[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (2-29-2012)

Leap Day Editition

Happy Leap Day! What better way to intercalate the year than to enjoy a bissextile-themed Hump Day Power Play. On this 29th of February where our corrective measure puts us nearly back on track with the Gregorian calendar, take solace in the fact that we'll also have a Leap Second added on June 30...

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (2-29-2012) ::
01 :: "Quantum Leap" - John Maus
02 :: "Another Day" - Air
03 :: "One More Time" - French Kicks
04 :: "Twenty Nine" - Christmas Island
05 :: "An Extra Day" - Mr Brown
06 :: "Leap Year" - Port O'Brien
07 :: "One Extra Day" - Sleazy Mcqueen
08 :: "Leap" - The Cave Singers
09 :: "Catch Up" - Chikinki
10 :: "Leap Year" - Maria Taylor
11 :: "One More" - Mutemath
12 :: "Leap Your Bar" - John Frusciante
13 :: "Twentynine" - Monzano


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[video] The Shins - "Simple Song"

Awesome video, awesome song

The Shins just released the music video for "Simple Song", their first single from the upcoming Port Morrow. The new LP drops on March 20, and based off this song and "September", I'm very excited about this release. Hear that one below:

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (2-22-2012)

Indie Diva Editition

I was going back through the archive of previous Hump Day Power Plays, and I realized that there's only one female vocalist showcased thus far. To make up for lost time, I've compiled a playlist entirely of indie music's most powerful women. Hope you dig it.

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (2-22-2012) ::
01 :: "Help I'm Alive (Spotify Acoustic Session)" - Metric
02 :: "Walking With A Ghost" - Tegan and Sara
03 :: "My Moon My Man" - Feist
04 :: "Nude As The News" - Cat Power
05 :: "Islands" - The xx
06 :: "Day By Day" - Taken By Trees
07 :: "Blue Jeans" - Lana Del Rey
08 :: "I Follow Rivers" - Lykke Li
09 :: "Seven" - Fever Ray
10 :: "Maps" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
11 :: "Gigantic" - Pixies
12 :: "Let England Shake" - PJ Harvey
13 :: "Heaven Can Wait" - Charlotte Gainsbourg
14 :: "Dance With Me" - Nouvelle Vague
15 :: "Sprawl II" - Arcade Fire

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[video] Leeni covers Lana Del Rey's "Video Games"

Game Boy-version

It only seems fitting that the first chiptune cover of Lana Del Rey's "Video Games" comes to us from Leeni, a musician who used a Gameboy to write her debut album, 8-Bit Heart. What makes this literal cover even more enjoyable is the music video that accompanies it (see above). Conjuring nostalgia with a montage of old school classics like Rad Racer, California Games, and Zelda (to name a few), the entire experience is very nice.

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (2-15-2012)

Wild Cloud Nothings Editition

This week's Hump Day Power Play started around two songs: Cloud Nothings' "No Future/No Past" and Wild Nothing's "Chinatown". From there, it only made sense to through in the likes of Yuck, Black Lips, and Beach Fossils. The result was a smooth mix of shoegaze and noise pop/garage, which is quite good, in my opinion... but you don't have to take my word for it!

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (2-15-2012) ::
01 :: "No Future/No Past" - Cloud Nothings
02 :: "Get Away" - Yuck
03 :: "Mr. Driver" - Black Lips
04 :: "What a Pleasure" - Beach Fossils
05 :: "Innovator" - Plains
06 :: "Chinatown" - Wild Nothing
07 :: "Baby's Arms" - Kurt Vile
08 :: "Yellow Wings" - Keepaway
09 :: "Elephants" - Warpaint
10 :: "Me and You" - The Strange Boys
11 :: "Daydream" - Beach Fossils
12 :: "Modern Art" - Black Lips

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[new music] Patrick Watson - Adventures In Your Own Backyard

Patrick Watson's 3rd LP!

Patrick Watson has just announced the April 17 release date for the band's highly anticipated third LP, entitled Adventures In Your Own Backyard. Following up 2009's critically acclaimed Wooden Arms, the new record was described by Watson as an effort to "make the kind of music we would want to listen to at home" (hence the name). According to Secret City Records, the album was almost entirely recorded in Watson's apartment in Montreal.

So what then can we expect from Adventures? Take one listen to the first single "Into Giants" (listen below) and you'll hear a stripped-down arrangement with less orchestration than its predecessors. From the press release, the LP is "still ripe with the touchstones one has come to expect from Patrick Watson and his collaborators, but permeated with a greater sense of patience, and confidence. Adventures in Your Own Backyard is an attempt by Watson and the band to simplify their sights - to make music a bit more close to home, in every sense of the phrase." Sounds good to me! Tour dates posted below.

Tracklisting:
01 :: Lighthouse
02 :: Blackwind
03 :: Step Out For A While
04 :: The Quiet Crowd
05 :: Into Giants
06 :: Morning Sheets
07 :: Words In The Fire
08 :: The Things You Do
09 :: Strange Crooked Road
10 :: Noisy Sunday
11 :: Adventures In Your Own Backyard
12 :: Swimming Pools

Patrick Watson Tour Dates:
03/14-17 :: Austin, TX @ SXSW
05/03 :: Philadelphia PA @ Union Transfer*
05/04 :: New York NY @ Beacon Theatre*
05/06 :: Boston MA @ House of Blues*
05/08 :: Washington DC @ The 930 Club*
05/09 :: Baltimore MD @ RamsHead Live*

*w/ Andrew Bird

[new music] Moonface - Heartbreaking Bravery

New jams from Krug & Co.

And just when I was greedily wishing there was more Wolf Parade-related music to hear, the WP fansite posted info on a new Moonface LP. As mentioned before, the Spencer Krug-driven musical project was to eventually incorporate the collaborative works from other bands. Well, that time is apparently here, and the third Moonface LP, entitled Heartbreaking Bravery, is set to feature the musical accompaniment of Siinai. The album drops April 17, 2012, and according to their press release: 

Siinai is the Finnish band Krug worked with on this album. Krug met Siinai when their former band, Joensu 1685, toured with Wolf Parade throughout Europe in 2009. Over the following year, friendships were born, Joensu 1685 broke up, Siinai was formed and Krug unexpectedly received a copy of their first album, Olympic Games. Siinai could safely be described as progressive kraut rock. Their songs are long and heavy, often gorgeous, repetitive, with slow subtle hypnotic changes that bring to mind a single cell splitting into two. Also of key interest to Krug at the time: they had no vocalist.

Krug asked if they wanted to make an album together, a collaboration wherein Siinai would perform the meat of the music, and Moonface would take care of the vocals (and ultimately a few licks on the keyboard). Upon agreement from Siinai, Krug arrived in Finland in August of 2011 to begin restructuring demos and write a few tunes from scratch. Big beats boomed. [Three] Colours burst. Krug’s addiction to melody and pop music met Siinai’s love for simplicity and their rare patience for music that slowly evolves, and something somewhere in the middle was created. It was a compromise that everyone enjoyed making. Heartbreaking Bravery:

Can't wait to hear the entire album! Check out the first single, "Teary Eyes And Bloody Lips", here:



Moonface
With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery
Out 04/17/12
01 :: Heartbreaking Bravery
02 :: Yesterday’s Fire
03 :: Shitty City
04 :: Quickfire, I Tried
05 :: I’m Not The Phoenix Yet
06 :: 10,000 Scorpions
07 :: Faraway Lightning
08 :: Headed For The Door
09 :: Teary Eyes And Bloody Lips
10 :: Lay Your Cheek On Down

Check out Krug with Siinai.... such a strange photo!

[video] Seattle Seahawks' CenturyLink Field Is Alive! w/ M83 - "Midnight City"

CentryLink Field rocks even when it's empty!

Very rarely do I get to mix my two passions: music and the Seattle Seahawks. Sure, I've made draft day playlists, but unless I'm writing about the Craig Terrill Band, I usually have to post about one or the other. However, thanks to Jimmy Diebold and his directorial magic, he's found a way to incorporate both in an amazing stop motion video, personifying CenturyLink Field to the backdrop of M83's "Midnight City".* Notably, M83's Hurry Up, I'm Dreaming achieved "Best LP of 2011" honors here at Three Colours. Much to the delight of this 12th Man, this video (entitled "Midnight Lights") will forever be a fan favorite for pregame pump ups and offseason reminders of how much energy Seattle brings to the game.

*Dubstep remix of M83's "Midnight City" by PatrickReza

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (2-8-2012)

Kid Amnesiac Edition

A while back, I did a little write-up for my version of Kid Amnesiac. For those unfamiliar, the name explains it all: Kid Amnesiac albums are combined versions of both Radiohead's Kid A and Amnesiac. Since both LPs were products of the same recording session and were released only eight months apart from each other, Kid Amnesiac mixes serve as a way to take two great albums, trim away some of the weaker tracks, and create the strongest Radiohead album to date.

The melding of the two albums into one super album has been done before, and it has been coined in a number of ways (e.g., Kid Amnesiac, Kid A/mnesiac, Kid A[mnesiac]). This week's Hump Day Power Play is my compilation, which I think flows quite nicely. I limited myself to 13 total songs which clocks in at just under an hour, making for a very enjoyable listen. I'm curious how others would compile their Kid Amnesiac track listings, and what that implies about the compiler's musical tastes.

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (2-8-2012) ::
01 :: "Idioteque" - Radiohead
02 :: "Morning Bell" - Radiohead
03 :: "I Might Be Wrong" - Radiohead
04 :: "The National Anthem" - Radiohead
05 :: "Pyramid Song" - Radiohead
06 :: "Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box" - Radiohead
07 :: "Hunting Bears" - Radiohead
08 :: "Like Spinning Plates" - Radiohead
09 :: "Everything in Its Right Place" - Radiohead
10 :: "Kid A" - Radiohead
11 :: "You And Whose Army" - Radiohead
12 :: "Optimistic" - Radiohead
13 :: "Life In A Glass House" - Radiohead

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[news] Sasquatch! 2012 Line-up Announced

Holy crap! This line-up is good...

Sasquatch! 2012: May 25-28 at the Gorge in George, WA (Tickets)

- more info here.

Full Sasquatch line-up:

Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head & The Heart, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metric, Explosions In The Sky, The Joy Formidable, Mogwai, Nero (DJ), M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends, Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, The Civil Wars, Jamey Johnson, Little Dragon, tUnE-yArDs, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Wolfgang Gartner, Beats Antique, Apparat, The Walkmen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mark Lanegan Band, Spiritualized, Blitzen Trapper, The Cave Singers, Shabazz Palaces, Fun., Grouplove, Tycho, Sbtrkt, Strfkr, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Deer Tick, Imelda May, Alabama Shakes, Dum Dum Girls, The Helio Sequence, Kurt Vile, Cloud Cult, We Are Augustines, Ben Howard, Here We Go Magic, Zola Jesus, The War On Drugs, Shearwater, Cass McCombs, Active Child, Trampled By Turtles, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Araabmuzik, Star Slinger, L.A. Riots, Com Truise, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, I Break Horses, Walk The Moon, Dry The River, Allen Stone, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Gary Clark Jr., Purity Ring, Electric Guest, Yellow Ostrich, Nobody Beats The Drum, Coeur De Pirate, Lord Huron, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Beat Connection, The Sheepdogs, Hey Rosetta!, Said The Whale, Howlin Rain, Gardens & Villa, Felix Cartal, Craft Spells, Vintage Trouble, Poor Moon, Black Whales, Gold Leaves, Greylag, Awesome Tapes From Africa, and more to come...

[new music] Vacationer - Gone EP

Need a vacation?

If you can't spare the vacation days for a tropical getaway, you should hear what my travel agent has to say. It'll only take three songs of your time, and after you've heard his sales pitch, you'll have no need for travel. At first he'll tell you all about the "Trip" you'll be taking, and then he'll explain that there's "No Rules" to worry about. After listening to all the details, you'll feel as if you've already "Gone".

Probably too cheesy, but don't let that keep you from checking out Vacationer's new Gone EP. Kenny Vasoli (formerly of The Starting Line), with members of Body Language, have a knack for writing music that transports listeners to the dreamy surf. Minimalist waves of indie pop sung over a hot summer breeze of melodies offer up relaxing vibes through this 3-song extended play. Notably, "Gone" was voted one of Three Colours' Top Songs of 2011. Pick up a copy of Vacationer's debut release, and make sure to check out the tour dates posted below. Starting tonight, the band kicks off their support of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. After drumming up some buzz, Vacationer will then be primed for the March release of their debut LP, simply titled Gone. By then, their tour will be with the likes of a different band, Naked and Famous.

Hear two-thrids of the EP, featuring "Trip" and the title track "Gone" (via RCRD LBL).

BUY :: Vacationer - Gone EP (via iTunes)

:: Vacationer Tour Dates ::
Feb 02 :: Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
Feb 03 :: Middle East Downstairs - Cambridge, MA
Feb 04 :: il Motore - Montreal, Canada
Feb 06 :: The Hoxton - Toronto, Canada
Feb 07 :: Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
Feb 08 :: 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN
Feb 10 :: Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO
Feb 13 :: Belly Up - San Diego, CA
Feb 14 :: Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA
Feb 15 :: Independent - San Francisco, CA
Feb 17 :: Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR
Feb 18 :: Neumos - Seattle, WA
Feb 19 :: Venue - Vancouver, WA
Feb 20 :: The Red Room Lounge - Spokane, WA
Mar 19 :: The Observatory - Santa Ana, CA
Mar 23 :: Stubbs - Austin, TX
Mar 24 :: House of Blues - Houston, TX
Mar 25 :: House Of Blues - New Orleans, LA
Mar 27 :: Plaza 'LIVE' - Orlando, FL
Mar 28 :: State Theater - St Petersburg, FL
Mar 30 :: Grand Central - Miami, FL
Mar 31 :: 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA
Apr 01 :: Cats Cradle - Carrboro, NC
Apr 02 :: The National - Richmond, VA
Apr 06 :: Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI
Apr 07 :: Motr Pub - Cincinnati, OH
Apr 09 :: The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN
Apr 10 :: Mercy Lounge - Nashville, TN
Apr 12 :: Gargoyle Club - St Louis, MO
Apr 13 :: Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI
Apr 14 :: Majestic Theatre - Madison, WI
Apr 17 :: Midland By Amc - Kansas City, MO
Apr 19 :: The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (2-1-2012)

Folksy Edition

This week's Hump Day Power Play draws inspiration from the gentle picks of the banjo, the soft puffs of the harmonica, the crunchy strums of the guitar, and the campfire howls that make up the indie folk genre. I really have a hard time classifying this style of music, and I feel that "folksy" is a misnomer. If anyone has a better name to describe this playlist, I'm open for suggestions. However, improperly named or not, it shouldn't hold you back from enjoying this week's playlist. Enjoy, and happy Wednesday!

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (2-1-2012) ::
01 :: "Day Glo" - Brazos
02 :: "Cold December" - Matt Costa
03 :: "Pearls" - The Union Line
04 :: "The Stranger" - Lord Huron
05 :: "On a Neck, On a Spit" - Grizzly Bear
06 :: "Shampoo" - Elvis Perkins in Dearland
07 :: "The General Specific" - Band of Horses
08 :: "Big Bird in a Small Cage" - Patrick Watson
09 :: "This Old Dark Machine" - James Vincent McMorrow
10 :: "Swim Club" - The Cave Singers
11 :: "Holocene" - Bon Iver
12 :: "Pictures" - Benjamin Francis Leftwich
13 :: "Mykonos" - Fleet Foxes

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