This Week's Mix

No mix last week, because I got caught up with school. So, there are going to be two this week! Enjoy.

Tegan and Sara - Dark Come Soon
Bishop Allen - Click Click Click Click
Iron & Wine - Boy With A Coin
Dappled Cities - Holy Chord
Band of Horses - detlef schrempf
Beirut - Nantes
Stars of Track and Field - Movies of Antarctica
The Long Winters - Pushover
Modest Mouse - Missed The Boat
Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On

This Week's Releases

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

This Week's Mix

Here is your mix for this week. I am off to college. We'll catch up in a couple of days, once I get settled in Blacksburg. Enjoy!

1. The Epochs - Head in the Fire
2. Boy Kill Boy - Suzie
3. Saturna - Roll Down
4. Kings of Leon - Fans
5. Kasabian - I.D.
6. Blonde Redhead - Falling Man
7. Albert Hammond Jr. - In Transit
8. Stars - The Night Starts Here
9. Minus the Bear - The Fix
10. The Sugarcubes - Birthday

Cary Brothers - Jammin Java - 8/9/07

This was my first time heading out to Jammin Java and I was not impressed. It took me forever to find the place and after many circles, I finally found the thing on the corner of a small strip mall, next to a Safeway. The main issue that I had with the place, was that there was no separation between the coffee part and the music part. If you weren't close enough to the stage, you could hear people carrying on and glasses clinking and it really took away from the experience.

I got there half way through the opening act, who was a solo artist named William Fitzsimmons. The guy had pretty cool banter, but his music left something to be desired. The best way to describe it, was emo folk music. Lots of very vapid lyrics, in sad songs, with moderately interesting chords being played along. I only got to catch the second half of the set, but that is what I got out of it.

The saving grace of the evening, was Stars of Track and Field. I was pretty excited to see them, after listening to their CD a bunch of times. Their set started a bit slow, but they really seemed to open up to the crowd after a couple of songs. From that point on, they had everyone laughing and it seemed like people really enjoyed them.

Playing some of their more well known songs such as "Arithmatik" and "In Bright Fire," the guys had the crowd singing along and dancing to the music. With the closing song "Movies of Antarctica," the guys were jumping off amps, dancing around and really giving the crowd something to remember them by. I hope next time they play at Black Cat or Rock and Roll Hotel, so that I can enjoy them more.

Last up, was Cary Brothers. I had heard some of his stuff on an episode of Scrubs and a couple of songs on his Myspace, but all had been solo projects. I was interested to see what a full band would do to his songs. Going into it, I didn't realize that most of his songs were girl songs. Meaning that the only people that were into the music, were female. Looking around at all of the annoyed male faces, pretty much everyone echoed my sentiments in wondering when it was going to be over.

The guy is definitely talented and I think he could go far, but I just wasn't in to it. My favorite song of his called "Blue Eyes," seemed to sound a lot worse with the full band. It's a very emotional and soulful ballad and it lost it's personal connection with the listener, when all of the extra instruments were added in. I may check him out the next time he comes to town solo, to see if it is an improvement.

Stars of Track and Field Pictures: Here
Cary Brothers Pictures: Here

Stars of Track and Field - Movies of Antarctica
Cary Brothers - Blue Eyes

This Week's Mix

This week's mix features many relatively unknown bands along with some new music from bands you should know already. I have also tried to keep with the tradition of including two songs from local artists.

1. Architecture In Helsinki - Fumble


2. Kinetic Stereokids - Explosions Were Heard


3. Two If By Sea - Report From Damage Control


4. Phoenix - Long Distance Call


5. Broken Social Scene - Fire Eye'd Boy


6. Snow Patrol - Run


7. The Hold Steady - Massive Nights


8. Soft Complex - Barcelona


9. Stars of Track and Field - Movies of Antartica


10. The Automatic Automatic - Monster

Just a note on the locals. It looks like Soft Complex will be playing a one off at 9:30 Club on September 8, before they go back into hibernation to finish the album. Two if by Sea has several dates coming up in Baltimore and many other dates in the works. Check both of their sites for more information.

Friday: The Return

Alright, it's time to do that Friday thing again. It doesn't matter where you will be tonight, because there is quality everywhere!


In DC tonight, The Red and The Black are having their one year anniversary. There will be a big party, complete with drink specials and great bands. Black Tie Revue and The Subjects will be providing the entertainment, along with locals Nunchucks. If you have never seen Pittsburgh's Black Tie Revue, this is the perfect opportunity.

Black Tie Revue - Absent Radio


Out in northern VA tonight, there is a big CD release party at IOTA. Greenland will be unveiling their excellent new baby Call Message to the world. Local favorites Bellman Barker will be there to entertain as well and this will be their last local show before they play our anniversary party at Rock and Roll Hotel on August 10.

Greenland - Greenland Pt. 2
Bellman Barker - Molly Maroon


In Baltimore, you can start your night at the museum. Local band Faster Faster Harder Harder will be playing a free acoustic show at Walter's Art Museum. Check out a quality band in a different setting and take in some art as well. It's an early evening well spent and you'll still have plenty of time to hit the bar.

Faster Faster Harder Harder - Calm Down


Finally, three quality bands make their way to Baltimore. The Hourly Radio, Stars of Track and Field and Shiny Toy Guns bring their road show to Sonar tonight.

The Hourly Radio - Deaf Ears
Stars of Track and Field - Movies of Antarctica
Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko

The Monday Blues

As I attempt to recover from the weekend that was, here is some information on the show of note for this evening...


Joseph Arthur and The Lonely Astronauts will be at 9:30 Club tonight. They will be joined on the bill by Stars of Track and Field.

Joseph Arthur - Honey and the Moon (live)
Stars of Track and Field - Movies of Antarctica