Albert Hammond Jr. Covers Frank Black

I don't how long this has been on the Amoeba site, but in this clip from Hammond's in-store set, the first song is a very faithful cover of Frank Black's "Old Black Dawning" off of Black's first solo album. A great tune brought to you in that glorious Amoeba-vision! Why can't everyones' embedded video look as nice as this?

The Foundry Field Recordings

Part of me likes to think that the members of The Foundry Field Recordings really spend their free time walking around in open spaces with vintage recording equipment collecting sounds like so many precious gems. And while I know that they probably just did it that day because there was a photographer there, I shut down that logic when I’m playing this album.

I heeded the enthusiastic losanjealous endorsement a while ago and still find myself reaching for this album pretty often. Prompts/Miscues is an amazing debut that is ridiculously solid throughout. I’m posting my two favorites from the album and I think you’ll find that these guys have an incredible amount of range. Enjoy!

“Broken Strings” is an inspired ballad that is performed with unfettered sincerity. If you’ve ever had your heart broken, prepare yourself to feel that way all over again for the next five minutes.



That said, these guys can also bring the heat. “Buried Beneath The Winter Frames” starts off as a likable and catchy pop song, but grows a serious set of fangs as it progresses. And it becomes a serious addiction thereafter. This diddy has popped up on just about every playlist in my iPod.



** Also as a side note, I just discovered while collecting links that they have a new album for sale, Fallout Stations. I’ve already ordered mine, if it’s anywhere as good as this stuff you’ll be hearing about it real soon.

The Nice

When I was in high school I was way into ELP, which led me to Keith Emmerson’s first band, The Nice. At the time I sort of tossed these guys aside because, (and I’m embarrassed to admit this) there wasn’t enough keyboard. But I’ve done a lot of growing since then. So when I saw this amazing double disc compilation, Hang On To A Dream, during the 70% off days at Tower (R.I.P.) a while back, I just had to have it. This comp strolls from psych to prog as Emmerson’s signature sound matures right before your ears. Here’s a couple of my favorite tracks from the band’s earlier days. And should you find yourself longing for more keyboards, you know where to go.

Finally The Punk Rockers Are Drinking Islands

These guys are cool! They call themselves Abe Vigoda and I stumbled upon them when looking up shows around town. They’ve got that whole Islands calypso rock thing going, only with way less precision and focus. It sounds like they just found their instruments on the beach, but in a good way. Maybe there’s a secret wave of Unicorns/Islands inspired bands on the way, we can only pray. This track is alright, but I liked the song ‘Animal Ghosts’ a lot more over at their myspace page.

Jerry Jeff Walker - London Homesick Blues

That's Jerry Jeff on the right, with Willie Nelson & Jack Rodgers.

From the first time I heard this whiskey soaked bar closer of a song, I instantly loved it. I just played it on repeat for a week solid and never grew sick of it. There’s just something about it’s laid back, off-the-cuff performance that draws you in completely and makes you long to be back home with the armadillos, (you’ll know what that means after you listen to it). Viva Terlingua is pretty much the perfect hang out album; it’s easy on the ears, not too demanding, but occasionally makes you sit up and take notice. And yes, I used a semi-colon. I’m not really sure if Walker is even doing the lead vocals on this cut, but I’m reasonably sure that if this song is playing through your car speakers, you’ll be fronting the band.

You Don't Get More Pavement Than This...

For every great band there is usually another band that is great at sounding just like them. For The Velvet Underground, it's The Warlocks. For The Beach Boys, it's The High Llamas. And now for Pavement, it's Hockey Night. I usually enjoy these albums for a spin or three before I long for the source material, but Hockey Night's newest release Keep Guessin' has popped onto my iPod WAY more than that, and it's mostly because of this track. If you're a big Pavement fan, this song will send you on this emotional journey...

Denial - "Nuh uh, this HAS to be Pavement."
Anger - "Fuck these guys, Malkmus should sue them. I mean come on."
Bargaining - "I'll be a better person."
Depression - "Man. I miss Pavement."
Acceptance - "This track actually rules."

Enjoy!

Gondry Ketchup

I'm a pretty big Michel Gondry fan. I own the music videos collection and his movies, but somehow I managed to miss pretty much every clip since the 'Hardest Button To Button' video. Don't really know how that happened (considering there's some perty big names mixed in the batch), but I'd like to think that maybe I'm not alone. And so, for anyone who may need it, I've collected a bunch of videos here from the last few years. They're pretty awesome, especially "Denial Twist" "Walkie Talkie Man" and "Heard 'Em Say". Enjoy!

HP Commercial


Cell Phone's Dead


King Of The Game


Winning Days


The Denial Twist


Heard 'Em Say


A Ribbon


*Note: Left out 'Mad World' on purpose, remember actually seeing this video a lot.

I Wonder


Walkie Talkie Man


Ride

"Track 3" by Panda Bear

Just wanted to post this little video I made for this sweet track from Panda Bear. Enjoy!

Ricky and Blondie

I know all my posts seem in some way connected to the Beach Boys, but…

Before Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin joined the band in ’72, they were in this really awesome band of their own called The Flame. This album is great for anyone who’s down with Beatle-esque pop gems, as you will soon see for yourself with the two tracks below. They only put out this one album before Carl Wilson plucked them from obscurity and made him a part of the new line-up. After you hear these two songs, a part of you is going to wish Carl hadn’t interfered, because they were definitely onto something. Oh yeah, and Ricky went on to join a little outfit called The Rutles. Check them tracks…

You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone

While The Beach Boys were no longer pulling off those glorious studio arrangements with Brian safely tucked away in bed, they still kicked out plenty of jams in the early 70's, and "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" is easily one of my favorites. This here is a really cool video of it. And when is it not awesome to watch Carl Wilson front the band? I'm not 100% positive, but I'm pretty sure The Beach Boys called themselves "Carl and The Passions" early in the band's life, hence the name of the album this track comes from. If you've already digested the rest of their golden age stuff, I strongly suggest you pick up the Carl and the Passions – So Tough / Holland double album package, (follow that link, it’s super cheap at Amazon). Yeah, you may hit the skip button here and there, but you'll be extremely happy with your purchase. It has more than a fair share of really great tracks. Oh yeah, Daryl Dragon from Captain and Tennille plays piano in this video. Now you wanna watch...

Baby, It's Warm Outside

I apologize to anyone who is enduring harsh weather right now for the title of this mix. But if you live in Southern California, you know that we've skipped right over Spring and have gone straight to Summer. So here's a sweet mixola of tuneskis for that will make you long to be outside while you are stuck at your computer. Enjoy!

Dean & Britta

I know I may be a little late to this video but I think it's awesome. It's so simple and warm, and it fits the song just perfectly. If you've seen it already then just move on (or drink from it's loving cup a second sip (what?)), but if you haven't, enjoy!

By the way, they're playing a free show at the Getty on April 6th, you just need to RSVP. You can do that starting March 22.

Beach Boys Disco

The Grateful Dead did one, so did the Rolling Stones, but one of the most unlikely bands to ever crank out a disco song is The Beach Boys. This thing has Mike Love’s smell all over it. Just as he didn’t get that songs about hot rods were going out of style well after Rubber Soul was released, he apparently didn’t notice that disco was on it’s last gasp as well. It may be disco, but hey, it’s The Beach Boys, so it’s actually pretty catchy. For your listening pleasure I’ve included three different versions.

Here Comes The Night (Original) - This is the original non-disco version of the song, a stripped down, bare bones rhythm and blues affair. This is off of Wild Honey, which is an amazing album top to bottom.

Here Comes The Night (Radio Edit) - This is a 4-minute version I have from a compilation called The Platinum Collection. I assume this version was intended for radio.

Here Comes The Night (Full Version) - And here we have the big daddy 10-minute version, which was definitely intended for the coked out disco bunnies at Studio 54 to shake their groove thangs to. This full version was released as a single, (which you can find at most record stores for a couple bucks) and it was also included in its entirety on the L.A. (Light Album). This is definitely not the most solid of Beach Boys albums, but it should be noted that there are some Dennis Wilson gems to be had.

Cooke’n

I believe it was Tyler Florence who once said, “Great food starts with simple ingredients.” Ooooooh really? No shit. Thanks for the tip. You may be asking yourself right about now, “What’s this have to do with Sam Cooke?” It doesn’t. I just wanted to point out how stupid that quote is. On this song, however, Cooke cooks with some simple ingredients, and creates a delicious cuisine, the kind you can’t find at Applebee's.**

**I apologize to anyone who read this, enjoy the song, get more of them from this amazing compilation.

(Ain't That) Good News - Sam Cooke

Remix of ‘Easier’

You like Grizzly Bear? Me too. Rough Trade has a single track for sale ($1.35) and it a very nice remix of ‘Easier’ from Yellow House. You can stream it here. They’re taking down the track after January 15th so get it while you can... if you want. Speaking of Grizzly Bear remixes, here’s one of my favorites from the Horn of Plenty remixes. There’s just something about that part around the three-minute mark that kills me.

Stream: Easier (Alternate Edit) – Grizzly Bear

Eavesdropping (Simon Bookish Remix) – Grizzly Bear

Gooden’s Corner

Once I asked the clerk at Atomic Records why I can’t seem to find Grant Green records anywhere and he said, “on the occasion that someone lets one go, it gets bought the next day.” This is odd because usually popular jazz artists with lots of records in circulation aren’t too hard to find, but that’s just a testament to the brilliance of this Blue Note guitarist. This track is off of a great compilation of Grant Green and Sonny Clark recordings. It’s one of those tunes that you just want to listen to again right when it’s done. Get it, and more like it, here!

Gooden's Corner - Grant Green

Bwana Buckingham

Law and Order is one of those albums that suffers from 1981 cover art, but luckily that’s all it suffers from. If you liked tracks 2,4,6,8,9,12,15,18,19 off of Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk, well my son (and/or daughter), you’re in for a treat here. As you will soon hear on these two tracks, Buckingham continues to invent new sounds with the studio. And them sounds is goooooooooood!

Bwana - Lindsey Buckingham

It Was I – Lindsey Buckingham

Have A Chicago Indie Rock Weekend!

I may live in LA but it’s always great to see some sweet bands come out of my hometown. Thanks to the folks over at Daytrotter and their extensive collection of in-house performances, here’s a couple of gems from Chicago acts The M's and The Changes. Head over to Daytrotter for the complete sessions, there’s seven tracks to be had from these two bands, and a whole lot more where that came from. Links to the sessions below. Have a nice weekend!

Plan Of The Man - The M’s

Water Of The Gods - The Changes

The M's at Daytrotter
The Changes at Daytrotter

Making Good On My Eleventh Dream Day Promise

A few months ago I promised I’d upload some tracks when I got the new Eleventh Dream Day, and wallaah (sp?) here they are! Apparently being overlooked can do wonders for a band’s durability. I mean, check these songs out, they’re absolutely incredible! If I ever get around to making a list for the top albums of ’06, Zeros and Ones will be on it for sure. The whole album is beyond solid, so go get it here! Enjoy!

New Rules - Eleventh Dream Day

For Everything - Eleventh Dream Day

Free Talib and Madlib Album!!!

First things first, go to Rappcats to get the free Talib Kweli and Madlib album! It’s great. It’s free. What more do I have to tell you? Why are you still here reading? You should be over there getting a free album that’s really good. Seriously! Stop reading. Go there. Get yer ass to Mars, get yer ass to Mars, get yer ass to Mars…