Sound From The Walls

Late Sounds of 2K11 Mixtape

2011-12-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

These are the late sounds of 2k11, it has been a great year for music, from the nostalgic Beach Fossils, to the greatness of Girls, from riding on the chillwaves of Neon Indian and Washed Out to the underground psycho-billy echoes of Dirty Beaches, from the dream pop of Grand Resort to the always coming New Order's babies like Craft Spells, last but not least the psychedelic improvised summer of Real Estate's "Days" among a lot of new and awesome bands. We shall remember them.

Tracklist
1. Grand Resort - "Microscopic"
2. Girls - "Honey Bunny"
3. The Drums - "Money"
4. Cults - "Abducted"
5. Craft Spells - "After The Moment"
6. Beach Fossils - "What a Pleasure"
7. The War on Drugs - "Baby Missiles"
8. Dirty Beaches - "Sweet 17"
9. Neon Indian - "Polish Girl"
10. St. Vincent - "Cruel"
11. Washed Out - "Soft"
12. Yacht - "Utopia"
13. Puro Instict - "Slivers of You"
14. Metronomy - "The Bay"
15. CANT - "The Edge"
16. M83 - "Year One, One UFO"
17. Battles - "Ice Cream"
18. Real Estate - "It's Real"

Late Sounds Of 2K11 (SFTW Mixtape) by SoundFromTheWalls

Early Sounds of 2011 Mixtape

2011-05-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

Hello there once again, it took me a while to decide what to do this time, would I just keep reviewing?, get you some news?..most importantly I wanted to give you new music to discover and the easiest way of doing that is putting it just one click away. Enjoy it, download it, share it.

In this mixtape you will find my so far favorite acts of 2011, starting with one of the first bands to light up the year Smith Westerns, and through the evolving dub emotions from James Blake, to Toro y Moi's futuristic upbeat vibes and modern psychedelia, to the Dom.Rep/Boston based band Dead Young Friends as a reminder that the Rock & Roll souls are still out there, to the incredible folk vibes from Fleet Foxes, to Tyler the Creator and his SWAG .. Eclectic tunes from the Tune-Yards, the greatness of the new Radiohead, among others, and finishing with the new and powerfully echoed Death Cab For Cutie.

Here's the tracklist:

1. Weekend - Smith Westerns
2. Wait and See - Holy Ghost!
3. Morning Mr. Magpie - Radiohead
4. Killin' The Vibe (Feat Panda Bear) - Ducktails
5. Grown Ocean - Fleet Foxes
6. Limit to Your Love - James Blake
7. Jesus Fever - Kurt Vile
8. Real - Dead Young Friends
9. Taken For A Fool - The Strokes
10. Yonkers - Tyler the Creator
11. Heart in Your Heartbreak - The Pains Of Being Pure at Heart
12. Get Some - Lykke Li
13. Kaputt - Destroyer
14. How I Know - Toro y Moi
15. My Country - Tune-Yards
16. Surfer's Hymn - Panda Bear
17. Caffeinated Consciousness - Tv On The Radio
18. Operation - Yuck
19. Stuck on the Puzzle - Alex Turner
20. You Are a Tourist - Death Cab For Cutie
Early Sounds of 2011 (SFTW Mixtape) by SoundFromTheWalls

Top 30 Albums of 2K10 (Reviews from 10th-1st)

2010-12-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

1st..LCD Soundsystem - "This is Happening"

This is a two year piece of work, and my favourite album of 2010, their third and possibly not yet confirmed last LP. With a highly noted influence by the 1980's New Wave movement, specifically Talking Heads and some Robert Smith vocalization, James Murphy takes this production very seriously, with new recording strategies, sound ideals and a synthetic comprehension. The whole tracklist is just amazing, you won't be able to decide which one is better, and be aware that they'll get stuck in your head.

“Dance Yrself Clean” opens the record with a mellow, thuddish synth that teeters between a basic key line and Murphy’s creamy vocals before exploding into a boisterous electronic break. Murphy later jumps in with his familiar howl that blares intermittently until the nine minute track fades into the record’s aforementioned teaser, “Drunk Girls.” “One Touch” follows with a series of erratic industrial squeals which twist into a spiraling electronic bubble before developing a fluttering loop that looms below Murphy’s weighty vocals. The first significant shift in the record comes with “All I Want.” The near-seven minute song finds its stride early on with Murphy quietly crooning over a bass, guitar, and drums.But just as the ear begins to blend each unique component into one churning sound, “I Can Change” chimes in and once again illuminates with Murphy’s voice, something that translates as oddly refreshing given the development of the record. This Is Happening continues with the unapologetic track “You Wanted A Hit.” At over nine minutes the song is clearly far from radio-friendly in its delivery, but Murphy repeatedly confirms the concept throughout, “You wanted a hit, but we don’t do hits”. The bongo-fied “Pow Pow” follows, tailed by the oddity “Somebody’s Calling Me” which blares uncomfortably harsh synth along with Murphy’s soft vocals and an unusually basic piano line.

If This Is Happening does end up being the final LCD Soundsystem release, Murphy certainly picked the right way to end it. “Home” hints at lyrical retrospection while adopting a musical collage that sums up the album, if not LCD’s three full-length releases, fittingly. Give it a listen to this incredible track that might be my favourite from the album "Home" here.

#2nd..Broken Social Scene - "Forgiveness Rock Record"

The Canadian supergroup has returned under the production of Tortoise mastermind John McEntire and emerged with the leanest, most straight-ahead rock record of their career. With Forgiveness Rock Record the listener is finally able to pin down the influences of bandleaders Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. On the Canning-fronted numbers “Water in Hell” and “Highway Slipper Jam,” classic rock elders (or near-contemporaries) hold commanding sway. Drew, half dirty-talking-ladies-man, half world-weary-scholar, writes songs that go straight for the gut. Penning slow-building rockers like the excellent first single “World Sick” and the super-tight “Forced to Love,” Drew is in full command as a band leader, his voice acting as a voracious instrument itself, emotionally transparent and incredibly expressive. Give it a listen to the beautiful voice of Lisa Lobsinger on "All to All" here.

#3rd..Tame Impala - "Innerspeaker"

Imagine this: John Lennon has been reincarnated. His new birth name is Kevin Parker, a co-founding member of Australian trio Tame Impala. This band is the closest thing to how The Beatles would sound if they had been cryogenically frozen for the past thirty years and had decided to modernize their chops upon thawing out. And yes, that’s a compliment. It is fresh and stunningly original considering the obviousness of their influences, which is a welcome rarity given the infinite number of bands claiming identical inspirations. Starting with one of the most infectious bass-lines in recent memory, the band immediately grabs your attention with “It Is Not Meant to Be”, give it a listen here.

#4th..MGMT - "Congratulations"

Cosmic vibrations through serious minded harmonies, with an early Pink Floyd (Syd Barret era) touch, this colourful and adventurous album that the guys are releasing is totally a new proposal for old listeners because it's certainly not a second part of Oracular Spectacular. They have entered a whole new world of music making, voice echoes, sounds alterations, neon lights, retro-vibes, synth-innovations, madness and cure, the album is for entire appreciation. Give it a listen to the incredible opener "It's Working" here.

#5th..Sufjan Stevens - "The Age of Adz"

Sufjan Stevens is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Petoskey, Michigan. He is known for his lyrically focused and instrumentally rich songs that often relate to faith and family. On "The Age of Adz" the genesis on the songs are based in sound exploration, experimentation with different kind of gear and devices. It's like Sufjan Stevens gave his soul into white noise. Melodic sensibilities and an unconditional love to the world with refferences to science fiction, astrology, religion, sinfonic madness, volcal games, and the decay of the human race and the eternal living. Listen to one of the several celestial songs from the record "I Want to be Well" here.

#6th..Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti - "Before Today"

Ariel Pink is a Los Angeles based experimental/pop musician. Ariel Pink blends Lite FM and warped lo-fi pop into something by turns beautiful and confusing. Some may find his personal yet detached approach highly addictive, while others may be instantly turned off by the obvious lo-fi production and the vocal drumtracks. Pink’s tours have generally been met with much negativity, primarily because his music was never intended to be performed live for commercial audiences. Ariel Pink grew up absorbing throwaway pop from the 70s and 80s, finding a way to make it all fit into his cracked worldview. But the brilliant thing about Before Today is that no prior knowledge of his catalog is required. Newcomers can dig into this record and absorb all of these weird and wonderful songs now, and save the backstory for another day.And then there's "Round and Round", one of indiedom's most unifying and memorable songs in 2010. Give it a Listen here.

#7th..Gorillaz - "Plastic Beach"

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett certainly did it again with their virtual british band "Gorillaz". So welcome to the world of the plastic beach. This record has everything; from orchrestras, hip hop anthems, awesome melodies, samples, incredible synths and percussion, an incredible production, and a lot, lot more. Has everyone; from Snoop Dog to Lou Reed, Little Dragon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon. I wish I could, but I really find the right words to describe this awesome record so you'll have to find them for yourself. Give it a listen to one of my favourite songs from Plastic Beach "Empire Ants (ft. Little Dragon)" here.

#8th..Twin Shadow - "Forget"

George Lewis Jr. was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Florida, before eventually relocating to Brooklyn and adopting the Twin Shadow moniker. "Forget" it's an album to never forget (cheesy line, I know). Produced by Chris Taylor (from Grizzly Bear). The sound of this record is steeped in 1980's new wave, building from streaks of haunting synth textures with hazing melodies upon each one of the songs. Listen to "At my Heels" (this song won't get out of your head) here.

#9th..Best Coast - "Crazy for You"

What do you get if you put together music, weed, cats, beach, summer, broken hearts, colours and McDonalds? This band is the answer.
Bethany Cosentino might be the female artist of the year with her so beloved cat "Snacks" and her boyfriend Nathan Williams (Wavves), some kind of the indie couple of the year, right? However this talented artist brings us all these garage surf rock songs intended for a perfect summer. In my opinion Best Coast is one of the most original bands from this year and everyone should be "crazy for (it)". Listen and enjoy by yourself to the track "When I'm With You" here.

#10th..Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"

This canadian orchestral indie rock band never aim for anything less than grand statements. That quality has played a huge role in making them very, very popular; it's also their greatest weakness..then they released "The Suburbs" --proof that Arcade Fire can still make grand statements without sounding like they're carrying the weight of the world. Win Butler describes the overall sound of The Suburbs as "a mix of Depeche Mode and Neil Young", stating that he wanted the album to sound like "the bands that I heard when I was very young, and wondered what those crazy noises were". It focuses on this quiet desperation borne of compounding the pain of wasting your time as an adult by romanticizing the wasted time of your youth. As bleak as the lyrics are, though, they're buoyed by the band's leanest, loosest songwriting yet. The Suburbs is a record that seeks to build, and it reaches a monumental peak at its closure. Give a listen to one of the most powerful songs from the album "Empty Room" here.

Top 30 Albums of 2K10 (Reviews from 20th - 11th)

2010-12-21T12:28:00.000-08:00

#11th..Caribou - "Swim"

Caribou is the canadian musician Daniel Snaith who formerly recorded under the moniker Manitoba. Known for altering his sound with each subsequent release, he incorporates electronic psychedelia, krautrock rhythms, and breakbeat drums and creates a swirling, lush, musical panorama. This record was created from the idea of making dance music that sounds like it’s made out of water. See how all of this holds up after listening to the opener, “Odessa” here.

#12th..Deerhunter - "Halcyon Digest"

The musical genious did it again. Bradford Cox brings out this new record with his band, after releasing some experiments as Atlas Sound. This is in some ways the band’s most accomplished record to date. This album has the ambition of fusing the lulling hypnotic states induced by ambient and minimalist music with the klang and propulsion of garage rock. Their live performances almost always leave audiences polarized, as bordering on a religious experience. If you've heard these guys before you know what I'm talking about, if you haven't, I really hope you enjoy them. Check out one of the greatest songs from the album "Helicopter" here.

#13th..Charlotte Gainsbourg - "IRM"

This is the beautiful daughter of the French jazz icon Serge Gainsbourg. With almost all songs written and produced by Beck, she gives us a great example of what she can do with both french and english language. This record is a swirling mess of sounds and signifiers tied together in how irresistible it all is. We can call this a modern folk music for french cafes. Listen to the nouvelle-vague sensibility of "Heaven Can Wait" here.

#14th..El Guincho - "Pop Negro"

This is a cosmic space-age exotica band formed by the spanish synth-head Pablo Diaz-Reixa. His musical style relies heavily on the use of sampling and incorporates elements of afrobeat, dub, tropicalia and rock, almost like a Spain version of Animal Collective. One of the most vanguardist albums of the year, getting a more mature sound from his last work "Alegranza!". The single "Bombay" is the song that represents this whole record with a very trippy video.Check it out.

#15th..Local Natives - "Gorilla Manor"

This group just knocked our windows for us to listen their unique music. With some familiarities like: Band Of Horses, Fleet Foxes. The album expresses mature sounds around delayed guitar riffs, high harmony on voices, nice percussion and a white background that colours up with their music as you listen to it. Check out "Camera talk" here.

#16th..Harlem - "Hippies"

Harlem is a band from Austin, Texas. This album is genious and happiness with a bit of sarcasm. Can we get any more garage-thrash-trash-punk band covered in barbecue sauce and feathers? It is an ode to irony and old-style broken hearts. Highly influenced by the late 50's and 60's. Drunk crews singing along procrastinating. I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to "Hippies". Check their tunes out, my favourite "Friendly Ghost" Click here.

#17th..Belle & Sebastian - "Write about Love"

One of the greatest returns of the year was undoubtly Murdoch's band. They really are an ensemble, even now, after a nearly five-year break since The Life Pursuit.
Write about love brings out great melodies, joy and vintage organs, without leaving out the colaborations with Norah Jones and Carey Mulligan. If you're already a B&S fan, you'll know that their sound remains untouched, and if you're a new listener, this record can open you a door of awesome songs from these indie gods. My favourite song from the record is "I Want the World to Stop" Give it a listen.

#18..The Radio Dept. - "Clinging to a Scheme"

So in a short description: Sweden fellas, known through the soundtrack of the film "Marie Antoinette" back in 2006, just released their full length album "Clinging To A Scheme". Reminds me a lot of "Pains Of Being Pure at Heart". And what's more to ask than Thurston Moore talking (From interview '94 "The Year That Punk Broke") for the intro of one of their best songs "Heaven's On Fire" Give it a listen.

#19th..Avey Tare - "Down There"

This is a solo proyect by David Portner aka "Avey Tare" also known from Animal Collective, and it is as experimental as it can get. If you're familiar with Animal Collective, you'll know the guys are always innovating, taking this iniciative previously we got Panda Bear on it's own proyect, and now Avey Tare. The album explores new sounds, samples, tempos, filters, vocals, it is sort of a way of expressing his past experiences with the band and how they managed to give the world a new kind of Modern Art Music. One of my favourite songs from the album is "Lucky 1" Click here to listen.

#20th..Twin Sister - "Color Your Life"

This EP sets your mind into some kind of filter, not telling the difference of what's real, dreamy up-beat synthesizers, some samples here and there and Andrea's unique voice that defines this rising band. It is a great start, you can find it a little psychedelic, some dream-pop, and you'll believe me when I say that everything's feeling just fine just when she sings "All Around and Away We Go" highly recommended. Check them out.

Top 30 Albums of 2K10 (Reviews from 28th - 21st)

2010-12-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

#21st..Dum Dum Girls - "I Will Be"

What if the Bangles and the Cure had mated in 1982? well probably we would have this band as a result. A new wave and post-punk with the teenage heartache of girl-group pop. "I Will Be" is certainly a blistering half-hour of menacing. But in the end it's ultimately Dee Dee's show, her voice often deeply mysterious and feminine and other times coy and a little perilous what gives the album the greatest touches. Give it a try and listen to one of my favourite songs "Jail La La" (click here)

#22nd..Rita Indiana y los Misterios - "El Juidero"

The first lines in Rita Indiana’s novel La Estrategia de Chochueca reads “Habían matado a alguien afuera. Podía oír los gritos y el correteo de la muchedumbre. Loca por saber algo, yo también corrí.” Add Rita Indiana Hernandez to the list of extraordinary individuals who carry transcendence in every step of their creative spectrum. Rita, a visionary, dances around its own dialect, yet reveals her visceral experiences through universal language. She is a unique voice and one of our generation’s most creative personas. Always drawn to apply her vision to new narratives, she found the monster that would allow her dialect to fully blossom, music, the kindest, most accessible medium. “La Sofi” was the first exercise of this newfound channel; it offered her the possibilities of reaching hysteria through her own terms, it was the start of her colloquialism, the start of the Rita Indiana narrative.

This review continues at "Club Fonograma on "El Juidero"
Click to listen "El Juidero"

#23rd..Alex Ferreira - "Un Domingo Cualquiera"

Alex Ferreira es un cancionista postmoderno melodramatico, nace en Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana. Vivió su infancia y adolescencia entre Nueva York, Miami y Santo Domingo. Empezó tocando la guitarra y escribiendo canciones a los 16 años de edad. El Britpop de los 90s, el folk anglosajón de los 60s, el rock Argentino, los boleros y la trova cubana, es un mero resumen de sus inﬂuencias.
"Un Domingo Cualquiera" es el resultado luego de dos EPs "Serenata de Plastico" y "Paginas", influencias y experiencias viviendo en Madrid, dandole una muy buena reputacion y diversidad a la musica que se crea en Republica Dominicana. Una gran cancion del album "Dije lo que Dije"
(Had to do it in spanish guys)

#24th..Wild Nothing - "Gemini"

Wild Nothing is the solo project of Virginia born Jack Tatum, whose music is the product of an unhealthy obsession with nostalgia. Equal parts teenage wasteland and inexplicable regret, his songs are the kind that could only be made by the young at heart.
Listening to this record, I realized it transports you.. warped interpretations of Johnny Marr’s guitar work and The Cure’s careful synth arrangements, the dreamy feeling and the 80's influence, the voice echoes, and an incredible melody that embraces you up and gives the album a sort of signature, it's amazing. Listen to my personal favourite "Live in Dreams"

#25th..Wavves - "King of the Beach"

Nathan Williams, under the name Wavves, is a noise pop musician based in San Diego, California. He released his self-titled debut LP in 2008 and has since gained notable media attention from the internet, and other areas including Pitchfork and ABC News. Currently signed to Fat Possum Records, he released his second full-length album, Wavvves, in 2009 and his third album, ‘King of the Beach’, on August 3rd 2010. King of the Beach features a complete rhythm section comprised of Stephen Pope and Billy Hayes, both formerly of the late Jay Reatard’s touring band.
"King of the Beach" also features a huge influence on surf and punk music, and you'll probably get into an electronic feeling on some songs, it's about baseball cards, love, cats, the beach, summer and weed among other drugs, this album is totally worth listening, one of its greatest songs "Green Eyes" give it a listen

#26th..Warpaint - "The Fool"

This is a jammy, psychedelic dreamy riffage indie all-girl quartet from Los Angeles. Just released their debut album “The Fool”, and let me tell you one thing, you get caught in it, you get so caught.. it’s almost like entering to a different state of mind. Live, each one is in her own zone, often with eyes shut and head loose. It's almost like watching them make up songs in real-time at every show, the tangling highs and darting lows frothing to a natural climax only to dissipate just as easily.
Their greatest song so far (for my opinion) is “Undertow” a particularly smoky mid-tempo cut from the record. Eventually the record itself will ask you to “Turn off your mind, relax and flow down stream” (quoted from Beatles’ Tomorrow Never Knows).Take a listen

#27th..Vampire Weekend - "Contra"

Contra is the 2nd album from the baroque pop band, we an notice that in sort of way Vampire Weekend evolved, new kinds of sounds, interesting lyrics and the shadow of negative comments because of the commercial success it had earlier this year. I also went surprised with the kind of celebrities on the music video from "Giving up the Gun" but I tend to forget about it listening to the other great songs on the album like "Horchata", "Holiday", "Cousins", "I Think Ur a Contra" and my personal favourite "Run" (click here to listen) and judge for yourself.

#28th..Dr. Dog - "Shame, Shame"

After some albums, the band went through some bad state for a while, in songwriting terms, seems like they recovered and became sort of better, the album still sounds like what you’re used to, that sort of 70’s rock vibe that’s been channeled through a Beach Boys filter of poppy-ness. For me, most songs of the album are nice stuff, but there are others that become redundant and lazy-feeling to listen. Powerful tunes include: "Mirror, Mirror", "Shadow People", "I Only Wear Blue" and various others. Click to listen "Mirror, Mirror".

Top 30 Albums of 2K10

2010-11-27T08:58:00.000-08:00

So, as I said couple of weeks ago on twitter, the whole month of December will be for reviewing all those great albums that we got this year, I couldn't wait to start, so here's a preview of what's coming.:

#29th..Tv Girl - "Tv Girl EP"

This is a pop duo from San Diego, with highly energetic songs that somehow gets you into a glamurous partying feeling (licor licor licor) synthetic sounds that are constantly moving around your head, and softly written lyrics with great care. While you're through this four-song extended play, you'll probably get the lo-fi rock influenced by surf music. Favourite song:

If You Want It

You can either stream or download the EP from the band's Bandcamp, enjoy.

#30th..She & Him - "Volume Two"

Throwing the shyness out from their first album, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward have approached a nice listening sound from Beach Boys' 60's era, a worth-the-listen album to hit on tough days to cheer you up a bit, take a listen:

Haven't You Heard?

2010-09-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

there's a huge post on the way..keep tuned

So Far..' Favourite 10' Albums

2010-06-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

1.MGMT - Congratulations
2.LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
3.Vampire Weekend - Contra
4.Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
5.Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
6.Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
7.Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
8.Harlem - Hippies
9.Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Photograph by Armando Alvarez

Tunes To Listen Before Summer

2010-06-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

So on this occassion I thought to give you some good albums for you to listen very worth your time, well produced, with good featuring artists, and sounds that make you wanna get back into some 60's psychedelia and true rock music, the new wave of electronic tunes or "chillwave" which is getting sort of great apparence in 2010, etc. All here, give em' a try:

Gorillaz - "Plastic Beach"

Gorillaz - Empire Ants (Feat. Little Dragon)

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

Tame Impala - Innerspeaker

"Solitude Is Bliss"

Dom - Sun Bronzed Greek Gods

Past Months In Music

2010-05-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

So I've been exposed to a whole lot of music these past months and a lot of it was totally worth the listen, went to couple of shows here and there, new releases, let's see:

LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

This is a two year piece of work, and so far one of the greatest albums of the year, their third and possibly not yet confirmed last LP. With a highly noted influence by the New Wave movement, specifically Talking Heads, and some Robert Smith vocalization, James Murphy takes this production very seriously, with new recording strategies, sound ideals and a synthetic comprehension. The whole tracklist is just amazing, you won't be able to decide which one is better, and be aware that they'll get stuck in your head. As far my favourite song from the album is "I Can Change" but it's, as I said really tough to decide. "This Is Happening is out this month, and in the mid-time you can listen to it in it's entirety at their webpage and also pre-order it -->here.

Real Estate - Real Estate

Although the album is from last year, I thought of bring it back to this year and talk about it's greatness. It's the first LP from the band after the release of an EP "Reality" on 2009 as well. The album takes us onto a psychedelic trip, colours included. The surfing guitar through waves of tranquility invades your soul. My personal favourite is "Fake Blues".

MP3 -> Real Estate: "Fake Blues"

Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame

After some albums, the band went through some bad state for a while, in songwriting terms, seems like they recovered and became sort of better, the album still sounds like what you’re used to, that sort of 70’s rock vibe that’s been channeled through a Beach Boys filter of poppy-ness. For me, most songs of the album are nice stuff, but there are others that become redundant and lazy-feeling to listen. Powerful tunes include: "Mirror, Mirror", "Shadow People", "I Only Wear Blue" and various others.

And...

So the other day I went to see some guy called Alex Ferreira, I was thrilled to see him live, I had listened to a couple of songs before the gig from some free EPs at his website, he just released his first oficial LP called "Un Domingo Cualquiera" and it is amazing, give it a listen at his myspace.

In terms of new releases, probably may heard about the new Interpol song, if you haven't, taste some of it.

Finally the best for last, Beck's Record Club is still working on INXS' "Kick" along St. Vincent, Liars and Os Mutantes, this time with the tune of "Need You Tonight".

Record Club: INXS "Need You Tonight" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Until next time, Cheers'

Live Appearances

2010-04-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

So there have been some great live shows recently, specially the opening show for the US Humbug Tour '10 from Arctic Monkeys at the Jackie Gleason Theater, Miami Beach (4/1/10) which I had the opportunity to attend, it was an amazing experience I must say, here are some videos:

Arctic Monkeys - Cornerstone (4/1/10) from Diego Cepeda on Vimeo.

I Bet That You Look Good At The Dancefloor (4/1/10) from Diego Cepeda on Vimeo.

Also my friend Andres Pichardo who lives at Boston went to Neon Indian's concert at Great Scott. Mad-awesome show it seems, and he was almost on the stage, taste some of it here:

Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer (Great Scott, Boston, 3/9/10) from andres pichardo on Vimeo.

He also went to see the God-like genious Thom Yorke (from Radiohead, obviously), I wish I had a link for one of those videos but they are all on facebook only, you can imagine how it was, dazzling and thoughtful vibes, incredible. This is from youtube, some guy uploaded it and there's no words to explain it, check it out:

until next time, cheers'

Stop Me If You Think You've Heard These Ones Before

2010-03-27T23:42:00.000-07:00

A long time without posting, is a lot time working and appreciating new acts of music, let's talk about certain albums and projects going out these days:

MGMT - Congratulations

Cosmic vibrations through serious minded harmonies, with an early Pink Floyd (Syd Barret era) touch, this colourful and adventurous album that the guys are releasing is totally a new proposal for old listeners because it's certainly not a second part of Oracular Spectacular. They have entered a whole new world of music making, voice echoes, sounds alterations, neon lights, retro-vibes, synth-innovations, madness and cure, it's said that they won't release any singles, the album is for entire appreciation, all this coming from their new production.

Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

This group just knocked our windows for us to listen their unique music. With some familiarities like: Band Of Horses, Fleet Foxes. The album expresses mature sounds around delayed guitar riffs, high harmony on voices, and a white background that colours up with their music as you listen to it.

MP3 -> Local Natives: "Camera Talk"

The Radio Dept.

So in a short description: Sweden fellas, known through the soundtrack of the film "Marie Antoinette" back in 2006, just released their full length album "Clinging To A Scheme". Reminds me a lot of "Pains Of Being Pure at Heart". And what's more to ask than Thurston Moore talking (From interview '94 "The Year That Punk Broke") for the intro of one of their best songs "Heaven's On Fire" , taste some of it here :

MP3 -> The Radio Dept.: "Heaven's on Fire"

She & Him - Vol. II

Throwing the shyness out from their first album, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward have approached a nice listening sound from Beach Boys' 60's era, a worth-the-listen album to hit on tough days to cheer you up a bit, take a listen:

Check out the new Beck's Record Club project to cover INXS "Kick" (1987) along St. Vincent, Liars and Os Mutantes.

until next time, cheers'

Month Retrospective

2010-01-30T21:16:00.000-08:00

To fresh start the year, January was pretty good. New sounds, new bands, just what everyone needs. As I said before the release of Vampire Weekend "Contra" was great to hear and the guys are doing awesome.

Few months from now I read that Pavement is making their comeback headlining along with Pixies the Primavera Sound Fest, they announced recenty the release of "Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement" (a career retrospective compilation from reunited indie deities) which I'm really looking foward to.

Beck is doing great presence by his works with his Record Club, which is releasing Skip Spence's "Oar" featuring Leslie Feist, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Jamie Lidell, great experiments. Beck recorded and it's featured in the brand new work of art-album "IRM" from the charming Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Also I spent the last two days listening to this great new band, it's called Surfer Blood. These Florida dudes have absolutely no live presence at all, but have an excellent sound in deed, Pavement and an 80's sound comes to mind, definitely it will be one of the best albums of the year.

In conlusion watch the exceptional performance of St. Vincent and Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon".

Albums to Listen on 2010

2010-01-14T20:34:00.000-08:00

So the year started in a terrific way with the sounds of Vampire Weekend's Contra, incredible tunes and something that keeps you repeating it again and again. There are some artists who are set to release new material throughout the year, these are:

Radiohead (Started working on the album past summer, and recently got into the studio)
Arcade Fire
MGMT
The Strokes
Beach House
Los Campesinos!
The Ting Tings
She & Him
Black Lips
We Are Scientists
Interpol

Seems that 2010 will be just about great returnings and great revelations.

Goodbye 09', Prepare Your Ears For 2010'

2009-12-30T22:34:00.000-08:00

This is just a playlist to say goodbye to 2009 and the awesome music it brang, let's just be prepared to what 2010 is going to give us, (hoping for a new Radiohead record). Click to Enlarge.'

Favourite Albums Of 2009

2009-12-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

This year we had an uncountable number of revelations, artists who raised from the unknown to let us feel their emotions and echoes through their music, these artists definitely made 2009 a compromising year.
Through the decade the independent scene never had the chance to shine until these days, the common record production is going down by people, who set up their own recording studios at their own home, and produce music the way wanted.
The technology is helping musicians to grow, for example, they can share their music to the whole world with just one click now, there's no need for a record deal, and also is opening the mind for the listeners to get to know these bands, to understand and appreciate what the artists got to give.
These are my favourite albums of 2009, the meaning among these albums and artists goes so much further than giving a note, a chord or a show off guitar solo, this is music with passion and independency.:

1. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
2. Sonic Youth - The Eternal
3. Atlas Sound - Logos
4. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
5. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
6. Camera Obscura - My Maudling Career
7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
8. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - (Self Titled)
9. St. Vincent - Actor
10. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains

Mentions.:

Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms
Micah P. Hinson - All Dressed Up And Smelling Of Strangers
The Flaming Lips - The Dark Side Of The Moon (Album Cover)
Beck's Record Club - The Velvet Underground & Nico (Record Club version)

Good Bands, Good Sounds..'

2009-10-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

First we're going to watch this amazing Grizzly Bear presentation at the church-theme stage from Pitchfork's ''Cemetery Gates'' playing the loud.QUIET.loud melody of ''Foreground''

Then following the mood we're going to have the prescence of Victoria Legrand on Beach House's video for their song ''Gila''

After getting out of the Beach House atmosphere let's enter to a new one full of new sounds, a new band, the track "Shelia" from Atlas Sound's second album "Logos".

As final act we have the great presentation of ''Girls'', a 2009 band with their single "Lust For Life''

Absence Of Entries

2009-10-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

I'll be back on to the system next week.

keep listening

Beck's Record Club - The Velvet Underground & Nico

2009-09-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

Beck and some of his more illustrious musician friends have come up with an ambitious plan to choose a record from their collection, and cover it in its entirety in a single day, releasing the results one track at a time.

The first album chosen in The Velvet Underground’s ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico'
So with all the pieces assembled, Beck and his merry band faced a fork in the road: straightforward covers, or complete reworkings? Perhaps unsatisfyingly, they choose neither: "Sunday Morning" suggests faithfulness will be the move, with a sleepy cello-enhanced arrangement that is a passable forgery of the original. Here, and elsewhere, Beck's Codeine head-cold voice is a passable replacement for Lou Reed, nailing the opiate haze if not quite reaching the snide pathos underneath.

"Waiting For the Man" is where the Record Club starts to diverge from the source material, and here it's not for the best. Rather than being the taut, paranoid shuffle a song about waiting for your drug dealer really should be, Beck & co. make it a ramshackle hootenanny, the approach being "everybody grab the nearest instrument and vamp." Unfortunately, that seemed to be the instructions for most of VU & Nico's epic drones, "Venus in Furs" and "Heroin", and "European Son" all losing their edge in overly busy arrangements and carrying a noticeable John Cale-shaped hole. "Heroin", in particular, is a trainwreck, with Brian Lebarton forgetting the words and screaming his way through the peaks, completely missing the seething calm that is so disarming about Reed's addict on the original (his little chuckle gets me every time).

But not all the makeovers are a downgrade. In the middle of the record, "Run Run Run" and "All Tomorrow's Parties" get electro-pop treatments that shouldn't work on paper, but do. The original "Run Run Run" always struck me as a jammy toss-off anyhow, and it's much improved by a simple drum loop and video-game rubber bass. The legendary "All Tomorrow's Parties" might be a harder sell, but with Magnusdottir doing Nico's ESL thing and space-y details that are pocket-Godrich, it's a gorgeous re-imagining.

The project's other score is maybe its humblest, a simple, delicate "I'll Be Your Mirror" that is as reverent as it is pitch-perfect. For all the Velvets' rep as the big scary black leather bondage and hard drugs band, it's a nice reminder that Reed could write an adorable pop song when he wanted, even if the "reflect what you are" backing vocals on the outro always creeped me. Less subversive creepiness here, but I maybe even (gasp) prefer the cover.

Vampire Weekend - Contra

2009-09-15T19:42:00.001-07:00

Vampire Weekend have finally released details pertaining to their newest and second long-player, 'Contra'.

The new record is due January 11th 2010 (January 12th in the US) on the XL label and the left picture is its expected artwork.

Track-Listing:

01 - Horchata 
02 - White Sky 
03 - Holiday 
04 - California English 
05 - Taxi Cab 
06 - Run
07 - Cousins 
08 - Giving Up the Gun 
09 - Diplomat's Son 
10 - I Think Ur a Contra

A Place To Bury Strangers - Exploding Head

2009-09-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

There's no denying "It Is Nothing," the opening shoe-gaze anthem on A Place To Bury Stranger's sophomore album Exploding Head, is a massive nod to My Bloody Valentine: From the title's echo of Isn't Anything to the swirl of overdriven guitars, the Brooklyn trio offers up a tight homage to Kevin Shields & Co. before shifting into the darker, bleaker direction of "In Your Heart." It's a great, somehow moving transition. There a bunch of these moments across the 10 tracks: For this and other reasons the album really needs to be heard in its entirety. (And on good, loud speakers: Oliver Ackermann takes the name of his Death By Audio effects pedals and this Exploding Head title seriously.) For now, listen to "In Your Heart" with it's clanging Joy Division forward motion. We can all fill in the blanks later.

Here's the tracklist:

01 "It Is Nothing"
02 "In Your Heart"
03 "Lost Feeling"
04 "Deadbeat"
05 "Keep Slipping Away"
06 "Ego Death"
07 "Smile When You Smile"
08 "Everything Always Goes Wrong"
09 "Exploding Head"
10 "I Live My Life to Stand in the Shadow of Your Heart"

Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs

2009-09-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

The latest album from the Hoboken indie-rock vets is one of their mostly low-key slow burners, albeit one that also showcases their mastery of a variety of styles. While much of the record is filled with hazy love songs combining subtle melodies and sweet lyrics with shimmering guitars and keyboards, those range from soulful evocations of classic Motown to dreamy ballads recalling the sweeter side of the Velvet Underground. And being Yo La Tengo, they also stretch out with a catchy garage-rocker, some swanky organ and a couple of lengthy guitar instrumentals at the end.

Nothing To Hide

When It's Dark

The album is going to be released on September 8.

The Babies - Meet Me In The City

2009-08-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

Babies is the project of Vivian Girls' Cassie Ramone, Woods bassist Kevin Morby, Bossy drummer Justin Sullivan, and Stupid Party's Nathanael Stark on bass. All that said, it'll largely be the songwriting project of Morby, because bassists need side projects. Take a listen to the shambling guitar-pop howler "Meet Me In The City." Morby takes lead vocals and Ramone handles the distant girl-group backups.

This song reminds me of the lo-fi scene, mostly of bands like Pixies, this band brings us an awesome sound, and I can't wait for the band to decide the way they would realease the songs wether it's a full-lenth album or just an EP. At the moment, both Ramone and Morby are busy with their full-time bands. "I don't really foresee it being anything more than a side project for the time being," says Ramone. But she added that they might tour together this winter.

You can download the song, right-clicking on this link, as well listen to it by just a click.

The Babies - "Meet Me In The City"

Check out their MySpace to listen to more songs.

Grizzly Bear ..'Live at Later with Jools Holland [09/05/09]

2009-08-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band comprising Daniel Rossen (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ed Droste (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Taylor (bass, backing vocals, various instruments, producer) and Christopher Bear (drums, backing vocals). The band employs traditional and electronic instruments. Their sound is often categorized as psychedelic pop or folk rock, and is most dominated by the use of acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies.

These Are My Twisted Words

2009-08-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

"The mysterious Radiohead track is finally unveiled by themselves."

Well, we didn't get a new EP, but this is still pretty cool. This morning, Radiohead not only confirmed that "These Are My Twisted Words" is indeed a new Radiohead song, but officially released it themselves. Writing on the band's blog Dead Air Space, Jonny Greenwood said, "We've been recording for a while, and this was one of the first we finished. We're pretty proud of it. There's other stuff in various states of completion, but this is one we've been practicing, and which we'll probably play at this summer's concerts. Hope you like it." The track is available as a free download from the band's W.A.S.T.E. shop. Or you can get it here:
These Are My Twisted Words [Download]

So Far..' Top 9 Favourite 09' Albums

2009-08-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

1. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

2. Sonic Youth - The Eternal

3. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains

4. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

5. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

7. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

8. St. Vincent - Actor

9. The Dead Weather - Horehound

Art Out Of Steel

2009-08-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Frank Plant is an American scultpor living + working in Barcelona. He “draws steel”, that is, he reinvents simple line drawings as sometimes massive steel sculptures. Very cool

R.I.P. Les Paul

2009-08-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

''Guitar soul gone to heaven''

Arctic Monkeys ''Humbug''

2009-08-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

The Arctic Monkeys' much-anticipated third effort was co-produced by Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and James Ford. Early reports of the album took note of its more psychedelic sound, which Turner attributes to the band's interest in Jimi Hendrix, some of Black Sabbath at the time of recording. Lead-off single "Crying Lightning" features the "laconic croon" more associated with The Last Shadow Puppets, along with stream-of-consciousness lyrics that hint at the evolution of Turner's songwriting for the album.

The album is great and it takes Arctic Monkeys to a whole other level musically speaking, as well as the incredible hability that Alex Turner has to write the lyrics that compliments the music transporting you to another state of mind, here is the tracklist:

1. "My Propeller"
2. "Crying Lightning"
3. "Dangerous Animals"
4. "Secret Door"
5. "Potion Approaching"
6. "Fire and the Thud"
7. "Cornerstone"
8. "Dance Little Liar"
9. "Pretty Visitors"
10. "The Jeweller's Hands"

And here is one of my personal favourites, the 7th track, the outstanding ''Cornerstone'', enjoy.

(500) Days of Summer

2009-08-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

This is a story of boy meets girl, begins the wry, probing narrator of 500 Days of Summer, and with that the film takes off at breakneck speed into a funny, true-to-life and unique dissection of...
Tom, the boy, still believes, even in this cynical modern world, in the notion of a transforming, cosmically destined, lightning-strikes-once kind of love. Summer, the girl, doesn’t. Not at all. But that doesn’t stop Tom from going after her, again and again, like a modern Don Quixote, with all his might and courage. Suddenly, Tom is in love not just with a lovely, witty, intelligent woman – not that he minds any of that -- but with the very idea of Summer, the very idea of a love that still has the power to shock the heart and stop the world.

About the soundtrack, it's pretty cool actually, I think it's awesome as it is a ''The Smiths'' musically-based film and I'm a huge fan of the band. The soundtrack for the film is:

"A Story of Boy Meets Girl" - Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen
"Us" - Regina Spektor
"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths
"Bad Kids" - Black Lips
"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - The Smiths
"There Goes The Fear" - Doves
"You Make My Dreams" - Hall & Oates
"Sweet Disposition" - The Temper Trap
"Quelqu'un m'a dit" - Carla Bruni
"Mushaboom" - Feist
"Hero" - Regina Spektor
"Bookends" - Simon & Garfunkel
"Vagabond" - Wolfmother
"She’s Got You High" - Mumm-Ra
"Here Comes Your Man" - Meaghan Smith
"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - She & Him

St. Vincent ''Actor''

2009-08-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

Actor is the second album by musician St. Vincent, released on 5 May, 2009 on 4AD. The first single released was "Actor Out of Work". St. Vincent wrote the album using computer music application GarageBand. In interviews, St. Vincent revealed that the inspiration for the songs came from watching her favourite films, including Woody Allen and Disney animated features. The album debuted at #90 in the US on the Billboard 200.

It Might Get Loud

2009-08-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

Rarely can a film penetrate the glamorous surface of rock legends. It Might Get Loud tells the personal stories, in their own words, of three generations of electric guitar virtuosos – The Edge (U2), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and Jack White (The White Stripes). It reveals how each developed his unique sound and style of playing favorite instruments, guitars both found and invented. Concentrating on the artist’s musical rebellion, traveling with him to influential locations, provoking rare discussion as to how and why he writes and plays, this film lets you witness intimate moments and hear new music from each artist. The movie revolves around a day when Jimmy Page, Jack White, and The Edge first met and sat down together to share their stories, teach and play.