Cities of the Plain

Painted Palms

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:20:08 -0400

The Neighborhood: SOMA // Painted Palms from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Yours Truly profiled local act (via Louisiana) Painted Palms for the latest edition of their Neighborhood series. Aside from it being shot beautifully, I love this video for a few reasons. Reese and Chris, the cousin duo behind Painted Palms, live in my neighborhood and there are a number of great shots along Divisadero, the main drag in our area. Also, I have met the guys a few times through mutual friends and it feels great to be able to support nice, talented people from the hood (and to name drop!). I’ve only casually listened to their recorded material, but was lucky enough to catch them last night at Milk Bar and I was extremely impressed. Their sound benefits a lot from the breathing room afforded by a venue and they had the crowd grooving on a typically groove-less Monday night. Highly recommended if they come through your town.

Foreign Born - Keep It In Mind

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:29:39 -0400

Foreign Born’s Person to Person remains a perennial summer favorite around these parts. Sadly, it does not look like we will be seeing a follow up to that record anytime soon. Secretly Canadian, the bands label, is reporting that the band will be going on indefinite hiatus as the members focus on other projects. As a parting gift, the guys have offered up a new song, their first since Person to Person. “Keep It In Mind” shakes and grows with the same spirited energy that made their album such a stand-by.

mp3:Foreign Born - Keep It In Mind

The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:49:04 -0400

The War on Drugs - “Come to the City” (Official Music Video) from Urban Outfitters on Vimeo.

Check out another video to surface from The War on Drug’s upcoming album, Slave Ambient. The video does a fantastic job of capturing the mood and textures of the more organic, layered sound that they first introduced on their Future Weather EP and pervades the new album. You can hear what I mean by streaming the whole album at the Urban Outfitters blog now. I just bought tickets to see them this Fall in San Francisco and am excited to see the new album come to life.

Shabazz Palaces - Live at KEXP

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:59:36 -0400

Lia Ices - Ice Wine

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:32:47 -0400

Lia Ices - Ice Wine from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

I imagine this video was shot a few months back when Lia Ices came through San Francisco opening for the Cave Singers. I arrived uncharacteristically early to that show so was able to catch the entirety of their set. I was more or less captivated by her then and, not surprisingly, the team at Yours Truly has done an excellent job at bottling some of that magic. Lia Ices’ debut album Grown Unknown comes highly recommended.

Beirut - East Harlem

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 22:01:30 -0400

This new single from Beirut comes out tomorrow and it is a good reminder that we should all be listening to more Beirut. The repeated line of “the rising sound of your breath in the cold” is a particularly poignant moment that evokes images of a couple bracing against the chill on a winter night in the city. Beirut - East Harlem by Revolver USA

Washed Out - Eyes Be Closed

Thu, 12 May 2011 09:00:06 -0400

I haven’t done the requisite research to support this, but in a reflective moment the other night I wondered if my generation, the ambiguous 20-somethings, might be the first generation to actually prefer the way things were as we were growing up. Hardly the greatest generation, historians will refer to us as Generation N. The “N”, of course, for nostalgia. That feeling of vague familiarity which so many generations past rejected to create their own unique vision of the world, embraced whole-sale by us, the non-rebels. Through this unfortunate lens then, “chillwave” becomes our generational soundtrack, music tinged with a reverence for the ineffable quality of times gone past.

Washed Out, the project of South Carolinian Ernest Greene, was initially saddled with the chillwave designation. And not entirely inappropriately, his Life of Leisure EP definitely recalled those familiar feelings. However, if “Eyes Be Closed” is indicative of the rest of his new album then we should become increasingly hesitant to cast Greene off as just-another-chillwaver. The climactic refrain right before the break, “see the world clearly now”, followed by a refreshing cascade of percussion, seems to indicate that he has shed his hazy affection for the past and is looking confidently into the future with clear-eyes. A welcome evolution in his project and possibly a missive of hope, that sooner or later the rest of us will follow suit.

Within and Without, Washed Out’s first proper LP, will be released on July 12th by Subpop and will feature the previously loved track “You and I”. The album was produced by Ben Allen, who also shares credits on Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion and Deerhunter’s Halycon Digest.

French Kicks - Sex Tourists

Wed, 11 May 2011 15:37:10 -0400

All splashy drums and blase vocals, the French Kicks aren’t trying to turn any heads with “Sex Tourists”. It is one of those songs you can listen to on repeat for hours without really hearing, one listen seamlessly blending into the next. But then there are those moments when you suddenly realize you stopped whatever you were doing 10 minutes ago and all you have been doing is listening. Eyes closed, head back, listening. The French Kicks are masters of this sort of silent takeover. Half way through they sing “when we’re vibrating somewhere” and I am sure they are referring to that pleasant buzzing sound in your brain when you are blissfully unengaged. Sun on your face, wind in you hair, the world turning ‘round.

“Sex Tourists” is from 2008’s shamefully underrated Swimming, one of those rare front-to-back albums that I still listen to years later.

Alela Diane - Long Way Down

Mon, 09 May 2011 18:13:47 -0400

My first reaction after hearing Alela Diane’s new album, Alela Diane and Wild Divine, was to go back and listen to her previous album, To Be Still. Some important change had taken place over the course of albums, but I couldn’t put my finger on it without looking backwards. A few songs in my suspicions were confirmed: this was a new Alela Diane. To Be Still resonated with listeners because of it’s sweet fragility, the product of a young women still searching for her place in the world. Wild Divine, on the other hand, brims with confidence and purpose, the work of a songwriter completely at ease with herself and her craft. This new found maturity suits Diane very well, most so on “Long Way Down”. Here Diane sings of love gone cold, but with the perspective of someone who has learned and grown from her romantic failures rather than been defeated by them. Supported by surprisingly muscular guitars, played by her father and new husband, she sounds much more like country-rock heroine Gillian Welch than Joanna Newsom, the folksy songstress she has typically been compared to in the past.

Gardens & Villa - Black Hills

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:02:00 -0400

Gardens & Villa are a new-to-me group out of San Diego looking to have a big year in 2011. They recently signed to Secretly Canadian, who will be releasing their debut LP in July, and have been touring up an down the west coast this Spring. I caught the tail end of one of their packed shows at Amnesia a few weeks ago and was impressed with the two songs I managed to hear. Although, I was disappointed to have missed “Black Hills”, one of the two tracks featured on their Cool Summer Records 7” and one of my favorite songs of the Spring. The song pulses and flutters with a cool energy that makes for a prefect soundtrack to a now sunny San Francisco. While many of their Californian-brethren choose to bash through 2 minute riots these days, G&V are distinct for their pace, letting their songs breathe and sweat, like the perspiration of a cold beer on a hot day. Which is just about the highest praise you can give anything, right?

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A bit of housekeeping here as well. Clearly the current format of COTP is not inspiring much production, so I am going to focus my efforts in the coming weeks. From now on I am going to feature 3 songs, new or old, a week. No more, no less. If I can get in the habit of writing on this schedule I might pull in some show reviews, but for now it is back to basics. Today was our 700th post, a nice round number, and I’d like to keep this going for 700 more.

This NSFW unofficial video for The Weeknd’s “High...

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:52:09 -0400

This NSFW unofficial video for The Weeknd’s “High For This” from Michael Cumming really fits the tone of the track (in that there’s lots of women wearing next to nothing, artfully).

We haven’t written about much lately, but lest you not be entertained, there were some great pieces on The Weeknd when their (his?) mixtape first dropped, here, here and here.

The Weeknd - High For This

G5: Rap's Weirdness

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:44:38 -0500

1. Apropos of nothing, B. Rich’s “Whoa Now,” featuring a great sample of “Movin’ On Up,” and an introduction to Baltimore, pre-The Wire. This track was huge the summer that my parents finally caved and got cable… to say the least, it was a formative summer of rushing home to watch 106 & Park and Rap City after my summer job.

2. Dave Bry has a straight-forward take on the boom in rap talent of late over at The Awl, “Rap is good now because rappers aren’t afraid to be weird.” I’m tempted to agree with him, but I’d change the thesis a little bit: it’s because rappers aren’t afraid to be themselves these days, whether they’re “weird” (as Bry thinks Lil B and Odd Future are) or not. Guys with loads of talent, like Freddie Gibbs, Yelawolf and Big Krit, to name three of the more recognizable up-and-comers, spit about their lives and experiences, whatever they may be.

Of course, to put it as such is to assume that authenticity is the most important thing for hip-hop fans, only a few months after a year in which Rick Ross had the record of the summer and Drake sold more than a million copies of Thank Me Later. Nothing against Ross (and everything against Drake), but their successes just might suggest that my premise is flawed.

Really, it seems that rap is good now because there’s an excess of talented rappers just starting out, regardless of their weirdness. Undoubtedly, some will falter and some will inspire even stranger music in the future. For now, let’s enjoy what we have.

3. I don’t mean for today’s links to be all rap, but… The Daily has a quick take on eskay and Nah Right’s commenting section. Interesting read for those who don’t venture into NR’s comments too often.

4. Kid Cudi has split from his management and production team. The good news, to some, is that Plain Pat and Emile “are free to actually pass their beats to tolerable or maybe even great rappers.”

5. I respect that musicians today have to make their money from alternative sources, be them branded content or whatever else, but this Daft Coke thing seems like a terrible move for Daft Punk and a great one for Coca-Cola. In other relevant Daft Punk news, the Tron: Legacy soundtrack remix album is out April 5th.

6. (Bonus Track): John Roderick of The Long Winters throws down the gauntlet to music writers. He acknowledges that having something insightful or different to say about every band or artist is difficult, but in taking stock of the state of music journalism, implores critics to avoid certain hackery. Required reading for music journalists.

Best Thing on the Internet Today

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:43:57 -0500

“They’re like Nicki Minaj with dicks…”
“I broke that… fuck the framer.”
“It’s a little rapey…?”

Mix of the Week: Jamie xx on BBC 6

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:14:00 -0500

This week’s Mix of the Week is Jamie xx’s monstrous two-hour long BBC 6 Mix. There’s loads of stuff from his collaboration with Gil Scott-Heron as well as some of the music that inspired his reinvention of Scott-Heron’s works. BBC 6 has taken down the mix, but some kind soul re-posted it in its entirety. Put this on next time you’re cleaning up or cooking dinner and just enjoy, there’s some really terrific stuff in there. The tracklist is after the jump.

Mediafire: Jamie xx’s BBC 6 Mix

Jamie xx & Gil Scott Heron — I’m New Here
Roll Deep feat. Dizzee Rascal — Stretch
Indo — Are U Sleeping
Af-Ryth-Mix Sounds
Burial — Near Dark
Hodges, James, Smith & Crawford — Nobody
Jessie Ware and Sampha — Valentine
Yasmin & Jamie xx — Touch Me
Jamie xx & Gil Scott Heron — UR Soul And Mine
Tanya Stephens — Can’t Touch Me No More
Adele — Rolling In The Deep (Jamie xx Shuffle)
RJD2 — Final Frontier
Drake — Over
Mount Kimbie — Blind Night Errand
The Jazz Crusaders — So Far Away
Yummy Bingham — Come And Get It
Koreless — M.T.I
Mister Adam — 3hree
Jamie xx & Gil Scott Heron — The Crutch
Floating Points — Truly
Jamie xx — Far Nearer
Keith Mansfield — Morning Broadway
Natural D — Gone Away
Rylski — Ain’t Got You
Tiyiselani Vomaseve — Vanghoma
Thomas Bjerring — 02:45
Crystal Waters — Gypsy Woman
Jamie xx & Gil Scott Heron — I’ll Take Care Of You
Jamie xx & Gil Scott Heron — New York Is Killing Me

G5: The Dream of the 90s

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:21:21 -0500

1. I’m a bit late on Portlandia. I like the show, particularly that they’re eager to play with the medium of their show and try different approaches, though it doesn’t always work for me. The opening musical number “Dream of the 90s,” however, is a jam. Where’s the full length release? I’ve been humming this track for weeks now. Considering the chops of both leads, let’s hope they continue to integrate music into their comedy.
2. Our amigos The Knocks were featured in The Guardian’s listicle of ten of the “next generation of producers.” The write-up is a bit backhandedly complimentary, but still, it’s great to see them getting some deserved attention.
3. The always hilarious Lil B talks to Pitchfork about beat selection and the cooking dance (warning: video autoplay).
4. Nylon has a short interview with Walk the Moon about “Anna Sun.”
5. Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” video in 12 words: too many ideas, all nonsensical; nice bum; placenta globes; Madonna homage, kinda NSFW.

G5: Childish Gambino

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:27:27 -0500

1. I dig this video for “Freaks and Geeks” from Donald Glover, fun production on the track too. Initially I though his Childish Gambino side project was something he did for fun, almost as a joke. Over the last few months, it’s become clear that rapping is something he takes seriously, and expects fans to take seriously as well. He certainly comes with a lot of energy. I’ll be seeing him in concert sometime next month, will report back when I do.
2. McSweeney’s “What Your Favorite Classic Rock Band Says About You” is a regular barrel of laughs:

Ted Nugent: Your hair has at some point been caught in a ceiling fan, boat propeller, or lathe.
AC/DC: You only remove your socks to shower, and then only reluctantly.
Allman Brothers Band: You do not own a bong, but can quickly make one from a piece of fruit or an abandoned toilet.
Cream: You know a guy who knows a guy who worked on Star Wars.
Journey: You own those running shoes that are shaped like feet.

3. The Village Voice’s interview with Douster on his influences, Robyn and synesthesia is a good read.
4. Yes, yet another Noz link (the guy’s productive, what can I say?): the 50 Greatest Rap Commercials (link goes to my personal favorite, Jordan Brand’s use of Mos Def’s “Umi Says”).
5. The always enjoyable Maura Johnston mounts a mild defense of Ke$ha and raises some valid points. If forced to add anything, I’d say that whoever is picking her beats is does a solid job.

TV on the Radio, Will Do

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:14:33 -0500

I was pretty bummed when I heard TV on the Radio were going on a year long hiatus - they have been responsible for a lot of my favorite music over the past couple of years. I don’t know if it has actually been a year since that announcement or if Dave Sitek, the hardest working man in music, just couldn’t sit still any longer, but either way, they are back! Their new record, Nine Types of Light, is set to be released on April 12th and we already have a new song. You can stream the relatively tame “Will Do” below. TV on the Radio - Will Do by 1077 The End

G5: Thursday, 2.24

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:45:16 -0500

1. NPR’s The Record blog has a great piece on Odd Future with loads of great insight from Noz. Also, Brick Stowell spent the last few weeks touring with the OFWGKTA crew and has loads of great shots up on his Tumblr.
2. Noz also wrote a rundown of XXL’s 2011 Freshman class. Some GREAT lines in here: on Diggy Simmons’ skills: “2/10 No. Just no.”; on Fred the Godson’s: “5/10 Functional New York rapper #3489.”; Lil B’s bio: “The princess that fucked your bitch.”
3. Battles just announced that their new album Gloss Drop will be out June 7 on Warp.
4. More evidence that Dr. Dre was part of a hidden conspiracy to monetize Burning Man (huh?): a letter he wrote to his now-wife Nicole in 1995. Dre, never the square, signs the letter, “I’m bout to pass out girl, wish I was up in that ass,” so there’s that.
5. Finally, Vulture’s interview with Jamie xx on working with Drake and Gil Scott-Heron and the next record from The xx is an enjoyable read.

I’ll try to get back in the habit of doing these links posts here and there.

LCD Soundsystem, Dance Yrself Clean

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:13:25 -0500

Yes! Probably my favorite song of the last year gets a deservedly fun video. James Murphy does sort of sound like Kermit the Frog. Or maybe I am just saying that to get back at him for prematurely ending LCD and robbing me of the chance to ever see them live.

Arches, Wide Awake

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:10:04 -0500

My good friend, Julien, from Arches just informed me that they are done with their debut album! A pretty epic effort considering they did the whole thing by themselves without the support of a label. You can help them get their music out to the world on vinyl by showing them some love at their kickstarter page and you can stream the whole thing below. That first track still sounds as fresh as it did when we first heard it a couple years back.