Tag Archive: Radio Dick


Radio Dick is a BMF

Filed Under: General Interest
Jul.24, 2011

It's been a long while since I've posted a Sunday Radio Dick feature, which usually required hours of prep work for me each week.  I'm feeling a little energetic rolling into Sunday, so I'll throw down with an old school Radio Dick – our long-time readers know how these roll.  For those new to the garden party, it's essentially a weekly roundup of some tracks that either 1) garnered plenty of newsworthy hype – warranted or not, or 2) were missed by me throughout the week.  I consider this the arena to sort of lob tracks at you like tennis balls.  Your job, dear reader, is to hit them back with commentary and/or discussion if you feel the need.

I'm not usually scouring the interwebs for remixes, but I caught two this week that kick ass.  One comes from Royal Bangs, one of the best bands we saw during our NXNE coverage in Toronto.  Flux Outside​ also happens to be one of the best records this year (double whammy). The band can be heard here remixing Warpaint's track, "Bees."  Secondly, I'm posting (probably) one of the most incongruent pairings I've seen in a long while.  Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn, and John remixed White Denim's "Drug" this week, and it's at least worth a spin just to see what Yttling does with it.  No whistles, I promise.  Last, NYC candy-pop outfit, The Postelles, released a completely free covers EP for the masses this week, which includes the Wreckless Eric cover (you'll also recognize this one if you're ever seen Stranger than Fiction​), a Ramones cover, and a couple of others.  My girlfriend absolutely adores The Postelles, and I'll at least concede that they've got pop chops galore.  Check out the free EP HERE.

Warpaint – Bees (Royal Bangs Remix)

White Denim – Drug (Bjorn Remix)

The Postelles – Whole Wide World (Wreckless Eric Cover)

The Band in Heaven released some new material this week and I just never got around to posting it.  The new track, "If You Only Knew" finds the band in similar territory to some of the work they've been lobbing out from their bandcamp site.  Pick up a cassette with this track called "Seven Minutes in Heaven" via NorseKorea Tapes or snag the 7" by clicking on the order area on the right side of their page.  

The Band in Heaven – If You Only Knew

Secretly Canadian is all set to release The War On Drugs anticipated LP, ​Slave Ambient​ on August 16th, and the world wide web is all aflutter over some new tracks being free and legal.  "Baby Missles" and "Come to the City" are two tracks from the forthcoming record.  I choose to post the latter, mainly because it is a dead ringer for Pink Floyd's "Take it Back."  Seriously.  Play them both back to back.  Somebody has GOT to do a mashup of this.  What good is the internet if it doesn't take care of these things?

The War on Drugs – Come to the City

The third of the mega-MP3-trifecta (M83, Girls) to hit the webs at the tail end of this week was St Vincent's first taste of ​Strange Mercy, "Surgeon."  Folks that tweeted the name of the album were gifted with a link to download the track.  I've always been on the fence with St. Vincent, but this track may see me turn the corner on the new album.  Its rolling synths and largeness are impossible to dislike.  Super complex synth noodling and guitar work weave their way through the track, as well.  A shit ton going on with this song.  The album is out officially on September 13th via 4AD.  Head over to the website created for the album and sign up for email updates regarding the release.

St. Vincent – Surgeon

Religious Girls, fairly quietly, dropped "OG" on the blogosphere this week, which will be on a September-released 12", Midnight Realms​ via Echolalic Records and Everbodies Stomached.  The track begins with a few tons of synthesizer flourish swirling, before shouted vocals are infused.  Rhythms intensify, slow down, and shift in and out of tribal percussion cadences.  Consider this a sonic boom for your morning.  Part video game noise pop, part gorgeous intensity.  Superb.

Religious Girls – OG

 

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Radio Dick – Happy Pigskin Day (and a weekly roundup)

Filed Under: General Interest, New Music
Feb.06, 2011

Brooklyn's own Das Racist isn't the type of band that suits me, but abnormally, I find myself indulging guiltily in the wacky and inane universe they're creating.  The songs are simply catchy and variant.  They're sampling and dropping beats with the best of them, and this newest track, "Swate" hit Pitchfork and Stereogum earlier this week.  I've been spinning it ever since.  I'll never go completely over to the dark side of hip-hop fandom, but shit like this I can get behind.  They make me laugh, and it's cold and grey in Cleveland.  This song's repetitive loop is addictive and you're going to like it, too. "Only crackers win the lottery."  That can't be true, can it?

Das Racist – Swate

Thrill Jockey has always been one of my favorites.  They do post-rock better than any other mid-to-tiny size label in the country, and their several Jan/Feb releases show that there's no let down.  The upswing includes Eternal Tapestry and its upcoming TJ debut, Beyond the 4th Door (March 15th).  "Galactic Derelict" is a vast, expansive landscape of guitar crunch and soaring soloing.  Similar to their Thrill Jockey bretheren, particularly Pontiak and The Skull Defekts, Eternal Tapestry makes the kind of music the industry sometimes forgets about but desperately needs.  Sometimes I hate pop music and I hate pretentious hipsters even more.  This is not that type of music.  This is the gutsy psychedelia your father gushed over when he talked about Foghat, Sabbath and Floyd.  I want to see this band live and I want to do it after drinking lots of beer and whiskey.  I want to zone out into this big place they're drawing inspiration from.  Click the track and go someplace different yet familiar today. 

Eternal Tapestry – Galactic Derelict

I should probably just have you hit play on "The Great Pan is Dead" and leave the chit-chat to your internal dialogue.  I'll digress a bit, though.  This song is about as intense and heavy hitting as anything Cold Cave's done.  The track is the opening song from their April 4th release, Cherish the Light Years, and you should be careful not to blow your speakers or leave this one on in the car when you turn off the ignition.  The booming background distortion races and pummels through all four minutes of the track while soaring and gorgeous synths weave around it.  The melodious vocal intensity is pretty spot on for Cold Cave, and at its core, this pop track is insanely good.  It's a blistering wake up call if you've not heard it yet.  Chimes, blips and helicopter chopping riffs will get your heartbeat going today.   And tomorrow.  And the next day.

Cold Cave – The Great Pan is Dead

I hadn't heard much from Midlake lately so I was pleased to hear about their upcoming album of covers via LateNightTales (due out April 4th), which is a pretty nice compliment on the band's impact.  I know I wasn't the only blogger with his ear to the pulse with Midlake's release last year (although some folks found the need to bash it).  I still spin that record perpetually whenever I need that blast of British folk to surround me. Of course, "Roscoe" is still one of my top twenty favorite songs of all time.  This covers album is interesting, and they cover just about everything from Bjork to Blondie to, yes, Black Sabbath. This version of Sabbath's "Am I Going Insane" is uniquely done, and I've got mad adoration for the talent Midlake possesses.  Head on over to the band's website for more info on the release.

Midlake – Am I Going Insane (Black Sabbath Cover)

I remember when The Suburbs came out, and everyone and their brother was drooling over "Sprawl II" I just kept angrily mentioning that it was just "Heart of Glass" redone.  Nobody seemed to listen to me.  Thankfully, ABX from The Hood Internet did, and while I realize that everyone could hear the Blondie allegiance in Arcade Fire's hit last year, I'm not sure everyone quite understood exactly HOW MUCH it was ripped off.  However, the track was the catalyst for meaning and energy on The Suburbs and I absolutely love what this mashup does.  This is officially the first mashup I've ever posted on the interwebs (our writer Brian usually handles that job).  It's that good. 

The Hood Internet – Sprawl of Glass (Arcade Fire vs Blondie)

Detroit's Meadower is getting their first internet blog mention today, at least as far as I can tell.   One listen to "Fisher's Hook" had me eager to write.  While the band just released their first EP, 1994, on January 31st, the members have been at this game for quite awhile, each of them having quite a bit of work done previous to the band's inception.  The  six track album is available at the band's bandcamp site and I highly recommend picking it up.  "Fisher's Hook" shouldn't be pining away at bandcamp all by itself.  The track is super mature, developed, and laced with catchy jamming undertones.  The band is talented and worth the listen, for sure.  The marching band snare drums weave into rocking guitar fills with a post-punk feel, yet the band stays endearing with a pop-situated center.  The trebly and digressive chanting of "You can't have what you want," in the latter half of the track sold it for me.  I'd love to hear what you think.

Meadower – Fisher's Hook

 

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Radio Dick – SXSW Regrets Edition

Filed Under: General Interest
Mar.16, 2010

We’ve had lots of folks sending in emails asking when we’ll be arriving in Austin for SXSW, and that picture up above pretty much describes what our replies are.  If the incredible decline in content over the last couple of weeks hasn’t communicated it, perhaps the sad face will.  We’re pretty swamped over here, but certainly not dead.  However, the slavemasters at our 9 to 5′s are keeping us out of Austin this year.  The good thing is that our writer Justin will be in the Austin area, but probably doing more of the fan thing as opposed the writer thing.  We’re officially drowning our sorrows in vats of Great Lakes beer and eating lots of donuts.  Our calendars include SXSW next year, so hopefully we can stick it to the man or get promotions in the meantime.  The interesting thing, however, is what happens to the blogosphere during these couple of weeks.  Everyone sort of puts on blinders and focuses solely on the SXSW circus.  Being bloggers that are not attending gives us a unique perspective.  We’re still listening to tunes and evaluating.  This is a boon for you.  Because we’re pretty strapped for time, here’s a quick round up of the goodies that have been gaining speed this week.  Enjoy this week’s list and follow us on TWITTER and FACEBOOK.  We hope everyone has a safe trip down to Austin.  Call me for my credit card number, and I’ll buy everyone a round or two.

This Week’s List

ARMS – Heat & Hot Water – In the wake of the unfortunate collapse of Harlem Shakes, Todd Goldstein decided not to go to sleep.  We’ve posted a few sporadic MP3’s from his solo project turned full on band, ARMS, in recent months, and he’s apparently hitting a creative stride.  The trio has just released a free EP for fans, aptly titled, EP, and the first MP3 offered is “Heat & Hot Water.”  Harlem Shakes was certainly a pop act, but Goldstein’s guitar work shouldn’t be underscored.  When we saw them play live last year, I noticed that Goldstein was a musical braniac, sitting behind the band and allowing his intricate guitar work blend in.  On the ARMS project, Goldstein gets to move outside the restricting peramaters Harlem Shakes required.  This is a good thing, folks.  Snag the EP HERE and spread the word.

ARMS – Heat & Hot Water

Keepaway – 5 Rings – Brooklyn trio, Keepaway, will release their EP Baby Steps via Lefse records on May 18th.  There’s a lot going on in “5 Rings” and it warrants quite a few repeat plays.  Synths, riveting percussion, and off-kilter melodies swirl on this thing.  We’re not super hip on any back catalog, but there’s certainly promise with this track alone.  In what seems to be the ongoing theme, Brooklyn outfits are testing musical boundaries and winding up with all the credit they deserve.  Consider moving Keepaway into the discussion, as the EP should hit pretty heavily.

Keepaway – 5 Rings

Japandroids – Darkness at the Edge of Gastown – Polyvinyl is releasing No Singles at the tail end of April.  It’s a compilation of Japandroids’ first two EP’s that have long been out of print.  Post-Nothing created a lot of waves last year, and it’s nice to get a taste of how the band was working before this album started gaining momentum.  “Darkness at the Edge of Gastown” comes from the second EP, Lullaby Death Jams.  The slicy metallic guitars are front and center.  For folks aching for more Japandroids tracks to break shit to, look no further.  On a side note, the band is touring soon with Avi Buffalo.  We’ll be at that double-date with bells on.

Japandroids – Darkness on the Edge of Gastown

Mimicking Birds – New Doomsdays - I don’t know a whole lot about Mimicking Birds, besides the fact that “New Doomsdays” has been circulating heavily in my playlist over the past week.  Their self-titled LP just hit the shelves last week.  Stereogum referred to their connections to Modest Mouse, and I can definitely hear it.

Mimicking Birds – New Doomsdays

HEALTH – In Heat (Javelin Remix) – I’m not a huge HEALTH fan on record, but I’m super stoked about Javelin’s upcoming album.  The remix play here is worth a listen, as the Brooklyn duo is about to turn water into wine with the new LP.  Enjoy.

HEALTH – In Heat (Javelin Remix)

Oh No Ono – Eleanor Speaks (Caribou Remix) – Justin reviewed Oh No Ono’s LP a couple of months ago and referred to it’s varietal grandeur.  Caribou’s upcoming album, Swim, also promises.  The melting together of these two works well.

Oh No Ono – Eleanor Speaks (Caribou Remix)

Dr. Dog – Stranger- Is it possible that Dr. Dog is the best live show on the planet?  I’ve seen them three times, and I’d be willing to throw some money down on this debate.  The bluesy hook-rocking foursome has now released two tracks from their forthcoming album, Shame, Shame, and smooth and ass-shaking sounds promise to continue with very little change.  If you’re within a 200 mile radius of a Dr. Dog show, chalk it up as a huge missed opportunity if you don’t gas up the car and catch the show.

Dr. Dog – Stranger

MGMT – Flash Delirium - I read an interesting article this week regarding “Flash Delirium,” which seems like a left turn for MGMT.  The first released track from their upcoming album, the shifting and changes in the song no doubt polarize listeners.  The band alluded to the creation of the song, pointing out that much of it was laughable at first and it’s almost as if they extended a short apology to fans that were put off by the track.  To me, however, this is a change in MGMT that I can get behind.  I’m digging it.

MGMT – Flash Delirium

Wye Oak – I Hope You Die – I just missed the Wye Oak show in PA last night, and I’m kicking myself for not paying enough attention to my calendar.  The buzz has been pretty hot on this band and for good reason.  The hybrid mix of about ten different styles are done without sacrificing melody and artistry.  Nothing seems forced, and tracks lay out as smooth as silk, also with enough rock to keep the blood pumping.  The Pittsburgh stop was a long way from SXSW, but I’m going to venture the long traveling won’t tire them one bit.

Wye Oak – I Hope You Die

Neon Indian – Sleep Paralysist – The glo-fi music can’t be that difficult to create, but I’ll always make the argument that it may be difficult to make it extremely well.  Neon Indian is at the top of this game.  The Small Black and Washed Out sound isn’t as colorfully rendered, and the newest leaked track from Neon Indian shows this.  Like popping weeds in a summer yard, hooks and catchiness is abundant; the standards the Palomo employs are still front and center.  Dude’s just simply creating excellent music.

Neon Indian – Sleep Paralysist

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Radio Dick – Sunday Brunch Edition

Filed Under: General Interest
Mar.07, 2010

This week’s been at least a touch calmer over at Citizen Dick headquarters and while I’m probably not in any shape to have an excellent brunch, this week’s tracklist is pretty stout.  The forecast for the next three months looks promising, and we’ll do our best to keep you updated.  As we usually advertise, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter HERE and on Facebook HERE.  Enjoy this Sunday’s list and kick your feet up, folks.  You deserve it.

Woven Bones – If It Feels Alright – Woven Bones does a whole lot of things right.  The fuzzy and gritty garage clanging rock of this Austin band looks good in your headphones and even better on the turntable.  They’ve been slowly garnering buzz over the last year or so with slowly leaked tracks and a killer EP that hit quietly last year.  On May 18th, the proper debut from the trio hits the shelves and we’re excited to put our ears to it.  Enjoy the first released song, “If it Feels Alright,” and hit the back catalog by going to their myspace page HERE.

Woven Bones – If It Feels Alright

Sleep Over – Fog Juice – I’ll first admit I know very little about this trio, other than the fact that I love their sound.  I was an internet troll whenever I found a few seconds this week and I stumbled upon this incredibly eye-opening track over at Chocolate Bobka.  This is 1/3 post rock breakdown, 1/3 electronic ambiance, and the remainder is probably best left to listeners.  In the headphones, this song comes alive, shrieking and delicately haunting all the way to its close.  Don’t expect this to appeal to the pop starlet in you.  Let’s provide that disclaimer front and center.

Sleep Over – Fog Juice

Bear in Heaven – Lovesick Teenagers (Twin Shadow’s Twins in Heaven Remix) – There are a couple of reasons to include this track.  First of all we’d like to congratulate this Brooklyn quartet on getting the nod for Pitchfork Festival 2010.  Just recently named to the bill, this band is one of the more underrated players in the Brooklyn music scene right now.  Beast Rest Forth Mouth is easily one of the best albums of 2009, and their recent string of relentless tour dates should have them primed and ready for an excellent showing at P4K.  “Lovesick Teenagers” is redone well here.  However, if you’re not hip to BIH, we highly recommend snagging the entire album HERE.

Bear in Heaven – Lovesick Teenagers (Twin Shadow’s Twins in Heaven Remix)

Horse Feathers – Belly of June – The calming and soothing sounds of Horse Feathers is just what the doctor ordered for me this winter.  The last couple of days have broken the monotony here in Cleveland and the sun has peeked its hesitant head out of the opaque gray of our winter skies.  One of the things I loved about their last album, House Without A Home, is that the tracks take their time to get embedded into your head.  Sure, it’s a folk-based sound, but there’s an awful lot of talented musicianship here.  It’s lulling and intriguing at the same time.  We’re stoked for Thistled Spring to hit the shelves via Kill Rock Stars on the 20th of this month.

Horse Feathers – Belly of June

Julian Lynch – In New Jersey – We caught this track over at Pitchfork’s forkcast and loved it immediately.  Julian Lynch’s upcoming album, tentatively titled Mare is expected soon and this leaked track is stellar.  As if finding a unique balance between the progressive/jazz model and straight forward indie rock, this track belts out plenty of positive omens of things to come.  Keep an eye on this one.

Julian Lynch – In New Jersey

Javelin – Oh!  Centra – I don’t think I take myself too seriously, and any Javelin album always reminds me of this.  Not only is the Brooklyn duo incredibly adept at dredging up conglomerate sounds that remind me of my youth, but they do it with enough color and flavor to bring a smile and plenty of enjoyment.  Their upcoming album, No Mas is dropping on March 20th, and “Oh! Centra” is a teaser.  Electronic sampling may not be your thing, or possibly it is.  Those in either camp can’t deny these dudes are excellent at what they do.

Javelin – Oh! Centra

Mumford and Sons – Cousins (Vampire Weekend Cover) – When I first heard Mumford and Sons, I got excited.  Then I saw the entire blogosphere in America sort of apprehensively sigh in contempt.  Nonetheless, their most recent album is an ass-shaker. Fittingly, they opted to cover fellow indie darlings, Vampire Weekend.  The track suits their strengths well.  I sort of envision Ezra Koenig riding a four-wheeler through mounds of cow shit in the lush English countryside.  If that’s not an image worth listening to at least once, I’m not sure what is.

Mumford and Sons – Cousins (Vampire Weekend Cover)

Drake – Over - A girl that I have been spending a lot of time with lately loves Drake.  I don’t particularly love Drake.  I don’t particularly dive to deeply into the hip hop scene unless there are perks to be gained in the process.  Did I mention that she likes Drake?  She’s also gorgeous.  Here is the new Drake track.  If I could smash everyone’s auto-tune machine with a sledgehammer I would be the first to do just that.  However, I can actually stomach this one.  You be the judge.

Drake – Over

Titus Andronicus – A More Perfect Union – The newest TA effort, The Monitor,  hits full throttle from the jump and the Civil War inspired concept album is well worth the purchase.  It just hit on Tuesday, and the recently released “A More Perfect Union” is an excellent taste of what’s to hear on record.  For the record, this latest album jumps above previous work, and the conceptual tilt is something that works well.  I suppose it’s a bit presumptuous to just lay one track of the album out there for you.  This is a track full of loud color and intensity.  It’s probably best to listen to the entire album here. Contrary to what the opening dialogue suggests, we warn you not to “Take a drink from the Ohio River.”  Ill-advised, folks.

Titus Andronicus – A More Perfect Union

Cloud Nothings – Hey Cool Kid (Memoryhouse Remix) – Cheers to the hometown boys getting a little national exposure.  I just snagged Turning On, Cleveland based, Cloud Nothings’ debut effort on vinyl last week at Music Saves.  Let’s be honest.  There’s not a lot of exposure of Cleveland bands, and the DIY ethos of our very own Dylan Baldi is well worth all the attention it’s receiving.  The entire record is a ball of fuzzy melody that perfectly balances the gritty underbelly of Cleveland with bouncing energy.   If getting remixed is a sign you’ve made it, then welcome to the discussion Dylan.  For the record, I’ll take the album’s original cut of “Hey Cool Kid” any day of the week.

Cloud Nothings – Hey Cool Kid (Memoryhouse Remix)

Phosphorescent – It’s Hard to be Humble (When You’re From Alabama) – Here’s To Taking it Easy will be released on May 11th to (at least we’re expecting) quite a bit of fanfare around the blogosphere.  If you were situated underneath a rock last year, you missed the Willie Nelson tribute album that allowed Matthew Houck to tour a good portion of the US and gain a larger audience.  This year’s album should be the litmus test, for me at least, to see if this is as good as advertised.  I’ll have to say that this first track is excellent, and in rotation with that Horse Feathers track above, has helped me through the week.  For more, hit the myspace page HERE.

Phosphorescent – It’s Hard to be Humble (When You’re From Alabama)

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Radio Dick – Monday’s as Good a Day as Any Edition

Filed Under: General Interest
Mar.01, 2010

As Brian mockingly mentioned earlier in the week, we’ve hit the winter doldrums here at Citizen Dick and have been swamped with our 9 to 5’s.  Call it burnout, call it stress, but we’ve been neglecting our readership quite a bit.  As we slowly crawl out of our ice caves and begin to hit you with more regular content, be patient.  We’ve got some plans in the works to get a tish more organized around here.  So if you’ve been coming back often and seeing the same post up for a couple days at a time, continue to visit.  We’ll get our ducks in a row soon enough.  In the meantime, follow us on Twitter HERE and on Facebook HERE.  There’s been a flurry of tracks released recently, and, at least to me, March seems like a huge month musically.  Perhaps it’s the surge of SXSW leaks to gear up for that, or maybe it’s just the month where things begin to thaw and people get excited again.  This week’s track list includes plenty of tunes from folks you know, with a splash or two of new material that’s making its way around the web.  From all of us here, we apologize for leaving you hanging for the past couple of weeks content-wise.  That may just make our Springtime resurgence all the more inviting.  We’ll begin with a couple album review teasers and move onto this week’s full track list.

Album Reviews Coming Soon:

We’ve been a little remiss in getting our full album reviews up on the site, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been paying attention.  This week, I hope to get us all back into business and hit a few reviews of albums that have been doing well on our turntables. Here’s a taste of this week, although we hope to get some more things onto the site, as well.

Shearwater – Baby’s On Fire (Brian Eno Cover) - This track we caught over at Chromewaves and have been enjoying it thoroughly. It’s a few years old, but The Golden Archipelago just hit the shelves last week and I’ve been meaning to write plenty of words about how spectacular it is.  Look for that this week.

Shearwater – Baby’s On Fire (Brian Eno Cover)

White Hinterland – No Logic – We’ve had the White Hinterland album in our possession for so long, we almost forgot that it’s being released soon.  This album is killer, and pulses and meanders through a whole gauntlet of pristine sound and ambient beauty.  “No Logic” will no doubt be a crowd pleaser, but the entire album is a substantial effort.  Check out the buzz HERE and get in line for the flurry of hype as Kairos nears release date on March 9.

White Hinterland – No Logic

This Week’s Track List:

She & Him – Thieves – As I’ve previously mentioned, Citizen Dick Brian was all over last year’s She and Him album, and I wasn’t completely on board.  With the second released track from their upcoming LP, Volume Two I’m beginning to fall in a little more.  M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel are excellent together, and this fact is impossible to ignore on both tracks that have been released.  Merge is expecting big things from the album, and maybe I’ll begrudgingly allow myself a little more latitude on this one.  Duos aren’t my thing, but the gorgeous arrangement here isn’t something I can knock at all.

She & Him – Thieves

We Were Promised Jetpacks – A Far Cry – The arena-hook laden energy of These Four Walls solidified the band as one of Scotland’s big three.  Touring and being pals with labelmates Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad has its perks certainly.  Interestingly, the Scottish accent is heavy, but the music shoots pretty far away from the other two Scotland biggies.  WWPJ is rooted in the buildup and the anthemic release.  Last year’s release was big in sound and, at times, wickedly snarling.  Our pals at FatCat are releasing their EP, The Last Place You’ll Look and “A Far Cry” is not a left turn from what we’re used to.  The buzz is rising pretty steadily with these dudes, and those of you who are already fans will find this track to your liking.

We Were Promised Jetpacks – A Far Cry

Wounded Lion – Creatures in the Cave – This little ditty is borderline campfire singalong, except it’s loaded with string-breaking guitar treble.  The LA based garage sound isn’t a new thing, but there’s something identifiable with this track that makes it different.  To me, it’s the absolutely stomping palm muted rhythm of the track’s center section.  Cymbals crash and danceable madness ensues.  I guess, in short, it’s difficult not to like this song.  It’s bruising and offsetting in all the right ways.   In the Red records are fabulous at signing these kinds of acts, and if you’re a fan you really don’t need to look any further than their website HERE.  Blank Dogs, The Intelligence, The Hunches, etc.  Wounded Lion fits right in, and I’ve been playing this song all day.

Wounded Lion – Creatures in the Cave

So Many Wizards – Nico – This one we read about first at Aquarium Drunkard and loved it immediately.  Produced by members of The Morning Benders, there is something addictive here.  Perhaps it’s the organically melodic structure, or perhaps its that we’re all just enjoying this kind of thing lately.  Check out the band’s website HERE for more.

So Many Wizards – Nico

Casiokids – Finn Bikkjen! – I didn’t know a whole lot about this Norwegian act until I haphazardly followed WOXY’s byLarm coverage last week.  Apparently, Casiokids’ songs have been released throughout Europe via a string of 7″ singles and their full length is set to drop in the US soon.  This song is everything I like about the 80′s throwback model that’s enjoying such success lately.  The high pitched vocals and keyboard blips are all hushed by the enlarging surroundings of silence.  If this doesn’t make sense, listen to the track.  It sounds like the dudes are floating in space with woodblocks, quiet handclaps, and soothing synths all soaring away in excellent rhythm.  This song is easily my go-to Spring anthem if we can ever get some thawing here in Cleveland.

Casiokids – Finn Bikkjen!

Neon Indian – Mind, Drips (Summer Dregs Remix) – Brian and I have been in discussion about the glo-fi movement and, of course, who’s sitting at the top of the heap.  For many folks, the completely muted and chill aspects of the genre are most important.  For me, honestly, it’s the retro color associated with the movement that is easy to get behind.  That’s probably why Neon Indian is easily putting out the best music of the genre.  The Toro Y Moi album doesn’t even hold a candle in my opinion.  Here’s the most recent remix, and it folds this track into something pretty cool.

Neon Indian – Mind, Drips (Summer Dregs Remix)

Born Ruffians – Sole Brother – Warp Records is releasing a new LP from Born Ruffians on May 31st and we’re expecting it to be a solid effort.  As “Sole Brother” is the first released track, snag this and let it serve as a taste of things to come.  Lyrically, there’s some darkness here.  Lyrically, that is.  Otherwise, “Sole Brother” weaves through its minutes pleasantly, a gentler track than the lyrics would presage.  We’re stoked for the end of May and this is a big reason.

Born Ruffians – Sole Brother

The New Pornographers – Your Hands (Together) – Matador is set to release the next TNP full-length, Together on May 4th.  AC Newman, Neko Case, and a whole slew of newly channeled inputs promise another excellent LP.  This song doesn’t come from left field, nor does it leave listeners in a far away place.  It’s crsip, loud, and promises more of the same on the forthcoming.  Matador is allowing folks to pre-order and is including some goodies along with it.  Check it out HERE.

The New Pornographers – Your Hands (Together)

Low Sea – Never Yours – It’s amazing how quick the internet works.  I can guarantee that I was one of the first several bloggers to stumble upon “Never Yours” from the Irish act, Low Sea.  Within three days, the track has been deemed worthy enough for Pitchfork’s Forkcast, and it leads me to believe that there are eyes watching us all.  All this aside, check out the band’s CD Baby website for more information on their self released, Las Olas.  Last Saturday I was turned to this site and listened to each track three or four times before emailing the band.  The dark and ethereal rhythm is entrancing and there’s enough guts here to keep this from being labeled electronic or pop.  If you like “Never Yours,” do yourself the favor of picking up the rest of the album.  This duo has got buzz band written all over it.

Low Sea – Never Yours

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Radio Dick – Fast Swimmers Edition

Filed Under: General Interest
Feb.21, 2010

As you may have noticed, we’ve been a little weak with the content this week.  You get our sincere apologies.  It’s been a busy few weeks for all of the Dicks and we’re slowly finishing up the circle laps we’ve been swimming.  We’ll keep this short and simple:  There are huge things happening musically and this week has been pretty active.  This week’s list includes some of the best tracks we’ve been hearing of late.  In the meantime, make sure to:

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Oh, and enjoy this week’s list…..

This Week’s Track List

James Vincent McMorrow – If I Had a Boat – This one popped into our submission dropbox earlier this week.  James Vincent McMorrow’s gentle croon is easy to like here.  His debut album drops on February 26th in Ireland and there’s certainly a unique mix of brooding folk and drenching soulful vocal delivery.  Check out his myspace page HERE, and look further into his music.  There’s a distinct maturity that unfolds upon multiple listens.

James Vincent McMorrow – If I Had a Boat

Future Islands – Tin Man – The fine folks at Thrill Jockey just sent over the upcoming Future Islands album, In Evening Air, which is set to be released on May 4th.  This first downloadable track, “Tin Man” bursts into your ears with  heavily chopped percussion and snarling vocals.  Since we’ve just received the album, we don’t have much to report here, other than that this first track has pushed the album up in our listening pile.  Check out the band’s website HERE and stay tuned for more.

Future Islands – Tin Man

AB and the Sea – Bone Dry – We stumbled upon AB and the Sea during our recent research on The Morning Benders.  This Bay Area band is locked and loaded and “Bone Dry” is being offered for free download for registering on the band’s website.  Check out the embedded link below and snag this track.  It’s loyally honest and sincere.  It’s ear candy for a lazy Sunday morning.  The band is releasing 5 free singles and using an interesting “unlock” strategy to get folks to embed the widget on their sites.  Well, damn.  I’m a sucker.  When enough people download “Bone Dry, they’ll unlock the second track.  This process continues until all five free tracks are released.  Check out the band’s website HERE for more information and to catch the next four singles.

Epstein – A Lost Animal – Roberto Carlos Lange goes by quite a few names, most recently Helado Negro, and we absolutely loved his 2009 output.  Also going by Epstein, Lange is hard at work again with a two brand new full lengths on the way, the first being When a Man is Full, He Falls Asleep, due out March 9th.  Additionally, the entire back catalog of his inspired 10 year career will be released for the first time to US store shelves.  This just popped into our email recently, so we’ll spend some time with the new album and write again soon.  In the meantime, enjoy the album’s closing track, “A Lost Animal,” and give us your thoughts.  To me, there’s something incredibly magnetic going on here.  Check out the Asthmatic Kitty website for more information regarding these releases.

Epstein – A Lost Animal (Featuring School of Seven Bells)

Annuals – Loxtep – We had the chance to sit down with Annuals when they rolled through Cleveland in the dead winter of 2009.  When caught in a live setting, this North Carolinian sextet projects enough sound to blow out most arenas.  The tiny Grog Shop atmosphere was, needless to say, restricting.  We’ve been patiently waiting for the next project, and it seems to be close on the horizon.  “Loxtep” is part of an EP named Sweet Sister that will be released on March 30th.  Their 2009 LP Such Fun was quietly one of the better albums of the year.  We’re excited to hear the newest material.  Even if it’s just five songs, it should be enough to tide the old fans over and provide a taste for those just diving in.

Annuals – Loxtep

Follow That Bird – The Ghosts that Wake You – We picked this one up (via You Ain’t No Picasso) and did a little digging afterwards.  We’re fans of the straight-laced rocking energy this track.  They’ve recently done a lounge act at WOXY and you can snag that session by going to The Futurist.

Follow That Bird – The Ghosts That Wake You

Broken Social Scene – World Sick – We don’t have this one linked up for you to download.  You’ll have to go to the band’s website and sign up with your email.  However, is this a difficult thing to decide?  The seminal band is primed for the new LP release and is offering this one up to those who register with the site.  We’re stoked to head up to Toronto to see the Island Concert with Pavement and Band of Horses later on this year.  Get out your old BSS records and go to work.  This one’s going to hit the interwebs hard this year.  Might as well get a head start.   To get the download, click HERE to snag it.

Ted Leo – The Mighty Sparrow – We’ve already got our tickets prepared for Ted Leo’s tour-opening show on March 11th in Cleveland.  With a new full length set to be released through Matador, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists have released the album’s opener for download.  Two days before they hit Cleveland, the full length is getting its proper release on March 9th.  “The Mighty Sparrow” promises that The Brutalist Bricks will stomp and kick with enough jarring energy to make cakes fall in your neighbor’s oven.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – The Mighty Sparrow

The Megaphonic Thrift – Mad Mary – We’ve sorely dropped the ball in recognizing this band.  We posted “Acid Blues” yesterday and discussed the Norse noise rock band’s weekend performances at by:Larm in Oslo.  This six minute track is also from the Acid Blues 7” and moves into poppier modalities but exhibits mature musicianship, as well.  The band is made up of a conglomerate of Norwegian acts of note, including Casio Kids and Low Frequency in Stereo.  Check out yesterday’s POST to snag “Acid Blues” and enjoy “Mad Mary.”  This is 100 percent a band to watch and follow.  Their sound will translate well over here in the US, and the last three minutes of this song provides all the proof you need.

The Megaphonic Thrift – Mad Mary

The Morning Benders – Excuses – Ever since Yours Truly popped the video of The Morning Benders performing the orchestral rendition of “Excuses,” the buzz train has begun to mount fairly heavily across the blogosphere for this band.  We’ve heard Big Echo and it’s as advertised.  As the band marches into indie-darling status, do yourself the favor and hop on board early.  This song maintains all the shifty retro coolness we’d expect after the initial leak of “Promises.” Noteworthy, however, is that the full album sneaks around plenty of corners and rarely leaves listeners stuck in one mode.  Enjoy “Excuses,” an check out the full length in early April.

The Morning Benders – Excuses

CANT – Ghosts (Class Actress Remix) - Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor is crazy busy over at his own Terrible Records, and has just released a remixed version of “Ghosts” out into the world.  That track dropped quietly at the tail end of last year and the remixed version is worth a listen.  Check out the website’s blog for more information on all of the stirring the pot Taylor’s been up to.

CANT – Ghosts (Class Actress Remix)


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Radio Dick – Happy Valentine’s Day Edition

Filed Under: General Interest
Feb.14, 2010

I believe one of our first Radio Dick features was on Valentine’s Day last year.  I vaguely remember hosting a sarcastic discussion about how I was more interested in getting my tax return than in any sort of holiday for lovers.  It’s probably fitting this week that the blogosphere was splattered with so much loving treatment, and of course, I’m alluding to the unwarned shut downs of two of our favorite blogs, Pop Tarts Suck Toasted (NYC) and local favorite, I Rock Cleveland.  I’m not going to offer a detailed explanation of events, but I will throw out two things the music blogging industry might consider in the aftermath of such well advertised slash and burn campaign. For those that are entering this without any background knowledge, Google’s blogger shut down quite a few noteworthy blogs that, according to their very limited email communication, violated their terms of use policies regarding fair use of MP3′s.  Bill (from I Rock Cleveland) posted all over the web in the days immediately following the closure of his own site, protesting that the tracks he posted on site were expressly permitted by PR companies and/or record labels.  Music bloggers make up a huge segment of blogger’s population.  As the majors begin to jump ship over to wordpress, I have to wonder what the future implications must be and what everyday joe music bloggers like us might want to consider.  Here are two areas this whole debacle has forced me to think about.

1.  Record Labels and PR companies could form a more unified communication structure. Bloggers love music and they love writing about it.  We love labels and (mostly) love getting those emailed one-sheets/tracks from PR firms.  Any blogger can tell you, however, is that this isn’t a streamlined process and communication gets skewed all the time.  I think a big portion of this discussion needs to steer toward the effective communication between PR firms and labels regarding what songs are free to post.  Some firms are absolutely top-notch when it comes to this, but it seems like there are about 600 renegade PR startups that are about as disorganized as my junk drawer.  When a dude’s blog is getting shut down because of poor communication between the axe wielders, someone has to stick up for the little man.  Nobody should be flagging down tracks unless, first of all, the labels themselves have an organized way to maintain the tracks they fling out into the ether months before street date releases.  Basically, I think that if a label plans on embracing the music blog philosophy, then they should embrace it thoroughly.  Any firm or label that accepts bloggers as a healthy avenue to spread the word, shouldn’t flag tracks until they have a systematic way to document who’s allowed and who’s not.  I have been reading I Rock Cleveland for several years, and I’m certain it’s on the up and up.  Bill’s not posting full albums or linking to torrent sites.  He’s communicating with firms and doing what they allow him to.

2.  As bloggers, would it be against the grain to form some sort of advocacy group for this type of thing in the future? It was great to see the outpouring after all of this shook down.  The blog at elbows, twitter feeds, and even local newspapers here in Cleveland got into the mix.  I’d imagine that elbows and hypem might be an excellent place to start in this endeavor, but in the future, I think it might be important to unite in some regards to advocate for one another.  I’m not exactly saying that I need Christmas cards from Pitchfork or anything, but the way it stands now, most of us are just dudes expressing our opinion on songs we like.  There is no way we could withstand the machine once it starts chopping.  Eventually, our host sites are going to follow suit, and wordpress will be just as variable when it comes to MP3 posting.  Someone should create a database, shoot out some legitimate emails and sign folks up into some sort of advocacy group.  There has to be a reputable music blogger that also happens to be an attorney, right?  When successful internet media outlets serve to take action away from the biggies, it’ll never be a good thing for folks like Bill and Patrick (from Pop Tarts Suck Toasted).  The best they could do was swing into a crude wordpress design and, thankfully, upload the backed up files they had.

Of course, now I’m about to post a slew of MP3′s on my music blog.  The irony is thick.  As I steer away from the blog shutdown issue and into today’s list, don’t forget to follow us on FACEBOOK and TWITTER to keep you up to speed.  I hope you’ll notice that I haven’t discussed Valentine’s Day.  This is by design.  I still hate this holiday.

This Week’s Track List

Or, The Whale – Toxic – This is the closest you’ll ever hear me get to even mentioning Britney Spears on my blog.  There you have it.  I went and mentioned her.  Or, The Whale’s cover of “Toxic,” however, is great.  The folked down version is off-kilter and heartwarming.  The slow burn of the track and mellow gold sound of the harmonies are spectacular.  It’s easy to forget where the original came from.  Check out the band’s blog HERE, and if you’re in Austin for SXSW and have a female along for the ride, I can’t think of a better show to hit.

Or, The Whale – Toxic

We Are Wolves – Holding Hands – We received the newest release from Canadian outfit, We are Wolves, earlier this week and wish we would have gotten it sooner.  Their third release,  Invisible Violence, is a conglomerate of rock inspired danceable fuzz.  The band describes their sound as “A post-punk landscape filled with analogue trees. It’s like rock after the post-modern explosion.”  The band is set to play SXSW, as well.  “Holding Hands” is an excellent taste of the album, but the variety in the record is worth noting.  Spin the entire thing to assess its value, witch we recommend completely.

We Are Wolves – Holding Hands

Joanna Newsom – Kingfisher – The buzz surrounding the upcoming Drag City release, Have One On Me is swirling to stratospheric proportions and not without merit.  Joanna Newsom has launched a few tracks from her epic  3-CD collection.  The polarizing nature of Newsom is interesting, but this lengthy narrative track, in our opinion, is the best of the loot so far.  The album is released on the 23rd.

Joanna Newsom – Kingfisher

The Golden Filter – Hide Me – The Golden Filter’s ominous and brooding electronica is complete nourishment for the ears.  A single for “Hide Me” is set to be released on 4/19 to gear up for their April release of their Voluspa full length.  The duo is busy and the release of this track marks the beginning of the hype.

The Golden Filter – Hide Me

Little Girls – 10 Mile Stereo (Beach House Cover) – This cover of Beach House’s original is spectacular and I can’t stop hitting repeat.  This track has been making its rounds as of late, and as is our duty, we include it on today’s list.

Little Girls – 10 Mile Stereo (Beach House Cover)

Japandroids – Art Czars – Japandroids is coming to Cleveland soon, and we were sorely upset we missed their show at Now That’s Class a few months back.  We have early bedtimes, so we’re banking on the Grog Shop show (hopefully) beginning a bit sooner.  Polyvinyl’s re-release of Post-Nothing was a breath of gritty fresh air last year, and the band absolutely blew us away at the Pitchfork Festival, as well.  The duo has been touring relentlessly, but two 7” singles are on the way shortly.  “Art Czars” is the first released single, and if you’re a fan of Post-Nothing, this is candy to the ears.

Japandroids – Art Czars

Pattern is Movement – Light Of The World – We love when artists throw out tracks during the arduous recording process of an upcoming album.  Pattern is Movement is offering up a tour-only EP at their show merchandise tables that includes music they’ve put together in the process of creating their newest album.  “Light of the World” will be paired with other unreleased material.  For those of us who may not be able to make it to the tour, they’ve offered this to help spread the word.  In the wake of the critical acclaim of All Together, we’re excited to hear where this goes next.

Pattern is Movement – Light of the World

The Morning Benders – Promises – A late night on Twitter and a tweet from Chris at Gorilla vs. Bear gave me this great video nugget of The Morning Benders performing unreleased tracks along with an orchestra with folks like John Vanderslice.  I’ve posted this track before, but as their forthcoming album Big Echo, approaches the release date, I’ve been spinning it more and more.  This album is primed to be one of the best of the year, so if you’ve not hopped on board yet, check out the video material at Gorilla vs. Bear and crank “Promises” as loud as you can.  We’ll have a full on review as the release date nears, but this should keep you sated in the meantime.

The Morning Benders – Promises

The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s On Fire – Clinging to a Scheme is set to drop on April 21st, and whether or not you were fans of 2006’s Pet Grief or any of The Radio Dept. back catalog, this newest release from the Swedish pop outfit is fabulous.  We’ve been spinning the album a lot here lately, and it’s jumping outward, with nuances that are sonically different from previous material.  They’re not jumping ship from the formula that works here, but for those that have been waiting patiently, “Heaven’s On Fire” will cure what ails you.

The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s on Fire

Preview of Reviews This Week:

In a new twist to Radio Dick, I’ve decided to, whenever possible, offer up a preview of album reviews we’ve got on tap for the week to come.  Here are three that you can expect on the site this week.

Shearwater – Black Eyes – Shearwater’s The Golden Archipelago is set to hit the shelves on the 23rd via Matador.  I took a trip to Pittsburgh this weekend and had zero problems spinning this amazing album the entire way.  It’s epic in scope, thematic importance, and sound.  It’s been getting a healthy amount of buzz due to 2008’s Rook, and also through the release of “Castaways” what seems like ages ago.  The album doesn’t disappoint.  “Black Eyes” was the second legal download they’ve shipped out.  Enjoy this one and check the site this week for the full review.

Shearwater – Black Eyes

Yeasayer – Ambling Alp – Our writer Justin’s nimble fingers are feverishly wrapping up the review for Oddblood, and you can expect this review on the site early tomorrow morning.  We’ve spent plenty of time with the album, and it’s incredible mixture of varietal sounds is noteworthy.  As the blogosphere continues to laud this year’s Phoenix, we’re pleased to watch the success the band reaps.  “O.N.E” is easily one of the best throwback tracks I’ve heard in a long while, and it’ll be interesting to see exactly how much this thing soars.  Check out Justin’s review tomorrow.

Yeasayer – Ambling Alp

Mumford and Sons – White Blank Page - Since posting “Little Lion Man” way back in October, the flame has ignited slowly (but surely) for English act, Mumford and Sons.  Sigh No More hits US shelves this Tuesday, but the buzz in their own country has already been moving.  They’ve just been signed on to perform at Bonnaroo and, at this point, the sky’s the limit.  The grandiose mixture of chamber folk and cinematic pop is catchy and cathartic.  I’ll man up and have the review by Thursday, so stay tuned.  Plenty to love with this band, and “White Blank Page” is just another taste.

Mumford and Sons – White Blank Page

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Radio Dick – Breaking Routine (Part II)

Filed Under: General Interest
Feb.07, 2010

Nice to see Brian hit his Lazy Saturday post, even if it’s on Sunday.  In any event, as promised, I’ve got the second installment of this week’s Radio Dick primed and ready to go.  So as y’all overindulge today and watch the Colts take it to the Saints, do it with a soundtrack of new releases just warbling their initial cries to the world.  Here are five tracks to get you moving this morning.  As the hangover ensues tomorrow, stop on back.  We’ll be wide awake (sort of).

As mentioned yesterday, follow us on Twitter HERE, and on our fresh and spankin’ new Facebook page, HERE.  Thanks to all that have followed us in our various incarnations around the web.

This Week’s List (Continued from Yesterday)

A Weather – Giant Stairs – Portland’s A Weather is releasing Everday Balloons on March 2nd, their sophomore effort.  This track has all of the charm and soft arrangement that made their debut, Cove, so entrancingly great.  As the band gears up for the release, folks are beginning to take notice.  Somewhere amidst the slam we receive of electronica and blipped out largeness, it’s refreshing to dial it back a bit and dive into the world A Weather creates.

A Weather – Giant Stairs

Joe Pug – The Sharpest Crown – We had the opportunity to see Joe Pug here in Cleveland midway through 2009, and his smooth as silk folk crooning left us in awe pretty quickly.  His newest release, Messenger is set to hit shelves on February 16th, and “The Sharpest Crown” is the first released track.  Quiet and melodic, he moves through the track effortlessly, and for all of the Joe Pug fans, the entire album will be a heartwarming treat.

Joe Pug – The Sharpest Crown

Felix Cartal – Popular Music – As far as bouncy dance tracks go, this one’s a monster.  Felix Cartal is dropping his debut LP, Popular Music via Dim Mak on February 23rd and this is the opening track.  Cartal has been making a name for himself in the remix, track-cutting game and this debut promises to be the rave-inspired anthem collection of the month.

Felix Cartal – Popular Music

Frog Eyes – A Flower in a Glove – Dead Oceans will release Paul’s Tomb:  A Triumph on April 27th from Canadian rockers Frog Eyes, and this is presumably the opener to the album.  Carey Mercer, bombastic and energy-charged frontman, collaborated in Swan Lake’s killer 2009 album, Enemy Mine, and his own outfit hasn’t put out an album in three years.  I can usually put my money on Dead Oceans to put out quality material, and this track is really doing the trick for me.  At once, the vocals are standoffish with listeners,  possibly over-emotive.  However, they settle in about two minutes in and the track soars to amazing highs.

Frog Eyes – A Flower in a Glove

Erykah Badu – Window Seat – Badu tweeted out this song yesterday via twitter and ever since, the blogosphere’s lit up.  It’s probably at least in the mode of efficiency and homage that we hit this track today.  James, another writer, has been a part of the Badu fan club for years, as I remember him spinning her albums way back in college.  Look forward to her newest release, New Amerykah Part II:  The Return of the Ankh, which drops toward the end of March.  “Window Seat” includes Questlove settling down behind the drums and finds Erykah in familiar territory.  Smooth as silk, this track promises more from the release.  Get in line.  It’ll be on everyone’s April playlist.

Erykah Badu – Window Seat

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Radio Dick – Breaking Routine (Part I)

Filed Under: General Interest
Feb.06, 2010

Those dudes up there attended Yale.  They’re ambitious and reliable.  If I were forced to hop in a boat with 9 other dudes for my own safety, I’d be pleased to have these young lads at the helm.  We’re not as reliable at Citizen Dick, or at least we haven’t been over the last three days.  As such, our usual Sunday Radio Dick is being hit a bit early this week.  We’ll hit you five tracks today and five tracks tomorrow.  Big things have been going on around our Eastern Campus this week that have forced to go idle for a bit.  Our apologies!  Our writer, Brian, just became a proud papa.  His son, Avi, was born this week, and our sincere congratulations go out to Brian and Mrs. Citizen.  He usually hits you with his weekly Lazy Saturday posts, but he’s a bit busy at the moment introducing little Avi to the world of Megafaun and Phish.  Look out world.  At age 12, we’ll have another writer on the site.

Additionally, with tomorrow being the Super Bowl, we’re guessing that everyone’s going to slow down a bit musically and roll to the party circuit.  As we hang back a bit and look at the last seven days, quite a bit of tracks have been flying through our emails.  This week’s list is divided into two days and includes some just-leaked tracks from upcoming releases.  Check out Radio Dick Part Deux tomorrow morning for five more.

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This Week’s List

Ariana Delawari – San Francisco – The situationally unique issues surrounding the recording of Delawari’s Lion of Panjshir are cool enough to hang your hat on.  The album was recorded partially in Delawari’s homeland in Afghanistan while armed guards stood outside the door of the family home.  It’s produced by David Lynch, as well.  “San Francisco” was a track just cleared for blogger-posting so it’s a no brainer to get it on the site.  Delawari sprinkles this album with a myriad of styles but this track is the one I continually go to on the album.  It’s bluesy and emits a heavy dose of warbly southern growling.  Repeat value written all over it.  Certainly snag the entire album and read our late 2009 review HERE.  Let this track give you a taste if you’ve not gotten the chance.

Ariana Delawari – San Francisco

Yeasayer – O.N.E. (XXXChange Remix) – This week, Yeasayer’s all set to drop Oddblood to the universe with as much fanfare as tomorrow’s Super Bowl.  As bloggers, we’ve received the heavy onslaught of PR emails, tweets, and have run the hype gamut.  The positive thing is that Oddblood holds up to the media frenzy with an incredibly consistent and sonorous collection of 12 tracks.  “O.N.E” was recently shelled out as a download to folks signing up at the band’s website.  This remix wanders into interesting blipped out controlled-chaos territory, and since we’ve got a full abum review on tap for this week, the remix should hold you over.  If you’ve not pre-ordered the album, you can do so HERE and get some cool goodies, to boot.

Yeasayer – O.N.E. (XXXChange Remix)

Esben and The Witch – Marching Song – We snagged this from Pitchfork on their daily Forkcast section, and we’re glad we tooled around over there this week.  This English band has leaked out two tracks recently, including this one.  They’re soon to be releasing a limited pressing 7” that includes the other track, “Lucia” which can be streamed at Pitchfork right now.  We’re digging “Marching Song” for several reasons.  First, it’s got all the brooding spirit of a hollow dirge, and the strikingly varietal percussion drops this somewhere into the realm of ethereal gloom. Super wicked double crooning erupts about midway through, leaving listeners both creeped out and oddly inspired. Sign us up for releases in the future.  This isn’t primed to wake you up this morning, but may do an excellent job scaring the shit out of you.

Esben and The Witch – Marching Song

Cloud Nothings – Old Street – Our very own Cloud Nothings has a blossoming interest in the blogosphere of late and we’re absolutely stoked over here.  The band’s got quite a heavy following here in the rust belt, and it’s always promising to see our home team get some notice.  The band’s SXSW shows are all lined up and we’re giving our ringing endorsement to check them out in Austin.  The vinyl release of Turning On hits shelves on February 23rd, and this track, “Old Street,” is a slice of a stylistically slippery (yet all fabulous) sound you’ll get with the album’s purchase.  The fuzzy undertones slides back a few decades into harmonious hook-driven rock n’ roll.  Big bass lines and addictive distortion make this a track I’ve been blasting in my car for days, attempting to add a jolt of color into this grey Cleveland Winter.  For those of you reading in the Cleveland area, you can check out the vinyl release party at Believeland on 2/13.  Catch that show, because it’ll be the last time they hit Cleveland, presumably, before the SXSW madness wraps up.  Cleveland Rocks, yo.  So does Cloud Nothings.

Cloud Nothings – Old Street

Twin Shadow – Castles in the Snow – Brooklyn-based Twin Shadow, AKA George Lewis, Jr. is set to release his debut EP later this year.  Produced by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor (which seems to be a recurring news story of late) via his own Terrible Records, the EP promises excellently produced sound.  The taste here in “Castles in The Snow” launches listeners through plenty of the aforementioned sound.  Driving synthesizers and a killer chillwave aura, for some reason, seems louder than some of the other bands dropping this sort of thing recently.  Neon Indian has been touring of late, and I’d think this would be an excellent pairing.  Lewis’ vocals are better.   Catchy in all the right ways and epic in scope, Twin Shadow is certainly an outfit to keep an eye on as 2010 rambles onward.  If you’re not hitting repeat on this track, check your pulse.

Twin Shadow – Castles in The Snow

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Radio Dick – Sunday Musings Edition

Filed Under: General Interest
Jan.31, 2010

This has been a tough week as a literature teacher.  Brian alluded to the heartfelt loss we feel as a reading community at the loss of Howard Zinn and JD Salinger this week.  Zinn was a seminal author for Brian, and understandably so.  For me, however, Salinger’s writing marked a pivotal change for me.  My initial reading of Catcher in the Rye didn’t spark much interest, and in fact, probably pushed me away.  I could identify with Holden Caulfield immensely, but didn’t essentially tie all the language and aphorisms together into something meaningful until much later in life.  Each time I flip the pages of that novel, I realize how integral it was in the shaping of my interest in literature.  I’ve never felt the prose was anything spectacular, and have often discussed with my students that writing in first person is often the easy way out for a novelist.  What’s incredibly fashionable right now is to focus on Salinger’s pegging of youth angst and the fear of growing up in a fast paced, moving culture.  I’ve read countless facebook status updates with Salinger quotes and all sorts of Twitter activity about the deep hole the loss of this icon leaves in the hearts of many Americans.  For me, undoubtedly, it isn’t the actual literary merit of Salinger that I mourn here.  Instead, it feels as though a part of me leaves with this closing chapter.  The Catcher in the Rye, ultimately, is what steered me into becoming an English teacher and working with children.  In some sort of morphed way, I suppose I happen to enjoy my situated place in the fields of rye, keeping kids from falling over the cliff of adulthood too prematurely.  The novel is, indeed, timeless and as folks come out of the woodwork and remember Caulfield as a relatable anti-hero, it’s probably important to step back and realize what Salinger was saying in all of this.  The rye is representative of pain and fear of moving forward, or at least it always has been for me.  It makes it just a little bit harder to move forward knowing that Salinger, as a protector, isn’t literally in the fields anymore.  I mourn this, but also can appreciate what his writing did for me personally.  In the vein of moving forward (and in perhaps the worst transition in history), here’s what we’ve been spinning this week.  Some have been rolling around the interwebs for awhile, and others are straight from the birth canal.  Enjoy this week’s list and stay tuned for reviews throughout the week.

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This week’s list:

Lali Puna – Remember – I place this track on the list, not so much for my own personal taste, but more for our electro outfit fans.  “Remember” is the newest track from long dormant Lali Puna, the Munich-based electronic group responsible for pretty heavy-hitting Faking the Books, released in 2004 as the band’s third effort.  The overseas electronic output is healthy in the early part of 2010, and in a continuing trend of musicians that have taken their time in between releases, folks should be pleased to see Our Inventions hit the shelves sometime in April.

Lali Puna – Remember

Clipd Beaks – Home – Clipd Beaks’ newest release, To Realize just hit the shelves earlier this week, marking a progressive maturity in sound for the Oakland noise-rock trio.  Lovepump released the album fairly quietly, but inside the album’s liner notes is anything but softness.  This leaked track marches through a lot of territory.  It rises in intensity into cacophonous flurries.  Experimentation is the band’s forte and the two released tracks from the album paint a picture of progression.  Their 2007 debut, Hoarse Lords is similar, but this time around a more mature approach to arrangement provides a closer and noteworthy improvement.  We were not hip to Clipd Beaks before this week, but the dive into previously released material is well worth it.  Also check out their site, here.

Clipd Beaks – Home

Vivian Girls – He’s Gone (Chantels Cover) – Vivian Girls have been busy over the last couple of years, releasing their stellar debut and follow up all within a short time span.  Gorilla vs. Bear posted this cover of Chantels “He’s Gone” and with this new recorded material, it’s apparent that the female low-fi ensemble has no intention of stopping the output.  This excellent and popping track will be the b-side on their upcoming single for “My Love Will Follow Me” being released at the end of February.

Vivian Girls – He’s Gone (Chantels Cover)

Beach Fossils – Desert Sand – We keep snagging our Beach Fossil tracks from Connor and crew at I Guess I’m Floating.  They’re spot on in their assessment and excitement over the upcoming album from this band.  Big ups to the folks over there for continually bringing us new material from the Brooklyn one-man-act of Dustin Payseur.  The album Daydream is due out on Woodsist records, and as I’ve mentioned before, this is lo-fi I can work with, as opposed to so much of the lackluster gritty DIY stuff coming out.  We’re totally piggybacking on IGIF’s hype, and hope the buzz spreads outward.  “Desert Sand” is a touch different than the other two tracks we’ve posted, as there is something enlarging here, quite purging and catchy in a lose the cobwebs and push onward kind of way.  In any event, stay tuned for this release.  We’re entirely on board.

Beach Fossils – Desert Sand

Caribou – Odessa – I loved The Milk of Human Kindness and am pretty amped about the upcoming Caribou release.  “Odessa” marks the reentrance of Daniel Snaith, who has been producing tunes for the better part of the last decade as Manitoba and, at least since 2005, Caribou.  “Odessa” is a fine teaser in what projects to be one of the more lofty and buzzed electro-situated releases of the first quarter of 2010.  Merge is releasing the full length on April 20th, and the fanfare will only continue to increase moving forward.

Caribou – Odessa

jj – And Now - The much hyped upcoming release, jj n°3 is getting the pop and rhythm and blues community aflutter.  “And Now,” which has just recently been leaked, is the first track I can consistently get behind full throttle.  I’ve allowed myself to fall into the hype buzzsaw surrounding jj and I’m happily committed at this point.  If this track is indicative of what the rest of the album entails, I’ll stamp it with approval right now.  It’s catchy and brilliantly smooth in all the right spots.  As this one picks up steam, it’ll be interesting to see where this goes as far as mainstream accessibility.

jj – And Now

Four Tet – Angel Echoes – Fluxblog kicked this one out earlier in the week, and obviously it’s been floating around the internet for awhile.  Four Tet’s newest release, There is Love in You is probably the hottest thing around lately.  While the five of us haven’t fully hopped on the hype train, this track is the best of the loot, as far as we can tell.  Even without a solid score approval from me album-wise, I can appreciate the intricate, minimalist nature of this electronically situated song.  There’s plenty at play here stylistically, and a soulful inspiration manages to attach itself to my ears each time I spin this.  If you’re not familiar with the release, consider this a taste of what the entire album blooms.   It’s getting high critical nods everywhere, and perhaps we’re remiss in only getting this out to you now.

Four Tet – Angel Echoes

Serena-Maneesh – I Just Want to See Your Face – 4AD is beginning to furnish peeks into the upcoming sophomore effort of Serena-Maneesh, and this initial leaked track proposes a unique dose of shoegaze and fuzzy overdrive.  The album, S-M2: Abyss in B Minor is hitting US shelves on March 23rd, a welcome reprieve for fans that have been waiting patiently since their 2005 self-titled debut.  This track is sprawling guitar on glittering canvas.  We’re stoked for the album’s release.

Serena-Maneesh – I Just Want to See Your Face

Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More – We’ve been on the Mumford and Sons train since October when Rob broke out “Little Lion Man” to a relatively unknowledgeable US webspace.  Since then, we’ve been pleased to see the steam pick up a little.  Last week, we reposted “Little Lion Man” to excellent reception.  This week, I’m posting “Sigh No More” to offer another taste of the album.  I’ll be posting a full length review of their 2/16 release, Sigh No More later this week, as well.  This is an opulent album of varying styles, ranging from chamber folk country auras to cinematic orchestral intensity.  Think Avett Brothers meet La Boheme in some sort of brilliantly accessible and goosebump raising cauldron of sound.  It’s a collection of tracks that’s been slowly stirring beneath the surface for the greater part of the last two years.  It’s good to see them finally peeking out with more gusto.  Folks should hop on board before the train is full.

Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More

Phoenix – Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands (Bob Dylan) – When I received the email earlier this week that Phoenix had leaked out a Bob Dylan cover, I couldn’t figure out if I was horrified or completely interested.  The cover of the lengthy and meandering last track of Blonde on Blonde adds to a small heap of acoustic material Phoenix has released recently into the ether.  I went back and played the original after listening to the Phoenix version, and with great fear of being struck by lightning, I add that this cover is a pretty good reworking.  It’s not as long, but does a pretty good job of toeing the line.

Phoenix – Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands (Bob Dylan)

These New Puritans – Orion – I’ve had the upcoming album, Hidden, on a healthy repeat loop for the better part of the week, letting it soak in pretty deep.  The sophomore effort drops March 2nd via Domino Records and is primed for some interesting critical acclaim. Their debut sparked a pretty intense and loyal fan base and folks are geeked for this newest foray into unique sound.  Initially attached to the post-punk arena, the new material promises largeness and a conglomeration of a host of instrumentation and variety.  You can take our word on it that “Orion” is simply a taste of the depth and pinching sound assault that’s coming in just a little over a month.

These New Puritans – Orion

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