All posts by Kevin

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The Broken West: Perfect Games

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Thanks to Chromewaves for leading us in the direction of a new mp3 by the Broken West, whose record I Can’t Go On I’ll Go On was one of my favorites of 2007.

Perfect Games, the first single, comes from Now or Heaven, to be released on Merge on Sept. 9.

I liked Pitchfork’s description of the song as containing “warm-weather lyrics.” It’s a song to pop on for the early-morning wake-up and to remember to grab the day before it’s gone: “We waste our time when we could be righting every wrong.”

I’m serious, though: Have these guys written a tune that isn’t catchy? I wonder.

BONUS: Live on WOXY from November (remember?)

  • The Broken West | Perfect Games (live on WOXY)
  • The Broken West | Embassy Row (live on WOXY)

Tracklisting for Now or Heaven:
1. Gwen, Now and Then
2. Auctioneer
3. Elm City
4. Ambuscade
5. Perfect Games
6. House of Lies
7. The Smartest Man Alive
8. Got It Bad
9. Terror for Two
10. Embassy Row

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azcentral.com: Frightened Rabbit preview

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I’ve been obsessing over Frightened Rabbit’s The Midnight Organ Fight, so it was a great pleasure to talk with lead singer Scott Hutchison about the record for an advance story of the group’s June 24 show in Phoenix at the Rhythm Room with Oxford Collapse and locals Dust Jacket.

I wasted no time, asking Hutchison the Most Important Question first: How many times have you read or heard your record called The Midnight Organ FLIGHT? He estimated in the double figures and said it was “definitely kind of annoying.”

Read the full story at azcentral.com and then buy tickets to the show.

The Modern Leper – Frightened Rabbit

hip-hop

88-Keys: Adam’s Case Files mixtape (free)

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I spoke a bit recently about the upcoming album from New York producer/rapper 88-Keys called The Death of Adam.

The album, executive produced by that Kanye West fella, is due out in the fall. In the meantime, Decon is offering a zip file download of a new mixtape by 88-Keys: Adam’s Case Files. (I sense a theme here.)

Grab the mixtape below, and be on the lookout for more news of The Death of Adam, which I wrote a bit about here.

[ZIP]: 88-Keys | Adam’s Case Files (zShare)

Tracklisting:
A Happy Ending?
Fibs ft. Grafh
Wasting My Minutes ft. Kid Cudi
21 & Over ft. Big Sean
Deal Breakers ft. Mr. Bentley
Typical Maury ft. Izza Kizza
Quit Playing ft. Serius Jones
True Feelings
Cuddle Bums ft. Tanya Morgan
Just LIKE A Man ft. Guilty Simpson
Young, Dumb & Full of…
Outro

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Alejandro Escovedo: Always a Friend

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Photo by Todd V. Wolfson

Hey, remember that video with Alejandro Escovedo and Bruce Springsteen performing together?

Well, here’s the song, which is taken from Escovedo’s forthcoming record Real Animal, due out June 24 on Back Porch Records. (Thanks to Paste Magazine for including it on the latest sampler.)

  • Alejandro Escovedo | Always a Friend

ALSO: I’m headed on a plane today for Chicago, the home of at least a couple fine blogs: Can You See the Sunset … and Analog Giant. Go Cubs.

ONE MORE THING: I, uh, accidentally took my BlackBerry Pearl swimming with me on Monday. So I’m in the market for a new phone. Who’s got suggestions? I’ve been toying with the idea of that new iPhone. I’ve heard good things about the BlackBerry Curve, too. Any and all suggestions welcome.

hip-hop

El-P: I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead lyrics (free)

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One of my favorite albums of 2007, El-P’s dense and intense I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, now has a handy lyric book you can (should) download for free from the Def Jux Pharmacy. It’s a pdf that I assume is the same booklet that comes with the CD (I bought my copy of the album on eMusic).

I need not remind you that El is a little more cerebral than most, so it’s helpful to have lyrics on hand. Even then, you might not know what the hell he’s talking about. But it’s nice to have a running start.

This comes out at the same time as an instrumental version of the album, which is not free.

Go get those lyrics.

ALSO: Def Jux shoes?

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Incoming: Hieroglyphics, July 15

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I’ll be chatting with Tajai of Souls of Mischief/Hieroglyphics fame via telephone on Monday morning for an interview for a freelance story to advance a show July 15 at the Clubhouse in Tempe, part of a tour that is celebrating the crew’s 10 years.

I’ve said it before, but these guys really deserve a lot of credit for being pioneers in the independent game. And now the Bay Area crew is dropping a line of jeans – branded, of course, with the famous logo.

I’ve got a ton of respect for what these guys have done and are doing. So I’m excited to talk shop with Tajai, who is the CEO of the Hiero Imperium empire. You’ll be seeing the results of that interview in this space soon.

In the meantime, here’s one of my favorite tracks featuring the Hiero crew and another favorite, Master Minds, that features Tajai and was a B-side to Del’s Phoney Phranchise single. Tajai crushes on it: “I’ll leave that ass twisted like those hicks from Deliverance.”

  • Del feat. Hieroglyhics | Burnt
  • Del and Tajai | Master Minds
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The Besnard Lakes: Devastation (video)

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One of my favorite songs of 2007, Devastation by the Besnard Lakes, now has a visual accompaniment. (Thanks to Chromewaves for the heads up.)

It’s a cool piece of animation. And you must watch, if only for the bad-assness that is the black stallion that graces the cover of the band’s album, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse.

UPDATE: In more Canadian band news, stream Wolf Parade’s new record, At Mount Zoomer (due out June 17), on the band’s MySpace page.

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New Times review: Zachary James Dodds

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Like my friend Weiss, I’m going to use this space to promote my freelancing exploits, if only because I’d be writing about these artists on my blog anyway.

Zachary James Dodds is a guitarist in Phoenix folk band The Via Maris, and when I first saw him — in an opening slot for the Cave Singers — I greatly admired his ability to speak candidly in front of a rather large gathering, something I’ve always dreaded.

As I say in the review, it’s almost stunning that someone so young is sharing such vivid tales. It’s great to see such promising artists like this in town.

That said, you can download his five-song EP, One More Life, at his MySpace page for free.

Read the review in the Phoenix New Times.

  • Zachary James Dodds | If I Leave
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Incoming: Devon Williams, June 18

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My first (and only) experience of Devon Williams so far has been seeing him and his band open for Destroyer last month. Already, the Los Angeles-based Williams is turning around for his own tour, which stops back at the Rhythm Room on June 18. Get tickets ($7) here.

Because I’m leaving for Chicago that day, I’ll miss the show. And, to be honest, I haven’t even listened to Williams’ full-length Carefree (at eMusic). But I have listened to the infectious song Elevator many times over. Based on that alone, I’d say it would be worth checking out the show. (Although it’s one of a slew of worthwhile shows that day … RZA, Jimmy Eat World, Russian Circles, Times New Viking and that one dude named Tom Waits.)

  • Devon Williams | Elevator