Mike's Top 20 Albums of 2012

Just as Greg listed his top albums, it's now my turn. This year was a fantastic one for albums that were brave enough to try something different, become innovative, cross genres and break conventional molds. As Greg reiterated before, this list is meant to be put up for fun, but opinions are like assholes--everybody has one. So let's here your favorites and whether you agree with our choices.


1. Punch Brothers--Who's Feeling Young Now?
2. Alt-J--An Awesome Wave
3. Tame Impala--Lonerism
4. The Walkmen--Heaven
5. Father John Misty--Fear Fun
6. Royal Headache--Royal Headache
7. Dr. John--Locked Down
8. Dirty Projectors--Swing Lo Magellan
9. Michael Kiwanuka--Home Again
10. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
11. Titus Andronicus--Local Business
12. Mac Demarco--2
13. Ty Segall--Slaughterhouse
14. Frank Ocean--Channel Orange
15. Animal Collective--Centipede Hz
16. Bob Dylan--Tempest
17. The Men--Open Your Heart
18. Kimbra--Vows
19. Grizzly Bear--Shields
20. Kendrick Lamar--Good Kid, m.a.a.d city

2012: Greg's Favorite Albums of the Year

A few notes before you being painstakingly critiquing my picks...

- These lists are meant to be fun.

- I haven't heard every record that was put out this year (if I have listened to a few hundred albums then I would be happy with that), so don't be upset when you don't see records that "deserved" to make it.

- Who cares what some nerd picks for his albums of the year? All I am hoping for is that a few of you will read this list and give some of these albums a listen.

- This has been an unbelievable year for music. Just thinking about it, I heard some serious contenders for my "album of the year" from multiple genres: R&B, Rap, Punk, Dream Pop, Psychedelic Rock, Electronica, Jazz, Folk, Adult Contemporary, Indie Rock, and whatever genre Alt-J is...

Honorable Mentions

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti -- Mature Themes

The Bad Plus -- Made Possible

Divine Fits -- A Thing Called Devine Fits

Dr. John -- Locked Down

The Evens -- The Odds

Fang Island -- Major

Flying Lotus -- Until The Quiet Comes

Goat -- World Music

Passion Pit -- Gossamer

Wild Nothing -- Nocturne 

30.) John Talabot -- fIN

29.) Spoek Mathambo -- Father Creeper

28.) Andy Stott -- Luxury Problems

27.) Kishi Bashi -- 151a

26.) Spiritualized -- Sweet Heart Sweet Light 

25.) Regina Spektor -- What We Saw from the Cheap Seats

24.) Stars -- The North

23.) Hospitality -- Hospitality

22.) Lotus Plaza -- Spooky Action at a Distance

21.) Karriem Riggins -- Alone Together

20.) Sharon Van Etten -- Tramp

19.) Cat Power -- Sun 

18.) Father John Misty -- Fear Fun 

17.) Woods -- Bend Beyond

16.) Lambchop -- Mr. M

15.) Beach House -- Bloom

14.) Chairlift -- Something

13.) The Mountain Goats -- Transcendental Youth

12.) Cloud Nothings -- Attack on Memory

11.) The Walkmen -- Heaven

10.) Jack White -- Blunderbuss

9.) Punch Brothers -- Who's Feeling Young Now?

8.) Japandroids -- Celebration Rock

7.) Dirty Projectors -- Swing Lo Magellan

6.) Kendrick Lamar -- good kid, m.A.A.d city

5.) Tame Impala -- Lonerism 

4.) Grizzly Bear -- Shields 

3.) Alt-J -- An Awesome Wave

2.) Frank Ocean -- channel ORANGE

1.) Fiona Apple -- The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw & Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

2012: Greg's Favorite Songs of the Year

The end of the year: a time for family, friends, holidays, drinking, and end-of-the-year lists. Sadly, making and reading end-of-the-year lists is the thing I look most forward to.... Wait! Who am I kidding? I love getting hammered and arguing with my family. Seriously though, I love this time of the year because it represents a time of discovery. As much as I love arguing with my fellow music nerds about songs/albums of the year, what is more important is that we all can read these lists and marvel at how amazing this year was for music. I am kicking FILWAD's end-of-the-year lists off with my favorite songs.

Enjoy,

Greg

30.) Cat Power -- "Sun"

29.) Passion Pit -- "Take A Walk" 

28.) The Shins -- "Simple Song"

27.) The Bad Plus -- "Pound For Pound"

26.) Jack White -- "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy"

25.) (∆) alt-J -- "Dissolve Me"

24.) John Talabot -- "Destiny" (feat. Pional)

23.) Kendrick Lamar -- "The Art of Peer Pressure"

22.) Fiona Apple -- "Hot Knife"

21.) Tame Impala -- "Elephant"

20.) Punch Brothers -- "Who's Feeling Young Now?"

19.) Grizzly Bear -- "Sun In Your Eyes"

18.) Dirty Projectors -- "Gun Has No Trigger"

17.) Father John Misty -- "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"

16.) Cody ChesnuTT -- "''Til I Met The"

15.) Chairlift -- "I Belong In Your Arms"

14.) Animal Collective -- "Moonjock"

13.) Regina Spektor -- "Small Town Moon"

12.) Pond -- "You Broke My Cool"

11.) Miguel -- "Adorn"

10.) The Avett Brothers -- "Live and Die"

9.) Grizzly Bear -- "Sleeping Ute"

8.) Cloud Nothings -- "Stay Useless"

7.) Fiona Apple -- "Werewolf"
6.) Bobby Womack -- "Please Forgive My Heart"

5.) Tame Impala -- "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards"

4.) Japandroids -- "The House That Heaven Built"




3.) Frank Ocean -- "Thinkin Bout You"



2.) Kishi Bashi -- "Bright Whites"



1.) Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis -- "Same Love"

Documentary Presentation: Andrew Bird, "Hands of Glory"

Pitchfork takes a trip up to violin virtuoso Andrew Bird's studio barn where he cut his recent album, "Break It Yourself." In this documentary, Bird and company strips back the gadgets and loops for a bare bones performance of "If I Needed You."

Blog Pigeons and Planes Lists 20 Rare Audio Tracks of Jimi Speaking Just in Time for his Birthday

In honor of Jimi Hendrix's birthday, Complex magazine music blog, Pigeons and Planes, has included a list which features 20 audio clips of Hendrix speaking from interviews and other forms of media.

Hendrix may have made a statement with his pioneering guitar work, but was usually very soft spoken and playful when he spoke in conversation. In one audio track, Hendrix discusses his fear of playing on stage when he was younger:

"It was so very hard to me, because at first man, I was so scared. I wouldn't dare go on stage... Plus, you get so very discouraged, you hear bands playing around you and the guitar player seems like he's always so much better than you are, you know?"

Today would have been Hendrix's 70th birthday. Happy Birthday, voodoo child.

Tame Impala Pay a Visit to Jools Holland

The impossible has finally happened: Perth, Australia's own Tame Impala have made it to Jools Holland.

 

During their visit the band played "Elephant" and "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" off their sophomore album "Lonerism." The group nailed every sound, gesture and dreamy stare into the camera, making it Jools Holland official as a band to watch for in the coming times. Watch the videos of their performances below.

   

Mac Demarco: "Ode to Viceroy" Video

   

Vancouver's do-it-yourselfer Mac Demarco has released the video for "Ode to Viceroy" off of his fantastic sophomore album, "2." The track pays homage to the British-American brand of cigarettes in a track that could fit into the the world of Kevin Smith as well as into the mouth of a bored and angsty Jay and Silent Bob.

 

 

Bradford Cox To Star Alongside Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey in "Dallas Buyers Club"

Deerhunter/Atlas Sound frontman Bradford Cox will be playing the lover of Jared Leto's cross-dressing character in the upcoming film "Dallas Buyers Club," which tells the story of Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey), a man who took matters into his own hands when he treated himself with non-approved FDA drugs after begin diagnosed with AIDS in 1986.

The cast also features Jennifer Garner, Griffin Dunne and Denis O'Hare.

 

Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodruff (left)

Jared Leto in character for "Dallas Buyers Club

 

Local Natives Share Video for 'Breakers' Off New LP, "Hummingbird"

       

Local Natives have released the video for their single, 'Breakers' from their new LP "Hummingbird" which is set to be released January 28. In all honesty, the video makes absolutely no sense at all. But hey, that's the thing about great art. You can have astronauts on beaches and lead singers rolling down concrete stairs and other various terrains and not have to explain yourself at all about it. As strange as it is, the video compliments the song through and through with what looks to be washed out, watery live performance footage. I know I left my ironic mustache around here somewhere...

Gavin McInnes Tells Us Why We're Here...And He's Kinda Right

One of my favorite writers, Gavin McInnes, is probably one of the loudest, wirer-y, frantic, ridiculous, controversial and libertarian writers out there in media today. One of the founders of Vice magazine in 1994, he has gone on to write his own memoir, "How to Piss in Public," as well as start his own advertising company, Rooster NY. In his recent column at his blog Street Carnage, McInnes tells us why we need WWII vets. In the McInnes way, he discusses their rise through motorcycle clubs which led to rebellion which then led rock and roll. Check it out here. 

Tame Impala's Kevin Parker Has the Coolest Guitar I've Ever Seen

  In Pitchfork's weekly YouTube show--uh, "Pitchfork Weekly--Tame Impala members Kevin Parker and Jay Watson stop by the studio to perform a stripped down version of one of their songs of their sophomore album, "Lonerism." However, we never do know what that song is. What we do know is that Parker has one of the coolest guitars I've ever seen and heard. It's a 1980s Casio guitar; a mix between a a synth and an electric guitar in which Parker claims is the most difficult thing to play. The members also discuss favoring stripped down production over clean-sounding, professional production.

Jim James Releases "Know Til Now" Off Anticipated Debut Album, 'Regions of Light and Sound of God'

  My Morning Jacket frontman and all around musical messiah Jim James has announced his debut album, "Regions of Light and Sound of God," along with the first single, "Know Til Now."  

The album, inspired by the 1929 novel "God's Man" by Lyn Ward, "chronicles an artist's struggles with temptation and corruption, along with finding true love," according to a press release.

 

According to James:

 

"I wanted the album to sound like it came from a different place in time. Perhaps sounding as if it were the past of the future, if that makes any sense—like a hazy dream that a fully-realized android or humanoid capable of thought might have when it reminisces about the good old days of just being a simple robot."

  This will be James' first venture into solo original work but not the first time he's temporarily parted ways with the boys from MMJ--in 2009, under the name, Yim Yames, James released an EP of acoustic-based George Harrison songs. Just from the sound of "Know Til Now," James seems to take every musical influence he's ever come under to make one of the most innovative compositions in both the MMJ and Yim Yames catalogue combined. Check out the track above via Soundcloud.

"Regions of Light and Sound of God" will be released February 5, 2013.

The Fordham Observer Presents...A Playlist for New York

In lieu of Hurricane Sandy and the destruction she brought upon the east coast of the U.S., notably New York and New Jersey, I have made a playlist to celebrate New York (we tend to celebrate the greatest city in the world every day just by living in it, but this is special). Our city is a tough old broad who has lived through the worst of moments and has certainly seen the best. The playlist is made up of artists from different parts of New York as well as artists who wish they were. Check it out here.

New My Bloody Valentine Album to Debut This Year, Says Kevin Shields

According to NME, the 21 year-long-album-in-the-making from Irish shoegazers My Bloody Valentine will finally be released later this year, said frontman Kevin Shields. The album, which has yet to be named, will be available on Shields' website before the year is out. This will be the group's unvailing of new music since their classic 1991 album, "Loveless."

"I think with this record, people who like us will immediately connect with something," said Shields. "Based on the very, very few people who’ve heard stuff – some engineers, the band, and that’s about it – some people think it’s stranger than 'Loveless'. I don’t. I feel like it really frees us up, and in the bigger picture it’s 100 per cent necessary."

In an interview with Pitchfork in April, Shields stated that the group had started working on another album that would was planned to succeed "Loveless" but was halted after the group split up. The new album will contain those unreleased songs, soon followed by an EP of more new material set for release next year.

Tame Impala's New Video for "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" is Everything You Want It to Be

   

Tame Impala out of Perth, Australia have one of the best albums out this year. It's called "Lonerism"; a pop-oriented but dedicated rock experimentation into soundscapes that easily rival their breakout album "Innerspeaker." Their video for their new single "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards," which has been also covered by the likes of Staten Island's PS.22 choir, takes a cue from early morning kindergarten specials on PBS that seemed to be put together with an unlimited arts and crafts supply from Michaels. A little construction paper and glue can go a long way.

The Avett Brothers Choose a Winner in the "Live and Die" Cover Contest

     

Corcord, North Carolina's Avett Brothers announced the winner of their "Live and Die" cover contest today, handing the award to Toronto-Montreal-based threesome Honeyman and the Brothers Farr. The band was chosen out of hundreds of submissions via YouTube for their warm three-part harmonies that seem to twist and turn the Avetts' original into something that is beautifully vine-like and skillfully layered. As the winners, the band will receive a Martin D-35 acoustic guitar, the same Seth Avett has been playing for over 10 years. Watch the video above of the band's award-winning cover. Congratulations, guys.

Dropkick Murphy's Are Back with "Rose Tattoo"

According to RollingStone, Boston sons Dropkick Murphy bring back their brash brand of Irish scally-cap punk with a new video for their song "Rose Tattoo" off their eighth studio album, "Signed and Sealed in Blood." The video, probably their most attractive out of the catalogue, is more an homage to life long D.M. fans who have brandished their own dedication to the group through some of their own ink. With a pleasing black and white aesthetic, the boys are seen on what seems like another Saturday afternoon in Southie: poker, cigarettes, pints, mandolins, and yes, tattoos.

Titus Andronicus Lead the Punk Patriotism Movement

Lead singer Patrick Stickles, Titus Andronicus

There seems to be a new movement undergoing the youth of America (the youth being an outstretched age range between 18 and 30). This isn't your Dad's patriotism--this "punk patriotism" as it is being called--reverts back to the history books; the nostalgia for what America was at it's infancy and at the turn of the century; Civil War-era values; entrepeneurialship for simple goods for simple people; an appreciation for the hard workers and eloquent talkers. These lessons and values taken from those who came before us, are infused today into men's fashion, literature, art and design and, the most effective, music. Titus Andronicus, one of Fell In Love With a Drummer's favorite bands, has led this burgeoning movement since the success of their second studio album, "The Monitor," through songs infused with Lincoln speeches, Civil War imagery, and the greatest of all, bagpipes. But it's this form of patriotism that has helped escort a certain number of youths to this idea of what freedom is, regardless of age, class or political agenda--almost an amalgamation of rock and roll in it's essence.

Stereogum's Liz Pelly has written an incredibly interesting and attention grabbing essay observing this semi-philosophical ideaology. Fantastic read, Liz. You knocked it out of the park. Check it out here.

New Dumbo Gets Mad: "Radical Leap"

    Dumbo Gets Mad is an Italian duo lead by Luca Dumbini who create psychedelic soundscapes via 30 years of transferred U.S. pop under a Mediterraenean sun. Dumbo have some of the most fuzzed out, texture-laden vocals and guitar parts this side of the Atlantic, but that's the problem: no one hardly knows them this side of the Atlantic--which is a problem. With their last album, "Elephants at the Door," Dumbo became part of a burgeoning scene of international groups whose love for nostalgia seemed to pay off in regards to successful albums and catchy songs. Today, Dumbo have released a new song off their sophomore album, "Quantum Leap" called "Radical Leap." I give it five years before these guys end up with a flagship song on an iTunes commercial.

Titus Andronicus: "In a Big City"

New Jersey is represented the right way--the red, white and blue way--in Titus Andronicus' new video for their latest single.
      Jersey rockers Titus Andronicus have released a video for "In a Big City" off their recent LP, "Local Business"; a rollicking battle-cry that pays homage to the boys' homestate and the big city that sits just across the Hudson. The video follows singer Patrick Stickles through the nooks and crannies of Weehawken--a small town right outside the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel--as he wanders aimlessly with the band at his back. "In a Big City" only enhances the "Jersey Pride" that runs deep with so many youth that have grown up there, including myself. It's about time my state got a new anthem, and "In a Big City" provides that with flying colors.

Bon Iver, Whiskey and Guitars: These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Bon Iver's Justin Vernon is quite the Renaissance man.

From a signature shoe design to a tattoo campaign to celebrate his beloved show "Northern Exposure," Vernon is now overseeing the design of a custom guitar made out of Bushmills Irish Whiskey barrels. Besides becoming one of the faces for the Bushmills ad campaign, Vernon is now the face for a different cause: to erect a community arts center in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin thanks to online bids for the custom Bushmills guitar nicknamed "the 1608." The guitar is being built by Eau Claire luthier Gordy Bischoff.

You can donate to the building of the community arts center here. In the meantime, here's a video about the building of the guitar and the Confluence Project, the effort working in partnership with Vernon. Cheers.

My Ten Best of All Time

My supervisor at my internship is just as big a music nerd as I am. We got talking one day about some gems and some obvious picks which ultimately landed us at the proverbial question every music fan must confront and face in their lifetime: What are your top ten albums?

I've been asked before, but the task is so daunting I always avoided it. Well, I finally grew a pair. The following are songs from my top ten albums of all time. Each one has a specific memory attached to it, whether it be an album my Dad showed me when I was young or an album that influenced me musically.

I did my top ten. Let me hear yours!

Local Natives Release 'Breakers' Off Upcoming LP "Hummingbird"

Pitchfork has named Los Angeles band Local Natives' newest track, "Breakers," under their Best New Music title. The song, which will be off their new LP "Hummingbird," has all the characteristics that have made Local Natives undeniably one of the most recognized sounds in indiedom today. The segue from their breakout album, "Gorilla Manor," can be easily be heard on "Breakers"; tripped up snare kicks, rattled rims and overarching harmonies that seem to be reaching for something more. The song takes on a cathedral-like quality where the congregation could easily be you.

"Hummingbird" is out January 28, 2013.

OFF! May Have One of the Funniest Videos of the Year

       

BY MIKE MADDEN

 

Punk supergroup OFF! have released a new music video for their song "Wrong" that features Jack Black as a drug-running gang leader set in a 1970s B-movie. Members of the band make up the rest of his cohorts, taking on a mystery man in a street fight. The result is a ridiculous and rib cracking ending.

Underrated Is An Understatement: The Wallflowers

BY MIKE MADDEN
In the spirit of a Wallflowers reunion, Jakob Dylan and the boys appeared on the morning news discussing their choice to record again after several years. That segment had me nostalgic for the days my Dad would play their fantastic debut album, "Bringing Down the Horse." It was one of the first times I could recite a song from the radio--the one being "One Headlight." That song always reminded me of the Fall with gloomy skies and chilly afternoons when there was nothing to do on a Sunday but mope around and bite your lip to do your math homework. The Wallflowers were pure 90s, but not in the sense that everyone thinks. Their sound wasn't kooky, eccentric or raging like many of the late 90s bands would take on. They sounded like the American Heartland with the loneliness of the New York City skyline in their midst.

Here's to the next album. May it be a fine one.

Happy 10th Anniversary to The Libertines classic debut album, 'Up the Bracket'

British band The Libertines have something to celebrate--yes, not dying is one of them--the other is the 10th Anniversary of their debut album "Up the Bracket" which put them on the map as a force to reckon with among British acts. However, in an interveiw with NME, Libertine Carl Barat has mixed emotions about the album.

"It's like a time capsule, bristling. I feel beatific joy twinned with deep sorrow, which was what wrote the songs back then."

Watch the video for 'Up the Bracket' here

The Black Keys Capable of Making Next Album in 'Two Weeks,' Start Work on New Album in Early 2013

BY MIKE MADDEN

According to NME, Akron, Ohio duo The Black Keys will start working on a new album in early 2013. The band, which released their eighth studio LP "El Camino" last year, are looking to set up "out of town" to isolate themselves from friends and family.

"We have a couple of months blocked early next year, like February/March," said Dan Auerback, singer and guitarist. "Pat [Patrick Carney, drummer] and I don't practice or rehearse until we go in to make the record so we won't really know what it's going to be like or what's going to happen till we get in the studio and start working on it."

The band have also claimed that they can record an album all in two weeks.

Auerbach added, "We usually start around 11 and then work till 3 or 4 in the morning and that's everyday. Our favorite place to be is in the studio."

The Kids of PS22 Take on Tame Impala

BY MIKE MADDEN

 

The kids of the PS22 chorus have covered and performed with everyone from Katy Perry and Sinead O'Connor to melting everyone's hearts at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. In their most recent video, the kids cover Australian psych-pop band Tame Impala and their most recent single, "It Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" from their latest album, "Lonerism." The band has posted the video to their own Facebook page praising the cover as well as garnering over 1500 "Likes." Amazing job, guys.

BY MIKE MADDEN



Storify is a website that allows users to orchestrate a number of tools such as Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to enhance their personal articles in ways that many other larger publications can't. Storify also allows the user to curate stories that have already been published at his or her own pace, reiterating certain points and topics that have been mentioned in everything from tweets to videos.

Five Music Genres You've Never Heard Of (And Would Probably Like to Keep It That Way)

BY MIKE MADDEN

The music world is filled to the brim with obscure music genres that just so happen to get paired with descriptions and name tags that either, A. Have nothing to do with the actual style of music, or B. Sounds like a a first grader picked two words out of the dictionary at random and said, "Yup, that's it."

And don't get me wrong; there are some genre names out there that are actually pretty cool, but those come at a rare price. Here at Fell in Love with a Drummer, I present to you the five obscure genre names, complete with music for your listening pleasure. There may be some you like, some you find amusing and some that will make you lose all hope in humanity and musical talent, but hang in there.


Seapunk

The name "Seapunk" has nothing to do with the sea or punk music. In fact, it sounds nothing like punk music at all. What was once a running online joke, turned into a cult following of electronic/rave kids with blue and pink hair with tattered clothing that looks as if it was dipped in a piranha tank. With the occasional disheveled braid and flat brimmed hat, these "dolphin art" crazed teens bop their heads to what sounds like every mother's early 90s workout video as if they taped it off the TV. Throw some Super Mario 64 sound bytes from the lady's kid playing in the next room, and you're on your way to riding an ecstasy-filled wave of crap.





Folktronica
Let's get one thing straight: folk music is an American music genre that derived from balladry and storytelling, hence the name "folk." The stories, paired with simple chord structure, told of "folks" who were like you and me: mothers, fathers, families, alcoholics, robbers, murderers. Ok, so maybe not all like you or me, but the commentary about American life was there. Folktronica (the pairing of folk music and electronica) has been used to describe bands like Tunng and Animal Collective. However, these two bands are far from it and closer related to the family tree connected to the Beach Boys, modern pop and the Brian Wilson School of Production. One could even argue that Animal Collective digs more into African rhythms and pop structure than they do with American folk. This is a stupid name. Stop using it. 



Witch House
Remember the final scene at the end of The Blair Witch Project? That's pretty much Witch House in a nut shell. When you listen to it, I always think of heavily wooded, rural areas in the middle of East Bumblefuck, Ohio where there's nothing to do but experiment with drugs at an abandoned lumber factory in the middle of the forest sporting a black hoodie. Salem, one of the genre's leading groups, combines gothic chants with heavy industrial-electronica to scare you back to your awkward teenage angst years. The music of Salem is nightmarish. Hell, everything about that band is nightmarish. Just check out their album covers and some of their videos--they make Lars Von Trier look like a PTA mom who loves cats. 



Crabcore You stand like a walking crab while playing your instrument. Yup. That is all. And may God have mercy on your soul.  Tune in 1:15 Northern Soul
Whether you want to call it a fad or a genre, Northern Soul was a huge part of the nightlife in England around the late 70s and early 80s. Northern Soul is simply American soul music that was spun at discotheques instead of the mainstream club music for the time. Listeners usually took on fashion inspired by a previous sub genre, The Mods. Followed by a predominantly white audience, when a person says to you "Hey, you got some northern soul in you" while you're making erratic movements in the bar that some people consider dancing, that's usually a good thing. Check out a video below of the Wigan Casino, one of the premier hotspots that sported this genre. Video starts at 0:16.

Top 5: Music Videos for the Week of September 17

BY MIKE MADDEN


The John Spencer Blues Explosion--"Black Mold"


Nick Lowe--"Stoplight Roses"


Frank Ocean--"Pyramids" (NSFW)



Melody's Echo Chamber--"I Follow You"

My Personal Pick: Black Bananas--"My House"

NYC Sessions Bridge Generations of Irish Young and Old, Familial and Friendly

All photos courtesy of Dempsey's

BY MIKE MADDEN

For an Irish and Irish-American population that has made countless strides to a city's growth, New York City's Irish influx was one of the largest in the country on par with rival Boston. The Irish have left indelible marks in a number of fields, including politics, sports and especially, the arts.

But Irish traditional music in particular remains a secret staple within the side streets and hole-in-the-wall pubs that sit stoicly under dimly lit lights. But some Irish pubs are different than others; some you can point out as imitators and others you can point out as authentic, meaning elements like ambiance, locals, bartenders and alcohol selection can point out clearly what makes an Irish pub truly an Irish pub. But when you walk into Dempsey'sPub on 2nd Ave between East 3 and 4 Streets, it's not just the ambiance, the locals, the bartenders or the fantastic alcohol selection, but the traditional music that erupts from the corner of the pub  brings some to joyful tears.

Dempsey's holds Irish sessions every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. with musicians from all different skill levels. Instruments originate from the traditional gamut: a number of fiddles, a banjo, a bodhran (a large drum), a guitar and concertina. For my first session, I brought my mandolin, an instrument I've been playing a little over a year. Learning by ear, I've played almost nothing but Irish reels and ballads training my fingers to be quicker and more agile. Sessions usually have three veteran musicians who start the tune. Once everyone recognizes the key, musicians join in, with some reverting back to memory.

For myself, Tuesday nights are a bit of cathartic; a getaway from school, work and internships, but also a special homage to my heritage. A homage to my grandparents and Irish cousins I've never met; an homage to my own kids who will grow with this music as I did. Sometimes I like to think that I'm not too distant from the influx of young Irish that first came to New York at the start of the Civil War. To them, the music gave them a sense of something to live for and look forward to in a far away world where xenophobia, corruption and crime ran rapid. It was a chance to gather others like yourself and create a family that you may not have had before. For me, it's a celebration, not just of the Irish, but of New York and the people that make it what it is till this day.

The Best NYC Band That You've Never Heard Of: A Dedication to Cosmonaut

BY MIKE MADDEN

It's 2 a.m. in the bedroom  of apartment 11M of Fordham University, Lincoln Center (FCLC)'s McMahon dorms--a brutalist style building located on West 60 Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenue in Manhattan; a building where Jesuit policies and youthful disobedience of authority clash; a place where a gang of unruly "ratfinks" from New York, New Jersey and Chicago got together for something that proved bigger than themselves; a congregation, if you will, of  kid poets and Heaven Hill-fueled writers and artists that were offered the keys to Manhattan in the spirit of raw debauchery. For the inhabitants and visitors of 11M, it was one of the early beginnings of the band Cosmonaut-- a group of four guys who we now call family.

For me, my 2009-2010 freshman year is a solid memory of moving images and sounds I recall every time I attend a Cosmonaut show. For Daniel Quinn, my former Fordham roommate, Cosmonaut guitarist, best friend and one of the greatest men you could ever know,  I like to think those years flicker in his mind like a neon sign as he plays and looks out into a crowd of the same people that stood and sat cross-legged in a McMahon bedroom at 2 a.m. filled with whiskey stains and scattered ash to listen to the newest track on someone's Mac.

Cosmonaut will often get comparisons to the likes of Pavement, My Bloody Valentine and Joy Division minus the authoritative Ian Curtis drowl. While that is correct, Cosmonaut don't just emit a a particular sound; they emit an attitude of a bygone era of New York City when it was a decripid shit hole that required store owners to sweep away hyperdermic needles that littered the sidewalks of the Bowery. Despite the decay however, there was something about the music of the Bowery that forced people  into a cohesive unit that made them a part of something; a familiarity that was narrated by a guitar riff rather than any newspaper article.

Although the Bowery of today is far from that, littered with obnoxious clubs rather than hyperdermic needles, the demeanor inherited from the life of the Bowery exists in the angular riffs and leads of Quinn and vocalist/guitarist Jack Manley's guitars. The heart and soul performances of the Patti Smith Group are strained through the sweat filled t-shirts and button downs of bassist Brendan Picone and drummer Tom McIntyre. And on those wet, cold New York City nights, the boys' distressed leather jackets shine in the dim street lights while a chain of cigarette smoke evaporates into the early morning sky.

If you look at the cover of Television's "Marquee Moon," you can see a band whose become a tour de force but they're too humble to really know it yet. The same can be said for the members of Cosmonaut and the picture that sits atop their website. It's as if someone off camera is telling them how influential they already are, yet they humbly say "thank you" and kind of giggle at the surrealness of the comment.

From the 2 a.m. McMahon sessions to headlining "Bowery Presents" shows, Cosmonaut will remain that band who is eager to share a beer, a shot and a cigarette with you at the end of the show. They epitomize what every young New Yorker wishes they could and should be--upstanding individuals who have time for even the smallest things; a willingness to work your ass off to play your ass off.  Cosmonaut, to me, are idols. Idols to literally look up to as they play above eye level of a Lower East Side stage. Idols to unwind with every time you get food with them at your neighborhood diner (Daniel, we gotta hit up the Flame soon, man).   Idols that aren't above us, but with us for the long haul. Most importantly, they are our band.

Cosmonaut will play their next show at New York's Mercury Lounge on September 30, 2012. Their EP, "Hurry Up," is streaming now. 

Pond -- "Fantastic Explosion Of Time"

I rarely write about a record after one listen, but for this band I will make an exception. Pond are a great  little psych band from Perth, Australia. Formed in 2008, like everything in this small world in which we live, I happened to "know" this band before I ever heard them. This is due to the fact that Pond is made up of a few members of Tame Impala, a band that I also adore. Anywho, this newest album by Pond: Beard, Wives, Denim, is thoroughly kickass. Ever felt like you grew up in the wrong generation? Ever wished you grew up in the acid trips of the summer of love AND/OR the cocaine induced era of late 70s glam-rock? If you answered yes to the last two question then this is the record for you. "Fantastic Explosion Of Time" kicks off Beard, Wives, Denim, and it could be one of my favorite album openers of the year. It just totally knocks you out with pure rockage... (I know... rockage is not a word). I expect a huge following for these guys in the future.

Note: refrain from rocking your head too much.. may cause a headache.

Pond -- "Fantastic Explosion Of Time"

MIX: Summer's Cauldron

Here it is, me summa' playlist

1.) Death Grips -- "Get Got"
2.) Twin Shadow -- "Five Seconds"
3.) Punch Brothers -- "Who's Feeling Young Now?" 
4.) Father John Misty -- "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"
5.) The Walkmen -- "Heaven"
6.) Japandroids -- "The House That Heaven Built"
7.) Cloud Nothings -- "Stay Useless"
8.) Pond -- "You Broke My Cool"
9.) Lotus Plaza -- "White Galactic One"
10.) Chairlift -- "I Belong In Your Arms"
11.) Beach House -- "The Hours"
12.) Kishi Bashi -- "Bright Whites"
13.) Fiona Apple -- "Hot Knife"

12 Favorite Songs of 2012 (thus far...)

The year is more than half way over, which means... well, it actually means very little. However, today it means I will post my favorite 12 songs from this year. Hope you enjoy!

Beach House -- "The Hours"
Bobby Womack -- "Please Forgive My Heart"
Father John Misty -- "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" 
Fiona Apple -- "Werewolf"
Jack White -- "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy"
Japandroids -- "Fire's Highway"
John Talabot -- "Destiny" feat. Pional
Kishi Bashi -- "Bright Whites"
Punch Brothers -- "Movement and Location"
Regina Spektor -- "Small Town Moon"
The Shins -- "Simple Song"
The Walkmen -- "We Can't Be Beat"

Fionna Apple // The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Fiona Apple is so cool. That's truly the only way I can put it. Everything she has ever done is just so inherently badass and awesome that I can't think of a single person who doesn't at least admire Fiona's attitude towards her art. However, this isn't to say that Fiona hasn't had her moments. From sporadic meltdowns to dating David Blaine, her personal life has often gotten in the way of her absolutely stunning songwriting. Fortunately, what is evident on this new album, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, is that Fiona has done some serious maturing an growing up since Extraordinary Machine (2005).

I am sure that for those music nerds out there, you either have already listened to this album or at least heard of its' brilliance, but for those of you who haven't: LISTEN TO IT NOW! It is easily the album of the year thus far. It blows away just about everything I have heard since Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and like that album, The Idler Wheel.. also feels timeless and instantaneously classic in many ways. Its' words are so fascinating and beautiful. The production is stunning. Each song takes you on a beautiful little journey. I can go on and on about what makes this album so amazing, but you should figure it out on your own. I didn't post the whole album obviously but I did post some of my favorites off the album below.

I suggest checking all these songs out to get a feel for the album, but honestly your better off just getting a copy of the album, putting on excellent headphones, and listen to it from beginning to end... over and over again... you will not be disappointed.

Fiona Apple -- "Every Single Night"
Fiona Apple -- "Valentine"
Fiona Apple -- "Anything We Want" 
Fiona Apple -- "Hot Knife"

Songs of the Summer: Kishi Bashi -- "Bright Whites"

Kishi Bashi is the solo project of K Ishibashi, founder of the group Jupiter One and touring member of both Regina Spektor and Of Montreal. With that background the sound coming through your speakers should come as no surprise. This song is nothing short of a perfectly crafted pop song in my book. I challenge anyone to listen to this song and not feel great about life. I also normally don't really care much about lyrics; however, with this song I will also post the lyrics, which I think are so beautiful and imagniative.



"keya keya sorya douse ne,
keya keya sorya douse dame da.
yamerarenai yamerarenai.
douse damedakedo yamerarenai ne"
"keya keya sorya douse ne,
keya keya sorya douse dame da.
taerarenai taerarenai,
douse dame da kedo taerarenai ne"
(in Japanese,
"douse dame da" means "probably impossible"
"yamerarenai" means "can't stop" and
"taerarenai" means "can't take it anymore")

you and me at the edge of the world
with a pretty little smile for me to see
new bright whites and a cage full of ice
and a naked little canopy to feed my disease

and if you're to smile at me
I could cry by land or sea

after you said that you like Big Red
I opened up my mind and skipped a beat
cufflinks and hands in wrong places and faces
and creepy little movies made me weep

and if you're to say to me
what is mine is yours to keep

well you know, I'll have to see
if all the stars aligned we could've solved the mystery
it's a partial fantasy
we're living in a land that went astray from history

you and me at the edge of the bed
looking at the faded pictures for you to see and me to see
murder and colonies, land without rivers
raging in the middle of some sad destiny

take one look to find my eyes
safety's in your inner thigh

 well you know, I'll have to see,
if all the stars aligned we could have solved the mystery
it's a partial fantasy
we're living in a land that went astray from history

Japandroids -- "Fire's Highway"

Japandroids are a Vancouver duo  made up of Brian King on guitar and David Prowse on drums. Like other rock duos with the same instrumentation (i.e. The White Stripes of old and The Black Keys), this band packs quite a hefty punch. Celebration Rock, the band's sophomore LP, may be their best yet. The band certainly isn't reinventing the wheel, but who gives a shit... it's rock n' roll! Celebration Rock is certainly the most aptly named album of the year. From The Who, to BRUCE, to some Hold Steady, this album takes just a bit from some of Rocks great forerunners and adds the spice of some serious punk. "Fire's Highway" is the song that most certainly embodies this notion. To quote Dylan before playing "Like a Rolling Stone" on the No Direction Home Soundtrack, "PLAY IT FUCKING LOUD!"

Japandroids -- "Fire's Highway"

The 90s Weren't All That Bad...

I got started with this group of songs when my favorite bar started playing a series of 90s songs along with the standard mix of bar classics and modern pop hits. The problem was that these 90s songs absolutely sucked. From Britney Spears to the Backstreet Boys my ears were literally bleeding when I turned to a friend and asked, "were the 90s this bad?" Sure, I grew up in the 90s but the problem is that the nostalgia for crappy boy bands like 'N Sync and mega pop stars like (it's) Britney (bitch!) completely overshadow the great pop music that came out in the 90s. In particular, the great pop hits of the 90s that weren't by boy bands or the Spice Girls. So... these songs go out to the children of 90s who hopefully didn't forget the pure joy the good music brought them... this is my childhood right here.

The La's -- "There She Goes"
Duncan Sheik -- "Barely Breathing"
Gin Blossoms -- "Hey Jealousy"
The Verve -- "Bittersweet Symphony"
The Smashing Pumpkins -- "1979"
The Proclaimers -- "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"
Alanis Morissette -- "You Oughta Know"
Matchbox Twenty -- "3 A.M."
The Presidents of the United States of America -- "Peaches"
The Cranberries -- "Linger"

.... and of course...

Hootie and The Blowfish -- "Only Wanna Be With You"

... and you thought I was gonna forget that one

Regina Spektor -- "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)"

I feel that many, if not most, of the albums that I have enjoyed from this year have most certainly been growers. There is only a short list (midget list perhaps) of albums that I have really dug on first listen. Regina Spektor's What We Saw From The Cheap Seats is the newest addition to that short list. I will admit that Spektor is often hit or miss to me, but this new album has absolutely floured me. Every song is just so incredibly catchy and inventive. Unlike the first single to be released from the album, "All The Rowboats," (a pretty dark track) this newest single paints an unbelievably happy picture (I think of running through a sea of daffodils... too much..... yeah). If the unbelievably catchy synth intro doesn't get you (anyone else hear the Vampire Weekend influence there??), the end of the song, in which Spektor belts out "I Love Paris In The Rain," will most certainly make you love this song. SO CATHCY!!

Regina Spektor -- "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)"

Father John Misty -- "Writing a Novel" & "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"

Ah, Josh Tillman... you sir are as sly as a fox... For those of you who may have not followed this whole falling out of Fleet Foxes gig (I certainly have not), Josh Tillman parted ways with the Seattle indie darlings a little while back to work on a new album. To be honest, once I heard that Tillman had parted way with Fleet Foxes, I just figured I wouldn't listen to him anymore. However, because he has put out this newest album under the moniker Father John Misty, I got this new record without knowing it was by Tillman. I immediately adored the album and once a friend pointed out that it was Josh Tillman my mind was blown. I wasn't sure how to feel; however, the music is just too good to not listen to because of petty disagreements. As it turns out, a friend of mine at one of Tillman's shows mentioned that Tillman still loves the guys of Fleet Foxes and there are no hard feelings at all.

In regards to the album, Fear Fun, I simply can't get enough. There is an absolutely fantastic combination of instrumental ingenuity and lyrical genius that winds its' way through every track. For me, this album is just purely fun without trying to be outwardly rambunctious. I personally love "Writing a Novel," which is absolutely hysterical, as well as "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" ... which is well... um.... I will just have you listen to the lyrics and create your own understanding.

Top 50 Closing Cuts of All Time

After the popularity of my last post, I felt that doing the same exact post, except for closing tracks on an album, would also fair me well. I gotta' say that this one was a bit tougher to put together (that's why I had to make it 50 and not 40). Perhaps this is because of the fact that the closing track obviously comes after having context for the whole rest of the record that came previous to it. This meaning that a great closing track doesn't only need to be a great song, but also needs to best some up the rest of the record. A great closing track puts closure on your experience of listening to that particular album or maybe it doesn't...sometimes the best closing tracks leave you wanting more, making you want to hit repeat immediately.

Some extra notes: there are some fantastic songs that close albums that aren't nearly as great... most won't be making the cut for this list. This list is going to be chock full of albums that are great and therefore have great closing tracks.

Fun fact: There are 16 Albums to make both lists I have concocted: Nick Drake's Pink Moon, Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, The Clash's London Calling, Radiohead's OK Computer, XTC's Skylarking, Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, Prince's Purple Rain, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, The Who's Who's Next, Radiohead's Kid A, Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited, The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, Bruce Sprinsteen's Born To Run, The Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed

50.) OK Go -- "Bye Bye Baby" --- OK Go

49.) The Allman Brothers Band -- "Little Martha" --- Eat a Peach 

48.) Green Day -- "Whatsername" --- American Idiot

47.) Joni Mitchell -- "The Last Time I Saw Richard" --- Blue

46.) My Bloody Valentine -- "Soon" --- Loveless

45.) GZA -- "B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)" --- Liquid Swords

44.) The Replacements -- "Here Comes A Regular" --- Tim

43.) LCD Soundsystem -- "New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down" --- Sound of Silver

42.) A Tribe Called Quest -- "Scenario" --- The Low End Theory

41.) The Grateful Dead -- "Truckin'" --- American Beauty

40.) Wilco -- "One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)" --- The Whole Love

39.) Joe Jackson -- "Got The Time" --- Look Sharp!

38.) Pixies -- "Gouge Away" --- Doolittle

37.) Bob Marley -- "One Love/People Get Ready" --- Exodus

36.) Radiohead -- "Motion Picture Soundtrack" --- Kid A

35.) Nirvana -- "All Apologies" --- In Utero 

34.) The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- "Bold As Love" --- Axis: Bold As Love

33.) XTC -- "Sacrificial Bonfire" --- Skylarking

32.) Led Zeppelin -- "When The Levee Breaks" --- Led Zeppelin IV

31.) The Who -- "Love, Reign O'er me" --- Quadrophenia

30.) The Band -- "I Shall Be Released" --- Music From Big Pink

29.) The Beatles -- "All You Need Is Love" --- Magical Mystery Tour

28.) David Bowie -- "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide" --- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders
From Mars

27.) The Clash -- "Train In Vain (Standy By Me)" --- London Calling

26.) The Who -- "We're Not Gonna Take It" --- Tommy

25.) Public Enemy -- "Fight The Power" --- Fear of a Black Planet

24.) The Beach Boys -- "Caroline, No" --- Pet Sounds

23.) Elliott Smith -- "Say Yes" --- Either/Or

22.) Bob Marley -- "Redemption Song" --- Uprising

21.) The Beatles -- "Tomorrow Never Knows" --- Revolver

20.) Neutral Milk Hotel -- "Two-Headed Boy Part Two" --- In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

19.) Radiohead -- "The Tourist" --- OK Computer

18.) Bon Iver -- "re: Stacks" --- For Emma, Forever Ago

17.) The Rolling Stones -- "You Can't Always Get What You Want" --- Let It Bleed

16.) Bob Dylan -- "Buckets of Rain" --- Blood On The Tracks

15.) Prince -- "Purple Rain" --- Purple Rain

14.) The Rolling Stones -- "Moonlight Mile" --- Sticky Fingers

13.) Notorious B.I.G. -- "Suicidal Thoughts" --- Ready To Die

12.) Bruce Springsteen -- "Jungleland" --- Born To Run

11.) Marvin Gaye -- "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" --- What's Going On

10.) Wilco -- "Reservations" --- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot



9.) Nick Drake -- "From the Morning" --- Pink Moon


8.) Nirvana -- "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" (Lead Belly Cover) --- MTV Unplugged in New York


7.) Bob Dylan -- "Desolation Row" --- Highway 61 Revisted


6.) Bruce Springsteen -- "New York City Serenade" --- The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle



5.) The Kinks -- "Waterloo Sunset" --- Something Else by The Kinks



4.) The Who -- "Won't Get Fooled Again" --- Who's Next



3.) The Doors -- "The End" --- The Doors


2.) Pink Floyd -- "Eclipse" --- The Dark Side of the Moon


1.) The Beatles -- "A Day In The Life" --- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band