Bon Iver Live

If you haven't already heard Bon Iver, it's time to do so. This live set has some great arrangements of his mostly acoustic recorded work.



Kneel before Bon Iver.

Okkervil River - Live For Pitchfork TV

A great performance from a great band:



Click here for Okkervil River's band page.

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

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This is hotly anticipated, and I can say after a few listens that it doesn't disappoint. It rocks like not a lot of music out there today.

Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover

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From the first few notes of "The Mending of the Gown," it is clear that Spencer Krug is no longer satisfied with creating hushed acoustic guitar anthems. In his first album as Sunset Rubdown, Krug created an album that seemed to be culmination of his lo-fi leanings. Shut Up I Am Dreaming was like a piece of old furniture: rickety and worn, but special in some difficult to define way.

Random Spirit Lover bears very little resemblance to that particular album (or, for that matter, any other album). In my attempt to describe it after a few listens, I likened it to a cross between two other Krug projects, Frog Eyes and Wolf Parade. Eventually, though, I gave up on comparisons and let myself enjoy it as an album without adequate comparisons or adequate competition: I consider this album to be the culmination of the school of Canadian "Indie" that has flooded the ears of tight-jeans wearing teenagers over the past decade or so.

In a word, this album is diverse. There are maniacal romps through bizarre carnival-like worlds stuffed with animal imagery and tumbling keyboards, sparse numbers featuring little more than Krug's trembling tones and a simple melody, and even a hushed campfire song in "Child-Heart Losers." Beyond trying to describe each song for its characteristics, this album seems to be divided into far more numerous, fragmented parts, most of which have little to do with one another. If forced to choose a number, I'd have to say that there are at least thirty or forty of these miniature "movements" present.

Some of the movements grab the ear more than others, such as the aforementioned guitar solo in "The Mending of the Gown," or the charging apex of "Magic vs. Midas." Without match, however, is the the culmination of the epic "Winged/Wicked Things," which builds from a single puffing organ and oddly watery arpeggios into a glorious mess of noise that jumps up and down entire octaves, leaving the listener drained by the time the outro arrives, less than five minutes after the ride began. If one may expect a letdown after such a superlative piece of music, there's a surprise in store: "Colt Stands up, Grows Horns," draws the listener right back in with creepy minor chords and a cold wind blowing in the background, which give way to 80s-style synths. Unexpected, and absolutely wonderful.

Many have criticized Random Spirit Lover as being "just noise" or for being too weird. True, Krug piles on layer after layer of sound until it can sound at times as though he has little control over his own band. After enough listens, however, it has become clear that each and every note of this album has been carefully placed to create an effect that no other act in music today can match. This album truly is the act of a mad genius. But even the mad genius can get slightly self-conscious: during "The Taming Of The Hands That Came Back To Life," Krug croons, "Do you think the second movement has too many violins?" The answer, unequivocally, is no. Keep on piling on the sounds, Spencer, and I'll keep on listening.

Click here for Sunset Rubdown's official site.
Click here for Pitchfork's review of Random Spirit Lover.

Benoit Pioulard - Precis

Mediafire

First of all, Benoit Pioulard isn't French; as a matter of fact, he doesn't even sing in French. He's also not indie, or electronic, or folk. His music isn't slow or fast. Precis is none of these things all at once, but it flits between these and countless other genres and stylistic leanings. An adequate comparison is to the Notwist, as Pioulard deftly mixes electronic and acoustic elements, but it is also important to note that his label, Kranky, is also home to Deerhunter, whose soundscapes bear more than a passing resemblance to those present on Precis. The opener, "La Guerre De Sept Ans," mixes swirling atmospherics with an insistent and mind-numbingly quick guitar line. Highlights like "Palimend" and "Dust In The Sky" perfectly combine this sort of drone with melodic guitar folk/rock. As you can tell, it's extremely difficult to describe this album, but I can say with certainty that it you will be missing out if you don't give it at least a chance.

Click here for Benoit Pioulard's Myspace page.

Islands - Arm's Way

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If you're a fan of the Unicorns or you enjoyed Islands' debut, this album will provide more than enough of the quirk, charm, and melodic sophistication that you love. Arm's Way plays up the epic leanings that started to manifest themselves in Return to the Sea, and the results are excellent: I consider this album to be better than anything Nick Thorburn has ever released. Highly recommended.

Click here for Islands' Myspace page.
Click here for Islands' band site.

Girls In Hawaii - Plan Your Escape

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This might be catchiest album of 2008 so far. Less than a minute into the opener, "Birthday Call," it is clear that Girls in Hawaii have that rare knack for creating sounds that are insanely pleasing to the ear. "Bored" and "Colors," the two following tracks, are also quite strong. Unfortunately, Plan Your Escape loses some steam over its last three quarters, knocking it from the pedestal of greatness to just being very good. Still highly recommended.

Click here for Girls In Hawaii's Myspace page.