Tuesday, January 31, 2012

[video] Father John Misty - "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"


New Tunes from Josh Tillman

At the end of last year, J. Tillman took an indefinite hiatus from the amazing Fleet Foxes to pursue a new musical project. Playing under the moniker Father John Misty, Tillman has just shared his first single "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" (mp3 below), along with the sweet music video above starring Aubrey Plaza of NBC’s Parks and Recreation. His debut LP, entitled Fear Fun, is set to release via Sub Pop on May 1. Compared to his solo work, this track has a lot more rock. Extremely catchy, and hopefully a glimpse of what's to come. Check it out. By the way, Father John Misty has a few tour dates in California.

Father John Misty Tour Dates
Feb 29 :: Oakland, CA - New Parish
Mar 03 :: Grass Valley, CA - Center for the Arts
Mar 04 :: Santa Cruz, CA - Crepe Place

[video] White Rabbits - "Heavy Metal"


New video from White Rabbits

As mentioned earlier, White Rabbits are set to release their 3rd LP Milk Famous on March 6. Additionally, you can now pre-order the album directly from their website. The band plans to kick off a North American tour with a record release party in Philly. Check out the dates below.

White Rabbits tour dates:
March 6 :: Philadelphia, PA / Union Transfer
March 7 :: Washington D.C. / Black Cat
March 8 :: Charlottesville, VA / Jefferson Theater
March 9 :: Raleigh, NC / Lincoln Theatre
March 11 :: Atlanta, GA / Variety Playhouse
March 12 :: Birmingham, AL / The Bottletree
March 13 :: New Orleans, LA / One Eyed Jacks
March 14 :: Houston, TX / Fitzgeralds
March 19 :: Denver, CO / Bluebird Theater
March 20 :: Salt Lake City, UT / Urban Lounge
March 22 :: Portland, OR / Doug Fir Lounge
March 23 :: Vancouver, BC / Biltmore Cabaret
March 24 :: Seattle, WA / Crocodile Cafe
March 26 :: San Francisco, CA / The Independent
March 28 :: Los Angeles, CA / El Rey Theatre
March 29 :: San Diego, CA / The Casbah
March 30 :: Phoenix, AZ / Crescent Ballroom
March 31 :: Tucson, AZ / Club Congress
April 3 :: Lawrence, KS / Jackpot Music Hall
April 4 :: Columbia, MO / The Blue Note
April 5 :: St. Louis, MO / Plush
April 6 :: Madison, WI / High Noon Saloon
April 7 :: Minneapolis, MN / Triple Rock Social Club
April 8 :: Chicago, IL / Metro
April 12 :: New York, NY / Webster Hall
April 13 :: Northampton, MA / Pearl Street Downtown
April 14 :: Boston, MA / Paradise Rock Club

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (1-25-2012)

Winter Blues Edition

Winter is officially here, and I've found myself listening to warming mixes to counteract the snowy blues. Sorry this is a bit late today - I can't believe Wednesday is already here! So without any further delay, here's this week's Hump Day Power Play.

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (1-25-2012) ::
01 :: "Money" - The Drums
02 :: "Polish Girl" - Neon Indian
03 :: "New Beat" - Toro Y Moi
04 :: "Take Me Over" - Cut Copy
05 :: "Sleepyhead" - Passion Pit
06 :: "At Home" - Crystal Fighters
07 :: "Estupendo" - Arsenal
08 :: "Let's Go Surfing" - The Drums
09 :: "Rad Pitt" - Egyptian Hip Hop
10 :: "California Sunrise" - Dirty Gold
11 :: "Someone Great" - LCD Soundsystem

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Monday, January 23, 2012

[mp3] Spoon - "I Could See The Dude" (demo) January Bonus Track

New Bonus Track from Spoon

Great news! Spoon kicked off 2012 with a new bonus track, this time treating fans with an old demo of Soft Effects' "I Could See The Dude".

For the full list of Spoon bonus tracks, go here. Check out this month's bonus track below.

MP3 :: Spoon - "I Could See The Dude" (demo)
(January '12 Bonus Track)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (1-18-2012)

Dan Boeckner Edition

Last week's Power Play featured a playlist of songs from musicman Spencer Krug. It only seemed fitting to make this week's themed around his colleague and music-mate, Dan Boeckner. The yin to Krug's yang, Boeckner split vocal roles in the band Wolf Parade, offering a contrasting style and sound that allowed WP to explore different soundscapes. Boeckner also made sweet music with his wife Alexie Perry and delivered some incredible work as Handsome Furs. If you really want to delve into his catalog and hear some historical context, you can also check out Boeckner's earliest project Atlas Strategic (unfortunately not on Spotify). I've always thought of Boeckner as more of a rocker compared to Krug. At times, he even reminds me a bit of Springstein (and I mean that as a compliment). So go on and treat yourself to a wonderful Wednesday of Boeckner.

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (1-18-2012) ::
01 :: "It's A Curse" - Wolf Parade
02 :: "Lousy Pictures" - Wolf Parade
03 :: "Ghost Pressure" - Wolf Parade
04 :: "Thy Will Be Done" - Handsome Furs
05 :: "Language City" - Wolf Parade
06 :: "Shine A Light" - Wolf Parade
07 :: "Officer of Hearts" - Handsome Furs
08 :: "Repatriated" - Handsome Furs
09 :: "Cannot Get Started" - Handsome Furs
10 :: "Pobody's Nerfect" - Wolf Parade
11 :: "Modern World" - Wolf Parade
12 :: "Evangeline" - Handsome Furs
13 :: "Fine Young Cannibals" - Wolf Parade
14 :: "Dumb Animals" - Handsome Furs
15 :: "Legal Tender" - Handsome Furs

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

[video] Plants and Animals cover Wolf Parade's "I'll Believe In Anything"


Worlds Collide

Late last year, Plants and Animals performed Wolf Parade's "I'll Believe In Anything" during their Live from Breakglass session at Breakglass Studios in Montreal during the Pop Montreal Festival. Check it out! 

Also of note, P&A are set to release their follow-up to La La Land later next month. The End of That will hit shelves February 28.

[new album] White Rabbits - Milk Famous

White Rabbits are back!

The White Rabbits have just announced news for their third studio album, entitled Milk Famous (cover art shown). The much anticipated LP will drop March 6, and from the sounds of their newest single "Heavy Metal" (download below), the band continues to evolve in sound. Produced by Mike McCarthy (long-time Spoon producer), the Spoon-esque influence is apparent in the minimalist jammer, complete with dance-beat grooves, falsetto vocals, sporadic layers of distorted guitar, and electronic piano melodies. I'm very excited to hear the rest of this album.


The band has also announced some new tour dates (with stage-support from Tennis and The War On Drugs). Sadly, there's no love for Michigan, but they'll be strolling though Chicago on April 8 at the Metro. Hopefully they make a stop at Rock Island, as well, and treat us all to another great Daytrotter Session... More are posted dates below. 

White Rabbits tour dates:
March 6 :: Philadelphia, PA / Union Transfer
March 7 :: Washington D.C. / Black Cat
March 8 :: Charlottesville, VA / Jefferson Theater
March 9 :: Raleigh, NC / Lincoln Theatre
March 11 :: Atlanta, GA / Variety Playhouse
March 12 :: Birmingham, AL / The Bottletree
March 13 :: New Orleans, LA / One Eyed Jacks
March 14 :: Houston, TX / Fitzgeralds
March 19 :: Denver, CO / Bluebird Theater
March 20 :: Salt Lake City, UT / Urban Lounge
March 22 :: Portland, OR / Doug Fir Lounge
March 23 :: Vancouver, BC / Biltmore Cabaret
March 24 :: Seattle, WA / Crocodile Cafe
March 26 :: San Francisco, CA / The Independent
March 28 :: Los Angeles, CA / El Rey Theatre
March 29 :: San Diego, CA / The Casbah
March 30 :: Phoenix, AZ / Crescent Ballroom
March 31 :: Tucson, AZ / Club Congress
April 3 :: Lawrence, KS / Jackpot Music Hall
April 4 :: Columbia, MO / The Blue Note
April 5 :: St. Louis, MO / Plush
April 6 :: Madison, WI / High Noon Saloon
April 7 :: Minneapolis, MN / Triple Rock Social Club
April 8 :: Chicago, IL / Metro
April 12 :: New York, NY / Webster Hall
April 13 :: Northampton, MA / Pearl Street Downtown
April 14 :: Boston, MA / Paradise Rock Club

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (1-11-2012)

Spencer Krug Edition

Spencer Krug is one of the hardest working and most prolific indie songwriters of this era, establishing musical acts that include Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Swan Lake, Frog Eyes, Fifths of Seven, and Moonface (not to mention the TwoTonne Bowlers). Notably, his solo work from the Sunset Rubdown EP contains the song "Three Colours", the very song that lends its name to this blog. Today's Hump Day Power Play features songs from the tortured genius that is Mr. Krug.

What I've always found so interesting is the way that Krug seems to tinker and toy with new sounds, usually in some obscure side project before putting all the pieces together for his materspiece works. Currently, the newest moniker for Krug's creative outlet is Moonface. In his first release, he crafted a 20 minute track exploring the unique sounds of the marimba (and shit-drums). In his latest EP, he tried his skills with the vibraphone organ (though, he would have hoped it were vibraphone). In interviews, Krug has alluded to the development of a rotating lineup for Moonface, in which friends will eventually help support and shape the organic and ever-redefining sound of the band. I'm very excited to experience the evolution of this project. Anyway, in the spirit of Spencer Krug, I've put together a playlist that highlights some of my favorite Krug tracks. Enjoy!

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (1-11-2012) ::
01 :: "Disco Sheets" - Wolf Parade
02 :: "They Took A Vote And Said No" - Sunset Rubdown
03 :: "Apollo and the Buggalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!" - Sunset Rubdown
04 :: "Stadiums And Shrines II" - Sunset Rubdown
05 :: "California Dreamer" - Wolf Parade
06 :: "You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son" - Wolf Parade
07 :: "Idiot Heart" - Sunset Rubdown
08 :: "Snakes Got A Leg III" - Sunset Rubdown
09 :: "Bang Your Drum" - Wolf Parade
10 :: "Reture To The Violence Of The Ocean Floor" - Moonface
11 :: "Call It A Ritual" - Wolf Parade
12 :: "The Taming of the Hands that Came Back to Life" - Sunset Rubdown
13 :: "I'll Believe In Anything" - Wolf Parade
14 :: "Nightingale / December Song" - Sunset Rubdown
15 :: "All Fires" - Swan Lake
16 :: "Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings" - Sunset Rubdown

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Sunday, January 8, 2012

Three Colours' Year End List (2011)


Not another Year End List

Well, the year of 2011 is officially over, and it's that time of year again to make lists. I never understood the release of "Year-End Lists" before the end of the year, so hopefully the late December LPs were given a fair chance to make it on here. So, like every year, Three Colours has compiled its very favorites of the year and have presented them below. In our opinion, here's the best music of 2011

Top 13 LPs of 2011

13 :: White Denim – D
White Denim's sound continues to evolve, especially this time with the addition of a extra guitarist. With D, the newly restructured four-piece has crafted their most mature album to date. Reminiscent of a throwback to Moody Blues at times, this musically genre-bending foray is lighter on the hard rock than its predecessors. On a technical side, this is White Denim's strongest release to date.

12 :: The Black Keys – El Camino
I'm still amazed how easily it seems for Dan Auerbach and Patrick Kerney to continually write the catchiest of jams. Surprising me with a follow-up to last year's incredible Brothers, El Camino is a bit more upbeat, and a lot more rock.

11 :: Foster the People – Torches
This was probably one of the most accessible albums of the year. Fans of all types of music will find Torches as infectious as MRSA. Strategic commercial play ensured that everyone would be humming these dance-pop songs all into the night.

10 :: Say Hi – Um Uh Oh
Eric Elbogen's Say Hi found its winning formula during the recording of 2009's The Oohs and Aahs, and he expanded upon that with his seventh LP Um Uh Oh. This time, though, it's darker and edgier than ever.

09 :: Radiohead – The King of Limbs
Radiohead continues to craft music outside their comfort genres, and The King of Limbs (the band's 8th studio album!) somehow manages to sound unlike any of the band's previous LPs. Short and sweet (coming in under 40 minutes), Radiohead is nowhere near out of steam.

08 :: The Antlers – Burst Apart
Following up Hospice was an extremely tall order to fill, but somehow The Antlers managed to pull it off in breathtaking fashion with the release of Burst Apart. It truly is an incredible album, with a bit more electronic influence as compared to its predecessors.

07 :: Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
While Fleet Foxes was an incredible album with strong singles, Helplessness Blues is simply a solid album. Not as catchy, but equally epic as a whole. Fleet Foxes overcame the sophomore slump with this harmonious LP that plays like an ancient storybook.

06 :: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s A Corporate World
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. won two awards last year: Best Band Name and 2nd Best EP (Horse Power). Continuing their solid track record, DEJJ put together a fantastic debut LP with It's A Corporate World. I'm happy these two dudes are products of Michigan, and I look forward to seeing them locally in the near future.

05 :: Miracle Fortress – Was I The Wave?
It took four whole years for Miracle Fortress's Graham Van Pelt to mint his sophomore LP, but fortunately, the wait was well-worth it. Was I The Wave? is definitely in a different vein of music compared to Five Roses, substituting the softer dream-pop beats with heavier dance-driven grooves, but the results still transport the listener to some wonderful, magical place that I can only imagine is the inside of Van Pelts' head.

04 :: Handsome Furs – Sound Kapital
Constantly finding inspiration with exotic touring schedules, husband and wife duo Dan Boeckner and Alexie Perry have struck gold yet again with Sound Kapital. Lamenting on the unjust/inhumane practices of foreign government regimes which they experienced first-hand overseas, Handsome Furs inform us all through their amazing music and killer beats.

03 :: Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Not much to say about Bon Iver's second LP, other than it's probably the most beautifully crafted album of the year. Delicate yet grander in sound, the self-titled record pulls influences from Justin Vernon's side-projects like Volcano Choir, and also makes use of the full-band arrangement which was not present during the recording of For Emma, Forever Ago.

02 :: Cults – Cults
To me, Cults' self-titled debut was a real shocker. Rarely do albums click into memory after the first listen, but these modern pop jams have a vintage appeal that strikes a chord in my pleasure strings. 

01 :: M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
In the past, I've always really enjoyed the music of M83, but I've never been as infatuated with it like I am with Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. And usually, double LPs contain a lot of fluff, and would do well with some trim-work; however, the interludes and outros only enhance the dream-like soundscapes that Anthony Gonzalez architectualized. This record refuses to wear out with multiple spins, and lands itself atop 2011's Best Albums list.


Honorable Mentions

Danger Mouse and Daniel Luppi – Rome
Yuck – Yuck
Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
Girls – Record 3 (Father, Son, Holy Ghost)
The Strokes – Angles
Feist – Metals


Top 3 EPs of 2011


03 :: The West – Don't Make a Sound
Anthony Darnell and Bob Husak had me at hello, so to speak. Their first single, "Underground", continues to be one of my favorite songs of last year, and their first EP expands upon their minimalist sound with the addition of a full band.

02 :: White Denim – Takes Place in Your Work Space
Much like the surprise release of The Last Day of Summer, Takes Place in Your Work Space is a soft collection of songs that didn't belong on the previous albums.

01 :: Moonface – Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped
With both Wolf Parade on an indefinite hiatus and Sunset Rubdown on a more permanent break, Spencer Krug's latest vehicle continues to tinker with uncommon sounds. Last Moonface album delved into the magical world of the marimba. This time, with a fuller collection of songs, Krug tried his luck with the organ, though as aptly named, he had originally hoped it to have been the vibraphone (but found it to be little inspiring). Nevertheless, I see this experimentation leading to an amazing Moonface product some time in the future (once he's got it all figured out).


Top 13 Songs of 2011
13 :: "Helplessness Blues" - Fleet Foxes
12 :: "Minnesota, WI" - Bon Iver
11 :: "Sister Needs A Settle" - Say Hi
10 :: "Pumped Up Kicks" - Foster the People
09 :: "Run Right Back" - The Black Keys
08 :: "Abducted" - Cults
07 :: "Video Games" - Lana Del Rey
06 :: "Gone" - Vacationer
05 :: "French Exit" - The Antlers
04 :: "Nothing But Our Love" - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
03 :: "Lotus Flowers" - Radiohead
02 :: "Miscalculations" - Miracle Fortress
01 :: "Midnight City" - M83


Most Underappreciated of 2010

In recent years, there's always been a few albums that I managed to miss. Whether I was purposely ignored the buzz surrounding these albums, or I just plainly failed to approach the record, they were later "discovered" and enjoyed. Strangely, there weren't any surprises this year that I mistakenly snubbed from last year’s “Best Albums of 2010” list. I will list three albums that I recognized as honorable mentions, but now enjoy probably more than I did after last year's Year-End List. Therefore, I acknowledge that the following were both great LPs and worthy of making the top of ’10.

03 :: LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
02 :: Vampire Weekend – Contra
01 :: Yeasayer – Odd Blood


Most Anticipated Music of 2012

Animal Collective – TBA
Atoms For Peace – TBA
Cat Power – TBA
Lana Del Rey – Born To Die (1/31, via Interscope)
Lord Huron – TBA
Dirty Projectors – TBA
First Aid Kit – The Lion's Roar (1/24 via Wichita)
Grizzly Bear – TBA
Islands – A Sleep & A Forgetting (2/14, via Anti-)
Nada Surf – The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy (1/24 via Barsuk)
Patrick Watson – TBA
Pink Floyd – The Wall "Experience" Reissue (2/28 via EMI)
Plants and Animals – The End of That (2/28 via Secret City)
The Shins – Port Of Morrow (March, via Columbia/Aural Apothecary)
Sleigh Bells – Reign Of Terror (2/14, via Mom + Pop)
Spoon – TBA
The Walkmen – TBA
White Rabbits – TBA
The Whitest Boy Alive – TBA
The xx – TBA
Yeasayer – TBA

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (1-4-2012)

New-Year-Spoon Edition

Lately, I've been on a huge Spoon kick, and I can't stop listening to one of the best indie rock bands of our time. So in the spirit of Wednesday, I give you a Spoon/Britt Daniel-inspired Hump Day Power Play. Sadly, Spotify does not have any Drake Tungsten or Skellington to choose from. Nevertheless, happy new year!

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (1-4-2012) ::
01 :: "Finer Feelings" - Spoon
02 :: "30 Gallon Tank" - Spoon
03 :: "Got Nuffin" - Spoon
04 :: "Jonathan Fisk" - Spoon
05 :: "Stoke Their Brains- Spoon
06 :: "Lines In The Suit" - Spoon
07 :: "Stay Don't Go" - Spoon
08 :: "Don't You Evah" - Spoon
09 :: "You Get Yours" - Bright Eyes & Britt Daniel
10 :: "Small Stakes" - Spoon
11 :: "The Infinite Pet" - Spoon
12 :: "Change My Life" - Spoon
13 :: "Metal Detektor" - Spoon
14 :: "My First Time Volume 3" - Spoon
15 :: "I Turn My Camera On" - Spoon

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