record of the day

FIREKITES

THE BOWERY

layoff & secrets to superflipping

walked into work today only to be notified of my layoff. I was told that wasn`t going to happen this year. Talk about starting the new year off in a bad mood. I’m terribly worried about the upcoming months, but it’s nothing I haven’t been through before. I know the drill, and it’s an anxious one. Feeling lucky I still had a job this year isn’t curbing my worries right now. I wonder how much my entire GBV collection is worth? Anyway, I received this ep in the mail last week. Play it really loud for full effect. ENJOY.

real good music – part 16 of 2009 favorites – the rest, sort of, I think, well…..

December pretty much came and went. I thought an entire month of posting my favorite stuff of the year would have been enough time to cover it all. I was wrong. I’ve been slacking these last few days. Strep throat. Ugh. Anyway, no matter how hard I try to come up with a list, I still can’t. I just got around to that Kurt Vile record Childish Prodigy, and think it’s pretty incredible, despite wishing it were completely instrumental, even in the moments when his vocals are reminding me of ira from Yo La Tengo. Talking about Yo La Tengo, I  finally gave in and listened to Popular Songs, and as much as I’ve sort of lost interest in the band, it would be silly not admit this record sounds really good. Nothing To Hide is insanely awesome.  I once said It Hugs Back reminds me of a cross between Yo La Tengo and Phoenix, well, I’m not sure how accurate that is, but Inside Your Guitar still sounds amazingly smooth and seamless after what seems like forever listening to it. But that one has always been on Johnnys list, so….Wolfgang Amadeus  Phoenix is just fantastic and it got me through hours of driving to and from Pittsburgh to see Johnny. Polvo put out a seriously solid record, and I relistened to the Tortoise record Beacons Of Ancestorship the other day and it sounded amazing.  I still think that Years record is decent too. Good Friends Only I Could See by French Semester remains a favorite, and Oohs & Aahs by Say Hi was somehow overlooked by everyone, which seems crazy because it really is quite good. I was also very happy to come across the Heather Woods Broderick record, From the Ground, which possesses some gorgeous tracks. This week at work I’ve revisited that 2009 tour cd by The Fruit Bats and it sounds pretty sweet, reminding me of better times this year. Kevin Barker opened for The Fruit Bats when Johnny and I saw them, and we only now got around to hearing You & I by Barker, which sounds like it has alot of potential. There’s always something new around the corner waiting to be listened to. For now, these are the rest of the things I found myself playing over and over and over again at work and in the car. I guess I can really tell when I like something when it doesn’t leave my car cd player or my beat up boombox at work for months on end. These are the records that helped make it a better and more interesting 2009. It’s hard to believe another year has passed.  sigh. Have a wonderful and safe New Years Eve, and a brilliant 2010!  Things to look forward to – better baking!  the new Magnetic Fields! a suprise Meneguar record! the promised full length from Sic Alps! new ones from canadian darlings Women and Ladyhawk! maybe an actual record by Lowenstein’s Circle of Buzzards! a Pollard record that doesn’t suck! I could go on for a page or two, but I’ll leave it at that. enjoy.

TIM COHEN – The Two Sides Of Tim Cohen

THE FRESH & ONLYS - Grey-Eyed Girls

I’ve already stated that BOMB WOMBS is probably my favorite release of this year. If I could name every other thing Cohen has been involved in I would. I played Grey-Eyed Girls exclusively for so long it just became the soundtrack to my days. Sam was forced to fall for it. Hearing his solo record The Two Sides Of Tim Cohen was like icing on the cake for me. Incredibly haunting and strange and upbeat and dark and wonderful. And then the Window Twins record, well, as you can see, my year was pretty much swallowed up by these records. How nice to have had a year full of stuff to really latch onto and look forward to and genuinely LOVE. Just received The Fresh & Onlys/ Dan Melchoir split in the mail today!Thank you Mr. Cohen. for real.

WOODS x 2 – Songs of Shame + sunlit 7″

It’s as though the band took everything that made the song Dont Pass on Me brilliant and used it to make Songs of Shame and the Sunlit 7″ equally brilliant. Just seems the band really pulled it together and made some of the finest songs out there this year. I like that they decided to pass on shitty recording techniques, opting for a cleaner sound. The songs shine. Don’t  know how many times I’ve listened to these two. Enough to know they are 2009 favorites. Incredibly enjoyable.

TY SEGALL – LEMONS

I was blown away by last years self titled record. Partly because I didn’t know what to expect. Partly because the songs were that good. I still remember playing it for Steve in my car and him asking if it was suppose to sound so shitty. I guess I hadn’t really noticed how ‘raw’ the recording was. I’d been anticipating the release of Lemons for some time, sort of half knowing what to expect, half not knowing.  I didn’t quite have the same gut reaction to the record as I did with the Ty Segall record, but really, who cares. I played the shit out of Lemons enough to  convert Johnny as a fan, which was the last thing I ever expected to happen. One of those records I felt compelled to play in the car pretty much everyday for a long spell of time, where the lyrics became etched in my brain and I couldnt help but sing along. Wish I’d been in a more upbeat mood when he played Toronto. I didn’t buy the Horn the Unicorn LP reissue since I had it on tape already, so I guess I missed out on some bonus material there, and that Universal Momma 7″ is still looking to be bought by me.

REAL ESTATE – Real Estate

 I played this one at work too many times over and over and over again to deny it as a favorite of the year. An incredibly easy record to fall for. I can’t really say much other than the record just sounds great start to finish, not a moment of it out of place or in need of skipping over. I like that I have yet to see the band live. Looks like I have two tickets to their philadelphia show in January up for grabs, as I won’t actually be able to make it, yet again. offers are welcome.

OCDC – Piano Suites For Kristin

 For me, listening to piano is like being caught up in a really excellent dream, where you feel safe and sound and completely satisfied in the idea of never having to awake from that dream. This collection of songs reminds me of when I use to work a midnight shift at  the gas station and listened to nothing but classical music. As much as I’m glad I’ve moved on from that job, I would be lying if I didn’t say I had some great times at that gas station. Simpler times. Piano Suites For Kristin is beautiful. It has remained a favorite throughout the year.

PETER BRODERICK – 4 Track Songs

It’s always a treat when an artist you like decides to put together a compilation of earlier recordings, songs  you might never have had the opportunity to hear before (hence, my great enthusiasm towards suitcase III by GBV! I don’t care what anyone thinks, I loved getting to hear that this year).  I like the variety that 4 Track Songs possesses, the whimsy and seriousness. It’s a fine testament to what Mr. Broderick is all about, and the personal elements to it make it a record hard not to be moved by.  Another one I listened to a lot at work during the busier times before December.

GRASS WIDOW - Grass Widow

I really love this record, top to bottom. Undeniably catchy, clever and interesting. One song ends and you can’t imagine how the next song will be better, and yet, it is! That good. Oddly reminds me of the energy the Pixies possessed once upon a time. Still need to purchase this one. I was hoping I’d get it for Christmas. Oh well, I guess that didn’t happen.

ACTION BEAT -  The Noise Band From Bletchley

One of the worst covers ever, if that’s even the cover, which I’m still unconvinced of. Heard this by chance  when it was posted (later removed) on some blog, and thought it sounded pretty great. Still do. I guess I wanted another Punkgasm from Don Cab this year, this is as close as I came, which really wasn’t that close at all. There is an intensity and energy to the record though that charmed me and made it hard not to like as much as I did.

JOHN FRUSIANTE -  The Empyrean

Terribly dramatic, which isn’t something I usually go for, yet for whatever reason, timing, circumstance, this record clicked with me and I just think the songs are incredible. Well, One More Time is unbarable  in the worst sort of way, but I can overlook that by simply skipping it.

JEFFREY NOVAK – After The Ball

Weird and wonderful and since there was no new Cheap Time record this year (aside from the woodland drive 7″ that is), this sort of  filled the void. I think what I most like about this release is how absurd and fun it is, and how Novak’s obvious love of music shines through. He wasn’t afraid to put out something that was completely over the top. Good for him. I also love how the songs make sam cringe and make me smile. A classic.

AMEN DUNES – dia

I recall hearing this for the first time when it was posted on bolachas and thinking how incredible it sounded. I still think it sounds completely singular and eerie and beautiful. One of those records that might be a one off thing for the man behind amen dunes, which would be perfectly alright considering the caliber of the material on this record.

MARK McGUIRE – VDSQ  Solo Acoustic Volume II

2009 was the year I discovered the music of Mark McGuire. I was pretty much blown away by Let Us Be The Way We Were, the first thing I heard by him, and since then it’s been touch and go, loving some stuff, not digging other stuff. A Pocketful of Rain proved to be one of his various things that I liked and when I heard VDSQ  - solo acoustic II, I was thrilled because it was a much simpler sound, yet completey derivative of what McGuire’s always been doing. The record is gorgeous really.  I should try to listen to Emeralds some time.

PAPERCUTS -  You Can Have What You Want

this record reminds me of Febuary and being miserable and walking on the beach and thinking about how quickly things you thought were secure can be pulled out from under your feet. I kept comparing this to Quevers first record, and sort of lost sight of how particularily unique and wonderful this record is itself. I still remember finding the Papercuts myspace page and being completely wowed by the music I was hearing.  Seeing Papercuts live this year solidified in my mind that the band has something special to offer. I hope Jason Quever and his sincerity don’t get swallowed up by the industry somehow.

christmas eve, ice box cookies & my actual favorite record of the year

 It’s christmas eve, the day before present chaos at my house, and dinner at my mom’s. I’m listening to that new James Mercer record, Broken Bells, completely unsure what I think yet, and I just finished up my last batch of cookies. It’s been said that it takes your body ten years to digest a maraschino cherry. Whether or not that is actually true weighed little on my decision to make some ice box cookies with red and green maraschino cherries. Easiest cookies in the world to make, and pretty delicious.

ICE BOX COOKIES WITH MARASCHINO CHERRIES

-1 cup butter, softened
-1 cup sugar
-1 egg
-2 tsp vanilla
-2-2/3 cup flour
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-1/4 tsp salt
-3/4 cup maraschino cherries

beat butter and sugar. add egg and vanilla and baking powder and salt. add flour and once a dough forms squeeze in the cherries and form a kneadable dough (if too wet, add more flour accordingly). form into logs and wrap in parchment paper over night. When ready to bake, slice into 1/4 inch pieces, place on baking sheet and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for ten minutes. done.

THE LORD DOG BIRD

I’ve been thinking a lot about the music I most dug this year, and what record I most fell for. It’s tough because it seems to have been a good year in music, but then again I wouldn’t know a bad year in music if it hit me in the nose. I always find stuff to latch onto and get excited about. This past week I have listened to nothing but the above cd. I only came upon Colin McCann’s solo release The Lord Dog Bird earlier in the year, and although it is a 2008 release, recorded between 2006 & 2007, it is by far the best thing I have stumbled on in 2009. There is a consistency to it that might seem repetitive in nature, but is all too encompassing and bold to be tossed off as songs that do nothing else but play off of one another.  Actually, quite a few of my favorite things this year have possessed this same type of consistency. The Glass Widow ep and the Real Estate full length both come to mind here because of the way the songs on both of those releases seem to weave in and out of each other so seamlessly and effortlessly.  McCann’s vocals are the type that you really can’t help but be moved by, and the overall simplicity of The Lord Dog Bird is admirable, beautiful and compelling. Without having to give it much thought at all, it is easily the record I most cherish hearing this past year. Definitely. Happy Holidays to everyone. Stay Safe.

real good music – part 15 of 2009 favorites

2009 FAVORITES – disc 6
 

TRACKLISTING
1. garage – pigfoot (unreleased)
2. beauty’s not enough – dan melchior’s broke review (o, clouds unfold!)
3. cheerleader – grizzly bear (veckatimest)
4. clarence – sic alps (skulls without borders 10″)
5. colour the floor – fungi girls (seafaring pyramids)
6. i can’t clear my name – ooga boogas (romance and adventure)
7. yours alone – dum dum girls (yours alone)
8. hair – ganglians (woodsist 12″)
9. the pedlar – polvo (in prism)
10. star 129 – night control (night control – death control)
11. feel free – broken strings (broken strings)
12. my last mistake – dan auerbach (keep it hid)
13. gouge both your eye – kaki king (mexican teenagers)
14. this morning (we remembered everything) – circulatory system (signal morning)
15. the mall – ducktails (ducktails II)
16. yellow balloons – grass widow (grass widow)
17. fender – the boring landmarks (unreleased)
18. skylife 9 – the parasails (skylife)
19. dictator’s lament – papercuts (you can have what you want)
20. paul’s winter soltstice – blues control (snow day 7″)
21. december – alt-ctrl-sleep (unreleased)

THOUGHTS
1. one song a year seems crazy, but at least it’s a great song
2. “i know its tough, but all this beauty’s not enough”
3. after a million listens, I still don’t know what to make of this record. two weeks, cheerleader, while you wait for the others though sound like classic grizzly bear, whatever that might mean.
4. jump the shark my ass
5. dig it
6. johnny would hate this, therefore, I love it. the clock is ticking vocals remind me of steve albini
7. the chorus to this song is pretty sweet. one of the few fuzzed out and awful recordings that sounds perfect as is (not just for effect)
8. ok, maybe I like two songs from this band
9. it’s polvo, no explanation needed.
10. this song just sounds timeless to me
11. johnny says “this sounds like kind of like spitting falling down a flight of stairs…a really long flight of stairs. kinda neat”
12. 10a.m automatic is a killer song…um, i dig this solo record by dan
13. this just sounds too solid not to include somehow
14. as a whole, the record confounds me, this song sounds exactly as a favorite song of mine should sound
15. i know johnny got into ducktails, me, not so much, especially with real estate to listen to, still, this song convinces me to listen 
16. one of the best new bands i heard of this year 
17. the 57 mark onward is awesome. looking forward to a new compiled set of songs
18. i hate this record. this song is oddly great and out of place. sounds like real estate (dah), which can only be a good thing
19. this record is nowhere near as good as can’t go back, still, it’s grown on me, and without comparing it to any of his other records, it’s pretty fantastic, this song, a perfect example of what jason quever is all about
20. $30 later……
21. sort of disappointed no new record happened with alt-ctrl-sleep this year.

improvised challah

I called johnny from work tonight to refresh my memory on what the ingredients in challah were. I was going to try making it yet again, with the mixer at work. I had a measuring cup, but no other measuring utensiles, so I was sort of eyeballing teaspoons of yeast and tablespoons of sugar. With the holidays approaching, work is pretty dead, so there just isn’t much product in house. I needed 8 eggs. I could only find 5. Wonder how that will effect the outcome of the bread? I remember Enrico telling me that he added saffron to his challah, which created the beautiful yellowish colour his bread proudly displayed. I couldn’t find any saffron, so, half jokingly, I added a pinch of paprika instead. I recently came across a recipe for chai cake which looked interesting, so I thought I would infuse the water needed for this dough with some chai tea. There was no chai to be found, so I used orange pekoe instead. I’m not really much of a tea drinker, so when I asked someone what they thought about using the pekoe, they said it was all the same. ok. I also decided to make this particular challah with raisins and dates. I had wanted to add honey, but forgot to. I did however spontaneously add some ground cloves to the dough. The whole thing is probably another disaster waiting to happen. The dough does look pretty decent right now though, so who knows. As I left work, with the dough in hand, I showed it to someone and upon seeing it, he said “oooohhh.” His girlfriend informed him that saying “ooooohhh”  was bad luck and a sure sign that the dough would collapse. I might just leave the dough to proof overnight instead of pacing about the kitchen wiating to see what type of luck i’m to have with this round of challah.

I let the dough proof until 10 this morning. It was pretty massive by that point, but had not collapsed, which was promising. Also, the dough did not smell overly yeasty, which was also a good sign. I punched it down and let it proof again until about  1. I let sam punch the dough down and we got to rolling out the strands to make small, braided wreaths. The dough was sticky, but I wasn’t concerned seeing as I had the easiest time I have ever had rolling strands out. Sam made a snowman instead of a wreath, which we are planning to give to my mother on christmas. After another few hours proofing, in which we baked some peppermint sugar cookies, we threw the wreaths in the oven for thirty minutes. My only complaint about the bread is that I added WAY too much ground clove. It sort of dominates in flavour. I had wanted the tea to come through some. The colour of the bread is a very light, warm tan, with speckles of dark brown throughout. The texture is pretty nice, so I guess the 3 eggs i didnt incorporate into the recipe had minor effect. I could have thrown in quite a bit more raisins and dates, and I bet that honey I forgot would have been a nice touch. I’m pretty pleased with this attempt regardless. Hopefully Enrico won’t come to work tomorrow with a boxful of his freshly baked challah in hand. I can’t throw these away. They are gifts.

real good music – part 14 of 2009 favorites

There are several things that are terribly wrong with the above picture.  The sunglasses, the boombox, the chest hair peeping out from an open shirt, the splash of blue and pink. Maybe it was meant to funny and fun, in which case makes it the  perfect companion to a record that is ‘right’ in every way. The self titled full length record from The Love Language is one of those debut records that astounds. It sounds both polished and raw, accomplished but not really perfect, massive and cozy, fun, catchy,  and clocking in just under thirty minutes, it leaves you exhausted by the overall energy it exudes . Knowing that it was entirely recorded by one Stuart McLamb still astonishes me, and having heard how he embraced a shit load of people to become the love language band, after the fact, and credited them on a record they didn’t even play on, humbles McLamb and makes both band and record  that much more endearing. If there is one way I can describe this record,  aside from the standard ‘awesome’, it would have to be  no nonsense, no bullshit, no bells and whistles, which isn’t really a better description, but certainly  key in the appeal the record holds. From the slow, piano driven opener two rabbits, with it’s crackled vocals, fuzzy recording and killer lines like “I could have died in your arms, now I’m back at your feet.”, to  Lalita, one of the most enthusiastic and energized songs of the year,to the hymn like, enchanting opening of manteo,  the record is all sleighbells and tambourines, pretty keys, deep affecting vocals, builds that deliver, admissions of heartache, yelps of emotions, crazy hooks,  and passion. I can’t say just how many times I have listened to this record throughout the entire year. It remains as joyous and infectious as it did way back when Johnny and I were first discovering it.  Seriously wondering what’s to come from this band.  If the next record is half as good, it will be an accomplishment. enjoy.

 “if every night’s a violent fight, how can we hold this thing together?”

real good music – part 13 of 2009 favorites

“I know the love we create has meaning, imagine life without that way of being.”

Sometimes it is easy to put into words why exactly you like something. Other times, it is not so easy. Both Sun Tunnels and Mazes seemed to catch me off guard when I least expected to be wowed by a record, and from my first listen of each, without a clue as to who the people playing on them were, or what kind of music I was about to hear, I loved them. That simple. Maybe that element of not expecting anything and being suprised is what makes these both so enjoyable. I used to think I knew what kind of music I liked. That rigid kind of thinking left no room to discover records like this.  If pressed, I might say these two are my top two of the year. Thank goodness no one is pressing.

“never found the life I was following, I couldn’t figure it out….”

bastardized stollen, currant shortbread, & too many biscuits to mention

I’m going to try baking this version of stollen either today or tomorrow. It seems unethical, but why kill myself trying to make a real stollen when i already know it won’t turn out. Besides, I don’t have any marzipan. Yesterday I baked a batch of currant shortbread cookies. I’m still debating whether or not to drizzle them in some dark chocolate. The recipe was easier than blowing my nose. A week ago I went crazy in my kitchen and made at least ten varieties of biscuits one night. My hands were stained with food colouring for a week after, and I’m beginning to realize that baking in a robe isn’t the most efficient way to go. Hope everyone enjoys them.

CURRANT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

2 cups butter
1 cup icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 cup dried currants
4 cups flour

beat butter until soft. add icing sugar, extract and salt and currants. incorporate the flour until a dough forms. divide into two rounds, flatten and place between parchment. put into the fridge for a half hour so the dough isnt super soft, but managable. roll dough, cut out desired shapes, and bake in a pre heated 350 degree oven for 8 – 10 minutes. decorate as you wish.

CHRISTMAS BISCUIT EXTRAVAGANZA

3 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
mix dry ingredients. cut in butter. add liquid. form a dough. shape and cut. bake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 15 minutes.
standard recipe altered to make a variety of different flavoured biscuits-

CANDIED GINGER, PLUM BISCUITS
APRICOT WHITE CHOCOLATE BISCUIT
MAPLE PECAN BISCUIT
PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE BISCUIT

CITRUS CRANBERRY BISCUITS

add 1/4 cup lemon & orange rind + 1/4 cup sticky dried citrus fruit peel + 1/4 dried cranberries (reduce liquid content accordingly, seeing as the addition of the sticky citrus will wet the dough considerably)+ eggwash before baking

GINGERBREAD RAISIN BISCUITSadd a teaspoon of nutmeg + 1/2 cup of tiny crunchy gingerbread men (found at bulk barn, or, if you can’t  find that, crumbled gingerbread pieces) + 1/2 cup raisins

DR. SEUSS BISCUITS
add 5 generous splashes of lemon extract , divide the dough into two and add red food colouring to one half, green food colouring to the other half, and once both doughs are swirling with colours, combine them and make biscuits accordingly

CHOCOLATE CHIP BISCUITSadd 1/2 cup chopped chocolate, and substitute the milk for cream

real good music – part 12 of 2009 favorites

 

 
TRACKLISTING
1. dog meat – condo fucks (fuckbook)
2. james knox polk – le rug (nuke whales)
3. don’t be mad at me – the blank tapes (daydreams)
4. long as we’re together – andrew morgan (please kid, remember)
5. shortened version (mistake) – peter broderick (4 track songs)
6. on the knife - little gold (on the knife)
7. don’t lie – the mantles (don’t lie 7″)
8. walkabout (w/ noah lennox) – atlas sound (logos)
9. helen – ariel pink’s haunted graffiti (grandes exitos greatest hits)
10. laundry – laundry & lunch (laundry & lunch)
11. lunch - laundry & lunch (laundry & lunch)
12. goodbye for now – jeffery novak (after the ball)
13. andrew johnson – le rug (nuke whales)
14. silent night - tim cohen (the two sides of tim cohen bonus tracks)
15. world war III – home blitz (out of phase)
16. golden gloved – the turnaround (new 2009)
17. ousted – the turnaround (new 2009)
18. friends defined – thee oh sees (blood in your ear 7″)
19. pop song – ty segall & mikal cronin – pop song 7″
20. back to the sea – the sandwitches (how to make an ambient sadcake)
21. shoushitsu tenyo fue – toe (for long tommorrow)

THOUGHTS
1. it’s James mcNew singing, yeah!
2. 50 second songs are hard to resist
3. alot of good stuff from this dollar bin find  from johnny
4. i thought I’d like this album more, still, the music is pretty beautiful
5. i could listen to this track all day
6. magical
7. something about their live show that just rubbed me the wrong way, still, this song is really good
8. come on, this song is super sweet and upbeat, it makes me smile
9. i admit, i dig this
10. hahahahahahah
11. goofing around pays off sometimes
12. i keep coming back to this record, it really is that good
13. in 18 seconds ray manages to make a better song than most bands do in 5 minutes
14. i just really like that sam digs all of cohens stuff
15. johnnys a huge fan of this record, me, well, i think it has it’s moments, this song being one of the really excellent ones
16. the turnaround need to get signed, listen to those drums people
17. ron black is on a hot streak
18. maybe too good?
19. raw and fun, what else can i say, plus he’s singing about candies and pancakes
20. one of those records i still haven’t listened to top to bottom
21. a tortoise rip off if ever i heard one, which can only be a good thing, right?