New Animal Collective EP Streaming

Here

I know you're shocked, Love to Hate gave it an 8.9....Are they going to run out revise their prematurely released best of '09 lists? I haven't listened to it yet so I have no comment, but just thought you'd like to know!

<3 The Elephant

Guilty Pleasure-New Moon OST

This shouldn't be a Guilty Pleasure, the soundtrack contains Thom Yorke, Grizzly Bear, Lykke Li, and Bon Iver among many others. When the track list was released there was all of this fury and hubub around the blogosphere about selling out to something that so blatantly opposes indie culture. I couldn't disagree more about "selling out" as I have probably said many, many times. I saw New Moon, and honestly, enjoyed it. Aside from the obvious porn-y quality, the soundtrack is far above that average teen movie and the artist who participated were undoubtedly handsomely rewarded. This handsome reward allows these artist to take a break from touring and write new, progressive material.

That said, most of the album is a little too catchy. Lykke Li's track "Possibility" could have easily come off Youth Novels. It is perfect within the context of the film and will garner her a much larger audience of album purchasing teenage girls. The Grizzly Bear song sounds just like them, but its not going cause the shows to fill up with cougars looking for some action. It's not the catchiest track on the album and it's too simplified to sound like they wasted precious days working on it. It's stripped down backing up Victoria Legrands vocals for large sections of the track. No love lost there. Bon Iver's song sounds exactly like his work for Blood Bank, so it doesn't hint at what may be in the future for a new album (unless he plans to flush out that EP in this style).

On the whole the album is decent, and for the most part the artist wrote catchy songs, so in some cases it feels like a bit of a departure from the artists' natural instincts. That's fine with me though. I am not sure why indie artists are held to different standards than everyone else, they apparently are not supposed to be interested in supporting themselves and their families. By all means write a catchy song, get these teeny boppers to buy your album, and let them feel overwhelmed by your actual music. Maybe I'm trying to be too much of a soothsayer, but that is my hope for the future of these kinds of projects: more money for the artist, not overcrowded shows.

Happy Holidays friends...

<3 The Elephant

Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack Streaming

If you have a pulse you know about Where the Wild Things Are. If you are even remotely into music, you know that Karen O did the soundtrack (even though the film was supposedly inspired by Arcade Fire?) Anyway, the soundtrack is streaming here.

Enjoy!

<3 The Elephant

Cymbals Eat Guitars Write Up

NYTimes did a nice little write up of one of my new fav bands....you know, my current music love child.

<3 The Elephant

Well, it has been about a month since I last wrote anything for you all to enjoy (ha!). My awesome new friend N posted a link on my facebook wall to a stream of the new Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson album. I'm telling you folks, I think he's going to be something. I haven't listened to it fully yet, but I am sure that I will write a review of this one for you. Maybe around thanksgiving at the rate that I seem to be writing these days.

On that note, I'm going to throw in a few other things here, since I've been meaning to write about them for weeks, and I haven't...because I'm busy. And reading a really good book. And not going to many shows lately. Enough excuses, I hate excuses. So here are some new bands to check out. Well, I mean new to me in no particular order:

-The xx

-Fanfarlo

-Woods (maybe... haven't listened enough yet)

-Florence and the Machine (and the awesome xx remix of florence)

-The Antlers

-Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

-Fool's Gold (which I think is a Luke Top band, who has some pretty cool solo stuff these days too)

-Foreign Born (also some members of Fool's Gold I think?)

-Horse Feathers

-Jack Penante

Did I tell you I saw Cymbals Eat Guitars? Maybe I did, in my last post? It was a while ago, so I can't remember, but they were killer. Seriously, they don't suffer from "new band, bad performance" syndrome. There's nothing wrong with a healthy case of NBBPS, Bon Iver was awful the first time I saw him, so hey, lets not be judgey.

Other thoughts: The newest Regina Spektor, which came out over the summer is incredible. Seriously, pitchfork gave it a 4, but they're asshats, so don't take anything they say for real. They criticized how cute and sweet the album is, but its Regina...thats partly who she is, and if you listen to it and all you get out of the whole thing are cute and sweet, then you didn't listen carefully enough to her words. She's pretty damn insightful. I guess they have higher standards for her than they do everyone else. Not cool folks, not cool at all.

Speaking of pitchfork, you should check out their top 200 albums of the last decade (which is also stupid, because it has nothing to do with the album rankings in each year...it seems to take into account how well the album aged. Music ages in very personal ways.) Anyway, I like the Stereogum summation and comments as always!

Anyway, I wanted to put myspace links up for each band, but i'm lazy. Talkto you soon!

<3>

Record/Concert Review: Cymbals Eat Guitars-Why There Are Mountains at Brooklyn Bowl

After SXSW every year I look at round ups of everyone's favorite acts. A name that came up over and over was Cymbals Eat Guitars, but since I'm a total curmudgeon, I usually don't see the hovering stars that everyone else see after sxsw. That's irritating, I thought to myself, their name is hard to say...I'll never remember that. Well, after 6 months, and many live acts and new albums, I'm still listening to their self released recording. The first time I listened to Why There Are Mountains I was reminded of Modest Mouse, but not reminded as in "lacking originality". I just had an instant warm reaction. Perhaps it's the lingering sensation, or the constant growth and stillness in the album, but I think the opening track, And the Hazy Sea, describes the whole album. With its building crescendos, lofty vocals and orgasmic releases the opening track captured me. I am certainly not one whole easily grasps extended noisy guitars, but that is where the strength in this album lies. It's musically strong, both soaring and sinking. All over the place, in a neat and organized fashion.

I had been on a mini-indie music hiatus post-Bonarroo, but seeing that Cymbals Eat Guitars would be headlining in Brooklyn, I couldn't resist. I headed to Brooklyn Bowl for a beer and some live music. Sadly, I missed Real Estate (damn day job) but got there just in time for Suckers. I was having a hard time taking them seriously, because I was seriously curious about Cymbals Eat Guitars. Here is a group of young guys who recorded an album without a label, and somehow managed to become one of the most blogged about bands of 2009 (this fact is totally un-researched, but it feels that way to me). I guess I had an image of 4 awkward boys from Staten Island, with stage fright, and better recording skills than actual talent. I was wrong. So very, very wrong. I don't know why I insist on jumping to negative conclusions, maybe I like the pleasant surprise?? Anyway, lead singer Joseph "Ferocious" D'Agostino (of grocery fame?) absolutely killed it on stage. He was dripping sweat, swaying, bending and folding to his own incredible tunes. The band played a pretty tight act, without too much improv, just a solid group of songs. For a band that released it's debut 6 months ago, I was floored. They all focused on the music instead of trying to be good performers. The good performance flowed out of their obvious untiy. Without hesitation I would absolutely go see them again. I also look forward to the battle of the record labels...who is going to try to snatch them up? Will the take on a manager? Its almost an unheard of success story. These days gaining this level of popularity without a label is commendable, a true sign of talent and grace. Good luck boys. See you again soon.
<3 The Elephant.

P.S Did I mention that Mr. Ferocious is only 20...thats robbing the cradle for me....i'm just sayin....youthful talent is attractive....

PPS They are playing again with Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson at Le Poisson Rouge on October 23rd...you'd bette bet that I'll be there.

Anthem Magazine Host Bone to Party

Hello friends!  It has been a good week here on the elephant front: Jasmina (my old boss's daughter) has found a good match to donate bone marrow!! (Well, she personally didn't find the match, y'know, she's 6...) This means that she will receive a life lengthening (and hopefully life saving!!) transplant some time in the next month.  I am so pleased and relieved, and I know that many of my friends joined the registry as a result of my little cause (read: my incessant nagging).

I just read that Anthem Magazine is hosting a party at Santos Party House on Saturday night to register potential donors, and raise money for DKMS.  DKMS is a wonderful organization that spearheaded the hunt for Jasmina's donor.  They tirelessly worked with hundreds of volunteers over the last few months organizing events coast to coast.  

Guess who's playing at this party?  Real Estate!  Remember them?  Okay, well you should, because I think that they might get big...they have a lot of shows scheduled around the city this spring.  I'm not sure if that means anything, but i like them, and I like that they are involved in a bone marrow event.  And now I really like Anthem....So if you are in the city this weekend, you should go!  I'm going to Boston so I'm going to totally miss out, which makes me sad.  Open Bar from 7-8 PM, free give-aways (including tiffany's jewelry? jigga whaaa?)....   

Ok friends, happy hump day, see you soon*

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