Paavoharju: Laulu Laakson Kukista

Its getting to be that time of year that everyone starts to compile their best albums of the year. So we are here to highlight one that should be in the running for many people's list, but sadly will probably not be.
Coming from Finland, Paavoharju is a band made up of born-again ascetic Christians that have sequestered themselves from society (the first album was recorded in a cave). Laulu Laakson Kukista, their second album, builds upon their debut, devolping a unique meld of lo-fi, electronics, and folk psychedelics (quite a description, but listen to and youll see what we mean). This stunning record sets the tone with the first track which drifts in and out of a haze, followed by the stunning, more classic pop song structure, Kevätrumpu. Throughout the record, the contrasts are the main building point. Paavoharju comes from dub ambience to Nordic Indie pop , from haunting female vocals to folkier male singing. They are able to make these contrasts flow together in way that few other groups have been able to. More importantly, they are able to create an irrepressable beauty in each track, at times haunting and others soothing (ditto with their linear album artwork). For those of you looking for the perfect fall or winter album, put Paavoharju at the top of your list.

Animal Collective: Brothersport

Animal Collective's new album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, is our most anticipated album of 2009 (They did give us two of the best albums of 2007 in Strawberry Jam and Panda Bear's Person Pitch), so we have been snatching up any sneak peeks we could get. In what is already sounding like a classic, Brothersport can be heard at about the 50 second mark

http://podcasts.lesinrocks.com/inrocks/podcast/jd/JD_THE_DJ-Podcast_104.mp3

Of Montreal

Of Montreal was for us the show of the year. Its tough to know where to start with this band. They showed a propensiitiy to continually top themselves. Musically, it was a great show. They played all their hits and even did a Franz Ferdinand cover (Take Me Out) for the encore. However, Of Montreal was much more than that. Kevin Barnes, and his alter-ego Georgie Fruit, is up there with the greatest showmen of our times. His many costumes always seemed to themselves (our favriotes were Cardinal and covered in shaving cream). The rest of the band proved quite eccentric charchters themselves. Its tough to truly describe the experience, but we will just say that by the end when men with pig masks on and carrying tubes shooting out feathers, it actually seemed to make sense.

Upcoming Austin Shows

Why do we love Austin? Well, it is the Live Music Capital of the World. Here is a sample of great upcoming shows that we highly recommend you check out

Of Montreal: 11/14 at Fiesta Gardens
This indie-pop band hailing from Athens, Georgia comes to Fiesta Gardens on the heels of the release of their eccentric new album Skeletal Lamping. While we have never been diehard fans, we have heard their live shows are simply amazing (Think Flaming Lips + Ziggy Stardust). We look forward to seeing what Kevin Barnes, in his Georgie Fruit person (which he amazingly describes as "in his late forties, a black man who has been through multiple sex changes") has in store for us.

Ghostland Observatory: 11/14-11/15 at Stubbs
One of Austin's most buzzed about groups, Ghostland, whether you like their music or not (and we do), provides one of the best shows on the planet. Their gig at Austin City Music Hall was mind-boggling and was our favriote concert last year. Tickets are gonna be damn near impossible to get, but if you can you are in for the night of your life (expect lasers, dancing, dracula capes, dancing, vocoders, and more dancing).

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band: 11/21 at Stubbs
We hadn't heard him live until ACL this year and he provided a very enjoyable set. While we're not familiar with most of his work (need to get on that), expect an fun concert. Recommended, especially if your looking for something to do that night. However, we have to admit we will be at...

Gang Gang Dance: 11/21 at The Parish
Princes, Gang Gang Dance's collaboration with London's Tinchy Stryder, has been our favorite rap (and by far the best grime) song of the year. It proved the stepping stone to rest of Gang Gang's new album Saint Dymphna, which has been receiving, quite deservedly, rave reviews (expect one here soon). This is our most anticipated show of the near future. Get excited for this one.

Little Joy: 11/29 at The Parish
Little Joy has proven to be one the the last couple month's most enjoyable albums. The side project of Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti. We looking forward to seeing how it will translate live. On another note, the Strokes need to start touring again, seriously.

Also look for the Heartless Bastards on 11/22 at Stubbs Indoor

Exposion: White Denim

White Denim has been building quite a buzz around Austin recently. From their feature in Rolling Stone to their gig at ACL to their endless posts over at Gorilla vs. Bear, White Denim has proven to be the band on everyone's lips. All this from a fantastic 7" Lets Talk About It and a record, Workout Holiday, that wasn't even available in the US. Exposion, their US debut, proves that live up to all the hype. Although their are only 4 new songs not on Workout Holiday, Exposion is well worth the $29.99 we payed for the fan club membership (comes with the record and Lets Talk About It 7").

The album starts off with several tracks that show the slower side of White Denim. IEIEI proves to be our favorite with its chorus deserving of many hits to the repeat button. WDA and Heart From Us All build up the album to the climax of Shake Shake Shake. This track has what might be our favriote bass line of the year (check out the music video, its awesome), and is absolutely infectious. This continues with All You Really Have To Do Now. The album closes with Sitting, a noticeably different and longer version from Workout Holiday. Sitting proves a fantastic closing track, as it breaks down the song for the final couple minutes.

Overall, this album showcases the development of White Denim from the early demos we first heard close to a year ago and proves to be a front runner for album of the year. It is, simply, a must buy (although we also have to recommend Workout Holiday if you can get your hands on a copy).

See below for the album hookup
http://app.topspin.net/artist/76118/home?account_id=76118

"The Fun Fest" Day 2

Fun Fun Fun Fest Day 2 was, to sum it up succinctly, simply amazing. Fun Fun Fun Fest proved to us, in our first year of attendance, to be one the most enjoyable festival experiences of the year. The stage 1a and 1b idea (while one band was playing, the next one was setting up on the stage right next to it) is great; no waiting an hour between concerts. Fun Fun Fun Fest will now be a must see attraction for the coming years.

The day started out pleasently with the Spinto Band and The Annuals. However, Islands stole the show of the afternoon. They far exceeded expectations and caught us of guard with their energy and excitement. They played a fantastic set list, drawing heavily on Arm's Way (which is the only album I can honestly say I have listened to). The Canadians proved the strength of the FFFFest lineup this year.

Austin's own The Black Angels proved a great band for the setting sun. They drew comparisons to a mix of Spacemen 3, The Black Keys, and The 13th Floor Elevators as they showcased their brand of Southern Psychedelic rock. St. Vincent and Minus the Bear also proved hits, but the real showstopper was Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. They started off slow, but soon hit their groove and were quite simply amazing. Satan said Dance had the whole audience moving with the absolutely infectious bass line. What will stick with me was the precision and energy of the bass, which made the show. CYHSY closed out what we will remember as an amazingly enjoyable festival and one we recomend to everyone.

Islands

The Black Angels

St. Vincent

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

"The Fun Fest" Day 1

or Fun Fun Fun Fest, Austin's newest music festival. Day One provided quite a few great acts and some pleasant surprises.

The Octopus Project, a Austin group started to build a real buzz, gave the afternoon its best show. They played a fantastic set list, mixing in tracks from Hello, Avalanche with new material. The best surprise of Day One occurred when the "ghosts" came alive and started to dance with the music. They closed with the irrepressibly happy, Trucks, which we strongly recommend.

Deerhoof quite exceeded expectations (we knew it was going to be a good show once Satomi, came out with a tiger head on). The lead singer and bass player, Satomi, really created the excentric show we expected from Deerhoof.

In what was easily the best show of the day, The National provided a great closing act to Day 1. Running through a fantastic setlist (highlights included Mistaken for Strangers and Apartment Story), Matt Berninger proved an immensely entertaining front man, singing with passion and at times throwing anything he could get his hands on, including a mike stand and duct tape, to the audience. The National truly showed why the energy of a live set makes even the best music even better, which makes us even sadder when they announced that this would be their last show for "a long time."

The Octopus Project


Deerhoof

The National

Hello!

This is a little something we will be doing in our free time (we have plenty of that). It will mostly focus on music and concerts, but who knows, other stuff might slip in. Hope yall enjoy it!