Feist @ Pitchfork Music Festival (6/13)

While I’ve been a fan of Feist for years (my wife’s ringtone on my phone has forever been set as “Mushaboom”) this was my first chance to see her live. So while a good chunk of the crowd at Pitchfork Festival went to check out the so-hot-right-now, Purity Ring, I stayed at the main stage for her headlining performance, which turned out to be a pretty great decision. Leslie Feist kicked off things with the best song from her latest album, Metals “The Bad In Each Other” followed by a radically different, bluesy doo-wop arrangement of “Mushaboom”. Although I must say, I prefer the ebuillience of the original, it’s a testament to her willingness to subvert audience expectations with her music (another example, the absence of “1,2,3,4” from her setlist).

On stage, Feist could be cutesy and awkward one moment (like when she forgot the lyrics to “Intuition”) and the next moment be rocking a noisy guitar riff. She even got a few good laughs in when she transformed the lyrics of “Circle Married the Line” to poke fun at the photographers as we left the photo pit. Although I’ve had some reservations about Feist’s latest album, I enjoyed the live renditions which featured female gospel trio Mountain Man and Broken Social Scene member, Charles Spearin to help flesh out the tracks. Other highlights included the uplifting, tambourine-shaking “I Feel It All” and her magnificent, clap-along Nina Simone cover “Sealion Woman”. With Feist’s undeniable charm and talent, it’s easy to see how the Canadian singer can appeal to both soccer moms and Pitchfork Festival-attending hipsters alike.

MP3 The Bad In Each Other
MP3 I Feel It All 

Follow the jump for more Feist photos. Click here to see the full set.

Video: Feist – The Bad In Each Other

Martin de Thurah, the auteur behind a number of amazing videos like Fever Ray’s “When I Grow Up” and James Blake’s “Limit To Your Love” directs this ravishing, cinematic video for “The Bad In Each Me”, the best track on the Feist’s Metals. The song’s lyrics talk about human connection, good and bad, and de Thurah matches the words with a beautiful, touching video collage of tiny moments beween people. Filmed in Mexico, the cinematography is sure to be some of most gorgeous you’ll see this year. Watch above and listen to the track below.

50 Songs Of The Decade (2000 – 2009)

(photo by dcdead)

I released my 50 albums of the decade list two years ago with all intentions to follow it up with a matching songs list. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. No such list ever materialized and I kindof gave up on the idea. That is until earlier this summer when I took a weekend trip to visit some friends in Chicago and decided to soundtrack the drive with a playlist of my favorite songs from 2000-2009. I thought the mix turned out pretty good so I chiseled it down to my absolute favorite 50 songs, gave them a mostly-arbitrary ranking and now I’m sharing it with you. Of course, belating this list for two years has given me the necessary perspective to narrow this list down to only the essentials. These are the tracks that I play over and over and never get tired of, the songs that always make me turn the volume up when they shuffle on my iPod, basically the songs that are “really, really ridiculously good looking” and not just “so hot right now”.

A few words of about this list, I’m not claiming to have made an end-all be-all “greatest songs of the naughts” list, just my personal favorites. A few folks took offense to the lack of  some genres (ahem, hip hop) on the albums list but hopefully this one will counterbalance that woeful underrepresentation somewhat. Furthermore, I didn’t do full reviews of each track, because seriously, who has that kind of time, but I’ve created a Spotify Playlist where you can listen to all of the tracks (there’s also vimeo/youtube videos linked to each one). In keeping with my yearly songs lists I’ve limited myself to one track per artist.  If you scroll all the way down you’ll see some songs that “just missed” and some per-year stats (‘05 reins supreme again in my book). So here it is, the long overdue top 50 songs of the decade according to me. Feel free to dispute or agree with my choices in the comments. Enjoy!

music for kids who can’t read good presents: 50 Songs Of The Decade (2000 – 2009)

Most easily found on: The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place

Most easily found on: The Execution Of All Things

Most easily found on: Bows + Arrows

Most easily found on: Veckatimest

Most easily found on: Sticking Fingers Into Sockets

Most easily found on: Black Sheep Boy

Most easily found on: White Blood Cells

Most easily found on: Let It Die

Most easily found on: Shut Up I Am Dreaming

Most easily found on: Give Up

Follow the jump to see the rest!

Video: James Blake – Limit To Your Love

“Limit To Your Love” was originally heard on Feist‘s The Reminderas a whimsical pop song but in the hands of up-and-coming UK singer / songwriter James Blake it’s remade into a minimalistic, soulful ballad. The sparse, atmospheric track is matched perfectly with Martin De Thurah‘s stylistic video. De Thurah is a master of at creating mood and has a great eye (see last year’s superb video for Fever Ray’s “When I Grow Up”) so while the video has little in the department of narrative structure, the images of floating apples, rippling water glasses and black holes are beautiful to look at. Watch the video above and download the track below.

MP3 James Blake – Limit To Your Love (Feist cover)

Chew Lips

I considered waiting a few days or so before posting again, but this really couldn’t wait and I figured it’d be a good way to kick-off your weekend–or year, my dearly beloved procrastinator. Don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware of the blogosphere and its ongoing love affair with electronic bands (especially those led by a female vocalist), but let’s be honest… they make a really cute couple.

Two words come to mind when I think of Chew Lips: Listen! and Now! Well, OK. More like, “Chew-What?” but that’s besides the point. We can’t all match wits with Dr. Funke’s 100% Natural Good Time Family Band Solution now can we? After releasing two buzz singles on a boutique label (Solo and Salt Air via Kitsuné Records), the London-based trio teamed up with Bat For Lashes collaborator, David Kosten and threw all caution to the wind… in the form of spandex leggings and floor-filling basslines.

Their debut album Unicorn is a bullet-proof vinyl showcasing youth and a warrant to stay relevant. While they carry a style that seems to have themed all of 2009 and then some, the band fearlessly composed a record that makes me sheepishly reminiscent and yet genuinely anxious to hear more. Track after track (repeatedly might I add) lion-hearted vocalist, Tigs, refuted any and all of my preconceptions. Her soulful croon passes glances at Fever Ray and Karen O, while Will and James geek-out on scattered ping-pong beats and restless synths. It all makes good for a damned party if not an incredibly fast drive home… but the band isn’t all happy-go-lucky on merry-go-rounds. Numbers like Too Much Talking and Piano Song separate them from the likes of La Roux, revealing a much more sensitive side of the group that confesses just how serious they are.

MP3 Chew Lips – Play Together
MP3 Chew Lips – Toro

Phantogram

Perhaps where The xx shys away, Phantogram shines through and it isn’t just the male-and-female portrait that pulled me into a play on comparisons. Fundamentally, the two can’t be proven much different and yet I mean that in the best way possible. After all, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim did claim 2009 in one simplified motion. Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel however, lend a much more obvious focus on instrumentation that speaks out to the new year in a seemingly positive manner.

After performing at SXSW ’09 and opening for Zero 7, Ra Ra Riot, and Yeasayer, the duo signed with Barsuk Records and quickly returned to the studio. The renowned label is home to artists like Death Cab for Cutie, Rilo Kiley, and Mates of State… need I mention the longevity of their careers? Phantogram is set to release an LP version of their debut EP this February titled, Eyelid Movies, followed by a brief East coast tour that I can only hope will be extended and due West. The record is an inner-city formula of Electronic Hip Hop beats and Shoegaze-Pop, humbled by dreamy vocals and playground lyricism. Carter and Barthel showcase a strong sense of solitude in their small-town roots, isolating themselves in the outskirts of upstate New York to flirt with a much more organic style of recording, where it is as though this sort of… suitably brilliant music just happens.

MP3 Phantogram – Mouthful of Diamonds
MP3 Phantogram – 10,000 Claps

Album Cover Look-Alikes Mix

Inspired by the whole U2-ripping-off-our-album-cover controversy (if you haven’t already heard, read about it here), I’ve decided to make a mix featuring album covers that have striking, and seemingly accidental, similarities to one another.  It’s like that movie where the Olsen twins run into each other at summer camp and discover they are “identical strangers”.  Except none of these albums feature the talents of Steve Guttenburg and Kirstie Alley, which is disappointing to say the least.  So here you are.  Enjoy!

MP3 Explosions in the Sky – Your Hand in Mine
MP3 Stars – Ageless Beauty

MP3 Broken Social Scene – Ibi Dreams Of Pavement (A Better Day)
MP3 Parts and Labor – Fractured Skies

MP3 Mountain Goats – Cubs in Five
Youtube: Coldplay – Shiver

MP3 Radiohead – Knives Out
MP3 Interpol – NYC

MP3 Ratatat – Wildcat
MP3 Against Me! – Borne On The FM Waves

MP3 Feist – Mushaboom
MP3 Eagle*Seagull – Your Beauty is a Knife I Turn on my Throat

MP3 Massive Attack – Teardrop
MP3 Flying Lotus -Parisan Goldfish

Credit to this message board thread to many of these finds. If you have some more oddly similar album covers I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments…

And hey I got a new post up at MTVU on Lily Allen.  Go, read now.

Falling Slowly: 19 Love Songs (Our Wedding Mix)

The day is finally here.  In a few hours I’m going to be a married man and this is the mix that we are giving out as CD favors (along with a few random musings that I included in a booklet) to the guests.   I want to thank all my readers for the kind words over the years about me and Celeste, and for reading what I have to say here.  I’m going to be gone for a week, honeymooning, but I hope you enjoy this mix while I’m away. Huzzah!

1. Sleeping At Last – Umbrellas
This is “our song”.  I proposed to Celeste at a Sleeping At Last concert while this song was playing, after a special dedication from the band.  We also shared our first dance to “Umbrellas”.

2. Sigur Ros – Hoppipolla
“Hoppipolla” (which is Icelandic for “Jumping Into Puddles”) is the song that played during the recessional and is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.

3. Iron & Wine – Love and Some Verses
Iron & Wine is Celeste’s favorite band and this is one of their prettiest love songs.  Sean and Whitney gave a lovely performance of this song at our ceremony.

4. The Frames – Falling Slowly
This beautiful track is the theme to the film Once, it won best original song last year at the Oscars and is one of our favorite love songs.

5. The The – This Is The Day
This is an awesome wedding song and who doesn’t love accordian solos?

6. Nada Surf – Always Love
We both love the lyrics to this infectious song: “Always love , Hate will get you everytime”.   Not bad advice, right?

7. Feist – Mushaboom
Feist is most famous for her “1234 “ iPod commercial, but this song is her best.  The lyrics are about starting your life together and not having much other than love.  Sounds like us!

8. U2 – Unchained Melody
This is U2’s enchanting version of the classic Righteous Brothers’ love song.

9. Barry Louis Polisar- All I Want
A cutesy folk tune with some clever love metaphors and a zippy harmonica solo.

10. Sufjan Stevens – Dress Looks Nice On You
Sufjan Stevens is my favorite singer/songwriter (take note, music appreciators) and I love just about everything he’s done.  This gorgeous acoustic piece is no exception.

11. Stars – Ageless Beauty (The Most Serene Republic Mix)
This is the acoustic version of one of my all-time favorite songs.  Brings a huge smile to my face every time I hear it.

12. Bob Dylan – I Want You
This is probably Dylan’s most accessible, irony-free track, and it’s one of his best.

13. Islands – Jogging Gorgeous Summer
This mix needed a bit more tropical flair.  I love the lyric “Millions of sunsets but the one I remember, the one where you told me you’d love me forever”.

14. Bright Eyes – First Day of My Life
This is a folky love song that deserves the title of modern classic.  It’s a heart-tugging, extremely honest track and the melody is lovely.

15. R.E.M. – At My Most Beautiful
One of my favorite ballads.  This song is just completely heartwarming.

15. Headlights – Cherry Tulips
Headlights is an awesome band from Champaign, IL. This gushing love song was just released this year and it’s already one of my favorite indie pop songs.

17. Belle & Sebastian – Funny Little Frog
One of my personal favorite bands, I could pick a dozen tracks from Scotland’s Belle & Sebastian to add to this list. This is such a easygoing, irresistable love song.  What other band can rhyme court with throat so convincingly?

17. Wilco – On and On and On
Wilco is another wonderful band that is very meaningful to me personally. “On and On and On” is their ode to marriage.  The end of this song is simply magnificent.

19. U2 – Can’t Help Falling In Love
U2 closed all their shows on their Zoo TV tour with this passionate, gorgeous cover.  I get chills every time I hear Bono hit that falsetto.  It’s the perfect song to end our mix.

Another day, another way for me to (buh buh) open up to you

Jamie Lidell is one iPod commercial away from becoming the breakout artist of 2008, and with this amazing of a record that he’s putting out, he honestly deserves it even more than Feist did (not saying I’m not happy for the gal). Lidell’s follow up to 2005’s Multiply, simply entitled Jim, is one of my most consistently listened to records of the year and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon (especially with it’s very good-time summery feel). The man has been picking up comparisons left and right to Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, Otis Redding, you know all those 60’s/70’s soul artists that your parents probably love. Lidell has modernized his free-flowing melodies with a snazzy production and packed it with layers of pianos, horns, hand-clapping and gospel choirs, along with some subtle electronic beats (not to distract you from the retro feel).

The album starts off with “Another Day”, one of the breeziest and repeatedly listenable tracks I’ve heard of the year. Lidell’s soulful croon would put to shame any number of American Idol contestants. The breezy piano melody and the call-and-response with the backing gospel choir running through the song brings the song to the next level (and that’s not to mention the light spanish guitar, trumpets, and flute). “Where D’You Go” uses many of the same elements that make the man great, except this time it’s put to an upbeat jam. Jamie sings about how he’s “gonna have to get along without you” while the song bounces up and down the octave scale. I have no doubt that it’ll get you moving and put a smile on your face. Here’s a two-song sample of Jim. Make sure to pick it up tomorrow.

MP3 Jamie Lidell – Another Day
MP3 Jamie Lidell – Where D’You Go

“Another Day” Music Video
Stream Jim on Myspace

Best Music Videos of 2007

Here listed before you are hands-down the 22 best music videos of the year 2007. I’m not saying I watched every music video in 2007, but I’m just going to assume that all the other ones completely suck (for purposes of this list). I’m estimating it would take about an hour and a half to watch all these videos, but seriously, do you have anything better to do today? To make it easier though, I’ve embedded them all below. Also, except for the five at the end (which are the best) the order is completely random.

As you can tell by the list I like videos that use stop-motion, videos all done in one take, bright colors, interesting effects, Wes Anderson nods, changing t-shirts, ridiculously high drum cymbals, etc. As always, If you have any favorites videos from the year that you think I missed, make sure to leave it in the comments. I provided MP3s for some of the songs that you might not already have. The first three are embedded below but you will have to click through to see the whole list.

The Shins – Australia

Noah and the Whale – Five Years Time MP3

Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position

Click the link below to see the whole list including my top five!