I’ve never done that before. First it was the little old lady in the pristine 1974 Ford Mustang taunting me every morning as I drive down Van Ness en route to work. Now this parks next to me on a daily basis, begging for my affection. Well, you have it pretty lady. Every time I see you I want to rip off my clothes and have hot, sweaty sex on your benchseat. And I didn’t even know your name. I do now. Dodge Charger. Year? You tell me.
Damn, what a badass car. It’s so Clint Eastwood. And you can’t have a badass car without some badass music. Bristol, England’s Malachai will do quite nicely in this beauty, thank you very much. Their new album, Ugly Side of Love, is as raw, vintage and hot as this machine. Just check out the track “Snowflake” and see for yourself. Perfection.
These New Puritans are about to release their second album, Hidden. Due to release in the US on 3/2, the album has already been greeted with astonishing reviews in the UK. The band has cleared the track “Orion” for free download, which features the New London Children’s Choir, Japanese Taiko drums, chains, roto-toms and more. File this band under ‘art rock.’
Channeling Elliott Smith, San Francisco’s Andrew Galluccio gives his take on indie folk as The Northern Key. His self-titled album is out now on SF’s very own Tricycle Records. Truly a local project, the album was recorded and mixed by The Morning Bender’s Chris Chu at Different Fur Studios. Andrew will be performing at Noise Pop this month, opening for Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros at Bimbos on February 28.
Yeasayer – Ambling Alp (Alan Wilkis Remix) –
Lots of remixes coming out for the new Yeasayer album and I like this one from Alan Wilkis. “Ambling Alp” is the first single from their forthcoming album Odd Blood due out this week on Secretly Canadian. The band starts an international tour this month and will land at San Francisco’s The Fillmore on April 17. Get tickets.
Check out this video of Fever Ray’s Karin Dreijer (The Knife) accepting a major award at Sweden’s P3 Guild ceremony last week. Let your freak flag fly, Karin.
Charlotte Gainsbourg – “Trick Pony”
As I’ve stated before, j‘ai taime Charlotte. Her latest album, IRM, is one of my favorites this year. Both her and her music are impossibly sexy, cool and hip on all levels. Even if the subject matter is on the topic of a head injury she endured after a water skiing accident in which she had to undergo surgery and countless MRIs (or IRMs in French). So when Flaunt Magazine sent me photos from their recent issue featuring shots of Charlotte snapped by famed photographer Kurt Iswarienko, how could I refuse?
IRM, produced by Beck, is out now. Get it if you haven’t already.
Phoenix – “1901” (BbopNRokstedy Remix)
Normally I don’t pay much mind to the ‘remix’ emails in my inbox. So I got curious as to what made me open this particular one from the Virginia-based duo calling themselves BbopNRokstedy. I think part of it was this photo, because this guy looks a bit like my eccentric friend, BH. The other was their MySpace tagline “Be Afraid”, which made me laugh. And then there was the song, Phoenix’s “1901”. I mean, c’mon. That was one of the best tunes of ’09, hands down. So I gave it a spin. And liked it. Hey, at least they’re not remixing Animal Collective (so cliche).
High Places is set to release their second LP, High Places vs. Mankind, on Thrill Jockey in early April. The album takes on the daunting subject matter of being human and what it’s like to interact with other people. The duo cover a wide range of material from romantic relationships to addiction, aging, and death. Definitely a more somber and serious tone that their lighthearted debut. I like it. And this advance track, “On Giving Up”, has been firmly planted in my head all week. Enjoy.
Jaguar Love – “Jaguar Warriors”
My First Earthquake – “Cool In The Cool Way”
It’s an electro pop extravaganza this Wednesday night, February 3, at San Francisco’s Rumble featuring Jaguar Love and local acts My First Earthquake and Butterfly Bones. This month the best free music night in town gets an upgrade from Harlot to Cafe du Nord. Legitimacy at last! RSVP at SonicLiving to get in free.
the OCMD 