photos: harlem | live at the mohawk :: austin

mp3:
harlem :: south of france

photos by pooneh ghana. check 'em after the jump...

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click for larger images:











[more photos of Harlem :: Live at the Mohawk at pooneh's flickr]

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tonight :: mpp release party

As I mentioned last month, we're teaming up with Radio UTD and Domino Records to present the official Dallas release party for Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion tonight at 7 PM at the Cavern. This is your chance to hear what 9.6 / P4k's album of '09 sounds like, assuming you've abstained from downloading the leak. And, there will be giveaways. Free.

blog radio :: most likely to succeed 2K9

For today's special edition of Blog Radio, Sirius asked us to count down the top 5 artists that we think are most likely to succeed in 2009. Of course, success is a relative term, so my list is essentially just the artists I look forward to hearing new material from/want to see live/expect breakout years from in '09. The Hipster Runoff radio program kicks things off at 5 PM EST on Sirius XMU, and you can hear my show shortly after that (shows will also be rebroadcast on Saturday and Sunday). There are obviously tons of artists that didn't make the list because of time constraints, but you can see my top 5 and a few honorable mentions after the jump...

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5. Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti :: can't hear my eyes
4. Girls :: hellhole ratrace
3. Harlem :: south of france
2. WAVVES :: weed demon
1. SALEM :: sweat

Honorable Mentions:

The Golden Filter :: solid gold
Weird Tapes :: home
CFCF :: cassie x lil' wayne :: official girl (CFCF remix)
Fan Death :: veronica's veil
Alela Diane :: white as diamonds

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here we go magic

Joining the likes of SALEM, Alela Diane, WAVVES, Girls, Ducktails, and a few other new-ish artists from whom we expect (relatively) huge things in 2k9 is Brooklyn's Here We Go Magic. His/their self-titled debut has been steadily growing on me over the last few days, recalling some of the warmer, weirder bits of Cass McCombs' best work, and at times, as the Fader points out, Graceland (though not in an aping, Vampire Weekend-y kind of way). Look for the record in February on Austin's Western Vinyl:

mp3:
here we go magic :: tunnelvision

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goodbye horses and merriweather post pavilion

harlem

Here's the second installment from Harlem's "Cover of the Month Club," in which the Austin group offers up this relatively faithful and straightforward lo-fi take on Q Lazzarus' "Goodbye Horses." I posted about the song's mild resurgence a few months back, but if you're unfamiliar, you might recognize it from this scene, which scarred me for life at age 13.

mp3:
harlem :: goodbye horses (q lazzarus cover)

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elsewhere:


(photo)

I'm sure most of you guys have heard Merriweather Post Pavilion by now, and while our expectations for this thing were pretty unrealistically high, it really is kind of unlike anything we've ever heard. To call MPP dense would be an understatement, so we're obviously still exploring the record and soaking it all in, but "No More Runnin'," "Daily Routine," "Bluish," "Summertime Clothes," and of course "My Girls" and "Brothersport" are all next level for this band. For the record, I still prefer Noah's solo version of "Guys Eyes" (with Zombies sample still intact) though:

mp3:
panda bear :: guys eyes (live on ma fama)

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mp3: new black lips :: "starting over"

Taken from the band's upcoming LP, 200 Million Thousand, due out February 24, 2009:

mp3:
the black lips :: starting over

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new vivian girls :: "girl don't tell me" (beach boys cover)

Vivian Girls have started shipping their Surf's Up Fun Pack, which comes complete with a t-shirt, button, postcards, and the limited Surf's Up 7" (which features 3 new songs), all for $20. The b-side holds the group's charming lo-fi cover of "Girl Don't Tell Me," an old Beach Boys favorite. Listen to the Girls' take, as well as the Beach Boys' original version, below:

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elsewhere:

Banjo or Freakout offers up this haunting rendition of a Christmas classic:

mp3:
banjo or freakout :: silent night

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A few more SXSW '09 bands confirmed, including Wale, Friendly Fires, 8Ball & MJG, and more. Check em all here.

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finally:

We are extremely honored to be named Blog of the Year in URB Magazine's '08 readers poll, joining the likes of Santogold, Cut Copy, Diplo, M.I.A. Santogold, Batman, Santogold, and Santogold on the list of winners. Thanks to everyone who helped us beat Kanye.

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social registry year-end mixtapes

The Social Registry is recapping their stellar showing in 2008 with a couple of free, highly recommended mixtapes, featuring the likes of Gang Gang Dance, Growing, Blood on the Wall, and others. Here's one track from the label's bonus "leaked tape", which features some of the unreleased stuff that the label "leaked' this year, including "live tracks, remixes, things of that ilk..." You can grab both full mixtapes below:

mp3:
gang gang dance :: house jam (hot chip remix)

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Download both mixtapes here:

mp3:
various artists :: social registry 2008 mixtape.zip
various artists :: social registry 2008 leaked tape.zip

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gorilla vs. bear sirius/xm blog radio

GvsB's weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio program airs today at noon (and again at midnight) EST on the new Sirius XMU. This week's episode features new music from Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti, Bosque Brown, Grouper, CFCF, Fever Ray, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...

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gorilla vs. bear blog radio | thursday, december 18

1. ariel pink's haunted grafitti :: can't hear my eyes
2. nirvana :: sliver (home demo)
3. WAVVES :: weed demon
4. grouper :: false horizon
5. grouper :: heavy water (phaseone edit)
6. SALEM :: brustreet
7. she & him :: sentimental heart
8. carole king :: avenue p
9. joni mitchell :: edith & the kingpin
10. cassie + lil wayne :: official girl (CFCF remix)
11. lil wayne :: i feel like dying
12. fever ray :: if i had a heart
13. white denim :: heart from us all
14. WOMEN :: black rice
15. WAVVES :: beach demon
16. the notwist :: boneless (panda bear remix)
17. amadou & mariam :: sabali
18. friendly fires :: paris (aeroplane remix feat. au revoir simone)
19. bosque brown :: went walking
20. joanna newsom :: sadie
21. cat power :: good woman
22. reverend green feat. antony & kria brekkan :: be good to the earth this season
23. sufjan stevens :: sister winter
24. girls :: hellhole ratrace
25. the beach boys :: surf's up (1967 version)
26. arthur russell :: i couldn't say it to your face
27. tripping daisy :: tragiverse

love is enormous

mp3:
grouper :: heavy water (phaseone edit)

[photo]

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previously from phaseone:

mp3:
panda bear :: i'm not (phaseone remix)
burial :: archangel (phaseone remix)

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gorilla vs. bear presents :: Merriweather Post Pavilion release party

[click for larger image]

As reported last week, Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion will be released early on deluxe 2xLP 180 gram gatefold vinyl, with full album download, on January 6th, 2009 in North America. This is possibly our most anticipated release of 2K9, so we're pretty psyched that Domino asked us to present the official Dallas release party for the record, which will take place on Monday, January 5th, at 7 PM at the Cavern on lower Greenville. There'll be exclusive giveaways courtesy of the label, including download cards, posters, prize packs, and more, and of course, this'll be Dallas' first chance to hear MPP, which we'll be using to test the limits of the Cavern's sound system. See yall there.

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faux fox x weird tapes

Denton's own Faux Fox, reworked by the mysterious and prolific Weird Tapes:

mp3:
faux fox :: personal best (weird tapes version)

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On a related note, Weird Tapes just posted up this nostalgia-tinged lo-fi seasonal jam for free download:

mp3:
weird tapes :: christmas break

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new Grouper :: "false horizon"

I love Grouper's Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill LP quite a little bit, and her new song "False Horizon" -- which appears on an upcoming split 7" with her friend City Center -- was apparently recorded at the same time as Dragging, which would explain why it's so perfect. City Center has this to say about Grouper's latest:

"Liz's song is exclusive to this release, and (was) recorded around the same time as her last amazing full-length Dragging A Dead Deer Up a hill. It's fucking mindblowing."

Agreed. You can listen to Grouper's lovely contribution to the split at her myspace. Here's the promising demo version of City Center's side:

mp3:
city center :: this is how we see in the dark (first version)

More info about the Grouper//City Center split 7" here.

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you're always gonna be this lonely in the end

WAVVES has posted up a new, as-yet-untitled track that's slated to appear on an upcoming release in the Fader 7" series. As is the case with most of Nathan Williams' tunes, the simple but undeniable melody firmly implanted itself in my brain after one listen. Check it out at his myspace. In other news, stay tuned for a WAVVES-related SXSW announcement from us in the relatively near future.

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elsewhere:

New live Panda Bear songs from his show in Miami the other night, via the good folks at Collected Animals. The sound quality is suspect at best, but we'll take what we can get.

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photos: the polyphonic spree 8th annual holiday extravaganza | live at the granada

[photos by david // check out the full set here]

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silent night

I mentioned the other day that Bosque Brown has been working on her upcoming record, Baby, for the past 15 months, but she also found time to contribute this starkly stunning rendition of "Silent Night" to I'll Stay 'til After Christmas, a new iTunes-only compilation benefiting Amnesty International. Thanks to Forcefield, who curated the comp, for hooking us up with this track to give away for Christmas:

mp3:
bosque brown :: silent night

I'll Stay 'til After Christmas also features contributions from Sally Shapiro, Au Revoir Simone, Blitzen Trapper, My Brightest Diamond, and others. Get it here.

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tonight in Dallas:


(poster by will bryant)

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ariel pink's haunted graffiti :: "can't hear my eyes"

"hello friend. My name is Ariel Pink. You've probably read my name online somewhere, maybe your best friend burned you some of my older records, or perhaps you even think we've met at some time in the past. Baloney! Everything you think you know is WRONG- DEAD WRONG. THIS is me, naked, without the buffer of awful tape noise drowning out any lack of vision..."--Ariel Pink (via)

Is it too late to make an addition to my songs of '08 list? Because this new Ariel Pink single is easily one of the best things he's ever done, and it's been on repeat all night. The guy is on some eerily legit adult contemporary/lite FM smooth jams steez with this one, and I'm not fully convinced this isn't something my parents were listening to in 1982:

mp3:
ariel pink :: can't hear my eyes

Uncanny. The Can't Hear My Eyes/Evolution's A Lie 7" is limited to only 500 copies worldwide, and is out later this month on Mexican Summer.

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GvsB sirius/xm blog radio

GvsB's weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio program airs today at noon (and again at midnight) EST on the new Sirius XMU. This week's episode features new music from SALEM, Nite Jewel, Arthur Russell, WAVVES, Alela Diane, Reverend Green featuring Antony and Kria Brekkan, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...

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gorilla vs. bear blog radio | thursday, december 11

01. the zombies :: leave me be
02. panda bear :: guys eyes (live on ma fama)
03. ariel pink :: for kate i wait
04. nite jewel :: what did he say
05. glass candy :: rolling down the hills
06. friendly fires :: paris (aeroplane remix feat. au revoir simone)
07. portishead :: the rip
08. madlib :: sacrifice
09. SALEM :: sweat
10. SALEM :: whenusleep
11. chairlift :: planet health
12. weird tapes :: home
13. the tough alliance vs. taken by trees :: taken too young
14. white denim :: all truckers roll
15. writing on the wall :: buffalo
16. love :: maybe the people would be the times or between clark and hilldale
17. adrian orange :: while you live
18. WAVVES :: so bored
19. WAVVES :: weed demon
20. esau mwamwaya :: chalo
21. kid cudi :: the prayer
22. diplo x santogold :: icarus
23. alela diane :: white as diamonds
24. beach house :: used to be
25. little joy :: no one's better sake
26. arthur russell :: i couldn't say it to your face
27. reverend green feat. antony and kria brekkan :: be good to the earth this season
28. the arcade fire :: my body is a cage
29. the brazda brothers :: lonely time
30. the notwist :: boneless (panda bear remix)

mp3 premiere: bosque brown | "went walking"

It's been entirely too long since we heard from Fort Worth's Mara Lee Miller, aka Bosque Brown. However, we recently received word that the new record she's been working on for the past 15 months in Denton, entitled Baby, will be released in March via Burnt Toast Vinyl. Miller's fragile, uniquely arresting voice -- think Cat Power meets Joanna Newsom, only more consistently heartrending -- recalls another era on this beautiful updated version of "Went Walking," the first track to surface from the new record. Baby allegedly features lusher, more expansive instrumentation than anything we've heard from Bosque Brown in the past, but like everything Ms. Miller touches, this song retains a sort of haunting timeless quality that brings the chills every time:

mp3:
bosque brown :: went walking

Baby is out March 3, 2009 on Burnt Toast.

mp3: kanye x santogold x lykke li :: "gifted"

Tracks from that ridiculous NASA record that comes out in February are starting to surface. The one with Chuck D and David Byrne was a little much, but Nah Right has the mp3 for "Gifted" (aka "the one with Kanye, Santogold, and Lykke Li"), and I give it a resounding "not that bad." Plus, Yeezy actually raps on this one. Get it here. I personally can't wait to hear the one with Karen O, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Fatlip. In other news, yes, that image up there is the actual album art.

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free download :: the new deal

10.Deep and Benzi's THE NEW DEAL mixtape features exclusive new material from the likes of Wale, Kid Sister, Blaqstarr, Santogold, Yeezy, and others, so despite being a little hit or miss, it's definitely worth free. Also, no matter how many different versions of this song I hear, it never gets old:

mp3:
Jackie Chain x Kid Cudi :: Rollin' remix

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Download the full mixtape, courtesy of 10Deep:

mp3:
10Deep x Benzi :: The New Deal Mixtape.zip (87 mb)

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mp3: new SALEM

Here's another new one from SALEM's debut UK EP, Water, which was released this week on Merok. Songs like the dreamy and haunting "Whenusleep" are where those Cocteau Twins/the Knife comparisons are coming from; this one's almost pensively sweet in a bizarre way, until you listen to the lyrics. I love this band:

mp3:
SALEM :: whenusleep

[get the EP here]

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