New Bon Iver Released Today

Do yourself a favor today and go pick up the new Bon Iver album, Bon Iver - via Jagjaguwar. The album is a quick forty minutes in length, but it is fantastic. NPR has been streaming the new album for a few weeks now, and I absolutely love it. Some early standouts are Perth and the heartbreaker, Holocene. Compared to For Emma, it is optimistic - but not lacking Justin Vernon’s signature sensitivity. Go. Purchase. Support midwestern music.

Gayngs featuring Glasser

It is really early in the morning and this is just what I needed to get this Friday started. Love this mash up between Gayngs and Glasser. The midwest produces some really great musicians.

City of Music: Gayngs from MPLS.TV on Vimeo.

via the Fader

Video: Gayngs, “The Gaudy Side of Town”

Just wanted to share a little jam with you guys. There is a lot of awesome happening here. Gayngs is an indie mega group including the likes of Justin Vernon (Bon Iver,) members of Solid Gold, members of Megafaun and about 15 other artists from the midwest. Another interesting bit of trivia: the theme of this Minneapolis show was “The Last Prom on Earth” - which is sort of frightening.

The vid is an eight minute commitment, but if you’re in the mood for a slow jam - the eight minutes is worth it. Love it.

Video: Gayngs, “The Gaudy Side of Town”.

The Tallest Man on Earth

I’m so glad the days of facial hair and quiet folk music have descended upon us. I’ll be sad when they inevitably take flight. For now…I’m just listening…

Check out The Tallest Man on Earth here or live at the Pabst Theater on April 1.

Lykke Li!!

I’m so excited because the Pabst sent out an email this afternoon to say Lykke Li will be doing a Milwaukee show in August. She’s brilliant in her own right, but she’s also been doing some awesome collaborations lately (Bon Iver, El Perro Del Mar, Kleerup, NASA.) I heart her so count me in…and watch this amazing acoustic version of I’m Good, I’m Gone.

Mixed Tape: 01.19.2009

This track kindly guided my drive into work this morning and started my Monday off adequately. Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning breaks out the voice distortion and dualing falsettos in “Churches Under the Stairs.” How rock and roll. www.myspace.com/brendancanning

Video courtesy of www.pitchforkmedia.com.

What else in the realm of music? Fleet Foxes were great on SNL this past Saturday. I’m sure that video is up on YouTube. Its really, stupidly selfish but I’m a little sad they were the featured artist. That means they are hugely popular and not a nice little secret that I keep in my pocket and pull out in quiet times. *Sigh* So it goes… www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

Tomorrow, Bon Iver’s new EP “Blood Bank” is available from Jagjaguwar. He’s been playing the new songs live and they’re magically delicious. The energy is a little different than “For Emma,” a little bit loud and even playful at times. Thumbs up, good sir. www.myspace.com/boniver

There are some decent shows coming to the area in the next few months and by “area” I mean the Midwest. (www.jamusa.com) Adele (tonight @ Park West,) Lisa Hannigan, Cut Copy, The Pretenders, Andrew Bird, Josh Radin, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Brett Dennen, The Black Lips, and on and on. (www.pabsttheater.org) I’m heartbroken over one show that sold out immediately…no surprise…solo Jeff Tweedy (supported by Great Lakes Swimmers) in Champaign, IL. It would’ve been awesome. www.wilcoworld.net

One final note: Tomorrow is a huge day in American history on so many levels. Regardless of partisanship, this inauguration signifies a huge turning point in the direction of the United States. I hope we all take a moment to consider our role in reshaping the future and redefining our collective values. I’m certainly hopeful and very excited…so much so that we’re having Yankee Pot Roast for dinner tomorrow. Cheers!

2008’s Top Ten Tracks

Musically speaking, 2008 was eclectic. Old was new again…a resurgence of 80s sound and 70s frontmen. Beards were acceptable and trademarks of indie-cred. Falsettos, boy/girl duets and harmonies were the new black. Where to begin?

I am prefacing this “Top Ten” list with the statement that it is subject to change. I can’t believe I’m attempting to pin down ten songs, but here is my best effort for a Tuesday morning:

10. “Hearts on Fire” by Cut Copy
9. “In Our Talons” by Bowerbirds
8. “Blood Bank” by Bon Iver…someone on YouTube said it best, “God, he makes Chris Martin look like such an asshole.” Bravo, sir.
7. “Sunday Afternoon” by Rachael Yamagata
6. “Kim and Jessie” by M83
5. “I’m Good, I’m Gone” by Lykke Li
4. “Gobbledigook” by Sigur Ros
3. “Electric Feel” by MGMT
2. “Mykonos” by Fleet Foxes
1. “Drops In The River” by Fleet Foxes

If that list isn’t a plug for Pitchfork, I don’t know what is. Thanks for the jams, 2008!

Mixed Tape: Bon Iver EP Announced

photo courtesty of Aaron Landry/flickr.com

Jagjaguwar has announced that the new Bon Iver EP, Blood Bank, is due for release on January 20th, 2009.

The four track disc is a likely extension of Bon Iver’s hugely successful, internationally acclaimed first album, For Emma, Forever Ago. For Emma was a beautifully written and painfully cohesive collection of tracks; I can only assume that these additional songs will continue to develop the timeless musicality and the Wisconsin lore that have become such an integral part of the Bon Iver/Justin Vernon identity.

Bon Iver has tour dates scheduled nationally. The Wisconsin dates are in Madison (12/19 at the Barrymore Theatre - Sold Out) and Eau Claire (12/22 at State Theatre.) If you are lucky enough to have tickets, I’m certain the shows will be incredible.

For more info visit www.myspace.com/boniver and www.jagjaguwar.com.