Instrumental Analysis

Stars – credit
This week was hell at school for me, but I still wanted to write about some of the great new releases that came out. This week featured a fair amount of folk/indie rock, but it really had a large amount of good music in general.

Probably the biggest release of the week was from Iron & Wine, with a CD titled The Shepard’s Dog. For Sam Beam’s newest CD, he went with a full band and a full sound. Getting more popular as the days go on, even my college newspaper reviewed the new release and gave it an A. Beam’s beautiful voice paired with some great sounds and lyrics, really is a treat.

Boy With A Coin

Next on our trip of new releases by folk/indie artists, finds us at the new Cave Singers‘ release Invitation Songs. I really liked the first track I heard from them and I’m sure you will to. This is mellow music with a very unique voice.

Seeds of Night

Devendra Banhart released Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. Some people have been complaining Banhart’s CDs have been too long, or too bloated. I personally am not as familiar as other people with his music, but give “Carmensita” a listen and decide for yourself. The sound is a different flavor than the previous two releases, but it works really well.

Carmensita

Last up on our folk indie tour for the week is a very interesting group and one I find very enjoyable to listen to. Two Gallants newest CD is a self-titled album that sounds a bit different from the previous release What the Toll Tells. That was a hard CD to follow-up, but the band made an admirable attempt.

The Hand That Held Me Down

A band you may have heard about once or twice on this website, DC’s Georgie James has finally released their full length on Saddle Creek. Solid as always, Places really puts the band on the national map. Currently on a countrywide tour supporting the album, the band will finish it at the Black Cat on 11/16, so be sure to be there for that one.

Cake Parade

Sweden had two of it’s bigger artists drop releases this week. First we have Jose Gonzalez with his new release In Our Nature, which follows up the great release Veneer. A terrific singer/songwriter, Gonzalez gives us another great release that is something that both new and old fans can be happy with.

Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover)

Next we have Loney, Dear, who’s newest CD isn’t really new, but new to the US. After seeing them this summer with The Sea & Cake, I can honestly say that their music is great and any release from them is something worth being listened to.

Saturday Waits

Our next CD has been available on iTunes and other online distributors for a little while, but Stars‘ newest In Our Bedroom After The War is now out everywhere. I have only personally listened to a couple of songs on the CD, but what I’ve heard it sounds like a really solid release. One of my friends is in love with the album and I trust him, as he has introduced me to more great bands than I can count. Give the CD a listen and judge yourself.

The Night Starts Here

A group I discovered this week, The GoStation have a release that needs to be listened to titled Passion Before Function. I am always a fan of indie bands that rock hard, but still keep a full sound in their music and these guys do exactly that. Give “All Together Now” a listen to see what I mean and find a new band that I’m sure most of you have never heard of, but will enjoy listening to.

All Together Now

Another group I just discovered after hearing about their release, Athlete released Beyond the Neighborhood. This band isn’t anything you haven’t heard before, but they are still a solid indie band with a good release that deserves consideration.

Airport Disco

There were so many releases this week, that I’ll leave you with songs from some of the others…

Eskimo Joe – New York
Matt Pond PA – Taught To Look
Office – Wound Up
Sea Wolf – Black Dirt
The Weakerthans – Night Windows
Tuung – Bullets
Via Audio – We Can Be Good

No story about this week, just good music. Enjoy!

The Aliens – I Am The Unknown
Soft – Dumb Blood
Dappled Cities – Beach Song
The Russian Futurists – Sentiments vs Syllables
Bloc Party – Sunday
Mason Proper – A Chance Encounter
Tokyo Police Club – Your English Is Good
The Crimea – All Conquering
Minus the Bear – Throwin’ Shapes
Pela – Venom:

Sam Beam, better known as Iron & Wine, is touring in support of his highly praised new album, The Shepherd’s Dog. Along for ride is Seattle’s Arthur & Yu, labelmates to DC’s Le Loup. Be sure to check them out this weekend.

9/28: Tower Theater, Philly
9/29: 9:30 Club, DC

Iron & Wine – Boy With A Coin
Arthur & Yu – Come To View

Austin’s indie-folk sensations Okkervil River and Seattle’s Damien Jurado join forces for a tour across the area. However, it’s time to find your shady means of getting tickets for the shows, if you don’t have them. Both the Philly and DC shows have sold out!

9/29: Johnny Brenda’s, Philly
9/30: Rock and Roll Hotel, DC

Okkervil River – Our Life Is Not A Movie or Maybe
Damien Jurado – What Were The Chances

Last week’s show was sort of ridiculous. We ended up having 3 bands and it was quite possibly the best bill that I have seen all year. Between Monarch, Vandaveer and These United States, it was a hell of a night. Tonight, we are back in Harrisburg for yet another round of indie at the abbey at ABC . This show should be really good as well, as we have a couple of great bands making their first ever stops in town. Like always, show starts at 9:30, and admission is a measly $2.

NYC’s Bridges and Powerlines will be bringing their brand of upbeat indie rock to town. Last year, they released their debut EP and it was full of straightforward tracks that crossed danceable synth with darker guitars. They just finished recording their full length that will be out next year and I have noticed a change. They have started to expand on the ideas laid out on their debut and have begun a metamorphosis to a more expanded sound that includes greater dynamics and more harmonizing vocals. I am quite enthusiastic about their future and tonight is a great chance to learn what they are all about.

Carmen (from EP)
The Thieves, They Are Everywhere (from forthcoming LP)

Philly’s Creeping Weeds are a 5-piece that is all over the musical map. They range everywhere from folk to indie pop and definitely have some noisier moments. They are not afraid to try a wide range of instruments in their songs and you can tell from their CD, that they are very particular about every sound and it’s placement. People who enjoy acts like Modest Mouse, Built to Spill and Pavement will definitely like this very dynamic band.

Billy Pilgrim
Eternity Is A Long Time

Upcoming Shows:

10/03/07
Middle Distance Runner (Washington, DC)
Bugs Multiply (Asheville, NC)

10/10/07
Jukebox The Ghost (Washington, DC)
Peasant (Doylestown, PA)

10/17/07
Shade (Pittsburgh, PA)
The Sky Drops (Wilmington, DE)

10/24/07
Warm in the Wake (Decatur, GA)
Bellman Barker (Washington, DC)

10/31/07
People Noise (Louisville, KY – former VHS or Beta)
Thrushes (Baltimore, MD)

11/07/07
The Epochs (Brooklyn, NY)
Wakey! Wakey! (New York, NY)

11/14/07
Tartufi (San Francisco, CA)
Low Red Land (San Francisco, CA)

11/28/07
Canadian Invasion (Philadelphia, PA)
Paul Michel (Washington, DC)

12/05/07
The Jaguar Club (Brooklyn, NY)
The Shackeltons (Chambersburg, PA)

Last month, DC’s Let’s French released their debut video days before they disbanded. The clip for “Your Name Here” was directed by their very own Maxwell Sorensen. Well, they may be gone and he may live overseas now, but Max keeps making videos for his band and others. He released 2 this week. One for “Start A New Life” and a great clip for Greenland’s “We Are Clipper Ships.” A band that is very much alive and is still creating some great music. Here are all 3 videos and I’ll leave you with some mp3s at the bottom. Enjoy!

Greenland – We Are Clipper Ships

Let’s French – Start A New Life

Let’s French – Your Name Here

Greenland – Shipwreck on the Watery Eye
Greenland – Greenland Pt. 2
Let’s French – She Says She Loves Me
Let’s French – Here She Comes (There She Goes)

Philly’s Grammer Debate! is releasing a new CD and they are embarking on a short tour to release it in style. They have all sorts of great bands joining them on the various dates. Regionally, you can check them out as follows:

9/26/07: DC9, DC w/ Modern Skirts, Rarebirds
9/27/07: Khyber, Philly w/ Modern Skirts, The Swimmers, The XYZ Affair

Grammer Debate! – Believe It Away
Modern Skirts – My Bully
Rarebirds – Wishing Well
The Swimmers – It’s Time They Knew
The XYZ Affair – All My Friends

DC’s Jukebox the Ghost is back for another round of touring for what seems like an endless fall trek. Noted as being a mix of Queen, They Might Be Giants and Ben Folds, they have opened for Ben Kweller, Tokyo Police Club, Ra Ra Riot and Regina Spektor, just to name a few. Another great band joins them for this latest string of shows, The Winter Sounds from Athens, GA. Come and check them out with me Wednesday at Mojo 13. After that, they will be back in October for yet another round.

9/26/07: Mojo Thirteen, Wilmington w/ The Winter Sounds
9/27/07: The Loft, Fredericksburg w/ The Winter Sounds
9/28/07: Mitchell Theater, DC w/ The Winter Sounds
9/29/07: IOTA, Arlington w/ The Winter Sounds & Exit Clov
10/10/07: The Abbey, Harrisburg w/ Peasant
10/13/07: The Classic Cigar Parlor, Doylestown w/ Peasant
10/25/07: Rock and Roll Hotel, DC w/ Travis Morrison Hellfighters

Jukebox the Ghost – Hold It In
The Winter Sounds – Windy City Nights

Yeasayer – credit
Montreal’s Shapes and Sizes is hooking up with Brooklyn’s Yeasayer for a little tour. Regionally, you can patronize them as follows:

9/25/07: Black Cat, DC
9/26/07: The Khyber, Philly

Shapes & Sizes – Alone/Alive
Yeasayer – 2080

Dirty on Purpose – credit
Over the next few days, a little UK meets Brooklyn flavor hits the region. Fujiya & Miyagi will be touring with Dirty on Purpose. You can check them out as follows:

9/25/07: Ottobar, Baltimore
9/26/07: Johnny Brenda’s, Philly

Fujiya & Miyagi – Photocopier
Dirty On Purpose – No Radio