Eureka Birds//That Mountain is a Volcano

This is not a Monday, it's a volcano: Monday Mail
What is Monday Mail?

Yesterday's news provided one of those moments. You know, the kind where you used to call up your friends, but now you just watch your FB/Twitter feeds for clever things people are posting online? There were links to Al-Jazeera live feeds, NYT articles, Family Guy clips, Star Wars references, declarations of general anxiety about killing anyone for any reason, even an Obama macro that featured the kind of badassness that we haven't seen since the 2008 Election. I, myself, posted this:
"So this is like that part in Lost when the alternate reality rejoins the actual reality?"
Nobody liked it. Actually, one severely awesome Sarah G. liked it. But nobody else. Thanks, Sarah, for saving my FB pride.

I'm not going to go into the cliche that is, "let's think back to 10 years ago and reprocess," because the fact of the matter is, just cause we killed some guy doesn't mean we can close the Pandora's box that is terrorism. It also doesn't mean we can undue the mortgage crisis or the credit crisis or the Iraq War or the Afghanistan War or the Japanese nuclear disaster or Katrina or any of the other dozens of truly shitty things that have happened between 2001 and 2000now. There are still people signing up to be Scientologists and dedicating their lives to actualizing The Singularity. What's done is done and the world is weird. I still feel like we're in a particularly precarious place both culturally and environmentally.

A few months ago, Justin, a member of Eureka Birds, sent me a new EP along with a shoutout:

Even though we're from Baltimore, we recorded the whole thing with production help from Tyler of Margot and the Nuclear so and so's out in Indiana.

This particular song, which describes various ways the world might end (volcanoes, rogue waves, earthquakes, tornadoes, environmental disaster) reminds us that we probably won't know what's going on when the big one blows. So let's all celebrate that we managed to find and kill OBL before the 10 year anniversary of 9-11 (though we still haven't managed to rebuild WTC)...then, let's not forget that some guy hiding out in a million dollar house in the suburbs of Islamabad isn't our only problem.



That Mountain is a Volcano.mp3

Maybe we'll never see it coming.

Sparklehorse//Piano Fire

I always enjoyed listening to Sparklehorse (AKA Mark Linkous) and I often vowed to listen to more. I remember reading an article about Linkous in Rolling Stone (haha) in high school, then downloading some tracks. Later, an ex who really liked his stuff put many songs on many mixes for me. They always stood out as highlights.

His songs could be slow and melancholy or distorted and noise-poppy. Always catchy and interestingly orchestrated with unlikely sounds, Linkous made music that sounded genuine and true to himself.

If you have music nerd friends and have logged into your social network of choice in the last day or so, you probably already know that Linkous committed suicide on Saturday. Sadly, some did not find it surprising. In 1995, he almost ODed on a combo of anti-depressants, valium, alcohol and heroin. The incident stopped his heart for several minutes and left him wheelchair-bound for months. Of course, regardless of the previous incident, this is a terrible loss.

Preceding his sad and premature death, Linkous had completed a new album with Danger Mouse called Dark Night of the Soul. The album, which features members of The Shins, The Flaming Lips, Grandaddy, The Strokes, The Pixies, The Cardigans, Neutral Milk Hotel and more (as well as a bunch of inevitably weird David Lynch photos), may never be released due to a dispute with EMI, but you can stream it here.

This song, one of my all time favorites, is from the Wonderful Life album, which featured Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, and Dave Fridmann, among others. I remember sitting in Angel Hall late one night trying to write a paper and listening to it on repeat, never getting sick of it. RIP ML.



Piano Fire.mp3

How do you feel?
How do you feel?
I can’t seem to breath with a rusted metal heart.
I can’t seem to see through solid marble eyes.

Animal Kingdom//Tin Man

New Mainstreamish Pop You Can Like (Of Course it’s from Europe): Monday Mail.
What is Monday Mail?

I am not surprised at all that this song and album were produced by Phil Ek. It sounds remarkably like the most recent release from Band of Horses (YET ANOTHER BAND WITH AN ANIMAL NAME). While I felt so-so about that record (some songs were amazing, some not so much), I think this sound, with its reverb-heavy mildly-warbled vox and its brash guitars, really works when it’s fighting for good and not evil. I’m also really really into that mild organ that’s mixed to the back. MMM like it. Ahem, yes…

Lauren from Sneak Attack says:

The album was recorded at Seattle’s Electrokitty Studios with Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, The Shins, Band of Horses). And the band has shared the stage with bands as diverse as Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, Camera Obscura, Snow Patrol and a UK tour with the Silversun Pickups.

For a band that’s trying to pick up press right now, there’s not really a whole lot of info about them on the web. They’re from South London, although, according to The Guardian, “One of the best things you can say about Animal Kingdom is that they don't sound British – rather they sound American, specifically from upstate New York.” I think that’s bullshit. They sound plenty British to me, as much as anything can “sound” anything anymore. However, they also said this: “They could be the first stadium-rock balladeers it's OK to like.” Yeah, ok Guardian, now we're getting somewhere.



Tin Man.mp3

Since you took my heart,
I got a missing part.

Wild Beasts//The Devil's Crayon

Today, I write another chapter in the enormously popular and apparently never-ending book called Bands with Animal Names.

Speaking of books, I'm working on one. Not sure if I ever mentioned it here before, but it's the kind that requires a lot of research and interviews and that's basically what I spent my day doing today. This meant a lot of jumping on trains and long walks around Manhattan. Also, the subject matter has been, at times, a bit dark. Each moment I had, I got out my headphones and listened to this long, obsessively, like a weird freak-o, on repeat. It was perfect. It's deep and dramatic, but felt right for today, after having such intense conversations and with the weather changing roughly every three minutes from overcast to sunny.

Anyway, personal history: I heard a few Wild Beasts songs back when they broke out with Domino sometime in 2007 or 2008. Although there wasn't anything offensive about their sound, they didn't really grab me, and I didn't bother listening to a full record.

Then, a few weeks ago, an acquaintance posted this video on facebook and I was struck my how awesome it was. The guitar tone is fantastic and the vocals are really well-done, lyrically and in arrangement. Something I really enjoy about it is how the melody is simple, almost folksy, but set in tension with very modern background music. I really dare you not to get hooked on this one. The video itself is also quite pretty and worth watching for creative tarot animation.

Since becoming reacquainted, I've listened to both their Domino releases. While the band can definitely be hit or miss (at his best, the usual lead singer sounds like a younger, more energetic contemporary Jeff Buckley, with an extra pinch of drama; at his worst, he delivers almost laughably bad lyrics with the lilt of a special kind of green teenage-style overdramatic flair), the hits are movingly good, with some heavy Smiths influence, especially the Marr-inspired guitar lines. Par example:



Devil's Crayon.mp3

This truly is the Devil's crayon
That all his children use to draw
And we are so many tiny pieces,
We are so many tiny pieces.

Caribou//Sandy

Daniel Victor Snaith, better known as Caribou or Manitoba, is a Canadian electronic musician. He was actually sued a few years ago and forced to change his name, which is how Caribou (which he (not surprisingly) chose while on an LSD trip with friends in the Canadian wilderness) came about.

Chris, a friend at the office, urged me to listen to Caribou a few years ago. I had heard a few Manitoba songs on various comps, but nothing really grabbed me like the material on 2007’s Andorra.

All light and dreamy and hazy, the music transports me to an alternate reality where the honey harmonies of the 60s meet the electronic sounds of 00s in blissful drugged-out unity. This is music to play first thing in the morning, when light is streaming gently through your bedroom window or to allow to drift calmly through your headphones as you lay out in the park grass on a sunny afternoon. Lucky for you, it’s a beautiful day. If you’re not at the office, find a spot outside and just be.



Sandy.mp3

Now I'm divided
Like a flock of birds when excited
And picture circles in the sky.
You can't believe me
Like all of the others who leave me
And feel their shapes across the aisle.

Mouthful of Bees//Please and Thank You

Monday --> Mail --> Bag --> Lady --> Finger --> Point --> of no Return -> to Sender
What is Monday Mail?

It seems like more and more of my friends are science nerds these days. What’s up with that? Did it just become cooler to love science (obviously, yes) or are there just more science nerds in the world these days or did I just get to be friends with more of them recently? Either way, I’m totally happy. I think it’s an interesting discipline, but it’s never been a natural strong suit for me.

That said, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the World Science Fest along with my UBER-SMART/UBER-CUTE/UBER-NERDY friends in my own little literary/music-infused way. Thus, I declare this week Chain Reaction Week at OSS. Here’s how it works: tomorrow's song will start with the last word of today’s song, and so on and so forth, forming a week-long chain of titles.

We’ll start with some mail about a very pretty (and very mannerly) song from (a painfully titled, but animal-named) band called Mouthful of Bees (YOUWCH!).

Ian from Afternoon Records says:

“Thought I'd pick your brain on the new Mouthful of Bees record. It's amazing. If you're into the whole Grizzly Bear/Animal Collective/Brian Wilson crew, I think you'll really like it.”

I listened to the album and I do like it. The music is lush, meandering and twinkly. Also, any band that has a song called Thomas Aquinas (after all, I do think Science is the new Religion) is pretty much fine with me.



Please and Thank You.mp3

MoB recently released their first album on Afternoon Records. Find out more here.

A chain reaction is a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place. In layman's terms, a chain reaction is a type of reaction in chemistry and physics, in which the formation of one product leads directly to another or series of any events where each one is triggered by the previous event.

Grizzly Bear//Two Weeks

Grizzly Bear finally released their much-anticipated new album, Veckatimest, last week. Of course, everyone’s been losing their shit about this one, and my first few listens support the fact that the praise and attention is not unfounded.

Hilariously, Other Music pointed out in their last newsletter that the first few hits in Google for “Grizzly Bear” are for the band—and not for ACTUAL grizzly bears…you know…the SPECIES. Indeed, the band’s official page, Wikipedia entry and myspace came up first for me. Although, a search does return this ultra-cute picture (see: Animal Band Names Trend)!!!. AWWWWWW.

Some facts/thoughts on Veckatimest:
1. It’s named after a small island in Massachusetts, but was recorded in the Catskills (unlike Yellow House, which was actually recorded in…a Yellow House).
2. Nico Muhly, of classical fame, was involved.
3. Also involved, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus
4. Am I the only one who thinks the band’s vocals sound way different on this recording?

While this song was the one that initially hooked me most, I’m really enjoying listening to the whole album on my iPod while walking around the neighborhood. It’s pretty and lush, like previous Grizzly works. Also like prior albums, it takes a few listens to get into. It feels like sinking slowly into a big plush couch, letting all the subtle production choices, builds and instrumentation overtake you.



Two Weeks.mp3

Save up all the days,
A routine malaise.
Just like yesterday,
I told you I would stay.

Would you always?
Maybe sometimes?
Make it easy.
Take your time.

Cat Power//Nude as the News

Today I decided to channel my inner-snobby record store clerk and mash it with my favorite 2nd grade take-home assignment. Picture: construction paper, picture: inane facts*, picture: polaroids. Thus, I bring you:

My Cat Power Timeline

January 21, 1972 – Cat Power (Chan Marshall) is born in Atlanta, Georgia.
June 19, 1983—I am born in Hackensack, NJ.
1992—Cat Power moves to NYC and plays her first show here in a Brooklyn warehouse. She also plays a show using a two stringed guitar while singing the word “no” over and over again for 15 minutes. This is most probably significant foreshadowing for future Cat Power shows.
1994—Cat Power opens for Liz Phair.
1996—What Would the Community Think? released. CP moves to farmhouse with then boyfriend Bill Callahan (Smog)
1998-1999—Released Moon Pix and The Covers Record. Everyone everywhere is talking about Cat Power. I am reading about her in various magazines and hearing about her from various friends, but, despite my dedicating all extra teenage money to the purchase of albums, never listening to her.
September 2001—I move into East Quad at the University of Michigan. My down-the-hall-dorm-neighbor/soon-to-be best friend/soon-to-be bandmate Michael Beauchamp and I do a CD swap. He gives me 30 of his favorites to burn and I give him 30 of mine. What Would the Community Think? is in the pile. I fall in love.
2001-2003—Michael and I play this song together late, late one night post-party. It sticks and we begin playing the cover live.
2003—You Are Free released.
April 15, 2003—Michael and I, along with a number of other friends, see CP live in Detroit at the Majestic. She is a total wreck. Here is my actual 2003 Livejournal account of the show, from April 16th:

the cat power show was the weirdest experience ever. here is a series of events that made it weird:
-we leave at 6:30pm
-e locks keys in car.
-doors supposedly open at 8, acccording to the ticket, but they don't really open until 9.
-1st opening band=lullabye.
-2nd opening band=worst thing i have ever seen in my life.
-cat power: huge black workboots, huge plaid shirt, huge aviator sunglasses.
-cat power: marching along with songs.
-cat power: cheers the audience and gulps down some alchololic beverage in between every song.
-cat power: so drunk she cannot put her sunglasses on.
-cat power: stops midway through two songs saying, "i'm fucking this up. i need to stop. it's gone."
-cat power+drunken asshole guitarist: attempts to lead audience in a screaming contest.
-band leaves: cat power plays a string of songs that she apparently makes up on stage for the next hour.
-after 6 hours of standing and no sign of cat power halting her drunken serenade or at least bringing the band back on, i finally decide i have had enough. having no attention span or will to stand, i leave with kot, ange and emma.
-we listen to team dresch. loud.
-the end-
ps. ange informed me via ali that chan played until 2:30 am and that she played songs over and over again, and covers...after that she tried to engage the audience in a dance party.

And in a comment on that entry from Ali:
a brief summary of what happened after you left:
-the band comes back on in an effort to stop chan from continuing her drunken serenade, and they play a cover of "dead leaves and the dirty ground"
-"good woman" is played for the second time.
-chan begins singing to herself. the band attempts to play along. for at least 8 minutes. the band stops. chan continues singing until the guitarist walks over and has a word with her.
-chan starts singing "she's lost control" in an ian curtis voice. doesn't appear to remember most of the words. throws in a few "JACKSON! JESSE!"s, after which the band tries to play "nude as the news". but chan's not having it.
-things get a little blurry here in my memory. there are several more attempts to play another song, any song.
-a dance party is suggested. the guitarist asks for "track 5", loud rap comes on, chan jumps into the audience. chan goes behind the dj booth to smoke pot rather than dance. the show is over at 2.30.
-michael and i attempt to find an explanation for what we've just witnessed, fail miserably, and fall into a troubled sleep in the backseat of ethan's car.
Wikipedia lists this time period as Personal Struggles: 2000-2006.

2004: I meet Sean SC for the first time at a show that DUC is playing with him. He covers Metal Heart. Meanwhile, CP releases the experimental performance film Speaking for Trees.
2006: CP sobers up and releases The Greatest. I don’t think it’s The Greatest. My friends and I lament the effect the death of her alcoholism has had on her art and drink PBR.**

*Facts brought to you by Wikipedia.
**Inner-record store clerk inappropriate dark comment.

-Fin-



Nude as the News.mp3

Jackson, Jesse,
I’ve got a son in me.
Jackson, Jesse,
I’ve got the son in me.
And he's related to you,
He's related to you,
He is waiting to meet you.
He's related to you,
He's related to you,
He is dying to meet you.

Fleet Foxes//Mykonos

Just when you think that the Animal Band Names trend might FINALLY be dying… the next thing you know your best friend is telling you that Crocodiles (who sound, much or not much to their dismay, exactly like JAMC) is the new new. In the spirit of this strange and undeniable happening, we here at OSS are introducing a brand new and extremely useful tag: Animal Band Names Trend.

In one of my King’s film classes, we spent a lot of time talking about how popular cinema was almost universally reflective of the societal fears and anxieties of the time. For example, Cold War-era movies focus a lot on the covert threat of the other (see: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Rebel Without a Cause). Could this recent slew of Animal Names have something to do with our disconnection from the natural world (ahem, you are reading a MUSIC BLOG right now)? Or does it have more to do with unimaginative twenty-somethings who have grown tired of inventing absurd names for their abundant bands? Methinks the former holds more weight. When has anyone ever had trouble coming up with a weird name for a band? Never.

This reminds me of the time when my college friends and I decided to start a band called “Tracy Chapman” just so we could say, “Hi, we’re Tracy Chapman. We wanted to thank Fleet Foxes for letting us open up for them.” In fact, once you come up with a clever band name, it’s almost certain that your band won’t ever actually exist (Tracy Chapman never even had a rehearsal, let alone a firm lineup). Some other bands my friends and I named and never started: our quintessential emo band, The Sweater Chain; the devo cover band, Emoticon; the as-of-yet-genre-unknown-but-I’m-guessing-either-late-70s-inspired-yacht-rock-or-80s-popish, Sweetie….

Anyway, I’ve digressed. Whatever the cause of this beast moniker indie frenzy, in celebration of our embracing this somewhat annoying/somewhat endearing habit of all the hottest indie bands, whether they be experimentally fresh or delightfully derivative, please welcome Animal-Name-of-the-Day Fleet Foxes.

Fleet Foxes, where do I begin? This band started getting major buzz last year. I found their records to be lovely, pleasant and for the most part kind of homogenous. Not to say I didn’t enjoy listening to them and not to say that some songs didn’t stand out. Their sound is laden with layered vocal harmonies and rich folk sounds, augmented by dramatic builds. What’s not to like? Enjoyable.

For a while I noticed when their songs would pop up in my iTunes or that their album would be on in the background when grabbing a meal with friends at our favorite neighborhood Mexican joint. Then, like so many over-hyped bands, they faded away to make room for the next over-hyped (possible Animal Named) band to take their place. They might have been lost to me almost forever if not for my internet friend (who has strangely disappeared from the internet lately—you ok, Megan?), who posted this amazing video which sparked a resurgence in my consciousness.

Going out of my way to listen to them again, this song is what I get stuck on. The lyrics are mysterious and suggestive of ancient mythological tales (hello, Greece!). Having had the experience recently, I would like to suggest that everyone listen to this song on decent headphones while walking uptown from the World Trade Center through Tribecca (either along Church or West Broadway) and into Chinatown on a grey but temperate day. It’s perfect.

As for Animal Names, expect more in the future. It’s been a few years now; I don’t think this one is going anywhere anytime soon.



Mykonos.mp3

Brother, you don't need to turn me away.
I was waiting down at the ancient gate.

Purple Rhinestone Eagle//Sleep, Golden Sleep

ROCK AND ROLL TOUR STYLE [Local! Music! Friday!]!
Tell me...what is this Local Music Fridays?

Tour, besides being a total blast, also gave me so much new fodder for L!M!F!s, since we played so many shows with such a wide array of Interesting and Talented Bands (and of course, some shows with some not-so-I&TBs, but hey—you win some, you lose some).

Our West Philly show was one of my favorites. Philadelphia house shows almost always feel like party-central, and this was no exception. Both band we played with (the fabulous Dangerous Ponies were also on the bill) were lots of raucous fun.

While I had never heard of them before, Emily tells me Purple Rhinestone Eagle have a somewhat cultish following in the West Philly scene (they used to be local), which was part of why the show was so great. But don’t get me wrong—most of why the show was so great was the fact that this band just rocks. Hard. There’s nothing like seeing intense musical energy in a small closed space, like The Mitten’s sweaty basement. Listening to them, I was hearing tons of weird influences: 60s Psychedelia, 90s Riotgrrl, Sludgy Proto-Metal. PRE sounds like Led Zeppelin meets Bikini Kill and it’s awesome. It was nice to finally hear a band take the Riotgrrl sound forward into the next generation in a way that wasn’t totally derivative. Well done.

All the songs on their newest EP, Amorum Tali, are pretty worth it, but the first track and this one stand out to me. Besides, it’s the weekend. Everyone could use some extra sleep, golden sleep.



Sleep, Golden Sleep.mp3

Purple Rhinestone Eagle’s on tour now, although their NYC date at DBA was a few weeks ago. If you’re in the Midwest or the PacNW, see if you can catch them because their live show is totally sweet.


The shadow passes you,
The shadow passes me.
The darkness falls on us.
We’re drowing in the sea.
Golden sleep falls upon us again.

Grizzly Bear//Easier

I think Grizzly Bear was initially an Ali find. She told me I would love them and she was right.

This band’s sound is so pretty and fuzzy (not unlike an American Analog Set or a Beach House). The texture adds much feeling to the already flowing and sentimentally-heavy songwriting.

I was recently reminded of this album last week while on tour. We were driving through naturally pristine New Hampshire on a truly gorgeous sun-soaked day. I was trying to come up with the perfect thing to blast through the (somewhat broken) Volvo speakers and Yellow House came to mind. The warm lofi sound quality combined with the easy lifts and falls were just right for the winding roads, sparkling lakes and fresh spring afternoon. The band recorded this collection in Ed Droste's mother's house (hence the title) in Brooklyn and the home-recording only enriches the feeling you get from listening. Of course, this album would also be perfect for a cold day sitting by a bright rich fire.

Throwing this on the car stereo sparked a conversation between Karl and I about collaborative songwriting.
“I don’t know how to write songs like this,” he said.
I agreed.
I think it might have something to do with a lot of people in a room with lots of ideas, none of them too concrete. Maybe we could all take a lesson from GB about relaxing in regards to our creativity.



Easier.mp3

Lucky for us, Grizzly Bear’s next full length, Veckatimest, comes out May 26 on Warp Records.


I still care for you.

Animal Collective//Brothersport

I’m not one of those people who thinks that everything Animal Collective does is amazing. Not that I have anything against such people. Some of those people are some of my best friends. Am I starting to sound like someone whose “best friend is totally a minority!”? I don’t mean it like that, I’m just trying to provide some context in light of the entire internet going gaga over Merriweather Post Pavilion. I think the album is very good. I thought Strawberry Jam was very good too. That said, it’s got some miss tracks, like every Animal Collective album that I’ve heard.

So anyway, enough pseudo-naysaying. This song unquestionably kicks ass. I love how joyful it sounds. I’ve never had the distinct pleasure of seeing these guys live, but I have to imagine that this song would be a sight to behold in a show context.



Brothersport.mp3

You got to
Open up your,
Open up your
Throat a little!
***
Until fully grown,
You got a real good shot--
Won't help to hold inside.
Keep it real, keep it real, shout out!

Deerhunter//Never Stops

It’s a new year and OSS is back in business.

I’d like to kick off the first regular post of ’09 with a track off the album that I’ve been obsessed with for the last few weeks, Microcastle, by Deerhunter.

I will admit, I never really wanted to give Deerhunter a chance, because of their name.
“Oh, another animal band,” I thought. Panda Bear. Grizzly Bear. Wolf Eyes. Wolf Parade. Fleet Foxes. Owls. The Bird and The Bee. This is really getting old, guys.
I thought some more. “Not just another animal band…another DEE/AR band!” Deerhoof (who, for the record, I really love). Deertick. Lonely, Dear. COME ON, INDIE ROCKERS, COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW!

Anyway, once I got over my case of Acute Band Stigma To Animal Incorporated Names (ABSTAIN), thanks in large part to the urging of "dear" (haha-get it?!?!) friend Angelina, I learned that I loved Deerhunter. Their weird/distressed soundscapes, depressing-ass lyrics and very catchy choruses cannot be beat. Thanks, Atlanta. Thanks, Angelina. Thanks, animal names. This OSS post is brought to you by The Letter A and The Animal Deer.



Never Stops.mp3

I had dreams
That frightened me awake.

Modest Mouse//Wild Packs of Family Dogs, Golden Shoulders//Friends and Family

Only two days until Thanksgiving, guys!!!! You know what that means! It’s time to celebrate the things we are the absolutely most thankful for in this world. Now I know you know what that means!
I know what you’re thinking: “What’s that, g? It’s OSS’s medical marijuana week? It’s OSS’s shitloads of money week? It’s OSS’s vegan ho-hos week? It’s OSS’s micro-brew week? It’s OSS’s roller coaster week? It’s OSS’s tropical beach vacation abroad week? It’s OSS’s fine French cheese week? It’s OSS’s short-selling appreciation week? It’s OSS’s reckless gambling week? It’s OSS’s porn week? It’s OSS’s your mom’s prescription to vicodin week? It’s OSS’s European backpacking week? It’s OSS’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas week (Nope! But good idea!)? “
You guys are terrible with your vices. I’m so disappointed. Damn. Get your minds out of the gutter! Seriously. This is America. We’re wholesome here, in case you didn’t notice!

Without further ado: It’s Friends and Family Week here at OSS. And why is that? It’s because we love our friends and family the most. Even more than…er…medical marijuana. So for the next two days you get double the amazingly good friends and family –themed tracks (to make up for the four day weekend, which of course, we’re also thankful for) and we give them to you at the same rate as our friends and family. Which is everyone’s rate. Which is free. Because at OSS, you’re always valued like kin.

Whenever I think of Modest Mouse, I think of Michael Beauchamp, who is the kind of friend I consider family. This is one of my favorite Modest Mouse songs off of what is definitely my favorite Modest Mouse album, The Moon and Antarctica. It’s a weird and hauntingly beautiful composition about a roving and magically bizarre pack of wild dogs and a human family’s equally strange response to their loitering (Dad shoots, Sis gets eaten, Mom cries, Dad gets laid off and our narrator’s just waiting for the pack to take him away).



Wild Packs of Family Dogs.mp3

Golden Shoulders is a little band out of California that I became acquainted with through the State’s Rights’ Bro Zone Comp (which also features friend Super Jib Kidder). Their songs are really catchy and enjoyable--I would highly recommend. Even more auspiciously, this song is off an album called KIN—and they have another album called Friendship is Deep. Can you think of better representatives for our first Friends and Family Week? I can’t!



Friends and Family.mp3

All my friends and my family are
Remarkable people;
They are nothing like the creeps in this town.

The Dodos//Walking

My friend Emily Elert (who has a science blog that you should read because a. it's amazing and b. you always wanted to know how metrocards worked!) referred me to this band and I am pretty much addicted now. The songs can be a bit hit or miss (definitely very eclectic), but I love this one and Fools.

The way this album sounds (in tandem with the fact that they’re from SF), I was ready to swear on someone’s grave that this band recorded at JV's Tiny Telephone. But I was wrong about that. The correct answer: Portland’s Type Foundry, which also has some tasty looking gear and an impressive client list, including the very recently aforementioned Decemberists and Spoon. Regardless, the outcome is a very nice sounding album with great analogy prod values. NERD. I know. I’ll shut up, so you can listen to this:



Walking.mp3

You can fight the fire that’s in your head.

Eels//Novocaine for the Soul

I’m genuinely surprised this hasn’t come up yet--this being my Jon Brion obsession. I think Jon Brion is the Jesus Christ of producers. I think he is better than Jesus Christ. I think he is King Midas .

Honestly, this man probably produced most of your favorite albums. He definitely produced most of mine. His impressive list of clients and collaborators includes Elliott Smith, Aimee Mann, Rufus Wainwright, Evan Dando, Kanye West, Spoon. Fiona Apple, Rhett Miller. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also done tons of solo and soundtrack work (remember Eternal Sunshine? That as him).

Ahem ahem. Now that I got that off my chest, we are not actually gathered here today to discuss the esteemed JB. On the contrary, I want to post a song by one of his collaborators, Mark Oliver Everett AKA A Man Called E AKA Eels.

I came to this band too late, but I still appreciate their lush and varied sound. This song is a sprawling mess of glorious…which is also what I feel like today. Novocaine for the Soul: I could definitely use some.



Novocaine for the Soul.mp3

Guess who’s living here with the great undead.
This paint by numbers life is fucking with my head.

She Keeps Bees//Focus, Stutter

[Local! Music! Friday!]
Tell me...what is this Local Music Fridays?

***BONUS!!!***
Double L!M!F! today, since it's double the weekend! I'll be camping on Monday and unable to compute with the internets.

ALSO DOUBLE THE ROCK!!!!

NYC-based She Keeps Bees is an amazing live show. They were kind enough to play the Palmyra CD release show at Flux Factory and, though I barely know them, I was overwhelmed by their genuine awesomeness as a band and their sincere kindness as human beings.



Focus.mp3

From their brand new album, Nests .

Stutter.mp3

From their EP, Shhhh.


You can catch them at The LES Cakeshop on 9/18. And I strongly suggest that you do.

Pedro the Lion//June 18, 1976

It’s grey and I don’t feel so hot in more ways that one. Looks like sad bastard day today.

Here’s an uplifting track from Pedro the Lion about unwanted pregnancy and suicide.



June 18, 1976.mp3

I promise I’ll get happier as the week progresses.