Finally it's Friday and I kept the most relaxing sounds for the start of the weekend. I'm referring to the new album from experimental electronic duo High Places. The band originates from Brooklyn and released their self-titled debut two years ago on Thrill Jockey records. They are now back with a new album (out on March 23rd) titled High Places vs. Mankind. Right from the start, the amazing opener The Longest Shadows sets you up for a beautiful journey out of the city. Pearson's voice and Barber's experimental sounds are simply a perfect match.
There's not much to say about Pavement. They were they ultimate lo-fi underground rockers of the 90's and perhaps the best band to come out from that decade. Their recent reunion for a few concerts is not the best thing (I really hate these late reunions) but what can you do? They (or their label Matador) also decided to release a best-of album titled Quarantine The Past: Greatest Hits 1989-1999. The album features most of their hits (if you can call any of their songs a hit) such as Gold Soundz, Stereo, Cut your Hair, Shady Lane and many more (23 in total). However, if you haven't bought or listened to Slanted & Enchanted or Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, then there is simply no reason to buy this collection instead (these two albums were so much more). Leave the best-of collections to the labels and go out and buy the real deal. Pavement were and will always be the real anti-rock star legends of our generation.
We've talked about Sambassadeur quite a number of times in the past. They are Swedish (from Gothenburg), they are signed to Labrador label and they play Swedish (no surprise there) pop. What else is there to know? I've loved their first two albums, especially their self-titled debut back in 2005, so was more than excited for their latest release titled European. Anna Persson is once again leading the tracks with her sweet voice and the melodies are as pure pop as they can get. Simply give tracks like Days and Stranded a listen and you'll immediately see why I always keep a copy of their albums nearby!
Sean 'Langhorne Slim' Scolnick is back with a new album. We're still trying to find it somewhere. If anyone has a lead feel free to send it our way. Seems though that he's turned more to folk/classic-troubador with this one than ever..
Dial M for Murder are a new indie-pop duo from Sweden. Their debut album Fiction of Her Dreams just came out and is worth more than a couple of spins (as everything coming off Scandinavia these days). Here's their first song Oh no! Enjoy!
Norma is yet another Swedish band I’ve recently discovered. However this one doesn’t fit into the classic Swedish pop category since they are a genuine rock band. The band hails from Hägersten and has just released their debut album Book of Norma on Novoton/NONS records. Their record is a mixture of ambient and progressive rock comprising of mostly dark compositions with a really full rock sound that is not often found in new bands. I have to be honest, I’m still trying to get a hold of their album but from the tracks on myspace and their debut single Waste I’ve already been persuaded and will continue searching for more of their material. Finally, a band to watch out for…
It's been more than 2 years since the last album release (The Life Pursuit) from our favorite band from Glasgow and something more than 12 years since their debut back in 1996 with Tigermilk. Unfortunately there are no news of any new material coming our way but we'll have to settle with a new collection featuring tracks they dug out of the BBC archives. The collection features some of their early recordings from 1996 up to 2001 and is accompanied by a second disc containing tracks performed on December 21, 2001 at the Belfast Christmas show. Full track listing follows (courtesy of Pitchfork) along with one of our favorite tracks, Dog On Wheels, which is however not featured in this collection.
Disc One - Radio Sessions: 01 The State I Am In (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96) 02 Like Dylan in the Movies (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96) 03 Judy and the Dream of Horses (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96) 04 The Stars of Track and Field (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96) 05 I Could Be Dreaming (Mark Radcliffe session; 12/96; abbreviated version) 06 Seymour Stein (Evening Session; 07/97) 07 Lazy Line Painter Jane (Evening Session; 07/97) 08 Sleep the Clock Around (Evening Session; 07/97) 09 Slow Graffiti (Evening Session; 07/97) 10 Wrong Love (later recorded as “The Wrong Girl”) (Evening Session; 07/97) 11 Shoot the Sexual Athlete (John Peel session; 05/01) 12 The Magic of a Kind Word (John Peel session; 05/01) 13 Nothing in the Silence (John Peel session; 05/01) 14 (My Girl’s Got) Miraculous Technique (John Peel session; 05/01)
Disc Two - Live in Belfast (12/21/01): 01 Here Comes the Sun 02 There’s Too Much Love 03 The Magic of a Kind Word 04 Me and the Major 05 Wandering Alone 06 The Model 07 I’m Waiting for the Man 08 The Boy With the Arab Strap 09 The Wrong Girl 10 Dirty Dream #2 11 The Boys Are Back in Town 12 Legal Man
PS. Belle is one of the few favorite bands that I still haven't seen live and I'm just dying to..
Talkdemonic is a post rock/experimental indie rock duo from Portland, Oregon, which combines folk, rock and symphonic music in a unique instrumental journey. The band (Lisa Molinaro on viola and cello and Kevin O’Connor on drums, synths, guitars and everything else) has been together since 2002 and have already released three LPs (Mutinysunshine in 2004, Beat Romantic in 2006 and Eyes at Half Mast in 2008) and an EP (Tour in 2005). Their latest offering, Eyes at Half Mast, was just released, September 16, on Arena Rock label. Their sound swiftly crosses different genres, from pure post rock to electronic and even more classical instrumental areas. Elements of folk are blended with rock and even trip hop (better known as folktronic hop) in the smoothest of compositions that allow minds to travel and souls to soother. A delightful change from other noisier (although we love those too) post rock choices out there, Talkdemonic have managed to produce yet another set of inimitable compositions. Check them out…
It took 2 years for Ra Ra Riot to finally produce their debut album. After their splendid debut EP back in 2007, hype has been building around the band. Unfortunately the death of their 23-year old drummer John Pike on June 3rd last year ruined all plans for a release. However, the remaining five members moved on and are finally ready to release on August 19th their debut titled The Rhumb Line (after being signed to Barsuk Records). With Ryan Hadlock on their production side (Gossip, Blonde Redhead), the band is finally ready to show the world if they are worth the wait and praise (NME has already included them twice on their Top 5 and Top 10 bands of 2006 and 2007). Ra Ra Riot have already dedicated the album to Pike and for all of us it’s just a matter of days before the waiting is over. As they rightly state "Oh baby, how long am I supposed to wait?"
Phashara is a hip-hop artist from west-side Chicago. He’s been in the local scene for almost two decade now either through his first group P-93 and later through Sac.Fly (for almost 8 years) and Beatmonstas. They’ve played in most venues and events in their local area and beyond before Phashara decided to take up his lyrical talent on his own. His debut album The Storybook Adventure was just released yesterday (July 2nd) on Beatmonstas Entertainment. I’ll set things straight from the start. I’m no hip-hop expert so this ain’t going to be a proper review. I do however know good music when I hear it (or so I think). This has been the case with Phashara’s debut. The whole album is pure and authentic hip-hop, without the gangsta bullshit or the r’n’b influences that just put me off on most of the latest hip-hop records. The music in most tracks really sets the scene while the lyrics keep on flowing, unfolding indeed like a storybook. This is really some nice stuff, definitely standing out from most shit out there these days, reminding me a bit of the good old days from Tribe Called Quest. Check some of the tracks yourself, word…
We will shortly review it, but until then download it here for free or pay (donate) as much as you want for it. The new Girl Talk album Feed the Animals is another hurricane of samples and mixes (a real history lesson of music mostly from the MTV era). Back soon...busy listening at the moment!
Sometimes you just can’t rush things. I guess this has been the case with Pas/Cal. The group from Detroit formed in 2000 and released their first EP back in 2003. Since then they have created another couple of EPs but it took them 8 years since their creation to make their first full album. I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura is out on July 22nd and hopefully it will contain more of the same indie/twee pop we came to love in their EPs so far. We have already promised to bring you more uplifting tunes to get you into the summer mood and Pas/Cal are the perfect soundtrack to summer drives and late-night dives. Hope we get our hands on their upcoming LP before we set out for our summer excursions. Check out their MySpace page and their label Le Grand Magistery Records for more of their stuff.
2003 The Handbag Memoirs [EP] 2004 Oh Honey, We're Ridiculous [EP] 2006 Dear Sir [EP] 2008 I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura [LP out July 22nd]
You Were Too Old For Me [from I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura]
The duo from Nashville Tennessee is one of the few (only?) groups under the folk electronica genre. Beau Stapleton and Johnny Mann are the men behind the project and their self-titled debut is coming out June 17. I’ve included a few of their songs for you to taste but we will be awaiting their release to give them a proper review and find out if these Nasville boys are worth the wait. So far, their Give Up on Ghosts track has almost got me square dancing…
Joan as Police Woman is the main project of Joan Wasser, who for years toured with and played for dozens of known artists, from Lou Reed to Rufus Wainwright and from Scissor Sisters to Jeff Buckley (her boyfriend at the time of his death) and Antony and the Johnsons. Actually, the first time I heard her music was in Anthony’s concert here in Athens back in July of 2006, when she played as support (a couple of months prior to releasing her debut album). It was instantly obvious from seeing her live that she will become the next big thing coming out of the new weird America scene (although she’s been in the scene more time than most other artists). Her music however is much more accessible than the rest of the gang, combing soul influences with folk and a touch of smooth 70’s.
Almost two years later and Wasser is releasing her sophomore album titled To Survive, coming out in a couple of days (June 10) although most of you will already heard her first single To be Loved. The record has a similar flow as her debut, with her beautiful voice making all the difference. The album is somewhat more uplifting than her previous one, flirting more with soul and jazz sounds this time than folk, without falling too much on the white girl soul revival era (Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Gabriella Cilmi, Adele). I guess her radio-friendly first single is the only song flirting with this revival (and to me one of her least interesting songs in the album). I rather prefer her seeking some new grounds instead of playing it safe. In Furious for example (which is my favorite on the album) she’s singing on top of a gorgeous bass line and against a piano, providing something unique. On the other hand in To America (her duet with Rufus) she is just repeating what we’ve heard in so many records in the last couple of years (her own, Rufus, Antony, Martha). To me, that is the real drawback to this album. I love Wasser’s voice and believe she can really produce great music but instead of pushing the boundaries, she is playing it too safe with half of the tracks in the album reproducing a known (wining) formula and only the rest giving us something fresh. It’s a real good effort, one most people will definitely enjoy and love, just not the masterpiece I know she is capable of…well at least not yet…
How about a quick Tune of the Day to send us off to summer dreamland? Courtesy of another band that just released a record (their debut actually) a couple of days ago. I'm talking about Fleet Foxes (I'm sure you've read or heard about them lately), who are being named as the next big thing (at least for today...since this seems to change on a daily basis lately). KostasK has just posted about them as well and also included the same fabulous song, Mykonos. The song isn't actually included in their debut album but was released sometime back in February in their Sun Giant EP (from Sub Pop of'course). Check them out on MySpace (perhaps I'll review the album if I find some free time...I've already heard it a couple of times and it's really good). Off we go then...
I know I posted Florence and the Machine a couple of days ago (during the weekend actually) and yes I also posted this tune as well. But today the video to the song Kiss with a Fist (out June 9) was just released so I thought I post it as the Clip of the Day.
PS. I'm pretty sure I've seen her hanging out at Pop...
Sigur Rós have finished producing their latest album (as I noticed on Crazymonkey and then in MySpace) and also released their first single. The new album was for the first time recorded outside Iceland, with locations including NY, London, Havana and good old Reykjavik. It is also the first time they include English vocals (at least in one track). The album, titled Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly), will be released on June 23, with presales starting on June 2nd. Their first single is Gobbledigook and you can download it for free from their website. Along with the single, they released an accompanying video which is quite interesting (keep them young, naked and running!)…
Update: The video has been removed from all over YouTube so you need to go their official site to see it (only works with IE and need to install QT...lame lame lame decision from their part). So instead, just find the song itself below
Athens66 started off as a common project by a bunch of friends but quickly turned into almost a personal blog (although some remains of previous posts can still be found). Currently, the Team has been narrowed down to two members, who besides being old friends and schoolmates share the same joy for Music, Movies, Alcohol and Pro Evolution sessions.
The sole purpose of this blog is to shout out whatever comes in mind about movies, music, reality, fantasy and all the rest. Nothing posted here is to be taken seriously, but then again what is? Since this blog is still quite fresh, we are definitely open to suggestions and directions (although most of them will just be ignored)
If you want to recommend us a new group, advertise on our blog or just bitch about the things we post, just send us an email at martdnv [at] gmail [dot] com and we'll get in contact with you!
Disclaimer
The content provided on this blog is for promotion purposes only. If you like the music, please support the artists and purchase the CDs of the music you like. Files should be deleted within 24 hours. Athens66 is not responsible for anything you may download. If you find any content that is violating the copyright law, please send us an email at martdnv [at] gmail [dot] com and the material will be removed.
Go on...
Athens66 Shoutbox
Comments
function showrecentcomments(json) {
var numcomments = 5;
var showcommentdate = true;
var showposttitle = true;
var numchars = 80;
for (var i = 0; i < numcomments; i++) {
var entry = json.feed.entry[i];
var alturl;
if (i == json.feed.entry.length) break;
for (var k = 0; k < entry.link.length; k++) {
if (entry.link[k].rel == 'alternate') {
alturl = entry.link[k].href;
break;
}
}
alturl = alturl.replace("#", "#comment-");
var postlink = alturl.split("#");
postlink = postlink[0];
var linktext = postlink.split("/");
linktext = linktext[5];
linktext = linktext.split(".html");
linktext = linktext[0];
var posttitle = linktext.replace(/-/g," ");
posttitle = posttitle.link(postlink);
var commentdate = entry.published.$t;
var cdyear = commentdate.substring(0,4);
var cdmonth = commentdate.substring(5,7);
var cdday = commentdate.substring(8,10);
var monthnames = new Array();
monthnames[1] = "Jan";
monthnames[2] = "Feb";
monthnames[3] = "Mar";
monthnames[4] = "Apr";
monthnames[5] = "May";
monthnames[6] = "Jun";
monthnames[7] = "Jul";
monthnames[8] = "Aug";
monthnames[9] = "Sep";
monthnames[10] = "Oct";
monthnames[11] = "Nov";
monthnames[12] = "Dec";
if ("content" in entry) {
var comment = entry.content.$t;}
else
if ("summary" in entry) {
var comment = entry.summary.$t;}
else var comment = "";
var re = /<\S[^>]*>/g;
comment = comment.replace(re, "");
document.write(' ');
if (showcommentdate == true) document.write('On ' + monthnames[parseInt(cdmonth,10)] + ' ' + cdday + ' ');
document.write('' + entry.author[0].name.$t + ' commented');
if (showposttitle == true) document.write(' on ' + posttitle);
document.write(' ');
if (comment.length < numchars) {
document.write('');
document.write(comment);
document.write('');}
else
{
document.write('');
comment = comment.substring(0, numchars);
var quoteEnd = comment.lastIndexOf(" ");
comment = comment.substring(0, quoteEnd);
document.write(comment + '...(more)');
document.write('');}
document.write(' ');
}
document.write(' ');
}
The highly anticipated follow-up to Oracular Spectacular is here and free! Congratulations may not be groundbreaking, it may be a rip-off from old Bowie tracks, yet it's still quite fun.
Tunes of the Week
A few more songs for you this week. From Great Lake Swimmers to Pearly Gate Music. Enjoy!
