This Week's Random Obsession

Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective.
This album has been the soundtrack to the last 10 days for me, especially through an all-nighter of nicotine, alcohol and headphones Sunday night.
I really hadn't listened to it carefully since I first downloaded it in January, and I feel like a fool for wasting these last two months when I could have been enjoying Animal Collective at their best.
Honestly, This is my favorite of their albums. It shows more talent and listenability than 2005's Feels, and is more adventurous and confident than 2007's (admittedly awesome) Strawberry Jam. This Baltimore-bred band is SOLD OUT at the 9:30 club, and you are gonna have to cough up a good deal of money to get in on this one. Every time they play in the DC/Baltimore area, they sell every ticket in half a day. Be on your toes next time; I know I will be.
As far as things to look forward to with Animal Collective, Panda Bear revealed in an NPR interview that there's a new music video coming out this summer, saying that it would be "some of the most experimental stuff [they've] ever done." The video, directed by Danny Perez, is meant to "create a movie that would have visuals similar to what somebody would see if they closed their eyes while listening to Animal Collective's music"
Just do me a favor and close your eyes when you listen; these songs not just ask for but deserve your full attention.

This Love is Fucking Right!

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, straight out of New York, NY (and this is classic New York rock), have finally released a full-length album. The self-titled album dropped last month, and is a follow up to their 2007 EP. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart sound like a collision between The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Belle & Sebastian, and the 1980's. The noise-rock feel that this frenetic foursome emanates certainly owes something to bands like Sonic Youth and even The Velvet Underground too. Their sound is hip enough to catch the ear of indie aficionados throughout Williamsburg, but is catchy enough to probably get some mainstream attention. Let's see what happens.

Where The Wild Things Are

I can't wait for this movie to come out. The book is a classic tale of the power of imagination, and I will always love it. In the hands of Spike Jonze, I think the film is going to be a masterpiece.
In theaters October 16th, 2009.
(The song playing in the trailer is "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire)
You didn't think I'd post without mentioning music, did you?

...And You Will Know Us By Our Band's Ridiculous Name

People have been telling me to listen to ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead for a while now, and I'll be honest, I blew them off completely. I judged the shit out of that book's cover. They sounded like a hardcore/screamo band to me, and I was not at all interested in hearing them. Recently, I was told by yet another person to listen to Trail of Dead, and the camel's back broke. I looked into the band. I found out that their 2002 album, Source Tags & Codes got a 10 out of 10 from Pitchfork magazine. I was intrigued. I downloaded the album, and what do you know, they're pretty damn good. Listen to these two songs (anyone else hear Sonic Youth in there?), and tell me that you don't want to slap this talented band in the face for having such a stupid name (apparently a wink at an ancient Mayan chant) that they scare away potential fans.

BORN RUFFIANS!

I am crazy amped about this band right now. I saw them at Black Cat last night and was just floored. They put on an amazing show, and I'd hate to have been Tokyo Police Club, trying to follow them. I barely remember TPC, but I can't get Born Ruffians out of my head. They sometimes sound similar to Vampire Weekend, but Vampire Weekend is the version of Born Ruffians that you bring home to your mom. Born ruffians are the ones that fuck you in an elevator. Ruffians were first, they're the ones you really like, and they're fucking better.
Just listen.



And one other song for you.

I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You

The Black Kids started in 2007, with a breakout performance at the Athens Pop Festival in Athens, GA. Pitchfork Magazine called them one of the best new artists of the year, and that's saying something, because Pitchfork hates everything. Last year, The Black Kids toured the US with Cut Copy, and this year they are signed up to open for Kaiser Chiefs on their tour. The Black Kids make some seriously fun music, and this song, "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You," or another bouncin'-ballad from these 80's-inspired indie-kids, "Look at Me (When I Rock Wichoo)," had better be on your next party mix.
I fucking love this song.
And I'm sorry, but I'm not teaching him shit.

"And Baby says, 'Baby, your kiss don't do anything.'"

Another band from the northwest, the boys of Beulah hail from San Fransisco, CA, where they got started in 1996. Sharing a coveted spot on the Elephant 6 recording label with the likes of Apples in Stereo, Of Montreal, and Neutral Milk Hotel, Beulah didn't find success until their 2003 album release, "Yoko." Just a year later, in 2004, rumors began circulating that the band had sworn to split up if "Yoko" didn't reach gold status by the end of the year. The album didn't quite make it, and true to their word, the band announced the end. They capped off their 8 year career with a free concert in Battery Park in New York City, and then they disappeared. Here are a couple of songs from "Yoko," which is really a beautiful album, full of rattling horns, crashing cymbals, and driving piano.

"Me and Jesus Don't Talk Anymore" starts slow, and builds into a symphonic, sing-along, rock anthem: it's my favorite Beulah song, and the one that got me into them in the first place.
"And though we are falling stars, we feel just fine..."


"Landslide Baby" is more mellow; an honest dialogue about that strange time when you realize that a relationship just seems to have run its course.
"And I know you know I know why you won't try..."