[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (12-12-2012)

Now That's What I Call 2009!

I had so much fun making the 2008 HDPP, I figured it was only fitting to follow up with my favorite hits from 2009. There were so many great albums to choose from, but as I discovered during this exercise, it is very hard to put together a cohesive mix as it seems my favs were quite an eclectic collection of styles. Since today is 12-12-2012, I really tried hard to reduce this list down to 12 songs... but 15 is as close as I could get (you can see what I left off the playlist here). While listening, I hope this mix evokes as much nostalgia for you as it does for me.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (12-12-2012) ::
01 ::"Ephemeral Artery – Neon Indian
02 ::"1901" – Phoenix
03 ::"The Lady Vanishes" – White Rabbits
04 ::"Stroke Their Brains" – Spoon
05 ::"Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!" – Sunset Rubdown
06 ::"Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh" – Say Hi
07 ::"Two Weeks" – Grizzly Bear
08 ::"Officer Of Hearts" – Handsome Furs
09 ::"The Akara" – Beirut
10 ::"Skyscraper" – Julian Plenti
11 ::"Day By Day" – Taken By Trees
12 ::"Basic Space" – The xx
13 ::"Seven" – Fever Ray
14 ::"Beijing" – Patrick Watson
15 ::"Day Glo" – Brazos

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (4-18-2012)

 Afternoon Dream Edition

I can't get enough of Kishi Bashi's newest LP 151a, and since you can't access that album on Spotify currently, I've put together a playlist that pulls from the same sounds of airy/folksy dream pop. As the weather warms and the days grow longer, this week's Hump Day Power Play is perfect for lounging next to the open breezy window. So go ahead and grab your favorite book, hit play on this HDPP, and as always, enjoy.

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (4-18-2012) ::
01 :: "Bright Whites" - Kishi Bashi
02 :: "Get Alive" - Au
03 :: "While We're Young" - Department of Eagles
04 :: "Tracy's Water" - Patrick Watson
05 :: "The Transfiguration" - Sufjan Stevens
06 :: "Immanent Domain" - Miracle Fortress
07 :: "Crystalfilm" - Little Dragon
08 :: "Fisherman's Son" - Port O'Brien
09 :: "Daydream" - Beach Fossils
10 :: "Landline" - Oberhofer
11 :: "Minnesota, WI" - Bon Iver
12 :: "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Songs" - Father John Misty

Get Spotify (if you don't already have it).

[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] Patrick Watson - "Sit Down Beside Me"

New Single From Patrick Watson

Available exclusively as of today exclusively on iTunes in Canada and the USA, Patrick Watson's new single "Sit Down Beside Me" reportedly combines the accessibility of 2006's Close to Paradise with the subtle complexities of 2009's Wooden Arms. Recorded in Patrick's home studio,"Sit Down Beside Me" marks his return to songwriting after extensive touring. The new single blends piano, acoustic guitar, drums, marimba, a string quartet, bass and synth bass.

[video] Patrick Watson - "Fireweed"

Patrick Watson's "Fireweed"

Taking to heart the practice of quality over quantity, Secret City Records has found this to be the formula for success (and great music). Though the young, three-year-old record label supports merely five total bands, three have been shortlisted for the coveted Polaris Music Prize (Plants and Animals, Patrick Watson, & Miracle Fortress) over the short history of the award. Most notably of the three is singer/songcrafter Patrick Watson. He not only won the 2007 Polaris Music Prize for his beautifully arranged Close To Paradise, he's found his way on this year's shortlist yet again for his newest album Wooden Arms. Above is a video for the opening track, "Fireweed," which was directed by Watson himself. If you haven't listened to either of his albums mentioned above, I strongly recommend doing so.

Buy :: Close To Paradise
Buy :: Wooden Arms