Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Fun, simple summer video. I keep thinking of Coldplay’s “Yellow” during the walking on the beach scenes. Head over to the ‘gum to watch it.

If you like the music behind the angelic voice of Leslie Feist, then chances are you are going to enjoy Chilly Gonzales’ Solo Piano from 2004. Written and recorded mostly in Berlin, Solo Piano is a relatively accessible album, especially for those that don’t particularly enjoy solo piano work.
Listen to “Salon Salloon” (4.7/5)
Listen to “Meischeid” (4.5/5)

Now normally I wouldn’t bother to post about James Blunt, but his new single “1973″ of the upcoming album All The Lost Souls is actually very good. This little ditty is certainly more upbeat than many of the songs on his debut release, and it seems that Blunt’s sound has certainly matured since that album.
Listen to “1973” (4.75/5)

Despite the above picture being the best shot I was able to get from the Battles’ set Saturday night in Baltimore, they really were all there and even played a pretty fantastic set.

Intelligent, soft-spoken, humble indie rock from a band that is clearly on the rise.
Listen to “The Only One that Matters” (4.5/5)
Listen to “Suddenly Everything Happens” (4.7/5)

This year’s Wicker Park Festival isn’t on the same grand scale as Pitchfork or Lollapalooza, but it’s got some really happening bands lined up, including:

Man Man
Maritime
JJ. and MOFRO
The Thermals
NYCO
Something for Rockets

and many more! See the full lineup and schedule here. It’s happening the 28th and 29th of this month…plus, it’s FREE (with a suggested donation of $5)

Chicago band NYCO, led by CSO percussionist turned pop-rock frontman, is playing July 28th at 3 pm. Head over to their website to stream a few songs and see if you want to check them out next weekend.

Here’s a ditty that put Bobbie Gentry on the map: “Ode to Bille Joe”
To paraphrase Gentry, the song is about a fictional character Billie Joe who jumps off a bridge and the family that hears the news is unaffected by it–she was trying to portray the desensitization to those we live with. Do you buy it?

I hadn’t heard of math-rock supergroup, Battles, until I was getting the Pitchfork rundown from various people. When a good friend of mine, who I never agree with on music, said Battles played an “okay” set I knew I had to check them out. I picked up Mirrored, the band’s first full length album with Warp Records (Aphex Twin, !!!, Squarepusher, Grizzly Bear) the next day and haven’t stopped listening to it since. Former Helmet drummer John Stainer delivers heavy hitting rock fusion grooves which lay under guitar riffs that, as NME says, “twist like acupuncture needles jabbed right into your pleasure receptors.” Mirrored doesn’t rest on any one musical idea long enough for you to get bored, offering everything from gradually layered funk riffs that sit comfortably in the pocket, to quick-moving guitar licks that escape via musical Tourette’s (see “Race:out”). Battles are extremely talented and, more importantly, are in tune to each other, always focusing on the complete track rather than trying to highlight individual talents while the rest of the band does very little (which is what plagues many other progressive rock and jam-oriented bands).

If you’re in the D.C. / Baltimore area, you’re in luck: Battles are playing with Deerhunter and Singer this Saturday at the Ottobar.

Check out their myspace for more tour dates, including lots overseas. Watch their single, “Atlas”

The Show: Playing a make-up show at Baltimore’s The Ottobar, Voxtrot, who admitted being tired from a trip to Pitchfork Festival (as fans, not performers), headlined a show with three other solid Baltimore acts, Two if By Sea, The Heavycoats, and The Jennifers.

The Pros: The best song of the night was a new one; an explosion of energy and freshness that wasn’t quite there in the rest of the set. The song was super catchy and had a well executed tempo change and guitar solo. The Ottobar, which has really stepped up the quality of bands it books (getting increasingly less cookie-cutter hard rock / metal bands that plague so many venues of its size), is a fantastic place to catch a show. It’s a bit out of the way, unless you live in Baltimore, but it’s just the right size and even has a parking lot! Some acts of note this summer include: Mooney Suzuki, Deer Hunter, Battles, Singer (ex 90 Day Men / US Maple–I need to check them out), Pelican and the Detroit Cobras.

The Cons: Voxtrot works better when the crowd has just as much energy as the band and is fully engaged. There were definitely a good amount of devoted fans but still, there were too many folded arms and passive observers. While the band certainly was well-rehearsed, they need to keep gaining performance experience to add a little more showmanship and to do a better job keeping the audience engaged in between songs. Their overall sound was clean and pure, opting for tone and balance over loudness and abrasiveness. This said, what they lacked was enough dynamic contrast and variety in their musical gestures. Their sound was too contained, but they proved with a new song and an oldie, “Your Biggest Fan,” that they have the ability to give a shock and awe performance.

The Verdict: Playing a great mix of old songs (including “Your Biggest Fan” and “Raised by Wolves”–the encore), songs from their most recent self -titled release (most notably “Brother in Conflict” and “Every Day”), and an incredible new song, Voxtrot was a refreshing way to spend a Tuesday evening. It’s nice to watch bands that are just thrilled to be delivering their music on stage and don’t seem disgruntled with the pangs of a being musicians. Though the set was on the short side (not necessarily a decision of Voxtrot’s), it was delivered with ease and charisma. Certainly one of the best up and coming bands and a great live act.

Report Card

The Setlist: B

The Crowd: C

The Vocals: B+

The Instruments: B

Final Grade: B

Listen to Voxtrot’s “Raised by Wolves”