Tag Archives: port o’brien

Best Songs of 2008 – Indie Rock

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Every year I host a music swap with my music geek friends where we share our top albums of the year.  This year we spiced it up a bit by adding a new component – a mix of your favorite songs of 2008 by artists not represented in our Best Albums of 2008 list. (Ryan’s rules, not mine.) So here it is, my mix of some of my favorite indie rock tunes for 2008. I was struck by a lot of San Francisco local music this year and have noted those artists with an asterisk (**).  I enjoyed the emergence of such good music from my hometown and hope you will too. Enjoy!

  1. ** Pigeonhold by Port O’Brien
  2. Testify by Carney
  3. ** The Drag by Ty Segall
  4. Pot Kettle Black by Tilly and the Wall
  5. Operation by Deerhunter
  6. There Are Birds by The Ruby Suns
  7. The Dazzled by Crystal Stilts
  8. The Shedding Path by The Lord Bird Dog
  9. Chemtrails by Beck
  10. Oppressions Each by Brightblack Morning Light
  11. The Columbia by Lackthereof
  12. ** Hellhole Ratrace by Girls
  13. ** New York Through York by Lady Genius
  14. Charlyn, Angel of Kensington by Jason Collett
  15. My Baby by Juliana Hatfield
  16. Furr by Blitzen Trapper
  17. ** Peg by Cryptacize
  18. Lady Luck by Richard Swift
  19. Don’t You Worry by Jim Noir

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San Francisco Bands You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of – Part 5

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Leopold and His Fiction

Do you like bluesy, southern fried garage rock in the style of The Black Keys, White Stripes and Kings of Leon? Then I think you’ll like this San Francisco trio called Leopold and His Fiction. I sure do.  Their self-titled debut is out now and are expected to release a new album early 2009.

Listen to ‘Come Back (Now That I’m Here)’:

 

 

Okay

I was taken the first time I heard Fremont-based band, Okay.  Mostly by Marty Anderson’s voice, which is strange, compelling and beautiful all at the same time.  His sound may not resonate with everyone but I find his songs with simple lyrics and sparse instrumentation achieve something bigger.

Listen to ‘My‘:

 

 

Port O’Brien

Oakland-based Port O’Brien has received critical acclaim for their autobiographical second album, All We Could Do Was Sing. Their ragtag indie folk/rock sound evokes the sounds of Neil Young and Bon Iver at times and back porch, drunken singalong sessions at others.   

Listen to ‘Pigeonhold’:

 

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8tracks is the New Muxtape

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With Muxtape still battling the RIAA, 8tracks has emerged as the new online MP3 playlist solution.  8tracks allows you to create a playlist of 8 tracks and share it with your friends online.  It’s easy to use and they are Beta testing an Uploader feature for Mac users that allows you to drag and drop a playlist directly from iTunes to 8track. Hmmm, given how DRM happy Apple is, I wonder how long that will last.  Well, go check it out now before the RIAA shuts them down too.

Here’s a mix I created for the Treasure Island Music Festival this Sunday in San Francisco, featuring Fleet Foxes, Port O’Brien, The Dodos, Okkervil River, The Morning Benders, Vampire Weekend, Dr. Dog and The Raconteurs.  Can’t wait!

Listen to Treasure Island Music Festival Playlist.

For a more complete sampler of Sunday’s line up, check out HearYa’s complete playlist of all the artists featured.

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the OCMD Mixtape: Best Songs of 2008…So Far

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It’s the last day of July and half the year has gone and passed.  To celebrate, I’ve compiled a mixtape of my favorite songs (not albums) of the year…so far.  You can listen here, but if you want the file, you’ll have to subscribe to the OCMD Mixtape.  Enjoy!  

  1. The Raconteurs – These Stones Will Shout
  2. The Duke Spirit – This Ship Was Built to Last
  3. Elbow – Grounds for Divorce
  4. Black Angels – You on the Run
  5. The Black Keys – Psychotic Girl
  6. Beck – Soul of a Man
  7. Women – Black Rice
  8. The Raveonettes – Aly, Walk with Me
  9. The Ruby Suns – There are Birds
  10. Handsome Furs – Handsome Furs Hate this City
  11. Girls – Hellhole Ratrace
  12. Atlas Sound – Recent Bedroom
  13. High Places – Head Spins
  14. Beach House – Gila
  15. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
  16. Bon Iver – Skinny Love
  17. Citay – Little Kingdom
  18. The Helio Sequence – Lately
  19. Art in Manila – The Sweat Descends
  20. The Dodos – Paint the Rust
  21. Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today
  22. Tilly and the Wall – Pot Kettle Black
  23. Rafter – zzzpenchant
  24. School of Language – Extended Holiday
  25. Jason Collett – Charlyn, Angel of Kensington
  26. The Morning Benders – Boarded Doors
  27. Jim Noir – Don’t You Worry
  28. Cut Copy – Lights & Music

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

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Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today

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Oakland-based Port O’Brien posted the official video for the track ‘I Woke Up Today’ from their debut album, All We Could Do Was Sing.  After seeing them at SXSW this year, I’d say their video fairly accurately portrays their on stage presence as well – a raucous, ragtag ensemble of massed choruses and dancing kooks.  Still, there’s something there.  Even Pitchfork gave the album a coveted 7.5.  Go East Bay!

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